...Case Study: Elektra Products, Inc. The Case: Problem: Once leading manufacturer/retailer of electrical products/supplies has declining market share, low employee morale, inter-departmental communication gaps (sales and manufacturing not talking), slow innovation (i.e. new products few and far between) One of the solutions: employee empowerment but with a buy-in problem from the department heads during the proposal by B. Russel. Important characters in the case: Barbara Russel (VP for manufacturing; team leader manufacturing team) – working on ideas to improve how retail stores got the merchandise they needed it by: * Manager follow a product from design through sales to customers * Allow salespeople to refund up to $500 worth of merchandise on the spot * Make information available to salespeople about future products * Swap Sales and manufacturing personnel for short periods for job awareness Martin Griffin (New CEO) – excused himself during presentation Department heads – had concerns with Russel’s proposal. Some Employees – not buying the idea Case Discussion 1. How might top management have done a better job changing Elektra Products into a new kind of organization? What might they do now to get the empowerment process back on track? The role of the top management in employee empowerment or in any change management is to exhibit commitment to the change, provide leadership which involves influencing employees to excellence, molding...
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...Professor Wall English 1B Play Response Live Theater: Oresteia Fractum When I looked at the name of the play, I was very curious about what Oresteia Fractum is and how fun it will be. I was quite looking forward to watching it because it was my first time to attend a formal theater in my new American life, and I also watched the promo on YouTube before I went there. On March 11, which is Sunday, I watched John Wilk’s Oresteia Fractum at City College of San Francisco Diego Rivera Theatre, which is directed by John Wilk. It presents an original experimental adaptation of Aeschylus' Greek trilogy based on the end of the Trojan War and the murder of Agamemnon entitled Oresteia Fractum. The piece is a collaboration exploring the "tragic" mode in modern theatrical language, with original alternative music, choreography and multimedia elements. Eric Iverson and Tommi Ko are the musicians. Choreography by Christy Funsch, multimedia by Jesse Blanca. They have been busy studiously composing and recording a rock opera based on the Oresteia - an Ancient Greek play that's all about what happens to the Greek Royal Family after they win the Trojan War. It's got blood, murder, intrigue, sexual betrayal, matricide, incest, and more murder! They are really made a rock opera. This production is actually more of an experimental theatrical show, closer to a Musical, with song and choreographed dance, as well as video, shadow, and other old school special effects. The full...
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...House of Atreus. His interpretation is as follows: The close of the Eumenides is anything but an anticlimax. It is closely knit to the body of the whole trilogy, showing the manner in which the playwright supposes the necessary reconciliation between Zeus and the Furies to be made possible and acceptable. The King of Heaven is mystically identified now and forever with Fate. The joyful procession is the sign not only that the moral government of the world has been set at last upon a sure basis, but also that this government is alreadt in operation and sanctifying human institutions. This is what Owen means when he says: The story is not the poet's subject; his artistic purpose goes beyond the dramatic development of the legend; that is why his play does not end with the story.5 In each play we have pointed out that Aeschylus was not primarily concerned with the legend, and here, it seems, is sufficient evidence to support our contention. What Owen maintains is the subject of the Oresteia is as follows: The subject of the Oresteia is the creation of a new moral order; Aeschylus depicts the vast chain of events which the death of Agamemnon started in heaven and earth, how it and its results shook the 4 5 Norwood, PP• 114-116. Owen, The Oresteia, P• 442. universe to its foundations and altered the spiritual history of the world; he presents the legend as a turning-point in the destinies of mankind.6 63 If this interpretation is true, which is most...
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...following is an example of the process involved in writing a Case Study paper. The Case Study is found at the end of Chapter 1 of your textbook; Elektra Products, Inc. Items in red font are explanatory notes and would not be included in the finished product. Charles A. Student 20 Nov 2011 Elektra Products, Inc. The following summary identifies the basic substance of the situation, the key individuals involved, and the dilemma faced by the responsible manager. Summary: Barbara Russell, Elektra's Vice President of Manufacturing, has been tasked by Martin Griffin, Elektra's new President, to head one of the teams that will devise a plan to change Elektra's management style from a traditional top-down firm to a de-centralized organization that emphasizes employee empowerment in the management process. Ms. Russell forms an enthusiastic team that works extra hours to compile management changes that would allow employees at all levels to make decisions appropriate to their positions. However, When the recommendations are presented to department heads, they receive a cold reception when Mr. Griffin is called away from the meeting. Ms. Russell is now faced with the problem of implementing change against the resistance of the mid-level management. Question 1: How might top management have done a better job changing Elektra Products into a new kind of organization? What might they do now to get the empowerment process back on track? Note: Question 1 asks two questions; both...
