Nordstrom Human Resource Paper

Nordstrom’s employees and management are the company’s most valuable resource. An article written in the Seattle PI describes exactly why this is true. It states that, â€Å"Nordstrom salespeople make decisions as if managing their own business; they are trusted to do what is right. Everyone else in the company is there to help the sales staff make the sale and please the customer† (Mulady, 2009). The way the employees are treated and valued is a perfect portrayal of the company’s mission of providing the best possible customer service and value to the customer.Even though the salesperson is the front man for the company, the human resource and management team act as the glue that holds the company together. The president of the company, Blake W. Nordstrom, says that people in support positions â€Å"like myself or someone in human resources that isn’t on the floor manning a register,† needs to understand that their job is to use the â€Å"e nergy and the activities they’re doing contribute to a better customer and employee experience† (HR Magazine, 2006).It is, therefore, extremely important that the workers in the human resource department stay connected to the selling process in order to stay connected with the employees, as it is this connection that helps the employees provide the best service to their customers. Company History and Background In 1887, 16-year-old boy named John W. Nordstrom left his home country, Sweden, for the city of New York City. He arrived with only five dollars in his pocket, unable to speak a word of English and started working in gold mines.One morning in 1897, he picked up a newspaper and read the front-page headline â€Å"Gold Found in the Klondike in Alaska. † Although the labor was hard he managed, in two years, to earn $13,000 in a gold mine stake and returned to Seattle. Back in the Northwest, John was eager to invest his money. In Alaska John became best friends with Carl Wallin, who owned a shoe repair shop in downtown Seattle and it was not long before the two decided to go into partnership and open a shoe store together. In 1901, the two opened their first shoe store, Wallin & Nordstrom, in downtown Seattle.This was the start of what would become the retail legend of Nordstrom, Inc. From the beginning, John's business philosophy was based on exceptional service, selection, quality and value. The company built a devoted customer base; and in 1923, the partners added their second store. In 1928, John Nordstrom retired and sold his share of the company to his sons, Everett and Elmer. Carl Wallin retired a year later and also sold his share of the company to the Nordstrom sons. The third son, Lloyd, joined the team in 1933.The company soon grew to become the largest independent shoe chain in the United States. By 1960, Nordstrom had eight stores in Washington and Oregon, and the downtown Seattle store became the largest shoe store in the co untry. By the early 1960s, the company was looking for new ways to spread its wings. Venturing into the clothing market, Nordstrom purchased Best Apparel, a Seattle-based clothing store, in 1963. Three years later, Nordstrom purchased a Portland, Oregon fashion retail store and merged it with their existing Portland shoe store.For the first time, customers were greeted with a selection of both shoes and fine apparel under a new store name: Nordstrom Best. Men's clothing and children's wear were added in 1966, expanding the store to meet the wardrobe needs of the entire family. Business prospered and within two years, two new stores opened in Washington. In 1968, the three brothers decided to retire and hand the company over to the third Nordstrom generation. The company was now led by Bruce, James and John Nordstrom along with Jack McMillan and family friend Bob Bender. The company went public in 1971.Just two years later, Nordstrom sales passed the $100 million mark and the company was recognized as the largest-volume West Coast fashion specialty store. This same year, the name was formally changed to Nordstrom, Inc. By 1975, the company had expanded into Alaska, and the first Nordstrom Rack was opened in Seattle as a clearance center for full-line store merchandise. Three years later, the company moved into the competitive California market; and by 1988, Nordstrom had made the big move to the East Coast with the opening of a stunning new store in Virginia.Organizational and Individual Relations and Retentions Nordstrom is a dynamic place to have a career because of the multitude of characteristics and backgrounds. Of the Company's total employment, 42. 2 percent are people of color and 72. 1 percent are women. On top of that, 31. 9 percent of the management population is comprised of people of color and 73 percent are women. Nordstrom empowers its employees to set their sights high and blaze their own trails. This is a place where the employees’ futur e success and growth are truly a result of their own efforts and achievements.They strongly believe in promoting from within, because this offers employees a unique opportunity to learn the company’s business from the ground up. Hard work, loyalty, competitive spirit and commitment to the customer are important factors employees need in order to grow within the company. Nordstrom Strategies Recognizing any success Nordstrom enjoys basic quality of their relationships with customers, employees, vendors and communities. Striving to be a socially responsible company and know that the trust of the customers is to have is not to be taken lightly.Making responsible business decisions is something Nordstrom has done for a long time. Nordstrom was one of the first retail companies to offer profit sharing to its employees in 1952, and each year donated millions of dollars to nonprofit partners across the country. Nordstrom was also the first among their direct peers in fashion-special ty retail to print on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified paper with 30 percent recycled content. Recruitment, Selection and Training The company’s goal is to attract the best talent, so it makes good business sense to recruit from a diverse population.They achieve this by utilizing targeted media, job fairs, community organizations and college placement centers. Each of these methods helps the company find the individuals who support Nordstrom’s goals and values. The recruiting process is typically done online, where candidates can apply for job opportunities. Depending on the position, one will either start the online application process or be asked to submit a resume. Than the individual, whom skills and abilities match an open position, will be contacted by a recruiter, department manager or human resources assistant.After an initial conversation, a decision will be made. If there is a potential fit the person will set up an additional interview time where t hey will meet physically. Diversity Training forms an important part of Nordstrom's diversity efforts. The company had an Executive Vice President who looked after Human Resources and Diversity Affairs. In addition, Nordstrom had another Vice President who addressed issues regarding Corporate Diversity Affairs at the company. Equal Employment and Diversity The business of fashion is international, multi-cultural and diverse by nature.At Nordstrom, this makes for an exciting retail environment and value the richness it brings to our Company. One of the best ways Nordstrom has found to provide excellent customer service is by ensuring what reflects the communities it serve: â€Å"having a workplace that attracts and supports diversity, benefits both customers and employees. †(Nordstrom, 2009) Nordstrom believes each of their employees has the opportunity to realize their potential and contribute to the success of their Company. This philosophy is reflected in the company unders tanding that success comes from people.The broad range of experiences, backgrounds and cultures the employees bring to the company creates a unique atmosphere. At Nordstrom, ongoing efforts to encourage a diverse environment are found throughout the Company, from hiring and promotion to their Supplier Diversity Program. Nordstrom believes that one of the best ways to be a socially responsible business is to create a workplace where people can be financially successful and grow a rewarding career. Throughout their history, Nordstrom has created a workplace where people feel valued, outstanding performance is rewarded, and entrepreneurial spirit is encouraged.In the spirit of entrepreneurship, Nordstrom authorize its employees to run their own business within the company’s four walls. Although Nordstrom has been fortunate to have been recognized by Fortune magazine as one of the best places to work, there is always room for improvement. Employees at Nordstrom are most valuable resources and as a company Nordstrom is committed to support them through upholding diversity, offering workers with benefits and opportunities for career growth.Supplier diversity seeks out and develops relationships with qualified women-and minority-owned businesses are the keys to the Nordstrom Supplier Diversity Program. In 1989, Nordstrom launched the Supplier Diversity Program to help attract qualified vendors that might not otherwise consider Nordstrom as a potential client. Nordstrom recruits a wide range of women and minority owned vendors in three categories: merchandise, supplies and services, and construction. Since the program began, Nordstrom has spent more than $8 billion with minority and women-owned businesses. Legal Framework of Equal EmploymentAs Nordstrom contracts to manufacture products in various countries, it has an opportunity to address a wide range of factory issues throughout the world, especially workers rights. To address these concerns, Nordstrom creat ed a Social Responsibility team in 1994. This team works closely with company’s product group vendors to see that Nordstrom label products are made in accordance with applicable laws and ethical labor practices. Additionally, as a buyer of merchandise from around the world, Nordstrom expects the companies that they work with to do business by acting responsibly.Through the Partnership Guidelines, focusing on social responsibility in manufacturing, and by forming strong alliances with non-profit organizations the company can better protect the human rights of those in the companies supply chain. Nordstrom’s partnership guidelines cover topics such as forced labor, child labor, health and safety, harassment and abuse. The company social responsibility in manufacturing gives an overview of how the business upholds responsible relationships with vendors.Over the years, Nordstrom has formed strong alliances with third party organizations including Business for Social Respon sibility, the Fair Labor Association and Fair Factories Clearinghouse. These partners, among others, act as checks and balances for Nordstrom in its efforts to protect human rights. Forced Labor: Nordstrom will not conduct business with any Partner that uses involuntary labor of any kind; including prison labor, indentured labor, or forced labor. Overtime must be voluntary. Employees shall not be required to lodge ‘deposits' or identity papers upon commencing employment with the company or as a condition of employment.Child Labor Partners will not employ anyone under the age of 15, and or younger than the age for completing compulsory education, or under the minimum ages established by applicable law in the country of manufacturer, if higher than the age of 15. Furthermore, Partners of any kind must comply with all local laws pertaining to the restrictions on â€Å"young workers† under the age of 18, including restrictions on their exposure to situations in or outside o f the workplace that are hazardous, unsafe, or unhealthy, and Partners will provide adequate protection from such exposure. Nondiscrimination:Nordstrom firmly believes people are entitled to equal opportunity in employment. Although the company recognizes cultural differences exist, Nordstrom will not pursue business relationships with Partners who discriminate in employment practices (including hiring, wages, benefits, assigned duties, advancement opportunities, discipline; termination or retirement on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, national origin, marital or maternity status, work or personal affiliations, political opinion or social or ethnic origin, or physical, mental or sensory disability).Harassment and Abuse: Nordstrom expects its Partners to treat every employee with respect and dignity. No employee will be subject to any harassment, which includes any physical, verbal, sexual or psychological harassment or abuse. Partner s will not use monetary fines as a disciplinary practice. Furthermore, workers must be free to voice their concerns to Nordstrom or Nordstrom appointed staff, and must be allowed to participate in the Nordstrom audit process, without fear of retaliation by factory management. Health and Safety:Nordstrom seeks Partners who provide written standards for safe and healthy work environments and the prevention of accident and injury to the health of their workers, including adequate facilities and protections from exposure to hazardous conditions or materials. These provisions must include safe and healthy conditions for dormitories and residential facilities, and they must comply with local health and safety laws and standards. Wages and Benefits Partners shall set wages, overtime pay and legally mandated benefits and allowances in compliance with all applicable laws.Workers shall be paid at least the minimum legal wage, or a wage that meets applicable local industry standards, whichever is greater. Documentation and Inspection: Nordstrom intends to monitor compliance with our Partnership Guidelines and to undertake on-site inspections of Partners' facilities. Partners will maintain, on file, all documentation necessary to demonstrate compliance with these Partnership Guidelines, and will authorize Nordstrom and its designated agents (including third parties) to engage in announced and unannounced monitoring activities to ensure compliance, including confidential employee interviews.Nordstrom will review and may terminate its relationships with any Partner found to be in violation of the Partnership Guidelines, including denying access to approved monitors. Freedom of Association: Partners will respect workers rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining. Lawsuits: Nordstrom to Pay $292,500 to Settle EEOC Harassment Lawsuit On April 17, 2009 the U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced that Nordstrom will have to pay $292,500 to 10 form er employees and furnish other remedial measures to settle a harassment lawsuit.EEOC had charged that the department store manager harassed Hispanic and African-American employees based on their national origin, race, and color, and retaliated against those who complained about the harassment. According to the EEOC's lawsuit, a manager harassed the Hispanic and African-American staff at the Palm Beach Gardens and Wellington Florida’s stores. Even though the employees complained about the harassment, the company only did the minimum to help them. The alteration's manager retaliated against those who complained by continuing the racially offensive comments, unfairly berating mployees and citing them for alleged performance problems. Under the terms of a consent decree Nordstrom will have to pay for the damage and distribute its policy addressing unlawful harassment to all employees in the Wellington and Palm Beach stores; provide harassment training, post a notice on the resolu tion of the lawsuit, and submit a semi-annual report to EEOC on all harassment complaints received during the next two years. Working at Nordstrom Nordstrom has believed in promoting from within.The promote-from-within policy offers employees a unique opportunity to learn the business from the ground up and grow a rewarding career with Nordstrom. It's not uncommon for people who started on the sales floor or in the stockrooms to stay with the company for 20 years or more, taking on new assignments as they grow. The majority of executives began their careers with Nordstrom as salespeople or in the stockroom. Generally, Nordstrom looks for great sellers who love fashion and are passionate about helping customers.The idea of corporate social responsibility is not new to the company. Since the beginning Nordstrom has made every effort to run an ethical business where people want to work and shop. The social responsibility efforts help the company connect with customers and employees and help drive results. Striving to offer its customers the best possible customer service, social responsibility is a subject that requires continuous improvement, and is something that Nordstrom can always get better at. Jobs and Job AnalysisWhen one works at Nordstrom, each day is full of new challenges, friends and goals. At Nordstrom employees are encouraged to try new things and share their passion. This is a place to build a rewarding, lifelong career. Nordstrom Retail Internship Opportunities: Nordstrom is looking for individuals with a passion for retail who is motivated achievers and hardworking team players. As a Nordstrom Retail