Abstract This paper looks at the strengths of the large corporation, UPS, and how they can be utilized to expand market share internationally. The writer uses analysis to describe two different alternatives that UPS can incorporate to ensure continued success.
Table of Contents:
Core Competencies
First Alternative
Second Alternative
Recommendation
From the Paper "United Parcel Service has made dramatic enhancements to their technological operations over the past ten years. These advances have paid large dividends in the U.S. market and, in conjunction with the capital raised by the company's initial public offering in 1996, have enabled the company to significantly expand operations internationally. Despite great strides in electronic access globally (i.e. web, wireless technology, UPS OnLinea Advantage, & UPS OnLinea Worldlink), these services appear to be underutilized. Recently, UPS has been finding growth through geographic expansion. With delivery capabilities already in excess of 200 countries, this method will inevitably fail to offer additional growth. Therefore, the problem UPS is facing is the maturing of their previous growth model and a necessity to redefine or augment corporate strategy."
Abstract Managers are individuals who are given the task of implementing the objective of management, which is to fulfill the main goals of an organization ?efficiently.? The paper shows that in order to be able to accomplish and fulfill the specific objectives of an organization, management has different functions. These functions are the important concepts and tasks that a manager must follow and implement in order to keep the interests of the personnel and administration of the organization effectively. This paper discusses four functions of management-- planning, organizing, controlling and leading.
From the Paper "The function of controlling in management requires not only management skills by the manager, but leaders and managers are required to possess social and psychological knowledge of how to deal with groups and individuals within the organization. Controlling includes effective communication among the members of the organization. In controlling, attitudes, perceptions, and motivations of individuals are taken into account by the manager in order to motivate the members to work efficiently and get the work done. Meanwhile, human resources, interpersonal relations, and group dynamics are also concepts that need to be understood by the manager so that if problems or conflicts ever arise within the organization, then the manager can effectively formulate or come up with a solution that will resolve the conflict. Controlling is best applied in decision-making processes, such as negotiations between personnel and administration regarding a new policy that will be implemented or proposed to the organization."
Abstract This paper produces a system analysis and design for a privately owned hospital which needs to upgrade its computerized information system. The paper discusses ways to upgrade both hardware and software throughout the clinic, establish a clinic-wide network in a single information management system and to acquire off-the-shelf software and hardware to provide data services for the clinic-wide network. The paper also shows ways in which the clinic could outsource the development of department-specific software where required and create an in-house MIS Department to manage the clinic-wide network and maintain all hardware and software. The paper includes illustrations.
From the Paper "The utility of information technology is enhanced in health care institutions when it is implemented in network configurations because this approach allows information and resources to be shared by all elements of an institution. Expanded computerized information system capability can support cost reduction and productivity improvement initiatives within health care delivery organizations. For example, the cost and time spent on duplicate tests can be reduced if all patient treatment data are available to all clinicians in a health care delivery organization. Additional time and cost savings can be realized by automating new treatment protocols and the tools used to monitor variances from treatment standards (Murchison, 1999)."
Abstract This paper presents a detailed examination of the aviation industry from a marketing standpoint. The writer explores the four P's of marketing and uses American Airlines as an example of marketing strategies with the four P"s. The paper explains that the four P's are price, product, place and promotion. The focus remains on selling the consumer through marketing with the four P"s.
From the Paper "Airlines have been the redheaded stepchild of the travel industry for several years. Companies are filing bankruptcy, restructuring and other things trying to stay afloat. In their quest to survive they often test the limits of regulations and have landed in court over those tests. One such incident happened when the federal government of the United States filed a suit against American Airlines claiming the airline was using a practice called "predatory pricing" to lure customers to them as an exclusive airline choice."
Abstract The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss and analyze the topic of gasoline prices in the United States and offer some insight as to why they are so high. Specifically, it answers the question "Do Americans really have a right to complain?" It also discusses European gas prices, and why they are higher than America's, as well as some alternative fuels that might help ease gas prices in the United States.
From the Paper "American gas prices may be higher than we have ever encountered before, but they are much lower than gas prices around the world. American drivers are spoiled. They tend to drive large, inefficient vehicles, and then rant about the high price of gasoline. They drive long distances for work and play, using more gasoline per capita than residents of many foreign countries. American drivers also rely heavily on their vehicles, rather than using more efficient and fuel-friendly alternatives, like carpooling or public transportation. We depend too much on foreign oil, a resource that is non-renewable. We need to develop more alternatives to our dependence on gasoline by researching more efficient fuels and automobiles, like the hybrids that have recently been developed by Honda and Toyota, which use a mixture of gasoline and electricity to provide better gas mileage while using less gasoline. Our dependency on oil must stop, or one day, our children will wake up to world without gasoline."
