Starbucks Strategy and Planning Analysis

Starbucks Strategy and Planning Analysis Starbucks Corporation is a mulitinational coffee chain store first setup in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the biggest coffeehouse through out the world with more than 17000 restaurants in 55 countries including Australia, U K, New Zealand, Canada, and Brazil. It has more than 128,800 employees. It is the public based industrywhich established by Zev Siegl, Jerry Baldwin and Gordon Bowker in 1971. Other key people which are linked with Starbucks are Howard Schultz (Chairman), Troy Alstead who is President and CEO and Stephen Gillett who is Chief Financial Officer. Starbucks which main products are Whole bean coffee, boxed tea, Bottled beverages, baked good, Merchandise, and Frappuccino beverages. Its incomes for the fiscal year 2010 is US $10.7 Billion. Brief History of Starbucks 1970s: The first Ever Starbucks established with a name came from Herman Melvilles Mob Dick, a classic American novel. 1980s: The industrialist Howard Schultz attached the Starbucks as a Director of Retail operations and marketing. 1990s: In this term the demand for Starbucks coffee improved so they thought to increase it beyond Seattle. 2000s: Starbucks came with 15,000 restaurants through out world wide. What is Strategy and Strategic Planning? Strategy means a plan of action which designed to achieve a particular goals and Strategic planning is an organizations process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this tactic, including its investment and people. Why Strategy is Important? In each field of life there is a road map according to which we work or spend our life to get at the specific targets and goals. Like wise in any business, there needs to be a pre plan for success for a business to b successful. This strategic plan gives the direction for the goal to be achieved. A strategic plan also helps the different work units within the organization to keep themselves with common goals. Past Strategies of Starbucks (1990-2004) Mission Statement In early 1990 the management planed to introduce a mission statement which clearly discribe the company goal and targets so each of the workers could work well and communicate in a better way to customers and investors too, so mission statement is: Provide great work environment and treat each other with respect and dignity Embrace diversity as an essential component in the ay we do business Apply the highest standard of excellence to the purchasing, roasting and fresh delivery of our coffee Develop enthusiastically satisfied customers all the time Contribute to our communities and our environment Recognize the profitability is essential to our future success Innovation Strategy From the very early Starbucks kept the innovation as its constant value. Schultz brought the place-like-home between the office and home so people would get together at the best quality coffees and teas. After that Starbucks launched an effort with its business partners like PepsiCo for the cold Frappuccino drink. In the year of 1995 Starbucks developed a team named Stores of the future to complete a research for the designs of next generation stores and other coffee related concerns. Then this team made four different ideas for the each stage of coffee making. These sorts of innovations made the Starbucks to decrease the enormous cost of store opening. Starbucks also brought the fresh pastries and other food items such as juices, sodas and coffee related machines like Starbucks Barista home espresso machine. Meanwhile they also launched coffee mugs and glasses.C:UsersNew UserDesktopAhmadStrategystar buckse574603984362fed77cb3b8064721dd9.jpg Quality Strategy Schultz always kept a keen eye on the quality of the products and services and what the customer expectation from Starbucks. Quality in Starbucks was launched in a very strict manner. Starbucks also banned the smoking inside the shop and ordered its employees to refrain from having perfumed there selves. Starbucks was broadly known for its better quality of product and services. Howard Schultz Expansion strategy In the period of 1993 company brought an expansion strategy based on targeting areas with demographic profiles which is favourable together with the Starbuckss policy to carry and entertain them. For each area a big city was selected to work as a central unit like hub where a team would complete the target of opening 20 or more shops in the first 2 years. Starbucks hired professionals with immense operating and marketing experience in chain store retailing as new area vice presidents. Another strategy was also set up to increase the goodwill of Starbucks brand, which made its target to some extent. In 1991 Starbucks developed a group of specialists to form a store development process depends upon a six month opening timetable. In which it is asked to build every store in different shape, size and infrastructure. Cost lessening was also got by centralized buying, by fixed fees for some products and by work under contractors with best cost control practices. Starbucks expansion strategy depended on a limited number of agreements for region where there is no ability to open its own shops. Starbucks also opened stores in airports and university campuses by the help of licensed like Marriot Host International and Aramark. Coffee was also started to serve on flights like Horizon Airlines and in United Airlines. Special sales portion of Starbucks