ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Subway was founded in 1965 by Peter Buck as a small fast food business (“History,” n.d.). The first shop was opened in Bridgeport, CT, but the brand commenced to expand its presence due to the increasing popularity of fresh, inexpensive, made-to-order submarine sandwiches in which Subway specialized (“History,” n.d.). 16 Subway locations were opened by 1974 in the state and, the same year, Buck began franchising in order to foster further company growth (“History,” n.d.). Nowadays, this sandwich fast-food chain operates globally and has more than 40,000 shops across all continents (“History,” n.d.). As Subway intends to pursue further growth, it is essential to evaluate the enterprise’s main strengths and weaknesses, as well as threats and opportunities associated with the present-day, rapidly changing situation in the market. This report will outline some major environmental analysis points that would support the design of a strategic plan for the company. Industry Analysis As for 2019, the fast-food industry and the food and beverage industry, in general, were influenced by significant shifts in consumer preferences. According to Stuckey (2019), consumers tend to purchase healthier, cleaner, sugar-free, and cruelty-free food options more than before. Moreover, they grow more environmentally conscious and not only demand better access to ecological products but also want to see businesses eliminating harmful and unethical practices, for instance, the use of single-serve plastics (Stuckey, 2019). These consumer trends are currently on the rise, and it is valid to expect that they will dominate the industry in the following years. Meanwhile, the fast-food industry continues to grow globally as consumers still value affordable, tasty, and rapidly served food. According to recent estimates, during 2015-2020, its compound annual growth rate is equated to about 4.5%, resulting in a significant revenue volume increase (“Global fast food market,” n.d.). Nevertheless, the fast-food industry has been losing a substantial portion of its market share to fast-casual restraints, specialized in healthier and higher-quality yet slightly more expensive and slowly served options (“Fast food industry,” 2018). This industry trend is closely interrelated with the abovementioned consumer trends and requires a timely, effective response on part of fast-food restaurants. SWOTT Analysis Strengths The major strengths of Subway derive from its current value propositions. The company has adopted a nutritiona
Introduction Just-war theory has been widely used to establish the moral aspects associated with war (Antic, 2003). As well, the theory is used to analyze the hypocrisies and lies made by different leaders (Antic, 2003). Hurka (2005) indicates that “Iraq continues to fight an insurgency characterized by civil armed struggle” (p. 37). Experts have argued that the US-led forces attacked the nation without tabling adequate ethical justifications. The invasion of this nation is something that cannot be treated as an act of self-defense. As well, the invasion was not authorized by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) member states (Cordesman, 2003). Many ethicists, therefore, believe that the invasion was a form of aggression. This discussion uses various moral theories to describe the diverse views held by different groups regarding the ethicality of the US-led invasion of Iraq. Analyzing the Ethical Aspects: Different Points of View The United States Many analysts have argued that the events of September 11 catalyzed the US-led invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan (Hurka, 2005). Many leaders, including President Bush, believed strongly that the US was threatened by the increasing wave of terrorism (Dawoody, 2007). As well, the common opinion in the United States was that Iraq continued to equip terrorists with weapons of mass destruction (WMD). After September 11, many Americans argued that the presence of repressive regimes remained a major threat to the nation’s welfare. Many leaders and citizens cited North Korea and Iraq as examples. The issue of global terrorism is widely used by many Americans to explain why the invasion and occupation of this nation were ethical (Dawoody, 2007). The people believe strongly that some nations such as Iraq were funding
Target Market The target market for Kate Spade, Juicy Couture, Joie, and Zara comprise of fashion and trendy consumers, who like fashion designs. The companies offer clothes, accessories, and handbags that target women, children, and youth, as well as the old people in the society. For instance, Kate Spade focuses on products that range from clothing to accessories, while Joie aims to deliver products that are casual, comfortable, and luxurious. Moreover, Juicy Couture offers casual wear and targets the market that comprise of individuals, who live in the United States. The focus of Zara is mainly on the Spanish market (“Zara: Company” par 1). From the target consumers, it is clear that Kate Spade, Juicy Couture, and Joie demonstrate intratype competition, whereas Zara displays an intertype competition. Visual Presentation In the visual presentation, marked differences exist between intratype and intertype competitors. In the aspect of style, the intratype competition exhibited by Kate Spade, Juicy Couture, and Joie have some subtle differences. While Kate Spade arranges its products in a