Free Essays on My Last Douchess

The Duke of â€Å"My Last Duchess† Framework Theory: The Duke of Ferrara, the speaker is an envious, self-important and charlatan man who was controlling over his dead spouse I. The Duke’s want of control is shown with every single one of his activities A. He flaunts the representation of his dead spouse B. He hoards his discussion with the emissary C. He advises the emissary when to sit and when to rise II. There is an incongruity in the control the Duke needs to force over others. He truly doesn't have a lot of control. A. He was unable to control his wife’s grins B. He can't control what the agent will illuminate the check III. Egotism is showed by the Duke The Duke of â€Å"My Last Duchess† Murder, egotism, affectation, desirously and possessiveness are a portion of the fundamental topics we can discover in â€Å"My Last Duchess†. Robert Browning's sonnet, My Last Duchess, includes a sixteenth century Duke occupied with discourse with a judge of a Count. My last Duchess is spoken from the viewpoint of the Duke and passes on the Duke’s character through the artistic type of a sensational monolog. The caption of â€Å"My Last Duchess† is â€Å"Ferrara†, which makes a recorded reference to the Duke of Ferrara. â€Å"The sonnet, My Last Duchess depends on episodes in the life of Alfonso II, duke of Ferrara in Italy†(Lombardy). As indicated by Hecimovich â€Å"the circumstance is take [sic] from the life of a real sixteenth-century, yet Browning has envisioned the particular incident†. The Duke of Ferrara, the speaker is a desirous, self-important and wolf in sheep's clothing man who was controlling over his dead spouse. By discussin g his past spouse, the Duke shows of his capacity and the necessities his next wife should meet. His expression uncovers his character obviously. The sonnet starts with the Duke pointing at the canvas on the divider that depicts his last duchess. The peruser is coordinated to envision the Duke strolling with the count’s specialist through his craft nerve... Free Essays on My Last Douchess Free Essays on My Last Douchess The Duke of â€Å"My Last Duchess† Layout Proposal: The Duke of Ferrara, the speaker is a desirous, presumptuous and two-timer man who was controlling over his dead spouse I. The Duke’s want of control is shown with every last one of his activities A. He flaunts the picture of his dead spouse B. He consumes his discussion with the agent C. He advises the agent when to sit and when to rise II. There is an incongruity in the control the Duke needs to force over others. He truly doesn't have a lot of control. A. He was unable to control his wife’s grins B. He can't control what the emissary will advise the tally III. Presumption is showed by the Duke The Duke of â€Å"My Last Duchess† Murder, presumption, false reverence, desirously and possessiveness are a portion of the principle topics we can discover in â€Å"My Last Duchess†. Robert Browning's sonnet, My Last Duchess, includes a sixteenth century Duke occupied with exchange with an authority of a Count. My last Duchess is spoken from the point of view of the Duke and passes on the Duke’s character through the abstract type of an emotional monolog. The caption of â€Å"My Last Duchess† is â€Å"Ferrara†, which makes an authentic reference to the Duke of Ferrara. â€Å"The sonnet, My Last Duchess depends on occurrences in the life of Alfonso II, duke of Ferrara in Italy†(Lombardy). As indicated by Hecimovich â€Å"the circumstance is take [sic] from the life of a genuine sixteenth-century, however Browning has envisioned the particular incident†. The Duke of Ferrara, the speaker is an envious, haughty and scoundrel man who was controlling over his dead spouse. By discus sing his past spouse, the Duke shows of his capacity and the prerequisites his next wife should meet. His word usage uncovers his character unmistakably. The sonnet starts with the Duke pointing at the work of art on the divider that depicts his last duchess. The peruser is coordinated to envision the Duke strolling with the count’s specialist through his craft nerve...

Should Small Airports Have More Security? Essay -- Airport Explosives,

Air terminal Security has consistently been critical, yet much more so since the assaults on September 11, 2001. When flying out of O’Hare International Airport you experience various security checks. At Canton Municipal Airport there is no security other than a four foot tall fence. Security is the level of protection from or insurance from hurt (Wikipedia, Security). It applies to any powerless and significant resource, for example, an individual, abiding, network, country or association (Wikipedia, Security). Is it important to have security at little air terminals; are there gaps in the present security framework, and what issues may emerge for little air terminals? 700 and thirty million individuals travel on traveler streams each year, while in excess of 700 million bits of their stuff are screened for explosives and different risky things (H, n.d.). The main line of protection in air terminal security is the most self-evident: Fences, Barriers, and Walls (Works, n.d.). Interestingly, Canton air terminal has a fence, yet they need metal finders, x-beam gear and security work force. One of the most significant measures at an air terminal is affirming ID, for example, a driver’s permit or identification (Works, n.d.). The pilots at Canton air terminal have a key card that permits them access into the gated territory. They don't need to give photograph recognizable proof. Experiencing security in bigger air terminals can be very tedious and baffling. On the off chance that littler air terminals had security it wouldn’t be as disappointing. Numerous Americans feel that from the time they get into the air terminal, to the time they ge t out they are being dealt with impolitely and like crooks (News). A study said that sixty one percent of Americans disapproved of the new air terminal safety efforts (News). Honest Americ... ...is Broken - and How to Fix it. WSJ. Money Street Journal. Web. 4 Dec 2013. . Previous TSA Head Slams Agency: 'Not any more Banned Items' Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/previous tsa-head-pummels organization - 2012-4 Residential Airport. wikipedia.org. Wikipedia. Web. 4 Dec 2013. . Security. Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Web. 4 Dec 2013. . Lisa, Stark. 'Shoe Bomber' Case Illustrates Ongoing Problems in Airport Security. abcnews.go.com. ABC News, 4 12 2013. Web. 4 Dec 2013. . ‘Underwear Bomber’ Was Working for the CIA. beforeitsnews.com. Prior to Its News. Web. 4 Dec 2013. .

Essay Topics Resemble Essay Topics Resembles

Essay Topics Resemble Essay Topics ResemblesFor all the skills that a college student needs to study and apply, one of the best is to know what essay topics are relevant to your subject. Here is how to use this tool in your study and application.Write several times to avoid mistakes. You need to be consistent and clean on the writing. The idea is to write as much as you can about the topic that is relevant to your paper.Focus on what you want to say, so that you will know where to put each word on your paper. After this, focus on writing about the topic in a proper way.Writing is the most important thing that you do when you want to be a good writer. You should not skip writing. It is crucial that you write your essay because this is how you will present the information you need to.Your presentation is what will make the best impression on your audience. This is what will make your college admissions officer realize that you deserve the chance of a life in an academic institution.Ano ther good thing to remember is to learn from other students who have done well on their essays. Go over their essays and choose the ones that are most appropriate for your class. You can also ask them about topics they have covered or find out from the course professor what topics are relevant to your class.Even if you cannot be sure that a specific topic is relevant to your program, you can always write about something that is similar. When you do, it will give you a better shot at making your essay topics relevant.The essay topics you write about should be based on what is most important to you. Write what you feel is important and not what will get you noticed by the college admissions officers. You can always go back and edit the essay to make it more appealing to the reader.

