Edi, Wap

CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 2. WHAT IS EDI? 3. WHY USE EDI? 4. ADVANTAGES OF EDI OVER A PAPER-BASED DOCUMENT TRANSFER SYSTEM 5. HOW EDI WORKS? 6. EDI COMPONENTS 7. FILE TYPES. 8. EDI SERVICES. 9. CONCLUSION. INTRODUCTION Everybody uses business connections of one sort or another to get orders, send bills, make collections, determine and pay what it owes, move goods, and control its money. The business connections used historically to perform these operations have been the postal service and the telephone. A relatively new link is electronic data communications facilities.Your links to business connections are limited to the mail and the telephone. Both are slow. Both terminate with that wall of people who feed the computer and who may make errors. What your company needs is a better link to business connections and that is what electronic data interchange is all about. To appreciate what electronic data interchange (EDI) means, think about all those orders, invoices, freight bills, ship ment instructions, tracing requests, payment instructions, government reports, and the like that your company sends out or receives every day.Think about each as a single transaction. WHAT IS EDI? Traditionally, the transfer of data from one company to another has been by paper documents. This is known as a paper-based system. These documents have to be manually forwarded and entered to the destination computer. EDI is the electronic exchange of structured business information, in standard formats, between computers, EDI eliminates the need for a paper-based system by providing an electronic link between companies. This reduces data entry tasks and improves business cycle times.EDI is the electronic transfer of structured business documents in an organization–internally among groups of departments or externally with its suppliers, customers and subsidiaries. In EDI information is passed electronically from one computer to another over a network without having to be read, rety ped or printed. The information transferred must have a defined structure agreed between your company, and the company or group you send and receive data from. Any company or group which uses EDI is called a TRADING PARTNER.Examples of current uses of EDI includes automatic teller machines (ATMs) in banks where EDI is used for transferring and withdrawing funds between different bank accounts, airline reservation systems, stock exchange transactions and car reservation systems. USE OF EDI: The data from one computer is normally not in a form suitable to be entered directly into another computer. The data may have to be arranged differently before it can be entered into another computer or some items of data may not be needed at all. With EDI, all the data is converted unto an agreed standard format before it is sent over the network.The computer that receives the data can then extract the information it requires. Using EDI implies three things: 1. Information is transferred electron ically rather than on paper. This means that there is no need to enter the data manually in the destination computer. 2. Information is transferred between trading partners who have negotiated trading agreements and have formalized their data transfer system. 3. Information that is transferred complies with agreed standards for the format of the content and the transmission control mechanisms.ADVANTAGES OF EDI OVER A PAPER-BASED DOCUMENT TRANSFER SYSTEM This section highlights the advantages EDI has over a traditional paper-based document transfer system. In a Paper-based System: ? A software application generates a paper document on a form. ? Copies of the document are made. Some are passed to internal departments to be filled, other copies are sent to the trading partner via the postal service. ? The trading partner receives the document and retypes the information on the form into their computer. This retyping often introduces errors. The trading partner generates a paper acknowl edgement and this is sent to the originating company. The transfer of documents in a paper-based system could take a considerable length of time. In an EDI System: ? The application program generates a file, which contains the processed document. ? The document is converted to an agreed standard format. ? The file containing the document is sent electronically over the network. This network links the originating company and its trading partner. ? The file containing the document arrives at the trading partner.It is translated into the correct format and transferred to the recipient's application. ? A receipt is automatically generated and sent over the network t the originating company. EDI transmits documents to the trading partner's application in a very short period of time and with no human intervention. HOW EDI WORKS? Regardless of the format chosen, companies using EDI communicate with their trading partners in one of two ways: Either they exchange data with several trading pa rtners directly or they interact with multiple companies through a central information clearing-house.In the latter case, all transactions are funneled through a third party's computer system, which routes them to the appropriate receiver's computer. This enables the sender to communicate with an unlimited number of trading partners without worrying about proprietary systems, audit trails, variable transmission speeds, and general computer compatibility. Basically, here is how EDI works: 1. Prior to any computer work, representatives of two companies interested in exchanging data electronically meet to specify the applications in the EDI standard, which they will implement. 2.Each company adds EDI programs to its computer to translate company data in standard formats for transmission, and for the reverse translation on the data it receives. 3. Then, as often as operationally requires the two companies exchange data electronically in the standard formats. The data transmitted origina tes from records in the sender's database after the sender confirms that the receiver is an authorized recipient for such data. The sender composes a transmission formatted in the EDI standards, the receiver translates the formatted message to a computer record to be processed and used internally.All transmissions are checked both electronically and functionally and the protocol includes procedures for error detection and correction. INFORMATION FLOW IN EDI: 1. A Company collects data for its own operational or statistical requirements. This data is edited and added to its own database. 2. Pertinent information is extracted by the company from its database, summarized if necessary, constructed into EDI transaction sets, and transmitted to the company or organization requiring it for valid reasons. 3. The frequency for preparing this information is determined by the operational requirements of each recipient. . A communications link for transmission is established according to the st andard communications protocol. 5. The recipient of the information receives the transmission and checks it for its physical characteristics (parity, check character, transmission mode). Retransmission is requested if an error is detected in the physical characteristics of the transmission. 6. The receiver checks the functional characteristics of the data. A message is transmitted to the original sender to acknowledge the transmission and to identify any errors detected. . The receiver processes the information received according to its own internal procedures and timing requirements. EDI COMPONENTS A typical EDI system implements a specific set of EDI by enabling the exchange of business documents. It accepts documents from business software applications, converts the document to a standard format and sends it to another software application or trading partner. EDI system converts generic EDI messages (in EDIFACT or any other EDI standard) format to RDBMS format and from RDBMS form at to EDI format.There are EDI application programs for software developers to configure EDI to work with the various user application software programs. There is normally no end-user interaction with EDI–it is entirely within the background of the EDI system. RDBMS database contains the data to be translated into EDI format and where EDI data is to be converted (and written) to. EDI treats the application database generically–it reads and writes to the tables and fields specified according to the message mapping created by the |EDI Administrator during EDI message configuration.These are done by EDI Configuration programs under the purview of EDI. There are three main components in an EDI system: 1. Application Service- Providers the means of integrating existing or new applications into the EDI system. 2. Translation Service-Converts data from internal format standards to an external format and translates data from an external format to an internal format standard. 3 . Communication Service-Passes documents into a network via the agreed communication protocol.Internal format Transmission Tranmission TRADING files files files PARTNER DocumentsApplicationTranmission Communication BusinessService Service Service Application FILE TYPES EDI creates the following files as a document passes through the system: ? Internal Format File (IFF) ? External Format File (EFF) ? Transmission File Each of these files is described in the following sections.Internal Format File: An internal format file (IFF) contains a single document for a single trading partner. Internal format file is principally for EDI's own use. External Format File: The external format file (EFF) contains the same data as the internal format file translated into the appropriate standard document format. Transmission File: A transmission file contains one or more documents for the same trading partner. Documents of the same type are packaged together in functional groups. The functional group s going to one trading partner are packaged into an interchange set.An interchange set contains one or more functional groups of documents with the same sender and receiver. TRADING PARTNER A Document Type 1 1FunctionalGroupInterchange 1 Set Document Type 2 2Functonal 2 Group TRANSMISSION FILE EDI SERVICES The three EDI services all perform different tasks. The following sections give an overview of what happens in each of three services. Application Service: The Application Service provides the link between a business application and EDI. It allows you to send document to, and receive documents from, an EDI system.A set of callable routines is used to transfer documents from the business application into EDI. Documents destinations can be either intra-company or to external companies, i. e. , trading partners. The EDI Application Service holds each incoming and outgoing document as a single internal format file. EDI converts the document to a standard format and sends it to the tra ding partner using the relevant communication protocol. A number of different standards and communication protocols are available. The following list describe what happens in the Application Service: For outgoing documents: The business application uses the callable routines to send a document from the business application to the Application Service. The document is now in the EDI system and is called internal format file. ? The Application Service sends the document in the internal format file to the Translation Service. For incoming documents: ? The Application Service receives an internal format file from the Translation Service. ? The Application Service makes the data in the internal format file available in database so that the business application can fetch the document from EDI.A callable interface is used to do this. APPLICATION SERVICE File server Internal Formal File Callable RoutinesInternalFormat File Translation Service: ? Converts outgoing documents from an internal f ormat file to an agreed external format. ? Translates incoming documents from an external format to th EDI internal format file. The external document standards that a EDI system supports are EDIFACT, X12, TDCC, and ODETTE The following lists describe what happens in the Translation Service: For outgoing documents: The Translation Service receives a document in the internal format file from the Application Service. It converts the internal format file to the appropriate external standard (either EDIFACT, X12, TDCC, or ODETTE). The file is now an external format file. ? The Translation Service combines one or more external format files into a transmission file. ? The Translation Service now sends the transmission file to the Communication Service. For incoming documents: ? The Translation Service receives a document n the transmission file from the Communication Service. ? Separates the transmission file to produce external format files. It translates each external format file, which may be in an external standard (either EDIFACT, X12, TDCC, or ODETTE) to the internal format file. The file is now an internal format file. ? The translation Service now sends the internal format file to the Application Service. Communication Service: The Communication Services sends and receives transmission files to and from the trading partners either directly or by using a third-party service called a Value Added Network (VAN). The following lists describe what happens in the Communication Service: For outgoing documents: The Communication Service receives a transmission file from the Translation Service. It checks the file to see which trading partner it has to be sent to. When it has identified the type of connection to be used for this trading partner t determines which gateway to use. ? The Communication Service sends the transmission file to the trading partner. For incoming documents: ? The Communication Service receives a transmission file from the trading partner. The f ile arrives through one of the gateways that EDI supports. ? The Communication Service sends the transmission file to the Translation Service.INTERNAL FORMAT FILE DOCUMENTS BUSINESS APPLICATIONS DOCUMENTS INTERNAL FORMAT FILEAPPLICATION SERVICETranslation Service: ? Converts outgoing documents from an internal format file to an agreed external format. ? Translates incoming documents from an external format to the EDI internal format file. INTERNALTRANSMISSION FORMAT FILE FILE INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FORMAT FILE FILEC = CONVERTER. T =TRANSLATOR. TFB =TRANSMISSION FILE BUILDER. TFS =TRANSMISSION FILE SPLITTER. CONCLUSION: By eliminating the paperbased documents the EDI was introduced. It is the new technology that overcomes the traditional paperbased documents. By using EDI we can transmit the data at electron speed. So it is a time sparing process and also low cost as compared with telephone system. Even though there are more advantages with EDI there are some disadvantages also. To f eed the data into computer, work is compulsory. By comparing with computer speed human speed is a bottleneck.And also errors may occur at the time of data feeding. These errors can change the managerial decisions. Another problem if we want send more data urgently, first we feed it into computer and then send it to the destination. To feed more data requires more time. Even though the telephone cost is very high as compared to EDI process, we must use telephone facility in these cases. So in these cased we can't use EDI system. ———————– FILE SERVER CALLABLE ROUTINES MANAGEMENT INTERFACE FILE SERVER C TFB T TFS MANAGEMENT INTERFACE

