...SPLITTING THE CHECK: AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC. vs. BARINGTON CAPITAL GROUP LP Table of Contents Executive Summary 4 Position 5 Sense 6 Uncover 7 Solve 8 Build 9 Achieve 10 Bibliography 23 Executive Summary This is the first paragraph of your executive summary. It should be indented, it should be double-spaced, and it should be in 12 pt Times New Roman font (as should the rest of the body of your term paper). An executive summary should be no longer than two pages (and preferably shorter), and should be written after your paper has been completed. It is a complete summary of your recommendations, and the reader should get a clear picture from this section alone. Assume that the reader reads nothing else. Darden Restaurants, Inc., a multi-billion dollar full-service restaurant company, is facing – and will be facing many difficult challenges. In addition to billions in lost revenue from the economic downturn and a severe shortage in their most served menu item, they have recently been challenged by a new minority shareholder who is pressuring them to reorganize their corporate structure. This activist investor, Barington Capital Group, LP, is known for being particularly aggressive and frequently getting what they want. Darden’s revenues are down significantly over the last couple of years in their two flagship – and typically most profitable restaurants, Red Lobster...
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...Introduction Discrimination and prejudice has gradually become one of the major impacts and burdens in the workplace and all over the world. Research shows that both have existed for thousands of years and have been transmitted throughout generations. There are many phases to prejudice and discrimination and over time each has become more sophisticated. Even today, it is hard to believe that in some individuals mindsets they feel that are not prejudice nor have they ever discriminated against someone. People suffer through discrimination because they have differences amongst one another: different beliefs, different cultures, and different skin color. For this paper, I will discuss prejudice and discrimination, some characteristics of both and why individuals still suffer from prejudice and discrimination today. What is prejudice? If an individual stated that he/she didn’t like a certain color or a certain type of food would that be considered prejudice, however if the same person stated he/she didn’t like the color black because made them feel sad would that be considered a prejudice? Prejudice is an internal entity, a product of experience, an emotion felt or a belief structure. Prejudice is a set of factors that can cause an individual to develop a conclusion which favors one person to another. It could be a positive or negative judgment about someone or something based on pure feeling alone. Prejudice is a pre-judgment about someone or something based on the individual...
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...Panera Bread Company Crafting and Executing Strategy Executive Summary The Panera Bread Company is starting 2007 with unfinished goals and missed targets previously set and a review of their strategy is in order to continue their ongoing success. The company has grown substantially since its inception in the competitive restaurant industry; however, an aggressive target of 2,000 Panera Bread bakery-cafes will require a focused strategic plan. The company has a strong base with loyal customers who appreciate Panera’s unique dining atmosphere with a focus on quality products at a reasonable price. Panera will need to continue its market research and focus on environmental issues, which are an important core value. The opportunity for growth in the competitive market is still available, as noted in the analysis section of the report, but the most risk lies with the competition’s ability to adapt and change along with Panera to gain their own increases in market share. With this in mind, the recommendation is to continue the expansion process through the franchise offerings while maintaining the differentiation qualities Panera already possesses. The strategy must also acknowledge the potential for a market decline due to potential economic downturns and must act accordingly by keeping a close eye on stores which are profitable and stores which may be struggling. It is important to keep the brand image high to ensure a consistent quality and profitability for investor confidence...
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...Todd Pizanowski Dr. Peter Business Management 10-19-13 Time Management What are some effects of time management? Time management is a very important thing that happens in everyone’s lives. Here are the major topics that I am going to talk about in this paper. So do you find yourself daydreaming when you are studying? Time management is a lifesaver for college students. College students often find that time is the hardest goal to conquer. The way a person manages time effects the efficiency of their life. Time management can be a mastery of life. Returning to college after having been out of the school system for a long time can be a quite a challenge. For me it seems like there is too many tasks to complete and seldom enough time. How procrastination can affect time management. The ability to manage time may be the most valuable asset students can have. Do you find yourself daydreaming when you sit down to study? Do you stare into space after reading your textbook, trying to “absorb” the information? Or do you look at pictures of friends or family instead of doing the task in front of you? All of these may eventually lead to wasting time and frustration. Here are a few tips to help you concentrate better: Study in small blocks of time instead of long time periods. Try 60-minute blocks of time and take 10-minute breaks in between. Tell yourself before you begin to study. Each time you find your mind wandering, repeat this phrase. Concentrating is a...
