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The Hershey Company - 2052 Words

The Hershey Chocolate Company Table of Contents Board of Directors 1 Introduction 2 Report 3 Financial Report Card 9 Annual Report Board of Directors Pamela Arway- Senior Advisor to Chairman and CEO of American Express Robert Cavanaugh- Managing Director of DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners Charles Davis- CEO of Stone Point Capital, LLC James Nevels- Director of Tasty Baking Company Thomas Ridge- President and CEO of Ridge Global, LLC David Shedlarz- Vice President of Pfizer, Inc David West- President and CEO of The Hershey Company Leroy Zimmerman- Senior Counsel of Eckert, Seamans, Cherin, And Mellott, LLC The Hershey Company The Hershey†¦show more content†¦In 1907 the Hershey Chocolate Company started producing a flat bottomed milk chocolate candy which Mr. Hershey decided to call the Hershey Kiss. In early production the Hershey Kisses were individually wrapped in little squares of silver foil. In 1921 when the wrapping machine was invented Hershey decided to give the Hershey Kiss a â€Å"plume† like appearance that we recognize today. This was to signify to consumers that this was a genuine Hershey’s Kiss Chocolate. This was eventually trademarked in 1913. Over the next two decades the Hershey Chocolate Company would produce several more products. These products were Mr. Goodbar (1925), Hershey’s Syrup (1926), chocolate chips (1928) and the Krackel bar (1938). During the Great Depression of the 1930’s these products made it possible for employees to keep their jobs and the company was able to sustain profitability. During even harder times, WW II, The Hersh ey Company provided survival rations of chocolate bars for military use. By doing this The Hershey Chocolate Company earned no less than five Army-Navy â€Å"E† Production Awards for its exceptional contributions to the war effort. In fact, the company’s machine shop even turned out parts for the Navy’s antiaircraft guns. Since 1928 Harry B Reese had a strong partnership with The HersheyShow MoreRelatedThe Hershey Company By Milton Hershey996 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The Hershey Company† was founded by Milton Hershey in 1909. In 1894 they decided to produce a sweet chocolate as a coating for his caramels. The company was originally located in Lancaster Pennsylvania. The company is now headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania and is a global confectionary leader. They are known for their chocolate, sweets, mints and other snacks. In 1900, â€Å"Hershey† Company started making milk chocolate bars, wafers, and other shapes. He was able to lower the unit cost andRead MoreMilton Hershey And The Hershey Company1060 Words   |  5 PagesThe Hershey Company, also known as Hershey’s, is a company that sells candy and treats to people all over the world. A man named Milton Hershey had a dream to establish a candy company. His first two candy companies had failed, but he never gave up. He started the Hershey Company in 1894 and is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Since then, it has spread all over the world and became one of the biggest manufacturers of candies in the world. Milton Hershey, the founder of The Hershey Company, wasRead MoreThe Hershey Company s Company1741 Words   |  7 Pages THE HERSHEY’S COMPANY Newton Prajapati University of Bridgeport â€Æ' Introduction Company Background: The Hershey Company is one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in North America. The company’s name has been a synonym for chocolate in North America. Hershey’s was founded Milton S. Hershey in 1894 in Derry Township, Pennsylvania. It has secured the position of 22nd in the list of top 100 food processing company of USA (Foodprocessing, n.d.). It used to be named as Hershey Food Corporation untilRead MoreIntroduction Of The Hershey Company Essay1099 Words   |  5 Pagesto Business The Hershey Company Introduction The Hershey Company produces the best chocolate according to a survey taken among my coworkers. This company is well known for their Hershey s Kisses, Kit-Kat, Whopper s, Reese s Peanut Butter Cups and much more! Personally Kit-Kat is my favorite. Hershey s is one chocolate that I can eat and it changes my whole mood. Their mission statement is, â€Å"Bringing sweet moments of Hershey happiness to the world every day.†1 Hershey s focuses on loveRead MoreThe Beginnings of The Hershey Company1155 Words   |  5 PagesThe company that I chose for this case study is the Hershey Company. This company was founded back in1837 by Milton Hershey, who was born September 3rd 1857 in Derry Township, Pennsylvania, to Veronica and Henry Hershey. Milton began his early years of making candy for a local Lancaster County confectioner named Joseph Royster. At the young age of fourteen Milton began to express a true interest in making confectionary candies and for the next four years he stu died the arts and sciences of perfectingRead MoreThe Hershey Company ( Hsy )1661 Words   |  7 Pages As said by key (2015), â€Å"The Hershey Company (HSY) is the largest producer of quality chocolate in North America. It is a global leader in chocolate, sugar confectionery, and chocolate-related grocery products, operating under 80 brands in 70 countries worldwide.† The US confectionery market consists of gums, chocolates and sugar confectionery and the largest segment prior to this market in 2013 was the chocolate segment. The main players in this market are Hersheys, Mars and Nestle with Hershey’sRead MoreHershey Foods Company2299 Words   |  10 PagesIntroduction The Hershey Company is famously known for being the biggest manufacturer of chocolates and confectionery products in USA, having hired over 15,000 employees worldwide and exporting their products to ninety different countries over the world. The Hershey Company has several popular brands, some of most notable ones being Hershey s Chocolate Bar, Kit Kat, Hershey s Kisses, Reese s, York Peppermint Pattie, Rolo and Krackle Bar. With the help of these brands, Hershey gained success andRead MoreCompany Profile Of The Hershey Company1237 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction The Hershey Company, known until April 2005 as the Hershey Foods Corporation (and commonly called Hershey’s), is the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America. Its headquarters are in Hershey, PA. Founded in 1894, the company is 120 years old and enjoys the benefits associated with a mature business cycle; strong corporate culture, brand recognition, customer loyalty, etc. This paper analyzes the business in a number of ways to explain how Hershey’s has endured and some issuesRead MoreMilton Hershey And The Hershey Company1018 Words   |  5 PagesThe Hershey Company is a candy company that makes hundreds of candies. They are one of the biggest manufacturers of candy in the world. It was started by a man named Milton Hershey in 1894. The company is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and has spread all over the world. Hershey chocolate is a mouthwatering milk chocolate that is affordable for all. Milton Hershey, the founder of The Hershey Company, was born September 13, 1857, and his parents were Henry Hershey and Fanny Snavely. At the ageRead MoreHershey Company-A Case Analysis2667 Words   |  11 Pages Abstract The Hershey Company, known until April 2005 as the  Hershey Foods Corporation and commonly called  Hershey s, is the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America. Its headquarters are in  Hershey, Pennsylvania, which is also home to  Hershey s Chocolate World. It was founded by  Milton S. Hershey  in 1894 as the Hershey Chocolate Company, a subsidiary of his  Lancaster Caramel Company. Hershey s products are sold in about sixty countries worldwide.  In addition, Hershey is a member of the  World

Essay about Maya Angelou - 682 Words

