Business Management And Strategic Management American Apparel

Question: What role does vertical integration play in American Apparel's strategy in terms of both tangible and intangible factors? Answer: Founded in 1898 American Apparel has come a long way in the garment industry, the company has expanded and grown with the dynamic of the business environment and has gained goodwill from all the stakeholders. The company is based out of los angles and vertical integration has been a significant part of its operational strategy[1]. Vertical integration is the process of by which a business organization increase and improve its operations. It involves dividing the same production path into various steps. The process of supply chain is owned by the company at various levels. For example: when the company produces both the end product as well as the required raw material. The supply chain involves four stages: commodities, manufacturing, distribution and retail. This process helps the company reduce the cost of production and manufacture as well as increase the efficiency of the resources by implementing multiple usages[2]. The company has also established itself as a successful multinational company and owns more than 270 retail stores in 20 countries all around the world. One of the most unique features of American apparel is that it is a company in the fashion industry that has implemented both forward and backward vertical integration a central part. The decision of themanagement plays an important role in the operation as well as earning the revenue for the company. The organization does most of the work in the line of production starting from cutting of the fabric and sewing it, it also owns several knitting and dyeing services in Southern California. American apparel also owns a distribution warehouse, a wholesale operation. The designing of the garments and the promotional strategies of the company are formulated and implemented is carried out by the company. Starting form advertising, photography and clothing models are from the resources that the company owns. The advantages are that the business operation using vertical integration achieved extraordinary speed and elasticity as well as in any kind of policy making and decision making process. This process also enables the company to be more innovative in terms of design and fashion trends. It also helps the company to meet the requirements of the customers before the competition. Vertical integration is the process which also reduces the product development cycle[3]. One of the biggest disadvantages of the process it that it engages a significant amount of capital and also it shifts the focus of the business which may have an impact on the quality of the product or service. If there are some significant changes in the economy like depression then the company will face a huge set back. Therefore, the tangible factors impacting the vertical integration are firstly the resources like factories, facilities, warehouses etc of the company and the stakeholders like the employees and the managers of the company also has an important role. Some of the intangible factors are: motivation, talent acquisition and organization of implementation of the strategy of vertical integration are responsible for the success of the process[4]. References: Fulton, Katelyn, and Seung-Eun Lee. "Assessing sustainable initiatives of apparel retailers on the internet."Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management: An International Journal17.3 (2013): 353-366. Lahiri, Nandini, and Sriram Narayanan. "Vertical integration, innovation, and alliance portfolio size: Implications for firm performance."Strategic Management Journal34.9 (2013): 1042-1064. Orefice, Gianluca, and Nadia Rocha. "Deep integration and production networks: an empirical analysis."The World Economy37.1 (2014): 106-136. Rangrang, B. A. I., and T. A. N. Shiyu. "RD Mode, Vertical Integration and Innovation Performance of Indigenous Brand in the Introduction Period."Journal ofManagement 4 (2016): 007.

Strategic Objective Summary free essay sample

Customer Customers will help grow our business Utilize customers property to make a profit 25% Customer that allows us to place solar panels on them will be measured and increased each year. Increase our customer base Our customer base each year 15% Customer satisfaction increased Yearly survey showing the results 1% 3% Internal Processes -> Place panels on customer property Customers with solar panels on their property Panels placed on customers property and feeding back to our new location that will store the energy to be resold to others.Open need department and hire employees Department opened and increase of employees Develop a storage of energy location Building built to store energy from customers 100% Learning Make needed changes after each year Improve on issues that occur 10% Environmental savings will be helped by not needing to use natural resources of the time. Our employees satisfaction will increase as we get bigger and provide training to help improve our business. We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Objective Summary or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Employee satisfaction increased Help save the environment .