Nigerias premier and largest indigenous integrated energy services - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 12 Words: 3575 Downloads: 9 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Energy Industry Essay Type Research paper Did you like this example? Section 1 Company Analysis Oando Plc was founded in 1956, and is Nigerias premier and largest indigenous integrated energy services provider, with primary listing on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) and a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange of South Africa. The company currently has a market capitalisation of approximately US $1.3 billion and is in the top ten (by market capitalisation) Nigerian controlled companies quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. (OANDO PLC, 2007-2009) Comprising of 5 major business units, the Oando group is vertically integrated, originating from downstream petroleum products marketing and rapidly expanding to Supply Trading, Gas Power, Exploration Production and Oando Refining. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Nigerias premier and largest indigenous integrated energy services" essay for you Create order All these subsidiaries provide integrated energy services in Nigeria West Africa, with presences in Bermuda the British Virgin Island. Financial Performance This will be analysed using the IFRS  [1]  (International Financial Reporting Standards) figures rather than the NASB  [2]  (Nigerian Accounting Standards Board) for ease of interpretation. Table 1 OANDO PLC: FINANCIAL SUMMARY  2009 2008 2007  US$000 US$000 US$000 Revenue 2,283,557 2,686,544 1,501,794 Gross Profit 241,614 326,105 173,280 Operating profit 152,610 138,057 64,129 Profit before income tax 94,831 90,925 60,692 Profit for the year 75,234 74,579 49,804     Return on net operating assets (RNOA) 9.10% 10.25%  Financial leverage (FLEV) 274.88% 207.12%  Return on equity (ROE) 21.20% 20.74%  Assets turnover 1.72 2.43  Over the past 3 years, Oando group has witnessed a notable performance with an increase in revenue YoY  [3]  . According to reports by financial analysts in May 2010 (Meristem Analysts, 2007), Oandos profit after tax has grown at a CAGR of over 50% on the average. In the recent FY09 results, PAT  [4]  was about 21 %( See Table 1 above). This growth is as a result of expansions in its downstream operations, exploration and production upstream earnings as well as increased income from its gas distribution subsidiary. Although the companys turnover is advancing at a CAGR  [5]  of 35% (VETIVA, 2010), assets turnover decreased from 2.43 in 2008 to 1.72 in 2009. This decline was driven by the 15% reduction in sales from US$2.7 billion in 2008 to US$2.3 billion in 2009 and a 20% increase in average net operating asset. Table 2 This may signify that Oando was not efficient in using its assets to drive revenue in 2009 but Oandos strategy to expand upstream led to huge C APEX  [6]  due to ongoing financing of EP assets  [7]  . Also profit margins have been low due to issues with market price caps in Nigeria  [8]  in downstream marketing which is Oandos largest revenue contributor to date. Another significant financial factor for the company is the increase in financial leverage from 207.12% in 2008 to 274.88% in 2009. This increase was driven by the increase in average net debt and the slight reduction in average book value of equity from US$360m in 2008 to US$355m in 2009. The large debt to equity ratio is attributable to expansion plans and trading activities of Oando in importing refined products to Nigeria. As noted by VETIVA, a capital investment company and a reliable source of companys financial analysis in Nigeria, Oando group uses debt financing to fund its asset acquisitions and utilizes short term facilities such as import finance (VETIVA, 2010) to fund its working capital requirements, leading to the reduction in Return on Ne t Operating Assets and high interest payments. Oando enjoys relatively large Returns on Equity (ROE) as a resultant effect of its high financial leverage. Fin24, South Africas leading and biggest source of business, economics and personal finance news reported Oandos explanation of the groups drop in revenue in 2009 as a result of depreciation of the local currency (naira) to the US dollar by about 26%, the Group revenue reduced by about 15% compared with the corresponding period of 2008. (Fin24, 2009) Capital Cash Flow Growth In an effort to raise capital for further expansions into gas and power (to refinance its acquisition of upstream assets by buying onshore oil blocks from multinational oil majors: Shell, Chevron, AGIP and some West African Oil Companies to boost production  [9]  ), Oando has raised about $142 Million this year through the capital market in Nigeria and South Africa. This will also reduce its financial leverage and provide operating capital. In a recent newspaper publication (OSO, 2010), Oando has plans to raise about $250 million by selling up to 49% stake. Cash flow has been on the rise in 2009 due to one of the increasing production of the OML125 asset. Non-Financial Performance Market Position The market position of Oando is based on the companys strengths and weaknesses and how it will use these factors to align explore opportunities or mitigates risks posed by threats in the sector. Strengths: Oando, integrated into almost all the segments in the oil and gas value chain, has a very strong brand perception in the industry and country as a whole. The company has moved fast to become number one in the downstream sector in Nigeria, with above industry average earnings and turnover growth. With strong competences in downstream marketing distribution, it is pioneering the development of Sub-Sahara Africas largest gas pipeline network Independent power plants in strategic locations in Nigeria. Oando leveraged its capabilities in oilfield services to integrate backward into upstream EP. The companys entry into Refinery makes Oando poised to exploit opportunities presented by the new laws requiring indigenous companies obtain contracts and win bids so long as they are capable, in order to promote the Nigerian content the oil industry. Weaknesses: Oandos major weakness is its high gearing as a result of its capital intensive operations, high costs of interests and extended payback periods in some of its subsidiaries due to high sunk costs. Production and Reserves Growth Oando operates about four oil blocks in different stages of development. In 2008, it acquired a 49.8% stake in OML 125 OML 134 from Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company (SNEPCo). These deep offshore blocks, co-owned by Italian oil giant, AGIP were won in an international bidding process in competition with BP, two Chinese national oil companies and the Korean National Oil Company, making Oando the first indigenous oil and gas company in Nigeria to have a stake in a producing deep offshore asset. (RIGZONE, 2008). Although data for proved/unproven reserves has been difficult to find via available resources, analysts research has shown that Oando is fast adding new assets with quick production yields and hopefully, this will help sustain their production and reserves growth. Costs Oando in the last 3 years has pursued its future strategy to be the no 1 Integrated Energy Solutions Provider in Africa and this has led to high capital expenditures as well as operating costs. Their FDA  [10]  costs in 2008 in the EP segment was above US$625.7 million  [11]  and the cost of capital (interests) attributed to the observed increase in its financial gearing. Costs in the downstream and distribution segments will decrease as soon as the refinery goes into operation. Section 2 Sector Analysis According to the Reference case projection from the International Energy Outlook 2010, (International Mining, 2010), world marketed energy consumption is set to grow 49% between 2007 and 2035, driven by economic growth in the developing nations of the world. This demand has led to the sectors strong drive to create and manage the supply and as such has defined the energy terrain with the following trends: Increasing difficulty in developing and improving the efficiency of traditional fossil fuels The dynamism of the roles of government and other institutions such as regulatory bodies and stakeholder expansion Reducing the GHG emissions from the burning of fossil fuels Exploring alternative sources that can be integrated into, leveraging current assets and competences These trends have affected the business strategies of oil and gas companies and their entire value chain. It has impacted governments and new regulations have to be put in place especially due the risk p osed current and future activities of the sector to our environment. Trend in the Oil and Gas Sector in Nigeria Looking at the sector within the Nigerian context, the upstream oil industry is the most important sector in the Nigerian economy and the VETIVA research publication of January 2010 revealed that the sector attracted Foreign Direct Investments and earnings and had led to the enormous growth in government revenue and GDP as shown in the Figure below: The Federal Government intends to boost production levels to about 4 million barrels per day, while also increasing the countrys oil reserves which currently stands at about 36.2 billion. Looking more closely at the factors affecting Oando with respect to the trends, the oil and gas sector is characterized by three types of ownership structure: National Oil Companies, International Oil Companies (IOCs) and the Local Oil Companies. Oando is indigenous and privately owned and in competition with IOCs and other local oil and gas companies. In the distribution and Supply segment where Oando has its largest turnover, the company leads all others in terms of market share as stated in the 2008 NNPC Annual Statistical Bulettin, where , Oando has the largest market share(Oando had 17.87%, Total 15.84%, African Petroleum 14.44%, Conoil 7.52%, NNPC Retail 5.13%, Mobil 4.58% and Texaco 4.47%.) (Placeholder11) Most of the LOCs listed above are mid-sized firms focused on the petroleum products marketing segment of the industry. Oando, in line with its growth strategy has delved into upstream business as well as refining, thereby competing with IOCs like Mobil, Agip, Total Chevron(Texaco) in the integrated energy business from exploration(onshore, offshore and deep offshore) to products marketing. With the bulk of Oandos operations being in the downstream petroleum marketing and supply and distribution segments, it faces the challenge of its products being commoditized and price dominated in the future hence to enhance its earnings; it is highly committed to building a 360,000 capacity refinery in Lagos. (Meristem A nalysts, 2007) Opportunities: High Demand for Petroleum Products: Nigeria is in the emerging market phase with a lot of petroleum consumption and demand driven by businesses individuals. According to the EIA, in 2009, total oil production in  Nigeria  was slightly over 2.2 million bbl/d, making it the largest oil producer in  Africa. (US EIA, 2010) This may be attributed to GDP growths leading to automobiles affordability and the poor power supply in the country, characterized by consumers generating power (electricity) in homes and offices across the country. The current and forecasted high demand for petroleum products in Africa has necessitated a need to increase power production to homes and businesses. The BMI Report forecasts that between 2010 and 2019, there will be an increase in Nigerian oil and gas liquids production of 55.3%, with volumes rising steadily to 3.40mn b/d by the end of the 10-year forecast period. Oil consumption is set to increase by 82.9%, with growth slowing to an assumed 7.5% per annum towards the end of the period and the country using 708,000b/d by 2019. Gas production is expected to rise to 126bcm by the end of the period. With demand rising by 205.3% between 2010 and 2019, export potential should increase to 65bcm, largely in the form of LNG. (Business Monitor International, 2010). Source: Nigeria Oil Gas Report from BMI (Business Monitor International, 2010) 2001 2009 2014 African Oil Use 2.98mn b/d 3.60mn b/d 4.14mn b/d Africa Oil Export 4.86mn b/d 6.08mn b/d 7.66mn b/d Africa Oil Production 7.84mn b/d 9.69mn b/d 11.79mn b/d Abundant Oil and Gas Reserves: The oil and gas reserves are huge and this gives latitude for production growth, especially when the reserves-to-production ratios are high. Nigerian Fuel Market Deregulation: The Nigerian government plans to implement a full deregulation policy in the petroleum products market which will eliminate the price caps on the products. This policy will encourage companies to invest in the refining segment and reduce the importation of refined products into the country. Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) The PIB was recently signed into law (April 2010) and is aimed at reforming the oil and gas sector. Its aim is to turn the National Oil Company and its subsidiaries into profit making ventures and local content participation in the sector, especially important to Oando is the  privatization of downstream  activities, the release of unused assets previously owned by IOCs and the planned increase of natural gas production to fuel power stations in the country. Threats Niger Delta Violence  [12] One of the most recent threats has been the resistance and violence in the Niger Delta area in demands for regional resource sovereignty which hampered exploration and production operations, lowering production output since 2007. Pipeline vandalism is another threat to the oil and gas sector in Nigeria as it sabotages production efforts by the companies (bunkering activities). Lack of Adequate Infrastructure Nigeria is rated as the worlds 10th largest exporter of petroleum products  [13]  , yet, due to poor refinery facilities as well as transportation in Nigeria has led to a substantial amount of gas flaring and heavy reliance on road transport, increasing carbon footprint. In spite of the high reserves to production rates, poor distribution facilities have left Nigeria importing almost all its fuel. This is a key reason why vertical integration in the sector is popular as companies have to develop their own infrastructure to support their businesses and reliance on others within the value chain may cause unwanted variability. Another limiting factor in the sector is the problem of ports congestion which delays imported products time to market. Delayed Subsidy Payments The delays in the subsidy payments by the government pose a big threat to increased investment and negatively impact the cash flow of the companies in the sector. This is further aggravated by the delay in passing the fuel market deregulation bill. Low Carbon Future The effect of the future low carbon economy will be enormous on the oil and gas companies in emerging markets as they will be jumping on the train too late. This implies that Fossil fuel production in Nigeria may increase at a time when export demand for it will decrease. The US is the largest importer of crude from Nigeria, accounting for 40% of (the 80% total Production volumes) total crude exported out of Nigeria. With the drive to lower GHG emissions and increasing utilization of alternative energy sources, export demand will drop by over 50% in the next 10-20 years. The discovery of unconventional gas which may likely be cheaper poses a threat to the companys gas operations. Source: (EIA, 2010) Volatile Oil Prices The sudden increase in oil prices translates to lower margins for operators in the downstream sector due to importation of refined products which is tied to crude oil prices. Oando incurs high costs due to exchange rates and instability of Nigerian Naira. In summary, the business strategy of Oando which is aimed at serving the West African Market reduces its dependence on the global trends in the short run as these do not align with the local trends peculiar to Oandos region of operation. Section 3 Scenario Analysis Oando Business Strategy Oandos key strategy is diversification into upstream oil and gas production while maintain leadership position in the downstream sector in West Africa. Most of its recent strategy implementation has been geared towards actualizing this goal. Oando is currently investing in infrastructure to gain competitive advantage in the industry by moving the company into a price setting position in the market. The commencement of the pipe-laying project across the country is to strategically equip the company for domestic gas distribution nationwide, making it the number one energy supplier of choice to homes and businesses. The Institute for the Analysis of Global Security has highlighted that due the USAs search for sources of crude oil and the move to reduce the worlds dependence on the reserves in the Middle East(After 9/11), oil production in Africa, especially Nigeria has boomed. (Placeholder1) But as Nigerias oil reserves have been predicted to peak within a decade from now (oil rese rves will decline by 2020), Oandos EP operations need to be focused on delivering energy through traditional crude quickly and expanding its operation into alternative energy sources or renewable in order to boost the efficiency of their integrated operations providing energy and becoming the leader in market share in the Sub-Saharan Africa region. The Shell 2050 Scenarios Former Shell CEO, Jeroen Van Der Veer predicted that Energy demand will double between now and 2050, based on forecasts that world population is set to grow by 50%, thereby causing increased CO2 emissions. CO2 concentrations need to be limited to 450ppm (parts per million) The decisions that will be made in the next few years by OG companies will shape the future of the planet. Business managers in the energy sector need to consider the future of energy, alternatives that may abound and align their strategies to avoid risks and exploit opportunities inherent in the scenarios for their companies. The 2050 scenarios present two outlooks for future trends in energy supply and demand, and the climate change impacts of each. . These scenarios are described briefly below (Taken from the Shell Energy Scenarios to 2050 report): Scramble: Where policymakers pay little attention to more efficient energy use until supplies are tight and GHG emissions are not seriously addressed until th ere are major climate shocks. Blueprints Where growing local actions begin to address the challenges of economic development, energy security and environmental pollution. A price is applied to a critical mass of emissions giving a huge stimulus to the development of clean energy technologies, such as carbon dioxide capture and storage, and energy efficiency measures with the aim of lowering carbon dioxide emissions. Scenario 1 SCRAMBLE With 40% of the US crude oil imports from Nigeria alone, it brings Nigerias Oil and gas market to the forefront as a major global supplier. As earlier mentioned, the USA is pitting against the Middle East oil producers by encouraging African countries to increase their production of crude oil for export purposes to maintain existing lifestyles. There is little collaboration seen between nations as each is trying to maximize their energy supplies. In Nigeria, we see this scramble in the recent activities in the sector with the Chinese OG firms competing rigorously for oil blocks and refineries in Nigeria. As China must import about 60% of its oil needs, this scramble reflects that the interest and inter-country trades are aimed to ensure continued supplies and economic prosperity, rather than building a sustainable global future. Oandos business strategy in partnering with Russias Gazprom  [14]  to develop oil and gas assets and infrastructure in Nigeria and some parts of Wes t African, though seen as a profitable strategic alliance by Wale Tinubu (CEO, Oando), smacks of Russias deliberate intent to monopolize the European gas market by sabotaging EU chances of getting oil via the Trans-Saharan gas pipeline from Nigeria within the next decade. (IHS Global Insight, 2008) The Nigerian governments involvement in the deal is also to promote FDI and grow its GDP. Chinas interest in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria and its fierce bid for about 90% of the government offered oil blocks in 2008, along with the resistance from American and European IOCs in the country show that lowering climate stresses are not the priority for these investments, rather the 5 to 10 year strategy of these international trade relationships is to ensure the security of energy imports. Oando is currently investing in upstream oil projects and the focus for the future is addressing increasing demand and supply pressures. Online research on Oandos strategy has not produced any low carbon initiatives support which allows me to suggest that climate change is low on the companys focus priorities in the near future and this can be said to of Nigeria. Some other reasons why Oando may not be exploring alternative energy production such as renewable may be due to lack of infrastructure to carry out these innovations, the countrys relatively low CO2 emissions w.r.t. USA and China may give companies in Nigeria a false air of not contributing to the risk of the GHG emissions, the cost associated with addressing climate change. Scenario 2 BLUEPRINTS One of the trends in Nigeria that will spur a move towards energy efficiency is the deregulation of the downstream market. The increase in price of petroleum products will bring about a change in the use of these products, towards efficiency and finding alternative sources. Oandos diversification strategy necessitates that it pursues new oil and gas discoveries as well as drilling technologies to tap into conventional and unconventional reserves in Nigeria and West Africa. Oandos strategy for the future (15 30 Years) should be to collaborate with the IOCs and government, leverage their technical competence, and boost production of both oil and gas. With the move towards lowering the demand for crude by the developed nations, Oando has invested in infrastructure that will enable the company meet local demands adequately. The gas distribution network is also a good foundation for Oandos long term strategy, contributing to the success of Nigerias plan in developing and monet ising the countrys Liquefied Natural Gas plans. The advent of alternative energy sources in other countries around the world may bring about its importation into Africa and lead to demand reduction for fossil fuels. Oando has to leverage its gas station networks to provide charging bays for electric vehicles across West Africa. Proactive strategic alliances with international companies skilled in carbon capture and storage technology to enhance oil recovery post its assets oil peak. In an article on The Future of CCS in Nigeria , West Africa, and particularly Nigeria, represents the highest potential for CO2-EOR and CO2 storage in oil and gas fields. (ANASTASSIA, FREDRICK, MALCOLM, 2009) Oando can enter into an agreement under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)  [15]  via the Nigerian government with government of other nations interested in Nigerias reserves, pioneering the promotion of low carbon emissions in the country. This is another source of competitive advanta ge and will ensure business sustainability.