Realism and the Future of World Politics Essay

First and foremost it is important to remember that state interest or state preference operates in an anarchic environment. The international system is inherently unstable and is aptly characterized by widespread anarchy. Due to the absence of a suprastate or overarching Leviathan authority, states are placed in inevitable and perpetual competition, described as the security dilemma. This has been evidenced by the state of European affairs since 1789. Because of the anarchic nature of international affairs, states are perpetually concerned with their survival. For realists, the international system is a â€Å"dog-eat-dog world† and ensuring survival is paramount for any and all states. According to Hans Morgenthau, pioneering German political scientist and an early proponent of realist thought, due to the inherent instability of the international system, the fundamental national interest of all states is to â€Å"protect [its] physical, political, and cultural identity against encroachments by other nations† (Morgenthau, 1952). Specifically, threats to states are determined by their relative power vis-a-vis one others in the international system. The structure of the system – the distribution of power and capabilities state wide – is important because threats or challenges facing a state which affront the national interest should be â€Å"calculated according to the situation in which the state finds itself† (Waltz, 1979). Thus, power and security requirements are paramount in attempting to define state interest and what motivates states to act. Furthermore, Power and wealth supply the means for states to survive, to meet their security requirements, and thus to continue to compete in a system in which other states are necessarily either actual or potential threats. State officials ad policy analysts are therefore advised realistically to asses the distribution of power; they should overcome their ‘aversion to seeing problems of international politics as they are’ in order to objectively asses the national interest in light of the distribution of power. Every state, that is, must pursue its national interest â€Å"defined in terms of power† (Morgenthau 1952) because this is the surest road to security and survival (Weldes, 1999). If we apply the realist conception of states power and apply it to the future of the international world, conflict over resources and war will be a defining feature of the international system. Europe has been plagued by conflict since the late 18th century and despite global interdependence and the existence of multilateral organizations in the form of the UN and the European Union, there is little evidence to suggest that armed conflict is not the future of international affairs. Nationalism, a concept created in Europe, has been responsible for much armed conflict over the past three centuries. Nationalism in International Affairs Nationalism is an important force in international relations and has been so for centuries. As a basic principle of the international order, concepts of state sovereignty are intrinsic to our understanding of the world system. Accordingly, the international system is predicated upon the existence of nation-states and nationalism is a belief or sense of identity within the nation. The Treaty of Westphalia established the principle of state sovereignty, another fundamental principle of the international order which established the nation-state as an autonomous political entity. Similar to tribalism or a sense of social kinship, nationalism as a potent political force began in Europe in the late eightieth century and was connected with a decline in overall religiosity, the development of industrialization, Enlightenment thoughts and a concerted effort by political elites to â€Å"build states†. By inculcating a sense of nationalist fervor in the citizens of their respective countries, elites have been able to manipulate nationalism for political purposes. Mass mobilization towards a variety of specific causes through an appeal to nationalist sentiment has been used as a political tool for centuries. Although not exclusively a negative force, nationalism remains an important ordering principle of the international system and a force to be reckoned with (Waltz 2000). Concluding Remarks Keeping in mind our realist conception of state interest, conflict will be an inevitable feature of the international system in the next 50 years. Europe has descended into bloodshed and armed conflict and has been the feature of the European continent for centuries. When global war broke out in 1914 dreams of world peace and prosperity were shattered. Accordingly, the First World War was arguably one of the most traumatic episodes in the history of international affairs. Geopolitically speaking, the First World War (also described as WWI in this essay) was unprecedented in both scale and sheer loss of human life. Never before had the world witnessed such carnage and violence perpetuated through the use of modern technology. The First World War touched much of the world the implications of this conflict reverberated across the globe. In addition to WWI, Europeans states fought dozens of wars and were home to countless revolutions aimed at changing the political order. From the French Revolution to the Spanish Civil War and the â€Å"War to End All Wars†, World War II, the history of Europe since 1789 has been wrought with conflict with nationalism playing an important role in the outbreak of violence.

Critique for a Quantitative Research Article Paper

Critique for a Quantitative Article - Research Paper Example Because each instrument has both merits and demerits, a researcher has to choose only appropriate tool to apply in his/her study. This paper reviews an article that describes evaluation study of an Advance Care Plan (ACP) in the Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF). The evaluation follows implementation of various strategies to improve outcomes of ACP. In-depth Review of the Article Introduction Section Purpose of the â€Å"Advanced Care Planning: How does current practice compare with best practice† study is clearly explained. The author of the article, Elizabeth van der Spek, explains that the study is a post-implementation audit to determine whether ACP outcomes have actually improved. In the abstract section, the author says that after the Getting Research Into Practice (GRIP) phase of the project, it was necessary to evaluate effectiveness of strategies implemented. Main problem of the study was, thus, determining whether GRIP really had an effect in the RACF. The author exhaustively gives details of what she is doing. As a proof, the author, in the background section, introduces her subject by comprehensively discussing importance of planning for end of an individual’s life. ... However, after the GRIP phase, there is need to check whether the shortcomings have been eliminated. In page two, the author include an audit question to reveal what the study attempts to answer. Through the question, the author generates her study variables. Three types of variables are used; specific GRIP strategy, specific post-implementation ACP outcome, and standard ACP outcomes. Based on findings of the study and using similar variables, the study can effectively be used to solve any clinical problem. Literature review, Theoretical Framework, Study Hypotheses In literature review, the author carefully introduces the concept of planning for end of a person’s life. As basis of the study, the author uncovers significance of â€Å"End-life wishes.† Spek, thus, did a wide research about her study topic. However, the author does not clearly relate her study with previous studies. In fact, the study does not quote a similar research that had studied ACP. Consequently, th e author does not describe literature gaps. That is, the study is geared towards improving services of RACF and not filling any literature gap. Theoretically, no plain study rationale is stated. Based on this fact, the entire project can be nullified. Ambiguity of the study is also evident in forming hypotheses. The study is a comparative research but no postulate is made about possible outcome of ACP in the facility. Because of vagueness of hypotheses, the study does not allow easy testing procedures. Methodology Even though three classes of variables are used in the study, they are, nevertheless, not easily measurable. The strategies are considered as independent variables, which after implementations, lead to a change in the

Marketing of University of Wollongong in China Term Paper

Marketing of University of Wollongong in China - Term Paper Example For environmental scanning, PESTLE analysis has been done. The major findings of this analysis show that Chinese education sector is free from government interference, however, government policies regulate the sector. The high economic growth, increasing population, changing social patterns of students for educational needs, increasing technological developments and flexible legal environment offers huge opportunities to the foreign universities; however, cultural differences appear as a major challenge for international universities. Based on the findings of PESTLE analysis, SWOT analysis for the University of Wollongong in China has been conducted. Market audit shows that a number of universities are already offering international level education opportunities in China, however; they have been unable to meet the needs of a huge Chinese student population. Competitors’ analysis has shown that foreign universities operating in China are having profitable operations however, th ey are unable to overcome the cultural differences between UK and China therefore; expatriate-staff is facing huge problems. In consideration to internal and external environment analysis, the marketing plan has been proposed by covering 7Ps of service marketing and marketing objectives have been identified. This report is very useful to understand the challenges and opportunities faced by international universities in the Chinese markets. Moreover, it is also helpful to understand the theoretical concepts in the real world. The service that has been selected for this report is an educational institution, University of Wollongong. The plan is to launch a campus of the University of Wollongong in China. The University of Wollongong is a university in Australia and a few years back it established its campus in Dubai, UAE. Today, it is one of the renowned universities in Australia.  

