Corporate Strategy Analysis Discussion Summary Essay Example for Free

Corporate Strategy Analysis Discussion Summary Essay â€Å"Corporate strategy identifies the set of businesses, markets, or industries in which the organization competes and the distribution of resources among those businesses† (Bateman Snell, 2011). There are four basic alternatives for corporate strategy. These strategies include concentration, vertical integration, concentric diversification and conglomerate diversification. Every company has their type of corporate strategy that they follow to include Coca-Cola, Xerox, Southwest Airlines, and VF. In 2004 Coca-Colas CEO Neville Isdell agrees to come out of retirement and becomes cokes new chief executive. Coca-Cola’s worse drop in sales at 24% resulted in the return of Neville Isdell (Foust, 2014). With the return of Neville, Coca-Cola agreed to use a corporate strategy of their own (vertical integration) when they bought Glaceau’s vitamin water. Coca-Cola also came out with their coffee cola (Coke Blak) and their green tea (Envigo). The decision to purchase vitamin water was vital to the increase of Coca-Cola’s sales and bring them back into competition with PepsiCo. Coca-Cola is using an aggressive strategy to expand globally with their carbonated and non-carbonated drinks. To this day Coca-Cola is still expanding with their products such as Fuze and Gold Peak tea. Anne Mulcahy began the transformation of Xerox by following a concentrated strategy by focusing on a single industry. She pursed concentrated strategy by first reducing Xerox nearly $18 billion in debt. She accomplished this by cutting billions of dollars through slashing of jobs and selling off divisions. Anne Mulcahy then evaluated alternatives by pouring resources into a consulting division; this made the company more accessible for potential clients and customers. She developed a new business strategic plan, although a risky choice helped the organization seize new opportunities or thwart challenges. She also closed the desk top printers division and moved away from expensive consumer  printers with functions nobody wanted. Xerox took new technology and moved into colored digital printing and started developing high end color commercial printers. Xerox made this decision because the profit margin of color pages was five times that of black and white copies. Xerox used the strategy of concentric diversification by moving into a new business that was related to the companys core business. Xerox then purchased office Services Company and Image Services for 1.5 billion dollars to demonstrate its new marketable high end color digital printers and copier services. References Bateman,T.S., Snell, S.A. (2011). Management:Leading collaborating in a competitive world (9th ed.). New York,NY: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Foust, D. (2014). Gone Flat. Retrieved from http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2004-12-19/gone-flat

Benefits and Drawbacks of Vertical Integration

Benefits and Drawbacks of Vertical Integration Vertical integration is the corporate strategy which the firms take to gain the competitive advantages by of in multiple markets or industries simultaneously. Best strategy of the common ownership is the vertical integration where the supply chain is being united there by producing a monopoly termed as vertical monopoly. Vertical integration is the degree to which owner owns suppliers of upstream (towards raw materials) and the buyers of downstream (towards end customers). Vertical integration is having important implications in a business unit with respect to its financial position, differentiation and other issues of strategic importance. In the corporate strategy the most important consideration is the vertical scope of a firm. In an organization the first strategic change is vertical integration. Any company has its own centre of gravity. Any initial strategic move will never affect the centre of gravity because of any prior as well as subsequent changes as they are operated usually for the benefit of the centre of gravity. 2. Vertical Integration: Based on the stream of integration it can be Integrating Backward Integrating forward Integrating in balanced 2.1. Integrating Backward: Acquisition of control subsidiaries which is intended to create (produce) some inputs which could be used in the production of its products. Integrating towards upstream or suppliers or raw materials. Backward movement is done to guarantee in terms of supply as well as to secure bargaining leverage on vendors. 2.2. Integrating forward: Acquisition of distribution centres which can extend up to the retailers to reach the final or end customers directly. Integrating towards downstream or buyers or end customers. Forward movement can guarantee markets and volume for capital investments and it would become own customer thereby providing feedback regarding new products. 