Core Competencies Essay Example

Core Competencies Paper Figure 1 shows the processes of product development, order fulfillment, apply chain management, and customer service in contrast to typical business functions such as sales, manufacturing, purchasing, and accounting. As companies become skilled at thinking processes, instead functional departments or products or markets, a new dimension Of strategy opens up. Consider Chaparral Steel, the tenth largest steel producer in the United States, a minimal of less than 1 ,OHO workers that nevertheless has set world productivity records several times and was the first American steel company to receive a Japanese Industrial Quality Certification. Chaparral management lows its competitors to tour its plants at will because they cant take (what we do best) home with them. Although Chaparral is known for its low cost and high technology, its core competency is not technology, but the ability to transform technology rapidly into new products and processes. By the time a competitor copies its current technology, Chaparral is confident they will have moved on to something else. Similarly, the Gap cant predict what young consumers will wear any better than other retailers, but it can offer them more choices and react quickly when styles or colors hit. We will write a custom essay sample on Core Competencies specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Core Competencies specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Core Competencies specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The Gaps core competency in sourcing, logistics, and supply chains allows the company to introduce more than twenty new fashion lines into its stores each year. Centering strategy around processes makes it easier to identify core competencies. Do you remember the classic strategy tale of the buggy-whip manufacturer whose primary task of making buggy whips drove him out of business when other modes of transportation came on the scene? Would the buggy-whip manufacturer have succeeded if it had defined itself in terms of the transportation industry and converted to making cars? Probably not. The company had no expertise in internal combustion engines or metal chassis. But its competence in leather fabrication might have positioned it to manufacture leather gloves or handbags. Strategy is led by competencies. As a firm learns more about it competencies, a process orientation allows several interesting options for capitalizing on what a firm does best. Companies can further develop and exploit their competencies by: Enhancing the value a competency provides to customers. As a starting point companies should determine which processes matter most to their customers and work to improve the competencies related to them. This may lead to new opportunities. For example, Goodyear no longer just delivers tires to Invariants warehouse. It operates the tire warehouse for Invariants mounts and balances the tires on Invariants trucks. Federal Express not only delivers small parts and critical supplies for computer manufacturers and medical services, it maintains their inventory levels as well. Transforming an internal competence into a salable item. American Airlines markets its SABER reservation system to airlines and travel agents, and its maintenance system o other airlines. Triton of Massachusetts sells its telemarketing services: L. L Bean markets its customer service process; and Xerox, Westinghouse, AT T, and others have spun off firms to market their quality-improvement processes. Applying competencies in a creative way to new products and services. HR Block used its expertise in recruiting and managing short term employees during tax season to create a competitive advantage in the field of temporary services. Creating new competencies and finding new markets. John Deere, a farm equipment manufacturer, developed impenitence in financial services so that it could provide its retail dealer network with insurance. The company later sold these processes to automobile dealers, boat dealers, and recreational dealers. Rare and valuable resources and capabilities are the fundamental source of competitive advantage. Resources are tangible (e. G. , equipment, machinery, mail list), intangible (e. G. , brand name, customer knowledge, money), or human assets that the firm currently possesses. Resources likely emerge as the result of prior investments, actions or ongoing capabilities. Ive provided you with examples of John (Deers Company) marketing resources below. Knowledge and Informational Resources Customer information system (i. . , a CRM database) Customer knowledge or understanding Reseller (e. G. , retailer) knowledge or understanding Relational Resources Customer loyalty Customer relationships Reseller (e. G. , brokers, retailer) relationships Legal Resources Brand Trademarks Reputation Resources Brand equity Brand awareness Physical Resources Distribution network Retail locations Human Resourc es Company-owned sales force Organizational F-uncial Resources All forms of capital (money, plant, equipment) might be relevant, especially if the lack of these resources creates a constraint. And capabilities are compel patterns of skills in deploying resources (e. G. , patents, know-how, brand names, equipment) to perform a task or activity to produce a desired end result. Deere is particularly interested in dynamic capabilities that the company can apply to create, extend, or modify its resource base. Ive provided you with examples of John (Deers Company) marketing capabilities below. Product Management Ability to develop and deliver superior-q laity and/or customized goods and revise. Communications Management and Brand-building capability Ability to create and manage customer value perceptions leading to high levels of brand equity, using effective: positioning, advertising message delivery, personalized communications, and integrated marketing communications. Pricing Management Ability to extract the optimal revenue and profit from customers through price discrimination tactics, for example, using a sophisticated yield management system capability. This is unrelated to the ability to charge a high price (which is a function of product or marketing differentiation) or a owe price (which is a function of cost leadership). Channel Management Ability to establish and manage channels of distribution that effectively and efficiently deliver value to end-user customers. Customer Relationship Management Ability to identify profitable customers and prospects and initiate, maintain, and leverage relationships with these customers to create superior customs level profits. Requires data collection interpretation capability for individual customers, individual customer targeting capability, and personalized communications capability.