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...Explaining phobia Fear can often be a temporary emotion experienced while riding a roller coaster, watching a scary movie, and attending a haunted hay ride. Within these experiences fear is often expected by the individual and often the fear is temporary. However, some individuals do not experience fear in a temporary manner, he or she will develop a phobia. A phobia is an irrational and excessive fear of an object or situation (Cherry, 2012). The individual experiences an intense fear of something but he or she does not understand why the fear is occurring. The fear disrupts the well-being of the individual by causing the intense fear he or she will be harmed or endangered. Sigmund Freud who often provided details to understand the anxieties of the mind by his analysis of his cases studies (Cervone & Pervin, 2010). One such case is the analysis of Little Hans who was young child who suffered from an extreme fear of horses biting him and the fear of leaving his home (Cervone & Pervin, 2010). Freud suggested the case of little Hans produced the most compelling evidence for the positive Oedipus complex and suggested the Oedipus complex is a universal phenomenon (Lachmann, 2010). Freud did not analyze Little Hans personality but uniquely corresponded with Hans’s father about the young child’s phobias and conducted therapy through Hans’s father (Garber, 2001). Freud and Hans’s father would discuss the difficulties Little Hans experienced and Freud would instruct Hans’s father...
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...Feather Liu 14 June, 2015 A Drama Review of Hamlet By studying the Stage Show of Wuhan University Abstract As the longest masterpiece of Shakespeare, Hamlet impresses us with its tragic revenge of prince Hamlet. This stage show presents us the core part of Hamlet through performance of “nunnery scene”, “closet scene” and Hamlet’s monologue. Thus, this article will mainly focuses on drama review of the stage show from aspects of technical arts, adaption and editing as well as performance of the actor and actresses and a character analysis combing with Oedipus complex, Electra complex together with the author’s personal reactions. Keywords: drama review; technical arts; performance, character analysis Contents I. Introduction………………………………………………………………………....3 II. Technical arts………………………………………………………………………4 A. Lighting &Music.……………………………………………………………..4 B. Stage Properties…………………………………………………………..........4 C. Costumes………………………………………………………………………4 III. Editing& Adaption………………………………………………………………..5 IV. Performance……………………………………………………………………….6 A. Hamlet…………………………………………………………………………...6 B. Ophelia………………………………………………………………………….6 C. Gertrude…………………………………………………………………………7 V. Character Analysis………………………………………………………………....7 A. Hamlet………………………………………………………………………….7 B. Ophelia…………………………………………………………………………8 C. Gertrude………………………………………………………………………..9 VI. Conclusion…………………………………………………………….................9 Introduction The original...
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...Retail Advertising and Marketing Association Gen/200 Retail Advertising and Marketing Association "Consumers know precisely what's wrong with advertising. Be it TV or print or whatever, they know that advertising is never creative enough ... never as witty, inspiring, sophisticated, entertaining and downright likable as they would like it to be” (Phil Dussonberry, former BBDO advertising executive). In the world of retail things are ever changing there is a constant need for new advertising or marketing to grab the consumers attention. Without these tools a retailers profits can quickly dwindle leaving them in the dust. One great tool for retailers is the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association(RAMA). This paper will explain what RAMA is, how it can increase my professional knowledge and abilities, and how perfecting my knowledge and abilities can affect my career success. The Retail Advertising & Marketing Association (RAMA) is a trade association of retail marketing and advertising professionals, plus their counterparts on the agency, media and service-provider sides of the business. RAMA is a division of the National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association (National Retail Federation, 2011). RAMA also is the producer of the annual Racie Awards Competition, the industry’s most prestigious creative contest for retail broadcast, web and print advertising (National Retail Federation, 2011). RAMA is an innovative association that connects retailers...
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...the strategic life cycle challenges for Paramount's current products as well as for Clean Edge? Changes in Non-Disposable Razor Category: The non-disposable razor category has seen changes in the recent years. A 5% growth per year from 2007 to 2010, attributed to innovations and product introductions, has to be the biggest change that the category has seen. Advertising expenditures increased dramatically for several non-disposable razor companies over the last couple of years because of the need to promote new benefits from advances in razor technologies. Changes in retail channel distribution have also been noted in the category. Male-grooming products seemed to be a bright spot in the industry from 2007 to 2010 and the segment saw more growth because shaving became more than just shaving – it started to include body spray, shower gel, etc. Channel distribution for the razor category has become increasingly important, with the recent re-introduction of Old Spice; there has been quite the demand for male-grooming products. Competitive Position: Paramount has established itself as a global consumer products giant with over $13 billion in worldwide sales and $7 billion in gross profits for 2009 since its entry into the market in 1962. Paramount established itself as unit-volume leader in 2009 based on non-disposable razor sales. The non-disposable razor category market is entering a new phase with technology products and new competitors entering the market, posing a threat to...
