A report to the Board of Directors at Ennismore Capital Regarding the Expansion Idea at Hoxton Hotel

Abstract The hotel industry has gained more popularity over the recent decades in most parts across the globe. London, like other cities has manifested stiff competition among different hotels in offering high quality services, including meals and accommodation to both local and international customers.Hoxton has been a top ranking hotel in London, with some of the surveys ranking it the best for three consecutive years. The hotel is under the management of enthusiastic and goal-oriented team (Ennismore Capital), characterised by the constant ambition to grow into a larger hotel industry. Having proposed the expansion idea to the Hoxton Manager, there is need to conduct a critical review of the idea and render the most informed recommendation to warrant the implementation of the expansion idea. This paper therefore outlines a report to the Board of Directors at Ennismore Capital regarding the expansion idea at Hoxton Hotel, in which the strategic analysis of the hotel, internal analysis throu gh a resource audit and core competency analysis, and the application of Ansoff’s matrix are covered. The report gives concludes by proposing a local expansion of the hotel in the UK, and summarises the recommendations to the board. Introduction The Hoxton Hotel is owned and managed by the Ennismore Capital. From recent surveys conducted in the United Kingdom, The Hoxton Hotel has been ranked as one of the leading hotels in London (Agencies, 2013). For example, one of the surveys and ranking by the Guardian Newspaper had ranked Hoxton Hotel as the best in the UK for three consecutive years. The ranking by the Guardian Newspaper focused on the professionals from the creative industries such as Design, Computing, as well as Fashion. The constant growth and development of the hotel, which has since its foundation, led to its modern top ranking can be attributed to the enthusiastic, goal oriented and successful management body. For instance, the Ennismore Capital have a current plan of expansion, in which they aim at either local expansion within the UK, or internationally in the same hotel business, or through further diversification into related sectors. In order to facilitate proper decision making regarding the multi-million pound expansion idea by the Ennismore Capital, there is need for a strategic analysis of Hoxton Hotel, together with an examination and evaluation of the strategic choices that are open to it. This report details the required strategic analysis of the hotel, which constitutes the current strategic position of The Hoxton Hotel in terms of the external environment it faces. This is achieved through a PESTEL analysis, business trends and level of overall competitive rivalry in the hotel industry. It covers the internal analysis through a resource audit and core competency analysis for The Hoxton Hotel. The report advices the Board of Directors on the expansion idea through the application of Ansoff’s matrix, and proposes the organic method of growth. Current Strategic Position of the Hoxton Hotel Strategic business position refers to the process in which a business distinguishes its products and services from those of its competitors, and as such, identifies which market niche to occupy. Strategic positioning is one of the most vital benefits associated with proper business planning. The importance of proper business planning in developing an advantageous strategic position is vital, especially in the face advancing technology (Field, 2013). The Hoxton Hotel has overrecent years, acquired a leading position among the hotels found in the United Kingdom. The study by the Guardian newspaper relied on the nature of the products and services offered by the hotel, with major back-ups from the customer testimonials. The customer testimonials, among other sources of information contributed to the hotel’s leading rank ion offering meals and accommodation services. The strategic position of a business becomes contingent when it manifests its uniqueness in products and services offered, as well as its verifiable value (Vignali, 2014). In order to determine critical analysis of the current strategic position of The Hoxton Hotel in terms of the external environment, it is necessary to conduct a PESTEL analysis, and the current industry trends, in tandem with the overall competitive rivalry.The PESTEL AnalysisThe PESTEL analysis is a common framework in the United Kingdom, used to evaluate the external environment of different business. The framework consists of different factors affecting businesses, ranging from Political, Environmental, Social, Technological, Economic as well as the Legal aspects (Glykas, 2013). For instance, the political factors involve factors that determine the level of involvement by the UK government. The government may influence the operations of the business through an introduction of new tax policies. The business, upon compliance, experiences a new era in its revenue, which affects its competitive advantage. The governmentâ€℠¢s stability, press freedom policies, trade union regulations, consumer protection policies, as well as the level of corruption also defines a business’ external environment (Glykas, 2013). In addition to the political factors, economic factors also determine the overall performance of a nation’s economy, which bears a direct impact on the profitability of any business. For instance, inflation trends in the economy determine the pricing policy of hotel prices for their meals and accommodation services. Moreover, there are socio-economic factors, which involve the prevailing cultural and demographic trends on marketing. The technological aspect of the framework consider the level of innovations and their application in sales, marketing as well as delivery of goods and services within the business industry (Glykas, 2013). Similarly, the legal aspect of the PESTEL framework affects both the internal and external business environment, owing to the hotel’s effort to comply with the legal policies enacted in the UK. The legal factors work in tandem with environmental aspect of the PESTEL framework, since there are various environmental policies enacted and enforced through legal terms. The hotel has an obligation to conduct its business in such a way that it complies with environmental sustainability policies enacted in the UK. The table below outlines each of the factors in the PESTEL framework, and the effects of each factor on the current strategic position of the Hoxton Hotel. Factor Impact on Hoxton Hotel PoliticalThe