Nintendo Corporation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nintendo Corporation - Research Paper Example From this paper it is clear that the internal resources include the strengths and weaknesses while its external resources are the opportunities and threats. Nintendo Corporation should strive to maximize its strengths and opportunities while at the same time minimizing its weaknesses and threats. Nintendo Corporation boasts of strong, formidable and established brands in the world market. Most of its products are unrivalled putting it in a better position to command and dictate the taste of the market. For instance, the Nintendo 3DS that was initiated in the US in March 27, 2011 enables the users to view contents in 3D without necessarily using the special glasses. Additionally, the Wii that comes in different advanced revolutionary features has made the product the best selling in the world. The corporation also has a robust and steady escalation in its revenue. Although the company was founded in Tokyo, Japan, it now has branches in all major world markets of the world. As of March 2011, the conclusion of their economic year, the entire proceeds of the corporation was $ 4799.40. This shows that company stands in better grounds in terms of assets and strengths. Besides, Nintendo Co. Ltd. has a strong cash flow system. The operating cash flow indicates the amount of money in cash that the firm generates when it sells its products or renders the services. It is calculated by subtracting the firm’s taxes from the taxes. As of march, 2011, the cash flow for Nintendo was $ 1.19 billion. The major fault that this corporation faces is the shortages of inventories.  

Youth is not a Time of Life Essay Example for Free

Youth is not a Time of Life Essay Youth is not a Time of Life it is a State of Mind. It is the temperamental Predominance of courage over timidity. The youth of today are not alien to anyone of us. According to some, the way our youth are faring directly classifies them as a serious problem of society. But I would like to ask these people,that how can modern youth be a problem of society when the same youth is very much a part of society? Something which coexists and relates to our social order is to be called part of the society and so cannot be classified as a problem. The problems, which these unthinking few or many speak of, do not lie in these young people. The problems lie in the ways in which they have been guided or rather misguided. Many would agree that the Western Cultural Invasion has just left our youth clad in torn jeans and T-shirts with their heads up in the way in which they have been brought up. Children should be made to learn to distinguish between right and wrong and this responsibility lies on the shoulders of their elders. Today, an over whelming majority of the population of Pakistan is under privileged. The youth of this population does not have the means to develop and expand their horizons. Hammed in by conservative backgrounds, smothered by immoral values and then left entirely on their own, these youth are being transpired by the society they live in. So it is wrong to make the youth the scapegoat for our own crime neglect. Our youth is an integral part of our society there is no denying that. Without them, there would be no hope left at all for the future. With proper guidance the youth of today can shape up to become the leaders of tomorrow. And to become that, our youth today needs role models more than they need critics. Youth walked slowly ahead of me Leading the way to the Dawn And I followed For the child is father to the man. (Khalil Jibran)

Critical Abstract-MacBeth :: essays research papers

I. â€Å"The Tragic Essence† by Margaret Webster II. Source: Class Handout III. â€Å"In MacBeth, the subtle power of darkness becomes all-pervading; it takes the form of â€Å"supernatural soliciting,† it employs â€Å"instruments of darkness,† it drenches the play in blackness and in blood, poisons the air with fear, preys on bloated and diseased imaginings, turns feasting to terror and the innocent sleep to nightmare, and employs a terrible irony of destruction in the accomplishment of its terrible irony of destruction in the accomplishment of its barren ends. Evil is alive of itself, a protagonist in its own right.† IV. There is a tradition among actors that tie in with MacBeth. Saying the name can be very unlucky. No other play has held such a fatal influence to actors than this one. The characters in this play had evil traits as well. Lady MacBeth was stripped of her feminine qualities to give her the will power to carry on the deed of killing Duncan. To do this, she called for evil spirits to enter her. The death of Duncan is a sign to the both of them that evil has taken control of their lives. It has become an overpowering force that they cannot control. MacBeth’s life becomes a living nightmare. He cannot stop killing people; he has become the slave to evil. The only connection left between MacBeth and his wife is the blood of the murdered. The last part of Lady MacBeth is filled with echoes, regardless of the sleepless nights. Fear has set in around the whole play. Everyone fears his or her lives. As the play comes closer to its end the spread of evil accelerates rapidly. The root to all evil of this play is connected with the witches. Their disgusting bodily features and appearances, their spells and the belief in witchery of the time give them a strong power. As superstitions have changed, so did the figureheads of evil in MacBeth. When Orson Welles did his Negro MacBeth, he used voodoo, which was perfectly equivalent. V. This thesis has a very true argument. MacBeth does hold a strong sense of superstition, evil, and blackness. Actors who have to act in MacBeth portray its superstition by never saying â€Å"MacBeth† unless it is necessary. Several times in her work she shows how evil slowly takes over the play.

Working at McDonalds by Amitai Etzioni

In response to â€Å"Working at McDonald's† by Amitai Etzioni I think that Etzioni is way off on his evaluation of the lower skill, lower paying jobs in America. He makes it sound as if the employer must provide some sort of skill along with their jobs that will provide a learning experience. Why? Where in the Constitution does it state that employers must provide their employees with training while paying them to do work? It does not. And what of the people that choose jobs such as those provided by McDonalds simply because they wish to have less responsibility, as is shown in the recent movie â€Å"American Pie†. In this movie the main character quit his corporate, good paying job and applied for a regular burger flipping position at McDonalds because he was tired of the stress. And what about higher pay and benefits? The way the American economic system is set up, there must be some low paying jobs because there is always menial tasks that must be done and unskilled workers to do them. Say for instance, that everyone was guaranteed at least ten dollars an hour, no matter what the job was. There would therefore be no reason for some people to get an education because they knew they would have a decent job paying at least ten dollars an hour. This would also upset the people who had gotten an education only to find out they made little or no more than uneducated people now. Employers, now that they had to pay drastically higher wages, would have to charge much higher prices. Now the people earning the higher wages are right back to where they started, because the extra money they earn now just goes back to the employer. It†s just a vicious cycle, and higher wages or jobs that teach new skills to those who don†t need them are just not practical. As hard as you argue, the simple fact sticks is ugly head out, there are always low pay, low skill jobs for those who have no wish to better themselves in life.

On the sidewalk bleeding Essay

Don’t judge a book by its cover. We all grow up listening and trying to live day in and day out following the metaphorical phrase. For most of us, this idiom means little however; Evan Hunter uses a character from On the Sidewalk Bleeding to influence the reader of its importance Andy is a young gang member growing up in the rough neighborhood of The Bronx. As a result, the attraction of membership leads Andy to join The Royals, a gang represented by a bright purple jacket. We are first made aware of Andy just after a rival gang member has fatally stabbed him. It is made clear to us that Andy is no stranger towards violence and gang culture even at his young age. He thought to himself â€Å"That was a fierce rumble, they got me good that time† indicating that fighting is a common occurrence for him that he is still unaware of how serious the stab wound is. As Andy lays helpless down a dark alleyway, we are made aware of three groups of public denying Andy help, a direct result of this appearance and his relationship with the gang culture. Most notably, one young couple is felt inclined to leave Andy helpless. The couple’s first reaction in finding Andy was â€Å"He’s a Royal† demonstrating the immediate prejudice. This is again reinforced when they leave him to die due to his gang connections, suggesting that because of this, he doesn’t deserve to get help. â€Å"We help him and the Guardians will be down our necks† It is also made clear that the Guardians are another rival gang. This is confirmed when Andy comments about these gangs being â€Å"two of the biggest† As the couple flee the scene, Andy thinks to himself, â€Å"Why are they afraid of the Guardians? I’ve never turkeyed out of a rumble with the Guardians† The emphasizing how Andy is no stranger to violence. However, Hunter positions the reader to understand what is beneath the purple jacket. Hunter demonstrates how Andy is simply a young and impulsive boy therefore is inclined to make poor decisions. In the first paragraph, Hunter uses the word ‘boy’ twice and also makes reference to his age, 16. The author’s intention is to create sympathy for Andy. He does this successfully because we relate the word ‘boy’ to someone who is young and naà ¯ve. The  reference to his age convinces us that everyone is inclined to make mistakes, especially at his age. Andy made one poor decision and he should not lose his life be cause of it. Hunter also reveals how Andy is a kind and caring person. The positive personality is evident when Andy talks about his girlfriend Laura, and his hopes and plans for his future with her. â€Å"Someday he would marry Laura, someday he would marry her and have lots of kids, and then move out of the neighborhood† Though this we learn how this gang member ship is just a phase that Andy is going through and how he wants to start a clean project with good opportunities. We also see how Andy believes in traditional values, not the norm of a gang member. This is further emphasized when we see him put Laura’s needs first â€Å"He wondered if Laura would be angry† Andy is also revealed as tenacious and determined, which are qualities that we admire. He realizes that â€Å"they had only stabbed the jacket and the title† Because of this, Andy was driven to take the jacket off, so when he was found, he would not be seen as a Royal, but just Andy. Andy’s determination is shown when he fights the pain just to remove his jacket. â€Å"With great effort, he rolled over onto his back. He felt great pain tearing at his stomach when he moved† Hunter also uses the verbs â€Å"squirmed and fought and twisted† These verbs have great impact on the reader because it develops our appreciation of just how determined and tenacious Andy is. Andy has taught us a very important lesson in the short story On the Sidewalk Bleeding. He has demonstrated how we are not all synonymous to our appearance. Evan Hunter conveys this throughout the text influencing us to understand how maybe we are inclined to make unsafe judgments based on appearances, or is it in our power to prevent it.

Learn About College Scholarships for Homeschoolers

Learn About College Scholarships for Homeschoolers The cost of attending college can be staggering. With current averages putting the cost of one year of public college for an in-state student at over $9,000 annually and one year of private college at over $32,000 per year, most students will need some type of financial aid to offset the economic  burden of a post-secondary education. The good news for homeschooling families is that homeschooled students qualify for most of the same college scholarships as their public- and private-schooled peers. What Is a College Scholarship? There are several types of financial aid available to help students pay for college. The  three main types are loans (federal, state, or private), grants, and scholarships. Loans are funds that are borrowed and must be repaid with interest. Some loans are based on demonstrated financial need while others are available to any student. Grants do not have to be repaid. These can be based on financial need, or they may be merit-based or student specific. For example, grants may be offered to minority students or those studying for a specific field, such as teaching. Scholarships are financial aid awards that do not have to be repaid. They are awarded based on a variety of criteria. Sometimes those criteria are based on academic or athletic performance, but they can also include military or community service, a student’s heritage, unique skills and hobbies, and musical or artistic talent. What Types of College Scholarships Are There? Scholarships may be awarded by colleges, private organizations, or employers. State scholarships are often available to in-state students who meet grade-point average (GPA) requirements. Homeschooled students may have to submit SAT or ACT scores or complete one year of college with a minimum GPA to qualify. (Once a student has qualified for a state scholarship, it often pays retroactively.) Need-based scholarships are awarded based on a student’s financial need. These are usually federally-  or state-funded scholarships that factor the cost of attendance minus the expected family contribution to determine the student’s need. The first step in qualifying for a need-based scholarship is completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Merit-based scholarships are awarded based on student achievement in academics, athletics, or other areas such as art music or art. These may be awarded by the school, the state, private institutions, or organizations. Student-specific scholarships are those that are awarded based on criteria specific to individual students. There are scholarships for minority students, those with specific disabilities or religious affiliations, students of particular ethnicity, and those with a  military association through the student or his parents. Career-specific scholarships may be awarded to students pursuing a particular career field such as teaching, healthcare, engineering, or math. Where Can Homeschoolers Find Scholarships? To begin the search for potential college scholarships, try  specialized search engines such as the College Board’s BigFuture search or  FastWeb. If a scholarship description doesn’t specifically state homeschooled student eligibility, ask for clarification. Students may also wish to seek out scholarships through specific organizations. One of the best known academic scholarships may be the National Merit Scholarship, based on PSAT and NMSQT scores. Homeschooled students are eligible for this scholarship as long as they take the qualifying test at a local high school or another approved testing location. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) offers scholarships to student athletes and offers eligibility guidelines for college-bound homeschooled athletes. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NCIA) also offers athletic scholarships for which homeschoolers are eligible. Female students pursuing a career in engineering, computer science or engineering technology can apply for scholarships from the Society of Women Engineers. Chick-Fil-A offers scholarships to its team members and homeschoolers are eligible. Homeschool curriculum publisher Sonlight offers scholarships to homeschooled students who use their curriculum. Homeschooled students (along  with public- and private-schooled students)  with a documented learning disability and ADD or ADHD are eligible to apply for  a scholarship through the  RiSE Scholarship Foundation. Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) offers four annual scholarship contests for homeschooled students and maintains a list of scholarship opportunities that are open to homeschoolers.

Hum 130 Dq Responses Essays

Hum 130 Dq Responses Essays Hum 130 Dq Responses Essay Hum 130 Dq Responses Essay bellaonline. com/articles/art19100. asp cultureandrecreation. gov. au/articles/indigenous/ An Indigenous religion in Japan is called Shinto. Shinto’s believe that the gods or spirits are found in all things living. Shrines were build around Japan once Buddhism became apart of the Japanese life style. Modern Civilization impacted the religion and people who believed in it when the government altered Shintoisim and created â€Å"State Shinto† for publicity purposes. Indigenous Religions are still practiced today. Another Indigenous religion is the Sami Culture. Sami indigenous religion is a type of worship that drumming and, chanting, yoiking, was of singular importance. It was mostly composed of family members working to become a gate way for souls. Traditionally, the healer and protector is called a noaide. This religion is more difficult to fathom being factual because of the extreme this religion is slowly disappearing. The drums have been the most important tool to the Sami. It is the main communicator. The Sami believe in the â€Å"free Soul† This religion is changing because it is slowly disappearing. Due Date: Day 4 [Main Forum] Read Chapter 2 (Indigenous Sacred Ways) Post your response to these questions: As suggested by Fisher (2005) in Living Religions, consider the interrelatedness of everything in the cosmos as it is expressed in many indigenous religions. How do you think the importance of these relationships developed? What spiritual purpose do you think they serve for indigenous peoples? Post your response to the d iscussion question by clicking on Reply What I perceived from Fisher (2005) about the importance of interrelationships between everything in the cosmos was that people learned to reverence what was sacred and pure. Some Indigenous people use the circle as a sign of unity. The circle has no beginning or end it is infinite. It is said that a circle is the perfect framework for harmony. Fisher (2005) states, â€Å"Life revolves around the generational cycles of birth, youth, maturity, and physical death, the return of the seasons, the cyclical movements of the moon, sun, stars, and planets. † This idea stands as an example for the indigenous people to live by. The importance of this relationship between universe and humans is important. Indigenous people live by the circle because they know that good things will come back around to them if they live accordingly. Life does have a funny way of repeating itself.

