IKEA and Fantastic Furniture Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

IKEA and Fantastic Furniture - Research Paper Example The key success factors desirable for such success is the provision of quality and value for customers’ money, understanding the market and targeting advertisements to perceived needs of the markets and provision of an outstanding customer service to the customers. Though IKEA and Fantastic furniture are similar in many ways, they differ in design of products where IKEA emphasizes on flexibility and portability of the furniture, thus, producing self-assembled furniture while Fantastic furniture mostly produces pre-assembled ones. Backward integration and increased productivity are recommended for the two companies, in order to be able to meet the projected increase in furniture demand. Table of Contents Background and Introduction IKEA is a privately owned international company that sells home products that can be assembled, such as home appliances and accessories, beds, and desks (Coker, 2005). The company was founded in 1943 by a 17-year-old Swedish, with the name of the com pany derived from his name and place of origin. The company ranks as the world’s largest retailer of furniture (Dennis, 2008). There are notable strengths that the company has been credited with. Its ability to control costs allows it to offer continuously lower prices for its products. The company is also known for its attention to operational details, allowing it to improve continuously the products it offers to its customers. These strengths have seen the company continuously advance, and expand to different countries in the world (Stroman, 2003). The company comprises of a group of companies that are centrally controlled by a Dutch corporation. The company provides its customers with 12,000 different products and is the third largest consumer of wood in the world (Ben, 2009). The company adopts environmentally friendly manufacturing process to ensure it preserves the environment. Fantastic furniture, on the other hand, was started in 1991 by two founders, Harding and Dejo ng. The company started as a stall that was selling plastic garden furniture, and later, the first of their store was opened at Birkenhead point (Johnson, 1983). In 1992, the company opened the first Fantastic Factory Lounge and in 1995, the Fantastic metal factory was established. The company owes its success to some strength it possessed from its inception. The company indulged in clever advertising, while at the same time improving its products and processes continuously. This way, the company has been able to expand its operations and grow to a large furniture retailer. The company’s growth rate was so high, that the founders were unable to manage this growth. Consequently, they invited other directors who had experiences in handling growth in a new business, effectively increasing the number of company’s director to five (Greenblat, 2010). In 1997, the company opened its first import department, which has been responsible for the sale and distribution of the compa ny’s products to a tune of 50%. The company has expanded its operations to have many other branches in Australia, later transferring its Fantastic Lounge factory to a different location to accommodate the increased production capacity, in 2006. With its growth and expansion, the company acquired a mattress producing company to suffice the mattress requirement of the company in the same year (Ben, 2009). Literature review A furniture retail business should be the most successful business ever running. This is because every day someone needs