2.3. Balanced Integration: Acquisition is done both in upstream as well as downstream which is integrating in both forward as well as backward its towards raw materials and finished products. 3. Benefits due to Vertical Integration: Cost reduction in terms of transportation can be done. More co-ordination in terms of supply chain management is possible Expansion could be possible in terms of core competitors. Capturing the profit as well as maximising the profits both from upstream as well as from downstream. More opportunity provision by differentiation through control over inputs. Through vertical integration the barriers of entry can be increased for the potential competitors. We can increase the access towards downstream distribution channels or else it may not be accessible. In some specified areas we can go for high investment in which upstream and downstream players finding it difficult to invest. 4. Drawbacks regarding vertical integration: Building excess upstream capacity (more investment) so that down stream can have sufficient supply even under heavy demand. There will be lack of supplier competition which will lead to low efficiency resulting in potentially higher costs. Even though vertical-related coordination may increase. The flexibility may get reduced due to previous investments in both upstream as well as downstream. If there is need for significant in-house requirements then it will reduce the ability to produce the product variety. Sometimes existing competencies should be sacrificed to develop new core competencies. Definitely the bureaucratic costs will get increased. 5. Factors in favour of vertical integration: Vertical integration is favoured by some of the situational factors like Taxations as well as tough rules and regulations regarding market transactions. Unexpected obstacles happening while formulating and monitoring contracts. Vertical related activities many times have the strategic similarity. Large scale of productions generally results in benefits like good economies of scale. Hesitation from other firms for investing in some specific transactions. 6. Factors opposing vertical integration: Some factors make vertical integration less attractive like The minimum efficient scale of production of the particular raw materials is much more than what is needed by the production department in that case the company must bear the loss happened due to this excess production which will increase cost of production. Sometimes the activity needed is very different type of core competencies. Very different types of industries like manufacturing retailing must carry out vertically adjacent activities. The firm may be viewed as a competitor rather than as a partner as firm needs to co-operate for the addition of new activity places. Technology of static importance: There will be many internal gains like Transaction costs could be reduced. Supply and demand synchronization is possible along the chain of products. Since there is less uncertainty there will be less risk involved hence high investment is possible. Throughout the chain the market foreclosure is possible. This in turn gives the ability to monopolize the market. At the same time there is a possibility to face the internal losses In case of switching of the suppliers or buyers there higher organizational costs as well as monetary costs. There are some benefits to the society like 1. Since there is reduced uncertainty which in turn result in more investment which will enhance the growth At the same time there are losses to the society as well 1. There will be monopolisation of the markets. 2. There may be a throwaway society due to monopoly on intermediate components. Technology of dynamic importance: 1. In order to keep up with the competition the company would be forced to reinvest infrastructure. This indicates that some times vertical integration will eventually would hurt due to availability of new technologies. The cost production will get increased due to reinvestment in new technology. Vertical integration Vs Outsourcing: In a firm when something is found it is not a core competency then it is liable to get outsourced, through outsourcing we can do more strategic use of scarce resources in a firm as well as cost saving with better productivity is possible. Even though some of the gigantic oil companies like Standard oil as well as Exon is completely under vertical integration. In the current scenario until and unless if there is any compelling reasons for vertical integration the firms are going for non-integration or out-sourcing. By product seller: Among the strategic categories the poorest performer is the by-product sellers who are vertically integrated. Generally the by-product sellers are the primary manufacturers of the raw materials which are the upstream business in process in any business. The problem behind this is that there is no resource allocation across multiple products it got confined within a single business. Ultimately there is also no possibility for any change due to the fact that management skills