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...Overview of Applications by Discipline ECONOMICS Estimating sensitivity of demand to price 352–356 Pricing problems 352–366, 422–427 Estimating cost of power 363–366 47–56, Assessing a utility function 554–556 Estimating demand for products 632–638, 649–650, 764–771, 965 Subway token hoarding 792 FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING Collecting on delinquent credit accounts 14–16 Cost projections 29–33 Finding a breakeven point 33–41 Calculating NPV 57–62 Calculating NPV for production capacity decision 58–62 Portfolio management 173–178, 345–346, 387–394, 442–444, 689–691 Pension fund management 178–182 Financial planning 210–214, 676–681, 734–735 Arbitrage opportunities in oil pricing 215–219 Currency trading 220 Capital budgeting 290–295 Estimating stock betas 396–401 Hedging risk with put options 407–408 Stock hedging 407–408 Asset management 409–410 New product development 503–504, 574, 673–676, 715–722 Bidding for a government contract 513–518, 523–533, 653–657 Investing with risk aversion 557–560 Land purchasing decision 575 Risk analysis 582–583 Liquidity risk management 651–653 Estimating warranty costs 657–661 Retirement planning 681–685 Modeling stock prices 685–686 Pricing options 686–689, 691–693 Investing for college 732 Bond investment 733 HUMAN RESOURCES AND HEALTH CARE Fighting HIV/AIDS 23–24 DEA in the hospital industry 184–189 Salesforce allocation problems 454–456 Assigning MBA students to teams 462 Selecting...
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...Temple-Inland’s Analysis of Remote and Industry Environments In order to support strategic planning and gain a thorough understanding of Temple-Inland’s remote, industry and operating environments, various analytical frameworks can be applied as the second step of the competitive research and analysis processes. The goal of this research is to gain information about the packaging industry and it’s external factors such as main competitors and external stakeholders. First as an introduction, Temple-Inland’s industry is defined and explained in regards to it’s remote environment, the paper packaging industry. The industry will be explained in relation to time frame and geographic scope of Temple-Inland’s operations. Next, external issues are identified that affect the paper packing industry and Temple-Inland itself. In order to identify these external issues, a STEEP analysis has been used to illustrate the most relevant remote factors. 12 factors will be examined and each fall under the category of socio-cultural factors, technology, economy, ecology and political regulatory forces. Each one of these factors is assessed and then appropriately placed into an Issues Priority Matrix based on its impact on the company and significance of the factor in the industry. Subsequently, Porter’s five forces will be used as another analytical tool that identifies the structural characteristics that determine Temple-Inland’s competitiveness and profitability in the packaging...
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...Annual Review 2009 06 Our performance 08 Our market 10 Our strategy bp.com/annualreview Operating at the energy frontiers How a revitalized BP is driving efficiency, momentum and growth Meeting the energy demands of today and tomorrow Oil Natural gas Wind Solar Biofuels Efficiency BP Annual Review 2009 Reconciliation of profit for the year to replacement cost profit The Annual Review for the year ended 31 December 2009 includes the summary financial statement (on pages 1-7 and 10-33), which comprises summaries of the Directors’ Report and the Directors’ Remuneration Report and a summary of the information in the consolidated financial statements. The summary financial statement complies with the information requirements under the Companies (Summary Financial Statement) Regulations 2008. It does not contain sufficient information to allow as full an understanding of the results and the state of affairs of BP and of its policies and arrangements concerning directors’ remuneration as BP Annual Report and Accounts 2009. Shareholders may obtain a copy of BP Annual Report and Accounts 2009 online or on request, free of charge (see page 33). Outside the summarized financial statements (see pages 24-28), references within BP Annual Review 2009 to ‘profits’, ‘result’ and ‘return on average capital employed’ are to those measures on a replacement cost basis unless otherwise indicated. The table below reconciles profit for the year to replacement...
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...Delivery and growth Royal Dutch Shell plc Annual Report and Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2007 Royal Dutch Shell Our Business With 104,000 employees in more than 110 countries and territories, Shell plays a key role in helping to meet the world’s growing demand for energy in economically, environmentally and socially responsible ways. Our Exploration & Production business searches for and recovers oil and natural gas around the world. Many of these activities are carried out as joint venture partnerships, often with national oil companies. Our Gas & Power business liquefies natural gas and transports it to customers across the world. Its gas to liquids (GTL) process turns natural gas into cleaner-burning synthetic fuel and other products. It develops wind power to generate electricity and invests in solar power technology. It also licenses our coal gasification technology, a cleaner way of turning coal into chemical feedstocks and energy. Our Oil Sands business, the Athabasca Oil Sands Project, extracts bitumen from oil sands in Alberta, western Canada and converts it to synthetic crude oils. Our Oil Products business makes, moves and sells a range of petroleum-based products around the world for domestic, industrial and transport use. Its Future Fuels and CO2 business unit develops fuels such as biofuels and hydrogen and synthetic fuels made from natural gas (GTL Fuel) and potentially from biomass; and leads company-wide activities on CO2 management. With...