UK government is currently getting involved in the hotel industry owing to the need to control security. The UK government is also making further restrictions into the issuance of licences for hotel operations. The Hoxton Hotel has a good business relationship with the UK government in tax payments, and through their ability to attract international markets EconomicThe hotel accommodates international guests and hosts international conferences, which are dependent on the individual economies of foreign countries. In some cases, the local markets do not supply adequate food, and the Hoxton Hotel imports beef and potatoes from other countries to meet the demands (Yang, Flynn & Anderson, 2014). Socio-culturalThe Hoxton Hotel enjoys a larger section of the UK population being of higher social class, who can afford the high prices offered for the meal and accommodation services provided. The Hotel also offers the modern amenities and innovative technologies such as the wireless network, which is a hot cake for the up-coming generation. It therefore means that the younger generation form a promising class of customers for the hotel (Lazzeroni et.al, 2013). TechnologicalTechnology has played a pivotal role in ensuring the competitive advantage for the Hoxton Hotel. This is because the hotel offers a wireless network in the rooms, which has acted an attractive feature for many customers (Yang, Flynn & Anderson, 2014). EnvironmentalThe hotel has a public responsibility to ensure a sustainable use of the environment. There are policies which have a legal binding for the hotel, especially regarding waste disposal and management (Brigade, 2014). LegalThe Hoxton Hotel complies with all the labour policies in the UK, as well as international standards by scheduling manageable workloads for its staff (Hoque, 2013. Key Industry Trends and Level of Overall Competitive Rivalry Having emerged as a leading hotel in the United Kingdom for three consecutive years implies major achievements for the Hoxton Hotel. There are many factors which contributed to the hotel’s competitive advantage (Hulbert, Gilmore & Carson, 2013). For instance, surveys have indicated that Hoxton Hotel is one of the most popular with relatively lower rates. Compared to other major hotels in the UK, Hoxton offers lower prices for high quality services for not only delicious meals, but also the comfortable accommodation rooms. The lowly charged rooms include some of the publicity-garnering ?1 per night, among other facilities that remain affordable to the customers. In the hotel industry, the location of the business forms a critical aspect of its usefulness to the intended clients. This is because the accessibility depends on how far or close the facility is located from other public utilities, such as roads, hospitals, as well as other sources of entertainment, including natural features (Porter & Shaw, 2013). Considering the location of Hoxton Hotel in the United Kingdom, the hotel remains highly competitive for its Shoreditch location. The presence of the Shoreditch around the hotel acts as a point of attraction to many clients, who according to surveys, have affirmed that they experience a double benefit when they visit the hotel. Their double reward is owing to the fact that their stay in the Hoxton Hotel gives them an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery at the hip Shoreditch. The room design is also another significant factor that is responsible for the high competitive advantage. According to the reviews done by most customers in Hoxton and other hotels, the room design is a central factor, which determines the customers’ choice to stay in a hotel. Based on this knowledge, Hoxton Hotel has properly designed, physically attractive and more appealing to most customers’ accommodation demands. Their appealing nature is associated with the fact they have relatively more luxury, than what most customers’ often expect. For instance, customers have free access to milk in the fridges, various options for a cold snack, and well balanced diet during breakfast. The rooms are supplied with a system of free wireless internet service. The customers who have laptops and other internet enabled devices have free access to the internet at an unlimited rate, for as long as they stay in Hoxton Hotel. Moreover, the hotel rooms have some of the most comfortable beds, with the bedding materials displaying high standards of hygiene. Customer reviews conclude that according to their assessment, they found no source of discomfort during their stay at the 4-star Hoxton (Ryan, 2013). These reviews from customers also recognise the high aesthetic value of the hotel environment, noting the 2VVV Golfs forming a snug at the Hoxton’s entrance. Despite the strong competitive rivalry from the other hotels in the UK, Hoxton banks on its less costly products and services, the beautiful scenery located around the hotel, among other luxurious services including the free wireless internet offered in the rooms to maintain itself at the top of competition (Ryan, 2 013). Internal Analysis through a Resource Audit and Core Competency Analysis In order to establish whether a business is strategically positioned to meet its objectives, it is a business requirement to conduct Internal Resource Audit (IRA), in which the management determines the available resources and how they can contribute to the achievement of the set goals of and objectives.Clean External and Internal EnvironmentsSince its foundation, the Hoxton Hotel has thrived on a good reputation for its cleanliness, both in the internal and the external environments. The high standards of hygiene that have formed the brand’s reputation have resulted into improved confidence among customers, who trust the safety of their meals as well. It is a common belief that clean environments have safe products for human consumption (Smith, 2013). This belief has been a primary motivating factor for even parents with younger children to use the facility for the available child friendly meal toys. Consequently, there has been a trend of increasing number of customers over the past years, which have led to an increase in revenue generation for the hotel.Safe FoodsHoxton Hotel has shown historical commitment to ensure that they serve safe meals and beverages to their customers (Smith, 2013). The process of ensuring safe foods and beverages at the hotel is a collaborative work between Hoxton and its suppliers, who take an active role in monitoring, tracking and testing different ingredients used in the production and processing of such food items (Smith, 2013). The food and beverage