Taking a Glance into the Heart of Darkness The Ambitions and Failure of the Civilization

Rethinking the historical events is one of those tasks that inevitably bring people to realizing their past mistakes and drawing experiences so that these mistakes would not be made further on in the future.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Taking a Glance into the Heart of Darkness: The Ambitions and Failure of the Civilization specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More On Conrad’ Heart of Darkness, the lead character, Marlow, at first considers the reasons behind the Europeans who were heading to the wilderness of Central Africa as â€Å"civilized† and rather noble; however, further on, Marlow becomes disappointed about these reasons. After re-evaluating the ambitions of the people exploring the African continent in such an impudent manner, Marlow realizes that the true reasons behind the Europeans’ travel were far more egotistic than he could ever imagine. Indeed, the goals of the people, heading for the terra incognita of the distant and savage lands are not quite clear; wisely enough, Conrad does not disclose the aims of the travelers from the very first page – eh only hints at the possible aims which the travelers might pursue: â€Å"But these chaps were not much account, really. They were no colonists; their administration was merely a squeeze, and nothing more, I suspect† (Conrad 9). However, when it comes to discussing the reasons that made Marlow join the ranks of those exploring the uncharted lands, Conrad makes it obvious that Marlow’s intentions were most innocent: â€Å"Now when I was a little chap I had a passion for maps. I would look for hours at South America, or Africa, or Australia, and lose myself in all the glories of exploration.† (Conrad 11). It seems that for Marlow, only the passion for adventures and new experiences was the true motivation. Nevertheless, even Marlow has hard times with learning about the continent and its inha bitants: After all, that was only a savage sight, while I seemed at one bound to have been transported into some lightless region of subtle horrors, where pure, uncomplicated savagery was a positive relief, being something that had a right to exist — obviously — in the sunshine. (Conrad 122) Finally, he also lets some of the madness which the rest of the crew was infected with reach his heart, filling it with darkness as well: â€Å"I had to beat that Shadow — this wandering and tormented thing. ‘You will be lost,’ I said –‘utterly lost.’† (Conrad 137).Advertising Looking for essay on british literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Therefore, the readers are left with guessing what the Europeans heading for the new lands are going to do. On the one hand, it might seem that the mission of these people could be quite noble; starting with bringing common knowledge t o the pagans, it could expand further on to establishing relationships with the people inhabiting the uncharted places, which will supposedly include not only cultural, but also economical and even political ties. However, Conrad clarifies the given issue pretty soon, explaining that the causes bringing the Europeans to the uncharted lands are far from being noble: â€Å"They were conquerors, and for that you want only brute force — nothing to boast of, when you have it, since your strength is just an accident arising from the weakness of others† (Conrad 9). As Conrad’s lead character, Marlow, continues telling his side of the story, it becomes clear that the Europeans ware aiming only at cashing in on the inhabitants of the wilderness: â€Å"They grabbed what they could get for the sake of what was to be got. It was just robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale, and men going at it blind — as is very proper for those who tackle a darkne ss† (Conrad 9). The author stresses that the goals of a new European presence were to use the lands, the people and their resources and then leave the place, barren and forgotten. Thus, the question of what the European people were targeting at when heading for the wilderness of the continent remains open. While there are some specks of humanity left in some of the characters, including Marlow, the narrator, it is still clear that the story focuses on the lowest of the low and their efforts to grab every single thing of the slightest market value. The darkness within the man who came to conquer started to grow: â€Å"It had taken him, loved him, embraced him, got into his veins, consumed his flesh, and sealed his soul to its own by the inconceivable ceremonies of some devilish initiation† (Conrad 92). The above-mentioned, therefore, triggers the question whether these are the wild pagans, the gloomy forests of the continent or the wretched souls of the European conquero rs where the darkness is born. It is quite peculiar that all characters portrayed in the novel pursue their own goals, though their goals seem to revolve around the same core, i.e., the desire to get their own profit out of the situation which they have trapped themselves in.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Taking a Glance into the Heart of Darkness: The Ambitions and Failure of the Civilization specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Hence, it seems that none of the characters reach their goals in the end; the attempt to conquer the wilderness ended up in a complete failure. Marlow’s point seems sadly legitimate enough. Driven by the supposedly huge economical and financial profit, the European travelers were defeated not by the threatening darkness of the African continent. It was the darkness of their souls that trapped them – the darkness of the people making their way over corpses. Works Cited Conrad , Joseph n. d., Heart of Darkness. PDF file. 17 Nov. 2012. https://planetpdf.com/planetpdf/pdfs/free_ebooks/Heart_of_Darkness_T.pdf. This essay on Taking a Glance into the Heart of Darkness: The Ambitions and Failure of the Civilization was written and submitted by user Hiroim 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.

