Kodak and Fujifilm Essay Example for Free

Kodak and Fujifilm Essay Kodak, which was once known as Eastman Kodak Company, was founded by George Eastman in 1888. This invention enabled inventor Thomas Edison to create the first motion picture camera in 1891. Kodak’s photography and imaging was its main big thing and was widely used from photography equipment to film, paper and color chemicals. Kodak set the standards high for quality when making its motion picture films. (Kodak) In the 1980’s, Kodak’s market share reached 90%. In the 1800’s he also invented an emulsion-coating machine which enabled him to mass-produce photographic dry plates, he was one of the first to prove the great convenience of gelatin dry plates over the cumbersome and messy wet plate photography prevalent in his day. Dry plates could be exposed and developed at the photographers convenience; wet plates had to be coated, exposed at once, and developed while still wet. The name Kodak was born and the KODAK camera was placed on the market, with the slogan, You press the button we do the rest. (Kodak) Kodak went on to become one of the biggest expanding the major impact it brought to pictures. It grew into helping the health industry by devising films that detected radiation exposure for developing the atomic bomb. (Kodak) Kodak went on to play significant roles with joint ventures from Nasa, Sun Chemical, and other big ventures. By 1962 the company’s U. S. consolidated sales exceed $1 billion for the first time. Its work force tops 75,000. Today Kodak’s estimated total market capitalization is about $900 million (Forbes) Kodak was a pioneer of photography and imaging and that was its core business. Kodak came before Fujifilm and was able to evolve and adapt quickly to the market changes. In January 2012, Kodak filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and in January 2013 it exited bankruptcy. Kodak’s downfall I think was that it was not able to keep up with the technology changes and multiple new waves of how it evolved. Ethics and social responsibility was on its side because of the good it did for the world through the company’s research and the profit margin showed that. Being able to help NASA and hospitals showed there ethical practices. Customers were satisfied and they trusted the brand. Obviously for them to have gone bankrupt means there was a breakdown in financial strategies and decision making. Fujifilm was established in 1934 with the aim of producing photographic films. Over the decades we have diversified into new markets and built a strong presence around the globe. It was founded by (Fujifilm. com) It emerged with its photographic film manufacturing industry and then began operating, producing photographic film, print paper, dry plates, and other photosensitive materials. It went through several name changes starting as Fuji Photo film and ending up as Fujifilm. Fujifilm may have started as a manufacturer of photographic film, but the companys decision to branch into many areas of business including a transition to a digital camera manufacturer in the past several years has been a successful one. (camersabout. com) Fuji has crossed over into hospitals providing x-rays and medical imaging. Fujifilm has offered photographic film, motion picture film, color reversal film slides, microfilm, color negatives, 8mm motion picture film, and videotape. Beyond film, the company also has offered computer storage tape, computer floppy disks, and offset printing plates. Fujifilm made its first digital still camera in 1988, the DS-1P, and it was the worlds first digital camera with removable media. The company also created the first one-time-use recyclable film camera, the Quick Snap, in 1986. (Cameras about. com) Fuji dominated overseas and has embraced change and diversity to become a more effective force for a better future. Fujifilm has continued to maximize other resources effectively to achieve healthy growth.. In 2007, Fujifilm cameras ranked eighth worldwide in number of digital cameras manufactured, with about 8. 3 million units, according to a Techno Systems Research report. Fujifilm cameras, sometimes shortened to Fuji cameras, held a market share of about 6. 3%. (fujifilm. com) they too have been innovators and there management strategies have kept them on top and out of trouble such as bankruptcy. Kodak was not quick as Fuji was to adapt and they adapted quickly to stay well liked in the marketplace. They went from just hot in Japan to being second in the lead below Kodak in film usage, Both companies show what their approach to ethics and social responsibility are by their profits and success. It takes good decision making, quick turn around, and constant change to ensure diversity with any company. Flexibility, the right marketing, and speed are important in decision making. Fuji was smart and aggressive going from overseas to the global market with their low prices that made for a powerful marketing strategy. 1984 Los Angeles Olympics put them on the map when they became the official film of the event. Kodak made bad investments that caused them to eventually go bankrupt. It acquired Sterling drug for 1. 5 billion in January of 1988 and it turned out to be a bad investment and they wind up selling it off. Once it started falling the CEO was not able to revive it. Both companies made photography and imaging as their core business but Fuji even though it started later had the better adaptability. Fuji stayed reinventing itself and evolved with the change to invent better products. Kodak seems to come to a standstill even when the smart phone was introduced. When making decisions to build in flexibility you need to access the option, define the problem, adjust your approach and have innovative thinking. (Houston chronicle, by Amber Keefer, Demand Media) Before proceeding with you of action you have to choose an adequate course of action, and then you define the problem. Gather information, evaluating possible solutions and estimating the outcomes are crucial steps in the decision-making process. The objective is to take a situation from its current circumstances and move it toward a future goal. When making decisions you have to understand what you need to change and come up with ideas on how to improve the situation. After analyzing the problem, the next step is to find a solution before making a decision and implementing changes. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each of the options available. Think about the value of the actions you can take. After you decide on a solution, you might want to change your approach.. Evaluate new information as it becomes available to you. Flexibility in decision making allows you to learn from your mistakes and then move toward a successful outcome. When you prepare to implement change, it is important to consider your organization’s future needs and objectives. You have to consider various options as solutions to a problem tend to put more thought into making decisions. Critical thinking is important. Flexibility in problem solving is key and involves interpreting information, drawing conclusions and considering the implications. A decision maker must identify weaknesses of the situation and move to remove it from the equation. Then finally as you approach the final decision change often requires adjusting your approach to meet the unexpected. Keeping an open mind is important when considering the overall situation and looking at all facets of the problem. Building flexibility in decision making requires that you be receptive to change. Even the best-laid plans hit unanticipated obstacles. The key is to know when to adjust your approach. Effective decision makers demonstrate the ability to shift priorities as the need arises and show a willingness to achieve objectives by taking advantage of new opportunities. (Houston chronicle, by Amber Keefer, Demand Media) Kodak was first out the door in the business industry but made some financial mistakes that cost them in the end. They were not fast paced like Fuji with keeping up with the industryand keeping their technology current. Fuji looked for newer marketing strategies to please their customers and kept evolving. That would explain their success today. , Fujifilm has transformed itself into a solidly profitable business, with a market capitalization, even after a rough year, of some $12. 6 billion to Kodak’s $220m (petapixel. com) Kodak filed a lawsuit against Fuji claiming they had infringed on Kodak’s digital photography patents.