Foreign direct investment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Foreign direct investment - Research Paper Example Lastly, the paper winds down with a thorough discussion of the political and economic reasons that inform governments’ need to intervene in the international trade. Foreign Direct Investment In every economy, the government of any given country defines the benchmark of political, social and economic leadership of that particular country. Government strategizes and sets legal mechanisms intended to drive the given country into ultimate prosperity. Economy is one of the most essential tools used by potential political contestants and prevailing governments to maintain and construct leadership by use of their individual economic policies. The direction of economic policies chosen by a government determines the nature of foreign relationships enjoyed with other nations to be affected by the set policies. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is one aspect of the economy that is capable of dictating the foreign relationship to be enjoyed between or among partnering nations. Foreign Direc t Investment occurs when a given business institution from a given country opens or transfers its operations to another foreign country (Kuepper, 2012). The main advantages of FDI are creation of new job opportunities for the host or receiving economy, and increase in tax margins received by the host government. FDI carries with it integrated technology and technical experts to the host country, which is usually in the class of developing countries. Despite its advantages, FDI being a form of investment from another country, tend to create a lot of discomfort on the recipient economy if not regulated. Kuepper (2012) indicates that one of the fears necessitate government’s intervention revolves around the fate of the domestic industries in the face of foreign direct investment. It is a normal practice in business that for any new entrant to survive in the foreign market, it has to offer its goods and services at relatively lower prices than the existing firms. The new entrant may also have to enhance the quality of its products and services to compete the existing ones to an extent of leading to closure of the local firms. These possible practices pose significant threats to the domestic firms, which justifies the role of government to set sustainable policies to foresee equitable sharing of the market and raw materials to the benefit of the entire economy. Technology, trademarks and patent rights are of great essential to the operation of any world class or highly innovative firm. Foreign firms lobbying for FDI may prove risky when it comes to technological leaks, breach of patent rights and misuse of established trademarks. To cushion the domestic firms from the negative effects of FDI, government’s involvement in the FDI will play a great role as it will help in protecting and defending the local firms. In addition, FDI are known by many governments as among the strategies to raise national income and government’s revenues. Governmentâ⠂¬â„¢s intervention is of great importance as it helps in the computation and determination of tax margins to impose on the arriving firms. It is noteworthy that every country has certain unique economic policies enforced on the local business institutions and organizations. Businesses investing in other foreign countries are likely to carry with them operational laws used in the original country. Some

Probation and Parole Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Probation and Parole - Research Paper Example Community corrections programs offer front and back end alternatives for correctional systems. In reference to front end, alternatives probation has offered a means of limiting further crowding in prisons and jails. On the other hand, parole systems have consistently acted as back end measures that offer release valves on prison populations. The issue of rehabilitative measures for criminal offenders has often elicited much debate in countries such as the United States. To this end, there are several rehabilitation programs that have shown positive results. These, include, Moral Reconation Therapy, probation and parole. Moral Reconation Therapy Moral Reconation Therapy entails a continuous treatment plan that aims at decreasing recidivism among adult and juvenile offenders while at the same time adjusting moral reasoning. To this end, the approach is majorly a cognitive behavior mechanism that combines parameters from various psychological paradigms. These subsequently address positi ve behavior, social, ego and moral growth. Implementation of MRT involves individual and group counseling by use of prescribed homework assignments and structured group exercises. Moreover, there is a workbook that is based on 16 objective units that emphasize on seven basic treatment parameters. These are attitudes, reinforcement of positive habits and behavior; confrontation of beliefs; assessment of current relationships; enhancement of self concept; positive identity formation; development of frustration tolerance and decrease in hedonism; as well as development of higher moral reasoning stages. Probation The application of probation and parole in rehabilitating offenders is guided partly by the philosophies of positivism and classicalism (Carter & Wilkins, 1976). On one hand, positivists imply that offenders are compelled into the choice of committing crime against their own volition and consequently the behavior or conditions that triggered the action need to be rectified. Con versely, classicalists contend that offenders are in control over the choice of their actions and consequently to deter future criminal activities, such offenders need to be punished. To this end, probation is defined as a sanction imposed by court whereby a convicted offender is released back into the community subject to a conditional suspended sentence. Moreover, the probationer is in most situations a non-violent or first time offender who stands the best chance of rehabilitation within the outside community. The suitability and effectiveness of probation is driven by its flexibility in allowing judicial authorities a high extent of discretion when imposing sentences. Consequently, it allows the tailoring of sentences to suit different offenders. Furthermore, its effectiveness is driven by the availability of a supervision that checks on the progress of rehabilitation. The supervision role is provided by probation officers who offer support and guidance to the offender aimed at making him or her law abiding citizen. To this end, probation offers a second chance of reformation to the offender. Evidently, there are several version of probation designed for different types of offenders. This is driven by the need to jails and prisons. These include intensive supervised probation which entails close monitoring of convicts and applies stringent conditions on the release clause. Others include split sentencing

Five Year Strategic Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Five Year Strategic Plan - Essay Example The plan would entail the leadership curve. The medical staff must know that unity of command is of utmost essence under such equations. It will make sure that the staff knows exactly who to follow and what kind of principles and duties lie upon their entireties. Leadership instills in the staff a sense of comprehension that they must work to their end limits and give in their best time and again. There is no room for any hiccups and this must never be realized upon at any level (Owen, 1990). This is the reason why employees should always look up to their seniors whenever they believe that they are in confusion or doubt, and seek prior approval of tasks from the leaders who are in charge of the peculiar situations. Moving on to the next phase of this plan, as a chief executive of the medical center, I need to devote more time towards the different tasks which take place under my eyes. This is because my vision will lead the way for a number of steps that shall take place within the medical facility. If I am not adhering to following the standards, then this would only mean that there is a transgression of sorts which must be resolved at the earliest. My undertakings would let the people know where the anomalies occur and how best to remove them as soon as possible. The plan would also discuss the ethical considerations which must be significantly outlined as far as this medical center’s activities and operations are concerned. This is because ethics is the core basis of the medical and health profession and it cannot be denied its due right. The patients who are most needy and who look forward to receiving medical help and assistance should always be given facilitation no matter where they belong from, what kind of living standards they have or which ethnic minorities they are a part of (Morrison, 2011). This ethical debate has been

None Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 11

None - Assignment Example Apple Inc realized a slight increase in its payments during the fiscal year ended September 28, 2013, compared to the expenses incurred fiscal year 2012. Total value for long-term marketable securities as at September 28, 2013 is $106,215 million, which represents 51.3 per cent of Apple Inc’s total asset value. The company increases investment on the long-term marketable securities in the fiscal year ended September 28, 2013 comparing to the financial year ended September 29, 2012. Long-term marketable securities attract the greatest share of business asset investments; long-term marketable securities represented 51.3 per cent of the total asset value. Apple Inc recorded accumulated net sales of $170,910 million as at September 28, 2013 (Apple Inc. 1). The company records a steady increase in the net sales from the fiscal year ended September 24, 2013. The largest increase in net sales is in the financial year 2011/2012. Accumulated value of Earnings per basic share for Apple Inc fluctuates in every financial year, and there is no forward or downward trend. The largest earning from the Basic shares is in the financial year 2011/2012. Apple Inc recorded the largest operating income in the financial year ended September 29, 2012. The accumulated values of operating income fluctuated with no uniform trend. The value for operating income has inherent relations to the scales of operations. Apple Inc. (AAPL).†Annual Report, Income Statement†. Stock Analysis on Net. Web. 24 Aug. 2014. Accessed from

Marketing plan Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Marketing plan - Case Study Example The business has employees who range between nine and ten who work to serve the customers that are coming from that area, or visiting from other areas. The growth of the business is determined by the manner in which they advertise their products and services. One crucial area in the running of the business is the incorporation of technology into the company core operations or business processes (Lynn, 2010). Engaging actively with customers on numerous media fronts is what keeps the company on its toes. By engaging in all cleaning and laundry operations, the company has something to offer most of its customers. Laundromat and laundry services make it easy for customers to choose what they want, and go for it through different avenues. By performing different analysis in the environment where the business operates provides the company with sufficient information as to what best suits the company. Issues that have been noted from this analysis is that the company has a small staff numb er, which is a drawback. Secondly, the business is faced with the issue of heightened competition from small players within the industry. Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction 4 2.0 Services offered the pricing strategy 4 3.0 Pricing strategy 5 4.0 The promotional strategy 5 5.0 The Situational analysis 6 6.0 Customer analysis 7 7.0 Market and competitor analysis 8 8.0 Marketing strategies 9 8.1 Product 9 8.2 Price 10 8.3 Place 10 8.4 Promotion 10 9.0 Conclusion 11 Snow White Laundry & Drycleaners in Sydney 12 Upgrade Premium listing 12 1.0 Introduction This present paper is a marketing report that is based on the Snow White Laundry and Drycleaners Company. The report is mainly designed to act as a marketing report for the company. It begins with a preview of the services that are offered by the company and even the pricings strategy that has been applied by the company. Other sections that will be covered in the report include a discussion of the promotion strategy that has so far bee n applied by the business and it provides a situational analysis for the business. The report will also presents an analysis about the market and even the competitors of the company. Another section of the report will present an analysis about the company’s customer base and some issues that affecting the business. In the last section, before concluding the report will present marketing strategies that can be applied in order to increase the financial performance of the business as well as its market share in the Sydney market. Before embarking on the actual report it is important to mention that the Snow White Laundry and Drycleaners Company is a company that was established in the year 1949 and it mainly specialize in offering cleaning services for various items that range from clothes to carpets. The company has an established global presence with branches in different countries and its customer base include individual customers as well as corporate or business organizatio ns. 2.0 Services offered the pricing strategy Snow White Laundry & Dry cleaning offers services that are broadly classified into dry cleaning and laundry services. Under dry cleaning services, the company offer to clean various items in a process, which do not include the use of water but rather the use of chemicals in process called tumbling. Laundry services on the other hand include cleaning services that majorly rely on the use of water was well as other chemicals and detergents (Lynn, 2010). For this particular, report the case study branch

