Thursday, November 28, 2019

Capstone Starbucks Company

Abstract Globalization and technological advancement in the recent years has turned the contemporary business environment to a global village, with firms having to compete internationally. This is the case in coffee industry where large companies like Starbucks have to position themselves strategically in order to remain relevant and competitive in the industry.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Capstone: Starbucks Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The magnitude customer base and number of outlets or stores make Starbucks an important player in the coffeehouse market worldwide. This paper will begin by discussing the impact of mission and stakeholders in success of the company followed by an evaluation of the five forces of competition. The paper will also conduct a SWOT analysis of Starbucks as well as discuss various strategies, the communication plan, and corporate governance mechanisms applicabl e in the company. Lastly, the paper will discuss effectiveness of leadership and corporate citizenship in the company. Introduction Starbucks is a US company specializing in coffeehouses, with its headquarters situated in Seattle, Washington D.C. The chain has been in operation since 1971, having been established by three entrepreneurs as a small coffee shop that later expanded its portfolio to restaurants and coffee bars. Over the years, the coffeehouse chain has grown tremendously, especially after listing in stock exchange in 1992; currently, Starbucks owns over 20,000 coffeehouses in over 60 countries worldwide. This growth has been facilitated by its strong mission and vision statements, effective corporate governance and dedicated support from stakeholders (Garthwaite, Busse, Brown, 2012). Impact of Mission Statement and Stakeholders on Success of Starbucks The mission of Starbucks is â€Å"to inspire and nature the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborh ood at a time† (Starbucks, 2013). This mission statement also acts as the vision of the company and it has been very instrumental in the success of the company. The performance of the company has also enhanced key components of the mission that focus on coffee, partners, customers, stores, neighborhood, and shareholders. Primarily, Starbucks focuses on offering high quality coffee to its customers in addition to embracing diversity in all its operations.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In addition, Starbucks designs its stores in such a way that they create an atmosphere that is very accommodating to both customers and employees, who are specifically referred to as partners. Moreover, the company is dedicated to empowering the community through positive contribution as it conducts its operation. This is in addition to ensuring that its operations are tailor-ma de to maximize benefits to shareholders. For every organization to succeed, it must always take into consideration the interests of all its stakeholders and ensure it operates towards satisfying those interests. Starbucks has various stakeholders including shareholders, suppliers, customers, partners/employees, franchisees, and governments among others. Shareholders play a big role in the success of Starbucks by investing in the company, while the company ensures it communicates about its strategies and performance regularly through mailing, investor conferences, and annual general meetings. In relation to employees, the company provides comprehensive and attractive packages to its partners (employees), as well as properly coordinated shifts that ensure effective performance (Simon, 2009). Customers are the most important people in the company, and as a result, Starbucks offers specialized coffee that is tailor-made to the expectations of customers. In relation to franchisees, Starb ucks allows autonomy in operation of the franchisees, both local and international; indeed, franchisees account for 47% and 63% stores domestically and internationally respectively. Lastly, although Starbucks has been accused of tax evasion in the past, the company has ensured it adheres to the regulations of the governments in the countries in which it operates. Impact of Porter’s Five Forces of Competition Every organization has to take into consideration the Porter’s five forces of competition in the market in order to be successful (Sinkovics Ghauri, 2009). In relation to the intensity of rivalry among competitors, Starbucks faces competition from a wide range of coffeehouses, both small and large. Secondly, Starbucks faces a big threat from customers’ power, as these customers can easily switch to other firms offering coffee or other related products with minimal or no costs. Thirdly, there is a big threat of substitute products such as tea and soft drinks as well as bars and pubs, all of which offer valuable satisfaction that can influence customers’ buying behavior.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Capstone: Starbucks Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The bargaining power of suppliers is also high due to the high demand of coffee and the small number of suppliers, given that only specific regions can produce coffee beans. Lastly, threat of entry by new firms is low because the industry is saturated, making it difficult for a new firm to break-even; indeed, the cost of establishment is also high, thus serving as a hindrance to new entry. SWOT Analysis of Starbucks For an organization to manage its operations effectively and efficiently, it must understand its internal capabilities and weaknesses as well as external opportunities and threats that it needs to respond to favorably (Hitt, Ireland, Hoskisson, 2012). Strengths in Starbucks There are a number of strengths inherent in Starbucks, one of them being financial soundness. Here, Starbucks boasts of consistently rising profitability over the last few years, thanks to its ability to minimize costs and generate high revenues. In addition, Starbucks has one of the best returns on investment (ROI) rate compared to its competitors. In relation to brand reputation, Starbucks’ brand is one of the highest valued brands in coffeehouse segment, mainly due to its high quality and value for customers (Moon, Quelch, 2006). Indeed, excellent customer service has been the motivating factor in the success of Starbucks coffeehouse brand around the world. Another strength that Starbucks boasts of is experience in coffee business, which allows the company to deliver perfectly blended coffee complemented with quality music, affable staff and conducive environment that delights customers to the maximum. Starbucks is also the leading coffeehouse chain in the world as evidenced b y its large network of outlets that surpasses 20,000 in over 60 countries across the globe. Indeed, its ability to diversify its market to different geographical locations is a testament to its positive response from customers in the markets in which it operates. Lastly, Starbucks enjoys a strong and effective employee management policy that allows the company to offer competitive and attractive compensation to its employees compared to other competitors and the industry in general. Indeed, the extensive range of benefits and incentives play a very significant role in motivating employees to deliver excellent service to customers that differentiates Starbucks from other competitors.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Weaknesses in Starbucks Despite the above-mentioned strengths, Starbucks harbors various weaknesses that derail it from attaining its expected growth rate. First, the uncertainty in the price of coffee beans makes Starbucks unable to adequately estimate its profitability as well as have a standard coffee price. Importantly, coffee beans are under the control of suppliers and in most cases, their price tends to be influenced by certain factors such as hedge funds and bad weather, which will definitely affect the price and profitability of Starbucks coffee. Another weakness in Starbucks is pricing of its coffee, which tends to be above other brands in the market. Indeed, although other factors may have influence on the price of coffee, the high quality coffee offered by Starbucks makes it to be priced at a premium, which is normally higher that competitors’ prices, a situation that may lead to decline in customer loyalty. Moreover, Starbucks has also been receiving negative pub licity due to some ethical and business malpractice issues. Primarily, Starbucks has been accused severally for its insensitivity to corporate social responsibility, especially in relation to environmental conservation. Additionally, the company has received accusations of evading tax as well as mistreating some of its suppliers. Opportunities Starbucks operates in a market that is full of opportunities, especially due to its sustainability of the market. One of the opportunities that Starbucks faces is a diversified supplier network, which allows the company to remain stocked with coffee beans all the time as well as enjoy some buyer power over these suppliers. Indeed, a large number of suppliers will