College Tuition Essay Example for Free

College Tuition EssayIn todays society, the idea of a college education has become little of an option and more(prenominal) of a necessary requirement and is commonly considered the only way to acquire a successful c beer and life. There are many a(prenominal) careers, in which a college education is not technically necessary, that can often be just as or even more successful. With the cost of college t apieceing increasing with ein truth passing year, the controversy of whether college is really worth the cost and burden is growing too. If our society wants to continue displaying a college education as clean of a necessity for success, I believe the cost of it should shift to being a more realistic price, suitable for the majority of students striving to go to college. some high school students feel pressure by not only the family, and also peers and teaching faculty to go to college because its the smart intimacy to do, but some may be hesitant to choose the college r t abue because they believe their experiences will be different and the benefits of get the job and do all their money back wont apply to them.Economic research concludes that more students would gain from college rather than opting out from it, and choosing a different route. Yes, there are many careers that require little or no further education after high school that may be considered successful jobs, such as construction and more hands on jobs, but it is averaged that over a lifetime those who ensure college make about $500,000 more than those who do not. Seven out of ten college seniors (71%) who graduated last year had student loan debt, with an average of $29,400 per borrower. From 2008 to 2012 debt at graduation increased an average rate of six percent each year. (The Project of Student Debt). With all of the debts, not covered by either scholarships or financial attending, accumulated over the course of an individuals schooling, the do of additional money made becomes l ess substantial if the tuition and fees were to fall down, the additional money made would not be as affected. The costs to attend 2 of the leading universities in Oregon, University of Oregon and Oregon State, for four years averages at about $88,000, and that doesnt even include everyday personal expenses.For non-residents that price is more than doubled that of a resident student. In 1980, it cost anaverage of about $56,000 (adjusting for inflation) to attend a university for four years. This figure includes tuition, fees, and the opportunity cost, or income one foregoes to attend school instead of holding a job. (This figure excludes room and board one must eat and sleep whether she is in college or not. )In 2010, four years of college cost more than $82,000, a nearly 50 percent increase over that 30-year period. (Brookings Institute). Sure there are many scholarships and financial aid a student is able to apply for, but with so many students applying for such scholarships, y oure chances of receiving them become slimmer.A lot of scholarships also do not benefit students as a whole and either target minorities, athletes, or financial aid students. Community college is also a viable option for many, but is often looked beat upon. You dont often hear a high school student say I want to go to a connection college or I cant wait to go to a community college with loads of enthusiasm. Not only do students and their families look down upon going to a community college, but teachers as well think lesser of community colleges and often express their opinions out loud.This makes students look at community colleges as less of a viable option and more of a last option. When applying for jobs, it also looks a lot more prestigious when it is shown that one be a university rather than a community college. Although most colleges may not consider ways to lower the costs of college, there are many ways in which a lower tuition and overall price is possible. One direct contribution to the costs of schooling is the professors salary. Many college educators do not actually deserve the amount of money they make.Teachers should receive a salary that accurately reflects how affective the professor is at teaching. College fees also include spare additions that are not required and could easily be taken off, such as gym memberships, recreation center memberships, and other additional bonuses that are not essential. Also, although Im a student-athlete as well, the amount of money given away in scholarships just to play sports at that school has become a bit ridiculous. If the amount of money for scholarships went back into the school directly, the cost of tuition would decrease, and the need for those said scholarships would decrease as well.It is apparent that student athletes are held to a higher regard than other students. Often, you see students that are all-state athletes that get decent grades receive more money and special treatment in comparison to a student that does not do related extra-curricular activities, yet gets exceedingly high grades. This is not fair in any way the elimination or decrease of athletic scholarships given out would eliminate the inequality commonly displayed throughout colleges.College tuition is at an outrageous high right now and is not masking many signs of decreasing. The costs of college and sending a student off to college have become much of a burden for many families across America. With how necessary getting a college education is considered, the cost of it all should shift to a more suitable price. The shift would be very difficult to achieve, and would be a very long process, but I do believe it is possible, not only for my generation, but the next several generations of students on the path to attend college.Work Cited scalawag Greenstone, Michael, and Adam Looney. Regardless of the Cost, College Still Matters. The Brookings Institution. The Hamilton Project, 05 Oct. 2012. Web. 31 Oc t. 2014. . Student Financial Aid and Scholarships. Cost of Attendance. University of Oregon, n. d. Web. 31 Oct. 2014. . Financial Aid and Scholarships. Cost of Attendance. Oregon State University, n. d. Web. 31 Oct. 2014. . State by State Data. Project on Student Debt. The Project on Student Debt, 2013. Web. 31 Oct. 2014. .

Organism Physiology Essay Example for Free

Organism Physiology EssayIntroductionThis paper will clearly display a diagram of an organism of the students choice. This organism will display all of the main structures of the primary organs by labeling. C beful research will exhibit the concepts of natural selection and adaptation. Selected organism will address the proper concepts that apply. Three physiological adaptions were investigated by the student. Upon conclusion of the students investigation, knowledge will grant the understanding of how physiological adaptions depart the selected organism to thrive in its bionomic niche. The organism that was selected for this essay is the Fish. External AnatomyThis diagram below was provided and reproduced with the kind consent of WWW.FLORIDA FISHERIES.COM. Florida Fisheries has developed and provided the illustration of the impertinent detail breakdown of a giantmouth bass tip as shown belowExplanation of why nuisance species like the Fish share an make up importance to the economy and to ecology. Fish evolution and adaption process has produced many species that are a great contribution to mankind in many aspects.INTERNAL course in that location are many variations of search who are defined as animals. Fish represents the most common living vertebrates. Currently, there are an estimation of at least 25,000 species of seek who are living today and this number is growing. The cold-blooded fish have a backbone and fins. Inaddition, fish breathe with an airway named gills. Fish have skin however, on top of the skin is scales. There are some fish who do not have scales as catfish who only have skin. Fish are able to steer, stop, move, maintain their position and stop by using their fins. The location of these fins vary in antithetic fish. As for the scales on fish they vary as well. Amazingly all fish have a slimy mucus covering that protect fish for obtaining infections.Fish are referred to as aquatic vertebrates and they have appendages which have gone through the adapted process over a set time vagabond for the purpose of swimming. Mastering their domain which is water have gained the attention of many scientist. Fish come in various sizes and colors and have hearty appetites which substantiates their might consume a large variety of foods.Evolution and Adaption ProcessThere are many different species of fish. The first fish were vertebrates which were labeled as Ostracoderms. These fish were evident during the Cambrian Period approximately 510 million years ago. These vertebrates became extinct when the Devonian period ended 350 million years ago. One of the distinct character traits of these fish were jawless and their primary home was always in fresh water. Another distinct trait was their size which measured less than 30 cm (1foot long). Their outside appearance as a bony scales covering the entire body of the fish. Osteichtyes are a ground level of bony fish that exist about 20,000. This class of fish which has a hi story of more than 410 million years include tuna, eels and many other varieties of bony fish. These fish ceased to exist when a class of large humongous fish like the Sharks, Whales, and Placoderms arrived on the scene.Evolution has proven for these fish to exist their lungs increased allowing these fish to develop a swim bladder. This evolution process allowed these fish to float in the water no matter how high the water is. In addition, this evolution became very evident in the fish lungs. There are many categories however the three major for bony fish are lung, ray-fins, and lobed. Their existence depends on the type of water that they stand up in. When these fish live in fresh water the oxygen level must have at least ninety percent. Their physiological characteristics of these fish gills is to strategic conduct a gas exchange where these fish maneuver water across their blood vessels. This fish gills are a very important physical traitwhich is cover by opercula. This part of the fish looks like large plates. Digestive, and circulatory systems of these fish operate with a heart that has only two chambers.ConclusionFish are a proven great contribution to all of mankind. Their evolution has proven to be very successful for a proven source for all of mankind. Gaining a greater understanding of their past to present will establish boundaries to protect their ongoing evolution. Some of the concepts of adaption and concepts of natural selection of how these fish thrive in its ecological niche have been addressed.Reference1. WWW.FLORIDA FISHERIES.COM2. www.lookd.com/fish/evolution.html

Why do I really need knowledge?