made sales 12.20% of total revenue in 1997. In 1995 company made its real development with international exposure which was based on two strategies, are as follow: Enabling local company with retail know how in target region Creating a joint venture with reputable companies In 1995 Starbucks International was setup to coordinate the international development, which originally started operations in Hawaii, Japan, Philippines, Taiwan, Korea and Singapore. IPO and Stock performance Starbucks had build its foundation till 1992 but now it was set to play a part in the race of developing market, as it was predicted by speciality coffee association oa America that from 1992 to 1999 number of coffee cafes would raise 500 to 10,000. To stimulate its expansion strategy Starbucks go heat to most successful publicizing in 1992, in result its stock price moved growing from $5.50 in 1992 to $58 till today. Its stock has been divided four times (1993, 1996 and 2001) to balance its equity among shareholders. These division also prohibited high prices from determining small investors as the share value moved upwards. Financing As there was no leading threat from competitors, company was capable to finance its expansion entirely by avoiding debt till 1996 with equity capital and revenues, minimizing its overall cost. But essential for high degree financing forced Schultz in 1996 to understand the significance of debt and take it as lawful option to meet the need of market extension. Star bucks infrastructure for growth strategy was to increase the profits in same series by growing the no of stores which was clearly shown by its financial statement. Starbucks managed its foremost expansion stages across us in 1992-93 and overseas in 1995 by deviating to debt. High P/E ratio in the early hours of the company public life in1992 1993 shows high degree of confidence by its investors but with the passage of time it diminish till 1995 and today its constant around 60 due to financing. Starbucks historical growth analysis A reliable coffee shop atmosphere linked with the developed sound management; these were the things on which Starbucks past growth based. For this purpose they crafted the strategy to drench quickly key geographic areas, particularly in an industry with low entry barriers. Its competitive advantage was greater people recruitment, training and management. Continuous development has been measured at all levels of Starbucks stores organization and design, coffees and teas. Organized marketing structure is another key success factor to deal its expansion (real estate group, store development group, retail operation group). Four As Strategy Starbucks success enormously depends upon its Four As Strategy: Acceptability Affordability Availability Awareness The Company site published the following Charts: Starbucks at present (2005-2009) Financial highlights of Starbucks as per annual report 2009: Michael Porters 5 Forces Model To understand the current specialty coffee industry I apply Porters five forces model to its instant environment of Starbucks. Rivalry Among Competing Firm High Other coffee chains. Examples include Coffee Bean Tea Leaf, Gloria Jeans Coffee, Peets, and San Francisco Coffee House Due to great competition in coffee industry, local competitors are offering specials packages and opening of new restaurants to attract potential customers. Low Potential of new competitors High Due to low start up cost entry of potential rival is a great risk. To increase the value in Specialty coffee McDonald is trying to add specialty coffee in their current services. Potential revenue will be $125,000 per year by every store if they are effectively enter in specialty coffee market No special knowledge is required Low Capital requirement Low Potential development of Substitute products High Potential alternate of coffee are soda, fruit juice, smoothes, beer and Water. As we be known with water is healthy for human beings and most of all this its free and option cost to buy bottled water in also cheap as compared to coffee. So Water is the final choice of health conscious customer. Other quick grab foods apart from pastries, muffins, doughnuts, etc sold at Starbucks are also substitutes. E.g. burgers, burritos, tacos, sushi snack food. Low Bargaining power of suppliers High As Starbucks is a enormous giant of coffee market, suppliers are forced to adjust their prices according to it so bargaining power of coffee beans supplier is low. As there are not a lot suppliers of technological innovated coffee beans machines such as automated coffee machines, latte and Espresso machines, etc, bargaining power of suppliers is high. But in case of glass, napkin, lids, cups suppliers bargaining power is low because of wide competition in this industry and Starbucks have different contracts with them. Low Bargaining power of consumers High Bargaining power of Customers is very low when they came to best coffee such as Starbucks. So bargaining power of any single group of buyer has been reduces due to complete scale of Starbuck. While new entrant have improved the bargaining power of buyers by offering sensible quality at cheaper price. . Low Pest Analysis Political/Legal: Due to increase in clash between United States and rest of the world like southeast Asia and Middle East, Companies has to face severe scenarios e.g. refuse of American products like Starbuck, burger King, coca cola etc. Change in import laws is a big risk for Starbucks