Sunday, January 19, 2020

History Museum Visit Essay

Located on the coast of southern California is the city of La Jolla. Now home to almost 40,000 people, this city shares its own historical story from the past one hundred and fifty years through a series of presentations located within three historical structures. These three structures include, The Westeria Cottage, Carriage House and the Current Headquarters. Each structure contributes its portion in putting together the La Jolla’s Historical Society. Currently, the structures are featuring, Home front La Jolla : An American Community during World War 11. The series includes multiple rooms dedicated to different parts in history, along with the different aspects going on during the war. Each room featured many photographs, artifacts and personal stories to exploit the hardship of these times in our history. Many of these items were either donated or loaned by the Veterans Museum in Balboa Park and the Japanese American Historical Society of San Diego. While researching for museums, early in February I came across the main website for these historical sites. It caught my eye because I knew that this exhibit would cast a different kind of perspective than other grand museums. There are a ton of histories on World War II, but there are very few on the home front experience. The La Jolla Historical Society presents a perspective from its society, and shares multiple personal oral stories from its own residents who lived through the war or their surviving relatives, which I found fascinating. It is catered specifically to the effects of World War II on La Jollians. The oral stories provided by this exhibit are not only about what these residents remember about World War II, but also an intake of what life was like beyond that. I viewed this as a much different approach, but was very excited to begin my experience because I knew it would be something new. On April 7th, 2012, I took the opportunity to travel down to La Jolla and visit the museum. The museum is open Thursday-Sunday, Noon to four PM and does not have a fee at all. I was also fortunate to be able to attend on a day where there was a given lecture at five PM, giving me enough time to grab an early dinner before returning again. The lecture, Science & Technology on the Home front, was covered by an oceanographer and U.S Army veteran Walter Munk. He discussed the scientific innovations sparked by the needs of the war effort precipitating a boom in the fields of marine sciences and aeronautics. Entering the museum, I was introduced into a grand room that was divided up by glass cylinders, and it also offered entrances to many other rooms. Initially where you begin the journey, the right wall played an introduction role. It began with the year of 1894, displaying numerous photographs creating an idea of how life was like in La Jolla at the time. â€Å"Everyone knew everyone† quoted by Maurice Bonny was stated at the top of the wall. Photographs included vacation sports such as the La Jolla Caves, as well as the role of the newly invented Trains and Trolleys played and daily lifestyle activities such as golfing and beachside activities. Continuing along, stood in front of me a large wall with a devastating photograph of the explosives on December 7th, 1941. Underneath was the original copy of the U.S Navy Communication Service from that given day, along with an article written the following day by John MaxConnel. This portion of the exhibit also feautured my first chosen artifact, a scrapbook. The oral history of a World War II veteran, Don Shutte, was done by a La Jolla High School student named Ana Ofresky, especially for this exhibit. Don Schutte donated a scrapbook of artifacts of things throughout his experience. It contained images, personal sketches and official documents, including the telegram the Department of War sent to his parents notifying them of his status as missing in action and a POW identification card he was given by the German Army upon his capture and imprisonment during the Battle of Bulge, on December 16, 1944. The final page of the scrapbook contains a letter he wrote to himself on Dec. 2, 1945, stating: â€Å"Hello there, great to be a civilian, isn’t it?† I found this a significant artifact because it told a story of just one man involved in the war in a very unique way. The documents inside this scrapbook were all original and of items I had never se en before. On the opposite side of the room was a large wall which featured certain camps that La Jolla was hosting at the time. These camps included Camp Callan, Camp Mathews and a military base in Bird Rock. Camp Calvin B. Mathews, also known as Marine Corps. Rifle Range was a military base from 1917 to 1964. It was used as a marksmanship training facility for Marine recruits being trained at Marine Corps Recruit. It was issued a rifle base but not until 1923. The base was then constructed to what is now UCSD. Camp Callen was a United States Army anti-aircraft artillery replacement training center that was operational during the time of war but was shut down right after World War II had ended. Lastly, there was another Naval Anti- Aircraft Training Center at Bird Rock, or Pacific Beach. This was a site where sailors would take a six-day course on anti-aircraft artillery. It was opened from 1942 to 1945 and trained about 300,000 sailors to shoot down aircrafts. In a separate and very small room, was a Japanese American side and point of view during the war. It was set up to look like what s room at the internment camps looked like. â€Å"Most Japanese were interned in 10 camps in remote areas of seven western states. No claim of humane intent could change the reality-these were concentration camps. (pg. 736). The room only included a bed and a suitcase which included bedding, a book and one outfit. On the largest wall was a map that displayed the location of all of the internment camps in the U.S and a copy of a poster of instructions for the Japanese living in these rooms. â€Å"Local newspapers there expressed confidence in the loyalty of Japanese Americans, who in any case were crucial to Hawaii’s economy(pg.736)† The room also displayed many newspaper articles, including one from the Los Angeles Examiner on March 23, 1942 announcing relocation of Japanese Americans from Los Angeles to internment camps. It was good to see an example of what kind of media was out during the time. Also in the room was the story of Hiomi Nakamura, a La Jollian born Japanese American who was first transported to a permanent relocation internment camp site, and later drafted to play a role in the was at a laboratory. Also, in this room I found my second artifact, small carvings. In all of the internment camps, people began making what they needed with whatever materials they could find. Scrap lumber became