Abstract This paper discusses the history and development of DeBeers Consolidated Mines, LTD from its founding in 1888 until today. It specifically looks at the severe competition that DeBeers faces today and the challenges that it needs to overcome. The paper then analyzes the company's strategic capability to revive the diamond operations and retrieve the desired financial and non-financial results.
Table of Contents:
Thesis Statement
Company Description
Company Problems
Conclusions
From the Paper "But during recent years, they have been faced with a wide series of challenges. The most relevant problems refer to a diminished public perception (in Africa for instance, they have been accused of paying rebels to extract diamonds and with the money received, these rebels would purchase weapons and engage in violent reactions ) which often materializes in loss of customers. Then, electrical power problems and the restrictions imposed in South Africa are yet another matter of concern. The best way to resolve the issues would be for De Beers Consolidated Mines to change their approach to the market and develop new strategies that do not apply to monopoly, but to highly skilled, developed and experienced company that wants to revive the industry and make a difference."
This paper is a literature review to answer the question: "Does diamond advertising lead to civil strife that damages international relations and causes vast amounts of human suffering"?
Abstract This paper explains that advertising contributes to the conditions that cause prices to increase, making diamonds ever more valuable for clandestine transactions among the world's criminals and terrorists. The author points out that the media is responsible for carrying the messages that create the demand; the mine owners create the profit motive. The paper concludes that, even though diamonds reach the consumer via a number of criminal, corrupt, or terrorist individuals or organizations, DeBeers's advertising is at the root of the civil wars, international ill will, and maiming and murdering of civilians, which happens in the countries that produce at least the so-called "blood diamonds".
From the Paper "It was noted in the introduction that De Beers conducted an advertising campaign to decrease the number of those "forever" gemstones available for resale from family treasures, as well as using advertising worldwide to increase demand. This article contends that De Beers, which had been directly involved in Sierra Leone until the 1980s, did much more to control the prices paid for diamonds, which would in turn control the lengths people would go to in order to obtain them. After the beginning of the Sierra Leone civil wars, De Beers "its attempts to mop up supplies everywhere in the world, De Beers not only sustained the artificially high price of diamonds, it also undoubtedly bought diamonds from war zones"."
Abstract This paper studies beer and liquor sales, with particular reference to the United States. It includes a brief history of beer and liquor, the prohibition era and the effect it had on these industries. It also describes the marketing and advertising tools used by the beer and liquor industries and brief histories of some famous brands. Included are tables of financial information regarding consumption, sales and revenue of beer and liquor and an analysis of Anheuser-Busch, a very large beer and liquor company. Finally, the author reveals his personal opinion about the topic and a summary of the research is presented.
From the Paper "The exact origins of alcoholic drink are rather obscure, but most historians and anthropologists suggest that, even though our ancestors may not have understood the process of fermentation at the time, alcoholic drinks were made and drunk as early as 10,000 years (or perhaps even 25,000 years) ago. Some experts have even suggested that the beginning of agriculture could be attributed to the desire of early humans to produce beer rather than food.
The discovery or making of liquor through the distillation process, of course, came much later. Nevertheless, the Chinese are known to have distilled a beverage from rice as early as 800 BC. Europeans and Arabs are also said to have produced distilled alcoholic drinks in the early days but production of distilled liquor remained limited until about the 8th century AD. Improvement in distilling techniques gradually led to greater production of distilled spirits and various governments realizing the potential of earning revenues from the sale of liquor placed controls on the production and sale of liquor. In some countries, revenue from liquor sales has been the bedrock of their economies. For example in Russia, revenue from vodka sales was more than 40% of all state revenue in the last century. More recently, towards the end of the Soviet era, vodka sales constituted 15-20% of the value of all retail trade turnovers. "
Abstract This paper examines three issues concerning the metabolism of ethanol, one of the major forms of alcohol, and then compares how the ethanol found in beer is metabolized to how the ethanol found in the over-the-counter cold suppressant, Nyquil, gets metabolized.
From the Paper "Although this research project concerns the metabolism of ethanol, one of the three major forms of alcohol, the major topic will discuss three distinct yet similar issues concerning the metabolism of ethanol. The first issue is the means by which the liver metabolizes ethanol the second and third issues discuss the variances involved when comparing how ethanol found in beer is metabolized with the ethanol found in one of the more popular cough suppressants. For simplicity and clarity the cough syrup being used in this study is Nyquil...."
Abstract On 13 September 1923, General Miguel Primo de Rivera launched a successful and bloodless coup d'etat, beginning seven years of dictatorship in Spain. Primo de Rivera was a maladroit politician filled with the fervor of Spanish patriotism thought sufficient to navigate his dictatorship through the murky waters of politics. This paper will argue that the regime was more of a developmental dictatorship than one based in the usual fundamentals of autocracy. It concerns itself instead with describing the political realities in which the Primo de Rivera dictatorship was based, before moving on to discuss the objectives and achievements of the regime. The paper concludes by suggesting ways in which the dictatorship may have influenced the cataclysmic developments that drew the nation into Civil War less than a decade after the collapse of the Primo de Rivera regime.
Abstract This essay considers the life and philosophy of Simone de Beauvoir. A brief overview of de Beauvoir's life is offered here, followed by a critical consideration of de Beauvoir's relations to existentialism.
