Outline Of An Article And The Internet For Giving Me

Acknowledgments Although I have put full effort into this report, I still want to thank my family, friends and colleges for supporting me, guiding me and the constant supervision. I want to thank my professor Sana El-Azzeh for giving me the opportunity to do this amazing report. I also want to thank the authors that wrote the articles and the internet for providing me the accessibility to complete this report. Yassen Nateil Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 1 LISTS OF FIGURES AND TABLES 3 ABSTRACT 4 1.0 INTRODUCTION 5 2.0 BACKGROUND 6 3.0 MAIN CONTENT 7 3.1 Environmental Issues in North Carolina 7 3.2 Environmental Sensitivities 7 3.3 The Project Explanation and Characteristics 7 3.4 The Project Objectives 8 3.5 The†¦show more content†¦This data was gathered by research done on the internet. 1.0 Introduction The purpose of this report is to give a general background and information on Apple Corporation and their usage of renewable energy sources on and also will cover and talk about the solar design and biomass. This report was prepared by Yassen Nateil and was requested by Mrs. Sana Azzeh and has been requested on the 22nd of February and is due the 15th of March 2015. The information in this report has been gathered from internet sources. 2.0 Background Buildings are one of the world’s leading carbon dioxide emitters. Carbon dioxide is released into the earth everyday by modern technology and buildings caused by the using of fossil fuels to generate energy. Using renewable energy sources have a few several advantages, ranging from lower fuel bills, to cleaner air and less global warming are just some of the benefits. Some good design can actually reduce CO2 emissions and energy bills by almost two thirds. If there was a blackout in the city, you would still have electricity. Also you could sell electricity back to the grid at the premium if you have extra. The two types of renewable energy sources used are solar electricity and biomass fuel. The solar electricity is made when the rays of the sun shine directly onto the solar photo voltaic panels and convert that sunlight into electricity. Biomass generates energy by burning organic

Project Proposal Nike Inc. - 1354 Words

Project Deliverable 1: Project Plan Inception Nike, Inc. is a corporation that specializes in the design, development, manufacturing, marketing, and sales of footwear. Nike, Inc. was founded by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight. The current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is Mark Parker. The company headquarters is in Beaverton, Oregon. The company headquarters will be expanding soon and will contain two additional floors. Currently, there are twenty employees and four out of the twenty employees handle the IT part of the corporation. Nike operates domestically and has connections overseas. Majority of the shoes are manufactured by an independent contractor that is located overseas. Nike is identified by its Swoosh logo. Consistent innovation†¦show more content†¦Using this approach allows Nike to benefit from the advantages of offshoring and outsourcing. Offshoring lowers costs and results in higher productivity. Outsourcing offers labor flexibility and increases competitive adva ntage (Kate, n.d.). China is a leader on the manufacturing side and India is a leader when it comes to information technology services (Kate, n.d.). â€Å"In the past decade and a half of increasing globalization, offshoring has been the fastest growing segment of the outsourcing market (Kate, n.d.)†. There are four skilled information systems personnel at Nike, Inc. including the Chief Information Officer (CIO), Director of Data and Analytics, Expert Database Architect, and Principal Security Reference Architect. The Chief Information Officer (CIO) is Jathea Darden. The job of a CIO is to lead Nike, Inc.’s information technology plan to support the company’s growth. The CIO also oversees computer operations, manages the IT staff, establishes policies and procedures for the IT division, and proposes hardware or software solutions to accomplish the corporation s business objectives (â€Å"Chief Information†, n.d.). The Director of Data and Analytics is Lor i Alexander. The Director of Data and Analytics contributes to the future business solutions that will support Nike’s objectives. Lori has experience working with SaaS solutions, building workflow and productivityShow MoreRelatedNike Case1074 Words   |  5 PagesEstimating the cost of Capital 1. Capital Budgeting decisions It is important for a company to know whether a particular investment would be profitable in the long run. If the company knows the cost of capital it can accept or reject investment proposals by calculating the present values of the future cash flows. The company would most likely not invest if the cost of borrowing is greater then the returns generated from the investment. 2. Determining the ideal capital structure By calculating theRead MorePrep Question988 Words   |  4 Pagescredit. Decide if it is a good idea to repurchase stocks. Preparatory Questions for Southwest Airlines Winglet Project 1. 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“Time Is Equal to Money” of Supply Chain Management Free Essays

Discuss the statement â€Å"Time is equal to money† within the context of supply chain management for both manufacturing and retail organisations. There is no such thing as constant. Everything in this world evolves, even strategic performance measures. We will write a custom essay sample on â€Å"Time Is Equal to Money† of Supply Chain Management or any similar topic only for you Order Now An organisation must be open to the idea that some measures changes over time. Organisations must research on different approaches to be at par with the changes on the systems. Business organisations today particularly the manufacturing and retail organisations operate in a turbulent and dynamic business environment.The contemporary business environment is undergoing a metamorphosis as rapid technological innovations, competitive markets, diverse customer preferences, and extensive global operations prevail in it because of the value of time. For them time is equal to money. To ensure continuous