The Controversial Issue Of Flag Burning Philosophy Essay

The Controversial Issue Of Flag Burning Philosophy Essay There is a proposed amendment to make flag burning illegal. Congress tried to pass the Flag Protection Act of 1989, but the act failed because it is seen as a form of public protection.   There have been other attempts to pass legislation to protect the American flag but all of the attempts have failed so far. Flag burning is very controversial because people have different definitions of what freedom of speech means and what our flag stands for. This essay explores these definitions from the proponents viewpoint for a law protecting the flag and the opponents view point against such a law. The most debated question being asked at this time is:   is flag burning protected under the First Amendment guaranteeing the freedom of speech? It all depends on how a person defines the flag and interprets the First Amendment. In order to help answer this question lets being by defining what a flag is. The proponents (veterans, Citizens Flag Alliance, and other organizations of this type) of the amendment for protection of the flag define the flag as a cultural artifact with meaning significance, and usage determined by the particular system employing it (Guenter 18). Some flag historians have recognized the impact of culture on the shifting significance and usage of the national banner, although no one has ventured a full-scale probe of the subject (Guenter 16). The flag in the beginning was a symbol of freedom and enlightenment. The flag design has even changed. The very first flag contained thirteen stars that were in a circle with the red and white stripes. As the nation grew so did the flag, until the flag became what we know of it today. The proponents also feel that, the flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever (www.legion.org/flagcode.htm). It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkin or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard (www.legion.org/flagcode.htm). Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown. No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform (www.legion.org/falgcode.htm).   However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica should be worn on the left lapel near the heart (www.legion.org/flagcode.htm).   The American flag is known through out the world as a symbol of freedom, prosperity, and even enlightenment.   The American flag is a result of our (United States) revolt against Britain.   The opponents view of the flag is clearly different.   The opponents of this amendment define a flag like the New American Webster Handy College Dictionary. Which states, a flag is a piece of cloth bearing a design for display as a signal, standard, etc. (286). According to the opponents of the amendment a flag is just the rectangular piece of material that has stars and stripes on it. Excluding clothing, hats, napkins, and any other item that contains the red, white, and blue colors with stars and stripes. The proponents of this amendment define the flag as any piece of material that is representative of the pattern that we (society) know as a flag. While the opponents of this amendment believe that the flag is just the piece of  Ã‚   material that is for display purposes, viewed as a standard. The two sides of this argument have clearly defined their positions yet they fail to be specific. Both side of this controversy look to the First Amendment for clarification.  Ã‚   In the first amendment of the American constitution it states, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise there of; or abridge the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceable to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances   (Constitution of the United States). The proponents of the flag burning amendment believe that the burning of a flag does not fall under the protection of the First amendment. The reason is because burning a flag is not an expression of speech but rather an act. In the case of Texas V. Johnson, Chief Justice William Rehnquist stated that flag burning is the equivalent of an inarticulate grunt or roar that is . . . most likely to be indulged in not to express any particular idea, but to antagonize others (Stephens Scheb 446). He also goes on to state, the flag is the symbol of our Nation, a uniqueness that justifies a governmental prohibition against flag burning (Stephens Scheb 446). According to the opponents of the flag burning amendment, this amendment not only applies to pure speech but writing also.   Rather, the opponents of the flag burning amendment feel that the Fist Amendment potentially protects communication of any kind.   Protest, demonstrations, performances, advertisements, artistic endeavors-all of these are ambit of expression.   Basically the First Amendment protects communication no matter what its nature or medium. Does this mean that our right to free speech is absolute?   An example that would coincide with this definition is the Gregory Johnson case that happened in Texas. In 1984, a man named Gregory Johnson stood outside of the Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas publicly burnt an American Flag. He was prosecuted under a Texas law prohibiting flag burning. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled that the Texas law was unconstitutional. There reasoning behind this ruling was the fact that it was a form of protest.  Ã‚     The opponents of the flag burning amendment have come to these definitions as a way to distinguish what a flag is and what it isnt. The Supreme Court has not specifically looked at the topic matter of symbolic speech.   The opponents of this amendment feel that just because the amendment states, Congress shall make no law doesnt make the statement is absolute.   The Supreme Court may restrict the freedom of speech just on the premise of what affect it (the act or expression) may have (Epstein Walker pg. 204). The protection of the first amendment according to Stephens and Scheb, the protection of the First Amendment is not limited to pure speech (444). Symbolic speech can be applied to a variety of nonverbal communication that is subject to First amendment protection (Stephens/Scheb 444). Throughout the sixties there were many nonverbal protests against the war. These were protected under the First amendment because of symbolic speech reasoning. An example of this is from the Supreme Court case Tinker V.   Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969).   This case is an example of this because of a black armband that was worn to school as a less defiant form of protest to the Vietnam War.  Ã‚   Another example of symbolic speech is the burning of a draft card. In the same year (1969) the Supreme Court focused on the verbal expression rather than symbolic speech.   Once again the definition and the interpretation of the First Amendment prove that this issue is difficult to solve. The proponents feel that it is a way to preserve the values that America stands for, but the opponents feel that this amendment will hinder their rights as citizens of America. Which side is right? I guess it is up to each of us (citizens of America) to decide what we feel is right and take a stand on this issue.  Ã‚  Ã‚   For further insight into this controversial topic I conducted a survey of fifty college students. The students ranged in age from 18 to 40. The students surveyed were from many different ethnic origins, and different backgrounds. The survey consisted of six questions that inquired about the publics views on the proposed Flag Burning Amendment. According to the survey, 65% of people polled said an amendment that makes burning a flag illegal is a violation of the First Amendment. Many of the responses had the same reasoning behind the answer, if that is what a person believes than it is protected. While 90% of those surveyed responded that they felt no sense of protection for the flag while saying the pledge of allegiance.   The results of the survey are interesting. It appears that most people oppose the proposed amendment. Which leads people right back to the beginning, what is the meaning of freedom of speech and what does our flag stand for?   The issue of flag burning will continue for a while, but in order to understand the issue one must take the time to really think about what they believe in and what they feel is right. It is only through action that we (humans) are able to change the ills of the world. If we change the world by protecting the flag or burning the flag we (citizens of the US) have the rights and freedoms to do such. America is about freedom and happiness; we should take a lesson from the past and try to strive for freedom and happiness, so that we can become a better nation.  Ã‚  Ã‚     

Southwest Airlines Corporations

Southwest Airlines Corporations In year of 2006, Southwest Airlines celebrated its 34th consecutive year of profitability. While other airlines paces of profitability appear to be stagnant; Southwest Airlines was announced as one of the most admired corporations by Fortune 500 Magazine (Southwest 2006). Southwests success is deeply related to the new strategies that other airlines dont even dare to consider. The corporate culture and strategic philosophy stands out, making Southwest the leader in the whole airline industry. Southwest Airlines strategy can be described as â€Å"short-haul, low-fare, high-frequency, and point-to-point carrier (Fortune Magazine 2006)†. A lot of people consider that the marketing strategy that Southwest Airlines currently using is the low cost provider strategy. Low cost provider strategy is a strategy which is committed to driving down the cost through its value chain system (Broydrick 1995)†. This strategy allows companies to compete aggressively on price earning high pr ofit margins than rivals. But the low cost provider strategy is not the cure-all prescription for all the problems. If the quality of a product or service is not guaranteed, the low cost provider strategy is not likely to work. From a macro perspective, it seems that Southwest Airlines is using the low cost provider strategy to stand out among all other airlines. Rather, it is using the best cost provider strategy because from a competitive positioning standpoint, best cost strategies are a â€Å"hybrid, balancing a strategic emphasis on low cost against a strategic emphasis on differentiation (supervalue) (Entrepreneur 1995).† In order to analyze the factors which contributed to the success of Southwest Airline Corporation more efficiently, we can use the McKinsey 7-S Model. In Peter and Watermans masterpiece â€Å"In Search of Excellence†, the book summarized that in order for a corporation to be successful; there are factors which it must acquire. The reason why that they are considering the success in this way was because that successful corporations they picked from the top list of the Fortune Magazine all possessed seven criterion. That is the famous McKinsey 7-S framework that Southwest Airline based its strategies on, which guarantees that â€Å"any intelligent approach to eventual success of organizing had to encompass (Peters and Waterman, 1982)†. The McKinsey framework includes eight attributes: 1) A Bias for Action. This attribute is based on the principle of â€Å"can do, let try.† This means that the principle favors experimentation. Southwest often goes out of its way to â€Å"amuse, surprise and entertain† its passengers (Peters and Waterman, 1982).† 2) Close to the Customer. This implies that the closeness to customers are expressed as an attitude concentrating on â€Å"valued clients† rather than valued employees of Southwest Airlines treat the customers as â€Å"valued clients† rather than â€Å"valued wallets.