as they are the only importer of coffee beans. If import process becomes difficult it will finally change the price of Starbucks and level of use will be affected. Two class action suits of Starbucks are awaiting since 2001, Carr vs. Starbucks and Sheilds vs. Starbucks. In start Co refuted all the liabilities in these cases but to avoid any further participation in any delayed proceeding it agreed to settle the plaintiffs claims. Economic: Consumer become more aware concerning their flexible spending due to increase in Unemployment and individual debt after economic recession of 2008. In addition due to financial crises worldwide, further recession is projected which may affect companys result approximately. Starbucks also faced criticism from NGOs that persist the company to acquire specialized coffee beans, ensuring that those coffee beans were grown and marketed under certain economic and social conditions. Social/cultural: Environmental Mission Statement Starbucks is very loyal for playing a role of environmental leadership in all facets of its business. These are the principles that shows the companys fulfillment toward environmental issues. More concerned about environmental issues Motivated toward environmental friendly products buying and selling Developing innovation to bring change Information sharing attitude toward associates taking into account environmental responsibility as corporate worth Encouragement of associates to share in companys mission. monitor the progress of each project of company regular people do not only go to coffee shops to drink a coffee but to make themselves calm down so they are ready to spent more and more money on coffee (UK: Tea:  £623m, Coffee:  £738m) Now a days coffee companies are more concerned about their ways of producing coffee beans, designing their supply chain and the ways of organizing and selling their products due to raise in environmental consciousness. Technological: http://reviews.carreview.com/files/2007/11/starbucks_sirena_bmw_med.jpg For providing incessantly better customer services Starbucks launched cards to make customers visit more suitable and faster. Mostly Starbucks location has WI-FI for consumer needs. Technical Coffee machines are now available at Better and cheaper rates for home usage (Senseo). SWOT Analysis A SWOT analysis provides us an imminent on what the company is good at, and in what areas Starbucks could use assistance. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) are described below: Strengths: Global coffee brand built upon a reputation for well products and services Value workers Economies of scale in purchasing Big Chain of stores: 17,000 stores in 49 countries. Strong ethical values, friendly environment, and community activists. Low turnover Very Good relationship with its suppliers Weaknesses: High prices More dependent on coffee and coffee related products. Too much focus on expansion Need of Strong competitive Position for more Expansion to reduce the Business risk Continuous improvement may weaken over time and finally product acceptance will come toward slow growth. Opportunity Investment cost for New market is very low International Expansion to the company has the chance to expand its operation Diversification in product range toward other food and drinks. Potential in franchising with manufacturers of other goods and services Distribution agreement like hotels airlines Threats Saturation in coffee market Economic recession and Financial Crises Competition with new entrants and copycat brands. Rise in cost of coffee and dairy products. Rise in Cost of beans in near future Possessiveness of consumer regarding healthful fare SWOT Analysis Internal Factor Strengths S1 Brand Equity is high S2 Employees are more satisfied S4 Economies of scale in Purchasing. Weaknesses W1 prices are high W2 More dependent on coffee and coffee related products W3 Deficiency of internal focus (too much focus on expansion) External Factor Opportunities O1 Investment cost of New market is low O2 Scope of Coffee Market Is rising Worldwide O3 Diversification of Product range toward food and non food items SO Strategies 1-Vertical growth to other low cost regions using superior brand. 2- To diversify in other related businesses hire the qualified employees WO Strategies 1- To overcome the too much dependency on coffee and coffee related products increase the product range through Diversification in related businesses. 2- Get benefit from growing markets through reducing costs to reduce prices in low investment markets. Threats T2 Economic recession and Financial Crises. T3 Domestic competition is increasing T4 coffee and dairy products are volatile ST strategies 1- Avoid domestic competition by using high brand through differentiation. 2- To avoid volatile coffee and dairy use the economies of scale through backward vertical addition. WT Strategies 1- To face the current financial crises and economic resources cost should be reduced to reduce the prices. 