operation and survival in today’s rigid business environment, a business firm has to be open to change and improvement. Business processes, services, products and operations should be consistently subject to evaluation and refinement. The norm is to deliver quality products and services while maintaining flexible and effective operations.One of the most vital aspects of a business operation is the management of the supply chain. The supply chain comprises of the coordinated arrangement of manpower, technology, and production processes that transforms raw materials into tangible products or services. The supply chain is the overall process that determines how business firms secure materials, exploit people, utilise machines, and follow business processes to develop specific products and services for the satisfaction of consumers. This business operation is crucial as any defect in one area can render adverse impacts to the others.Thus, management of the supply chain entails strategies and constant monitoring to ensure its consistency to deliver outputs to the customers at the most convenient time. Time is valuable to any business organisations since it corresponds to satisfaction of clients and business progress. Satisfaction and progress reflects to the money earned by the organisation. In manufacturing and retail organisations, time is very vital. In manufacturing business, let say in food industry, products should be delivered in appropriate time to avoid food expiration that may possibly results to failed transaction and loss of money.The needs of the supply chain demand the efficient and speedy movement of goods to the end user with enhanced levels of service. Increasingly, this entails the customisation of goods and services according to the requirements of individual clients. In order to maintain their competitiveness, all parties involved in the process, including manufacturers, vendors and logistics providers, must be able to offer and provide a swift and individually customised service to value time and money. In retail business, time is also important because of continues changes in the demand of the consumers. The retail businesses should learn how to cope up to the current trend and time in business to have more profit. Retail businesses should consider the changes in business arena. They should know the competition, position in the market value of money and time. A certain business has to improve the flexibility of its supply chain network and coordination among the various entities involved in the process. Coordination and flexibility go hand in hand because a company that has well-aligned supply chain operations is guaranteed total flexibility.A business has to plan its supply chain operation in advance to minimise wasted transactions. (2007) reports that the pursuit of supply chain flexibility is by designing a supply chain model. A supply chain model requires the company to determine the kinds of strategies and amount of time to suffice current customer needs. In this approach the business has to analyse and understand customer and stakeholder expectations in order to conceptualise the supply chain requirements and costs involved in each.Today, with these reasons, time management has increasing prominent to the success of any company. From the challenges in both manufacturing and retail industry, appropriate time management maybe used in order to maintain product traceable and avoidance of product expiration. Every business organisation is determined to know what kind of work they would and would not do for their customers and, in turn, they carefully learn how to fulfil the needs of each kind of customer in their target markets.Thus, they should emphasised the idea to take advantage of the competitive situation not just by being better in how that product gets sold, serviced, and marketed at the customer in terface. It requires that the business industry creates breakthroughs in how they interact with customers, and design a way of interacting that makes an indelible impression on customers, one that so utterly distinguishes them from others that it becomes a brand in itself. How to cite â€Å"Time Is Equal to Money† of Supply Chain Management, Essays

Hopewell Culture Essay Example For Students

Hopewell Culture Essay Studiedsince the discovery of the conspicuous mounds in Ross County Ohio, the Hopewellhave been an archaeological enigma to many. The tradition is so named for theowner of the farm, Captain Hopewell, where over thirty mounds were discovered. Earlier studies focused more on the exotic grave goods such as precious metals,freshwater pearls, many of these objects had come from all corners of thecontinent from the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of Mexico, and north to themid-Atlantic coastline (some say Hopewellian influence reached Nova Scotia). Earlier scholars of the Hopewell (1950s through 1960s) were well aware ofthe influence of the Interaction Sphere, yet concluded that the Hopewell,in terms of lifestyle were a cult and had no influence on daily life. Laterstudies suggest otherwise, as more and more information surfaces along with newinsightful interpretations. It is widely accepted that the Hopewell are thenext generation of the Adena. That is to say that the Adena gave rise tothe Hopewell, who had, as speculated migrated into the Ohio River Valley fromIllinois. The Hopewell have been described as a more elaborate and flamboyantversion of the Adena. Whether the Hopewell overpowered the Adena or simplymingled with and mixed into the culture, is not certain, yet there has been noevidence of warfare to support the former. The result was a cultural explosionencompassing a vast majority of North America east of the Rocky Mountains to theAtlantic coast. The Hopewell flourished in the Middle Woodland from 200 B.C. toAD 500. The environment was nearly what it is today. Temperate with lakes,streams, wetlands and flood-plains, the people took advantage of the seasonalweather in the Ohio River Valley via foraging as well as hunting and gathering. The cultivation of domestic strains of beans and maize was well on its way as itwas implemented in small amounts, catching on later in the time period. Thevegetation was a prairie/forest mix of deciduous