† They care about the customers not only just for one trip, but their futures as well. Moreover, the letters from customers are answered personally rather than using a standardized formula. Southwests CEO Kelleher actively supported that because he declared that there are three advantages which could be drawn from the service. First, it is the employee performance. Kelleher considers it the best way to value its employees. Second, the inputs from the letters which are authentically wrote indicates the real deficiencies that Southwest might encounter. Third, there is no worry about the letters because if cu stomers are willing to spend time on writing it, there is a great possibility that their concern shown on the letters are true and realistic. Southwest rarely uses survey questions to test its customers to test customer satisfaction. Because most surveys are made up of multiple choices from scales such as from 1 to 10, or from excellent to bad. It is hard from customers to think that the corporation belongs to which category. The difference between scales 5 and 7 might be real close which confuse the customers (Dauble 2005). As a result, some customers filled up the answers in guessing way that they dont even know what they are doing. They just want to get over with it. 3) Autonomy and Entrepreneurship. This indicates that in the whole corporation, every employee is a leader. They are respected just like any top managers. Everyone is welcome to submit new ideas or weakness of the corporation, and it has no hierarchy. Moreover, their will be competition within the corporation, but not suppression. Every competition is conducted in friendly manners. Unlike other corporations that the CEOs rarely allows themselves to meet the employees, the employees of Southwest can have lunch with Kelleher any day at any time (Marcial 2005). All the departments often shower free ice creams, pizza and other good stuffs to celebrate for each other when an assignment gets well done. Some employees from different departments in other corporations dont even know each other. All they do is doing their own work. Therefore, once there is a problem, it is extremely difficult for departments to work as a whole to solve the problem because they hardly know each other. This will wastes a lot of time, have the possibility of leading the corporation into the wrong direction, and intensifies the relationship of managers between departments in the situation that when they are unable to reach consensus (Lynch 2005). Furthermore, Southwest welcomes failures as well as successes because it firmly believes that failure is the mother of success. When a failure appears, it means that the success is coming down the road. 4) Productivity through People. This strategy implies that there is no existence of personality tests. Sense of humor and an outgoing attitude is a must. At Southwest, communications are frequent and concerns of old people and young people are treated by old employees and young employees with outgoing attitudes and personalities. In this way, the negative effects and misunderstandings due to generation ga ps can be avoided. 5) Hand-on, Value-Driven. At Southwest, there is a policy that in every quarter, the top managers and executives must spend one day experiencing the jobs of their employees. By working on positions such as ticket agents, baggage handlers, or janitors, people from the top level will have an authentic feel of whats going on and where are difficulties and deficiencies (Bunz 1998). 6) Stick to the Knitting. This theory indicates that corporations should never expand too fast just because their financial results in the short run show success. Southwest will not expand recently because it follows the strategy and every move it makes is conducted in an extremely careful way. Southwest understands that if â€Å"hot meat appears, your eating it fast strategy probably will burn your mouth (McNerney 1996)†. 7) Simple Form and Lean Staff. This strategy means that â€Å"keeping an organizational staff lean simplifies channels of communication in an organization (Peters and Waterman, 1982).† The reason of this is because that the more layers a hierarch has in a corporation, the longer it makes to make a decision which could result in wasting time and resources. At Southwest, it is not the janitors clean up the airlines. Rather, flight attendants and top managers are people who do the cleanings. In this way, Southwest can save both money and time. Moreover, Southwest is always loyal to its employees as they are to the Southwest. Southwest uses the â€Å"always hire and rarely fire† principle when dealing with human resources (Peters and Waterman, 1982).† It never fires its employees just because of external factors such as the stagnant of economy or internal factors such as financial loss. 8) Simultaneous loose-tight properties. This means that the corporation has both a centralized and decentralized system which de-emphasizes hierarchy. Southwest has a democratic style of corporation culture with autonomy and a tight control of finance by the CEO to make sure that money and resources are not wasted. Besides the above-mentioned eight crucial strategies that successful corporations must acquire, Southwest has two more strategies that other successful corporations do not possess. One is the University of People, and the other one is its CEO Kelleher (BusinessWeek 2005). University of People is a program established by Southwest for training new emplo yees. The trainees treat rookies just like the way they treat customers with great respect. Southwest firmly believes that the way it treats its employees will be an indicator of standards and positive motivation for employees to treat customers in same manners in the way which they are treated, or even better. As the CEO of Southwest, Kelleher is a successful executive with great responsibilities. He is also looked upon as a person with great sense of humor. An employee described that â€Å"wherever Mr. Kelleher goes, you will always hear sounds of laughs and feel an atmosphere of harmony (Gavinderajan 2002).† The successful corporation structure and philosophy of centralized and decentralized differentiation of the â€Å"Short-Haul† strategy brings a change, as well as a revolution of corporate structure innovations from old styles to the new ones. The â€Å"Short-Haul† strategy is very successful currently. Southwest is successful not only because of the â€Å"Short-Hauls† strategy. Southwests corporate strategy in areas of human resources, financial control, employee motivation and promotion, frequent communications between different levels, and the hardness for other airlines to duplicate are also factors which go with the â€Å"Short-Haul† strategy, differentiating Southwest from the rest of airlines, and therefore ensuring the success of such great achievement. However, huge problems are likely to take place in the long run. Just like Darwins Theory â€Å"survival of the fittest† indicates that every element is on its way of evolving, being unchanged will eventually be discarded by time and success in the long run. It is true that Kellehers â€Å"Short-Haul† strategy is extremely successful at present, but it will never guarantee that depending solely on this strategy will still be succes sful in the future. Looking into the history of the human kind, and look at ourselves now, how is it different from the past and the present? If all human beings have not evolved, if the science in every field has not changed, will we still have the same outlooks as what we are having now? I dont think so. Without the evolving of human kind and the improvements in scientific field, we will be no different compared with the primary humans in the early stages. Dont even mention about watching television, taking shower, surfing on the internet, flying in the airplane, or even having delicious meals. Without changes and improvements, we will still be in the primary forests where once we belonged, eating raw meat like barbarians and sharing room with animals. There is no government, business entity or element which is able to stay unchanged forever. During the medieval period, the Roman Empire was the most powerful nation in the entire world. But it collapsed. The British once said that â€Å"the sun will never set on Great Britain†! It also collapsed. China invented three of the four ancient miracles, the method of printing, compass and gunpowder more than 3,000 years ago. It was also the center of power and civilization during the Tang Dynasty which lasted for more than 800 years. China also paved the way for the first international business that never had happened between the east and the west. When Marco Polo traveled to China during the peak of its prosperity, he was shocked and thrilled to see that difference between the east and the west. When the European were sharing rooms with animals, China already had palaces made out of gold, even the miracle of Great Wall which is the only manmade mark that can be seen from space. The dynasty also collapsed. From all the examples that I mentioned above, you can clearly see t hat every nation has its ups and downs. Forever power never exists. This is exactly the same as business. I will be astonished if you can tell me a business entity which has lasted for 500 years. Many people believe that Wal-Mart is unstoppable, and unfortunately, they are absolutely wrong. Decades ago, Sears was the â€Å"Wal-Mart† at that time. Look at Sears now, how different it is between the past and present. Who can guarantee decades later, there will be no corporations replacing Wal-Mart? If Kelleher has the same concerns as I do, it is possible that he will be worried about Southwest in the future. What if the â€Å"Short-Haul† strategy stopped working? What if an underdog suddenly comes out, making Southwest stand on the border of failure? The situation for Southwest in the future is not as optimistic as it seems. However, it does not mean that Southwest is meant to be a failure. All roads lead to Rome, and whenever there is a will, there is a way. Kelleher can still use the â€Å"Short-Haul† strategy to succeed. But the strategy must be converted from a micro-perspective to a macro-perspective. In order for a company to be successful in the long run, it must expand. Kelleher said that Southwest has not made any decision to expand at present. But it does not mean that Southwest will never expand. As a business entity, corporations must expand globally to obtain more profits. Look at Wal-Mart, how many stores does it own worldwide? Need I say more? This also reminds me of an old saying which has it that â€Å"the largest fish in the river is never a big fish in the ocean†. If Southwest is satisfied just because of current profits and competitive advantages it has in the short run, it will not be Southwest anymore. I think that Southwest is on its way of planning its expansions, but with a very careful and conscientious attitude. It wants to make sure that the new strategy will work when the decision of expanding is made. There might be countless strategies for Kelleher to come up with. I know one strategy which I consider the best strategy because using this new strategy, Southwest can be very successful in the long run. It can also save time and resources. So what is this so-called strategy? I consider it the most successful not because of my arbitrary standing point of â€Å"pride and prejudice.