provide cushion to the supply of coffee beans; for example, when one supplier is affected by certain factors such as bad weather, another supplier would be contracted to supply the materials. Another opportunity involves expanding to potentially profitable markets, especially the emer ging markets of China and India where Starbucks has not managed to penetrate fully; indeed, these markets are increasingly becoming global business hubs. Diversification of business is an area that guarantees growth and profitability, and as such, Starbucks has to expand its product lines to accommodate some products such as tea, wines, and beers, which complement, supplement, or even substitute coffee. This will ensure that Starbucks’ coffeehouses remain competitive and continue to expand by capturing a wide range of customers. Lastly, Starbucks has a chance to expand its business through franchisees as well as partnerships with retailers such as supermarkets, who will sell Starbucks coffee on its behalf. Threats Despite the above opportunities, Starbucks faces various threats in its operations, one of them being the rising cost of raw materials including coffee beans and dairy products. Basically, Starbucks cannot estimate the prices and availability of coffee beans. Indeed , unpredictable factors such as political, economic, and weather conditions affect not only the supply of raw products, but also the cost of production at Starbucks. Secondly, Starbucks faces the threat of freedom of entry into the coffeehouse market, which results in increased competition. This allows small players to offer low-priced coffee and big coffeehouses to offer specialized and customized services that pose a big threat to Starbucks coffee. However, such freedom has made developed markets to be saturated, thus making it difficult for Starbucks to make a fresh breakthrough. Business and Corporate Level Strategies at Starbucks As organizations always strive to gain competitive advantage in the market over their rivals, they adopt various business-level and corporate level strategies (Hitt, Ireland, Hoskisson, 2012). At Starbucks, the company has adopted different strategies to deal with competition from other coffeehouses. Primarily, Starbucks has concentrated on differenti ation by providing a unique coffee culture that makes the company the leader in the market. In addition, Starbucks concentrates on high quality product development as the key to attract and retain customers for successful business performance. In corporate level strategies, Starbucks has concentrated on related diversification where it enters into partnership and franchise arrangements with likeminded enterprises to market Starbucks’ coffee. These partnerships allow Starbucks to enter into new markets easily and at minimal or no penetration cost. Indeed, the advantage with this strategy is that the franchisee has readymade customers who will be introduced to the Starbucks coffeehouses. Communication Plan for Strategies A clear communication outline will be important to communicate the business level and corporate level strategy of Starbucks. This communication plan will be customized to suit different audiences including employees, customers, and shareholders. A general commu nication plan will begin with defining the strategies and their intended purposes or goals. The second step would be to identify the different audiences by drawing an audience definition worksheet. Thirdly, the plan would link the message or the strategies with the audiences identified above by use of a message worksheet. Next, communication channels would be selected for each audience. For instance, communication to employees may be through emails, departmental heads, brainstorming sessions, or informal communication. Customers may be communicated to using channels like advertisement media, employees’ interactions, and special events among others. Communication to shareholders could be performed through annual and special general meetings or emails. The fifth step will involve putting all materials, personnel, and media in place. This would be followed by implementation of the plan by operationalizing the above-mentioned channels. Lastly, a review of the communication would be conducted through assessing the response, feedback, and effectiveness of the communication plan. Corporate Governance Mechanisms at Starbucks Corporate governance involves strategic rules that direct the operations of the company in meeting the interests of all stakeholders as well as showing the direction, to which the company is headed (Hitt, Ireland, Hoskisson, 2012). At Starbucks, the first corporate governance mechanism used involves establishment of clear goals, objectives and operational policies, all of which clearly demonstrate the direction towards which the company is headed. A sound and strong mission statement dedicated to inspiring and nurturing people’s lives supports this mechanism. The mechanism is effective in management of the company as it elaborates the roles of the board of directors including the oversight role that ensures the management works towards fulfillment of the interests of stockholders (Starbucks, 2013). The second corporate governance me chanism involves mandate given to the board of directors to monitor the company’s corporate performance and integrity, an aspect that influences the investors’ decision. Here, the board has established a compensation committee that evaluates and regulates the compensation packages for board members and executives. It has also drawn a performance-oriented compensation policy applicable in the company. The effectiveness of this mechanism is evidenced by improved performance, as well as its ability to enhance accountability across the company from directors to executives and employees (Starbucks, 2013). Effectiveness of Leadership in Starbucks Leadership is an essential tool in management of organizations as it influences performance (Hitt, Ireland, Hoskisson, 2012). At Starbucks, the executives, including CEO, have demonstrated the democratic style of leadership using the functional and style approach. Here, employees are given an opportunity to participate in decision making through a feedback mechanism available in the company. In addition, employees are offered training in leadership and professional skills, as well as an environment for development and growth in order to achieve company’s goals. This has been effective in motivating employees as evidenced by the great performance witnessed in the company over the years. Corporate Citizenship at Starbucks Companies are required to demonstrate ethical behavior or corporate citizenship when conducting their operations; this is based on employee relations, environmental impact, climate change, human rights, and philanthropy. Starbucks has demonstrated this through participating in community projects and sourcing coffee beans from ethically responsible suppliers and growers. For instance, Starbucks committed itself to donate five cents for every beverage purchased towards Global Fund in honoring the World Aids Day in 2010 (Mystarbucksidea 2010). In addition, the company has one of the best e mployee relations policies that have seen it being named among the fortune 100 companies. Moreover, Starbucks minds about the environment by embracing a culture of recycling products to minimize the waste. For instance, the company encourages environmental conservation through encouraging customers to use reusable cups when purchasing coffee from Starbucks outlets; indeed, it offers discounts to those customers who present their own mugs, especially in the North American region (Fiscal 2009 CSR Annual Report, 2009). Conclusion Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse in the world thanks to its effective corporate governance, high quality coffee brand, strong business strategies and dedicated workforce. Although Starbucks operates in a very competitive market, it has managed to gain a competitive advantage by diversifying to international market through franchisees and partnerships, as well as ensuring that customers feel at home at Starbucks coffeehouses. References Fiscal 2009 CSR annu al report. (2009). Global Responsibility Report 2009. Year in Review: Fiscal 2009. Web. Garthwaite, C., Busse, M., Brown, J. (2012). Starbucks: A Story of Growth. Evanston, Il, USA: Northwestern University. Hitt, M., Ireland, D., Hoskisson, R. (2012). Strategic Management Cases: Competitiveness and Globalization. Ohio, USA: Cengage Learning. Mystarbucksidea. (2010). Buy (Starbucks) Red. Help Save Lives. Web. Moon, Y., Quelch, J. (2006). Starbucks: Delivering Customer Service. Boston, MA, USA: Harvard Business School Publishing. Simon, B. (2009). Everything but the coffee: Learning about America from Starbucks. Barkey, CA, USA: University of California. Sinkovics, R., Ghauri, P. (2009). New Challenges to International Marketing. Bingley, England: Emerald Group Publishing. Starbucks. (2013). Starbucks Corporation. Web. This research paper on Capstone: Starbucks Company was written and submitted by user Abdullah H. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Monday, November 25, 2019