trees, walnut, oak, variousgrasses and shrub. The fauna of the region included many species of waterfowl,turkey and other species in great abundance that are found today (perhaps inmore abundance than found today). Larger fauna included buffalo, bison, deer,and elk and smaller animals such as rodents, raccoons, beaver and the like. Aquatic life included freshwater mussels and clams, many fishes (bass, catfish,etc.) and turtles. As we will see, the people made abundant use of these floraand fauna as food, clothing, container, ceremonial and ornamental objects. Asfor changes through time in the environment, it is theorized (by some) that itdid in fact shift to a wetter one, perhaps driving the people to higher groundor otherwise drier climates. Core settlement, as noted was along the Ohio Riverand its estuaries on flood-plains, as well as on or near wetlands. Major areasof population density include Newark and Chillicothe as well as Marietta. Theseareas provided a lush environment of flora and fauna species that were widelyexploited over the centuries by the inhabitants. Living quarters, althoughscarcely studied, consist of scatterings of small villages with largersettlements located near and around major mound complexes. Some of these smallervillages seem to have been occupied seasonally while settlement was mor e thanlikely permanent in the larger loci surrounding the mounds. Some dwellings havebeen found to consist of saplings stuck into the ground in a circle, broughttogether in the center and covered with elm bark or mats of woven grasses. Postmolds from various areas in Ohio and Illinois indicate oval patterns as well asrectangular long-houses with rounded corners. Larger houses ranged from 18 to 25feet long and one was as large as 4448 feet, suggesting a large gatheringplace, perhaps for trading, council meetings or ceremonial practices. The dressof the people reflected their beliefs, trading practices and even wealth. Ornaments were worn head to foot. Womens hair were pinned back with dowels ofwood or bone in a bun or knot and a long sort of ponytail. When nursing, womenwore their hair braided and tied up in a shorter ponytail that was held togetherby a mesh or net-like bag. Typical male hairstyle was a sort of mohawk on topwith their hair pulled back into a bun in the back. As for male dress, a warriorwore a loincloth of dyed material with patterns on it (resembling a diaper; forlack of better description). He carried a long spear, an atl-atl, wearingvarious necklaces of bone, shell and stone beads including bear claws, sharktooth and other exotic items. The closest that these ancient north Americanscame to an iron age is revealed in their use of copper as breast plates andhelmets in warfare. Members of both sexes wore earspools (yo-yo shaped earrings)of copper as well as bracelets and necklaces. Mica was cut and shaped intovarious ornaments for headdresses in the form of animals, birds of prey t alons,geometric figures, human hand, and bear claw. Mica would be integrated intoclothing and on garments that would sparkle and reflect light, somewhat likesequins. Not much more is known about dress, due to the fact that textilesdeteriorate rapidly in the archaeological record. Very little is known of socialand political customs; ideas being drawn from ethnographic analogy (of Iroquois,the possible descendants) as well as being pieced together from archaeologicalcontexts. More than likely the people operated under matrilineal kinship. Theylived in long-houses dominated by the oldest female member of the family andwhen a couple was married, the husband would move into the wives house andbecome a part of their social unit. These new husbands had very little if anysay in household matters. The children belonged to or were affiliated withtheir mothers family, the males owing allegiance to that unit. There were,however male chiefs who represented households and villages in tribal affai rs. Evidence for hereditary monarchy is briefly described from a report in the1950s. It documents that a number of skeletons found in some mound structureshad a rare physical trait. This trait was a bony growth in the ear that wasgenetically transmitted. Peoples found to harbor this growth were found inassociation with vast riches of pearls, beads, precious metals, large amounts ofmica and the like, quite possibly the inbred mark of royalty within atribe or tribes. The subsistence base of the Hopewell consisted of hunting,gathering and to a lesser extent cultivation of local plant species, dependingupon where they lived. Hunting was done primarily with spears and projectilepoints, with the Indians making use of an instrument called and atl-atl. Onewould attach a spear to the atl-atl and hurl it at the target, the implementproviding not only a more powerful throw, but giving the spear a more finelytuned trajectory. Also used at this time were the bow and arrow, a big step intechnological innovation at the time. This is evident in the archaeologicalrecord with the finding of smaller projectile points such as the SquibnocketTriangle. As for throwing spears, larger projectile points were used, resemblingthe Jacks Reef Corner Notched, broad knife blades and corner notchedprojectile points being preferred as well as being typical of the Hopewell. Role Of Airplanes In World War II EssayThe lend-ees would then be obligated to the Big Man, perhaps having towork harder to pay back the favor. This, along with burial customs is theoverall effect of the Hopewell interaction sphere facilitating the so-calledBig Idea. It was a philosophy, a way of life be it not all encompassing inthe lives of distant trade partners, yet affecting them through ritualceremonialism (in some areas as evidenced by presences of mounds) andtrade-good manufacture. This dispersal reached Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin,Iowa, Missouri, New York, the Northeast and eastern Rocky Mountain states andinto the deep south. The best-known aspects of the Hopewell are their ceremonialand burial practices centering on earthworks and burial mounds. Earthworksincluded animal effigy mounds (coinciding with animal platform pipes. Correlation?), geometric shapes, and a particular recent find, the GreatHopewell Road. Found in Ohio, it runs from Newark to Chillicothe, in a