intern, the intern will receive mentoring and training in the exciting world of fashion through experiences that a person will not find in the classroom.During the internship the intern will have the opportunity to learn from the experienced people who bring the Nordstrom experience to life, gain hands-on experience by serving Nordstrom’s cus tomers, participate in sales and customer service events, gain exposure to a variety of management responsibilities, earn a competitive wage and receive an employee merchandise discount. Upon completion the intern will be offered an Assistant Manager or salesperson position, depending on availability and intern preferences. Nordstrom is proud to be named to Fortune magazine’s list of â€Å"100 Best Companies to Work For. Nordstrom’s believes this recognition comes from their desire to empower their employees to set their sights high and blaze their own trails. Nordstrom is a place where its employees’ future success and growth are truly a result of their own efforts and achievements. Nordstrom Stores and Merchandising: Nordstrom wants to be the ultimate fashion destination for its customers and provide a superior experience. From meticulous tailors to knowledgeable salespeople to innovative merchants who bring the latest trends and fashion to Nordstrom stores, their teams are comprised of talented people who work hard to delight the customer.The rewards for working at Nordstrom are many, employees find recognition for their unique talents and energies, they also work in an environment that gives individual freedom to excel and create their own career path, employees develop gratifying one-on-one relationships with customers and are able to choose from satisfying positions in commissioned sales, merchandising, Nordstrom restaurants, operations, support and Nordstrom Spa. Restaurants and Specialty Coffee:When employees work in one of Nordstrom’s restaurants or specialty coffee bars, they become an important part of a team that delivers professional and enjoyable dining and coffee experiences for Nordstrom customers. The employees will enjoy working with stylish, comfortable setting with outgoing co-workers who share the same passion for great food, coffee and service, also employees are able to bring their own personal passion for fo od and service to Nordstrom concepts featuring casual and classic dining alternatives and regional menus designed to suit Nordstrom customers.By working at the restaurant or coffee bars employees choose from an assortment of career possibilities, including line and prep cooks, cashiers, servers, hosts, bussers, dishwashers, chefs and management. Nordstrom Rack: Nordstrom Rack is where customers go for top-of-the-line fashion and accessories. An employee working on the Rack team has the opportunity to enjoy flexible hours, a friendly atmosphere and competitive pay along with benefits. Nordstrom’s created a fun, fast-paced, self-service environment that gives its employees the opportunity to grow.The employees learn the ins and outs of fashion retailing and customer service. They can choose their title from a range of positions in non-commission sales, customer service and stock. In addition, employees are encourage to choose the best position fit, full time or part time, in or der to find their inspiration. Compensation, Variable Rewards, and Executive Pay It is very important for a company to control what the executives collect in comparison to what a normal employee does. This has been an issue in business and politics because higher management have more rewards and more income than others such as; sales associates.For this matter Nordstrom has a compensation committee. The Committee â€Å"is responsible, subject to approval of the board, for establishing and maintaining a broad compensation program for the president and executives of Nordstrom in order to attract, retain and motivate key contributors to the success of Nordstrom and its affiliated companies, for reviewing and discussing with management Nordstrom’s compensation discussion and analysis, and for preparing an annual report on executive compensation to be included in the Nordstrom proxy statement†.Below are the list of duties and responsibility of the committee: †¢Ã¢â‚¬Å"A nnually review and approve the corporate goals and objectives relevant to the president and executive’s compensation, and evaluate their performance †¢Salary paid to the President and Executives The grant of any cash-based bonuses and equity compensation to the president and Executives †¢The award of any benefits or perquisites to the President and the Executives †¢To review management's annual performance evaluation of the Executives and to monitor the annual performance process for executives not evaluated by the Committee †¢To prepare an annual report on executive compensation to Nordstrom shareholders for inclusion in its proxy statement or annual report on Form 10K in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission †¢To recommend to the Board where it deems appropriate that an employment separation, or change in control agreement be established with any Executive and the terms of such agreement †¢To review , approve, administer, amend, and/or make recommendations to the Board relating to all Nordstrom cash-based and equity-based incentive compensation plans †¢To review management's recommendations for, and approve as it deems appropriate, long-term incentive award levels or other incentives to non-Executive key contributors to the success of Nordstrom and its affiliates †¢To review and approve any benefit plans, retirement and deferred compensation or other perquisites offered to Executives, including eligibility and the level and types of benefits or perquisites provided †¢To consult with the President regarding significant organizational structure changes and to advise the Board regarding the implications on any Executive compensation or benefit programs concerning such changes †¢To undertake such other responsibilities, tasks or projects as the Board of Directors may delegate or assign to the Committee from time to time †¢To conduct an annual self-evaluatio n of the Committee's performance to determine whether the Committee and its members are functioning effectively in adherence to this Charter †¢To review and approve management's recommendation for contributions attributable to the profit sharing portion of Nordstrom's 401(k) Plan and Profit Sharing, and additional profit sharing payouts, if any †¢To review and discuss with management Nordstrom's CD;A and based on that review and discussion, recommend to the Board that the CD;A be included in Nordstrom's annual proxy statement †¢To receive periodic reports upon request by the Committee on Nordstrom's compensation programs as they affect all employees †¢To periodically review and make recommendations to the Board with respect toNordstrom's stock ownership guidelines applicable to Nordstrom employees and directors and to monitor compliance with the stock ownership guidelines by those individuals †¢The Committee shall establish such rules, regulations and proced ures as it determines appropriate and reasonably necessary for it to undertake its duties and responsibilities as set forth in this Charter †¢The Committee shall maintain appropriate procedures to ensure accurate meeting agendas and minutes are prepared and filed in draft form as soon as practicable, with such Meeting Minutes presented to the Committee for approval at the next regularly scheduled Committee Meeting.Such meeting agendas and minutes shall be filed in the Committee Minute Book upon approval †¢The Committee shall have the sole authority to engage any consultants, legal counsel or advisors to provide services the Committee deems necessary and advisable to carry out the foregoing responsibilities, to approve all of the terms of such engagement including compensation, and to terminate any such engagement† (Nordstrom, 2008) While talking about compensation, here is an example of how much Blake W. Nordstrom makes out of Nordstrom’s sales. Blake W. Nords trom has been CEO of Nordstrom for eight years and has been with the company for 34 years. He is 47 years old and ranks 11 within retailing. Blake W. Nordstrom’s total Compensation is 8. 15 million dollars; thus his five-year compensation 21. 21 million dollars. 6-Year Annual Total Return20% 6-Year Return Relative to Industry112 6-Year Return Relative to Market118Blake W Nordstrom's Compensation Vs. Retailing Medians Salary $0. 70 mil $1. 01 mil Bonus NA $0. 84 mil Other $0. 07 mil $1. 06 mil Stock Gains $0. 71 mil $0. 00 mil Total Compensation$1. 47 mil $4. 39 mil Nordstrom has different types of compensation for its employees. For example, when someone works at Nordstrom they get 40 percent off on all store merchandise. They also do recognitions such as; employee of the month. Since Nordstrom is a retail store, employees get special incentive programs and they also work for commission which gives employees an â€Å"incentive† to work harder and sell more; resulting i n them earning more money.Employees also get recognition awards that recognize individual employees for their performance or service. Benefits Nordstrom is a respectable company to work for because an employee receives a strong benefits package. In addition, they ranked 72nd in the list of the top companies to work for, and use to be at the 36th place. Even with the bad economy, no cuts were made in pay or benefits for their employees. Nordstrom state, â€Å"as a Nordstrom employee, you should feel confident that your health and well-being are among our highest priorities. To that end, Nordstrom offers comprehensive, flexible benefits to our employees and their families. † Below is a list of the different benefits offered at the company: Health Benefits:Medical/Vision – medical, vision and prescription drug coverage Dental – basic preventive dental services and orthodontia Employee Assistance Program – confidential consultations, information and referrals , 24 hours a day Income Protection: Life Insurance – financial protection in the event of a covered family member’s death Disability Program – income replacement to assist you if you are unable to work due to disability Long-Term Care – financial protection for you or an enrolled family member who can no longer perform covered everyday activities Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance – financial protection for you and your eligible family members in the event of accidental death or dismemberment Retirement Benefits: 01(k) Plan – defer a percentage of your pay as pretax deferrals, post-tax Roth deferrals or a combination of both. Nordstrom matches your deferral, dollar for dollar, up to 4% Profit Sharing – share in the Company’s success through Company contributions to your retirement account Flexible Spending Accounts: Set aside pretax dollars to pay for eligible health care, dependent care and commuter expenses Time off : Leave or Absence Program – time away to recover from an illness, care for a family member or serve in the military Paid time off – time off with pay for your personal and family needs Sabbatical program – six week of unpaid time off to use any way you like Life/Work Benefits:Merchant Discount – a 20% or 33% discount of regular employees and eligible dependents Group Legal Services – access to local legal assistance for a wide range of services Group Home/Auto Insurance – group, discounted insurance rates for auto, home, renters, and other personal property Discount and services/Work Stream Rewards – discount on high-quality goods and services Resources and Referrals/Life Care – counseling, education and referral services to help you make life decisions on everything from childcare and academics to financial services and retirement Employee Stock Purchase Plan: Purchase Nordstrom stock at a discount Additional Benefits and Ser vices: Direct Deposit Jury Duty Pay Nordstrom Bank Nordstrom Federal Credit Union U. S. Savings Bonds Supporting the Environment In 2007, Nordstrom recognized the need to centralize existing efforts and created a multi-divisional group of leaders to come up with a comprehensive social responsibility strategy.In order to do so, they talked to the employees and some of the best customers to learn more about what's most important to them when it comes to social responsibility. They focus on the following areas: Supporting Communities, Sustaining the Environment, Protecting Human Rights, and Caring for their people. Nordstrom hopes to develop stronger relationships with their customers and be a better global steward with this strategy. Nordstrom recognizes that the stores facilities make an environmental impact and for many years it has been involved in recycling, energy and water conservation and overall waste reduction. In 2008, Nordstrom formalized a commitment to the environment wit h the creation of social responsibility strategy.It’s the company goal to reduce the impact on the environment by focusing on resource conservation, waste management, packaging and product innovations and organic cotton development, as well as incorporating sustainable options throughout their restaurants. The company is trying to increase recycling and decrease use of harmful chemicals and toxins. Across the stores and operations, Nordstrom is taking a closer look at how to reduce impact on the environment through innovations in sustainable merchandise, eco-friendly bags and boxes, and organic cotton development. As a fashion specialty retailer, Nordstrom sells branded merchandise from vendor partners and contract to manufacture private label products. The company has decided to focus on one issue directly related to what it does, and it now funds an organization that increasing the world’s supply of organic cotton.In addition, Nordstrom restaurants and coffee bars ar e finding ways to have a healthy impact on their customers, employees and the planet. From organic teas and Fair Trade coffee to nutritional labeling. Supporting Communities Although the environment is an important component of social responsibility, Nordstrom recognizes that social responsibility goes beyond just being â€Å"green. † The company’s financial support and involvement is important to the diverse communities it does business with. Therefore, its social responsibility strategy encompasses some of its existing practices in community giving, the United Way and international development.Overall, the company wants to give back to the communities that believed in them. As outlined in its Contributions Guidelines, its community giving takes the form of cash contributions, community partnerships and volunteerism. The selected areas of focus are the arts and culture, education, health, community development and the environment. Each year, Nordstrom donates millions of dollars to non-profits organization across the country. They also implemented the â€Å"Nordstrom Scholarship Program,† which supports education in most of the communities where it does business. In addition, Nordstrom has been a strong supporter of the United Way for almost six decades.It also supports several global organizations and projects including the HER Project, Organic Exchange, and vendor education programs. Current Financial Summary Nordstrom operates outlet stores in addition to department stores. Nordstrom Rack outlets appeal to customers who like the department store and the labels it carries but not necessarily the prices. Outlet shoppers visit to take advantage of bargains on items that did not sell at the department store or did not make it as far as the sales floor when a product line was discontinued. Recent financial results suggest that, in the recession, outlets may be giving shoppers who are not inclined to indulge at their favorite luxury departme nt stores an alternative where they can shop and still feel financially responsible.In March, Nordstrom’s beat analyst comparable store sales predictions, a relatively positive development despite the fact that those sales, generated in stores open for a year, were off by 13. 5 percent. Outlets helped mitigate greater softness elsewhere with comps at Nordstrom rack up 0. 1 percent versus down 16. 9 percent at department stores. In the recession, Nordstrom has been adding rack locations not just to satisfy bargain hunters but also to take advantage of good real estate deals that have been emerging. The rack has been a great vehicle to offer Nordstrom products at an off price as well as other products that consumers buy. Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE:JWN) reported net earnings of $81 million, or $0. 7 per diluted share, for the first quarter ended May 2, 2009. For the same quarter last year, Nordstrom reported net earnings of $119 million, or $0. 54 per diluted share. Included in the 2 009 first quarter results was a benefit of approximately $12 million, or $0. 06 per diluted share, related to the closure of the company’s 2007 federal tax return audit. Excluding this benefit, 2009 first quarter net earnings were $69 million, or $0. 31 per share. Net sales in the first quarter were $1. 71 billion, a decrease of 9. 2 percent compared with sales of $1. 88 billion during the same period in fiscal 2008. First quarter same-store sales decreased 13. 2 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2008.