2- To avoid competition in domestic market depend on international alliance in the international stores as it is the main source of revenue. Future Strategies of Starbucks According to Starbucks current state of dealings, extensive competition, economic scenarios (at least in America) a question comes in mind about how Starbucks can turns itself around to show it profitable and most preferable choice for its customers? Following are some key success factors and strategies which should be considered while making Company policies so that Starbucks can attain its original successful position. What should Starbucks do? Starbucks didnt face any competitors which would have given it a sharp competition for a longer time. But after the entry of competitors in to the market Starbucks is no longer a sole player now. This is a huge threat for Starbucks because other companies are also providing premium coffees which can be compared to Starbucks level. Despite of the fact of competitors came into the market Starbucks is offering luxury coffee but at the high price as compare to competitors. If we compare Starbucks coffee with McDonalds or Dunkin Donuts than it would not be something to think about because they are also providing good taste and quality. Below are some potential strategies that Starbucks should adopt to overcome its threats and weaknesses. Advertising and promotion: It is the general perception in the mind of people that the McDonalds coffee is compare able and most probably better than the Starbucks so before renewing the name of brand Starbucks should equip peoples mind with the fact that Starbucks coffee is superior to all other coffee and beverages brands. For this Starbucks need to be more aggressive in there promotion strategy. In 2006 Starbucks allocated only $38Million for its marketing and promotion strategy as compared to its closest competitor McDonalds $782 Million and Dunkin Donuts $116Million. So by this figure it is clear that Starbucks should make a huge effort for its promotion and advertising strategy and should allocate more funds where needed, to reach at peak level and to keep the leadership.http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3039/2926840497_2a8dc5f460.jpg Product Differentiation Strategy: Starbucks should also work on product differentiation strategy. McDonalds is offering premium coffee at lower price although but it would not suit to the Starbucks to start the price war. If Starbucks start a price war than it will minimize the brand goodwill and it would also not be profitable for both the organizations. Starbucks should also research something new which adds more taste and quality to coffee which maximize the customers and capture more market. If Starbucks make something new than it should distribute free sample for a limited time so the people come to know and if the response is good than they should make it available to all its stores. Quality control strategy: Starbucks need to introduce more coffee variety with a maximised quality. Starbucks offering one type of coffee to consumers while its competitors like Peets is offering multiple types. Starbucks needs to ensure that the coffee which is offered to customer having a high quality if it is not than the customer is not going to pay such a premium price for its coffee. Cost Efficient Strategies: Starbucks should also work on reducing its price with a high quality to attract more customers which will add more to its profit and growth. Store Expansion decisions: Starbucks should think now to put a halt on its strategy of opening new branches. In 2007 only Starbucks opened 1650 new stores which came to the total of more than 15000 stores and thought to reach at 40000 in future. It would also be better for Starbucks to stop opening new branches in US now and start thinking to open branches in small regions. Becoming more environmentally friendly: Although Starbucks is renowned for its environment friendly image and they are continuously trying to boost their efforts in this regard, still there is room to develop so they can further discriminate themselves. Starbucks should save their capital by use of porcelain cup rather than disposable cups, if customer wants to take their coffee in the cafe. Renewal of this practice will show them more environments friendly. Starbucks should offer in-house drinkers who prefer porcelain cups at discount to push this strategy. Selling of mugs at reasonable prices, implementation of recycling bins process of food waste, Use the financial inducement encourage the customers to revive the plastic cups rather than to purchase a new one are some ways to enhance its image as more environment friendly. These all things would help the Starbucks to differentiate it from its competitors and improve its image of corporate responsibility. Finally this should be the continual process of company to analyze themselves, encouragement of employees suggestions regarding environmentally beneficial initiatives and should make the continuous improvement in this part so that their green logo seems appropriate for the company. Starbucks Driveà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Through Expansion is the main focus of Starbucks but it has been noticed from various reports, surveys and people opinions that during peak hours of the day specifically in mid morning, there become the lack of tables and seats due to which customers move toward some other place in result Starbucks loses its potential customers. In addition, although Starbucks store are placed at every street corner but people face difficulty in parking especially in peak hours. As they are giving attention toward increasing of store space to hold the crowd in peak hours but not marketed it aggressively, though it would not be cost effective as expanding market campaign requires big investment but to keep customers preference its necessary. Focus on their Neglecting Customer Starbucks is distinguished