ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Background Zara is among the leading textile and apparel companies in the world. The company was founded in 1963 by Amancio Ortega Gaona and was later joined by Jose Maria Castellano in 1985. Zara is a force to reckon with in the global textile and apparel market (Thomas, 2006, p. 47). Locally, it is considered to be among the biggest success story in the history of Spain. Zara’s success is a lesson on how to develop and maintain a groundbreaking strategy (Ferdows, Lewis & Machuca, 2003, p. 62). The consumer is always at the centre of the company’s business model. The two founders shared the belief that swift response to consumers, the use of IT (Information Technology), and decentralized decision-making were important for the success of the business (McAfee, Dessain, & Sjoman, 2007, p. 5). Inditex owns more than 2000 stores across the globe out of which 600 stores are exclusively part of Zara chain. The largest share of Inditex’s sales is generated by Zara. Zara offers a variety of clothes for people of all walks of life at a reasonable price. However, the major portion of Zara’s revenue is from the female clothing (McAfee, Dessain, & Sjoman, 2007, p. 7). Zara developed a marketing model which relies entirely on trends and styles, with minimal advertising. The vertically integrated marketing model emphasizes on swiftness, efficiency and the global fashion trend. However, the company’s approach to IT is not in-line with its marketing model. In addition, its websites are only for display and not for sales purpose (Ferdows, Lewis & Machuca, 2003, p. 64). According to Azuma and Fernie (2003, p. 413), Zara’s success in the apparel industry can be linked to the application of successful competitive marketing strategies, which encourages global expansion. Zara’s successful entry into the global apparel market was a result of their spirited marketing strategies, for instance, promotional techniques which increased the contents of their fashion line. Zara classifies its products into three fundamental groups namely: gentlemen, ladies, and young ones. The company’s low priced products attract and retain customers, thus creating sustainable growth of their value chain in the apparel market (Azuma & Fernie, 2003, p. 415). Report Purpose The general purpose of this report is to explore the problems and challenges facing Zara Textile Company. Our study will be narrowed to the company’s ICT which has been criticized by a number of authors for being outdated. The study will explore the extent of the problem and the risks it poses to the company. The study will also evaluate strategies that the company can take to arrest this problem. In addition, the paper will look at other alternatives that the organization can pursue. Nature of the problem In the last two decades, the company has been developing its own applications rather than purchasing the commercial ones. The company has an outdated operating system known as P-O-S. Zara entirely depends on P-O-S, which lacks full-time
Understanding the need for Corporate Social Responsibility and its integration into values and ethical standpoints On average people consider their ethical standpoints as an unshakable attribute by which they determine the inherent rightness or wrongness of a particular set of actions however one inherent problem with this is that a standpoint is based on the point of view of each unique individual resulting in a veritable plethora of views, opinions and standpoints (Canavagh, 2010). For me, the basis of my values and ethics is one that requires an incorporation of corporate social responsibility into my decision making process in order to properly evaluate the ethicality of my decision. This is not to say that I use CSR (corporate social responsibility) as an everyday method of evaluation, instead, I use it as a method that takes into account the ramifications of my actions on customers and clients. The reasoning behind this is based on the idea that what is ethically dubious for one individual is ethically sound for another (Scott & McManus, 2010). Take for example the case of Glacéau, a subsidiary of the Coca Cola Corporation, their line of business deals in the sale and distribution of vitamin water, a supposedly healthy beverage choice for people that want to incorporate more vitamins into their daily diet. Studies into the properties of vitamin water have shown that not only does it contain 32 grams of high fructose corn syrup which has been connected to rampant obesity but the supposed nutritional value of the vitamins in the water have been proven to be mostly ineffective since the populations that the company is marketing the drink to (mostly U.S. consumers) have been shown to possess more than adequate amounts of vitamins in their system. In fact the product itself has been shown to be more detrimental rather than beneficial to a person’s health due to the large content of sugar and chemicals present in the water. Yet Glacéau continues to market the product under the claim that it will improve a person’s health and is beneficial towards a healthy lifestyle (Glaseau lands Coke in deep water, 2010). The continued marketing campaign of the company not only is a violation of the standards of corporate social responsibility but also endangers consumers since many of them might use vitamin water as a replacement for actual water and as a result endangers their health. As a future manager of a company or organization I have to think of not only the ramifications undesirable business practices have on the reputation of the company but also how they affect ord
