Management Strategies for Communication

Management Strategies for Communication Contents (Jump to) Introduction Organizational Culture Leadership Communication of Business Information Eliminating Barriers of Communication Team Work Conflict Resolution Conclusion References Introduction The Company owns a Hotel and a Resort (King and Queen Hotel Suite Mt. Taranaki Resort). This report contains information that the management could implement in order to create the best experience for the guests coming to stay at either the resort or at the hotel. How would employees of this property absorb different cultures, leadership style, communicate business information, eliminate barriers, work as a team and resolve a conflict. So how do we create an experience for our employee similarly that is given to the guest? Growth and change needs to be monitored at all times within the employees. COMMUNICATION! And there are various ways of communicating all the necessary information to the employees. As the Human Resource Director my responsibility here is to ensure that all information is efficiently transmitted to all employees new and existing across both properties. To achieve success, communication is one very important aspect. As the first step a set of guidelines have been developed as a blueprint for staff that will create the right culture that runs common across both properties. This would help the Company best utilize the human resource efficiently. Organizational Culture An organizational culture is where an organization is responsible for creating an environment in which the business is managed and can impact heavily on the success or failure of the business (University Alliance, 2015). Reinhart (2015) suggest that when people live together the culture develops within the organization. Reinhart (2015) say that there are 4 (four) areas where one should look at for developing the organizational culture which are as follows Training and Hiring Develop a story Not about programs Foster commitment For the employees to adapt the organizational culture the organization/ HR director need to look at the areas that would help an employee who has been trained not only understands it but effectively implements it while performing his/her duties, there are many ways that we can pass the organizational culture to our employees, a few are mentioned below Training – With proper training by a qualified teacher / trainer the employee will understand the organizational culture better. With proper training of old and existing employees they have to be trained in the ways to apply the new goals. Lead by example – is one of the most effective ways for leaders to create and spread a culture of learning. These way new employees absorb the culture they see and get aligned much faster. Lead the team by showing them with an example so that the new employees can take it and help the other members lead the organization to a new level DELETE. Guidance employees – As the employee is new we need to guide the employee to adapt to the new organizational culture by giving them task for new employees to know the culture. (Carabelli, 2015) Progress will be monitored frequent intervals and the plan revised as if necessary by the senior management. Necessary check would also on a day to day basis would be done in order for the performance of the employees to be on track. Leadership The organizational culture and leadership are connected with each other without one the organization could be crippled. In the research on Leadership style in job satisfaction leadership style is defined as the pattern of behaviors that a leader displays during their work with and through others (Hersey Blanchard, 1993). According to Kavanaugh and Ninemeier (2001), there are 3 factors that could determine the type of leadership style: leaders’ characteristics, subordinates’ characteristics and the organization environment. To be more specific, the personal background of leaders such as personality, knowledge, values, and experiences would shapes their feelings about appropriate leadership that determine their specific leadership style; employees also have different personalities, backgrounds, expectations and experiences, knowledge for example, employees who are more knowledgeable and experienced may work well under a democratic leadership style, while employees with d ifferent experiences and expectations require an autocratic leadership style. Some factors in the organizations environment such as organizational climate, organization values, composition of work group and type of work can also influence leadership style. However, leaders can adapt their leadership style to the perceived preferences of their subordinates (Wood, 1994). According to a research done by Mukhels and Lockwood they suggest that the leadership style would differ according to the person’s demographic profile (Al-Ababneh Lockwood). Johnson Murray talks about the pros and con of leadership and it is way to know or judge which person has leadership skills or not. They are as follows What leadership is not? It is not the use of Authority Management is not leadership Position Power is not Leadership What leadership is? Is about having a vision Is about influencing people to believe in the vision It is about persuasion of the vision (Murray, 2014) (Link success with leadership, 2014) The Leadership styles that best fit the resort would help build up a better place to be around to work at. The leadership style that best fit the resort is participative/ democratic leadership where the following things would help the hotel/resort to move forward and help the hotel/resort build a better team Leaders. They