Analyse the structure of the UK supermarket sector Assignment

Analyse the structure of the UK supermarket sector - Assignment Example According to the UK Retail Food Sector Market Brief, supermarkets made up for about 6400 stores with an estimated value of 98 billion pounds in 2008 (Sainsburys And Waitrose UK Supermarkets Porters 5 Forces Competitive Advantage, 2009). The UK grocery market has increased to 133.3 billion pound in 2007, which accounts for a 4 percent increase from that of 2006 (Nicholson, 2008, p. 3-4). The major supermarkets that occupy the bulk of the market share (almost 75 percent) are Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda (owned by American retailer Wal-Mart) and Morrison’s. These are commonly known as the â€Å"Big Four†. The other retail chains include Marks and Spencer (UK’s biggest clothing marketer), Waitrose, Somerfield, Budgens, Netto Iceland, Aldi, and Lidl. Tesco is the largest non-food market chain in the UK which includes outlets like Extra, Homeplus, Metro and others. Each of these retailers focuses on some particular market section. Tesco for instance, marks the middle market offering economy as well as expensive products. Compared to Tesco, Sainsbury’s targets a little up-market while, Asda, a Wal-Mart chain and Morrison’s focus a little down-market. Even Somerfield operate at the sam e level as Asda and the others namely, Budgens, Iceland, Aldi, Netto and Lidl are all price-focused retailers. Waitrose, a John Lewis Partnership, is however the most up-market retailer among all. Discount retailing has become a growing division of the grocery retailing in UK and Tesco ad Asda contest a strong competition in this field. Among them, the top position is occupied by Tesco, with a market share of 31.4 percent which is quite ahead of the other retail chains. Second to Tesco is Asda with a market share of 17.1 percent followed by Sainsbury’s occupying the third position. It covers 15.7 percent of the total market. Morrison’s rank last among the four with a market share of 11.2 percent (Nicholson, 2008, p. 6-7). The market structure exhibited by the

Mis Wintergear Case Study Essay Example for Free

Mis Wintergear Case Study Essay MIS 2301 Winter Gear Distribution Case Study wPlaces order Confirm order and delivery date, issues invoice  confirms invoice  fulfills order and ships goods  follow up delivery conditions met, and payment received wPlaces order Confirm order and delivery date, issues invoice  confirms invoice  fulfills order and ships goods  follow up delivery conditions met, and payment received Winter Gear Distribution Winter Gear Distribution FastFit FastFit 1. WGB WGB FastFit FastFit 2. A single personnel computer A single personnel computer Sales Sales scanner scanner Operations Operations Arrows| Flow of operation| 1| FastFit places order with sales personnel over the phone | 2| Sales manually completes paper order forms and sends confirmation to Fastfit for each order and their delivery dates| 3| FastFit confirms for orders to be filled| 4| Operations fills and ships orders to Fastfit| 5| Accounting issues invoice to FastFit| 6| FastFit fulfills payment as agreed| LAN with 4 personal computers, printer, and file server LAN with 4 personal computers, printer, and file server IBM ASA 400 system with 3 CRT-terminals IBM ASA 400 system with 3 CRT-terminals Accounting Accounting WAN to connect departments WAN to connect departments 3. If customers call and ask for the status of their orders, the answer would generally be simple because the order can be labeled as processing, fulfilled, shipped, or delivered. If the customer wanted more details, and depending on the tracking systems that the company uses, they may or may not be able to give them the general location of the order (UPS map tracking). Companies would general want to fulfill orders in a timely fashion, so pushing orders out of warehouses would be recorded and their status updated, therefore, it is not much of a business problem. 4. Errors in filling orders are likely because, for example, for ordering online, a customer can general edit shipment addresses, or items in their cart while the order has still not been shipped. If the company operated like WGD and had no communication between their departmental systems, confusion on the  what, where, and how much of a customer’s order can be messed up or not reflect the changes. Aside from the er rors of processing orders, delivery can have errors as well, such as late deliveries or deliveries to the wrong addresses. The business impact is that customers will be dissatisfied and frustrated due to the inefficiency of the supplier company. They will complain about the timeliness, or operation of a company which would harm the company’s reputation and possibly decrease revenues. Bad reviews by customers can lose a company’s past customers or ward away new ones. 5. Steps | Time elapsed | Customer places order with WGD| ~30-60 mins (over the phone, not very time consuming)| WGD processes order | ~1 day (must check inventory, input order into system)| WGD sends confirmation of order and delivery dates| ~within 1 day (email, digitally)| WGD fulfills and ships order| ~2 days (packages order, checks it over, updates order system input, ships out)| Customer receives shipment| ~3-4 days (delivery is most time consuming but since standard delivery is 5-8 days, fulfillment and delivery add up to about 5 if in U.S)| WGD issues invoice | Occurs during delivery| Customer fulfills payment| Varies, can be immediately or with a payment plan| WGD can likely ship an order within about 2-3 days but delivery time will be between 5-8 days. This is not a business problem because most companies operate similarly with standard delivery times, however, WGD can improve their efficiency, reduce errors, and increase customer satisfaction if they updated their systems to be interconnected and more modern technology. 6. A scanner in the Sales Department would reduce the time needed to manually input process forms. A WAN network would also be useful because it would connect the Sales, Operations, and Accounting Departments despite being in different buildings; this decreases error probability and increases efficiency in processing, fulfillment, and shipment. ( See red figures in diagram in Q2 for changes in technology to WGD).

