...Business, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 3K7; phone (519) 661-3208; fax (519) 661-3882; e-mail cases@ivey.uwo.ca. Copyright © 2008, Ivey Management Services Educational material supplied by The Case Centre Copyright encoded A76HM-JUJ9K-PJMN9I Order reference F240103 Version: (A) 2008-06-24 INTRODUCTION Director Allan Rasmussen took a good deal of pride in the achievements of Coloplast A/S1 (Coloplast) in Tatabánya, Hungary. In consecutive quarters in 2004, the plant had outperformed the company’s longer established Danish production units in quality levels (see Exhibit 1). Rasmussen had been the Tatabánya plant’s manager, its first, since 2001. Just three and a half years later, he was responsible for the daily management of a plant with a head count of 550 and production valued at 1.5 billion Danish kroner (DKK). In 2005, he resumed his position as director of Coloplast’s Danish subsidiary and returned to Denmark. With the Hungarian operation, Coloplast had learned important lessons in designing and implementing a relocation process, and in managing the communication involved. Although Coloplast had some minor production facilities outside of Denmark, the scope of its involvement in Hungary was unparalleled. When the expansion was completed, the Hungarian unit would employ 900 staff — roughly 15 per cent of the company’s total workforce. Coloplast’s involvement in Tatabánya was part of the...
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...Despite being the most peaceful country in the world for the past seven years in a row according to the Global Peace Index from the Institute for Economics and Peace, there exists an inconsistency between what appears to be true and the reality of what is true in Iceland. Isolated with a modest population, not much is known of the island-country of Iceland outside of Europe. Since little news of Iceland (or Scandinavia as a whole) is broadcast to the Americas, the social issues must be shared in a different manner. Scandinavian crime novelists have “transformed the genre into a sort of thrilling social exposé of matters both big and small” (Michaelis 17). Through their writings, readers around the world are able to learn about the problems within Scandinavia. In Jar City, Arnaldur Indridason displays the Icelanders’ sentiments towards the amount of violence and crime, their distrust towards the police and doctors, and their concerns over the collection of genetic data in their country. The novel begins with a series of crimes within the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik. A stranger attempts to rob a house but beats up two women in the process. Meanwhile, an elderly man named Holberg is found murdered in his nearby flat. The lead detective on the case, Erlendur, remarks at the murder scene that it was another “typical Icelandic murder” (Indridason 6), suggesting that this was a common occurrence. During the murder investigation, secrets from Holberg’s past are uncovered. Holberg...
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...Bad decision making: The German food chain LIDL in Norway LIDL is a global discount supermarket chain from Germany. Since 1988 the company expanded to 21 states e.g. Italy, France, Great Britain, Spain and many Eastern European countries. In 2004 LIDL entered the Norwegian marked. Norway at this point had no real low price food market and the LIDL managers were sure of having a big advantage using their low price strategy and without having competitors in that field. After only four years the company announced its withdrawal from Norway due to sustained losses and all the stores were sold to a Norwegian supermarket chain. What happened? The Norwegian people avoided LIDL because they favoured their traditional brands and small shops over the imported products and the big LIDL-stores. Three psychological traps that undermined the decision of the LIDL management should be highlighted: Sunk-Cost Trap: After LIDL realized the absence of success in 2006, they decided not to rethink their local strategy but to open another 20 new stores in the capital Oslo. The management tried to compensate former losses by increasing the number of stores. Confirming-Evidence Trap: Klaus Gehrig, chairman of the board, is said to be the power behind the strict expansion policy. He justified the Norwegian expansion by referring to the success in other countries but fades out Sweden and Denmark, where LIDL suffered from similar problems. Estimating and Forecasting Trap: The LIDL managers...