furniture, found metal became knives and for fun, scrap wood was carved into small, painted birds. These carvings were scrap wood paint metal which women also used as jewelry. To the right of this room continues on to an even smaller room. This part of the exhibit was the â€Å"blackout† room, covered with thick black sheets much like those were used by residents at the time to keep light inside their houses. People were so afraid the Japanese would attack that they had to turn out all of their lights at night. Blackouts were enacted to prevent enemy aircraft from reaching their targets by sight. They also helped prevent ships from being viewed in silhouette against the shore, and vulnerable to attack by enemy submarines. Traffic lights and car lights were covered in a way that would deflect their beams to the ground. This is where another one of my artifacts was inspired, a black sheet. These sheets were a source of protection and I feel it exploits a sense of nationalism as well. The community as a whole worked together in order to make sure all the light in their society was turned off. Nationalism is brought up many times in our textbook startin g with the growth of corporate businesses, to the acts of citizens during all three wars. Finally, came the last and second largest room. In this room I found my two remaining artifacts. This part of the exhibit displayed both men and women’s role during the war. It included stories from women who were living at home, while their men were at war. It provided the perspective of what it was like to be a women or even young mother in La Jolla in the 1940’s. Alongside of the roles played living on the home front, it also displayed the new roles women took inside the war itself. â€Å"World War II brought an end to the military as an exclusive male enclave that women entered only as nurses (pg.730).† At first the government discouraged women who wanted to perform some kind of military service. It soon became clear that the war was going to demand more than the government had expected. Women began to do technical jobs normally performed by men. One of the artifacts that I chose from this room was a nurse’s robe from the Red Cross. This robe was not just your typical plain robe but was covered in patches of each army man they had helped. I was barely able to even see any white apart of the original robe. I chose this artifact because it truly portrayed the crucial role women also played in the war. Our textbook gives us a brief overview from the changes of roles women played during the time of war, but the number of patches on this robe opened my eyes to how much more of an important factor these nurses played taking on a great amount of soldiers. The number of men these women helped were astounding, definitely portraying how import a women’s role was. On the other side of the room was a glassed display of a US Army Air force uniform from 1943-1945. It was considered to be the â€Å"Eisenhower jacket,† based on General Eisenhower. In the display were also a M1903 Springfield Rifle and a M1 Grand Rifle alongside what seemed to be a map. The other artifact that I chose from this room was a silk scar f. Now this long silk scarf had nothing to do with fashion, but proved to be a crucial navigation tool during the war. Allied pilots were issued with these scarves that had detailed maps of enemy territory printed on them. The silk scarves also denoted railroads, canals, roads, frontier, churches and lighthouses. Air Power Shrinks the Globe on page 743 of our textbook discusses the growth of airplanes over the period of time of war. â€Å"The Wellington flew 255 miles an hour and cruised as high as 12,000 feet, with a range of 2,200 miles, whereas the new B-29s could travel more than 350 miles an hour, at altitudes up to 30,000 feet, with a range of up to 5,000 miles. (Pg. 743)† At the time, this was a massive step in the evolution of aircrafts and aircrafts at war, but if we compare this to the type of technology we have in our airplanes it cannot compare. Many of us cannot find our ways around our own city without using our mobile devices to navigate us. These pilots were u sing maps printed on scarves to help direct them around! It is incredible. I believe that the site gave an exceptional insight of how life was like prior, during and after World War 11. Each room explained its story well by the display of artifacts, photographs and touching oral stories it presented. The facility was well outlined timeline which exposed a sequence of events. The exhibit related perfectly to the content of this class with all the information and artifacts it presented. Many of the things presented corresponded with what the book had to say about World War II, along with a lot of new material as well. Overall, I was very pleased to have been able to take a day off and visit the La Jolla Historical Society. I was able to learn a great deal of new material which contributed to a better understanding of what times were like during the war, not only as a nation but to the residents of La Jolla.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Fish and West Coast Tuna

Japan's Fuchsia Nuclear Power Facility is leaking into the Pacific Ocean constantly. This leak was caused by a powerful earthquake in 2011. Any sort of chemical leak is terrible; however, the location of the Fuchsia facility makes it significantly worse. Because this body of water does not remove or clean itself well, the chemical pollution is Just increasing and taking over the ocean. Marine life is being severely affected by this. One fish that should be a main focus is the West Coast Blue Fin Tuna.The West Coast Blue Fin Tuna is a widely recognized fish and the West Coast Tuna Fishing industry is very familiar with this marine life form. For this industry, the Fuchsia leak is the worst possible event. Phytoplankton, plankton, and many other marine life forms feed on the radioactive chemicals being released by the gallons every day. This consumption of chemicals makes its way up the food chain to the West Coast Blue Fin Tuna. Not only is it now harmful to eat, the West Coast Blue F in Tuna ingests the radioactive chemicals which in turn begin to eat away t its tissue thus leading the West Coast Blue Fin Tuna to cease to exist.To determine whether or not the rise of radiation levels in the blue fin tuna is due to the Fuchsia leak or any cause that may be natural, I have created an experiment. I would begin by monitoring a set amount of 200 North American Blue Fin Tuna (Group #1). These fish would be in clean water with no radioactive chemicals and superb circulation. My other group would consist 200 of Blue Fin Tuna in clean water that is not well circulated (Group #2). Another group would be made up of 200 Blue Fin Tuna with circulated water containing the Fuchsia chemicals Group #3).

