Tuesday, November 5, 2019

How to Find the Volume in a Test Tube

How to Find the Volume in a Test Tube Finding the volume of a test tube or NMR tube is a common chemistry calculation, both in the lab for practical reasons and in the classroom to learn how to convert units and report significant figures. Here are three ways to find the volume. Calculate Density Using Volume of a Cylinder A typical test tube has a rounded bottom, but NMR tubes and certain other test tubes have a flat bottom, so the volume contained in them is a cylinder. You can get a reasonably accurate measure of volume by measuring the internal diameter of the tube and the height of the liquid. The best way to measure the diameter of a test tube is to measure the widest distance between the inside glass or plastic surfaces. If you measure all the way from edge to edge, youll include the test tube itself in your measurements, which isnt correct.Measure the volume of the sample from where it starts at the bottom of the tube to the base of the meniscus (for liquids) or the top layer of the sample. Dont measure the test tube from the bottom of the base to where it ends. Use the formula for the volume of a cylinder to perform the calculation: V Ï€r2h where V is volume, Ï€ is pi (about 3.14 or 3.14159), r is the radius of the cylinder and h is the height of the sample The diameter (which you measured) is twice the radius (or radius is one-half diameter), so the equation may be rewritten: V Ï€(1/2 d)2h where d is diameter Example Volume Calculation Lets say you measure an NMR tube and find the diameter to be 18.1 mm and height to be 3.24 cm. Calculate the volume. Report your answer to the nearest 0.1 ml. First, youll want to convert the units so theyre the same. Please use cm as your units, because a cubic centimeter is a milliliter! This will save you trouble when it comes time to report your volume. There are 10 mm in 1 cm, so to convert 18.1 mm into cm: diameter (18.1 mm) x (1 cm/10 mm) [note how the mm cancels out]diameter 1.81 cm Now, plug in the values into the volume equation: V Ï€(1/2 d)2hV (3.14)(1.81 cm/ 2)2(3.12 cm)V 8.024 cm3 [from the calculator] Because there is 1 ml in 1 cubic centimeter: V 8.024 ml But, this is unrealistic precision, given your measurements. If you report the value to the nearest 0.1 ml, the answer is: V 8.0 ml Find the Volume of a Test Tube Using Density If you know the composition of the contents of the test tube, you can look up its density to find the volume. Remember, density equal mass per unit volume. Get the mass of the empty test tube. Get the mass of the test tube plus the sample. The mass of the sample is: mass (mass of filled test tube) – (mass of empty test tube) Now, use the density of the sample to find its volume. Make sure the units of density are the same as those of the mass and volume you want to report. You may need to convert units. density (mass of sample) / (volume of sample) Rearranging the equation: Volume Density x Mass Expect error in this calculation from your mass measurements and from any difference between the reported density and the actual density. This usually happens if your sample isnt pure or the temperature is different from the one used for the density measurement. Finding the Volume of a Test Tube Using a Graduated Cylinder Notice a normal test tube has a rounded bottom. This means using the formula for the  volume of a cylinder will produce an error in your calculation. Also, its tricky trying to measure the internal diameter of the tube. The best way to find the volume of the test tube is to transfer the liquid to a clean graduated cylinder to take a reading. Note there will be some error in this measurement, too. A small volume of liquid may be left behind in the test tube during transfer to the graduated cylinder. Almost certainly, some of the sample will remain in the graduated cylinder when you transfer it back to the test tube. Take this into account. Combining Formulas to Get Volume Yet another method to get the volume of a rounded test tube is to combine the volume of a cylinder with half the volume of the sphere (the hemisphere that is the rounded bottom). Be aware that the thickness of the glass at the bottom of the tube may be different from that of the walls, so there is an inherent error in this calculation.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

IKEA's Globalization Strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

IKEA's Globalization Strategies - Essay Example IKEA emerged as the brainchild of Ingvar Kamprad who through his business acumen gradually made the company emerge as the global leader in furniture retailing. Moreover Ingvar started developing on some key strategies pertaining to designing the products, assembling the final merchandise and reaching out to the different showrooms located along various areas. Further the furniture retailer also works in the development of different catalogues which helps in enhancing the shopping experience of the consumers. However amidst these strategies the company further dreamt of marching to gain control of international markets. In this foray IKEA first focused on gaining control of several European markets. The European markets were attempted in the first case for the company being Swedish