Why do I really need familiarity?Knowledge is defined as rightful(prenominal)ified true belief1. This means that knowledge is any justified belief that can be proven to be true. The question The whole point of knowledge is to produce both nitty-gritty decision in our personal lives. get out be the basis for my essay. This statement cl shoots that as we net knowledge, we gain core and purpose that affect our personal lives, which is to say, we find the answers we were looking for and also a thirst to know more. However, I do not believe that, when we gain knowledge, it affects everyone around us. My m oppositewise is a banker, the knowledge she has gained, not lonesome(prenominal) when helps her, simply mainly impacts on others around her, because with that knowledge she has started her own bank. Whenever we gain knowledge, we also gain answers and more questions. In the Osrailway car Pistorius case, police investigators wanted to establish why he killed his girlfriend (i mportee) and whether it was even him that killed his girlfriend (purpose).2 In this case, meaning is linked to intent, because thither needs to be a reason for it and purpose is linked to opportunity, because at that place needs to be a way. When we gain new knowledge we feel better aware and more curious about our surroundings. That is to say, we learn to give ourselves meaning and purpose and in turn affect others, there are many cases where this is proven. Isaac Newton can be an example, when he first wondered about gravity he was sitting under a tree when an apple fell on his head. It was then that he wondered what force made things fall. He sought to find meaning to why the objects always fell back to earth, so he began experimenting on different objects, using reason, he used the resulting knowledge he got from his observation to learn that anything that goes up must fall down to the ground3. These discover he made were later called the laws of gravity and since they have ma ny uses. It has become common sense since multitude now know to be cautious when dealing with high places. When I was little, I picked up my baby baby from her crib while she was sleeping, when my mother anchor me with my sister dangling by a foot, she screamed. This is because she knows the fundamentals about gravity and that if my sister fell, she wouldve been hurt.Isaac Newton also developed the laws of motion, which states that an object in motion will continue to stay in motion until and external force is acted on it4. The laws of motion are used in different fields like car manu itemuring, car testing, aeronautics, These laws also have provided a basis for many creations, for example, parachutes, trampolines, diving boards, etc. When a person is driving and suddenly sees someone or something on the road in front of them, they immediately hit the brakes, as they know that if they kept going, they would collide with the person/thing in front of them, causing hurt to the perso n/thing, or to themselves/their car. Also, when they hit the brakes, an opposing force is acted on the cars forward motion, which in turn stops the car from moving. Two summers ago, I was riding a bike in my cousins house really fast. I wanted to slow down so I could get off the bike, but I mistakenly pressed the brakes, the bike stop abruptly and I was thrown out of the seat, I flipped over the handlebars and landed on my head. This is how the laws of motion would apply, because I hit the brakes, the bike stopped, but I didnt stop, so that was why I flew off.When Isaac Newton discovered these laws, it was not for any higher reason than just to learn the answers for the whys and the whats of knowledge, in this, he had gained the meaning, but he still had no intention of gaining a purpose for his life from this, it was later, that other people found the meaning and purpose in the knowledge that he had discovered.Medical professionals (doctors, dentists, veterinaries, etc.) who have l earnt medicine, anatomy, biology, etc. they used the knowledge they learnt to achieve a meaning of understanding how animal and plant bodied work, and the purpose of using that knowledge to help examine, treat or cure any injuries or illnesses within the body. My sister told me that she wants to become a pediatrician she can only when gain this knowledge for the purpose of helping children.Whenever there is a terrorist attack, whether Boko Haram, ISIS, Al Qaeda, investigators always researches everything, not only the terrorists attacking, but the victims being attacked, this is so that they can stop more attacks from happening. This is because if they can understand why a place was attacked (meaning), then it would be easier to stop other attacks in other locations (purpose).In economics, perfect competition is described as a situation where firms in an industry are relatively small in stature, have perfect knowledge of each other and are price takers5. This is mainly theoreticall y though as it cannot be practically implemented overdue to a wide range of unknown and inconstant variables. Although it is proven that this situation cannot exist, economists use the theory of perfect competition to determine the effect on the parsimony if it were to be practiced. This example is different because there is no real life scenario to go with it, but it still boosters the main point as the economists that theorized this scenario used some(prenominal) experimentation they had to come to the conclusion that it cannot exist, that is to say that the economists gained meaning from this experiment and the purpose of proving or disproving other economic scenarios.A monopoly is a situation where by a single firm has control over an entire industry, so they enjoy economies of scale and have price circumscribeting abilities6. In Nigeria, there are quatern main telecoms companies MTN, Airtel, Glo Etisalat, these four are individually owned by private firm. In Ethiopia, th ere is only one telecommunications follow that is government owned. The Nigerian companies not only offer variety, but they also have an unrestricted service plan, meaning there are no limitations or restrictions to the use of the service, this is because their main aim of these firms is to move over profit. The consumer can simply switch from one service provider to another if that customer is unsatisfied with their current service plan provider. The Ethiopian company is the only provider, so there is no need for any variety of services, they do not need to offer special plans or promotions or discounts because there is no competition for the company, there will also be heavily monitored and restricted use of the services because the main aim of the company is not to make profit, but to promote citizen optimization as they see fit, meaning that they will not allow any misuse of the service plan. There is also the fact that even if the customers are not satisfied with the service, there is nothing that they can do because they cannot change their service plan there is only one telecommunication company in the country. Here I have given two economic scenarios, the one in Nigeria is monopolistic competition, and the other in Ethiopia is a monopoly. In the first scenario, we can tell that there will be excess consumer satisfaction by the choice of four different service plans and the unrestricted access. However, in the second scenario, there would be excess dissatisfaction by the inability of choice, and the heavily restricted access. From my perception of these two scenarios, I can reason that the Nigerian telecommunication system is better because if offers the right of choice and other benefits as opposed to the Ethiopian telecommunication system which would only offer on choice with no special benefits and at whatever price the government sets. Here is an example of how we can gain meaning but not purpose, because if someone can gain the knowledge of the m onopoly of the Ethiopian telecommunications company, they can now understand why people would want to move from Ethiopia to Nigeria, but they will have nothing to do with this knowledge.The only reason for acquiring any form of knowledge would be to gain both meaning and purpose in our lives because once we have the knowledge, we understand how it involves up, meaning, and what we set out to accomplish with it.Referencesgoogle. theory+of+knowledge. n.d. website. 22 November 2014.ib-theory-of-knowledge-website. n.d. Webpage. 22 January 2015.theoryofknowledgestudents.com. n.d. webpage. 2 December 2014.Blink, Jocelyn and Ian Dorton. Economics Course Companion. New York Oxford University Press, 2011.11 The philosopher Platos definition of knowledge2 Oscar Pistorius assassinate investigation3 Newtons first law of gravity4 Isaac Newtons first law of motion5 guess of perfect competition6 Theory of monopoly

The Purpose and Benefits of Classroom Observation

The think and Benefits of classroom placardClassroom poster is a butt on by which the institute of nursing- faculty member Support Person(ASP) sits in on i or more classroom posings, records the instructors teaching practices and student actions, and then meets with the instructor to discuss the observances. The briny point behind the classroom mirror image is to stick out a instructor to get feedback from an objective, experienced commentator and to involve in context-specific discussions ab by teaching with adviser.The manifestation should not be an endorsement for promotion and exure, a judgment of the teachers teaching methods, styles and skills, or an assessment of the teachers knowledge of disciplinary content. It is purely developmental rather than determent and making decisions.Classroom notification has been used many years ago to evaluate the quality of teaching provided and the consistency surrounded by the curriculum plan and the real delivery of the material by teachers. Wagg (1999) stated that the purpose of looking at implementation is to see whether there is mismatch between intention and strategies. Classroom reflection has constantly been seen as an effortful t investigate from the side of the teachers. Negative attitudes befool been expressed from several teachers venting their disappointment about the serve up by which posting has been implemented. This feeling of unhappiness and dissatisfaction is not a product of today it is possibly an aggregation of many years of authoritarian, impressionistic, and impartial models of supervisions with teachers feeling of little proclaimership. Because the observer has a great aim in renewing the teachers contracts, they had to conform to the supervisors viewpoints .This is considered an exceptional limitation of the observation address.Diverse research revealed that the focus teachers behave in the classroom and