Kite Runner Characters Essay

From that point forward, he is driven by his feelings of guilt as he searches to find a way to redeem himself. Ultimately he does so through courage and self-sacrifice, and he tells his story as a form of penance. Hassan  Ã¢â‚¬â€œÃ‚   Amir’s best friend and half-brother as well as a servant of Baba’s. Hassan proves himself a loyal friend to Amir repeatedly, defending Amir when he is attacked and always being ready to listen. His defining traits are bravery, selflessness, and intelligence, though his smarts are more instinctual than bookish, largely because he is uneducated. As a poor ethnic Hazara, he is considered an inferior in Afghan society, and he is the victim of racism throughout the novel as a result. He is Baba’s illegitimate child, though he is not aware of this fact, and he grows up with Ali acting as his father. His rape is an early catalyst in the story, and even though he is not present in a significant portion of the novel, he plays a major role throughout. Baba  Ã¢â‚¬â€œÃ‚   Father of Amir and Hassan and a wealthy, well-respected businessman. Baba believes first and foremost in doing what is right and thinking for oneself, and he tries to impart these qualities to Amir. He also never lets anyone’s lack of belief in him stop him from accomplishing his goals. Although he distrusts religious fundamentalism, he follows his own moral code and acts with self-assurance and bravery. When necessary, he is even willing to risk his life for what he believes in. Yet his shame at having a child with a Hazara woman leads him to hide the fact that Hassan is his son. Because he cannot love Hassan openly, he is somewhat distant toward Amir and is often hard on him, though he undoubtedly loves him. Ali  Ã¢â‚¬â€œÃ‚   Acting father to Hassan and a servant of Baba’s. Ali is defined by his modesty more than anything, and he works diligently as Baba’s servant. He loves Hassan deeply, though he rarely expresses his emotions outwardly. Poor and an ethnic Hazara, he suffers from partial paralysis of his face and walks with a limp caused by polio. Sohrab  Ã¢â‚¬â€œÃ‚   Son of Hassan and Farzana. In many ways, Sohrab acts as a substitute for Hassan in the novel, and he is a central focus of the plot in the later sections of the book. He is also an ethnic Hazara and is great with a slingshot. His character arc takes him from being a normal little boy to the traumatized victim of sexual and physical abuse, and he goes from speaking very little to not at all. Assef  Ã¢â‚¬â€œÃ‚   Hassan’s and Sohrab’s rapist and the novel’s antagonist. Assef represents all things wrong in Afghanistan. A racist who wishes to rid Afghanistan of Hazaras, he is incapable of remorse and enjoys inflicting violence and sexual abuse on those who are powerless. He even claims Hitler as a role model. Rahim Khan  Ã¢â‚¬â€œÃ‚   Friend of Baba and Amir. Rahim Khan is Baba’s closest confidant, and the one man who knows all of Baba’s secrets. For Amir, he serves a father figure, often giving Amir the attention he craves and filling the holes left by Baba’s emotional distance.

