...Table of Contents Major Problems or Issues…………………………………………………………Page 2 A. Organizational Purpose, Objective, and Current Strategy…………………………..…...Page 3 ANALYSIS B. SWOT Analysis…………………..………………………………………………………Page 3 C. Competitive Analysis………………………………………………………………….…Page 5 D. Financial Analysis…..……………………………………………………………………Page 7 E. Implementation Issues/Problems………………………………………………………..Page 10 F. Evaluation/Control Procedures……………………………………………………….…Page 14 ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS /ISSUES………………………………Page 15 RECOMMENDED COURSE OF ACTION/JUSTIFICATION…………………………..Page 17 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN………………………………….…………………………..Page 18 MAJOR PROBLEMS OR ISSUES Ann Taylor (NYSE ticker = ANN) was founded in 1954 based upon the corporate mantra of providing professional, yet fashion conscious, business women access to quality, yet affordable, attire. During the last fifty-four years Ann Taylor has become very well known for its offerings, especially “the classic basic black dress and women’s power suit”, and has maintained itself as a leader and innovator within the specialty retail sector. Ann Taylor’s strategic management has maintained its comparative advantage by successfully and accurately predicting client fashion preferences and meeting these preferences through three, diversified, retail divisions (AT, LOFT and FACTORY). The instigation of each division was an effort to meet the broader specialty retail challenge that accompany changing consumer demographics, buyer habits...
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... | |Strategic Management 21705 | |Summer 2014/2015 | | | | | |Individual Report on the | |Ann Taylor Case Analysis | |Survival in Speciality Retail | | | |[pic] | | | |...
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...Executive Summary Internal Audit a. Company History b. Company Structure c. Mission and Vision Statement d. Current Company Strategy e. Functional Value Chain f. Geographical Value Chain g. Core Competencies External Audit a. External Forces b. Customer Trends c. Porters Five Forces d. Competition SWOT Analysis Size ANNspansion Ann Goes Technical Financials a. Sales Forecast b. Net Income c. Inventory Turnover 3 Final Report I. Executive Summary Ann Taylor was founded in 1954, when Richard Liebeskind opened his first shop called Ann Taylor. Back then Ann Taylor represented a best- selling dress style that had been gifted to the store owner by his father. The company began its story in the retail industry by opening up stores in which their designs embodied the well-dressed woman. By 1983 Ann Taylor had grown from a regional brand to a national brand with 47 stores across the United States. Today Ann is represented by two brands, with multiple channels of distribution. They operate 907 Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor Factory, LOFT and LOFT Outlet stores in 46 states along with e-commerce websites anntaylor.com and LOFT.com. They rely on a large base of third-party producers and distributors. Ann Taylor is now a one-stop shop for high quality and fashion-forward women’s apparel, accessories, and footwear. Though Ann Inc. has a strong brand recognition in the women’s retail industry, it faces threats that they must overcome in order to continue their success. Ann Inc. competitors...
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...Journal Volume 5, Issue 2 (Spring 2009) Ann Taylor: Survival in Specialty Retail Pauline Assenza Manhattanville College Alan B. Eisner Lubin School of Business, Pace University Jerome C. Kuperman Minnesota State University Moorhead In the summer of 2008, headlines announced that the declining economy was generating a “wave of retail closures” among many well-known companies, including Home Depot, Pier 1 Imports, Zales, Gap, Talbots, Lane Bryant, and Ann Taylor. The Chief Executive of J.C. Penney’s called the 2008 situation “the most unpredictable environment in his 39-year retail career”. i One industry group forecasted that nearly 6,000 retail stores would close in 2008, a 25 percent increase from the previous year. A representative from the National Retail Federation (NRF) suggested that these businesses should “look at where they’re underperforming and how can they change their operations so that they have a little bit more power in another area, or a little bit more growth potential.” ii Kay Krill, President and CEO of Ann Taylor Stores Corporation (ANN), was already considering this advice. Krill had been appointed President of ANN in late 2004, and succeeded to President/CEO in late 2005 when J. Patrick Spainhour retired after eight years as CEO. At that time, there had been concern among commentators and customers that the Ann Taylor look was getting “stodgy”, and the question was how to “reestablish Ann Taylor as the preeminent brand for beautiful,...