the Bible

There are many rules and codes throughout the Bible that are to be followed. In Exodus, the Ten Commandments are found. These are easily comparable to the codes found in the Book of the Dead and the Code of Hammurabi. Although the Code of Hammurabi is a set of laws and not moral rules for going to heaven, many things are similar. Yet, on some account, many things are left unmatchable. The first of the Ten Commandments cannot really be compared because it excludes all of the other gods. It proclaims that God is the only god, and no others come before him. (Exodus 3, pg. 41) The second commandment states that people are not to build ...graven images or any likeness of anything that is not in heaven or above... (Exodus 4, pg 41), but in Mesopotamia and Egypt, it was considered a sin if you did not pay homage to the gods by building statues and such in their image. Not taking the lords name in vain is similar in all religions. It is thought of as being tacky and rude, but also a sin in most major religions. (Exodus 7, pg. 41) For example, in Egypt it was stated in the Negative confession that to curse the gods it was a sin. (Negative Confession, pg. 29) The Sabbath, or the seventh day, is to remain labor free, for God made the world in six days, so working on his resting day is a sin. (Exodus 10, pg. 41) Honor your father and mother is similar to most c! ivilized humans, for it is done out of mere respect for your parents. (Exodus 12, pg. 41) The next commandment is you shall not kill, (Exodus 13, pg 41), which is stated in the Book of the Dead as being sinful. (Negative Confession, pg. 29) Yet, the Code of Hammurabi states that it is simply morally wrong to kill without just cause, and are to be put to death. The commandment against adultery (Exodus 14, pg 41) is also in the Code of Hammurabi, and is stated twice in the Book of the Dead. (Negative Confession, pg. 29) The commandment &...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Tax law Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tax law - Coursework Example This paper will look at four different examples of taxes and explain these examples using scenarios (Amatucci, GonzaÃŒ lez, Trzaskalik and Amatucci 2006). The tax imposed on Brain’s family home and shop is classified as a capital gain tax. This is because the price at which he sold it was higher than the price in which he bought it plus all the commissions and the improvement cost. There is also the net rate of appreciation. He bought the empty premises ten years ago at 750 thousand dollars and started his business. He sold it at 1,880,000 dollars. The tax imposed here will be nominal based which implies that it will not change with inflation rates. Brain’s property will be taxed as a long-term capital gain since he has owned the property and business for over one year. The shop and land will be taxed at 15% to 20%. The trading stock, goodwill, and fittings may be exempted from taxation since they are long term gains acquired and are below the 20 percent mark of the total amount. Since Brain is married, and his wife has a 5% ownership in the company where Brain 45% and is worth 5.4 million dollars, the couple will be excluded a tax of up to 540 thousand dollars. The 20 thousand dollars, he received for signing an agreement of not establishing a business in a 10 kilometer radius of the property he sold, will not also be taxed. However, he has to stick to the agreement for five years to avoid a penalty on him. The tax imposed on income from property is either capital on general principles or income. In George’s case, the sale of trees at a cost of 20 dollars for each tree is classified as farm income since the trees are farm produce and are taxable under the farm income statement. This implies George will be taxed on a rate stipulated in the country that changes with time. In the second year, George will also be taxed on the 9

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Adapting transportation requirement to the population growth in the Case Study

Adapting transportation requirement to the population growth in the Central Florida Region - Case Study Example To plan for the Florida region with respect to the transportation requirements in the coming years, these important variables ought to be considered in detail: 1. Population projections of the region. The population, and their travel and the mode and method of travel, frequency, commuting and the specific requirement are important. 2. Travel demand and transportation requirements. The second factor after we analyze the demographic data is the ideal choice of transports, the method of commuting, tourist and other non regular travelers, and goods transport is to be chalked out. 3. Safety and infrastructure requirements. What is the driving, traveling, infrastructure safety to be considered? What is the fatality rate now, and how ought it be reduced? What structures have to be built and how the cost and benefit be used? 4. Cost benefit analysis Once we have all the data with us, we perform a statistical analysis of these variables and find a linear solution to the model creation for the transport planning for the region. 5. Analysis The analysis of the concept is then revised with the results obtained to present a workable model. The population, Demand & Projections Population and economy The Florida population is growing and the projections suggest that the population will treble and added to that are the tourists, settlers, immigrants expected on account of the development of the region as a commercial hub. According to the 2025 Florida Transportation Plan, â€Å"Florida has long been one of the nation’s fastest growing states. ... opulation over the age of 65 will grow to 5.8 million residents, an increase of 92 percent over 2004 levels and a dramatic increase in the need for specialized mobility options. - The state's employment base will grow to more than 11.6 million jobs, an increase of 45 percent over 2004 levels. The number of interstate and international visitors to Florida will exceed more than 92 million per year, an increase of 23 percent over 2003 levels. - The volume of domestic and international freight moving to, from, and within Florida will increase to 1.5 million tons per year, an increase of 78 percent from 2001 levels. This growth will continue to increase the demand for people and freight movement to, from, and within Florida. Current projections indicate the demand for nearly all modes of Transportation will increase at a higher rate than population and employment over the next two decades." 1 Urban areas are expected to grow and it is the urban areas that contain the most (90%) of the population. Over seventy five percent of the population commutes long distances to work. Not only commuting, but requirement of freight forwarding, both within the region and to other places is on the rise. The actual demand for freight movement in 2002 was in various segments of transportation as shown below. The survey indicates a future projection to the extent that Road transports will be: 54% and lifting of cargo by air - 74%, Through the railway 29%, and shipping 115%. Movement of freight by road is 85% by railway 65% and shipping at 48%. Rate of increase in the population is expected to be at 42% per 23.7sqm.2 "The state has been adjusting to the growth phenomenally well. For more than a century, Florida's transportation system has adapted to growth and changes in the state's