The Creation of Abner Snopes in William Faulkners Barn...

The Creation of Abner Snopes in William Faulkners Barn Burning William Faulkners Barn Burning is an intriguing story about a young boy named Colonel Sartoriss (Sarty) love and hatred for his father, Abner Snopes. Ab is a brutal and frightening man who instills fear into whom ever he seems to be close to. What is the cause of Abner Snopess cruel-heartedness? Maybe its his alienation from the higher class in society that causes him to act in this manner. When such a separation occurs in a community one can feel that he doesnt belong and because he does not belong that the only way the higher class will give him the time of day is if the person acts out and tries to prove that he doesnt need law and conventional society, much†¦show more content†¦He had no traditional schooling and did not have the typical urban setting as a child. This undeveloped mind of his is what leads to his ignorance and insensitivity as an adult. If all you knew as a father was what you yourself thought to be the correct way to raise a family then it is inevitable what will become of that family. Obviously Ab Snopes was not raised according to tradition, he sets boundaries and rules for his children to abide by and yet he himself has no concept of a lifestyle controlled by someone else. The only laws Ab can abide by are the ones he has created himself, which is ironic since he doesnt always practice what he preaches. I look at it through a formalist point of view, if Ab had grown up having to obey the law of the land and new what it was to have a higher authority then he probably would not have been so rebellious towards those who were above him in his clan or community, particularly the wealthy. Since Ab seemingly was not raised in a structured environment he could have learned these unknown skills through education. Abners wolflike independence and conviction in the rightnessShow MoreRelated William Faulkner’s Barn Burning: Abner Snopes Character Analysis1049 Words   |  5 Pages William Faulkner’s short story â€Å"Barn Burning† describes a typical relationship between wealthy people and poor people during the Civil War. The main character, Abner Snopes, sharecrops to make a living for his family. He despises wealthy people. Out of resentment for wealthy people, he burns their barns to get revenge. Abner’s character over the course of the story is unchanging in that he is cold hearted, lawless, and violent. First, Abner’s unchanging character shows his cold heartednessRead MoreWilliam Cuthbert Faulkner s Life1128 Words   |  5 PagesWilliam Cuthbert Faulkner is more than a famous Mississippi writer. He is a renowned figure, not only for Southern writers, but for writers throughout the world. Faulkner drew the scenes and characters for his novels and short stories from observations made during his childhood and adult life in his hometown, Oxford, Mississippi. During what is generally considered his period of greatest artistic achievement, a span of forty years, from 1929 to 1942, Faulkner accomplished more than most writers accomplishRead MoreBarn Burning: Abner Snopes Character Analysis Essay1088 Words   |  5 PagesWilliam Faulkners short story Barn Burning describes a typical relationship between wealthy people and poor people during the Civil War. The main character, Abner Snopes, sharecrops to make a living for his family. He despises wealthy people. Out of resentment for wealthy people, he goes and burns their barns to get revenge. Abners character over the course of the story is unchanging in that he is cold hearted, lawless, and violent.brbrFirst, Abners unchanging character shows his cold heartedness