Macro Logic in ACT English Sentence and Paragraph Order

Macro Logic in ACT English Sentence and Paragraph Order SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Macro logic questions on ACT English ask you to determine where to properly place sentences within a paragraph and where to properly place paragraphs within a passage. These rhetorical skills questions test your ability to analyze sentences and determine how to most logically organize a passage. Knowing how to recognize and using my top ACT English strategies to approach these questions will enable you to correctly answer them in an efficient manner. How to Identify a Macro Logic Question The first step in solving any ACT question is determining whattype of question itis. Before learning how to solve macro logic questions, we need to figure out how to spot them. Once you identify a macro logic question, you can use the methods we'll discuss later in the article to determinethe right answer. Macro logic questions are easily identifiable. Bracketed numbers at the beginnings of sentences signal that a sentence order question will appear: Also, bracketed letters in different paragraphs signal an impending sentence order question: Similarly, bracketed numbers at the top of each paragraph signal that there may be a paragraph order question: Whenever you see bracketed numbers or letters within a passage, you know you'll encounter a macro logic question. Check out how these questions are constructed. Macro Logic Example Questions Most macro logic questions tend to be constructed in similar ways, so let's take a look at some example questions. Sentence Order Question Macro logic questions are among the most easily identifiable. All sentence order questions will ask you where a sentence should be placed. The answer choices will all be various locations within the passage. Paragraph Order Question The other category of macro logic question is paragraph order. Let's take a look at a paragraph order question: Like sentence order questions, paragraph order questions are fairly straightforward. You'll be asked where a paragraph should be placed. Again, the answer choices will all be various locations within the passage. I'll start by going over the types of and strategies for sentence order questions before moving onto paragraph order questions! Types of Sentence Order Questions Let's break down the threetypes of sentence order questions. Each question type requires a slightly different approach, even though all macro logic questions test the same general skills. Type #1: Accomplishing a Goal The question will ask you where to place a sentence for the author to fulfill some stated purpose. Our sentence order example question from above is representative of this type of question. For this type of question, you have to identify the intended goal. Then, you have to determine where the sentence should be placed in order to achieve that goal. Type #2: Determine the Most Logical Placement Within a Paragraph These questions will ask you where a sentence should be placed within a paragraph to maintain logic and coherence. You simply have to determine where the sentence should be placed for it to make the most sense. The sentence should logically proceed from the previous sentence and connect to the following sentence. Type #3: Determine in Which Paragraph Would Be the Most Logical Placement Most sentence order questions I've seen focus on a single paragraph. However, there are sentence order questions that ask you to determine in which paragraph a sentence should be placed to maintain logic and coherence. Here's an example: The letters in the answer choices are bracketed and placed at specific points in the various paragraphs. This type of question requires the same approach and skill set as the previous type. You'll just be looking at locations in different paragraphs as opposed to focusing on a single paragraph. It's good to be familiar with all of the basic constructions of these questions so that nothing shocks you on test day. Now let's go through the process of answering sentence order questions. Strategies for Answering Sentence Order Questions I'll go through the step-by-step process for how to answer a sentence order question. We'll use the first type as an example, but you should use the same approach for the other two types as well. #1: Determine What the Question is Asking This question is asking where the sentence be placed to emphasize previously expressed uncertainty.Focus on the key words or phrases in the question. In this question, the words "emphasize" and "amplify" are important. Therefore, the previous sentence should somehow suggest uncertainty. The sentence "I still have doubts" should be placed somewhere in which it would emphasize uncertainty that's already present. #2: Go Through the Answer Choices Plug in â€Å"I still have doubts† after each option to determine where it logically fits and will satisfy the requirement that it emphasize previously expressed uncertainty. Here are all of our options: [1] Our son has started playing organized T-ball, a beginner’s version of baseball. [2] â€Å"Organized† is what parents call it, anyway. [3] Joe is seven, living in those two or three years when they can manage to throw a baseball a few feet but when what they’re really interested in are things closer at hand, bugs, butterflies, dirt (if they’re in the infield), grass (if they’re in the outfield). [4] Children of that age still think nothing of doing little dances in the outfield, often with their backs to home plate and, consequently, the batter. #3: Eliminate Wrong Choices As we go through the choices, we’re looking for a sentence that somehow expresses uncertainty and would make sense preceding â€Å"I still have doubts." We can eliminate sentence 1 because that is a statement of fact and there is no expression of uncertainty. The narrator wouldn’t have doubts that his son has started playing T-ball. Similarly, in sentence 3, there is no implied uncertainty and these are just stated observations made by the narrator. He's commenting on the behavior of seven-year-olds. Finally, sentence 4 is also another observation that the narrator states about children of that age. There's nothing that implies or expresses uncertainty. We are left with B, â€Å"after sentence 2." #4: The Right Choice Should Logically Follow the Sentence Before and Connect to the Following Sentence The quotation marks in sentence two suggest uncertainty. The narrator is saying that parents call T-ball â€Å"organized," implying that he does not. That logically connects to him saying, â€Å"I still have doubts," meaning that he still doubts that there is organization in T-ball. The following sentence provides evidence that there is little organization in "organized" T-ball. Everything fits and the answer is B. Now let's focus on paragraph order questions. Types of Paragraph Order Questions There are two basic types of paragraph order questions. Type #1: Determine the Most Logical Paragraph Order These questions ask you where a paragraph should be placed for the passage to maintain logic and coherence. You have to figure out the main ideas of the various paragraphs to determine where a certain paragraph most logically fits. Type #2: Dividing a Paragraph Into Two These questions ask you where a paragraph could be split into two to fulfill a stated purpose. These questions are relatively straightforward. For this example, you just have to determine where the explanation of one type of kayak ends and where the explanation of the other type of kayak begins. Todetermine where a paragraph should be divided, you just have to identify where the topic shifts. Here's the process for figuring out paragraph order questions. Strategies for Answering Paragraph Order Questions We're going to focus on the first type of paragraph order question. These questions are more involved and require you to look at the passage as a whole as opposed to looking at a single paragraph. Again, here's our example question: #1: Determine What the Question is Asking Basically, the question is asking where paragraph 5 should be placed for the passage to be most logical and easily understandable. For these questions, make sure you identify the key word in the answer choice. The question is asking you to determine which paragraphparagraph 5 should be placed AFTER. #2: Determine the Main Idea of the Paragraph Use topic and concluding sentences to determine main ideas of paragraphs. Here are the topic and concluding sentences for paragraph 5: Topic: In 1788, a neighbor loaned Banneker some astronomical instruments and four books on mathematics and astronomy. Concluding: He also began to calculate annual tables of yearly sets of astronomical data, which became the basis for almanacs published under his name from 1792 through 1797. From these two sentences, we can determine that this paragraph is about the history of Banneker’s work in the field of astronomy. #3: Go Through the Answer Choices Use the main ideas of the other paragraphs and the general structure of the passage to determine if it would be logical to place paragraph 5 after a certain paragraph. Based on topic and concluding sentences, here are the main ideas of the paragraphs in the answer choices: A. where it is now (after paragraph 4): Paragraph 4 starts with a statement that Banneker lived and worked on the family farm, but it concludes with a statement about how he pursued scientific studies and taught himself the flute and violin. B. Paragraph 1 is a general introductory paragraph about Banneker. The topic and concluding sentences state that he was an African American inventor who grew up on his family’s farm and had a keen interest in acquiring knowledge. C. Paragraph 2 starts with a statement about Banneker’s grandmother: she was an indentured servant who bought some land and married a freed slave. It concludes by stating that his grandmother taught him to read and he attended a Quaker school when the farm work slowed down in the winter. D. Paragraph 3 is about how Banneker constructed a clock that kept time for over 40 years. #4: Eliminate Wrong Choices The concluding sentence of the preceding paragraph should logically transition to the paragraph about Banneker’s work in astronomy. Paragraphs 2 and 3 have nothing to do with astronomy and do not logically transition to Banneker’s work with astronomy; therefore, we can eliminate those choices. While the first paragraph mentions Banneker’s â€Å"keen interest in acquiring knowledge," the rest of the passage is in roughly chronological order. It makes more sense for the second paragraph to be about Banneker’s family history and his childhood. Consequently, we can get rid of B, C, and D. We are left with answer choice A. #5: The Right Choice Should Logically Follow the Paragraph Before and Connect to the Paragraph After Paragraph 4 concludes with a statement that Banneker pursued scientific studies. That logically transitions into the paragraph about his work in astronomy. Paragraph 6 is the concluding paragraph and mentions how Banneker liked to study astronomy. Paragraph 5 fits where it is currently placed. The answer is A. Follow this path to the right answer. General Tips for Macro Logic Questions Here are some tips for any macro logic question you may encounter on the ACT English section. Determine What the Question Is Asking Beforeanswering the question, identify the type of question that is being asked. Is it a sentence order question? Is it a paragraph order question? Which type of sentence order or paragraph order question is it? Look for the key words within the question. Make sure you know what you should be looking for before you attempt to answer the question. Go Through the Answer Choices For macro logic questions, you need to look at the various options you're given for where to place a sentence or paragraph. Look at the placement options and determine the function of the sentence or paragraph in the answer choice. For paragraph order questions, identify the main idea of the paragraphs. Eliminate Wrong Choices For sentence order questions, the wrong choices will not fulfill the intended goal or will not logically connect one sentence to the next. For paragraph order questions, the wrong choices will cause the passage to have less of a logical flow from one paragraph to the next. If an answer choice would make the passage confusing or hard to follow, then you should be able to eliminate it. Use Chronological Order or Order of Events When Applicable Often, paragraphs are ordered chronologically. In our paragraph order example, the paragraphs were ordered chronologically. For passages that have paragraphs in chronological order, the order of the paragraphs should coincide with the order in whichthe events that they're referencing happened. The things that happened first should go atthe beginning of the passage and the things that happened last should be placed at the end of the passage. Similarly, order of events can help determine sentence order within a paragraph. Order of events refers to the logical order of events. For example, you have to fall down before you can get up. Keeping in mind chronological order and order of events can enable you to more easily answer macro logic questions. Make Sure That the Answer Choice You Pick Logically Follows What Comes Before and Connects to What Comes After For all types of sentence and paragraph order questions, the placement of the sentence or paragraph has to make logical sense. Look at the sentences before and after to determine if the placement is logical and understandable. What's Next? I highly recommend that you read this article about how toapproach ACT English passages. For articles on other types of ACT rhetorical skills questions, check out these posts on author technique and author main goal. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this English lesson, you'll love our program.Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands ofpractice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Learning to look Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Learning to look - Essay Example The advertisement also tries to emphasize on the natural nature of McDonald’s milkshakes, the milk is directly from the cow which feeds on the green pastures around it. This advertisement insists that nothing is added to the milk shake. The cow in the advertisement is also healthy further asserting that the milkshakes is healthy. Overall the advertisement is well colored and keeps the viewer in suspense as to what is going on. There are only four colors in the advertisement, all warm and appealing to the audience. A number of elements of design are well represented in the picture. The line plays its primary roles accordingly. It outlines the shapes of the cow and trampoline well. The line also creates movement and emphasis, and it finally it develops patterns and texture in the picture. The artistic elements of shape and mass are also consequently embodied in the advert; they elaborate the different dimensions and make the boundaries between the trampoline and the cow easily identifiable. The picture shows it is a bright day. The designer used the sunlight to create shadow patterns and also lead to the formation of dramatic effects. In design, value is the lightness or darkness of a color and its main purpose is to show the important aspects of the advert. The brightly colored cow is what is important in the advertisement. Finally color is the last element of design; it connects both physiologically and psychologically to the audience. The bright colors in the advert are inviting and create a positive attitude from the targeted people. This advert can be interpreted as having succeeded in its primary role of publicizing McDonald’s milkshakes. The fact that it is an advertisement about milkshakes, having a cow in it was a supplementary and complimented it a great deal. The trampoline serves the purpose of shaking the milk, and this is the height of creativity.

Criminal code of Canada + criminal records Essay

Criminal code of Canada + criminal records - Essay Example conservative interpretative models. Code criminelis is divided into the following parts general, offences against public order, terrorism, firearms and other weapons. There is also offences against the administration of law and justice, sexual offences public morals and betting, offences against person and respect of certain property. In addition there are offences relating to currency, instruments and literature for illicit drug use. Others entail attempts-conspiracies accessories, jurisdiction, special procedure and powers, compelling appearance of an accused before a justice and interim release and language of accused. The criminal code mostly consists of common law and defenses rather than statute. However, there are important Canadian criminal laws that do not form the code and they include Canada evidence act, firearms act, youth criminal justice act, controlled drug and substance act and the contraventions act. Code criminelis has been amended numerous times some of the amendments include the consolidation of federal statutes that occurred during 1955 and 1985.One of the major amendments was the passage of the criminal law amendment act in 1968 and 1969.The provisions of this law included the discriminisation of homosexual acts between consenting adults, the legalization of contraception, abortion and lotteries, authorization of breathalyzer tests on suspected drunk drivers and new gun ownership. Numerous sections of the code criminelis have been struck down by the Canadian Supreme Court due to the existing legal challenges under the Canadian charter of rights and freedoms. The offending sections are wholly removed. Persons aged between 12 and 17 can be charged in court with offences under the criminal code, they are prosecuted the say way adults are prosecuted and are subjected to the same laws of evidence. The youth

What is India Philosophy is there India Philosophy Essay

What is India Philosophy is there India Philosophy - Essay Example General opinions are that just as prohibition was ineffective through rebellion, so is likely to be the case with prohibiting use of such recreational drugs as the marijuana. The exercise of imposition of such an amendment is definitely much high and this would caution ratification for the impending likelihood of inefficiencies as people would reason thus supporting the legalization of the same. Among pointed out arguments in support to the legalization of these recreational drugs is increased government income through tax and the likelihood of controlling drug abuse. Reasons against the success of the prohibition revolve around the likelihood of the ban to lead to increased drug abuse besides heightened crime, as was the case with the 18th amendment. There have been heated debates within the US in support of or against legalization of such drugs as marijuana, which are considered recreational. According to Swift (para 1-7), the support to legalization of Marijuana has increased substantially to double since 1970. The boost to the increase in acceptance comes with the flexibility exhibited by the current administration under president Obama who shows high flexibility on the topic. Swift points out the increased acceptance in the use of marijuana for medical reasons as a reason enough to support the benefits that would be derived in the legalized use of the same. However, he also points to the shortcomings that are pointed out from the medical perspective in increased use of the same. It is argued that increased use of marijuana has the potential of increasing health problems such as through respiratory complications, memory problems and increase in heart rate. These are arguments that would be raised to counter the presumed benef its that would be derived from the legalization (Swift, para 1-6). It is worth noting that

Airline Industry Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Airline Industry Analysis - Essay Example However, the industry is highly depended on the existing business cycles, weather, and political stability. According to industry data, Delta’s Cargo business contributes 40 percent of total revenues while Delta US contributes 27 percent of revenues with the rest coming from Delta International travel (Wood, 2008). Although Southwest Airlines has the highest market in US domestic travel, Delta has the highest revenue passenger Mile (RPM) and has reported the considerable increase in US domestic market share over the last six years. The company has undertaken measures in cost cutting through investing in aircraft that are more fuel-efficient and undertaking investments in technology in order to improve the efficiency of crew systems (Braun & Latham, 2014, p 56).  Five forces analysis The five forces model is essential in understanding the attractiveness of the industry, the drivers of competitive edge and profitability in the industry. Michael Porter’s five forces mode l includes the threat of new entrants, the threat of substitutes, the bargaining power of buyers, the bargaining power of suppliers and degree of rivalry in the industry (Wood, 2008).  The threat of new entrants  Although the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 saw the entry of small low-cost carriers in the US market, the threat of new entrants remains high due to the high capital required to establish operations, the relative economies of scale of the international carriers and stringent regulatory and licensing process (Wood, 2008).

