Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Nature vs. Society Wordsworths Romantic Poetry - 1646 Words

Nature Vs. Society: Wordsworth’s Romantic Poetry Over time, poetry has changed and evolved in its sense of the word nature. In its beginnings the idea of nature or natural was seen as negative and evil. However, in more recent times due to the era of Romanticism, nature in poetry is viewed in a positive and even beautiful light. William Wordsworth was a poet who wrote his poetry with a romantic attitude. Furthermore Wordsworth wrote specifically the poems â€Å"We Are Seven† (WAS) and â€Å"Three Years She Grew† (TYSG) in a style that showcased the superiority of nature over society. â€Å"We Are Seven† and â€Å"Three Years She Grew† portray a romantic attitude in their works, additionally the values placed on the natural world over the societal world†¦show more content†¦The second poem â€Å"Three Years She Grew† has the same theme of death however, is from a different perspective. Generally, the poem is about a man who share s a love for a woman although her life is short lived. The poem is full of compliments towards nature, and to be associated is seen to be of the upmost regards. In the first stanza, the audience is hearing about how nature feels about this now young three-year-old girl also known as Lucy. Nature is ultimately personified almost as a mother figure or further Mother Nature in which â€Å"adopts† the young girl. Then Nature said, â€Å"A lovelier flower On earth was never sown; This Child I to myself will take; She shall be mine, and I will make A Lady of my own. (Wordsworth, TYSG, 2-6) In this verse, nature is choosing the young girl for it’s own, which in the natural world can be viewed as one of the best things that can happen to an individual. Also, nature marks the girl as â€Å"Lady† which invokes a class status, that of upper class. Lucy will be a natural lady, and thus does not need society’s confirmation of this, furthermore contrasting nature to society in social recognition. The second stanza also compares nature to society in the use of social laws. â€Å"Both law and impulse: and with me†¦/ †¦[s]hall feel an overseeing power/ [t]o kindle or restrain†. (Wordsworth, TYSG, 8-12) InShow MoreRelatedThe Romantic Movement Of William Wordsworth And Samuel Taylor Coleridge Essay1427 Words   |  6 Pages INTRODUCTION The Romantic Movement was introduced around1820 to America; this movement overlapped with the period of national development. Romantic philosophies looked at art as spiritual elements of nature and used metaphors as an inspiration. Nature was a significant theme for the duration of this period since supernatural things began in our imagination. Many sonnets were created using freedom of thought however these writings soon shifted to an imagination method (natural surroundings) fromRead MoreAnalysis Of Daffodils By William Wordsworth2381 Words   |  10 Pagesdedicated to a return to nature within literature and art. It was a confident reaction to the industrial revolution, in which man-made objects became the life of soul of the everyman’s everyday life. The great artists and poets and authors of the time began to create works filled with passion and emotion and all interpreted from the themes within nature. During this period, authors and artists alike found inspiration in things such as flowers, for example William Wordsworth’s classic entitled ‘daffodils’Read MoreThe Romantic Period Stressed Instincts, Affection, and Love1422 Words   |  6 PagesThe Romantic period or Romanticism was a literary movement that had sprung in England in late 18th century. The rise of the movement was precipitated by the issuing of Lyrical Ballads by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge .The movement came to cope up with the general tenors of the Industrial and Enlightenment age .It stressed on things like instincts, affection , love,the heart over the head .It came also to celebrate such things as mysticism and the natural world.Romanticism alsoRead MoreRomanticism versus Neoclassicism2775 Words   |  12 PagesNeoclassical and Romantic movements cover the period of 1750 to 1850. Neoclassicism showed life to be more rational than it really was. The Romantics favoured an interest in nature, picturesque, violent, sublime. Unlike Neo_cla ssicism, which stood for the order, reason, tradition, society, intellect and formal diction, Romanticism allowed people to get away from the constrained rational views of life and concentrate on an emotional and sentimental side of humanity. In this movement the emphasis was

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Microsoft Sql Database Management System - 872 Words