in nature happened to share the like cultural mix with the European nations. Thus the attempt to gain the views of the consumers gained success in the first attempt. However when the same expansion strategy was carried out in regards to the Asian markets the strategy countered a huge challenge. It was found that Asiatic countries like China and Japan shared several cultural differences which were needed to be addressed first to let gain an effective international base in these nations. In countries like China IKEA had to render great amount of transformation in its policies pertaining to human resources and marketing activities. These policy changes helped the company in gaining large market share in China. Similarly in country like Japan the company in order to gain a larger market share had to adapt to a new culture of changing the pricing structure of its products. The company had to reduce the... Countries like China and Japan are analyzed in the paper to provide a detailed understanding of the nature of challenges faced by the company and strategic actions taken thereby to counter such. Strategic tools are incorporated in the paper like Ansoff and BCG Matrix to reflect on the internationalization activities of the company. Moreover the marketing mix elements of the company relating to its production, pricing, distribution and promotional activities are also analyzed to understand its business potential in gaining larger markets. Similarly the two countries China and Japan are analyzed on the basis of factor analysis pertaining to political, economic, social and cultural, technological, environmental and legal factors to understand its impacts on the activities of the business organization to gain potential markets. The paper in turn signifies the main problem areas which needed to be effectively tackled by the company in regards to seeking an effective market in the Asian co untries. IKEA is found to have largely adapted to the changing cultural needs of the Asian countries through rendering changes in the business policies pertaining to production, packaging and pricing actions. Such initiatives were taken by the company to help render quality goods to the consumers at affordable prices. This practice helped the company penetrate larger market areas. Local warehouses were also designed to help in reduction of logistics and transportation cost which again helped in protecting the natural environment. All such practices helped IKEA gain a formidable position in the Asian markets.

Friday, November 1, 2019

English Composition Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

English Composition - Coursework Example On the other, human memory differs from computer memory. The computer memory requires hardware and software in order for information processing to take place. Human memory does not require any hardware or software. The computer memory stores information in a hard disk which can be affected by virus and have all information corrupted. The human brain is not affected, and it is difficulty to have the information stored in the human brain erased (Ullman, 2003). From the ideas generated from different texts and construction of outlines, it is simple to write a standard thesis. I will utilise the use of different information from different authors to come up with constructive ideas about the problem of study (Gundersheimer, 2011). I will also use the texts to contract a literature review which will help readers to understand other author’s ideas about the problem or study. From the material research, I will emerge with a conclusion of the thesis (Turkle,

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Choose one topic from the five questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Choose one topic from the five questions - Essay Example In addition, citizens in areas of China that were especially vulnerable to droughts and famine would have access to food in times of distress (De Barry and Bloom 623-624; Lecture Notes). Ever-Normal-Granaries in Practice The earliest regulatory framework implemented for the Ever-Normal-Granaries under the imperial government, required the construction of state storage facilities in each county. The granaries were under the management of local authorities. Storage capacity and grain actually stored were commensurate with population sizes. For example, a heavily populated county would store more bushels of grain than a county with a relatively smaller population. At the end of the fall harvest, grain could be purchased in counties where the price of grain was lower and therefore supplies were higher. In order to safeguard against the natural destruction of the grain, a predetermined amount of grain was put on the market at a lower price and subsequently replaced (De Barry and Bloom 624 ; Lecture Notes). In regions where agriculture was by far the most important and perhaps the only source of food and economics, additional measures were taken. Grain was used to subsidize loans to peasant farmers who experienced a shortage in food and grain seeds (De Barry and Bloom 624-625; Lecture Notes). In other words, the collateral for a loan was the promise by the debtor of a specific quota in grain production at some time in the future. To this end, the