Professional plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Professional plan - Essay Example augmenting my ability to provide better healthcare to elderly patients through specializing in Geriatric medicine as it shows my respect for the dignity of human life and protection of the rights and ability of the elderly to live a healthy satisfied life. Further, I would like to achieve a point where I will be in a position to influence the decisions on patient care as a member of the nursing care committee to ensure these decisions positively influence the satisfaction and recovery process of the patients. I would like to be involved with nursing profession organizations including American Nursing Association (ANA), American Academy of Nursing, American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACCN), American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA), and American Association for the History of Nursing (AAHN) (Finkelman & Kenner, 2010). The main reasons for the choice to be a member of these organizations is due to the provision of an avenue to be notified of conventions, it will aid me keep up with changes in nursing practices, provision of networking opportunities, and certification offered by these organizations showing commitment for improving nursing practice. Access to publications and new insights offered through these nursing organizations are the other reason for joining them as a measure of keeping up with changes and roles of a care provider in a dynamic and changing health care environment. There are different avenues through which I will use to augment my education and skills for the better performance of duties and responsibilities in the course of my job and enhance my ability to rise in the profession and achieve my career goals (Masters, 2005). This include attending seminars and conferences that have a high ability to expand my knowledge and abilities, especially that deal with administration and patient care. Webinars is the other avenue available for me to ensure my skills and education is augmented in the coming years as it offers few courses

Airline Industry Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Airline Industry Analysis - Essay Example However, the industry is highly depended on the existing business cycles, weather, and political stability. According to industry data, Delta’s Cargo business contributes 40 percent of total revenues while Delta US contributes 27 percent of revenues with the rest coming from Delta International travel (Wood, 2008). Although Southwest Airlines has the highest market in US domestic travel, Delta has the highest revenue passenger Mile (RPM) and has reported the considerable increase in US domestic market share over the last six years. The company has undertaken measures in cost cutting through investing in aircraft that are more fuel-efficient and undertaking investments in technology in order to improve the efficiency of crew systems (Braun & Latham, 2014, p 56).  Five forces analysis The five forces model is essential in understanding the attractiveness of the industry, the drivers of competitive edge and profitability in the industry. Michael Porter’s five forces mode l includes the threat of new entrants, the threat of substitutes, the bargaining power of buyers, the bargaining power of suppliers and degree of rivalry in the industry (Wood, 2008).  The threat of new entrants  Although the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 saw the entry of small low-cost carriers in the US market, the threat of new entrants remains high due to the high capital required to establish operations, the relative economies of scale of the international carriers and stringent regulatory and licensing process (Wood, 2008).

Digital Business Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Digital Business Management - Essay Example The firm that is analyzed in the paper is Prada Group, a retail store operating in Milan Italy, which started operating way back in 1913 by Mario Prada. Prada is a luxury store which sells leather hand bags, leather accessories, travelling trunks, luxury accessories and beauty cases. It is because of the designed goods which are handcrafted with fine materials and through sophisticated techniques, the store rapidly grew to be the shopping point for most of the European aristocrats and the elegant members of haute bourgeoisie in Europe. Prada is an official supplier of the Italian Royal family and has been serving since 1919. The turning point came when Miuccia Prada, granddaughter of Mario launched a partnership with Tuscan business man, Patrizio Bertelli. The partnership created a new era with creativity and new business ideas. In 1977, Bertelli set up I.P.I spa in order to consolidate the production and in the year 2003 I.P.I spa was merged with Prada spa. It opened up a new store in 1983 in the prestigious Via Della Spiga in Milan. A new brand named Miu Miu was launched in the year 1993. In the year 2003 the store entered into a ten year licensing agreement with the Italian eyewear Luxottica, one of the leaders in eyewear industry. In the same year Prada went into joint venture with Spanish cosmetic PUIG beauty and fashion group and launched a new women’s fragrance by the end of 2004. Prada became the official partner of Italian Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo in the year 2010 and in the same year it launched its collection and eyewear postcard. (Prada Group, p. 15). Apart from the offline stores the company also operates through online mode of business. Business Model E-business is often defined as transformation of some key business through the use of the web and internet technologies. Business model is architecture for the products and services and of the information flow which also includes the description of the business partners along with t heir roles (Hiltz, Murphy & Sigala, p.454). Business models are the most discussed topic and also the least aspect of the web which is understood. The web has changed the traditional business model of business. In the basic sense, business model is the method of performing business through which a company can sustain and generate sufficient revenue. A business model is essential and it shows how a company can make money by specifying its place in the value chain. Some of the business models are quite simple whereas others are complex. Internet has given rise to new kinds of business models. But at the same time the web is also reinventing tried and true models for online business. Business models have been defined and categorized into many different ways. Internet business model continuously keep on evolving and thus new as well as interesting variations can be expected in the near future (Rappa, â€Å"Business Models on the Web†). Prada Group had developed a business model w hich takes into consideration the value proposition and the revenue model. The reason behind the success of Prada group is the adoption of the business model. Figure 1: Business Model . (Source: Hiltz, Murphy & Sigala, p.454) Online value proposition (OVP) The first and foremost step in online business model is the value proposition for the relative business. Value proposition is mainly required for three things which are to target segmentation, focal the customer benefits and key resources of the business which can help deliver the benefit package in a much better way than its competitors. Value proposition is often considered as one of the smallest benefit package that a business offers to the customers. But the value cluster approach has helped the online business to address the multiple customer segments and at the same time offer a variety of benefits to its targeted

Technical Writting Essay Example for Free

Technical Writting Essay Company Introduction Texans r Us is in search of a Microsoft trainer to train the staff in Microsoft Office Programs. This Request for Proposal (RFP) will layout the company background and scope of work and will describe the project. If your agency would like to be considered for this project submits a written proposal that concentrates on the points of this RFP no later than Feb 18, 2013. The goal of this project is to fully train the staff of Texans r Us in Microsoft Office Programs. Upon completion of the training each staff member will be proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Project Introduction The goal of the project is to have the entire staff of Texans r Us trained in Microsoft Office programs. Texans r Us consist of four to five employees per location with five locations. The timeframe for this project is as follows: * October 18: Distribute RFP to various agencies * October 22: Deadline for agencies to submit proposals. * October 25: Texans r Us will be available for agency inquiry. * November 8: Contact agencies that will be considered as well as agencies that will not be considered * November 15 – 19: Agencies will be presented to team members * November 22: Contact agency chosen and draw up contract. *November 29: Start date for new agency and meeting with team members. The budget for 2013 training will be prearranged by Texans r Us when agency is elected. The range for the budget is $20,000 $30,000. Administrative information The desired qualifications for the selected agency: * Microsoft Certified Professionals. * Client references. * Excellent writing and verbal skills. The required format for submitting proposals are to include a title page, letter of transmittal, executive summary table of contents and list of visuals. There should also be an introduction and a clear and concise plan for executing the project All proposals submitted will become the sole property of Texans r Us and will not be shared with second or third party clients. If there are any further questions please contact Eli Mata at 555-555-5555.

Philosophy of Education: Herbert Marcuse

Philosophy of Education: Herbert Marcuse Joseph Cunningham Praxis Exiled: Herbert Marcuse and the One Dimensional University,  Journal of Philosophy of Education Vol 47 No 4 2013 Cunninghams exploration of Herbert Marcuse positions him at the centre of the revolutionary student movements of the 1960s. Higher education could at that time be seen as a place which was shielded to some extent from the pacifying tendencies within advanced capitalist labour. Of all the theories which emerged out of the influential Frankfurt School, Marcuses was perhaps the one theory which could more easily beapplied in practice because it narrowed Marxist critique to analyse the extent to which advanced capitalisms influence penetrated inwardly. Cunningham encapsulates this by stating, gendered rhetoric aside, One Dimensional Man, is about you and your life. However, Cunningham argues that it was never Marcuses intention to develop his theory, whilst navel gazing inside an ivory tower. Rather critical theory in education should move students to pierce through the institutional walls and function as actualised praxis, the congruence of theory and action. Cunningham uses Marcuses own words from 1968, By its own inner dynamic, education thus leads beyond the classroom, beyond the university, into the political dimension and in to the moral, instinctual dimension (his italics). An inner revolution is a precursor to outer revolution and dialectical critique is the key to the liberation which will nurture that inner revolution. Marcuse looked beyond labour itself to find the causes of what he thought was creating a one dimensional society: he argued that technology, the media and a converging standardisation of values coupled with an unending stream of must have commodities combine to attack an individuals authenticity. Reason is usurped by technological rationality and our critical senses are dulled, making us, as Marcuse argued, disinterested in or even hostile to dissent. Cunningham carefully traces how the ripe revolutionary potential of the 1960s has come under the control of capital, as Marcuse predicted might be the case. I can see how the growing corporatisation of higher education, of which Marcuse was aware in 1960, has indeed spread tentacles across the sector. The perceived waste of human capital in the liberal arts has been either recycled into more useful courses or disposed of. Cunninghams view is that, as Marcuse predicted, the drive to develop online education can arguably be seen as another route to seal the packaging of educational content as a product for students as consumers, so much so that the consumer and campus culture are indistinguishable. The halcyon days of free education have been replaced by a narrowing of access due to lack of means. Cunninghams conclusion is bleak but understandable: even though critical theory is still taught, it is largely devoid of praxis and often delivered online in digitally standardised curricula. Marcuse would find it empty of the dynamic which he felt it had the potential to bring to student life. Like Marcuse, however, Cunningham sees some evidence of counterculture: citing the Occupy Movement as one candle in the darkness of the pervasive atmosphere which is antithetical to critical thought. Self-exile beckons for those who, like Marcuse before them, seek to step outside to look within with fresh eyes. There are indicators everywhere we look of the dominant capitalist culture which makes us so wrapped up in our daily existence and desire for material goods that we fail to see the possibility of any other existence. Indeed, we are led to crave the same dimension. Marcuses One Dimension flattens our capacity for imagining another kind of existence and suppresses our instinctive desires. Whether it is the subliminal appeal of an advertising jingle or the promise of a higher salary if we put all our energies into STEM, we are persuaded that our present should be used to build our future. However the vision is as narrow as a tunnel. The light at the end is that of unexamined material prosperity: there are few unexpected rays lighting the corners of our imagination to help us to reach out to change our perspective. After all, evidence of a different light source might encourage us to look for another way out. Word count: 663 References Brookfield, S. (2005). The Power of Critical Thinking for Adult Learning and Teaching. Maidenhead: OUP. Graham, A. (n.d.). Liberation Powerpoint Class notes Jan 2017. WIT. Marcuse. (1967). Liberation from the Affluent Society (1967) . Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQLpqno6J_g Accessed 14/12/2106

Motion Picture Special Effects Essay -- Film Movie Essays

Motion Picture Special Effects â€Å"Special visual effects have added to the allure of motion pictures since the early days of cinema. French director Georges Mà ©lià ¨s is considered the most influential pioneer of special effects. His film â€Å"A Trip to the Moon† combined live action with animation, demonstrating to audiences that cinema could create worlds, objects, and events that did not exist in real life† (Tanis par. 1). Through examples of the new techniques and the movies where they were presented, this paper will detail the changes that special effects have seen over the last twenty-five years. Special effects have been used ever since the film industry became popular. Three-dimensional film technology became popular in the1950s, when it enjoyed a brief period of use (Sklar par. 3). Although motion-picture film, like still photography, normally yields two-dimensional images, the illusion of a third dimension can be achieved by projecting two separate movies. Members of the audience wear 3-D eyeglasses so that the right eye sees one picture and the left eye sees the other, producing the effect of three dimensions. Three-dimensional film technology is still being used today at Universal Studios in Florida. When my family visited the amusement park there was a feature 3D film that was rendition of â€Å"The Terminator.† Three-dimensional film has changed, because now the members of the audience no longer have to wear glasses with one red and one blue lens. Now the glasses are clear, but still allow the user to get the same three-dimensional effect that they would the red and blue glasses. Another example of the lasting power of early techniques is stop-motion photography. The original â€Å"King Kong† used this technique, in which the King Kong figurine was repeatedly filmed for very brief segments and then moved, so that when the film was projected at normal speed, King Kong appeared to move. The same technique animated the figures in â€Å"James and the Giant Peach† (â€Å"Nova† par. 2). After World War II there was a lull in the development and use of special effects. Technical advances in the design and manufacture of motion-picture cameras made it easier to film on actual locations, and the trend in cinematic storytelling tended toward realism, resulting in less call for fantastic illusions. Then in 1968 the film â€Å"2001: A Space Odyssey†, in which astronauts ap... ... Works Cited Tanis, Nicholas. "Motion Picture," Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2000 October 12, 2000 <http://encarta.msn.com>. Sklar, Robert. " History of Motion Pictures, " Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2000 October 24, 2000 <http://encarta.msn.com>. Nova Online. â€Å"The Grand Illusion: A Century of Special Effects,† Nova Online 1996. October 12, 2000 < http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/specialfx/effects/history.html>. Hayes, R.M. Trick Cinematography: The Oscar Special-Effects Movies. North Carolina: McFarland, 1986. Erland, Jonathan, and Kay Erland. â€Å"The Digital Series Traveling Matte Backings† Composition Components Company October 12, 2000 <http://www.digitalgreenscreen.com/NoFrame/ tmatte.html>. Thalmann, Nadia, and Daniel Thalmann, eds. New Trends in Animation and Visualization. New York: Wiley, 1991. La Franco, Robert. â€Å"Digital Dreamin’.† Forbes Sept. 1998: 223. Kaplan, David A. â€Å"Grand Illusions.† Newsweek Online 1996: October 12, 2000 <http://www.newsweek.com>. Howstuffworks Online. â€Å"Developing The Matrix,† Howstuffworks Online. 1999. October 14, 2000 <http://howstuffworks.com/framed.htm?parent=Matrix>.