safety is a comprehensive process program in the hotel operations, that not only ensures food and beverage safety, but also all other promotional items. Based on critical analysis of the hotel’s safety standards, it is evident that Hoxton Hotel is in compliance with the government’s standards, and in some cases above them. The extra effort invested to ensure additional food safety is aimed at maximum consumer protection, as a core obligation of the business to the customers. Similarly, it is the responsibility of all the staff members to notify the relevant authorities in case of any safety issue, so as to maintain safe food as a resource (Smith, 2013). The rooms at the Hoxton Hotel are comparable to the mothership at the Shoreditch. The rooms designed to prioritise the customer’s comfort through adequate space. Just like stated in the above discussion, the rooms are among the most captivating facilities at Hoxton Hotel. With special designs to ensure customers’ comfort, they are spacious to permit free movement as necessary. In addition to the adequate space available, the rooms provide a refrigeration facility, which creates for storage of basic beverages and snacks (Smith, 2013). For instance, customers can always access the free milk provided in the fridge, other cold snacks as well as a variety of breakfast meals. Moreover, the rooms also incorporate an aspect of the modern technology, in which the management supply free internet connection to the customers through a wireless platform. Application of the Ansoff’s Matrix Based on their financial ability, the Ennismore Capital has ?100 million for the expansion idea. Considering the level of risk, it is important to acquire a deeper comprehension of the existing markets and the new markets, as well as the new products and new ones. In the UK for example, there are many expansion ideas, each with a varying level of risk, depending on whether the idea involves the introduction of new products or use the existing ones. Similarly, the levels of risk also depend on whether the expansion involves operations with the current market, or entry into a new market (Gianos, 2013). Hoxton Hotel has maintained a leading role in offering meals and accommodation services in the UK, and can boast of adequate knowledge in the sector. Furthermore, the business has involved the provision of one particular goods and services, during which the management has acquired all the basic and technical information required to run a successful business in the hotel industry. Having been located in the UK, the hotel also has a better understanding of the market structure and operations dynamics, including the requisite competitive advantage over their rival hotels within the region. Conclusion Based on the findings, it is evident that there is lower level of risk involved in an expansion idea, which involves opening new branches of the hotel, offering similar services in different parts of the country. On the other hand, there is higher level of risk involved in an expansion idea, in which the hotel has to penetrate new international markets, offering similar services, or introducing new products. Considering the Ennismore Capital’s concerns over the level of risks involved, it would be most appropriate for Hoxton Hotel to consider adopting a local expansion of the hotel offering similar services within the UK. While expanding the business within the UK, organic method of business growth would be the most appropriate. This is because the method involves minimum investment of external capital, since it relies on the existing business capital. Organic growth originates from the existing business, and has a higher chances of fast growth due to the fact Hoxton Hotel has ready market information and investment strategies. Summary of Recommendations The Hoxton Hotel has earned its place in the top ranking of hotels for offering satisfactory services to its clients during the course of the recent past. Plans of expansion by the management can be a source of its further advancement, or can lead to its decline in the hotel industry. In order to keep the business at a higher niche, it is important that the management consider a local expansion within the UK, by dealing in the same meals and accommodation services. This shall help in acquiring further stability and popularity in the native country, before further penetration into new markets across the borders. The Ennismore Capital should aim at minimum cost of the expansion, as a base of gaining a stronger investment base for a more advanced expansion in the future. This can be achieved through adoption of organic growth, which shall utilise the existing business resources such as ideas, market information and capital. References Agencies, I. H. S. (2013). Let’s Go London, Oxford, Cambridge & Edinburgh: The StudentTravel Guide. Avalon Travel. Brigade, L. F. (2014). London Fire Brigade-Incident Archive 12085. people. Field, C. D. (2013). The Allan Library: A Victorian Methodist Odyssey. Bulletin of the JohnRylands Library, 89(2), 69-105. Gianos, J. F. (2013). A Brief Introduction to Ansoffian Theory and the Optimal Strategic Performance-positioning Matrix on Small Business (OSPP). Journal of Management Research, 5(2), 107-118. Glykas, M. (2013). Fuzzy cognitive strategic maps in business process performance measurement. Expert Systems with Applications, 40(1), 1-14. Hoque, K. (2013). Human resource management in the hotel industry: Strategy, innovation and performance. London: Routledge. Hulbert, B., Gilmore, A., & Carson, D. (2013). Sources of opportunities used by growth mindedowner managers of small and medium sized enterprises. International Business Review,22(1), 293-303. . Lazzeroni, M., Bellini, N., Cortesi, G., & Loffredo, A. (2013). The territorial approach to culturaleconomy: New opportunities for the development of small towns. European PlanningStudies, 21(4), 452-472. Porter, L., & Shaw, K. (Eds.). (2013). Whose Urban Renaissance?: An international comparisonof urban regeneration strategies. London: Routledge. Ryan, N. (2013). Art and urban renewal: Public and private developments in Las Vegas. The Marketing Review, 13(3), 283-295. Smith, T. (2013). Hotel values in London 2012 and beyond. Journal of Building Survey,Appraisal & Valuation, 2(1), 44-49. Vignali, G. (2014). The mix map modelling approach: research application-a thought for the service industry. International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 12(1), 75-81. Yang, J., Flynn, J., & Anderson, K. (2014). E-business application in the hospitality industry: A case study. Communications of the IIMA, 3(1), 1.