† Rather, I recognized its importance and advantages because I have done a lot of research to make sure that this approach makes sense. The strategy I am using now is one strategy from the masterpiece called â€Å"The Art of War†, written by the greatest military strategist ever in history more than 3,000 years ago. The authors name is Sun Zi. What is so great and amazing about this book is that it has listed all the strategies which can be applied and used in all scientific fields, such as military, business, geometry and all other natural sciences. Japan is renowned for its management which almost cracked down the American automobile industry, and every top manager in Japan always makes sure they the book ‘The Art of War† lays on his desk. India is renowned for its financial system which also takes some strategies fr om â€Å"The Art of War†. United States Department of Defense and its military also adopted the strategies from the masterpiece of â€Å"The Art of War†, and manipulate them from a military science standing point (The Spread and popularity of the Art of War). In order to implement these strategies appropriately, one requirement must be met. The prerequisite is that the user must have a good understanding of military science built on the views that can be related and flexibly applied and manipulated from a perspective which solves problems based on methods of essence indirectly related from all other sciences. Knowledge is similar to a big family in that every element from every field mutually supports each other. For instance, when in process of establishing a military strategy, the person responsible for it must have good understandings of sciences such as geology, meteorology, physics, chemistry and even languages as well. In order for the strategy to operate well to the fullest extent of its capacity, the central strategist must have a good command of what geological area is the enemy in; what weapons has the enemy obtained; is it possible to use the scientific competitive advantage from a military perspective; what will the weather be like when the battle takes place; what mathematical calculation is needed for the army to defeat the enemy in a timely, resource-saving and casualty-reducing standpoint; after invading the area, what language and culture pattern that the enemy uses and has, etc. For geography, it is crucial for the strategist to decide which altitudes in the region would likely to be an advantage when fighting the battle. For weapons, the strategist must know whether the wea pons invented through the methods and formulas of physics and chemistry is a helping factor, and the basic laws and functions of the scientific principles in which the weapons are made based on knowledge of physics and chemistry. For meteorology, the strategist must have a good command of whats the weather would be like when the battle takes places because fighting on a sunny day and rainy day will have different results which could be the factors leading to either the victory or failure of the battle. For mathematics, the strategist must be pretty clear that why way is actually the nearest way offering competitive advantage for his troops. For linguistics, people who speak the enemys language and understand their cultural patterns will be a good indicator to lead the way. Ignorance of these necessary elements that eventually leads to failures is countless. In the Korean War, both sides have tried everything to keep control of the highest geographic positions; the first Russian space shuttle to the moon would provide Russia with a competitive technological advantage on weapons based on the same laws of sciences that were applied to the shuttle; the shuttle never comes back because the Russian scientists ignor ed one hundredth of a decimal point, and it resulted in deaths of all its excellent astronauts; the lost of the space shuttle which the government had supported financially, the time Russian scientists had devoted themselves to, and suspicions of scientific laws; all the hard work, the money and resources was wasted, and the laws of science were meant to be retested; the American troops in Iraq resulted in more casualties as expected because the strategist ignored the power of language, and hiring locals who hate Americans as translators who intentionally led Americans to opposite and wrong directions which resulted in lost of many lives which can possibly be saved if language and cultural pattern were considered. Finally, the reason that George Bush still could not find Bin Laden is because that he has no idea of the Iraqi landforms. If he knew that well, Bin Laden should already be caught and Saddam Hussein will not be the scapegoat. The strategy that Southwest Airlines should use in order to continue its success is also based on the â€Å"Short-Haul† strategy. The difference is that the strategy must be inter-converted. Southwest can try its best to duplicate its â€Å"Short-Haul† strategy globally. For instance, it can do exactly the same business with the same strategy once again. But this time, Southwest has to do it in every part of the world. For instance, Southwest can expand its business in France, Germany, Australia, Russia, China, Japan, Poland, Greece, etc. All Southwest has to do is doing â€Å"Short-Haul† business in all the countries. Once the â€Å"Short-Haul† strategy has spread to almost all the nations with economic prosperity, Southwest can start its â€Å"Long-Haul† strategy. Its global network will be linked like the solid structure of an atom, from Russia to Germany, Germany to France, France to Australia, Australia to China, and China to Switzerland, etc. By doing this, Southwest will have an extremely solid structure of global airline network that is likely to be very durable. The structure is similar to that of an atom. The structure of an atom can be described as one of the most solid structure among all other solid elements. This strategy adopted from â€Å"The Art of War† is based on the theory of strategic transformation, especially from a micro-perspective to a macro-perspective (Chapter IV, Art of War). By duplicating its successful strategy of â€Å"Short-Haul†, Southwest will have the capabilities of accumulating more strengths little by little. When Southwest considers it the right time to transform the â€Å"Short-Hauls† strategy to â€Å"Long-Hauls†, it can connect its business in every corner of the world. Each business in a certain place can be regard as a dot; there will an enormous amount of dots that Southwest has worked on. Therefore, connections of all the dots will change the network s imilar to that of an atom. Atom is said to have the toughest element structure on earth. One atom does not mean anything; two atoms only make a molecule. But through countless chemical reactions of nuclear fissions, millions and billions of atoms will have the energy as powerful as that of the atomic bomb. This strategy is also flexible. When Southwest considers itself too hard to manage all its subdivisions, it can back up its structures to original format, transforming from a macro-perspective to a micro-perspective. It can also change some parts to macro and other parts to micro. Whenever it is needed, Southwest is capable of interchanging its structure into different forms that best fits can be calculated according to different situations. The huge advantage of this strategic has three crucial characteristics: First, all Southwest has to do to force other airlines out of business just by doing a slight shift. Once the headquarter take the move, every connections of the network over the world can either do the same as a whole or a slightly different according to its own situation. The reason that Southwest is able to do this is because it possesses both a centralized and decentralized structure which can choose the best outfits. Second, once the network is complete, it will be very durable. It can last for a very last period until the strategies made by other airlines are superior. As I mentioned above, every element is on the way of changing so that there is no forever monopoly. But when Southwest has the ability to applied the â€Å"Long-Hauls† strategy, it will already have obtained the role as the leader in the industry. It will then be extremely difficult for other airlines to innovate new ideas expecting to replace the Southwest because under that situation, Southwest have the power to make sure that other airlines do not have chances. I dont mean that there is no possibility another innovation of internal structure of corporations. But the probability is not likely because at that time, Southwest will have the possibility with a confidence interval of at least 90%. Finally, I will be thrilled and stunned if other corporations are able to come up with better strategies under such a suppressed atmosphere. In order for other airlines to jump out from the â€Å"vicious cycle†, they must have the ability to obtain two important factors, which are financial resources and time. The network at least will take Southwest ten years to complete with financing of trillions of dollars. It is not likely for other airlines to come up with trillions of dollars at once, and even Wal-Mart does not know if it possesses the ability. Moreover, there is another requirement of more importance. That i s the time. The most valuable thing in the entire world is time. There is no opportunity cost for time because time is always moving on and it is eternal. It can never stop. As a result, do those airlines have time to do it? How long do they need in order to come up with a better strategy, replacing that of the Southwests? Therefore, the possibility is extremely slight. Southwest has this advantage. It is only a matter of time! Its about how long Southwest can last! Bibliographies â€Å"Americas Most Admired Companies 2006†, Wall Street Journal, available @ http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/mostadmired/snapshots/1253.html Dauble, Jennifer, â€Å"Top Fifty Companies to Watch, October 31, 2005†. Wall Street Journal, available @ http://www.dowjones.com/Pressroom/PressReleases/Other/US/2005.html._ Marcial, Gene, â€Å"Southwest Airlines Wings North†, November 7, 2005. BusinessWeek, available @ http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_45/b3958118.htm Lynch, Pat â€Å"Southwest Airlines†, Online Blogs From Google, April 5, 2005. Available @ http://finance.google.com/finance?q=luvhl=en â€Å"Southwest Fact Sheet†, March 28, 2006. Southwest Airlines Corporation, available @ http://www.southwest.com/about_swa/press/factsheet.html Bunz Ulla, â€Å"Learning Excellence, Southwest Airlines approach†, Volume 8, 1998. Available @ http://bunz.comm.fsu.edu/southwest.pdf Peter, TJ. And Waterman, R.H. (1982), In Search of Excellence: Lessons from Americas Best Run Companies, Harper Row, New York, NY. McNerney, D.J. (1996), â€Å"Employee motivation: creating a motivated workforce†, HR Focus, Vol.73 No.8, pp.1, 4-6. Gavinderajan Vijay, â€Å"Southwest Airline Corporation†, 2002, no. 20012. Trip Tracy, March 2006. â€Å"Best Practices Case Study: Best Perks, Southwest Airlines†, available @ http://vault.com/nr/newsmain.jsp?nr_page=3ch_id=402article_id=19258

Depression in Hamlet Essay -- William Shakespeare

In the playwright Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Hamlet often shows many signs of depression. It is argued whether he is putting on the act, or if he is actually severely depressed. I believe after the death of his father, Hamlet becomes very emotionally unstable. Three things affect Hamlet, the death of his father, the remarriage of his mother, and Ophelia. Hamlet contemplates death, and becomes prepared to die near the end of the play. When Hamlet Senior dies Hamlet seems lost. Depression commonly follows a loved one’s death. He finds no true meaning in life. He wonders if we are only here to eat and sleep. â€Å"What is a man/If his chief good and market of his time/ Be but to sleep and feed? A beast, no more./ Sure He that made us with such large discourse,/Looking before and after, gave us not/ That capability and godlike reason/ To fust in us unused. Now whether it be. Bestial oblivion or some craven scruple/ Of thinking too precisely on th’ event† (4.4 35-43). In the following soliloquy Hamlet contemplates suicide. â€Å"To be or not to be- that is the question:/Whether ‘tis nob...