Research shows that racial and ethnic groups are socially constructed, meaning that they have a significance based on what is accorded to them by society, separate and apart from any empirical ‘reality (Glazer 64). In terms of what exists ‘in reality,’ Keita et al. (S18) argue that human biological variation is not structured into ‘races’ as presented in classical anthropology but they are clear to note that this does not mean that racism does not exist. This idea that race is a social construct is supported by Carl James and Bethan Lloyd (11), who argue that race is not only socially constructed but is also a lived experience. This paper explores the topic of racism in America using two literary texts and a poem as the main sources for the discussion, supported by research contained in four scholarly journals that support the thesis presented in the literary sources. Langston Hughes’ poem I, Too is the first literary source discussed. Published in 1932, this poem speaks clearly about the discrimination in the society against African American, who have long been made to ‘eat in the kitchen rather than taking their rightful place ‘at the table’ in American society. The poem also clearly opines that this segregation of African Americans would soon end as African Americans demand their rightful place, regardless of those who want them to continue being ‘second class citizens in a country in which they have resided for centuries. The first line of the poem uses the word ‘I’ right away, stating: “I, too, sing America.” This meter is especially significant as it means that African american citizens are American in the same way that ‘white’ Americans. The poet continues to use ‘I’ throughout the second stanza. This stanza starts with the line “I am the darker brother,” which reinforces the point that African Americans are ‘different in terms of colour but are still American. The next part of this stanza outlines how African Americans were being treated unequally across the country: “They send me to eat in the kitchen / When company comes” (3-4). However, instead of expressing anger at this state of affairs, Hughes wrote: “But I laugh, / And eat well, / And grow strong” (5-7). This indicates that African Americans saw the current state of affairs as one in which they would be able to grow stronger in the face of discrimination (since the persons eating in the kitchen have a greater selection from which t
In his book “War and Empire”, Paul Atwood presents a controversial idea related to the United States’ policies directed toward the development of relations with the Middle Eastern countries. The events of World War II led to changing the United States’ status regarding the control over oil supplies in the world. Atwood states that these changes were dramatic for the United States because it was “the world’s chief supplier of oil” before the war periods (Atwood 224). Thus, following Atwood’s idea, it is possible to state that the United States’ post-war policies were developed to bring back the control and to preserve the powerful positions in relation to the Middle Eastern countries’ oil supplies because of their strategic significance for the United States. The opinion promoted by Atwood can be supported with references to the ideas provided in such documentaries as Michael Klare’s Blood and Oil , Norman Soloman’s War Made Easy , and Adolfo Doring’s Blind Spot. The explanation to the US focus on the Middle Eastern countries’ oil supplies is provided in Klare’s Blood and Oil. According to Klare, the meeting between President Roosevelt and Saudi King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud in 1945 resulted in a pact in which the United States proposed the military protection for the country. Thus, Saudi Arabia leaders guaranteed the exclusive access to the oil reserves (“Blood and Oil”). Moreover, Klare states, “Our military policy and our energy policy have become intertwined” (“Blood and Oil”). Furthermore, the strategy was followed by the US government later, when the military forces had “to protect the flow of oil from the Persian Gulf to the United States and markets around the world” (“Blood and Oil”). Jimmy Carter’s vision is provided to conclude about the US mission and strategy, thus, the outside forces’ attempts “to gain control of the Persian Gulf region will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America”, and moreover, “such an assault will be repelled by
Introduction The McDonalds is a public corporation operating in the restaurant industry. The company is the largest chain of fast food and hamburger outlets (McDonalds 2013a). The company serves about sixty-eight million consumers on a daily basis, at the 119 countries covered by its business outlets. The headquarters of the company is located in the US (Pederson, 2008). The McDonalds Company is a public company traded on the New York stock exchange. The company has adopted the legal structure of a franchising company, structured along functional contours, where the CEO oversees five major activity areas. These areas include operations, which covers franchising and equipment; development, which covers construction and property finance, which entails new product development and supply chain management (McDonalds 2013b). The other areas are marketing, which entails the marketing and sales and human resources, which entails safety, personnel, customer service and hygiene. The business profile of the company covers property investing, restaurant franchising and operating company restaurants. The products of McDonalds include fast foods like hamburgers and chicken; vegetarian foods like salads and other food items like rice and soup (McDonalds 2013b). The company offers franchising services, marketing, and property management and