Thursday, January 2, 2020

How to Write a Persuasive Essay Quickly and Easily

The idea of an argumentative essay is quite simple – you have to utilize all the resources at your disposal to persuade the reader that your point of view on a certain topic is correct, logical and more acceptable than any other opinion or a whole range of opinions. Under ‘resources’ you should understand, well, anything that makes your point of view look more viable: logical arguments, facts and their interpretation, examples from history, statistical data, opinions of experts in the given field and so on and so forth. In other words, to write a persuasive essay you have to know the topic, have a strongly defined opinion on it and be able not only to defend your beliefs in discussion, but also to persuade the reader. It is not as simple as it may sound – some things are too obvious and natural for us to really bend our minds around the concept that somebody else could have all the same data to begin with and come to different conclusions. The very fact of this obviousness makes the process of persuading somebody else all the more complicated. You should always base your writing on the assumption that the reader is probably as set in his ways as you are in yours. Sensitive Topics: Writing an Essay on Drugs Before trying to write such an essay on your own it might be a wise idea to spend some time studying the samples of work done by other people. Although practice makes perfect, studying a little bit of theory won’t hurt, too. So, find a reliable service and read a couple of persuasive essay examples, either on the same topic you have to write or about something entirely else. From them you will be able to learn the basic layout of such piece of writing – and when you start writing on your own you will be able to follow the same principles. How to Write a Good Essay on Drugs If you have to write about drugs, you have to tread lightly – this topic is often considered to be sensitive and some things you may write might be considered to be in poor taste by your tutor. However, this topic still allows remarkable flexibility – you are free to approach it from any direction as long as you stay civil. Of course, you have to found your essay on what you actually believe – and when it comes to n issue that is raised so often, there is no lack of points of view and proofs of their viability. It would be also nice to read several persuasive essay examples on the same topic, to see how other people deal with it. As for the approach itself, choose anything you like: criticize the war on drugs as an ineffective measure that only makes the international drug cartels stronger, or offer your own ideas about how drugs should be treated in modern society, or write something completely different.

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Why Absolutely Everybody Is Talking About Essay Topics for Junior High School

Why Absolutely Everybody Is Talking About Essay Topics for Junior High School Want to Know More About Essay Topics for Junior High School? Every family needs to have a all-natural disaster survival program. Most people obtain their very first love in high school. For instance, students might write about the advantages of a vegan diet. All parents ought to be asked to attend parenting classes before having a kid. Mixed martial arts ought to be banned. Writing about the reason and effect essay topics connected to the school's popularity or surviving the initial year in college could be fine to grab the interest of your peers. The perfect way to improve writing skills is via regular practice. As a students, there are many theoretical majors like math, physics and chemistry that they need to take their most time and create every their effort to learn. Essay Topics for Junior High School - Overview Tell the advantages of having a collection, and explain how someone can start to grow a group of her or his own. Men and women like to collect and display items which have sentimental value or distinctive appeal. In high school, you're supposed to decide on the sort of topic you're going to be in a position to dig into that is, you've got to be sure you can discover enough info on the topic. Deciding on a topic is a critical issue that partly estimates final success of the job. Essay Topics for Junior High School Fundamentals Explained MLA would be the simplest style to begin with, and it's ideal for each of the ideas listed above. Parents need to remain alert to which subjects are somewhat more difficult. They need to clarify and make their child understand that they will always love the child, but not love what they do sometimes. Parents of bullies should need to pay a fine. The Battle Over Essay Topics for Junior High School and How to Win It Year round school isn't a good idea. Sports stars ought to be positive role models. Some schools in the USA are requiring that students volunteer for many hours each semester to assist on a community issue. America lags behind many nations in education. The City Council wants a teen for a member to speak for your age group. High-stakes state testing ought to be abolished. Prior to beginning crafting an evaluate essay the exact first component you have to do is post a guide the very best thought procedure to produce decrease the many factors you're considering for every report thesis consulting help in addition to other mission. There are times that you don't know whether you're doing things since you enjoy them or because it appears good on your college applications. Yearly driving tests ought to be mandatory for the initial five years after obtaining a license. Choosing Essay Topics for Junior High School Is Simple Think about the local evening news program and why you ought to be chosen as the student reporter. Entering the college years is something whi ch's really tough for children. Directions for Writing Think about the significance of experiencing a mobile phone. The style, topic and voice of your private essay needs to have the punch to earn the audience think. The Basics of Essay Topics for Junior High School Think about a few teens you know. American teenagers have argued they drink anyway even though it's illegal for them to achieve that. There are several bright students out there who don't get accepted to a lot of colleges because the student near them out-lied or exaggerated more than they did. Imagine your school does not own a school newspaper. You've invited your two best friends to devote the afternoon at your house. Consider what you could do in order to make your school more beautiful. Think of one thing you're expected to learn in school that you don't think ought to be included in the curriculum. Choosing Essay Topics for Junior High School Normally, a structure of essay contains three key sections, in other words, introduction, body, and conclusion. Once you comprehend the kind of essay, it's time to choose a topic. Thanks to the correct option of presentation style and a thorough understanding of the goals you wish to attain in your essay, there are plenty of categories essay themes may be broken into. An essay has to be broken into paragraphs to ensure it is readable. The introduction could begin with a quote or might be a joke, if it suits the subject of the essay. After you have the topic, answer the question and after that support your answer with three or more explanations for why you believe it. It's needless to say that you should go for a subject that you regard as interesting. The Principles of Essay Topics for Junior High School That You Can Benefit From Beginning Immediately Directions for Writing Before you start writing, think of why it is your preferred shop. Everything on the planet is interrelated. Categories, essay topics might be divided into. Directions for Writing Before you start writing, consider which is your favourite holiday and why.