are as follows Creative Problem Solver Handling Risks Working together Creativity (Duggan, 2014) A question that arises while doing this â€Å"Is this Leadership style effective†? It’s effective if we are able to take care of the following Proper Communication Focusing on the discussion Full Commitment Respect each other’s ideas (The Democratic Leadership Style, 2008) Communication of Business Information Communication is one of the most important aspects of Leadership. It helps the leader to align the organization to one common goal or vision. Organizations that do not communicate their strategy to their employees are showing the lack of direction or disregarding for their employees. To apply an effective way of communicating business information to the staff the messages that are being sent to the staff should be crafted clearly for staff to understand. If a problem persists then it should be sorted out at that very instance. To take the organization to a level ahead of its competitors Johnston (2015) has suggested that the mission, vision and all other information of the organization is transferred to its employees. Strategies for doing so are Internal Communication Communicating with the staff clearly and simply, avoiding any jargons, or foul language in email, bulletin board. One part of the communication is disbursing the information the other is receiving information or feedback from staff. By this we will know the level of understanding of the staff. Marketing Communication Communicating marketing information is very important for improving the sales for the organization. Communication must be researched constantly; if the marketing communication is not working then it must be discarded. Because it’s not just the budgets spent it also harms the brand adversely. Communication with stakeholders The Management needs to communicate the progress of the Organization with the stakeholders so that they are kept abreast of the changes taking place and can guide at the right time. Monitor non-verbal messages Non-verbal communication can be your strongest support, however it needs to be monitored i.e. oversee the messages that are being sent via email and other non-verbal methods, so that the verbal and non-verbal method matches. (Johnston, 2015) (Raja, 2011) Eliminating Barriers of Communication Language/communication barriers are a common challenge in today’s business setting. Ms. Kate states that there are 10 strategies for overcoming the communication barriers which are as follows Speak in a manner so that the other person or people can hear you clearly Ask for clarification on what has been told Check Frequently if everyone has understood We need to avoid changed meaning of the words for others to understand Be careful as when to use a jargon/s Define what are the basics of your business THIS POINT DOES NOT CONNECT One has to be specific is what is being told Choose the medium of communication Proper to avoid any misunderstanding Provide more than one source of communication with the staff, to establish message Being patient is the hardest to keep as everyone is in a hurry (Berardo, 2007) Communication is an important part of any relationship, whether it is a working, romantic or friendly relationship in the resort. When an effective communication is interrupted or it is not executed properly, it can lead to misunderstandings which might hurt a working relationship of the staff. There are barriers to communication that must be overcome by the organization. It is possible to reduce those barriers so proper communication can take place but can never be eliminated. The following steps need to be implemented in the organization Choose the best communication channel for your specific message within or outside the organization. Choose an appropriate time to have a conversation. Speak clearly when talking to someone. Here one has to pass on the message very clearly for the receiver to understand the message Check with the listener/receiver if the message conveyed to them has been understood by them by asking them in their own words after the message has been sent. This is a good way of being able to know if the message was received and understood in best possible way. If the listener relays a message that is not identical to your message, then you know there was a miscommunication in transmitting the message. Listen to the other person when they are speaking. Instead of thinking about what to say next, take in what the other person is saying so that one is able to receive his message well. (Richardson, 2015) As an HR Manager I would have to be a proactive person and build cross-cultural environment to eliminate any barriers that may arise and to keep the trend going on the hotel we would need to look at all kinds of needs and wants of the employees and making them mix with different cultures so smoothly that they have very limited amount of the barriers in communication Team Work Organizations often ask employees to complete projects as a team. Working together has many benefits, including the possibility to create new friendships, a sense of group accomplishment and distribution of responsibilities. Teamwork may also cause tension and anxiety among employees because of poor communication. Effective communication can eliminate stress and negative feelings. Leaders of the team should encourage their employees to communicate with one another clearly while working together. This is especially important for smaller companies, whose employees often must work closely with one another. (Managing groups and Teams, 2010) Characteristics To have effective communication in the work place, team members must keep an open