Monday, November 18, 2019

The Factors That Affect Apple Brand Strategy Essay

The Factors That Affect Apple Brand Strategy - Essay Example The paper will then throw light on the Research Questions and Hypotheses as formulated by an author, based on which entire research process is conducted. The next sections will be about Literature Review in which contributions of theorists will be critically reviewed. The research moves on with a Case Study on Apple Incorporation after which the author will discuss appropriate findings and analyze the scope of Research Questions. Finally, the paper will discuss Research Limitations, Suggestions / Recommendations to strategic planners of Apple Company and will end this research project by providing conclusions, which will be drawn from the current use of brand strategies, their scope, and workability in future. This last section will also discuss if any advancements may take place in branding and marketing of consumer products because of digitalization, universalization, and internationalization in upcoming years. The globalization of world in the 1990s after the advent of internet followed by advancements and developments in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has created unlimited business opportunities for people across the globe. Indeed, the trade among nations has increased drastically in last two decades because of availability of better communication and networking infrastructure that in turn facilitates profit-maximizing enterprises to initiate new ventures in domestic and foreign markets. In addition, the international community has also opted to eliminate barriers to trade and commerce through international agreements such as GATT, NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) and WTO (World Trade Organisation). Indeed, these free trade agreements and rationalization of custom and import duties were an attempt to create new employment for citizens and provide maximum investment opportunities to their businesses.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Gandhi The Legendary Leader History Essay