The Affliction Of Polio In Africa Biology Essay

AbstractionThis essay investigates the grounds why Goma ( in DRC ) is more affected by infantile paralysis than Gisenyi ( in Rwanda ) . The two parts on which the probe is about are neighbors ; they have the same clime and the same geographical construction. This probe was carried out utilizing field work. I started my probe by inquiring inquiries to physicians so that I would hold more thought of what infantile paralysis was. After that, I selected the factors I would look into on in order to cognize why Goma is more affected by Polio than Gisenyi. The factors selected are: the environmental factors, handiness of wellness attention and the cognition the population has about infantile paralysis. For the environmental factors, the clime and the hygiene were considered and investigated on. In the instance of the handiness of the vaccinum, I asked inquiries to the people in charge of the inoculation plans in each part. For the cognition about infantile paralysis, inquiries were asked to 70 female parents in each part about their consciousness about infantile paralysis. The decisions I drawn from this probe is that neither the handiness of the vaccinum nor the consciousness of the population contributes to the difference in infantile paralysis instances between the two parts. Amongst the environmental factors merely the hygiene contributes to the difference in infantile paralysis instances between the two parts. The chief ground why Goma is more affected by infantile paralysis is that the population there is populating without holding basic demands and in add-on to that, non all the kids are vaccinated. The poorness stops the parents from boiling the H2O before giving it to their kids and the war is doing the parents move from one topographic point to another and as a consequence, the kids do non acquire all the three doses of the vaccinum which makes them susceptible to acquire infantile paralysis.Introduction:Poliomyelitis or infantile paralysis is an infective disease caused by a virus that was foremost discovered in 1909 by Karl Landsteiner ( 18 68 -1943 ) . Polio largely affects kids that are less than five old ages old. Polio is eradicated in Europe, in USA, and in Australia since the 1990 ‘s[ 1 ]. However there are still some instances of infantile paralysis in Asia and really many instances in Africa. The virus that causes infantile paralysis is known as the poliovirus. The poliovirus is a really contagious virus that can distribute really easy and really rapidly from one individual to another.[ 2 ]The incubation period of infantile paralysis can be really short ( 4days ) or long ( 14 yearss ) .[ 3 ] The poliovirus can merely infect worlds. It is really common in tropical climes and during summer in temperate clime ; it is rapidly inactivated by heat.[ 4 ]The poliovirus can populate in an environment that has a temperature between 18 A °C and 40 A ° C There are two chief types of infantile paralysis: the first type is caused by the wild infantile paralysis. This is the 1 in the environment, the one people get by imbibing contaminated H2O or by being in contact with contaminated fecal matters. The 2nd type is the vaccinum infantile paralysis. This is the infantile paralysis people get because of the vaccinum that contains weak poliovirus. This happens when for illustration a kid who was ill and has non recovered yet is vaccinated. In this instance the immune system of the kid is weak and ca n't battle the weak polioviruses. The difference between the two types of infantile paralysis is that the wild infantile paralysis causes a palsy that is non reversible while the palsy caused from the vaccinum infantile paralysis is reversible significance that the individual can go normal once more after few yearss. Poliomyelitis can distribute in different ways. The most common manner is the fecal unwritten transmittal ; the other manner is the unwritten -oral infantile paralysis transmittal[ 5 ]. The fecal unwritten transmittal is when a individual is in contact with the fecal matters of an septic individual. It occurs in countries where the hygiene is hapless. In countries where the sanitation is better, the spreading will happen utilizing the oral- unwritten transmittal which occurs when an septic individual sneezes or coughs in the presence of non-infected people. In this instance the non- septic individual will be in contact with droplets or spit. Insects such as flies can besides be agents of transmittal of the virus.[ 6 ]The virus can besides distribute through contaminated nutrient and H2O.[ 7 ]Not all the people that are in contact with the poliovirus acquire ill. They will merely hold something that looks like a bad cold. Those people can move as bearers and can infect other people. O nce a individual is paralysed, that individual ca n't pollute the others. The individual is merely contagious during the incubation period of the poliovirus. The virus can come in the being through the air ( nose, larynx, amygdales, ) but largely it enters the being through the digestive system.[ 8 ]When the virus is in the being, it develops and multiplies in the bowels and so goes to the nervous system where it causes a palsy in few hours.[ 9 ] The poliovirus can impact three different parts of the organic structure. The first portion is the encephalon ; in this instance the individual affected dies. The 2nd portion is the respiratory system, cut downing the external respiration capacity of the septic individual. This largely consequences to decease if the individual does non hold aid from take a breathing machines. The 3rd portion is the legs. In this instance the virus amendss merely the nervousnesss that control motions. The palsy caused by the poliovirus is known as a floppy Paralysis. The individual will non be able to walk unless assisted with crutches or with prosthetics. In Africa, the bulk of the instances of infantile paralysis are coming from hapless households. Those who have their respiratory system affected by infantile paralysis merely die because they ca n't afford to purchase the setup assisting to breath. For those who have the legs paralysed they ca n't purchase the prosthetics which cost around 350 $ ( this being the cheapest ) . Most of the paralysed people merely hope that person takes attention of them or in most instances they become mendicants on the street because their households think they are a charge and do n't desire to take attention of them. Poliomyelitiss can non be cured. Since infantile paralysis is caused by a virus, the antibiotics do n't hold any consequence on it. In order to kill the poliovirus, the host cell has to be killed besides. The lone thing the physicians can make is to bring around the symptoms such as febrility. When a kid becomes paralysed the lone thing that can be done is the rehabilitation. The fact that infantile paralysis can non be cured does non intend that it ca n't be prevented. One of the bar methods used is inoculation. The vaccinum for infantile paralysis is unwritten. It contains weak polioviruses. Four doses have to be given for the vaccinum to be effectual. The first dosage is given at the birth ; the 2nd 1 is given when the babe has 6 hebdomads, the 3rd at 10 hebdomads and the 4th and last dosage at 14 hebdomads. Another bar method that can be used is to imbibe poached H2O. In Africa, people in the small town acquire the H2O they need from the lakes and rivers near their houses. The H2O from the lakes can be really unsafe because it is the same H2O in which people wash their apparels and many people do their fecal matters near the H2O. If person is affected by infantile paralysis and realeases his/her fecal matters in the H2O, the poliovirus will travel in the H2O and will impact the kids who will imbibe that H2O. In order to avoid that, the parents should boil the H2O before giving it to their kids. In that manner non merely the poliovirus will be killed but besides all the other viruses and bacteriums that was in the H2O. In this essay we are traveling to see what can do two parts have different infantile paralysis instances. To look into this, I have chosen the part of Goma ( in DRC ) and the part of Gisenyi ( in Rwanda ) . This is deserving look intoing because infantile paralysis can be contaminated through the air and the fact is that there ‘s a batch of contact between the populations of the two parts. Since there ‘s a batch of contact between the two populations and that infantile paralysis can be transmitted in the air the inquiry is why one portion of the population is more affected than the other? The part of Goma and the part of Gisenyi are neighbors. They are non in the same state ; Goma is in DRC while Gisenyi is in Rwanda. Both the parts have the same geographical construction. Both are hilly and portion the same lake: Lake Kivu. Even though they have the same clime and geographical construction, the two parts are non affected in the same manner by infantile paralysis. The part of Goma is more affected by infantile paralysis than the part of Gisenyi. In fact most of the kids in Goma are affected by infantile paralysis while in Gisenyi the opportunity of holding a kid affected by infantile paralysis is approximative to 0 % .What makes the part of Goma more affected by infantile paralysis than the part of Gisenyi?Many things can do these two parts so different in the manner infantile paralysis affect them in this essay, three factors were used to look into why Goma is more affected by infantile paralysis than Gisenyi. Three factors are: The environmental factors, handiness of the vaccinum and wellness attention, and the consciousness amongst the people. The environmental factors For the environmental factors the clime and the hygiene will be considered. The clime of the two parts is the same ; hence, the clime can non be among the grounds why the rate of infantile paralysis is different in the two parts. They both have the same temperatures and clime. Since Goma and Gisenyi have the same clime this can non be a ground why Goma has more infantile paralysis instances than Gisenyi. The handiness of public lavatories for the people who do n't hold modern houses with lavatories in them and a good hygiene can be included as an environmental factor. The usage of public lavatories is one of the preventative methods used to avoid infantile paralysis. The public lavatories are suggested because most of the people do n't hold the capacity to construct houses with lavatories. In Gisenyi and Goma the public lavatories are available but they are in really bad conditions ; due to that people do n't utilize them. Most of the kids and the parents let go of their fecal matters near the Lake Kivu, in which they go to bring H2O. This increases the rate of spreading of infantile paralysis particularly if the non-vaccinated kids drink the H2O from the lake straight without boiling it and that the H2O contains the infantile paralysis virus. The image below shows kids from Goma bringing soiled H2O. Picture nA ° 1 ( From my camera ) The fact is that in Goma most of the people live either in a refugee cantonment or in really hapless conditions. Those who live in refugee cantonments do non hold good sanitation installations. There are many people populating in a little country ( eg: two households in one collapsible shelter ) which facilitates the spreading of diseases such as cholera and infantile paralysis among the kids. The other 1s who do n't populate in refugee cantonments live in really bad conditions because of the war and the insecurity. Refering the hygiene there ‘s a large difference between the two parts in the sense that in one ( Gisenyi ) people have reasonably acceptable life conditions which enables them to hold a good hygiene while in the other ( Goma ) people are populating in bad conditions which makes them non able to hold a good hygiene. The handiness of the vaccinum and wellness attention The handiness of the vaccinum and wellness attention are finding factor in the sense that if the vaccinum for infantile paralysis is available, fewer kids will be affected by infantile paralysis. This besides include whether people can afford to pay for the vaccinum or non. In Rwanda, the vaccinum is available and free for everyone. Therefore in Gisenyi, which is one of the parts of Rwanda, the vaccinum is available and free. In Goma the vaccinum is besides free. In fact people from the public wellness section are sent to near the parents to immunize their kids. In both the parts the medical Centres are near to the people. One difference is that in Gisenyi the population has an insurance provided by the authorities in order to ease the entree to medical attention while in Goma the people have to pay for themselves. The fact that the vaccinum is available in Gisenyi explains why there are few instances of infantile paralysis. The inquiry now is to cognize why there are more instances of infantile paralysis in Goma when the vaccinum is besides available and free at that place. The 2008 statistics by Unicef showed that in Rwanda, 95 % of the kids where immunized against infantile paralysis while 89 % merely were immunized in Congo.[ 10 ] Public consciousness about infantile paralysis If the vaccinum is available the figure of kids affected by infantile paralysis will depend on the figure of kids who were vaccinated. The figure of kids Vaccinated will depend on how cognizant parents are that their kids have to be vaccinated. There is no point of doing the vaccinum available if the parents do n't take their kids for inoculation. This can be a ground why Goma has more kids affected by infantile paralysis than Gisenyi. If the parents in Gisenyi are more cognizant about infantile paralysis than the 1s in Goma this can explicate why the kids in Gisenyi are less affected by infantile paralysis than the kids in Goma. In order to look into that, few inquiries were asked to parents holding kids less than five old ages old in the two parts. 70 parents from each part were asked the undermentioned inquiries: Make you cognize what infantile paralysis is? What do you cognize about infantile paralysis? Are your kids vaccinated against infantile paralysis? What do you make when your kid is ill? Make you boil or set chemicals in the H2O before giving it to your kids?[ 11 ]PRIMARY DATAThe following tabular array shows the consequences got in the different parts Table nA °1GisenyiGomaNumber of parents cognizing about infantile paralysis 0 2 Number of parents that have some thought about infantile paralysis 27 39 Number of parents that have no thought about infantile paralysis 43 29 Number of parents that take their kids for inoculation 67 59 Number of parents that do n't take their kids for inoculation 3 11 Number of parents that take their kids to the physician when they are ill 64 33 Number of parent that leave their kids place when they are ill 4 29 Number of parents that take their kids to witchdoctors when they are ill 2 8 Number of parents who boil or put chemicals in the H2O before giving it to their kids 41 8 The undermentioned graph shows us the consequences gotGraph nA °1From the graph above we can see that refering the cognition about infantile paralysis the parents in Goma are more cognizant about that disease than the parents in Gisenyi. We can see from the graph that there are more parents in Goma who really know what infantile paralysis is than in Gisenyi. Most of the parents in Gisenyi have no thought of what infantile paralysis is. Some parents even thought that it was a disease caused by malnutrition. The fact that more kids in Gisenyi are vaccinated than in Goma can explicate why there are more instances of infantile paralysis in Goma than in Gisenyi. However that is non all. From the consequences we can see that there are more parents who take their kids to the physician when they are ill in Gisenyi than in Goma. This is because in Gisenyi the parents have insurance and can afford to take their kids to the infirmary when they are ill. In the instance of Goma, the parents do n't hold any insurance and have to pay for themselves. When the parents in Goma were asked why they do n't take their kids to the physician when they are ill, most of them said that they ca n't afford to take their kids to the infirmary. The fact that there are more childs vaccinated in Gisenyi than in Goma can be explained by the fact that less parents in Goma go to the infirmary. Because they have to pay for themselves, they do n't take their kids to the infirmaries believing that they ‘ll hold to pay for the vaccinum. We can see from the statistitics that about 16 % of the female parents do n't take their kids to the infirmary. The fact is that some female parents do n't even give birth in the infirmaries. If they did, the kid would automatically have the first dosage of the vaccinum and the female parent would be told that the vaccinum is free. The households in Goma do n't hold a beginning of gross. Some were husbandmans but can no longer cultivate their farms because they live in refugee cantonments. In fact they ca n't cultivate even if they leaved outside the refugee cantonments because Goma is a part of high volcanic activity. The bulk of the land is covered with larva, there ‘s no manner to works anything at that place. In add-on to that, there are more parents in Gisenyi who boil the H2O or put chemicals in it before giving it to their kids. To the parents who do n't boil H2O or put chemicals in it were asked why they do n't make that. Most of the female parents in Gisenyi answered that â€Å" since I was immature I ne'er drunk poached H2O and I ‘m healthy, why should my kid acquire ill if I did n't. † those in Goma explained that they ca n't afford to make that but if they could, they would boil the H2O before giving it to their kids. The kids in Goma drink H2O that is non purified and are non vaccinated. This is why they get infantile paralysiss while for the kids of Gisenyi, they drink poached H2O and even for those who drink H2O that is non boiled have the insurance that they are vaccinated and that they wo n't acquire polio. There are no instances of infantile paralysis in Gisenyi, so, there ‘s no 1 to convey the disease. The consequence got from my research can be supported by the unicef statistics about the sanitation, and improved imbibing H2O in Rwanda and in Congo The tabular array below shows the studies from unicef about the sanitation installations and imbibing H2O. This besides includes the % of kids vaccinated against infantile paralysis.[ 12 ]Table nA °2Rwandese republic Zaire % of population utilizing improved sanitation installations in the rural countries 47 % 19 % % of population utilizing improved imbibing H2O installations in rural countries 61 % 35 % % of kids immunized against infantile paralysis in entire 95 % 89 % The fact that the parents in Goma have some thought about infantile paralysis is supposed to do Goma less affected by it than Gisenyi where the parents are non cognizant which is non the instance. This can be explained by the fact that in Goma, even though the parents have some thought about what infantile paralysis is they do n't take their kids for inoculation. The parents in Gisenyi take their kids for inoculation. Most of the parents in Gisenyi do n't cognize why they have to immunize their kids they do it because they were told to make so and that since the vaccinum is free, they do n't free anything by taking their kids for inoculation. For the parents in Goma their job is that they are non stable ( i.e. : they move from one topographic point to another ) . Because of the war and the insecurity in Goma, the population keeps traveling. My theory is that due to the instability of the population in Goma, parents do n't take their kids for inoculation. That would explicate the fact that even thought the parents are cognizant about infantile paralysis, they do n't take their kids for inoculation doing them vulnerable to that disease. To verify whether my theory is true, I asked 50 parents from each part some inquiries about their manner of life. The inquiries asked are: Where make you populate? Make you populate in a refugee cantonment or in your ain house? How frequently do you travel ( go forth your house or refugee cantonment ) ? What is the ground of your instability? * When you move do you believe about taking your kid for inoculation? *[ 13 ] The tabular array below shows us the consequences gotTable nA °3GisenyiGomaNumber of parents populating in a refugee cantonment 0 13 Number of parents populating in their ain house 50 37 Number of parents who stay in the same topographic point during the whole twelvemonth 41 28 figure of parents traveling one time in twelvemonth 2 3 figure of parents traveling twice a twelvemonth 7 4 figure of parents traveling more than twice a twelvemonth 0 15 Number of parents taking their kids to inoculation after traveling 1 2 The tabular array below shows the consequences in %Table nA °4GisenyiGoma% of parents tliving in a refugee cantonment 0 % 26 % % of parents populating in a house 100 % 74 % Overall % of parents traveling at least one time in a twelvemonth 18 % 44 % % of parents taking their kids for inoculation after traveling 11.1 % 9.09 % The graph below shows us the consequences got:Graph nA °2The consequences got support my theory that the parents in Goma do non take their kids for inoculation due to the instability. We can clearly see that in Gisenyi all the parents live in their ain house which is non the instance for Goma. My consequences besides show that there are more parents in Goma who leave their places compared to Gisenyi. The instability of the parents is caused by different grounds in the two parts. In Goma the instability is non merely due to the war, it is besides caused by the volcanic activity while in Gisenyi, the instability of the parents is due to their work ( ie: move from one topographic point to another harmonizing to seasons ) . More parents in Gisenyi think about taking their kids to inoculation compared to Goma. This could explicate the fact that more kids are affected by infantile paralysis in Goma in the sense that more kids in Gisenyi receive all the doses of the vaccinum compared to Goma. In Goma, when the parents are obliged to go forth the country because of the war, they do n't hold the clip to take the kid for the 2nd dosage because they are busy seeking to last in hard conditions, and since the vaccinum is non effectual if all the four doses are non given, their kids are susceptible of holding infantile paralysis if they are in contact with the poliovirus.Decision:With all this we can reason that Goma is more affected by infantile paralysis than Gisenyi because most of the kids in Gisenyi are vaccinated which is non the instance in Goma. The fact that more kids are vaccinated in Gisenyi than in Goma is non due to the handiness of the vaccinum and the consciousness of the parents, it is because in Goma, the parents are more bemused by lasting than by taking their kids for the inoculation. The war is doing the population in Goma live in really hapless conditions. Their kids do n't have all the four doses of the infantile paralysis vaccinum which makes them vulnerable to polio. The deficiency of hygiene in Goma particularly in the refugee cantonments explains the fact that there ‘s more infantile paralysis in Goma than in Gisenyi. The fact that the kids lack hygiene and unrecorded together increases the rate of spreading of the disease. Apart from the fact that there is war in Goma, the people are besides hapless. They do n't hold the clip to take attention of their kids. Most of the parents have many kids and ca n't take attention of them. They are busy the whole twenty-four hours seeking to acquire some money to feed their kids. When their kid is ill, they either leave the kid place or pray he will be all right shortly or if the disease is grave, they take the kid to the traditional physicians who are less expensive than the modern physicians. Harmonizing to many parents the traditional physicians are more effectual than the modern physicians because they are inexpensive and that they use herbs to bring around, which are better than the pills given by the modern physicians. Most of the parents in Goma cognize how their kids can acquire polio and they know how to avoid it but they merely do n't hold any pick. They ca n't afford to boil the H2O or to set chemicals in it. The ground why Goma has more polio instances is largely due to the war and to the instability of the population. We can see that clearly from the fact that the parents in Gisenyi are less cognizant about infantile paralysis, but since they are stable and that they were told to take their kids for inoculation they take them. They besides have the ability to purchase wood to boil the H2O. The hazard now is that since Goma and Gisenyi are neighbors and that there are refugees from Goma in Gisenyi, infantile paralysis will distribute and impact kids from Gisenyi besides. That ‘s why the female parents in Gisenyi are sensitised to immunize their kids. Some of them do n't see the intent of inoculation and do n't cognize the hazard they are taking. Because of that, infantile paralysis which was eradicated in Rwanda might come back if all the kids are non vaccinated. Since the two parts portion the same lake and that kids do their faces in near the lake, there ‘s a opportunity that the infantile paralysis virus might distribute through the H2O if the kids drink the H2O without boiling it.

