History Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

History - Assignment Example Nietzsche, a German researcher, and social pundit, contended that human progress and its outcomes is the value individuals need to pay to control the personality and its needs. Regular rights were subverted as European nations colonized African states. Colonizers exposed frontier locals to unjustifiable control and persecution. The recognition held by the social class right now was depicted as materialistic. The assessment supported for aggregation and upkeep of riches to the detriment of others. Specialists from different fields took to various strategies for communicating their emotions. Present day development craftsmen as though Strindberg communicated sexuality family and class strife with an end goal to call attention to the condition of society1. Spengler contrasted culture with a life form, in a unique circumstance, that culture is something that is, develops and afterward kicks the bucket. Spengler saw culture as an advancement conceived out of innovativeness. He characterized human advancement as the aftereffect of a culture. As in, the item after a culture has been made. As per Spengler progress, is the substantial culture. Progress is a culture that has been changed to be physical. The Faustian or western culture was conceived in Western Europe during the tenth century. The western culture turned into a development in the twentieth century when it was available in many pieces of the world. Religion enables a culture to look for distinguishing proof and displays the various stages in the advancement of a culture2. Authoritarian states are governments whose essential target is to control the individuals it oversees totally. Autocracy expects individuals to consent to the government’s approaches with no resistance. Extremist states are named as fascisms. Coming up next are the dictator strategies of Adolf Hitler in Germany. Â · Hitler decayed his gathering to littler units dissipated everywhere throughout the nation. He drove with charm and commitment to persuade individuals that he just meant well. Prior to getting

London Youth Symphony Case free essay sample

LONDON YOUTH SYMPHONY Colette Southam arranged this case under the oversight of Professor Craig Dunbar exclusively to give material to class conversation. The creators don't expect to outline either powerful or incapable treatment of an administrative circumstance. The creators may have masked certain names and other distinguishing data to secure privacy. Ivey Management Services forbids any type of generation, stockpiling or transmittal without its composed consent. Multiplication of this material isn't secured under approval by any propagation rights association. To arrange duplicates or solicitation authorization to imitate materials, contact Ivey Publishing, Ivey Management Services, c/o Richard Ivey School of Business, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 3K7; telephone (519) 661-3208; fax (519) 661-3882; email [emailprotected] uwo. ca. Copyright  © 2005, Ivey Management Services Version: (A) 2009-10-04 On Sunday April 4, 2004, Daina Janitis, board leader of the London Youth Symphony (LYS), sat in her home office and composed: I’ve been around the LYS for almost twelve years †eight preceding I propelled my own young artists into the grown-up world and the last four as president. We will compose a custom paper test on London Youth Symphony Case or on the other hand any comparative point explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page I have been wearied every year by no different conversations with the top managerial staff, â€Å"Can individuals join on the off chance that they can’t pay? † â€Å"Do we rebuff non-participants? † and â€Å"Are we going to fail? † Fortunately, today, the last inquiry isn't an issue †thank heavens. Rather, the inquiry â€Å"Do we have a ledger however no ensemble? † has surfaced. LONDON YOUTH SYMPHONY BACKGROUND The LYS was a not-revenue driven association with a volunteer directorate. It was established in 1961 with the help of the Junior Women’s Committee of the London Symphony Orchestra Association with Derek Stannard filling in as the primary director. Not just entertainment for youthful players, LYS furnished the region’s best youthful artists with a difficult musical ensemble experience. A significant number of the more than 2,000 LYS graduated class proceeded to have vocations as music instructors, soloists and artists in proficient symphonies and groups while other people who sought after non-melodic profession ways proceeded with their long lasting responsibilities to music through participation with network ensembles all through Canada. The LYS experience uncovered progressed symphonic instrumentalists to a degree of collection and troupe playing that couldn't be copied by any school symphony or through private examination alone. Enrollment in the LYS was available to performers between the ages of 13 and 23 from London and the encompassing region and was dependent upon a fruitful tryout with the orchestra’s director and music chief since 2002, Len Ingrao. Director of the Waterloo Chamber Players and the London Community Orchestra, the previous LYS associate director ventured into the job of LYS director upon the demise of long-term LYS director Stan Kopac. The LYS Young Strings (YS) program was an effort program of the LYS and was available to violin, viola, cello and twofold bass players between the ages of eight and 15 with Page 2 9B05N009 the proposal of their school or private music educator. YS was considered roughly 20 years prior by London string music teacher, Steven Wolsley as a ‘feeder group’ to give LYS required string players. During the week after week full LYS practices, Maestro Ingrao guided the players in musicianship, instrumental playing procedure and control deserving of the best and most dedicated youthful performers in the territory. As indicated by the artists, the ensemble gave them a difficult old style and contemporary collection. An ongoing LYS former student who proceeded onward to go to a renowned private music center described how her colleagues whined about the trouble of one of their instrumental pieces. She advised them to quit crying and that she played the piece when she was an adolescent in her childhood ensemble. LYS performers likewise profited by customary sectional practices with mentors from Orchestra London and the Don Wright Faculty of Music at the University of Western Ontario. As indicated by Maestro Ingrao, â€Å"It’s too simple to even consider believing that a conductor can or ought to have the option to do everything and overlook that the instrumental pros are the ones who bestow the essential specialized exhortation. † LYS performed three significant musical shows for each year, highlighting a youthful soloist chose from inside the positions of the symphony or a youthful visitor craftsman. A first-time supporter at an ongoing show was caught saying, â€Å"I didn’t anticipate that it should seem like an expert symphony, yet when I shut my eyes during the show, it sure didn’t sound like children. † LYS additionally performed at shows with different gatherings, for example, the London Community Orchestra (LCO) and ensembles from neighboring network places of worship. The LYS, through effort shows and the 2002 visit in Austria and Italy, has put London on the young symphony map. Money related POSITION On August 31, 2001, the LYS ledger balance was $10,044 (see Exhibit 1). In light of anticipated uses, it appeared to be inescapable that this equalization would be exhausted throughout the fall 2001 season. Moreover, bingo incomes had been a significant wellspring of pay for LYS and 3C Bingo, the lobby that held their licenses, was experiencing monetary troubles all through 2001 so its own future was unsure. 1 The board chose in June 2001, that LYS could no longer bear the cost of $10,000 every year to have a paid chief. Throughout the following two years, the board president, Daina Janitis, and treasurer, Abigail Butt, completed most of the manager’s obligations. In October 2002, LYS was acknowledged at the Bingo Castle and Bingo Palace with the goal that bingo incomes started to stream once more. With Butt’s tight monetary restriction, by August 31, 2003, LYS was in a solid budgetary circumstance again with $41,664 in the general record (see Exhibit 1). Incomes Enlisted under the government Charities Act, LYS had no offer capital and made good on no personal expense. As indicated by the pay articulation, LYS had four distinctive income streams: raising money, education costs, awards and sponsorships and show continues (see Exhibit 2). In 2004, raising money income, solely because of bingos, added up to $9,309. The city’s prohibition on smoking in every single open spot was relied upon to diminish future bingo incomes by 20 percent since neighboring districts despite everything permitted smoking in bingo lobbies, as did the close by gambling club. Bingos were a key wellspring of subsidizing for not-revenue driven associations in Ontario. Overseen by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission, the announcing and record-keeping prerequisites were tough. Until 2001, a LYS family had dealt with the organization’s bingos, yet when that family’s 1 3C left business in September 2001. Page 3 9B05N009 performer moved on from LYS, this assignment tumbled to the board treasurer. Each LYS part family was required to partake at three bingos for every year, while YS families were not right now required to take part. Preferably, every bingo expected 10 to 12 volunteers (performers over age 16 or guardians) to run easily, and needed to incorporate a board part who marked the bingo permit application and a couple of other people who were prepared in the computation of prizes or different parts of the bingo procedure. Be that as it may, without a proper procedure for following LYS family chipping in, bingos were running with as not many as six individuals. Different pledge drives were significantly less worthwhile. Deals of poinsettias and bamboo plants in 2002 acquired income of $6,579, yet the related expenses added up to $5,545. â€Å"Retail† kinds of pledge drives were disagreeable with the guardians who were at that point soaked with chocolates, cheddar and plants to sell for their children’s schools and extracurricular associations. Numerous guardians selected to buy the plants as endowments as opposed to permit their kids to sell one more thing to family, companions and their colleagues. The board of these littler pledge drives likewise positioned an extra weight on the board individuals, who ran the pledge drives without a raising money council. Then again, the profits related with the Cabaret Night pledge drive in 2000 were additionally engaging. The single-night occasion acquired $2,276 with related expenses of just $623. Also, the Cabaret experience was a good time for the artists, engaging for loved ones, and it expanded the orchestra’s introduction in the city. Education costs acquired $17,069 in 2004. Current educational cost is $325 for LYS and $145 for YS (see Exhibit 3). YS educational cost had expanded by $10 to $145 since 2001. In 2004, LYS educational cost had come back to $325 in the wake of being raised to $425 for the 2003 season. A reduction in paid enrolment from 50 to 28 artists went with the expansion in educational cost. Note that there is an inconsistency between the quantity of artists that paid to enlist and the quantity of performers recorded in the show programs. As indicated by the program notes, there were 35 LYS performers in 2003, while just 25 paid educational cost. There was no proper arrangement set up to pardon educational cost for performers who couldn't pay because of budgetary hardship. This was a wellspring of dissention on the board, with certain individuals accepting that powerlessness to pay the educational cost ought not keep any certified artist from having a place. YS enrolment didn't seem to have a flexible interest and the numbers were relied upon to stay steady. Awards and sponsorships were a significant wellspring of income for LYS. Trillium Foundation Grants gave one-time allows that could be utilized to buy instruments and music while The London Arts Counc