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...Eating Sugar The short story written by Catherine Merriman named ”Eating Sugar, was originally published in ”Getting a life”, Honno, in 2001. A third person narrator tells the short story and furthermore the narrator is omniscient. It seems to me that the time is not important in this short story. On the contrary the environment, the surroundings, are described into details. In this analysis I have chosen to focus on the description of the surroundings, a short analysis of Eileen and Alex and their relation, an analysis of the title “Eating Sugar” in comparison with the contents of the short story. Furthermore I have chosen to take the extract of the essay “A Small Place” and the picture “Tourists 2” into perspective. Finally I will discuss the globalization of the English language in the world today. In the short story we meet a family of three, Alex, the father, Eileen, the mother and their daughter Suzanne. Eileen works as a teacher in Thailand, where they live, and the moment she gets her Thai New Year holiday they decide to become tourists. They go on a trip with other holidaying Thais but when they decide to leave the paradise the small British family of three decide to stay so that they can have the small paradise to themselves. Alex and Eileen have been together most of their lives at least since the 1970s. Together they have tried LSD and they have also travelled to Yugoslavia hitchhiking - long-haired innocents as Alex himself calls it. Alex starts...
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...|Ships Bollards BSMA 12 | |Please note that dimensions and weights are nominal and small variations are reserved. E & OE | | | | | |[pic] | | | |[pic] | | | | | |Type | |f ...
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...about her perception of the Law of Jante was that “it’s bullshit”. Later in the day, I asked another woman of roughly the same age, named Ida, the same question, and I was astonished that she had the exact same response. Both women went further into their beliefs of the law, but tended to have a negative connotation with the theory. On the contrary, many individuals, mostly older, thought the law showed a sign of respect and added a submissive humbleness to Danes and their culture. Rasmus, a middle-aged man who was very enthusiastic and enlightening with his response, stated that it was a reputable theory that was seen and apart of the Danish culture, but also stated that it hindered individuals from talking about the success in their life. Even though it was not apart of the assignment, I went ahead and asked a few individuals who were not Danish their perception of the law and once again found another perception. These individuals...
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...B1 side 47 I fejlstøvsugeren 1. Many Danish people are speaking better English than German. 2. Danish people on average are getting older and older. 3. The most difficult job is often the most interesting one. 4. The biggest diamond cost less than the sheik thought. 5. It was further to the nearest grocery store, than they had expected. 6. I am older than my brother, but he is 30 centimetres taller than me. 7. The patient’s condition got worse after the operation. 8. The least you can do is to send a Christmas card to her. 9. The family lived in the worst slum in the city, worse than you can imagine. 10. This is the last camera, we have of this model, and it’s also the latest model. B2 side 47 I fejlstøvsugeren 1. The family settle down in a small town in the Midwest. 2. He has many times been in trouble with the police, more times than you? 3. The city had only one small park, and it was smaller than the most parks. 4. He is quit a fool, but he is a good businessman. 5. My dad had to sell his farm and buy a smaller one, when he got old. 6. His broken leg was caused by a small accident. 7. Our yacht costed a big sum of money, but then it’s also bigger than yours. 8. We were resived by an old man and two big dogs. B side 48 I fejlstøvsugeren 1. The family had 7 dogs the biggest one was a Grand Danois. 2. The unemployed is getting impatience. 3. The only one, that could understand Chinese...
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...NUMBER THE STARS Summary Who? Annemarie and her best friend Ellen , and there family. What? Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission somehow she must find the strength and courage to save her best friend’s live. There’s no turning back now. When? Third year of Germany seizes the Danish 1943 September. Where? Copenhagen-Denmark Why? When the war timing. How? A story of Denmark and Danish people, whose Resistance was so effective in saving their Jews. After the soldiers leave everyone star to talk about that in the living room. Ellen apologizes for her dark hair. But Annemarie’s parent think the fair is beautiful and she should know how lucky was that Ellen was born with dark curls. But right now, they become suspicious so easily. The girls talk quietly in bed that night., After the cliff-hanging time. The girls have a little time to take easy. Ellen is in awe of the beautiful house by the sea. For a few moments, the girls are able to forget their troubles as they wade in the chilly ocean. Annemarie decide to give a cat New name called Thor. Annemarie was understood that she need to protect Ellen, but she didn’t know what was happening. She breaks the silence to accuse him and her mother of lying to his uncle. The next day, there are many people in the living room. Annemarie’s mother tells her she can go to bed. But she decide to stay with Ellen. Then the Peter told them, their journey will be very cold. The two girls feel their life...