Blood Power: Mimetic Rivalry and Patrilineal Descent of Sacrificial Ritual :: Myth

Blood Power: Mimetic Rivalry and Patrilineal Descent of Sacrificial Ritual PERFORMANCE NOTES This piece includes three movements. Each movement depicts a mythic or ritual relationship between women’s blood and sacrifice. I have adapted each of these myths/rituals in some of my own words to create a narrative. In the first story, the sacrifice is not explicit, but has become a part of the ritual that reenacts the myth. The bloodletting that comprises the ritual reenactment does not result in death, but functions as a rite of passage for young boys and functions as a cathartic experience for communities of men, much as a ritual sacrifice is said to bond a community. [1] The ritual reenactment of this creation myth involves men making incisions on their arms and penises to simulate menstruation. The synchronicity of this action is key and is depicted not only in the group aspect of the ritual but in the process of shaking their bodies to spread blood on their own and others adjoining limbs. The rite of passage involves adult men entering the women’s area, where many generations of women are tending the children and working, snatching the young boys from their mother’s arms and taking them to the men’s camp, where they are covered in their own blood and that of other, elder men as well as red ochre only to be returned to their mother’s gaze, but not to their custody. This ritual takes place not only as a rite of passage, but also as a catalyst for group solidarity, before a hunt, or to bring the rains. [2] Movement I : A tale of the Wawilak Sisters and the Rainbow Snake This Aboriginal Australian creation myth is found predominantly in the northern and western regions of the country. There are many variations of this myth. The version you are about to read comes from Blood Relations: Menstruation and the Origins of Culture, by Chris Knight [3] . The Wawilak Sisters and the Rainbow Snake At the beginning of time, two sisters were traveling across the landscape giving names to the features of a previously unnamed world. One carried a child; the other was pregnant. They had both committed incest in their own country, the country of the Wawilak.