Crisis in the Financial Markets SIPA Experts Speak Out COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

Crisis in the Financial Markets SIPA Experts Speak Out COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog The faculty at SIPA includes some of the worlds leading scholars on international relations, democratization, elections, demography, and social policy, among many other subjects. A former mayor of New York City, a judge on the World Trade Organization appellate body, and the former director of the U.S. Census are among the senior practitioners who help shape the research agendas and curriculum of SIPA. SIPA and the Initiative for Policy Dialogue (IPD) recently presented a panel discussion: The Crisis in Financial Markets: Impacts on Emerging Markets and Future Consequences.” Panelists included faculty member Joseph Stiglitz (Nobel Prize in Economics), faculty member Richard Robb (PhD University of Chicago), and Christian Deseglise (SIPA Graduate). The panel was moderated by faculty member José Antonio Ocampo (Former United Nations Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs). To view the full panel discussion, please click here.

The Holy Bible as a Sustained Allusion Essay - 1488 Words

The Bible as a Sustained Allusion The Bible is a sustained allusion throughout the course of East of Eden, paralleling with the eternal story of Cain and Abel. According to the Bible, Cain is the quot;tiller of the groundquot; (Genesis 4:2). Caleb Trask, a farmer at heart, made a vast amount of money by selling beans. Upon presenting Adam with his present of fifteen thousand dollars, Adam not only discarded the gift, but caused Cal pain by comparing him to his godly brother, Aron, who graduated high school and started college at an early age. Adam wished that Cal could have given him something to be proud of-something momentous. Adams reaction induced Cal with excessive wrath out of rejection. In the Bible, the Lord quot;had†¦show more content†¦Adam Trask moved out to California with his pregnant wife, Cathy, to farm the new, fertile land. With the help of Samuel Hamilton, Adams benign neighbor, Adams farm immediately started to prosper. Samuel took to liking the intent Adam right away, however, upon meetin g Cathy, he felt an ominous chill of calamity. After delivering her twin boys, Cathy desperately tried to leave Adam, and when he restrained her, she brutally shot him in the shoulder and departed. While sprawled on the floor, soaking in a pool of his own blood, Adam faintly heard quot;the monotonous sound that had been there all along . . . the cry of the twins, wanting their dinner. He had forgotten to feed themquot; (266). The next time Samuel Hamilton dropped by the Trasks place, he was appalled to discover that Adam had not named the twins yet. Referring to the Bible belonging to his devout wife, Samuel and Adam arrived at the names Caleb and Aron. Ten years later, when an elderly Samuel Hamilton stopped by to say goodbye to Adam and his family, Lee, the Trasks learned servant, told Samuel of an interesting topic that had stimulated him. Since their conversation ten years earlier, Lee researched the Bible story of Cain speaking to the Lord, and found it intriguing that the Hebr ew word to describe the lesson was timshel, meaning thou mayest. Therefore, instead of the Lord ordering men to triumph overShow MoreRelatedSimon Allusion Essay954 Words   |  4 Pages In the novel, Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, there is an allusion that predominates in the work. Simon portrays this allusion to the Bible in the novel and sustains this allusion through his words and actions. Simon sacrifices his life for others. For example, Simon puts the needs of others before his own by always being there to help. He accepts his fate and ends up dying for the other boys. Simon portrays the allusion of Christ in the novel. Simon’s actions in Lord of the Flies demonstrateRead MoreJohn Donne Poetry Analysis2693 Words   |  11 Pagesand the spiritual and holy nature. 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Rowlandson tends to use the Bible consistently to give herself a sense of hope and security as in one occurrence she remembers â€Å"the 28th chapter of Deuteronomy†, in which Moses warns that God will blessRead MoreCanterbury Tales - Linking Griselda of The Clerks Tale to the Biblical Sacrifice of Abraham1880 Words   |  8 Pagesechoes the Stoic resolve of Job when she declares, Naked out of my fadreshous, ...I cam, and naked moote I turn again (871-2) [this quote needs a / to show line breaks and should use spaced periods with square brackets for ellipses]. But the allusions to Job may momentarily throw the reader off the trail of an even stronger biblical model: the story of Abrahams sacrifice of Isaac   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The affinities between the Clerks Tale and the book of Job   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Read Morethatcher4803 Words   |  20 Pages5. Andrew Marvell, â€Å"To his Coy Mistress† 6. T.S. Eliot, â€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock†, â€Å"Journey of the Magi† 2. Poems for individual reading: 1. William Shakespeare Sonnet 73 (â€Å"That time of year†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ) 2. John Donne, â€Å"Holy Sonnet I† (â€Å"Thou hast made me†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ), â€Å"Holy Sonnet IX† (â€Å"If poisonous minerals†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ), 3. George Herbert, â€Å"Easter†, â€Å"Denial†, â€Å"Paradise† 4. Andrew Marvell, â€Å"On a Drop of Dew† 5. Richard Crashaw, â€Å"On the Wounds of our Crucified Lord† 6. Gerard Manley Hopkins, â€Å"Spring† Drama: Read MoreEssay on Romanticism4035 Words   |  17 Pagesthe symbolic characters/personality facets of the Editors Narrative are not reconciled results in the destructively fragmented personality we see. Hogg concentrates the wide metaphysical concern of corporeal/carnal/secular vs. spiritual/magical/holy into one character. 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Like ‘killer applications’ in the software market, blockbuster drugs are genuine advances that achieve rapid, deep market penetration. Because of their superlative market performance, blockbusters

Using Participatory Open Media Code - 1570 Words

In August 2012ï ¼Å'a photo of a Chinese official visiting a car crash site was posted online by local media. It turned out to be a dead giveaway of this official’s corruption. People on the Internet found out a Rolex watch was wore by the official in the picture, which did not match his pay grade. This image went viral on the Internet overnight, it raised tremendous amount of pressure on the anti-corruption campaign, which was initiated by top authorities of Chinese government. After investigation stretched 12 months, this official was sentenced 10 years behind bars. This ex-official in China has been named â€Å"Brother Rolex† ever since, and this â€Å"Grass root tip-off† is the rising of global netizens in miniature. When the Internet moves†¦show more content†¦Who are the â€Å"Netizens†? What enables people to â€Å"fight the power†? How does information revolution empowers people? What’s the relationship underlying between tec hnology and the concept of civil society? These are the issues I wish to address in this article. â€Å"Man is by nature a social animal; an individual who is unsocial naturally and not accidentally is either beneath our notice or more than human. Society is something that precedes the individual. † ---Aristotle, Politics In terms of social media on the Internet, we started communication in the form of blogging or virtual communities like Friendster or Myspace. the internet provided a platform for people around the world to exchange information without the restriction of time and space. Social media extended our human abilities and body, which empowers people conduct thought provoking discussion, breakdown of barriers, and eventually led to the uprising of the Netizens. In Geert Lovink’s theory of internet culture, there are three phases: Firstly, the scientific and text-based period before the World Wide Web. Secondly, when the Internet opens to everybody and the Netizens rises. Thirdly, the post 9/11 period, when blogging, social media started to reshape the lands cape of politics, economy and our daily lives. The first generation of the Netizens can be identified during WTO protest in Seattle, 1999. Activists realized mainstream media is filtering information, they sought to