Analysis on Mi Abuelo

The grandfather released his angst through the narrator. The conflict of the poem is that the narrator could not understand why the grandfather always told him that his hair is a sieve. He argues with the grandfather saying that his hair is not a sieve but the old man continued to insist the sieve hair. From this context, it was seen that the character is a weak person because he could not show his real emotions towards one situation or thing. He turned his guilt and insanity towards other people to hide the complexities of thinking. The author attacked within the poem in a simple rationalization. As the reader, I saw two different conflicts that emerged in the whole poem but the author resolved only one conflict, which is the narrator’s conflicts towards the issue of having a sieve hair but the grandfather’s conflict within his own self was unresolved. The sieve hair in the poem symbolizes the life of the grandfather. His journey and struggle were sieved in an untangled path of existence. He said that the narrator’s hair is a sieve because by the end of it all, the narrator’s life will be the same as the grandfather. In terms of the poem’s construction, it was not fully understandable because the author’s way of dividing each line and stanzas do not have complete essence. Each line could not stand its own meaning alone because it depends on the next line in a complex manner. The term â€Å"Mi Abuelo† was not thoroughly defined. This term was only compared to the grandfather without justification of its true essence and meaning as a word. Because of this, readers would become confuse with the statement of Mi Abuelo and being the title of the poem. Despite of it all, the poem is a simple thing that is easy to understand and discuss. It shows the life and issues that old people used to obtain whether it is meaningless or senseless, for them these are still important and relevant to life.    Reference (1982). Mi Abuelo.  Ã‚   From Whispering to Fool the Wind. New York: Sheep Meadow. Retrieved 23 February 2008. Analysis on Mi Abuelo The grandfather released his angst through the narrator. The conflict of the poem is that the narrator could not understand why the grandfather always told him that his hair is a sieve. He argues with the grandfather saying that his hair is not a sieve but the old man continued to insist the sieve hair. From this context, it was seen that the character is a weak person because he could not show his real emotions towards one situation or thing. He turned his guilt and insanity towards other people to hide the complexities of thinking. The author attacked within the poem in a simple rationalization. As the reader, I saw two different conflicts that emerged in the whole poem but the author resolved only one conflict, which is the narrator’s conflicts towards the issue of having a sieve hair but the grandfather’s conflict within his own self was unresolved. The sieve hair in the poem symbolizes the life of the grandfather. His journey and struggle were sieved in an untangled path of existence. He said that the narrator’s hair is a sieve because by the end of it all, the narrator’s life will be the same as the grandfather. In terms of the poem’s construction, it was not fully understandable because the author’s way of dividing each line and stanzas do not have complete essence. Each line could not stand its own meaning alone because it depends on the next line in a complex manner. The term â€Å"Mi Abuelo† was not thoroughly defined. This term was only compared to the grandfather without justification of its true essence and meaning as a word. Because of this, readers would become confuse with the statement of Mi Abuelo and being the title of the poem. Despite of it all, the poem is a simple thing that is easy to understand and discuss. It shows the life and issues that old people used to obtain whether it is meaningless or senseless, for them these are still important and relevant to life.    Reference (1982). Mi Abuelo.  Ã‚   From Whispering to Fool the Wind. New York: Sheep Meadow. Retrieved 23 February 2008.

Eastman Kodak and Fujifilm Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Eastman Kodak and Fujifilm - Essay Example On the other hand, Fujifilm is a Japanese concern, established in the year 1934, operating in the segment of photography and imaging. But within a very small time frame, the organization became successful in captivating the entire market into its grips that contributed in cementing its reputation and competitiveness in the market of Japan (Fandel, 2007). Soon, it tried to expand its popularity and brand image on the entire globe by offering value-added products at a quite competitive price. This strategy proved effective for the organization of Fujifilm to enhance its leadership and reliability in the global market as compared to others. In order to amplify the sustainability and productivity, Eastman Kodak offered more attention over innovation as well as development of products. However, in order to offer innovative products, the organization concentrated more over digital imaging by utilizing digital print Kiosks in the entire globe. This strategy or product innovation proved extremely effective for the organization that amplified its reputation and demand in the market. Moreover, due to the utilization of digital kiosks, the organization was able to offer online photo services to its target customers that intensified its image and loyalty within their minds among others. Furthermore, in order to improve the customer base and profitability in the segment of ink jet printer, the organization developed digital camera. This helped the organization to increase its total sales and dominance in the market, in spite of numerous competitive rivalries. On the other hand, Fujifilm, tried to implement a different management strategy, in order to amplify its reputation and customer base (Markham, 2006). The organization ventured in different markets and offered varied types of new executions to its existing technology. This strategy of making various alliances and

Organization Behavior - Different Approaches to Management and Leaders Essay

Organization Behavior - Different Approaches to Management and Leadership - Essay Example However, the structure of any organization can be adjusted by organizational design and change. Organizational culture is defined as a set of shared values and norms by an organization that controls the interaction between employees, customers, suppliers and with all other entities whose interest is at stake (Jones 2007). An organization’s culture is shaped by its structure, ethics, by employment rights and by the environment surrounding the individuals. However, any two organizations operating in a similar industry might have very different cultures. An example is Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. Coca-cola feels proud of its employees’ commitment to the organization and the role of top management in cautious and objective planning, provides them such an environment that most of the people spend their lifetime career duration in coca cola. On the other hand, in PepsiCo there occurs disputes; sometimes over the decision-making process and as a result, conflicts arise between top management and employees. However, organizational culture evolves just as the structure differentiates with the passage of time and can be adjusted by organizations’ change and design. In many organizations, managerial roles are categorized into three types of roles: informational, decisional and interpersonal role (Koontz and Weihrich 2006). Many of today’s multinational organizations and few other huge corporations are using this approach towards management. They became managers; aware of their roles and responsibility, and then they were responsible for achieving the organizational goals. This management approach focuses more on the decision-making process, both at the individual level and collective level (Koontz and Weihrich 2006). This management approach is adopted in organizations where the managers and employees have to make decisions regarding their work activities. However, it is criticized by most of the theorists that this approach to management is not effective because a managing organization is more than taking decisions.  Ã‚  

Mergers & Acquisitions. Sprint-T-Mobile Term Paper

Mergers & Acquisitions. Sprint-T-Mobile - Term Paper Example The prospective merger between T-Mobile and Sprint has evoked mixed opinions among the shareholders of both the companies. T-Mobile USA is a subsidiary of German based Deutsche Telekom AG (DTE). The intention of DTE is to sell off the entity to Sprint and own a major stake in the combined entity. (Saitto et.al., 2011) The merger will be positive for both the companies in terms of the market presence. As of now both the companies are the third and the fourth largest operators. This deal would be beneficial for the shareholders of T-Mobile. The shareholders of T-Mobile are already worried with the recent drop in its share price due to drop in quarter-on-quarter profits. Therefore, any possible merger is an opportunity for the shareholders to sell the shares on a price better that a market price. Moreover, for those shareholders who are not selling off the shares, it is an opportunity for them to get more shares allotted in the new entity. The situation is slightly different in terms of the shareholders of Sprint. Sprint has a strong technology back up to compete with all the competitors in the market. â€Å"Sprint Nextel has partnered with Clearwire to build a 4G wireless network using a technology called WiMax, which is now available in 43 markets.† (ABMN, 2010) Sprint is already committed to pay Clearwire Corporation for building 4G wireless technology. Sprint is bound to pay Clearwire a minimum amount of $850 million in two years. This can even go up based on the growth in data usage. This deal though was spread over for 2 to 3 years will raise the debt level of the company. A potential merger with T-Mobile will further raise the debt level of Sprint. This will be threatening for the financial position of the company. Eventually this can lead to loss for the shareholders. At this point, it is important to look at the financial position of both the companies. T-Mobile has been facing serious decline in its cu stomer base and profitability for some quarters now. All other players in the market are well equipped with sufficient technologies to capitalize the future market. It is difficult for T-Mobile to capture additional customers as they lack the technology strength to do so. Therefore, the customer and profit erosion for T-Mobile will be much faster in the coming years. â€Å"During the first quarter of 2011, T-Mobile saw its revenue hit $4.63 billion, putting it in line with the first quarter of 2010. However, the company’s profit fell over $200 million year over year from $362 million last year to $135 million in the first quarter of 2011.† (Reisinger, 2011) The total customer loss in 2010 alone was 56,000. The second quarter results of the company have shown a decrease in the total assets to $46,291 million from that of $46,299 million. Cash and equivalents have decreased to $109 million from that of $344 million. There is an increase in the total liabilities of the co mpany. Sprint Nextel is better positioned than T-mobile in terms of the financial position. Unlike T-Mobile, Sprint reported first quarterly revenue after 3 years. Sprint was also undergoing a loss of revenue since 2007. (Bloomberg, 2011) The net incomes were on the negative side year on year. The first quarterly revenue was in fact a positive sign that the financial position of the company will pick up. But then the second quarter results were again on the negative side for the company. (Sprint, 2011) These negative revenues have taken a tall on the cash flow of the company. Especially at this stage when the Sprint is