Ever-Normal-Granaries in practice, was a system intended to keep the masses in food supply as a means of providing an incentive and a relief fund, for the production of grain. A charitable granary was also established pursuant to the Zhu Xi’s Neo-Confucian philosophy (De Barry and Bloom 748). This neo-Confucian philosophy emphasized the duty of the wealthy to contribute toward the welfare of the poor and was thus a strategy for the alleviation of poverty. During good harvest times, all cities were required to set up ch aritable granaries. Farmers were expected to make contributions of rice and wheat commensurate with their crop and store the rice and wheat in the charitable granary. City officials were responsible for collecting the grain donations and in lean times were required to make the grain available to those who needed it the most, but could not afford to pay for it (De Barry and Bloom 748). The Logic of the Ever-Normal-Granaries According to De Barry and Bloom, the Ever-Normal-Granaries was designed to ensure the fair distribution of the country’s food supplies (624). For example, if a county with approximately 10,000 families had 1,000 bushels of grain stored and put those stored grains to market when prices increased, the price of grain would become stabilized. Logically, when grain prices are stable, there is enough grain for everyone. As De Barry and Bloom explain: There is no hoarding of grain by some while others beg for food, no pursuing and pressing by the headman of the vi llage to make people pay back their loans (624). The logic of the Ever-Normal-Granaries was not merely informed by the need to alleviate poverty. The logic of the Ever-Normal-Granaries was also informed by moral reasoning. According to Mencius, one of the first important Confucius followers, the youth tended to behave themselves during the good years and were more inclined

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Customer Service and Organisational Effectiveness

Customer Service and Organisational Effectiveness Customer Service and Organisational Effectiveness BROWN THOMAS GROUP Brief background and how competitive the market place is: Brown Thomas is a luxury lifestyle store which has stores located in Dublin, Cork, Galway Limerick. It is home to an unparalled range of Irish International Designer Brands for women, men, children homewares, accessories beauty products all sourced worldwide. Established in 1849 by haberdashers drapers Hugh Brown and James Thomas. In 1919 it was bought over by Harry Gordon, Selfridges who operated it as part of the Selfridge chain. It was in the 1960s when the company went public on the Irish Stock Exchange and it was then that Galen Weston bought shares in the company. In 1983 Weston bought the remaining shares and it was then Brown Thomas was born and became a private entity. Whilst the industry they are involved in is a very volatile one, Brown Thomas have positioned themselves at the top of the market place, with an ever increasing sales port-folio whilst offering a five-star customer service to their customers worldwide. A store that is listed among the best in the world, yet remains quintessentially Irish and unique.   Ã‚   Target Market Brown Thomas pride themselves on being customer focused offering a wonderful shopping experience displaying their beautiful items sourced from all over the world, they are unrivalled with customer service. From the minute a customer steps into one of their stores they will be treated with a superb customer experience as this forms part of their Mission Statement delivering on a five-star service to their much valued customer. There is an on-line shopping experience called Click Collect which delivers on their flawless services for their customers who cannot access their stores. They also have rolled out a Loyalty Card (See Appendix A attch) service to their customers, giving something back to them with every euro spent within a store, points will be stored on their cards which are redeemable against any item within their stores. There are two types of cards, Black and Platinum with their Platinum cardholders spending over à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬5,000 a year. On your Birthday you earn triple points for that week. You will be the first to hear about in-store promotions, receive invitations to events, previews and fashion shows. Along with the Loyalty Card Brown Thomas have introduced their own MasterCard (See Appendix B attch) which has an encore rewards system where you will receive certain rewards and if you have both cards its doubly rewarding! How the organisation presents itself to customers versus the customers experience Advertising As the group have to be constantly ahead of their competitors, the power of advertising is very advantageous. They would constantly keep their customers abreast of any in-house promotions, new stock arriving by sending out circulars and also reaching out to their customer base by texts and emails. Also they hold a numerous amount of fashion shows for new season stock inviting their customers to come along and visually enjoy what the shop is offering. They are involved with many charities and run fashion shows in conjunction with these in order to raise much needed funds. Also when they