Beauty Pageants Essay Example

Beauty Pageants Essay Example Beauty Pageants Paper Beauty Pageants Paper Growing up as a little girl, I remember fantasizing myself as a princess. I would spend hours undergoing a fairly god mother transformation. I would put on fake nails, heels, makeup, and put a sparkly dress on. I felt like the world was my kingdom. My mother would look at me and Just smile and tell me that I was the most beautiful girl In the world. The encouragement my mother gave me as a young child helped me out with my self-esteem. As I grew up I realized that fantasizing myself to a fictional hearted would have to end, I grew out of wanting to be a perfect Barbie and learned that we all have imperfections that make us unique. Unfortunately, thats not the case with a lot of young girls; some of the young girls are put into child pageants to keep on dreaming of becoming a princess or becoming the new next top model. But are the beauty pageants helping the children keep living there childhood dream or Is It Just holding them back from reality? As the competition gets tougher, the crowns get bigger. With a new generation of spoiled undisciplined kids and parents hat will go to the extremes to do anything for their child to look and feel beautiful. Paul Peterson, the president and founder of A Minor Consideration feels that beauty pageants sexuality young girls rather than help them built self-esteem. This is feeding the sex industry; there is a tremendous trade within Juvenile modeling. Many others agree with Peterson, like the French government. The French government Is trying to ban beauty pageants for young girls because they also believe that they promote hyper-exultations and harms the child. Karri Klein Ritter for the Los Angles Times, believes that there is more harmful things for a child then a beauty pageant and disagrees with the French for trying to ban beauty pageants. Are there no greater threats to the children and women of France than a few silly pageants? Child beauty contestant mother and owner of Universal Royalty and Baby Beauty Pageants, Annette Hill believe that beauty pageants are an opportunity for their child to play Cinderella and participate In an extra curriculum activity. In todays world the children industry is the fastest-growing segment in the beauty agent market, the pageant industry is drawing an estimated 3 million children, mostly girls, ranging from six months to 16 years of age who are competing to win a crown and money. Is alleged to believe, that once the child begins to participate in the pageants they start to become accustomed to the lifestyle and some of the kids are Just In It because of the attention It brings them or because theyre being forced by their parents. Childhood behavioral health psychologist Dry. Mike Bishop believes that participating in pageants in such a young age could damage their self-esteem. Toddlers are not old enough to make an informed decision as to whether they should compete. Nor are they able to separate the completion from reality, which can make participation even more damaging to their self-esteem. (McKay, 1) When a Natural pageants allow the child to wear makeup, but it has to be toned down and their clothing is not allowed to be flashy nor to low-cut or short. The purpose of the natural pageant is to have the children look like their age and let their personality charm the Judges. But, considering that most children like playing dress up, and are giggly influence by fictional characters and the media, they usually will choose glitz pageants. Once they have entered the pageant they have to pay a pageant they have to pay an entry fee ranging from $10 to $200 depending on the pageant (Somerville, 2). Besides the obligated fee the parents still have to consider the expenses of travel, makeup, hair extensions, nails, and flippers. The overall goal for the contestants is to compete and hopefully win the title of ultimate grand supreme. The ultimate grand supreme winner is usually the contestant who WOWs the Judges with their props, performance, and costumes. Parents could spend enough to finance their kids college tuition. One mother tells a researcher: l know people who spent so much on pageants, they lost their trailers (Crime,l). That is not always the case; some parents are cleverer about putting their child in a pageant without going over budget. People who have lower-incomes tend to participate in events with low entry fees. Sociologist Hillary Level concluded in a study, that mothers of lower-income and education enter their children in pageants because they want their children to learn the proper skills necessary to move up the social scale. Parents with higher incomes and education beyond high school often Justify pageants by explaining that competition is essential for their children to become successful. With all the makeup, eyelash extensions, flippers and tanning when do the parents step in and realized that they are equalizing their child? Historically and legally, our system defers to parents to make the right decision for their child, commented sociologist Hilary Level Friedman, after finding out the French Senate has approved a bill that proposes Jail time and a fine for parents and organizations that sponsors or encourages anyone 16 and under to participate in a pageant. In the United States they have no laws on how a pageant must be managed, beauty pageants are allowed to come up with their own guidelines for their participants. Fair Labor standards act. 938 does not take place in any pageants because the children are not considered to be working although, the children earn money and prizes for their performance, and practice for hours per week Due to the definition of child pageants not being defined as work, there are no laws in place nationally to protect these young children from exploitation. (Gunter, 1) Many child psychologists feel hat the pageants are more for the fulfillment of the parents rather than the happiness and healthy development of their children. Its not odd for parents to try and live out their dream through their kids. Parents of pageant children disagree, and feel that pageants help their kids gain confidence in front of large crowds and give them poise rather than hurt their self-esteem. Pageants do benefit some children, not all children will win pageants, or want to compete in them. One can