for its coffee specialty and avoiding a big target market of tea, it should also think about researching into the tea specialty drinks market. As Tea has some perceived value of healthy benefits it will increase brand attractiveness. For this purpose they should continually revived their company policies to enhance their customer relations. Reward Programs Currently Starbucks is offering rewards in form of Starbucks Card programs where customer can refill its credit online and use it as Cash card at any Starbucks outlet. It doesnt differentiate it from its competitors as now they are providing the same reward programs for its customer. To take an edge over its competitor Starbucks should give some distinct reward programs like corporate with the large retail companies and airlines and merge their reward programs at Starbucks to make its first and foremost choice of its targeted customers as it will provide them an opportunity of wealth maximization . Conclusion Although there are some deficiencies in company policies but it doesnt show that Co is diminished much at all, it can get back on its previous original successful track by capitalizing its strengths. The existing economic situations which are contributing to its slouch market share should be keenly observed and noticed so that in future Co can stimulate it and make it brand strong and preferable choice for its customers.

Globalization in Russia Essay

Globalization has done a lot to Russia not only in changing the economic parameters but also the social- cultural portfolio of life. Russia enjoys the sovereignty of a high state of integration within the community of the western world. The fight for high changes and maintenance of sovereignty is to maintain its high class phenomenon within its geographical neighborhood. The history of Russia is deeply founded on its Soviet country where the role of great leadership authorities reigned even across the national boundaries. In analyzing the globalization variable in Russia the role of women should not be over looked. As a general analysis however, the expectation of globalizations were not fully met. Long since the country went in such for globalization benefits, various rigidities have left it still lagging behind in the same aspects. Various economic downfalls and dissatisfaction have acted to compromise the adequate state of affairs in this state. (Brierley, 1) Broadly, females are greatly disadvantaged in this state full of political communism. From the UNICEF statistics, however, the women show a close difference with the male population. First the maternal mortality is as low as 32%. This is due to poor ante-natal care protection and poor attendant by skilled personnel during delivery. Only 96% of women are well attended by skilled persons at their delivery. The female mortality rate is around 7% which is a percentage almost equal to that of the male births. However, as the child ages 5 years, this ratio is considerably equal to that of the male children. Generally, Russia has a well proven medical care system. (Stoliaror, 43) Good medication systems make it vulnerable to deaths through ill-health compared to high percentage of the same in African and Asian countries. The female life expectancy has however showed a decreasing trend since 1970, with it being 72 years compared to 59 that of men. Either, the fertility rate in women is approximated to being 1. 4. Effect of globalization stretches its arms to the social autonomies were various social structures have radically changed to capture the changing effects in the national symmetry. At one level, marriage contraceptive prevalence is largely 34% with these varying between the literate and illiterate people. (Balcon, 27) High illiterates are vulnerable to low use of the same. Lower use of contraceptives has led to spread of various sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV whose total population is approximated to being 950,000. The ratio of marriage breakages between men and women is approximated to being 2 is to 3 (2:3) with two men for every three women. Either, teen marriage has been a social factor calling for various analytical consequences. Largely, 31% of the teen have showed in for marriage at their teen age. ( Robinson, 75) Out of this population 57% has been stated as being girls who even drop out of school above the consequences of early pregnancies. Such early marriages have been a big backbone of failed marriage coupled with inabilities to substantiate for family needs and requirements. The total fertility rate is however high as 1. 4. This has been precisely due to high standards of living and adequate medical attention. Education factor occupies a special place in studying the globalization and the social dispensation of Russia. However, the education statistics are high vulnerable and shows an equitable relationship between men and women (males and females). The ratio of adult literacy between men and women is almost equal and shows no much disparity. Statistic shows that, women through literacy have earned themselves a good place in the economic scenario where they have been voted as movers of wide range of governance activities. There is no discrimination between schooling for both sexes and every educational structure is modeled to provide equity and equality between men and women. Either, secondary school enrolment between males and females is equitable with a one to one ratio. The same attendance in the secondary