go into their end of season sales they advertise both in the national newspapers, TV and radio alerting their customers of their sale Premises Their premises located in Dublin, Cork, Galway Limerick have all been refurbished to a very high standard offering luxury surroundings to their customer. They have restaurants, coffee shops and toilet baby-changing facilities. There are also disabled bathrooms which which are all located on their ground floors. Also each store has a professional shopper who has their own rooms where a customer can be brought to in private and will be assisted in their shopping requirements whilst being relaxed in a beautiful environment. All stores are fitted with high technical security systems along with a state of the art fire emergency system installed, thus ensuring their staff and customers of a safe environment. Products or services They offer a wide range of Irish International designer luxury goods sourced worldwide including womenswear, menswear, childrens wear, accessories, beauty products and homewares, delivering on quality, range and price. An online shopping service has also been rolled out to their customers with convenient collection point. Competitive discount rates are also offered. Complimentary luxury gift-wrapping in stores or delivered to your door. Personal Shoppers have been employed in each store in order to assist customers in selecting the right product whilst taking the stress out of shopping for the customer. How employees interact with the customer, each other and management Employees are trained to deliver a fist class customer service to their customer from the minute they enter their store until they complete their shopping and leave. As there is ongoing customer service, team building in-house days that all employees have to complete, interact very positively which creates a very friendly and uplifting working environment. Management also participate in these courses thereby ensuring the ethos of the organisation permeates through from Management to floor staff. Personal Dress/Uniform/Hygiene/Care Because of the business they are involved in, staff care and hygiene is of the uttermost importance. It is vital that they are well dressed and groomed with particular attention to hair and nails as they are the front people who meet the customers. Staff there would wear black for their uniform and this is the general dress code throughout their stores. Staff also wear a name badge to identify themselves as part of their uniform. The Potential positive and the potential negative impact Potential Positive impact on consumers Potential Negative impact on consumers Uplifting Shopping Experience Price point too high Receiving a five star customer service Poor car parking facilities Kept abreast of fashion trends Some Departments   not clearly marked Disability and Diversity Brown Thomas caters for all age groups from the elderly to young babies and also people with disabilities. They cater for wheelchair accessibility with double doors that can be opened if needs be and Disabled bathrooms are situated on all ground floors in all stores along with spacious lifts to allow disabled shoppers to move freely throughout their stores in order to shop. Customer Service and Organisational Effectiveness ARDLEA MEDICAL CENTRE ENNIS Brief Background and how competitive the market place is: This practice was established in 1999. It is located at 79 OConnell Street, Ennis, Co. Clare. The practice is owner occupied by Dr. John MacCarthy, MB Bch NUI MICGP and his wife who is the practising nurse Eleanor Quill. There are two administration/reception staff, Marie and Mona. This is a paperless office where all your details are registered on a computer and all consultations are registered on your computer file. This surgery is located at the end of OConnell Street in Ennis where there is little competition as most of the other GP practices in Ennis at the other side of the town. Target Market Ardlea Medical Centre has its panel of GMS (medical card holders) patients along with private patients. How the organisation presents itself to customers versus the customers experience: Advertising Due to the nature of this business there is little need to advertise for new patients. In fact, it seems to be the direct opposite in that their list is full. Premises These premises which have been newly refurbished and it is very cutting edge. It consists of an entrance hall which houses the reception area which is cordoned off by glass. There are two toilets, one located on the ground floor and the other is on the first floor. On the ground floor is a beautiful waiting room which hosts a full wall photo image of the woods in Dromoland Castle. The nurses treatment room is also located on the ground floor. Dr MacCarthy also has a treatment room on the ground floor with two more on the first floor. Services available At Ardlea Medical Centre, they offer a wide range of services to patients in addition to consultations for general medical queries, routine follow-up and ongoing medical problems. The following are services that are offered to patients under the GMS scheme including the Under Age 6 scheme and Over Age 70 scheme. The following are the services that the centre offers: Blood Pressure Monitoring