Gandhi The Legendary Leader History Essay The topic of leadership has generated excitement and interest from ancient times. Leadership has gained the attention of researchers worldwide. When people think of leadership, images come to mind of powerful dynamic personalities, who command victorious armies, shape the nations events, preach religions or direct corporate empires. How did a leader build such great armies, countries, religion and companies? How did Gandhi become such influential leader? Gandhi was a private man without wealth, without property official title. He was neither commander of army nor the ruler of vast land, even though he became the spokesman for country and all mankind. Gandhi, man who made humanity and truth, more powerful than empires (Albert Einstein).There is no universal definition for leadership because leadership is complex and is studied in different ways that requires different definitions. In the very beginning of movie it has reflected that how situation can influence a person to become a great leader. Movie shows how a person learns and sharps his ability as a leader with the time. It also shows the leaders ability to find best solution to the problem. Gandhis tools were non violence and peaceful protest for the legitimate right of equality and independence. Movie reflected Gandhis ability as a charismatic leader to mobilize people from all religion, cast and sex for freedom struggle. Gandhi visited to rural villages for his followers and indentified the problems and tried to solve it. He started spinning and wearing indigenous cloths. His innovative ways of protest and fight for independence like non cooperation, salt march etc against the strongest empire in the world makes him a transformational and motivational leader. His activities were without any consideration for economic benefits or self-gratification (need for power, achievement, and esteem) and his work f or different communities especially for untouchables establish him as a spiritual leader. Gandhi had kept fast twice protesting against violence and riots which reflects the character of ethical leadership. Till his death he kept thinking about the welfare of mankind. Gandhi reinvented the rule of the game to deal with a situation where all the existing methods had failed. He broke the tradition as he understood that it is not possible to fight for freedom with force. He decided to change the game in a fundamentally different way unleashing the power of ordinary people, inspired men and women of the country to fight for a unifying goal. He used non violence and peaceful protest to fight the battle for the country. Resource constraints did not bother him. His agenda was full independence that inspired him. His leadership style was follower centric and one that took into account existing conditions before determining the strategy. Gandhi leadership style was dependent on circumstances. By applying and understanding following theory we can explain his character and leadership style as well as the influence of environment on his leadership aspect. The word charisma is derived from the Greek word charismata meaning gift of grace (Conger, 1989; Weber, 1947). The neo charismatic emphasis on the characteristic of the leader ignores the nature and severity of the particular threat, the content of the radical vision and how it deals with that threat, and the magnitude and persistence of particular changes that are accomplished through charisma (Beyer 1999). Beyer attempted to precisely delineate Webers approach into four necessary and distinct steps for evolution of charismatic leadership is depicted in Table 1. Gandhi was a charismatic leader as he didnt impose himself on the people to follow him, but he succeeded to lead by his ways of life, like by using indigenous clothes, living simple life, non violence, love for total mankind etc. Without having any tools or weapons or governmental power he was the person who had the biggest power in the country and because of his charisma people followed him. One instance when he told masses not to buy British clothes, people stopped buying and they burnt British clothes. Whenever he started any movement people participated in it like non cooperation or civil disobedience. This characteristic of his proved him as a source of power where people submit their faith to extraordinary. He also succeeded in making a regime in the heart of people by encouraging then that they must struggle without violence to gain independence of their country. He said clearly for no cause he will support violence. He always kept his promise. He even stopped Non cooperation movement when mob killed policemen. By spinning for himself he displayed the example of self reliance and self employment to his countrymen. Needless to say, Gandhi has been a charismatic leader for which people followed him without thinking of consequences. Mahatma Gandhi is an excellent example of transformational leadership because he looked after the aspirations of his followers and instead of riding those needs to power, he remained sensitive to a higher purpose. During non cooperation movement against British rule, violence had broken out and being a proponent of non violence he was deeply troubled. He always said that for any cause he will not support violence because he believed violence triggers more violence. He started his first fast to stop the non cooperation movement as he believed people were not ready to get independence. As a result of his fast, non cooperation movement was stopped. In early part of movie he went to a small rural village on request of one of his follower where he chose to wear clothes made of indigenous materials. He inspired Indian people to boycott British clothes as a part of independence movement and this led to burning of foreign clothes as a public demonstration of Indian solidarity. He initiated s alt making campaign as a part of civil disobedience movement. After air and water, salt was considered to be most important for millions of poor people in India and the government was having monopoly over it. This movement was an act of defiant of British laws which shows the courage vision of Gandhi. This movement got a vast support from people of India and it acted as a serious blow to British Empire. Gandhi was arrested soon after the salt movement. But his followers kept breaking law and continued making salt. People from different religions worked together even in his absence and no violence broke out even when many were beaten by British soldiers. Gandhis followers had courage to do this because they were strong enough to do this on their own and the courage was built in them from the strong beliefs of Gandhi. 3.3 Spiritual Leadership The definition of spirituality includes two essential elements in a persons life (Fry, 2003, 2005) as shown and described in Table 3. Transcendence of self Manifest in a sense of calling or destiny and the belief that ones activities including work have meaning and value beyond being instrumental for obtaining economic benefits or self-gratification Fellowship Manifest in the need for meaningful relationships and being connected to others in a way that provides feeling of joy and wholeness Table 3: Elements of Spiritual Leadership Both elements involve altruistic love and faith. By doing things to help satisfy the two essential needs for transcendence and fellowship in the workplace, spiritual leaders increase their intrinsic motivation, confidence and organizational commitment. Gandhi was able to bring spiritualities into his leadership style. He promoted love and peace at time when other leaders were calling for an eye for an eye. He did not hate any one. Rather he believed in offering the other cheek if someone hits on first. He strongly believed that this attitude of his will reduce the anger of enemy and increase respect. He served the society and worked for the welfare of untouchables. As shown in the movie Gandhi always worked for his followers. While working in South Africa as well as in India he worked a lot for the weaker section of society and empowerment of women which motivated them and eventually, they participated in the freedom struggle. 3.4 Servant Leadership The service to follower is the primary responsibility of leaders and is the essence of ethical leadership. Services include nurturing, defending and empowering followers. Servant leader must listen to followers, learn about their needs aspirations and be willing to share comfort in their pain and frustration. Leader must stand for what is good and right. Social injustice and inequality should always be opposed. Even weak and marginal members of society must be treated with respect and appreciation. Leader must empower follower instead of using power to dominate them. Trust is establish by being completely honest and open, keeping actions consistent with values, and showing trust in followers. Gandhi worked for the empowerment of woman as well as for the lower castes. He spent whole of his life fighting against injustice social evils. He always maintained trust of his followers by striking to his principal of non violence. Larry Spears (1998), CEO of the Greenleaf Centre, concluded that Robert Greenleafs writings incorporated ten major attributes of servant leadership. The Table 4 lists those ten attributes. Listening Empathy Healing Awareness Persuasion Conceptualization Foresight Stewardship Building Community Commitment to growth Table 4: Attributes of Servant Leadership The below Diagram 2 depicts the structure of Servant Leadership and its interrelationships Diagram 2: Structure of Servant Leadership 4 Power and Influence tactics of Gandhi The Power and Influence tactics of Gandhi has been described in two separate sub headings as follows 4.1 Analysis of Power The term power is usually used to describe the absolute capacity of an individual agent to influence the behaviour or attitudes of one or more designated target person at a given point of time (French Raven, 1959). Different kinds of power described by French and Raven are depicted in Table 5 as below Reward Power The target person complies in order to obtain reward controlled by the agent Coercive Power The target person complies in order to avoid punishment controlled by the agent Legitimate Power The target person complies because he/she believes the agent has the right to make the request and the target person has the obligation to comply Expert Power The target person complies because he/she believes that the agent has special knowledge about the best way to do something Referent Power The target person complies because he/she admire or identifies with the agent and want to gain the agents approval. Table 5: Different kinds of Power Gandhi did not have any military or economic power. Gandhi was a small man who despite repeated imprisonment refused to submit to British authority and defeated the most powerful empire of that time with the help support of his followers. Charismatic leader like Gandhi are usually perceived to possess referent power. His principal of non violence, satyagrah, civil disobedience was referred as soft power. He was a man of character and integrity who refused to surrender against injustice. His integrity is reflected by his truthfulness and by set of values that he had. Even British recognised his power when they set him free from prison to stop the violence. He never supported violence for any reasons. He called back non cooperation movement due to violence outbreak. Because of his strong referent power he influenced so many people without any explicit effort. 4.2 Analysis of Influence Tactics Influence is the primary ingredient in effective leadership (Covey, 1990; Malphurs, 1996; Maxwell, 1998; Yukl, 1998). The true measure of leadership is influence nothing more nothing less (Maxwell, 1998 p11). The type of behaviour used intentionally to influence the attitude and behaviour of another person is usually called as influence tactics. The broad categories of Influence tactics are depicted in Table 6. Impression Management Tactics Influence people to like the agent or to have a favourable evaluation of the agent. These tactics can be used by leader to influence followers or by followers to leader Political Tactics Influence organizational decision or otherwise gain benefits for an individual or group. Political tactics are also used to defend against the opponents and silent crisis. Some political tactics include manipulation abuse of power Proactive Influence Tactics Immediate task objective involves change in procedure used for current task, provide assistance or support proposed changes, task compliance by using a simple request based on legitimate power Reactive Tactics It resists an unwanted influence attempt to modify the agents request or proposal to be more acceptable to the target person. Table 6: Types of Influence Tactics Gandhi was the most influential Indian leader. His not only influenced Indian politics but also the world. He influenced his followers to mobilize and fight for their legitimate rights and against discrimination inequality in India as well in South Africa. His influencing tactics were proactive in nature. He used logical argument and factual evidence to influence and motivate his followers. For example his idea about non cooperation and civil disobedience movement were very logical. His inspirational appeal influenced people tremendously. In South Africa he fought against injustice for which British beat him and imprisoned him but could not take his obedience. He also used pressure tactics with his followers when violence broke out he opted to fasting to stop it. The movie reflected the power and influence tactics by Gandhi very well. 5 Leader Follower relationship Leader- member exchange (LMX) theory describes the role making processes between a leader and each individual subordinate and the exchange relationship that develops over time (Dansereau, Graen, Haga, 1975; Graen cashman, 1975). The basic premise of the theory is that leaders develop a separate exchange relationship with each subordinate when the two parties mutually define the subordinates role. A leader is likely to establish a high exchange relationship or a low exchange relationship with each subordinate. The development of high exchange relationships occurs gradually over a period of time through reciprocal reinforcement of behaviour when the exchange cycle is repeated over and over again. The relationship begins with an initial testing phase in which the leader and subordinate evaluate each others motives, attitude and potential resources to be exchanged and mutual role expectations are established. If the relationship proceeds to second stage, the exchange arrangement is refi ned and mutual trust, loyalty and respect gets developed. At third stage wherein exchange was based on self interest is transformed into mutual commitment to the mission and objective of the work unit. According to Graen and Uhi-Bien (1991) the third stage corresponds to transformational leadership. In the movie there are many incidents which show how to develop relationships with the followers. Gandhi biggest follower was his own wife. She always followed him in every walk of his life. She actively participated in all the movements started by Gandhi. She even participated in community development program for the welfare of human kind. She went to jail number of times together with Gandhi and she even died in jail. Meera Ben is another person in the movie who became a big follower of Gandhi. Even though she was a British and daughter of an English admiral, she came to India because she had deep faith respect for Gandhis principals and causes. Nehru was another follower who first evaluated the motive attitude of Gandhi then exchanged his loyalty towards him then worked together on mutual commitment to the mission. 6 Evolution Development of Gandhi as a leader While going to South Africa, Gandhi was travelling in first class and he was forcefully thrown out of first class just because he was an Indian even though he had the right tickets. That was the beginning of transformation of an ordinary man into a great leader. Injustice done to him made him aware about discrimination in the British Empire and he started raising his voice against it. He started mobilizing people and made them aware of their rights. He started working for community development especially for untouchables and women empowerment as he knew without unification of society revolution was not possible. He always believed that fighting with an evil is duty. He advocated non violence as a weapon to fight against British Empire. His principal of non violence served two purposes firstly, he protected his followers from strongest army in the world secondly, this principal made his demands more acceptable to rest of the world. This shows his vision power. When he came back to India, he started wearing Indian made clothes because he wanted to get associated with common Indian man. Before taking any responsibility, he visited different parts of India and came across various problems and their possible solutions. He said without the involvement of common men in the freedom movement, independence is not possible. He kept on working for community development woman empowerment in India contributed magnificently to bring unity among people from different religions. Gradually, he emerged as a leader because of his character, principals and values he believed and was unanimously accepted by the whole nation. He went to Motihari, a rural place on request of follower and started spinning clothes and encouraged to boycott British goods as part of freedom movement. He himself started spinning to lead the country with an example. His movement like non cooperation and salt march united the whole country dented British image to rule India. He even kept fast till death to stop communal riots during Indias partition after independence. 7 Conclusion Movie Gandhi shows the transformation of a common man into a legendary leader. It shows how situation can inspire a person to fight against injustice and inequality. Gandhis leadership style proves that to achieve a good end, means should be equally good. Gandhi had a vision which was accepted by his followers. His charisma led to Indian independence. His contribution towards the weaker section of society is unforgettable and unmatchable. His teaching of non violence is very much relevant even in todays world. For the contribution and sacrifices he made for the Indias independence, upliftment of weaker sections, woman empowerment and unity among different religions, he has been given the title of Mahatma by his nation and is called as Bapu that is Father of the nation.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Anne of Green Gables :: essays research papers