school has also been found to been one is to one. High child education campaign and the good system of education providing equity for both sexes have ensured a high number of equal thresholds between males and females. The place for secondary school teaching has however favored females with the ratio being three is to two (60% for women). However, more men graduate for other occupations. Basically the university enrollment shows a small diversity with equal opportunity been provided for the both sexes. Generally, the level of literacy is subjectively equal with them sharing almost equally the various opportunities allied to education benefits. (Rozanora, 1) The female employment aspect is a critique issue in Russia. Various disparities between male and female employment draws various issues of concern. Broadly, the employment factor for females in Russia depend on critical issue of age, level of education and various social cultural autonomies. The general employment statistics in Russia are defined in terms of the level of professionalism. The major age bracket for women employment is between 20 and 55 years, though extremities below and above this fraction is evident. Any employment below 17 years is taken as child labor abuse. Either, some women population employment above 55 years is evident though few cases are available. Generally, the total women percentage is 43% of the total employment population in the country. Men are advantaged to get the better share of 57%. The female employment also shows a relatively equal ration between self-employed and professionals. Out of the total population of employed women, 54% are professional while the remaining ratio goes for self employment. However, men occupies the majority of the managerial position with around 2. 6% of the employed women population being managers (Fisher, 89) The wage and salary payment is depended on the professionalism and the level of position working for. Indeed, the general wage rate in Russia is substantially adequate which almost augers that of the United Nations and labor laws requirements. The existing state of Russia can be recommended of its high proficiency in factors of equity and equality in its structures. There is seldom equitable distribution of the natural resources between racial groups, sexes, social institutions and political structures. High political renaissance and motivation above the fight for sovereignty on individual rights has brought the absence or very minimal discrimination. (Taylor, 4) All the people founded on sexual disparities, religious orientations, educational indifferences and cultural autonomies above other parity orientations have enjoyed the fruits of equity and equality. The economic systems and structures are relatively distributed equally between the state groups. The political and legal processes have showered an equitable correspondence in providing support for everybody participation in the political interest. The legal system has ensured neutrality between the state groups in terms of education, cultural, religious and geographical orientations. Equity and equality also extends its arms to the marriage structures where a broad length in marriage regularities provides no discrimination to all. Neutrality in the states social structures provides adequate conditions with which people intermingle adequately with one another. (Smith, 47) Either, adequacy in people’s marriage has been provided with every person at his/her wish too choose marriage partner. At the marriage matrimony, equal rights between the couple have been founded on grounds of equity. Both the husband and the wife have equal role to play in the marriage activities. Ideally, globalization has done a lot in providing positive effects on health. The highly developed technology and research activity helps to provide high standards of medication. Generally, Russia is among the global states with high developments in health matters. However, globalization has yielded high standards in matter of health with high technology and medical attention been uncompromised. Health matters runs from household sanitation, drinking clean water, child immunization, malaria treatment, chronic disease treatments, HIV/AIDS statistics above others. (Duffy, 1) However, the general state of health is highly improved. As per the UNICEF statistics of 2006, Russian health variables have been characterized as among that of the developed countries which generally shows high states of health matters. However, HIV/AIDS campaign has below the hallmark of the health investigation, with 950000 million people been affected. Various health structures have been put into place to avoid its spread, through education on mother-child transmissions, use of sexual contraceptives and use of ARV’s above other medication pursuit for the affected people. Globally, Russia extends its arms even to other nations in providing health support. The country has various policies on population control and health support. (Passas, 1) Through its huge campaign it has set various health requirements and high standards for ensuring a controlled health population for its citizens. Various social-cultural inadequacies like literacy and political authorities have been in the fore front to shape the population growth and distribution. Russia defines various emigration policies and foreign citizen ownership. It has high controlled systems of monitoring migration exchange between its people and other