Cryotherapy Cervical Smear testing (See Appendix A attch) Travel Health advise and screening Ante-Natal Care (See Appendix B attch) Child Immunisation Dietary Advice Smoking Cessation Diabetes Clinic How the employees interact with the customer, each other and management The Ardlea Medical Centre whilst a very busy practice is also a very inviting atmosphere with the most welcoming reception staff who go above the call of duty in order to facilitate with appointments or for an urgent appointment if needs be. Both the Doctor and the Nurse act with equal professionalism, discression and their medical knowledge would make any patient feel very confident to be under their care. Personal Dress/Uniform/Care/Hygiene This is a bright and uplifting practice to visit with great attention paid to cleanliness and hygiene. There doesnt seem to be any uniform for staff who are always neatly dressed presented well. The potential positive and the potential negative impact Potential positive Potential negative The comfort of knowing that you are being medically well cared for by the Team Sometimes long waiting times to visit Doctor due to volume of patients Beautiful Uplifting Surgery to visit Poor parking facilities Disability and Diversity The Ardlea Medical centre cater for all ages from babies to over 70s all who are receiving the best knowledgeable and professional care. Wheelchairs can access the surgery through the widened front door and there is a disabled bathroom on the ground floor along with both Doctors Room and the Nurses Treatment Room located alongside. Customer Service and Organisational Effectiveness Customer Service and Organisational Effectiveness Treacys West County Hotel 1. The West County Hotel was originally built in Ennis by the Lynch family in the late 1960s. It was taken over by Waterford based Treacys Hotel Group in 2013. It remains one of the most popular, well established iconic hotels in Ennis.   It fights off all competition from a number of hotels in the town by offering an excellent experience for families and business alike. Unlike other hotels which are within walking distance of the town, it has beautiful leisure centre which includes a fully equipped gym and a large swimming pool. www.clare-tour.com/accommodation/Lynch_West_County_Hotel/ 2. The hotel has one large conference centre and four large board rooms targeting business and a variety of groups. The Family friendly hotel has 152 rooms with en-suite bathrooms and access to all amenities in the hotel and therefore attracts families from Ireland and abroad. There are excellent restaurants, a cafà © and bar with bar food. The hotel, therefore, receives a large amount of business from local people who can have their needs met and enjoy the facilities of the hotel. https://treacyswestcounty.com/ 3. Advertising The hotel has an excellent website which is very easy to navigate and has its own Facebook page. It advertises in a number of magazines such as bridal and holiday magazines. Upcoming events are advertised weekly in the local papers (Clare Champion and Clare People) and local radio. https://www.facebook.com/TreacysWestCounty/ (see App. A) Premises The building had a complete refurbishment in 2013. All fixtures and fittings are maintained to a very high standard. Products and Services The hotel offers a range of different services which include a beautiful cafà © and 2 restaurants. There is a leisure centre which includes a state of the art gym, aerobic centre and large swimming pool. The cost of a full membership is â‚ ¬350 per year which is quite expensive compared with other leisure centres. Employees interaction Customer service standards are high from the receptionist through to the leisure centre staff although some waitresses are not as friendly as others. The bar and waiting staff in Borus Bar seem to be run off their feet during busy times. This, in turn, does not reflect well on management. Management presentation The management and staff present themselves well with a stylish uniform for managers and staff alike. The housekeeping staff also wear a stylish uniform and are friendly towards the customers they meet. 4. Positive and Negative impact of question 3 All events, from afternoon tea dances to specialized concerts, yoga classes and workshops are advertised so as to reach all customers. The Clare Champion and Clare people newspapers, along with their current up to date website and Facebook page make for a positive impact on customers. There is a positive vibe in the hotel and this is mainly due to the friendliness and competency of the staff along with the wonderful facilities and proximity to the town centre. There is a negative impact on the customer when they see that the bar staff are overworked during busy periods and are unable to give the customer their full attention. Management will need to look into this and in turn take on extra staff at these times. The management should also compare the price of leisure centre memberships in the area and either offer extras to the customer or reduce their price of membership. 