Operating Systems Essay

Interfaces that are graphical in nature are known either as Graphical User Interfaces(GUI) or WIMP interfaces (Windows, Icons, Menus and Pointer). Typically, these types of interfaces are available in multi-programming environments or in applications software that involve a considerable degree of complexity. In a GUI, there are: A ‘window’ for each open application. Many windows can be open at the same time but only one window can be active at any one time. There may be some way of indicating which one is active (perhaps by making the bar at the top of the active window blue). Menus and icons. Available functions can be selected in one of two ways, either by using pop-up menus or drop-down menus, or clicking on ‘icons’. An icon is simply a small picture that represents a specific function- clicking on it selects that function.   A pointing device, usually a mouse but in certain circumstances a graphical tablet and pen can be used. These are used to make selections.   The use of the keyboard to navigate through the application is minimized because it is relatively time-consuming way of working.   Natural language. Natural language interfaces are those that allow the user to communicate in their native language, such as English. It allows the user to instruct the computer without need for a particular ‘syntax’. The system needs to be able both to interpret inputs in natural language from the user, and to act upon them, and, also preferably to generate natural language statements in response to user input. Sometimes it is also referred as a conversational interface. The questions are displayed on the VDU and the answers are entered via the keyboard. For example, imagine a user has initiated a ‘save file’ request. The ‘conversation’ might be: COMP:What’s the file name? USER: chapter1. txt COMP:what folder? USER: userguide COMP:File already exists. Overwrite? USER:Yes COMP: Done. This kind of interface can be found on data entry terminals and other types of dumb terminals connected to a network where non-experts users are guided through the complex tasks they need to perform by the computer.   Command line Command based interface is one where the user types a series of commands at the keyboard which tell the computer what their intentions are. It is also known as linguistic manipulation. The characteristics of a command based interface are   the user needs to know what commands are available   the user needs to understand the commands Characteristics of a command based interface 1) The system is very much more open than in the other types of interface. Other interfaces restrict the options that the user has available to them. This can be particularly important for the system manager because different users can only be allowed to have access to specific parts of the system. 2) Command based interfaces can only be used by computer literate people because the user need to understand the commands and their uses. 1. Define what is meant by the term operating system. (2) 2. Give two reasons why an operating system is likely to be stored on backing storage rather than in the memory of the computer. (2) 3. Distinguish between a multi-programming and a multi-access operating system. (2) 4. State what is meant by a distributed system, and give an advantage of this type of multi-access system over a simple network of machines. (2) 5. A computer operator takes phone calls from the public who ring up asking whether a particular item in a catalogue is available. The operator needs to type in a series of responses to questions put to the caller, so that the computer can check the file and determine whether there are any of that item available. Design a screen interface that would be suitable for the operator to use. (4) 6. The technician responsible for maintaining the system in question 5, uses a command line interface. a) Explain what is meant by a command line interface. (2) b) Give two advantages and one disadvantage to the technician of using a command line interface rather than a menu based interface. (3) Answers: 1 A. -A (suite of) programs†¦-which run the basic functions of the computer†¦ -giving an environment in which to run application software. A question which begins with the word define, leaves very little room for manoeuvre because it is asking for a standard answer. This is not an opportunity to show your prowess by making up an answer that is original- there aren’t any. Note, also, the fact that three answers have been given. Always try to give one more answer than seems to be required by the question. If you look at a mark scheme for an examination paper, the mark points are listed as a set of bullet points so there is no reason why you should not do the same. This style of answer helps you to write down your thoughts easily without getting confused by the language. The purpose of this examination is not to test your ability with English, rather to test your knowledge of computing. 2 A. – A full operating system requires a large amount of storage space that is better utilised in the computer memory for applications – Storage of the operating system on backing storage allows for easy upgrading or changing from one system to a different one. Note that the temptation to call the operating system the O. S. has been resisted in the answer. In general, do not use abbreviations in your answers. There are exceptions, where the abbreviation is the accepted form, but your own versions may be ambiguous or, even, not understood by the examiner. If you do need to use an abbreviation, because the term is to be used a number of times, give the term in full with the abbreviation that you want to use in brackets after it. For example, the first time that you use the term operating system write â€Å"†¦ operating system (OS)†¦ † you can then use OS as often as you like in the rest of your answer. 3. A. – A multi-programming operating system is one where the user of the machine is given the impression that they can carry out more than one task at a time. – A multi-access operating system is one where it is possible for more than one user to access the system apparently at the same time. Note that there are a large number of points that could have been made about both of these operating systems, but most of them would not answer the question. It is important when answering a question starting with ‘distinguish’ to choose facts that show a comparison. 4 A. – A distributed system is one which uses many storage locations on different machines to store software and files. – Access to files can be speeded up because more than one file command can be carried out at a time. When an advantage is asked for it is normal to state in the question, either explicitly or implicitly, with what the comparison should be made. Be careful to give an advantage using this comparison and not a more generalised one. 5 A. – Form type interface – Catalogue number – Space for the description of goods which will be filled in by the computer itself – Spaces for computer to produce availability and price – Laid out with spaces for input. What is just as important here are the things that would not be on the screen. The question makes it quite clear that there is no ordering going on, so spaces for name and address, or method of payment, are not only going to score no marks, but will probably be penalised because they demonstrate that the candidate has not understood the question. In this type of question it is important to demonstrate that you have taken the situation into account. 6 A. a)-Series of commands typed at a screen prompt†¦ -which give specific instructions to the computer. b)Advantages: -Entire system is available to the technician -Access to the particular part of the system required is gained more quickly than using other types of interface. Disadvantage: -The technician needs to know the commands that are available -The technician needs to understand the way the system is designed so that it can be navigated efficiently. Note. The language used in this answer is not the sort of language that a candidate will use in an examination. Don’t worry about this. Answers like â€Å"so that you can get around the system† are perfectly acceptable. System Software James Leong Mook Seng.