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...7 Planning Materiality C a s es inc lu de d in t his Se ction 7.1 Anne Aylor, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229 Determination of Planning Materiality and Tolerable Misstatement O t he r c ase s t h at discuss topics rel ated to this section 5.6 Sarbox Scooter, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185 Scoping and Evaluation Judgments in the Audit of Internal Control over Financial Reporting 12.1 EyeMax Corporation . . . Evaluation of Audit Differences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369 12.2 Auto Parts, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379 Considering Materiality When Evaluating Accounting Policies and Footnote Disclosures Instructor Resource Manual — Do Not Copy or Redistribute Instructor Resource Manual — Do Not Copy or Redistribute Anne Aylor, Inc. C a s e 7.1 Determination of Planning Materiality and Tolerable Misstatement Mark S. Beasley · Frank A. Buckless · Steven M. Glover · Douglas F. Prawitt Ins tr uc t ional O b je c t ive s [1] To provide experience with establishing planning materiality. [2] To provide experience with establishing tolerable misstatement for individual financial statement accounts. [3] To illustrate factors considered when establishing planning materiality...
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...thinking coping, anxiety and depression as predictors of coursework stress. ANN-MARIE ROY Contact: aroy11@caledonian.ac.uk COURSEWORK STRESS STUDY ANN-MARIE ROY ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to investigate students’ perceived university coursework stress and whether the use of wishful thinking or problem-focused coping was related to anxiety and depression levels. The method of investigation was a four-part questionnaire. Participants were 81 Glasgow Caledonian University students. There were two hypotheses: 1) problem solving copers will score lower on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale. 2) Those high in perceived coursework stress and who reveal wishful thinking strategies will have higher anxiety and depression scores. A multiple regression revealed partial support for both hypotheses – problem strategies had no relationship to coursework stress but wishful thinking and anxiety were both positive predictors of stress; however, contrary to hypothesis 2 depression revealed a strong negative association with stress. The conclusion from this study is that wishful thinkers are also more likely to be anxious; problem focused copers are not anxious, depressed or stressed; stressed students do not suffer from depression. The last finding is possibly because coursework stress is a transient stressor not severe enough to trigger depression. 2 COURSEWORK STRESS STUDY ANN-MARIE ROY INTRODUCTION Why study stress? Bartlett (1998) points out there...
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...such as Carroll’s four part model of CSR and stakeholder analysis. It has become a vital concern for the firms like shell to conduct CSR activities as they have to operate in an environment where they have to be economically viable as well as conforming to the legal laws, rights and obligations of the society. Not only the corporate social responsibility but also the stakeholder’s satisfaction can influence a great deal in the firm’s success. So, the stakeholder’s theory means a lot to the firms. Stakeholders can be internal as well as external. For applying those approaches, shell has to consider several analysis like cost benefit, life cycle analysis, environmental impact analysis, stakeholder matrix , segmentation analysis and so on. Finally, the company will get findings of taking one approaches as per the analysis to implement for being sustainable. * Contents Executive Summary 1 1 Introduction 3 2 For effective management of sustainability, these two approaches can be considered by the Shell Group as prescribed. The approaches are 4 2.1 Carroll’s four part model of CSR and Sustainability 4 2.1.1 Economic responsibilities 5 2.1.2 Legal responsibilities 5 2.1.3 Ethical responsibilities 5 2.1.4 Philanthropic responsibilitites 5 2.1.5 Criticism 6 2.2 Stakeholder theory 6 2.2.2 Criticism 8 3 Analysis for the application of chosen approaches for sustainable management 9 3.1 Analysis for Carroll’s four part of CSR...