5. Disability and Diversity There are only 2 disabled bays close to the main entrance of the hotel. This is a very low number in relation to the size of the hotel and carpark in comparison to other hotels in the town. On the positive side there are very good facilities within the hotel to accommodate wheelchairs e.g. lifts, wide doors, ramps and disabled toilets. All nationalities are welcome although the hotel has been known to turn away a Traveller weddings. Customer Service and Organisational Effectiveness Parnell Medical Centre 1. Parnell Medical Centre was set up in Ennis in 2011 to cater for the needs of the growing town. Dr Conor Hanrahan, who was already established in the town, remained the only doctor operating from the building until 2014. He was then joined by Dr John Boyle, an English man, who had worked in the Elm Medical Centre on the Gort road in Ennis for a number of years. There is no competition between the surgeries as there is a shortage of doctors and the demand exceeds supply. 2. The surgery, and both doctors, cater to the needs of all patients registered with them. It provides the services of a nurse, who is on hand to deal with minor complaints, take blood, smear tests etc. There are 3 very caring and friendly receptionists. 3. Advertising There is no official website for the Parnell Medical Centre although both doctors can be reviewed online. Advertising is not necessary as the demand for doctors services exceeds supply. (see App B) Premises The premises are located on the first floor with a lift which can be accessed through the pharmacy below. Each doctor has its own separate waiting room. There is a childs play area in one waiting room and a beautiful fish tank in the other. Both waiting rooms have easy access to the bathroom. The surgery looks clean and tidy and is painted on a regular basis. Services Both doctors provide routine and urgent medical care, prescriptions and medical certificates. Medical card holders are welcome at the surgery. The Receptionists answer the phones, take appointments and write up all the paperwork for the doctors. There is a conveniently located pharmacy on the ground floor. Employees Interaction All staff at the surgery seem to interact very well with the customers and also with each other. The receptionists greet all patients with a smile and are helpful and understanding. Management presentation Dr Hanrahan always dresses in a suit whereas Dr Boyle is more casually dressed. Both are very clean and tidy and always use gloves when an examination is necessary. Hand sanitizers are constantly being used throughout the surgery by all staff members especially the doctors and the nurse. 4. Positive and Negative impact of question 3. There is no official website for the Parnell Medical Centre so anyone looking for information on their services will be required to call in or phone the practice. The surgery does not take calls from 1pm 2pm and this can be frustrating as it may be the only time some patients are able to phone. There are two separate waiting rooms so overcrowding is never a problem. The premises are kept neat and tidy and children are entertained while waiting, due to the large fish-tank and play area. The pharmacy on the ground floor is a major advantage. The staff in the surgery are polite, empathetic and friendly. The receptionists interact very well with each other and work efficiently in conjunction with the doctors. 5. Disability and Diversity There are sufficient disabled bays in close proximity to the surgery as it is adjacent to the Parnell street car park. There is a lift which can fit a wheelchair. One of the waiting rooms is wheelchair friendly along with the bathroom. The surgery caters for all ethnic groups, including travellers, with no discrimination against anyone.   Ã‚   www.whatclinic.ie/doctors/ireland/county-clare/ennis/dr-dermot-boyle www.whatclinic.ie/doctors/ireland//ennis/dr-conor-e-hanrahan Enc:

Friday, October 25, 2019

The Medicinal, Industrial, Recreational, and Commercial Uses of Marijua

The Medicinal, Industrial, Recreational, and Commercial Uses of Marijuana "Penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to the individual than the use of the drug itself" said President Jimmy Carter in a message to Congress in 1977 (Family Council on Drug Awareness). Unfortunately, congress did not and has not listened to him. Even though numerous government-sponsored studies have proven that the use of the cannabis plant is safe and has many benefits, it is still illegal. Cannabis sativa is a flowering plant that has two main variations: marijuana and hemp. Marijuana contains the chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which alters the mind when smoked, eaten, drank, or taken in the pill form. It is often called grass, pot, reefer, Mary Jane, herb, weed, or one of over 200 slang terms (National Institute of Drug Abuse). Hemp is bred to have lower THC content so that it does not have mind-altering capabilities. It is often used to make fibers, clothing, oil, ropes, and to aerate the soil in crop rotation. The qualities of both str ains of the cannabis plant are not new discoveries to humankind. In fact, the Chinese first recorded use of marijuana in the year 2727 B.C. (Schleichert 5). People in every inhabited continent legally used marijuana for recreation and medicine for thousands of years. It was not until after the "Reefer Madness" campaign of the 1930s that marijuana became illegal in the United States. The campaign gave exaggerated stories and false information to scare people away from the use of cannabis. Ever since, studies have shown that marijuana is safe and beneficial and activists have pushed for legalization, but governments refuse to legalize it. Instead, they have harsh laws prohibit... ...: Should they be Legalized. New Jersey: Enslow, 1996. Potter, Dr. Beverley and Dan Joy. The Healing Magic of Cannabis. Berkeley: Ronin, 1998. Schleichert, Elizabeth. The Drug Library: Marijuana. New Jersey: Enslow, 1996. Simmons, Michael. Afterword. "The Madness Continues." Reefer Madness. New York: St. Martin's Griffon, 1998. 