straightline through swamps and streams, thought to be a spiritual or pilgrimage route,rather than one of trading. Burial mounds were usually enclosed by a raisedembankment, symbolizing a sacred place. Earthworks were found in conjunctionwith burial mounds, near burial mounds or even distances away, some taking uphundreds of acres. The great Serpent Mound is a good example, yet isthought of as Adena. As for mortuary customs, three quarters of the bodies hadbeen cremated, full fleshed burial was probably a privilege of higher rankedindividuals, they were buried in full flexed position. Structures called CharnelHouses were erected where the dead were de-fleshed and then taken for cremation. First, brush was cleared from the burial area, including trees and topsoil. Claywas then lain down and then an inch of sand that was compacted. A large woodenstructure (some with no roofs, possibly to expose flesh to the elements forremoval) was built, sometimes with smaller rooms inside to accommodate others orextra grave goods and furniture. Cremations were done in clay lined pits duginto the floor after the bodies had been stripped of flesh and left there orplaced inside the log cabin structure. They were then surrounded by high-qualitygrave goods mentioned above, artisans or craftsmen being interred with largeamounts of their medium of specialty or trade including pearls, mica andobsidian. One mound was found with 12,000 pearls, 35,000 pearl beads, 20,000shell beads, nuggets of copper, meteoric iron, silver, sheets of hammered goldand copper, and iron beads. These houses were left standing or were burnt downand then covered with a mound taking up to and including one million bask et-fullsof earth. This was done periodically, layering burial on top of burial, perhapsindicating lineage, that it was that clans mound. Some of the skeletons hadcopper noses affixed to their skulls (nasal cavities). The mounds were probablyreserved for those in high status positions, sizes ranging from ten to fiftyfeet high and larger. The number of these earthworks in Ohio alone reaches10,000, however, many have been lost in this and other areas due to plowing anderosion. The Hopewell decline is as much a mystery as its origins and practices. The Hopewell exchange systems seem to have deteriorated around AD 500;Moundbuilding ceased, art forms were no longer produced. War and mass murder isunlikely, for there is no evidence for fighting (none even during the era). Perhaps it was the decimation of big-game herds of buffalo, deer and elk due tothe technology of the bow and arrow. Support for this theory lies in thedisappearance of atl-atl weights around the same time as the collapse. This, inconjunction with colder climatic conditions could have driven the animals northor west, as weather would have a detrimental effect on plant-life, drasticallycutting the subsistence base for these foods. Along with this, food productionof maize and other hardier plants would have been more important than tradingexotic goods. Another theory suggests that they eventually dispersed for unknownreasons, moving perhaps south, integrating with the Mississippian culture or tothe northeast, lending to the ancestral Iroquois theory. Whatever the case maybe, the Hopewell have left their indelible mark on Ancient Native North AmericanCulture in a way Archaeologists and Historians have never encountered. BibliographyFagan, Brian M. Ancient North America 1995 (revised) Thames and Hudson Ltd.,London. Jennings, Jesse D. Prehistory of North America 1968 McGraw-Hill Inc.,New York. Spencer, Robert F. / Jesse D. Jennings The Native Americans (secondedition) 1977 Harper and Row, Publishers, New York. Ceram, C.W. The FirstAmerican 1971 Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., New York Recent Fieldwork atHopewell Culture National Historic Park www.nps.gov/hocu/recent%20fieldwork.htmHome Page for Jackson, Jennifer M. www.ucsu.colorado.edu/~jacksoj/ Archaeology:Woodland 3: Hopewell www.uiowa.edu/~anthro/webcourse/naarch/hopewell.htmResearch finds Hopewell Indians were in park www.wcinet.com/th/News/010398/Front/90294.htmWoodland Period www.uiowa.edu/~osa/cultural/wood.htm

The Global Sports Retail Industry

Introduction The global sports retail industry has achieved a rapid growth over the last ten years. It is also expected to continue growing over the next five years, with an estimated growth rate of about 6% per annum to reach about $130 billion by 2020 (United Nations 2014). The rapid rate of growth in this industry is due to a number of factors.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on The Global Sports Retail Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, the major factor contributing to the industrial growth and development at a faster rate is the dynamism in the demand for sports goods. For instance, studies have shown that there is an increase in the demand for sports goods or sport-style products in various parts of the world, especially Asia. The purpose of this paper is to develop a comprehensive report based on the industrial analysis of the global sports retail business. It will examine the industry ba sed on the conventional techniques of industry analysis, including forced field analysis, porters 5 forces, PEST and SWOT analysis. This paper argues that the sports industry stands a better chance to develop rapidly over the next five years, giving corporate and other players a good chance to improve their economic development and financial health. Force field analysis Force field analysis is an important tool in the process and technique of decision-making (Lewin 2000). It aims at analyzing the forces for and against industrial or corporate change in order to provide corporate leaders with information needed to make effective decisions. In addition, the technique helps corporate leaders communicate the reasons behind their need for change in the corporate management area, which makes it easy to convince stakeholders that a change or project is needed. In particular, the force field analysis model yields information that has two effects (Cartwright 2009). It can provide information that supports the idea of change, thus calling the corporations involved to go ahead with a project, a change of a program.