crowded style, Juicy Counter displays its products in windows with some spaces for the passage of customers. Comparatively, Joie displays its products on the walls of their stores in a well-arranged style, while other products are placed on tables in the middle of its stores (“Joie: Collections” par. 3). Moreover, visual presentation varies according to the intertype competition in terms of style. Comparative analysis shows that the style exhibited by Kate Spade, Juicy Couture, and Joie is a close arrangement of products with minimal spacing in stores, while Zara displays products with extensive spacing. Hence, the arrangement styles vary from one fashion company to another depending on their style of visual presentation. Regarding color, different fashion companies have products of different colors and use lights to enhance their visual presentation. Intratype competitors such as Kate Spade, Juicy Couture, and Joie use colors and light judiciously to enhance their visual presentation. Kate Spade and Juicy Couture have products with bright colors and use bright light to enhance their appeal to customers. Likewise, Joie has products with dull colors and uses dull lights in creating an appealing presentation in their stores. In the intertype competition, while Kate Spade, Juicy Couture, and Joie use bright or dull colors, Zara mixes both bright and dull colors, as well as bright and dull lights in enhancing presentation of products. Regarding the aspect of size, there are no marked differences in sizes of products that intratype and intertype competitors display in their stores. What is evident is that the intratype and intertype competitors arrange their products according to sizes and display them in strategic locations, where customers can easily view and purchase. Figure 1: Kate Spage Display. Figure 2: Juicy Cout
Environments International Dairy Queen Stores’ decision to open a subsidiary in Dubai presents challenges and opportunities to the company. Before developing any strategy plans International Dairy Queen should perform a SLEPT analysis which is a critical look into social, legal, economic, political and technological influences. This is because it will not operate in a vacuum and these environments indirectly affect business activities. In the Middle East, Dubai particularly stands out as the ideal location because it has numerous opportunities. The population is large and diverse plus the hot climate and tourist attractions attract restaurants business. Political/ legal framework in Dubai lays out the regulations and laws governing trade. Particularly, there are rules governing registration of companies import tariffs, ownership, trade registrations, customs payment and so on. International Dairy Queen Stores will have to comply with these laws and regulations if it is to trade in Dubai. The government policy prohibits creation of pollution, or any culture that contravenes moral standards. International Dairy Queen is a well established company whose activities are eco friendly. Laws regarding registration of foreign companies are stiff but not impossible. The government permits wholly owned foreign companies. However, restricts on the importing products from parent company are imposed. Laws regarding employment stipulate the number of employees who must be sponsors from the local community. Licensing is easy as the government stretches good will to foreign investors. International Dairy Queen has to critically look into these laws and rules and their impact to its operation before proceeding any further. Social factors and cultural factors are equally important. The vast population largely comprises of young and aged fun loving people. The number of foreigner who visit the country, make the setting ideal for International Dairy Queens products. Citizens of Dubai love the good things in life. They have an expensive taste and International Dairy Queen Stores’ products match this standard. Although the change in customers’ tastes and preferences differ across different age groups, International Dairy Queen Range of products caters for all. The economy of any country tends to fluctuate from time to time. This characterized by periods of inflation depressions etc. The direct impact of these changes is price increase. Currently Dubai’s economic condition is stable. Interest rates are low and demand high. People are willing to spend more on luxuries as dining out and International Dairy Queen comes in. International Dairy Queen can take advantage of this situation to expand to the Middle East (Dubai). Technology in Dubai can be described simply as state of the Art. Their transportation and communication system is highly advanced and the people are highly skill