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Jetblue - 596 Words

JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ: JBLU) is an American low-cost airline with its main base John F. Kennedy International Airport, also in Queens. In 2001, JetBlue began a focus city operation at Long Beach Airport in Long Beach, California, and another at Bostons Logan International Airport, in 2004. It also has focus city operations at Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport and Orlando International Airport. The airline mainly serves destinations in the United States, along with flights to the Caribbean, The Bahamas, Bermuda, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Mexico. As of November 8, 2010 JetBlue serves 62 destinations in 21 states (including Puerto Rico), and eleven countries in the Caribbean and†¦show more content†¦On April 19, 2010, JetBlue announced new service from Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Connecticut starting on November 17, 2010. They will offer twice daily non-stops (four daily departures) to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. C. OBJECTIVES AND DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM STATEMENT The case evaluation aims to achieve the following: 1. To determine the best stock valuation model applicable to JetBlue’s IPO shares 2. To distinguish the difference of using different stock valuation models 3. To calculate the offering price of the new IPO shares 4. To confirm if the share price suggested by management is reasonable or not 5. To identify the risks involved in oversubscribed shares Based from the stated objectives above, the following were defined for the case: MAIN PROBLEM TO BE RESOLVED: What would be the appropriate offering price for the new IPO shares of JetBlue Airways Corporation listed in NASDAQ which would not only help the firm raise short-term capital requirements but would also provide positive returns to its shareholders in the future? UNDERLYING PROBLEM(S)/ISSUE(S) TO BE RESOLVED: 1. What should be the best stock valuation model applicable to JetBlue’s IPO shares? 2. What would be the impact of these valuation models on the calculated offering price for its IPO shares? 3. Is theShow MoreRelatedJetblue3939 Words   |  16 PagesJetBlue Questions for Discussion 1. Give examples of needs, wants, and demands that JetBlue customers demonstrate, differentiating these three concepts. What are the implications of each for JetBlue’s practices? * First of all people who go to an airline are because they have the need to travel, which the main feature is. Inducing the consumer or person, as their main need. * JetBlue customers to contract your travel company this time JetBlue, wanted a good service duringRead MoreJetblue Airways Corporation ( Jetblue ) Essay789 Words   |  4 PagesJetBlue Airways Corporation (JetBlue), often called â€Å"New York’s Hometown Airline,† operates in the airline industry. It was incorporated in August 1998, began service in February 2000 and by the end of 2013 had grown to become the fifth largest passenger carrier in the United States based on revenue passenger miles. According to the JetBlue website (2014) in 1999, David Neeleman announced his plans to launch a new airline, â€Å"New Air.† By the end of 2000 JetBlue had reported $100 million in revenueRead MoreJetblue Airways1854 Words   |  8 PagesSTRATEGIC MANAGEMENT amp; POLICY COMM 4005 / SP1 MODULE 3 JETBLUE AIRWAYS: A CADRE OF NEW MANAGERS TAKES CONTROL JETBLUE AIRWAYS Question 1 David Neelman’s original strategic vision was to ‘bring humanity back to air travel’ through combing low fares of a discount airline carrier with the comforts of a small cozy den in people’s homes. 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Their main focus was to provide service to areas that were underserved as well as to large cities with overpriced fares. He aimed to establish a strong brand that differentiated itself from its competitors by being a safe, reliable and low cost-airline . Neeleman managed to achieve this partially by hiringRead MoreJetblue-Case Study3327 Words   |  14 Pages2001, p.5).   Overall, Jet Blue Airways has lived up to its mission of caring for its people. JetBlue Airway is an airline industry. Founder is David Neeleman, a Salt Lake City entrepreneur. The eighth largest passenger carrier in United State. Have won many awards including â€Å"Best Domestic Airline†, â€Å"Best Domestic Airline Value† and â€Å" Best Overall Airline†. 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PESTEL analysis stands for â€Å"Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environment and Legal analysis†. Political Factors How and to what extent the government does intervenes in the economy. Political factors can be tax policy, labor law, environmental law, trade restrictions, tariffs, and political stability. Political factors that are found in the JetBlue case are: Government monitors the airline industry

Monday, December 9, 2019

Empirical Investigation of Consumer Perceptions †MyAssignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about the Empirical Investigation of Consumer Perceptions. Answer: Introduction: The complexities of business have been improvising over the years with profound references to the increasing prominence of globalization and international business. The measures adopted by large scale organizations to address alternative target markets in the existing business jurisdiction of the enterprise as well as entering new markets which are novel for the organization (Ahmed d'Astous, 2008). It is imperative for organizations to understand the feasible outcomes that can be derived from expanding into new markets especially in terms of increased brand reputation, improvement in market share and sustainability for the business. As per Ahmed d'Astous, the impact of globalization and international business can be observed explicitly in different industries with substantial disparities in terms of outcomes (Ahmed d'Astous, 2001). However, the fast food industry has been able to gain a strong foothold in majority of international markets with the flexible and strategic approaches for market entry and cultural diversification followed by organizations. The major market players in the food and beverage industry such as McDonalds, KFC and Starbucks have acquired drastic global exposure with their product changes and effective pricing mechanisms as well as marketing alignment with individual local cultures in international markets (Ahmed d Astous, 1995). The following report reflects on the case of Dunkin Donuts and its preferred entry into the international market of China. The capabilities of Dunkin Donuts for launching its iconic product brands in the worlds most populated country could be assumed as the expl icit motivation for the following report. The product and service description for Dunkin Donuts could be assumed as a credible requirement for justifying the selection of China as the international market to venture into. The competitive advantage of the organization is vested in the benefits provided to customers in the form of effective services and products which ensure customer loyalty (Al-Sulaiti Baker, 1998). The services of Dunkin