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...Introduction Foreign Market Entry Modes The decision of how to enter a foreign market can have a significant impact on the results. Expansion into foreign markets can be achieved via the following modes: ▪ Exporting (Direct/ Indirect Exporting) ▪ Licensing/ Franchising ▪ Contract Manufacturing ▪ Management contract ▪ Assembly Operation ▪ Fully Owned Manufacturing Facility ▪ Joint Venture ▪ Mergers & Acquisitions ▪ Strategic Alliance ▪ Third Country Location ▪ Counter Trade ▪ Direct investments Heading : Mahindras Take a Giant Leap with Insurance Arm Deal By : Satish John, Mumbai. Date : 21st Septermber 2012 News Paper : Economic Times Us-based LeapFrog’s purchase of 15% in a key Mahindra & Mahindra Group subsidiary hasgiven the auto to tourism group several fold returns on its original investment and the third such high return investment for its investors in less than a decade. LeapFrog, the world’s largest insurance investor for low-income customers on Thursday said ti would buy a 15% stake in Mahindra Insurance Brokers for Rs. 80.41 Crore. This firm which is subsidiary of the much bigger and better know M&M Financial services was started in 2004 for a measly Rs. 50 Lakh.The LeapFrong purchase values the firm at Rs. 520 crore. LeapFrog specfialises in investing in companies that cater to rural markets.”We feel very proud that we invested Rs. 50 Lakh and today...
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...Executive Summary Azalea Seafood Gumbo Shoppe wishes to develop a strategic plan to maintain long-term growth and sustain a competitive advantage. For Azalea to accomplish this, they will need to consider the options presented here. Included is an analysis of Azalea’s problems and issues to address, along with recommendations to grow the business. The recommendations are based on the status of the current market and forces that drive the industry. Azalea has a great product that will perform very well in the market. Marketing and sales are areas that will also need improvement. Management is very capable and should easily be able to adjust to competition in the market. A great deal of opportunity lies ahead in the many unfulfilled niches to be filled and explored. Azalea will need to expand and diversify its customer base. This can easily be accomplished by focusing on marketing and sales efforts. The company needs to concentrate on, not only providing a quality product, but also creating a well-known and trusted name. Currently Azalea’s average ROA is at 68%. Compared to industry norms this is great, however, debt for the company is at 87%. The debt can be corrected with time and effort. The quick ratio is at one and short-term credit remains safe. Cash flow needs to be improved by implementing a gradual price increase and initiating key retail locations. Azalea has not been able to attract business due to the state of their facility, which must be updated...
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...AS English Language [pic] [pic] [pic] Fiction style models and tasks – 2012/2013 Style Model Workbook Style models are examples of a type of writing used to give you an idea of the features used when adapting a particular style and form. As you will be required to include a fiction and non-fiction annotated style model as part of your coursework folder we have compiled a selection of materials to give you a head start. The two booklets (one fiction, one non-fiction) will contain the type of extracts you should be looking for and the questions that accompany them will help you to annotate the materials appropriately. You will be given some of the extracts to study in class and some to complete as homework tasks. There may be some materials that you haven’t been directed to by your teachers, these will make very good additional preparation and you should look at these in your own time. All the resources, and some additional style models, can be found in the AS Language section of Moodle. AS LANGUAGE COURSEWORK You must keep all work during the production of the coursework in your folder. You will need all drafts and style models for part of your final grade. Criteria • Two pieces of your own writing • Each piece must have a different audience and purpose • You should write with a specific genre in mind • Pieces should be designed with a real publication in mind • Two...
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...bpAnnual Report and Form 20-F 2010 bp.com/annualreport What’s inside? 5 Business review 6 8 10 12 14 34 40 55 61 63 68 76 78 81 Chairman’s letter Board of directors Group chief executive’s letter Progress in 2010 Group overview Gulf of Mexico oil spill Exploration and Production Refining and Marketing Other businesses and corporate Liquidity and capital resources Corporate responsibility Research and technology Regulation of the group’s business Certain definitions 123 Additional information for shareholders 124 127 127 128 129 130 133 134 135 135 135 137 137 138 138 139 139 139 140 Critical accounting policies Property, plants and equipment Share ownership Major shareholders and related party transactions Dividends Legal proceedings Relationships with suppliers and contractors Share prices and listings Material contracts Exchange controls Taxation Documents on display Purchases of equity securities by the issuer and affiliated purchasers Fees and charges payable by a holder of ADSs Fees and payments made by the Depositary to the issuer Called-up share capital Administration Annual general meeting Exhibits BP Annual Report and Form 20-F 2010 83 Directors and senior management 84 87 Directors and senior management Directors’ interests 89 Corporate governance 90 105 106 106 107 108 Board performance report Corporate governance practices Code of ethics Controls and procedures Principal accountants’ fees and services Memorandum and Articles of Association 141...