Maya Angelou has dedicated her life to end prejudices faced by many black females in the 20th century. As an author, poet, and entertainer, she is known best for her strong portrayal of African-American women. Some of her most outstanding work is the series of autobiographies that she wrote telling about her childhood. Her work has contributed immensely to Americans everywhere. She has also broken many barriers for black women in writing, entertainment, and in film making. Maya Angelou is definitely a positive role model to people everywhere. Maya Angelou has made many contributions through her poetry, writing, songwriting, acting, and film directing. She has written a series of autobiographical books focusing on her childhood until the†¦show more content†¦In addition to writing, she has had success in other categories of entertainment. Her screenplay Georgia, Georgia was produced in 1971, and she wrote and produced a prize winning documentary â€Å"Afro-Americans in the Arts† which received a Golden Eagle award (â€Å"Biography† 1) (â€Å"Maya Angelou† 1). Her musical compositions have been recorded by many famous people including B.B. King (â€Å"Biography† 1). Likewise, she was nominated for an Emmy Award for her role in the hit movie Roots (â€Å"Biography† 1). Many distinguished Americans have chosen her to serve on commissions and attend very important conferences. Martian Luther King, Jr., requested her as the northern coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; Gerald Ford appointed her to the Bicentennial Commission, and Jimmy Carter named her to the National Commission on the Observance of International Women’s Year (â€Å"Maya Angelou† 1). Maya Angelou has made an enormous contribution to not only the black society, but to everyone in the 1900’s. Maya Angelou’s work has broken many barriers for the black writers, entertainers, and directors. She has been a woman of firsts among the African American women. Angelou was the ground breaker for many black women in script writing and directing. In 1971, she became the first black woman to have an original screenplay produced (â€Å"Biography† 1). She was not only the first African-American, but also the first woman to read her work at a presidential inaugurationShow MoreRelatedMaya Angelou655 Words   |  3 PagesMa 2(1565443) Maya Angelou is known as the â€Å"most visible black female autobiographer/poet.† She was born, Marguerite Ann Johnson, on April fourth, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. Her parents divorced when she was three, and she and her brother were sent to live with their grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. Seeing all the racial discrimination in the American south strengthened her passion for poetry, music, dance and performance. Maya writes about the struggles people face, racism and freedom. At ageRead More`` Speak, By The Maya Angelou1137 Words   |  5 Pageswriter, the late Maya Angelou. This statement also aligns to a 1999 contemporary classic novel, Speak, where a young freshman, Melinda Sordino, faces isolation and depression to an event that occurred over the summer, one that only she knows about. In the novel, Melinda hangs up a poster of Maya Angelou in her make-shift janitor’s closet hangout. Laurie Halse Anderson uses Maya Angelou as a figure for Melinda to learn and ch ange by in the novel Speak. Melinda could learn from Angelou that she can standRead More Maya Angelou Essay1200 Words   |  5 Pages Maya Angelou is a phenomenal woman. She was born into a devastating decade, that suffered numerous tragedies. Not only had society shaped her as a woman, she has also shaped our society and influenced many lives. She is still living today, yet I believe her legend will never die. Furthermore I will share with you what motivated her and some of her gratifying experiences. How she was effected by society, and what she did about it. Also how the time period she was born into made her the extraordinaryRead More Maya Angelou Essay1926 Words   |  8 Pagesthe time she was born, Maya Angelou was subjected to racism, rape, grief and dehumanization. She beared enough emotional stress in a time frame that most people dont experience in a lifetime. Yet she prevailed. She forced herself to become stronger. And in doing so, she produced writings, which in turn, helped others to become strong. Her experiences and the lessons learned gave her confidence to be a teacher, a preacher, and an inspiration to millions. Maya Angelou was courageous. BasedRead MoreEssay on Maya Angelou612 Words   |  3 Pages Maya Angelou was born April 4, 1928. Her real name is Marguerite Johnson, but she later changed it to Maya. She was born in St. Louis, shortly after her birth her family up and move to Arkansaw. Maya grew up there in the rural parts of Arkansaw, and later married to a South African Freedom Fighter. She lived in Cairo with him, there she began her career as editor of the Arab Observer. At the request of Dr. Martin Lutheran King Jr., she became the northern coordinator for the Southern Christian LeadershipRead MoreEssay on Maya Angelou1185 Words   |  5 PagesDistress in Maya Angelous Life Marguerite Ann Johnson, commonly known as Maya Angelou, was born on April 4, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. She is a famous African-American poet, novelist, and playwright and also worked during the civil rights: Angelou is a very remarkable Renaissance woman who hailed as one of the great voices of contemporary literature (www.mayaangelou.com). She is also an activist in civil-rights. Angelou went through many controversies during her childhood and adulthood; herRead MoreAnalysis Of Maya Angelou s Angelou 2396 Words   |  10 Pagesparents had decided to put an end to their calamitous marriage and Father shipped us home to mother† (Angelou 7). 1. This excerpt comes from the beginning of chapter one. The narrator, who is also the main character Maya Angelou, informs her reader of her family status. 2. The author informs us that she is currently living with her Father’s mother due to the separation of their parents. 3. Maya Angelou includes this passage to show that there is no perfect marriage and provide knowledge as to how hardRead More Maya Angelou Essay1043 Words   |  5 PagesMaya Angelou      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   By consistently weaving the theme of motherhood into her literature, Maya Angelou creates both personal narratives and poems that the reader can relate to. Her exploration of this universal theme lends itself to a very large and diverse audience.   Throughout Angelous works, she allows her followers to witness her metamorphosis through different aspects of motherhood.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Well-worked themes are always present in Angelous works-   self-Read MoreMaya Angelou: the Lyrical Genius979 Words   |  4 Pages Maya Angelou: the Lyrical Genius When it comes to the struggles of a black woman, Maya Angelou is one of the best writers to interpret these struggles and to have the ability to put them into books and poems. The way Maya Angelou writes just makes you feel as if you were with here through all of the pain and sorrow. Not a lot of authors have the ability to do such a thing. Maya Angelou has the ability to write all of these amazing books andRead MorePhenomenal Woman By Maya Angelou1591 Words   |  7 PagesHow can one identify a phenomenal woman? Can one say it is measured by the good deeds she has done or maybe even her personality? Maya Angelou gave a deep reasoning of why and how she is a phenomenal woman. This poem, Phenomenal Women, has uplifted many woman all across the globe and inspired the youth to know there worth. Maya Angelou’s book â€Å"Phenomenal Woman† was published in 1995. The book contains four poems â€Å"Still I Rise†, â€Å"Weekend Glory†, â€Å"Our Grandmothersâ⠂¬ , and â€Å"Phenomenal Woman†. These poems

Effective Organizational Communication - 1155 Words