Donuts employees are based on the treatment of the customer as the boss which leads employees to deliver services in the most appealing form. As per Baines Harris, the primary products of the organization are baked goods and coffee with the finest ingredients that provide the advantage of novelty and uniqueness to the products of Dunkin Donuts (Baines Harris, 2000). The doughnuts products offered by the company could be observed in an assortment of powered, frosted and glazed variants of 31 different types of doughnuts. The organization also serves other products for customers such as Eclair, Coffee Rolls and Munchkins which add to the improvement in the experience for customers. The entry of Dunkin Donuts into China is however characterized with the provision of Chili oil-glazed flavours, pork floss and seaweed topped rounds as its products is evident owing to the previous failed attempts of the organization to enter the Chinese market (Balabanis, Mueller M elewar, 2002). The nature of the product facilitated by Dunkin Donuts is tangible and is largely reflective of the requirements of consumer service industry dynamics. Furthermore, the case of Dunkin Donuts has to review the justification for selecting China as a viable marketplace for the intended international market entry of the organization on the basis of a clear analysis of the external environment factors (Balestrini Gamble, 2006). The analysis of the external market environment could be accomplished through the use of models such as PESTEL analysis for China which could facilitate comprehensive insights into the political, economic, cultural, geographic and technological aspects of the market environment. The external environment analysis is mandatory to weigh the competences and available resources of the organization with respect to the analysis outcomes in order to observe the feasibility of the decision of Dunkin Donuts to expand in China (Becker, Benner Glitsch, 2000). The following section would illustrate the major dimensions associated with the international market condition in China on the basis of which the country can be validated as a recommendation for international market expansion of Dunkin Donuts (Bloemer, Brijs Kasper, 2009). Political factors are primarily tied to the aspects of regulations, government policy and law which could render formidable impact on government decision and economic factors. The implications of changes in labour laws introduced by the government could lead to formidable changes in the structures of job and leniency for employment. This factor leads to the rise in unemployment owing to the provision of basic employment to people without any prospects for training in new skills (Bruning, 1997). However, the government has implemented necessary measures such as financing the labour intensive sectors in order to improve job availability. Initiation of drives to encourage foreign trade could be observed as prominent highlights of contemporary foreign trade policies adopted by the government which is responsible for increasing prospects for foreign direct investments (Chao Rajendran, 1993). The favourable political ties between the US and China could also be accounted as factors which address the concerns pertaining to insecurities of Dunkin Donuts observed in context of daily life, jobs and the government. Economic factors are capable of inducing major changes in a business which could be influential on the major aspects of capital availability, supply, demand and cost. The limitations on capital cost could be complemented with high demand in order to acquire higher investment from the organization as well as improving the production volumes. Furthermore, the impact of the economic recession has enabled the prospects for smaller companies to acquire a stand in the business market alongside competing with others (Chattalas, Kramer Takada, 2008). The recent economic development observed in the case of China could be apprehended as a major influence on the prospects for organizations. The implications of the Bank of China could be observed in terms of reviewing monetary policies which can facilitate improvement and decrease in the interest rates. The specialized initiatives for ensuring transparency of financial transactions which international organizations have in the economic framework (Chen Pereira, 1999). Environmental factors involve refer to the preferences of the Chinese society for businesses to adopt eco friendly practices and resources. The prominence of green economy in China could account as flexible opportunities for an organization to realize prominent advantages to accomplish strategic flexibility (Chryssochoidis, Krystallis Perreas, 2007). The implications of using low carbon technology, emissions reductions and relevant green economy characteristics could be beneficial for organizations to realize a formal depiction of their corporate social responsibilities. Social aspects that could be observed in China for validating its choice as an international market for Dunkin Donuts could be observed in the importance of education, changing lifestyles of the Chinese population, shifting of rural individuals to urban locations and the preferences of the local population for leisure and work (Chu, et al., 2010). The family structures observed in China also favour the decision of Dunkin Donuts that can be leveraged for alternative approaches to product design. Technological improvements are accessible in China with the prominent implications for investments in research pertaining to innovation for improving technology transfer and address the emerging concerns of energy requirements (Clarke, Owens Ford, 2000). The increasing adoption of internet and related communication technologies is responsible for inducing new channels for marketing for organizations in the customer service sector such as Dunkin Donuts. The observation of the above factors in the external environment for Dunkin Donuts in the new international market i.e. China provides a feasible validation for selection of the market (d'Astous Ahmed, 1995). Competitor identification: The prominent highlights that could be observed in this section refer to an illustration of the competitors of Dunkin Donuts, recent growth trends in the fast food industry and competitive factors. The competitors of Dunkin Donuts in the Chinese market could be identified in McDonalds and KFC which have established formidable presence in the international market (d'Astous, et al., 2008). The western fast food culture was introduced by KFC in 1987 with its first restaurant in Beijing which has progressed to the extent at which the organization is serving more than 10 million consumers every day in the Chinese market. The capabilities of KFC as a pioneer in the industry are also reflected in the association of the supply chain of the organization with local standards thereby ensuring formidable integration. The organization maintains its quality standards alongside maintaining a local supply chain which account for its competitive advantage in the market (Demirbag, Sahadev Mellahi, 2010). The advent of McDonalds was not observed until late 1990 when the organization found its first restaurant in the Guangdong