Information Technology for Business Innovation Essay

Information Technology for Business Innovation - Essay Example As far as technology is concerned, there have been great advances in the movie industry and any company needs to stay abreast with these technologies in order to thrive. Blockbuster has, as stated earlier, used such technologies as streaming video on demand, kiosks and DVD-by-mail to distribute it products. There are various technologies that the company has put in place to ensure that it reaches its global customers as far as marketing and distribution are concerned. To start with, the company offers DVDs on a mail platform whereby movies are send to the consumers on request by mail and on a rental basis. For this technology, consumers request for movies of their preference or the ones they wish to rent and put them in a queue. The company then sends the ordered movies as soon as they become available. The movies are actually send in a postage paid envelope and come with a postage paid return envelope so what the consumers do is to watch the movies, put them into the accompanied pos tage paid envelopes and drop them in them mail then wait for their next ordered movie to be delivered. The only disadvantage of this technology is that customers can not be able to exchange the movies immediately after they watch them. Due to the fact that its customers are distributed globally, another disadvantage may be the high cost of delivery as compared to online method (Hayes 2005). Secondly, the company uses an online streaming technology whereby customers log on to the service which is based on a pay as you access plan then they can access movies of their tastes. As if this is not enough, the company offers free movies on a trial basis or after activating the media players then afterwards one has to pay to watch the subsequent movies. In 2003, blockbuster eventually launched their rental subscription program which allowed members to rent an unlimited number of movies during the duration of their subscription without the worry of any late fees. Basically, majority of the mo vies cost from $2.00 to $ 3.00. Examples of the online streaming services offered by blockbuster include; Vudu and Amazon on demand. It also has contracts with some movie distributors in order to receive movies quickly than the Netflix or their other competitors, Redbox; this betters its customers since it has locations globally. It also strongly emphasizes on new releases which means that their customers always receive the latest products in the market. The company also offers Blu-ray disks which offer advanced features like high definition and storage capacity as compared to DVDs. Has Blockbusters approach been successful? Although blockbuster tried to offer all its services at a friendly manner such as free movies on trial basis and home delivery of their products, it has still not been that successful. This is because it is faced by a lot of competition from its competitors such as the Netflix, movie gallery, and Hasting Entertainment and Red box. When it comes to online streami ng for example, a company like Netflix out did Blockbuster by the fact that its payment plan was friendlier than that of Blockbuster. To be more precise, the company (Netflix) offers unlimited online streaming at the cost of $7.99 per month which is reasonable far much cheaper than Blockbuster’s $ 2.00 to $ 3.00 for every movie. The deal offered by Netflix is even made better

Relationship Between Religious Beliefs Essay Example for Free

Relationship Between Religious Beliefs Essay ‘The relationship between religious beliefs, religious organisations and social groups is complex and diverse. Different groups have different needs and priorities.’ To what extent do sociological arguments and evidence support this view? Statistics show that women have a greater participation rate in religious organisations than men. Women are more likely to express a greater interest in religion, to have a stronger personal faith and believe in life after death. They are more likely to involve themselves in religious rituals and worship, for example, attend religious services and lead a more religious life generally. There are many sociological explanations as to why women are more religious than men. Firstly, Miller and Hoffmann suggest that gender socialization means females are brought up to be more compliant, obedient and nurturing than males. They state that women are more involved with feelings, co-operation and caring for others. However, Walter and Davie see women as more exposed than men, to the ups and downs and changes of life. This is because of their biological involvement through childbirth, and through their greater participation in paid caring jobs, for example as teachers, nurses, social workers. Davie suggests that these factors give women a closer association with birth and death than men, and these are also central issues for many religions. They make women more aware of the helplessness of human life, and more familiar to the spiritual dimensions for human existence. Women are also more likely to turn to religion as a result of feeling deprived; they are more likely to experience poverty, family problems, less self confidence and less power. This means they turn to religion for comfort, particularly in religious sects and new religious movements which provide theodicies explaining their feelings, as well as solutions and support. Status frustration may be experienced by some women, who lack personal fulfilment or status as a result of being restricted to the home by the constraints of housework and childcare, or are in unsatisfying lower-middle-class jobs, which are mainly done by women. Religious participation, particularly in religious sects or new age cults, may help to overcome or compensate for this. Due to women staying at home for child care or having part time jobs, some would argue that this allows women to have far more spare time to be able to attend religious groups, therefore increasing their attendance. Statistics show women’s attendance to religious organisations are higher than men’s, however some Marxist  feminists such as Bevoir and Bird argue that religion is used to oppress women. The view that religion has negative consequences for women is conveyed in the study by Bevoir, who sees religion as patriarchal and oppressive. She supports the Marxist perspective and suggests that religion is oppressive and serves to control and reimburse the second class status given to woman. Which is similar to Marx’s viewpoint on the polerteriants who believe religion gives women a false belief that they will be compensated for their suffering on earth by equality in heaven. This argument suggests that religion is patriarchal therefore it is inevitable that it will end up having negative consequences for women. According to feminists there are countless example of patriarchy which have been used to control and later oppress women. Places of worship show this as they often segregate the sexes. An example of this is the Jewish synagogue in which women are placed behind screens separate from the men who in turn are situated in the main centre space. This highlights the marginalisation between the men and women. Although there are some rising female readers of religion, scriptures were first and foremost written and interpreted by men and it is men that are the head of the churches in Islam and Catholicism. This could mean that many values and ideologies such as wearing the Burka, beatings, female circumcision and bans on contraception may have been misinterpreted for men’s gain and passed on through generation to generation. May religious women are still not permitted to become priests or are only allowed to work themselves up to a certain level before they hit a religious ‘glass ceiling’, identifying where they want to be, but not being able to reach it due to the constraints set upon them. On the other hand, there are views to suggest that women are no longer oppressed in religion. For example, many cults are run by women and Paganism, from which many New Age religions originate, remains the most female-friendly approach to religion with a strong feminist element, where God is a mixture of male and female, and strong female leadership is common. Individuals seem to develop a greater attachment to religion as they grown older. Religious belief is lowest among those under 34, and highest among those over age 55. Young people are not only less likely to participate in mainstream religious activity than older people; more than half of them say they don’t regard themselves as religious at all, as shown in such studies as the British  Social Attitudes survey and the European Values study. There are three main reasons as to why older people might be more religious than the younger generation. The first being disengagement. This means that as people get older, they become detached from integrating mechanisms of society, such as participation in workplaces through paid employment. Older people may face increasing social isolation as partners and friends die. Participation in religious organisations provides a form of social support in this situation, and a network of people to relate to. The second is religious socialization, where older people are more likely to have a greater emphasis places on religion through the education system and socialization in the family when they were younger. Lastly, ill health and death. Older people tend to be faced with declining health, and death looms on the horizon. These are the very things that religion concerns its self with. The aging process and disengagement from society may therefore generate an engagement with religion for comfort, coping, meaning and support. Young people are less religious in terms of their expressed religious belief in surveys and their participation in mainstream religions, however this may be because these are simply being expressed in new, private ways which are difficult to record in surveys. Lynch suggests that young people may be running away from conventional ideas of religion as they can now go ‘spiritual shopping’. This involves an increasing exposure and accessibility to a diversity range of religious and spiritual ideas. This has encouraged new ways of exploring religion and spirituality. Young people may be choosing to take of their religion, of whatever faith or mix of beliefs, as a private matter. Davie expressed this in the words ‘believing without belonging’. This is where individuals may have a belief in something, however they do not chose to practice this belief. Secular spirituality and the sacred, Lynch suggested that young people may not have lost all religiosity , but that is simply finding new forms, many of which are associated more with the secular and non-religious world than with religious as it is currently understood by most people. Pragmatic reasons also mean there are a range of possible more practical or pragmatic explanations for the decline of religious belief and commitment amongst young individuals. Leisure activities have become a much bigger part of life, and shops and pubs all open for very long hours, including Sundays. Young people have more demands on their time and they may  simply have more interesting ad enjoyable things to do.

