Harlequin Case Analysis Essay

Harlequin Enterprises has been able to capture 80% of the series romance market. Our great existing strategy (see exhibit 1) has allowed us to be the biggest player in the series romance market. Now we face the opportunity to capture a rapidly growing market of single-title women’s fiction novels. I recommend that Harlequin aggressively pursue the single-title market, using its extensive back list collection to reissue novels by best-selling authors. Even though the consistent, well defined product, combined with an optimized supply chain and distribution in the series market has provided valuable margins, the stagnant growth in the series market is insufficient to meet company growth objectives. Operating income is currently projected to grow at 3% for next 5 years (see exhibit 2). With the launch of MIRA, Harlequin can add an incremental $10MM in the next year, and $57MM in the next 5 years. This is 16%-19% incremental profit (see exhibit 3). We will have to focus on the women’s romance fiction segment of the market. At Harlequin, we have cost efficient printing resources, which allow us the flexibility to print single title. We will need to switch from same format printing, to match the need of each individual title. We also have great editor-author relationships. Using the backlist of best-selling authors will save the company $45MM in the next 5 years in author advances (see exhibit 3). Each unit is more profitable without an author advance. (exhibit 3). We will have to abandon our current process of front-list printing only. Coincidently, our editors will need to cultivate existing series authors into single-title authors, who ensure quality content to maintain our reader’s trust. Our editors will have to adapt the editing criteria to the strengths of each individual author. Harlequin will have to rely on single title solicitation, and no longer our standard order procedures. We will utilize our existing wide distribution network, but we will have to reduce our distribution to mass merchandisers while increasing our penetration in bookstores to significantly greater than 55% (exhibit 4). Offering greater distribution margins than our series novels will help us grow our volume, and our distribution partnerships, while still maintaining healthy margins. We will allocate and spend marketing funds to promote each individual book and author, rather than the just the Harlequin brand. We will use our existing large customer base, but promote with MIRA branded covers to build brand identity and loyalty, as we aim to become a strong player in the single-title romance novel market. We will create an order system for the direct to reader channel, and eventually, we will need to implement a system to be able to forecast demand to optimize supply and profitability. If within the first two years, Harlequin does not capture atleast 5% of the unit volume sales from the market using existing back-list collection, we will invest in current best-selling authors. Even after paying the large advances, we will be able to gain an incremental $12MM in profit in the next 5 years (see exhibit 6).

Crime and Robbery misc essays

Crime and Robbery misc essays Words 1 "Crime is the violation of statutes enacted into criminal law by a locality, state, or the federal government" (Macionis, 218). Crimes against property include robbery of another's personal belongings. Property crimes include burglary, larceny, and auto theft. Burglary consists of "the unlawful entry of a structure to commit a [serious crime] or a theft" (Macionis, 220). Larceny is "the unlawful taking, carrying, leading, or riding away of property from the possession of another" (Macionis, 220). Auto theft is "the theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle" (Macionis, 220). Since the beginning of time there has been crime and theft. In primitive civilizations theft could have included stealing essentials for life (food, water, shelter), women, weapons, etc. In more recent times theft has come to include all material possessions a person has. Only naming several which are money, jewelry, pets, automobiles, etc. For as long as people have legitimately owned or made a legal claim to objects there has been theft. Most criminals steal in order to support expensive habits in which excessive amounts of money are crucial. Poverty is also another significant influence of crime and theft. As well as a lack in morals and values contributes to crime and robbery. Another influence of crime and robbery is that certain crimes are committed to experience a thrill, adrenaline rush or whatever it may be called. No matter what the motive may be, crime and robbery are very frequent and rates are increasing. There is a direct and close correlation of poverty and crime. As the years have passed people have become more and more socially stratified. Thus, creating a feeling of inferiority among the poor and less fortunate. With this feeling people are more inclined to commit crimes, mainly in the form of robbery. The act ...