Rising to the challenge of communication Human Resource, HR leadership professionals is realize is necessary to retain quality talent and increase productivity of the workforce. When information flows freely to key players of the firm the consequence is sound well trained nimble teams. These are the teams that regularly contributor to organizational learning, by presenting ideas, and assisting in finding solutions that save time and money. Remarkably in todays world of talented professionals that have ample resources, the proclivity to communicate, can factor in setting the stage for an international business ongoing success. With global competition growing each year, the capacity to engage their workforce to accept and respond to key goals as quickly as possible is a required skill (HR Magazine 2008). It is obvious that a firm that cannot respond to changes in the market will lose its position in the industry and soon find they have been replaced. If a firm cannot respond quickly th e competition will soon surpass them, this is understood by HR managers who recognize the importance of communicating between various levels of the organization. Among the key factors of communication are managing production and organizational policy, lead and motivate, problem solving, conflict, decision support, and negotiations (HR Magazine 2008). Challenge of Communication Looking at the main purpose of communication there are several key indicators of communication theory goingShow MoreRelatedEffective Organizational Communication: a Key to Employee Motivation and Performance3235 Words   |  13 PagesEffective Organizational Communication: a Key to Employee Motivation and Performance Kirti Rajhans Asst. Professor, National Institute of Construction Management Research, Pune- 411045, India. Email: kirti.rajhans@gmail.com _________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT: Organisational Communication, in today’s organizations has not only become far more complex and varied but has become an important factor for overall organizational functioningRead MoreThe Relationship Between Effective Communication And Organizational Efficiency1123 Words   |  5 Pagesrelationship between effective communication and organizational efficiency, showing in particular how communication barriers may impact adversely on an organisation. This essay will focus on the relationship between effective communication and organizational efficiency, highlighting the main barriers in communication and their consequences. In order to facilitate the understanding of this relationship, it is very important to comprehend the purpose of communication in business and the meaningRead MoreThe Role of Effective Communication in Improving Organizational Performance1157 Words   |  5 PagesTHE ROLE OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN Improving organizational PERFORMANCE (CASE STUDY OF flour mill of Nigeria plc) BY AWAZIE ONYINYECHI SARAH 07AB05044 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY The word communication has a rich and complex history. It first appeared in English Language in the fourteenth century, taken from the Latin word â€Å"communicare† which means to impact, share or make common. Bateman (1999), defined communication as the transmission of information and meanings from one partyRead MoreOrganizational Communication : An Organization1591 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction The way in which individuals in an organization communicate with each other is what organizational communication is referred as in the simplest of terms. However, a little more precisely in terms of organizational communication as a field, it is defined as the consideration, study, and the censure of communication. Therefore, it would be safe to say organizational communication is not merely the transfer of a message from one party to another but it is also an element which shapes upRead MoreKey Parts Of Organizational Communication1277 Words   |  6 PagesDefinitions of Key Parts Organizational Communication is best described by as an action that is continually evolving. In a given workplace there must be the sending and receiving of information. This concept is the central component to achieve both individual and common goals. Essentially, there would be no organization without communication. Knowledge Management is an organization’s methodology of making their intellectual assets as fully functional, or effective as possible. This is a systematicRead MoreUnderstanding The Importance Of Corporate Communication1260 Words   |  6 Pages1.0 Understanding the Importance of Corporate Communication: The companies and the organizations communicate through different kinds of channels. All these are defined under corporate communication. Every single types of communication are important for the organization. But before discussing the importance we have to know what corporate communication is. Corporate communication is a combination of different types of activities that are involved to establish a favorable relation between the stakeholderRead MoreUnderstanding The Communication Patterns, And Development Of East Lincoln Elementary School Essay1355 Words   |  6 PagesI volunteered at East Lincoln Elementary School in Tullahoma, Tennessee. During that time, I assisted with office communication, cut math flashcards for tutorials, and organized the donations for the clothes closet for indigent students. In this paper, I will analyze the communication patterns, organizational patterns, and development of East Lincoln Elementary School. Communication Direction While volunteering at East Lincoln, I was able to observe the employees, their relationship with their coworkersRead MoreOrganizational Communication Is The Flow Of Messages Within A Network Of Interdependent Relationships1187 Words   |  5 Pages Organizational communication is the flow of messages within a network of interdependent relationships (Goldhaber, 1976). Terry, Drexler, and Faulkner wrote an article researching communication of family businesses. Research shows that there are fewer problems with family employee in comparison to non-family employees of the same firms (Terry, Drexler, Faulkner, 1997). Yet when there problems with a family member employee, it comes from mixing their roles work-related roles with family relatedRead MoreA Proposal For A New Communication Structure2007 Words   |  9 Pages A proposal for a new communication structure is a major factor in an organization. Five concepts play a significant role in a successful communication within an organi zation setting. The concepts of successful communication are active listening, organizational culture, conflict resolution, key principles of human communication, leadership strategies, formal and informal communication. There is some corporate groups formal and informal communication structure within the organization. EfficientRead MoreCommunication Audit4023 Words   |  17 PagesEXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report was commissioned to examine the effectiveness of internal communication of a reputed consulting firm that has widespread reach on domains such as media intelligence, PR, consulting and training to undergraduate students. The research process included conducting in depth interviews with two of the department heads and also with a reporting subordinate. Other sources include organizational statements posted online and the behavioural aspects of employees as monitored before