The book I chose for my book report is Anne of Green Gables. It is written by L. M Montgomery. I really liked this book. This book is a fiction book. It was funny in some parts. Anne is a really funny character and I liked reading about what she would do next. The main characters are Anne Shirley, Marilla, Matthew, Diana, and Gilbert. Anne is an orphan who has a wild imagination and loves to talk. She has red hair and freckles She is adopted by Matthew and Marilla. Matthew is a shy, old man and is very kind. His sister is Marilla. Marilla is very protective of Anne. She loves her very much, but doesn’t want to tell her. Diana is a very pretty young girl who is Anne’s best friend. Gilbert is a boy whom all the girls like, except for Anne. He gets on her nerves all of the time. The story takes place on Prince Edward Island in Canada. It also takes place in the town of Avonlea. The home that Anne, Matthew, and Marilla is called Green Gables. The story begins when Matthew and Marilla want to adopt a boy. Instead, when Matthew goes to Carmody to get him, he finds that there is a girl instead. Her name is Anne Shirley. He takes her anyway and Marilla gets mad. She tries to give her to someone else, but they don’t like her so Marilla decides to keep her. Anne met Diana one day. They become best friends. One the first day of school, Anne met Gilbert Blythe. He made Anne so mad by calling her carrots she hit him over the head with her slate and broke it. She never forgave him for saying that about her. One day Anne has Dianna over to her house and Diana drinks raspberry cordial and gets drunk. Anne gets in trouble and she can’t see Diana anymore. She couldn’t talk to her. A while later, Anne is at her home when she sees Diana running towards the door. She says that her sister is sick and Anne goes to Diana’s house and helps get her sister better. Matthew called the doctor. After that, Anne was allow ed to see Diana again. Diana had a birthday party and the girls started to play truth or dare. Anne got a dare to walk across the roof. She fell and broke her ankle and had to moss the first part of school.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Educational Philosophy Essay