Hereford Plays series Essay Example for Free

Hereford Plays series Essay After the complex events of the scene before, Marco jumps in to try and regain his brothers dignity. This is his family and he cannot let Rodolpho be disgraced like that or be hurt; whether it was just a stagger or not, Eddie was out of order and Marco wont allow it. As Catherine and Rodolpho dance, Marco discusses a friendly challenge: Marco takes a chair and places it in front of Eddie. Eddie has to lift the chair as far up as he can with one hand holding it by the bottom of one leg. As Eddie kneels and grasps the leg he lifts it by an inch whereas when Marco tries it he lifts it all the way above his head. This simple action obviously had a motive behind it: to warn Eddie to lay off his brother but Eddie consciously knows that he wont give up that easily. Marco has shown that Eddie may think hes more of a man than Rodolpho but Marco is more of a man than Eddie; this event has generally shamed Eddie in his home, which is something this character feels very strongly about as the head of the household. The scene needs a sense of oppositon and competition. In order to emphasise what is to be a true test of strength, the onlookers (Rodolpho, Catherine and Beatrice) need to have complete awareness and support of Marcos triumph. In this scene you have to visually compare the failure of Eddie in comparison to the triumph of Marco. While Marco is lifting the chair he is struggling and the tension in his neck, face, arms and especially his facial expression is needed to portray not just victory of lifting the chair but the victory of putting Eddie to shame and gaining some respect for his brother. This scene is a turning point in the story because Eddie now knows that if he wants Rodolpho out of his life hell may have to take even more extreme measures and the battle has turned from not just putting Catherine off of Rodolpho but to get these immigrants out of his house. Its important for its visual impact on the audience because its dramatic actions of a fight for strength and self-dignity turns the whole generalisation of the story from a happy family get-together into a potential crime against his (Eddies) family and the Sicilian community (as quoted from synopsis/pri cis of the book). Its also important because it shows Marcos justified slyness; justified because he has dishonoured Eddie but only in retaliation to Eddie taking advantage of Rodolpho. As soon as Marco said Here and started to lift the chair it is the beginning of Eddies slowly increasing shame and disgrace. The victory celebration should idealistically be a smiled expression (from Marco) as if to imply to Eddie that no-one messes with his brother or else theyll answer to him. As director I would issue the following instructions: Catherine: youre enjoying your dance with Rodolpho and you are nai ve as to what might be going on with Eddie and Marco so keep off guard and treat the situation as though its just a bit of fun between them. Beatrice: you have realised that Eddie feels discomforted at the weak position that he has been put in; however you believed that he deserved it and you are just hoping that Eddie has learned his lesson and will not interfere again. Act supportive at his distress but dont destroy is ride by talking about it too much (as your character would naturally do) Eddie: you have to accept Marcos offer very boldly and confidently as Catherine might be watching and you dont want to back down now. Your facial expression has to show repressed rage at Marco; grind your teeth and be silent to keep your pride, you want everyone else in the room to feel that what has happened doesnt mean or prove anything so get on as though it didnt happen although youre still much aware of the damage that Marco has done Marco: you are proud of what you have accomplished but youre not going to look like a show off; if you win gracefully it will add to Eddies shame which is something you want to do. Your facial expression should say Im triumphant and taking it well In conclusion, Eddie cares about his family and the responsibilities that come with it. He was strict in the upbringing of Catherine and had the utmost respect for his wife. Even though he made a fool of himself and died just for his name (his dignity) we must recognise he had a strong and defiant will or view that was his own and that he fought to uphold, such as his primitive mans view that there must be a law that keeps Catherine from marrying Rodolpho because he is supposedly a homosexual. The bottom line is Eddie should have settled for half meaning he brought Catherine up and now it was time to let her go. So in the end, Eddie dies to keep his pride and his name but doesnt even gain the audiences admiration because his actions were unnecessary. As quoted by E. R. Wood, who wrote the introduction in the Hereford Plays series (1975) publication of A View From The Bridge, To be a tragic hero, you do not have to be in the right; you have to be true to yourself. So Eddie was guilty of destroying the lives of these immigrants and the only honourable way out was to die.

Madness and Insanity in Shakespeares Hamlet Essay example -- GCSE Eng

Hamlet and Insanity      Ã‚  Ã‚   William Shakespeare’s creation of the character of Hamlet within the tragedy of that name left open the question of whether the madness of the protagonist is entirely feigned or not. This essay will treat this aspect of the drama.    George Lyman Kittredge in the Introduction to The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, explains the lack of success with Hamlet’s pretended insanity, and in so doing he implies that the madness is entirely feigned and not real:    The necessity for some device like the play within the play is due to the failure of Hamlet’s assumed madness to achieve its purpose. [. . .] In Shakespeare’s drama, however, Hamlet’s motive for acting the madman is obvious. We speak unguardedly in the presence of children and madmen, for we take it for granted that they will not listen or will not understand; and so the King or the Queen (for Hamlet does not know that his mother is ignorant of her husband’s crime) may say something that will afford the evidence needed to confirm the testimony of the Ghost. The device is adopted on the spur of the moment (i.5, 169ff.), and, once adopted, it must be maintained. But it is unsuccessful. The King is always on his guard, and the Queen is not an accomplice. (xii)    The question arises: Is it truly possible to have a noble tragic hero who is indeed bereft of the proper use of his mental faculties? Doesn’t this â€Å"lack† compromise the very essence of a â€Å"noble† protagonist who is worthy of the tragic ending? A.C. Bradley in Shakespearean Tragedy staunchly adheres to the belief that Hamlet would cease to be a tragic character if he were really mad at any time in the play (30). On the other hand, W. Thomas MacCary in Hamlet: A Guide ... ....: Cambridge Univ. P., 1956.    Kittredge, George Lyman. Introduction. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. In Five Plays of Shakespeare. Ed. George Lyman Kittredge. New York: Ginn and Company, 1941.    MacCary, W. Thomas. Hamlet: A Guide to the Play. Westport, CN: Greenwood Press, 1998.    Mack, Maynard. â€Å"The World of Hamlet.† Twentieth Century Interpretations of Hamlet. Ed. David Bevington. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968.    Rosenberg, Marvin. â€Å"Laertes: An Impulsive but Earnest Young Aristocrat.† Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Masks of Hamlet. Newark, NJ: Univ. of Delaware P., 1992.    Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http://www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html No line nos.