mind, engage in active listening and have a clear understanding of project goals and requirements. Effects Effective communication determines the success or failure of projects requiring teamwork, and ultimately, the business itself. Teamwork offers advantages such as increase in productivity, sense of responsibility and improved staff efficiency. The key element of creating a good team is proper communication. To develop effective team communication, you need to understand how communication affects teamwork positively and negatively. Increases Interaction When communication channels in a team are properly established and information flows easily between teammates, then that increases the ability of staff members to interact. Team members learn how to interact more efficiently with each other to perform their job duties and are better able to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each teammate. Conflict Poor communication within a team can cause misunderstandings that lead to internal conflict. A team that spends its time misinterpreting information and creating conflicts is not able to be a productive work unit. Developing a strong system of communication eliminates misinformation and cuts down on the possibility of conflict. The team can focus on company tasks as opposed to wasting time sifting through conflict. (Root, 2015), (Gluck, 2015) The strongest factor affecting the productivity of the new and existing staff is good teamwork. If done well it results in achieving customer satisfaction. Clear roles and responsibilities help the management in knowing how the employee has performed. Surveys have pinpointed the strongest factor affecting employee productivity was people having a clear idea about what they were supposed to be doing. The more people knew their responsibilities, the higher the productivity. Conflict Resolution Problem Solving Mt Taranaki Resort believes in clear and open communication. We also encourage employees to talk directly with their supervisor and colleagues and vice versa. If an issue or conflict does arise, it is recommended that the individual try to resolve the problem with those directly involved. The employee may also choose to involve his or her supervisor if necessary. In discussing the conflict please remember that the organizations confidentiality policy still applies. If after this discussion the employee or supervisor feels the issue is still not resolved, he/she may request a meeting with the next level supervisor and Human Resources Coordinator or Executive Director. In the event that the employee prefers an individual meeting with the next level supervisor or any other senior management staff the supervisor will be notified. By exploring the issue in a professional and constructive manner; will be possible to find an appropriate way to resolve the problem. Complaint Resolution Procedure Policy The organization will act expediently if problems do occur and all individuals, whether staff or management, will be treated with fairness, respect, and consistency. All employees are encouraged to bring forward any complaints or recommendations dealing with safety, health standards, proper working conditions, performance appraisals, discipline and fair management practices, without fear of reprisal. Any disputes, controversies or suggestions must first be handled between the employee and his or her immediate supervisor, unless they are serious enough to warrant intervention by the next level supervisor or other member of the senior management team. An employee who has not obtained a solution within five business days of the circumstances that gave rise to the situation has the right to bring the matter to the attention of the next level supervisor. The Human Resources Coordinator and/or the Executive Director will be informed of the matter. That person will review the circumstances within five business days and will consult the Human Resources Coordinator or Executive Director as appropriate. Complaints should be in writing and include all relevant circumstances. The employee and supervisor will receive a solution or a written reply from the Department Manager within five more business days. If the employee is not satisfied with the response, he or she has the right to discuss the issue with the Executive Director. If the Executive Director cannot fulfil the employee’s expectations and the conflict persists, the employee may decide to bring the matter, in writing, to the chair of the Board of Directors and the Executive Director will be notified. The Board of Directors’ (Sample policy experts, 2011) A specific policy would be developed to meet the above goals prior to staff being appointed. The guiding principles would be †¦. Staff Induction Staff training Reporting process Safety is a staff priority All these can be presented under the CODE OF CONDUCT document Conclusion An organizational Culture which enables its employees to develop into Leaders is the one that will take the organization to the next level and in this communication plays a very important role. It is important to communicate the business vision to the employees by reducing the communication barriers as they can never be eliminated/ overcome permanently as the barriers could arise at any given situation. Team work is one of the important aspects of the industry without teamwork no organization can work through to the objectives, mission and vision. Conflict resolution is one of the major areas that need to be resolved on day to day basis as conflict could arise at no given time. A policy has been made and communicated to the staff at the time of joining or at the time of their transfer, so that there can be a resolution rather that a big case. Communicated and presented as KING QUEEN HOTEL SUITE and MT TARANAKI RESORT’s CODE OF CONDUCT. References Al-Ababneh, M., Lockwood, A. (n.d.). The Influence of Managerial Leadership Style on Employee Job Satisfation in Jordanian Resort Hotels. Jordan. Berardo, K. (2007). 