Tienanmen Square: Where was the Violence? :: essays research papers

Were civilian casualties more extensive inside or outside of Tiananmen Square on June 4th, 1989? A) Plan of Investigation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The bloodshed at Tiananmen Square in Beijing shocked the world. As a result of large-scale Chinese cover-up the public knew little about the deaths that occurred on the morning of June 4th 1989. The aim of this investigation is to find out where the casualties were most extensive. The information needed to answer this question would not be provided for 11 years after which documents began to surface helping explain the unknown tragedy. U.S. government documents surrounding the event were finally declassified. But even more importantly a collection of Chinese documents known as The Tiananmen Papers were leaked out of China. The research for this investigation comes from these two sets of documents. By analyzing both the US and China accounts, similarities and inconstancies will be identified and examined in an effort to find the most plausible answer. B) Summary of Evidence 1. On the Brink On the night of June 3rd, 1989 the communist nation China was on the brink of collapse. For months the capital city was saturated with millions of pro-democracy demonstrators. Students, intellectuals, and civilians had set up their democratic stronghold in the symbolic center of the country, Tiananmen Square. The overwhelming animosity against the communist party had shut down the nation, and embarrassed its leaders. The senior members of the Chinese politburo demanded that this uprising be subdued and disbanded. After months of fruitless efforts to resolve the matter peacefully the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was dispatched to clear Tiananmen Square and to put an end to the ever expanding trouble. The soldiers were instructed to be extremely disciplined, opening fire as the last resort (Liang, 370.) Additionally no bloodshed would be allowed in the Square itself because of its important symbolism. 2. To the Square The United States first received news about the violence in Beijing in a message from the US embassy in Beijing on the night of June 3rd 1989. The document reported that the PLA was using violent force to remove protestors as they moved on Tiananmen Square. Chinese tanks, APCs, trucks, and soldiers had met sizable civilian resistance. Thousands of protestors blockaded the PLA pelting the army with rocks, bottles, and molotov cocktails (Evans, Document 12.) Some proceeded to overturn and destroy military vehicles. Soldiers using automatic weapons fired into the mass of protestors. Demonstrators fell back slowly, continuing to fight for seven hours.

Palanca Awards Essay

The Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature (Palanca Awards) was established in 1950. The heirs of Don Carlos Palanca, Sr. found it most fitting to commemorate his memory through an endeavor that would promote education and culture in the country. The Palanca Awards aims to help develop Philippine Literature by: 1. Providing incentives for writers to craft their most outstanding literary works. 2. Being a treasury of the Philippine’s literary gems from our gifted writers and to assist in its eventual dissemination to our people, particularly the students. 62 years ago, the Palanca Awards called on Filipino fictionists to weave their best short story in either English or Filipino. Today, the Awards continues to challenge writers to pour out their creativity in various literary genres. Instituted in 1995, the Palanca Hall of Fame award is presented to a Palanca awardee who has achieved the distinction of winning five first prizes in the regular categories. TheKabataan Award of Distinction gives recognition to a Palanca awardee who wins four first prizes in this division. The Palanca Awards continues to pursue avenues that help share these literary gems with the rest of the countrymen, to whom Filipino literature ultimately belongs. These winning works are continuously made accessible to students, and all researchers and lovers of literature through the Carlos Palanca Foundation (CPF) library. Adding dimension to the Palanca Awards mission of encouraging excellence in literary writing, CPF is supporting a scholarship program for creative writing. The Foundation also seeks to foster the unbounded imagination and creative spirit of the Filipino through creative writing workshops and readings of award-winning works. Born from a simple dream made 62 years ago to help develop Philippine literature, the foundation holds steadfast to its mission of providing nourishment for the national spirit. †¢Is not a secret that many Filipinos are unfamiliar with Philippine literature especially those written long before the Spanish arrived in our country. This is due to the fact that the stories of ancient time were not written, but rather passed on from generation to generation through word of mouth. Only in 1521 did the Filipinos become to be acquainted with literature due to the influence of the Spaniards on us. But the literature that the Filipinos became acquainted with are not Filipino made, rather, they were works of Spanish authors. †¢The rise of nationalistic pride in the 1960s and 1970s also helped bring about this change of attitude among a new breed of Filipinos concerned about the â€Å"Filipino identity. † †¢ The 1960’s were, summarily, a period when writers seriously grappled with problems of art. The early 1970’s saw a proliferation of politically motivated or committed writing and protest literature. Short-story writers became more conscious of the political milieu and of social issues in the wake of the increased activism all over the world and right in their country, especially during the troubled days of a dictatorial government. Some of the more recent fiction writers include Paulino Lim, Alfred Yuson, Jose Dalisay, Mario Eric Gamalinda, and Cristina P. Hidalgo. Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, the country’s most prestigious and longest-running literary contest. The Palanca Awards or Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature are literary awards of the Philippines. The Manila Standard called it the â€Å"Pulitzer Prize† of the Philippines. [1] It is one of the Philippines’ most long-running award giving bodies. [2] History[edit] The Palanca Awards was established in 1950 to inspire Filipino writers to improve their literary works. [3] In the 1960s the Palanca Awards Committee started to fund the publication of Palanca plays and production fund were committed on 1975. [4] In 2009, it added a category for Poetry for children in both Filipino and English. [2] Winning is tough, and for many writers, it goes beyond the cash prize. Winning means a validation of their work, and for some, it means a step toward joining the ranks of the country’s literati. It was to honor the legacy of Don Carlos Palanca, Sr. that the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature was established in 1950 and the first award was given in 1951. Through this annual literary contest, the family and heirs of Carlos Palanca sought to keep his name alive, along with his legacy of discipline and perseverance, and to enrich the nation’s cultural heritage.