High School Diploma/Equivalency vs. College Degree Free Essays

Frederick D. Huff, Jr. Rhonda Steel English 102 College Degree Vs. We will write a custom essay sample on High School Diploma/Equivalency vs. College Degree or any similar topic only for you Order Now High School Diploma/Equivalency or No diploma at all â€Å"To be or not to be? , that is the question. † This is the opening statement of a soliloquy that was used in the playwright Hamlet by the great William Shakespeare. I guess you may be wondering why I would open with such a statement for a research proposal. This is what comes to my mind with I think about the ethics and importance of education. Whether this be the achievement of obtaining a college degree or just settling for a high school diploma is, the importance that each of these holds lies within the person that is getting the education. As I analyze and gain a further understanding of what true education means to me, I seem to gain a sense that defining what it means to have a true education for one seems to be undermined by many. Though this may come off as an aggressive approach towards addressing the selected topic of which I have chosen to present my rhetorical analysis, I would like to state that it makes sense to me that many would agree that higher education is the key to all success, financially, materialistically, or spiritually. I say this because in mind, an education is just simply pursuing the subject that your soul is most passionate for. Through discovering what that passion is, you would strive in reaching the greatest point possible in that specific field as you can. Although it seems like this topic may be something that everyone would take a great importance to, it is quite surprising to see the responses given when citizens, including fellow students, are asked â€Å"Why do you feel education is important to the growth of the American Economy and why you find education to be important? † I feel this is a broad topic that can meet the requirements that need to be fulfilled for this assignment. I feel that this is a very appropriate topic for discussions as each of the individuals taking this online course are currently considered to be students in pursuit of a college education. This topic also comes in correspondence of the requirements that need to be met for the research proposal as listed in the assignment prompt. Whether or not that college education is limited to an associate’s degree or a doctorate in Physiological engineering, the education obtained would still be considered a form of higher education. This can be a very open topic full of ideas but I feel I can centralize my stance in a general direction that all can relate to. Being the author, or writer as stated in the question, I could see this being a topic of interest for many. Including my fascination of education and why I feel it is an absolute necessity for our existence as American citizens, this passion could definitely feed over to valid and credible points of the difference between being college educated and just high school educated. This is a diverse topic and I feel it should be acknowledged. In my opinion, education is very important and must be an essential part of each functioning citizen. These reasoning coming from my perspective may be sort of bias and can pretty much tell how I feel regarding this topic, education is the reason why some of todays leaders have gotten to the point that they are in. I will be the first male in my family to not only attend a division 1 four year University but I will also be the first to receive a college degree. I think that this experience has not only changed my well being as a human but has also enlightened me with greater values and ethics that I now take a lot more serious then I did before. In conclusion, I know that the questions â€Å"Is it really as beneficial as it seems to be college educated or is that just a statement used for people for those that do want to go onto higher education? Why does it seem like there is becoming a greater standard for the education system and why is it becoming more of a mandate for everyone to strive for higher education? Does it really require a college education to be a success in America or is success just a state of mind? † all come to mind. As I stated before, this can only come from the individual receiving the education but the real question should be â€Å"Do you value yourself enough to achieve greater through your education? † Education: The Single Most Important Job. † Edutopia. N. p. , n. d. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. â€Å"Diversity and Higher Education: Theory and Impact on Educational Outcomes – Harvard Educational Review – Volume 72, Number 3 / Fall 2002 – Harvard Education Publishing Group. † Diversity and Higher Education: Theory and Impact on Educational Outcomes – Harvard Educational Review – Volume 72, Number 3 / Fall 2002 – Harvard Education â€Å"Open Educational Resources. † Hewlett Foundation News. N. p. , n. d. Web. 13 How to cite High School Diploma/Equivalency vs. College Degree, Papers