Edward Marshall Boehm Essay

Edward Marshall Boehm is a company that is all about delivering quality while focusing on Nature. This report will include the vision, mission, SWOT, internal and external environments, and a strategic decision from my team in specific detail. Edward Marshall Boehm had a vision that was different from other businesses. Their vision was, â€Å"To capture that special moment and setting which conveys the character, charm, and loveliness of a bird or animal in its natural habitat†. This vision was set in order to attract a specific demographic and that was people who enjoy and embrace nature. Edward Marshall Boehm had a mission that was very similar to its vision. The mission was, â€Å"Make the world aware and protective of endangered wildlife by making them aware of nature’s charm†. I got a quote directly from the company when I called and someone who was very close to Mr. Boehm told me that, â€Å"Mr. Boehm wanted to achieve the bigger picture and that was sending his Vision and Mission around to everybody so that people would understand why he does what he does. You can only tell this to your class but Mr. Boehm would sometimes write personal letters to buyers with both the Vision and Mission written on there. He felt that personally writing that would make customers value their product more and value him more† (Richard Bassel). As we focused in on the external environments of Edward Marshall Boehm, we found many opportunities and risks. One factor surround Boehm Inc. is the market they compete in. Their market is not a very large market. Focusing in on adapting other markets could be very useful to the company and help them grow. One suggestion we have is to adapt into a European environment. By doing so, Boehm Inc. can broaden their line of products and adapt a market that is extremely large. Having knowledge about your external environments is crucial in business. While looking at retailers that have Boehm’s products I was shocked. There are little to no stores in the states with the most endangered species and nature. There is one store in California, which is the state with the most endangered species. No stores in Colorado, Oregon, Montana, and Alaska. Those states, to me, are arguable some of the most beautiful states when it comes to wildlife and nature. We suggest that Boehm Inc. finds stores that can sell his merchandise in these states. This will make his business grow and most important have more people aware of Boehm’s vision and mission. When we take a look at Boehm’s internal environment we start at the hard working employees, management, and structure/leadership of the organization. The management of Boehm Inc. is the backbone of the internal environment. One problem we found with Boehm Inc. was the leadership quality. Boehm specifically says, â€Å"We want to further the position the company for the long run†. Going along with Boehm’s vision and mission, if his company wanted to plan for the future, what happens when Mr. Boehm passes on? Boehm passed away in 1969. They still sell his products today but are they selling his products with another vision and mission? If Boehm was so focused on people recognizing his vision and mission, why didn’t he think to have other sculptors come in so that when the time comes they can continue to make products based on his vision? This is a question that cannot be answered but clearly there was a lack of leadership. Boehm used his external environment to make his internal environment better. EX. Boehm found that customers liked his dogs and horses but wanted his birds, so he started creating more exotic and large bird pieces. As you can see from the diagram above, there are several types of values that when put together determine many different things. Control values are focused on productivity, which lies with management. Ethical values are all about teams and teamwork, which goes with the structure of the company. Development values is all about planning and research which also lies with management. The relation between the internal environment and the external environment has a significant meaning to the overall productivity of the company. All of these values combined help in making decisions and completing long and short-term goals and objectives. Boehm Inc. has many strengths. The management is a very close related group. They are progressively growing the company looking for more opportunities. The quality of Boehm’s pieces is what pulls them apart from any other company. They are one of a kind pieces. This draws people to want them more and they have a collectors feeling on them. The weaknesses of Boehm Inc. slightly outweigh their strengths. The process of creating their products takes a very long time, which is not what companies usually want. The leadership of the company seems to be lost in a sense. Nobody is taking charge and setting up the company for future success. Since they don’t use technology and it is an old fashioned, a possible competition threat is at risk. Another interesting topic about Boehm is forecasting. The company can’t really forecast their sales because some items may be in demand while others aren’t. Since the process takes a while it puts them in an awkward position. There are many opportunities for the company. Updating their online store is a start that could make significant progress. New markets are another large opportunity. The company can grow if they decide to search into another market. With the speed of their process being so slow, they might want to look to speed it up some way. This will require significant research and knowledge about a specific plan or plans. Threats for Boehm Inc. are not major but still are nothing to look past. New artists could threaten the company because they could make cheaper products that almost look like â€Å"knock-offs†. These would severely damage the company. Substitute materials are another topic that could really hurt Boehm’s company. Instead of high-grade porcelain, other companies could look to use lower grade material but still produce beautiful products. After completing our SWOT analysis, our team has come up with some options for Boehm to explore. Boehm has a very functional online store. We think that because technology is so important now, Boehm could use the online site for something more than just selling. Boehm’s Vision and Mission, because they were so important should be expressed on the site. By giving a brief description of the animals and nature around them, people can understand the importance of the animal itself and the work that Boehm has done. Secondly Boehm should start immediately to find more artists that can continue creating pieces like Edward Marshall Boehm did. Not any artist is capable of doing such tasks. These artists must be well known and appreciate the charm of nature and the loveliness of animals. Another suggestion is for Boehm to find more stores to sell his pieces. These stores should be located in the states we mentioned before (Alaska, California, Oregon, Montana, Colorado). Lastly, we think that Mr. Boehm’s company should open a new line of products, Jewelry. Jewelry is always in high demand. By creating a Jewelry line, Boehm Inc. can bring in new customers and another smaller price range of products. By doing so, Boehm’s vision and mission can be carried out in places that have some of the most well known nature and animals around. Boehm should not lose out on their biggest opportunity, to expand into new markets. Through all of our research and our SWOT analysis, we have come to a specific recommendation. Edward Marshall Boehm should update their online store, so that people have a better understanding of the nature and beauty within the piece. The company should also sell to more states. Especially states that have a large nature aspect to them. Boehm Inc. should also consider looking for new artists with the passion of nature and animals. If they do that, they can continue to grow their product line while bringing in possible new ideas. Another suggestion we have is to consider possible endorsement. Endorsement can bring a lot of awareness to the company. Mr. Boehm wants people to realize the beauty of nature and animals and what better way to do so then endorsement. By doing these things, Edward Marshall Boehm Inc. should be able to continue growing their business while still focusing on Mr. Boehm’s vision and mission which is to appreciate nature and the charm animals and life brin g to it.