Ratio analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ratio analysis - Essay Example Financial ratio has its advantages to the company and the customers in equal or less gravity. In an article of transoceanic financial ratio analysis, it is easy for customer to look how the stocks look like. Customer will find it easy to evaluate the company-using price to earnings ratio. Such metric valuation uses the wisdom that that nonoperational aspects of the company such as asset impairment can affect earnings per share (Xiao, 2014).With this valuation, the company and customer can make advised decisions while investing or rectifying the areas of problem. Financial ratio analysis is also advantageous in that it is easy to come up with the components of returns. Such returns include pre-taxed interest and the pre-taxed margin. The two are the core profitability of the company before interest and the taxes. The higher margins show better prospects of the company. Another component of return is the assets turnover. Asset turnover is the revenue generated for the expenses of the assets (Xiao, 2014). In the Transoceanic financial ratio analysis article, it has a higher number indicating it is efficient in using its assets. On the disadvantages side, financial ratio analysis has couple of demerits. First and foremost, the financial ratio analysis cannot be used singularly or standalone method. They must be used hand in hand with an aggregate economy. The full economic cycle must be factored in, during analysis. Secondly, inflation can badly bloat the company’s balance sheet. On such scenario, the profit of the company will be affected in a bad fashion. In the long run of the financial analysis, the judgment will be will be interrupted on the patches where inflation infiltrated the company’s balance sheet. Financial analysis thus has its advantage and

CanGo Business Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

CanGo Business Issues - Essay Example Lack of vision and mission statementsCanGo does not have a vision or a mission statement. A vision statement indicates where the where the company wants to be and the time frame within which the company expects to achieve its vision. A mission statement clearly indicates the purpose for which the business was created and its standards of behavior.CanGo’s management team should prepare both a vision and a mission statement which will guide its strategic plan. Both the vision and mission statement will act as a guide to CanGo in its uncertain business environment. The vision and mission will help direct the company in terms of the decisions that management makes. Decisions should be consistent with the vision and mission of the company. Issue #2: Lack of a strategic plan CanGo’s management does not have a strategic plan. Although CanGo is said to be the fastest growing company in the Hudson Valley there is no plan in place to achieve this status. According to Liz it is an accident. The formulation of a strategic plan is very important in any business. According to Daft (2007) the best way to control the operation of a business is through strategic planning. The company has ill-conceived ideas of having done the right things. They lack a proper understanding of the strategic management process and how to gain and maintain a competitive advantage over their competitors. There is no indication of the vision and mission of the company; plans are just made as the managers go along.

Discuss the rise in importance of FDI for Multinational Enterprises Essay

Discuss the rise in importance of FDI for Multinational Enterprises - Essay Example This deepening and widening economic integration is achieved through three main channels such as trade, foreign direct investment and the international transfer of knowledge and technology. The enterprises, which have dispersed their business processes across the globe through the channel of FDI, are termed as Multinational Enterprises (MNEs). These MNEs are the main pillars in the globalized economies which involved in the world economic activities. Though trade which principally means export-import of goods and services across the geographical regions are there since many years but the concept of foreign direct investment (FDI) is rather of recent origin. Being different from portfolio investment this type of investment entails a firm to open its subsidiary in a foreign land to expand its business activities there. In today's fast moving global economy the scale of FDI made by a multinational enterprise plays a vital role for the growth of developed as well as developing countries across the world. In this essay the rise in FDI as well as its importance for the MNEs has been vividly described in the Section-II and also an analysis of the circumstances under which FDI may or may not be an appropriate strategy for an international business has been made in the Section-III. The conclusion to the discussion has been given in Section-IV. The analysis of the rising trend in the various regions of the world and the possible impact of FDI in the host and home economies has been made in this paper. II. FDI: The Increasing Trend in Global Economy "FDI is defined as a firm based in one country (the 'home country') owning 10 percent or more of the stock of a company located in a foreign country (the 'host country') -- this amount of stock is generally enough to give the home country firm significant control rights over the host country firm. Most FDI is in wholly-owned or nearly wholly-owned subsidiaries." (http://www.populareconomics.org/globalization/html%20/Glossary.html). Thus FDI is different from the portfolio investment which may cross borders but lacks such controls over it. This FDI may be 'Green-field'1 or 'Acquisition/Mergers'2 and also it may be 'horizontal'3 or 'vertical'4. "Thus to create, acquire or expand a foreign subsidiary, MNEs undertake FDI. The total direct capital owned by non-residents in a given country each year constitutes the stock of FDI" (Navaretti & Venables, 3). If one makes a comparison between export and FDI during the last twentieth century one can see that the exports grew much stronger than FDI in the pre 1980 period while the FDI sown an unprecedented rise after 1985. "The worldwide real GDP increased at a rate of 2.5% per year between 1985 and 1999 and worldwide exports by 5.6%, worldwide real inflows of FDI increased by 17.7%." (Navaretti & Venables 3). Also it is seen that the worldwide FDI stocks increased from $794 billion to $1, 768 billion in the second half of the eighties (Table-1). That means they more than doubled in just six years. The inflow of FDI peaked in the year 2000 but suddenly declined from the year 2001 due to slowing down of economy.