Correlation Paper Essay

Correlation Correlations measure the relationship between two variables. Establishing correlations allows researchers to make predictions that increase the knowledge base. Different methods that establish correlations are used in different situations. Each method has advantages and disadvantages that provide researchers information that is used to understand, rank, and visually illustrate how variables are related. The Pearson’s, Spearman, Kendall Rank, and positive and negative correlation are methods used to establish a correlation between variables. The Pearson method is a simple linear correlation used or illustrate how strong of a relationship two variables have. The Spearman method ranks data by order or name and is often used because the equation is simpler than Pearson’s. The Kendall Rank method measures the strength of dependence between two sets of random variables. Depending on the use of the information will determine the best method for the research project. Each metho d has advantages and disadvantages. The research project and individual researcher weigh out the positive and negatives in order to determine the best method. It is agreed that the Pearson’s method is easy to understand and illustrates the strength of the correlation. A prominent disadvantage is there can be confusion because it may be assumed that correlation establishes causation. The Spearman advantage is it can rank order or name data in various ways, depending on the data collected. The disadvantage discussed is there may be a focus on ranking and not on the information that creates the rank. The positive and negative correlation method has the advantage that a lot of variables and situations can be used. Variables can be studied using this method that experiments cannot be conducted on. The clear disadvantage discussed is that no cause and effect relationship can be assumed. Another discussed disadvantage of this method is that it does not account for other variables th at may contribute to studied variables. Information reveals creating  correlations in research using the Pearson method would be useful in domestic violence because it is a method that is easy to understand. The Spearman method that ranks data was discussed to be useful in the area of ranking of comfort qualities provided by hospice and GPA or SAT rankings. The Kendal Rank method measures strengths of dependence between two sets of variables like GPA and job performance in the degree field. Discussion about reading proficiency in children was an example that would utilize the positive and negative method the best. As determined correlation determines the relationship between two variables and is used to make predictions in research. Each method has clear advantages and disadvantages, but it is agreed that the easier the method is to understand the more useful it is. One key point that causes confusion is the relationship between correlation and causation. It was determined that to avoid the error that a cause can be assumed based on a correlation attention must be paid to the specific method. Not every method is designed to illustrate cause and affect relationships. References Ling, R. F. (1982). Reviewed work (s): Correlation and Causation. by David A. Kenny Source: Journal of the American Statistical Association, Vol. 77, No. 378,(Jun., 1982), pp. 489-491 Published by: American Statistical Association. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 77(378), 489. Wright, S. (1921). Correlation and causation. Journal of agricultural research, 20(7), 557-585.

World’s Best Poem Essay

Adam Shefsky ENG 4UZ Ms. Eldridge Thursday, March 11, 2010 Sonnet 18 by  William Shakespeare Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer's lease hath all too short a date: Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimmed; And every fair from fair sometime declines, By chance or nature's changing course untrimmed; But thy eternal summer shall not fade, Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st; Nor shall death brag thou wander'st in his shade, When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st: So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee. Adam Shefsky ENG 4UZ Ms. Eldridge Thursday, March 11, 2010 The Real Shakespeare Essay / Analysis†¦okay maybe not an essay†¦ Poetry is a great way for a person to express what they are feeling, or what they feel about a certain subject through words. Following simple guidelines poets are able to create poetry that affects the way you may think about a certain topic or might have a strong emotional impact on you. Although there are many poems that can be considered great, only one can be the best. And that poem was written by William Shakespeare. It is titled Sonnet 18 and is a poem that centers on the feelings of love and admiration for a woman, by comparing the woman to nature’s beauty. As well as being well written and meaningful, this poem also earns its position as the world’s best poem by being one of the most well-known poems by Shakespeare, being quoted by many men trying to impress the women they are with. Sonnet 18 is also one of the rare poems that contain both sound devices and symbolism throughout each stanza. The use of both these poetic devices bring this poem together well, by having the rhythmic movement throughout the poem as well as having the symbolisms giving it a more creative and unique style. The sound devices that are found and used throughout the poem range from rhyming, alliteration, and repetition. As well as sound devices, Shakespeare used many symbolisms throughout the poem; Shakespeare used different examples of similes and metaphors, alternating between using the two throughout the stanzas. Not many poems contain both sound devices and symbolism, but when used together well you get a poem that is not only meaningful and interesting but also complex enough to keep the reader’s attention. A strong example of rhyming in this poem would be â€Å"So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee. † This couplet in Shakespeare’s poem differs from the rest as it differs from the rhyming meter that was used before it, which was an: a, b, a, b style pattern, and chooses to end the sonnet with a couplet. By doing this Shakespeare brings attention to these last two lines as the reader notices a change in the rhyming pattern before, this is used effectively as Shakespeare allows the reader to notice that the last two lines are important and ends the poem. In the first line of this sonnet we can find an example of alliteration being used to emphasize what Shakespeare is trying to emphasize in this line. â€Å"Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? † in which the words shall and summer stand out more as Adam Shefsky ENG 4UZ Ms. Eldridge Thursday, March 11, 2010 hey share a common beginning. By doing this Shakespeare is making it so that the reader can almost subconsciously know that these words are important to the meaning of the line. When reading through the poem it can be seen that right from the beginning of the poem alliterations are being used effectively to help Shakespeare say what he wants and create a steady flow through the poem. Another device that can be seen is repetition, which allows Shakespeare to effectively emphasize what is important in the sonnet. Seen here â€Å"Thou art more lovely and more temperate. easily seen but effectively used to not only help the poem keep its rhythm but to show the importance of this line, by showing how he really feels about the subject. â€Å"Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? † opens the poem, letting the reader know that this poem has some emotional feeling as the simile to compare the subject of the poem to what Shakespeare believes represents something of perfection. The line â€Å"But thy eternal summer shall not fade† is Shakespeare using a metaphor to describe how the subject’s perfection and beauty will always be perfect. The use of all these devices and symbolisms are what help make this poem the best in the world. By using each of the symbolisms and devices, Shakespeare creates a very well written and perfectly structured poem. The devices and symbolisms work together using each other to help keep the poem moving and stay interesting, and help get the point of the poem across more subtle. The fact that this poem contains a lot of creative uses of sound devices and symbolism as well as how popular this particular sonnet is so popular and well-known are what make this poem my choice as the best.