X-ray diffraction

X-ray diffraction INTRODUCTION: X-ray diffraction The diffraction of X-rays as they pass through a substance, usually forming an interference pattern that can be captured on film and used to analyze the internal structure of the substance. The scattering of x-rays by crystal atoms, producing a diffraction pattern that yields information about the structure of the crystal. X-ray diffraction is used in x-ray crystallography . X-ray diffraction the scattering of X rays by the atoms of a crystal; the diffraction pattern shows structure of the crystal . X-rays are electromagnetic radiation with typical photon energies in the range of 100 eV 100 keV. For diffraction applications, only short wavelength x-rays (hard x-rays) in the range of a few angstroms to 0.1 angstrom (1 keV 120 keV) are used. Because the wavelength of x-rays is comparable to the size of atoms, they are ideally suited for probing the structural arrangement of atoms and molecules in a wide range of materials. The energetic x-rays can penetrate deep into the materials and provide information about the bulk structure. X-rays are produced generally by either x-ray tubes or synchrotron radiation. In a x-ray tube, which is the primary x-ray source used in laboratory x-ray instruments, x-rays are generated when a focused electron beam accelerated across a high voltage field bombards a stationary or rotating solid target. As electrons collide with atoms in the target and slow down, a continuous spectrum of x-rays are emitted, which are termed Bremsstrahlung radiation. The high energy electrons also eject inner shell electrons in atoms through the ionization process. When a free electron fills the shell, a x-ray photon with energy characteristic of the target material is emitted. Common targets used in x-ray tubes include Cu and Mo, which emit 8 keV and 14 keV x-rays with corresponding wavelengths of 1.54 Ã… and 0.8 Ã…, respectively. (The energy E of a x-ray photon and its wavelength is related by the equation E = hc/ï  ¬, where h is Plancks constant and c the speed of light) (check out this ne at animated lecture on x-ray production) In recent years synchrotron facilities have become widely used as preferred sources for x-ray diffraction measurements. Synchrotron radiation is emitted by electrons or positrons travelling at near light speed in a circular storage ring. These powerful sources, which are thousands to millions of times more intense than laboratory x-ray tubes, have become indispensable tools for a wide range of structural investigations and brought advances in numerous fields of science and technology. Powder Diffraction Powder XRD (X-ray Diffraction) is perhaps the most widely used x-ray diffraction technique for characterizing materials. As the name suggests, the sample is usually in a powdery form, consisting of fine grains of single crystalline material to be studied. The technique is used also widely for studying particles in liquid suspensions or polycrystalline solids (bulk or thin film materials). The term powder really means that the crystalline domains are randomly oriented in the sample. Therefore when the 2-D diffraction pattern is recorded, it shows concentric rings of scattering peaks corresponding to the various d spacings in the crystal lattice. The positions and the intensities of the peaks are used for identifying the underlying structure (or phase) of the material. For example, the diffraction lines of graphite would be different from diamond even though they both are made of carbon atoms. This phase identification is important because the material properties are highly dependent on structure (just think of graphite and diamond). Powder diffraction data can be collected using either transmission or reflection geometry, as shown below. Because the particles in the powder sample are randomly oriented, these two methods will yield the same data. In the MRL x-ray facility, powder diffraction data are measured using the Philips XPERT MPD diffractometer, which measures data in reflection mode and is used mostly with solid samples, or the custom built 4-circle diffractometer, which operates in transmission mode and is more suitable for liquid phase samples. A powder XRD scan from a K2Ta2O6 sample is shown below as a plot of scattering intensity vs. the scattering angle 2or the corresponding d-spacing. The peak positions, intensities, widths and shapes all provide important information about the structure of the material. Thin Film Diffraction Generally speaking thin film diffraction refers not to a specific technique but rather a collection of XRD techniques used to characterize thin film samples grown on substrates. These materials have important technological applications in microelectronic and optoelectronic devices, where high quality epitaxial films are critical for device performance. Thin film diffraction methods are used as important process development and control tools, as hard x-rays can penetrate through the epitaxial layers and measure the properties of both the film and the substrate. There are several special considerations for using XRD to characterize thin film samples. First, reflection geometry is used for these measurements as the substrates are generally too thick for transmission. Second, high angular resolution is required because the peaks from semiconductor materials are sharp due to very low defect densities in the material. Consequently, multiple bounce crystal monochromators are used to provide a highly collimated x-ray beam for these measurements. For example, in the Philips MRD used in the x-ray facility, a 4-crystal monochromator made from Ge is used to produce an incident beam with less than 5 arc seconds of angular divergence. Basic XRD measurements made on thin film samples include: Precise lattice constants measurements derived from 2 scans, which provide information about lattice mismatch between the film and the substrate and therefore is indicative of strain stress Rocking curve measurements made by doing a scan at a fixed 2 angle, the width of which is inversely proportionally to the dislocation density in the film and is therefore used as a gauge of the quality of the film. Superlattice measurements in multilayered heteroepitaxial structures, which manifest as satellite peaks surrounding the main diffraction peak from the film. Film thickness and quality can be deduced from the data. Glancing incidence x-ray reflectivity measurements, which can determine the thickness, roughness, and density of the film. This technique does not require crystalline film and works even with amorphous materials. Texture measurementswill be discussed separately The following graph shows the high resolution XRD data of the superlattice peaks on the GaN (002) reflections. Red line denotes results of computer simulation of the structure. Texture Measurement (Pole Figure) Texture measurements are used to determine the orientation distribution of crystalline grains in a polycrystalline sample. A material is termed textured if the grains are aligned in a preferred orientation along certain lattice planes. One can view the textured state of a material (typically in the form of thin films) as an intermediate state in between a completely randomly oriented polycrystalline powder and a completely oriented single crystal. The texture is usually introduced in the fabrication process (e.g. rolling of thin sheet metal, deposition, etc.) and affect the material properties by introducing structural anisotropy. A texture measurement is also referred to as a pole figure as it is often plotted in polar coordinates consisting of the tilt and rotation angles with respect to a given crystallographic orientation. A pole figure is measured at a fixed scattering angle (constant d spacing) and consists of a series of -scans (in- plane rotation around the center of the sample) at different tilt or -(azimuth) angles, as illustrated below. The pole figure data are displayed as contour plots or elevation graphs with zero angle in the center. Below we show two pole figure plots using the same data set. An orientation distribution function (ODF) can be calculated using the pole figure data. Residual Stress Measurement Structural and residual stress in materials can be determined from precision lattice constants measurements. For polycrystalline samples high resolution powder diffraction measurements generally will provide adequate accuracy for stress evaluation. For textured (oriented) and single crystalline materials, 4-circle diffractometry is needed in which the sample is rotated so that measurements on multiple diffraction peaks can be carried out. The interpretation of stress measurement data is complicated and model dependent. Consult the reference literature for more details. Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) SAXS measurements typically are concerned with scattering angles SAXS measurements are technically challenging because of the small angular separation of the direct beam (which is very intense) and the scattered beam. Large specimen-to-detector distances (0.5 m 10 m) and high quality collimating optics are used to achieve good signal-to-noise ratio in the SAXS measurement. The MRL x-ray facility has cutting edge capabilities for SAXS measurements with three custom-built SAXS instruments including one 3.5-meter long ultra-small angle SAXS instrument with state-of-the-art optics and area detector for low scattering density samples. X-ray Crystallography X-ray crystallography is a standard technique for solving crystal structures. Its basic theory was developed soon after x-rays were first discovered more than a century ago. However, over the years it has gone through continual development in data collection instrumentation and data reduction methods. In recent years, the advent of synchrotron radiation sources, area detector based data collection instruments, and high speed computers has dramatically enhanced the efficiency of crystallographic structural determination. Today x-ray crystallography is widely used in materials and biological research. Structures of very large biological machinery (e.g. protein and DNA complexes, virus particles) have been solved using this method. In x-ray crystallography, integrated intensities of the diffraction peaks are used to reconstruct the electron density map within the unit cell in the crystal. To achieve high accuracy in the reconstruction, which is done by Fourier transforming the diffraction intensities with appropriate phase assignment, a high degree of completeness as well as redundancy in diffraction data is necessary, meaning that all possible reflections are measured multiple times to reduce systematic and statistical error. The most efficient way to do this is by using an area detector which can collect diffraction data in a large solid angle. The use of high intensity x-ray sources, such as synchrotron radiation, is an effective way to reduce data collection time. One of the central difficulties in structural determination using x-ray crystallography is referred to as the phase problem, which arises from the fact that the diffraction data contains information only on the amplitude but not the phase of the structure factor. Over the years many methods have been developed to deduce the phases for reflections, including computationally based direct methods, isomorphous replacement, and multi-wavelength anormalous diffraction (MAD) methods. METHODOLOGY: X-Ray Diffraction Method At Proto we use the x-ray diffraction method to measure residual stress. X-ray diffraction is presently the only portable nondestructive method that can quantitatively measure residual stress in crystalline and semi-crystalline materials. Our high speed x-ray detector technology enables measurements to be performed easily on metals and ceramics; including traditionally difficult materials such as shot peened titanium. XRD uses the coherent domains of the material (the grain structure) like a strain gage which reacts to the stress state existing in the material. Residual stress and / or applied stress expands or contracts the atomic lattice spacing (d). How do we Measure Stress? Actually, we measure strain and convert to stress. The d-spacings are calculated using Braggs Law: ÃŽ » = 2 d sin . If a monochromatic (ï  ¬) x-ray beam impinges upon a sample with an ordered lattice spacing (d), constructive interference will occur at an angle . Changes in strain and thus the d-spacing translate into changes in the diffraction angle measured by the x-ray detectors. The diffraction pattern is in the shape of a cone for polycrystalline materials. The shape of the diffraction peaks can also be related to the dislocation density and coherent domain size. Why Use Multiple Detectors? Unlike other single detector systems. Proto uses two (2) detectors for stress measurements thus capturing both sides of the diffraction cone. This means twice as much data is collected in the same amount of time simply by virtue of the design. Proto offers a four (4) detector system that can be used for both the four peak % retained austenite method and in multiphase stress measurements. Proto also offers 3 and 5 detector configurations for use in Simultaneous Stress and % Retained Austenite determination. Proto adheres to SAE SP-453 Retained Austenite and Its Measurement by X-ray Diffraction and ASTM E975-84 Standard Practice for X-ray Determination of Retained Austenite in Steel with Near Random Crystallographic Orientation.. Patented Fiber Optic Based Solid State Detectors Longevity and Maintenance Proto uses fiber optic based solid state detectors. The fiber optics allow the detector electronics to be remote from the sensing head making them suitable for measurements in harsh environments. Proto detectors are maintenance free and do not degrade with exposure to x-rays, thus less down time, better productivity and no hidden maintenance costs. Direct expose solid state detectors and position sensitive proportional counters degrade with exposure to x-rays and eventually require replacement which can be extremely costly. Because of x-ray damage, these detectors and counters must constantly be re-calibrated. In addition, some position sensitive proportional counters require periodic (bi-annual) maintenance to refill the sealed gas filled detector housing. Speed Proto detectors are the fastest detectors on the market today. A stress measurement can be performed in less than 0.3 seconds, an order of magnitude faster than any other detector technology commercially available. Position sensitive proportional counters can only detect one x-ray event at a time. In addition, there is dead time associated with their signal processing which slows data collection. Proto detectors have no dead time associated with them. They are multi-channel solid state detectors that collect many x-ray events simultaneously resulting in unmatched data collection speed. This is particularly important for laboratories with high throughput demands and for industrial on-line and audit station applications. Drift Position sensitive proportional counters can drift if there is any fluctuation in the DC bias voltage thus causing errors in peak position determination. Ambient temperature fluctuations, gas pressure and oxides on connections, to name a few, can contribute to detector instability and drift. Proto detectors are solid state, thus there is no positional drift associated with them. This means they are much more stable in harsh environments and at elevated or cold temperatures. Detector width Protos wide 2 detector range, 18.7 degrees 2for the 40 mm goniometer geometry offers increased accuracy on materials with broad diffraction peaks found in hardened tool and bearing steels. Flexibility in Residual Stress Measurement Techniques Most systems, particularly one detector systems, offer only double exposure and multiple exposure sin  ²Ã¯  ¹ techniques. Proto systems offer the double exposure and multiple exposure sin  ²Ã¯  ¹ techniques as well as the single exposure technique and the multiple exposure sin  ²Ã¯  £ techniques. This translates into more flexibility for characterizing samples with complicated geometries. Flexibility in Residual Stress Analysis With Proto equipment, unlike other diffraction systems, diffraction peaks can be fit using a number of mathematical functions including, Parabola, Gaussian, Cauchy, Pearson VII, centroid, and mid-chords. Proto also offers both the difference, and cross-correlation methods for peak position determination. This translates into both improved accuracy and flexibility. Focusing Optics Proto systems operate on a true center of rotation and are delivered pre-calibrated to meet exceed ASTM E915-90 Standard Test Method for Verifying the Alignment of X-ray Diffraction Instrumentation for Residual Stress and adhere to SAE J784a Residual Stress Measurement by X-ray Diffraction alignment specifications. All Proto systems operate using parafocusing optics thus eliminating the need for Sollier slits and allowing very fine positional accuracy in stress measurements inside 90 mm and 120 mm i.d. confinements (e.g. the i.d. of pipes and holes, or between parallel surfaces). The competition cannot offer access to such small holes. Simplicity in Use, Sophistication in Results Proto systems are easy to use and setup: Quick change apertures allow for easy adjustment of the irradiated area and sample setup (apertures can be changed in about 2 seconds) with beam dimensions (irradiated area) available from 0.3 mm to 5.0 mm. Sample positioning and focusing can be performed easily using the standoff pointer provided with all systems and through the collimator laser pointer which allows the user to quickly locate measurement locations. This is particularly helpful when using the Automated Stress Mapping option. The 4-Point bending fixture and Proto strain bridge are used for quick and easy determination of the effective x-ray elastic constant for new materials as per ASTM 1426-91, Standard Test Method for Determining the Effective Elastic Parameter for X-ray Diffraction Measurements of Residual Stress. The Proto Portable Electro Polisher is custom manufactured specifically for x-ray diffraction work, making material removal quick and efficient. Truly portable systems are available weighing less than 18 kg (40 lbs). Custom systems are available for customers with special requirements. Comprehensive turnkey systems are offered by Proto to their customers to simplify and expedite their stress measurement needs. Continuous Research and Development and a commitment to give you the best systems in the world. CONCLUSION:  · Other Sectionsââ€" ¼ Abstract 1.Introduction 2.Purification 3.Crystallization 4.X-ray diffraction data collection and analysis 5.Conclusion References Abstract Human phosphate-binding protein (HPBP) was serendipitously discovered by crystallization and X-ray crystallography. HPBP belongs to a eukaryotic protein family named DING that is systematically absent from the genomic database. This apoprotein of 38 kDa copurifies with the HDL-associated apoprotein paraoxonase (PON1) and binds inorganic phosphate. HPBP is the first identified transporter capable of binding phosphate ions in human plasma. Thus, it may be regarded as a predictor of phosphate-related diseases such as atherosclerosis. In addition, HPBP may be a potential therapeutic protein for the treatment of such diseases. Here, the purification, detergent-exchange protocol and crystallization conditions that led to the discovery of HPBP are reported. Keywords: ABC transporters, missing gene, apoproteins, atherosclerosis, paraoxonase  · Other Sectionsââ€" ¼HPBP was serendipitously discovered from supposedly pure PON1. The structure of HPBP (Morales et al., 2006 ) relates it to prokaryote phosphate solute-binding protein (SBP; Tam Saier, 1993; Luecke Quiocho, 1990 ; Vyas et al., 2003), which is associated with