THe Afterlife in Ancient Egypt essays

THe Afterlife in Ancient Egypt essays THE AFTERLIFE IN ANCIENT EGYPTS RELIGION AND LITERATURE Ancient Egypt is often identified by its enormous pyramids, in particular the Great Pyramid at Giza, which was built during the middle of the third millennium, BC. Pyramids are massive monuments built over or around a crypt or tomb. The Egyptian pyramids served as royal tombs. Not only do these colossal constructions depict the Egyptians advanced architectural abilities, but they also give us an insight into their belief system. Ancient Egypts beliefs were based on their view of life as a process which began on earth, but continued in the afterlife, or continued existence after death. Egyptians believed that proper burial ensured the deceased entrance into the afterlife. Their belief was that in order for the soul to pass into the next life, the body must remain intact; therefore, to preserve it, they developed the procedures of mummification or embalming, the art of preserving bodies after death, generally by the use of chemical substances. The preservation was essential to resurrecting or moving on to the afterlife. The preserved body would then be placed in the pyramid which was considered a vessel that transported the deceased into the afterlife. Ancient Egypts religious beliefs were the dominating influence in the development of their culture. Egyptian religion gave reason for their belief in an afterlife, and their literature demonstrated how important that belief was to Ancient Egyptians. The religious beliefs of the Ancient Egyptians were based on a combination of the belief in spiritual beings, existence of many gods or divine beings, and the depiction of these gods in either human or animal form. Egyptians religious beliefs about the afterlife are depicted in their hymns to their gods and in an extensive collection of mortuary texts which demonstrate their religious beliefs. Some examp...

Fast-food outlets and poor health in America Essay

Fast-food outlets and poor health in America - Essay Example There has been an increase in the number of convenience and fast food stores across America. For this reason, many low income earners purchase their food from these stores as opposed to buying from grocery stores and supermarkets. This purchasing behavior has exposed millions of Americans to unhealthy foods. The number of obesity and other health related cases has been on the rise. This has sparked debate on whether these fast food stores should be blamed for this trend, or if the blame should lie squarely in the hands of the consumer. For instance, Brownlee, Cohen and Zinczenko argue that fast food outlets have played a big role in encouraging unhealthy consumption habits. This paper aims to contribute to this debate by arguing that fast food outlets have contributed to this problem significantly by encouraging and enticing consumers to buy from them. Fast-food outlets market their products to consumers, mainly children, foods that have health hazards without proper warnings and labels. In the essay by David Zinczenko, the author highlights how advertisements from fast-food outlets don’t come with warning labels. For example, an outlet may list its chicken salad as containing 150 calories, yet the dressing, almonds and noodles that come with it account for additional 470 calories. This argument clearly shows how these fast food outlets hide information from the consumers that would otherwise help the consumers make better choices.