10 Strategies for Overcoming Language Barriers. Retrieved from Curosity.com: http://www.culturosity.com/pdfs/10 Strategies for Overcoming Language Barriers.pdf Carabelli, C. (2015). How Is Organizational Culture Passed to New Employees? Retrieved from Chron: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/organizational-culture-passed-new-employees-14078.html Duggan, T. (2014). About Participative Leadership Style Front Office Performance. Retrieved from Chron: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/participative-leadership-style-front-office-performance-10256.html Gluck, S. (2015). Effective Communication Team Work. Retrieved from Chron: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/effective-communication-team-work-3167.html Hersey, P., Blanchard, K. H. (1993). Management of Organizational Behavior: Utilizing Human Resources (6th Ed ed.). New Jersey: Princetnce Hall, Inc. Johnston, K. (2015). Strategies for effective communication. Retrieved from Chron: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/strategies-effective-communication-57218.html Link success with leadership. (2014). Retrieved from GSS Blog: http://visiongss.com/blog//index.php/En/link-success-with-leadership Managing groups and Teams. (2010, September 20). Retrieved from Wiki Books: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Managing_Groups_and_Teams/Print_version Murray, J. (2014, June 15). What Leadership is and is not. Retrieved from Legacee: https://www.legacee.com/leadership-skills/what-leadership-is-and-is-not/z Raja, K. (2011, September 09). How to communicate business strategy to employees. Retrieved from Slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/kaushikraja/how-to-communicate-business-strategy-to-employees-9198582 Reinhart, C. (2015). Organizational Culture in the Hospitality industry. Retrieved from Chron: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/organizational-culture-hospitality-industry-12969.html Richardson, M. (2015). How to reduce barries to communication. Retrieved from eHow: http://www.ehow.com/how_6684077_reduce-barriers-communication.html Root, G. N. (2015). How Communication Affects Teamwork. Retrieved from Chron: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/communication-affects-teamwork-11199.html The Democratic Leadership Style. (2008). Retrieved from leadership-toolbox.com: http://www.leadership-toolbox.com/democratic-leadership-style.html University Alliance. (2015). The Impact of Organizational Culture on Hospitality Success. Retrieved from Eli Broad College of Business: http://www.michiganstateuniversityonline.com/resources/hospitality/the-impact-of-organizational-culture-on-hospitality-success/#.VRenJPmUeSo Wood, R. C. (1994). Organizational Behavior for Hospitality Management. Oxford: Butterworth- Heinemann Ltd. 1 | Page 3138011

Romeo as an Irrational and Impulsive Young Man Essay -- Papers

Romeo as an Irrational and Impulsive Young Man "Romeo and Juliet" is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare in 1592. It is set in Verona, were a bitter feud between two rival families, the Montague's and Capulet's. The main characters, Romeo and Juliet, are the children of the two rivals, who meet and fall in love at the Capulet's ball. Nevertheless, the relationship of these "star-crossed lovers" ends in tragedy as they are unable to fulfil their love. The feud between the two families forces the two lovers to take their own life. However this act allows the families to forget their pointless feud. Romeo described to us by his cousin, Benvolio, as irritable. "gladly shunned who gladly flied from me" Benvolio is saying Romeo is avoiding him. This is because Romeo says he is in love. "In sadness, I love a woman" Romeo says he is in love but is he really? Romeo uses dull and depressing language and a series of oxymorons: "cold fire, heavy lightness, sick health" Romeo is depressed because his love for Rosaline is not returned. Romeo first irrational act is when he enters the Capulet's ball despite their bitter hatred and the fact they would kill him if they find him in their house, he still enters the ball. He is prepared to take a risk to see his love, Rosaline. But, when he lays eyes on Juliet he falls in love with her. "I never saw true beauty until this night" It almost seems as if Romeo is being inconsistent in that he can forget Rosaline so quickly when he was infatuated with her just a couple of minuets ago. Was he really in love with Rosaline? If his love for Rosaline ended so quickly could... ...irritated beyond endurance but, when he realises what he has just done, he is shocked. At this point, we see Romeo's actions reflect his love for Juliet. Finally, as he stands before Juliet and gazes at her, he shows no sings of synthetic emotions or trivial behaviour he displayed at the start. In a respectful speech, he addressed Juliet's death which has dealt such a cruel blow. As he takes the poison Juliet arouses and kills herself when Romeo dies; the depth of his feelings for Juliet is finally established Romeo is being true to his convictions. Overall Romeos has an irrational and impulsive nature; this got him into a great deal of dilemma. However if Romeo was not irrational and impulsive he would have never found or experienced true love and the bitter feud between the Montague's and Capulet's would persist.