My approach to education is student-centered. I always try to ensure that students are given the best opportunities to build upon their existing knowledge and capacities. I believe that education is not only about knowledge-transfer but it is about transforming people and building their capabilities to make sense of their experiences and to be able to use higher order thinking skills so they can be better individuals and better citizens of society. Based on my experience as an educator, the principles that underlie my teaching are influenced by constructivist paradigms, which posit â€Å"that meaning or knowledge is actively constructed in the human mind. † (Richardson, 2003, p. 1625) Hence, education is not stagnant but a continuous process, and the role of the educator is to enable students to be able to establish a connection between theory and experience, to make sense of their realities and lived experiences based on what they learn from other settings, whether it is school, work, or even in their relationships with other people. I believe that a good teacher is one who makes effort to know his or her students, including their socio-economic backgrounds, and pays attention to the way that the students interact or create their own knowledge. In this sense, a good teacher is one who considers the learning needs of his/her students, who is able to adapt strategies that would build on students’ capacities and learning styles, and who ensures that students have equal access to learning opportunities by making teaching content relevant to the students’ unique backgound and context (UNESCO, 2004, p. 5). In the same manner, a good learner is one who attempts to discover his or her own learning style, strength, and weaknesses and tries his/her best to make his/her learning relevant and useful in his/her daily life. In learning settings, students and teachers have different responsibilities, both of which are defined by individual and social expectations. A teacher is expected to attempt to provide his/her students with learning opportunities based on their specific and oftentimes diverse needs. (UNESCO, 2004, p. 6) Meanwhile, a student is expected to be responsible for directing his or her own learning, and to develop his/her awareness of his/her learning needs in order to maximize the opportunities for learning that he/she encounters. I believe that people are actively involved in their learning. Learning results from individuals’ interaction with the environment and their attempt to make sense of these experiences. (Fry, Ketteridge, & Marshall, 2003, p. 9) Hence, people learn by building on what they already know and they are usually interested in learning when it has relevance for them. Among the most important environmental factors that influence an individual’s ability to learn are the quality of feedback, the availability of tools and mechanisms to support and facilitate learning, and the student’s quality of life or living conditions. Thus, the presence of appropriate feedback based on the students’ accomplishments, the ability of the teacher or the school to provide students with learning tools and opportunities, and the relevance of the education to the students’ cultural and socio-economic background would enable the students to maximize their own learning potentials. There are also personal and interpersonal factors that either promote or impede learning. One is an individual’s inherent capacity that is determined by his or her biological constitution or by genetics. Likewise, an individual’s personality, which affects his or her disposition toward the environment impacts on his or her ability to learn. Decisions on the goals of instruction are made based on the needs and expectations of the learners, the teaching setting, the needs of the organization, and the wider needs and expectations from the community. I try as much as possible to put the needs of the learners above other considerations. However, the goals of instruction also have to incorporate the teaching setting and the needs of other stakeholders such as the organization sponsoring the class and the needs of the community wherein the instruction takes place. The factors that influence my choice of teaching and evaluation strategies are the concrete needs of the students based on the evaluation of their performance and also their interests. I choose teaching strategies based on the interests and capacities of my students and on the goals of the instruction. Evaluation strategies are chosen based on their effectiveness, appropriateness, and ability to concretely measure student performance based on the goals of the instruction. Evaluating my own strengths as an educator, what makes me most proud in my practice is my ability to establish an easy rapport with my students and to easily identify their interests by taking time to know them personally. I would like to believe that I was able to influence most of them to look at life as a continuing journey towards knowing more about themselves and about their environment, and to value education not only in its formal sense but in its relevance in establishing meaning from experiences and realities. My educational philosophy and principles are demonstrated in my track record as an educator in the non-formal education system. As a teacher of adult classes in church, I was able to develop my own style of teaching that is grounded on the experience and realities of my students, and which considers the significance of what they learn from these classes on their daily lives. My stint as an instructor in the U. S. Army and my current employment as the Manager Instructor for FedEx, where I teach safe driving habits to adult drivers, also enable me to constantly hone my teaching skills based on the diversity of teaching settings and the kind of students I encounter. Works Cited: Fry, H. , Ketteridge, S. , & S. Marshall (2003). A handbook for teaching and learning in higher education. VA, USA: Kogan Page. Richardson, V. (2003). Constructivist pedagogy. Teachers College Record, 105(9):1623-1640. UNESCO (2004). Changing teaching practices: using curriculum differentiation to respond to students’ diversity. Paris, France: UNESCO.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Science Term Paper Topics

Science Term Paper Topics During the course of education – every student once in a lifetime is forced to write a science term paper. The whole concept of a quality science term paper is to describe and event that is aimed at studying while class. In order to be able to write a profound science term paper, you have to be able to seize the whole amount of information given to you while class and also be able to implement something new. It doesn’t have to be substantially new, but still a bit of originality always makes a better science term paper. In order to be able to write a perfect science term paper a student needs to know certain techniques and methods. These tips are more of a general suggestion to every science term paper, and every students needs to remember them and constantly keep them in mind. When you sit down to write a science term paper, the first thing you might want remember, that the whole process of writing a science term paper does not start from writing the paper itself. The main point of giving a science term paper assignment is to force you to plan all your actions and researches. The first thing you have to do is plan the whole science term paper, and make sure that the structure you have developed is profound and corresponds to the topic of your science term paper. The science term paper outline is by far the most important thing in your science term paper as it recommends the way the science term paper topic will be exposed, and the way you are planning to expose it. You must not start writing a science term paper without a proper science term paper structure. When developing a science term paper structure the first thing you need to do is understand what you are writing about. It is a general confusion of all novice science term paper writers. Many students start writing right a way, and think that they will figure out what they are writing about later, and in most cases, either they realize they have been writing the wrong thing themselves, or the professor realizes that when checking their paper. Try Googling your topic beforehand, and make sure you know the topic better than anyone else. The whole idea of writing a science term paper is to maintain a certain structure, so when you have developed the science term paper outline – try to avoid jumping from one point to another without any explanation. If you see that the points of outlines are not covered – try to rethink the whole paragraph, and make sure the things you write are understandable and 100% clear. Always focus on the main point of your science term paper, and avoid fussing around supporting points. The main objective is your main idea and not the things you use to explain your science term paper. Science is a very complex thing, and in most cases it can very complicated. In order for you to be able to write a good understandable paper you have to use easy words, in order for the reader to be 100% in the topic, and not be distracted by using the dictionary or the internet to understand a quite simple text. The worst issue is when the writer tries to show that he is smarter than the reader by using really hard words, which are not needed. You have to critically evaluate your own text and make sure that the reader will be able to perceive every aspect of your science term paper. One of the most important things in writing a term paper on Science or any other term paper of that matter is originality. And this is referring not only to the information you provide in your science term paper, but the way you provide the information as well. In order to be evaluated at the highest marks – try to find your own style of writing and avoid copying someone else’s. Your science term paper will be shining with intelligence if the text will be written in your own manner, your own style, your own brand. A good way to develop your own style is to avoid any citation, quotes or referencing on the first stage of writing a science term paper. After you have put all your thoughts together – you can start searching for some quotes and citation to tidy up your science term paper. Always avoid plagiarism. And plagiarism is not only similarity such as copy pasting, but thoughts and ideas as well. You need to be able to form your own point of view, and if you still decide to use someone elses ideas – always cite them, or show as quotes. A good writer always educates the reader, so you have to present something for the reader to carry out of your science term paper, and be sure it is useful, and relevant. CustomWritings.com is always eager to help you out with any science term paper topics you are given. If you feel that you are in a desperate need of some term paper writing assistance – please be sure to ask CustomWritings.com and ask for help with your science term paper.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Elements of a Typical College Paper