Introduction and Methodology Microsoft SQL Database Administrator Database plays a major role in any organization. As a Database administrator(DBA) he/she is responsible in developing, implementing and maintaining the databases and DBA s are also responsible in updating, backup s and security of the databases. The first Database Management System was developed in the late 1960 s by two firms based on their network data model but in the early 1970’s a scientist of IBM introduced Relational database theory after six years IBM completed prototype on RDBMS (relational database management system). Oracle created the first versatile Relational Database Management Systems In 1983, which allowed organizations to use their DBMS on different machines including mainframes, workstations, and Pc s. In 1993 Microsoft first created a database application called Access for Macintosh machines. Microsoft SQL server is a RDBMS which is used to store and retrieve the data by other software applications. There are 12 types of servers concentrated on various types of user s from single computer to large networks (Microsoft SQL DBA). I have pursued my under graduation in Information Technology, during my course work I was more interested in databases and I have developed special interest in making it as my career. I have learned basics of all database concepts and I have attended extra tuitions and seminars to get in depth knowledge about it. In the last semester of my master’s program IShow MoreRelatedDatabase Management System And Microsoft Sql Server Vs. Teradata754 Words   |  4 PagesDBMS Database Management System or DBMS is a collecting computer program used for creating, deleting, editing and maintaining collections of different data records. There are many different types of database management systems; they are used to stored, managed database model. Different DBMS systems are Relational Database System, Flat Files Base Database Management, Hierarchical Database Management Systems, Network Database Management System and Object-oriented Database Management Systems. () Read MoreUnit 17 - Database Design Concepts1192 Words   |  5 PagesUnit 17 – Database Design Concepts a) Write and describe a variety uses organisations make of use of databases and the issues they face - P1.1 Integrity of data Data integrity refers to preserving and promising the accuracy and consistency of data over its entire life-cycle. It is also the critical aspect to the design, implementation and usage of any system. This system can store, process or retrieve data. Data integrity can be negotiated in a number of ways that include: †¢ Human errors when dataRead MoreA Comparative Analysis of Database Software Programs1257 Words   |  5 PagesComparative Analysis of Database Software Programs Introduction All enterprise software applications rely on databases to provide the necessary data, data structures, integration, security and reporting to ensure corporate-wide systems and platforms can deliver information when and where it is needed. From this perspective, databases are the catalyst of enterprise software growth and stability. The intent of this analysis is to compare the most critical attributes of Microsoft Access, SQL, IBM DB2 and OracleRead MoreDatabase Management System For A Company1660 Words   |  7 PagesA research database management system (RDBMS) is the most used database management system for a company. Its roots date back to 1970, created by E.F. Codd at IBM. The database approach involves the storage of data involving tables. Attributes of the tables involve rows, used as a record of an entity. Columns, also attributes of the table, determine what will be recorded for that field. Within a table one primary key will be found, this represents a unique column o f the table. A table may alsoRead MoreSql Server Vs Oracle : Sql1511 Words   |  7 PagesSQL Server vs Oracle Background of SQL: A group that was commissioned by IBM created a simplified version of DSL/Alpha (DSL/Alpha was proposed by Dr. Edgar F. Ted Codd for manipulating the data in relational database) and named it as SQUARE. With few additional functionalities to SQUARE they created a new language called SEQUEL. Later on SEQUEL was renamed as SQL (Structured Query Language). In 1980s, American National Standards Institute (ANSI) began to work on the SQL language and by the end ofRead MoreDatabase Management System Software ( Dbms )1557 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Database management system software (DBMS) is the software that can operate on the front and back end of an organization’s database. As do the database requirements of an organization differ, so do the types of DBMS software. The type of DBMS software required can often be narrowed down to the organization’s size and industry (Mohamed 2016). Currently, the top three DBMSs are Oracle, MySQL, and Microsoft SQL Server (â€Å"Microsoft SQL Server vs. MySQL vs. Oracle Comparison† 2016). Read MoreDatabases in My Organization992 Words   |  4 PagesDatabases in My Organization CIS319: Computers and Information Systems Abstract Databases have been in use since the early days of computing programs. An Information Technology services company, such as Getronics, not only utilizes databases for information and record management, it earns revenue by providing