Analysing Strategy And Operations Management

Analysing Strategy And Operations Management Today’s business environment is complex, dynamic and uncertain and is influencing the strategies of modern enterprises (Beirnat, 2004). It is generally understood that there is a growing change in relationships between buyers and sellers which are impacting the way in which business is conducted (Buttle, 2007). Industry reports suggest that changes in today’s social and economic environment have had an impact on consumer spending behaviours. In such an unpredictable environment, the management of customer relationships becomes vital to the success of a business (Dyche, 2002). This realisation has prompted studies in the area of strategic management with the aim of gaining an understanding of a firm’s internal and external environment and developing strategies to exploit internal capabilities and external opportunities (Slack et al, 2006). The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the activities of John Lewis and explore its business operations in relation to Mich ael Porters generic strategies model. The paper will continue by examining Michael Porters value chain analysis and apply the theories practically to John Lewis. The paper will also discuss how the added value creates distinctive competences and lead to a competitive advantage for the business. Company Background John Lewis plc John Lewis is a UK retailer which comes under the umbrella name of John Lewis Partnership. The Group comprises of John Lewis department stores, Waitrose supermarkets, John Lewis Direct and the direct services company Greenbee. It is a public limited company owned by its employees (Partners) who influence the running the business and who benefit from a share of the company’s annual profits. The chain has an upmarket image which appeals strongly to a middle class core customer base. Chart 1: John Lewis Plc market share 2003 – 2007 (Mintel, 2007) The chart shows the market share growth for John Lewis from 2003 to 2007. The chart displays a steady g rowth pattern during this period. It would be fair to suggest that John Lewis has been performing well within the market as it market share has grown year on year. Mintel reports forecast that the retailer will continue to witness steady growth within its industry and states that John Lewis will be one of few retailers who will sustain growth despite changes in the economic climate and consumer spending behaviours. Activities John Lewis department stores offer a wide range of goods, including electrical, home playing fields and tennis courts; two large country estates with parklands; a sailing club with five cruising yachts and two country hotels offering holiday accommodation for partners. Partners are also enrolled in a pension scheme, given very generous holidays, and are part of a death in service insurance scheme. Additionally, upon completing twenty five years of service with the Partnership, they are given six month paid break.

UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUP PROJECT ABSTRACT Assignment

UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUP PROJECT ABSTRACT - Assignment Example The modern lifestyles characterized with minimal physical social interaction are largely to blame for the lack of information on such evident topics in the public domain. This research therefore seeks to legitimize this claim by studying the missionary work in Arab countries by Brazilian missionaries. A missionary act, just like evangelism, is a means of spreading the gospel to regions considered unreachable by Christian adherents. The Arab world is largely Islamic which implies that such people have adequate knowledge on religion and arguably Christianity. However, the two have different cultures which may be a hindrance to changing their mentality into concurring with the teachings of Christianity thus influencing their refusal to change their religions. Hospitality is a virtue of religions espoused upon by Jesus Christ and enshrined in the holy books of the religion. The differing cultures of the Arabs and the Brazilian missionaries may arguably have an influence on their understanding of hospitality, which infers that the Arabic understanding if hospitality especially in relation to people ascribing to other faiths may impact their receipt of such sensational and radical information concerning a new faith. The research therefore seeks to establish the role that culture plays in understanding hospitality and how the two influences the spread of the

Sophocles Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Sophocles - Research Paper Example It is known that he wrote around on hundred and twenty tragedies in his life. However, only seven of those writings are available in the present times (Sophocles, iv-vi). The present study makes a detailed research on the admirable tragic writer and discusses on his writings that are available and thus reflecting his excellence and talent. Sophocles: About the Man and his Writings: Sophocles had written several plays and he always used to remain present during the performances of his acts and received appreciations from his audiences. He had been crowned for his plays for around twenty times. It was Sophocles who had introduced the concept of a third person in speaking the dialogues of the plays. This concept had greatly contributed to the industry of drama. His plays had a soft and harmonious grace accompanied by his dialogues. The people of Athens had created a monument on his account that reflected the use of bees as could be associated with the softness and harmony of his plays. An understanding of his feelings, his selection of plots for his plays, and his style could be analyzed from the plays that are available till date. It has been observed that Sophocles presented his plays with simple and natural incidents, his emotions being gracious and inspirational, and reflecting his moral values to the public. The description of his writings revealed his power of thoughts being mirrored through his evaluations. His style of presentation involved a significant art of mastery in it. He lived his life from 497 till 406 before Christ and contributed significantly in the field of plays and drama (Sophocles, vi-xi). Writings of Sophocles: The tragedies written by Sophocles as available in the present times include Azax, Electra, Philoctetes, Antigone, Trachinle, Edipus Tyrannus, and Edipus Coloneus. The play of Ajax involves the death of the character called Ajax as a result of disappointment resulting from not receiving an honor after Achilles’ death which in stead was received by Ulysses. The story reflects disappointment, murders, and Ajax killing of own life. Other characters in the play also had significant roles to act on like Teucer who was the half-brother of Ajax. Sophocles significantly presented through this play the concerns for a master and the consequent disappointments from failure. The characters of the play had been created with great thoughts with their names having appropriate Greek meanings and presentation (Sophocles, x-22). Electra was another play written by Sophocles that represented the death of a character named Agamemnon by his wife. Electra saved her brother from the incident and let him grow up under the care and guidance of Strophius who was the king of Phocis. Years later when the child grew up and came to know of his father’s murder, he took revenge with the assistance from his sister (Sophocles, 53). Thus this presents a talent of Sophocles presenting another tragedy where there is pain, there is re venge and yet a tragic story to tell a tale of a lifetime. Similar to the above mentioned plays, the writer of his times successfully completed the other dramas, many of which are no more available. Of all his writings, Oedipus the King is known as one of his master piece. It contains surprising contents. The story reveals a tragedy where Oedipus kills his mother and gets married to his mother with intention to avoid circumstances he analyzed