Cultural geography has changed my view of the world Essay

Cultural geography has changed my view of the world - Essay Example nd that the main reason for the growth of the international business in the global economy from the 20th century is due to transport and communication improvements brought about by globalization. This explains the increased business relations of between various countries across the globe. The economic and cultural interdependence seen in the world is also because of globalization. It has also enabled me to understand the aspect of westernized world and why it has been influential across the globe. It has helped me understand that the process of westernization joins the western influences and interests with parts of those countries that are affected. These affected countries or communities are often trying their best to understand and change towards the westernized society in search of the western life or some of its aspects. Cultural geography has also helped me understand that there are three categories of landscapes ranging from those built by humans, others that have evolved organically, and others that are associative or valued due to religion, art, or cultural dimensions. Initially, I thought globalization had done the world more harm than good due to the economic hardships witnessed in some countries. These economic hardships resulted into increased difference between the rich and the poor. However, globalization, according to cultural geography has enhanced increased the levels of communication and transportation thus increasing the levels of international business in the global economy (Ritzer, 2010). Moreover, I had the notion that western countries are less affected in the aspect of westernization of non-western countries. However, such western countries adopt various changes either cultural or psychological in the event of establishing contacts with various other groups in non-western groups in the globe. They adopt changes, which are in line with their lifestyles, physical appearances and other aspects and shifts in the cultural patterns. Moreover, I

Protection of Journalistic Sources Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Protection of Journalistic Sources - Essay Example There is multitude of such cases in which the freedom of media has had been violated. Keeping in view such instances, it may easily be concluded that the prevailing laws have some flaws which have to be rectified in order to make the media more secure and free to perform its real ‘watchdog’ role and deliver the information to the public without any legal hindrances. There should be clarity in the laws which may not lead judges or the defence lawyers to interpret these laws wrongly. As, in the eye of law, both the accused and the common man have equal rights, so their rights may not clash with each other. If the fair trial is the fundamental right of the accused, it is also a right of the common man to know the factual position if there is public interest involved in the case. And it is, also the ethical obligation of the journalists to safeguard their sources so they may obtain information. Hence there is a need to make laws keeping in view these aspects.

Financial Statement Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Financial Statement Analysis - Essay Example The companies selected for this by this essay for this analysis are the Nishat Mills Limited and the Crescent Textile Mills Limited. The incorporation of Crescent Textile Mills Limited as a public limited company was done in 1950 in Pakistan under the Companies Act of 1913. It is headquartered in Sargodha Road, Faisalabad. Its business is to textile manufacturing and includes spinning, combing, dyeing, bleaching, printing, weaving, stitching, selling buying, and otherwise dealing in cloth, yarn and other products and fabrics made from raw cotton as well as synthetic fibers (The Financial Times Ltd, 2015). In addition, it generates, accumulates, distributes, supplies and sells electricity. The Crescent Textile Mills Limited also operates a cold storage unit (Crescent Textile Mills Limited, 2013, p. 37). As a publicly listed company, Nishat Mills Limited was also incorporated in Pakistan in 1959 under the Companies Act of 1913 (Nishat Mills Ltd, 2013, p. 54). It is a vertically integrated company and just like Crescent Textile Mills Limited, its business involves textile manufacturing, spinning, combing, weaving, dyeing, printing, stitching, bleaching, apparel, buying, selling, dealing in yarn, cloth, linen, and other products and fabrics made from synthetic fiber and raw cotton. It also generates, accumulates, distributes, supplies and sells electricity (The Financial Times Ltd, 2015). Trend analysis is done by conducting horizontal and vertical analysis. The horizontal analysis is performed to focus on the trends or changes in financial statement items. The management and other users of financial information can see the relative changes over time in terms of positive and perhaps troubling trends (Putra, 2009). In performing this analysis, absolute amount as well as percentages is used to compare financial statements over several time periods