Analysis of Barclays Bank

Question: Discuss about the Analysis of Barclays Bank. Answer: Introduction The Barclays Bank (BB) is an international bank which began as a small entity in London. Barclays Bank has been in operation for more than 325 years ago serving the financial sector until to date. The Bank has always been propelled by strong values alongside the eventual goal of assisting its clients as well as customers to accomplish their respective ambitions in the correct manner (Bank, 2005). The BBs innovation story began in 1690 where John Freame together with Thomas Gould commenced trading as goldsmith bankers on Lombard Street, London. Johns son-in-law, James Barclay, in 1736 joined the business christening it Barclays Bank as currently known. Barclays Bank since then has been a leader in the innovation (Joslin, 2014). History of the bank and overall performance of Barclays Bank The BB was originated in 1896. It has advanced as a British banking and trust business listed underneath the designation Barclay Company. The BB acknowledged the name in 1917. The business associated with the Provincial and South Western Bank of London in 1918 thereby becoming one of the enormous United Kingdom banks. Barclays in 1981, became the primary ever global bank to file with Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington. Accordingly, the Bank augmented its long-lasting capital in the New York market. The BB became listed in Tokyo and New York Stock Exchanges in 1986. The BB gave its international strategy to enlarge additional drift through the 1986s establishment of the innovative investment banking operation called the Barclays de Zoete Wedd (BZW). Barclays in 1995, brought San Francisco-oriented fund manager Wells Fargo Nikko Investment Advisers (Barclays Bank, 2014).). The BB acquired Woolwich which was then a leading mortgage bank as well as ex-building society in 2000. This step increased BBs geographical coverage as well as possible customer base in the year 2000. The BB together with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) compound their respective retail, corporate as well as offshore banking operations to form the First Caribbean International Bank in 2001.BB also formed in the same year (2000) a strategic alliance with Legal General to engage in life pensions trade as well as venture commodities throughout the United Kingdom. The BB acquired a fifty percent stake in established Intelenet Global, business processing outsource supplier in 2004 from Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) which was the housing finances innovator in India. The BB sold 43.70 percent of this acquired stake in First Caribbean International to CIBC in 2006. The BB further bought a website for financial purposes called Comparetheloan that offered modest loan quotations for the United Kingdoms homeowners and non-homeowners in 2006. BB acquired the business of Goldfish credit card in 2008 from Discover Financial Services. The Bank purchased Expobank from Russias Petropavlovsk Finance. The BB was delisted in 2008 from the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The BB also acquired a palisade from Compagnie Maritime Belge (CMB) in 2008 (Cassis, 2015).). The Bank together with Goff Capital, Inc., in November 2009, managed to shape Crescent Real Estate Holding LLC to purchase Crescent Real Estate Equities Limited Partnership (Crescent) from the Morgan Stanley Real Estate Funding II. The Bank announced in January 2010 that it accomplished the purchase of Standard Life Bank Plc. The BB has used the Balanced Scorecard throughout the organization and subsequently formed part of its framework through which its staff are assessed, with individual performance goals aligned to the 5Cs. In the 2016, there was a great improvement across many of its metrics, particularly our capital strengthening, as measured by the CET1 ratio, and with Colleague (Japan, 2015). The organization further requires additional work in particular areas together with ROE. The client and customer relationship metrics stayed steady as a firm performance in corporate banking, merged with enhancements in Barclays current accounts, was counterbalance by the influence of redesigning its wealth business as well as competitive challenges in Africa banking. The BBs Client Franchise Rank stayed in puzzling market conditions (Nathanson Cassano, 2012). Within Colleague, the BB has perceived development in the colleague commitment as well as the gender-assortment in their leadership, with plentiful ingenuities to encourage equally as well as support their workforce proving successful. In BBs Citizenship plan, ten out of eleven metrics on target shows that it is having a positive impact on the communities in which it operates, with lending to households the solely initiative to lose momentum primarily due to market as well as trading conditions (Williams, 2000). The BB has made great progress in the simplification of Barclays over the past few years as it re-shapes its balance sheet, strengthening its capital base, as well as costs reduction (Narteh, Owusu, 2011). The BB has undertaken this step to move even closer towards becoming a Group that can produce the returns deserved by the shareholders as well as it denotes significant progress. To complete BBs restructuring in a reasonable timeframe, as well as deliver for the BBs stakeholders that have been patient for a long time, BB should make certain definitive choices currently regarding the upcoming shape of the Company. BB should decrease its Barclays Africa Group Limiteds interest subject to regulatory as well as approvals by shareholders to a non-regulatory and non- consolidated location in the years to come. It has, however, been hard for BB to make this decision since Barclays has operated in Africa for more than a hundred years. This makes BB to have certain excellent franchises on the Africa continent that have an inordinate administration team as well as devoted colleagues. In summary the future of BB is considered to be bright. Both the Barclays UK as well as Barclays Corporate International have now produced dual digit Returns on Tangible Equity. The BB remains monetarily strong, and shall be as sisterly businesses, as well as stockholders alongside debt stockholders in Barclays shall gain from the differentiated revenue rivulets they generate. These tactical arrangements that shall carry forth the achievement of its rearrangement as well as the appearance of a more simple as well as very profitable Barclays than ever. The Barclays has completed decent progress in contradiction of the strategy apprise that was declared on 01-03-2016. This was the initial set of outcomes of BB as an intercontinental consumer, corporate as well as investment bank functioning under the BBs fresh alignment of Barclays United Kingdom as Barclays Corporate International, and these have shown that a Core business is performing well in this thought-provoking situation. The BBs Core ROTE is 9.9 percent under which Barclays United Kingdom dispatched very inspiring 20.5% yield on the palpable equity. The BB management can perceive a precise growth chances, especially in its Consumer, Cards as well as Payment business, whereby the Bank wants to endure to venture. The Corporate and Investment Banks performance remained comparatively hardy in a threatening quarter, however, there remains more that BB has to undertake to enhance revenues, and it remains attentive on the actions of management to accomplish this goal. The BB has continuously targeted the reduction of cost in the Group and hence has remained on track to accomplish its future direction for the Core business of 12.8b pound as well as its long-run objective of BBs income to cost ratio underneath sixty percent. The CET1 has ended the quarter at 11.3 percent, with a precise trail to accomplishment of BBs end state target, and hence, it is expected that capital ratio will rise via the course of the 2017 (Barclays Bank, 2014). The BBs groups return on average tangible shareholders equity (ROTE) of 3.8% (Q115:4.0%). The Core ROTE of 9.9% (Q115:7.1%). The BB attributable profit declined seven percent to 433 million dollars, leading in basic EPS of 2.7 p (Q115:2.9p). The Core attributable profit rose 53% to 950 million pounds, culminating in a basic EPS contribution of 5.8p (Q115:3.8p). The BB group profit before tax of 793 million pound (Q115:1057 million pound) reflected an eighteen percent rise in Core profit before tax to 1608 million pound, more than counterbalance by a rising Non-Core loss before tax of 815 million pound (Q115:310 million pound). Evaluate performance of the Bank on key performance indicators using last 3 years data Key performance indicators (KPIs) are the visual measures of an organizations performance. Anchored on a given considered field, the KPI is intended to assist operators assess at a glance the current value as well as status of a given metric against a definite target. The KIP also gauges the performance of the value based on the Base measure definition against a Target value, defined by the measure or by the absolute value. Profit before Tax Growth The profit before tax growth (PBT) remains a KPI of Barclays financial performance to the great percentage of the BBs shareholders. The BB has witnessed its proceeds in 2016 rise by 92.0% to 11.6 billion pound in 2016. The numeral was increased by the sale of the BGI fund supervision limb to the United States firm BlackRock in 2008. Profits were 5.6 billion pound if the above was stripped out compared to 1.6 billion pound in the year 2015, even though the figure entailed brawny write-downs (Fraser et al 2012). The sale of BGI culminated in a profit on disposal of 6.331 million pound as well as reserved 19.90% economic interest in the expanded BlackRock group. The BB profit before tax was 6,077 million pound, down fourteen percent on 2014. Profit entailed the Gains on acquisition of 2,406 million pound, alongside 2,262 million linked to Lehman Brothers North American businesses. The profit on disposal relating to shut life pledge book of 326 million pound. As reflected in the BBC Gains on Visa IPO as well as sales of shares in MasterCard of 291 million pounds Gross credit markets losses as well as impairment of 8,053 million pound. The Gains on individual credit of 1,663 million pounds. BB performed well during the 2014, despite the hard market conditions. Even though profit before tax fell one percent, profit before business disposal increase three percent (Matthews Tuke, 2013). Profitability Ration The profitability ratio is another key performance indicator that is explained in this financial analysis of Barclays. As reflected in Telegraph in 2016, Barclayss operating profit remained 22.91% which stayed highest in the past three years. Operating margin rose from 10.7% to 22.91%. Even though Barclays Interest income decreased by 24.18% to 21,236 million pound. Conversely, BB had decreased its Interest Expense to 9,318 million pound in 2016 compared to 16,541 million dollars in 2015. This was due to the customer having withdrawn substantial amounts from the bank accounts of BB. In 2016, Barclays paid 2, 712 million pounds to their respective customers as interests on deposits while in 2015, BB paid 6,697 million dollars (Irwin Scott, 2010). This implies that interest Expense gas declined higher above interest income. In 2015, operating margin stood at 10.7% that was lowermost in the past 3 years. The Operating Profit margin push downwards to 10.7% from 11.08% in 2014. This is due to operating expenses in Administration has hiked to 5,305 million pounds in 2015 but conversely income did not go up to this level. Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) is another KPI discussed in this paper for the last three years. In 2016 Barclays ROCE declined from 7.84% to 12.82%. This was because the non-cash expense of Impairment Charges as well as other Credit Provisions rose substantially in 2016 to 8, 071 million compared to 5,419 million pound in 2015. Such Impairment emerges because of Barclays exposure to credit risk emerging from investments in debt securities as well as additional exposures emerging BBs trading undertakings encompassing, non-equity exchange portfolio assets, derivatives and payment balances with the respective market counterparties as well as contrary repurchase loans. This was also due to the fact that in 2016, Barclays capital rose to 58,478 million pound compared to 47,411 million pound in 2014. While the profit before tax has decreased to 4,585 million pound to 6, 077 million pound in 2015. In the year 2015, ROCE stood at 12.82% better than 2016, however, this was very poor compared to 21.79% in 2014. This was as a result of profit before tax going down 14% in 2015 compared to 2014. The Impairment charges as well as additional credit provisions of 5,419 million pound rose 94% on the previous year. These charges entailed 1,763 million pound evolving from US sub-prime mortgages as well as additional credit market acquaintances. Additional wholesale impairment charges rose substantially as corporate credit circumstances twisted abruptly inferior in the depression of economy (Bank, 2014) Commentary on BBs Performance to Improve Weaknesses Some of the weaknesses have been noted throughout the discussion that impedes the ability of the bank to perform effectively. The first weaknesses noted is the diminishing performances in Africa (Kaplan Norton, 2013). It was noted that Barclays is planning to stop its Africas presence. For example, the services offered Zimbabwe to individuals linked with Zanu PF have produced controversy as well as queries regarding Barclays ethical position whereby investors are increasingly interested in ethics (Kaplan Norton, 2013). To solve this problem, BB should have its bank branches well centralized in the respective economy where it operates like those of RBS and NatWest. This will boost its attraction to customers and thus better performance. Another weakness noted regards the large bonuses given to the directors have attracted unnecessary attention from the commentators. Accordingly, it has been speculated that the reluctance of BB to take financing from the United Kingdom government is due to that it would end BBs economy with respect to bonuses (Kaplan Norton, 2013). Another weakness noted relates to the plans to expand in Asia which were restricted when BB were outbid for the ABN Amiro in the year 2006, and alternative enlargement plans have had to embraced (Samy, Odemilin Bampton, 2010). Another weakness is that BB did not plan to make dividend payments on its shares till the second half of 2009 which made BB less attractive to investors and still struggling to regain the investors (Samy, Odemilin Bampton, 2010). Another weakness is that the BB is in the midst of time of substantial restructuring. Also, whereas the investment banking is under the reduction in comparative significance, it raises group revenue volatility as well as confidence sensitivity relative to several peers (Kaplan Norton, 2013). Another weakness relates to combination of potential litigation charges as well as other exceptional products casts a shadow over BBs already below par earnings anticipations (Matthews Tuke, 2013). Also, the negative outlook relating to the United Kingdom-oriented BB reflects standard and poor ratings services that BB can decrease its long-run contemporary credit rating. The BB can maximize on its strengths and opportunities to speak to the above identified weaknesses (Samy, Odemilin Bampton, 2010). For example, BB has a widespread worldwide presence, and this permits BB to spread risk as well as enjoy economies of scale. This will make the Barclays remain stable even amidst the challenges relating to the restructuring (Joslin, D2014). Also, BB can use its well-established brand via sponsorship of Premier League football to boost the presence and performance in Africa. BB is also specifically linked with innovation having brought out the first ever worlds credit card in 1966 (Joslin, 2014). Moreover the bank has continued to develop such cards most lately the OnePulse card combing Oyster, cashless functions as well as credit functions for the London-oriented customers (Matthews Tuke, 2013). The BB should also use its severally opened new flagship branches alongside a refurbishment of programme which will help refocus on customer needs for a firm presence on the high street (Japan, 2015). There is a need for BB group leadership team to be more customer-centered so as to reduce the increasing number of complains particularly witnessed in BBs United Kingdom retail banking which is poor customer service (Japan, 2015). The bank should also use its strong competitive advantage that is witnessed in Africa whereby it remains among the leading three banks in several African nations, including Nigeria, Zambia, Ghana and Mauritius saves to BBs merger with Absa Group Ltd in South Africa. Since BB has this sustained competitive advantage there is a need for the Bank to reconsider its decision to exit Africa and reinforce its presence in Africa (Irwin Scott, 2010). BB should also reduce the increased criticisms linked to poor earnings performance in 1st quarter accelerated by irrational executive pay packages relating to BBs capital, the investment banking unit whereby the pretax profit declined 33% in the first quarter (Fraser et al., 2012). The high rates of interest on loans as well as low rates of interest on deposits have also discouraged clients (Cassis, 2015). The bank should further reduce the interests on loans and boost interest on deposit accounts. This will attract more clients and hence improved sales of other banking products thereby creating a sustained competitive advantage for BB (Barclays Bank, 2014)). Moreover, BB can solve this problem by enhancing its global diverse services that offer the group a broad array of cross-selling opportunities (Bank, 2014). The bank should also emphasize on telephone BBs Wealth International offers secure, personal as well as private services, being the fast as well as friendly manner to speak to daily banking requests as opposed to other banks (Barclays Bank, 2014). This opportunity will give BB an added advantage thereby giving it a special attraction point. Conclusion The Barclays ROCE is falling constantly and this might culminate in investors becoming hesitant to provide upcoming capital. BB has unbalanced dividend payout ratio that illustrates that revenue production is greatly changing. In the year 2016, it has witnessed bursting profits that arose by 92 percent to 11.6 billion. BB should impose stringent rules in the credit provision services and evade undesirable promotional by creating administration suggested plus pay out scheme. BB should as well attempt and maximize the benefits of cheaper existing finance. References Bank, B. (2014). Bridging the skills gap. Barclays Bank plc, London. Barclays Bank, (2014). P. D. Branch, may only undertake the financial services activities that fall within the scope of its existing DFSA licence. Related financial. Barclays Bank, (2014). P. L. C. Q. F. C. Branch may only undertake the regulated activities that fall within the scope of its existing QFCRA licence. Principal place of. Cassis, Y. (2015). Bankers in English society in the late nineteenth century. The Economic History Review, 38(2), 210-229. Fraser, S., Storey, D., Frankish, J., Roberts, R. (2012). The relationship between training and small business performance: an analysis of the Barclays Bank Small Firms Training Loans Scheme. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 20(2), 211-233. Irwin, D., Scott, J. M. (2010). Barriers faced by SMEs in raising bank finance. International journal of entrepreneurial behavior research, 16(3), 245-259. Japan, I, (2015). Foreign exchange research reports are prepared and distributed by Barclays Bank PLC Tokyo Branch. Other research reports are distributed to. Joslin, D. M. (2014). London private bankers, 17201785. The Economic History Review, 7(2), 167-186. Kaplan, R. S., Norton, D. P. (2013). Linking the balanced scorecard to strategy. California management review, 39(1), 53-79. Matthews, P. W., Tuke, A. W. (2013). History of Barclays Bank Ltd. Narteh, B., Owusu-Frimpong, N. (2011). An analysis of students' knowledge and choice criteria in retail bank selection in sub-Saharan Africa: The case of Ghana. International Journal of Bank Marketing, 29(5), 373-397. Nathanson, D. A., Cassano, J. S. (2012). Organization, diversity, and performance. Wharton Magazine, 6(4), 19-26. Samy, M., Odemilin, G., Bampton, R. (2010). Corporate social responsibility: a strategy for sustainable business success. An analysis of 20 selected British companies. Corporate Governance: The international journal of business in society, 10(2), 203-217.