Voting and High School Essay Example for Free

Voting and High School Essay Background of the Study The era of computer system has spread very fast, wide and extreme conduct of required data. Voting System for the Central Board of Student High School Department in San Sebastian College Recoletos – Manila is still using the manual process, now the proponents are ready to change the free of manual using process. This study would help them with this attributes efficiency, convenience and security not just to the integrity of voting but also the protections of the high school student voters. Based on DepED Order No. 79, s. 2009 Revised Standard Constitution and By-Laws of Supreme Student Governments in Secondary Schools signed by Secretary Jesli A. Lapus â€Å" that the significant roe, and contributions of the Supreme Student Government (SSG) in the school and in line with Students Government Program (SGP) of the Department of Education-Center for Students and Co-Curricular Affairs (DepED-CSCA), the enclosed Revised Standard Constitution and By-Laws is hereby issued for implementation in all Secondary School.† Since the beginning of elections in San Sebastian College- Recoletos High School Department,there are different problems such as fraud ,cheating , and slow process of counting ballots and human errors which can’t be removed to the mind of the voters. But the proponents believe that those irregularities will not break the will and heart of a true sebastinian. Voting must be exercised freely, safely and intelligently within voting precints. As in the present of how is the process of voting in the existing voting system works manually, manual election usually takes a long time before proclaiming the winning candidate while computerized election usually takes a short period of time before proclaiming the winning candidate. Voters will write the name of their chosen candidate in an piece of paper given by the committee and it will be placed inside a ballot box, At the end of the voting period, the assigned canvassers will count the votes manually and thus it result to human errors and slow process of tallying of votes, in order to pursue a secure and honest election, it is the function of the proponents to provide the students the means to credible system of election. Proponents define manual election as a system that counts votes using paper audits stored by a ballot box. Objectives of the Study 1. The general objective of the study is to develop an automated based voting system for San Sebastian College-Recoletos High School Department. Specific Objectives 1. The main objective of this research is to develop automated based voting system for the San Sebastian College-Recoletos High School Department. 2. It will provide a faster and easy way to vote candidates during the voting season. 3. It will ease the pain of providing hundreds of ballots but this system will totally will remove the cost and effort of printing ballots. 4. It will secure the confidential information about the result of the last election. 5. To introduce an automated voting system for San Sebastian College-Recoletos High School Department. 6. To provide a user friendly system for the high school students. 7. To employ a more organized and accurate way of electing a new board members for the high school department. Scope and Delimitation of the Study The Proponents will develop a voting system that prepares a voting process for San Sebastian College-Recoletos High School Department by creating a computer based voting system that will help the commissioners count the number of votes. 1. Voters can also see the pictures of the candidates while voting and because of that can easily identify to whom they will give their vote. 2. The System has a back-up system to save the number of votes. 3. It will only take 5 minutes for the students to vote to avoid wasting of time. 4. It has a log in security attempt limited for 3 times. 5. The proponents are planning to use Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 to realize the goal. The coverage of this study is from June to Sept 2013. 6. The researchers limit the study to Sebastian College-Recoletos High School Department. 7. The candidates are not allowed to manipulate their number of votes; the election commissioners cannot alter the voting process. 8. This system has a delimitation that the users should know, the system doesn’t have a print out of ballots. Definition of Terms Automation – process which involves the electronics and computer technology which the participation of human is less. Automated Voting System – A technology which is much faster and efficient more than the old voting system, it also involves the participation of information and communication technology individuals. Ballot – A tangible thing wherein the cast of votes writes here. Also exists in old voting/electoral process. Ballot Box – A tangible thing wherein the votes of the voters stores here for counting. Canvassers – An individual who canvass votes and plays a vital role in old voting system. Election Commission – In charge of overseeing the implementation of election procedures. Inquiry – process that has the aim of augmenting knowledge, resolving doubt, or solving a problem. Precincts – a table, place where you will vote.