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The forces favoring the growth of the sports retail industry Population growth: The increased rate of world population is an important factor supporting the rate of growth for sport retail industry. In particular, the growing demand for sports and sport-style products is high in areas with a high rate of population growth, especially in a number of Asian countries (Cai Du 2013). Statistics indicate that out of the estimated 7.14 billion people in the world, about 4 billion live in Asia, accounting for more than 55% of the total world population (World Bank 2013). Together, the populations of India and China make about 2.6 billion people, providing evidence of the increased rate of demand for sports products in thes e areas (Randers 2012). For instance, the increase in the demand for sports-style products was more than 4% in China between 2005 and 2010 (Research markets 2012). Overall, the rate of demand for these products is more than 3% per annum (Mullin, Hardy Sutton 2013). The high population is the largest player in the increased rates of demand. Improved economies: Another major factor supporting the rate of growth in the sports retail industry is the trend of economies in various parts of the world. In North America, the economic situation has improved rapidly since the end of the global recession. Between 2010 and 2013, the economy of the US increased by 2.3% per annum (Coates Humphreys 2003). In addition, other regions have enjoyed improved economic growths since 2010. For instance, the economy of the south east Asian region has improved by more than 3%, while that of the near and middle east nations has achieved a growth rate of more than 4% per annum (World Bank 2013). In addition, despite few cases such as Greece, Italy and Spain, the European Union has achieved an improved growth rate in its economy, which is expected to reach 2.1% per annum (Smith Stewart 2012). South America has some of the most rapidly developing economies in the world. The number of people attaining the middle class level is increasing rapidly, while poverty rates are declining. In nations such as Brazil and Argentina, the economic growth has developed rapidly over the last five years. This explains the rising demand for sport-like goods in these areas. In addition, African nations have the world’s largest rates of economic growth.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on The Global Sports Retail Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the recent past, a number of African nations have achieved an economic growth rate of more than 5%, with some reaching a high of 8%, including Ghana, Angola and Senegal (Brei singer, Diao Thurlow 2011). In addition, most countries in the region have a growth rate of more than 4%, with the most significant including Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Ethiopia and Ivory Coast (World Bank 2013). The youth factor: In the modern world, the status of the young people has increased significantly. With an increase in the number of young people taking part in the economic building such as employment and business, most nations have experienced in increase in the demand for products and services that support youth affairs. Among the most important industry supported by this phenomenon is the sports retail industry. In North American, South America, Asia and Europe, growth of the sports retail industry is favored by an increased rate of youth participation in various aspects of the economy. According to studies, young people have a tendency of being active in sports or wearing sport-like clothing and shoes. In addition, the empowerment of the young people thro ugh financial support and improvement of employment opportunities in Asian nations, in particular, has supported the increase in the demand for sport goods and services, which supports the growth of the sports retail industry. Restraining forces Economic recession: Although the world economy has achieved a relatively good rate of recovery from the 2007-2010 economic recession, the effects of the phenomenon is still affecting most countries. For instance, the recession made the US economy lose by more than 4% per annum (Bjork 2012). In particular, the employment rate declined significantly, with the rate of unemployment reaching about 8% per annum (World Bank 2013). The number of people that lost jobs during the time is significant, with a good number being young people. This also took place in Europe and Asia, which affected the industrial growth rates. With a high number of people losing job opportunities due to the impact of the recession, the number of people purchasing luxury sp ort goods declined significantly in most nations in Europe, Asia and North America.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Porter’s Five Forces Analysis of the Global Sports Retail Industry A five force analysis of the global sports retail industry is important in determining the effectiveness and micro environment forces that affect the industry’s ability to meet the demands of its customers, achieve profitability and the overall growth. The buyer power, new entrants, competition rivalry, supplier power and threats of substitutes provide evidence of the industry’s state at a given time. Buyer Power in the Global sports retail industry In sports retail industry, consumers have the largest role in driving the business of the industry. The power of the consumers is evident in pricing, especially when competitors tend to outdo each other based on pricing strategies. In the recent past, most competitors in the industry have been trying to attract more consumers through discounts and services to increase their market share. Buyers reap the benefit of obtaining products at competitive pri ces. However, statistics have shown that the number of people aged 45 and above seeking to use sports product in managing their health has increased significantly, especially in the developed world (Quan 2010). This trend has allowed consumers to look for fashion that is mostly associated with sports. The high rate of competition between retailers in the industry based on production of goods meant to meet the specific demands for various social groups has enhanced the power of buyers in the industry. In addition, the