Abstract Research centering on Alcide de Gasperi centers primarily upon secondary accounts of historical record in which the political decisions, speeches, and records are maintained. De Gasperi formed a new government coalition in consequence of his attitude in interior and foreign policy. Alcide de Gasperi oversaw Italy's entry into the Cold War. Within Italy, Gasperi was forced to deal with a polarized nation. The Christian Democrats were forced to change Italy into an actively Western state. Gasperi is credited with bringing Italy into the fold of Western capitalism and Democracy.
Abstract This paper examines how and why the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo protested to draw attention to the atrocities committed upon their children and their significant role in the international denunciation of the military regime of Argentina and its downfall.
From the Paper "The group that came to be known as the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo the Mothers demonstrates the power that a formerly voiceless sector of society can wield when it refuses to go unheard. The Mothers were able initially to avoid the ..."
Tags: The Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, Las Madres de Plaza de Mayo, Argentina
Abstract This paper describes the Mexican holiday known as Cinco de Mayo. It then goes on to place Cinco de May in its historical context, recounting the events that led to the Mexican victory at Puebla in 1862. Finally, it discusses Cinco de Mayo as a present day tradition and how it is celebrated both in Mexico and the United States.
From the Paper "The Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo is more than just a day of celebration, it is a day when Mexicans around the world recall, maintain and reaffirm their roots. It is a tradition that marks the Mexican victory at the Battle of Puebla over the French. Since that time no foreign power has ever invaded Mexico and Cinco de Mayo has come to symbolize an end to foreign intervention. According to the American Heritage Dictionary Fourth Edition a tradition is defined as ..."
Tags: Cinco, de, Mayo, Battle, of, Puebla, tradition
Abstract This paper examines the life of Diane de Poitiers, the mistress of the sixteenth century French king, Henry II. The author notes that Diane de Poitiers emerged as a power in the French court of King Henry II because of her beauty, great insight, and political astuteness, and used them skillfully to forge an ever stronger relationship with the King. As the years passed she acquired so much influence that she became the queen of France in all but name, was the brains behind the throne, and was even placed in charge of educating the royal children of Henry and Catherine.
Tags: EUROPEAN STUDIES (HISTORY, CULTURE) / FRANCE, diane de poitiers
Abstract In early-April 2000, HSBC Holdings PLC agreed to acquire a majority holding in Credit Commercial de France (CCF). The proposed merger of the two banking firms is analyzed in this paper. The analysis focuses on strategic choices made by HSBC in developing its acquisition strategy, motivations by both firms for the merger, a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis of the proposed merger, analysis of the proposed merger within the context of Porter's Five-Forces Model of Competitiveness and challenges that will be faced by HSBC in relation to differences in corporate cultures should the merger be completed.
From the Paper "A major motivation for HSBC to acquire CCF was to dilute the company's risk exposure in the Asian market (considered by HSBC management to be highly volatile) by increasing the company's presence in the European banking industry ("S&P Affirms HSBC Holdings Plc," 2000).
CCF, a successful but medium-sized company, has been a takeover target for larger financial institutions in Europe for more than a year. The suitors and their proposals, however, were not attractive to CCF management. Realizing that acquisition was probable sooner rather than later, CCF management was amenable to an acquisition proposal that addressed their own needs and those of CCF shareholders. The HSBC offer, which came as a surprise, met each of these requirements and has been recommended to CCF shareholders by the CCF board ("HSBC ?a Major Player in Europe,?" 2000). Job losses at CCF, as an example, are expected to be minimal in an HSBC-CCF merger."
Tags: Banque, Nationale, de, Paris, electronic, banking
Abstract This paper describes "Missa Pange Lingua" as a critical turning point in Renaissance music in particular and Western music in general. The author states that Josquin de Prez honed his art to perfection in this piece. The paper relates that, to surpass him, Western music had to change its entire structure.
From the Paper ""Missa Pange Lingua" is Josquin's greatest achievement in the art of paraphrase in polyphonic music. Set in the ridged structure of a Catholic Mass, Josquin uses the numerous short passages to highlight his variation on ..."
Tags: Missa, Pagne, Lingua, Josquin, De, Prez, renaisance, music, polyphonic, paraphrase, eclesiastic, church, music
Abstract This paper examines the economic conditions for Banco Popular De Puerto Rico. The author discusses the market structure, competitors, the impact of entry of new companies and the impact of government regulations. The paper investigates prices, productivity, cost structure, price elasticity of demand and supply and demand analysis.
From the Paper "According to its annual report filed with the U S Securities and Exchange Commission, Popular, Inc. is a publicly traded company. It is a bank holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of ... as amended the B.H.C. Act. The company's principle operating subsidiary is Banco Popular de Puerto Rico. Banco Popular is subject to the supervision and regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The Corporation was incorporated in under the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It is the largest ..."
Tags: Economic Forecast Paper, Forecast of economic conditions, Banco Popular De Puerto Rico, Banco Popular North America, parent and subsidiary relationship, market structure, impact of entry of new companies, prices, productivity, cost structure, price elas
Abstract This paper discusses the way in which Guy de Maupassant treats materialism in his short story, "The Necklace." This paper offers a characterization of the major female character who places value only on material objects.
From the Paper "In his short story "The Necklace" Guy de Maupassant tells the story of a woman who borrows a diamond necklace for a party and loses it during the course of the night. As a result, she and her husband must live in poverty and spend the next ten years working to pay off the debts to replace the necklace. In his characterization of Mathilde, Loisel de Maupassant clearly argues against materialism as she is forced to pay for her petty superficial desires."
Tags:de maupassant, necklace, materialism, irony, material objects, shallow