Elements of a Typical College Paper There should be a distinctive difference between papers written by college students and papers written by high school students. College papers are characterized by well constructed paragraphs, a clearly stated thesis, and interesting arguments. College papers are meant to be read by other scholars. Writing college papers involves a migration from the usual high school style of writing. This paper will discuss the elements of a typical college paper in accordance with the Modern Language Association (MLA) style of writing.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Elements of a Typical College Paper specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A typical college paper has to adhere to the formatting guidelines that are stipulated by MLA. According to MLA, a standard paper should be double spaced, have one-inch margins, and be typed using a twelve point Times New Roman font. The header of such a paper should contain a page number and the aut hor’s surname. The page number should be located on the right hand side. When submitting a paper, it should contain important information about the writer, class, subject, and instructor. The MLA specifies that this information be located on the left hand side. This information should include your name, your professor’s name, the class’ name, and date of submission. College papers are by definition, academic papers. Therefore, their targeted audience should be fellow scholars. This element should be reflected in the paper’s format, language, and argument. Academic papers are committed to matters and subjects that are of concern to the entire scholastic society. This means that the topics covered by college papers should have the ability to interest not only the writer but also the rest of the academic community. The arguments contained in a college paper should be both informative and elaborate. In addition, the paper should include the writer’s th oughts on the subject. The paper’s body can include quotations or information that is borrowed from other papers. This kind of information needs to be noted in form of in-text citations. According to MLA, this information should be contained between parentheses. The in-text citation should appear just before the sentence’s period. The information contained in an in-text citation differs depending on the type of source used. This information mostly comprises of the writer’s surname and a number representing the source’s page. When the writer mentions the author in a sentence, only the page number of the sentence is included in the parentheses. The MLA standards keep changing from time to time. It is therefore important for writers to keep updating themselves with these changes.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Each standard college paper should incl ude an introduction, a thesis statement, supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion. On certain occasions, the writer may have to consider stating alternative arguments in the paragraph that is just below the thesis statement. Introductions and conclusions often present a challenge to most writers. This is because they act as the paper’s frame. A good introduction should be able to capture the reader’s attention and Cleary state the thesis statement. A conclusion should provide the final word on the issue and restate the thesis. A college paper should not have grammatical errors. The paper should also have an appropriate tone and style in accordance with the main subject. In accordance with the MLA style, the paper should include a â€Å"† page at the bottom. This page should list all the sources used in alphabetical order.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Environmental Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Environmental Economics - Essay Example While for chemical contaminants this is done by assessing toxicological and epidemiological results, engineering or other disciplines are involved for other types. The second step is Dose-Response Estimation which in essence is the process of determining the magnitude of impact of a unit dose of the contaminant substance. The relation between dosage and possibility or incidence of the potentially adverse consequence is estimated. This is possibly one of the most complex steps of the entire risk assessment process particularly due to the fact that often the potential impacts on humans have to be extrapolated from the observed results on mice, rats etc thereby engendering the possibility of estimation errors. Also, the genetic or other differences between individuals imply that the hazard may be a stronger threat to a certain part of the human population thereby reducing the possibility of effective generalization of the results. Exposure Assessment attempts to identify the extent of human exposure to the substance given particular locations, lifestyles etc to quantify the likely doses of the substance that humans will be exposed to. Phthalates are identified as a particular class of multiple-function chemicals that are used in varieties of consumer as well as personal care goodsi. Due to the limited scope of this paper we shall discuss a very recently concluded assessment of phthalates in regard to possibility of contamination and risk particularly to children exposed to toys that used the substance as softeners. The research in late 1980s that showed that phthalates DEHP caused cancer in rodents exposed to very high doses and later another variant of phthalates known as DINP that was adopted as substitute for DEHP as softeners in toys though initially showed that it had not similar carcinogenic effects, did however cause liver damage to rodents, constitutes the first step of hazard identification in this case. It raised widespread

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Bbusiness management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Bbusiness management - Essay Example BMW focused on the market trends and strategies in order to get a hold on high share in the market. BMW Case Analysis What main trends are identifiable in the business environment in general and in the automobile market in particular in 2004 that might affect BMW’s strategy? The main trends that are identifiable in business environment mainly include the competition between the different brands of same product category. It is on the basis of the quality and differentiation that is created by every brand. In automobile market the most important trend that is identifiable is the uniqueness in terms of design, price, quality and convenience provided to every customer when it comes to use. Whether it’s for any segment, the prime objective of automobile industry is to provide the ease to use it. According to Porter’s Generic BMW is highly differentiated in the automobile market, and this differentiation was on the basis of brand itself that created different identity in consumers mind. BMW conveys a perception of prestige and dignity for the high-end users. Uniqueness in terms of design seems to be the most important weapon for any company to fight and to move in fast–paced automobile industry. But in 2004 the market for automobile industry became more concentrated and productive. ... ere was no issue of quality in this year because of rapid growth of automobile industry but consumers of North America and Western Europe started demanding cheaper cars due to economic instability which forced them to reduce the spending on non-essential goods, and this adversely impacted the matured car market. On the other hand the market of Asia especially in China the demand of high–end and expensive models increased. Henceforth, quality was not the issue in 2004 whereas every company was focusing on placing their brand on the top of automobile industry. The war was of branding not of quality because the quality was no longer an issue (Mathews, 2006). 1. Using Porter’s five-force framework, attempt an analysis of the competition in the automobile industry in 2004 (adopt the BMW perspective). Consider the time horizon of strategic planning and attempt to identify what future changes are likely for that period in the light of the factors at play in the macro-environme nt. Industrial Rivalry – The competition became so ferocious, there was no room for differentiation and growth was slow because industry was in the mature phase. So, the focus turned to price of the product in automobile industry. Those who set economical prices and uniqueness into their brands were ruling the market. Quality was the weapon and the design too but that no more be considered as factor for choice-making, it was necessary for car makers to look for quality of product. Profitability was affected badly due to various external factors as well as competition. Substitutes – In 2004 automobile industry was facing substitute like motor bike, boats and leisure cruises were immensely used. Potential Entrants – Deluxe cars like Ford entered the market with Jaguar and Volvo models and