Analysis Of Ab Snopes - 798 Words

To the reader, Ab Snopes, the antagonist and father of Sarty, is portrayed as pyromaniac with no sense of respect of compassion for others property. However, authors Fargnoli, Golay, and Hamblin illustrates him as â€Å"mean spirited father, known for burning down barn† (58). The story begins with Ab being on trial for allegedly setting a man’s barn on fire. Ab was eventually acquitted of the pending charge due to lack of evidence and was ordered out of town. The reader assumed Ab possibly made a mistake, and would learn from his lesson. Faulkner implicates Ab as an abusive audacious man who expects, his children to conceal his crimes. The reader interprets this when Ab interrogates Sarty around the fire, â€Å"You’re getting to be a man. You got to learn to stick to your blood or you ain’t going to have any blood to stick to you.† (Barn Burning 9). Ab advised Sarty of this shortly after hit struck him in the head after he assumed Sarty was going to reveal his crime. Ab speaking that line implies that he is a dictator, whom rules his family with abuse and by intimidation. The Snopes arrive at the estate of Major de Spain, where he and Sarty are African American servant advises them de Spain wasn’t at the residence. Opposed to Ab leaving the residence and returning at a later hour, he bombards into the residence heaving the servant out the way. While Ab was inside the residence he purposely ruined a hundred dollar France imported rug with his boots. De Spain advises Ab he will payShow MoreRelatedBoth sides of the Coin in William Faulkner’s short story, Barn Burning812 Words   |  3 PagesWilliam Faulkner’s short story, â€Å"Barn Burning,† the character Abner Snopes, who is Sarty’s father as well as a main character of the story, stands out the most compared to other characters because of Faulkner’s description with a sense of irony and critic. Faulkner presents multifaceted charact eristics in Abner Snopes that makes the readers think beyond the view of the narrator based on logics and circumstances in Abner’s conditions. The setting of ‘‘Barn Burning’’ is the post-Civil War South, theRead MoreSarty Snopes’ Struggle for Freedom: William Faulkners Barn Burning1777 Words   |  8 Pagescourageous, difficult decision we must review the important events in the story and the effect they have on him. Faulkner’s first introduction of his protagonist, Colonel Sartoris Snopes or Sarty, appears in the second sentence of the story. Sarty is the ten-year old son of a dirt-poor, migrant, tenant farmer, Abner Snopes. Faulkner’s opening scene brings us into a general store that also serves as a make-shift court. Abner is being sued by a neighbor, Mr. Harris, for burning down his barn. Sarty’s

Research Proposal on Hotel Cultural Management free essay sample

This paper is based on â€Å"A review of the literature on the culture in hotel management research: What is the future? † by Chen, Cheung and Law in 2012. The fundamental paper provides insights into the previous research into culture in the hotel industry, and provides directions for future research. In previous studies, there is lack of clarity among researchers on the different terms used to describe culture, and it is difficult to define the boundaries between different levels of culture. Thus, the paper has summarized and made clearer grouping of the different types of culture into six categories: Corporate Culture, Industry Culture, National Culture, Organizational Culture, Cross-culture, and Multi-culture. The paper also investigates the years that those studies were published, and the geographic area which they were focusing in. Among the six categories of culture, National Culture and Cross-culture is very important for nowadays hotel industry. Due to the trend of globalization, tourists are more eager to travel aboard. Hotel industry is an international industry, which serves guests from various countries and different cultural background. There is high chance for people from different cultural background to come together, resulting in cross-culture interaction. Culture, National Culture and Cross-culture Pettigrew, 1990 defined culture as general assumptions, values, and patterns of behavior. Cultural difference affects human behavior. Growing up in different cultural background, the values, habits, preferences hold may differ from person to person. McCleary et al. (2006) discovered that many origin related significant differences relating to satisfaction with the destination, perceived value, service quality and intent to return. The difference in origin affecting people’s behavior has developed the term â€Å"national culture†. Hofstede (1990a) defined national culture as a system of values and beliefs learned during childhood. Via national culture, one can distinguish the differences among groups. As each person grows in a different background, his own family, school, country affect the values and beliefs he learns. And hence, the behavior of people from different countries differs. Since tourists are from a wide range of country and cultural background, a hotel needs to deal with people of different behavior, and try their best to satisfy them every day. Therefore, understanding international travelers’ behavior has become a fundamental marketing strategy with the increase in importance of international travel markets. Knowing the impact of national culture on hotel operation and management can narrow the cultural gap (Holtzman et al., 1991) and increase the quality of interpersonal relationships (Sparks and Callan, 1992). Hence, learning more about the difference in the needs of different culture, it can bring better experience for tourists. Statement of Problem The aim of this study is to find out â€Å"How is Hong Kong’s hotel industry’s ability in fulfilling Eastern and Western consumer expectations? †, and to find out the result, two aspects can be focused: i) H ow does Eastern and Western tourists satisfied with the hotel services during their trip in Hong Kong? What is the difference in hotel staff’s attitude towards Eastern and Western guests? To simplify, Eastern tourists refers to the tourists from Asia and Western refers to all other tourists from out of Asia. Importance of the problem to Hong Kong According to the Hong Kong economic reports from the government, the services sector is the key driver of Hong Kong’s economic growth, contributing 93. 1% of GDP in 2011 and 88. 4% of total employment in the first three quarters of 2012 (2012 Economic Background and 2013 Prospects, 2012). Tourism industry belongs to the services sector, and is a major pillar of the economy of Hong Kong. In 2011, it contributed to 4. 5% of Hong Kong’s GDP and 6. 5% of total employment. This reveals the importance of tourism industry to the overall development of Hong Kong. Hence, it is important to have a stable development in tourism industry in order to maintain the stability of the city’s economy. Apart from this, Hong Kong has been chosen as one of the 50 greatest places in must-see destinations of a lifetime by National Geographic Traveler Magazine (Apple Daily, 1999). It shows that Hong Kong has high attractiveness to tourists. However, mentioned by Tsang, 2007, there are still weaknesses in Hong Kong’s tourism industry. The Consumer Council in Hong Kong has received 1,909 cases complaints in 2005, which has increased by nearly 140% from 810 cases in 2001. And Freemantle (2003) has also recognized that there is no one Asian country that consistently excels at service. One reason behind the inconsistency of service may because of the lacking in understanding of the needs of consumers from different background. People from different culture, they have different needs, and also different aspects of service quality. To remain Hong Kong’s competiveness and hold the place of becoming a popular tourist destination, the quality of services and products provided by Hong Kong’s tourism industry needs to achieve consumer satisfaction. Literature Review Due to the globalization of tourism industry, it brings tourists to Hong Kong from different countries. With the gathering of people from varying country of origin and cultural background, it makes national culture and cross-culture matter. In Hsieh and Tsai’s study in 2009, they mentioned when the provider and consumer of the service belong to different cultures, cross-culture service will take place (Stauss, 1999; Weiermair, 2000). Situations like these often tend to generate cultural shock (Cushner and Beislin, 1997; Weiermair, 2000). Therefore, cultural elements have great impact upon consumers’ perceptions and responses. In 2007, Tsang’s study for the service culture in Hong Kong’s tourism industry, the difference in service style of Chinese (Eastern) and Western have been pointed out. Chinese service providers adopt a â€Å"take it or leave it† attitude and fail to understand and be attentive to customers’ needs; while Western service based on creating an interaction experience for both the customer and service provider, achieving mutual satisfaction. Hong Kong is a city of China, though she has been a colonial city of Britain, the service style in Hong Kong also has a tendency towards the Eastern style. To remain the competiveness of Hong Kong, it is significant to transform the style and pay more attention to customers’ needs. The study also locates the obviousness in understanding the impact of culture on the tourism industry. Winsted (1997) investigation on the difference of how consumers in the United States and Japan evaluated service encounters has been used as an example. The Japanese and American gave different ratings on restaurant employee behaviors. Themes of friendliness, being personal, authenticity, and promptness seem prevalent in the dimensions and behaviors that emerged fromthe U. S. factor analysis. Hofstede (1990b) divided the values of national culture into five dimensions: â€Å"individualism†, â€Å"power distance†, â€Å"uncertainty avoidance†, â€Å"masculinity†, and â€Å"long-term orientation†. According to the study of Hofstede (1983) and Hosfstede and Bond (1988), comparison has been raised upon Eastern countries (Taiwan, Japan) and Western countries (America, British), to investigate the difference in their perceptions on service quality. Based on the studies, it shows that consumers from Eastern countries has higher power distance (people believe in the unequal distribution of power), so that they pay more attention upon the tangibles, reliability, reaction and empathy of service quality. Besides, Asian tourists have high uncertainty avoidance and it is because of their culture – people tend to be anxious about their career or future and they are afraid of failure. They tend to be easily worried, nervous and irritable; they are not adventurous. On the other hand, Westerns are short-term orientation; they regard time as a kind of finite resource. Therefore they are more impatient and demand for efficiency. These studies provide basic knowledge on the perceptions and behavior of the difference in Eastern and Western tourists. In the study by Ozdipciner, Li and Uysal in 2012, they suggested cultural difference affects tourists’ motivation, satisfaction, information search, vacation preferences, travel characteristics, etc. (Pizam and Sussmann, 1995; Kozak, 2002; Litvin et al. , 2004; Yuksel et al. , 2004; Reisinger and Mavondo, 2006). In previous studies, there are plenty of information to illustrate the difference in the Eastern and Western style of service and customers’ perception. However, these are only basic introduction to answer the question how is tourists’ perceptions towards Hong Kong’s hotel industry. In Chen, Cheung and Law’s review of past literature on culture in hotel management, the focusing geographic areas of previous research have been analyzed. Based on the analysis, most of the previous studies are focusing in Western countries which 28% focusing in America and 19% in Europe. Only 2% of previous studies are focusing in the hotel industry of Hong Kong. Therefore, it is proposed to conduct a survey to deeper understand how the Hong Kong hotel industry satisfies the tourists with different cultural background. In the aspect of hotel staff, Hosfstede (1980. 2004) conducted a study examining the behavior and attitudes of an international computer company in over 60 countries and fount that national culture appeared to explain more of the differences in work-related attributes and values than did position within the organization, profession, age, or gender (Tsang, 2007). From the study, the culture impacts on the staff’s working attitude can be understood – for both attitude towards their work and attitude towards customers from other nations. Thus, it is also significant to look in to the difference in attitude of hotel staff towards their guests. Research Method It is proposed to conduct the survey using both quantitative and qualitative study. There are two groups of research subject: one is inbound tourists to Hong Kong, and they would be further divided into tourists from Eastern countries (Asian, especially China) and Western countries; another one is the hotel staff in Hong Kong. After interviewing tourists and hotel staff, analysis would be done to discover their opinion, and then further look into the relationship between tourists’ satisfaction and hotel staff’s attitude towards different group of tourists. Quantitative study would be set up by using a questionnaire to interview tourists’ satisfaction with their in-house experience staying in Hong Kong’s hotel. Another set of questionnaire would be set up to ask for the difference in perception as well as the attitude towards tourist from the East and from the West. Quantitative methods offer advantages for cross-sectional organization research and large-scale studies (Cooke Rousseau, 1988). Using quantitative research methods can interview large group of inbound tourists and hotel staff. On the other hand, qualitative study would also be used to interview random tourists and hotel staff. The interview would be done in group based, and interviewees can talk about their experience in hotels (tourists) and their normal working attitude towards different groups of tourists (hotel staff). Using qualitative research can help in understanding such manifest level elements of culture as artifacts and stories. During the interview, observation is also encouraged as this can observe how respondents behave differently for different interview questions in a way they perceive to be socially desirable. Limitations There are limitations for finding the difference in customers’ satisfaction and individuals’ value. For tourists, as suggested by previous research, the difference in cultural background results in different needs of consumer. Due to the cultural difference, it was proposed that customer evaluations of the service encounter would be significantly lower for Asian leisure travelers than their Western counterparts (Tsang, 2007). Thus the needs would vary from person to person and it is hard to interpret and quantify vales (Rokeach, 1973). For hotel staff, it is also difficult to interpret and quantify their value. Apart from the national culture would affect staff perception and attitude to different guests, the corporate, organizational or occupational culture would also make each value different. Furthermore, observation suggested in the research methods may also lead to fraud in assessment. As observers have their own values, the observation may subjectively influenced by the observers’ values, resulting a misunderstanding in assessment (Rokeach, 1973). Conclusion Based on previous research on the culture of hotel management, the trend of globalization in the tourism industry has been described. With more tourists from different countries and cultural background come together, the importance in knowing the needs of guests from different culture has become an issue. As hotel industry is a multi-culture industry, hotel staff needs to satisfy guests’ needs and expectations every day. To maintain the competiveness of Hong Kong’s hotel industry, we need to know how is Hong Kong’s hotel industry’s ability in fulfilling Eastern and Western consumer expectations currently, and then develop better service quality in the industry, and to retain tourists coming back to Hong Kong.