Bad debt

Bad debt is a serious financial problem affecting the United States. When people do not pay their debts, the economy suffers because the banks, credit card companies, doctors, utility companies, and other businesses lose money. The same applies to when businesses fail to pay their financial obligations to other businesses. However, personal bad debt and corporate bad debt is viewed differently by the government (Bankruptcy FAQ for small business. ) Corporate bad debt is easier to file bankruptcy upon than when a private person loses money.This seems to be simply because allowing corporations to do business honestly without threat of losing their personal financial security is an important ideal to keep the economy going. A company getting rid of their bad debt through bankruptcy all but destroys their ability to stay in business. Personal bad debt, however, is treated stricter because there are by appearance more controllable factors. People are expected to feed their families and st ay in a home without using credit and to not borrow more than they can afford.In addition, the companies and government likely fear that if people who don’t pay their bills can repeatedly file bankruptcy and keep everything they bought, there will be no incentive for them to do the right thing and live within their means. Those who honestly cannot pay their bills will not go to jail, but in the case of a business will likely lose their company and in a person’s case lose any homes or other property owned (Bankruptcy Courts. ) Otherwise, the economy would be in even worse shape if people and businesses could just run up bills, decide not to pay them, and not have any additional financial consequences.The government’s position seems to remain that businesses have a better right and need for credit to help the economy than individual households, and this is unlikely to change anytime soon. References: Bankruptcy Basics. (2006). Retrieved March 25, 2009 from U. S. C ourts: http://www. uscourts. gov/bankruptcycourts. html. Bankruptcy FAQ for small business. (2009). Retrieved March 25, 2009 from Bankruptcy in Brief: http://www. moranlaw. net/business-bankruptcy-faqs. htm.

Courage Essay

Every human being on this planet is unique and different but we are all born with the gift of courage. However there are very few who take advantage of that gift. Courage is the ability to work one’s way through a tough situation, be it mental or physical. We all have faced or witnessed tough challenges before. Th difference, however, is that some people tend to give up when the goings get rough, while others keep on. People commit acts of courage on a daily basis, many of them without even realizing it. Today I will talk to you about an event in particular. Imagine playing hockey with a bunch of boys and being the only girl it’s very difficult, even more then it sounds. I was the only girl on the team and most of the boys would refuse to pass the puck to me or even tell me when I did a good play. This didn’t bother me very much because I knew I would just have to work harder to prove them wrong, it was a challenge I was ready to take on. Half the season was done and everyone got to know me better and most of the team started to be friends with me, except one. His name was Aidan, he had blonde hair and blue eyes. He would always insult me before and after practice, in front of the rest of our team but they would never say anything to the coaches. Yes it was difficult to not let it get to me but I would always tell myself to just let it go. One day before our game he came up to me while I was alone and started insulting me and swearing at me. My only defence was to stand up for myself and tell him what I thought, I pinned hi m against the wall and told him how bullying people isn’t gonna make himself feel better and that he should stop immediately. After that day, he never bugged me again and that act of courage changed my life for the better. Courage is a necessity to the evolution of our people. Without courage, African-Americans would still be stuck I’m slavery. There would be no one there to fight for the rights of the people we now consider equals. Courage can be found I’m various forms. Courage is the only thing that gets us through the hard times, and the tempting opportunities. Courage is vital to the evolution of the human population. It os also an essential quality to becoming a successful person.

Turning Spanish Adjectives Into Nouns

Turning Spanish Adjectives Into Nouns In Spanish, almost any descriptive adjective (and a few others) can be used to function as a noun by preceding it with a definite article such as el or las. Typically, adjectives made into nouns are the equivalent of the English ____ one or ____ person as in the following examples: azul (blue), el azul, la azul (the blue one)pobre (poor), los pobres (the poor people)nuevo (new), el nuevo, la nueva (the new one)mexicano (Mexican), el mexicano, la mexicana (the Mexican) The gender and number will depend on whats being referred to:  ¿Quà © casa prefieres? - La blanca. (Which house do you prefer? The white one.)Habà ­a muchas fresas. Comprà © las ms frescas. (There were many strawberries. I bought the freshest ones.)Habà ­a muchos pltanos. Comprà © los ms frescos. (There were many bananas. I bought the freshest ones.) Sometimes, nouns made from adjectives take on meanings of their own, at least in certain contexts. The definitions below arent the only ones possible: roto (torn), el roto (the tear)mal (bad), el mal (evil, wrongful act, sickness)perdido (lost), el perdido, la perdida (the reprobate, the lost soul)decolorante (causing something to lose its color), el decolorante (bleach)semejante (similar), los semejantes (fellow human beings) The adjective-turned-noun is in the neuter gender when the adjective is turned into an abstract noun or when the adjective-turned-noun is not referring to a specific person or thing. The singular neuter definite article is lo; in plural, the neuter is the same form as the masculine, with a definite article of los. Such neuter nouns are translated in a variety of ways, depending on the context: Fuera lo viejo, venga lo nuevo. (Out with the old, in with the new.)Lo importante es que tenemos la oportunidad. (The important thing is that we have the opportunity.)Los interesantes son los intangibles. (What are interesting are the intangibles. Here, the English seemed less awkward when the first phrase was translated as an adjective.)Te regalo lo tuyo. (I am giving you whats yours.) Sample Sentences Los ricos no piden permiso. (The rich dont ask for permission. The sentence is the name of a former Argentine television show.) Uno de los cnceres ms comunes en los hombres es el cncer de prà ³stata. Los agresivos pueden requerir cirugà ­as. (One of the most common cancers in men is prostate cancer. The aggressive ones can require surgery.) Dos tercios de los analfabetos del mundo son mujeres. (Two-thirds of the worlds illiterate are women.) Los baratos cuestan 6 euros. (The cheap ones cost 6 euros.) No todas las bellas pueden ser modelos. (Not all beautiful women can be models. Depending on the context, this also could refer to girls. If bellos had been used, it could have referred to men only or to both men and women.) Los sacerdotes catà ³licos romanos no son los à ºnicos que pueden hacer exorcismos. (Roman Catholic priests arent the only ones who can do exorcisms.) Los fritos fueron el artà ­culo comprado con mayor frecuencia. (The fried ones were the article most often purchased.) Los enfermos andaban por las calles. (The sick people walked through the streets.)