The Rate Of Photosynthesis: Lab report

1) Construct a graph of your data2) Using the graph, estimate the time at which 50 percent of the leaf disks were floating on the surface. The point at which 50 percent of the leaf disks are floating will be you point of reference for future investigations Using the graph the estimated time that roughly 50% of the leaf disks were floating on the surface was around the 10th minute. At the 10th minute our number rose up to 26/50 leaf disks. 3. What variable were you testing in this investigation?We were testing the leaf disks as the control. The white light, and the water were the controlled variables. 4. Explain why the leaf disks started to float after being exposed to white light. The leaf disks started floating after being exposed to white light because the process of photosynthesis is light- dependent. Light is required for the process of photosynthesis to begin and so the disks would not start floating unless they were placed under the sun, or in this instance the white light.In this investigation, you measured the rate of oxygen production. How might you measure the rate of loss of carbon dioxide? The rate of oxygen production was measured by the amount of dicks that stated to float at a certain time. After the disks have all floated to the top, the rate of carbon dioxide loss could be measured by how long it takes for the leaf disks to float back down to the bottom. 7) Brainstorm possible environmental factors that could affect the rate of photosynthesis. Do research on one of these factors and write a short paper on your findings. Factors that could affect the rate of photosynthesis could be the duration of wavelength, high light intensity, or even air pollutants.The topic we researched was ‘High Light Intensity†. High light intensity happens beyond saturation point. Light intensity reduces the rate of photosynthesis. This affect is called solarization. It can be caused by photo-inhibition and photo-oxidation. Photo-inhibition and photo-oxida tion occurs when shade leaves are abruptly exposed to bright light or when sun leaves are exposed to bright light with environmental stresses such as water deficit or extreme  temperatures. Both occur when the energy absorbed by the photosynthetic reaction centers exceeds the ability to use that energy in metabolic activity.

Kierkegaards Knight of Faith †Theology Essay

Kierkegaards Knight of Faith – Theology Essay Free Online Research Papers Kierkegaard’s Knight of Faith Theology Essay It is difficult to ascertain whether Kierkegaard wanted his readers to see his knights of infinite resignation and faith as images of actual armor-clad medieval warriors bound by an oath, but I do not hesitate to believe that to some extent, this visualization is necessary to fully comprehend his intended meaning. Although the knight of infinite resignation works by reason and the knight of faith relies on acceptance of the absurd for his peace of mind, either role requires quite a strong character and dedication to a sturdy oath. However, each knight has quite a different place in the realm of ethics. The knight of infinite resignation stays within ethics and becomes a tragic hero, the pity of all surrounding him; the knight of faith steps outside classical ethics and becomes an individual example of an ethical suspension for a greater purpose- a purpose which is generally irrational and absurd- actually inviting those surrounding to pity themselves. Kierkegaard uses a wonderfully congruent example of an ethical dilemma that could be presented to a classical, medieval armored knight. In this knight’s world, there is a beautiful princess. He loves her, but she is so far removed from him, that he can never reach her to marry her. Assuming the actual impossibility of the marriage of the two, the knight has two choices. He can submit to resignation and rationally realize he will never have her. In this case, he will not be buoyed up by irrational false hopes, but we still weep for his unfortunate situation. Or else, he can become a knight of faith- he can have blind trust that he will obtain the princess, based on nothing else but his own faith. This is much more difficult to achieve than the knight of infinite resignation- it goes completely against the faculties of reason. Yet he continues to trust that he will marry her and loves her based on the absurd incomprehensible belief that he will obtain her in the end. Abraham is not confronted with loving a woman, but his