Country Environment Analysis – Singapore

Country Environment Analysis – Singapore Date: 12/05/2012 Course: BUAD 6500 Prepared For: Dr. Stanford A. Westjohn Prepared By: Emtithal Alhumood, John Baker, Nora Dillon and Yuhong Fu Table of Contents: Page # Part 1 Macro Environment AnalysisAbstract ——————————————————————————————–3 Social Perspective ——————————————————————————–3 Economic Perspective —————————————————————————-5 Political Perspective †”—————————————————————————7 Challenges to Business in Singapore ———————————————————–9 Summation of Macro Environment Analysis ————————————————10 Part 2 Country Environment Analysis ——————————————–12 Country Environment Analysis Abstract —————————————————–12 Scope of the Tourism Industry ——————à ¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€œ12 Areas of Opportunity and Risk —————————————————————–16Challenges for US Business in Singapore’s Tourism Industry —————————-19 Country Environment Analysis Summation ————————————————–21 Part 1 Macro Environment Analysis Abstract: The country of Singapore enjoys a highly developed and successful free market economy. The first section of this report details the economic, social and political aspects of Singapore from a business perspective. Furthermore, this report will identify and analyze challenges which any business m ust consider upon entry to this growing marketplace. Social Perspective: Geographic Location: Situated in the northern part of the equator, Singapore lies between Indonesia and Malaysia.The island has a huge coastline of 193km. Half of the terrain contains metropolitan areas while reservoirs, open military areas, plantations, and parklands cover 40%. Covering an area of 699 sq. km. , the country is believed to be among the world’s most beautiful nations. Population: As of June 2011, Singapore's population stood at 5. 1 million, making it among the three most densely populated nations in the world (MediaCorp Pte Ltd, 2011). Singapore has a multicultural population with Mandarin, English, Tamil and Malay listed as the country’s four official languages. English is commonly used throughout Malaysia and is often referred to as the national language.Improved healthcare in the country has resulted in reduced infant mortality rate. However, the overall population growth rate i s relatively low at 2% from 2009 to 2010. Immigration is a significant driver of population fluctuation, as local population growth has actually declined in the past decade. Literacy: According to the United Nations Development Programme Report (2011), Singapore has a literacy rate of 94. 7%, which ranks 75th in global literacy by country. Education is regulated and supervised by the Ministry of Education which oversees both private and public schools. All public schools instruct students using the English language and their native tongue (referred to as â€Å"Mother Tongue Language†).According to Wikipedia, education spending typically accounts for 20% of the national annual budget in Singapore. Cultural Values: Singaporeans have a hierarchical history, and for the local population power distance is generally high. Respect for authority and social formalities are highly valued in Singapore’s local culture. Respect for parents, elders, teachers, and employers is held i n high regard. Due to the emphasis on family values, Singapore has developed a collectivist culture which focuses on the betterment of society; as opposed to the individual. Local residents generally express a modest humility when communicating with foreigners; which could be interpreted as â€Å"feminine† in reference to Hofstede’s cultural framework. Art / Music / Food:Held annually, the Singapore Arts Festival is a noteworthy event in the country’s celebration of the arts. The festival integrates visual arts, dance, and theatre. Besides home participants, global artists are also showcased. Today, the Festival is an international event. Additionally, the arts centre has traditional and classical music representation focusing on the four main cultures in the country. Singaporean cuisine signifies ethnic cultural diversity and food is seen as a uniting cultural strand that is fundamental to their national identity. Religion: Due to its strategic position, Singap ore is home to many religions. Once it was declared a port, several ethnicities and nationalities from around the globe immigrated to Singapore. 3% of the population practice Buddhism making it the core faith, 18% are Christians, 15% Muslims and 5% are Hindus. Besides, close to 17% of the populace do not practice any religion as they claim to be free-thinkers (Chong, 2010). Economic Perspective: Singapore has a highly developed and successful free-market economy. It enjoys a remarkably open and corruption-free environment, stable prices, and a per capita GDP higher than that of most developed countries. The economy depends heavily on exports, particularly in consumer electronics, information technology, pharmaceuticals, and financial services. Since the early 1990’s a focus on globalization has driven Singapore’s economy to new levels of growth and development.  Also you can read about  History of the Culinary Arts.It has signed 13 free trade agreements to encourag e international commerce and it boasts globally competitive tax incentives to draw international investors. Current GDP Breakdown: Singapore’s current GDP falls at $239. 7 billion. GDP per capita is roughly $60,000 which ranks fifth highest in the global community. According to trading economics. com, Singapore experienced an annual GDP growth rate average of 5. 54% between 2007 and 2011. Despite a 1. 5% GDP contraction in the third quarter of 2012, Singapore’s overall GDP is expected to follow historical growth around 5% this year. Export, Import and Trade: Singapore is the 14th largest exporter and the 15th largest importer in the world. According to the WTO, Singapore has the highest trade to GDP ratio in the world at 407. 9%.International trade is essential for Singapore, as it has virtually no natural resources. A large percentage of trade is conducted to meet domestic demand for energy, food, and other necessities. Singapore also regularly engages in trade, where by industries and businesses in the country import raw materials, before refining them for re-export. 47% of Singapore’s exports consist of re-exports. Singapore has relatively few barriers to trade. Trade partners have zero tariff rates applied to their products; other than alcoholic beverages. Some import restrictions exist, which are focused primarily on environmental regulation, health, and public security concerns.The import of rice also requires import licensing in order to ensure food security and price stability. In 2010, Singapore’s exports were valued at $351. 2 billion (USD). The primary export partners include Hong Kong (11. 6% of total exports), Malaysia (11. 5%), US (11. 2 %), Indonesia (9. 7%), China (9. 7%), Japan (4. 6%). Singapore’s imports were valued at $310. 4 billion. The U. S. was Singapore’s primary source of imports (14. 7% of total imports) followed by Malaysia (11. 6%), China (10. 5%), Japan (7. 6%), Indonesia (5. 8%), South Kor ea (5. 7%). Primary Industries: The petroleum and petrochemical industry in Singapore is one of the biggest in the world.Singapore imports oil from other countries before refining it for further use in other countries. Singapore has the third largest oil refinery in the world. The Singapore Petroleum Company (SPC) is also a leading player in the petroleum industry and is engaged in exploration, production, refining and distribution. Manufacturing is another major industry in Singapore. Although Singapore has specialized in digital and electronics manufacturing for the past forty years, the country has diversified into other forms of manufacturing. Thanks to government initiatives and subsidies, biomedical and pharmaceutical manufacturing is seen to be the future for Singapore's industries.Singapore is also a global leader in services, particularly in finance. Singapore’s banking system is considered to be among the strongest in the world. Singapore has the fourth largest fore ign exchange market in the world after London, New York and Tokyo. The Singapore Government Securities is the only Asian market, besides Japan, to be part of the Citigroup World Bond Index. The Singapore Exchange (SGX) was also the first demutualised, integrated securities and derivatives exchange in Asia-Pacific (Wikipedia, 2012). Economic Forecast: From 2011 onwards, Singapore’s GDP growth rate (constant prices, national currency) is expected to grow between the ranges of 4. 008 percent to 5. 162% in the next five years.According to the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) in Singapore, 2012 may see a higher growth rate of 5 to 7% as its primary trade partners continue to recover economically. Political Perspective: Singapore's government is a blend of democracy and authoritarianism. It is a Parliamentary republic with a legal system modeled after English common law. The president is voted into office by the popular vote for a six year term. Voting in elections is required by law, so every citizen 21 years and older is legally obligated to cast a vote. The cabinet and the prime ministers are appointed by the president. There are 84 parliamentary seats and each person serves a term of five years. The judicial power belongs to the Supreme Court which is split into the Court of Appeals and the High Court.Judges in both of these courts are appointed by the president of Singapore (Government Structure, 2012). Political Parties: There are five main political parties: The Worker's Party of Singapore, the Reform Party, the Singapore Democratic Party, the Singapore Democratic Alliance, and finally the People's Action Party which happens to be the most dominant. This dominance is due to the fact that PAP brought Singapore from an impoverished nation to one with incredibly rapid economic growth. Although this party has brought a certain level of prosperity to the country, they have also instituted extremely strict laws and censorship on almost all aspects of lif e. Current Political Environment:In the past, Singapore was very conservative with spending and investment. However, in 2001 Singapore's government began structuring a stimulus package that included tax rebates for businesses and citizens, lower public service fees, a more expansive welfare program and financial assistance for smaller businesses. The monetary stance was changed to keep their currency competitive while assisting the increase in exporting. Since then, Singapore has relied less on government intervention and more on the liberalization of the economy. This came about due to the lack of improvement government intervention made and the requirements for a World Trade Organization membership (Politics & Government, 2007).Because the PAP holds over 90% of the seats in Parliament they have little trouble getting their policies approved by Parliament which only requires a two-thirds majority. As a result there is not a proper check and balance in Singapore's parliament against the PAP. However, recently their dominance may be lessening according to the outcomes of the 2011 elections that showed a significant decline since 2006. In order for the PAP to stay dominant they must focus on maintaining a strong economy and addressing immigration issues while gaining the trust of the