database management services. Getronics uses Microsoft SQL Server 2000 as its database software. The clients that contract Getronics for Information Technology services rely andRead MoreMicrosoft Azure Sql Database Analysis893 Words   |  4 Pagesare: †¢ Microsoft Azure SQL Database: Microsoft Azure SQL Database is a cloud database service of Microsoft’s. I have worked with MSSQL Database during my job. Now I want to learn advance technology which is Sql Azure. In SQL Azure you have to use SQL Server authentication instead of Integrated Security. When you work with SQL Azure you don t need to spend any time on security patches, disk space, moving databases between different servers to handle increased load, etc. †¢ Real time database system:Read MoreSql Vs. Oracle Server1285 Words   |  6 Pages SQL vs. Oracle Server Dheeraj Balamoori Wilmington University â€Æ' Abstract Databases are most paramount part in today s organizations. In the event that the servers are down for quite a while and data is not accessible there would be enormous misfortune to the organization regarding income and good will. Thus, databases play an essential part in today s business. There are various relational database management systems (RDBMS) like Microsoft Access, Sybase, MySQL and oracle but outRead MoreEssay on Databases968 Words   |  4 Pages Databases in My Organization Abstract nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Databases have been in use since the early days of computing programs. An Information Technology services company, such as Getronics, not only utilizes databases for information and record management, it earns revenue by providing database management services. Getronics uses Microsoft SQL Server 2000 as its database software. The clients that contract Getronics for Information Technology services rely and depend on the accuracy

Monday, December 9, 2019

Book Brief Essay Example For Students

Book Brief Essay FrankensteinMary ShelleyNovelBrief Synopsis:The book opens with a scene of a ship in the Arctic Ocean. The ship is stuck inthe ice and unable to move. Robert Walton, the ships captain, is writing letters to hissister back home. The letters tell of his explorations and the events that occur on the ship. Waltons crew pulls abord a lifeless body and revive the man back to life. This man isVictor Frankenstein. Walton and Frankenstein talk about why Victor is in the Arctic andVictor explains the horrible and tragic story of the past few years of his life. Victor was born to a very wealthy and popular family. While he was still younghis parents adopted a young girl with whom Victor would grow up with and eventuallyfall in love with her. Victor goes through medical school and becomes very good friends aclassmate, Henry Clerval. Even though Victors young life seams perfect it is all about tochange. Victors mother died when he was still young and her death would change him forthe rest of his life. After Victors mothers death Victor swore he would conquer themortality of humans. Victor, once he was out of medical school, he began to work on histheory of conquering death. He collected numerous body parts and put them together andused a special technique to bring the corpse to life. At first Victor thought he had failed,but the creature sat up and was alive. Victor was horrified by his own creation and fledhis laboratory. The monster then disappeared into the city. Two years pasted and the monster wasnt heard from, until something terriblehappened. Victors younger brother William was strangled to death. It was believed thatWilliams nanny and close friend of the family, Justine, had murdered him. A lynch mobgathered and drug her off and hanged her. Later on Victor saw his creature and realizedthat the monster murdered his brother not Justine. Victor still in shock after his brothersdeath went to the mountains. The monster followed him there. When Victor stopped themonster confronted him. The monster explained to Victor how he survived while inhiding. He told Victor of the family he watched through a crack in the wall of theabandoned shack he stayed in and how he learned to read, write, and talk from thesepeople. After a long and detailed conversation the monster told Victor of his deal. Themonster wanted Victor to create another being similar to himself. The monster realizedthat he was hideous and that no normal human could or would ever love him. Thecreature that Victor would create for him would be his lifelong partner and they wouldflee civilization never to return. The other side of the deal was if Victor did not agree themonster would haunt Victor the rest of his life. Since the monster would not have anyoneto love neither would Victor because the monster would torture Victor by killing all thepeople that he loved. At first Victor agreed to the deal. Days went by and Victor began his project. Half way through he realized that he regretted the first time he did this and he swore tohimself that he would not repeat the same mistake