African cinema is a film world in search of a constituency and a Essay

African cinema is a film world in search of a constituency and a community, and it realises that it is potentially a borderless cinema - John Akomfrah (Givanni, 1995, 36) Discuss - Essay Example This is primarily the ground why J. Akomfrah claims that a sense of community and constituency are continuously yearned for by the borderless cinematic endeavor of an African film industry traditionally inclined to bring to exhibition various aspects of living especially the scenes at the wild, life under poverty, or tribal struggles across the vastness of an African land. The 1975 Algiers Charter on African Cinema placed emphasis on the need of the film to communicate the cultural identity of the people of Africa and develop this goal for the viewers to achieve a more sensible understanding of a Nigerian culture. New African cinematographers have come up with a serious objective of informing and educating the public, knowing how powerful a film is in delivering crucial expressions of African way of life in a simplified approach that may be comprehended by the majority whether educated or uneducated (The Algiers, 1975). In 1973, Djibril Diop Mambà ©ty directed â€Å"Touki Bouki† which is a movie about the meeting of a cowherd Mory and a university student Anta who seem estranged to their places of origin, Senegal and Africa, that they decided to consider travelling to Paris for a change of fate though this would entail fraudulent job of satisfying a monetary requirement. One may particularly note the significance of adventure for an African life in this film yet the context from which it sheds light toward conflict resolution is different from the perspective of the film â€Å"Yeelen† after the direction of Souleymane Cissà © in 1987. Yeelen demonstrates a personal conquest of a young warrior who possesses powers of magic and summons his other relative in combat against a sorcerer who happens to be his own father. Despite the amply differing themes of these two films, both reflect a necessary quest for settlement in favor of the situations that fit each character. On the other hand, Idrissa

Edward Hopper Style Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Edward Hopper Style - Essay Example The essay "Edward Hopper Style" discovers the application of Edward Hopper’s painting style to digital image manipulation. It was a time in which the people of France were attempting to gain a better lifestyle for themselves by demanding rights for the ‘common’ man as had been accomplished in America less than a generation earlier. In attempting to ‘accurately’ reflect life in all of its objective detail, French artists adopting a Realist approach worked to find the most ‘common’ examples of French life. They sought the people of the fields and villages and then depicted them in their most humble and mundane activities. The major ideas that fueled French realism are discussed within the writings of two different but influential artists of the period, Gustave Courbet and Ferdnand Leger. Only by understanding the principles of realism as they were developed in this first wave of artistic endeavor can one can begin to understand how they app lied to the world of America as it emerged from the bloodiest war fought on American soil and became the hallmark of one of America’s favorite artists, Edward Hopper. French artist Gustave Courbet (1819-1877) asserted that â€Å"painting is an essentially concrete art and can only consist in the representation of real and existing things†. In his art and in his philosophy, Courbet’s chief technical concern seems to be an abandonment of the ‘rules’ of art, at least to some degree, in favor of a more natural flow in both line and form. Courbet felt such rough elements.... In his art and in his philosophy, Courbet's chief technical concern seems to be an abandonment of the 'rules' of art, at least to some degree, in favor of a more natural flow in both line and form. Courbet felt such rough elements of the painting were more accurate in attempting to represent the moment as it existed as well as the emotion of the moment in which the piece was created or the scene was witnessed. His close association with the 'realism' of life as it was experienced by the humble peasantry as well as in his own careful observation of it helped Courbet develop a more intense identification with his subject. By 1850, his ideas regarding what was real in the world and in art were becoming more defined. This is clear in a letter he wrote to a friend, "' in our so very civilized society it is necessary for me to live the life of a savage. I must be free even of governments. The people have my sympathies, I must address myself to them directly" (cited in Insecula, 2008). With in the philosophy of his Realist Manifesto, Courbet states the goal of Realist art is "to translate the customs, the ideas, the appearance of my epoch according to my own estimation" (cited in Finnochio, 2004). Within this approach, it is clear that Courbet held a concept of the real that was based almost exclusively upon the previously unrepresented classes of society and their unreported and unknown daily experiences. Approaching art from this perspective, though, Courbet was equally guilty of making decisions regarding what to paint based upon his own inner conceptions of what was 'common' and 'unrepresented'. As a result, he was essentially making up his own definition of society and presenting this

The Illusion of Similarity between Darnay and Carton in A Tale of Two Research Paper

The Illusion of Similarity between Darnay and Carton in A Tale of Two Cities - Research Paper Example Their stark similarities and interesting differences play important roles in the story plot (Cotsell 193). This brings the discussion to one of the striking themes of the novel --- the concept of doubles. The Concept of Doubles The novel opens with these lines: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only. (Dickens 13) These opening lines immediately tells the readers the central plot of the story. It is about doubles, and all the similarities and differences of those doubles (Nardo 73). Even the title itself gives away the idea that the events in the story happens in two separate cities. While Dickens uses the theme of doubles to highlight several oppositions in the story, he also utilizes it to reveal similarities (Bloom 23), whether real or illusion. On a personal standpoint, one of the most interesting role of the technique of using doubles in the novel is the way the concept of how one thing could really be another is presented. One of the best examples here is the story surrounding Darnay and Carton. Darnay and Carton can easily be thought as one person due to their physical traits. Yet upon a closer look, one can see how Darnay is actually the embodiment of Carton's possibilities (Hutter 451). As the story progresses, it is easy to feel more positive towards Darnay, and just a bit sympathetic towards Carton. This style brings about what can be called a turning of tables in the end, which is the st ory's climax, when the good-for-nothing Carton surpasses the heroic image of Darnay (Nardo 74-5). This concept will be discussed further in the next paragraphs. Overview of the Two Characters During the trial in England, Carton brings up the idea that Darnay and he have very similar appearances. He says, â€Å"My lord being prayed to bid my learned friend lay aside his wig, and giving no very gracious consent, the likeness became much more remarkable† (Dickens 82). This strategy helps Carton in Darnay's acquittal from the treason charge, thus helping Darnay to wiggle out of a sticky situation. However, one striking fact here is how Dickens shows that no matter how similar they can seem to be, they can also physically look different at times. This is where the differences despite the similarities between the two protagonists start. Darnay is always well-groomed and neat, while Carton is almost always looking drunk and not very presentable (Page 121). This is just one similarit y and difference between the two men. Darnay and Carton also share similar beliefs. Both men try to make the most out of life by working for what they believe in and for what they want. Still, despite this another similarity, they have differences as well. While Darnay tries hard to be noble and to keep his dignity and honor clean, Carton sometimes uses misrepresentation and blackmail to get what he needs and wants (Page 124-5). While Darnay may

The Impact of Transformational Leadership On Organizational Innovation Research Paper

The Impact of Transformational Leadership On Organizational Innovation Moderated By Organizational Culture - Research Paper Example The changes in the global economy is yet another factor which is pressurizing the organizations as well as the leaders to develop and implement effective measures to ensure better and higher employee productivity, inspire innovation and create a favorable organizational environment and culture that supports and encourages employee creativity. Such transformations can be made through effective transformational leadership approach on the part of the management. There is documented evidence on the basis of various studies conducted over the years which point to the fact that transformational leadership plays a key role in bringing about revolutionary changes in the organizational environment and positively affects and influences various key areas such as: organizational productivity, employee creativity, increased job satisfaction, reduction in stress levels of employees and workers, greater levels of team commitment etc., among many others (Bass & Avolio, 1994; Bass, 1985; Dionne, Yamm arino, Atwater & Spangler, 2004; Howell & Avolio, 1993). Such studies suggest that transformational leadership can greatly influence and encourage organizational innovation and creativity as well as the development of appropriate and effective skills required to compete in this highly dynamic and ever changing external environment. There are various approaches to initiate and implement organizational change, however regardless of such approaches the key role in influencing such changes is played by the managers and leaders, who are required to influence and guide the employees through such a process. Organizations today are representative of a highly diverse... This essay stresses that the study of various theories and researches with regard to the impact of transformational leadership on organizational culture and innovation provide an insight into the role of leaders in managing change and influencing the employees to achieve higher performance outcomes. On the basis of the extensive research and studies carried out in this behalf, it can be safely claimed that transformational leadership has a direct impact on organizational innovation, culture, and vision. It instills various characteristic traits among the employees and followers such as a sense of commitment to team efforts. This paper makes a conclusion that furthermore studies and empirical research have pointed to the impact of transformational leaders on organizations in terms of building a strong and positive culture, indicating that such leadership style provides better opportunities to the leaders to influence their followers and building an environment which is effective in achieving the overall goals. The studies also suggest that there is a direct and positive relationship between transformational leaders and the organizational vision. The transformational leaders encourage innovation and provide a conducive environment to innovate and develop novel ideas to respond to the dynamic and rapidly changing external environment. Such a culture further helps in creation of new and long term visions for the organization which in turn helps it in sustaining its competitive positioning in the market by giving them a competitive edge.