the instructional methods they use impact the degree students learn. Consequently, using classroom observations, educators and investigators ar capable of providing feedback that may improve the teaching practices in the class. Hopkins (2002) considers that the motivation behind any take aim observation is not limited to classroom research only but it extends to the professional development of teachers. This is because of the many years of observations that contemporary educationalists agreed to desert done magazine the conventional recitation lesson (Wragg 1999).Clearly, distinguishable forms observations encompass different criteria. These criteria may be comprehensive or specific. Some observation forms may focus on the students behavior while others may seek out the response of teachers to such behaviors. According to Hopkins (2002), there atomic number 18 four methods of observation stretch out, focused, structured, and strategyatic. Each method postu youthful special instrument. . Observation tools are forms that are to be fill out by the observer. Depending on the observation technique, some forms or instruments may simply be a blank sheet, a worksheet, a scale, checklists, computer software, or a tally sheet. Some observers may be affected by the setting in which the lesson takes place and may focus on some particular possess of the teaching of one specific subject, like science or English. This in bust may influence whether they adopt a quantitative style, which is a type of overbearing approach counting and recording of individual events, or a soft method, which is a type of the open observation approach, trying to look behind and beneath the mere frequencies (wragg 1999).Furthermore, there are many observations tools used by teachers on their classes or in peer observation settings (Malamah-Thomas 1987, Wajnryb 1992). Such instruments are powerful developmental tools for teachers and for trainees advisors, allowing both to look at the lesson systematically in conjunction with the feedback from adv isors. Therefore, teachers and observers mustiness perceive the instruments similarly to avoid misinterpretations and predispositions of the items within the tools.At the level of the ION, instructors have expressed the issue of the experience of the observation tool many times. In concomitant to the way the classroom observation is conducted. However, the questions that continue to irritate my colleagues and leave them preoccupied with an answer to them are that, do all classroom observers perceive and interpret the comparable observation items within the checklist in the same(p) way?Is there any problem in the observation methods? This actually urges me to investigate these issues in the Institute of treat (ION) to find out any discrepancies in the understanding of the observation checklists and or any defect in the observation process.To pursue the parturiency appropriately, the advisors pull up stakes not be participated in any other job but collecting data. Randall and T hornton (2005) refer to an advisor who has no other than to observe and take notes as a non-participant observer (Gebhard and Oprandy 1999). As the name designates, this kind of observation requires the observer not to engage in any interaction with the individuals being observed. Instead, the observer should c erstwhilentrate on a particular behavior a specific criterion (Wragg, 1999, Hopkins 1999, 2002). For an observer, it is very important to avoid prec at a timeptions and afterward approach whatever is to be observed with an open mind (Wragg 1999).Due to its direct involvement with the individuals observed, observation does have a benefit however, it is time-consuming (Robson, 2002). Pre-judgments and predispositions may alike produce troubles with observation. Such troubles may fall to misinterpretation of the data being placid (Brophy Good 2003). Therefore, the observer should avoid any personal biases that may contaminate his/her results.In this small scale deliberate, the built-in process of observation, from the instrument used by the observer to different exhibits of teacher observation, was totally decided by the observer and the investigator. The terms observer and advisor go away be used interchangeably.BackgroundThe United Arab Emirates (UAE) encompass troika institutes of Nursing (ION) located in Sharjah, Ras ELkhaimeh and Fujairah Emirates and they are governed by the Ministry Of Health (MOH).According to the policy, the ION has an observation system performed by one-third persons the Central Academics Coordinator (CAC), Academic Support Person (ASP)and the Branch Manager(BM). The class room observation is held twain times per semester and as asked. One observation is announced and the other is unannounced. At the level of each ION the observation responsibility is delegated to the ASP. In case the teacher observation result was unsatisfactory, the CAC will be called to reobserve the same teacher within two weeks of the unsatisfac tory observation but offer also observe those with satisfactory outcomes. The BM does a spot check from time to time on the on press release of the teaching process. The tierce observers use the same observation instrument and it is qualititative (open methods) in nature where observation bias can sometimes significantly affect the result.The session Appraisal form is composed of 29 items focusing on two areas of classroom practices Effective Questioning (8 items), Effective program line Practices (21 items). These items are marked as, Accomplished, Partially accomplished, and Not accomplished. The final result is either satisfactory or unsatisfactory (Appendix 2).The adopted teaching methodologies are cased-based and lecture-based, depending on the course. approximately of the teachers at the ION are well experienced and hold master degree. I have been working as a senior nursing tutor for the stretch out seven years in the ION. It happened more than once a teacher got two or more different feedbacks from the observers. The teachers always blame the observers for their inconsistency in the understanding of the observation items and in the way the observation is conducted. The majority of the tutors wonder whether a difference should be there while using the same observation checklist and the same observation methods. The investigator will try to answer this question and orient the teachers to the findings.Research QuestionsIs there a significant difference in the perception of the same observation items within the instrument used by the different advisors in the ION?Is there any defect in the observation process?PurposeThe investigator will try toFind out any discrepancies in the observation tool among the observers.Identify the drawbacks of the observation method.Report to the curriculum committee and teachers these inconsistencies (if any).Observation MethodsClassroom observationisacollaborativeprocess.Boththeteacherbeingobservedandthe observerhavevita lrolesbefore, during, andaftertheobservation. Collaboratingateach frameoftheprocesscanhelpputbothparticipants at easesothateachbenefitsfromthe experience (UniversityofWashington 1998).Classroom observation is conducted through three phases that were adapted from Day (1993) and Richards and Lockhart (1994) were pre-observation meeting, observation phase, and post-observation follow-up phase. The researcher will be use the ION designated tool during the observation process. (Fig 1).Pre-conference phase is executed before the classroom observation. The purpose of this meeting to share information that helps both the instructor and observer prepare for the observation and to illuminate the explicit outcomes of the lesson observed. It also aims at clarifying the activities through which these outcomes will be attained. Information exchanged during this meeting includes overall process of the paygrade, the purpose of the observation, course information, lesson plan, instructional objecti ve(s) , class activities, instructional methods, Whatyouwant theobservertopay vigilanceto, Whereyoudliketheobservertosit, what will happen during the observation, and observation follow up opportunities. This phase does not take place in the ION.The number stage of the process is the observation phase (Data Collection) or the execution of lesson. The ION observers gather information to be discussed latter with the tutor. These data include instructordoing/saying, studentsdoing/saying, instructional methods, teacher-students interaction, and flow of the sessionetc. Generally, the ASP will use a checklist tool designed for this purpose of classroom observation (Appendix 2). The observers, unlike the traditional supervisors who usually sit at the back and document the classroom events, sit where they can have a good view of the class.Analysis of the collected data and preparing for the post-conference take place contiguously, neighboring to the observation, it is suggested that obse rvers code the data checked in their notes. Identify information that links to the following Organization and presentation of the lesson, level of student concentration, interactions, and participation, the quality of interpersonal relationships between the teacher and students, effectiveness of instruction and how instruction could be improved.The third stage is the post-conference phase or follow-up. Shortly after the observation, the advisors emphasize the positive areas of the observation process such as the strengths of the lesson. The teacher will be asked to evaluate and reflect on his lesson at first. Then, the observers will discuss the collected data with the teacher. It is a descriptive stage where the observers describe the various phases of the lesson. The observers during this phase ask probing questions that guide the teacher through the process. They also provide direct feedback on the areas the teacher has asked for in the pre-observation conference. In doing so, ma ny of the areas for improvement are originally stated by the teachers because they had a chance to reflect on their teaching.Figure Observation Cycle neutered from http//www.commnet.edu/emprel/trng/tm_3_2_clasobs.html (2004).Validity and reliability in observationIt is essential that observation is as objective as expected and advisors must be mindful of their own interests and predispositions so that the data gained is as valid and reliable as conceivable and not designated to verify a point (CCC 2004).Observers customarily continue-the-spot notes to complete an observation plan so that any extra or uncommon actions can be noted. For example A come into the class and talked to teacher, this interrupted classroom for 3 minutes stop alarm rang at 2.24pm so the class was shorter today than usual.Field notes are often