Strategic Business Information Systems - Cirque du Soleil's Essay

Strategic Business Information Systems - Cirque du Soleil's Information Technology Initiatives - Essay Example Both the strategies can be approached narrowly or broadly and in either case there is the third viable competitive strategy that is ‘focus’. (12manage.com) Ward and Peppard (2002) have identified that IS/IT strategy formulation and planning will help an organization to gain competitive advantage in the existing market by enabling the organization to develop a flexible and cost effective technology infrastructure which in turn will lead to the deployment of resources and competencies that are needed to accomplish the organizational goals effectively and efficiently. By using latest technology Cirque du Soleil could develop a new intellectual and dramatic entertainment project that made the company stand out unique. The use of technology has helped the company to reduce its cost structure and the organization could increase the ticket prices beyond the amount charged by the traditional circuses. This also made the organization compete with the Broadway theatre prices. (Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne, 2005) The success of Cirque du Soleil lies in their ability to create a new and compelling product rather than creating a new market. It cannot be said the business of Cirque is an alternative to traditional circus business (Blue Ocean Strategy) but through a product differentiation as advocated by Porter (1980) Cirque competes in the existing market with a brand new product having different characteristics. This makes the product of Cirque unique. The strengths and weaknesses of Cirque du Soleil can be analyzed using a SWOT analysis. Cirque du Soleil is able to have distinct competitive advantageous position due to three fundamental reasons. They are: (i) Product differentiation advantage – by employing innovative production techniques the organization is able to make shows that evoke awe, wonder, inspiration and reflection among the customers, (ii) Niche competitive advantage – the production of Cirque

Story of an hour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Story of an hour - Essay Example To get to a point of climax, stories are read and films are watched. This is what determines whether a story is good or bad as it is the focal point of the story. A sure climax will give a situation where there is a double approval or double disapproval. The short story by Kate Chopin, ‘The story of an hour’, offers every detail on its way to the death of Louise Mallard which is the climax of the story and comes so suddenly that most readers are caught off guard. It is a great story since it gives a lot of details as it leads to the climax. Chopin handles issues that are complex in the story as they involve the mixed feelings that Mallard had when she heard of the death of her husband in a train accident. They were marriage, female independence and love. The death of her husband gives her feelings that are conflicting as she feels the pain of her loss while at the same time; she is excited at the prospect of being independent as a female since there was no man to answer to after his death. The story ends in a manner that is not easy to predict as there is a new twist to the tale with the revelation that her husband was actually n ot dead killing her dream of being independent instantly. She dies from the shock and it is her husband who is freed from her and he stays to enjoy the independence that she would envy even in death. The story however does not go far enough to tell the reader what kind of emotions and thoughts went through Mr. Mallard’s mind. In her story, Chopin makes Mrs. Mallard look like a sympathetic person who is strong in mind and has an insight. This is shown by the fact that she feels the pain of the loss of her husband but is strong enough and knows very well that it is no use getting attached to the loss but it is important to take advantage of the freedom that comes from the loss. In other words she takes on the positives from the loss. In the past American wives always answered to their husbands but those women who were

Reflective Practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Reflective Practice - Essay Example The critical incident review, modeling excellence and proactive learning are the ways that are being covered in this paper. The process of reflective learning is very considerable for the students as it serves in personal growth, professional growth along with bringing an important change in the lives of the people. Therefore, all sections of the paper cover an in-depth analysis of the situations, where my personal learning acquired from the events and situations are also highlighted and discussed (Morrison, 1996; Feldman, 2005). Critical Incident Analysis The incident that I find significant for me is the learning experience I have acquired from my class PPT. My experience is based on the reflection that I gained from the PPT slides that served me great deal in understanding the phenomenon of learning. The slides helped to reflect on my experiences with using best approaches. ‘Reflection’ is one of my class PPTs that I have found too important for me, as it initiates wi th a suggestion that one needs to have an experience, which later should be observed keenly. Based on the observation, one needs to reflect upon the experience, in which there is a need to make analyses too. I also learnt that while reflecting upon an experience we need to generate new ideas. Before experiencing these slides, I had a limited thinking about the reflection on any incident. Thus, it can be said that the experience was amazing because it served to facilitate understanding of the psychological phenomenon of direct and indirect learning processes (Boud, 1985). Throughout experiencing the class PPT, I acquired a great deal of knowledge and also became aware of some of the universal facts. I learnt that when two people interact with each other, their conversation may bring significant change either on the perception of one of them or it may serve both to extract out a new conclusion. My learning through such informative slides is worth for me because now I have become quite conscious when I m experiencing a learning process. Moreover, I have also analyzed that my previous state of unconsciousness towards psychological phenomenon has transformed noticeably, because the class slides have enhanced my view to feel the transformation and revolution in human being. The significant part of the class PPT was its initial general discussion about the simple concept of learning, which was later followed by the details of the learning processes. On the other hand, I have also analyzed that it is not necessary to teach someone with giving descriptive explanation; however, if few important and concise bullets points are taught, the result could be effective to serve the learning (Brockbank & Mcgill, 2012). The class slides has cleared many fundamental concepts such as, they define the difference between coaching and counseling in a precise way that it cannot be forgotten. My experience with PPT slides is not only effective for me; however, the experience has also s erved me understanding the process of learning when we work in team. Furthermore, I have realized that the effects of learning I acquired from the class PPT are effectual for me in every walk of life. The reason behind keeping the class PPT experience among the significant incidents is the modification in my behavior when it comes to experience a learning process. The changing between my past perception and the new one developed by class PPT is quite vital for my professional life too because the learning is such a process that remains