Rapp Is Poetry Essay Example for Free

Rapp Is Poetry Essay Over the past several years, hip-hops/music standing has been tumbling. Criticizers of the genre often arguably point at the extreme cursing, degradation of women, and adoration of the gangsta lifestyle as major flaw in rap songwriting. However, it is important that these characteristics only describe a small section of hip-hop. Most rap songs are actually very poetic, as they feature the rhythms and verses, poetic devices, and themes that are crucial elements of traditional poetry. Many rappers use the rhythms and rhyme schemes that are characteristic of poetry in their songwriting. Today’s generation expresses of love, death, self-expression, personal, political, and social issues, poverty and riches, and life involvements. They entwine these thoughts artistically and creatively within strong rhythms and captivating tunes that capture the minds of the listener. The mind-set of today’s adolescence can be found within the lyrics of the music that they listen to. Both rappers and poets write about the same subjects. For example the rap unit NWA, and the poet Alice Walker, both talk about the topic of being from a compression race. Alice Walker writes in one of her poems that there is no planet stranger than the one Im from†. What she is saying is that the world is strange because people judge others by their skin color. The method NWA takes is a more arrogant one, but still expressive. In one of there most notorious the songs Fuck Tha Police, NWA says Young nigga got it bad cuz im brown, And not the other color so police think, they have the authority to kill a minority. Another common subject between poets and rappers is ghetto life. Allot of African American rapper and poets come from a life of struggle that they channel into their writing and poetry. When it comes to poets and rappers, the biggest similarities are their appeal to transfer a message. The substance may different, but the need to enduce an emotional response is the same. Its naturally focused by their view of the world or society and craving to show their point-of-view. There is repeatedly the use of metaphors in poetry and rap to express their message and some are written that allows readers or listeners to make their own analysis. Song and poetry, They both express emotions or a message in some way, And they both use a very similar method. The difference between rap and poetry is really just the message and the type off message. You will never here Shakespeare talking about bitches and hoes and you will never hear a song from Tupac about comparing thee to a summers day. So really, there is no difference between the two beside the content. At times music is viewed adversely because of the strong language and ideas. Nevertheless, there is a message fixed within that gives voice to the brilliances and troubles of the surrounding society and community in where we live. The musicians of today reproduce and repeat the works of famous legendary poets past and present mentioning on some of the same political and social issues that are still applicable today. Once these poetic pieces are researched and explored, any one can determine whether the message is relevant and effects change, good or bad, for the listener. Using poetic plans and litraure, one could create expressive and perceptive poetry that reflects their personal thoughts and thoughts and beliefs of their generation, which is what’s being done in todays music. This has been done perfectly by Accomplished Rappers such as Public Enemy, Lauren Hill, Queen Latifah and Tupac Shakur. Almost every rapper puts his soul into his work. They rap about their own original verses with their own style and they say it with passion that connects with audience. Most rappers freestyles and songs are unique, but some take lyrics from other artist so not all rap/hip hop is creative. Rap/Hip Hop is a Poetic art form that came up on new york street corners and ghettos, to what it is now. Most old school raps were just poetry with a beat behind it that gave it a flow. Just people Talking about their lives, poverties, loves, hobbies, and of course its evolved into just raw emotion and whatever was on their minds. Some people use it to write down their genuine secrets or desires, instead of just keeping them inside, or to let out some form of emotion like love for one another, love for a woman, anger, heartbreak, this showed who those people really are/ or who they want to be, dreams of being larger than life. To Some people poetry is an expression of a dream that is condensed in a method comprehensible and enjoyable to others and so likely to arouse close emotions. For others its a written expression of emotion or ideas in an arrangement of verses most often rhythmically. How can hip hop not be reflected as poetry? Beat, rhymes, metaphors, similes, economical use of language to get a point across. all poetic devices, all used in hip hop. Some of the famous poet Robert Burns most well loved poems were originally written as songs, but theyre still loved as poems. Every poem can be a good melody but every melody can not be a poetry. Song is built on the group of musical voices that would lead the auditors to forget the environments and even himself where the poem is based on the expressive letters and words, that would proceed information to the readers and is spread through educated people. Songs are worldwide that anybody can enjoy but poetry is bound to be for the educated. Most rap songs are actually very poetic, as they feature the rhythms and verses, poetic devices, and themes that are crucial elements of traditional poetry.

Dengue Fever Essay Example for Free

Dengue Fever Essay Dengue fever (UK /ˈdɛŋÉ ¡eÉ ª/ or US /ˈdɛŋÉ ¡iË /), also known as breakbone fever, is an infectious tropical diseasecaused by the dengue virus. Symptoms include fever,headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristicskin rash that is similar to measles. In a small proportion of cases the disease develops into the life-threateningdengue hemorrhagic fever, resulting in bleeding, low levels of blood platelets and blood plasma leakage, or into dengue shock syndrome, where dangerously low blood pressure occurs. Dengue is transmitted by several species of mosquitowithin the genus Aedes, principally A. aegypti. The virus has four different types; infection with one type usually gives lifelong immunity to that type, but only short-term immunity to the others. Subsequent infection with a different type increases the risk of severe complications. As there is no commercially available vaccine, prevention is sought by reducing the habitat and the number of mosquitoes and limiting exposure to bites. Treatment of acute dengue is supportive, using either oral or intravenous rehydration for mild or moderate disease, and intravenous fluids and blood transfusion for more severe cases. The incidence of dengue fever has increased dramatically since the 1960s, with around 50–100 million people infected yearly. Early descriptions of the condition date from 1779, and its viral cause and the transmission were elucidated in the early 20th century. Dengue has become a global problem since the Second World War and isendemic in more than 110 countries. Apart from eliminating the mosquitoes, work is ongoing on a vaccine, as well as medication targeted directly at the virus. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM The incidence of dengue has grown dramatically around the world in recent decades. Some 2.5 billion people – two fifths of the worlds population – are now at risk from dengue. WHO currently estimates there may be 50 million dengue infections worldwide every year. In 2007 alone, there were more than 890 000 reported cases of dengue in the Americas, of which 26 000 cases were DHF. The disease is now endemic in more than 100 countries in Africa, the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean, South-east Asia and the Western Pacific. South-east Asia and the Western Pacific are the most seriously affected. Before 1970 only nine countries had experienced DHF epidemics, a number that had increased more than four-fold by 1995. Not only is the number of cases increasing as the disease is spreading to new areas, but explosive outbreaks are occurring. SCOPE AND DELIMITATION There is no specific treatment for dengue fever. But we can prevent having dengue fevers. The best way to prevent dengue virus infection is to take special precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Several dengue vaccines are being developed, but none is likely to be licensed by the Food and Drug Administration in the next few years. When outdoors in an area where dengue fever has been found *Use a mosquito repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus *Dress in protective clothing—long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and shoes