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...when he did pawn the firearms. In sequence to this conviction, Thompson, based on the entrapment by estoppel, filed a motion for the judgment to have an alternate trial when judge refused to allow the presentation. Also “R1:59-2. Thompson further stipulated that all of the firearms he possessed were shipped or transported in interstate commerce prior to his possession. R1:59-1.” The case was convicted in the Superior court of Clayton in Georgia the time when Thompson did possess the firearms of armed robbery. Prior to the case, he was working for federal and local law enforcement agencies an informant (undercover). Thompson was very much involved with such activities thus was feeling very pertinent to the law enforcement community. Analysis: The arguments made by Thompson; as he thought he would not be prosecuted for crimes he would commit except murder. He made this fact on the basis of oral grant the AUSA gave him in exchange to his assistance and testimony in other investigations. Thus there was an informal agreement between AUSA duke and Thompson. The government admitted that Thompson did testify before the grand jury in the Evans case. The AUSA and the other agents denied that Thompson was not promised any immunity in exchange to the assistance and testimony. The appeal of the Thompson was denied by the...
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...KASNEB RECOMMENDED READING LIST FOR THE CERTIFIED INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGISTS (CICT) EXAMINATION CICT PART I |SECTION 1 | |PAPER NO. 1 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTING | | |TITLE |AUTHOR(S) |PUBLISHER |EDITION | |1. |Fundamentals of Computers |V. .Rogerman |PHI Publishers |Latest edition | | | | | | | |2. |Principles of Computer Science |Carol Reymolds | |Latest edition | | | |Paul Tyman | | | |3. |Computer Fundamentals |Pradeep Sinha | |Fourth edition | |4. |Essential Computer Mathematics |Seymour Lipschutz |McGraw Hill |Latest edition | |PAPER NO....
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...THEORY SYNTHESIS #3 CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, DOMINGUEZ HILLS PUB 502 SANDRA TAYLOR I. Theories of Organizational Culture and Change Organizational Culture and Change theories were first introduced between the 1950’s and 1960’s, but gained an unsavory reputation in the 1980’s. The origins of this theory came from the realization that U.S. companies and government agencies had lost their competitiveness and agility during the last three decades of the 20th century (Shafritz, Ott, Jang, 2011, pg. 338). This was in addition to the understanding that organizational change required more than structural or functional tweaking but instead that that organizational cultures had to be reformed (Shafritz et al., 2011, pg. 341). Organizational culture is simply the culture that exists in an organization. It is made up of a number of intangible phenomena, such as values, beliefs, assumptions, perception, behavioral norms, artifacts, and patterns of behavior (Shafritz, Ott, Jang, 2011). It is the force behind the organizations activities; culture is to the organization what personality is to the individual, a hidden, yet unifying theme that provides meaning, direction, and mobilization (Shafritz et al., 2011, pg. 338). Thus, in order for an organization to make lasting changes the organization culture must change as well (Shafritz et al., 2011, pg. 338). It is common practice for organizational members to hang onto familiar beliefs, values, and policies and practices even if...
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...Cost Accounting David Norris Western Governors University Accounting doesn’t have the best reputation but for as long as there has been money, there has been a need for accounting. Long gone are the days of the smoke filled room piled floor to ceiling with the leger books of the entrepreneur. Using state of the art technology and creative techniques, today’s accounting is a vital component of the corporate world helping to build financial foundations that encourage long term growth and profitability. Cost accounting is the managerial financial budgeting tool of the accounting domain that deals specifically with cost and production. Cost accounting assists companies to understand the cost of product versus service and this helps to prepare bids and proposals and assembles information for planning and control which are needed to evaluate performance. Any business can use cost accounting but it is most effective with corporations that manufacture mass produced products and have a large employee base. Cost accounting is also becoming a valuable asset within the medical industry. In the ultra-competitive market of health care, hospitals are using price strategies, one of the new methods used in accounting, to entice customers and keep patients happy. Cost accounting techniques have developed as quickly as industry has in the 21st century. Basic accounting has become antiquated as new, creative approaches to financial stability emerge. Methods such...