Marks ; Spencer Group Anaylsis Essay

Marks and Spencer Group plc  © MarketLine Page 2 Marks and Spencer Group plc Company Overview COMPANY OVERVIEW Marks and Spencer Group (M&S or â€Å"the company†) is one of the leading retailers of clothing, foods and homeware in the UK. The company operates in more than 40 countries across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. It is headquar tered in London, the UK and employs 78,169 people. The company recorded revenues of ? 9,740. 3 million (approximately $15,158. 8 million) in the financial year ended April 2011 (FY2011)*, an increase of 2. 1% over FY2010. The operating profit of M&S was ? 836. million (approximately $1,302. 5 million) in FY2011, a decrease of 1. 8% compared to FY2010. The net profit was ? 612 million (approximately $952. 5 million) in FY2011, an increase of 16. 3% over FY2010. *The financial year ended April 2, 2011 was a 52-week period whereas the financial year ended April 3, 2010 was a 53-week period. KEY FACTS Head Office Marks and Spencer Group plc Wa terside House 35 Nor th Wharf Road London W2 1NW GBR Phone 44 20 7935 4422 Fax Web Address http://www. marksandspencer. com Revenue / turnover 9,740. 3 (GBP Mn) Financial Year End April Employees 78,169 London Ticker MKS Marks and Spencer Group plc  © MarketLine Page 3 Marks and Spencer Group plc Business Description BUSINESS DESCRIPTION M&S is the holding company of the Marks & Spencer Group of companies. The company is one of the UK’s leading retailers, with more than 21 million people visiting its stores each week. M&S offers clothing and home products, as well as foods, sourced from about 2,000 suppliers globally. It operates through both wholly owned stores and franchise stores. As of FY2011, the company operated 703 stores in the UK. M&S operates over 361 owned and franchised stores in over 42 territories. Though the company primarily repor ts its revenues in terms of geographic segments (UK and international), its operations can be categorized under two divisions: food and general merchandise. The food division concentrates on four main areas: fresh, natural, healthy food; special celebration products; authentic ready meal ranges; and exceptional ever yday food such as â€Å"Oakham† chicken. It operates a chain of 163 Simply Food owned stores and 202 Simply Food franchise stores in high streets, motorway service stations, railway stations and air por ts in the UK. The general merchandise division of the company is categorized into two segments: clothing and home. The clothing segment offers women’s wear, men’s wear, lingerie, children’s wear, and accessories and footwear. Some of the prominent brands offered by this segment include Autograph, Limited Collection, Collezione, Blue Harbour, Girls Boutique, Per Una, Ceriso, Adored, and Truly you. The home segment offers homeware and home accessories, kitchen and tableware, lighting, and furniture products. In addition to selling products through regular stores, the segment also offers catalogue services. M;S offers its products and services online as well as through flagship stores, high street stores, retail park stores, M;S outlets, Simply Food stores, and Simply Food franchised stores. Marks and Spencer Group plc  © MarketLine Page 4 Marks and Spencer Group plc History HISTORY M;S was founded in 1884 as a stall in an open market in Leeds, the UK. Then known as Marks’ Penny Bazaar, it was the household goods, haberdasher y, toy, and sheet-music business of Michael Marks, a Jewish refugee from Poland. In 1894, he took Thomas Spencer as a business par tner. In 1903, M&S was registered as a private limited company. Although a clothing design depar tment had first been set up in 1938, it was not until after the Second World War that it became fully developed under a leading designer. In 1973, the company entered Canada, and bought Peoples Depar tment Stores and D’Allaird’s, a national women’s wear retailer, both of which it later sold. The company also had direct retailing investments in Canada. It tried to move south of the border in 1988 with the purchase of Brooks Brothers, but the US operation never took off as the company had hoped. Five franchised stores were closed down in Turkey in 1999 when the franchise par tner Turk Petrol Holding couldn’t meet its bank obligations and collapsed. Later in the year, Marks and Spencer Canada, after 25 years of business, closed its 38 stores. The company sold its US clothing chain Brooks Brothers for $225 million in 2001. In 2003, M&S announced the launch of its â€Å"&more† credit card. Alongside this, Marks & Spencer Financial Services was re-branded â€Å"Marks & Spencer Money. † In 2004, M&S completed the sale of Marks & Spencer Retail Financial Services Holdings (M&S Money) to HSBC. During the course of 2005, the company opened 31 Simply Food stores as well as closed the Lifestore project in the UK. M&S expanded the â€Å"Simply Food† format with the acquisition of 28 stores on a leasehold basis from Iceland Foods for a consideration of ? 38 million (approximately $76. 3 million) in 2006. In the same year, M&S sold Kings Super Markets, its only non-M&S branded business to a US investor group consisting of Angelo, Gordon & Co, MTN Capital Par tners and Mr. Bruce Weitz for $61. 5 million in cash. In 2007, M&S and two of its long-term suppliers decided to star t the development of M&S’ first â€Å"eco-factories†, pioneering innovative methods of sustainable manufacturing. One factor y in Sri Lanka would make lingerie and two factories in Nor th Wales would manufacture furniture upholster y. In the same year, the company launched its own branded LCD widescreen TVs. This range was in addition to the existing collection of Sony TVs currently available at M;S. Fur ther in the year, M;S launched school wear made from recycled plastic bottles. The company’s first standalone home store in Lisburn, Nor thern Ireland was launched in 2007. In the same year, M&S launched Big & Tall, an exclusive online men’s wear offering more than 450 items online ranging from tailoring to knitwear to casual shir ts and trousers. Also in 2007, M;S reduced saturated fat level as much as 82% in more than 500 company’s products. The company reduced saturated fat levels in products including sandwiches, ready meals, crisps and savor y snacks. Marks and Spencer Group plc  © MarketLine Page 5 Marks and Spencer Group plc History Towards the end of 2007, a new Made to Measure shir ts ser vice was launched by M&S, which allowed customers to design a tailor-made shir t within 21 days. The company added new products to its men’s wear por tfolio in FY2008. M;S also launched climate control underwear featuring temperature regulating technology developed by NASA, expanded Collezione brand collection by introducing new shoes, wool and cashmere mix trousers. M;S reinvigorated its Blue Harbour brand to attract 35 to 44 year old men. Also in FY2008, the company star ted to freeze its ready meals for international sale and launched a range of 70 lines in eight countries. Later, the company also launched a 25-piece capsule collection called GD25 from Per Una. In 2008, M;S removed ar tificial colors and flavorings from its entire food and soft drinks range. In the same year, the company improved the quantity of space in a number of major out of towns and city centre stores through store extensions and also added 35 stores to its Simply Food por tfolio, including 25 BP franchised stores. A new flagship store in new Westfield Centre at White City, West London was opened at the end of 2008. To fur ther progress in Asian markets, the company opened its first 38,000 square feet store in Shanghai. M;S then entered into a par tnership with Scottish and Southern Energy, as per which M;S Energy would supply electricity and gas to domestic customers and reward them with M;S store vouchers for helping the environment by reducing their energy usage. M;S announced plans to close 10 of its Simply Food stores in 2009. The company opened Food to Go outlets in Hong Kong in the same year. Also in 2009, M;S announced plans to enter new categories in the Indian market, with the launch of luggage and footwear for men. The company introduced a Ramadan and Eid fashion collection in all the 13 stores throughout the Middle East in the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman in 2009. Fur ther in the year, M;S launched personalized greetings cards business online. The company also announced to open its second mainland store in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province in southern China. M;S also launched a beer and cider range to complement its wine selection. M;S launched a revamped version of its website in 2009, the first major update since 2007. Fur thermore, in 2009, the company began to offer its online international deliver y service to 73 more countries as par t of a drive to grow annual sales of M;S Direct. The company began its offering within the homeware sector in 2009. M;S announced plans to open a store in Marbella, Spain by the end of 2009. In the same year, M;S and India-based Reliance Retail planned to open approximately 50 stores in India in the following five years under the banner of their joint venture company Marks ; Spencer Reliance India. Later in the year, the company outlined plans to cut costs by ? 50 million (about $150 million) by optimizing its supply chain and IT systems. M;S also announced plans to open a new store at the Swords Pavilions shopping center in the Dublin Airpor t, Ireland, in 2009. The company opened its new 22,000 square feet store at Morpeth’s Sanderson Arcade in the same year. M&S decided to launch â€Å"Simply Food† in Western Europe. Fur ther in 2009, the company a nnounced plans to sell a selected range of around 400 branded grocery and household products in all of its UK stores, following a 16-month trial in its stores in the Nor th East and South East of England. In 2010, M&S launched a new Home Energy Service division that would offer customers a suite of energy efficiency products and services. Building on the success of M&S Energy, which was servicing Marks and Spencer Group plc  © MarketLine Page 6 Marks and Spencer Group plc History over 125,000 homes, the company would roll-out a number of new products including bespoke energy advice, renewable energy solutions such as solar panels and heat pumps, and energy efficient heating solutions. In the same year, M&S announced a program to be the world’s most sustainable retailer by 2015, launching 80 major new commitments under M;S’ eco and ethical plan, Plan A. The new commitments will mean that the company ensures all M&S products become ‘Plan A products’ with at least one sustainable quality. This program will also enable the company’s 2,000 suppliers to adopt Plan A best practice and encourage M;S customers and employees to live ‘greener’ lifestyles. Fur ther in 2010, M;S launched a new version of www. marksandspencer. om designed specifically for use on mobile phones and mobile devices—the first mobile site from a major UK high street retailer. Through this, the company aims to expand its multi-channel offering. During the same year, M;S launched England Football team suit exclusively in M;S stores, to take advantage of the football World cup spending. The company opened its new 1. 1 million square feet distribution centre at ProLogis Park Bradford in the UK in 2010. This warehouse in the UK will serve all the company’s stores with furniture products and store equipment. Later in 2010, M&S launched a range of Solar PV and Solar Thermal water heating solutions. Fur thering the sustainability initiatives, the company also announced that it will use polyester made from recycled PET drinks bottles instead of virgin polymer to make more than 300 million clothing care labels a year. Towards the end of 2010, M&S announced plans to move into rail distribution to reduce its carbon footprint. More than 300,000 general merchandise products per week would move from road to rail distribution. The company also opened a new shopping center in Vilnius, Lithuania at the end of year. In April 2011, M&S opened its greenest ever store at Ecclesall Road in Sheffield. This is the first store of a number of new Sustainable Learning stores planned by the company as par t of its drive to become the world’s most sustainable major retailer by 2015. The company opened 20 stores in the UK during FY2011, including 17 Simply Foods. In international, M;S opened 49 new stores and closed 15 stores. During the same period, the company entered the Egyptian market with a 28,000 square feet store in the Dandy Mega Mall in Cairo. The company, in July 2011, launched a new iPad application for its investors. This application will provide investors with latest M;S financial news. In the following month, M;S signed a traceability deal with Historic Futures. As per the deal, Historic Futures will provide the company full traceability on ever y single clothing and home product it sells. M;S is the first major retailer to commit to full traceability for non-food products. In September 2011, M;S opened a new store at Westfield, Stratford City with the latest ‘Only at Your M;S’ innovations and customer experiences. In the following month, M&S launched its new French website, http://www. marksandspencer. fr/, marking its first international transactional website. Marks and Spencer Group plc  © MarketLine Page 7 Marks and Spencer Group plc History The company, in November 2011, opened its new flagship store at 100 Avenue des Champs-elysees in Paris. M&S, in February 2012, launched its outlet format on its website at www. marksandspencer. com/outlet. M&S Outlet will permanently offer a selection of more than 1,300 quality M&S clothing products with up to 40% off the regular high street and online prices. In the same month, the company recalled four products (Crispy Prawn Wonton, Crispy Vegetable Balls, Prawn Baguette Toast, and Prawn Siu Mai Selection) from its Chinese range due to mistake in ‘use by’ date. In March 2012, the company, announced plans to launch a new website for its Irish customers, http://www. marksandspencer. ie/. In April 2012, M&S announced that it will accept secondhand clothes at UK outlets in order to recycle into other fabrics or reuse overseas by the Oxfam charity in an aim to cut waste. Marks and Spencer Group plc  © MarketLine Page 8 Marks and Spencer Group plc Key Employees KEY EMPLOYEES Name Job Title Board Marc Bolland Chief Executive Officer Executive Board 975000 GBP Alan Stewar t Chief Finance Officer Executive Board 550000 GBP Kate Bostock Executive Director, General Merchandise Executive Board 590000 GBP John Dixon Executive Director, Food Executive Board 540000 GBP Steven Sharp Executive Director, Marketing Executive Board 655000 GBP Laura Wade-Gery Executive Director, Multi-channel E-commerce Executive Board Amanda Mellor Group Secretar y and Head of Corporate Governance Executive Board Rober t Swannell Chairman of the Board Non Executive Board Vindi Banga Director Non Executive Board Miranda Cur tis Director Non Executive Board Jeremy Darroch Director Non Executive Board 85000 GBP Steven Holliday Director Non Executive Board 85000 GBP Mar tha Lane Fox Director Non Executive Board 70000 GBP Jan du Plessis Director Non Executive Board 70000 GBP Clem Constantine Director, Proper ty Senior Management Tanith Dodge Director, Human Resources Senior Management Dominic Fr y Director, Communications and Investor Relations Senior Management Jan Heere Director, International Senior Management Nayna McIntosh Director, Store Marketing and Design Senior Management Steve Rowe Director, Retail Senior Management Darrell Stein Director, Information Technology and Logistics Senior Management Marks and Spencer Group plc  © MarketLine Compensation 450000 GBP Page 9 Marks and Spencer Group plc Key Employee Biographies KEY EMPLOYEE BIOGRAPHIES Marc Bolland Board: Executive Board Job Title: Chief Executive Officer Since: 2010 Mr. Bolland has been the Chief Executive Officer at Marks and Spencer Group since 2010. Previously, he was the Chief Executive Officer at Morrisons Supermarkets from 2006 to 2010. Prior to this, Mr. Bolland worked at Heineken for 20 years in various management roles, including Executive Board member and Chief Operating Officer, and responsibility for operations and business development in the US, France, Italy, Spain, the Caribbean and Latin America. He also ser ves as a Director at Manpower. Alan Stewart Board: Executive Board Job Title: Chief Finance Officer Since: 2010 Mr. Stewar t has been the Chief Finance Officer at Marks and Spencer Group since 2010. Before joining the company, he was the Chief Financial Officer at AWAS, an aircraft leasing company. Mr. Stewar t spent 10 years at HSBC Investment Bank before joining Thomas Cook in 1996, where he held various senior roles, including Chief Executive at Thomas Cook UK. Mr. Stewar t joined WH Smith in 2005 as Group Finance Director. He also ser ved as a Non Executive Director at Games Workshop Group. Kate Bostock Board: Executive Board Job Title: Executive Director, General Merchandise Ms. Bostock is the Executive Director of General Merchandise at Marks and Spencer Group. She joined the company in 2004. Previously, Ms. Bostock was the Product Director for Childrenswear at Next from 1994. She also ser ved as the Product Director for the George brand covering all areas of clothing and footwear at Asda. John Dixon Board: Executive Board Job Title: Executive Director, Food Marks and Spencer Group plc  © MarketLine Page 10 Marks and Spencer Group plc Key Employee Biographies Since: 2009 Mr. Dixon has been the Executive Director of Food at Marks and Spencer Group since 2009. He joined the company as a Store Management Trainee. Mr. Dixon held various senior roles at the company for over 20 years, including Executive Assistant, Chief Executive, and Director of Home and M&S Direct. Steven Sharp Board: Executive Board Job Title: Executive Director, Marketing Mr. Sharp is the Executive Director of Marketing at Marks and Spencer Group. He joined the company in 2004. Previously, Mr. Shar p served as the Marketing Director at Asda, the Bur ton Group, Booker, and Arcadia Group. Currently, he is a Non Executive Director at Adnams. Laura Wade-Gery Board: Executive Board Job Title: Executive Director, Multi-channel E-commerce Since: 2011 Ms. Wade-Gery has been the Executive Director of Multi-channel E-commerce at Marks and Spencer Group since 2011. Prior to this, she worked at Tesco and held a variety of senior roles, including Chief Executive Officer of Tesco. com and Tesco Direct. Ms. Wade-Ger y also held various roles at Gemini Consulting and Kleinwor t Benson. She has also been a Non Executive Director at Trinity Mirror since 2006. Amanda Mellor Board: Executive Board Job Title: Group Secretary and Head of Corporate Governance Ms. Mellor is the Group Secretary and Head of Cor porate Governance at Marks and Spencer Group. She joined the company in 2004 as the Head of Investor Relations. Ms. Mellor spent her early career in investment management at James Capel before becoming a Director within its Corporate Finance team. She then served at Rober t Fleming, Investment Banking prior to joining The Bur ton Group as the Director of Cor porate Relations and Investor Relations. Robert Swannell Board: Non Executive Board Job Title: Chairman of the Board Marks and Spencer Group plc  © MarketLine Page 