Business Research And Information Strategy- Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Business Research And Information Strategy? Answer: Introduction The strategy used by businesses to objectively deliver the desired information simply sets out long term planning. The terms set typically covers the business periods which incorporates information that initiates developed systems of strategy. The organization gains and develops greater competition gain compared to other firms. The information strategy developed in the systems of businesses provides the globalization of the world technological information all around. The business and information strategy focuses mainly on the services and products rendered to the market (Kalseth and Cummings, 2001). Hence, when the information is not maintained, the richness and broadness of the business collapse, therefore, its growth will be stagnant. In todays business market, the information strategies used aids greatly in expanding the fundamental trade sales (Mohasseb, 2000). Information financial sidehas grown in its importance for shaking off the traditional business foundations that created the richness of many businesses. Customer connection and different levels of standards increased in the blown up universe of many companies. Suppliers have increasingly found direct access to their customer alternatives hence provides better competition to their chain value profitable parts in the business world. The business industry is definedaccording to on how it deals with the simultaneous gaps of competition and the various advantages it gains and grabs throughout the process (Savin, 2004). Business and commercial leaders squarely clarify the practices that build the richness of the world and takes advantage of the new forces of information in the shaping of businesses. Many enterprises established use different models of managing knowledge to suit the industrial developments and growth during a certain period. Although these information models benefit the organization, the outdated information strategies undermine the benefits accorded with various models of connecting businesses. This piece of thearticle tries to scrutinize the key expectations of any information models used in the business strategies that demonstrate better management knowledge. The new perceptions in business research effectively deploy the E- business world. It suggests greater alignment of information strategy and business competition and intensity. The aim of the study identifies the practices undertaken by the organization and how the information alignment contributes to the enhancement of the business strategies (WITHDRAWN: Aims and Scope / Copyright Information, 2009). The paper also clarifies nature and surroundings made to construct the linkages between business and information strategies. There is also a connection of social diversity in measuring the dimensions of businesses and information. The study explores the business banking in Australia and empirically develops intensive information for business competitions. Different information sources provide business data collection strategies in the banking sector (Ghosh, 2002). The firms majorly strategize on dominating the information sources based on how they are written, documented, interviewed and reported during the different stages. The alignment of information strategies and business units provides evidence that compares the competition of firmstechnology. Information strategies plan the methodological processes that rank banks in wider central systems that provide summaries of paper works.The business undergoes an inter-dependence process that aligns wider factors together hence concludes the management strategies implicated to the firm areas and the area of location. The requirements of firm strategy and information in the banking industry provide atechnological system of information thus plays the role of relevant business expertise. Understanding the performance of e-business management Business and information strategies through established technology develop the key and consistent reports needed by managers to handle various systems in the organization. The dimensions liken the intellectual part and the social environment captured in both the business plans and the information contents both externally and internally. The business environment through social connection enables the executives to understand the business objectives and itsplans. In the study of social related issues and measurements associated with the connection dimensions, the linkages provided the important reference between information plans and the business. The executives gain agreater understanding of the information system and the business environment (Kaen, 2003). They can plan for the long term visions and objective aspirations for deploying the technological information. From the Canadian life insurance companies, data is linked to the business units thus the executives are rated based on th e written strategic plans and the meetings. The widespreaddiscussions in the business units provided the executives with thebetter information thus the business data demonstrates the shared objectives and the potential visions. Both the long and short term promises measures the linkages proposed on the aspect of social measurement. The reports gained from the linkage of business and the information strategy consistently establishes the organizational systems for managers. The encounters of business and information approach alignments in public aspects. There are several factors that influence the alignments of social diversity in the Canadian life insurance company and its other business units. The social rearrangement and dimensions show how the business and the information technology understand each others plans and research objectives. The alignments influence business knowledge and information technology thus the executives can implement business communication success (Jones, 2008). The process of connecting information and business planning undergoes agreementfor the business to compare and understand the visions. The documented business ideas and the Information technology plans steer the analysis of business units. The models of factors between the business and the information strategy influence both the long and short term alignments in the organization. The domain knowledge affects the long term alignments of business plans hence influences the short term efforts for understanding the business information technology strate gies for the firms administrators (Gartlan and Shanks, 2007). The creation of information vision further evolves the traditional placement of the administration in the organization. Although the support towards the strategic roles of business information continues to develop, the frameworks of the future continue to lack behind. The emerging areas in management continue to uphold the concepts of direct involvement of information technology all through business units. The model of aligning strategies in business and information defines the fundamental choices for organizational progress and development. The process of infrastructure in managements develop information technology that aid in the business dimensions. The models illustrate the characteristics associated with both the internal and external management strategies. Both components of integration function effectively between the business environment and the information strategies (Nisbet, 2004). The perception of alignment specifically manages and guides the business practices, and information technology is influenced by the respective areas of trade. Due to the changing aspects of different businesses and its complications, many organizations have found it difficult to set up information systems and strategic goals for the business over a certain period. Greater challenge of accomplishingbusiness and information alignment grows stronger each day as executives struggle to incorporate both ideas together to maintain a better workforce. However, there arediminutivemeasures that the managers provide to avert these concepts that provide difficult frameworks. The organizations provide different models that address and align the contributions of each one and everything involved in the process (Theodorou, 2004). Therefore, the gap developed by the models of business and information strategies detects the company systems hence conceptual models define better business constructs. Business relationships are enhanced by developing and refining the cases of information system misalignment. Business projects and engagements construct better communication strategies thus the managers understand better business- information strategies. The improvements in business technology in various areas of an enterprise, the alignments of the business and the information technology assets redefine the business and information expertise machinery. Refining business and information strategy alignment. The alignment of business and information provides evidence on how banks operate. This study uses the business environment to provide an effort