397-435. Swan, Neil. "Marijuana, Other Drug Use Among Teens Continues to Rise." NIDA Notes. Apr 1995. On-line. Internet. Available WWW: http://165.112.78.61/NIDA_Notes/NNVol10N2/Marijuanateens.html. Woolf, Marie. "Cannabis less harmful than aspirin, says scientist." Independent News 20 Oct 2000. On-line. Internet. 23 Jan 2001. Available WWW: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/UK/Health/2000-10/cannabis201000.shtml. Zimmer, Lynn, Ph.D. and John P. Morgan, M.D. Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts. New York: Lindesmith Center, 1997. The Medicinal, Industrial, Recreational, and Commercial Uses of Marijua The Medicinal, Industrial, Recreational, and Commercial Uses of Marijuana "Penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to the individual than the use of the drug itself" said President Jimmy Carter in a message to Congress in 1977 (Family Council on Drug Awareness). Unfortunately, congress did not and has not listened to him. Even though numerous government-sponsored studies have proven that the use of the cannabis plant is safe and has many benefits, it is still illegal. Cannabis sativa is a flowering plant that has two main variations: marijuana and hemp. Marijuana contains the chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which alters the mind when smoked, eaten, drank, or taken in the pill form. It is often called grass, pot, reefer, Mary Jane, herb, weed, or one of over 200 slang terms (National Institute of Drug Abuse). Hemp is bred to have lower THC content so that it does not have mind-altering capabilities. It is often used to make fibers, clothing, oil, ropes, and to aerate the soil in crop rotation. The qualities of both str ains of the cannabis plant are not new discoveries to humankind. In fact, the Chinese first recorded use of marijuana in the year 2727 B.C. (Schleichert 5). People in every inhabited continent legally used marijuana for recreation and medicine for thousands of years. It was not until after the "Reefer Madness" campaign of the 1930s that marijuana became illegal in the United States. The campaign gave exaggerated stories and false information to scare people away from the use of cannabis. Ever since, studies have shown that marijuana is safe and beneficial and activists have pushed for legalization, but governments refuse to legalize it. Instead, they have harsh laws prohibit... ...: Should they be Legalized. New Jersey: Enslow, 1996. Potter, Dr. Beverley and Dan Joy. The Healing Magic of Cannabis. Berkeley: Ronin, 1998. Schleichert, Elizabeth. The Drug Library: Marijuana. New Jersey: Enslow, 1996. Simmons, Michael. Afterword. "The Madness Continues." Reefer Madness. New York: St. Martin's Griffon, 1998. 397-435. Swan, Neil. "Marijuana, Other Drug Use Among Teens Continues to Rise." NIDA Notes. Apr 1995. On-line. Internet. Available WWW: http://165.112.78.61/NIDA_Notes/NNVol10N2/Marijuanateens.html. Woolf, Marie. "Cannabis less harmful than aspirin, says scientist." Independent News 20 Oct 2000. On-line. Internet. 23 Jan 2001. Available WWW: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/UK/Health/2000-10/cannabis201000.shtml. Zimmer, Lynn, Ph.D. and John P. Morgan, M.D. Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts. New York: Lindesmith Center, 1997.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Corporate Strategy

MGMT611: Strategy Natalya Vinokurova Corporate Strategy Session 15 1 Corporate Scope Corporate center Division A in industry a Division B in industry b Division C in industry c Division D in industry d – The average U. S. Fortune 500 company operates in four different industries – Diversification is even more prominent in other parts of the world †¢ Grupos, chaebol, business houses, keiretsu, and so on – Poor corporate strategy is common â€Å"Excite, one of the leading Internet services companies, yesterday [received a] takeover offer from Zapata, a Texas-based group with holdings in marine protein and food packaging companies.Citing the â€Å"excellent fit with Zapata’s new strategic direction,† Avram Glazer, Zapata’s chief executive officer, said the proposed transaction â€Å"makes sense for Excite’s shareholders because of the capital resources that Zapata can bring to Excite. † Financial Times, May 22, 1998 2 What di versified corporation did this become? 