Whole Foods Market Input Analysis

Whole Foods Market Input Analysis The Firm’s Strategy One of the major stratagems being pursued by the firm is the differentiation. The firm adopts the differentiation strategy in terms of product provision in order to enhance its competitive advantage. In fact, the firm has ensured that all its business processes including products are unique to the industry.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Whole Foods Market Input Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The major driver for the strategy is the increased competence of the business associates and employees in terms of skills and capabilities (Whole Foods Market, 2013). Besides, the competitive edge depends on the degree in which the firm’s business processes are conducted. In other words, the firm carefully selects diverse brands of items that are highly valued by the customers. However, highly valued products attract high prices. Whole Foods understands the sensitivity of prices . As such, the firm offers its high quality food products at fair prices that clients can afford. The combination of quality and fair prices is one of the greatest competitive advantages to the firm (Whole Foods Market, 2013). As indicated, Whole Foods is different from the major competitors in terms of the prepared food brands. The firm offers a wide variety of prepared meals for lunch, dinner and desert (Martin, 2008). Clients have the options of eating on the premises or take out. Whole Foods takes advantage of the increasing number of clients that normally have their meals on the premises as high end consumers tend to look for ways of curbing spending amid a difficult economic situation (Martin, 2008). Moreover, the retail store prefers the special brands in favor of the common major delicacies found in most of the stores. Since the firm has a narrow niche of customers and few competing stores are found in most areas it operates, Whole Foods can easily scan and understand the ma rket. The strategies are the main contributors of the firm’s higher profit margins (Martin, 2008). How the Strategy is Aligned to Porter’s Generic Model According to Porter’s generic forces model, strategies are actions that help in the formation of invulnerable place in the industry (Porter, 1998). In other words, strategies are actions that increases the firms competitive advantage in the industry in which it operates. According to the model, the strategies can be either defensive or offensive.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Defensive strategies normally take the form of the industry and place the firm to cope with its strengths and weaknesses (Porter, 1998). On the other hand, offensive strategies transforms the underlying causes of the competitive forces and as such changes the environment in which the firm operates. Porter proposed t hree broad and standard strategies that the firm can utilize to generate durable defensible situations as well as increase its competitive advantage. The strategies include cost leadership, differentiation and the focus or the niche strategy (Porter, 1998). The firm’s approach fits directly with the differentiation strategy of the Porter’s model. According to the model, the differentiation strategy means offering services, products and brands that are unique to the industry (Porter, 1998). Essentially, the differentiation strategy requires that the firm creates own market niche. Approaches to the differentiation strategy include diverse product designs, brand image, variety of features and the new technology (Porter, 1998). All these approaches have been applied by Whole Foods to create its product brands together with competitive prices to create its own market niche. The differentiation strategy has contributed greatly to the growth of the firm in a highly competitiv e industry. In fact, the differentiation approach has insulated the firm from the competitive rivalry through the creation of brand loyalty and reduction of price elasticity of demand by making clients to be less sensitive to the price changes of the product (Martin, 2008). Besides, the uniqueness of the products have created barriers and the reduction of substitutes, which in effect, has led to higher margins and decreases the need for low-cost advantage (Martin, 2008). Moreover, higher margins enable the firm to handle influential suppliers. In fact, the strategy has enabled the firm to alleviate the buyer’s power since few alternatives are available to the purchasers (Whole Foods Market, 2013). The Firm’s Inputs According to the congruent model, organizational inputs are ranging from the environment to the strategies applied by the firm (Nadler Tushman, 1980). Within the continuum are inputs such as resources and the firm’s history.Advertising We wil l write a custom assessment sample on Whole Foods Market Input Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The resources available to the firm include human capital, technological applications, financial capital, information as well as other intangible assets. Besides, while strategy is considered the most important input in the model, it forms the link between the mentioned inputs and the system mechanism of the entire firm’s transformation process (Nadler Tushman, 1980). According to the model, environmental inputs are factors that are outside the firms influence including things that come from an institution or industry, individuals, groups as well as events (Nadler Tushman, 1980). Essentially, the environmental inputs must have a potential influence on the organization. In this case, the firm’s environmental inputs include industry research and development, suppliers and most importantly organic food consumers. Similarly, r esources include all assets that the firm can access. The resources include both human and financial capital as well as information. In addition, resources include intangible assets such as recognition by the market niche. Generally, the resource inputs are broad and normally applied by the firm to produce the desired outcome (Nadler Tushman, 1980). In terms of the input history, past decisions, activities and behavior are considered as greater effort to attain the current desired results. Essentially, these factors must have a direct influence on the existing organizational operations. Whole Foods is known for its traditional quality organic food offerings, which the firm exploit to increase its competitive advantage. Whether the Inputs are Congruent to the Strategy According to the congruent model, the firm’s strategy is the stream of decisions concerning the manner in which the inputs or the organizational resources are transformed to meet the needs of the clients. Beside s, strategies are involving the way the firm’s resources are configured to deal with limitations as well as prospects available to the firm within the context of the patterns of the past behavior (Nadler Tushman, 1980). In order to attain the desired results, the inputs have to fit within the strategies. Essentially, aligning the firm’s inputs to the strategies is critical for increased performance and success.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As indicated, the congruent model argues that the inputs have to be aligned to the strategies in order to increase performance (Nadler Tushman, 1980). In other words, the level of performance would depend on the degree of congruity of the firm’s inputs to the strategy. In this case, the resource inputs fit greatly to the firm’s strategy. Whole Foods has used all its resources in order to ensure increased competitive advantage. In other words, the inputs are aligned to the firm’s strategy to attain the desired competitive advantage. Essentially, the firm’s resources are highly utilized to increase the performance of the strategy. In fact, the firm has ensured that all its resources are aligned to the strategic goal of ensuring increased competitive advantage. In other words, the firm’s resources greatly fit with the organization’s strategy. Besides, the firm has fully utilized its human resources to attain the desired product brands. Similar ly, the capital resources including financial and other assets have been fully utilized to ensure that the specialized and unique food products are produced to meet the client needs. The target clients’ acceptability of the products confirms the congruity of the resources to the strategy. The environmental inputs available to the firm including clients have a greater degree of congruity to the strategy of differentiation. The differentiation strategy aims at increasing the target customer value. Within the context of Whole Foods Market, clients and suppliers are considered as individual inputs. The contribution of the suppliers and consumers remains critical in the product development and distribution. However, in terms of suppliers, the differentiation strategy has ensured a drastic reduction of supplier’s power, which in turn has resulted in increasing the firm’s performance. Essentially, the firm’s environmental resources are highly congruent to its st rategy. However, the history inputs fairly fit with the current differentiation strategy. The firm barely utilizes its historical resources in the determination of the current product offerings. Nevertheless, some of the effective decisions that were made before form the basis of the current strategy. References Martin, A. (2008, August 2). Whole Foods looks for a fresh image in lean times. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/02/business/02food.html Nadler, D. A., Tushman, M. L. (1980). A model for diagnosing organizational behavior. Organizational Dynamics, 9 (2), 35-51. Porter, M. E. (1998). Competitive strategy: Techniques for analyzing industries and competitors. New York, NY: Free Press. Whole Foods Market (2013). Whole Foods annual report 2013. Retrieved from https://eu.wholefoodsmarket.com/