Province. The major source of competitive advantage for the organization in the international market of China could be observed on the grounds of competences such as globally standardized service, operating policies and products (Drozdenko Jensen, 2009). The marketing alignment of the organization to specific target customer groups could be assumed as an explicit source of competitive advantage for the organization in Chinese market. As per Ettenson Gaeth, the market share of the organizations depicts the prominent challenges that can be imposed by them for Dunkin Donuts which are estimated to be 0.5% for McDonalds and 1.3% for KFC (Ettenson Gaeth, 1991). The competitive environment in the fast food industry is also likely to be affected by the future trend of increasing emphasis on legal obligations for health and safety of food products. The fast food industry is highly criticized on the grounds of provision of unhealthy food which has to be addressed by organizations as a competitive factor (Ferguson, Dadzie Johnston, 2008). Therefore organizations which could be able to address the requirements of health and safety in context of fast food products can obtain competitive advantage over others in the market. Cultural Profile: The cultural profile of China can be established through references to the references to Geert Hofstedes dimensions of national culture which comprise of power distance, individualism, masculinity, long term orientation and uncertainty avoidance (Glitsch, 2000). China could be assumed as a highly collectivist society wherein people are identified to be associated with each other and individuals prioritize the interest of others in the family over their personal interests. The implications of a highly collectivist culture could be observed in the in-group considerations for family members during promotion and selection initiatives (Hamin Elliott, 2006). The aspect of masculinity is higher in the national culture of China that defines the progress of society on the basis of achievement, success and competition. The prominent example of the higher masculinity aspect can be observed in the Chinese culture where work is prioritized over leisure and family time and the emphasis of students on ranking and exam scores as prime criteria for accomplishing success (Hamzaoui Essoussi Merunka, 2007). Uncertainty avoidance depicts the capability of a society to address the concerns that could emerge in the future (Hamzaoui Merunka, 2006). China does not depict substantial uncertainty avoidance as the culture is dependent on pragmatism and reforming laws according to the present situation. The national culture of China is also characterized by ambiguities with the references to different ambiguous meanings observed in the Chinese language. Power distance is highly observed in the Chinese national culture and accepts the inequalities among people flexibly that is characterized by the example of polarized relationship of superior and subordinate (Harcar Kaynak, 2008). Long term orientation aspect indicates the association of national cultures with the past in order to address the challenges observed in the present and future. The Chinese national culture emphasizes on a high score of long term orientation since it is directed along the lines of pragmatism that can be observed in the encouragement of international education among students in order to address the concerns of future (Heslop, Lu Cray, 2008). The culture depicts formidable abilities to adapt to different conditions while the people have the notable characteristic of perseverance to accomplish their objectives. Customer attitude towards product: The impact of a customers perception regarding the product is a mandatory requirement for ensuring the sale of the product. The different factors which could be identified as impactful on the perception of customers regarding the products of Dunkin Donuts in China comprise of Consumer animosity, consumer disidentification, country of origin effect, consumer affinity and consumer ethnocentrism (Heslop, Nadeau O'Reilly, 2010). The analysis of these elements could provide the basis for strategic recommendations. The country of origin effect refers to the approach followed by customers for associating with foreign brands and making their purchase decisions accordingly (Hui Zhou, 2003). The country of origin effect is responsible for influencing customer perception of a product based on the country where the product is manufactured. Consumer ethnocentrism is observed in the isolation of culturally different products which could be based on the presence of foreign ingredients and the encroachment of western culture (Insch Florek, 2009). The aspects of customer disidentification could be observed in the dissent of customers for products from the domestic country which leads to favourable prospects for foreign brands to earn competitive advantage. The impact of customer affinity has been observed explicitly in the cases of large firms such as Apple, Polo etc. which describes the long term relationship of a brand with the customers (Johansson, 1989). The impact of customer affinity is reflected in the requirement of lower costs for product launch. If consumer affinity is low then the organization would have to invest in addressing the negative factors affecting customer affinity in order to acquire new customers. The review of these factors in the case of Dunkin Donuts reflects that the aspects of customer disidentification can favour its international operation while the organization could gain support through addressing the concerns of customer affinity, country of origin effect in marketing and consumer ethnocentrism (Josiassen, Lukas Whitwell, 2008). Market segmentation, targeting and positioning: The traditional model of STP is implemented for the strategic planning for international market entry. Segmentation of the markets is ensured through division of the selected market into different sub groups in order to facilitate their different products and services. The observation of customer segments facilitates prominent competitive advantage for an organization like Dunkin Donuts which has already depicted proficiency through inclusion of coffee in its product line (Kaynak, Kucukemiroglu Hyder, 2000). The types of segmentation approach that can be followed by Dunkin Donuts include geographical, demographic, behavioural and psychographic segmentation. Geographic segmentation can be based on the locations of customers and can be applied in context of this case through location of the stores near busy business districts where people would be able to access breakfast. The demographic segmentation could be identified for the organization in the form of different customer groups on the basis of occupation, income, education, gender and age. Psychographic segmentation is intended for categorizing customers on the basis of lifestyle preferences which is helpful for Dunkin Donuts to design tailor-made products such as products to remark the Chinese New Year with indigenous flavours (Khan Bamber, 2007). The impact of behavioural segmentation could also be observed in this case which suggests the division of the market on the basis of a users attitude or response