3 Decomposition of Variance in Profitability: Evidence from the United States Year 2% Industry 18% Corporate parent 4% Transient 46% †¢ In the U. S. corporate strategy is typically the icing on the cake, not the cake itself – Business units must be competitive on their own merits – †¦in attractive industries †¢ But the icing can make the decisive difference between a good cake and a bad one Business segment 30% Note: Ignores covariance terms; based on 58,132 observations of 12,296 business segments in 628 industries in the United States Source: Anita M. McGahan and Michael E. Porter, â€Å"How Much Does Industry Matter Really? † Strategic Management Journal, 1997 4Decomposition of Variance in Profitability: Evidence from 14 Emerging Economies †¢ In much of the rest of the world, corporate strategy is more prominent †¢ Membership in a diversified entity has a larger effect on profitability †¢ Th e effect on profitability is more likely to be positive Source: Tarun Khanna and Jan W. Rivkin, â€Å"Estimating the Performance Effects of Business Groups in Emerging Markets,† Strategic Management Journal, 2000 Countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, India, Indonesia, Israel, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Turkey Litmus Test of Corporate Strategy †¢ Is the combination of all businesses of the firm worth more than the sum of how much each business is worth individually? – The answer could be less, e. g. J. C. Penney telemarketing division was worth 3X the market value of the entire firm †¢ When deciding whether or not to acquire another business, you need to decide BOTH – whether you have a competitive advantage running that business – AND how it will contribute to the fit among the other 6 businesses you are runningAcrobat Document 7 The Walt Disney Company: Stock Price vs. S&P 500, 1984-1994 8 The Walt Disney Company: Stock Price vs. S&P 500, 1995-2005 9 Two big problems 1. Growth at all costs: †¢ This is an example of what happens when a solid corporate strategy meets an aggressive growth goal 2. Mismatch between strategy and organizational structure: †¢ You can have a corporation with businesses that are closely connected like the classic Disney businesses and then run the businesses together in a tightly integrated way.That can work. †¢ You can have a corporation with the broader scope of later Disney and run them in a loosely coupled way. That can work. †¢ But if you have a corporation with the broader scope of later Disney and run them like the classic Disney, with heavy-handed management from the top, searching for synergy that doesn’t really exist†¦then you get into trouble. – In 2005, ABC President Robert Iger replaces Eisner 10 The Walt Disney Company: Stock Price vs. S&P 500, 2005-2012 11 The Walt Disney Company: Take-aways Co re lessons of corporate-level strategy †¢ Competition occurs at the level of the business unit †¢ Corporate strategy is a success or failure to the extent that it enhances business unit competitive advantage – Is the relative gap between WTP and cost larger than it would be otherwise? †¢ Two tests: – Better-off: Does the presence of the corporation in a given market improve the total competitive advantage of business units over and above what they could achieve on their own? (What’s the added value of the corporation? – Ownership: Does ownership of the business unit produce a greater competitive advantage than an alternative arrangement would produce? †¢ A corporation is more likely to pass the tests when it has some shared resource that (a) creates competitive advantage for the business units and (b) is difficult to trade efficiently via the market – E. g. , access to animated characters – Making business units â€Å"be tter off† sounds easy, but it typically requires sophisticated structures, systems, and processes, plus cultural supports 12 Corporate strategy entails trade-offsEither focus on†¦ or focus on†¦ Guidance on the Projects Overall Grading †¢ The project must cover all three components of the class – Human and Social Capital – Strategy – Multinational Management Components of Grade (NOT equally weighted) †¢ Use of frameworks (most important issue) †¢ Quality of research †¢ Innovativeness/Insight of analysis †¢ Integration of different components of class †¢ Quality of communication 14 †¢ ? of grade will be based on presentation; ? on final project write up †¢ We will also use a peer assessment to adjust the grade for effort put in by each team memberA Word on Plagiarism †¢ Any text (more than 2 consecutive words) taken from another source must be – In inverted commas – Clearly identified with the source †¢ It is NOT sufficient to simply note that you used a source. You must identify which text came from it. †¢ Failure to identify the source of your work is a serious breach of academic ethics and will be treated accordingly †¢ If in doubt, ask Professor or TAs for guidance †¢ (It is generally not a good idea to reproduce whole sentences or paragraphs from other sources without a very good reason anyway) 5 Next Class: Firm Scope and Strategy †¢ – – – – Case: Monitor’s Opportunities in India (A), 9708-482 What are the benefits and costs to Monitor of moving each of its back-office functions to India? In light of those benefits and costs, what would you recommend to Mark Fuller, Monitor’s CEO, about the location of each function? Should Monitor tap into the Indian pool of talent somehow, perhaps by conducting business research there? If so: Should it conduct research only for Monitor case teams or sell its re search services directly to external clients? 16