partly technological as well as know-how whereas it do not transfer across the industries at the primary manufacturing centre of gravity. By product diversification Most of the vertically integrated company first sell by products as a move towards first diversification. But both the centre of gravity as well as the industry will remain unaltered. Full Integration: It generally exists between two stages of a production process both A and B. All the As production sold internally and all Bs requirement obtained internally. For example in case of integrated steel plants the steel plant gets all Pig iron it is not purchased outside. Tapered Integration: It generally exists when two stages of production both A and B are not self sufficient internally. For example a car company gets most of its spare parts externally even though the core component is been produced within the care company. b

We Should Reach out to Muslims Essay -- Islam, Jihad, Terrorism Essays

Do we, the United States, the West, have an argument with Islam? We surely have an argument with a lot of Muslims. The media in Muslim countries are full of anti-Americanism. Furthermore, most Muslim countries practice forms of government completely at odds with the political ideas cherished by Americans. They are despotic and intolerant. Muslim countries seem to conform to the pattern of so-called "shame" cultures, in which the rightness and wrongness of deeds are judged not by some moral compass, but by the reactions of onlookers. And then there is the dreadful antisemitism with which Islam seems to be riddled. From professors of theology at Saudi universities to New York City cab drivers, it sometimes seems you only have to scratch a Muslim to find an antisemite of the vicious, irrational kind that largely disappeared from the Christian world half a century ago. Sophisticated Muslims tell you that this is really just anti-Zionism, a reaction to the indignities suffered by their co-religionists in Palestine. You can believe that if you want to. Muslim anti-Semites say "Zionist" when they're being very careful, but mostly they just say "Jew." Besides, Israel is an ethno-state, a Jewish homeland. To target your feelings precisely against that nation, leaving aside the Jews of other lands (most of whom, in any case, support Israel to some degree) is a job of emotional fine-tuning very few human beings are actually capable of. I am sure there are anti-Zionists who are not anti-Semitic (there is in fact a Judaic se ct, the Neturei Karta, who are anti-Zionist), but I am also sure their numbers are small - among Muslims, I think, vanishingly small. And certainly Muslim anti-Semitism pre-dates the founding of the modern state of Isra... ... Islam (Baltimore, 1955). Ostling, Richard N. "Islam's Idea of Holy War." Time, 11 February 2001, 51. Peters, Rudolph. Islam and Colonialism: The Doctrine of Jihad in Modern History (The Hague, Netherlands: 1979). The Qur'an: The Eternal Revelation vouchsafed to Muhammad, The Seal of the Prophets. Trans. Muhammad Zafrulla Khan. (New York, 2012). Ryan, Patrick J. "The Roots of Muslim Anger: The Religious and Political Background of Worldwide Islamic Militancy Today." America, 26 November 2011, 8. Sivan, Emmanuel. "The Holy War Tradition in Islam." Orbis 42, no. 2 (2011): 171. Streusand, Douglas E. "What Does Jihad Mean?" September 1997. (5 December, 2013). "Text of Alleged Terrorist Fax." CBS News, 24 September 2013. (31 October 2013). Watt, W. Montgomery. Companion to the Qur'an: Based on the Arberry Translation (London, 2007).

Sociological Perspective on Religion

â€Å"Sociological Perspectives on Religion† During this semester I have learned that in essence, â€Å"free will† does not gear our decision making process, it is primarily society that influences all thoughts and behaviors in turn, impacting all aspects of our life. The evolutionary socialization process initiates at the moment of conception, in our mother’s womb, through childhood, carries on during adulthood and ends in our graves. The most important and influential agent of socialization is the family. On a global perspective, the primary teachers, our parents, educate us on language, beliefs, physical control, values and civilized behavior for public conduct. The greatest belief instilled is that of divinity and forming part of a religion. According to the Sociology text book, Religion is defined as a social institution involving beliefs and practices based on recognizing the sacred. Ethically, it encompasses what we define to be good or bad. In this paper I will further examine religion on a global perspective from previously conducted social research and just how important a role it plays in our lives. Religion has been used to celebrate life at birth, adulthood, mourning of death and politics. According to Emile Durkheim (1965, orig. 1915) in his structural –functional approach, society on its own, beyond the life of any individual, has life and power. When practicing religion the power of this