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... How Our Marketing Research Lead To A Position So Compelling That Consumers Chose Our Client’s Product Over A Larger, Wealthier Competitor CASE STUDY #64 “We are not as broadly distributed as our competition. What can we say - other than „free‟ that will convince consumers to inconvenience themselves and leave (or “walk”) from a retailer that doesn‟t carry our products to a retailer that does?” POINT OF VIEW We never lost sight of the mission: GET THE CUSTOMERS TO PREFER US, EVEN THOUGH WE AREN’T AS WELL DISTRIBUTED OR WEALTHY. The actionable marketing research we conducted enabled us to leap over our competitor’s entrenched, better-distributed brand, craft a message that resonated with the audience, and build preference for our client’s product. Win / Win for everybody except the competition. Situation The client had a great product, but was being outspent by the competition, which also had broader distribution. Our challenge was to craft a concept for the product so unique and compelling, it would encourage consumers to “walk” from a store they typically shop at that carries only the competitor’s product and go to a store that carries the client’s product. Approach Quantitative, qualitative and ethnographic research enabled us to uncover aspects of the client’s product that made it stand out over the competition’s. Then we developed a unique marketing research measurement that tracked awareness, interest, and the actual shopping trip. Result ...
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...potential customers. You have to figure out who your going to sell your product to and how to reach these individuals. The third challenge I see with setting up a business is coming up with the capital to start the business. It takes money to make money. Unless you have a nice savings account, you will probably have to get a business loan or find people who are willing to invest in your company. 2. Define what a “niche” product is. Give at least three examples of niche products. A niche product is something designed to appeal to specialized interests. Not for everyone, but a specific customer. Examples; speakers at the Bose store, Starbucks Coffee, a restaurant that sells Chinese food. 3. Explain why a niche company might have an advantage in a market. Would price necessarily be an advantage? Explain why or why not. A niche company has an advantage in the market because the customers are coming to the store specifically for a product that the company sells. If a woman walks into Victoria’s Secret, she’s shopping for women’s underclothes and she’s completely surrounded by women’s underclothes from the minute she walks into the store. Price might be an advantage if the company has a large enough surplus of the product, like Victoria‘s Secret. The product can be cheaper. But if the product is a specialty item the price might be higher. I think that the customer will be willing to pay more for a product at a niche...
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...STAT2011 Statistical Models sydney.edu.au/science/maths/stat2011 Semester 1, 2014 Computer Exercise Weeks 1 Due by the end of your week 2 session Last compiled: March 11, 2014 Username: mac 1. Below appears the code to generate a single sample of size 4000 from the population {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}. form it into a 1000-by-4 matrix and then find the minimum of each row: > rolls1 table(rolls1) rolls1 1 2 3 4 5 6 703 625 679 662 672 659 2. Next we form this 4000-long vector into a 1000-by-4 matrix: > four.rolls=matrix(rolls1,ncol=4,nrow=1000) 3. Next we find the minimum of each row: > min.roll=apply(four.rolls,1,min) 4. Finally we count how many times the minimum of the 4 rolls was a 1: > sum(min.roll==1) [1] 549 5. (a) First simulate 48,000 rolls: > rolls2=sample(x=c(1,2,3,4,5,6),size=48000,replace=TRUE) > table(rolls2) rolls2 1 2 3 4 5 6 8166 8027 8068 7868 7912 7959 (b) Next we form this into a 2-column matrix (thus with 24,000 rows): > two.rolls=matrix(rolls2,nrow=24000,ncol=2) (c) Here we compute the sum of each (2-roll) row: > sum.rolls=apply(two.rolls,1,sum) > table(sum.rolls) sum.rolls 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 742 1339 2006 2570 3409 4013 3423 2651 1913 1291 1 12 643 Note table() gives us the frequency table for the 24,000 row sums. (d) Next we form the vector of sums into a 24-row matrix (thus with 1,000 columns): > twodozen=matrix(sum.rolls,nrow=24,ncol=1000,byrow=TRUE) (e) To find the 1,000 column minima use > min.pair=apply(twodozen,2,min) (f) Finally compute the...