Propylene Glycol Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Propylene Glycol - Assignment Example PG is also known under the name 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,2-dihydroxypropane, 1,2-propanediol, ethylene glycol, and methyl glycol. The proper IUPAC chemical name is propane-1,2-diol. Its CAS Registry Number on the U.S. EPA Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) inventory of chemical substances is [57-55-6]. Common commercial names of this substance are Propylene Glycol Industrial (PGI) and Propylene Glycol USP (PG USP) (Martin and Murphy, 2006). The physical properties of propylene glycol are presented in Table 1. All of the glycols are very miscible with water, ethanol, acetone, and chloroform. Propylene glycol is also a hygroscopic compound (Martin and Murphy, 2006). The structural formula of propylene glycol is given in figure 1. Its structural isomer with the same formula is 1,3-propanediol. PG has also two enantiomers: one is (R)-1,2-propanediol and the other is (S)-1,2-propanediol. This compound has two functional hydroxyl group: primary and secondary that distinguish it from the ethylene glycol (McKetta, 1993). Chemical properties of propylene glycol are typical for this group of compounds. It undergoes the reactions with carboxylic acids, and their derivatives (halides and anhydrides) forming esters; reaction with hydroxides of alkali metals forming salts, and interaction with aldehydes and ketones where the products are acetals and ketals. The reaction with acids is important for obtaining polyesters. The next important commercial product is polyether obtained by dehydration of propylene glycol. Reactions with aldehydes and ketones are used for protection of aldehyde or ketone functionality in organic synthesis (Martin and Murphy, 2006). Propylene glycol is used in organic synthesis, synthesis of polymers, medicine, and cosmetics. Its mixture of water has the low freezing point and, thus, this compound is used as antifreeze.  