nationals. Both emigration and immigration is captured at an outstanding perspective where various rules and regulations are never compromised in the acquisition of citizenry. Such policies streamline at one point to encourage or elsewhere to discourage immigration. This is based on the need for the observation of a high state of security. Any migration policy is also aimed at ensuring possible inadequacies which may have effect on the existing state resources. This is in the recognition of highly/excessive pressure of immigration and unexploited resources on high emigrations. Migration policies stretch its arms on refugees, where various laws have been put to cater for any refugee. They also observe the United Nations standards on their treatment to refugees. The neutrality in terms of laws has provided a high comprehensive observation of human rights. The United Nations Development Program has shown an explicitly adequate standard on the observation of human rights. The state legal process has a profound structure in which it elaborates the process system of the law and regulations defining human rights and freedoms. Either, it has been vulnerable in observing various rights allied to refugees as per the UNHCR regulations. The political system and the court autonomy have ensured a high implication in support for states which provide rationality in ensuring observation of people’s rights and freedoms. Summarily therefore, globalization has done a lot in shaping and determining the state of social structures in Russia. It various influences have helped to foster an improved state of living for both men women. Work cited Balcon, D. Solidarity without Pay in Russia. The Nation, vol. 266, April 27 1998. Brierley, N. Russia: Perceptions and Reality. a Round T able Discussion 13 February 2003 New Statesman, vol. 132, April 7,2003. Duffy, D. An assessment of Health Policy Reform in Russia. Policy Studies Journal, Vol. 25.

Importance of Strategic Planning Essay

The small business I would like to start would be a candy store. This paper will define strategic management, planning and explain why a strategic plan is important to the success of this business, and explain the four functions of management relative to creating and implementing a strategic plan. Strategic Management is the groundwork for a company’s vision and allows a company to be ready to capitalize on opportunities. Strategic management is a process of evaluating a company’s mission, establishing the company’s design, developing the company’s organization and relationships, and guiding the company’s plan to execution to ensure that the management is consistent with the company’s strategy. Strategic management also enhances or protects the company’s interests and defines the way a company wants to expand or focus. Strategic management if often overlooked and should be the first step in defining a company’s core values, mission, and product focus (Fazzini, 2008). Strategic planning is so important to the success of my business. Its size is what makes strategic planning so important because it means growth from small to a thriving international corporation. This is basically a growth plan. Meaning where wells it be 3 years from now or 5 years or 7 years from now. First he or she must focus on gathering data about the internal and external environment of their company. He or she must also consider outside socio-cultural factors and inside factors, including management style and workforce (Strategic Planning, 2007). One of the most important factors is having goals for your company. Make sure your goals are attainable and reasonable; follow the SMART rule – specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound. By following this rule, it makes goals attainable. By being the owner, I have the yeah or nay when it comes to decisions. However, in order to have a successful business, your employees should have a say in some decision-making. This ensures that the company works together to obtain set goals. Finally devise an action plan. List possible and specific courses of action then choose what all you deem as most suitable. Define a schedule for everything but also give leeway for unexpected delays. During this time also set a budget. PlanningPlanning is a function where managers work together with others in the organization towards a common goal. Whether the goal is to increase profits or retaining employees is not the point. Working together and coming up with a plan to achieve that goal is. To be competitive in a local or global economy you need to begin by coming up with goals and create a plan on how to achieve them. Sometimes change is needed in leadership. Goals may need to be changed and updated from time to time. The planning stage will help in laying out these goals and the steps the organization will need to follow. OrganizingOrganizing an organization’s resources is the next step toward success for any management team. What can a business offer to attract employees, how can they acquire the financing they need, or what are the proper materials needed to get the project off the ground? These are but a few of the questions that need to be answered during the organizing phase. All the resources need to be organized so they can be used to the companies highest potential. If a company has strong financial backing but fails to offer incentives to retain their employees will fail in the end. The employees are who keep a company running. It is