again. Victor destroyed the remains ofthe project and as he was doing this the monster came in the room. Once the monster sawVictor wreaking his laboratory, he became furious. The monster promised Victor hewould regret his actions and threatened that Victor should be careful because the monsterwould be with him on his wedding night. .u29396e7f24a4980230e96d71c82f6ff9 , .u29396e7f24a4980230e96d71c82f6ff9 .postImageUrl , .u29396e7f24a4980230e96d71c82f6ff9 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u29396e7f24a4980230e96d71c82f6ff9 , .u29396e7f24a4980230e96d71c82f6ff9:hover , .u29396e7f24a4980230e96d71c82f6ff9:visited , .u29396e7f24a4980230e96d71c82f6ff9:active { border:0!important; } .u29396e7f24a4980230e96d71c82f6ff9 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u29396e7f24a4980230e96d71c82f6ff9 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u29396e7f24a4980230e96d71c82f6ff9:active , .u29396e7f24a4980230e96d71c82f6ff9:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u29396e7f24a4980230e96d71c82f6ff9 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u29396e7f24a4980230e96d71c82f6ff9 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u29396e7f24a4980230e96d71c82f6ff9 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u29396e7f24a4980230e96d71c82f6ff9 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u29396e7f24a4980230e96d71c82f6ff9:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u29396e7f24a4980230e96d71c82f6ff9 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u29396e7f24a4980230e96d71c82f6ff9 .u29396e7f24a4980230e96d71c82f6ff9-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u29396e7f24a4980230e96d71c82f6ff9:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Clockwork Orange And The Age Of Mechanical Reprodu EssayThe monsters threat did not stop Victor from his plans of marrying Elizabeth, hischildhood love. After the wedding Victor hired the best men to guard him and his wifethat night. As Victor was checking the guards he heard his wife scream. They rushed intothe room, saw the monster fleeing the room, and saw his wife strangled on the bed. Victor then swore that he would track the monster to the ends of the Earth and kill him. The monster lead Victor to the Arctic. This is where Victor was pulled aboard by Capt. Walton and his crew. After Victor finished telling his story to Walton and his crew he fell asleep anddied. Sometime later a rather large and hideous man came aboard the ship and asked ifthey had seen his father. The men pointed toward

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Strategic Management Study Guide Essay Example

Strategic Management Study Guide Essay STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT TEST 2 (Chapters 3, 4, and 6): STUDY GUIDE †¢Know definitions and be able to recognize examples of concepts †¢Test will be multiple choice, 45-50 items †¢Bring scantron sheet and #2 pencil Additional free student study resources available including an interactive quiz from the publisher at: http://highered. mcgraw-hill. com/sites/0078029317/student_view0/chapter1/chapter_quiz. html Chapter 3: Assessing the Internal Environment †¢What is value chain analysis? How is it useful for understanding competitive advantages? Strategic analysis of an organization that uses value-creating activities. It is useful for understanding the building blocks of competitive advantages. †¢In the value chain, what are the 5 primary activities? Which 4 activities are support activities? Primary- inbound logistics, operations, outbound logistics, marketing and sales, and service. Support- general admininistration, human resource management, technology development, and procurement. †¢Relating to primary activities, what specific activities are associated with inbound logistics? Operations? Outbound logistics? Marketing and sales? Service? Inbound logistics- receiving, storing, and distributing inputs of a product. Operations- all activities associated with transforming inputs into the final product form. Outbound logistics- collecting, storing, and distributing the product or service to buyers. Marketing and sales- activities associated with purchases of products and services by end users and the inducements used to get them to make purchases. Service- actions associated with providing service to enhance or maintain the value of the product. †¢What is a Just-in-time inventory system? were designed to achieve efficient inbound logistics. Parts and deliveries arrive only hours before they are needed. †¢Relating to support activities, what specific activities are associated with procurement? Technology development? HR management? General administration? Procurement- purchasing inputs used in the firm’s value chain, including raw materials, supplies, and other consumable item s as well as assets such as machinery, laboratory equipment, office equipment, and buildings. Technology development- development of new knowledge that is applied to the firm’s