Domestic Terrorism †The Bombing of Oklahoma City :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Domestic Terrorism – The Bombing of Oklahoma City On April 19, 1995, at 9:02 a.m., the United States of America was reminded that the worst horror often comes from within. Within a matter of days Americans were forced to realize that this terrible tragedy may have been caused by citizens who call themselves patriots. Until the Oklahoma City bombing, Americans generally though of terrorism as a foreign problem that could not invade the walls of this nation. Many Americans had given little thought to what these patriots sought to do. Militia and patriot groups were considered to be fairly harmless groups who enjoyed stirring people up. The vast majority of Americans did not realize how serious or how dangerous these groups actually were. Very few people could understand why a fellow countryman would wreak such havoc on them. When it was learned that the accused suspects in the Oklahoma City bombing allegedly had ties to political extremist groups, citizens started to give these groups a second, closer look. Very slowly, and over sever al decades, these fundamental extremist groups and backyard political patriots have evolved into the most dangerous enemy this country has ever faced. Transnational terrorism, which is almost always connected to political terrorism, has gone through a slow evolution since the 1930s (Lutke). For example, according to Philip Jenkins, the forefather to today's extremists was an organization called the Christian Front, which flourished in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Jenkins states that the Christian Front was founded by Father Charles E. Coughlin, host of a weekly radio show. He contends they were anti-Semitic, anti-communist, and anti-government. Jenkins suggests the Christian Front recruited easily from citizens who had been brutalized by the depression. He also believes that the Christian Front was able to convince many people that the government had caused the depression in order to orchestrate Roosevelt's "communist" New Deal (38-39). During the 1960s and 1970s, extremist groups fed on the Vietnam war and racism. Accordingly, extremist groups like the Weathermen and Students for a Democratic Society were responsible for a numb er of small bombings at the Pentagon, The United States Capitol, and several State Department buildings. Most of the people involved in these groups were young idealists who believed in the possibility of a peaceful world. When asked if today's extremist groups could be compared to those of the 1960s, Tom Hayden, once a member of the Weathermen, said: "To us, revolution was like birth: blood is inevitable, but the purpose of the act is to create life, not to glorify blood" (Marks 56).

Asahi Breweries

Assignment 2 Asahi Breweries Case Analysis Anonymous Student #2 Professor John Stockmyer MKT517 WEB/Tuesdays 7:00-9:30 Asahi Breweries (Dry Beer Implementation) Introduction Asahi Breweries, Ltd. has been in the Japanese beer market since its inception in 1949 where it originated through the post-war breakup of beer conglomerate Dai Nippon, which at the time had a 75% market share. The only other existing Japanese beer company prior to the post-war era was Kirin, holding the remaining 25% market share. Asahi is one of four main beer manufacturers along with its competitors; Kirin, Sapporo and Suntory companies.Kirin, being the oldest and largest company of beer producers has historically been the leader in production, sales, and market share at ~ 60%; primarily through its experience enabling the company to identify market trends and develop expansive distribution centers. The Asahi, Sapporo, and Suntory companies have generally remained competitive for the remaining 40% market share . Traditionally, lager beer as been the choice of Japanese beer drinkers and Kirin has capitalized on that tradition for decades by producing lager as its primary beer product.However, by the early 1980’s consumer tastes began to change and they desired more variety in beer choices. To meet the demand, the three smaller companies developed and marketed their own brands of draft beer which in turn enabled the market share for that specific product segment to even out. Karin reluctantly followed while maintaining its position that lager was still the beer of choice. In order to differentiate itself from its competitors and create a niche for itself, Asahi has created a new â€Å"dry beer† to offer consumers hoping to capitalize on the changing tastes of beer drinkers.Asahi’s president, Hirotaro Higuchi, has decided to invest in the implementation of the new product. The decision must be analyzed whether to support the investment in the strategic development, produ ction, and marketing of Asahi’s new dry beer. Asahi’s Recent Strategies Asahi prides itself on its long history of beer production with continued quality and social commitment to its customers, employee relationships, business partners, stockholders, and local communities.Until 1982 change was almost nonexistent as the company continued to operate in the traditional modus of producing lager beer and was on the verge of becoming extinct in the market due to declining sales, forced early retirements, and low morale. At that time, Tsutomu Murai became the president bringing a new horizontal communication philosophy to the company. He implemented cross functional teams to improve the company’s image both internally and externally as well as improve quality within the organization. It was determined from research that consumer beer taste was changing and Asahi needed to respond.Risking backlash from traditionalists, the Asahi trademark was changed in parallel with th e release of the new Asahi Draft product, demonstrating management’s ability to identify and the willingness to respond to the changing market environment. This gave the company’s morale a sustained boost, but a short lived increase in market share and soon it declined. In 1986, Hirotaro Higuchi became the new president with a top down management philosophy and very hands on style decision making with the sole mission to increase profit.Riding the wave of the new draft beer product release and improved organizational functionality, Higuchi was willing to spend money to ensure the new product was a success and he implemented three drastic policy changes at the risk of erasing the company’s 1985 net profit margin of 1. 