for significant organizational focus. An organization competes comparatively to take advantage of the financial gains provided from the alignment thus informatively activates the critical operations (KlaasJagersma, 2011). The comparative advantages are basing on the bank sector, technological orientations and developments enable business extensive and strategic levels being enabled. Business and information strategies provide higher levels that enable national banks in Australia to operate and provide retailers and services in larger areas that are dispersed across the continent. The conceptual approach is realized in various sectors of banking and across the largest Australian firms. The employees realize the notion of strategic information that is applicable in all bank industries (Riasi, 2015). The banking system shows figures that range f rom the developing information plans put across the industry. Most banks in the country strategically pursued the total assets which emerged from the accounted total targets. The national retailers and other branch networks elaborated the significant study of key international operations that favored the configuration of business and information systems (Gartlan and Shanks, 2007). The key questions were tackled during the changing periods of banking and financial industry where the sector provided evidence that developments were as a result of hypothetical nature of comparing the relationship between low and high incomes. During the early years, the extent of business and information strategies comparatively enabled the government to take advantage of the companies relaxed restrictions hence deposited greater foreign exchange in the market processes and entry approaches. The firm deregulation in the exchange market significantly structured the organization to be accountable to the information system thus responsible for better policy making. Banks were studied, and themajority of them were found to have structural organizational changes, and information technology helped executive managers to collect company data over changing time frames (Akinyele and Olorunleke, 2010). The annual reports obtained recently conclude that many banks strategically are formed in wide areas. Hencethey indicate development gains from the stipulated levels. Information strategies participate extensively in technology planning and firms experience in documenting the visions and objectives following a certain time frame. In t he retail banks, the managers go through the reviews carefully and strategically uses information quoted from the environment to combine deregulation revolutions over certain periods of time. Organizational structure and accountabilities included thee research approach across all firms identified policies associated with the information strategies used and reported. The focused rearrangements across firms in various areas responsibly maintained the case design for studying specific arrangements of sources and multiple pieces of evidence collected. Information systems in an area provided the framework for collecting the structured technical decisions that the banks competed against in various areas. The firms strategies in technology provided the comer stone for banks to communicate effectively across its divide thus better decisions were made. Information strategies in firms differently fit in the resulting system resource approaches. Adopting strategic resources enables the busines s systems to assert the insights of firm expenses and organization (Beynon-Davies, Galliers and Sauer, n.d.). The strategies achieve the endless firm information system thus orients focus to primary business issues. Information systems and strategic orientation of the business helps the firm to set goals and objectives which are attainable. Conclusion Hypothesis and endorsements for information tactics in organizations. In assumption, Information is an important tool in any business asset where it manages the firms decision making hence management interpretation is intelligent. Enterprises develop information strategy that unravels thereal business value thus providing insights that benefit the executive managers to run the businesses (Hackney and Dunn, 2000). Information on customers, service Providence and supply chain challenges improve how the enterprise work across all business gains. The information strategies comprehensively make business data accessible. Business information strategies identify areas in the environment that effectively improves the intelligent of the firm by integrating insights to business focus. The gathered information strategy analyses the advances in technology thus the customer value is maintained. Intelligence tools drive and distribute corporate training about the new strategies of information to the whole business (Szulanski, Doz and Porac, 2005). Strong and efficie nt organizations build foundations that strategically place information at the forefront. Clear strategies on information provide organizations with data that enables the business landscape togovern its architectural analysis and deployment in management. The level of information assets in the organization is established through the journey of business orientation strategically on solid information base. The best performing organizations across all sectors in the world globally are developed through the disposition of effective information approaches. The resources available in dealing with the information systems connect the businesses thus unites the global experts in managing business pools (Curtis and Cobham, 2005). The combination of information strategies and the business environment provides deeper proficiency that consequently implements prosperous team management. The global networking in businesses enables the managers to practice better and excellent management procedures that support thegrowth of the business. The management of business information strengthens the records for projects and vision delivery due to the availability of exceptional information strategies that support business developments. Reference List Akinyele, S. and Olorunleke, K. (2010). Technology and Service Quality in the Banking Industry: An Empirical Study of Various Factors in Electronic Banking Services. International Business Management, 4(4), pp.209-221. Beynon-Davies, P., Galliers, R. and Sauer, C. (n.d.).Business information systems. Curtis, G. and Cobham, D. (2005).Business information systems. Harlow, England: Financial Times Prentice Hall. Gartlan, J. and Shanks, G. (2007).The Alignment of Business and Information Technology Strategy in Australia.Australasian Journal of Information Systems, 14(2). Ghosh, P. (2002). The Advent of Information Industrials.Journal of Business Strategy, 23(5), pp.43-47. Hackney, R. and Dunn, D. (2000).Business information technology management. New York: St. Martin's Press. Jones, P. (2008). Communicating strategy.Aldershot: Gower. Kaen, F. (2003).A blueprint for corporate governance. New York: AMACOM. Kalseth, K. and Cummings, S. (2001). Knowledge Management: development strategy or business strategy. Information Development, 17(3), pp.163-172. KlaasJagersma, P. (2011). Competitive information logistics.Business Strategy Series, 12(3), pp.136-145. Mohasseb, S. (2000). Knowledge: The True Return on Information Technology. Handbook of Business Strategy, 1(1), pp.117-123. Nisbet, J. (2004). Should you be practicing predictive information integration?.Handbook of Business Strategy, 5(1), pp.281-286. Riasi, A. (2015). Competitive Advantages of Shadow Banking Industry: An Analysis Using Porter Diamond Model. Business Management and Strategy, 6(2), p.15. Savin, J. (2004).Information technology strategy managing the dark side.Handbook of Business Strategy, 5(1), pp.293-298. Szulanski, G., Doz, Y. and Porac, J. (2005).Strategy process. Amsterdam: Elsevier JAI. Theodorou, P. (2004). A DSS model that aligns business strategy and business structure with advanced information technology. Hershey, PA: Idea Group Pub. WITHDRAWN: Aims and Scope / Copyright Information.(2009). Journal of Family Business Strategy.