society is celebrated. He found that within this society people seek to find social cohesion, social control, meaning and purpose. Symbols, values and norms are what shape a religion. Since â€Å"God† is considered to be the divine and symbol of perfection, religious fanatics fear his judgment. In the United States about 85% of adults identify themselves with some type of religion. â€Å"God Bless America,† is widely used by politicians to address our people and demonstrate they believe the higher power is not them but, God. That they cannot lead without the blessing of God. In the past 2008 election many questioned Barack Obama’s faith because his father was born Muslim and then became atheist while, his mother was never genuinely active in a religious organization. Therefore, Obama was raised to be skeptic about religion and showed no true inclination, causing a lot of criticism during the campaign. People want to follow who shares the same values as themselves. Saying a simple phrase as â€Å"God Bless America† convinces them that their political leaders’ views and ruling will be geared under what religion overseas as ethically correct. When I say ethically right, the geographical location of religion must be taken into consideration because social conflict tends to arise due to the fact that all religions don’t support or share the same ideas. For example, in the Middle East there are claims that God is behind the actions we in the United States consider to be evil such as, the terrorist attack of 9/11. This is one of the differences in religion that affected our society in the U. S. and has provoked violence and war. Violence within the United States towards people that appeared of Middle Eastern decent and declared war against â€Å"terror† in the middle east. Religion shapes society and is considered to be socially constructed. With divine being the inspiration, people differentiate the ordinary and extraordinary with in rituals such as, holidays and prayer. In theory, religion plays a major role in behavior, marriage, union and social inequality. For example, marriages through religion have lower divorce rates than those arranged outside of religion. Couples are planning a divorce before getting married by making prenuptial arrangements. Although, love may very well be present in these marriages, they are still thinking about themselves individually and protecting against later implications. I was in a relationship for six years and within those years we conceived to the two precious, Xavier and Joshua. If I would’ve been married through religion, the possibilities of my being a single parent today would be close to none. Religion gives marriage a greater value rather than the usual base of love. At one point we attempted to seek counseling and received a referral to a pastor who geared the entire session on compliance with divinity, plan of marriage and unity of family under his religion. In NRSV Corinthians 13;4-8, 13, Paul described the meaning of true love as follows: â€Å"Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end†¦ And now faith, hope and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. (NSRV, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13) If we were to follow this definition of love, we wouldn’t be projecting our fears as individuals instead building a base for both as a whole. In this instance, my relationship would still be present as many others. Based on this and Emile Durkheim’s sociological findings religion focuses on uniting societies. â€Å"You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. †(James 2:24) Surprisingly, another social conflict within religion is due to inequality. Social order as Karl Marx points is justified by religion. He addresses capitalism as the old saying â€Å"rich get richer and poor get poorer. † Especially, in today’s economy we find the unemployment rate rising at a fast pace resulting in homeless and hungry people. Racism also went hand in hand with religion in social inequality since the nineteenth century due to ethnocentrism. It was generally believed the white dominated over people of color. They were to be kept genuine and not integrate other races even within religion, employment and their entire society. In this belief was also the premonition that God was in accordance with white superiority, or at least this was the excuse, causing the creation of â€Å"internal colonialism. † â€Å"Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. †(2 Peter 1:10-11) Whites remained together, keeping all other races inferior and living in poverty. On the other hand during nineteenth century many religious groups worked against inequality and stood up for the abolishment of slavery during the civil rights movement. As stated in the Sociology text book Male Orthodox Jews say the following prayer everyday: â€Å"Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, that I was not born a gentile. Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, that I was not born a slave. Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, that I was not born a woman. Another form of inequality within religion is through gender. Subordination of women has come along throughout history in modern today. Although, we have come a long way inequality still exists. For example, in poor countries such as Africa and Southern Asia polygamy is practiced where it is legal for men to marry more than two women. Also, in Tibet a form of polygamy named polyandry is a lso practiced where two men can share one woman. In other areas there are still ideas that keep woman from jobs. These women go about their lives marrying, having many children and live in poverty. A man†¦is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory man. For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. † (1 Corinthians 11:7-9) â€Å"As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silence in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says. If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. † (1 Corinthians 14:33-35) â€Å"Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church†¦. As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands. † (Ephesians 5:22-24) From a Christian point of view women were sought to be a source of temptation due to the fact that Eve was to blame for Adam’s fall, it was because of her that evil came about into the world. On the other hand once again religious groups sought to fight for equality by supporting feminism and gay rights during the 1960s and 1970s. Religion has caused great social change. In time of need or illness everyone seeks for enlightenment within religion. Max Weber and his colleague Ernst Troeltsch studied precisely Calvinism, a protestant reformation movement. Calvinists believe some are selected by God to be saved and others to be damned. They then looked for signs of divine blessing and worked very hard to acquire great wealth. With this wealth they would reinvest profits resulting in the fulfillment of their calling. This Weber and Troeltsch found as the cause in rise of industrial capitalism. The poor were considered rejects of God. Throughout history Christianity has reached out to people suffering in promise of a better life in faith. Liberating people from oppression, poverty and promotion of greater equality is their purpose. Ironically in most recent years there have been a rising number of cases reported on sexual abuse by Christian priests. The Christian church claims problems arise in our society due to the ignorance in God. Families seek refuge and divinity within their churches and find the cruel reality that evil exists there. Many changes are going about with regards to religion. People are adopting other religious organizations rather than the one’s instilled from childhood. Also, as technology continues to advance secularization arise. Secularization is the decline in importance and value of the sacred and supernatural. In times of despair we now seek answers and depend on physicians. As we see change in religion we find it more questionable. Now spiritual seekers in the â€Å"New Age† movement, look into conventional religious organizations. Modernization has taken on a new twist in religion and the way we view it. With is the desire to continue conserving our real identity is rarely exactly maintained. In the following passage William Ernest Henley writes about extreme individualism and how capable we are to determine our lives: â€Å"Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeoning of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul. † Today we live in a world where terrorism, wars, death and torture of innocent are to no surprise. Every day you turn on the news there are children missing, parents killing and mistreating each other and their family. In this society everyone is running at a fast pace with a cold heart, committing selfish acts of corruption, leading abusive relationships, violence, hatred, sexual perversion, etc.. Humans are part of this society and continue responding to and redirecting their social interaction and context. The sad part of it all is that society has created all this and that religion has played a major role in directing everyone’s sense of self. Works Cited Society. J. Macionis, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 10th edition, 2009. Exploring Religious Meaning. Robert C. Monk. Walter C. Hofheinz. Kenneth T. Lawrence. Joseph D. Stamey. Bert Affleck. Tetsunao Yamamori, Upper Saddle River, NJ:Prentice-Hall, 6th edition, 2003 â€Å"Sociology of religion. † Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 7 Nov 2009, 23:59 UTC. 18 Nov 2009 . William Ernest Hensley, â€Å"Invictus,†Poems( New York: Scribner, 1919), p. 119 â€Å"Sociological Perspectives on Religion†

Create a Magic Genie in a Bottle Effect