Introduction Essays (525 words) - Molecular Biology,

Introduction: DNA, Deoxyribonucleic acid, is a double stranded, helical nucleic acid molecule which determines inherited structure of a protein. The"steps" are made of bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine. The sides are sugar and phosphate molecules. Restriction enzymes are enzymes that cut DNA at restriction sites, leaving fragments blunt or sticky. The restriction fragments are separated using a technique called gel electrophoresis. DNA has a negative charge so when an electrical charge is applied it makes DNA move to the positive side. DNA is placed in agarose gel. Smaller fragments move faster. The purpose of this lab is to separate DNA fragments using gel electrophoresis. Hind III cuts AAGCTT between the two irst A's. EcoRI cuts at GAATTC between the G and the A. Hind III and EcoRI both make sticky ends. Results: Our results for this lab were EcoRI separated into five fragments. Hind III separated into four fragments. The control only had one fragment. (See chart A and figure 1-1 for distances) Discussion: The purpose of this lab was to see how gel electrophoresis separates DNA fragments. We used Hind III, EcoRI, and a controlled enzyme. Some fragments were hard to see because of smearing. These were the bigger fragments. Loading the DNA was difficult and if you weren't careful you could rupture the wells which ruined the lab. We, fortunately, did not run into this problem. Abstract: The purpose of this lab is to separate DNA fragments with gel electrophoresis using EcoRI and Hind III. Restriction enzymes are used to break up the DNA, then negatively charged DNA is placed in a gel casting tray. Then it is placed into an electrophoresis chamber. An electrical field is placed across the agarose gel which forces the fragments to move down the gel. The amount of lines show how many fragments there is in the DNA. We had five fragments for EcoRI and six for Hind III. The no enzyme had only one fragment. Procedures: We sealed the ends of a gel casting tray with masking tape and inserted a comb into the slots. The tray was filled about 6mm high with agarose gel. It covered half the height of the comb. We waited ten minutes for the gel to solidify. Then we placed the tray in a gel box and made sure that the comb was at a negative (black) end. The box was filled with tris-borate-EDTA buffer so it covered the entire surface of the gel. The combs were removed without ripping the wells. The micro pipet was used to load the lambda EcoRI, lambda Hind III, and lambda only into the wells. We dipped the pipet trough the surface of the buffer over the wells and expelled the contents. The top of the electrophoresis chamber was closed and electrical leads were connected. The dye was observed as it moved shortly after the power supply was turned on. The power supply was turned off after the bands migrated near the end of the gel and the top of the electrophoresis chamber was removed. We removed the gel from the gel casting tray and examined it under a light box and compared it to the ideal gel (figure1-2). Bibliography References: Restriction Enzymes: Cleavage of DNA lab University of Illinois. (1999). Experiment 2 Gel Electrophoresis of DNA. In Molecular Biology Cyberlab, online: Http://www.life.uluc.edu/molbio/geldigest/electro.html

How to Get into a Subjunctive Mood

How to Get into a Subjunctive Mood How to Get into a Subjunctive Mood How to Get into a Subjunctive Mood By Mark Nichol The subjunctive mood is a verb form that expresses any one of a variety of sentiments that are in some sense not necessary true: a potential action or a possibility, a judgment or an opinion, or an emotion or a wish. Here are some examples of statements in the subjunctive mood: â€Å"If that were the case, I wouldn’t be here.† â€Å"It’s about time we went home.† â€Å"If I had been there, I would have done something.† â€Å"It is necessary for you to have followed the news to understand the joke.† â€Å"If I should fail, what will happen?† Here are statements that appear superficially similar but are presented in the indicative mood, which is employed for factual statements and positive beliefs: â€Å"If that is the case, I’m leaving.† â€Å"I want to go home now.† â€Å"Now that I’m here, I’m going to do something about it.† â€Å"Are you following the news?† â€Å"If you’re going to fail, at least do it with class.† Most of the forms in the first list and those expressing other variants of the subjunctive mood give us little or no trouble, but the form demonstrated in the first example in the first list often throws writers for a loop: For example, do you write â€Å"I wish I was rich,† or â€Å"I wish I were rich†? Frequently, people erroneously use the indicative mood when they should use the subjunctive. For example, â€Å"He asked me if I was in charge† uses the indicative mood, so it seems natural to use the same form of the verb â€Å"to be† (was) for a similar but conditional sentence: â€Å"If I was in charge, I would do things differently.† But is that right? To test the form you’ve used to see whether it is correct, reorder the syntax so the verb comes first: Does â€Å"Was I in charge, I would do things differently† make sense, or is â€Å"Were I in charge, I would do things differently† logical? The latter sentence is obviously the correct one, so the proper sentence starting with â€Å"If I† is â€Å"If I were in charge, I would do things differently.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Inquire vs EnquireConnotations of 35 Words for Funny PeopleWhat is an Anagram?