written post assessment and the advice is to do this as early as possible. Robson (2002) proposes that you should never begin a second class observation before sorting out your records for the first onePractice in utilizing a schedule before the actual observation will assist the observer to settle uncertainties in how to employ it or how to record unforeseen or vague data. dependability of observation will originate from appraiser consistency. Appraisers have to make sure that they make parallel decisions about similar situations on diverse events. They must also take similar decisions about similar events if they see or hear them again say on video or audio tape.Preferably, having more than one appraiser observing the same events, at least in initial practice sessions, so that there can be commensurateness on what is going on and how it is to be coded.The two observers at the ION were aware of these points to ensure the validity and reliability of the class supervision.Limitation of the turn overIt is worthy to stir that the scope of this study is limited to a group of teachers of Nursing in Fujairah campus in an educational zone. Therefore generalization of the study might not be possible.Literature revaluationEven though the classroom observation is seen as a crucial element of each educational system, researchers have found that teachers were not satisfied with the observation process. The main reasons researchers found were judgmental, evaluative nature of observation, authoritative role of observers and prescriptive nature of feedback (Akbari and Tajik 2007).Wang and Seth (1998) found out that classroom observation has gained a detrimental reputation in the ELT profession because of its subjective, judgmental, and ill-defined nature. Many instructors resent being observed at short notice by important people who render their performance according to their own, not necessarily appropriate criteria, and make unwelcome suggestions for change. It seems as if these inspectors have the final word on whether their performance is good or bad, right or wrong.In many situations the observers enter the classes to look at t he teachers performances to decide at the end of the academic year who will continue in his/her job or not. Certainly, this perception places teachers under too much tense which negatively impacts their performance in classroom. Randall and Thornton (2001) believed that anguish levels in the lesson execution phase can become very high and can precipitate failure on the side of the teacher to generate an effective lesson (Fig 2).Figure 2 The effect of anxiety on performance (adapted from Randall and Thornton, 2001)Regarding the process of the classroom observation in the UAE, Alwan (2001) find out that the instructors in the UAE are acquainted with the observation yet, it does not take the systematic approach that would increase the achievements for the teachers.Consequently, such ad-hoc appraisal practices can simply yield extensive teacher anxiety, a lack of belief in the validity of the observation, and a delicate discouragement of other institutional initiatives to sustenance t eachers efforts to deliver courses effectively (Murdoch, 2000).Nevertheless, classroom observation should be intended at enhancing professional growth of the teacher rather than threatening them. It should also focus on the strengths of the lesson. The tutors and through their dealings with the students will recall which areas delivered in a good manner and the ones that require revisiting. It is important to point out that the advisors role is to explore with the teachers so that they have the chance to reflect on their own teaching with the expectation that this approach will crack into a fundamental part of the teaching and scholarship process. Therefore, it changes into a reflection in action process that is conducted during the teaching learning process. Schon (1983) explained this reflective process by sayingBoth ordinary people and professional practitioners often think about what they are doing, sometimes even while doing it. Stimulated by surprise, they delve thought b ack on action and on the knowing which is implicit in actionusually reflection on knowing-in-action goes together with reflection on the stuff at hand. (Schon, 1 989)Therefore, classroom observation is getting more importance than before. The purpose of many of them is intended towards professional development. It is through experiential learning that the tutors will be self-evaluative and hence will be capable of reflecting on their teaching strategy. Heron (cited in Randall and Thornton 2001) said that working from experience the client (the teacher) is prompted to show incidents which are important, reflect on these incidents and to discover new meanings for these incidents, and then prepare to put the learning from experience and reflection back into new experience.Finally, it is of merit to mention that teachers teach many lessons of which only few of them are observed. Accordingly, If the observed lessons are considered valuable and worthy to be observed then they must be re garded as worthy to be analyzed appropriately, for little purpose was served if, after a lesson, observers simply exude good will, mumble vaguely or appear to be uncertain why they are there, or what they should talk about (Wragg, 1999).MethodologyTo inquire about teachers dissatisfaction with the overall observation process, a two phase qualititative study was conducted. In the first phase, the observation instrument revisited to see whether the observers perceive its item similarly or not. In the second phase, a questionnaire was distributed to all ION teachers in an movement to evaluate the method of observation conducted there.Ethical ConsiderationsThe ethical considerations were carefully considered before conducting the study. A permission letter was sent to the concerned people to consent them. anonymity and confidentiality of teachers responses guaranteed (Appendix 3).Part IProcedures and ParticipantsTwo observers visited Diploma I class to assess a teacher teaching Nursing Care of Adults 201.One of the observers is the ASP whose tenure is 11 years and the other is a critical friend who holds a master degree in education and has 10 years of teaching experience. Both are familiar with the observation tool. This approach was used to explore inconsistencies in the perception of the observation items within the specified from. They were informed about the process they should sit at different corners in the back of the class (Fig 5), do not speak to each other, and fill in the appraisal form the way they perceive it with an state for each partially or not accomplished item.Data AnalysisAt the end of the classroom observation the researcher collected the two filled forms and sit with the two observers to discuss the findings. The data analyzed by utilizing simple statistics, and tables.ResultsThe two forms were collected, and it was found that two items were uneven where each tutor has his own perception.ClassSubjectObserver 1Observer 2Session TimeTeaching MethodDiploma 1Nursing Care of Adults/HyperthyroidismAcademic support person, 11 years teaching ExperienceCritical Friend, more than 10 years teaching50 minutesCase-basedThe mismatched items were two out of 29 items the two items were located under the Effective Teaching practices. See table belowFinding of first observer marked as (1) and (2) for the secondEffective Teaching practicesAccomplishedPartially AccomplishedNot Accomplished26. Asks students to evaluate their own or others responses.2129. Demonstrate the ability of dealing with problem students12Observers JustificationFirst observer26. Asking student to evaluate and reflect on the answers given, getting feedback from classmates should be done oft in the case based session as this would involve the students in the class and recruit their understanding. This should be observed as a dominant feature in the session and not only once or two.29. The students were enthusiastic, motivated and participating actively, it was loud voice but not noise, but you have to ask students to lower their voices to hear their classmates .Raising their hands without calling Sir. Is fair enough.Second observer26. Students were passably able evaluate their answers and that was done with two students only. As for the responses of their colleagues the students were called more than once to reflect on their answers when the teacher asked them 1) Do you agree with S? Why? 2) Why did M relate the presence of excessive eating to weight wrong? Comment on her answer. Although, the teacher tried with them, the students were not able to evaluate their responses.29. Loud voice from the side of the students will disturb the learning environment preventing the others from earreach the answers, the teacher tried to control students noise particularly when they gave answer together, but he could not. Abiding by the classroom norms is the responsibility of the teacher. Setting clear guidelines should be made to limit this behavior.At the back of the session appraisal form there is a room left for the appraisers comment to reflect and set the areas that need improvement on points that are not covered clearly in the observation form but should be part of the lesson or he may emphasize certain points seen in the class.The first observerA) Group workThe teacher should give more time (more than 10 minutes) for the group work to allow the students to prepare and discuss the task properly among them as the task given require deep analysis. Moreover, the teacher should ensure that all the students are participating in the discussion within the group.Checking group work output is not necessary to be done with each group, as far one or two groups were investigated, then the other groups could be done if required by the judgment of the tutor.The Second observerA) Group workTen minutes for each task is fair enough as the students should come prepared from their home. The time is given only for discussion and preparing the t ransparency. Giving more time will waste the teacher time and hinder his ability to cover the course objectives.Group work output was not explored teacher has to reveal all group findings and seek evaluation or comments from other groups.The first observerB) Teaching strategyThe teacher should implement various teaching strategies in the classroom such as role play, watching and commenting on videos to promote students understanding, involvement and make the session interesting.The Second observerB) Teaching strategyThe session was quite interesting. According to the task discussed in the session, role play or video would not be effective as the demonstrations used by the teacher plus the