Performance comparison of two fast food businesses

Performance comparison of two fast food businesses The purpose of this article is to measure the performance of two companies in the same area of business, which is fast food industry. This study benchmarks two established global fast food sellers who have expanded operations further afield over their illustrious histories, displaying innovation, vision and success in the operation. The companies will be assessed using a range of financial methods such as horizontal, trend, vertical and ratio analyses. This will be done based on the companys financial statements for the last three years. Non-financial performance measures, which are based on evidence of business performance, will also be used. A SWOT analysis will then be done for each company in order to give the reader a concise picture about where both companies are now, and what they can do to improve their position in the market. Each company will then be assessed to see how attractive it is to both investors and employees. The companies chosen for this report are McDonalds and Burger King. They are two of the biggest fast food sellers that dominate the not only the UK but also the world fast food sector. When deciding how to position a product, marketing managers need to understand how product differentiation affects competition. Thus, this paper examines the relationship between product differentiation and prices and profits in the fast food industry. These companies were chosen as they are of interest to the author. The two fast food sellers are similar in nature as although they both have a substantial share of the UK market, either they are all famous the world. Therefore their financial data is relatively comparable. Historical BackgroundNames, addresses and logos of companies: Address McDonalds Plaza Oak Brook IL 60523 USA Address 5505 Blue Lagoon Drive Miami Florida 33126 USA Company History McDonalds Corporation McDonalds Corporation is the worlds largest hamburger fast food restaurants, serving more than 58 million customers every day. McDonalds concentrate on sells hamburgers, chicken products, French fries, breakfast, soft drinks, shakes and deserts. It represents the trends of Western nations. While at the same time, it faces the criticism over the healthiness of its products. McDonalds has modified its menu to include alternatives considered healthier such as salads, wraps and fruit. The business began in 1940, with a restaurant opened by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald in San Bernardino, California. The site of the McDonald brothers original restaurant is now a museum. With the expansion of McDonalds into many international markets, the company has become a symbol of globalization and the spread of the American way of life. The company operates through five subsidiaries (structured on a geographic basis): McDonalds USA, McDonalds Europe, McDonalds AMEA (Asia, Middle East and Africa), McDonalds Latin America and McDonalds International. An additional subsidiary was created in McDonalds Ventures, which consists of the companys non-McDonalds brand. Burger King Corporation Burger King often abbreviated as BK, is a global chain of hamburger fast food restaurants like McDonalds headquartered in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. Burger King Corporation banner operates the international business. The company began as a Jacksonville, Florida-based restaurant chain in 1953. After the company ran into financial difficulties in 1955, its two Miami-based franchisees, David Edgerton and James McLamore, purchased the company and rechristened it Burger King. Over the next half century the company would trade hands four times, with its third set of owners, a partnership of TPG Capital, Bain Capital, and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, taking the company public in 2002. The current ownership group, 3G Capital of Brazil, acquired a majority stake in the company in a deal valued at $3.26 billion in late 2010. The companys business is divided into three geographic segments; the US and Canada; Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific (EMEA/APAC); and Latin America. About 7,512 Burger King Stores are located in the US and Canada. Over 2,379 of the companys restaurants are located in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), 672 restaurants in Asia Pacific (APAC) and 1,002 restaurants in Latin America. Business activities and Product treeMcDonalds Corporation McDonalds operates, franchises, and services a worldwide chain of about 31,000 fast food restaurants in the world. Franchisee, Affiliate and Corporation are three ways, which McDonalds operate the worldwide stores. About 25% of the companys revenues come from franchisee outlets. The company and its franchisees use special method to guarantee uniformity in both services and standards. McDonalds restaurants offer a substantially uniform menu. It also tests a range of new products on an ongoing basis and sells a variety of other products during limited-time promotions. Source: McDonalds website Burger King Corporation Burger King (BKC) is the worlds second largest chain of fast food hamburger restaurants. Burger King operates more than 11,565 restaurants in 71 countries and the US territories, of which 1,360 restaurants are company restaurants and 10,205 are owned by independent franchisees. Among of these, 7,207 restaurants are located in the US and 4,358 are located in international markets. Burger King offers a range of reasonably priced food items, which content burgers, sandwiches, salads and breakfast items. The Whopper sandwich is its largest-selling product. Burger King was the first fast-food chain to introduce drive-through service, which now accounts for a majority of the companys business. But the development of drive-through stores is less than McDonalds. The company generates revenues from three sources: sales at company restaurants, royalties and franchise fees and property income from certain franchise restaurants that lease or sub lease property from the company. Source: Burger King Website Financial AnalysisThe following financial analysis of both companies uses the data provided in the Annual reports of each company from Fame or official website. Horizontal, trend, vertical and ratio analyses will be used as rationale to benchmark performance between the firms. Horizontal Analysis Conducting a horizontal analysis allows us to compare different items in each companys financial statements. This can be done over a period of time so that any changes that have taken place can be noted. Therefore it is a useful tool for comparing the performance of two companies. The data below shows the consolidated income statement of both firms between the years of 2007-2009. However, McDonalds financial report is calculated about in Europe, while Burger King is calculated in UK. Each companys performance will be analyzed and compared and any notable differences will be discussed below. McDonalds: there was an increase from 2008 to 2009 (3.2%) due to the world financial crisis. But there was also a significant decline from 2009 to 2010(11.9%), one reason is that the company is too large to operate. Burger King: with 6.0% growth from 2008 to 2009, Burger Kings performance is better than its competitors. Following with financial crisis end, there was 8.4% growth between 2009 and 2010. Gross Profits: This is worked out by taking the cost of sales figure away from turnover. Both companies even with high increases in operating cost for 2008, they ended up with a small increase in net income. This can be contributed to the exceptional gross profit earnings for the year. McDonalds gross profit for 2008 increased 3.2%, while Burger King only increased 1.3%. This can be attributed to the McDonalds grabbed the opportunity of financial crisis. However, McDonalds and Burger King also suffered a decline in 2009. The main reason is that companies with global operations translate sales and franchise revenue from foreign currencies into dollars. That can boost revenue and profit when the dollar is weaker but hurt results when the U.S. currency is stronger because foreign sales then translate into fewer dollars. Operating income The pattern visible for the operating income over the three-year period is different to the other indicators and causal factors are difficult to establish. It shows a huge increase in 2008, this could be attributed to the considerable increase in gross profit compounded by the operating expenses being trimmed providing a much-improved operating income for the year. In 2008 however, operating income falls, likely due to a combination of a gross profit decrease and an operating expense increase. Net Profit: this is the actual earnings of the company after all expenses and taxes have been paid and are usually referred to as the bottom line. Both companies are experiencing a small rate of organic growth in the year of 2008. This is despite the economies financial difficulty during 2008; people prefer to choose fast food as their daily food. It is likely that during 2008-09, the rise in turnover is partly down to the high price of fuel, caused by high oil. In Europe, two companies performance reflected Europes strategic priorities to upgrade the customer and employee experience, enhance local relevance, and build brand transparency. In addition, McDonalds enhanced customer trust in our brand through communications that emphasized the quality and origin of McDonalds food and our sustainable business practices, while Burger King did much better. Trend Analysis By conducting a trend analysis we can see the ways in which the companies have changed over the last three years. The year 2007 is taken as the base year and set at 100%. Each following year is then expressed as a percentage of the base year using this equation: Gross Profits: Whilst both companies experience similar growth in their turnover, McDonalds experience a decrease in gross profits in 2009-10. Burger King does not have this problem and so they experience almost same level in gross profits over the three-year period. Percentage Change in Gross Profit Operating Profit: Both companies experienced increases in their operating profit. This McDonalds plan is leading to the company becoming more efficient, which is reflected by this increase. Through this, the company has significantly reduced its administration expenses over the three-year period. They have also experienced a rise in other operating income pre operating profit, which has led to the rise in operating profit, despite the fall in gross profit. Percentage Change in Operating Profit Net Profit: Burger King net profit remains consistent for the first two years and then drops during the year 2009-10. This pattern is to be expected due to companies with global operations translate sales and franchise revenue from foreign currencies into dollars, which led to people trying to spend less money. McDonalds Net Profit rocketed in 2008-09, due to the fact that people would like to choose fast food during financial crisis. Percentage Change in Net Profit Vertical Analysis A vertical analysis shows us the relationship between each income statement item to the turnover. In other words, it shows all other figures as a percentage of the turnover or net sales, which is set at 100%. The following equation can be used in order to work this out: Balance Sheet A vertical analysis can also be conducted on the companys balance sheet, representing all items as a percentage of the total assets. In simple terms, this allows us to see where a business spend and receives its money. Fixed Assets: Fixed assets are those with a remaining useful life of over one year. Tangible fixed assets refer to physical assets such as buildings; land etc. and intangible assets refer to items such as goodwill and trademarks. McDonalds is much bigger than Burger King, which means it has more stores in Europe and UK. Current Assets: Current assets are those that are held for less than a year and can be realized quickly. They act as a source of funds for day-to-day activities (Investor Words, 2009). During the world financial crisis, two companies were under its influence in 2008. While in 2009, two companies had made a quick change. So their current assets suffer from a huge increasing. Total Liabilities: This figure is made up of both current liabilities and long-term liabilities. Current liabilities are the debts to creditors and suppliers, which the companies are expected to pay within a year, often in cash. Long-term liabilities are debts that do not need to be repaid within a year. Burger King has a lower share of long-term liabilities than McDonalds does. This suggests that Burger King is in a better financial position when it comes to repaying debt, as the majority of their capital comes from Shareholders funds instead of loans. Ratio Analysis Conducting a ratio analysis allows us to compare the specific items in each companys financial statements over the three years period. There are four classifications of ratio analysis: Profitability, Liquidity, Efficiency and Investment. Conducting a ratio analysis from each of the four classifications should give a good overall picture of each companys performance. Profitability: Gross Profit Margin Gross Profit Margin = Gross Profit x 100 Turnover Gross profit margin allows us to see the proportion of sales that is left over once the costs of sales have been accounted for. This gives us an idea about how much money the company is making on their sales alone, before accounting for other income, administration expenses, interest and tax. This is a particularly relevant measure for this industry as the vertical analysis showed that the cost of sales takes up a huge percentage of the total turnover. Generally, the higher the gross profit margin is the better a company is performing. Liquidity: Current Ratio Curent Ratio = Curent Asset Curent Liabilities The current ratio is used to test the liquidity of company. A high current ratio of over 2 to 1 suggests that a company would easily be able to pay off its debts using its current assets, putting them in a good financial position. Efficiency: Asset Turnover Asset Turnover = Sales (Turnover) Total Assets This ratio measures how efficient a company is at utilizing their assets in order to generate sales. A high ratio indicates that a company is making good use of its assets. McDonalds is using its assets more efficiently than Burger King. Both companies experience improvement in their asset efficiency throughout the two year period which could again be attributed to the improvement programs that they are both currently running. While in 2009, two companies suffered from a small declining. However, McDonalds is much better than Burger King. Investment: Price/Earnings Ratio P/E Ratio = Market Earnings per Share Price per Share This final measure is a clear indication to potential investors, of the earnings they will be receiving. The ratio essentially indicates the price they are paying for a unit of income. If one company has a higher ratio than the other then the relative earnings received is for the price of the share is less than the other company. When comparing two companies they can use as relative prices to determine which one delivers the greatest benefit for their price. In addition, the lower the value, the