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...CASE TEACHING NOTE 8 Panera Bread Company OVERVIEW AS PANERA BREAD COMPANY HEADED INTO 2007, IT WAS CONTINUING TO SWIFTLY EXPAND ITS MARKET PRESENCE. THE COMPANY’S STRATEGIC INTENT WAS TO MAKE GREAT BREAD BROADLY AVAILABLE TO CONSUMERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. IT HAD OPENED 155 NEW COMPANY-OWNED AND FRANCHISED BAKERY-CAFES IN 2006, BRINGING ITS TOTAL TO 1,027 UNITS IN 36 STATES. PLANS WERE IN PLACE TO OPEN ANOTHER 170 TO180 CAFÉ LOCATIONS IN 2007 AND TO HAVE NEARLY 2,000 PANERA BREAD BAKERY-CAFÉS OPEN BY THE END OF 2010. MANAGEMENT WAS CONFIDENT THAT PANERA BREAD’S ATTRACTIVE MENU AND THE DINING AMBIANCE OF ITS BAKERY-CAFÉS PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT GROWTH OPPORTUNITY, DESPITE THE FIERCELY COMPETITIVE NATURE OF THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY. Panera Bread competed with specialty food, casual dining and quick service restaurant retailers including national, regional and locally owned restaurants. Its closest competitors were restaurants in the so-called “fast casual” restaurant category. Fast casual restaurants filled the gap betweeen fast-food and casual, full table service dining. A fast casual restaurant provided quick-service dining (much like fast-food enterprises) but were distinguished by enticing menus, higher food quality, and more inviting dining environments; typical meal costs per guest were in the $7-$12 range. Some fast casual restaurants had limited table service and some were self-service (like fast-food establishments). Between January 1999 and December 2006...
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...ANNUAL REPORT 2014 reimagining energy TM Our Business Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) • Export Sector • Power Sector • Industrial Sector Regasification Terminal • Power Sector • •Power Sector Industrial Sector • Industrial Sector Natural Gas Liquefaction Peninsular Gas Utilisation (PGU) System • Residential and Commercial Sectors • Residential Sector • Commercial Sector Processed Gas Exploration, Development & Production Processing Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Condensate • Industrial Sector - Ethylene, Methanol, MTBE, • Industrial Sector Polyethylene, Propylene, Urea and VCM Olefin & Derivatives, Fertiliser & Methanol Crude Oil Condensate Petrochemical Plants • Transportation Sector - Diesel, Gasoline, Jet Fuel • Transportation Sector and Lubricants Jet Fuel, Gasoline, Diesel, Fuel Oil & Lubricants Refining Petroleum Products UPSTREAM 2 PETRONAS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 DOWNSTREAM Our Presence Upstream Downstream Upstream Africa • Algeria – Development • Cameroon – Development • Egypt – Exploration, Development, Production & LNG • Mauritania – Exploration, Development & Production • Mozambique – Exploration • Republic of South Sudan – Exploration, Development & Production • Republic of Sudan – Exploration, Development & Production • Chad – Development & Production Asia Pacific • Australia – Exploration, Development, Production & LNG • Brunei – Exploration • China...
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...Political Factors - Governments controlling world hydrocarbon reserves → significant impact - OPEC controlling 75.5% of world reserves → highly influential - Political risks: Instability, expropriation/nationalization of property, terrorism, civil conflicts, strikes, wars, etc. → adverse effect - Environmental treaties (Kyoto protocol) → negative impact Economic Factors - Interdependence between world economy and oil industry: economic growth → growing demand for oil; but also: continual supply of oil at reasonable prices → stable economy - Inelastic demand → positive effect - US dollar (and US economy) →significant impact - Exchange rates → impact on buyers and suppliers Socio-cultural Factors - Values and beliefs shape preferences for energies → energy mix changing towards greener energies - Need for companies to show social responsibility → supporting sustainable human development through investments in education, training, social and environmental activities Technological Factors - Extremely technology-driven: improved upstream technologies →better recovery of hydrocarbon, recovering oil from reserves considered exhausted → improved profitability (gains) - Breakthrough technology in ultradeep-water extraction →competitive advantage for Petrobras - Advanced technology → profound impact on long-term sustainability . Industry Competition Analysis (Porter’s five forces) In order to create a profitable competitive strategy, a firm must first examine the basic competitive...
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