RFPs are sick, not dead Read this article, and write a report about it Essay

RFPs are sick, not dead Read this article, and write a report about it - Essay Example nizations require to consider when they are making decisions concerning the most appropriate routes for making pre-contract engagements with their suppliers. The St. Paul meeting center that is located in Mississippi uses RFP’s or information to find visitors to their ideal locations that they have established for holding conferences, conventions, trade shows and other similar events. The company’s RFP requires any personal or event information that their customers may require so that can prepare in advance for the meetings. It also contains the preferred contact methods and any other information that the customers may require on their site. The requirements include things like hospitality suite and audio visual requirements and descriptions of the catered dining events among other similar issues (Cendyn, 2012). According to the article, â€Å"RFP’s are sick, not dead† some senior representatives who were attending the Business Travel Market session 2012 debated on the issue with some proposing while others were opposing the motion. The critics insisted that RFP’s had been very long and required too many details that were in fact placing heavy burdens on their suppliers with the hope of winning business (Leach, 2012). However, one Bruno Fornasiero who was a global sales optimization director defended the process claiming that the principles behind the processes had remained strong over time though improvements could be made on this process. In his defense, he explained that he had viewed on many occasions RFP’s that asked questions like, â€Å"How many key strokes are required to make a booking†. Some other participants like Russell Green, a corporate sales director from the UK & IHG Company strongly resented the traditional processes and advocated for the use of the less official RFI (Request for Information) process. Telefonica’s HR, Sarah-Jayne Aldridge did however support the use of these RFP’s by suggesting that it was the suppliers who did not

MGR #7 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

MGR #7 - Essay Example It is evident that grace contributes to transforming us from our presumed commitment to God to a condition of delight as emphasized by Joanne. Additionally, the idea that grace is at the disposal of man to utilize in establishing a relationship with God was quite liberal. The author stresses on the use of human abilities in altering their ways. According to how the author presented her thoughts, it is noted that her book reflects her aspirations for others to reform their insights into Gods grace. She aspires that people use their abilities to change their ways God. Grace is a property of the Supreme Being demonstrated in the salvation of sinners. The Christian expectations often hold that there is an action in the relationship that exists between God and people in a way that must be seen through supernatural understandings. As much as grace is available for optional use by whoever wishes, the framework jeopardizes the salvation process as it makes Christians continuously lag behind in their spiritual

Financial Reporting Problem Essay Example for Free

Financial Reporting Problem Essay Abstract In this paper we will discuss Walmart’s Balance sheet and Income Statement. We will analyze the company’s total assets at the end of the most recent annual reporting year and to why it is important. We then will talk about the company’s total assets, how much cash and cash equivalents did the company have, as well as, the amount of accounts payable at the most recent year, and from the previous year. What the company’s net revenues are from the last three annual reporting periods, the change in dollars in the company’s net income from the most recent annual reporting period to the previous annual reporting period. We will talk about the company’s total assets at the end of the most recent year and the previous year from the annual reporting period. Lastly, we will discuss as to what information that has been obtained within this paper that would be important to a potential investor, employee and so forth. Financial Reporting Problem, Part 1 Total Assets The total assets for Wal-Mart as of January 31, 2013 were $203,105,000. The reason this is important for a company or business to know, is so the business can have a better understanding of how much the company is worth. Knowing how much a company is worth is beneficial because the assets can be used as collateral for a loan. Also knowing the assets and comparing total assets to previous years can show if a company is growing and expanding or shrinking. For Wal-Mart, the comparison from the previous year shows that the total assets increased. As of January 31, 2012 the company showed total assets of $193,406,000. With the comparison from January 31, 2012 to the current figure from January 31, 2013 Wal-Mart grew and/or expanded in total assets by 9,699,000. Cash and Cash Equivalent The total cash and cash equivalent for the end of the year for Wal-Mart as of January 31, 2013 is 7,781,000. Knowing the total cash and cash equivalent will help the company to know how much the company has to spend. No organization has the intention of spending more money then what the company has available. If a company has very low cash or cash equivalent then the company will need to consider if a loan is needed. In consideration for a loan total expenses needs to be considered. If a company like Wal-Mart has enough cash to pay all expenses then a loan isnt needed, but if the expense exceeds the cash then a loan is needed. Also another factor to consider on getting a loan is if the money coming into the company will be enough to pay the loan back. Accounts Payable The accounts payable for the end of the most recent annual reporting period that ended January 31, 2013 is 1,061,000. Knowing the accounts payable helps a company to know one of the companies expenses. This is important because if the companies accounts payable are higher than the money coming in, that could be a problem for the business. Comparing to previous years accounts payable can show many different problems or benefits for the business. Net Revenues Walmart Inc. net revenues from the last three annual reporting periods are as follows; On January 31st, 2011 in the amount of $421,849,000. On January 31st, 2012 the net revenues were; $446,950,000 and on January 31st, 2013 it totaled to the amount of $469,162,000. From looking at the reports Walmart Inc. has had an increased from 2011 to 2012 in the amount of $25,101,000 and from 2012 to 2013 has increased to $22,212,000. Net Revenue helps account for certain price reductions, adjustments and refunds. This is necessary to get the general measure of the real top line rather than the bottom line. Net Income Looking at Walmart’s income statement from the net income of 2013 on January 31st it totaled in $16,999,000. The change from 2012 and 2013 is a increase in $1,300,000. The net income from 2012 is $15,699,000. From looking at the statement and seeing that there is a loss due to nonredeemable and redeemable non-controlling interest the company has lost net income by 16,998,000 within 2013 but in 2012 only had a 609,000 difference, and in 2011 had a 1,289,000 difference from 2013. When it comes to Net Income it is closely followed and play a huge role in ratio analysis. Shareholders take a close look at the net income due to their compensation of the company. If a business is not generating enough profit, the values of shares fall. It is important to know that net income does not measure to how much cash a company has earned during a given period. Change in Dollars of Net Income The change in dollars of Walmart’s net income from 2013 is 16,999,000 and from 2012 it is only a million dollar difference of 15,999,000. Total Assets in Recent Year from Annual Reporting Wal-Mart has reported its accounting period for fiscal year 2013; accounting period ends on January 31st of each year. Wal-Mart’s current total of assets as of fiscal year 2013 is $203,105,000.00. Wal-Mart continues to grow in consecutive years with an average increase in assets of $10,000,000 dollars a year for the past five years. The earnings per share have increased 10.6 percent increasing their shares to $5.02. The company has made earnings in addition of $22 billion make it a $ 466 billion dollar corporation. It is with no doubt that the success of the corporation continues on the rise. The corporation owns 4,000 locations in the United States alone adding $10 billion alone in net sales. Further from generating income and investing in growth and assets Wal-Mart has always researched and invested in ways to reduce expenses and operating costs. Strategies such as training front line and middle managers in operating cost reductions and implementing sales and inventory syste ms have greatly reduced operating costs in the current successful years. Total Assets from Previous Annual Report In fiscal year 2012, Wal-Mart had a total of earning of $15.8 billion  with a closing total of net sales of $443.9 billion. Since 1992 Wal-Mart has made and increased a total net worth of sales of $400 billion dollars. The corporation strategy for 2012 was to continue to invest in growth and re-enforce in what separates them from their competitors, their low incomparable low merchandise prices. A very unique idea that required greater investments and growth was that of creating a merchandise corporation to the public that provided a one stop be all shopping store. The corporation concentrated in providing its customers a broad assortment of merchandise which provided customers in a sense a time saving tool in a high tempo life style generation. Wal-Mart’s obvious and epic success of how effective and efficient their corporation strategies are. In addition Wal-Mart continues to re-invest in its online market and expanding its online strategy. Important Information Wal-Mart received a total of $332 million in common stock in the year of 2013 alone. In 2012 Wal-Mart returned dividends to its investors worth $60 billion in shares. A high number of their investors are Wal-Mart associates averaging an increased percentage of stocks by the yearly. A yearly accounting period of accounting provides the corporation’s accounting state which in return provides transparency to its current investors and a corporate overview of potential new investors. Internally Wal-Mart benefits from these reports in projecting new investments. Strategic Management can influence how much can be reinvested while at the same time have oversight of how expenses, employee and associate management, and operating costs have to be considered before any over spending incurs. Overall an accounting report is essentially the backbone of a corporation. The accounting structure requires having a solid foundation in a corporation in order to have a successful business. Accountin g is the measurement of how much a business fails or it is successful. References http://c46b2bcc0db5865f5a76-91c2ff8eba65983a1c33d367b8503d02.r78.cf2.rackcdn.com/88/2d/4fdf67184a359fdef07b1c3f4732/2013-annual-report-for-walmart-stores-inc_130221024708579502.pdf

Leadership Study Essay -- Leadership

The ability to be a leader has been studied extensively. Throughout this extensive study, some have pointed to leadership being a born trait (Northouse, 2012) while others point to the ability to learn the skills associated with becoming a great leader (Hughes, Ginnett and Curphy, 2012). While each side has its own valid points, one way to argue either way to see these skills in action. Whether these skills are seen in a high school student government association or the office of a large nationwide non-profit, they are present. The study of leadership has led to the description of several different styles of leadership. These styles include legitimate, expert, information, connections, referent, coercion and reward power. No matter the type of experiences a person has, they will most likely see these types of power. Legitimate power may be one of the easiest forms of power to identify. Hughes and colleagues (2012) refer to legitimate power as one’s formal or official authority. This power is mostly appointed, but can be given through democratic processes (Sager, 2008). A leader who asks someone to complete a task or assigns a specific role to someone can be seen as legitimate. Local culture, as defined by the bureaucratic and chain of command within an organization, is a great way to identify who has legitimate power. A call center environment is a great example of this legitimate power hierarchy. Within one such environment the company was divided amongst several different leaders. The top of the hierarchy was the channel manager, who is held accountable to the client. Below this level are two managers who assign the task of contacting customers to those employees who make direct contact with clients. These two managers mon... ...l and the organization. Works Cited Culley, M.R. and Hughes, J. (2008). Power and public participation in a hazardous waste dispuit: A community case study, American journal of community psychology, 41, 98-114. DOI: 10.1007/s10464-007-9157-5. Hughes, R., Ginnett, R., & Curphy, G. (2012). Leadership: Enhancing the lessons of experience. (7 ed.). Montouri, Amsterdam: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Northouse, P. (2012). Leadership: Theory and practice. (6 ed.). Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publishing. Sager, J. (2008) Sources of power. In Rothman, J, Erlich, J.L. and Tropman, J.E. (Eds.), Stratgeies of community intervention (pp. 425-446). Peoesta, Iowa, Eddie Bowers publishing co. inc.. Strom, S. (9 July 2008) Funds misappropriated at 2 non-profit groups. New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/09/us/09embezzle.html?_r=1 on May 25, 2012.