Aim, objectives and feasibility of the dissertation The proposed research study is going to be focused on those techniques and strategies companies can utilise to reach cost optimisation. The purpose of the dissertation will be to identify these approaches and to discuss their effects based on the UAE organisations. With the focus on the general idea of cost optimisation, the proposed dissertation will discuss those practices, to which Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company refers. Thus, the following research questions will be considered:   * What are the strategies that Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company can use to optimise its costs?   * Can these cost optimisation strategies help this firm overcome the problem of reduced revenues? To answer them, such research objectives will be set:   * Discussion of the current market situation;   * Identification of the necessity to focus on cost optimisation;   * Discussion of those advantages cost optimisation may provide;   * Short outline of Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company’s background;   * Identification of the cost optimisation strategies that are used by Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company;   * Discussion of the effectiveness of these strategies in the overcoming the problem of reduced revenues. The opportunity to fulfil the purpose of the dissertation will be obtained when properly addressing all these objectives. The proposed dissertation discusses those issues and their solutions that are relevant not only to the Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company but also to other oil and gas companies in the UAE. Thus, the information it will provide will be rather useful for the whole sphere. To ensure professionals that they can rely on the results of research and to gather all relevant data, it is critical to proving the feasibility of the study (Berk, 2010). First of all, it should be mentioned that technical feasibility is ensured by the researcher’s access to the Internet and a laptop. Thus, there is an opportunity to reach enormous amounts of the information published online and to communicate with the sample. In addition to that, the researcher will try to prepare the dissertation based on the secondary data sources, addressing those books and peer-reviewed journal articles that can be found online or/and are available in the University library. As a result, the majority of the information will be obtained from printed sources that can be easily obtained and investigated. Of course, it is impossible to omit some literature gaps as secondary sources tend to provide generalised information that was already discussed by other professionals and may be biased by their views. To fill in these gaps and ensure the high quality of the study, primary data will be obtained as well. It will be gathered through interviews with the employees of Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company. Thus, data for the proposed research study will be obtained from different sources. The most basic information will come from books because they tend to reflect generally accepted ideas. Peer-reviewed articles will allow focusing on a narrowed topic and identify pr
Executive Summary This paper is a company analysis of J. C Penney. The company is in the retail sector and mainly sells women’s apparel as its most lucrative product category. Other products sold at J.C Penny stores include men’s clothing, children’s apparel and home products. The store’s performance in the last seven years has been poor because it has accumulated a lot of debt and lost a significant market share to its competitors. Albeit uncertain economic conditions have partly caused the store’s decline, I highlight poor strategic leadership as a key problem in the company that has mainly contributed to its poor performance. Using a SWOT analysis of the company’s internal environment, I find that good customer relation, sound distribution systems, and the store’s association with national brands are possible strengths of the company. Similarly, I found out that increased competition and increased opportunities for online trade are the main threats and opportunities for the company. However, poor strategic leadership has limited the opportunities to harness these competencies. To improve the company’s performance, I recommend two short-term and long-term strategies. As a short-term measure, I propose that J.C Penny should find creative methods of reducing its debt burden and operation costs. This strategy will improve its cash flow, in the short-term. In the long-term, the company should find a strong leadership plan that would be more proactive in embracing change and exploiting the company’s key competencies. History of the Company A Missouri-based entrepreneur, James Cash Penney, founded J.C Penney Company in 1902 (Sendjaja, 2009). Mr. Penney founded the first store in Kemmerer, Wyoming. He opened started it as a partnership with two other investors (Sendjaja, 2009). However, in 1907, Mr. Penney took over the business after his partners dissolved the partnership. After taking the majority control of the business, J.C Penney expanded into new locations and allowed store managers to have a one-third stake in the business. By 1909, J.C Penney had 34 stores. In 1912, it was raking in more than $2,000,000 in annual sales (Funding Universe, 2015). The following year (1913), the company’s founder incorporated the business as J.C Penney Incorporated. Afterwards, he moved the business’s headquarters to New York. This was a strategic move to be closer to manufacturers and suppliers. In 1913, the number of J.C Penney stores increased to 83 (Funding Universe, 2015). With Penney as the company chairperson, the number of J.C Penney stores increased further to 175 (Makarova, 2013). The company’s growth mainly occurred from 1920s -1950s. For example, in 1929, the company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). During the Great depression, its profits increased to $250 million because it had created a brand