operations. We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Management Study Guide specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Management Study Guide specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Management Study Guide specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer HR management- activities involved in the recruiting, hiring, training, development, and compensation of all types of personnel. General administration- general management, planning, finance, accounting, legal and government affairs, quality management, and information systems: activities that support the entire value chain and not individual activities. †¢How has Walgreen’s used information systems to be a sources of competitive advantage? Introduction of a computer based prescription management system- automates telephone refills, store to store prescription transfers, and drug reordering. Also provides information on drug interactions and frees up pharmacists from administrative tasks to devote more time to patient counseling. †¢What are the two levels of interrelationships among value-chain activities? 1. Interrelationships among activities within the firm 2. Interrelationships among activities within the firm and other stakeholders. †¢What is resource-based view of the firm? Perceptions that firms’ competitive advantages are due to their endowment of strategic resources that are valuable, rare, costly to imitate, and costly to substitute. What are the 3 types of firm resources? Tangible, Intangible, and Organizational Capabilities. †¢What are the 4 kinds of tangible resources? Financial, physical, technological, and organizational. †¢What are the 3 kinds of intangible resources, Human, Innovation and Creativity, and Reputation. †¢What examples of organizational capabilities? Ex. Outstanding customer service. Excellent product developm ent capabilities, innovativeness of products and services. Ability to hire, motivate, and retain human capital. What are the four criteria that a firm’s resources must possess to maintain a sustainable advantage? 1. Resource must be valuable in the sense that it exploits opportunities and/or neutralizes threats in the firm’s environment. 2. It must be rare among the firm’s current and potential competitors. 3. It must be difficult to imitate. 4. Must have no strategically equivalent substitutes. †¢How can the following four resource characteristics help sustain a competitive advantage based on inimitability: physical uniqueness, path dependency, causal ambiguity, and social complexity? 1. Inherently difficult to copy. 2. Resources are scarce because they were acquired through a unique series of events. 3. Costly to imitate because competitor cannot determine what the resource is and/or how it can be re-created. 4. Costly to imitate because the social engineering required is beyond the capability of competitors, including interpersonal relations among managers, organizational culture, and reputation with suppliers and customers. †¢Substitutability can take which two forms? 1. Substitute a similar resource that enables it to develop and implement the same strategy. . Very different firm resources can become strategic substitutes. †¢ See exhibit 3. 7 – what are the implications for competitiveness based on differing characteristics of a resource or capability? The less valuable, less rare, easier to imitate, more substitutes, the less competitive advantage. †¢What are the four factors that help explain the extent to which employees will be able to o btain a proportionally high level of a firm’s profits? 1. Employee bargaining power. 2. Employee replacement costs. 3. Employee exit costs. 4. Manager Bargaining Power. What are the two approaches to use when evaluating a firm’s performance? Financial ration analysis and taking a broad stakeholder view. †¢What is financial ratio analysis? How can historical comparisons, industry norm comparisons, and competitor comparisons each serve as useful reference points? 1. Technique for measuring the performance of a firm according to its balance sheet, income statement, and market valuation. 2. Provides a means of evaluating trends. 3. Assesses relative performance. 4. Gain valuable insights into a firm’s financial and competitive position. What is the balanced scorecard? Why is it useful? a method of evaluating a firm’s performance using performance measures from the customers, internal innovation, and learning, and financial perspectives. Provides managers with a fast, but comprehensive review of the business (operations measures that drive the future financial performance). †¢What are the four key perspectives of the balanced scorecard? 1. Customer perspective- measures of firm performance that indicate how well firms are satisfying customer’s expectations. 2. Internal business perspective- measures of firm performance that indicate how well firms internal processes, decisions, and actions are contributing to customer satisfaction. 