only imagine the stress the children go through while participating in a beauty pageant, which focuses on their looks. The children could grow-into being self- conscious about their weight and start to develop disorders, and develop social phobia if they dont feel they are pretty enough, or even adapt intolerable attitudes in a serious situation. William Pinions, a clinical psychologist and president of the Family Institute at Northwestern University said, Being a little Barbie doll says your body has to be a certain way and your hair has to be a certain way. In girls particularly, this can unleash a whole complex of destructive self-experiences that can lead to eating disorders and all kinds of body distortions in terms of body mage. Traveling, stress and competition are everyday features of an adults life. Since the number of children that are becoming victims of heinous crimes is rapidly growing, it doesnt help that the parents are parading their child to go around on- stage in outfits that are sometimes as little as Daisy Duke shorts and a belly shirt. (Gunter, 1) The provocative outfits the parents are putting on the child could provoke a sex offender to gain interest in the child which could lead to the sex offender posing as an agent/ manager and stalk the child down through the show. The scandal that happened with Jon Bent Ramsey is a situation that could happen to any of these kids. Ramsey was a beauty queen in training; she was six years old when she was brutally beaten and killed in her basement. Images of her looking like a painted baby, a sexualities toddler beauty queen (Beardsley, 1) were broadcasted into the homes of many Americans. This brought attention and negative reaction towards child beauty pageants and how it sexualities children. Ramsets life and death seemed to illustrate all too well the consequences of parental manipulation and child exploitation. (Time, 7) A lot of parents way of thinking about beauty pageants is to see it as any other sport that children play in. They practice Just like any other sports; they travel with their team, and compete to win prizes. Preparing for pageants usually require a lot of commitment, time and patience from the child. Unfortunately, not all kids are trill to sit still for a long period and fatherless have to practice for hours. On the hit TV show Toddlers and Tiaras the viewers are allowed to see the preparation the children and the parents go through while preparing for the pageant. Usually in the show the viewer watches some of the children become antsy and watch them throw temper tantrums if they become upset or want to play instead of practicing. TODAY contributor Render Dawn interviewed Tom Organ, Doodlers Tiaras producer he asked Organ about a past incident that happened on the show that had a lot of viewers talking, when a mother decided to wax her 5 year old daughter eyebrows. The question followed with But didnt it make you uncomfortable, or make you wonder if you should include it in the show? Dawn asked Organ. Organs replied to the incident with this statement, Weve all seen wings that are sometimes a little difficult to watch when it comes to how parents relate to their kids. You can see a parent who is doing something that is making their child cry or unhappy that the parent think is the best thing for them ? making them brush their teeth, or telling them to go to bed. (Dawn, 1) There are viewers who view the show as cruel and unusual; and feel that the pageants could be defined as child abuse. The critics of Toddlers Tiaras believe that the parents are objectifying their child to desire a glamorous life and believe that the only way to succeed in life s by their looks. Dry. Nancy Irwin, a Los Angles-based psychotherapist, feels that the parents should not be placed as the worst parents because they dont physically abuse their child. These parents run a close second, however, as they are selfish Beauty. (McKay, 1) Saba Johnson has been competing in pageants since she was four years old. Johnson has been awarded three hundred trophies throughout her pageant career; Saba aspires to land a major modeling contract. Johnson and her mother were interviewed by AE network she kept looking over at her mom for reassurance of her thoughts. She never mentioned coming education; she solely relied on her appearance for her future (Nassau, 2). If the child is focusing more on their looks rather than outshining in other areas that require using their brain, what will these children be able to accomplish. As one argument was made, in Parents of Children on Talcs Toddlers in Tiaras Hurting Their Kids childhood behavioral health psychologist Dry. Mike Bishop said, Toddlers are not old enough to make an informed decision as to whether they should compete. Nor are they able to separate the competition from reality, which can make participation even more imaging to their self-esteem. parents play an important role in their childrens success. We are thought in an early stage that looks dont matter, but whats in the inside does. The world is not a fairytale, but if you work hard and set a goal, anybody can accomplish their dream. Theres nothing wrong with being a kid and dressing up, but they should be able to play pretend without a skit. Children should be able to enjoy their youth and not be obligated to grow up so early. If the parent is going to register their child in beauty pageants they should always consider the well-being of heir child. Child beauty pageants become the hot topic of conversation when the parents become out of control and will go to the extreme to make sure that their child wins these pageants; even if it is getting their child false teeth, tans, sexy cloths and covering them in tons of makeup. These type of parents usually will get caught up in winning that they will not notice how their actions affects the child and could possibly put the child in harms way. Children now a days are in such a rush to grow up and interpreted the characters that are shown in TV, it doesnt help that the arenas are teaching the child to use their looks in a provocative way that could trigger a sexual predator. Even though these contests allow the chance for these children to earn money for their education it comes at the cost of their pride, they become objectified. Its hard to choose a side on this issue because the pros and cons weigh about the same.