investment, where it collects rents (Pederson, 2008). The Organizational Purposes Of Businesses The three major objectives of the McDonalds include quality management, where the company ensures that all its outlets offer services in the quickest manner possible. The company expressly requires all its outlets to offer high quality products at the reasonable prices offered by the different outlets; the prices of products at the different outlets vary, depending on market dynamics and the country of location. As an aspect of quality management, the McDonalds Company pursues to expand the customer awareness of the nutritious menu items offered at the different outlets. For example, the company has expanded its menu, to include foods and beverages containing vegetables and fruits in its menu. Towards getting the information to the customer, the company has worked hard to increase the awareness of its customers, about the vegetable, fruit and dairy options available at its outlets, for children and other consumer groups (Rungfapaisarn 2011; Gasparro and Jargon 2012). The company strives to offer the highest quality of food products, including the vegetarian fast foods offered at its vegetarian outlets and its organic milk, which were introduced in response to increasing global obesity levels (Ashbridge 2007). Quality management is monitored
Global threats are complex in nature, consisting of aspects that may pose an immediate danger, while others have a less direct impact. In the current sociopolitical global environment, the threats of cultural taboos and inappropriate uses of technology are considered the least threatening to international stability and well-being. Cultural taboos are perceived mainly as an intercultural aspect that deals with the internal affairs of a nation, which, although it has a profound impact on human rights, is unlikely to have a global effect. Meanwhile, inappropriate uses of technology are an abstract and very politicized term, which requires a more precise definition in terms of becoming a threat. In combination, these serve as localized and inherently non-urgent threats to global security and balance of power, which is the reason why they are not immediately considered. This report will examine the issues in greater detail and provide reasoning for their exclusion from the global threat assessment. Cultural taboos are particular actions or activities which are forbidden in some areas of the world due to religious and cultural beliefs and morals. While every society has unspoken rules, taboos are enforced strictly and are objectionable in the community. The first reason why it is not a threat is that it is a localized occurrence, limited to a particular country or region, and usually has little impact on other societies or the global community. Second, each culture has a right to self-determination, which limits the international pressure that can be implemented (Brodersen, 2019). Finally
Introduction This paper examines how business projects do (or do not) promote growth through adoption of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Firms usually administer business operations in order to generate general positive effects on community. Firms normally respond both to quality of their administration in serving people and nature of their effects in community. According to Friedman, state’s administrations normally mediate association to the general public in trade transaction (2012, p. 7). Actually, Corporate Social Responsibility has been perceived as acquiescence with regulation and guidelines laid down by civic sector. Moreover, business regulations and rules have contributed to considerable desired shared values (Schwartz, 2007, p.5). In fact, business firms perceive conformity to regulations both as price of undertaking businesses and as foundation of prospective outlay factors in terms of status and legal action. Furthermore, Berkhout viewed that modern business firms have become global through penetrating into new trade projects to transact services and goods, and to interact with new international suppliers (2005, p. 5). Indeed, the price of business conformity to trade regulations has increased due to need of globalization. Moreover, failure to stand for domestic and international regulations has ruined trade reputation, though conformity alone is not capable to develop business brands. Modern business therefore has considered Corporate Social Responsibility as a podium for development and delineation (Samuelson & Barnett, 2012, p. 10). Besides that, business projects have used Corporate Social Responsibility to built new income opportunities. Business firms have employed Corporate Social Responsibility in order to acquire a fair viable gain over rival projects. According to Gautama & Singh, business project normally succeed to progress beyond trade conformity through Corporate Social Responsibility (2010, p. 4). In fact, such businesses usually excel with strong reputation due to adoption of CSR. Smith expressed that business strategic humanity usually supports generous provisions according to market demands, business policy and firm’s skills (2012, p. 19). Such determinations normally support firms’ social dedication with continuing gain of profits especially due to friendliness and implied financial opinions. Indeed, adoption of Corporate Social Responsibility enables firms to aspire for indirect financial interests. Nevertheless, Bob explained that such business projects have to form an enduring effect through sustaining and influencing positive impacts on society (2012, p. 3). Actually, most firms have witnessed that CSR policies support to minimize overall expenditure configuration or enhance business output. Moreover, Silber viewed that: Firms which successfully perform better than rival competitors already have adopted CSR ideals in their business projects. Actually, such firms perform better because: they comprehend clients’ expectation, have enhanced information about resourcing and cost of their business, team up with customers and business asso