Abstract This paper is a brief book report which includes a summary of the topic of the book, a critical analysis, and a conclusion including the lessons learned and the effect the book has on people's minds. It shows how the authors give a detailed and in-depth account of American millionaires and how they acquired their wealth. The book provides a straightforward blueprint to improve one's financial circumstances, as well as secrets concerning millionaires in the United States.
From the Paper "When we think of American millionaires, we immediately think of those we see on “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.” Most of us believe them to be flamboyant characters who buy what they want and lead exciting lifestyles. However, that assumption is very wrong. It seems that the majority of millionaires are actually frugal bargain hunters and live relatively boring lives (Stanley 1998). In The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy, Thomas Stanley and William Danko give a detailed and in-depth account of American millionaires and how they acquired their wealth. The book provides a straightforward blueprint to improve one’s financial circumstances, as well as secrets concerning millionaires in the United States (Stanley 1998). The authors summarize their findings from research of the methods millionaires use to acquire their wealth."
Abstract This paper details a research design which will follow the hypothesis that when music is played, regardless of the type of music played, that shoppers will spend more time and more money as opposed to the amount of time and money spent when the music is not being played. It provides a methodology explanation, limitations of the study and implications of the study.
From the Paper "Marketers continuously attempt to influence shopper habits by manipulating their environment. It has been known since the early 1970s that factors such as lighting, layout, sounds, colors and temperature invoke emotional responses in consumers (Kotler, 1973). Research has shown that the amount of time spent in a restaurant was directly related to the amount of money spent (Caldwell and Hibbert, 2002). Musical preferences were found to play a factor in the restaurant experience. However, the tempo of the music was not found to be significant (Caldwell and Hibbert, 2002). Several researchers have focused on the effects of music on consumer behavior (North, Hargreaves, and McKendrick, 1996; Yalch & Spangenberg, 1990; Milliman, 1982)."
Abstract This paper examines how the organizational culture and management style at Enron contributed to this culture of silence that both silenced critics and forced employees to go along with management's questionable decisions. It focuses particularly on the organizational style of Jeffrey K. Skilling, whose tenure as Enron's Chief Operating Officer is largely credited with sowing the seeds of Enron's destruction.
From the Paper "Skilling's micro-management style and rank and yank policies resulted in an intense competition among Enron executives. Robert J. Hermann, Enron's former tax counsel, described the culture of Schilling's Enron as "me first, I want to get paid...There were always people wanting to do deals that didn't make sense in order to get a bonus" (cited in Behr and Witt, "Visionary's Dream Led to Risky Business"). Whenever possible, Schilling reportedly used such financial incentives to shore up his "loose-tight" management style."
Abstract This paper presents an overview of the marketing plan employed by the Starbucks Corporation. The paper begins with an introduction to Starbucks and its aim to be the producer of great coffee and great coffee shops. Following on from this, the paper shows how this company markets itself in order to achieve these objectives.
From the Paper "Starbucks Corporation's target markets are determined through demographic segmentation, particularly age segmentation. Starbucks consumers are generally classified into two divisions: the college students and business executives. These two large markets are the biggest consumers of Starbucks because the environment in which these consumers are placed are in a highly-dynamic environment, thereby resulting to the consumers? need for a stimulating drink that will keep the people going all day, which is what Starbucks coffee ultimately delivers."
Abstract Meg Whitman is the head of one of the most successful companies of the internet era, the on-line auction site eBay. Her success with the company reflects both the basic ingenious structure of eBay itself, as well as her own abilities as a leader. This paper examines two specific qualities of Whitman's leadership qualities, her transformative and transactional styles of leadership. The paper describes transactional leadership as using the concept that people follow their own self interest, demonstrating that an employee's self-interest can parallel the interests of the business. Transformational leadership is based on the desire of a leader to appeal to significant moral values or ideals.
From the Paper "Whitman has a greater chance to use such a transactional quality than do many leaders who are in a more conventional management-employer relationship. This attention to detail and the emphasis on the importance of every transaction being good for the buyer, the seller and the company (a win-win-win strategy) permeates the company, including those who actually work for eBay as well as those who use its auction sites."