younger generations. Due to Singapore's low birth-rate, immigration has been essential to their economic growth. The percentage of native citizens had gone down to 74% in 2010. This has forced native citizens to compete with immigrants for jobs.In the upcoming years it will be up to the government to legislate integration programs, lower the immigration rate, and smooth over ethnic tensions (Political Overview, 2011). Relationships Abroad: Singapore developed a good relationship with the United States during the Cold War due to the PAP's anti-communist platform and their ability to spread free trade through the Asian-Pacific region. In 2003, the United States and Singapore signed th e first bilateral agreement between the United States and an Asian country. Singapore's government has not only pursued good relationships with the United States they also focus on good working relationships with Australia, Jordan, India, Korea, New-Zealand, and Panama through the signing of Free Trade Agreements.The government is currently negotiating similar agreements with countries such as Bahrain, Canada, Egypt, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. (Politics & Government, 2007) Challenges to business in Singapore: According to the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Report, Singapore has the most conducive regulatory environment for business among 183 economies worldwide (guidemesingapore. com). While this exponentially expanding economy provides many opportunities for business development, there are a few challenges that must be considered by global entrepreneurs. Singapore has grown at a very rapid rate over the past few decades, and its economic success has attracted many industry leaders.This increase in business has created a very competitive marketplace, which presents challenges for new entrants. High competition is a barrier to entry for amateur organizations, and stiff competition often means reduced margins. Many companies who are considering an expansion into Singapore have concerns regarding economic growth and profitability. Many of these concerns stem from rising costs in the labor market and reductions in productivity. According to the Ministry of Trade and Industry, labor productivity fell 2. 2% in the first quarter of 2012, following a downward trend for the past 12 months. Also, manufacturing costs rose 4. 6% and overall labor costs are up 3. 7%.The productivity reductions can be attributed to contagion from struggling European and U. S. markets. Higher costs in goods and services are driving increases in both labor and operating expenses. Access to raw materials is also a concern for manufacturers considering business i n Singapore. Geographic limitations and limited access to resources often force manufacturers to import raw materials. Logistic costs associated with the delivery of raw materials can often become cost prohibitive. This problem grows increasingly prevalent as the cost of fuel continues to rise globally. Another barrier to entry for new business in Singapore is the government’s recent effort to restrict the inflow of foreigners.Singapore’s citizens are growing increasingly discontent with income inequality and rising costs of living. In response, the government has been enacting a series of benefit restrictions for permanent residents and foreign workers. For example, certain workers are not permitted to bring parents or in-laws into the country, and healthcare benefits are being reduced. In July 2012, Singapore’s parliament considered amendments to its immigration law which would make new residency or long-term work permits a criminal offense (Mahtani – W SJ). These social indicators are red flags for new businesses who fear the impact of legislative protectivism. Summation of Macro Environment Analysis:Singapore proves itself to be a promising location for businesses hoping to internationalize. It's diverse and vibrant culture welcomes newcomers as evidenced by its high rate of immigration. Singapore's technology focused economy is growing at a stable rate with little sign of slow-down. This can be partially attributed to its political stability. It has been run by the same political party for decades, allowing Singapore to keep steady international relationships with foreign countries and their business partners. While all of these factors encourage business investment, new entrants must also consider legislative protectivism and the increase costs of labor and manufacturing in their decision.Part 2 – Country Environment Analysis Country Environment Analysis Abstract: With its rich cultural tapestry and beautiful landscape, modern day Singapore has a lot to offer its tourists. The second section of this report details Singapore’s recent efforts to make their country a major travel destination. As the fastest growing sector of its economy, Singapore has recently made huge investments in its tourism industry. Singapore’s government has constructed a mass-rapid-transit-system (MRT) which serves as a means of transportation for sightseeing tourists. Singapore is also focused on building attractions such as amusement parks and botanical gardens.Singapore is a melting pot of different cultures; as a result it offers a cornucopia of cuisines and cultural events. Along with its high population of English speaking locals and low crime rate, it serves as an ideal travel destination for westerners. Scope of the Tourism Industry: Singapore has developed a rich tourism history over the past 300 hundreds of years. At the southern tip of Malaysia, Singapore is a primary destination for eastern trade. Th is bustling trade environment has attracted a culturally diverse population, and it is no surprise that this environmentally beautiful hub for international business has become one of the premiere tourist destinations. Singapore’s tourism industry is massive. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) notes $22. billion in tourism revenue for 2011. In that same year, Singapore attracted over 13 million tourists, which was a 13% increase from 2010. This is an astounding number for a nation whose population is just above 5 million. 76% of these visitors were Asian; primarily from Indonesia, China and Malaysia. However, Australia, India and the Philippines also represented large percentages (see figure 1). Singapore has been experiencing double-digit percentage growth in tourism receipts for the past 6 years and is expected to grow another 12% in 2012 according to major Asian news organization Asiaone News. Fig 1: Singapore Tourist Levels per Country 2009-2011|Country or territory| 2009T ourists (ea)| 2010Tourists (ea)| 2011Tourists (ea)|   Germany| 183,681| 209,231| 219,952| Taiwan| 156,761| 191,173| 238,488| Vietnam| 265,414| 322,853| 332,231| South Korea| 271,987| 360,673| 414,879| United States| 370,704| 416,990| 440,576| United Kingdom| 469,756| 461,714| 442,611| Hong Kong| 294,420| 387,552| 464,375| Thailand| 317,905| 430,022| 472,708| Japan| 489,987| 528,817| 656,417| Philippines| 432,072| 544,344| 677,723| India| 725,624| 828,903| 868,991| Australia| 830,299| 880,486| 956,039| Malaysia| 764,309| 1,036,918| 1,140,935| China| 936,747| 1,171,337| 1,577,522| Indonesia| 1,745,330| 2,305,149| 2,592,222| *Data Source – Singapore Tourism Board 2012| Singapore attributes much of its growth to improvements in infrastructure and air connectivity. Investments in port access, roadways and air space have streamlined the movement of people and products throughout Singapore. The government has also invested heavily in railway for its MRTS which moves an average of 2. 4 million people per day (Wikipedia, 2012). Furthermore, developments in telecommunications have helped to improve information accessibility, which has improved the ease of travel for both business travelers and tourists. In the year 2000, Singapore’s government decided to liberalize its telecommunications sector.Previously, two companies controlled the entire telecommunications industry. In an effort to encourage global competitiveness, the government compensated the two companies, and opened the floodgates of telecommunication competition. Allowing market forces to drive this sector resulted in a revolution of progressive technology which has solidified Singapore’s current position as a technological hub. So why is Singapore growing increasingly popular as a â€Å"must visit† international destination for tourists? Many economists note the business friendly environment which has attracted top-tier investors from around the world. This environment has produc ed a cosmopolitan culture of engineering, art, food and music.Noting official languages of English, Malay, and Chinese, many international visitors also find it easy to communicate. Singapore’s government realized the unique opportunity for its tourism industry long ago, and developed the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in 1964 to facilitate and develop its tourist activities. According to the STB, sightseeing and entertainment represented the largest spend for tourists in 2009 (see figure 2). Given its rich history of tourism, Singapore has developed many attractions over the years. Visitors can tour museums of contemporary art, explore Singaporean history, walk its pristine botanical gardens, and experience its science centers and exotic zoos.But some of the most impressive attractions have been developed in the past decade. The Marina Bay Sands Resort is a contemporary architectural masterpiece which opened in 2010, and holds the record as the most expensive casino property in the world at $8 billion (Wikipedia,2012). Fig 2: Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay has 250 acres of reclaimed land which holds state-of-the-art conservatories, horticulture themed gardens, flower markets, and massive â€Å"supertrees† which stand 82 feet high and house countless exotic ferns and plants. These artificial trees were aesthetically constructed with tourists in mind, and illuminate the park at night with spectacular LED displays.Singapore also has its own Universal Studios which opened to the public in 2009. This â€Å"Hollywood themed† amusement park attracts visitors from around the globe, and is popular with western tourists who find comfort in its familiarity. Tourist attractions are big business in Singapore, and the STB works to ensure that there is no shortage of entertainment. Another tourist attraction is Singapore’s annual Grand Prix motor racing, which has generated significant revenue for Singapore’s growing economy. Auto ra cing has been a significant part of Singapore’s history since the 1960’s, and in 2007 the STB signed a contract to bring Formula 1 racing to Singapore.According to Wikipedia, 110,000 tickets were made available for the first race, and the event quickly sold out filling every seat in the newly constructed raceway. This international event has since gained popularity as a premier racing competition. The Grand Prix weekend event generated over $200 million in overall local revenue in 2011. Areas of Opportunity and Risk: Future development: As previously detailed, Singapore is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The connectivity of the country is vital to increasing competitiveness. Toward this end, one of the future plans for infrastructural development is the expansion of its MRTS, in an effort to connect all geographical areas in the country (GuideMeSingapore. com, 