Micro economic analysis-Bosley's by pet value Essay

Micro economic analysis-Bosley's by pet value - Essay Example The Company is driven by a commitment towards its client that basically involves a guaranteed satisfaction among its clients; with an agreement to refund clients in case they fell they are not properly served (www.bosleys.com). Additionally, Bosley by Pet Value is driven by the commitment to develop and maintain a good rapport with its clients, through creating a pleasant environment for clients as they shop. On the other hand, the company is driven by the philosophy based on the belief that good nutrition is the foundation for healthy and happy animals. In this regard, the company has employed experts on animal nutrition to ensure that animals are provided with best premium brand food, thus healthy life (www.bosleys.com). The success of this retail company over the last three decades can be attributed to a number of operational strategies that is has employed overtime. These operational strategies have enhanced its competitive advantage over the last three decades, thus making it one of the largest retails in British Columbia (www.bosleys.com). The operational strategies do not only focus on provision of high quality pet food products, but also extends towards the provision appropriate prices. The company has employed the following pricing strategies: This is a pricing strategy that was recently introduced by the company. Specifically, the company has introduced this pricing concept in Vancouver as well as in all the retail shops in British Columbia. This strategy involves the provision of flyer saving and special offers after a client has purchased a product. Basically, the flyers indicate goods and services that are offered at discounted prices and the special offers that are currently provided by the company. The company has also employed the concept of special promotion as a strategy for pricing its products. Basically, special promotions involve providing clients with

Botox Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Botox - Case Study Example Botox is derived from the botulin poison and used to paralyze the nerves and thus movement in certain parts of the face, particularly around the eyes, forehead, mouth, and nose, creating an appearance that is free of the age associated wrinkles. This treatment is considered a luxury purchase in Canada and worldwide, though is reasonably priced at around $2000 for a 3-6 month treatment on average. Because of this, the proposed marketing plan will address the ways to increase sales primarily in the luxury market, while also recognizing that Botox may become useful in the treatment of other diseases, such as migraines, chronic pain disorders, or nerve issues. Allergan states that Botox has â€Å"has virtually changed the face of medical aesthetics† and the widest application of this pharmaceutical is in cosmetic related procedures that are non-surgical and relatively quick for the patient to receive. (Allergen, 2011) Nevertheless, there may be competitors or legislative decisions that adversely affect the Botox market, such as taxation in the United States that would target Botox treatments and other types of cosmetic surgery with a type of luxury tax. As this is not expected to pass in Canada in the foreseeable future, the wider issue would be the assumption of medical coverage for Botox treatments popularly. There is increasing use of Botox in Canadian hospitals covered under national healthcare plans that include the use of Botox as a treatment for migraines, but there is little coverage under these plans for cosmetic procedures. Because of this, Allergan should pursue a sales and marketing plan for Botox in Canada that targets the medical uses of the drug to the hospital and private practitioner community while providing additional literature on the cosmetic use of Botox to all practicing cosmetic surgeons in the country. The next section will examine the existing corporate strategy of Allergan to see how it can be supplemented or improved for Canada. A llergan It is clear that Allergan CEO David Pyott’s plan for Botox has been widely successful, and the company is already pursuing a dual marketing plan of providing the background information on the medical uses of Botox to doctors in hospitals and private practice in Canada, while building log term relationships with cosmetic surgeons and dermatologists who specialize in the procedure. The advertising of Botox in the professional class is largely established through word of mouth and the becoming of â€Å"Botox† a publicly recognized term, like â€Å"aspirin†. This success in building the brand identity can be considered the highest accomplishment of Allergan’s existing marketing campaign, and this brand identity will fuel future organic growth in Canada. Strengths The strengths of the Botox product is its cosmetic use, though increasingly the medical significance of Botox in migraine and nerve pain instances points to a large and growing market share. Because there are few existent competitors for this product, and because it gives professionals an advantage in an appearance oriented career such as acting, modeling, publicity, etc., the procedure itself can often be justified as a business related cost or investment. This aspect is also related to the inevitable fact of old age and the need of society to worship the

Conflict Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Conflict - Essay Example The director ought to have communicated to the nurses on the sweeping changes so as to obtain their concerns or contribution. An example of a factor that can cause conflict is the adjustment of work hours or process. Also, Nurses who have vast experience in the department may feel isolated or unappreciated and hence the hostility. Experience is important when making changes to treatment plans, and career development aspects such as promotion. Despite the imminent threat of conflict, nurse leaders can devise methods to avert it. Conflict can be managed through compromise (American Sentinel University, 2011). A nurse leader ought to analyze the motive and the impact of such reorganization. If the actions consider the interest of patients and the nurses, then a compromise can be reached in which all nurses adapt to the changes. If the changes violate the interest of nurses, a nurse leader can take a collaborative approach and engage the director in finding common ground. In this approach, the director ought to cede ground on issues that violate the interest of nurses, and nurses to allow several vital changes in the department. American Sentinel University. (2011, July 27). The Five Styles of Managing Conflict Resolution for Nursing. Retrieved  June  30, 2015, from