4 billion yen: †¢ Remove all old products from circulation at a loss to show commitment to the new product. †¢ Change raw material (malt) suppliers to German suppliers to improve quality at increased expense. †¢ Spend as much money on advertising and promotion until operating profit equaled zero.As quality improved and the advertising and promotional blitz increased, distributors realized Asahi was serious a contender and retailers started to push the draft product resulting in a 9. 7% increase in sales from the previous year. With the direction of its strong leadership and strategic vision, Asahi’s management and workers were willing to follow and implement change by going against conventional wisdom and positioning the company in 1987 with an overall market share of 12% and projected increase of 23% through 1990.Included in this projection, was the latest Asahi product development, â€Å"Super Dry† beer, which at first, Higuchi was reluctant to introduce into the market so soon after the release of Asahi Draft, but after tasting the product himself he decided to market the product resulting in a 33% sales increase in 1987. Higuchi now proposes an investment plan to increase brewing and packaging capacity by 30% at a cost of 230 billion yen over two years, 1989 -1990. DemographicsLager beer has traditionally been the product of choice for most of the pre and post WWII era consumers, mainly competitor Kirin’s customer base, but that segment has diminished resulting in a younger generation of beer drinkers preferring a variety of products including draft and dry beers. This has been proven through consumer research and taste tasting trials. It should not to be presumed that lager beer is obsolete has demonstrated by Kirin’s dominance of that market segment from the 1988 average monthly market share data of 42. 2%.This does suggest, however, that Asahi has an opportunity to compound on the market trend and gain market share in the new dry beer segment and younger demographic by creating a dry beer niche for itself, as demonstrated by the same data indicating Asahi with a 15. 4% average monthly dry beer market share versus Kirin, the closest competitor at 8. 0%. It should be noted that in January of that year, Asahi’s total beer market share was 11. 2 % and by November it had risen to 20. 5%; a 9. 3 % upward trend. Kirin’s market share decreased by 9. 8% during that same period. CompetitionAs stated in the introduction, Asahi has three competitors in the beer market, Karin, Sapporo, and Suntory: Kirin: One of the oldest, largest, and most diversified companies with an extensive distribution network. Strength in the beer market is lager beer, of which it holds a dominate market share. Still believes that lager is the Japanese beer of choice. Slow to respond to the trend of recent changing consumer preferences and promotes the stance that dry beer is a passing fad. Eventually Kirin released its own dry brand and its moderate success is due to the company’s size.Sapporo: Formed at the same time as Asahi after the dissection of Dai Nippon post WWII. Strength in the beer market is draft beer of which it leads in market share. Sapporo is probably Asahi’s closest competitor for total market share at 18. 8 %. Eventually followed suit and released a dry beer to compete, although lagging in the market. Suntory: Focuses on draft and malt beer products, of which malt seems to be declining as indicated by 0. 7 % market share. Suntory released a dry beer as well with minimal success. At this time the company ranks last in the beer market with a 5. 5 % market share.Legal/Political Factors †¢ All three competitors released dry products without product or packaging differentiation in hopes of capturing a percentage of the dry beer market and boosting sales. Asahi has challenged with intellectual property rights and the media attention has benefitted Asahi as the original dry beer creator and producer. This will help to secure Asahi has the leader in the dry beer market segment. †¢ The Japanese government monitors industries for potential monopolies, therefore Kirin cannot petition for increased mark et share at the risk of being divided into smaller companies. A new license is required to open new production plants. The Ministry of Finance regulates licenses and may restrict them where there is a potential for industry excess capacity. This will not be a factor has the competitors production will eventually decrease as Asahi’s production increases to match sales demand as indicted by market share trends. †¢ Distributors and retailers are required to have licenses and new licenses are limited. This affects all companies. †¢ The retail price of beer and liquor tax is also regulated by the Ministry of Finance.This affects all companies as well. Social Environment The Japanese beer consumer has been, for the most part, conservative when it comes to change. This is reflected in the lager beer market share data and the fact that it has taken ~ 30 years to introduce and accept a draft beer into the market. However, as the market has become global and consumers have be en exposed to more options and variety, their tastes and preferences have changed more rapidly as indicated from recent consumer research and taste trials.This change in consumer attitude will benefit the company that offers new and innovative products to the beer market such as Asahi dry beer. Economics/Financials Currently, Asahi’s relevant financials ratios are as follows: |Ratio |Calculation |1987 Total |1988 Estimate |1989 Projected |1990 Projected |Scale | |Operating Profit |Sales – COGS/Sales |3. 5 |14. 0 |16. 0 |20. |billion yen | |Net Profit |Profits after Taxes/Sales |2. 5 |4. 8 |6. 0 |7. 0 |billion yen | |Current Ratio |Current Assets/Current Liabilities |1. 