the ATP-binding cassette transmembrane transporters (ABC transporters; Higgins, 1992). Despite the existence of the ABC transporter in eukaryotes, SBPs have never been described or predicted by genomic databases in eukaryotes. The complete amino-acid sequence of HPBP (376 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 38.4 kDa) was assigned from the electron-density map at the 10% error level (Morales et al., 2006). Surprisingly, the deduced HPBP sequence cannot be retrieved from the human genome or other genomic databases. HPBP is related to a family of eukaryotic proteins that are named DING owing to their four conserved N-terminal residues (Berna et al., 2002). Similarly to HPBP, DING genes are also absent from DNA or RNA databases, although they are likely to be ubiquitous in eukaryotes. This raises numerous questions about the peculiarity of DING genes. The HPBP sequence deduced by crystallography is the first complete sequence of a DING protein and provides a precious basis for understanding the genetic mystery associated with DING proteins. We have provided evidence that HPBP is a new apoprotein mainly located on HDL (good cholesterol) capable of binding inorganic phosphate ions. Furthermore, HPBP presents 59% amino-acid identity with a protein named crystal-adhesion inhibitor (CAI) that may prevent the development of kidney stones by inhibiting the adhesion of calcium oxalate crystals to renal cells (Kumar et al., 2004). Thus, HPBP could be tentatively regarded as a potential predictor and as a possible therapeutic protein for treatment of phosphate-related disorders, including atherosclerosis. In this article, we report the purification, detergent-exchange protocol and crystallization conditions that led to the discovery of HPBP. HPBP was discovered by copurification from an apparently pure PON1 preparation. The HPBP/PON1-containing fractions were obtained according to a protocol based on the method of Gan et al. (1991) (Renault et al., in preparation) that was assumed to provide PON1 pure at ≠¥95%. Briefly, out of date plasma bags from blood donors (Etablissement Franà §ais du Sang Rhà ´ne-Alpes) were supplemented with CaCl2 to a final concentration of 10 mM before the resulting fibrin clot was separated by filtration. The filtrate was then submitted to a pseudo-affinity chromatography on Cibacron Blue 3GA-agarose (type 3000-CL; Sigma) using 50 mM Tris-HCl buffer pH 8.0 supplemented with 1 mM CaCl2 and 3 M NaCl to avoid the adsorption of albumin. Elution of hydrophobic plasma proteins, mainly lipoproteins, was performed using 0.1% sodium deoxycholate and 0.1% Triton X-100 in Tris-HCl buffer. The PON1-containing fractions were pooled and separated from the other HDL-bound proteins, mainly apolipoprotei n A-I, by anion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow (Pharmacia Biotech) using 25 mM Tris buffer containing 0.1% Triton X-100 as starting buffer with a gradient of NaCl (0-0.35 M). Pooled HPBP/PON1-containing fractions were dialyzed and concentrated in the presence of C-12 maltoside (0.64 mM) using a centrifugation device (Centriprep Amicon, 10 kDa cutoff, Millipore, St Quentin-en-Yvelines, France) to a final absorbance of 2.3 at 280 nm. Light-scattering analysis revealed a homogeneous sample with an apparent molecular weight of about 80 kDa (Josse et al., 2002 ). This molecular weight was attributed to dimeric PON1 because the existence of HPBP was unknown at this point. Some dialyzed fractions spontaneously crystallized overnight. Crystal plates were very numerous and very thin (about 1  µm width). Once useless crystals had formed in the absence of precipitant agent, it was impossible to dissolve them again. Thus, crystallization trials were performed quickly after detergent exchange. Inspection of the resulting electron-density map clearly indicated that the crystallized protein was not PON1. The sequence deduced from the structure was totally unknown and not predicted by the genomic database. The complete amino-acid sequence was determined from X-ray data. This protein is the first inorganic phosphate transporter characterized in human plasma (Morales et al., 2006). The discovery of this protein by crystallography opens new insight into the physiopathology and medical treatment of phosphate-related diseases RECENTDEVELOPMENTS IN POLYMER CHARACTERIZATION USING X-RAYDIFFRACTION In the absence of an orientational force, thelamellae organize into spherulites (1-10 mm indiameter). X-ray scattering can be used to ob-tain structural information at three lengthscales—1, 10 and 100nm—using scattering atwide-, small- and ultra small-angles, respec-tively.A continuum of structures between the ex-tremesof what are generally regarded as amor-phous and crystalline phases are present in areal polymer, and these entities have complexorganization. But, a model that describes thesemicrystalline polymers in terms of two phases, an average amorphous and an averagecrystalline phase, has been found to be ade-quate for many practical purposes. The fractionof the material that is crystalline, the crys-tallinity or crystalline index, is an important pa-rameter in the two-phase model. Crystallinitycan be determined from a wide-angle X-ray dif- fraction (WAXD) scan by comparing the areaunder the crystalline peaks to the total scatteredintensity [12]. The accuracy and the precision ofthese measurements can be improved by draw-ing a proper base-line, using an appropriateamorphous template, and by carefully choosingthe crystalline peaks [13, 14]. The disorder inthecrystalline domains can be evaluated by measuring the crystallite sizes which are relatedto the radial widths D(2q) of the reflections at ascattering angle 2q by the Scherrer equation. Inreality, there are two contributions to the width:one is the size and the other is the para crystallinity or microstrain [15, 16]. A more detailed analysis based on the Warren-Averbach methodis widely used in metals and ceramics, but lessso in polymers [17]. The disorder in the crys-talline domains is also reflected in the unit celldimensions. But, calculation of the unit cell pa-rameters requires an accurate measurement ofthe positions of many crystalline peaks, which can be difficult. Therefore, in practice, relativepositions of selected crystalline peaks are used as accurate measures of the changes unit cellparameters [18, 19].Structures at length scales larger than a unit cell (10nm instead of 1nm) can be investi-gated using small-angle X-ray scattering(SAXS). The methodology for these analysis isnow highly developed and can be found in anystandard literature [9, 20-24]. While WAXD isused to study the orientation of the crystals,and the packing of the chains within these crys-tals, SAXS is used to study the electron densityfluctuations that occur over larger distances asa result of structural inhomogeneities. SAXS iswidely used to study the lamellar structure bymeasuring parameters such as lamellar spac-ing, height and thickness of the transition layer betweenthe crystalline and amorphous domains. In theanalysis of fibers, SAXS can provide informa-tion about the details of fibrillar morphologysuch as fibril diameter and orientation, and large scale inhomogeneity such as microporesand cracks. This information is somewhat simi-lar to that obtained from a transmission elec-tron micrograph, with one important difference:SAXS requires no sample preparation , and thedata is averaged over the area (typically 0.1mm2) of illumination. SAXS is also used for studying conformation, size and dynamics ofpolymers in solutions and in gels. 3. New Methods to Study Polymer Structure The two-phase model for the polymer hasbeen quite useful in providing a qualitative un-derstanding of the polymer properties in termof its structure, but is not adequate for quantita-tive prediction of the polymer properties. For this purpose, a detailed knowledge of the char-acteristics and distribution of soft (amorphous) and hard (crystalline) domains, and the interac-tions between these domains is necessary. New techniques that have been introduced duringthe past decade provide precisely this informa- tion. Some of these techniques will be discussed here. 3.1. Microbeam Diffraction Microbeam diffraction, or microdiffraction,has been used in semiconductor industry for over 25 years [25]. It is now being used to ex-amine polymeric materials. In most routine characterization of polymers, it is assumed thatthe structure is homogeneous. But, this is not always the case. Temperature gradients are pre-sent during injection molding, and both temper- ature and stress gradients are present duringextrusion and drawing. These gradients intro- duce structural inhomogeneities that influencepolymer performance. Even filaments that are only 10 mm in diameter show variations in ori-entation and density across the cross section [5, 26]. These structural gradients, and the changesin these gradients during deformation can now be studied at spatial resolutions as small as1 mm using microbeam diffraction [26]. An ex- ample of the typical structural gradients presentin a shown in Figure 2 [6]. This diffractogram was obtained from KevlarTM fiber with a 3 mm 16 Synchrotron Radiation Facility) synchrotronsource. The data show that the Hermans orien- tation function of the crystalline domains in this12 mm diameter fiber increases from 0.955 at the center to 0.980 at the surface of the fiber.The higher orientation of the skin layer is obvi- ously due to large shear stresses at the spin-neret, extensional forces in the air-gap and the solidification in the coagulation bath. Such astructural gradient implies that the modulus de- creases from the skin to core. It is interesting tonote that these inhomogeneities gradually de- crease and disappear under uniaxial stress.Microbeam techniques have reached a level of sophistication that it is now possible to focus .X-rays on a micron size crystal and follow the changes in the structure from one crystal to t