The Development of Health Care Provision in Britain Essay

The Development of Health Care Provision in Britain - Essay Example In Roman times doctors were often Greeks and might belong to a private family as well as acting as general practitioners. There were also doctors and medical assistant attached to the invading Roman army. Even in families where there was no doctor some member of the household would have acquired some necessary medical knowledge:-. Unwashed wool supplies very many remedies†¦..it is applied†¦.with honey to old sores. Wounds it heals if dipped in wine or vinegar†¦.yolks of eggs†¦.are taken for dysentery with the ash of their shells, poppy juice and wine. It is recommended to bathe the eyes with a decoction of the liver.(Pliny, 1st century C.E.) There would also be wise women, often herbalists. The History of Hospitals and Health Care in Britain This situation would have continued until the Middle Ages when the very first hospitals appeared, driven by Christian convictions, and founded as religious institutions. St Bartholomew’s Hospital, in central London, was founded in the 12th century by a monk. These religious foundations were based upon ideas taken from the gospels, as in Matthew chapter 9 where there are several examples of Jesus caring for the sick. . By the time of Elizabeth I the state was beginning to play its part. In response to the increasing number of vagrants and wandering jobless an act of 1601 set up the first poor houses, and these would have included at least minimal care for the sick and mentally fragile who were also poor (Bloy, 2002). Local taxes were used to support such ventures. It was in the 18th century that many of today’s larger British medical institutions came into being as voluntary hospitals. At first these were in long established cities such as London and Edinburgh. With the coming of the Industrial Revolution newly burgeoning cities such as Manchester also opened hospitals. These were funded by private contributions. Specialist hospitals such as those dedicated to maternity care, and eye hospita ls, also opened. Asylums were under the care of local authorities (Voluntary Hospitals Database, undated). At this time though nursing training was rudimentary . It was only with the threat of various wars , including the Crimean War and the First World War, that the need for formal training became obvious. In 1911 the National Insurance Act became law. This is an important stage in the founding of a welfare state, and it resulted in care being provided for many people . There were many schemes to help poorer people to pay for their care. In Birmingham the Birmingham Hospital Saturday Fund was begun in 1873 by a local clergyman (BHSF Undated) .The fund was one of several from various parts of the United Kingdom and continued into the days of the National Health Service when, for the payment of a few pence weekly, people could ensure a place in a convalescent home after an illness. The aims of the organisation today are still to provide convalescence, but also to invest in medical re search. Meanwhile richer people continued to visit private clinics or to have doctors visit them at home. The majority voluntary hospitals and schemes later became incorporated into the National Health Service, which was initiated by the Labour government in 1948, based upon an ideal of good health care being made accessible to all, whatever their situation in life. According to Rivett (Undated) this principle had been in existence for at least a century, with many individual initiatives, and the London County Council even wanting to provide its own hospitals, but not enough had been done to make it a reality. In I920, soon after the end of the First World W