Americas Culture Essays - American Culture, Cultural Assimilation

America's Culture Americas Culture Adaptation and adoption from one culture to the next is prevalent within any culture and country. When examining the effects of this, finding its original root is key. Oftentimes a country will adapt an aspect of another culture, however it wont be preserved and practiced identically given only a few years to be fostered in its new civilization. America in itself is a prime example. During our germination we were known as the melting pot of every heritageeach immigrant internally packed his or her previously known culture. Although that was over two-hundred years ago, our country really hasnt changed much in relation to mixing a little of this and a little of that. Even if we as Americans tried to avoid dabbling in the cultures of countries abroad or even right next door, it couldnt be possible to preserve any type of American Culture. The most significant of reasons preventing this is due to the foundation our country was settled upon, that being of a melting pot. This concept of an American culture or way of life is created only because each one of our ancestors arrived with their own religious practices, holiday traditions, and even recipes to our favorite dishes we Americans so commonly deem as our own. Relating this on a more contemporary level beyond the original inhabitants arriving from places abroad on boats, our country is still as dynamic as ever. With modern technology enabling travel, communication, and information from one place to the next, it creates an accessible means to share ideas, beliefs, and values between places on opposite ends of the earth. On an even broader perspective, due to the economic structure of international trading and developing, each country is exposed to products and practices of another. Although this concept of sharing cultural components is widespread, our countries adaptation patterns are limited by that very same economic structure. Two countries that dont share any common ground, often times that will limit the connections in which foster that exchange. For example, Zaire and America havent had many adaptations from one to the other due to no like foundations; i.e., trading partners, religion, or even fashion. On the contrary, examine the in fluence Europe has had on America. We adapt their music, clothing, vocabulary, and traditions into our country because America as a whole has constant communication with the European countries. Due to our countrys roots, America began as a muti-culturally influenced place. Now because of technology, diversity in family heritage, and general exposure from one place to the nextAmericas culture continues to be evolving and every changing. For this reason alone it makes one proud to be an American, because the perpetual implementing of different practices and components from a variety of cultures makes for well-balanced living. American History