Reflective Journal for Selection and Planning - myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theReflective Journal for Selection, Planning and Scheduling. Answer: A reflective journal is to keep the record of the process of learning. It helped me reflect on my learning throughout the course and stand back from myself and look at my learning more objectively. In this paper, I will share my opinion on the effectiveness and usefulness of the learning experience I gathered from the learning. I also reflected on the usefulness of the learning along with the process of learning. At the end of the reflective journal, I mentioned the application of the learning in the real world in future life. The learning process was detailed and systematic in order. The schedule of learning was set accordingly. The learning involved various steps that are topic selection, planning, scheduling, secondary research, objective identification and the other steps taken for the completion of the research. The topic that I researched on could be considered as the topping where I learned various aspect of the chosen topic. According to me, there can be no proper way of judging the value of this learning as the knowledge gained is applicable to various ways and aspects in life. The course taught me about the business ethics that needs consideration during the research. I had followed the ethical guideline learned from the course to identify the objectives and the scopes of the research that is what I can find from the research. After the identification, I had to prepare a proper plan of carrying out the research where I had to prepare a time schedule, select methods necessary for the research followed by the literature review. It is useful for the research work as it develops the theoretical base for the research as well as the conceptualization of the situation over time. This was the toughest part in my learning, as I had no prior knowledge of making plan for a research. I made several mistakes before formulating a proper and ordered research plan. In the literature review part, my goal was to read the works already conducted by several scholars over time on thee particular topic. I gained skills and knowledge of performing the task through my learning in lecture three. It the lecture also explained the necessity of performing the task in the business research. I learnt various advantages and disadvantages of obtaining the outsourcing of business function in various industries. The sections I focused on were accounting, computer services, human resources, and the function of sales and marketing. This process gained me knowledge over the topic and enabled me to form the hypothesis and research questions that will lead me throughout the research. However, this was not an easy task to formulate hypothesis and research question. I had to go through a huge number of researches to base my knowledge on the research topic. Some of them were confusing and did not have clear conclusion. Here, I had to carefully select and distinguish the important articles from the unnecessary ones. I also had to identify the limitations of the research to coping with them. Various qualitative and quantitative research methodology was also a part of the resea rch learning and implemented in the process. I learned about various steps of interviewing, analyzing, formulating question for structured, semi-structured, and unstructured interviews and many other skills. Qualitative data analysis is also a part of the research that comes at the end of the schedule. In the course, I observed various advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing business function. It enables the companies to reduce the cost of the activity and input of labour and time for a particular function that is being outsourced. Whereas, the business losses its partial control over its functionality. Moreover, the confidentiality of various business data has to be shared with the partner company that is a possible threat for the company. Hence, according to my knowledge and understanding, the businesses in any industry should consider outsourcing their functions from coping up with the pace of competition. However, they should consider outsourcing the functions that are less confidential and might possess severe threat to the organization. The thorough research in the process enabled me to make such a statement. This knowledge is definitely going to help me to take more solid decisions in my organization. The process of selection of the course is quite simple for me, as I required understanding the aspect of outsourcing in any business. Outsourcing the business functions has many advantages and disadvantages that I learnt from the course and it facilitates in speeding up the business process. However, I came across various challenges and obstacles during the course period. Simultaneously, the process of learning was quite interesting as I got to learn the methods of writing proposal. This learning is applicable in several stages of life, not only in the professional but also in the personal everyday life. The significant knowledge that I received from the learning are planning, scheduling, secondary research and secondary data analysis, methodologies in research and none the less outsourcing business function. The first three of the above can both be implemented in the general life or future career. For example, I can now better plan events in my life like birthday planning, trip planning and many more. In the mean time, I can plan my work and arrange them in proper order. The scheduling enabled me to set time for the task and arrange them in priority order. Research on the other hand is always necessary to conduct before making any decision. We try our best to learn and assume about the consequences of the action that we are going to take. Furthermore, it is an integral part of the work place to plan and schedule any given task before starting the task. Moreover , a proper research needs to be conducted on the work before proceeding with the task. The knowledge of the topic selected will facilitate me in considering the section of the organization that needs outsourcing basing on the ration of advantages and disadvantages it will bring. Suppose I am working in a retail business. Hence, social media marketing is a process that can show potential benefit if it is outsourced. Likewise, accounting in that case will possess potential threat in the business. It can be concluded from the above discussion that the learning process shows potential use in the future life in both the personal and corporate life. It is person specific how one will implement the knowledge gain in their future life. As per my understanding, this will help me in both the parts in taking any decision. I am now able to think of the rationales and take decisions accordingly. It will also facilitate me if I decide to undergo similar learning process as I have already gained the knowledge of research. It will be much easier and less time consuming for me to plan and carryout the research.

Native Son Reviews Essay Example For Students

Native Son: Reviews Essay Native Son: ReviewsNative Son, by Richard Wright, was hailed by reviewers as an instantclassic upon its release in 1940. The novel was an instant bestseller, havingbeen included in the book-of-the-month-club. Due to its proto revolutionarythemes it was the subject of many reviews. Two such reviewers are CliftonFadiman and Malcolm Cowley. Clifton Fadiman, writer for The New Yorker declared that Native Son wasthe most powerful American novel since the Grapes of Wrath. He is positive thatanyone who reads this book has to know what it means to be a Negro, especiallybeing a Negro in the U.S. over seventy years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Fadiman then goes on to compare the novel to Theodore Dreisers An AmericanTragedy, declaring that his novel did for the American white as Native Son didfor the Negro. Fadiman begins criticizing Bigger Thomas, the main character in thenovel. He feels that Bigger is just a stupid fool, having done everythingpossible to actually get himself caught. Fadiman also writes that Biggerknew that the moment he allowed what his life meant to enter fully into hisconsciousness, he would either kill himself or somebody else. Fadiman thengoes on by criticizing Wright stating that he is too explicit, repetitive, andoverdoes his melodrama from time to time. Fadiman does not believe Wright to bea finished writer just yet. However, he does think that Wright possesses thetwo absolute necessities of the first-rate novelist, passion and intelligence. He also understands that Wright must have been greatly affected by the labormovement, which may have contributed to Native Son. At the conclusion of his review, Fadiman once again compares Native Sonto An American Tragedy. He says that the two novels tell almost the same story. Although He feels that Dreisers novel is filled with better, more controlledknowledge; he feels that Wrights novel will have the same affect on the readerif they are not afraid of a challenge. By saying afraid, Fadiman means thatNative Son is not merely a story but a deep experience. The next review that we will look at is one done by Malcolm Cowley,writer for The New Republic. Cowley immediately compares Native Son toSteinbecks The Grapes of Wrath, stating that the books resemble each other byboth having grown out of the radical movements of the 1930s. Cowley feels thatWright was moved by the wrongs he had suffered in his own person, which made himhate people with whiter skin than his own. This aided in Wrights writingNative Son. He then goes on to say that Wrights feelings were clearly evidentin his first novel, Uncle Toms Children. However, with Native Son, Wrightssympathies have broadened and he has become less resentful. Cowley feels that Wrights purpose for writing Native Son was simple. He seems to be saying Listen, you white folks, I want to tell you all about theNegroes in America. I want to tell you how they live and how they feel. I wantyou to change your mind about them before it is too late to prevent a worsedisaster than any we have known. I speak for my own people, but I speak forAmerica too. (Gates, 9)Cowley then goes on to talk about Bigger, and how he had been trainedfrom the beginning of his life to be a bad citizen. How had he been taughtAmerica ideals of life, but was never be able to achieve them. Whatever Biggerwanted to do, such as fly an airplane, was reserved for the whites. Basically,Cowley is saying that the whites made Bigger the way he was. If he had thechance to be a good person then he would taken it, but he was never given thischance, so he was always bad. .ubdba450e50d307e3a57e99e306236936 , .ubdba450e50d307e3a57e99e306236936 .postImageUrl , .ubdba450e50d307e3a57e99e306236936 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ubdba450e50d307e3a57e99e306236936 , .ubdba450e50d307e3a57e99e306236936:hover , .ubdba450e50d307e3a57e99e306236936:visited , .ubdba450e50d307e3a57e99e306236936:active { border:0!important; } .ubdba450e50d307e3a57e99e306236936 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ubdba450e50d307e3a57e99e306236936 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ubdba450e50d307e3a57e99e306236936:active , .ubdba450e50d307e3a57e99e306236936:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ubdba450e50d307e3a57e99e306236936 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ubdba450e50d307e3a57e99e306236936 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ubdba450e50d307e3a57e99e306236936 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ubdba450e50d307e3a57e99e306236936 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ubdba450e50d307e3a57e99e306236936:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ubdba450e50d307e3a57e99e306236936 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ubdba450e50d307e3a57e99e306236936 .ubdba450e50d307e3a57e99e306236936-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ubdba450e50d307e3a57e99e306236936:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Martin luther king jr. EssayAs he concludes his review, Cowley states that Wright had written abetter novel than he had planned. He was able to make his readers feel that itwas Baggers only claim to human courage and dignity to die. Wright also madeBigger be a human rather than just a racial symbol. This was an importantconcept in the novel that attributed to its great success. Each of the reviewers had many interesting opinions which were relevantto the novel. Having been compared to Grapes of Wrath and An American Tragedy ,it is evident that Native Son is a great work of literature. The main pointthat the reviewers made was that Wright really had a great idea for a story andpresented it extremely well. He was not too personal in his writings, yet hegave us, the readers a novel which we could apply personal experiences to andenjoy as well.