quicker the investment will be recovered through earnings. Both companies started in a similar position in 2009-10. This ratio does not necessarily mean the investor will receive less because the fluctuations in share prices paid by each investor may differ greatly, especially in this three year period where the decline was drastic in 2008. However, upon analysis by a potential investor, it may indicate that at the end of 2008s financial year, Burger King looks to provide slightly better earnings per share relative to the price paid. However this is not rigid, prices fluctuate by the hour and do not always resemble financial performance. Non-Financial Analysis It is also important to factor in a variety of non-financial measures of performance in order to help us to assess the position of these companies. This may help to explain why one company is experiencing success over another. The fast food industry in the world is extremely competitive and so a number of different performance measures ¼Ã…’ which are thought to be relative to the industry have been used. Global operations McDonalds concentrate on globalization, sometimes referred to as the McDonaldization of society. The Economist newspaper uses the Big Mac index to describe the McDonalds globalization. McDonalds was the first restaurant to consistently offer clean restrooms, driving customers to demand the same of other restaurants and institutions. McDonalds wants to open a large number of drive-through stores in the world. McDonalds make a deal with the French fine arts museum, the Louvre, to open a McDonalds restaurant and McCafà © on its premises, in November 2009. Burger King was successful in the US and then it brought Chicken burger to Europe. Consumers are urged to cheat on beef, with the message that Burger King announces can offer more than just beef burgers. The creative marketing is likely to engage consumers, while chicken may appeal to more health to customers. To assist in its global expansion, Burger King has established several subsidiaries to develop partnerships and alliances to expand into new areas. In Europe, Burger Kings subsidiary Burger King Europe GmbH is responsible for the licensing and development of BK franchises in the that market. At the end of 2010 year, Burger King is the second largest hamburger fast food company, which the first one is McDonalds (32,400 locations) and the fourth largest fast food restaurant chain overall after Yum!(37,000 locations), McDonalds and Subway (32,000 locations). Success of Branding and Advertising im lovin it is an McDonalds Corporations slogan. It was created by Heye Partner. The English part of the campaign was launched in the UK in 2003. With the music of Tom Batoy and Franco Tortora (Mona Davis Music) and vocals by Justin Timberlake is famous all over the world. In Spring 2008, McDonalds published their new image and slogan: What were made of. This was to promote how McDonalds products are made. Packaging was tweaked a little to feature this new slogan. In Fall 2008, McDonalds started new packaging, eliminating the previous design stated above with inspirational messages, the im lovin it slogan. McDonalds also updated their menu boards with darker, yet warmer colors, more realistic photos of the products featured on plates and the drinks in glasses. In 2009, McDonalds expects to have all of this nationwide. As to Burger King, Golden Age of Burger King advertising was during the 1970s when it introduced its Magical Burger King. And then several well-known and parodied slogans appear. In 2003, Burger King published new advertising with the hiring of the Miami-based advertising agency of Crispin Porter + Bogusky (CP+B). They have reorganized Burger Kings advertising with a series of new factors. It centered on a redesigned Magical Burger King character accompanied with a new online presence. A Burger King advertising running in recent weeks declares the Kings gone crazy. It shows the burger chains royal mascot running through a building and crashing through a plate glass window before being tackled to the ground by men in white coats. The advertising is supposed to trumpet Burger Kings new Burger King Steakhouse XT burger: The kings insane for offerings so much beef for $3.99, said the advertising. Success of Menus McDonalds decision to display nutritional information, including calorie and fat content and also on its product packaging well help restore faith in the brand by empowering customers menu choices. However, the move does not represent a fundamental change to the companys overriding mission. It just provides cheap, flavorsome food, served quickly. McDonalds clearly wants this increased disclosure will restore trust in its products. Indeed, data monitor research shows that transparency is clearly needed: 40% of UK consumers are skeptical about health claims made by food manufacturers, compared to 32% who are trusting. McDonalds healthier menu items that have this year helped promote sales in Europe. Consumers will soon be able to read that the Cheese, Ham and Pepperoni Deli Brown Roll contains 616 calories, compared to 493 in a Big Mac, along with almost 10% more fat and more than double the amount of salt. Nonetheless, as the worlds leading fast food company, McDonalds will always per form better. In contrast to other industry players, Burger King has not focused on making its food healthier in the past, believing that the Superfan values taste over health when making food choices. In 2005, for example, the company invested a lot on fast foods to make them less unhealthy, with less salt, sugar and fat, stating it wanted to focus on providing tasty foods. By focusing on taste, Burger King aimed to gain a competitive advantage and achieve a reputation for producing tastier burgers. While this focus on taste is appealing to the Superfan, health is an issue of growing importance to a large sector of society. Therefore, in order to remain competitive, the company has had to respond to this growing demand for healthier foods. Its rivals have already made health changes to their menus and, with this in mind, Burger King has reformulated some of its menu items. Consumers are urged to cheat on beef, Burger King announces that it can offer more than just beef burgers. The creative marke ting is to tall consumers, while chicken is more health. Burger King has announced that it will be provided new hamburger named the Tender crisp Premium Chicken burger in the UK, Ireland, Sweden and Denmark. At the same time, Burger King wants to create new imagine that consumers go to fast food stores looking for health beneficial products, which will makes them feel better about their choice in turn. Market share Burger King has around 7,800 restaurants locally, while McDonalds has whopping 13,000 locations locally. Burger King has approximate 21.9% of the market share, while McDonalds has more than double that, a whopping 44% market share of the fast food industry. Comparatively, McDonalds has been expanding rapidly into the international market; in fact McDonalds has expanded in many third world countries, which include India, China, etc. Although Burger King also has international reach, its nowhere near McDonalds reach. Burger King has managed to expand in only a handful of international markets. Company PotentialMcDonalds SWOT Analysis McDonalds SWOT Analysis Strengths Market-leading position Robust all-round growth Strong brand equity Opportunities Alliance with Warner Home Video Innovations in the Menu Rising Hispanic population in US Strengths McDonalds is the worlds largest foodservice retailing chain. McDonalds serves one of the worlds favorite and most well known menus. The company has shown a strong growth in revenues. Its consolidated revenues have increased at a compounded annual growth rate. All segments of the company have witnessed strong growth. Europe, McDonaldss largest geographical market, saw revenues increase by 14.7%. McDonalds has a well-established brand that appeals to varied age groups and customer profiles. The Business Week magazine has ranked McDonalds as one of the ten most recognized brands in the world, a position that creates significant opportunities for the company. The company makes some of the largest selling fast foods in the world. Weaknesses The company witnessed an operating loss from its non-McDonalds brand restaurant operations. Operating losses from both these segments have lowered McDonalds overall profitability. McDonalds revenue per employee compared quite poorly with the average figures in the foodservice and restaurants industry. This indicates that the companys per employee productivity and profitability is lower than that of its competitors, a disadvantage in a fiercely competitive marketplace. During 2007-2009, McDonalds selling, general and administrative (SGA) expenses for Europe region increased substantially. Increasing SGA expenses in these segments have adversely affected the overall profitability of McDonalds. Opportunities A popular live-action series featuring Ronald McDonald will help further McDonalds popularity, especially amongst children. The company can cash in on this and boost its revenues. McDonalds continues to evolve its menu in order to maintain its leading market position. New products and branded everyday value remain a focus for McDonalds, as the company continues to refresh its offerings with its Euro Saver Menu in several European markets. Threats The company is facing pressures due to an increase in raw material prices. Owing to various import restrictions and higher demand, prices of beef. Further, the prices are expected to remain high during 2010 also. Beef is the major raw material for the companys products. A further hike in beef prices can have a negative impact on companys profitability. Over the past few years there has been a newfound emphasis on healthier eating. With a change in lifestyle, people are becoming more aware of the negative effects of unhealthy eating habits. This has a direct effect on the sales of the fast food chains that are associated with unhealthy food. Consumers are showing increased preference for fat-free and healthy food products. Food items containing trans-fat are losing market share as they are linked to cardiovascular diseases. Some negative publicity could adversely impact the revenues of the company, especially as consumers and government bodies all over the world get more conscious abo ut health effects of fast food. Burger King SWOT Analysis Burger King SWOT Analysis Strengths Strong market position and brand equity signifying customer acceptance Greater franchise mix-an attractive business model Innovative marketing campaigns and advertising to provide greater visibility Opportunities Expansion in existing and new markets-the rate of expansion in 2009 was 28% higher than the prior year Initiatives such as remodeling and usage if Bluetooth to enhance operational efficiency Positive outlook for quick service restaurant segment Strengths Burger King enjoys a strong market position with 11,925 restaurants operating in 73 countries and US territories. It is the worlds second-largest FFHR chain as measured by the total number of restaurants and system-wide sales. Additionally, BKCs Burger King and Whopper brands are two of the most widely recognized consumer brands in the world. Overall, the companys established brand image has enabled it to penetrate various global markets. The company leverages its strong market position to gain economies of scale and increase its bargaining power. BKC utilizes innovative marketing, advertising and sponsorships to drive sales and generate restaurant traffic. Strong and innovative marketing efforts will provide better visibility to the company, which will in turn have an impact on the revenue generating capacity of the company. Weaknesses Declining comparable sales growth-2009 recorded the lowest rate in three years BKC recorded a decline in its comparable sales growth in the recent past. Despite positive comparable sales growth across all reportable segments during 2009, comparable sales for the period were negatively impacted by significant traffic declines during the third and fourth quarters across many of the markets in which BKC operates. This was primarily driven by the continued adverse macroeconomic conditions, including higher unemployment, more customers eating at home, heavy discounting by other restaurant chains and the H1N1 flu pandemic. Declining comparable sales growth indicates the necessity of the management to focus on various product offerings that caters to the value conscious customers during times of poor economic conditions. Concentrated operations in terms of geographic presence and dependence on selected distributors-increases business risks. Opportunities Expansion in existing and new markets-the rate of expansion in 2009 was 28% higher than the prior year. Burger King is focusing on expanding its presence in existing and new markets. Expanding presence in existing and new markets will allow the company to establish a global footprint and favorably impact its revenue generating capacity. Initiatives such as remodeling and usage of Bluetooth enhance operational efficiency. Threats The fast food industry is intensely competitive and Burger King competes with many well-established food service companies on the basis of product choice, quality, affordability, service and location. As the restaurant industry has few barriers to entry, the company competes with large competitor base including restaurant chains and individual restaurants that range from independent local operators to well-capitalized national and international restaurant companies. McDonalds and Wendys are BKCs principal competitors. The company also competes against regional hamburger restaurant chains. The company also competes against national food service businesses offering alternative menus, such as Subway, PaPa Jones and Pizza Hut. Some of the Burger King competitors have greater financial, non-financial and other resources, which may help them to react to changes in pricing, marketing and other segment in general better than Burger King. Investor Potential This section will examine the attractiveness of investment into McDonalds and Burger King. The following two graphs show the variations in each companys share price over the three financial periods looked at throughout this reports. Both companies graphs are taken from Yahoo! Finance as this website showed the fluctuations during the three years that the financial analysis was conducted, allowing the share price to be compared to the businesses financial success. Share prices vary depending on how a company is performing; with more investors buying shares when they think the company is about to experience success. Success leads share prices to rise, due to the laws of supply and demand. McDonalds share price This graph shows that McDonalds experienced an overall increase in share price during 2006 to 2010. This could be due to the success of the McDonalds strategies, suggesting that the company has adopted a successful growth strategy and encouraging people to invest. Burger King share price Burger King have seen a steady drop in their share price relative to their drop in net profit in 2007-08, which could lead investors to become less attracted to the company. However, Burger King does have quite a strong growth strategy