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...American values The American values are very different from the Danish. In their world every man owns their own luck, but in Denmark we have to help the weak, which we do through our taxes. In Denmark nobody is really rich, because the richest people pay more to society, so that the poor people do not have to pay anything. If you get rich in America, it is all on you. It is not your responsibility to help the poor. Some famous people choose to do it anyways through charity, but the question is, if this is mostly to promote themselves, or if it is actually to help people. Looking at Hofstedes 4 dimensions, there are also a lot of differences between the Danish and the American culture. Power distance is the first dimension. America has a lot of power distance compared to Denmark. They have some Christian societies, where the pastor is above everyone else. But this is very different from place to place. America is so big, so there are also other places, where there is very little power distance, but I still think Denmark takes the title as the Country with the least power distance. It is very rare, that you see an American call their teacher by first name. The next dimension is collectivism vs. individualism. As I wrote in the beginning, America is a country for individualists, where the personal freedom fills the most, while Denmark is very collectivistic, where we help the weakest, so everybody have an income even though some people do not even have a job. Uncertainty avoidance...
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...http://prezi.com/309ispjykcgi/absolut-vodka/ absolut vodka http://www.mbaskool.com/brandguide/food-and-beverages/4442-absolut-vodka.html http://prezi.com/x2hhkygf3wjl/absolut-vodka/ http://www.jgbm.org/page/9%20Etienne%20Musonera%20.pdf HISTORY Absolut was established in 1879 by Lars Olsson Smith and is produced in Åhus, Sweden. Smith introduced fractional distillation that produces liquor without fusel alcohol in Sweden in 1877, under the name "Tiodubbelt Renadt Brännvin" (Tenfold Purified Vodka). Brännvin literally means "burn-wine" and is analogous to the German "Branntwein". The term is also used in Norwegian, Danish and Icelandic.[citation needed] ("Vodka" was not used for Swedish liquor until 1958, with the potato-based Explorer Vodka.) The name was changed to "Absolut Rent Brännvin" (Absolutely Pure Vodka) by Smith to market his much improved product. [1] Smith challenged the city of Stockholm's liquor marketing monopoly with his vodka. It was sold at a lower price than the monopoly's product, just outside the city border. Smith even offered free boat rides to the distillery and "Rent Brännvin" made Smith a fortune.[1] In 1917, the alcohol industry in Sweden was monopolized by the Swedish government. Vodka was then sold nationwide under the name "Absolut Rent Brännvin". The name changed with intervals, Renat Brännvin or Absolut Rent Brännvin. In 1979, the old name Absolut was picked up when the upper-price range ABSOLUT VODKA was introduced. Renat is still a euphemism...
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...Immigration in London The article ”I feel like a stranger where I live”, written by Jane Kelly in January 2013, deals with Jane Kelly’s understanding of the Muslim immigrants, their religion and their culture, and which consequences it has brought a long, since they settled down in the same area in a foreign country. But is the clash of cultures in reality a problem? And will we one day be able to live side by side each other, or are the cultural differences simply too big? One thing is for sure, and that is, that Jane Kelly certainly expresses her frustrations and irritations towards the immigrants living around her, in the text “I feel like a stranger where I live”. The text takes place in west London, in a city called Acton Vale, where Jane Kelly lives. On one hand the text can be interpret, as if Jane Kelly is slightly racist, but on the other hand it can be interpret as a cry out for help, because she actually wishes to live among the immigrants, and share a community with them. Some of the sentences in her text has a racist undertone, for example: “Most of the shops are now owned by Muslims and even the fish and chip shop and Indian takeaway are Halal. It seems that almost overnight it’s changed from Acton Vale into Acton Veil” (p. 1, l. 6-8). This part particularly seems to indicate, that Jane Kelly has a grudge in general against immigrants, as she attaches importance to the fact, that it is Muslims, who she is talking about. And she’s even joking about, that...