Introduction According to Foster, the economic crisis that is experienced in Europe is not an accident. It is completely an outcome of the basic policy mistakes that started being committed a long time ago and since then; they have been intensified in the course of time. It is believed that there are two main mistakes that have brought about the economic crisis. The first mistake is the adoption of a single currency, a move that was taken in the recent times, with no economic policy infrastructure in place that is vital for offering it protection (Foster, para 3). “Without arguing the wisdom of the Euro one way or the other, the fact is that if it were purely a matter of economic policy, the Euro could have succeeded as envisioned” (Foster, para. 3). But prerequisites existed which were related to “harmonization of labor policy, commercial policy, environmental policy and so forth, and in the absence of these it was imperative to harmonize fiscal policies” (Foster, Para 3).Progress was made by Europe to a significant level in particular areas but little was done in some other areas. The other big mistake that was made was adopting a generous “social welfare state without attending to the pro-growth policies necessary to sustain such a state in light of an increasingly competitive global economy” (Foster, para 3). Where there is no increasing global competition a “slow-growth big government economic model” is viable. In the presence of severe and increasing external pressures, the economic growth in Europe resulting from increasing productivity as well as improved economic competitiveness is not just of benefit but it is as well vital for the survival of a nation (Paulo 2). The problems arising from the European crisis that are face by the financial regulators are going to be looked at and the possible measures to deal with these are also going to be presented. Problems Faced by the Regulators Following the Crisis In order to avoid ending the use of a single currency, the E.U must, at the present, set up a credible plan to deal with the future of the Eurozone. Only a proposal that considers the following four problems would be reliable and will convince markets to start again financing on a sustainable base. One of the problems, which are a painful realty, faced by the E.U is that some of the nations will not be in a position to pay back their debts and the default can not be avoided. This is a realty that must be acknowledged by the E.U. The first country to do this is Greece. However, Greece’s default in isolation would be controlled with ease since the funds involved are modest. However, the moment Greece defaults, there is a likelihood that other nations would follow suit. “Even if a rescue of Greece, Ireland, and Portugal is affordable, there could be no realistic way of preventing Spain from taking the same course” (Giavazzi and Kashyap, para 2). Another problem is that the banks in Europe are in danger since they possess significant amounts of the government debt. While the defaults get closer, the banking systems all
Introduction Human activities and environmental concerns have always existed side by side but only with the huge technological progress and industrial modernization that took place in the 19th century, the protection of the environment became an issue of crucial importance. Contamination of air, soil, water, and other natural resources, as well as the associated extinction of various animal and plant species, started bothering people especially in connection to the potential for the extinction of humankind as such. Needless to say, the issue acquired political attention and various governmental agencies started working to solve the environmental protection problem in the modern highly industrialized society. The example of the Blackbird Mine illustrates the most widely spread scenario of the issue development and shows what governmental policies might be implemented and what results they might have. Problem Background The essence of the issue associated with the Blackbird Mine is in the fact that this currently inactive mining facility has a long history of open-pit mining procedures that involved extraction of cobalt, copper, and silver from the underground deposits in the area of the town of Salmon situated in the Lemhi Country in central Idaho (EPA, 2008). Around the 1990s, the huge amounts of copper, cobalt, and silver ore tailings and sediments combined with masses o0f contaminated soil were put to the surface by strong hurricanes and flows of water originating from heavy rains. As a result, the rich natural resources, especially soil and water ones, of the South Fork of the Big Deer Creek, Big Deer Creek, Blackbird Creek, and Panther Creek were heavily contaminated (EPA, 2008). Federal and local agencies like EPA, Department of Health and Human Services, etc. took the effort to solve the issue by their respective policies whose essence and efficiency will be discussed further. Dimensions Thus, the problem of the Blackbird Mine in particular and the mining industry in Idaho, on the whole, is multidimensional. First, of course, the situation in the Blackbird Mine has the environmental dimension obvious from the basic arguments of the Idaho mining companies and their opponents, i. e. community organizations like Boulder-White Cloud Council (Stone, 2008). Second, there is an important health care dimension in this situation as far as the Department of Health and Human Services argues about the “gastrointestinal effects” that human beings might experience as a result of consuming water and overall residing in the Blac