to a specific product. Market segmentation has to be followed with the targeting process which is responsible for identifying the specific audience and analyze the customer segments alongside approaches to address the individual segments (Khmel'nyts' ka Swift, 2010). The individual stages involved in the targeting stage would refer to evaluation of the market segments, selection of target market segments, selection of a targeting strategy and ensuring compliance with social responsibilities in targeted marketing. The aspects of market targeting enable an organization to improve its marketing campaigns and production capabilities in accordance with the distinct needs of various market groups (Kim Thorndike Pysarchik, 2000). The major aspects that must be taken into consideration while addressing the market targeting refer to buyer preferences, existing market environment and competitor actions. Finally, an organization has to position itself in the international market through communicating value differences, selection of areas of competitive advantage that lead to the finalization of a positioning strategy. The positioning strategy is defined by the value proposition presented by the organization in the market environment (Kim, 2006). Market entry: The most feasible market entry and expansion strategy for Dunkin Donuts would be observed in the method of a joint venture and franchising. The organizations franchisee Golden Cup would supervise the international outlets in China. The requirement of selection of franchising in a joint venture in the case of Dunkin Donuts can be validated on the grounds of two failed attempts of the company to enter the international market of China. The first attempt of the organization to enter the Chinese market in 1994 was direct and failed since customers were not acquainted with the brand and disliked the primary products i.e. glazed doughnuts (Kinra, 2006). The companys second attempt to enter Chinese market was observed in 2008 which also resulted in failure due to the changing preferences of customers and their requirements for sophistication. The effect of adopting a joint venture strategy for international market entry and expansion could be validated in the form of experience that could be facilitated by local franchises and the financial aid required for the organization to ensure sustainable growth of the enterprise in international market (Knight Calantone, 2000). Furthermore, the organization would have the opportunity to tap into evidence based approaches from the observations of partners firms in joint venture and franchisees in order to improve their international market performance (Lawrence, Marr Prendergast, 1992). The organizations expansion strategy has been established according to the agreements of the joint venture and the organization aims to expand its stores to a count of 1400 in a course of 20 years. The expansion of Dunkin Donuts would be primarily based on the provision of tailored products to the local culture and novel product designs to cater the changing preferences of customers (Lentz, Holzmller Schirrmann, 2006). The organization could also emphasize on its promotion as a status brand rather than a convenience option which would improve the sustainability of the expansion strategy of Dunkin Donuts. Strategic recommendations: The prominent highlights of the report were observed in the review of the nature of products and services of Dunkin Donuts, selection of an international market, cultural dimensions of the international market and valid suggestions for market segmentation, targeting and positioning (Lim OCass, 2001). The organization should emphasize on the cultural aspects such as high collectivism and long term orientation could be leveraged by the organization to promote culturally aligned products as well as new products among culturally adaptive customers. The references to the external environment available for Dunkin Donuts in the Chinese market suggest that the aspects of foreign direct investment and political favourability for foreign trade could be useful for the organization to ensure long term success in the international market (Maronick, 1995). The aspects of customer perception for a product could be addressed in the marketing approaches of the organization which should maintain a thin line between communicating the brand as a status brand and its capability to adapt to the indigenous culture. While the aspect of customer disidentification could be assumed as a feasible indicator for promoting the organization as an international brand, the organization should be able to improve customer affinity and reduce ethnocentrism which can be considered as formidable challenge for the organization (Phau Suntornnond, 2006). The prominent impact of market segmentation, targeting and positioning provide insights into the significance of working professionals and youngsters as the specific market segments which could be addressed with the value propositions of access to international products at flexible prices. References Ahmed, S.A. and d'Astous, A., 2008. 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Sunday, December 1, 2019

The Challenges Facing Administration Motor free essay sample

Motor vehicle owners in Kenya were legally compelled to take out insurance against traffic accidents involving third parties in the mid 1940s under the Road Traffic Act (RTA). The history of public service vehicles (PSV) dates back to the late 1950s when there appeared a new form of taxi operating between the city centre of Nairobi and Makadara in Eastland of the city. The fare, irrespective of distance was thirty cents, the Kiswahili equivalent being â€Å"mapeni matatu,’ which was adopted as reference to this taxi and shortened to â€Å"Matatu† (Timbwa, 1985). The origin of Matatu industry can be traced from the type of transport system that operated in towns in the early 1960s. Initially, the Kenya Bus Service existed since 1934 as the sole legal provider of public transport services. It was jointly owned by the United Transport Overseas Ltd (75%) and the Nairobi City Council (25% of the shares). Public transport in Kenya, especially in urban areas is dominated by Matatu vehicles. We will write a custom essay sample on The Challenges Facing Administration Motor or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In the early 1960s, the total number of Matatus operating in the country was less than 400 and operated in form of taxis. In 1973, President Jomo Kenyatta, responding to lobbying from Matatu operators declared that they were a legal mode of transport and could carry fare paying passengers without obtaining special licenses to do so but had to comply with existing insurance and traffic regulations (Aduwo, 1992). By 1990, of the 333,300 vehicles registered in the country, 17,600 were Matatus (Bhushan, 1993 cited in Muyia, 1995). By 2003, the number of Matatus operating in both urban and rural areas was estimated at 40,000 (Asingo, 2004). They comprised of Nissans, mini-buses and pickups. They provided employment to nearly 160,000 persons and generated vast revenue for the Government in form of charges for licenses, duty, VAT and other taxes. In addition, the industry plays a leading role in transportation of persons and goods in both rural and urban areas. Unfortunately, the industry’s vast growth has been accompanied by increasing road traffic accidents that have threatened safety of Kenyan travelers. The accidents increased by 182% from 3,578 in 1963 to 10,106 in 1989 and 11,785 in 1994 (Muyia, 1995). In these accidents, 2,014 persons were killed, 6,650 were seriously injured and 11,094 had minor injuries. The causes of the accidents included reckless driving, non-roadworthy vehicles, overloading and poor conditions of the roads. 