3. Innovation and learning perspective- measures of a firm performance that indicate how well firms are changing their product and service offerings to adapt to changes in the internal and external environments. 4. Financial perspective- measure of firm’s financial performance that indicate how well strategy, implementation and execution are contributing bottom-line improvement. †¢What are the limitations of the balanced scorecard? Lack of a clear strategy, limited or ineffective executive sponsorship, too much emphasis on financial measures rather than nonfinancial measures, poor data on actual performance, inappropriate links of scorecard measures to compensation, inconsistent or inappropriate terminology. Chapter 4: Recognizing a Firm’s Intellectual Assets: Moving Beyond a Firm’s Tangible Resources †¢What is the knowledge economy? An economy where wealth is created through the effective management of knowledge workers instead of by the efficient control of physical and financial assets. How has the emphasis shifted between intangible and tangible resources as a result of changes in the competitive environment? Shifted from tangible resources such as land, equipment, and money. Efforts were more directed toward the efficient allocation of labor and capital. Now intellectual and information processes create most of the value for firms in large service industries. †¢What is the market va lue of a firm? What is the book value of a firm? What does the difference between the two values represent? In what types of firms does this difference tend to be the greatest? Market value- the value of a share of its common stock times the number of shares outstanding. Book value- is primarily a measure of the value of its tangible resources: total assets- total liabilities. The difference between the two represents the firm’s intellectual capital ( a measure of the firm’s intangible assets). In firms where knowledge and the management of knowledge workers are relatively important contributors to developing products and services and physical resources are less critical, the ratio of market to book value tends to be much higher. †¢What is intellectual capital and how can it be increased? Intellectual capital= market value of firm-book value of the firm. To increase: attract and leverage human capital effectively through mechanisms that create products and services of value over time. †¢What is human capital? Social capital? Explicit knowledge? Tacit knowledge? Human capital- the individual capabilities, knowledge, skills, and experience of a company’s employees and managers. Social capital- the network of friendships between talented people both inside and outside the organization. Explicit knowledge- knowledge that is codified, documented, easily reproduced, and widely distributed. Tacit knowledge- knowledge that is in the minds of employees and is based on their experiences and backgrounds. †¢How is new knowledge created? Through the continual interaction of explicit and tacit knowledge. †¢How has employee loyalty to the company changed relative to loyalty to the profession? Knowledge workers place professional development and personal enrichment above company loyalty. †¢What is a first critical step in the process of of building intellectual capital? What are the other processes organizations use to build human capital? Hiring talented individuals, developing them to fulfill their full potential to maximize their joint contributions. Retain the best and brightest. †¢Why do many companies use employee referrals for new hires? Incentive bonuses paid to the referrers are cheaper than what they would have to pay headhunters to find candidates, plus the current employees would find good candidates because they are putting their reputation on the line for them. †¢What strategies are used to develop human capital? Encouraging widespread involvement, Transferring knowledge, monitoring progress and development, and evaluating human capital. How as the importance of evaluating human capital changed in recent years? Collaboration and interdependence are vital to organizational success. Individuals must work collectively. Traditional past systems evaluate performance from a single perspective. †¢What is 360 degree feedback? Superiors, direct reports, colleagues, and even external and internal cus tomers rate a person’s performance. †¢What are the 6 benefits of diversity in a firm’s workforce? 1. Cost argument- firms with more effective management in diversity will have a cost advantage over those that are not. 2. Resource acquisition argument- firms with excellent reputations as prospective employers for minorities will have an advantage in the competition for top talent. 3. Marketing argument- for multinational firms this will be useful. 4. Creativity argument- less emphasis on conformity to norms of the past and diversity of perspectives will improve the level of creativity. 5. Problem solving argument- people with different perspectives have a better shot at solving complex problems than those who all think alike. 