The thrill of reading Essay Example for Free

The thrill of reading Essay Education is an important asset to any one’s life and should be available to every one of all ages. Certain levels of education should be available to people of different levels and should be easily accessible. We need a basic form of education in our everyday lives. If we did not learn simple arithmetic such as how to count or if we did not learn how to read, we would suffer in the real word. If we bought something, people could rob us of our change simply because we cannot count. We would not be able to learn if we cannot read. We would rely on pictures to describe things for us and to convey the message to us. We would lose the thrill of reading. All these basic skills are taught in primary school and everyone should have access to primary school education. It is essential that everyone goes to school and if money is what is stopping them, then the government needs to make a plan to help correct that. Primary education should be made free as it allows people to develop their brains and gain a basic knowledge of the world. The government should provide institutions which learners can attend to be educated which they currently do and they are called government schools. These schools should be subsidised by the government for people who really can’t afford school fees. If people have enough money and choose to attend a private learning institution and have to pay school fees, they should do that at their own will. School should be made compulsory from age six when children are able to understand and grasp concepts more easily until about the age of sixteen where they will have a broad knowledge of the world and can decide whether they want to further their studies in a more specialised way. The quality of learning should be of a good quality at all levels of education. Secondary education expands on the knowledge that learners have received from primary school. It is still a broad range of knowledge but more important knowledge is given to learners especially in terms of career choice paths. It should be free or subsidised by the government for people who are really underprivileged or who really can’t afford school fees. School gives children a basic knowledge in problem solving skills that they may need in their everyday lives. Secondary education is compulsory up until grade 9 since grade 10 is when learners choose specific subjects which they feel may help them later on in life or in the career they are interested in. School should be compulsory till the end of matric. It would keep young people off the street and they would be doing something constructive such as improving their education. Nobody wants to hire a sixteen-year-old which is the age you are allowed to leave school at. Those sixteen-year-olds end up jobless, sitting at home or can become involved in gangs or drugs. Instead of wasting their time, they should rather attend school. They choose not to go to school because they are lazy and need that push to make them do something. They stand a much better chance of getting a job with a matric certificate. Finishing school up until matric level also allows you to explore new areas in your life and so that you can help find yourself, your talents and your interests.