1. 1. 1. Underwriting Underwriting is the selection and rating of risks by the insurer (Canner, 2007). There are various considerations that guide the underwriting process leading to the decision as whether to accept a given risk or not and if accepted at what premium rate. The key considerations in motor underwriting include; Use of the vehicle, District of garage, Make and type of the vehicle, seating and carrying capacity, the type of cover required, the driver’s details and the value and age of the vehicle. Use, refers to whether the vehicle is public hire or Private hire. District of garage refers to the address where the vehicle is normally garaged. Make and type of the vehicle specifies whether the vehicle is an Isuzu van, Toyota saloon, Mazda bus etc. Seating and carrying capacity refers to the number of passengers including the driver and the size of the engine. The type of cover required could be third party only (TPO), third party fire and theft (TPFT) or comprehensive. The driver’s details include age, sex, experience, conviction and accident history while the value and age of the vehicle refers to the sum insured and the year of manufacture of the vehicle. Passenger carrying vehicles are generally categorized into the following three classes for underwriting purposes; public hire vehicles, private hire Chauffeur driven vehicles and private hire self-drive vehicles (Canner, 2007). Public hire vehicles are licensed to ply for hire. They include vans, mini-buses and pick- ups. The vehicles are hailed in the streets though local bylaws restrict the waiting points of such vehicles. This class is regarded as the highest risk because of maximum use of the vehicle and drivers coupled with high levels of moral hazard. Private Hire Chauffeur driven vehicles are hired for passenger travel through the operator’s office or agency. The vehicles tend to cover extensive mileage with drivers working for long shifts. One sector of this class which is regarded as good is the prestige limousine arena where vehicles are used for wedding purposes, as hearses and for other private functions. Finally, Private Hire Self-drive vehicles are made available to the hirer. Regrettably the vehicles which fall under this class are misused by the hirers. To mitigate this, a pre and post-hire inspection is carried out by the owners of the vehicles (poll M. , et al, 2009). 1. 1. 2. Experience in Kenya Kenya, with an average of 7 deaths from the 35 crashes that occur each day, has one of the highest road fatality rates in relation to vehicle ownership in the world. Nearly 3,000 people are killed on Kenyan roads annually. This translates to approximately 68 deaths per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is 30-40 times greater than in highly motorized countries. Road traffic crashes are the third leading cause of death after malaria and HIV/AIDS and present major public health problems in terms of morbidity, disability and associated health care costs. Despite this huge burden, road safety measures in place are ineffective, characterized by crack downs on motor vehicles following tragic road crashes. These accidents have been occasioned by the government’s neglect of the road sub-sector in the past 10-15 years (Odero et. l 2003). Insurance companies in the country have been accused of operating like a cartel by agreeing on specific premium rates across the sector. Kimutai, (2009) argues that contrary to a free market economy, insurance companies fix the premiums instead of letting the market forces determine them. However Gichuhi, (2009) observes that the Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI) does no t set rates but advises members on what they can charge based on the statistics collected from both the local and international markets. Makove (2009) contends that motor risks are under his close watch due to a number of reasons. First, motor insurance, particularly third party risks, is compulsory. Secondly, companies that have collapsed have been motor underwriters. Premiums charged must be able to service claims, company expenses and commission to the agents as well as return a little element of profit for the company. Muhindi (2009) adds that even the Policy Holders Protection Fund will suffer because all companies will not accept to contribute to it if companies start going under because, say, PSV underwriters are not charging the right premiums. If an insurer collapses due to uneconomical rates, then obviously it shakes the public confidence in the industry in general. Omogeni (2009) observes that cartel or not, the process of setting insurance premiums needs a re-examination for the parties unhappy with the present system to not only get but also see justice being done. The insurance industry suffered a major setback when another motor underwriter, Standard Assurance Kenya Ltd, went under in 2008. The heavily indebted insurance firm was placed under statutory management over its inability to settle some Sh100 million in outstanding claims owed to policyholders and creditors. The closure followed closely on a similar incident involving another motor underwriter, Invesco, which closed its doors in 2009 but was resuscitated early in 2010. Other insurance companies which have gone under in similar circumstances are Kenya National Assurance in 1996, Access Insurance in1997, Stallion Insurance in1998, Lakestar Insurance in 2003 and United Insurance in 2006 (Okoth, 2009). Problems in the PSV underwriting business have remained intact since the Kenya Motor Insurance Pool collapsed in 1979. The PSV insurance sector, avoided by most insurers, is among the most affected by delays in reviewing the Insurance Act. The PSV insurance sector is seen as a cash cow for fraudsters or ambulance chasers, with elaborate networks that include unscrupulous medical personnel, motor repairers and spare parts dealers, police, lawyers and assessors, among others. This network is so well entrenched that it is attributed to the collapse of motor pools, an initiative that was meant to address weaknesses of the sub-sector (Okoth, 2009). Previously, there have been several unsuccessful attempts to address these challenges. The first compulsory Kenya Motor Pool was established in 1974 but it faced serious challenges, including the withdrawal of the state-owned KNAC in 1979 before it finally collapsed in 1984. A second motor pool was set up a year later before it was wound up four years down the line after being bogged down by huge liabilities (Timbwa, 2000). 1. 2. Statement of the problem More insurance companies covering public service vehicles (PSV) face the risk of collapse unless urgent measures are taken.