Create a Magic Genie in a Bottle Effect Drop a chemical into a flask to produce a cloud of water vapor and oxygen, resembling a magic genie emerging from its bottle. This chemistry demonstration can be used to introduce the concepts of decomposition reactions, exothermic reactions, and catalysts. Magic Genie Safety Wear rubber gloves and safety goggles. The 30% hydrogen peroxide used in this demonstration is a strong oxidizing agent which should be handled with care. It is extremely corrosive and reactive. Sodium iodide should not be ingested. The chemical reaction evolves heat so it is important to use borosilicate glass and to take care that the mouth of the flask is directed away from people. Magic Genie Demonstration Materials 50 ml of 30% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)4 g of sodium iodide, NaI [may substitute manganese(IV) oxide]1-liter borosilicate (Pyrex or Kimax) volumetric flaskFilter paper or tissue paper The peroxide solution is considerably more concentrated than ordinary household peroxide (3%), so youll either need to obtain it from a beauty supply store, chemical supply ​store or online. Sodium iodide or manganese oxide are best obtained from chemical suppliers. Magic Genie Procedure Wrap the sodium iodide or manganese oxide in a piece of filter paper or tissue paper. Staple the paper so none of the solid can spill out.Carefully pour 50 ml of 30% hydrogen peroxide solution into the volumetric flask.Set the flask a counter and cover it with a towel to protect your hands from the heat of the reaction. When you are ready, drop the packet of solid reactant into the flask. Be sure the flask is pointed away from yourself and students. The magic water vapor genie will appear!After the demonstration is complete, the liquid may be washed down the drain with excess water. Rinse the flask and dilute any spills with water before cleanup. Magic Genie Reaction Hydrogen peroxide decomposes into water vapor and oxygen gas. The sodium iodide or manganese oxide catalyzes the exothermic reaction. The reaction is: 2H2O2 (aq) → 2H2O (g) O2 (g) heat Helpful Tips for the Magic Genie Experiment Use of Pyrex, Kimax, or another type of borosilicate glass minimizes the risk of breakage.Rather than dropping the packet of sodium iodide or manganese oxide, you can hang it inside the flask by a string taped to the outside of the flask or secured (loosely) with a stopper. Do not tightly seal the flask! A stopper with a hole or two is safest.  Use a large volume flask, even though youre only using a small volume of liquid. This is because brown liquid can splash up near the conclusion of the reaction. This liquid is free iodine released from the oxidizing effect of the strong peroxide solution.Make sure you dont seal or tightly stopper the flask, as pressure buildup from a premature reaction can shatter the flask violently.Excess sodium iodide may be thrown away in the trash receptacle.Are you artistic? You can wrap the flask in foil to make it look like a magic genie bottle or lamp. While you have the 30% peroxide out, why not try the elephant toothpaste demonstration? Another interesting demonstration to try involves making violet smoke. Reference: Stone, Charles, H. J. Chem. Ed., 1944, 21, 300.

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Essays (4945 words) - Computing

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Essays (4945 words) - Computing MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT ( MGT 6255 ) CASE STUDY ON MISSED OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS: MICROSOFT, DELL, INTEL, ATT, AND VIRGIN AMERICA AIRLINE Report prepared by: Abdulla Abdulqader Al- Attas (G1430873) Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u HYPERLINK \l "_Toc446759270" 1.Microsoft Corporation PAGEREF _Toc446759270 \h 3 1.1.What opportunities Microsoft missed or what did Microsoft do wrong? PAGEREF _Toc446759271 \h 3 1.2.What Microsoft should have done? PAGEREF _Toc446759274 \h 4 2.Dell PAGEREF _Toc446759275 \h 6 2.1.What Opportunities Dell Missed Or What Did Dell Do Wrong? PAGEREF _Toc446759277 \h 6 2.2.What Dell should have done to avoid this crisis? PAGEREF _Toc446759278 \h 7 3.Intel PAGEREF _Toc446759279 \h 9 3.1.What Opportunities Intel Missed Or What Did Intel Do Wrong? PAGEREF _Toc446759281 \h 9 3.2.What Intel should have done to avoid or overcome this crisis? PAGEREF _Toc446759282 \h 10 4.ATT Mobility PAGEREF _Toc446759283 \h 11 4.1.What Opportunities ATT Missed Or What Did ATT Do Wrong? PAGEREF _Toc446759285 \h 11 4.2.What ATT should have done to avoid or overcome this crisis? PAGEREF _Toc446759286 \h 12 5.Virgin America PAGEREF _Toc446759291 \h 13 5.1.What Opportunities Virgin America Missed Or What Did Virgin America Do Wrong? PAGEREF _Toc446759297 \h 13 5.2.What Virgin America should do to avoid or overcome this crisis? PAGEREF _Toc446759299 \h 13 Reference PAGEREF _Toc446759300 \h 15 Microsoft Corporation In 1975, a Harvard drop-out had a vision to see Microsoft operating system software on every personal computer desktop. Today, Microsoft has accumulated an impressive portfolio of resources, alliances, global operations, customers and critics. That made Microsoft being listed in the