11 Marks and Spencer Group plc Key Employee Biographies Since: 2011 Mr. Swannell has been the Chairman of the Board at Marks and Spencer Group since 2011. He joined the company in 2010 as a Non Executive Director. Prior to this, Mr. Swannell was a Senior Independent Director at The British Land Company, and 3i Group. He spent over 30 years in investment banking at Schroders/Citigroup. Mr. Swannell was previously the Vice Chairman at Citi Europe and Co-Chairman at Citi’s European Investment Bank. Vindi Banga Board: Non Executive Board Job Title: Director Since: 2011 Mr. Banga has been a Director at Marks and Spencer Group since 2011. He is currently a Par tner at Clayton Dubilier ; Rice, a private equity investment firm. Prior to this, Mr. Banga spent 33 years at Unilever, where he held several senior positions, including President of the Global Foods, Home and Personal Care businesses, and was a member of the Unilever Executive Board. He also serves as a Non Executive Director at Thomson Reuters and Maruti Suzuki India. Miranda Curtis Board: Non Executive Board Job Title: Director Since: 2012 Ms. Cur tis has been a Director at Marks and Spencer Group since February 2012. She is currently the Chairman at Waterstones, and a Non Executive Director at Liber ty Global. Ms. Cur tis has also been a Non Executive Director at National Express Group since 2008. She also serves on the Boards of the Institute for Government, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and Camfed (the leading African girls’ education charity). Jeremy Darroch Board: Non Executive Board Job Title: Director Since: 2006 Mr. Darroch has been a Director at Marks and Spencer Group since 2006. He also ser ves as the Chief Executive at British Sky Broadcasting. Previously, Mr. Darroch ser ved as the Chief Financial Officer at British Sky Broadcasting. Prior to this, he was the Group Finance Director and Retail Finance Director at Dixons Retail (formerly DSG International). Marks and Spencer Group plc MarketLine Page 12 Marks and Spencer Group plc Key Employee Biographies Steven Holliday Board: Non Executive Board Job Title: Director Since: 2004 Mr. Holliday has been a Director at Marks and Spencer Group since 2004. He is the Group Chief Executive Officer at National Grid. Prior to that, Mr. Holliday served as the Director of UK and Europe and was responsible for the UK Elect ricity and Gas businesses. He is also the Chairman of the UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy. Prior to joining National Grid, Mr. Holliday was an Executive Director at British Borneo Oil and Gas. Previously, he held several senior positions at Exxon Group. Martha Lane Fox Board: Non Executive Board Job Title: Director Since: 2007 Ms. Fox has been a Director at Marks and Spencer Group since 2007. She is the UK’s Digital Champion, the Chairman of Race Online 2012, and a Non Executive Director at Channel 4 Television. Ms. Fox is founder and Chairman of Lucky Voice, and of her own grant-giving foundation, Antigone. She was co-founder of lastminute. com. Jan du Plessis Board: Non Executive Board Job Title: Director Since: 2008 Mr. du Plessis has been a Director at Marks and Spencer Group since 2008. He is the Chairman at Rio Tinto. Previously, Mr. du Plessis was the Chairman at British American Tobacco and a Non Executive Director at Lloyds Banking Group. He also ser ved as the Chairman at RHM from 2005 to 2007. Mr. du Plessis was previously the Group Finance Director at Richemont, a position he held until 2004. Clem Constantine Board: Senior Management Job Title: Director, Proper ty Mr. Constantine is the Director, Proper ty at Marks and Spencer Group. He joined the company in 2006. Mr. Constantine was appointed the Group Proper ty and Retail Planning Director at Arcadia Group in 1999. He was appointed to his first finance directorship in 1993, for the IS brand at the Marks and Spencer Group plc  © MarketLine Page 13 Marks and Spencer Group plc Key Employee Biographies Bur ton Group, and moved through several other finance directorships with variable responsibilities including systems and retail. Mr. Constantine was trained as a Char tered Accountant at Stoy Hayward, and joined Debenhams in 1989 as a Financial Analyst. Tanith Dodge Board: Senior Management Job Title: Director, Human Resources Since: 2008 Ms. Dodge has been the Director, Human Resources at Marks and Spencer Group since 2008. She was formerly the Group Human Resources Director at WH Smith since 2003. At WH Smith, Ms. Dodge was also responsible for Public Relations, Communications and Post Office Operations. Prior to this, she was the Senior Vice President Human Resources for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at InterContinental Hotels Group. Ms. Dodge also served as the Human Resources Director at Diageo’s two business divisions. She was also the International Human Resources Manager at Prudential Corporation. Dominic Fry Board: Senior Management Job Title: Director, Communications and Investor Relations Mr. Fry is the Director, Communications and Investor Relations at Marks and Spencer Group. He joined the company in 2009. Prior to this, Mr. Fr y ser ved at Tulchan Communications. In 1996, he was appointed the Communications Director at J Sainsbury and ser ved in the same role at ScottishPower from 2000 to 2005. In 1989, Mr. Fr y became the Communications Director at AT&T in the UK before moving from there to head up communications at the Channel Tunnel in the mid ’90s. He star ted his career in 1982 working in PR consultancy at Traverse-Healy ; Regester and then Charles Barker. Jan Heere Board: Senior Management Job Title: Director, International Since: 2011 Mr. Heere has been the Director, International at Marks and Spencer Group since 2011. He joined Inditex in 2002 where he held a several international roles, most recently as General Manager for Inditex Russia. During 2000–02, Mr. Heere held various senior management roles at Zara, Groupo Inmobiliario Lupaco, and Charanga. He began his career at Manpower in Spain in 1997. Nayna McIntosh Marks and Spencer Group plc  © MarketLine Page 14 Marks and Spencer Group plc Key Employee Biographies Board: Senior Management Job Title: Director, Store Marketing and Design Ms. McIntosh is the Director, Store Marketing and Design at Marks and Spencer Group. She joined the company in 2005. Prior to this, Ms. McIntosh was par t of the Management Team that set up the per una brand in 2001. Previously, she served as the Sales and Marketing Director for the George brand at Asda stores. Before joining George, Ms. McIntosh was at Next for four years as a Divisional Executive for the South of England. Steve Rowe Board: Senior Management Job Title: Director, Retail Since: 2008 Mr. Rowe has been the Director, Retail at Marks and Spencer Group since 2008. He joined the company in 1989 and held a variety of positions in store management, having previously worked at Topshop as a Store Manager. Mr. Rowe joined Head Office in 1992 as a Merchandiser for Menswear. In 1998, he was promoted to Category Manager in the Furniture Depar tment. In 2001, Mr. Rowe led the team developing the Home Growth Strategy, working with McKinsey Consultants, and became Head of Home categories in 2003. He was promoted to the Director of Home a year later in 2004. From 2004 to 2008, Mr. Rowe was also responsible for Beauty and New Business Development. Darrell Stein Board: Senior Management Job Title: Director, Information Technology and Logistics Mr. Stein is the Director, Information Technology and Logistics at Marks and Spencer Group. He has been working in IT for 17 years star ting his career at the company in 1990. Mr. Stein re-joined M;S in 2006 as the IT Director. From 2001 to 2006, he ser ved at Vodafone, becoming IT Director for Vodafone UK in 2004. Prior to this, Mr. Stein was Vodafone’s UK Network Director and Global IT Strategy and Architecture Director. From 1996 to 2001, he ser ved at Ernst & Young, leading a number of major IT and Change Programmes in the financial services, retail and utility sectors. In 1994, Mr. Stein joined Mars as a Project Manager. Marks and Spencer Group plc  © MarketLine Page 15 Marks and Spencer Group plc Major Products and Services MAJOR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES M&S is one of the leading retailers of clothing, foods and homeware in the UK. The company’s key products and services include the following: Products: Women’s wear Men’s wear Lingerie Children’s wear Footwear Food and grocery items Homeware and home accessories Kitchen and tableware Lighting Furniture products Services: Credit cards Car, home, travel, and pet insurance Personal loans Brands: Autograph Limited Collection Collezione Blue Harbour Girls Boutique Per Una Ceriso Adored Truly you Marks and Spencer Group plc  © MarketLine Page 16 Marks and Spencer Group plc Revenue Analysis REVENUE ANALYSIS Overview The company recorded revenues of ? 9,740. 3 million (approximately $15,158. 8 million) in FY2011, an increase of 2. 1% over FY2010. For FY2011, the UK, the company’s largest geographic market, accounted for 89. 7% of the total revenues. M;S generates revenues through two business divisions: food (51. 5%% of the total revenues in FY2011), and general merchandise (48. 5%). Revenues by division* During FY2011, the food division recorded revenues of ? 4,499. 4 million (approximately $7,002. 4 million), an increase of 1. 9% over FY2010. The general merchandise division recorded revenues of ? 4,233. 6 million (approximately $6,588. 8 million) in FY2011, an increase of 2% over FY2010. *The revenue breakdown by division is only for the revenues from the UK market. Revenues by geography The UK, M;S’ largest geographical market, accounted for 89. % of the total revenues in FY2011. Revenues from the UK reached ? 8,733 million (approximately $13,591. 2 million) in FY2011, an increase of 1. 9% over FY2010. International operations accounted for 10. 3% of the total revenues in FY2011. Revenues from international operations reached ? 1,007. 3 million (approximately $1,567. 7 million) in FY2011, an increase of 4% over FY2010 . Marks and Spencer Group plc  © MarketLine Page 17 Marks and Spencer Group plc SWOT Analysis SWOT ANALYSIS M&S is one of the leading retailers of clothing, foods and homeware in the UK. The company has expanded its food product offering significantly in the recent years. New products launches, focus on expanding healthy products, promotions, and competitive prices are all helping the company attract customers in a highly competitive market. However, surge in shoplifting could negatively impact the cost structure for M&S. Strengths Weaknesses Expanding food offering Strong market position in the clothing segment Geographical expansion to increase the addressable market and reduce vulnerability to mature UK market M&S etched a highly effective CSR strategy M&S legacy stores and systems are a ompetitive disadvantage Declining general merchandise division sales due to inadequate stocking Opportunities Threats Online channel continues to boom and will enable M&S to boost revenues Focus on China and India can lead to expansion in two of the fastest growing markets Surge in shoplifting losses costs the retailers and customers Weak consumer spending in the UK Rising labor c ost in the UK Strengths Expanded food offering The company has expanded its food product offering significantly in the recent years. In 2009, M&S consistently highlighted it is cheaper than Waitrose on a basket of 1,200 items by about 2%. The company, in 2009, decided to invest in its margins in order to provide its customers better value. As a result of this, M&S saw improved perceptions of value by its customers. The company, in FY2011, launched around 1,800 new products in food and positioned itself as the UK’s leading high quality food retailer. The key product launches of the company include Taste Italia, and Made Without Wheat range of gluten-free bread and cakes, With the success of Made Without Wheat product range, the company launched gluten-free sandwiches, sausages, stuffing, and crisp bakes. As of FY2011, the company offered 125 gluten-free products. M&S also became the UK’s second largest favorite health food brand with the launch of its Simply Fuller Longer range which encourages customers to manage their weight with a menu plan. The gross margin of food division increased by 20 basis points to Marks and Spencer Group plc  © MarketLine Page 18 Marks and Spencer Group plc SWOT Analysis 30. 8% in FY2011. This was mainly driven by better management of promotions and waste. Fur ther, in the four th quar ter of FY2012 ended March 2012, M&S launched 500 new products in the food division. The sales in this quar ter increased by 3. 1%, The company’s promotions such as roast dinner for ? 5 ($7. 8), Dine In, etc offered its customers with great value solutions for special occasions. M&S’ food division has been performing well in a ver y competitive market and against tough competitors. By launching innovative products and with an expanded food offering, the company has been able to attract the customers in a highly competitive market. Strong market position in the clothing segment M&S has a strong market position in the clothing segment. With more than one in 10 clothing items bought from M&S, the company ranks amongst the three largest clothing retailers in the UK. According to a repor t released by Verdict (Datamonitor’s retail arm) in May 2012, M;S is known for its product quality. The company was ranked first with a score of 49 for its product quality above the market average of 23. According to another repor t released by Verdict in April 2012, M;S enjoys highest conversion rate of 50. 7% and is very successful in conver ting visitors to loyal main users through its varied product offer, in-store service and garment quality. This indicates that M;S is a trustwor thy brand, which all main users would return to knowing that the quality, fit, and ser vice are reliable and consistent. The retailer has recognized that its core market of predominantly mature customers has been especially hard hit by rising core costs of living, falling interest on savings and worse prospects for pensions, and in reaction has lowered its entr y prices to compete more effectively with high street/value operators and supermarkets, helping to maintain the loyalty of its main users and prevent them from shopping elsewhere. Verdict, in its repor t in March 2012, ranked, M;S seventh in the global depar tment store market with a share of 3. 2%. This market leadership enabled M;S to excel throughout the economic downturn, while other mid-market retailers are pressured from the ever expanding value players. Leading market position indicates access to a large customer base and also popularity of M;S’ offering in the clothing segment. Going forward, this market position would enable the company to drive revenues as consumer spending recovers. Geographical expansion to increase the addressable market and reduce vulnerability to mature UK market With a por tfolio of over 361 owned and franchised stores in 42 territories M&S continues to grow its international business. This mix of ownership models and countries enabled the company to perform well in FY2011, even when individual markets were weak. Fur ther, during FY2011, the company entered the Egyptian market with a 28,000 square feet store in the Dandy Mega Mall in Cairo. M&S’ international business grew by 4% in FY2011 despite tough economic situation. As an established retailer in a mature market, it is going to be hard for M;S to continually deliver significant increases in UK sales. However, in the long run, its international business offers an oppor tunity for high growth. By generating much higher volumes, it can deliver margin benefits with suppliers. With production costs rising, this will be an advantage in the UK. International expansion will enable the company to access multiple sales points for most of the product ranges. This is especially relevant for clothing and homewares segments. Also, through expansion in the international markets M;S can reduce Marks and Spencer Group plc  © MarketLine Page 19 Marks and Spencer Group plc SWOT Analysis vulnerability to mature UK market. The company can also par ticipate effectively in some of highest growing markets such as China and India. All these factors would enable the company to reduce the overall business risk and facilitate increased revenues. M;S etched a highly effective CSR strategy M;S has to its credit an effective corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy. CSR has been gaining prominence not just among the stake holders and governments but the consumers as well. The company has the highest propor tion of consumers believing it to be a responsible retailer and this can largely be attributed to the success of its Plan A, a ? 200 million (approximately $320. 3 million) 100-point plan launched in 2007 with five areas of focus: climate change, fair par tnership, health, sustainable raw materials, and waste. In FY2011, the company included two more areas in its Plan A: involving customers, and making Plan A how we do business. In the last few years, initiatives launched under the Plan A banner include launching the company’s first eco-store, encouraging suppliers to set-up eco-factories, removing hydrogenated fats from its ready meals, increasing the propor tion of organic food, reducing the salt content of its produce, cer tifying a larger percentage of its fish as originating from sustainable populations, and beginning to sell recycling and composting bins. It is the high profile presence of Plan A in adver tising campaigns, product labeling and store signage that gives M&S one of the best consumer perceptions of a retailer for social responsibility. The campaign works not just as a direct to consumer channel, but also because of the positive coverage it creates. Perhaps more impor tantly, it has publicized all of these initiatives extensively. In 2008, M&S launched a TV adver tising campaign focusing on its ethical, environmental and health-conscious credentials, highlighting that it only uses free range eggs and that its products are now free from ar tificial colors and flavorings. Other, more innovative, ideas have included a joint venture with Oxfam to promote the recycling of old clothes. In addition, more controversially, the retailer introduced a 5p charge for carrier bags at all of its food depar tments in 2008. Though many consumers resented this charge, it has undoubtedly boosted M&S’ reputation as an ethical retailer. Overall, sculpting its CSR strategy into such a high publicity campaign, divided into such clear action points and highly visible benefits, has seen the company move to the forefront of responsible retailing. In FY2011, the company launched Indigo Green, its first range of clothing made using more sustainable fabrics. In April 2012, the company announced to accept secondhand clothes at all the UK outlets except Simply Food stores, to recycle them into other fabrics or to reuse them in order to cut waste. Plan A has seen CSR become core to M;S’ principles in the eyes of the consumer and it has reaped the benefits of this, gaining shoppers as a result and repor tedly saving more than ? 70 million (approximately $108. 9 million) in efficiencies gained in FY2011 compared with ? 50 million (approximately $77. 