6. Organizational flexibility argument- greater flexibility leads means better reactions to environmental changes. What is network analysis? Closure relationships? Bridging relationships? Analysis of the pattern of social interactions among individuals. †¢How can effective social networks be advantageous to an individual’s career? Private information now available. Access to diverse skill sets. Power. †¢What is groupthink? tendency in an organization for individ uals not to question shared beliefts. †¢What are intellectual property rights? What actions can be taken to manage intellectual property? Intangible property owned by a firm in the forms of patents, copyrights, trademarks, or trade secrets. What are dynamic capabilities? The ability to sense and seize new opportunities, generates new knowledge, and reconfigure existing assets and capabilities. Chapter 6: Corporate-Level Strategy: Creating Value Through Diversification †¢What is corporate-level strategy? What two related issues does it address? a strategy that focuses on gaining long-term revenue, profits, and market value through managing operations in multiple businesses. Acquisitions and mergers. †¢How is related diversification different than unrelated diversification? What are the potential benefits of each? Related diversification- a firm entering a different business in which it can benefit from leveraging core competencies, sharing activities, or building market power. Unrelated diversification- a firm entering a different business that has little horizontal interaction with other businesses of a firm. †¢Be familiar with the classifications of Exhibit 6. 2 3M was using exorbitant rebates to retailers, which pushed them into a â€Å"monopolistic position† and courts ordered 3M to pay 68. 5 million dollars to another tape company. †¢In related diversification, what is meant by economies of scope? Cost savings from leveraging core competencies, sharing activities, or building market power. †¢What is a core competency? What are the three criteria for assessing if a core competency creates value? Firm’s strategic resources that reflect the collective learning in the organization. 1. Must enhance competitive advantage by creating superior customer value. 2. Different businesses in the corporation must be similar in at least one important way related to the core competence. 3. Must be difficult for competitors to imitate or find substitutes for. †¢What are sharing activities? What are the two payoffs associated with sharing activities. -Having activities of two or more businesses value chains done by one of the businesses. -1. Cost savings -2. Revenue enhancement †¢In related diversification, what is market power? Firm’s ability to profit through restricting or controlling supply to a market or coordinating with other firms to reduce investment. †¢What is pooled negotiating power? the improvement in bargaining position relative to customers and suppliers. †¢What is vertical integration, in its associated risks and benefits? an xpansion or extension of the firm by integrating preceding or successive production processes (occurs when a firm becomes its own supplier or distributer). Pros- secure supply of raw materials or distribution channels. Protection and control over assests and services required to produce and deliver. Access to new business opportunities and new forms of technology. Eliminating the need to deal with a wide variet y of suppliers and distributors. Cons- costs and expenses associated with increased overhead and capital expenditures. Loss of flexibility resulting from large investments. Problems associated with unbalanced capacities along the value chain. Additional administrative costs associated with managing a more complex set of activities. †¢What 5 issues should be considered in making vertical integration decisions? 1. Is the company satisfied with the quality of the value that its present suppliers and distributors are providing? 2. Are there activities in the industry value chain presently being outsourced or performed independently by others that are a viable source of future profits? 3. Is there a high level of stability in the demand for the organization’s products? . Does the company have the necessary competencies to execute the vertical integration strategies? 5. Will the vertical integration initiative have potential negative impacts on the firm’s stakeholders? †¢What is the transaction cost perspective? A perspective that the choice of a transaction’s governance structure such as vertical integration or market transacti on, is influenced by transaction costs, including, search, negotiating, contracting, monitoring, and enforcement costs, associated with each choice. †¢What is unrelated diversification? What is a parenting advantage? A firm entering a different business that has little horizontal interaction with other businesses of a firm. Parenting advantage- the positive contributions of the corporate office to a new business as a result of expertise and support provided and not as a result of substantial changes in assets, capital structure, or management. †¢What is restructuring? What are the three types of restructuring? The intervention of the corporate office in a new business that substantially changes assets, capital structure and management. 