Ethics in Noble Truth and Eightfold Path Essay Example for Free

Ethics in Noble Truth and Eightfold Path Essay In this paper I will be discussing the concept of the four noble truths and eightfold path within the Buddhist religion. The four noble truths do not give concrete answers to metaphysical questions, unlike other religions. Buddhism teaches human existence is imperfect and the four noble truths are a guide to help steer away from suffering. The four noble truths are important to Buddhist ethics in that they are the way to nirvana and enlightenment. The first noble truth is life is suffering. To live means to suffer and since it is human nature, no one is perfect in any shape or form. While we develop, we inevitably have to endure physical and psychological suffering sooner or later. Each of us, no matter how rich or poor, is going to get sick, grow old, and die. Nothing is permanent, nothing can permanently satisfy us. â€Å" Any aspect of life, no matter how seemingly pleasant, already has the seeds of the suffering that is a common denominator of all human experience† (Young) This is because things change and pass away; everything and everyone we love will someday pass away. The Buddha also taught the reason behind the suffering that individuals experience. The second noble truth is suffering is caused by craving. â€Å"We suffer because our craving leads us to become attached to things or people and deluded as to the real nature of our situation in life (Young). † As long as we are unable to detach of moral pleasures, we will experience suffering. One must learn to overcome these greed, aversion, hatred, jealousy, etc. These conditions are always in hand with society, family, and within one’s self. Recognizing and understanding the second noble truth gives way to the freedom from suffering. The third noble truth is cessation of suffering. It is the complete fading-away and extinction of this craving, its forsaking and abandonment, liberation from it, detachment from it†(welsh). This may be the most significant of all the noble truths, as it reassures us that true happiness is possible. When individuals give up useless cravings and learn to live each day to the fullest, enjoying what each day brings with no expectations, they are able to live a free life. Nirvana arises when an individual becomes free of all sufferings, and eliminates cravings. When an individual is able to attain nirvana, they are able to move on to the next noble truth. The forth noble truth is the means to liberation. This noble truth teaches how to remove all suffering from your life, and explains the various levels of achieving such. So, first of all, in order to gain the good qualities, we need to work on creating all the different conditions that will make those qualities emerge. To develop the various insights of meditation and real wisdom, we need to develop great faith and confidence in the validity and usefulness of that wisdom. Buddhist needs to change their habits so that they have the ability to do all the necessities to make insight and wisdom emerge. Therefore, there are many factors and conditions we must generate within our life that will bring about our happiness. The guide to peace and the end suffering is the eightfold path. The eightfold path is a guideline to ethical teachings and growth of an individual. The goal is to free believers from attachments and ultimately leads to understanding. â€Å" â€Å"Everyone should attempt to live by the eightfold path, and (theoretically) enlightenment is open to anyone, regardless of caste, gender, or whether lay or ordained. † Young. The Eightfold Path consists of three components: wisdom (prajna ): (1) right views and (2) right intention; morality (sila ): (3) right speech, (4) right conduct, and(5) right livelihood; and concentration (samadhi ): (6) right effort, (7) right mindfulness, and (8) right concentration. (Deal). The eightfold path is the way to avoid self-denial and self-indulgence considered the middle way. The first step in the eightfold path is the right view, which falls under the category of wisdom. The right view means understanding the four noble truths and grasping the nature of objects and ideas. Right view is attained, sustained, and enhanced through all capacities of mind. It begins with the insight that all beings are subject to suffering and it ends with complete understanding of the true nature of all things. The second step, which also falls under the component of wisdom, is correct intention. This refers to abandoning one’s own thoughts and desires. This is the step of the eightfold path that one must give up selfish attitudes that lead to more suffering and replace them with the opposite. â€Å"The point is not to nattached from oneself to a particular person but with a caring attitude, but to practice a â€Å"universal goodwill† young† The third step is correct speech. This means to tell the truth, to speak friendly and to talk only when necessary. †Man’s speech must be the truth, his conversation must be edifying and he must not engage in scandal gossip. One should take control with one’s word not only for the sake of truth but to demonstrate control and discipline. † Right speech can be seen as an ethical conduct in Buddhism. The forth step in the eightfold path is that of correct conduct. Young mentions that unwholesome actions lead to unsound states of mind, while wholesome actions lead to sound states of mind. â€Å" Not taking life, not stealing and not having sexual intercourse† (Van Voorst). It is important in Buddhism to concentrate on actions that will help the well beings of others. The fifth step is the right means to livelihood. This path represents earning an honest living. An occupation that is against the other steps of the eightfold path is in return against right livelihood. One should acquire only by legal means, not by illegally; one should acquire it peacefully, without coercion or violence; one should acquire it honestly, not by trickery or deceit; and one should acquire it in ways which do not entail harm and suffering. † (Bodhi) Selling of weapons would be an example of wrong in this religion as the consequences of weapons can cause harm to others. The sixth step in the eightfold path is right endeavor. This step is very important, as it is a necessity to put a conscious effort in what we do. Without right effort less would be able to get achieved. â€Å" Avoiding any sort of unwholesome action that will have a negative karmic influence, and pursuing beneficial deeds. †(Young) being aware of your own mind and not to have a mind that is diluted. This brings us to our next step, the seventh step, which is right mindfulness. This step in the eightfold path refers to the ability to see things without any delusions. â€Å" Right mindfulness refers to the deep, ultimately non-dual, understanding of the body, feelings, mind, and experienced things†(Koller. In the step being consciously aware of all that is that is going on with ones mind and body. Van Voorst states, â€Å" To remain focused on the body in and of itself- he is fervent, aware and mindful- putting away the greed and distress of the world. This step helps to actively observe and control our thoughts. The eighth step in the eightfold path is correct meditation. Once at the stage nirvana is at hand and, in a flash of intuition that state of final bliss dawns† (Young) This step leads to developing a deep insight into reality and the ability to be able to apply levels of concentration regularly. We see by the study of the noble truths and the eightfold path that Buddhist put great emphasis on the practices that they follow in order to reach nirvana. The noble truths and the eightfold path are essentially the ethics of the religion. The foundation of the path is moral virtue. Buddhist ethics is concerned with the practices that contribute to a believer to act in ways that help rather then harm. By following the noble truths and the eightfold path Buddhist are able to reach the goal of nirvana and non-attachment.