According the ppt in attachment write a Speech about 2 page in hurry Essay

According the ppt in attachment write a Speech about 2 page in hurry plz - Essay Example existence of diverse knowledge, attitudes, competence, and concepts that are based on diverse cultures in today’s workforce necessitates competence in intercultural communication. When the knowledge is integrated with business, it constitutes intercultural business communication. Intercultural communication study is not a new concept. It started in the 1920s with the study and teaching of linguistics. Linguistics constituted lessons on communication skills such as listening that enhanced understanding languages. In the 1950s, E.T. Hall introduced the terms, â€Å"intercultural tensions,† and â€Å"intercultural problems.† The terms created awareness on the diversity and differences that are evident among individuals from different cultures and worldviews. Furthermore, awareness of the existing tensions and problems created by cultural differences promoted the urge for different people to harmonize them through commonalities in communication. In 1958, Lederer and Burdick published â€Å"The Ugly American† that created mass awareness of intercultural issues and concerns. In 1959, Hall published â€Å"The Silent Language† that further promoted awareness on intercultural communication. Later, in 1961, Kluckhohn and Stodtback contribut ed greatly to the concept of intercultural communication. Oliver’s 1992 publication â€Å"Culture and Communication† and Smith’s 1996 â€Å"Communication and Culture† further enhanced understanding of the concept. The period from 1971 to 1980 featured landmark and rapid development of intercultural communication. Three major publications were influential in enhancing understanding of the concept. â€Å"American Cultural Patterns† by Stewart, â€Å"Communication: A Reader† by Samorar and Porter, and Prosser’s †Intercommunications among Nations and People† were notably influential publications that promoted understanding of intercultural communication as a concept. Since 1980 to present, there have been several studies and publications