1. Asset restructuring 2. Capital restructuring 3. Management restructuring What is portfolio management? Method of assessing the competitive position of a portfolio of businesses within a corporation, suggesting strategic alternatives for each business, and identifying priorities for the allocation of resources across the businesses. †¢What is the Boston Consulting Group’s (BCG) growth/share matrix? What are the 4 quadrants in the matrix? What are the suggested strategies associated with each of the quadrants? What are the limitations of the BCG matrix? Each of the firm’s strategic business units is plotted on a two-dimensional grid in which the axes are relevant market share and industry growth rate. 1. Stars-competing in high growth industries with high market shares, long term growth potential and should continue to receive substantial investment funding. 2. Question marks- competing in high growth industries with but have weak market share, resources should be invested to enhance their competitive positions. 3. Cash cows- have high market shares in low growth industries. Have limited long run potential, but represent a source of current cash flows to fund investments into starts and question marks. 4. Dogs- have weak market shares in low growth industries, weak positions and limited potential. Most recommend they become divested. Limitations of BCG matrix- 1. the only compare based on two dimensions. 2. View them as a stand-alone entity, ignoring common business practices and value creating activities that may hold promise for synergies across business units. 3. The process becomes largely mechanical, substituting an overly simplified graphical model for the important contributions of the CEO or other managers experience. †¢What are the three primary means by which a firm can diversify? 1. Through acquisitions or mergers 2. Pool the resources of other companies with their resource base, commonly known as a joint-venture or strategic alliance. 3. Diversify into new products, markets, and technologies through internal development. †¢What are the benefits and potential of mergers and acquisitions? 1. A means of obtaining valuable resources that can help an organization expand its product offerings and services 2. Can provide the opportunity for firms to attain the three bases of synergy—leveraging core competencies, sharing activities, and building market power. 3. Can lead to consolidation within an industry and can force other players to merge. Cons- competing firms can often imitate any advantages realized from the MA. there can be cultural issues that may doom the intended benefits from the endeavors. †¢What is a divestment? The exit of a business from a firm’s portfolio. †¢What is a strategic alliance? Joint venture? How do they differ? What are their potential advantages and downsides? Strategic alliance- a cooperative relationship between two or more firms. Joint venture- new entities formed within a strategic alliance in which two or more firms, the parents, contribute equity to form the new legal entity. A strategic alliance is a cooperative relationship. A joint venture is a special case of alliances where both firms contribute equity to form a new legal entity. Pros- Reducing manufacturing or other costs in the value chain. Developing and diffusing new technologies. Cons- many fail to meet expectations. Without proper partner, a firm should never consider it. Little attention is often given to nurturing the close working relationships and interpersonal connections that bring together the partnering organizations. †¢What is internal development? What are its potential downsides? -Entering a new business through investment in new facilities, often called corporate entrepreneurship and new venture development. -It may be time consuming, firms may forfeit the benefits of speed that growth through mergers and acquisitions can provide. †¢How can managerial motives erode value creation? They may often act in their own self-interests (CEOS). â€Å"growth for growth’s sake†, excessive egotism, and the creation of a wide variety of antitakeover tactics. †¢What is meant by growth for growth’s sake? Egotism? Manager’s actions to grow the size of their firms not to increase long-term profitability, but to sever managerial self-interest. -Manager’s actions to shape their firm’s strategies to serve their selfish interests rather than to maximize long-term shareholder value. †¢What are the antitakeover tactics of greenmail, the golden parachute, and poison pill? Greenmail- a payment by a firm to a hostile party for the firm’s stock at a premium, made when the firm’s management feels that the hostile party is about to make a tender offer. (sort of like a bribe)