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...Introduction The use of computers to control a particular process in order to increase reliability and efficiency, often through the replacement of employees. For a manufacturer, this could entail using robotic assembly lines to manufacture a product. Automation is the use of control systems (such as numerical control, programmable logic control, and other industrial control systems), in concern with other applications of information technology (such as computer-aided technologies [CAD, CAM], to control industrial machinery and processes, reducing the need for human intervention. In the scope of industrialization, automation is a step beyond mechanization. Whereas mechanization provided human operators with machinery to assist them with the muscular requirements of work, automation greatly reduces the need for human sensory and mental requirements as well. Processes and systems can also be automated. Automation plays an increasingly important role in the global economy and in daily experience. Engineers strive to combine automated devices with mathematical and organizational tools to create complex systems for a rapidly expanding range of applications and human activities. Many roles for humans in industrial processes presently lie beyond the scope of automation. Human-level pattern recognition, language recognition, and language production ability are well beyond the capabilities of modern mechanical and computer systems. Tasks requiring subjective assessment...
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...ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS METHODOLOGICAL ADVANCES AND BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS Edited by Kenji Suzuki Artificial Neural Networks - Methodological Advances and Biomedical Applications Edited by Kenji Suzuki Published by InTech Janeza Trdine 9, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia Copyright © 2011 InTech All chapters are Open Access articles distributed under the Creative Commons Non Commercial Share Alike Attribution 3.0 license, which permits to copy, distribute, transmit, and adapt the work in any medium, so long as the original work is properly cited. After this work has been published by InTech, authors have the right to republish it, in whole or part, in any publication of which they are the author, and to make other personal use of the work. Any republication, referencing or personal use of the work must explicitly identify the original source. Statements and opinions expressed in the chapters are these of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of the editors or publisher. No responsibility is accepted for the accuracy of information contained in the published articles. The publisher assumes no responsibility for any damage or injury to persons or property arising out of the use of any materials, instructions, methods or ideas contained in the book. Publishing Process Manager Ivana Lorkovic Technical Editor Teodora Smiljanic Cover Designer Martina Sirotic Image Copyright Bruce Rolff, 2010. Used under license from Shutterstock.com First published March, 2011 Printed in...
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...Bryant-45099 Part I.qxd 10/18/2006 7:42 PM Page 36 5 FEMINIST METHODOLOGIES AND EPISTEMOLOGY ANDREA DOUCET Carleton University, Canada NATASHA S. MAUTHNER University of Aberdeen, Scotland O ver the past 10 years of teaching courses on research methods and feminist approaches to methodologies and epistemologies, a recurring question from our students concerns the distinctiveness of feminist approaches to methods, methodologies, and epistemologies. This key question is posed in different ways: Is there a specifically feminist method? Are there feminist methodologies and epistemologies, or simply feminist approaches to these? Given diversity and debates in feminist theory, how can there be a consensus on what constitutes “feminist” methodologies and epistemologies? Answers to these questions are far from straightforward given the continually evolving nature of feminist reflections on the methodological and epistemological dimensions and dilemmas of research. This chapter on feminist methodologies and epistemologies attempts to address these questions by tracing historical developments in this area, by considering what may be unique about feminist epistemologies and feminist methodologies, by reviewing some of sociology’s key contributions to this area of scholarship and by highlighting some key emergent trends. The chapter begins with a brief overview of the theoretical and historical development of feminist epistemologies, followed by a similar overview...
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...AU/ACSC/0607C/97-03 UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY ON ORGANIZATIONS A Research Paper Presented To The Research Department Air Command and Staff College In Partial Fulfillment of the Graduation Requirements of ACSC by Maj Molly K. Moon March 1997 Disclaimer The views expressed in this academic research paper are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of the US government or the Department of Defense. ii Contents Page DISCLAIMER ................................................................................................................ ii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.......................................................................................... iv PREFACE....................................................................................................................... v ABSTRACT................................................................................................................... vi INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1 FROM GRUDGING ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO MANAGING DIVERSITY .............. 3 IMPACT OF DIVERSITY ON INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS.................... 9 Diversity Climate Factors.......................................................................................... 12 Identity Structures................................................................................................ 12 Prejudice...
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