Eudora Welty Research Paper

She was the oldest of three children and the only girl of a very close-knit family. Her father, Christian Webb Welt, was an Ohio native who worked for an Insurance company. Her mother, Mary Chastens Welt, had been a schoolteacher In West Flagella. Welt's mother, being a schoolteacher, loved to read and Influenced Welt to read at a young age. In her biography, Welt tells about her earliest memories of her parents reading to her and to each other at night.She was always surrounded by books and was always reading. Her love of reading led her to graduate high school and further her education, which most girls during this time did not do. Welt had potential that did not go to waste. Eduardo Welt became a well-known, skilled writer who used her own background and experiences to help shape her stories into something captivating, stressing the importance of place in each and every story (Kerosene). She began her studies at the Mississippi State College for Women. Here, she helped start a lit erary magazine.Two years later, she began studying at the university of Wisconsin and earned her bachelor's degree there. After Informing her arenas that she wanted to become a writer, her father suggested she have something else to fall back on. Upon his advice, she decided to study advertising at the Columbia university School of Business. The job industry was tough when she graduated, so Welt decided to move back to Jackson (Machismo). After moving back home to Jackson, she began working for a local radio station and wrote about the society of Jackson for the Commercial Appeal in Memphis.Five years after taking this job, she began working for the Works Progress Administration, which was a government program established during the Depression, as a publicity gent. Welt thoroughly enjoyed this Job, which enabled her to travel all over Mississippi and see things she had never seen before. The people she saw amazed her and worried her at the same time. She used a cheap camera to captu re pictures of everything she saw and documented It for the WAP. She wished for these pictures to be published, but they only went so far as to be exalted In New York.She also interviewed various people, each one intriguing her more and more (Prose). Through her experiences working with the Works Progress Administration, she got a huge feel of Southern life outside of Jackson. This was the starting point for her future in writing her stories. Location was of great importance in Welt's stories. She believed that place was what made stories seem real and complete. One of Welt's famous quotes is, â€Å"A place that ever was lived in is like a fire that never goes out. Jackson was her home all of her life, and it was what she knew best. She Incorporated this familiarity and Intimacy so flawlessly into her work and It is this that draws the reader in. It is so apparent that heart Is put Into her writings. Although most of her stories are set In the deep south, most critics Greer that he r work Is all-inclusive and not narrowed Just to southern living, language, and customs (Moloch). She Is able to detach from what she knows best and observe other aspects of the world.Neither of her parents were originally from Living in New York for a few years also broadened her horizons. She said it best when she said, â€Å"Through travel I first became aware of the outside world; it was through travel that I found my own introspective way into becoming a part of it. † With all of her experiences tied together piece by piece, story by story, Eduardo Welt became a well-known, award winning writer (Discussions). Eduardo Welt explained in her autobiographical work, One Writer's Beginnings, how her fiction stories grew from this â€Å"sheltered life† that she lived.This book was published later, in 1984, and consisted of three different lectures that she gave at Harvard University, with the sections being titled: â€Å"Listening†, â€Å"Learning to See†, and â€Å"Finding a Voice†. She used this book to give an explanation of what makes a writer become a writer and to show her natural roots. She explains how she converted this part of her life into a new and different perception, and from this, she wrote her fiction. Using a series of expressive memories, she described in detail her life as she was growing up.She used memories that she felt were â€Å"significant†, which kept the reader wanting to read more, instead of growing bored. She says it best herself in only a few sentences: â€Å"Long before I wrote stories, I listened for stories. Listening for them is something more acute than listening to them. I suppose it's an early form of participation in what goes on. Listening children know stories are there. When their elders sit and begin, children are Just waiting and hoping for one to come out, like a mouse from its hole. (Welt) Welt's first published short story of her career was written in 1936 called â€Å"De ath of a Traveling Salesman†.She sent this story, along with a letter, to the editors of a magazine called Manuscript. The magazine published her story and her letter in their June issue. The story was very well written for it to be her first, and showed that she knew what she was doing. Two admired publications, the Atlantic and the Southern Review, allowed Welt's work to appear their magazines within Just two years Cones). Her talent in her first story was recognized by the author Katherine Anne Porter. Porter went on to write a complimentary preface for Welt's first book, A Curtain of Green, full of Welt's short stories.This introduction boosted the American awareness of Welt's work. Welt's first novel, Delta Wedding, was published in 1946 (Discussions). A few decades after Welt's career launched, around 1956, she began having troubles at home. Her brother's arthritis became more severe, disabling him and also causing heart problems. Just as this problem occurred, Welt's mo ther had a series of strokes. The strokes took a huge toll on Welt's mother, and it left her all but blind. More problems followed these already troubled times. Her other brother fell into a depression, and it wasn't his first.He was also afflicted with the same arthritis that had taken over their brother (Mars). For almost ten years, Welt fought through many battles, seeing family members and friends close to her suffer through illnesses, some less fortunate in their struggle than others. Theses hardships limited her writing, but in the long run, they only made her and her work stronger. She was finally able to finish her novel, Losing Battles, in 1970 (Vandalized). This was the one piece of work that took Welt the longest to make. In reviewing the book for the