The Problems Defining Genre :: Literature Essays Literary Criticism

The Problems Defining Genre Genre denotes a systematic way to categorize literature. The term might be considered academic jargon; however, it produces up a set of expectations that allow us to judge literature. These expectations or criteria also allow us to compare with other literature in the same as well as different genres. In spite of these expectations, genre does not dictate a set of rigid rules; in fact, genre is more descriptive than prescriptive. Problems in defining genre often arise because there are frequently sub-genres: romantic comedy might be considered a sub-genre of comedy, revenge tragedy of tragedy and gothic horror of horror. It becomes increasingly difficult to see where one sub-genre ends and another begins. Also these categories are seldom pure. For example, Hamlet, a revenge tragedy, includes aspects of romance and even a comic scene or two. Our popular culture makes defining genre challenging because what is vital one day might disappear the next. An example of this is the current insistence upon a happy ending. Since tragedy is often characterized by an unhappy or "right" ending, according to Aristotle, popular culture no longer welcomes the tragedy with the relish it did at other times in history. Our Town being the exception that comes to mind, as well as the one-man shows. Poetry makes frequent use of this voice. In Daddy by Sylvia Plath, the author address "Daddy" throughout the poem. Shannon Chamberlain's use of Aesop's fable The Parrot and his Cage was another example of this single voice narrative. A second voice option is the drama or dialogue that involves talking between two characters with no narration. All of the plays we are reading in class fit this category as well as Stacy Burleson's example of Merlin as a legend in film. Finally, the combination of the narrator plus dialogue is just as it seems, a narrator talks to the audience (or reader) but the characters talk to each other. The TV shows The Fugitive, Dragnet, and Twilight Zone come to mind as examples of this. Narrative genre, by contrast, focuses on the storyline or plot. Tragedy frequently introduces a problem, there is struggle for control, finally a realistic and often unhappy ending that resolves the problem.