Introduction of Ikea free essay sample

Introduction of IKEA IKEA   is a  privately held, international home products  retailer  that sells  flat pack  furniture, accessories, and bathroom and kitchen items in their retail stores around the world. The company, which pioneered flat-pack design furniture at affordable prices, is now the worlds largest furniture retailer. [3] IKEA was founded in 1943. Currently, the company is owned by a  Dutch-registered foundation that is believed to be controlled by the Kamprad family. IKEA is an acronym comprising the initials of the founders name (IngvarKamprad), the farm where he grew up (Elmtaryd), and his home parish (Agunnaryd, in  Smaland, South Sweden). [4] INGKA Holding B. V. is the parent company for all IKEA Group companies, including the industrial group Swedwood, which commissions the manufacturing of IKEA furniture coming from any manufacturer worldwide (outsourcing), the sales companies that run IKEA stores, as well as purchasing and supply functions, and IKEA of Sweden, which is responsible for the design and development of products in the IKEA range. We will write a custom essay sample on Introduction of Ikea or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page INGKA Holding B. V. is wholly owned by  Stichting INGKA Foundation, which is a  non-profit  foundation  registered in  Leiden, Netherlands. The logistics centre europe is located in  Dortmund, Germany. Inter IKEA Systems B. V. in  Delft, also in the Netherlands, owns the IKEA concept and trademark, and there is a franchising agreement with every IKEA store in the world. The IKEA Group is the biggest franchisee of Inter IKEA Systems B. V. Inter IKEA Systems B. V. is not owned by INGKA Holding B. V. , but by Inter IKEA Holding S. A. egistered in  Luxembourg, which in turn is part of Inter IKEA Holding registered in the  Netherlands Antilles. The ownership of the holding companies has not been disclosed | | |[pic] | |In Hong Kong, the IKEA business started as early as in 1975. Then in 1988 Jardine Pacific acquired the franchise. The acquisition of IKEA (Hong Kong) and IKEA (Taiwan) by | |The Dairy Farm Company Ltd in 2002 brought new opportunities for business growth. With the rich retailing experience and expertise of The Dairy Farm Company Ltd, and on the| |strength of the companies histories, IKEA is ready to take off into an even brighter future. | |Today, we are one of the market leaders in home furnishing and lifestyle products. There are  3  IKEA stores in Hong Kong, giving a total retail area of 210,000 sq. ft. , where| |you can find a huge variety of functionally designed items at low, low prices. By buying in larger volumes, we can lower the prices, so our customers can save even more. |This web site gives you just a small glimpse of our exciting range there is much more at our stores! Come and be inspired and give your home a facelift! | | | Visual merchandising tips Retail visual merchandising shares many of the same principles as advertising, graphic design, and interior design — the purpose of visual merchandising is to create a logical and visually pleasing environment that will grab attention and trans late into increased sales. Visual merchandising basics are pretty easy to understand — a clean store, well lit, with merchandise displayed in neat groupings. But visual merchandising can delve deeper, focusing on the how your customers might think, feel and react to the environment that youve created. The following are a dozen tips for retail visual merchandising: 1. Take It Outside If the weathers good and youre allowed to do so, set up a display of merchandise outside your store. This can create a sense of excitement and buzz. 2. Identify Everything Customers are in a hurry. Use signage to identify not only departments but categories — this will help customers pinpoint what they need and inspire additional purchases. . Set The Mood With Your Windows Store windows are incredibly valuable merchandising territory: use them to set the mood of the event or sale youre having. This mood should match the mood your customers want to experience after buying from you: do they want excitement, romance, serenity? 4. Embrace All The Senses Great merchandising appeals to more than the eyes. Consider how your store sounds, smells, and even feels : are all of these messages youre sending with music, scents, and other environmental factors in keeping with the displays you create? You can evoke senses without addressing them directly. For example, putting a pair of red bowls and spoons with a display of a tomato soup can get mouths watering! 5. Show Them How It Will Look At Home Use your displays to show customers how the merchandise will look in their home. For example, if youre selling jewelry, present it in the gift box, perhaps with some curls of ribbon still clinging to the box a row of pans hanging neatly. Many customers cant envision merchandise in application — when they see a pan in a box, for example, they see a pan in a box. But put that same pan on a faux stovetop, with a cheerful checkered potholder and a pair of wineglasses nearby with a stack of cook books, and suddenly that pan is something more: its a potential romantic dinner for two, just waiting to be whipped up. 6. Group Like With Like Organize your store logically: customers should be able to find all of one type of merchandise easily. Create groupings within categories, so all the merchandise that is one color, type, price or size is positioned together. 7. Group By Lifestyle Display merchandise from several categories that all share the same theme — in the appropriate environment setting. For example, in an office supply store, a display could reflect the workplace of a high-tech wizard, pairing together the right steel and glass desk with cutting edge accessories centered around the computer, or a classic CEO suite, with old school green glass lamps on a heavy walnut desk, replete with blotter. 8. Use the Spotlight Lighting attracts customers, much like moths to the flame! Dramatic lighting doesnt have to be expensive: well placed spotlights can draw attention to key pieces of merchandise. Make sure to use spotlights within your store as well as in the windows! 9. Change Your Displays Often! A great display is a great display — the first time the customer sees it. But what if the customer sees that same display next week, and the week after that? Suddenly the display is not so great. Its boring; the same-old, same-old. Customers dont come back to boring stores! Plan on changing your displays with the seasons. Even better is to do so weekly. 10. Use color Strong color can have strong results: plan your displays around a central color that pops and captures the customers attention. Try to have a different color every season (or every week if you can). If youve used yellow as your central color this season, go with purple or blue next time — not red or orange. 