Problem identification and research question Charles Bukowski was an American writer born in the year 1920 and died in the year 1994 (Bukowski & David 2). Owing to his lifestyle, he was often referred to as a dirty old man. A deeper analysis of his writings reveals that Bukowski was a social critic who sought to criticize and challenge the American cultural and social normalcy. By illustrating much of his life in his writings, he managed to dramatize the oppressiveness in the workplaces, controversial facets of traditional masculinity, and the elites’ perceptions of arts and academia. As compared to other American writers of his time, Bukowski’s writings are notable because his ideas and thoughts contradicted with what other writers upheld dearly. In general, his writings were presented in vulgar form. This proposal paper focuses specifically on the personality of Bukowski. Through these studies, several researches will be done to bring into light a comprehensive synopsis of the life and work of this fascinating man. As such, the following research questions will be answered: Are the stories written about the personality of Bukowski true? Did the writer’s personality influence his writings? Did the writer’s early background influence the way he expressed his writings? Several bibliographies assert that Bukowski underwent through suffering and neglect as a child and later rose to be one of the most celebrated critic writers of the 20 th century. In this regard, the proposal paper’s objective is to investigate the validity of the above claim. Likewise, the research paper will comprehensively cover on the areas unaddressed by the previous researches. Literature review Bukowski grew up in Los Angeles with his abusive parents. It is believed that his writing career was influenced by his dysfunctional relationships with his parents. As a teenager, his father beat him severally turning him into a social misfit. After one year in college, he dropped out to become a writer. However, his writing career was frustrated by the lack of sufficient funds. As a youth, Bukowski found himself drifting from one job to another. Later on, he concentrated on writing and wrote several poems, short stories, and novels (Martin 4). Literature critics assert that his work was greatly influenced by his personality and the environment of Los Angeles. F
The AA-DD model consists of the G&S model, the money model, and the forex model. The AA-DD diagram consists of two lines. The first line (AA line) denotes the asset equilibriums generated from the Forex and money markets. The second line (DD curve) represents equilibrium in the G&S market. The market equilibrium is attained when the two lines/curves intersect. At this point, the three markets are deemed to be in super-equilibrium. The DD curve represents an amalgamation of the GNP and exchange rates that sustain equilibrium in the G&S market. The AA line moves up when the anticipated exchange rate, the foreign interest rate, or the money supply rises. Thus, economists use the AA-DD model to comprehend how adjustments in the macroeconomic policy can influence economic variables. The DD line depicts the equilibrium level of the gross national product for each exchange rate that may exist. The DD line has a positive gradient because when the exchange rate rises, the equilibrium GNP in the goods and services model also increases. The DD line represents the correlation between endogenous variables (i.e., GNP) and exogenous variables (i.e., Exchange rate) in the G&S market model. Any adjustments in other exogenous variables will cause the DD curve to shift. For example, the DD curve will shift to the right/left if the demand for investments increases/decreases. Economists usually derive the AA curve by transferring data from the Forex model and the money model onto another diagram. This is done to demonstrate the correlation between the equilibrium GDP and the exchange rate. The Forex market (see fig. 1, upper quadrant) depicts the British foreign assets (RoR£) and the RoR on domestic US assets (RoR$). The lower part (see figure 1) reveals the real demand for money {L (i$, Y$) and the money supply (M$S/P$). The AA curve has a negative gradient because a rise in the real gross national product will reduce the exchange rate equilibrium in the Forex and money market models. The DD curve shows different equilibrium levels in the G&S market. On the other hand, the AA curve shows different equilibrium levels in the asset market. The AA curve reveals an equilibrium exchange rate for each level of the gross national product that exists. The exchange rate will increase/decrease until the economy attains equilibrium on the curve. Given that the asset market and the goods and services market are functioning simultaneously, equilibriums in the two markets will take place when the AA and the DD lines intersect (see figure 2). The Forex market, the money market, and the goods and services market are in super-equilibrium at point F (figure 2). The AA-DD diagram depicts what happens when the exchange rate is adjusted. An iso-CAB curve (sketched on the AA-DD diagram) refers to a cluster of points that share a line with the current account balance. What is more, economists use the iso-CAB to evaluate adjustments in the current account balance (CAB) when the independent variable changes.