Saint Augustine Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Saint Augustine - Term Paper Example He attended school in both Thagaste and Carhage (Musick 11). The social life he experienced as a teenager was full of sins. The children were taught to value material things from the time they were in school. Augustine grew in this world, and this made him encounter sexual behavior at an early age (Augustine 7). Augustine also engaged in false philosophies. As a teenager, he valued material things rather than God and religion. However, he explains how his uncouth behavior was punished through having a disorderly, confused and full of grief life. Nevertheless, the youthful Augustine creates a passion for the quest of philosophical truth. He also developed an interest in learning the â€Å"doctrines of manichaeism, skepticism and neoplatonism† (Wills 23). In his confessions, he incorporated catholic theology with neoplatonic concepts. Augustine’s movements from Thagate and Carthage and between Rome and Milan did not free him from doubts about Catholicism and its doctrines. He joined the catholic religion because his mother was from a catholic faith (Wills 24). Filled with doubts about the catholic religion he pursues a career in teaching of rhetoric, he later resented this job claiming that it was a waste of ideas. He also condemns his habit of being involved in sexual behavior at an early age and other sinful activities. When he visited Milan, he decided to embark on Catholicism as his only true faith (Wills 24). Nonetheless, the subject of baptism and abstinence from sex was still difficult for him. He had difficulties in devoting himself fully into the catholic faith. However, he gets full change in his Milan garden and he converts to a staunch and faithful catholic (Musick 12). The final four chapters of his book were based mostly on religious and philosophical concepts of â€Å"memory (Book X), time and eternity (Book XI), and the explanation of the Book of Genesis (Books XII and XIII)†. Even though, he changes the

Simulation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Simulation - Essay Example For any kind of simulation, a different model has to be developed. There are two such models, namely, Agent based simulation and Monte Carlo simulation. In this paper, an attempt has been made to review to scholarly articles where the above mentioned simulations have been applied in real life situations. For agent based simulation, a case study of non-pharmaceutical strategies to combat influenza has been selected. For Monte Carlo simulation, improving the reliability and performance of the transportation network of Istanbul under earthquake has been selected. The idea is to review the case study to understand the problem faced and how simulation helped solved the issue through its unique characteristics. Agent Based Simulation Agent based simulation is an approach whereby agents are used to note the extent to which the project is a success for a certain kind of simulation. In the paper by Mao, the non-pharmaceutical strategies to combat influenza were considered under agent based si mulation. ... These agents were taken from Buffalo, New York and they were further categorized into different locations as well as timings. It was assumed that these agents met a variety of people when socializing and travelling and thus could be good agents of carrying and transporting the influenza virus. In order to kick start the study, five agents were introduced in the case study already carrying the influenza virus and thus spread the virus within the state. These agents were asked to resume normal day activities and socialize also so as to create an accurate study (Mao, 2011). The results of the survey showed that when flu was extended to two more days, it is expected to minimize the seasonal influenza’s disease attack rate. With a three day extension, more desirable results were to be found as the spread of the disease is further curtailed. This was because when people limit their interactions with others, the spread of the virus is also limited. This strategy was thus found to be quite practical since individuals can easily take a day off when they have caught the seasonal flu. Such a strategy can be advantageous in countries that do not have access to proper vaccination and pharmaceutical medicines (Mao, 2011). Monte Carlo Simulation – Case Study of Istanbul’s Transportation Network Ordinarily, during natural or man-made disasters, chaos ensues. This makes it difficult to effectively develop a disaster response as transportation is the most impacted area of the disaster. For rescue and relief operations to be carried out effectively, transportation system of water, energy, communication should be effective. In order to deal with this complex issue, the study conducted by Gunnec