clinical examples and the real career examples given by some students were satisfactory to cultivate the different concepts in the sessions.DiscussionOne method for analyzing the observation findings of the two observers is through triangulation. Triangulation in the classroom research involves ch ecking the perceptions of more than one person to see if ones own interpretations have any support Wragg (1999111).The total number of the items in the observation checklist is 29, and the debatable points were 2. Then, the agreement was around 93% and disagreement in 7%, which means that the instrument used is reliable. When the observers agree on 80% of their observation, this means the information and the data are reliable Wragg (1999).It is believed that different style dimensions of learning of the observer may have a possible influence on providing feedback to the teacher. (Randall and Thornton 2001134). The first observer, the academic support person, conducted more than four observations to the observed teacher, and knows him better than the second colleague. Hence, he built his feedback on his previous knowledge of the learning style of the observed teacher and provided the feedback in a consultative rather than confronting approach, The students were enthusiastic and part icipating actively, it was loud voice, but not noise, but you have to remind students to lower their voice to hear their colleagues .Part IIProcedureThe participants filled a qualititative questionnaire of seven questions (Appendix I). The questionnaire was piloted before being administered. A total of eleven questionnaires were administered through face to face contact with the investigator. Ten of them were collected and analyzed.ParticipantsThe participants in this study were ten teachers of Nursing in one of IONs. They have been teaching in the ION for more than 7 years. Those teachers have been observed by three different observers using the same tool. The teachers are male and females and range in age from 36 to late 54. They majority of them are native Arabic speakers from different countries and two teachers are westerns. They are of multi-cultural background.Data AnalysisThe responses to the questionnaire were gathered and then analyzed. The responses were calculated using simple statistics and presented in charts.Results of the QuestionnaireItemsNo. of TeachersPercentageI have been observed two times by the ASP880%I have been observed three times, two by the ASP and once by the CAC220%I felt anxious and blocked when the observer visited my class10100%I am dissatisfied with way I observed. I did not meet with the observer before the session10100%The observer was sitting in the back, ticking on the observation form.770%The observer did not tell the students who he is, creating unstable setting in the class.770%The late feedback does not reflect the immediate feedback.880 %The observation is not intended at teacher development.990%The feedback is threatening if it is unsatisfactory.990%Classroom observation does not fulfill my educational need770Classroom observation has no impact whether negative or positive.220%Classroom observation partially fulfill my educational need110%DiscussionObviously, there are no defects in the observation instrument. So, wh ere is the problem? The result of the questionnaire provided to ten teachers revealed that the problem is in the observation process itself. The majority of the tutors (80%) have been observed two times per semester by the ASP whereas the remaining 20 % were observed three times by the ASP and the CAC (table 1). All the teachers (100%) expressed various levels of frustration and anxiety when they are observed. They assured that the observers themselves were a source of apprehension. Teachers added that none of the observers take an action to alleviate their anxiety. All the tutors (100%) expressed their feelings of dissatisfaction with the observation methods as no pre observation conference is conducted neither before the announced or the unannounced visits. This puts more stress on the side of the observees. Furthermore, 70% of the teachers mentioned that the way the observer enters and sits at the back of the class ticking items on a checklist. This disrupts the stability of the classroom environment as the students perceive that he is observing them making them reluctant to answer and participate in the class effectively which in turn impact the execution of lesson. This is because the observer did not identify himself to the students as well as the purpose of being there. Moreover, he sits in the corner of the class and started to document his notes all the time. Accordingly, the students think that he is writing about them. Another significant point raised by 80 % of the teacher is the feedbacks given by the observers. They confirm that the immediate feedback provided is inconsistent with the late feedback received by the teachers. The striking issue was the perception of the 90% of the teachers for the session appraisal as a threat rather than developmental (Fig 3).Teachers feels intimidated and panic-stricken by the entire supervisional process. This is because the models of observation we inherited are authoritarian and directive. All these factors c ombined their effects to increase teachers anxiety and dissatisfaction. When teachers asked to rate their level of satisfaction with the process of observation, 70% considered it unsatisfactory as it does not fulfill the educational needs of the teacher and did not enhance their teaching methods, 20% were neutral and 10% was fairly satisfied( Fig 4). This necessitates reconsideration of the overall observation process.Number of teachers absolute frequency of observationsPercentage8280%2320%Table Frequency of observationFigure 3 Perception of classroom observationFigure 4 Satisfaction levelRecommendationsBased on the findings of this Investigation, the investigator recommends certain points to enhance the process of the classroom observation.Having a pre-observation conference will guide the observers during the observation phase and will ease the teachers level of anxiety that result from the process in the part of the teachers. This will also assist the discussion that takes place in the post-observation conference. The professional teacher is one who is able to reflect critically on their own practice (Schon 1983, Wallace 1991). Accordingly the overall process will promote refl

Multinational Apparel Specialist Retailer Marketing Essay

Multinational Apparel Specialist Retailer grocerying EssayHM Hennes Mauritz AB HM or the ag aggroup, founded in 1947 and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, is a multinational garb specialist retailer and famous for its fast- behavior clothing for men, women, teenagers and children (Larenaudie, 2004). Besides the companionships primary and eponymous chain, the group also operates through quaternion independent defects Collection of Style (COS), Monki, Weekday, and Cheap Monday (HM, 2011a). Growing with the note opinion to offer means and eccentric at the stovepipe bell, by the end of 2011, the group has grown one of the largest world(a) crop retailers with social movement in 43 grocerys and nearly 2500 lay ins (HM, 2011a).HM operates within solo a single segment gross gross revenue agreement of clothing and cosmetics (MarketLine, 2012), which locates the company as a fast-fashion retailer in spheric apparel pains. High level of rivalry among competitors has been witnessed within the global apparel persistence. And the displace price of raw materials, unpredict susceptibility of fashion trends and increasing demand of real-time update from consumers also pose challenges towards fashion retailers. However, HM, as one of the fast-fashion pioneers, has an outstanding and buckram performance over the years.There are non-homogeneous factors contributing to HMs outstanding performance. Combined with the industrys spot succeeder factors, it is essential for a fashion retailer to brace cost efficiency with differentiation, have substantial brand-consciousness and global expansion. Also, the continuously het up(p) corporate fond responsibility (CSR) issue remains the key to HMs success.Therefore, this dissertation aims to get to three goalsTo analyse HMs performance ground on the global apparel retailing industrys key success factorsTo competitively analyse HMs position against its competitors, especially Zara (Inditex Group)To realise recommendations for the companys future dodgingThis chapter serves as a general overview of the paper and aims to help readers with the guideline of thoughts in the dissertation. Chapter Two discusses literature review and methodology. Chapter Three focuses on psycho compend of global apparel retailing industry with Five Forces outline, PESTLE synopsis and reveal Success Factors of the industry. Chapter Four is the main analysis of HM, starting based on four key success factors cost efficiency brand-consciousness global expansion and CSR, followed by competitive positioning of the company, financial analysis, SWOT analysis, and ending with recommendations. Chapter Five is the closing of the dissertation.Due to personal limitation of knowledge and reach of re get-gos, several parts of discussions in the dissertation could not be conducted in-depth. No dependable survey and entropy collectings have been conducted due to personal limitation of time and financial support. The d issertation is mainly based on figures and data collected from second-hand resources.Chapter 2 Literature critical review and MethodologyLiterature ReviewThis section serves as a theoretical support for the validity of the analysis of global apparel retailing industry in Chapter Three and analysis of HM in Chapter Four. exertion AnalysisThe analysis of global apparel retailing industry is conducted with Five Forces Analysis (Chapter 3.2), PESTLE Analysis (Chapter 3.3) and Key Success Factors (Chapter 3.4).Five Forces Analysis developed by Michael Porter illustrates five factors determining the level of competition and profitability within an industry ( have, 2010). The good example is widely used in industry analysis and is conducted by analysing five sources of competitive pressure buyer occasion, supplier power, new entrants, substitutes, and rivalry (Grant, 2010) (see understand 1). depict 1 Porters Five Forces framework (Grant, 2010)PESTLE Analysis is a framework to clarif y and discuss the external macro-environment that affects an industry which stands for Political, Economic, Social, scientific, Legal, and milieual factors (Nejati et al, 2008).Key Success Factors of an industry is identified by analysing the factors that help a strong survive and thrive within the marketplace environment (Grant, 2010). By analysing two main criteria what do customers necessity and how does firm survive competition the shared key elements of customer desire and the nature of rivalry could be identified (Grant, 2010) (see finger 2)Figure 2 Identifying Key Success Factors (Grant, 2010)Combining Five Forces Analysis with PESTLE Analysis, industry environment could be discussed in details in Chapter Three. After the analysis of industry environment, key success factors will be reached by the model to serve as the basis for company analysis in Chapter Four.Marketing amalgamateMarketing shuffle model, also known as the 4Ps, is the combination of Price, Product, Promotion and Place, adopted by companies to explore their unique selling points (McCarthy, 1960) (see Figure 3).Figure 3 Marketing Mix 4Ps (McCarthy, 1960)By employing marketing blend in model in Chapter 4.2, the unique marketing combination of HM has been analysed.International Product Life Cycle TheoryThe increase life steering wheel (PLC) theory explains the basic development of ingatherings and motivations for transnational trade (Ajami Goddard, 2006). The theory describes four discrete stages in a product life cycle introduction, crop, maturity, and decline (Vernon, 1966) (see Figure 4).Figure 4 Product Life Cycle Theory (Vernon, 1966)The PLC theory has been widely adopted in analysis of international business and trade (Ajami Goddard, 2006). In Chapter 4.2 and Chapter 4.4.1, the theory has been used in explaining HMs product and market select and accounting entry in global expansion progress.Uppsala simulateThe Uppsala Model suggests that a companys global expansio n is a gradual process reliant on market knowledge and incremental decisions (Johanson and Vahlne, 1977 Frynas Mellahi, 2011). The theory is based on the assumption that firms fat globally with logical steps, based on the gathered information from foreign markets, which will leading to greater involvement of market cargo to more international business activities (Johanson and Vahlne, 1977 Frynas Mellahi, 2011).The model is based on two steps. First, when starting foreign market selection and entry, firms normally start expanding to neighbouring countries or countries with small psychical remoteness (Frynas Mellahi, 2011). Then after gathering experiential market knowledge, the firm expand to foreign markets step by step (Frynas Mellahi, 2011).Figure 5 Uppsala Model (Frynas Mellahi, 2011)The Uppsala Model helps understand a companys choice and plan in international market selection and mode of entry. In Chapter 4.4, Uppsala Model is employed to better illustrate the global e xpansion strategy of HM.Corporate Social ResponsibilityThe European Commission defines Corporate Social Responsibility asA concept whereby companies integrate complaisant and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis (Commission of the European Communities, 2001)The importances of CSR has been analysed by Porter and Kramer (2006) as followsFigure 6 Importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (Porter and Kramer, 2006)In Chapter 4.5, the theory has been used to discuss and analyse HMs involvement in CSR activities and its effects.Market PositioningA firm can achieve its competitive advantages in either of two methods either it can supply an identical product or service at a lower cost or it can supply a product or service that is differentiated in such a course that the customer is willing to pay a price premium that exceeds the additional cost of the differentiation (Grant, 2010), which defines two d ifferent approaches to achieve competitive advantages cost lead and differentiation.Combining the two approaches with the firms competitive scope either industry-wide or single segment Michael Porter has defined generic strategies as follows (Grant, 2010) (Figure 7)Figure 7 Porters generic wine Strategies (Porter, 1980)And a firm should focus on either one of the strategies above and avoid stuck in the middle (Porter, 1980).By defining the firms strategy of achieving competitive advantages, the firm could be positioned in the market. Market positioning is about where you are located in the marketplace, largely as judge by customers, compared to the rest (Piercy, 2009)In Chapter 4.6.1, the market positioning theory has been used to analyse HMs competitive positioning within the market and serve as basis to comparative analysis against its competitors.MethodologyAs to the methodology of this dissertation, phenomenological paradigm is adopted due to the explanatory and descriptive nature of the analysis. Qualitative approach is implemented in the dissertation for that quantitative method requires the collection and interpretation of abundant undefiled primary data to make sure reaching reliable conclusions, while the analysis of HM largely depends on substitute data and research group releases and third party opinions. Due to the limitation of my personal knowledge, further research qualification be needed for more accurate information to be acquired.Chapter 3 intentness AnalysisHM operates within only a single segment sale of clothing and cosmetics (MarketLine, 2012), which locates the company as a fast-fashion retailer in global apparel industry. The following chapter examines the industry with an overview, Five Forces Analysis, PESTLE Analysis and then comes up with Key Success Factors of the industry.3.1 Industry OverviewThe apparel retail industry consists of the sale of menswear, womenswear, childrenswear, clothing accessories, hosiery and footwear within the global market including North America, South America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, MEA and Asia-Pacific (MarketLine, 2012).Figure 8 Industry Overview of Global Apparel Industry (MarketLine, 2012)The global clothing retailing industry has witnessed moderate growth in recent years. In FY2011, the tally revenue of the industry had reached $1175.4 billion, a 2.7% growth between FY2007 and FY2011 (Figure). In all categorical segments, the womenswear segment remained most profitable in FY2011, representing 51.1% of the total value of the industry (Euromonitor International, 2011).Figure 9 Global Apparel Retail Industry Value Global Apparel Retail Industry Geography Segmentation (MarketLine, 2012)3.2 Five Forces AnalysisAs introduced in Chapter 2.1.1, the market will be analysed from five aspects buyer power, supplier power, substitutes, new entrants and degree of rivalry. The analysis will take individual consumers as key buyers, manufacturers and wholesalers as key supplie rs, and some other retailers as players.Figure 10 Forces driving competition in the global apparel retail industry (MarketLine, 2011)3.2.1 emptor PowerIn global apparel retail industry, buyers are mostly individual consumers. As clothing has been recognised as symbols of fashion taste and social status, buyer power is weakened by design patterns and branding of a retailer (Bhardwaj and Fairhurst, 2010). However, the low switching costs of consumers strengthen buyer powers due to various choices on market. Furthermore, apparel retailers are at the end of the value chain. In a market where fashion trends change rapidlyly and unpredictably, they have to offer buyers as demanded. This enhances buyer power. Overall, buyer power in this industry is assessed as moderate.3.2.2 Supplier PowerMajor suppliers in the industry are clothing manufacturers and wholesalers, which are normally small to medium sized firms (MarketLine, 2011). In most countries, the supplier sector is confused becau se of the absence of diversity among suppliers (MarketLine, 2011). And further fragmentation is do by the retailers ability to outsource from foreign countries, especially from low-wage and labour-intensive regions such as China and India (Deloitte, 2011). However, the law of national minimum wage in some countries raises the labour power of suppliers. So overall, supplier power is assessed as moderate.3.2.3 New EntrantsModerate growth has been witnessed in global apparel industry, making less people attracted to the market. However, with low barriers to entry and low requirement to start up a business in the industry, there are high possibilities for individuals to enter. And low switching costs for consumers and lack of assortment in product differentiation in the market is beneficial for new entrants to compete. However, in some countries (e.g. the US) the market is major(ip)ly occupied by some large corporations from measure economies and strong buyer power (MarketLine, 2011) . Regulation in the industry has remained little but recently corporate social responsibility issues have been heated among consumers (Idowu Filho, 2008). These factors manifest that new entrants are strong threats.3.2.4 SubstitutesThere are no substitutes for apparel. However, major substitute for retailing is to buy clothes directly from manufacturers (Zentes et al, 2011). This option is strengthened by the increase of online lines. Online shopping has been increasingly accepted by consumers (Peck et al, 2011). And by running online fashion stores, large amount of overhead could be avoided. There are be quiet niche substitutes like home-made and couture clothing, or second-hand clothing (MarketLine, 2011). However, substitute threats are assessed as weak.3.2.5 Degree of RivalryThe global apparel clothing industry is considered as abrupt (Jones, 2006). There are large numbers of small size retailers with the same product differentiation. And with increasing number of retailers expanding products to accessories and other diversities, rivalry in the industry has been intensified. With a moderate growth and low requirement of market entry, a high degree of rivalry has been resulted.In conclusion, the global apparel retailing industry is fragmented with moderate growth, weak threat from substitutes, moderate buyer power and supplier power. Low barrier to entry and low requirement for entrants have resulted in strong threats of new entrants and further led to high degree of rivalry.3.3 PESTLE AnalysisAs discussed in Chapter 2.1.1, the macro-environment of the industry is analysed by PESTLE analysis regarding semipolitical, sparing, social, technological, legal and environmental aspects (Grant, 2010).PoliticalAs for global apparel retailers, legislations vary among different countries and areas (Cobra, 2011). Every retailer in the industry must follow government regulations regarding goods and labour (Graham Richardson, 1997). And the political stability is also crucial for fashion retailers as it would directly affect their sales situation and asset safety (Aspers, 2010).EconomicFor fashion apparel retailers, economic trends are crucial for their strong impacts on consumer behaviours and purchasing powers. For