amount of product differentiation in the market for sports goods has increased, with companies manufacturing products based on the specific needs such as jogging, cycling, skating for health purposes and those meant for real sporting activities (Andersen, Van Raalte Brewer 2001). This has given consumers a wide range of choice, enhancing their power in the control of the industry. However, there are only a small number of retailers in the oligopolistic sports retail ma rket, which has restrained the buyer power because forward integration is difficult as the buyers are mainly the consumers, making their chance of taking over less significant. Nevertheless, the overall power of buyers in the industry is rated â€Å"moderate†. The power of suppliers In the global sports retail industry, the suppliers are the corporations involved in manufacturing, including Nike, Reebok, Adidas and Puma. These organizations are multinational and large corporates that control the industry. They are globally branded with reputation and value due to high quality products they offer to the market. This makes the bargaining power of the industry to be significantly low. They have almost become the main decides of the prices for sports products. Forward integration seems to be relatively high because the retailers are threatened by the suppliers. For instance, a number of suppliers have been acquiring retailers, which makes the suppliers take over the control of th e retail industry. A good example is the acquisition of Hargreaves Sports, a retail business in the industry, by Nike. Nike used this opportunity to set up an exclusive fully branded outlet for sports good in Nike town, London, in 1999 (Deng 2009). On its part, Reebok opened a fitness center known as Reebok Sports Club in London, England, which provides consumers with a wide range of exclusively branded Reebok products for health fitness purposes (Yu 2011). Moreover, the suppliers use marketing strategies such as advertising, promotion, corporate social responsibility and sponsorship for sports clubs and fitness welfares, achieving the overall control of the industry. Overall, the power of suppliers in the retail industry for sports good in the world is high. Rivalry among competitors There is a considerably good level of competition between main players in the retail business in the global sports industry. The concentration ratio as well as HHI is important measures of rivalry in t he industry based on market share. These markets shares can be obtained in the Mintel’s report (2008) as shown in appendix 3. In this case, it has been shown that the concentration ratio is the market share that the four major competitors in the global retail industry are JJB Sports, Sports World, DJ Sports and Supermarkets/retail chains in various parts of the world. As shown in the appendix, the CR reveals that the four major competitors sell about 75% of the total output, which means that the degree of rivalry is high. In addition, the calculations in the appendix show that the HHI of the industry is about 1683, which lies between 1000 and 1800. This means that the market is moderately concentrated. Threat of new entrants As shown above, the CR and HHI degrees are relatively high, with the number of major players in the industry remaining relatively low. Each of the players has a large number of stores in various parts of the world. They compete among themselves to increas e their market shares. In addition, they have dominated the market for a long time, providing quality products. Therefore, for new entrants in the market to succeed, they must impress consumers that their products are quality. In addition, the entry of supplies in the market, especially through acquisitions and mergers or joint ventures with the existing retailers, has made it difficult for new entrants to tap market share in the industry (DePamphili 2013). Therefore, the overall threat of new entrants is low. Threats of substitutes In footwear, the price of sports shoes is likely to change when substitutes change in prices. In this case, substitutes include products from local companies, which is common in various parts of the world. PEST analysis Political The global sports retail industry seeks to increase the volume of sales of sports goods and services to the global clients. The key players involved in this industry include Foot Locker, JD Sports, Sports Direct, Sports World, J JB Sports and supermarket chains. These companies face political challenges in their business. For instance, the politics of control of the industry is evident. Suppliers seem to be fighting each other at the retail level. For example, Nike and Reebok have strategies to acquire or partner with selected retailers in order to lock out other suppliers (Slater Lloyd 2004). This brings a tense political environment between the suppliers and the retailers. In addition, retailers are flexing their muscles by moving beyond Europe and North American to venture new markets in Asia and South America, especially in China, India, Brazil and other nations in the Southeast Asian region. In all of these regions, the political environment is diverse. For example, there are laws to protect local companies in some nations like South Korea and China. Taxation and legal politics are evident. In addition, the companies are considered western products, which affect the perceptions of the people in foreig n nations. Economical Retailers of sports products seek to increase their market share and profitability. To do this, they tend to increase their outlets, which make it necessary to hire a large number of employees in Europe, North America as well as foreign markets. This contributes to the overall growth of the economies where the outlets are based. In addition, it is worth noting that labor affects these companies. In Europe, the cost of labor is higher in France and Germany than in Britain. Similarly, the cost of labor is high in North American and Europe than in China and South Korea. Thus, most factories are located in Asia. It means that the retailers have to open new locations in Asia and sometimes obtain supplies from these areas. Social Sports products are associated with sports cultures at a given time and location. In Europe, North America and other westernized