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...As a young teenager I believe I displayed entrepreneurial skills by buying and selling branded goods to my friends and contacts, all above board, and since then I have continued to develop an interest in business and I am now keen to learn all aspects of the business world. I have also drawn inspiration from my uncle who has gone from professional ten pin bowler champion to successful owner of a business promoting dental care. It intrigues me to think that one day I will one day find a niche from which to launch a successful business or become part of an already established enterprise. I believe that taking a business orientated course would be the next step in fulfilling my ambition. The business course that I am currently taking has given me skills such as conducting independent research, analysing data and information in order to compile presentations and reports. All this involves liaising with staff, other students and working as part of a team. I feel that I am able to contribute to discussions and present my own views based upon my work. I am organised and able to meet deadlines set. I particularly enjoy the financial aspect of business organisation and I believe I have the necessary mathematical skills to support this work. I have good IT skills and have applied these to various tasks including most recently projecting forecasts using excel. I have come to realise the importance of complying with law and minimising risks. I have had work experience in a local branch...
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...Table of Contents Index to Financial Statements UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K (Mark One) x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 or ¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from to Commission File Number: 001-07434 Aflac Incorporated (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Georgia (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) 58-1167100 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 1932 Wynnton Road, Columbus, Georgia (Address of principal executive offices) 31999 (ZIP Code) Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 706.323.3431 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of each class Common Stock, $.10 Par Value Name of each exchange on which registered New York Stock Exchange Tokyo Stock Exchange Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. None Yes ¨ Yes ¨ No No Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities...
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...Pre-launch Survey Report of Insurance Awareness Campaign SPONSORED BY Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority © National Council of Applied Economic Research, 2011 All rights reserved, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording and/or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Published by Jatinder S. Bedi, Secretary & Head, Operations, for and on behalf of the National Council of Applied Economic Research, Parisila Bhawan, 11, Indraprastha Estate, New Delhi–110 002 Printed at M/s. Multiplexus (India), Delhi. Email: multiplexusindia@gmail.com Study Team Project Leader Anushree Sinha Core Research Team Rajesh Jaiswal Barun Deb Pal Kalicharan Shukla Consultant Ramamani Sundar Geetha Natesh Technical Support Sadhana Singh Contents List of Tables List of Annexure Tables Foreword Preface Acknowledgements Chapter 1: Background 1.1 Concept of Insurance 1.2 Importance of Insurance 1.3 Origin of Insurance 1.4 Origin and Development of Insurance in India 1.5 Important Developments in the History of Indian Insurance Business 1.6 Insurance Scenario in India and Other Countries 1.7 Insurance Penetration and Density in India 1.8 Why Awareness is Important Chapter 2: Methodology 2.1 Coverage 2.2 Sample Design 2.3 Selection of the Rural Sample 2.4 Selection of the Urban Sample Chapter 3: Socio-Economic Characteristics of...
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...Assignment – (Individual) Course: Diploma in Logistics Management Batch: DLM 12/41 Module: International Shipping Management ------------------------------------------------- Lecturer: Mr Eddie Tan Assignment On: What risks and perils are present in global transportation? Discuss how exporters and importers can manage these risks. Submission Date: 27th Feb 2013 Name(s) of Student: Norhazura Binti Zulkafly (Word count –1,882) Table of Content Chapter | Title | Page | 1 Introduction 3 2 Global trends and challenges in transport sector 4 3 Cargo Insurance 8 4 Transportation Perils 10 5 Managing Risks 11 6 Insurable interest 12 7 Summary 13 9 Bibliography 14 1. Introduction The global economy is going through a highly volatile period as highlighted in the Transportation Profile. Diesel and bunker fuel prices have been largely unpredictable, thanks to the wild swings in crude oil prices (peaking at nearly $150 per barrel before plummeting to less than $40 per barrel in 2008). Demand for industrial and consumer products has contracted after years of unprecedented growth, due to rising prices and a global recession, and companies have struggled to secure needed financing because of the global credit crunch. They create extreme challenges in the market for global transportation services. Just a few short years ago during the global trade boom, ports were testing the...
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