dilemma is equally great- if not extremely more trying than that of the knight and the princess. He could easily become a knight of infinite resignation in his situation- he could accept the sorrow and impending loss of his son as a pitiable fact of life. But no- Abraham is a knight of faith. He traverses to the mountain in Moriah, having faith that his son Isaac will be saved or that it will all turn out well. Of course, this is based on nothing rational- it is completely a mindset of his hope and faith. For all he knows, he is going to the mountain to become what classical ethics brands a murderer. The knight of faith, as exemplified in the example of Abraham, is an example of the â€Å"teleological suspension of the ethical;† normal ethical code would dictate that he is an attempted murderer, but he has actually transcended our understanding of ethics for a greater purpose. Call him what you will, it does not matter- his loyalty to God brings him above any human judgment. He is no hero. Through his distress and agony and his absurd situation, he is greater than that- a greatness that brings him above our praises and our tears. We do not need to sorrow for him or try to feel his pain, for we can do no such thing. We cannot even understand him, only â€Å"weep for [ourselves]† (94). In other words, what happened to him is not necessarily something eternally unbeneficial- Abraham is a much greater person because of his trial, as we would all be. I weep because I cannot see myself climbing the mountain; I weep because I am afraid that I could not show faith that pure . In the Book of Mormon, Nephi is faced with the dilemma of killing Laban. Like Abraham, murder is something that Nephi has never done, or most likely never even contemplated. Yet, here he is, standing with a drawn sword in front of the drunken, passed-out man who is the central threat to his life. One would tend to think that here we have another teleological suspension of the ethical, and that Nephi is a perfect example of a knight of faith. However, he is not- this is not Kierkegaard’s definition. A knight of faith thinks and acts on his acceptance of the absurd- a perfect absence of reason. This is why Abraham holds this elevated title. There was no rational argument for the killing of Isaac; in fact, the act was in direct contrast to reason as Abraham saw it. After all, hadn’t God promised Abraham’s posterity as numerous as the stars of the sky? Hadn’t He given him Isaac as a fulfillment of that prophecy? There was no visible reason to the command- to u s, it was completely absurd. However, there is plenty of reason involved in Nephi’s decision. He was commanded by God, just as Abraham, but the Lord gives him plenty of reasons why it is better that â€Å"one man should perish than that a whole nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief† (1 Nephi 4:13), that phrase itself being very plausible rationale. In the history of the world, there have been countless examples of just and righteous men killing other men. This is justified even within our own limited ethical value system through war, self-defense, etc. Although Nephi’s situation may not be a classical example of battle or immediate self-preservation, it is certainly a rational decision, simply based on the promptings of God. Abraham, however, has absolutely no reason to kill Isaac than to obey God. Isaac does not want to keep the brass plates, he does not want to kill Abraham, he is completely innocent and does not deserve to die. The fact that Abraham obeys the command of God based on no ethical reason brands him as a true knight of faith. Nephi is somewhat of a tragic hero- we may feel for him and we may even be able to put ourselves in his situation and make the same decision, but we cannot understand the pure absence of reason involved in Abraham’s situation unless we were faced with that decision ourselves. K ierkegaard certainly shares my admiration for this great patriarch, and although we need not weep for his predicament, we certainly can look upon him with wonder and awe. Research Papers on Kierkegaard’s Knight of Faith - Theology EssayArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)Honest Iagos Truth through DeceptionWhere Wild and West MeetEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenCapital PunishmentResearch Process Part OneComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoMind TravelGenetic EngineeringBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of Self