nations, sports are a major social factor, with few social restrictions attached to it. Sportswear of different kinds and styles are allowed. However, in some nations such as those using strict Islamic laws, including Saudi Arabia, as well as those with strict cultural laws like North Korea, some sports and sportswear are not allowed, especially those though to expose certain parts of the bod. In addition, some cultural laws prohibit women from taking part in sports or wearing certain sports clothing. Technological analysis The internet technology has improved business processes. Sports retail business is one of the most affected industries. Currently, most consumers are increasingly moving to online shopping, where it is possible to select and order products. Thus, most retailers have implemented e-commerce as part of their business processes. SWOT Analysis Strengths The sports retail industry is one of the fastest growing industries, thanks to an increase in the number of middle and aged people using sporting activities to enhance the quality of their lives. According to statistics, the num ber of baby boomers population in North America and their similar population in Europe are concerned with their health. They have increasingly been using sporting activities as the most effective solution to improve their health and quality of life. Thus, the retail business is likely to remain strong over the next few decades. Weaknesses Sports products are mostly luxury goods and services. They do not have a high priority in most households. Therefore, frequent economic recessions and other financial problems are likely to affect the demand for these products (Mehta 2013). Thus, retailers face the risk of frequent decreases in demands. Opportunities As mentioned, the increase in global population, especially in Asia, South America and Africa, provides the sports retail business with chances for expansion and growth. In addition, the rising state of economics in various parts of the world means that the demands for these products are likely to rise. Moreover, the trend of using spo rting activities to meet health demands is increasing throughout the world. Threats Although the number of retailers is relatively low, the current players face a threat of new entrants in the market. For instance, the increased tendency of suppliers to enter the retail market is a major threat. In addition, emerging nations like China, India and others have a quest for entering the market. They are encouraging corporations to go global, which means that some of their retailers in this industry are likely to enter the market in the future (Development Research Center of the State Council 2009). References Andersen, MB, Van Raalte, JL Brewer, BW, 2001, â€Å"Sport psychology service delivery: Staying ethical while keeping loose†, Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 12-17. Bjork, GJ, 2012, The Way It Worked and Why It Won’t: Structural Change and the Slowdown of U.S. Economic Growth, Praeger, Westport, CT. Breisinger, C, X. Diao, X Thurl ow, D, 2009, â€Å"Modeling growth options and structural change to reach middle income country status: The case of Ghana†, Economic Modeling vol. 26, pp. 514–525. Cai, F Du, Y, 2013, The China Population and Labor Yearbook: The Approaching Lewis Turning Point and Its Policy Implications, Brill, New York. Cartwright, D, 2009, Field Theory in Social Science and Selected Theoretical Papers, American Psychological Association, Washington, D. C. Coates, D Humphreys, BR, 2003, â€Å"The effect of professional sports on earnings and employment in the services and retail sectors in US cities†, Regional Science and Urban Economics, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 175-198. Deng, T, 2009, â€Å"Just Done It—Nike’s New Advertising Plan Facing Global Economic Crisis†, International Journal of Business and Management, vol. 4, no. 3, p. 102. DePamphili, D, 2013, Mergers and Acquisitions Basics: All You Need To Know, Academic Press, New York. Development Research Ce nter of the State Council, 2009, â€Å"China: Seeking for new breakthrough in coping with crisis†, Manage World vol. 6, pp4–18. Lewin, K, 2000, â€Å"Defining the Field at a Given Time†, Psychological Review vol. 50, pp. 292–310. Mehta, M, 2013, â€Å"How Does the Global Economic Crisis Affect Textile, Apparel Sourcing?† Apparel Technology. Web. Mullin, BJ, Hardy, S Sutton, WA, 2013, Sport Marketing, Human Kinetics, New York. Quan, K, 2010, â€Å"Use of global value chains by labor organizers†, Competition Change, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 89-104. Randers, J, 2012, 2052: A Global Forecast for the Next Forty Years, Green Publishing, Vermont: Chelsea. Research markets, 2012, â€Å"Global Retail Sports Apparel Market 2012-2017: Market Trends, Profit and Forecast Analysis†, Research and Markets. Web. Slater, J Lloyd, C, 2004, â€Å"It’s gotta be the shoes: exploring the effects of relationships of Nike and Reebok sponsorship on two college athletic programs†, Sports Marketing and the Psychology of Marketing Communication, vol. 191. Smith, A Stewart, B, 2012, Sports Management: A Guide to Professional Practice, Allien and Unwin, London. United Nations, 2014, World Urbanization Prospects: The 2013 Revision, UN Publications, New York. World Bank, 2013, Global Economic Growth Will Accelerate in 2014, WB publications, New York. Yu, X, 2011, â€Å"Impacts of corporate code of conduct on labor standards: A case study of Reebok’s athletic footwear supplier factory in China†, Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 81, no. 3, pp. 513-529. Appendix Figure 1: Position of Asian population in the top 20 most populous nations in the world. Figure 2: World Population growth rates Figure 3: Supply and demand for sports goods follows this trend Figure 4: Force Field analysis for sports retail industry Calculations for rivalry in the sports retail market CR4 = Market Share (JJB Sports + JD sports + Sports Worl d + Supermarkets) CR4 = 33% + 16% + 13%+ 13% CR4 = 75% HHI = SQUARE [Market Share (JJB Sports + JD sports + Sports World + Supermarkets)] HHI= 1089+256+169+169 = 1683 This assessment on The Global Sports Retail Industry was written and submitted by user Adonis Barr 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.