Columbia Capital Structure

Some other risk factors include substantial cyclical fluctuation, the effects of unseasonable weather conditions, and the popularity of the outdoor activities. In order to minimize the negative impacts on this business, the company started a series Of strategic initiatives, such as product innovation program, new multi-channel and multi-country direct-to-consumer platform, information management and their enhanced marketing efforts. All those improvement and implementation involve significant investment in SO&A expenses and its fixed cost.Thus it is essential to look back and evaluate their current capital structure and payout policies to exam whether the company would start on carrying debt or whether they have residual cash return to their investors. Despite Columbians regular dividend payouts and stock repurchases, they does not maintain a healthy cash and short-term investment balance. According to the financial data provided in Annual Report, the major financing needs include ca pital expenditures, working capital expenses, stock buybacks, and dividend payouts. In 201 1 , Columbia spent $78 million in capital expenditure and $92. Million in working capital investments; which was increased from $29 million and $78. 9 million from last year. Even though the company's net income increases over time, they have generated negative free cash flow for both fiscal year of 2011 and 2010 with around $14. 6 million and $53 million respectively. Currently, the company sales short-term investments to finance those capital expenditures which should not be a long term strategy as the company only has $2. 9 million short-term investments sitting on the balance sheet at the end of 2011.If the company maintains its profitability and its capital structure as the end of Fiscal year 2010, Columbia will have significant financial difficulties to meet capital expenditure requirement and will have emitted resources for distribution to investors in the form of a cash dividend and st ock repurchases with current payout rate. In conclusion, Columbia may need to seek additional funding. Even though, historically the company have limited their reliance on debt to finance their working capital, capital expenditures and investing activity requirements.We suggest that the company need to revise their capital structure policy by increasing debt to finance the business activities. Debt not only can provide coverage for any general costs and unforeseen expenses, it also serves as a tax shield allowing more capital to be available to investors. The assumption here is that the company can earn more in tax savings from borrowed funds than it pays in interest expenses and fees on these funds. As shown in Exhibit X, Columbians WAC hit a minimum of 6. 6% at 30% debt ratio, or debt to equity ratio of 0. 3. As the graph illustrates below, less than 30% debt or debt beyond 40% cause WAC to increase. Also, the PEPS and ROE increase compared to the current 100% equity model. In a b usiness, debt is a two-edged sword. Aggressive use of leverage increases the amount of financial resources available for growth, expansion, and payout for investors. But if Columbia adopts a highly leveraged capital structure policy, it may find its freedom of action restricted by its creditors and its profitability may hurt as a result of paying high interest expenses.It may also affect the company's profitability and liquidity when the business has trouble meeting Operating and debt liabilities during unfavorable economic conditions. Additionally, too much debt versus equity would potentially affects business' credit rating, which is the evaluation of a company's ability to repay principle and interest on debt obligations. Since the company do not have much experience on carrying debt on their lance sheet, we recommend the company to start the process slow.

Socio-Cultural Analysis Of Israel. Sgt Bush. Alc Class

SOCIO-CULTURAL ANALYSIS OF ISRAEL SGT Bush ALC Class 004-17 NCO Academy SFC Hunsecker Socio-cultural analysis of Israel Culture, defined by the Cambridge english dictionary states that culture is the way of life. Especially the general customs and beliefs, of a particular group of people at a particular time. Culture can be broken down into five major characteristics, which are customs, values, religion, government, and ideas. Customs can be explained as a usual way of doing something by a social particular group or people. In Israel it is customary for the people to be very straight forward while conversing. The people are often seen as rude, with their style of quick and loud conversation skills. It is also customary to†¦show more content†¦Judaism has two founders, Abraham and Moses. Religion is a very pivitol part of Israels very being, manly because of the values the religion instills in its followers. Israel has been under scrutiny for centuries, because of their religious veiws. It is through their worship that they have been able to overcome such adversity. Government in israel is much like Americas, with open elections to apointed positions, voted on by the people. Also israel holds a three part system, much like our own. Legislative, the executive, and the judiciary branch make up there government. These branches are created to oversee the creating and ruling of Israel’s basic laws. The current basic laws are as follows, President of the state (1964), The knesset (1958) | The government (2001), The Judiciary (1984), Israel defense force (1976), The Capital Jerusalem (1980), The peoples lands (1960), The state comptroller (1988), The state economy (1975), Human dignity and liberty (1992), and Freedom of occupation (1994). These laws make up how the people of Israel control and govern themselves. One of the most grand ideas of the Israeli people is that of Zionism. Zionism, Jewish nationalist movement that has had as its goal the creation and support of a Jewish national state in Palestine, the ancient homeland of the Jews. Though Zionism originated in eastern and central Europe in the latter part of the 19th century, it is in many ways a continuation of the ancient