NO TOPIC Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

NO TOPIC - Essay Example There are many ways to success as demonstrated by "A Rice Sandwich" by Sandra Cisneros, where she demonstrates some of them with substantial backing in the process of writing the story. The first means of making it to the end without having to do much is blackmail, which is portrayed thoroughly with different character sin the story, which shows different types of blackmail and how they are used to the advantage of the characters using them. The first case is emotional blackmail, which appears to be the most effective means of making it to the top without investing oneself heavily in the issues that matter. This occurs through establishing an emotional connection and using it to one’s own advantage, where it is applied at the right time to exert the most pressure on the subject to give in to one’s demands. As such, the story depicts this with clarity, where the persona of the story uses tears to will the parents into submission, as there is no desire whatsoever to have lunch at school. The second use of tears as a form of blackmail is portrayed in the nuns’ cases, where tears are the only thing that come out of the persona in the story, when the nuns want the persona to engage in an activity (Cisneros). Consequently, emotional blackmail is an effective way to be successful by wooing people to avoid emotional pain or even sympathize with one’s emotional pain, where crying is now the means of blackmail against subjects in power. This also acts as a form of manipulation, where there are several incidences in the story showing how manipulation serves to achieve success. This leads to the second form of blackmail, which involves having damaging information on someone and using it to one’s advantage as is seen in the case of the nuns against the persona. The nuns ask the persona, where they live, where the persona points to dilapidated apartments, leading to shame and embarrassment, this proves the use of information to exert power against other people and to have one’s way with rebuttal or consequences. The consequences are borne by the person, on whom compromising information exists, leading to their full cooperation and even fulfillment of one’s wishes. The above two-mentioned form of blackmail are also mentioned in "The Circus" by William Saroyan, as means of getting being successful, where information is applied to manipulate individuals to achieve their potential. "The Circus" by William Saroyan portrays information as a way t success, where individuals use information as a motivating factor to work hard or harder in order to ensure that they are successful. Louis Dagget uses information as his path to success, where he takes to heart the words of his superiors in ensuring that he gets to be a lion tamer (Beckhoff 20). Consequently, information becomes as a means of success, where he now seeks to work in a circus irrespective of the position, but as part of the circus crew altogether; furth ermore, means of achieving success are through undermining one’s confidence, which is different from blackmail. Undermining confidence serves as a means of being successful by demeaning one’s sense of self-worth leading in a person giving up his or her standing or position. Undermining one’s confidence dwells on the weaknesses that one has and knows about himself or herself. As such, â€Å"A Rice Sandwich† portrays this way of achieving succ

Use Transnational Teams to Globalize Your Company Essay

Use Transnational Teams to Globalize Your Company - Essay Example arning (1996).† The various models of transnational teams presented in the article show effectiveness and efficiency, and prove that transnational teams contribute the strategic, tactical and operational business strategies, goals and objectives. Aside from contributing to the overall thrust of the company, transnational teams also are a source of leadership, staffing challenges, able to communicate globally using modern and emerging technologies and often comprised of multidiscipline and multicultural team members. In the globalize world of today, transnational teams are at the center of this evolution and are contributing vastly to the improvement of business processes aligned with information technology and other emerging ideas. The idea of forming transnational teams has always been an innovative idea for companies to find their niche in the global market. The different scenarios presented in the article proves that transnational teams indeed work from setting up new technologies, opening new markets or starting a regional or branch office. But the thrust of any business is to increase the bottom line and satisfy stakeholders thus in utilizing transnational teams; the company enables transfer of technology, manufacturing or production facilities in Third World countries or emerging economies. The reason for this is the lower labor, production and overall operating costs. From the social responsibility point of view, there could be questions of exploitations or unfair labor practices, and these are just one of the few issues that adjuncts to globalization and transnational teams. Aside from these, forming transnational teams with differing cultural and social beliefs may take time to fully enable the team t o work together. As Snow et al. states: â€Å"Today’s international companies – even large, sophisticated global leaders – probably will discover that they must dramatically improve their human resources departments to support transnational teams