The Purpose of Dissenting Opinions in the Supreme Court

The Purpose of Dissenting Opinions in the Supreme Court A dissenting opinion is an opinion written by a justice who disagrees with the majority opinion. In the U.S. Supreme Court, any justice can write a dissenting opinion, and this can be signed by other justices. Judges have taken the opportunity to write dissenting opinions as a means to voice their concerns or express hope for the future. What Happens When a Supreme Court Justice Dissents? The question is often asked why a judge or Supreme Court justice might want to write a dissenting opinion since, in effect, their side lost. The fact is that dissenting opinions can be used in a number of key ways. First of all, judges want to make sure that the reason why they disagreed with the majority opinion of a court case is recorded. Further, publishing a dissenting opinion can help make the writer of the majority opinion clarify their position. This is the example given by Ruth Bader Ginsburg in her lecture about dissenting opinions. Secondly, a justice might write a dissenting opinion in order to affect future judgments in cases about situations similar to the case in question. In 1936,  Chief Justice Charles Hughes stated that â€Å"A dissent in a Court of last resort is an appeal...to the intelligence of a future day...† In other words, a justice might feel that the decision goes against the rule of law and hopes that similar decisions in the future will be different based on arguments listed in their dissent. For example, only two people disagreed in the Dred Scott v. Sanford case that ruled that African-American slaves should be viewed as property. Justice Benjamin Curtis wrote a forceful dissent about the travesty of this decision. Another famous example of this type of dissenting opinion  occurred when Justice John M. Harlan dissented to the  Plessy v. Ferguson  (1896) ruling, arguing against allowing racial segregation in the railway system. A third reason why a justice might write a dissenting opinion is in the hope that, through their words, they can get Congress to push forward legislation to correct what they see as issues with the way the law is written. Ginsburg talks about such an example for which she wrote the dissenting opinion in 2007. The issue at hand was the time frame within which a woman had to bring a suit for pay discrimination based on gender. The law was written quite narrowly, stating that an individual had to bring suit within 180 days of the discrimination occurring. However, after the decision was handed down, Congress took up the challenge and changed the law so that this time frame was greatly extended.   Concurring Opinions   Another type of opinion that can be delivered in addition to the majority opinion is a concurring opinion. In this type of opinion, a justice would agree with the majority vote but for different reasons than listed in the majority opinion. This type of opinion can sometimes be seen as a dissenting opinion in disguise. Sources Ginsburg, Hon. Ruth Bader. The Role of Dissenting Opinions. Minnesota Law Review. Sanders, Joe W. The Role of Dissenting Opinions In Louisiana. Louisiana Law Review, Volume 23 Number 4, Digital Commons, June 1963.