2012).Since, Singapore has slowly become a regional hub for petroleum production and explor ation and a tourist destination, the MRTS is aimed at providing a reliable, fast and cheap transportation of people and goods around the country. As previously discussed, communication facilities, particularly the telecommunications, have fueled growth in most parts of the country. Future plans related to communication include opening up most parts of the country by investing in the telecommunication sector. Satellite systems and submarine cables are projected to reach most parts of the country by 2014 to enhance geographic development. Other future developments plans include the transformation of the city into an exciting and buzz place by illuminating all areas with LED lights. The objective is to attract more tourists to the ity (GuideMeSingapore. com, 2012). The major areas of the city targeted for this transformation include Singapore River, Orchard Road, Marina Bay and the whole of the Central Business District. The projected number of tourists by 2015 is expected to reach 18 million (from 13 million in 2011). Hence, future plans include improving current tourist attractions. Funding/Investment: With its fast growing economy, Singapore is considered an important investment destination as compared to many countries in the world. Singapore has numerous funding opportunities for investors ranging from traditional banks to the grants provided by the government for investment purposes.Institutional support for both private and public funding is encouraged in Singapore. Funding opportunities are provided both to foreign and local investors. With the wide range of funding and financing opportunities, numerous investment opportunities are available in Singapore. As previously mentioned, one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy is the tourism industry. This sector provides numerous investment opportunities; particularly investments in tourist handling facilities such as guest houses, leisure resorts and hotels as well as investment in transportation faci lities. Oil production and exploration is another area of opportunity.With the rising demand for cheap gas and oil products in Singapore, oil exploration is an important investment opportunity for multi-national corporations dealing with onshore oil exploration activities. Other opportunities include investment in the financial sector such as providing financial services and trading in the stock market. Political Stability: While political stability is an area of risk in many countries of the world, it is an area of opportunity in Singapore. Singapore is ranked first as the most politically stable country in the Asian region (GuideMeSingapore. com, 2012). The political structure in Singapore makes the county an area of opportunity since the countries major sectors are not governed through political appointments. Important sectors of the economy are governed by bureaucrats.This means that performance, skills and loyalty to the policies of the nation qualify one to be appointed in any office in the country. Further, the dynamic nature of the country’s population contributes immensely to its political stability. The country has a multi-religious and multi-racial character where providing fair chances for all in terms of health, education and investment opportunities continues to maintain economic balance (GuideMeSingapore. com, 2012). Hence, Singapore’s political system is an area of opportunity rather than an area of risk. This is further investment incentive for U. S. MNE’s. Security of tourists: Singapore has a well-organized security system.The Internal security organ of the government is bestowed with the responsibility of ensuring the security of both local and foreign nationals. Hence, tourists are accorded utmost security by both private and government forces and protected from any instances of hate or racial utterances. Tourist sites and facilities are guarded by national law enforcement authorities to ensure that tourists move freel y without threats to their security (Ramesh, 2010). Singapore was recently noted as the number one â€Å"Ultra-Safe Destination† by Opentravel. com; which boasted its crime rates as the lowest in Asia. Hence, security of tourists is a major area of opportunity in Singapore. Financial Stability:The country’s projected revenue is expected to hit more than $40 billion according to the 2011 estimates. Expenditures are estimated at $35 billion leaving a trade surplus of more than 5 billion. In this regard, Singapore boasts of trade surplus rather than trade deficit. This means that the country is economically stable and it has stable resources for purchase of capital goods for the development of the country. The economic growth rate is an important indicator of the country’s economy. The projected economic growth rate is expected to hit more than 7. 5% by the end of 2012. With sound financial stability, international investors can have confidence in their expected re turn on investment.The tourism industry has seen similar growth in recent years (see Fig 3). Fig 3: Challenges for US Business in Singapore’s Tourism Industry: The STB is the countries’ leading economic development agency for tourism, and most opportunities for U. S. partnership in the tourism industry would be facilitated through this organization. The United States is a primary marketing point for the STB; which maintains office-space in both New York and Los Angeles. The government of Singapore prefers to use local firms to combine tourism with the ethnic lifestyles of Singapore. One concern for US firms who are considering opportunities in Singapore is the growing pressure of protectivism in its local culture.This is also a challenge for the STB who is aggressively recruiting visitors. The STB does work to promote local heritage, but it also strives to develop global tourism demand which often requires deviation from traditional culture. For example, Singapore†™s theater district regularly presents western musicals and dramas to satisfy western audiences. This is an area of opportunity for U. S. based organizations who wish to get in on Singapore’s booming tourism industry, but a legislative recent push to protect local heritage is prioritizing eastern values and culture. Singapore also relies on international investors and engineers to develop new world-class attractions.For example the Singapore Flyer, a 42 story high Ferris wheel located on Singapore’s southeastern tip, was designed by German engineers. Also, the design for its world famous Garden by the Bay Park was decided by an international competition which attracted more than 170 firms from 24 countries. The final design was awarded to two firms: Grant Associates from New York, and Gustafson Porter from London (Wikipedia, 2012). Another barrier to US business is the overwhelming Asian influence in Singapore. As previously stated, the majority of foreign tourists c ome from Asia (Japan 36%, Philippines 34% and China 31% – 2011). This is partially due to Asian airlines that have drastically reduced their airfares in an effort to encourage Singapore tourism.Collaborations of these Asian countries not only ensure that there is stability in Singapore’s tourism industry, but they also make it difficult for other countries to penetrate the market. Singapore is known for its â€Å"pro-business† culture, and in most cases it encourages international investment. Tourism, however, is a unique industry and the government is not as interested in incentivizing foreign tourism investment as it used to be. Some of the biggest challenge for U. S. firms and investors in Singapore’s tourism industry include: limited opportunity, competition, and government control. International firms are fighting to penetrate Singapore’s $20 billion tourism industry. The opportunity for substantial profit is attracting top-tier entertainment, culinary, construction, and engineering companies. However, Singapore is eographically small and well developed at this point. The STB is selecting from a pool of innovative firms when developing new projects and their preference to promote local firms is increasingly evident. This business environment is incredibly competitive, and the STB tends to award local firms when given the choice. One strategy for U. S. companies is to provide innovative proposals which cannot be easily replicated. U. S. based firms can also develop collaborative relationships or joint ventures with Singaporean organizations to gain a competitive edge. Country Environment Analysis Summation: The tourism industry in Singapore appears to have a lot of promise.Its diversity offers tourists a rich cultural experience while still allowing ease of the communication and transit. It also boosts a low crime rate, an increasing number of attractions, and stable political and economic environment. Those wanting to in vest in Singapore’s tourism industry through the construction of resorts and hotels will be welcomed by Singapore’s traditionally pro-business policies but potentially discouraged by its recent push towards protectivism. One thing is certain, the tourism industry in Singapore is booming, and the potential for growth is attracting the most innovative firms in the game. Works Cited: AsiaOne. com. 2012. http://www. asiaone. om/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/Singapore. html Chong, T. (2010). Management of Success: Singapore Revisited. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian. GuideMeSingapore. com. 2012. Why choose Singapore? Available from http://www. guidemesingapore. com/incorporation/introduction/singapore-incorporation-advantages Retrieved on 10th November 2012. GuideMeSingapore. com. 2012. Introduction to Singapore’s political system. http://www. guidemesingapore. com/relocation/introduction/singapores-political-system. Retrieved on 10th November 2012. Janus Resea rch Reports -Doing Business in Singapore vs USA – http://www. guidemesingapore. com/research-reports/usa/doing-business-singapore-usaRamesh, S. (2010). â€Å"Government goal is to ensure all citizens enjoy fruits of growth: PM Lee† Channel News Asia (Singapore) Mahtani, S & Raghuvanshi, G. , (2012) Singapore Restricts Foreigners web: http://online. wsj. com/article/SB10001424052702303567704577518591429808110. html MTI (Ministry of Trade and Industry) Singapore (2012) web http://www. mti. gov. sg/Pages/home. aspx MediaCorp Pte Ltd (2011). Singapore's population reaches 5. 1 million. Retrieved from http://www. channelnewsasia. com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1155998/1/. html Ministry of Trade and Industry – Economic Survey of Singapore First Quarter 2012 http://www. mti. gov. g/ResearchRoom/SiteAssets/Pages/Economic-Survey-of-Singapore-First-Quarter-2012/Ch1_1Q12. pdf OpenTravel. com. 2010. http://opentravel. com/blogs/top-ten-ultra-safe-destinations-to-travel / Shibani Mahtani and Gaurav Raghuvanshi – WSJ – 06/101/2012 – Singapore Restricts Foreigners – http://online. wsj. com/article/SB1000142405270230356770457751 8591429808110. html Wikipedia. com (2012). http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Mass_Rapid_Transit_(Singapore) http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Singapore_Tourism_Board http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Gardens_by_the_Bay http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Tourism_in_singapore