Analysis of the market position of Ikea

Analysis of the market position of Ikea Introduction Every industry tries to use an unparalleled, efficient, and effective business strategy that will allow them to remain at a progressive position in the competitive market, especially in the global market. With respect to this, the aim of this report is to present a position analysis for the furniture company IKEA. The position analysis will apply a pestle analysis, capabilities analysis, resource based view analysis, swot analysis and porters five forces along with IKEAs strategic issues and solutions to these issues. Company Overview IKEA was established in Sweden over 50 years ago back in 1943. Its founder Ingvar Kamprad still plays an important role in the company affairs today. IKEA is certainly one of the top furniture retailers in the world. Its core aspects are affordably, functionality and quality. Since their commencement, IKEA has persistently developed as a company throughout the years and are currently seen as a distinguished successful worldwide business entity in the furniture industry today. In 2010, IKEA opened 12 new stores in 7 countries which presently give them an overall record of 318 stores in over 38 countries. IKEA has certainly met their strategic goals by executing diverse strategic marketing tools that has made them the success that they are. Methodology IKEAs SWOT Analysis In this report, the analysis of the present situation of IKEA will be carried out by using different marketing tools.  With this, IKEA will be examined via the use of SWOT Analysis. The basis of external and internal analysis is to construe factors that can affect the said business to situate itself to take advantage of opportunities, and manage threats discovered via an analysis of external environments. Particularly, it also aids in spotting present weaknesses and strengths that may affect the organizations capabilities. Strengths (Internal factors) A strong worldwide brand that attracts key consumer groups. A Clear Vision to create a better everyday life for many people A strong concept. IKEA offers a wide range of well-designed products at a price, everyone can afford. Good product image. IKEA has an ideal balance between function, quality, design and price Weaknesses (Internal factors) Large global business. This makes quality control difficult to control and it signifies a weak link in the chain of supply. The necessity of low cost products. Although products are at a low price, consumers still need to feel that they are getting value for their money. Cultural differences. diversified markets Japan, China and the USA Restricted manufacturing  capabilities. IKEA relies on subcontracted manufacturers. Opportunities (External factors) An increased demand for low cost merchandise. Due to trends in the present financial state of the global economy, consumers opt for less expensive goods rather than shopping at expensive stores. The rapidly emergent Asian countries with wealthy middle-class population represent opportunities to enter and market the concept of affordable modern furniture to fit a particular lifestyle. Opportunity to enhance levels of customer service through E- Commerce as the added business capability. Threats (External factors) Social trends decelerate amount of first time buyers coming into the housing market. Market forces more competitors entering the low price household and furnishings markets. Imitated Concept -Within growing competitive retail markets mainstream retailers are beginning to mirror the model Economic factors the global financial crisis reduced disposable income and customer spending. We can see this from the table below. IKEAs turnover was the same in 2009 as it was in 2008. Source: www.ikea.com (2010) Porters Five Forces Market Entry Seeing that IKEA has such a unique concept and brand name it will be difficult to copy the IKEA way. However, another furniture company can enter the furniture industry with a low- cost strategy inclusive of home delivery, opposing to IKEA non-home delivery method. IKEAs stores are not very much located in small towns with small outlets so this is an opportunity for new competitors to enter small towns with another low cost strategy with smaller outlets. This may attract a new sector of consumers. Supplier Power According to IKEAs welcome inside yearly summary , IKEA had 1,074 suppliers in 55 countries in 2010 Most of the suppliers operate in the IKEA group and compete with other suppliers, and they have a modest bargaining power. Because of low pricing, IKEAs profit margin also affects the prices in raw materials than by prices in labour. The bargaining power of a supplier could be a threat for the profit of the company, and both IKEA is very much aware of it.   In light of this IKEA endeavours to maintain good relationships with its suppliers, in this IKEA ensure that the IKEA group benefits in the said contract while suppliers benefit from the mutual agreement. Competitive Rivalry IKEA is comfortable with its competitive position, and also trying to maintain its competitive edge among rivals. IKEA operates in a extremely competitive industry, characterized by other low priced furniture producers such as Galiform of England and retailers such as Wal-Mart of the United States. Internally, the group has seen differences of opinion regarding product offerings and positioning. Because of powerful global competition, IKEA has intelligently attempted to compete by entering the markets which typically pose the largest competition, such as China and Japan. power of the buyers Americans-the primary consumer base for IKEAs debut in the American Market. The most likely IKEA shopper are those sort of people who travel abroad, like taking risks, enjoy fine food and wine, have a frequent flier plan, and are early adopters of trendy consumer technologies such as Discmans, laptops, and cell phones (Lyne, 2009). IKEAs management ensures that their customers will be satisfied in all ways with the quality of service that they supply. Particularly, the company has focused their marketing approach on the demands and needs of the buyer for household furniture as well as food service sources that satisfies them, and heavily positioned their products in this segment. Threats of substitutes There is no particular furniture substitute however IKEA has to keep up with the latest trends and advances so that their quality furniture does not go out of style and become irrelevant. Wal-mart, Target, Office Depot and other low-cost suppliers are indirect competitors in the fact they do offer low-priced furniture that consumers pull together themselves. Conversely, these indirect substitutes vary in detail because these are general retailers instead of being a specific retailer as IKEA is a retailer of household furniture. PESTEL Analysis Political As part of the national or global trends and changes, IKEA is just one example of firms that are successful in both domestic and international business . The Swedish furniture retailer has found the Scandinavian style of furniture that was combined with do-it-youself flat packaging became popular and set a global cult brand . Economic The Company, due to the economic changes and trends are adopting different kind of strategies that will take an appeal on their customers and aiming to own the customer loyalty . Economically, IKEA is low cost. This is a big piece of breaking into the American market. IKEA had to focus and advertising campaign directed specifically to thwart Americans unwillingness to part with their styling of furniture. Social The IKEA contributed much in the society as they provide opportunities in people and the employees are entitled in different benefits such as insurance and pensions ( 2005). Moreover, the company promises to provide more high quality furniture that sticks to their original concept stylish furniture at low prices. Technological IKEA uses superior technology and systems to encourage shorter waiting times, accurate scheduling, tracking and trading patterns, and staffing. The system made the IKEA in a position to ensure the right number of staff in a right place and in a right time to match the unique trading pattern s at each stores of IKEA. The company view in optimizing everything from the supply chain is also optimizing and managing the workforce to create an efficient store environment and keep customers happy . Environmental Concerning the environmental factors such as the air, noise, and water, inspections are put in place to ensure the company provides remedial actions within a stipulated time. The environmental inspection consists of legal documents and environmental authorities as the business operations are continuing. Legal The legal compliance of IKEA is sternly implemented with pertinent laws and regulations that affect to the environment, social and working conditions. The company also scheduled the most demanding requirements to be specific in maintaining the list of laws and regulations and with the procedures. Analyzing IKEAs Capability Based on the given synopsis of the IKEA Company it is recognized that IKEA exerts a strategic approach in order to maintain their competitive edge in the furniture industry. The management of the company is able to identify the priorities of the business and make decisions in line with the strategic direction, by placing considerations of the business and its stakeholders. IKEA is competent as it focuses on the significance of both internal and external customers to guarantee that these customers remain satisfied and loyal.   The company also ensures that they motivate, coach, guide, and support their staff to realise the mission of the IKEA. Additionally, IKEAs capability to identify its suppliers is another factor that maintains the companys competitive advantage. The ability of management to differentiate and diversify their business strategy to dominate the global market can also be considered as major capabilities of IKEA Resource Based View Analysis IKEA selects the most feasible position when it comes to delivery of items. Their warehouse is smartly located with different sectors to have greater control of activities. This strategy analyses the deployment of resources, processing time and queue times for various actions. IKEAs staff is rotated in order to complete customers orders from each picking area. Resources are simulated at higher levels and are applied and detailed in applicable working schedules. Stakeholders Analysis Other than what is already known about IKEA, it is observed that besides the management of the business, IKEAs customers play an important role in the accomplishment of the organizational goals. The management skills and capabilities of the pioneers of the company have propelled IKEA into being a powerful entity in the furniture industry today. Furthermore, the loyalty of its customers has also greatly assisted IKEA in maintaining its competitive edge. Customers and workforce entities go hand in hand, as IKEAs employees are the ones who work effortlessly ensuring that the company satisfies the demands of its customers. Therefore, when customers are satisfied, as they get value for their money with IKEA, they will remain loyal and hence build IKEAs value chain. The suppliers and stakeholder s can be considered an additional factor that made IKEA the success they are at present. IKEAs Strategic Issues and Challenges Competition The IKEAs furniture competitors offers different styles and functionality. Conrin targets a new low cost in terms of furniture line; Cratel Barrel offers a furniture in a box which is subject in higher prices; Ethan Allen aimed at a more upscale market; Wal-Mart is equipped in a big box furniture that is categorized under the general store must-have-items, but dont have much of a style. IKEA is the most successful in delivering the complete package for the customers that reflects on weak rivalries.   Natural Resources IKEA is the biggest furnishing company world wide, so it needs al lot of wood. This implicates, that there are confrontations with nature protecting organisations. The IKEA Concept The IKEA concept is easy to take up. Companies like Bush Industries in the USA have taken over the concept of cheap furniture, but they adopted their products to the American habits. Reaching Limited Customers The fundamental problem which IKEA is currently facing is that they are only reaching a limited amount of customers due to their few store locations. Event that founder retires or dies Major challenge to keep the core values alive especially when the company becomes larger and more diverse and the founder retires from the business. Catalogue Distribution IKEA want to increase the return on investment for the catalogue distribution, which is a substantial investment, and remain ahead of the competition in terms of business strategy Solutions to IKEAs constraints Catalouge IKEA needs to make sure than they distribute their catalogues who can be potential IKEA customers in terms of where they are located and ther demographic attributes. IKEA can also sell its catalogue at a low price to help generate some revenue as its catalogue is its biggest marketing mechanism. Low price The company must ensure that it is always known for having the lowest prices on the market in the future. Communication plays an important role here. IKEA must main its low cost leadership by using the low cost leadership strategy. Market forces IKEA is large enough to enjoy economies of scale. This lowers average costs in the end through, for instance, better use of technology or outsoucing specialized managers. Economies of scale also gives a business a competitive edge if cost savings are then passed on to customers in the form of lower prices. This puts up high barriers to entry for smaller companies entering the market. Communications. IKEA needs to maintain communication with its consumers and other stakeholders about its environmental actions. Store Locations. IKEA needs to strategically place its outlets where it has never been before. IKEA usually has large outlets in large cities. However, a tactical approach will be to launch smaller outlets in smaller towns. This will attract a new sector of customers hence increasing IKEAs profitably in the furniture industry. A new organizational structure will be necessary because of moving the organization from a global perspective towards a transnational perspective. Where the global organization is designed as to increase production efficiencies using global economies of scale and scope concepts, the transnational organization combines efficiency, local responsiveness and organizational learning. In order to assist the transition process towards such an organization, the IKEA group has to drastically transform its approach on the function of its subsidiaries. At present, IKEAs subsidiaries are barely no more than expansions of the business head office in Sweden. The responsibility of the subsidiaries is not to sway parent company strategies, but moderately follow instructions from home country Sweden. High localization pressures emerging due to demographic and cultural differences will compel subsidiaries to take strategic initiatives to act in response to local market requirements. The new organization would be easier to follow and pass on more accountability to subsidiaries. The centralized research and development department would have form strategic in-house networks with these subsidiaries and, in a mutual approach, develop products that are adopted to match country level requirements. Strategic corporate direction has to be maintained, since there is a need to safeguard its market niche. The changes projected in the organizational structure will have promising impacts on the company culture, which is currently founded on the IKEA concept or the IKEA way. A reduced amount of management from Sweden will trigger the incursion of new principles, values, and measures into the IKEA way. This will boost the intricacy of the operational culture, but will improve decision-making based on a spot on international dimension. CONCLUSION To conclude, with this position analysis, appropriate evaluation has been considered using different marketing tools, which lead to the determination of the present position of the IKEA Company.   This analysis has revealed which parts of the IKEA business entity that requires development and altering in order to maintain the competitive edge. The IKEA strategy is unique but it works, as IKEA is a leader in the global market. IKEA places its focus on further profit creation and growth and development. It can be said that based on the given case, IKEA strategy is something which is different but effective to achieve their goal of dominating the global market. Giving value to their stakeholders is one of the vital approaches that the company had used. In addition, their ability to innovate and diversify their products has also been identified as part of the strategy of IKEA. In addition, because of the competitive situation of the company, there is a strong barrier to entry for a new household furniture as well as food market that would compete with IKEA.   As the company is competing in both local and large-scale market environment, IKEAs feasibility is to achieve more customers from altered areas of the world and to provide each customers quality and resourceful household furniture products and will satisfy their needs while enjoying reasonable and reasonable prices.   The company is looking forward to give the customers more from what they are expecting via technological innovations.  In addition, the strategy of the company also includes their ability to adapt to the changing needs and demands of their target market even in different parts of the world. IKEA is in a favourable position to carryon operations in the years ahead. Bibliography De Wit, Bob and Meyer, Ron (2005) Strategy Synthesis. Second edition. London: Thomson Learning. Print ISBN 1 86152 965 1. Johnson, Gerry; Scholes, Kevan; and Whittington, Richard (2005) Exploring Corporate Strategy. 7th edition. Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education. Print ISBN 0 273 68734 4. Available through Voyager (UH LIS main catalogue) as an electronic resource. Mintzberg, Henry; Ahlstrand, Bruce; and Lampel, Joseph (1998) Strategy Safari: The Complete Guide Through the Wilds of Strategic Management. Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education. Print ISBN 0 273 65636 8. Porter, Michael E (1979) How Competitive Forces Shape Strategy. Harvard Business Review, March/ April, Volume 57, Issue 2. Available through UH LIS electronic journals (Business Source Complete). IKEA Sustainability Report for Fiscal Year 2009 and Fiscal Year 2010. Welcome Inside