8 million) in FY2010. In addition, M&S improved energy efficiency in its stores by 23% and warehouses by 24% in FY2011 compared to FY2007. It also improved the fuel efficiency of its deliver y fleets by 20% and total carbon emissions have been reduced by 13%. The company now recycles 94% of all the waste it generates from its stores, offices and warehouses. The total waste is down by more than a third. M&S also met its sustainable standards by sourcing 90% of wild fish in FY2011 (62% in FY2010) and 76% of wood in FY2011 (72% in FY2010). Marks and Spencer Group plc  © MarketLine Page 20 Marks and Spencer Group plc SWOT Analysis By actively promoting a product’s greener attributes (for example fewer, more recognizable and natural ingredients), retailers such as M;S have positioned products as improving one’s personal environment while benefiting the global environment too. Many of their successes have come from emphasizing the former rather than the latter, especially as consumers often associate ethics with a sense of wellbeing. In terms of the issues that concern consumers, the sustainability of natural resources is a major fear, as are climate change and the fairness of sourcing arrangements. Consumers are also attracted to products with health benefits and there is a clear trend that consumers can be persuaded to par t with more money in return for products with a positive impact, not just to them personally, but also to wider society. Indeed, differentiating between products becomes harder and harder to achieve, Verdict expects consumers to turn to auxiliary considerations such as ethicality and sustainability to guide their choices. Consumers are no longer purely satisfied with how a product looks and functions; they want assurances over aspects such as nvironmental impact, hygiene, safety, and fairness. In light of the above mentioned trends where the customer choices are increasingly guided by the sustainability issues, M&S will benefit due to its reputation of being a responsible retailer. Weaknesses M&S legacy stores and systems are a competitive disadvantage M&S suffers some competitive disadvantages compared to Tesco, which has been able to drive earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) growth even in the mature UK market. Tesco benefits from supplier power and state-of-the-ar t IT, supply chain and systems compared with M&S legacy systems. The supermarket retailer has been able to break up the demand cur ve with metro, express and big box store formats out of town and on the high street. Moreover, Tesco stores have been carefully designed with consistent store layouts in order to facilitate store navigation. Extra back room store space has also been allocated to allow for smooth execution of its picking and distribution model. Tesco sells both own label and branded goods (food and non-food) in a bid to drive up footfall and sales conversion. M&S legacy stores are inconsistent in terms of layout. Store size tends to dictate product availability, while a lack of back room store space does not facilitate the same style supermarket pick and delivery model. The legacy systems and stores of M&S are constraining effective servicing of customer demands on a consistent basis. This is placing the company at a clear competitive disadvantage compared to a formidable opponent, Tesco. Declining general merchandise division sales due to inadequate stocking The company’s general merchandise division sales declined in recent times, M&S’ general merchandise division sales decreased by 2. % in the four th quar ter of FY2012 ended March 2012. This was mainly due to shor tage of stock in its stores, Due to this, the company was also not able to meet customer demand for 300,000 knitwear garments under the M&S Woman label. It only sold Marks and Spencer Group plc  © MarketLine Page 21 Marks and Spencer Group plc SWOT Analysis 100,000 knitwear garments during this period. Fur ther, in times of high demand, inadequate stock could hamper the sales of the division and result in loss of sales to competitors. This not only affects the revenues of the company but could also result in shift of customers to its competitors. Opportunities Online channel continues to boom and will enable M&S to boost revenues Online retail sales in the UK have grown significantly over a period of time. According to Office for National Statistics, non-seasonally adjusted average weekly value for internet retail sales in the UK was ? 414 million (approximately $644. 3 million) in Februar y 2010, this increased to ? 573. 6 million (approximately $892. 7 million) in February 2012, representing an increase of 18%. Internet sales accounted for only 8% of the total retail sales (excluding fuel) in Februar y 2010. This figure increased to 10. 7% in February 2012. The growing desire for convenience is seeing shoppers buy more online, especially in the category of food and grocery. Consumers have also become savvier, using the internet more to get the best deal they can. Voucher codes, and cashback sites have been instrumental in this. Additionally, improved deliver y and fulfillment options have been encouraging consumers to shop more online. The company operates in the internet channel through M&S Direct where the products are offered through website and newly launched ‘Shop Your Way’ facility, a new ordering service that has been rolled-out in 444 stores (including 151 in Simply Foods stores) during FY2011, allowing customers to place orders either in stores, online or over the phone, for deliver y to either a nominated address or free of charge to their nearest store. M&S Direct’s sales increased from ? 413 million (approximately $642. 8 million) in FY2010 to ? 543 million (approximately $845. million) in FY2011, an increase of 31. 5%. Fur ther, in the first half of FY2012, M&S Direct’s sales increased by 11. 7% with more than three million visitors per week. Thus, by leveraging its online presence, M&S can cater to the requirements of a growing number of customers who are looking for convenience and better deals over the internet. Focus on China and India can lead to expansion in two of the fastest growing markets China and India are two economies which are recording highest growth rates which, in turn, are expected to aid the retail market growth in these two countries. Asia’s retail sales are estimated to increase with China driving the growth. According to the preliminary estimation, the gross domestic product (GDP) of China was CNY47,156. 4 billion ($7,285. 7 billion) in 2011, a year-on-year increase of 9. 2% at comparable prices. The fast pace economic development in China coupled with the rise of the middle class income group and their increasing disposable income have fur ther pushed up the demand for several consumer goods. According to National Bureau of Statistics of China, the total retail sales reached CNY18,391. 9 billion (approximately $2,841. billion) in 2011, representing a year-on-year nominal growth rate of 17. 1%. Fur ther, according to industr y estimates, the countr y’s total retail sales are expected to increase from approximately CNY20 trillion ($3 trillion) in 2012 to approximately CNY26 trillion ($4 trillion) in 2016, representing an increase of about 30%. Strong Marks and Spencer Group plc  © MarketLine Page 22 Marks and Spencer Group plc SWOT Analysis underlying economic trends, population growth and the increasing wealth of individuals are key factors that contribute to the retail market expansion in China. The retail industry in India is large owing to a large population and is set to grow as several factors contribute. According to the industry sources, the retail sales in India are forecast to grow from around $411 billion in 2011 to $804 billion by 2015. The key factors behind the forecast growth include strong underlying economic growth, population expansion, increasing wealth of individuals and the rapid construction of organized retail infrastructure. Also, as middle and upper class consumer base expands, there will also be oppor tunities in India’s second and third-tier cities. The greater availability of personal credit and a growing vehicle population are to improve mobility which will also contribute to a trend towards retail sales growth. M;S is strengthening presence in India and China as par t of its geographic expansion and for some time to come, these countries would be the key contributors to the company’s international expansion strategies. The company in with par tnership with Reliance Retail, an established retailer in India, can tap into this lucrative market while expansion in China also continues. Indian and Chinese markets would provide a huge potential revenue base for M&S. Threats Surge in shoplifting losses costs the retailers and customers The UK retailers are exposed to increased costs of shoplifting. Shoplifting has assumed massive propor tions in recent times. According to industry estimates, retail crime costed UK stores ? 1. 4 billion ($2. 2 billion) in 2011. There are about two million thefts per year, which concludes to an average of more than one per minute. According to another industr y repor t, the thefts across the UK stores increased from ? 4. 2 million ($6. 5 million) in 2009 to ? 5. 1 million ($7. 9 million) in 2011, an increase of 20%. Long-term trends also show the figure is likely to continue rising. As a result, retailers have been increasing their surveillance spend. This is increasing the costs for retailers as well as for the end consumers. The shoplifting losses are adding to the costs for the retailers and the customers have also been bearing the brunt. The surge in shoplifting could negatively impact the cost structure for M&S as well. Weak consumer spending in the UK The UK market is suffering from weak consumer spending. The European debt crisis added more downward pressure to the growth prospects of the UK. According to Eurostat, the UK economy grew by 0. 7% in 2011 and is expected to grow by 0. 5% in 2012. In addition, the UK has witnessed high unemployment rate. According to the Office of National Statistics, the unemployment rate for the three months period November 2011 to January 2012 was 8. 4% with 2. 67 million unemployed people in the UK. Increasing unemployment rate is expected to fur ther put pressure on the economy of the UK. High inflation, led by the increase in VAT to 20% and public spending cuts reduced disposable Marks and Spencer Group plc MarketLine Page 23 Marks and Spencer Group plc SWOT Analysis income, leading to a fall in consumer spending on discretionary items. Consumers have been cautious with their spending especially due to soaring petrol prices, tax increases and uncer tainty over jobs. The UK is the key market for M&S. In FY2011, the UK accounted for 89. 7% of M&S’ total revenues. Thus, the sluggish consumer spending and high unemployment rate in the UK could affect most of the non-food retailers and lead to reduced sales volume or shrinking profit margins. Rising labor cost in the UK Labor costs are rising in the UK. In recent times, tight labor markets, increased over time, government mandated increases in minimum wages and a higher propor tion of full-time employees are resulting in an increase in labor costs, which could materially impact the company’s results of operation. The National Minimum Wage (NMW) Regulations came into force in 1999 and since then the NMW rates have been increased annually. The national minimum wage increased from ? 5. 93 per hour ($9. 23 per hour) in October 2010 to ? 6. 08 per hour ($9. 46 per hour) in October 2011. Fur ther, the national minimum wage is expected to increase to ? 6. 19 per hour (9. 63 per hour) from October 2012. In FY2011, M&S employed 78,169 people. Increasing labor costs can adversely affect the company’s operating costs as its wage bills would escalate. This, in turn, could impact its margins adversely. Marks and Spencer Group plc  © MarketLine Page 24 Marks and Spencer Group plc Top Competitors TOP COMPETITORS The following companies are the major competitors of Marks and Spencer Group plc ASDA Group Limited Debenhams plc H ; M Hennes ; Mauritz AB J Sainsbury plc NEXT plc Selfridges plc Tesco PLC Gap, Inc. , The French Connection Group Plc House of Fraser Group Plc John Lewis Par tnership plc Arcadia Group Limited Home Retail Group Plc Marks and Spencer Group plc  © MarketLine Page 25 Marks and Spencer Group plc Company View COMPANY VIEW A statement by Rober t Swannell, the Chairman of the Board at Marks and Spencer Group, is given below. The statement has been taken from the company’s Annual Repor t for FY2011. I feel ver y privileged to be Chairman of this unique company and at such an exciting time in our evolution. Since joining Marks ; Spencer in October and assuming the role of Chairman in Januar y, I have spent much of my time getting to know the business better – meeting our employees, shareholders, customers and suppliers. I first became deeply involved with M;S during the unsolicited takeover attempt in 2004, when I led the advisory team that helped put the M;S case to its shareholders. It was then I learned first hand about this unique company: about the extraordinarily strong relationship it has with its many stakeholders and about its very special ethos. This ethos is a reflection of the high standards our customers expect from M;S – trusting us not only to deliver great value, great quality products but also to do the right thing – socially, environmentally and ethically. We know that putting Plan A at the hear t of how we do business is not just the right thing to do; it is also fundamental to our long-term success. Performance In a challenging marketplace M;S has continued to grow, with underlying profits up 12. 9% on the year. We delivered this by staying true to our heritage of quality and innovation, reminding our customers what makes M;S special. This year Marc Bolland set out a clear medium-term plan for the business, after extensive discussions with colleagues and us, the Board. This is covered in detail in Marc’s review. From day one, I have been struck by the passion and commitment of our people. I am delighted that this year we are paying a bonus to all employees to thank them for their energy and enthusiasm in what has been a difficult trading environment. Dividend We are committed to delivering consistent returns for our shareholders. To this end we have adopted a progressive dividend policy, with dividends broadly covered twice by earnings. We intend to pay a final dividend of 10. 8p per share (last year 9. 5p) in respect of the 2010/11 financial year. Governance Marks and Spencer Group plc  © MarketLine Page 26 Marks and Spencer Group plc Company View This year we returned to the traditional governance structure of a separate Chairman and Chief Executive, providing clarity between Marc Bolland and me, with regard to our respective roles. Put simply, I run the Board and Marc runs the business. The Board has a wide range of responsibilities. There are three that I think are par ticularly impor tant for the success of the business: first, to debate and agree our strategy and hold the executive team accountable for its execution; second, to ensure that we have the most talented team to execute this strategy and that we plan effectively for succession; and third, to set the tone for governance, which is par ticularly impor tant at M;S where ‘doing the right thing’ is an integral par t of our ethos. My ob is to ensure the Board has the right mix of skills and talents and to ensure that it works effectively as a team towards shared goals with the right mix of enquir y and suppor t of the executive directors from the non-executive directors. During the year we commissioned a formal Board evaluation from an independent consultant, the findings of which are outlined in the Governance section. This process highligh ted the real enthusiasm of the directors in suppor ting a shared ambition: to guide M;S to the ver y best future. We know that you expect high standards from M;S; it’s our responsibility to learn how we can improve. This review was an impor tant par t of that journey. As stated in our 2009/10 Annual Repor t, we reviewed the senior remuneration structure this year. Following extensive shareholder consultation, we believe we now have a framework that is both relevant to today’s M;S and fully aligned with our strategy. The Board Over the last year the Board has been strengthened by a series of executive appointments. In May 2010 Marc Bolland joined the business as Chief Executive, assuming the day-to-day running of the business from Sir Stuar t Rose in July. In October Alan Stewar t joined as Chief Finance Officer and in February we announced the appointment of Laura Wade-Gery as Executive Director, Multi-channel E-commerce; she will join the Board in July. Whilst the Board features some new faces, these changes have taken place around a core of executive and non-executive directors that has remained stable over recent years. I would like to pay par ticular tribute to Sir Stuar t Rose. When he became Chief Executive in 2004, M;S was at a low ebb. He restored confidence in M;S, re-established its values and built a strong business. The solid platform from which Marc is now implementing his plan is a credit to Stuar t’s energy and tireless commitment to M;S over the last seven years. The smooth management transition – the meticulous handover to me and the suppor t of Marc – is also a credit to Stuar t. In that connection, I would also like to thank Sir David Michels, and the Nominations ; Governance Committee he led, for managing a change of leadership over the past year that was accomplished quietly and effectively. David has decided to step down from the Board at the end of his second term in February 2012, but I am delighted that he will continue his role as Deputy Chairman until then. Marks and Spencer Group plc  © MarketLine Page 27 Marks and Spencer Group plc Company View I must also thank Louise Patten for the significant contribution she has made over the last five years, playing an impor tant role in each of our Board Committees. As Louise reaches the end of her second three year term on the Board, she has decided not to seek re-election at the upcoming AGM. Looking ahead Our priorities for the year ahead are clear. We have a plan and it is now our collective job to make it happen. The Board will concentrate on delivering exemplary governance at the highest level to enable our executive team to drive this strategy forward. The economy still gives us reason to be cautious. Yet in difficult times, our core values of Quality, Value, Ser vice, Innovation and Trust matter more than ever to M;S customers. These values remain at the hear t of our strategy and I therefore look forward to the future with confidence. Marks and Spencer Group plc  © MarketLine Page 28 Marks and Spencer Group plc Locations and Subsidiaries LOCATIONS AND SUBSIDIARIES Head Office Marks and Spencer Group plc Waterside House 35 Nor th Wharf Road London W2 1NW GBR P:44 20 7935 4422 http://www. marksandspencer. com Other Locations and Subsidiaries Marks and Spencer International Holdings Limited Great Britain GBR Marks and Spencer (Nederland) BV NLD Marks and Spencer (Ireland) Limited IRL Marks and Spencer (Asia Pacific) Limited HKG Marks and Spencer Simply Foods Limited Great Britain GBR Marks and Spencer Marinopoulos Greece SA GRC Marks and Spencer SCM Limited