Build a Bear Essays

Build a Bear Essays Build a Bear Essay Build a Bear Essay Fitzsimmons, M. J. 2008) the role of technology in the service encounter are technology- free service encounter, technology- assisted service encounter, technology- facilitated service encounter, technology- mediated service encounter and technology- generated service encounter. Figure 5. 1, (pg4) displays the five modes in detailed. The A mode is called technology- free service encounter, where the customer is in physical proximity to and interacts with a human service provider. This mode represents the traditional high- touch service that we experience at a hairdresser salon or chiropractor in which technology does not play a direct role. Most personal care service falls into this category, along with some professional service such as law, consulting, and psychiatry. The B mode is called technology-assisted service encounter, because only the service provider has access to the technology to improve the quality of face- to- face service. A health care procedure such as an MRI scan or office visit to an optometrist falls into this mode. Traditionally, airline representatives used a computer terminal to check- in passengers, represented by mode B, but today passengers are encouraged to use check- in kiosks represented by mode E. The C mode is called technology- facilitated service encounter, because both the customer and service provider have access to the same technology. For example, a financial planner in consultation with a client can refer to a financial model on a personal compute to illustrate projected returns for different risk profiles. The D mode, called technology- mediated service encounter, the customer and human service provider are not physically together and thus the service encounter no longer is the traditional face- to- face contact. Communication is usually enabled by a telephone call to access service such as making a restaurant reservation or getting technical help from a distant call center. Consider, also, how clever use of remote monitoring using GPS (global positioning satellite) helps keeps track of the movements of parolees. Finally, in mode E, called technology- generated service encounter, the human service provider is replaced entirely with technology that allows the customer to self- service. This mode is becoming more common as firms attempt to reduce the costs of providing service. Examples are ubiquitous- bank ATMs, checkout scanning, airport kiosks, and Website- based information sources. 3. What is the search attributes? Search attributes are those tangible characteristics that allow customers to determine and evaluate a product before purchasing it. Search attributes can help customers to understand and evaluate what they will receive in return for their money. Besides, the sense of uncertainty and perceived risk of the purchases also can be reduced. Search attributes are such as brand name, price, style, color, texture, taste, and sound. All these attributes allow potential customers to try out the product like clothes, furniture, electronic equipment, and taste test the foods or even test drive a car before make any purchases. 4. What is the experience attributes? Experience attributes are those attributes that cannot be evaluated before purchase. It can be discerned, evaluated and experienced only after purchase or during consumption. Experience attributes are such as fun, emotion and entertainment value like vacations, live entertainment performances, sporting events, theme parks and restaurants. . What is database? A database is a structured collection of records or data in a computer which relies upon software to organize the storage of data. (Wikipedia, 2008) Database is organized so that it can easily be accessed, managed and updated rapidly for various uses. (SearchSQLServer. com, 2008) Computer databases typically contain aggregations of data records or files, such as sales transaction, product catalogs and inventories, and customer profiles. 6. What does it mean by strictly seasonal? Strictly seasonal in the case refers to a particular store that offer or provide products and services occurring at or dependent on a particular season. This means those products and services of the store that being provided in this season will not be available in another season. The case mentioned that a toy store tend earn most of the profits only during a certain period such as holiday season. However Build-A-Bear Workshop manages to gain profits throughout the whole year. 7. What is the meaning of the sentence ‘They also peak inventory at a different time from the traditional toy store’? The above sentence stated that Build-A-Bear Workshop is unlike other traditional toy stores in achieving the greatest demand of the guests. Usually, the highest level of sales attainable by a toy store is during the holiday season, but Build-A-Bear Workshop achieved their highest sales all over the year. This is because they did not provide products and services on a strictly seasonal basis; in fact they treat everyday as holidays. 8. What is demographic information? Demographic refers to selected population characteristics as that used in government, marketing and opinion research, or the demographic profiles used in such research. demographic information that commonly used are such as race, age, income, disabilities, mobility, educational attainment, home ownership, employment status, and location. (Wikipedia, 2008) 9. How important is store’s visual environment? Visual environment is the visual effect that aims to create a positive image for the retail store through the store design, for examples, lighting, and colors. More and more retailer realizes the importance of store’s visual environment; as the competition of retail grow, a good design of visual environment not only provide comfortable environments to the customer, we also want to impress our customer as they entered the store, and create an atmosphere that customer will want to come again and again. Build-A-Bear Workshop highly visual environment which filled with teddy bear theme, is aim to let the guest build a lasting memory with their friends and family in this wonderful and fantasy special place. 10. What is retail experience? A retail experience is the result of all of the touch points a retailer has with their customer including staff interaction, merchandise, product selection, signage, in-store marketing, branding, music, smells, and other elements. Focusing on the customer experience is the best opportunity for many retailers to create a point of differentiation and succeed in todays competitive marketplace. Customers who receive above average experiences are more likely to purchase, be a loyal customer, and recommend the retailer to family and friends. Retailers have increasingly turned their attention to creating memorable retail experiences, For example, in 2001 Apple changed direction and initiated the retailing of experience offer through the Apple Store Experience. With the aim of switching customers to Apple (as well as enhancing the relationship with current consumers), the themed stores allow customers to interact, learn and experience the values of the brand through in-store design features and staff service. More importantly, rather than having products arranged via category (i. e. rinters, software, digital camera, iPods, monitors, cases, etc. ), merchandise is combined and arranged according to how consumers might use the equipment in their everyday life, thus seeking to locate the brand in realistic consumer settings. The aim of such experiential retail stores is to create outlets that capture and represent the brand’s essence, while balancing both the functional components of the product (what it does) with its emotional goals (how it makes me feel) (Pine Gilmore 1999; Schmitt 2003). 11. What is experiential blueprint? A blueprint is a photographic which is reproduced in white on a blue background, as of architectural or engineering plans. It also can be any exact or detailed plan or outline. When designing a blueprint, we need to have an experience on what a customer actually sees, smells, tastes, touches, and hears from their perspective. Experiential blueprint is one of the methods that we use for understanding the customer’s experiential perspective. According to Metters, Metters, Pullman (2006), a basic process design tool from service blueprinting can be modified to evaluate experience design. We can look at every experiential aspects or clues of the process and evaluate it for conformance to key themes, sensory impact, resource requirements, and improvement. For example, an experiential blueprint for a tourist arrival at a hotel would start with the airport transportation and proceed through all the steps until he is settled in his room. This type of blueprinting and clue design form is useful for designing new experiences so that the managers are aware of the importance of simple things such as lighting the candles in the lobby at night and changing the music to convey a different mood. 2. What is tracking system? A tracking system is a generally a system that renders virtual space to a human observer while tracking the observers body coordinates. A tracking system is to determine the location or direction of a target on a near to continuous basis. (Tracking Systems, n. d. ) An ideal tracking system keeps contact and updates the targets bearing, range and elevation const antly. The output of the tracking system will be sent to a fire control system that stores the information and derives the targets motion and its future position. Furthermore, tracking systems not only provide an automatic target following feature but also determine the targets position sufficiently and accurately. There are various type technologies being implemented within the tracking systems such as Global Positioning Systems (GPS) which depending on how often the data is refreshed, bar-code systems which require a person to scan items, automatic identification (RFID auto-id), and so forth. 13. What is Customer Experience? Customer Experience can be defined as the quality of the experience as apprehended by a customer resulting from direct or indirect contact with any touch point of a company. Customer experience is also the sum of all experiences a customer has with a supplier of goods or services, over the duration of their relationship with that supplier. It can also be used to mean an individual experience over one transaction; the distinction is usually clear in context. In other words, the customer experience is the impression created on the customer as the results of contact with a company through any touch point, whether through marketing, branding, customer service, support, in-store experience, usage of a product, service or Web site, etc. Customer experience in this broader sense also includes User Experience, which as the name suggests, is concerned with, and limited to, direct usage of a product. The quality of the customer experience at any touch point individually can affect the overall relationship a customer has with a company. For example, a customer with a very high opinion of a company and its products may have a complete turn-around after a negative post-sales service customer experience. Or a company with an otherwise fine track record at many customer touch-points may create a negative experience through a poorly executed marketing communication piece or practice. 14. What are eight fun bear-making stations? Eight fun bear-making stations are Build-A-Bear Workshop’s stuffed animal-making assembly line; it concluded eight processes which are Choose Me, Stuff Me, Hear Me, Stitch Me, Fluff Me, Name Me, Dress Me, and Take Me Home. The entire process takes approximately 20 minutes; each station required guest to participate in order to create their furry friends, they will proceed to next stations after complete one and another. Choose MeGuests are introduced to all the furry characters in the store and soon will become their new furry friends. Depending on seasons, there are 30-35 varieties of stuffed animals including bear, bunnies, dogs, cows, and even Beary limitedâ„ ¢ edition collectible bear. Build-A-Bear Workshop stuffed animal price are affordable, ranging in price from $10-$25. Hear MeGuest can personalized their new furry friend from selecting several sounds and song, and placed inside their stuffed animal. Build-A-Sound, a recorded-your-own message sound chip is inserted during the stuffing process. The pre-recorded sounds included giggles, yawns, bark, or other animal sounds, and messages like â€Å"I love you†, or song like† Let me call you sweetheart†. Stuff MeWith the help of Master Bear Builders, guest can give their bear a right amount of stuffing and give their bear a hug test. A very special process which is the Heart Stuff, each guest select their small satin bear’s heart, warm it in their palm or hands, make a special wish, and place the heart into the bear, it is a melting experience to everyone regardless their ages or gender, and the bond between the owner and the bear is secured. Stitch MeThe last seam is neatly pulled shut in this process, before the closing, the Master Bear Builder associate insert a barcode, allowing it united with its owner if ever lost or return to Build-A-Bear Workshop. Thousands of furry friends have been united through Find-A-Bear ID tracking systems. Fluff MeGuest will give their furry friends an air bath, and brush the fur. It adds more fun to the process as the guests creating the final look for their bear, and to make their friends well groomed and perfectly huggable. Name MeA computer will asked the guest a series of questions of their new friends, such as the bear name, and birth date, and prints a short storybook or birth certificate. Through its proprietary computerized naming system, Builds-A-Bear workshop has built a huge database and the extensive demographic information helps the retailer to serve its customer better. Dress MeGuest may dress their bear in the beary latest furry fashions. The bear apparel boutique features clothes and accessories for all occasions, clothing includes casual wear, formal wear, costumes, guest even can dress their bear like Batman. There even have Pawsonal shoppers which will assist the guest to select the perfect outfits and accessories for their new friends. Build-A-Bear Workshop even has their own fashion experts Pawlette Courfur Fashion Advisor to the furry famous. Take Me HomeGuest concludes their bear-making process in this station, where they are given their customized birth certificates and a special But Stuff Club card to apply towards future purchases. Each new furry friend is then placed in their very own Cub Condo carrying case, which is designed as a handy travel carrier, also as a new home for their friend. The Cub Condo has also become collectible. 