Abstract This paper looks at how online auctions are among the most popular e-commerce destinations on the Web and how eBay in particular has revolutionized the online auction market around the world. It presents a case study to discuss the success of the eBay phenomenon, its business model, competitors, alliances, technologies and recommendations for the future.
Outline
Introduction
Business Model
Technologies
Competitors
Acquisitions and Alliances
Customer Protection
SWOT Analysis
Porters Force Analysis
Recommendations
Summary
Bibliography
From the Paper "eBay makes the majority of its money by taking a small percentage of each transaction, which is a maximum of 8% of the total value (eBay, 2003). eBay has two main mechanisms for charging fees ? a listing fee which is paid regardless of whether or not the item is sold and a sale fee which depends on the final sale price. For buyers it's an attractive market place, with no fees charged for browsing or purchasing any goods. The eBay auction site is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week."
Abstract This paper discusses the rise and fall of nation's seventh largest company, Enron International. Enron announced bankruptcy last year and this unveiled one of the worst stories of deception, greed and fraud in the history of Corporate America. The largest energy trader of the United States managed to keep its negative debt position off the books with the help of its auditing firm, Arthur Andersen.
Abstract This paper details the various aspects of listening, the skills involved in listening, and the benefits derived from good listening, especially in management functions and business negotiations.
From the Paper "The first one is the "talker" and the one who receives the communication is the "listener". Often, one hears the term "lack of communication" when some misunderstanding occurs between these two parties, which most of the time implies that whoever delivering the message did not do an effective job. This may not always be true. Unfortunately, few know how to be good listeners. Statistics indicate that the normal, untrained listener is likely to understand and retain only about 50 percent of a conversation. One has to develop appropriate skills and techniques to be a good attentive listener during individual conversations and also during meetings and lectures. Strange as it may sound, there are courses and training sessions conducted to develop listening skills."
Abstract This paper describes a business research problem on a theoretical business, the methods for testing the hypothesis, the data collection method, sample size, assumptions, levels of measurement, and the descriptive statistics that will be needed. The study uses statistical data gathered from initiating research in a business, examining problems related to customer retention in a retail environment. The business is a large chain of bicycle shops in the Northwest United States.
The Business Research Problem
Methods for Testing a Hypothesis
Data Collection Method
Sample Size
Assumptions
Levels of Measurement
Descriptive Statistic Needed
From the Paper "The business research problem is how to retain first time customers and bring back former bicycle shop customers. The bicycle shop carries a database of 6,000 total customers. Of the 6,000 customers, 2,000 are current customers. The bicycle shop's new customers are approximately 23 per week. The percentage breakdown for all categories is 65% men, 35% women. A current customer is someone who has used a bicycle shop service in the past six to eight weeks. A former customer is someone who has not used any of the services offered in the past year. The hypothesis to be tested is as follows: New customers and former customers will be retained and visits increased by mailing customer service oriented surveys. Through mail-in surveys over a period of time, analysis will be able to prove if this is correct."
Abstract This paper examines the problems and their causes currently facing Faith Community Hospital. First, the paper suggests that the lack of clarity in the mission statement allows for it to be interpreted from many different perspectives, with such interpretations then influencing and determining the manner in which medical care and services are offered and received. The paper next suggests that there is also a lack of clarity amongst board members and staff regarding legal and policy mandates, which the hospital must adhere to in order to protect itself as well as its? patients. A third significant problem identified is that the hospital does not have an established specialization or identity. Finally, the paper looks at the problem of decreasing patients. Included in the discussion of each problem is a recommendation for resolving it.
From the Paper "There is lack of consensus and understanding amongst the Board of Directors, health and medical staff, and patients of the differences between values and ethics, and how each of these influences medical practices. The basis of this confusion and lack of clarity appears to be the result of the mission statement of Faith Community Hospital which emphasizes the role of spiritual values and beliefs in directing medical care. No one spiritual faith is adhered to or largely represented amongst board members, staff and patients. Thus, such diversity in spiritual and religious backgrounds leads to massive opportunities for the mission statement to be interpreted from many different perspectives, with such interpretations then influencing and determining the manner in which medical care and services are offered and received. Lack of clarity in the mission statement leads to lack of clarity in purpose and fails to provide a clear and concise foundation upon which the hospital builds its? identity and determines its? daily practices and operations. Currently, the mission statement is such that it allows for the board of directors, the staff and patients to use their own personal/professional identities as well as values, ethics and beliefs as the basis for decision-making."