Neuroticism as a Predictor for Smoking

Neuroticism as a Predictor for Smoking Abstract To modern people, stress is a common obstacle that they face every day. Neurotic symptoms and smoking, which are the two typical symptoms of stress, might have a significant connection (Eysenck, 1965). In this research, we examined whether one’s neuroticism scale has significant relationship with one’s smoking behaviour. Furthermore, gender differences in both smoking habits and neuroticism scale have been analysed. A random sample of 64 female and male participants (Mage = 22.36 years) living in Selly Oak, Birmingham took part in this research. Statistical analyses from completed questionnaires demonstrated the relationship to be non-significant in neuroticism and smoking and gender differences in both smoking and neuroticism. To future research, neuroticism, a categorization of smokers by related features, might enable attempts at smoking cessation. Neuroticism as a Predictor of Cigarette Smoking  and Individual differences in Smoking: Gender To modern eyes, it may seem that their daily life is a fight against stress. Stress from work, school, relationship to social life, has been causing great influence on health of modern people negatively. Symptoms of stress not only include physical symptoms such as fatigue or insomnia, but also emotional and behavioural symptoms. Nervousness, a neurotic symptom, and smoking are the typical examples. Although stress is the main cause of all the diseases, symptoms themselves, neurotic symptoms and smoking, may have a significant association (Eysenck, 1965). By this time, numerous studies have been published related to this hypothesis with various results. Some studies examined that there was no evidence that the neurotic grade was related to the amount smoked (Waters, 1971), however, others stated that smoking behaviours are correlated with state anxiety and neuroticism (Herrà ¡n, 2000). In this paper, to replicate Water’s (1971) study towards smoking and neuroticism, we collected results which included standard questions on smoking behaviours, and also questions about their personality trait based on Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) from random female and male samples. Furthermore, gender differences in both smoking habits and neuroticism scale have been analysed. Method Sample Description A random sample of 64 female and male participants (age range from 18 to 52, Mage = 22.36 years) living in Selly Oak, Birmingham took part in this research. Completed questionnaire included questions on their current smoking habits, personality traits, and gender; age for demographic. Assessment Smoking Habits In smoking habits questionnaire, after the instruction, specifying age and gender was followed by three options in current smoking behaviour. The three options were – A) I have smoked a Cigarette within the past week, B) I previously smoked cigarette, but not within the past 6 months, and C) I have never smoked a Cigarette. Personality Factor: Neuroticism Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) was used in this study to assess the personality traits of the participant, with the result referred to as the Eysenck’s Personality Inventory (EPI) (1968). Statistical Analyses All analyses were performed using a Pearson Chi-square in order to identify whether there is an association between two categorical variables in each hypothesis. Results As their questionnaire results, participants were divided into three groups in their smoking status, two groups in gender, and three groups in neuroticism. First, participants who chose ‘Never smoked’ (n =27, 42.2%) option, had not smoked for their entire lifetime, participants who chose ‘Previously smoked’ (n=15, 23.4%) had not smoked within the past 6 months, and lastly participants who chose ‘Current smoking’ (n=22, 34.4%) were those who had smoked within the past week. Next, 34 female (Mage = 21 years) and 30 male (Mage = 23 years) participants were in each gender group. Third, in EPQ, we only coded twelve questions (number 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 30, 34, 38, 42, 46 in Eysenck (1975)) which refer to neuroticism/stability scale out of total 48 yes/no questions. The neurotic grade (0 to 12) given in this paper is the sum of the affirmative replies to these questions. Three divided groups calculated by neurotic grades were ‘Low (0-4)’ (n=15, 23.4%), ‘Medium (5-8)’ (n=27, 42.2%), and ‘High (9-12)’ (n=22, 34.4%). Table 1. Smoking habits and neuroticism scale Neuroticism Scale n Smoking Status: % of n Never Previous Current Low (0-4) 15 37.0 26.7 4.5 Medium (5-8) 27 33.3 53.3 45.5 High (9-12) 22 29.6 20.0 50.0 Total 64 42.2 23.4 34.4 χ ² = .9188 (df =4), p = .057 Neuroticism as a Predictor of Cigarette Smoking Results of cigarette smoking behaviour, with neuroticism as the independent variable and the indicator variable (smoking habits) as dependent variable revealed that neuroticism was not significantly associated with whether the participants are never, previous, or current smoker as shown in Table 1. To be specific, according to Table 1, 37 % within smoking (Cigarette) behaviour, never smoker, of the participants showed ‘Low’ in neuroticism scale, whereas 53.3 % within smoking (Cigarette) behaviour, previous smoker, of the participants showed ‘Medium’ in neuroticism scale which had a slight difference towards the percentage within smoking (Cigarette) behaviour, current smoker, of the participants showed ‘High’(50 %), which if the former had a smaller percentage than the latter, smoking would have a direct proportional to neuroticism scale. Moreover, the results of the chi-square also showed no significant association between neuroticism scale and current smoking status (χ ² (4) = .9188, p = .057). Individual differences in Smoking: Gender Among the participants, more women were never smokers (15.6% men versus 26.6% women), whereas more men were current smokers (21.9% men versus 12.5% women). Gender differences among the previous smokers were small compared to other two groups (9.4% men versus 14.1% women). The differences were insignificant, showing that the association between gender and smoking habits is statistically non-significant (χ ² (2) = 3.816, p = .148) Gender differences in Neuroticism Although, more women scored ‘High’ on neuroticism scale than men (41.2% women versus 26.7% men; percentage within Gender), more men scored ‘Low’ and ‘Medium’ on neuroticism scale than women (26.7% men versus 20.6% women and 46.7% men versus 38.2% women; percentage within Gender). Neuroticism analysis by gender showed the relationship to be insignificant (χ ² (2) = 1.496, p = .473). Discussion In the current research, statistical analyses from completed questionnaires demonstrated the relationship to be non-significant in neuroticism and smoking and gender differences in both smoking and neuroticism. The present finding, that there is an insignificant correlation between the neurotic grade and one’s smoking behaviour, is in the same line with the conclusions of Water (1971), however, is in strife with the conclusions of Eastwood and Trevelyan (1971). Our results may have been affected by our lack of participants. The present data are based on a random 64 people on a voluntary basis of rather smaller numbers and with a narrow age range. Also, in our smoking questionnaire, there was a gap between the second option, previous smoker who had not smoke within the last 6 months, and the third option, current smoker, who had smoke within the past week. Participants who had smoke within the span of less than 6 months and more than the past week were included as previous smokers. However, the limitation toward non-delicate smoking habit questionnaire is minor because according to other studies, the options in smoking habits were more not sophisticated; non-smokers and smokers (Terra cciano, 2004). Result of neurotic grade and smoking habits had a minor difference to significant relationship; neuroticism scale seemed to vary in direct proportion to the participants’ current smoking status, therefore, various age range and sufficient number of participants are the factors that might have influenced the results to significant connection. To further research, neuroticism, a categorization of smokers by related features, might enable attempts at smoking cessation to be specific for each individual. The use of index of neuroticism might be value in assessing the effectiveness of different methods of preventing smoking and seems worth further investigation. To summarize, a standard questionnaires were completed by 64 individuals selected at random, asked about smoking habits and included questions from which a grade for neuroticism was obtained. The result demonstrated that, there is no evidence that the smokers are more neurotic than non-smokers, and there was no statistically significance between gender differences in both smoking habits and neuroticism scale. Reference Gorman, 1968 B. Gorman Social desirability factors and the Eysenck Personality Inventory Journal of Psychology, 69 (1968), pp. 75–83