Fortune 100 and dominated the operating system world and a leader in multiple industries. Microsoft core business is to manufacture, license, and supports software products for computing devices and games solutions. Both Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office Suit are the most profitable products. Since the 1990's, it is the most profitable IT company worldwide with 93,000 employees and supported by a strong partnership with the likes of IBM and HP, to progressively dominated the home computer and enterprise operating system market. Microsoft has also entered the computer hardware market under home entertainment products such as the Xbox 360, TV cable MSNBC. The company's initial public stock offering (IPO) was in 1986; the ensuing rise of the company's stock price has made four billionaires and an estimated 12,000 millionaires from Microsoft employees. While the initial start of Microsoft was impressive, however for the past 10 years it has missed many opportunities to maintain that leadership position, particularly when Bill gates stepped down from being Microsoft CEO and passed the helm to Steve Ballmer. What opportunities Microsoft missed or what did Microsoft do wrong? There are many opportunities that Microsoft has missed, however, we have highlighted the key products that if Microsoft made the right strategy on the products below, those other opportunities would have followed since they can be considered as added value to these key products. Mobile While, Microsoft dominance reached to a level that every screen will flash its logo and virtual desktop on every computer devices. This was mainly contributed by creating a strong partnership with major computer and server makers (hardware maker). That strategy lasted until mobile device started taking customers eyes from computer screens away. Customers have developed a new lifestyle to smartphone devices rather than having 15-inch laptops to access their corporate or personal emails and to do their tasks and it was replaced by a 6-inc device using a single hand. The smartphones threat to the personal computer is growing by about 50 percent annually. Previous Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer had Windows Mobile on the market way back, but it was never a great product. Ballmer also struck a late partnership with Nokia, and the product has some neat advantages but it all smacks of too little, too late. Tablet Before Amazon and Apple introduced (kindle and iPad, respectively), Microsoft introduced to the market e-book software back in 2000. However, the screens during that time were not easy on the eye to read for hours, until Amazon introduced Kindle with a light screen to read e-books. Music One of Microsoft greatest competitors Apple was on the brink of closure until it introduced iTunes and iPod, which was a platform to download legal music and share it. Apple took what they learned from

Solitary Confinement Essays

Solitary Confinement Essays Solitary Confinement Essay Solitary Confinement Essay Throughout the United States, many of the standard regulations for juveniles that are held in solitary confinement are the same, but not all states have been direct about how some of them are treating their inmates. In recent years, Ohio has become one of the numerous states in America that has significantly reduced and eventually will restrict the use of solitary confinement on Juveniles In the youth prison systems (Richards, 2014). This is because, while under investigation by the united States Justice Department, the state of Ohio was found to be using solitary confinement in inappropriate ways that violated the Juveniles constitutional rights. Mike, Just one of the hundreds of youths incarcerated in Ohios youth prisons, has experienced the harsh and cruel treatment (Richards, 2014). Before being incarcerated, Mike had grown up In thirty-seven different foster homes. With having gone through an unstable childhood, Mike feared that for the rest of his life, he would be neglected and rejected by all of his peers (Richards 2014). The National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being data shows that more than half of Juveniles with reports of neglect or rejection are at risk of committing some type of delinquent act ( C. W. I. G. 2014). Shortly after being placed in a new foster home, Mike found himself participating In illegal activities. When he was arrested, Mike was sentenced to serve five years In Shows correctional system for a felony conviction. Mike stated The longest time I spent In solitary confinement was eighteen weeks (Richards, 2014). In those eighteen weeks, restricted of any outside activity, guards would only check on IM to make sure that he was still alive. His room consisted of Just a toilet, sink, shower, bed, and a small window that was about two inches wide. Mike was left in his room with no pencil or books for most of his remaining time at the facility and was only allowed to leave his cell once a month for ten minutes. Many