such a waste to spend the time and money to train an employee, then turn around, and offer nothing else but a pay check. Employee benefits and regular training are a few beginning incentives to keep employees interested in staying with your company. If the employees are not happy they will eventually go somewhere else and the company will have to spend more money to hire and train more employees to replace the ones that left. LeadingLeading people towards doing their best is a skill greatly needed in management positions. Helping coworkers to achieve the goals and programs of the company through two-way communication can help employees feel like their contributions have meaning and will be considered. Management that leads the  employees to contribute will have a better chance of success than a company that â€Å"tells† and expects the employees to blindly â€Å"follow.† The employees see the daily function of the organization. Many times he or she sees what does and does not work before management does. Management needs to take this information and use it to lead the company. ControllingEven with planning, organizing, and leading, you still need to exert some control to keep things on track. Managers need to know what it going on in the organization and be able to make changes when needed. A manager can also exert too much control over a situation by not helping the employees to think and work through a problem that may have arisen. A company that encourages its people to think is a company that will be able to succeed in the long run. As important as planning, organization, leadership and control are in a company, you need all these functions for the company to succeed in the business world. You cannot have planning and leadership with a small amount of organization and no control and expect things to work out well. Each function depends on the others to support and carry the organization. A successful company implements all four functions and uses the managers and employees to the best of their abilities. References Fazzini, D. (2008). How to Define Strategic Management. Retrieved July 6, 2008, from http://www.ehow.com/how_2364537_define-strategic-management.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_artStrategic Planning, (2007, March 15). Why Strategic Planning is Important Even for Small Businesses. Retrieved July 7, 2008, from http://smbconsulting.wordpress.com/?s=Why+Strategic+Planning+is+Important+Even+for+Small+Businesses&submit=

Thomas Berger (The Little Big Man) Died at the Age of 89

Thomas Berger, the author of a critically acclaimed novel The Little Big Man and a number of a large collection of other books of multiple genres, died on July 13 in Nyack, N.Y., leaving his wife, Jeanne Redpath Berger, as his only survivor. Berger has always been a bit of a mystery – although having a burgeoning literary career, he was a public figure only for a short time after the release of his first novel, Crazy in Berlin back in 1958. Soon after he became extremely reclusive, adamantly protecting his privacy to the extent that even his literary agent didn’t know how to contact him or where to find him for prolonged periods of time. He left a vast and multi-lateral literary heritage. While the majority of writers choose a genre or literary trend and stick to it for the majority of their work, only occasionally allowing themselves to try something new, Berger was in the process of creative search his entire life, constantly dabbling into new and unexpected genres and turning almost every other work into an experiment for his own abilities and talents. Throughout his literary career he wrote a satirical western novel (The Little Big Man), a horror novel (Killing Time), pulp detective story (Who Is Teddy Villanova?), science fiction (Adventures of the Artificial Woman), utopia (Regiment of Women), survival story (Robert Crews, a modification of Robinson Crusoe), variations on King Arthur’s legend and Greek tragedy (Arthur Rex: A Legendary Novel and Orrie’s Story), a number of Kafkaesque stories like The Houseguest, as well as multi-genre books that are not easily placed into any group. While being dedicated to the idea of literature, Berger was mostly dismissive of modern literary scene and real life in general. In his interview with his friend Mr. Schikel he admitted that one of the main reasons he went into a self-imposed exile was the fact that he couldn’t stand real life around him and the only way to escape it was to go into fiction, which he did. All in all Thomas Berger wrote 23 novels but, ironically, he is mostly known as the author of The Little Big Man which was adapted into a film in 1970. To this day his admirers consider the fact that Berger remained largely unknown to the American literary world to be one of the greatest losses American and world literature suffered in the last century. Probably it was partly due to the fact that he wasn’t ready to promote his own creative work and loved his solitude too much to be bothered with such things as fame. He could have secured himself a place in American literary Olympus by receiving the Pulitzer prize, but he never rose higher than becoming a finalist back in 1984 – perhaps the public wasn’t much interested in a writer who wasn’t much interested in the public. Berger’s death, however, is likely to increase the amount of attention his name gets the Dial Press already plans a 50th-anniversary edition of The Little Big Man to be published this year.