Heroes Journey Archetype Stories

Heroes Journey Archetype Stories There are few things that can stand the test of times, storytelling being one of these. Stories have been recorded and read for hundreds even thousands of years. Currently they are told through a variety of mediums, books, movies, play and a variety of other methods. With there being so many stories, there are bound to be reoccurring themes. These are often classified as archetypes or a model or pattern (Britannica). There is one that I find in the most common types of stories that captivate people the most, and that is the Heroes Journey Archetype. This archetype is a theme commonly found in old and new stories and develops the character through 12 steps into the ultimate being. In the words of Joseph Campbell A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. The best example I can think of a hero is Luke Skywalker, Master Jedi. Of course there are older more distinct heroes, such as the mighty Gilgamesh. I will explain the 12 steps of the hero archet ype and each of these heroes follow it perfectly. The Heroes Journey is often divided into the main group, and each one of those groups contains three to four of the 12 steps. The initial section for this archetype is called Separation. The first step in the journey is the ordinary world where the hero often finds them selves drudging though like on a day to day basis with nothing new or to exciting. For Gilgamesh this is when he does as he pleases as the king of Uruk. Luke Skywalker finds himself in the ordinary would as moisture farmer on the desert planet of Tatooine being raised as a moisture farmer by his Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru (Wikipedia). Both of these characters are going the same thing for numerous years and everything is ordinary for them. The next step is where things start to take a turn for our beloved hero, and this is the Call to Adventure. This sets the story rolling by disrupting the comfort of the Heros Ordinary World, presenting a challenge or quest that must be undertaken. In Star Wars this is easily identified , as Luke receives a message from Princess Leia as she needs to be rescued. Gilgamesh however is given a divine dream of his future mentor, Enkidu. A dream of this caliber is unusual for Gilgamesh and symbolized a great change for him. As you can see, both of these evens are throwing a kink into these heroes everyday lives, after doing something for so long though one is bound to become stubborn or obstinate and this leads to the third step, the Refusal of the Call. The Hero may not be willing to make changes, preferring the safe haven of the Ordinary World. This becomes an essential stage that communicates the risks involved in the Journey that lies ahead. Without risks and danger or the likelihood of failure, the audience will not be compelled to be a part of the Heros Journey. (Novak) Gilgamesh cannot understand his dreams and therefor is unable to being his process of change into the hero he is to become, but will soon find out. Luke on the other hand feels as if he must continu e to help his aunt and uncle, not wanting to abandon them to help another. These heroes need someone to guide them down the right patch, a mentor even. Meeting the Mentor is the fourth step and this is is the first real mark the of the approach to becoming something amazing. Gilgamesh encounter his hard opposite in Enkidu, and through the test of battle, they forge a friendship that will last a lifetime, ultimately leading the transformation of our hero. Skywalker meets Obi-Wan, his fathers old mentor that will guide him the same as he had done before, off of his home planet. One last push is needed for the hero to leave the ordinary world completely, and this is referred to as crossing the threshold. Here the Hero has finally committed to the Journey and is prepared to cross the gateway that separates the Ordinary World from the Special World. (Novak) Enkidu and Gilgamesh go off to fight Humbaba, which is the gateway that will rock both of there worlds. Luke escapes the planet from the stormtroopers and does not have much of a choice to leave his ordinary world. After this step, our heroes are fully separated. They do not have the luxury of returning from whence they came, and are becoming what they were meant to be. The second phase of the Heroes Journey Archetype is the Initiation and Transformation. Here is the meat of the story, and where the most action takes place, also known as the good stuff. After our beloved hero has crossed the big leap, he has many Tests, Allies, and Enemies. Here the hero learns the rules of this special world, finds out who can be trusted, allies learned, and prepares himself for what is to come. (Novak) For Gilgamesh, this is a very big stage. He and Enkidu, after defeating Humbaba, encounter the Bull of Heavens, which the consequences of defeating tests Gilgamesh to the core. His best friend Enkidu takes the fall for this event which leads him to question is own mortality. Gilgamesh says How can i rest, how can I be at peace? (Bedford Anthology 66) He goes into a daze for such a long time and has a long road ahead of him. Luke is tested by Obi-Wan and trains to become a Jedi. He also makes new allies in Han Solo and Chewbacca. They help him cross the threshold and end up saving him time and time again. His archenemy Darth Vader is also introduced, which leads to Luke losing a hand and learning who his father is. After these extraordinary events the hero knows what must be done and goes to face his final challenge, this is the Approach to the Inmost Cave. Attacks are planned, a reconnaissance launched, and possibly the enemies forces whittled down before the Hero can face his greatest fear, or the supreme danger lurking in the Special World. (Novak) After Gilgamesh questions his mortality he goes on a journey to find immortality and embarks on a long journey to get anywhere close to achieving this. Luke in Star Wars gets his planes ready and the rebel army gets into position to attack the Death Star. These events lead to the ultimate and final ordeal for the story, known as the Conflict. For Luke, this is the flight he must take to destroy the Death Star, and avoid his father to destroy what Vader has built. For Gilgamesh these are the tasks that Utnapishtim give him to obtain immortality. Although he gets close with the plant, he never achieves what he desires. After these Ordeal or Conflicts, the hero obtains a Reward for his task. The Reward comes in many forms: a magical sword, an elixir, greater knowledge or insight, reconciliation with a lover. Whatever the treasure, the Hero has earned the right to celebrate. (Novak) Greater knowledge or insight is definitely the reward for Luke, where he know the Rebel Alliance is able to go on the offensive and how to destroy the Sith Lords most powerful weapon. Gilgamesh also obtains this reward, although he did not achieve what he wanted, he is now able to be the king his kingdom needs him to be. This concludes the Initiation and Transformation section of the heroes journey archetype. The third and final section is the Return. In order for a hero to return from whence he came, he must take The Road Back. This could be hard due to the success in the Special World (Novak) and has become someone completely different. In the Story of Gilgamesh, the road back is simply the author telling us that he went back to Uruk. For Star Wars it is Luke returning to the Rebel Base and seeing all of his old friends. When the hero arrives back to the ordinary world he faces his Resurrection or cleansing and purification. Both Luke and Gilgamesh get out of there old worn out clothes and back into clothes that fit there role in the ordinary world again. The final step in this crazy journey is the Return with the Elixir where the elixir could be love, wisdom, or simply the experience of having survived the Special World. Gilgamesh loves his people and kingdom with a new found grace, while Luke Skywalker is lucky to even be alive but also receives the Rebel Medal of Honor for his heroic deeds. With these final steps both stories come to an end, and neither could of had a better ending. Stories have been told through all of history, and even though they share different mediums than they did long ago, they share many of the same elements. As Technology develops stories will continue to be told in various new ways. I would love to live past my time and see how things develop. As for heroes, they will continue to be a part of stories for decades even centuries to come. Now the way that they are developed, well using a set standard for hundreds of years can get old, so hopefully someone comes up with something revolutionary to literature that changes heroes for the best, but for now the grandeur of heroes will continue to enthrall me.