11. Integrate Motion Merchandise that moves will catch the eye. If you have anything that moves — from clocks to toys to music boxes, take one out and set it up. Let customers see it working. If your merchandise is more static, bring motion into the store with a mobile, fan, etc. 12. Remember the Rule of Three Whenever you create a display, work in sets of three. If youre arranging merchandise by height, have a tall, taller, tallest. If something is squat and round, have a fat, fatter, fastest. You can even group by price: good, better, best displays works surprisingly well. Category Management  is a retailing concept in which the range of products sold by a  retailer  is broken down into discrete groups of similar or related products; these groups are known as product categories (examples of grocery categories might be: tinned fish, washing detergent, toothpastes). Each category is run as a mini business (Business Unit) in its own right, with its own set of turnover and/or  profitability  targets andstrategies. Introduction of Category Management in a business tends to alter the relationship between  retailer  and  supplier: instead of the traditional adversarial relationship, the relationship moves to one of  collaboration, exchange of information and data and joint business building. The focus of all supplier negotiations is the effect on turnover of the category as whole, not just the sales of individual products. Suppliers are expected, indeed in many cases, mandated to only suggest new product introductions, a new  planogram  or promotional activity if it is expected to have a beneficial effect on the turnover or profit of the total category and be beneficial to the shoppers of that category. [1] The concept originated in  Grocery  (Mass merchandising) retailing, but has expanded to other retail sectors such as  DIY,  Cash and Carry,Pharmacy/Drugstore and Book retailing. [2] Contents | |  [hide] | |1  Definition of Category Management | |2  Rationale for Category Management | |3  Definition of a Category | |4  The Category Management 8 Step Process | |5  Category Captains | |6  Governmental concerns about Category Management | |7  Category Management Association | |8  See also | |9  References | [edit]Definition of Category Management Category Management lacks a single definition thus leading to some ambiguity even among industry professionals as to its exact function. Three comparative mainstream definitions are as follows: Category Management is a process that involves managing product categories as business units and customising them [on a store by store basis] to satisfy customer needs. (Nielsen)[3] The strategic management of product groups through trade partnerships which aims to maximise sales and profit by satisfying consumer and shopper needs  (Institute of Grocery Distribution)[4] [a] .. marketing strategy in which a full line of products (instead of the individual products or brands) is managed as a strategic business unit (SBU). (Business Dictionary)[5] The Nielsen definition, published in 1992, was a little ahead of its time in that customising product offerings on a store by store basis is logistically difficult and is now not considered a necessary part of Category Management; it is a concept now referred to as  micromarketing. Nevertheless, most grocery retailers will segment stores at least by size, and select product assortments accordingly. Wal*Marts Store of the Community, implemented in North America is one of the few examples of where product offerings are tailored right down to the specific store. [6] [edit]Rationale for Category Management One key reason for the introduction of Category Management was the retailers desire for suppliers to add value to their (i. e. the retailers) business rather than just the suppliers own. For example, in a category containing brands A and B, the situation could arise such that every time brand A promoted its products, the sales of brand B would go down by the amount that brand A would increase, resulting in no net gain for the retailer. The introduction of Category Management imposed the condition that all actions undertaken, such new  promotions, new products, re-vamped  planogram, introduction of  Point of Sale  advertising  etc. were beneficial to the retailer and the shopper in the store. A second reason was the realisation that only a finite amount of profit could be milked from price negotiations and that there was more profit to be made in increasing the total level of sales. A third reason was that the collaboration with the supplier meant that suppliers expertise about the market could be drawn upon, and also that a considerable amount of workload in developing the category could be delegated to the supplier. [7] [edit]Definition of a Category The Nielsen definition of a category, used as the basic definition across the industry is that the products should meet a similar consumer need, or that the products should be inter-related or substitutable. [8]  The Nielsen definition also includes a provision that products placed together in the same category should be logistically manageable in store (for example there may be issues in having room-temperature and chilled products together in the same category even though the initial two conditions are met). However, this definition does not explain how the process often works in practical retailing situationsm, where  demographic  or marketing considerations take precedence. [edit]The Category Management 8 Step Process [pic] [pic] The Category Management 8 Step Process The industry standard model for Category Management is the 8-step process, or 8-step cycle developed by the Partnering Group. [9]. The eight steps are shown in the diagram on the right; they are  : 1. Define the Category (i. e. what products are included/excluded). 2. Define the role of the category within the retailer. 3. Assess the current performance. 4. Set objectives and targets for the category. 5. Devise an overall Strategy. 6. Devise specific tactics. 7. Implementation. 8. The eighth step is one of review which takes us back to step 1. The 8-step process, whilst being very comprehensive and thorough has been criticized for being rather too unwieldy and time-consuming in todays fast-moving sales environment; in one survey only 9% of supplier companies stated they used the full 8-step process. [10]  The current industry trend is for supplier companies to use the standard process as a basis to develop their own more streamlined processes, tailored to their own particular products[11] Market Research company Nielsen has a similar process based on only 5 steps  : Reviewing the Category, Targeting consumers, Planning merchandising, Implementing strategy, Evaluating results. [edit]Category Captains It is commonplace for one particular supplier into a category to be nominated by the retailer as a Category Captain. The Category Captain will be expected to have the closest and most regular contact with the retailer and will also be expected to invest time, effort, and often financial investment into the strategic development of the category within the retailer. In return, the supplier will gain a more influential voice with the retailer. The Category Captain is often the supplier with the largest turnover in the category. Traditionally the job of Category Captain is given to a  brand  supplier, but in recent times the role has also gone to particularly switched-on  Private label  suppliers. [12] In order to do the job effectively, the supplier may be granted access to a greater wealth of data-sharing, e. g. more access to an internal sales database such as  Walmarts Retail Link. [edit]Governmental concerns about Category Management Many governments have viewed increased collaboration between suppliers and retailers as a potential source of  antitrust  breaches, such as  price fixing. For example the UK  Competition Commission[13]  has raised their issues on market distortion in principle. They have also acted on milk price-fixing in Britain. [14] [edit]Category Management Association The Category Management Association (CMA), is a professional Association with members that come from a broad range of strategic insights and planning functions. It connects members with category managment peers around the world, is a central resource for catman information and best practices, and is the only group certifying coursework and category management professionals according to recognized industry standards. It was formed in 2004.