Origins of the Spanish Abbreviation Vd. for Usted

Origins of the Spanish Abbreviation Vd. for Usted To understand why usted is abbreviated as Vd.we need a quick lesson in the etymology  of the word, and the story of that pronoun also answers another question about Spanish, namely why the second-person pronoun usted  (those used when talking to somebody to refer to that person) uses third-person verbs (those used to refer to someone other than the speaker and listener). Why Usted Is Abbreviated Usted had its origins during the colonial era, where it was common to address nobility and other people held in esteem (or people who thought they were held in esteem) as vuestra merced, meaning your mercy. Vuestra merced was used in much the same way as your honor is used in English today, with third-person verbs, i.e., we say your honor is rather than your honor are. It began as an extremely formal type of address, eventually becoming the standard way of addressing people in higher positions as well as persons who arent friends or family. As is often the case with much-used terms, vuestra merced became shortened over the centuries. It changed to vuesarced to vusarced and eventually to vusted, which you may still hear, especially among older speakers, in some regions. Vd. was adopted as an abbreviation for that word or earlier forms and remains in use today, although Ud. is more common. Spanish speakers tend to soften their consonants, so vusted eventually gave way to todays usted (which in some areas has its last letter softened so it sounds like ustà ©). Like the earlier vuestra merced, it still uses third-person verbs (i.e., usted es for the formal you are but tà º eres for the familiar/informal you are). As all living languages do, Spanish continues to change, and these days usted itself is being heard less often. In a change that has its parallels in English, much Spanish usage is becoming more informal or egalitarian. Whereas at one time, strangers were frequently addressed as usted, it is common in some areas, especially among younger people, for peers to immediately address each other as tà º. On the other hand, there are areas in which usted is used even among family members, and others where vos is preferred over tà º for family or close friends.