JavaScript Nesting IF Statements

JavaScript Nesting IF Statements Nesting if/else statements helps to organize and isolate conditions in order to avoid testing the same condition twice or to minimize the number of times various tests need to be performed.   By using if statements with both comparison and logical operators, we can set up code that will be run if a specific combination of conditions is met. We dont always want to test the entire condition in order to run one set of statements if the entire test is true, and another if it is false. We may want to choose between several different statements, depending on which particular combination of conditions is true. Suppose, for example, that we have three values to compare and wish to set different results depending on which of the values are equal. The following example shows how we can nest if statements to test for this (in bold below) var answer;if (a b) {  Ã‚  if (a c) {  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  answer all are equal;  Ã‚  } else {  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  answer a and b are equal;  Ã‚  }} else {  Ã‚  if (a c) {  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  answer a and c are equal;  Ã‚  } else {  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  if (b c) {  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  answer b and c are equal;  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  } else {  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  answer all are different;  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  }  Ã‚  }} The way the logic works here is: If the first condition is true (if (a b)), then the program checks for the nested if condition (if (a c)). If the first condition is false, the program bumps to the else condition.If the nested if is true, the statement is executed, i.e. all are equal.If the nested if is false, then the else statement is executed, i.e. a and b are equal. Here are a few things to notice how this is coded: First, we created the variable answer to hold the result before we started the if statement, making the variable global. Without that, we would have needed to include the variable on the front of all of the assignment statements, since it would be a local variable.Secondly, we have indented each nested if statement. This allows us to track more easily how many nested levels of statements there are. It also makes it clearer that we have closed the right number of blocks of code to complete all of the if statements that we opened. You may find that it is easier to put the braces there first for each if statement before you start writing the code that belongs inside that block. We can simplify one section of this code slightly in order to avoid having to nest the if statements quite as much. Where an entire else block is made up of a single if statement, we can omit the braces around that block and move the if condition itself up onto the same line as the else, using the else if condition. For example: var answer;if (a b) {  Ã‚  if (a c) {  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  answer all are equal;  Ã‚  } else {  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  answer a and b are equal;  Ã‚  }} else if (a c) {  Ã‚  answer a and c are equal;} else if (b c) {  Ã‚  answer b and c are equal;} else {  Ã‚  answer all are different;} Nested if/then statements are common in all programming languages, not just JavaScript. Novice programmers often use multiple if/then or if/else statements rather than nesting them. While this kind of code will work, it will quickly become verbose and will duplicate conditions. Nesting conditional statements creates more clarity around the programs logic and results in concise code that may run or compile faster.

Grow like Rice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Grow like Rice - Essay Example Rice thrives in strong monsoon and continental climate. In approximation, about 26.1% of China falls under the subtropical region where rice grows well. Given the strong Monsoon and continental climate China experiences, it provides the most favorable conditions for the growth of rice (Braddbrook 11). I still remember my earlier experiences with rice. One such was a freezing winter when our small town experienced a snowstorm. Luckily the snowstorm did not stay for long as it subsided after about a week. Everything was all white with the snow providing a thick white blanket. My grandparents decided to take me out to play with the snow and snowballs, and to make a snowman in the paddy field. The sight of the lovely rice plants covered in a coat of snow filled me with awe. The sight was so perplexing to me that I found myself unable to move. Seeing the expression of wonder on my face, my grandmother walked to me and said, â€Å"This is what you eat every day. It is growing rice.† I was surprised and could not imagine any relation between those plants and the rice that I so often enjoyed. My grandmother told me that during winter, the farmers always celebrated the snow. They believed that the white snow was like an angel to the rice. I tried to patting the snow away from the p lants, but she stopped me with a sweet smile and said, â€Å"Rice sleeps beneath the snow. Don’t disturb it.† Deep inside, I still wondered how such plants produced rice. Up to today, I have never understood the origin of all those beliefs. On our way home, my grandfather explained to me the whole process of how farmers harvest paddy and make rice. The whole process was quite complicated for me to understand at the time. However, I remember them saying how rice sleeps beneath snow in winter. I also have not forgotten the experiences I had and the great time I spent with my grandparents in the field. As for many local families, my family’s staple