BP Exploration Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

BP Exploration - Case Study Example Drawing on your previous analysis, to what extent do you believe BP Exploration's relative performance can be sustained in the medium term Over the last five years, BP Exploration has drawn on a number of resources and capabilities which keep it one of Britain's biggest companies and one of the largest oil and petrochemicals groups in the world. BP employs more than 65,000 people in 70 countries. BP Exploration is responsible for 60% of BP's worldwide revenue. It employs 60% of BP's staff and has more than 40 independent Assets.1 BP's work on oil and natural gas exploration and production, together with the management of crude oil and natural gas pipelines, processing and export terminals has led the company to many areas of the globe. BP Exploration has a wide resource base; already with strong positions in Alaska, the North Sea and North America, it is now developing major new fields in Angola, Azerbaijan, Trinidad, Algeria and in the Gulf of Mexico, with liquefied natural gas business expanding into the Asia Pacific Region. BP's TNK BP venture in Russia employs 100,000 people. It owns and operates five refineries through West Siberia, the Volga-Urals and East Siberia. The BTC Pipeline now runs 443km through Azerbaijan, 249km through Georgia and 1,076km through Turkey. The pipeline, buried its entire length, has eight pump stations. It is the first direct pipeline link between the Caspian Sea and the Mediterranean. BP hopes the BTC project will bring positive economic advantages to the region and avoid inc reasing oil traffic through the vulnerable Turkish Straits. In addition to BP Exploration's projects worldwide, BP promotes an 'Upstream' mindset - the company works towards long-term sustainable business, delivering superior service through cycle returns by having a greater share of large, low cost oil and gas fields.2 BP has implemented key successful strategies in order to remain a world leader. These are: making a stand on global warming and climate change; promoting an 'upward feedback' strategy in-house; and development of a business intelligence strategy. To a large degree BP Exploration's resources and capabilities are well aligned with its business plan, generating a competitive advantage for the company as a whole. In the late 1990's BP made a break with the petrochemical industry and set a precedent. The company's management understood it was good business to incorporate ecology into business and community strategic planning. In May 1997, BP CEO, John Brown gave a pioneering speech, announcing BP's decision to accept that climate change is occurring and its intention to do something about it. This move created BP a lot of attention from the world's media, environmentalists and politicians. BP was the first multi-national to make such a stand. It committed to reducing greenhouse emissions and to joining international efforts in minimising greenhouse emissions. Solar energy was officially made a priority, on a par with BP's three other business ventures: exploration, oil and chemicals.3 In-house, BP's 'upward feedback strategy', was designed to create a greater sense of job satisfaction for employees while working in harmony with the company's growth. Senior management was determined to achieve a more open style in the workplace; based on committed teams engaged in open, honest communication to plan and achieve corporate,

The Vietnam War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

The Vietnam War - Essay Example In their attempt to prevent Vietnam from being a Communist country, the United States opted to help France in defeating Vietnam and its revolutionaries. US, therefore, sent military aid to the French in 1950. US troop’s quantity continued increasing over time until April 1969, when they reached a climax of 5434000. There were a total of 2.7 million Americans serving in South Vietnam. 58000 of them died or went missing, while 300000 others were wounded. It has been documented that the American government spent over 140 billion dollars on this war. Despite this gigantic military effort by the US, its objectives were not achieved by the end of the war. That failure has led, to date, searching answers to why the war was actually fought, and whether better military and diplomatic outcome was possible for America (Lawrence 129). After suffering a significant defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954, French decided to leave Vietnam. A number of countries met at the 1954 Geneva Conference in t heir effort to determine how French would have withdrawn from Vietnam peacefully. From the conference, came an agreement that has been referred to as the Geneva Accords. It stipulated a composed extraction of French forces and a momentary splitting up of Vietnam across the 17th parallel (Wiest 23). This 17th parallel ended up splitting Vietnam into non-communist South Vietnam and communist North Vietnam. In addition to this, the conference agreed that a general independent election would be held in 1956 in order to bring back together the nation under a single government. Fearing that the communists would win during the election, the United States was against the election. South Vietnam, with the help of America, carried out the election within South Vietnam, rather than the entire country. Ngo...As the war between the South Vietnamese and the Viet Cong progressed, the United States, on the other hand, sent more guides to South Vietnam. On August 2nd, 1964 the North Vietnamese fired straight on two American vessels in global waters. This firing has been known as the Gulf of Tonkin Incident. The Congress acted in response with what has been referred to as the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. US president, President Johnson’s intention for the US taking part in the Vietnam War was not for America to prevail in the war, but for the US to reinforce South Vietnam’s defenses so that South Vietnam would take over leadership. Critics have argued that by getting involved in the Vietnam War without a goal to come first, President Johnson set a weak foundation for later open and military troop disappointments for America. This is one of the greatest impacts that the Vietnam War had on the Cold War, as far as American’s success was concerned. The Vietnam War was a turning point for the Cold War, as Americans realized that their military troops were not comparable to others in strength and not able to win in any war. They needed better modus operandi and org anization. Between 1965 and 1969, the Americans were majorly involved in a restricted war in Vietnam. Even though aerial bombing was still present at the North, President Johnson intended the fighting to be limited only to the South. This limitation ensured that the United States troops would not perform severe ground physical attacks at the North to directly attack the communists.