of the youth Inmates that were held In these facilities had either been previously diagnosed with a mental illness or later diagnosed with a mental illness after serving their time in solitary confinement. Joanne Richards, a reporter for WASP in Cleveland, states that Starting September first, punishment for all youth offenders from the age of ten to twenty-one will be limited to four hours (Richards, 2014). Many more changes are being made In Shows Juvenile Justice systems such as closely monitoring the safety of employ for the U. S. Justice Departments Civil Rights Division, sued Ohios Juvenile correction system for the violations against the youth offenders held in their facilities. Hill states We need to make sure that incarceration of young people is used to rehabilitate them, not Just to warehouse and forget them and certainly not damage hem in ways that make them less and less able to participate in our communities in a positive way (Richards, 2014). As this case had been further investigated by the Justice Department, they began to find out that being locked down behind bars for a month strait with a ten minute psychiatrist appointment was only affecting the youth offenders mental health negatively. Kim Parallel with the Ohio Department of Youth Services says that they plan on adjusting their strategies of rehabilitating the youth instead of locking them up for twenty four hours a day (Richards, 2014). There will be more prevention programs that reflect on the inmates to help them with their behavioral and violence problems in order to keep them from refunding and ending up incarcerated again. Pennsylvania is one of the many states that still sentences Juveniles to solitary confinement. Solitary confinement in Pennsylvania is considered as a time out (Natal 2014). During a Juveniles time in solitary confinement, each individual is locked in a room or cell. Majority of their days consist of sitting in their cell with minimal or no contact with other people besides the staff f the corrections facility. Juveniles are locked down in their cells for twenty-two to twenty-three hours a day with nothing but a bed and a toilet. Pennsylvania says that it is used as a form of discipline in order to try and prevent the young offenders from being re-incarcerated. Pennsylvania makes sure that all of their youth offenders are safe and that youths that are confined for more than twenty-three hours a day must be evaluated by a mental health professional (Natal, 2014). Solitary confinement, a harsh and cruel punishment, provides many reasons to be banned in the Juvenile recreational system. Punishing children by locking them up for twenty-three hours a day is eliminating the opportunity for them to grasp where they went wrong and how to prevent further crimes. Children that commit crimes at a young age need to be taught and guided into the right direction so that their illegal activities of choice will not be committed again. Focusing on rehabilitation for these Juveniles should be the number one priority of the Juvenile Justice system, in order to lower the rate of youth offenders in detention. Juvenile solitary confinement is not only affecting a childs opportunity to grow, but can also discourage him mentally and physically. Examples of eventual and immediate psychological harms are anxiety, rage, insomnia, self harm, suicidal thoughts, and struggling with mental disabilities Jackson, 2012). The negative physical effects that solitary confinement has on Juveniles are lack of adequate exercise, stunted growth, social and developmental harm, and denial of family contact Jackson, 2012). Because of these negative consequences of solitary confinement, there must be other, more effective types of treatment of Juvenile delinquents. Psychology and psychiatry are two alternative methods to solitary confinement. Working through and talking about problems with a psychologist could potentially treat and rehabilitate a child by allowing him to discuss and explain his issues rather than keeping them bottled up with rage. Psychiatry could provide a solution to a problem that the child does not even know he has. Seeing a specialist juvenile than locking him in a cell to deal with things on his own. The previously mentioned Pennsylvania law about youths confined for over twenty-three hours should be instituted in more states. Another alternative treatment method could be allowing the child to discuss his problems with his peers. This option gives the opportunity for the adolescent to grow with others, realize what led him to crime, and how to build relationships with people who can help rather than harm. Isolation and cruel punishment does not have to be the answer. At this point in time, minimal efforts are happening in America to end the harsh treatment of Juveniles in solitary confinement. Although states like Ohio and Pennsylvania have drawn minor attention to the youth offenders spending all of their time alone, there is still cruel treatment nonetheless.