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...Instamatic – Old Video Cameras Technology has changed greatly over the years. Specifically video cameras, they have decreased in the products size but increased in the quality over time. When video cameras were introduced back in the 1970’s, they were using an old film format as compared to digital in today’s era. As these video cameras were being developed and launched into the market for the first time, it reflected the way retailers could examine buyer behaviour. Even back when the first sets of video cameras were released, retail stores were mounting them on the ceilings not only for security purposes, but to track consumers shopping habits. This helps these stores better understand how consumers are shopping so they can predict the next move. As the format back in the 70’s was film, retailers had to manually view the cameras to predict popular areas in the store, for example. This helped retailers effectively manage their stores as they would place the newest, popular products in areas that attracted the highest number of consumers. Another way video cameras have impacted buyer behaviour is through the product mix. By retailers using cameras to evaluate their retail stores, they are able to evaluate their product density (too high or too low); amount of signage and even the labelling within the store that could’ve been confusing. A retail stores product mix is important to upper management, as they want to ensure the best possible consumer experience. In order for the customer...
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...Pick Me: Slotting Product “Some have argued that slotting allowances – and a variant known as pay-to-stay fees, paid by manufacturers to keep existing products on retailers’ shelves – harm consumers by, among other things, excluding certain manufacturers and thereby impairing competition that otherwise would take place. Defenders of slotting allowances have asserted that, among other things, they cover the cost of introducing new products to the marketplace and thereby tend to foster entry and innovation”. (ftc.gov 2001) While the Department of Justice concludes that the practice of slotting allowance is not an antitrust issue there is a possibility that there may be issues in the future with anticompetitive exclusion. Slotting allowance is a practice used by manufacturers and retailer to stock certain products on the shelves. It was most prevalent in supermarkets but spread to other store i.e. electronic stores and computer stores. For example, Microsoft pays a fee to have an end cap (spot at the end of an aisle) to display their product only. Some feel that it is an exclusivity practice that leaves out smaller businesses that cannot compete with the fees required by retailers. The process was for manufactures to introduce new product to customers. But it is now a wide spread practice to charge a fee to keep their mature (older) products on the shelf. The practice allows for retailers to build their market power. Pros and cons of slotting allowances: 1) Pros ...
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...Write a short critical essay explaining how the poor economic climate in the UK might affect the marketing mix of a start-up retail venture in the high street. I will look critically at setting up a retail business on the high street in the current economic climate and the affect this may have on the marketing mix. I will first give a brief overview of the economic situation in the UK and high street retail in general. The UK economy has undergone a protracted period of instability since the banking crisis of 2007/08, which sparked economic downturn for the UK and caused a dramatic fall in both consumer and business confidence. Between 2008 and 2012, the UK experienced two periods of recession and has been subject to austerity measures, such as public spending cuts, welfare reforms and increased taxation, imposed by the UK Government in an attempt to reduce the country’s budget deficit and reverse economic decline. These measures coupled with high inflation, rising levels of unemployment and low wage growth have contributed to less disposable household income and subsequently lower consumer spending across most of the UK. The economic constraints of the last five years, such as falling consumer spending, increasing operating costs for businesses (20% rise since 2006) alongside less available, affordable borrowing to businesses have led to large numbers of high street retailers closing their doors. The Centre for Retail Research (2013) reported that 54 retail companies...
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...different strategies. One of Victoria’s secret strategies is not just to focus on a specific group of women but women of all ages. They concentrate on their entire customer base & focus on their 1000 retail stores, $400 mil famed catalogue, & lingerie super brand through the site, victoriassecret.com, where social media is also found, which help Victoria’s Secret stay in touch with their consumers, by making announcements of future new merchandise and offer special promotions. Arguably the most important marketing strategy is Victoria’s Secret fashion show – the epitome of glamour and glitz and a huge marketing machine. The retail chain expands into new products by taking advantage of their brand name, (ex; their new perfume; “Bombshell In Love”. They develop a strong brand and have been able to leverage its name in other products. Ethical & Legal Issues (solutions, perspectives and recommendations) U4 ISSUE: VS brought cotton from a company called Burkina Faso, which had a deal to ensure that the cotton is organic and fair-trade, but in Dec 2011, Bloomberg revealed that Faso was using child labour to gather the cottons. On line of VS that has been contreversal is the line called “Backstage Sexy”, where some stores arranged “mannequins (that were) blind folded and arranged in various sexual positions” in front view of the store. Many consumers began avoiding shopping at the store due to potential negative influence on their young. But the store`s mannequins displays were to...
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