The Image Of Woman's Life In Literature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Image Of Woman's Life In Literature - Essay Example Suppression of the private ambitions of womenfolk has been unavoidable, for the so-called larger interests of the family and the society. Menfolk utilized the institution of marriage to their advantage. In the stories â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants†, by Ernest Hemingway elaborate articulation has been made by the authors as to how the women, whether traditional or modern, have always been at the receiving end and menfolk are not willing to give her space and do not realize the damage they cause to her psyche due to over-protectiveness or outright suppression of her rights and individuality. She has no life of her own and it is linked to the interests of others. â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is concerned with the age-old traditions of unequal status of women in the society that has a direct bearing on the institution of marriage. Women are forced into solitude as per the prevai ling conventions of the society. The suffering of women is the theme of the story and as such how the institution of marriage can command respect? The traditional woman has always been at the receiving end and at every stage of her life, the domineering influence of her father first and later that of her husband impacts her life. The narrator suffers from the inferiority complex as her psyche is controlled by her overbearing husband due to which she almost loses her independent thinking power. All avenues for the growth of her personality are barred from her physician husband who firmly believes that he has the panacea for all her ills. She is diagnosed as ill, even though she is not! Illness is forced upon her to subdue her independent spirit. She lives the life of enforced solitude and that is not the fault of any individual, but the societal conventions demand the same. Husband has his own procedures to deal with his wife. The narrator articulates, â€Å"It is so hard to talk wi th John about my case, because he is so wise, and because he loves me so.† (81)After marriage, her over-protective husband is not willing to allow the sapling of her individuality to grow. She bemoans, â€Å"John is a physician, and perhaps—(I would not say it to a living soul, of course, but this is dead paper and a great relief to my mind--) perhaps that is one reason I do not get well faster.† (74) Her God-gifted creativity is not given an opportunity to grow. She laments, â€Å"It is so discouraging not to have any advice and companionship about my work.† (77) She turns cynical. The two important metaphors in the story relate to the feminist interpretation. The yellow wallpaper itself is a metaphor that articulates the subjugation of women by the male fraternity. The irregular pattern of the paper indicates the inconsistency in the life of a woman, and how she is unable to find the proper balance in her life due to circumstances forced upon her by the male-dominated society. The second important metaphor also relates to the wallpaper, but from a different angle. The women remain trapped in the wallpaper. The narrator wonders whether she alone is trapped thus, but immediately reverts to the universal generalization of women and reflects that there are others suffering like her. In â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants,† Ernest Hemingway creates character development through actions and dialogues instead of descriptions and allegories.

Corporate governance Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 10000 words

Corporate governance - Dissertation Example It is evident from the work of various research scholars that people felt the importance of â€Å"Corporate Governance† at least 100 years ago. For example, research scholars such as Tinbergen (1962) have raised their concern over effectiveness of corporate governance. In recent times, corporate accounting scandals in companies like Cirio, Enron, Vivendi, Ansett, Parmalat, and Pan Pharmaceuticals have forced business leaders to think about the issues like corporate accountability and corporate governance. Above mentioned corporate accounting scandals were the results of managerial misconduct and corporate failures. Business leaders became aware of the fact that they need to take some serious measures in order to address the pertaining issues of corporate governance. ... Various research scholars have stated situation-specific definition of corporate governance and so it is difficult to find one universal definition of corporate governance. Majority of the research scholars have given importance on the relational aspect of corporate governance. According to them corporate governance is guided by the relationship between shareholders and managers. Tricker (1984) has revealed that corporate governance is different from management due to the fact that management deals with running the organization while corporate governance deals with running the organization in a proper manner. Keasey and Wright (1993) have stated that business leaders can use different tools of management, such as controlling; accountability, in order to monitor activities of agents and motivation to make them act in accordance with the expectation of the internal and external stakeholders. Various research scholars such as Markusen and Venables (1999) have stated that there is a dire ct relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and corporate governance. According to them FDI policies of government plays a significant role on motivating foreign players to design sustainable corporate governance policy. Markusen and Maskus (2001) have stated that companies need to align their business strategy in a foreign country in accordance with the FDI policy of government of that country, in order to address the key issues of corporate governance. In many cases it has been observed that companies manipulate their corporate governance policy in order to achieve competitive advantage in foreign countries, such as superior technology, economies of scale, managerial expertise etc over