6 |NA |NA |NA |ratio | |Working Capital |Current Assets-Current Liabilities |103553 |NA |NA |NA |million yen | |Debt to Assets |Total Debt/Total Assets |1. |NA |NA |NA |ratio | |Long-term Debt to |Long-term Debt/Total Stockholders' |0. 3 |NA |NA |NA |ratio | |Equity |Equity | | | | | |At first glance, th e proposed investments of 230 billion yen to increase capacity overwhelms the projected operating and net profits, although the projections of these are trending positive and are good indicators of a sound company. The current and capital ratios indicate that Asahi has the ability to pay its current liabilities by using assets and finance inventory expansion and operations without having to barrow. However, the leverage ratios are stronger indicators of Asahi being able to take on additional debt.The debt to assets ratio reveals that the company has not abused debt to finance operations, and the long-term debt to equity ratio indicates Asahi has the capacity to barrow additional funds when needed. Asahi’s Finance Director, Hiroshi Okada supports the data by stating that Asahi has undervalued assets worth approximately 700 billion yen and increased stock prices which secured an additional 100 billion yen enabling the company to invest with equity thereby reducing the investmen t risk such as excess inventory, excess capacity or chance of bankruptcy.Technology Technology has enabled Asahi to package and advertise its product in novel ways to capture consumer’s attention along with the great test of the dry beer product. It is unknown from the analysis if technology would help with the increase of production and capacity, although it is reasonable to assume that technological advances would help with construction, manufacturing, and distribution infrastructures through the use of computers and automation. RecommendationIn review of the analysis I recommend the proposed investment to increase capacity. Asahi’s management has proven it makes the right strategic decisions when faced with adversity while regarding the potential risks involved. The Japanese beer market environment is ripe for a new product as evidenced by the changing demographics and social environment. The competition is lagging in response to offering an alternative to beer cons umers’ desire for product variety and the legal and political policies do not constrain Asahi relative to its competitors.Ultimately, Asahi’s economic and financial position is found to be in agreement with absorbing additional debt to expand capacity. Combine the actual and projected upward trend in sales and market share, and the potential for a positive return is increased even further, whereas the risk factor for investment loss is reduced. What will be the likely competitive reaction, and how serious is the threat? Nice analysis. Overall Score: 98/100

Family Trip Essay

The most memorable vacation ever, was our family trip to Idaho two years ago. We were excited for weeks leading up to our departure from the Memphis International Airport. This was my husbands’ first time to fly. When the day finally came, he was extremely nervous, about the flight. I remember him telling me his stomach was in knots; he must have said I love you 25 times that day. The girls laughed at him all day, because they had flown in the past and knew there was nothing to be nervous about. I told him, that once we were in the air, looking down over the city would be absolutely beautiful. As we boarded the plane we could see the anticipation and excitement built up on his face. We settled into our seats, got our girls settled in, and away we went. From the air the buildings, roadways, and homes looked like a live monopoly board. My husband seemed to calm down and started to enjoy his first flying experience. He and I chatted throughout the flight about how gorgeous everything was from the blue skies. After a few hours and a hectic plane change, we made our much awaited decent in to the great city of Spokane, Washington. When we left Memphis, Tennessee, the temperature was a comfortable 45 degrees on December 19th. As we made our bumpy landing on the runway, the co-pilot announced that it was in the mere teens and the city was mostly snow covered. Coffman 2 We were extremely excited to see my parents which we had not seen in a year. Our family greeted each other with open arms and a few happy tears. My parents hurried to baggage claim ready to load us up and make the snowy ride to Priest River, Idaho. Throughout the drive from Spokane to Priest River, everything was covered in the prettiest, shiny, white snow we had ever seen. The road conditions were so different from what we are accustomed to in the south. The roadways were clear of snow and ice. This made the 100 mile drive very enjoyable. When we made it into Priest River, Idaho, we were surrounded by snowcapped mountains. This town was the prettiest place I’d ever seen. I felt like we were driving through a movie scene. The town had a homey atmosphere with a small grocery store, small auto repair shop, and people clearing sidewalks of snow. When we reached my parents road and the bottom of Moose Mountain, we started the climb up to my parents’ home. As we rounded the last curve on the mountain there sat a nostalgic log home overlooking the glistening Sand Pointe River. While on vacation our favorite tourist attraction was a secluded bed and breakfast that also gave sleigh rides. When we arrived we were greeted with hot coca and popcorn. The lounge area was totally covered in wall mounted wild game, and had a cozy warm fireplace sitting area. As well, there was a ten foot elaborately decorated Christmas tree. We had a great time taking family photographs by the tree. When it was time for the sleigh ride they provided us with heavy wool blankets and off we went. The sleigh was pulled by an amazing team of Belgian horses. It was painted fire engine red with shiny hand carved wooden seats. The trip around that mountain was surreal. Coffman 3 There were many attractions that we enjoyed while in Idaho. I am very thankful for that opportunity and the memories my family made. That vacation is one that we will never forget.