2. 0 Current Scenario Build-A-Bear Workshop is an interactive entertainment stuffed animal retailers that marketing â€Å"make your own† stuffed animal especially teddy bear. With its unique and exceptional approach, teddy bear theme carried throughout the store, guest build memory with their friends and family in the highly visual environment store by sharing experience with the store employee in the each phase of bear-making process. Build-A-Bear Workshop different from traditional toy store; its tradition is to introduce a New Limited item on the day after every holiday; customer is attracted to the store because of the newness and isn’t driven by discount. Guest participates in the bear-making process which consist 8 stations. At Choose Me, guest chooses their new furry friends. Proceed to Hear Me; guest personalized their bear with prerecorded sounds. At Stuff Me, employee help the guest to fill in right amount of stuffing, and give a hug test. It also consist a special process which is Heart Stuff. Stitch Me finalizes the technical part. At Fluff Me, guest takes part in creating the final look of their bear. At Name Me, a computer will ask the guest to give their bear a name and date of birth, and all the bear entered the Find-A-Bear tracking system, and has build a huge extensive database. At Dress Me, guest chooses the apparel and accessories for their bear. Finally at Take ME Home, guests are given their bear customized birth certificates, and a Cub Condo as a carrying case. www. buildable. com is an online version of the store with interactive activities, it allow Build-A-Bear Workshop stay connected with their guests and communicate with them through email. Build-A-Bear Workshop had implanted an innovative Guest Satisfaction program that rewards managers based on the satisfaction of customers. A store does not qualify for a sales bonus unless it reaches a minimum predetermined Guest Satisfaction scores which are reported weekly, it aim to increase the guest satisfaction. 3. 0 Answer to Questions 3. 1 Question 1. Utilizing the customer experience model of Pullman and Gross (2002), provide your comments pertaining to the guest experience at Build-A-Bear Workshop. Illustrate your answers with relevant examples. Customer Experience model are divided into 3 components: engagement, context and time. In the engagement level of the experience Build-A-Bear Workshop uses Edutainment. Edutainment is a combination of playing and learning. Engagement component including get guests to stay/ return, make the experience to be fun, connect emotionally with customers, and increase thrill, surprise, or delight. Context refers to place where the customer consumes the service and everything that the customer interacts with in that setting. A Provider should design a setting in which the meaning of the experience is created in favorable way for individual customer. Context is defined by six dominant elements: theme, learnable and usable, mutable, layout, sensory, and social interaction. Good experiences are hard to be copied and discourage switching. If all activities within the time frame of the experience are carefully orchestrated, they stay in the customer’s memory, but the customer must also discover ways to build on his or her experience with the organization. Management needs to consider three keys elements in relation to time: memorabilia, continuity, and dynamic. Engagement: Education and Entertainment Get guest to stay / return The company currently operates more than 375 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores worldwide, including 321 company-owned stores in U. S. , Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and France. And 53 franchised retail stores in International locations – Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, India, Japan, The Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan and Thailand. Build-A-Bear Workshop are continually evaluating additional retail opportunities and expect to continue their expansion into other concepts and product lines in the future. For example, in 2006, Build-A-Bear Workshop has opened their first store within a third-party restaurant concept, Build-A-Dino store under a licensing agreement with T-REX Cafe (owned by Landry’s Restaurants, Inc. ). In 2007, The Company added the Build-A- Dino concept to Build-A-Bear Workshop stores in two highly trafficked tourist locations, Myrtle Beach in South Carolina and their flagship store in New York City. Also in 2007, the company has opened three Build-A-Bear Workshop stores within Rainforest Cafe restaurants, under a licensing agreement with Landry’s Restaurants, Inc. As there are more Build-A-Bear Workshop outlets open in the market, guest always can easily go back to the store to purchase item. Make experience fun Build-A-Bear is one of the largest companies to offer an interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment experience. In Build-A-Bear Workshop’s stuffed animal-making assembly line, guest participate in the bear-making process with the Bear Builder associates, guests will select the furry animal they want to make, choose the sound the creature will utter and then stuff, stitch, fluff, name, and dress their new friends. The entire process takes approximately 20 minutes. By building their own stuffed animal bears, kids can be creative, play, and experience joy and fun. Build-A-Bear Workshop offers a Build-A-Party program. This exclusive service allows Guests to plan and customize their own party with pre-selected animals, clothes and accessories. For birthday parties of six or more, the Guest of Honor receives a free gift, and all party Guests receive a party favor. Connect emotionally with customer Since the introduction of Build-A-Bear workshop On Tour in 2005, it has traveled more than 10,000 miles to reach Guests at various sporting and family entertainment venues across the country. Build-A-Bear Workshop On Tour allows Guests to participate in the same bear-making process that can be found at any of the mall-based store locations. Like those stores, Guests of all ages will enjoy the highly visual environment, the cheerful sounds and the fantasy of Build-A-Bear Workshop, while creating memories with their family and friends throughout their entire experience. Through the tour, Build-A-Bear Workshop are connected to the guest in more initiative way. Increase thrill, surprise, delight Build-A-Bear Workshop offers a Build-A-Party ® program. This exclusive service allows Guests to plan and customize their own party with pre-selected animals, clothes and accessories. Context: Theme The teddy bear theme is carried throughout the store with original teddy bear fixtures, murals and artwork. Every guest who visit to Build-A-Bear Workshop stores enter a teddy bear themed environment that consisting of eight stuffed animal making stations: Choose Me, Hear Me, Stuff Me, Stitch Me, Fluff Me, Dress Me, Name Me, and Take Me Home. To attract their target guests, Build-A-Bear Workshop have designed their stores to provide a â€Å"theme park† destination in the mall that is open and inviting with an entryway that spans the majority of their storefront and highly visual and colorful teddy bear themes and displays Guest will feel like enter a stuffed animal kingdom, and feel more enjoyable in the store. Learnable and usable Build-A-Bear Workshop has established their store as a place where children can have a hands-on experience, express their creativity and use heir imagination. Build-A-Bear Workshop offer an extensive and coordinated selection of merchandise including approximately 30 to 35 varieties of animals to be stuffed, as well as a wide variety of other clothing and accessory items for the animals. All the clothing is inspired by human fashion and includes authentic details such as functional buttons, working pockets, belt loops and zippers and has child friendly, easy-to-dress details such as an o pening for the stuffed animal’s tail and adjustable closures to help fit any size animal. All Build-A-Bear Workshop store managers receive comprehensive training through their Bear University program, which is designed to promote a friendly and personable environment in their stores and a consistent experience across the stores. The first moment guests walk in the door, they will greeted by a Bear Builder associate who will guides the guests through all the bear making. Mutable Build-A-Bear Workshop’s service can give a lot of customer experience to their guest by involving them in the bear-making process. In the bear-making process, guest can create their furry friends according to their preference, or even asking help from employee. For an example, in the Dress Me, guest can either chooses apparel for their bear, or even ask Pawsonal Shoppers for advice to select perfect outfits and accessories for their bear. Service are provided differently according the request of guest, and the Bear Builder associates will assist them in the process. Layout Build-A-Bear Workshop stores average approximately 2,750 square feet in size and have a highly visual and colorful appearance, including custom designed fixtures featuring teddy bears. Build-A-Bear Workshop offer an extensive and coordinated selection of merchandise, including over 30 different styles of animals to be stuffed and a wide variety of clothing, shoes and accessories for the stuffed animals. In early 2005 the company introduced Build-A-Bear Workshop On Tour, a 53-foot tractor trailer that opens into a complete 800 square foot Build-A-Bear Workshop store. This bright yellow and bear-covered mobile store brings the Build-A-Bear Workshop brand and experience to places outside the mall where families go to have fun. Sensory Guest are immerse in an experience of creating their furry friend, which is a memorable experience in their life. When they came in to the store, from the highly visual environment, teddy bear theme all over the store with teddy bear fixtures, murals and artwork, guests are fully enjoying this wonderful place with their friends and family. In the process of bear-making, customers can touch the bear at Stuff Me to have a hug test whether it is comfort to be hugged. Social interaction Build-A-Bear Workshop has implanted Guest Satisfaction program, which reward the manager based on the performance of the employee, by evaluating the effort of satisfying customer. The goal of Build-A-Bear Workplace is to make the guest smile, so the employees are enthusiastic to provide excellence service to their guest. Time: Memorabilia Guest who visits a Build-A-Bear Workshop store enters a lighthearted teddy-bear-themed environment consisting of fun bear-making stations. Instead of ready-to-buy merchandise, guests are offered the opportunity to make their own customized, plush friends. With guidance from specially trained Bear Builderâ„ ¢ associates, young visitors and their parents select a bear or other stuffed animal friend, proceed to an interactive stuffing station, then choose from a huge array of clothing and accessories, including merchandise manufactured under license from the major sports leagues and fashion partners. At the Name Me station guests register their new stuffed animal in the unique Find-A-Bear ID system, which allows lost friends to be scanned and returned to their owners. There’s even a signature Cub Condo carrying package that protects the new friend on its trip home while reinforcing the brand. The whole process is an engaging interactive experience that not only turns toys into treasures; it also turns guests into customers for life. The full-featured, 600-square-foot mobile store is an 18- wheeled transport with a 53-foot trailer that pops down in front and expands at the sides. It contains all the elements found in a Build-A-Bear Workshop mall-based store, from the stuffer to the apparel and naming stations, plus a photo booth where guests can have their picture taken with their new furry friends. The photos can be downloaded later from www. buildabear. com with a unique, assigned password. Not only bear-making memories, Build-A-Bear Workshop store has launch The new Build-A-Bear Workshop virtual world – buildabearville. com – which enable guests to start a new friendship adventure with their furry friends when they get home. Here, guest can bring their new furry friend to life online to play together, create their own online character, play games and earn points to buy cool virtual stuff, chat with friends and more. Build-A-Bear Workshop store helps and ensure their guests always enjoy the fun and relive the bear-making memories. Continuity Build-A-Bear Workshop will have their customers profile stored in their database. When there is a new product released, they will send catalogue to customers by email. Besides that, they also can create customers awareness through TV and radio commercials, printed and online advertising as well as features specific new product introduction and promotion as a call to action to visit their store. The high quality customer services from the store employees gives good impression to customers and lead them visit to the store again. For example, the experience that children have during the eight bear making process will give a great fun for them and create their intention to visit the store again next time. Dynamic Among many the many stages of the bear-making process, there a climax among them, the Heart Stuff. It is a heart melting experience which requires the guest to select their small satin bear’s heart, warm it in the palms of their hands, make a special wish, and place the heart into the bear. It was a very special event, guest will remember this moment forever which strengthen the bond of guest and the bear. 3. 