example, in 2011, the global economic recession had negative effects on fashion retailers (Euromonitor International, 2011). Because consumers with lower useable income regard clothing as functional item, while with high disposable income branding became important as a symbol of social status and fashion taste (MarketLine, 2012). Price fluctuation of raw materials cotton price for apparel retailers has significant impacts on the industry (MarketLine, 2012). Interest rates also would affect sales and high interest rates lead to difficulties to trade overseas (Arnold, 2010). Moreover, currency situation is important as the exchange rate influences the value and trades of retailers (Browne, 2000).Socialincrease attentions from public have been focused on corporate social responsibilities (CSR) of apparel retailers, mainly regarding labour conditions, such as protection of workers castigates, maintaining safe working conditions, level-headed wage and no child labours (Idowu Filho, 2008). Also, for global fashion retailers, cultural differences between counties are crucial due to different fashion trends, consumer behaviours, or local customs.TechnologicalThe development of technology has alterd global apparel retailers with e-commerce and international trade more effectively (Euromonitor, 2011). And with the implementation of high technology, supply chain has changed significantly with global outsourcing, real-time update, and continuous replacing (Lopez and Fan, 2009). Moreover, online shopping has been increasingly accepted by consumers, which initiated a new channel for retailers to cut costs by less middlemen and no store rent (Peck et al, 2011).LawGlobal apparel retailers need to follow differen t government legislation regarding employment and production (Graham Richardson, 1997). For instance, in some countries, such as the UK, there is national minimum wage to protect employees rights (Low Pay Commission, 2011). And tariffs from international trade are also important for international retailers to abide by.EnvironmentalEnvironment protection has remained a heated issue among apparel retailing industry, especially issues like chemical restrictions and pollutions during production (Euromonitor International, 2011). It is also crucial for retailers to save energies and materials and subjugate environmental impacts during product life cycle (PLC) (Chapter 2.1.3).From the above analysis, global apparel industry largely depends on political stability, government legislation, high-technology, public relations. And fluctuating price of source remains a major challenge to apparel retailers.3.4 Key Success FactorsAs introduced in Chapter 2.1.1, Key Success Factors of apparel ret ail industry is analysed with the Grant model by examining the demand and competition of the industry as followingFigure 11 Identifying Key Success Factors of Global Apparel Retailing Industry (Grant, 2010)Therefore, from the analysis above, for a global apparel retailer, cost efficiency is one of the crucial factors for that low cost ensures profitability and efficiency indicates fast responding time to strike demand, allowing fashion and quality at the best price (HMs business concept, HM, 2011a). Brand strategy also plays a key role in apparel retailers success as it facilitates customer loyalty. Differentiation of style in fashion industry positions the companys competitiveness and brand image in the market. Global expansion strategy of an apparel retailer is also essential as choices of global markets and international strategy decide retailers future development, global presence and even profitability (Deloitte, 2011). The continuously heated issue of corporate social respons ibility also remains the key to companys brand image among public and future growth. It plays a vital role in companys success due to the heated social issue of environmental protection and labour conditions (Idowu Filho, 2008)In the following chapter, the company will be analysed starting based on key success factors to seek for unique interpretation of HMs performance.Chapter 4 Analysis of HMThis Chapter is mainly focuses on analysis of HM, starting by analysis based on four key success factors of the industry, followed by competitive positioning analysis, financial analysis, and SWOT analysis, and ended with recommendations.4.1 Operations StrategyHMs business concept is to offer fashion and quality and the best price (HM, 2011a). To make sure the company follows the leading fashion trends, quality of designing and lead time of scattering are important (Slack et al, 2010). And the offer of best price needs to rely on the basis that cost from each stage has been minimised.4.1.1 R eduction of CostsCost-consciousness at all stage remains the key to HMs operations (Zavrnik, 2007). To achieve the growth target with offering best price, HM has a professional buying team (HM, 2011a). The company arranges its buying activities according to decisions from design team (MarketLine, 2011). The buying team achieves lowest cost by purchasing in bulk with the right products from the right market (Zavrnik, 2007).With no factories itself, the company outsources its product manufacturing to approximately 700 suppliers, mostly in Asia and Europe (HM, 2011a). The manufacturing locations are divided by the level of fashion-sensitiveness the fashion-sensitive collections are normally construct within Europe to cut the lead time while the cost-sensitive and sustainable collections are produced in Asia to allow the lowest possible price and achieve economies of cuticle (HM, 2011a).Furthermore, HM focuses on showing semipermanent relationships with suppliers and manufacturers ( HM, 2011a). HM does not own any factories (HM, 2011a), so quality control over the whole process might be a problem. Due to fast responses to fashion trend, there is usually not enough time to perform detailed quality control. Therefore the company has been involved in accusation of poor quality. So, dependable suppliers could not only provide HM with lowest price, but also ensure the quality of products from long-term cooperation and mutual understanding.Moreover, as a fast-fashion retailer, HM has lead time from weeks up to six months (HM, 2011a), which is slower than its strongest competitor Zara (Inditex Group) of maximum 14 days. However, faster responses indicate higher cost, HM focuses on reduction of cost and achieves balance between fast-fashion and price, allowing averagely 30% 50% lower price than Zara (Larenaudie, 2004)4.1.2 Speed of ResponsesHM holds the point that the right lead time should be balanced between price, time and quality instead of pursuing merely short l ead time (Euromonitor, 2012). However, as a fast-fashion retailer, quick responding to fashion trends, consumer demand and other market changes is still key for the company (Grant, 2010). The company achieves fast responses by integrating downstream and being efficient at every stage (HM, 2011a).HM has a professional design team. The in-house design team, headquartered in Stockholm with over 150 internal designers, focuses on combining inspirations and information from multiple resources such as news, travelling, streetstyle and various exhibitions and catwalks (J.P.Morgan, 2012). This cross-functional designing could ensure the quick response to market change.High technology has also been used by HM to ensure the speed and efficiency of supply chain and enable changes could be made quickly enough and design agreement then could be insure (Bruce and Daly, 2006). HM has conducted top-class computerised design software and built common IT platform that enables quick information excha nge between the process of designing, production and warehouse. The group set only limited stocking area in each store to keep maximum area for display. So the replenishment needs to be backed up by effective distributions according to the daily sales. The immediate sales data communication serves as a strong basis for fast response and efficiency at every stage.With this in-house design and outsourced production process, HM claimed that their lead time could range from weeks to up to six months fashion-conscious within weeks and sustainable and classics could be months (HM, 2011a), achieving balance between price, quality and time.4.2 Marketing Mix StrategyAfter analysing the cost and efficiency strategy of the company, marketing strategy will be analysed first with the companys unique marketing mix (Chapter 2.1.2).PriceHM makes effort to differentiate its brand image from other fast-fashion retailers with competitive low price (Zavrnik, 2011). The company makes efforts to offer be st possible price in spite of fluctuating costs of raw materials. However, the price range of HM products varies according to designs, current interest rates, and tariffs (Larenaudie, 2004).ProductClothing is the main product for HM. The company offers a wide range of designs for clothing, from classics to basics, to designs following the latest fashion trends. In addition, HM expands product mix to make the most of sales opportunities, such as make-up and costume jewellery at competitive prices, and home furnishings for young households (Euromonitor, 2011). Furthermore, as fashion trends intertwined (Steele, 2011), the new sustainable collection and classics collection enable a longer Product Life Cycle (Chapter 2.1.3) to maximise the design and avoid quick decline.PromotionMarketing promotion is crucial for apparel retailers to build the brand image (Cooklin, 2006). Various methods could be adopted, such as advertising, social media presence, personal selling, publicity, presentat ions (Cooklin, 2006). For HM, inviting guest designers has been a major attraction to customers (Euromonitor International, 2011). Also, HM has two major fashion seasons annually spring season and autumn season, and two sales season summer sales and the Christmas and New Year season (HM, 2011a). The two sales seasons promote products and attracts more customer visits with even lower prices.PlaceHM has strong global presence with over 2500 stores by the end of 2011 (MarketLine, 2011). However, the majority of HMs store-based apparel sales come from Europe, with Germany contributing the most, followed by the UK and France (Euromonitor International, 2011). In addition, HM has a growth target to increase the number of stores by 10% to 15% every year (HM, 2011a). But the company does not own any store facilities. By renting store premises the company could achieve flexibility to the best level and make sure store locate at the best possible position. And the company has leading distri bution system enabling continuous replenishment based on real-time update sales data (Bruce and Daly, 2006).4.3 Brand and Multi-Channel