The Drinking Age Must not Be Lowered Essay -- Argumentative, Persuasiv

Lawmakers should not consider lowering the drinking age from twenty-one to eighteen. Despite the deep value this country places on freedom, personal liberties, and personal responsibilities, the data shows that public safety is greatly at risk if the drinking age were to be lowered to twenty-one. A variety of groups believe that the drinking age should be lowered to eighteen deeming that the twenty-one law is unconstitutional. On the opposing side, people agree that the law helps to protect our young people and the communities where they live. Before World War II, the age of majority in America was twenty-one. At this age, men entered into their full rights and obligations, such as the expectation to fight for their country, the freedom to vote, and the right to consume alcohol (Poe, 2). There was no confusion pertaining to what a man was allowed to do. Everything was consistent. When the draft age was lowered to eighteen during the Second World War, the nation went into frenzy. The American people did not think it was fair that at eighteen young men could be forced to go out and fight for their country, but were not permitted vote (Poe, 2). In their minds the only compromise that seemed fair was to give the men the ballot in return for their service to our country (Poe, 2). However, no one argued that men be given the right to drink, because of their service to our country. In fact, Senator Joshua Lee believed that soldiers under twenty-one years of age needed to be protected from drinking by their older fellow se rvice men (Poe, 2). Congress concluded that only the states could change their voting and drinking ages, but surprisingly, the states did not rush to do so (Poe,2). Eventually, the soldiers were demobilized,... ...y safety, and a deterrent for future goals. The only way to insure health and safety for all is to insist that lawmakers not lower the drinking age to eighteen and keep it at twenty-one. Works Cited Dean-Mooney, Laura. "A Lower Age Would Be Unsafe." U.S. News & World Report 15 Sept. 2008: 10. EBSCOhost. Web. 2 Oct. 2011. Engs, Ruth C.. " Why drinking age should be lowered: Dr. Ruth Engs ." Indiana University. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Oct. 2011. . Hanson, David J., and Ph.D.. "The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984." WWW2 Webserver. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Oct. 2011. . Poe, Marshall. "The Drinking Game | Hoover Institution." Hoover Institution. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2011. .