2 Question 2. Based on Maxine Clark’s statement of â€Å"With each child that enters our store, we have an opportunity to build a lasting memory,† she says. â€Å"Any business can think that way, whether you’re selling a screw, a bar of soap, or a bear. † Justify her emphasis on the significance of providing experience attributes rather than relying merely on search attributes to satisfy and retain the guests of Build-A-Bear Workshop. Maxine Clark’s emphasis on the importance of providing experience attributes rather than relying merely on search attributes to satisfy and retain the guests of Build-A-Bear Workshop can be clearly shown based on the store’s concept and its offering. Build-A-Bear Workshop offered interactive entertainment experience to the guests especially during the bear-making process, and this entertainment value could not be evaluated before purchase and experience it. Guests might have no idea and unable to evaluate the product before purchase from the store through search attributes. They can only feel and experience the bear-making process to know what they are getting after the purchase. That is why Build-A-Bear Workshop is differentiating themselves among the retailers. They are not just purely selling teddy bears to the customers, in fact the store associates are involved together and sharing the bear-making experience with the guests at each phase of the process. Maxine Clark prefers encouraging her guests to participate and enjoy the experience in the store. So from here we can see her effort in creating an entertainment tore that uses underlying goods and services as props with the goal of engaging the guests in a way that builds a lasting, unique and memorable experience with the store. Besides Maxine Clark’s emphasis on providing guests the experience attributes can be shown through the eight fun bear-making stations: Choose me, Stuff me, Hear me, Stitch me, Fluff me, Name me, Dress me, and Take Me Home. All these bear-making stations have their u nique features which able to stimulate guests’ senses and create a higher level of emotional connection. For example Heart stuff, it is one of the special processes at Stuff me station. Each guest has the opportunity to place a small satin bear’s heart into the bear after select, warm it in the palms of their hands, and make a special wish. That is how the guest will go through the heart melting experience and creates a special bond between the guest and the bear. This is an experience that cannot be gained from the search attributes. There is no way of obtaining such experience and making any evaluation on how might it feels before purchase and involved in the bear-making process. Maxine Clark had designed an interactive entertainment retail store that allow families and kids to buy, use, participate, engage, or join together to have fun and build a lasting memorable experience. Although this is all about bear-making experience but it somehow will have a significant life changing impact on the customer perception. That is why providing experience attributes is better than search attributes in terms of satisfy and retain the guests of Build-A-Bear Workshop. 3. 3 Question 3 Discuss the role of technology in the customer encounter with www. buildabear. com. Can Build- A – Bear Workshop create a memorable online encounter with its guests as compared to its physical store? How? Q3 (i) Discuss the role of technology in the customer encounter with www. buildabear. com. The role of the technology in the customer encounter with www. buildabear. com is technology- generated service encounter. Technology- generated service encounter is the human service provider is replaced entirely with technology that allows the customer to self-serve. It is becoming more common as firms attempt to reduce the cost of providing service. ( Fitzsimmons,J. A. , Fitzsimmons, M. J. ,2008). Based on the case, Build –A- Bear website replaced Build- A- Bear physical store to allow the customer shop online, play online games, printable greeting cards online, invitations to parties online and even can communicate with the guest through email. It’s another easy and economical way to interact and engage guests. Q3(ii). Can Build- A- Bear Workshop create a memorable online encounter with its guests as compared to its physical store? How? Yes, I agree that Build- A- Bear Workshop can create a memorable online encounter with its guests as compared to its physical store. In Build- A- Bear online store, it’s provided a huge selection of their products such as Quick Gifts, Bears and Furry Friends and many more that are inclusive in the physical store. We can order the products, search the information about the products and view the image clearly and also make a purchase that we preferred anytime and everywhere without driven to the physical store. It was more convenient, fast and easy. Although Build- A- Bear Workshop are not available in Malaysia but we still can buy the products through the Build- A- Bear website that let us encounter the different experiences. Other than that, Build-A- Bear website is an online version of the store with interactive games such as Build-A-Bearville! It can take your real-life furry friend into the virtual world. You can go on quests and play games with your furry friend and other users through the website without additional fees or hidden sign up costs. Because of the online chat can be a touchy subject so they have worked with parents and industry experts to develop a safe system where we are in control of setting chat options for the users especially child. And the site is monitored for safe socialization. In this games, we will be challenged with educational quests and adventures, learn lessons about being responsible citizens of the world and have good real world behaviors reinforced, all in a beary fun new way. Beside that, Build- A- Bear website allow users to print and design their own greeting cards to send to their family and friends to stay connected with each others So it is another way to let someone know that you care them rather than send letter or send instant messages. Another way which Build-A- Bear Workshop creates a memorable online encounter with its guests is enables the retailers communicate by email. If the consumer faced a problem or need additional information about the products and services, they can communicate through email rather than contact the company. On the other hand, we can send email from the Build- A- Bear website to tell a friend about an item you found on the site. It’s another easy and economical way to build a good relationship with the customers. Build- A- Bear website not only has used technology to personalize the customer experience, but it also has designed its site with customer in mind. The pages are easy to use and its graphics are colorful that are consistent with the theme of their store and easy to understand. Besides, a powerful search engine is another feature of the website. For instance, if you are having trouble finding an item on the site use the beary helpful site search feature found in the upper right corner of the screen. Enter a keyword, item number or a brief description of the item you are looking for and you will receive a search results page with all items that match the criteria you entered. You can then refine your search using the advanced search features. The ‘Wish List’ is another memorable service that Build-A-Bear online store offer. A ‘Wish List’ lets us keep track of all the wonderful stuff we would like to have from the store. We simply shop as we normally would; only instead of adding items to our ‘Basket’ we add them to our ‘Wish List’. Our ‘Wish List’ is then saved under our account and we can access it and add to it whenever we want. We can even send it to our friends and family so they know exactly what we want for our birthday or other special occasion! Due to the changing world, the internet is a no longer a niche technology. It is a mass media. Almost no aspect of our life remains untouched by online media. As our life become more fractured and cluttered, it isn’t surprising that consumer now- a- day’s turn to the Internet when it comes to buying products. Consequently, buildabear. com should builds customer relationships by customizing its service and involving its website visitors in the service to create more memorable online encounter with its guests. I recommend that buildabear. com should focus on customer need and want to develop customer loyalty. For instance, design orders as gifts. Most of the Build- A- Bear customer purchases the products as a gift to someone. In this advanced service, users can order the gift online and directly send it to the recipients. In the process, Build –A- Bear Company should not include the price of the items on the packing slip included with the order and help the consumer to wrap the gift and the buyer can add the gift message as they like. Other than that, buildabear. com should not only wait for customers to come to its site to provide its service. If a customer doesn’t visit the site in a certain length of time or the special day such as Mother Day, Father Day, Teacher Day or even is the customer’s birthday, buildabear. om should sends an email encouraging or remind them to visit buildabear. com. Beside that, builabear. com can send some information about the new products and events that are related to the company. This is an economical way to let the consumer remember the store and increase customer loyalty. Online shopping is inherently more environmentally friendly than traditional re tailing, and at buildabear. com, they can constantly looking for ways to further reduce the environmental impact. According to H. Scott Matthews and Chris T. Hendrickson (2001), the sale of the products on the Internet is beneficial to the environment. For example, emission from vehicles driven to shopping malls can be avoided, retail space can be reduced, and inventories and waste can be reduced. To reduce the environmental impact, buildabear. com can made significant progress to reduce excess packaging in its shipments to customers and introduced additional types of recyclable packing materials to protect items while in transit. Beside that, they can introduce paper packing materials that are 100% recyclable. This may increase the competitive advantages and the consumer can have a unique experience while shopping online. To help the online consumers keep up-to-date on the latest popular products, buildabear. com can offer Bestsellers, Hot New Releases, and Movers Shakers lists. These can updated hourly just like the lists on the website. The online consumers can subscribe to these by navigating to the list page that they interested in. 3. 4 Question 4 Using the experiential blueprint method, recommend how Build- A- Bear Workshop can enhance the customer experience. Clue Description: Build-A-Bear Workshop Intended Experience or Emotion Connection from this Clue: enduring love and friendship, build memory, enhance customer experience Senses Impact(high, medium, low)Resources needed to maintain Clue($, time, logistics) Who is responsible? How does the clue align or not align with above metaphor or descriptive words? What can the business do to change or improve this clue for better alignment? TasteNone The store is well aligned with a sense of enduring love and friendship. It builds a lasting memory by inviting customers’ participation in the process of bear making. It also makes the customers smile based on the concept of retailing as entertainment and the store as a theater. 1)The store employees should provide high quality of customer service. 2)Emphasize on the bear themed in the store. 3)Let customers to design the apparels and accessories they prefer. TouchHigh $: Labor, stuffing materials Resp. : Front liner, Master Bear Builder associates SmellNone SightHigh$: Materials, bear apparel and accessories Resp. : Front liner, Master Bear Builder associates Hearing Medium $: Labor, sound chip Resp. : Master Bear Builder associates Figure 1: Clue Design for Build-A-Bear Workshop According to the table above, the sense of touch will have a high impact on customer experience. At Stuff Me, the Master Bear Builders help customers to fill their bear with the ideal amount of stuffing and let the customers give their bear a hug test. Each customer selects a small satin’s heart, which is the trademark of Build-A-Bear Workshop then make a wish and place into their new friend. Proceeding to Fluff Me, customers give their new friend an air bath and brush its fur to create its final look as well as to make sure that it is perfectly huggable. Furthermore, the sense of sight will also have a high impact on customer experience. Build-A-Bear Workshop store has a lighthearted teddy-bear environment which consists of eight bear-making stations: Choose Me, Stuff Me, Hear Me, Stitch Me, Fluff Me, Name Me, Dress Me, and Take Me Home. At the entry of the store, there will have two animated bear’s sentries to greet the customers. At Choose Me, customers are introduced to all the furry characters and choose one that they like the most to become their new friend. At Dress Me, customers can put the latest furry fashions on their new friend as there are feature clothes and accessories are available at the bear apparel boutique. Besides that, the sense of hearing has a medium impact on customer experience. At Hear Me, customers can choose a sound or song to place inside their new friend in order to make it special or unique. In addition, Build-A-Sound, a voice recording chip, helps customers to insert their own message sound clip inside the bear. Finally, we have some recommendations for Build-A-Bear Workshop to enhance the customer experience. The store employees should provide high quality of customer service to enhance the customer experience as well the customer satisfaction. The store employees should be nice and friendly to serve their customers. For example, the store employees should greet customers politely when they enter the store. Moreover, the store environment should be enhanced by emphasizing the theme of the store which is bear themed so that customers can see bears everywhere in the store. Finally, the store can let customers to design the apparels and accessories they prefer in stead of providing apparels and accessories for customers to choose for their bear. For example, they can let customers to design the size of the bear, pattern for the apparels and accessories.

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