Analyse The Business Model Of Supermarket Chain Aldi - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2427 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Statistics Essay Level High school Did you like this example? Analyse the business model of supermarket chain Aldi Introduction Aldi, a German supermarket chain, entered the UK market in 1990 and now operates a network of over 500 stores (Aldi, 2014). The competitive landscape for UK supermarkets is fierce (Sandberg, 2013) with many different strategies being adopted, each aligned to a different segment of the market. Aldi focuses on delivering a basic, value for money shopping experience (Naslund, 2013). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Analyse The Business Model Of Supermarket Chain Aldi" essay for you Create order Such a cost leadership strategy and lower cost structure enables discount companies to enter and take a larger percentage share of the market (Harvard Business Review, 2005). As consumers focus on saving money in times of recession, the business model used by Aldi presents an opportunity to save money on weekly food shopping whilst still buying healthy food. Supermarkets following a low cost leadership strategy often stock the same product as their rivals but deliver it under a different service model (Harvard Business Review, 2005). Smaller companies, such as Aldi, do not spend as much time publicising their plans or marketing their products, this can create competitive advantage as they are less exposed to public opinion. This leads to an information gap, however it also allows them to develop and grow quickly whilst adapting to the changing trends (Skordili, 2013). The increased demand for cheaper food is better served by discount retailers. It also removes a significant cost a ssociated with in store branding, technology and functionality, enabling the same or similar products to be offered cheaper. The external business environment is made up of two elements; the general macro environment which takes a wide lens view of the environment in which the business operates and the micro view which focuses on the specific industry or sector in which the business operates (McLean, 2005). The external environment refers to events or trends, which are relevant to the business, as well as being uncontrollable by the business. The external environment directly contributes to the success or failure of the business, for example in 2010 Aldi left the marketplace in Greece citing unfavourable external factors as the reason (Skordili, 2013). By understanding the external environment leaders make better decisions (Kefalas, 1981); knowing the likely impact of that decision and knowing what might affect the organisation in the future. The external business environment is changing faster than ever (Mason, 2007) and therefore being able to understand, anticipate and adapt to changing trends is a key leadership skill (Kotter, 1996). This essay presents an analysis of the external business environment in which Aldi UK operates. Analysis of the general macro environment using PEST before a more focused analysis of the retail supermarket sector is conducted using Porters Five Forces Model in order to draw conclusions. The External Business Environment Stacey (2011) explains that the dynamic of this macro external market place can be categorised into a number of headings for the purpose of analysis. PEST allows a business to periodically scan the environment to anticipate future trends as well as identify current challenges. PEST scanning splits the environment into 4 key factors: Political, Economic, Social and Technology. This is a commonly used, simple model which allows the general market to be scanned. The micro external environment was described by Porter as being concerned with getting raw materials to consumers, suppliers to buyers and how the connection are made in a competitive way (Linstead, Fulop and Lilley, 2004). In this model the specific sector or market in which the organisation operates is analysed, this allows the specific market challenges within that sector to be understood for that organisation. To undertake this micro level analysis Porter created a model called the Five Forces which looks at the interac tion between the forces. At the heart of the model is competitive rivalry which is impacted by 4 other forces: Power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Power of customers Threat of substitutes Porter argued success was created by the organisations ability to negotiate with suppliers to get the right prices which enable a low cost leadership model or enable larger margins. By putting itself in this position the organisation remains in the driving seat. PEST Analysis There are a number of factors which Aldi need to consider as part of their PEST analysis of the UK marketplace. The Political Environment The UK elections in May 2015 may result in a change of government. A new government may impose new legislation, tax implications and market conditions. Furthermore, with some of the parties pledging a European referendum as part of their campaign, such a move could lead to the UK leaving the European Union which, as a German company, may present a further risk which will need to be addressed. Employment legislation continues to change on a regular basis, 2015 has already seen significant changes with the introduction of shared parental leave (ACAS, 2015). There are continued discussions around the extension of paternity leave. Such changes have an economic impact on the business but also create risk that staff may take a case to tribunal. It is proposed that zero-hour contracts will be abolished in 2015 (ACAS, 2015), as a supermarket it is likely that seasonal staffing is used in busy periods such as Christmas. Without zero hour contracts this could become harder to staff and more expensive. As a European company, EU legislation is also a factor to consider as any change at a EU level will also have a direct impact on the organisation. The Economic Environment As the UK economy moves out of recession, there could be a change of buying behaviour from low-cost stores back to mainstream supermarkets. This shift could have a detrimental effect on market share. Aldi may need to consider how to compete in such conditions, if at all. During times of financial pressure consumers turn to cheaper food suppliers (Skordili, 2013), which has created an ideal market for Aldi in the UK and has contributed to its growth. This may in turn change demand, supply and fundamentally affect pricing creating instability in the company as customers go back to higher priced competitors. A change in government may also create a different in tax requirements, which could become more costly. Success is created through a finely tuned supply chain, with distribution and logistical capability becoming one of the key competitive weapons available (Sandberg, 2013). Aldi operates a model which has created success in Germany where the main point of competition is price, with consumers preferring lower levels of service and a narrower choice to enable a lower price (Fernie and Arnold, 2002). The Social Environment Discount chains could be met with a degree of social stigma, as the economy rises individuals may want to shop at more expensive leading names such as Tesco, Sainsburys or even Waitrose. The UK has an aging population (Cracknell, 2010), an older workforce may be more costly in terms of sickness and present further problems for employers. With the introduction of auto-enrolment for pension schemes this adds a further cost to the business as employers will have to contribute to employees pensions. As competitors such as Asda, Tesco and Sainsburys introduce a more diverse range of products including clothing, non food items, opticians, chemists, travel agencies and more which could see a change of buying behaviour. Competitors also offer a 24 hour opening service, as the way people work becomes more diverse over time will this see a change in buying habits. Aldi may need to consider this strategy as a way to maintain market share. This will carry increased costs both in terms of overheads and staffing costs. There have been a number of international companies highlighted in the press due to their accounting practice and what this means in terms of where they pay their tax (Barford and Holt, 2013) This could lead to a change in favour by UK consumers who may feel increased loyalty to UK established firms. By operating a narrower product range, Aldi has moved away from abundance of choice and created a streamlined shopping experience. Busy family life may benefit from this approach of making the shopping process quicker and more focused. The Technological Environment Online and mobile shopping is becoming increasingly popular (Butler, 2013), currently not offered by Aldi this may be a strategy that needs to be considered. This may also need to be enhanced with other technology led initiatives such as in-store media, self-checkout and access to Wifi. Technological infrastructures are a key component of the supply chain of the modern business, intelligent stock management and supply is key to success. Point of sale systems and checkout facilities are significantly different in larger stores, Aldi operates a traditional conveyor belt approach with no options for self service. Enhanced service from competitors such as offering to pack up bags for consumers creates a different in store experience however the average time per person will increase. Five Forces Analysis Within the grocery sector in the UK there is fierce competitive rivalry. A micro analysis is presented below: Threat of New Entrants à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Low The threat of new entrants is relatively low due to the cost of entry and the competitive environments. The cost requirement for a new brand to establish itself in the market is high. Building a large retail estate network coupled with stock levels will take significant investment. As Tesco enters a period of decline, due to what is widely considered unethical practice, bad financial management and abuse of power (Proud, 2015). This may lead to a decline in consumer favour leading to opportunities for merger and acquisition of the brand. Threat of Substitute Products à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Medium / HighBy offering a narrow product range, Aldi remains agile to changing trends. Products can be changed quickly in the event of changing market trends. Aldi operates relatively small stores therefore limiting the number of products that can be offered. Substituted could therefore be offered by larger stores, with more space to offer an increased product range. The Bargaining Power of Suppliers Low Supermarkets have greater bargaining power than suppliers, often pushing for discounts and favourable terms due to the scale of buying power (Proud, 2015). Suppliers may favour larger orders from the bigger competitors, therefore are less willing to offer discounts and offers to the Aldi chain. However Aldi still operates a chain of 500 stores so has a degree of buying power in its own right. It also has the additional power to buy across multiple countries in order to get favourable terms. The Bargaining Power of Buyers à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" High Buyers can make choices about which supermarket to use very easily based on offers, availability of items and ease of access. Aldi does not offer a loyalty scheme so there is no additional incentive to return week on week. Rivalry among Existing Firms à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" High The sector is subject to intense rivalry with a focus on cost. Many brands offer to match prices of their competitors and undertake price comparison activities. This fierce rivalry leads to aggressive marketing campaigns with each player trying to win market share from the other. This increase competitive activity creates additional costs through advertising and marketing as well as leading to reduced prices (Linstead, Fulop and Lilley, 2004. Aldi operates on a low level of fixed costs in order to deliver lower priced products, with competitors also targeting this lower price point this presents a risk to Aldi if they are not able or willing to invest in advertising to address such activity. Conclusions Aldi operates in a highly competitive market place, both the macro and micro perspectives show challenging market conditions. Whilst new entrants are unlikely there is a clear need to explore changing customer buying trends and how interactive routes to market contribute to customer loyalty. With buying patterns moving towards 24 hour shopping, online marketing and self-service, consideration needs to be made around whether this needs to be included in Aldis long term strategy. The UK election in May 2015 presents the most immediate challenge, particularly if that results in a change of government and possible European referendum. Should the UK leave the EU this is likely to present Aldi with a financial challenge as well as imposing possible import restrictions for products. Equally, such a move could also see buying trends move towards British companies. Aldi continues to thrive in the market, however a change in the disposable income of its customers may also change buying habits. Focus on retention of market share needs to be integrated into the strategic sustainability plans, particularly in the absence of any loyalty schemes. Continual development and alignment to its target market is critically important to maintain market share and ultimately survive. Consideration needs to be made around what consumers want from their experience. By undertaking market research and focus groups Aldi will be able to understand what is working and what may be useful to start to consider. In a world where change is the norm it should be expected that all businesses will have to adapt and become more agile to some degree. References: ACAS (2015). www.acas.org Aldi (2014). www.aldisuppliers.co.uk Auyama, Y. (2007). Oligopoly and the Structural Paradox of Retail TNCs: an assessment of Carrefour and Walmart in Japan. Journal of Economic Geography. 7. P471-490. Barford, V. and Holt, G. (2013). Google, Amazon, Starbucks: The rise of tax shaming. BBC News (retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20560359) Butler, S. (2013). Online and Upward: UK internet shopping hits record high. The Guardian (retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/dec/17/online-internet-shopping-high-street-record) Cracknell, R. (2010). The Ageing Population. Key Issues for the New Parliament. House of Parliament Library Research. (retrieved from https://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/lib/research/key_issues/Key-Issues-The-ageing-population2007.pdf) Fernie, J. and Arnold, S. (2002). Walmart in Europe; prospects for Germany, the UK and France. International Journal of Retail and Distribution Manage ment. 30 (2). P 92à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å"102. Harvard Business Review (2005). Strategy; create and implement the best strategy for your business. Boston, MA. Kefalas, A. G. (1981). Analysing Changes in the External Business Environment. Planning Review. 9 (4). P26-46. Kotter, J. P. (1996). Kill Complacency. Fortune. 5. P 122-4. Linstead, S., Fulop, L. and Lilley, S. (2004). Management and Organisation; a critical text. Palgrave, New York. NY. McLean, J. (2005). Management Techniques and Theories. British Journal of Administrative Management. 48. 17-17. Mason, R. B. (2007). The External Environment Effect on Management and Strategy. Management Decisions. 45 (1). P10-28. Naslund, D. (2013). Keeping the Customer (relatively) satisfied. Strategic Direction. 30 (3). P13-15. Proud, A. (2015). The decline of Tesco is a good, old-fashioned morality tale. The Guardian. (retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/11351115/The-decline-of-Tesco-is-a-good-old- fashioned-morality-tale.html) Sandberg, E. (2013). Understanding logistics-based competition in retail; a business model approach. International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management. 41(3). P.176-188. Skordili, S. (2013). The Sjourn of Aldi in Greece. Journal of Business and Retail Management Research. 8 (1). Stacey, R.D. (2011). Strategic Management and Organisational Dynamics. Laureate Education Inc. London, England.