Final-22 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Final-22 - Essay Example Since the initiation of the civilization, religion and politics have shaped, de-shaped and developed hand-in-hand and this was evident in this case as well. The turning of America towards Jesus holding the hands of preachers like George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards pushed the national feeling and contributed in sowing the seeds of American Revolution which occurred after some times2. The ‘Third Great Awakening’ or the era of ‘religious activism’ is the time from the late 1850s to early 1900s. This period witnessed a great upheaval in the area of education. Obligatory elementary education and a battle against child labor actually initiated during this period. During this period the colleges that were allied with churches increased in size, number and their span of curriculum1. As the Awakening and Enlightenment stressed on education, it inspired scientific thinking. People started to see things under the light of reason and logic which enabled them to develop their settlement instead of banking upon the hollow and narrow pursuit of clergy and churches. With the development, the need of luxury increased and in the true sense it was first â€Å"American Event† which was coming into a proper terms with the society of

The impact of culture on consumer behavior Research Paper

The impact of culture on consumer behavior - Research Paper Example People from different cultures, customs, traditions, and religions find equal respect in this country and can stay with complete harmony. Religion and Spirituality are very important in India. Worship of various deities is a salient feature. India is said to be the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism; 80% of the population follow Hinduism which is at least 4000years old. However people from various religions stay in this nation (Ganeri, 2013, pp. 6-7). India is the land where the Vedas and Upanishads originated (Vyas, 1992, pp.13-14). All the scriptures have been written in Sanskrit which is considered to be the mother of many languages. At present, Hindi is the national language which is again derived from Sanskrit. Indian languages, customs, rituals, dance, music, architecture, food, clothing etc differ greatly from place to place within the country. Naturally it is bountiful with seas, mountains, agricultural lands, forests, rivers, deserts, etc. India is the origin of various classical dance forms and music. However, each form represents the heritage of a particular group of people. ... Though, now - a- days, boys and girls mix up more freely, yet in general the society is conservative and arranged marriages are still a norm. Business meetings in large cities are organized as in western countries. It is rich in its cultural heritage; however, it is a third world developing country. There is a stark difference between the cultures of rural and urban India. For Indians, the concept of time is generally relaxing. Weekends comprise Saturdays and Sundays (Soundar, 2005, pp. 119-122). Culture of UAE The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is made up of the seven small emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al-Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al-Qaiwain, and Fujairah. Four-fifths of the UAE is desert. However, UAE is a rich country, due to its oil reserves. Originally, the local population was little and didn’t have the technical skills needed for a developed society. The discovery of and commercial production of oil triggered rapid economic growth and also resulted in the immigratio n of male foreign laborers, on a large scale. So, in just four decades, it has become a cosmopolitan and multicultural country. About two-thirds of the immigrants are Asians, mainly from India, Pakistan, Iran, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh etc. (Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Washington DC, 2012) Islam is the main religion in the UAE but they are well known for religious tolerance. Temples, Gurdwaras, Churches are found along with Mosques. The official language is Arabic. English is the language of commerce. They generally greet by saying â€Å"Salaamu aleikum†. They pray five times a day, religiously. Muslims observe an entire month of fasting, in the fall, called Ramadan, during which they do not eat, drink or smoke between sunrise and sunset.