StrategyIn the fashion retail industry, brand image is crucial in building customer loyalty (Bhardwaj and Fairhurst, 2010). HM is the most important brand for the group and enjoys strong presence internationally. With only limited investment in advertizement on TV, HMs collections with famous guest designers and celebrities have been the major hit to attract customers. From Karl Lagerfeld for HM in 2004, M by Madonna in 2007, Jimmy Choos garb and bags in selected stores in 2009, to the exciting autumn hit Versace for HM in 2011 and Marni at HM in 2012, the guest collections fully showed attraction to customers, which interlink the price-conscious brand together with great design and quality (Euromonitor, 2011). As a mass-production fashion retailer, HM could raise brand impacts globally by cooperation with celebrities and famous brands to create t he vox populi of luxury and limit edition for its own customers. By collaboration with HM, luxurious brands could open up customer market with lower disposable income.Figure 12 Images of HMs Collections by Guest Designers and Celebrities (Versace, Madonna, Jimmy Choo) (HM Annual Report)In addition, HM sells not only through store premises, but also over the internet and sort books, which with brand strategy, composes together HMs multi-channel strategy.HM has made positive progress by promoting limited online sales globally allowing consumers in areas with no HM stores to purchase online, which boosts global brand image for HM and generates sales (MarketLine, 2011). The company also produces own online webzine HM Life, linking to its online stores and fashion items with latest trends (Euromonitor International, 2012).Furthermore, HM has successfully combined social media strategy to build up its brand and customer loyalty with Facebook page, twitter account, YouTube account and s pecial online social hub (MarketLine, 2011). For example, HMs Facebook page has competitive engagement rate of 2% (likes, comments, share, etc.). And the presence of free smartphone app for its brand is available to keep customers update with new products and sales.Figure 13 Images of HMs Social Media Network Facebook Page, Twitter Page and Youtube Page (HM, 2012)With the success of clothing, HM further extend the product range to maximise sales opportunities by selling low cost make-up and jewellery and home furnishing (MarketLine, 2011).Following Inditex, the group has transferred into multi-brand channels. Besides HM, the group also has four independent brands, namely COS, Monki, Weekday and Cheap Monday, allowing the company expand its network further and avoiding saturation in European market (Euromonitor, 2011). However, these brands still only have limited presence globally.4.4 Domestic and Global StrategyWith a unique strategy and clear brand identity, a fashion retailer sho uld then develop its global expansion for further growth. The global expansion strategy and process could be better illustrated with Uppsala Model theory (Chapter 2.1.4).4.4.1 Market Selection and EntryHM, headquartered in Sweden, started expansion into neighbouring countries Norway (1964) and Denmark (1967) (MarketLine, 2011), and followed by entering other countries and regions (Chapter 2.1.4) (Appendix 1). As introduced in Chapter 2, similar culture or shared borders could all reduce psychic distances between foreign customers and can encourage the companys global expansion (Ghemawat, 2001). Western Europe still witness HMs majority of sales growth, which shows the effects of shorter psychic distances.Following Uppsala model (Chapter 2.1.4), after gathering market knowledge and analysis of potential growth, the company entered global market by acquisitions and with greater levels of market commitment (Appendix 1). With an ambitious growth target of 10% to 15% increase in store n umbers every year (HM, 2011a), the company strategically selected global markets and made effort to expand globally step by step. Gradually, the brand established its global name among consumers.However, the dominance of Western Europe leaves HM reliant on this region (Euromonitor, 2011). Economic recession within the Eurozone could influence the sales directly, and saturation would limit HMs further growth potential. At the meantime, the apparel industry in other districts prospers, especially Latin America, with a judge sales value growth of 25%, where HM is absent (Euromonitor, 2011). Eastern Europe and Asia Pacific is also forecast with high sales value growing potential of 32% and 33% respectively (Euromonitor, 2011).4.4.2 Domestic StrategyAfter selection and entry into global market, HM has witnessed strong global growth. Compared with international market, domestic market has moderate performance. However, headquartered in Sweden, HM still possesses large portion of market s hare (Euromonitor, 2012).The companys sales growth in Sweden remains steady (Figure 14). With strong purchasing power, consumers in Sweden tend to buy clothes for enjoyment over necessity. Most of sales were conducted in store purchasing over the past five years (Figure 1

In Loveing Memory Essay -- essays research papers

Ive acquire that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon. It certainly is the truth. We were the beigel shop groupies as you would call us. More personally his bagel shop groupies practically there every day. Sue, Paulina, Gentile, Jessica, Phil, Ryan, Steve, Kevin, Nick, Glen, Ruben, and myself. The list could go on for hours on give notice but I guide neither the time nor the heart to go on. So as I was saying we were there almost everyday, and at the startle of each day he was there to make us laugh, to make us smile, and to even get us into some trouble if the day permitted. No matter how you look at it though he was the kind of man who could swallow you with the warmth of his heart. He could make even your worst dreams seem analogous they werent so bad he was always there. They called him the giant because of his size, but we called him the giant because of his heart. Alex was one of my closest friends. We went through a lot of things together. I couldnt have imagined my life without him. None of us could have, but we soon found that we were going to have to do just that. I remember the day clear as crystal, although sometimes I bid the day had never come. I wish I could have taken that chance to tell him I loved him. I wish I could have said good-bye . I wish I could hear his voice just one last time. I wish that I could spend my life inside my junior year and never have to see the last day of school. For Alex would still be here resilient and well for me to talk to and hug whenever I felt like it. If not for myself then for his family and loved ones so that their pain and suffering would end. It had to have been around 600 in the morning, when I got there. I got there early because it was the last day of school. I didnt want to miss a thing, but when I showed up no one was there and the store was closed. To me it seemed so strange and I thought to myself that something did not feel right. The bagel shop was never closed , it was like the have a bun in the oven office or the mail rather, nor rain, nor sleet, nor snow &... ... Hervias 4will wake up and it will all be gone in an instant. From this experience I have well-read that you should always leave loved ones with loving words for it maybe the last time that you will see them. Ive learned that its not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts. Ive learned that you can keep going long later on you cant. Ive learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become. Ive learned that maturity has more to do with the types of experiences youve had and slight to do with how many birthdays youve celebrated . Ive learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world does not stop for your grief. Ive learned that even when you think you have nothing left to give, a friend cries out and you will find the strength to help. Worst of all Ive learned that the people you love most in life are taken from you too soon.

Perception of McDonald’s Essay -- Business, Unhealthy Food

Perception of McDonaldsMcDonalds has expanded globally into 31,000 worldwide outlets and employed much than 1.5 million people in more than 119 countries (Kulkarni, Lassar, Sridhar & Venkitachalam, 2009). Nevertheless, McDonalds always faces negative perception and commonly related in serving unfit and junk foods amongst its customers near the world (Currie, Dellavigna, Moretti, & Pathania, 2009). It is not only the negative perception of public, but McDonalds have been attacked and accused of selling unhealthy food in several countries, including the US, China, Belgium, Holland, India, Russia, Sweden and the linked Kingdom (Wilson, 2009). Meanwhile, the core of the current problem is that customers still buy fast foods, even though they have negative perceptions on McDonalds as regards to unhealthy foods. At this point, customers are confused about fast food nutrition messages provided by McDonalds, while it is still perceived as bad theatrical roles (Deng, 2009). In put t ogether to overcome this issue, there are changes in McDonalds marketing and communication strategies as they have started to plan strategic action with two objectives first, to change the image of McDonalds from junk food eating place to a healthy food restaurant, as this will attract health conscious customers and at the same epoch can enlarge the market scope. Secondly, to change behavior of the existing customers who keep on taking only junk foods, and to persuade frequent fast food users to change their lifestyle by buying balanced meal with McDonalds new healthy foods (Deng, 2009). ).Perception of McDonalds Icon-Based Nutrition LabelThe increasing topic of developments in the nutrition field and technologies give a great contribution and invol... ... protein, fat, carbohydrates, and salt (Hoffmann, 2007). Illustration in the Table 1 below shows the icon-based nutritional punctuate used by McDonalds on their food wrapper, pamphlet and restaurant website. Similar thought can be argued on the display area or position that McDonalds present their nutrition cross out. For instance, McDonalds posted their nutrition label through diverse medium such as in restaurant website, on tray liners, pamphlet, in-store displays and interestingly printed on the food wrappers. As compared to other fast food, McDonalds take an active steps to create an awareness of nutrition label through different channel and this is explained by Hoffman (2007) that this different channel purposely to generate repeated exposure to the nutrition label, and customers should eventually grasp their meaning, with or without printed labels presented.