Theory of Inner Core Super-Rotation: An Analysis

Theory of Inner Core Super-Rotation: An Analysis Andrew Brown Introduction This article investigates the various thought processes behind, and controversies surrounding, the theory of Inner Core super-rotation. The Inner Core of the Earth is composed predominantly of soli iron, and lies at the centre of the planet, surrounded by a liquid Outer Core (again, predominantly composed of iron). It is a region that has long been known for having a profound influence in the processes that maintain convection within the liquid Outer Core. Understanding the workings of the Inner Core could be key in the understanding of dynamo theory, the Earth’s magnetic field (from its origins, through to the present day), heat-flow, core-history, core-composition, and possibly effects on the Earth’s gravity field. In recent years, many seismic studies have indicated that the Inner Core contains large-scale anisotropy in its velocity structure. It was discovered that there was evidence of systematic changes in the travel-time of waves travelling through the Inner Core. These changes (changing over long time periods) were interpreted as indications of the Inner Core rotating at a different rate than that of the other material within the Earth. It was suggested that the Inner Core is rotating in an Eastward direction relative to the Mantle and Crust, at a rate measurable within human time-scales. This finding was initially dismissed as being either too slow a rotation-rate, or considered to be physically impossible. However, additional evidence, displayed in recent studies into the matter, is found to support the hypothesis that the Inner Core is, in fact, super-rotating. Despite this finding, the topic of Inner Core super-rotation, along with discussions about the rate at which it is rotating, i s still considered a controversial area of research. Research History The first suggestion of a super-rotating mass at the centre of the Earth was brought on by analysis of the interaction between the solid Inner and liquid Outer Core. The viscosity of the Outer Core is very low, and is thought to convect at a rate of approximately 1cms-1. It could be thought that this might result in the appearance that the Inner Core was moving with respect to the mantle. In order to investigate this phenomenon further, Glatzmaier Roberts (1995) modelled a numerical solution for 3D convection dynamo motions within the Outer ore. This model successfully reproduced observed magnetic field strength and reversal behaviour. However, in the model, the Inner Core was free to rotate, and what was found was that it naturally super-rotated in an Eastward direction. From this is was then hypothesised that seismic reflections, rebounding off the Inner/Outer Core boundary, could show evidence of this modelled rotation, but it was later found that a more efficient data set would be to examine seismic waves that are transmitted through the Inner Core (Song Richards, 1996). Using this technique, along with others (such as analysis of geodynamo processes and shear-wave conversions within the Inner Core), there is more evidence supporting a super-rotating Inner Core, than not. However, even upon agreeing that this idea is both plausible and probable, there is still a large level of uncertainty surrounding the rate at which the Inner Core is rotating with respect to the Mantle. There have been suggestions in recent studies that it is rotating at a rate of less than 1à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °yr-1, but equally, there have been suggestions of rotation rates of over 1à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °yr-1, and even suggestions recently of no discernable difference in rotation. Evidence for Super-Rotation Our current theories of the origins of the Earth’s magnetic field rely on the understanding of the geodynamo processes occurring within the core. Differential rotation is a requirement for the geodynamo to exist. It is this differential rotation that drives the dynamo action by generating toroidal magnetic fields from poloidal. Initially, there are poloidal field lines, which are then ‘wound up’ by the differential rotation (shown in figure 1). Only a small amount of diffusion is needed to break these poloidal lines and form a toroidal loop, and these new toroidal field lines then amplify the original poloidal field, and the process repeats. It can be observe that the core surface appears to drift in a westward direction. If the Inner Core is, indeed, differentially rotating, then it would suggest an eastward drift at the Inner Core boundary. This predicted eastward drift agrees with the eastward drift observe in geodynamo simulations. In addition to this, it is well understood by electromagnetism, that Inner and Outer Core are well coupled, and thus would suggest that the Inner Core should be super-rotating, and drift east. Although a super-rotating Inner Core is consistent with current geodynamo theories, such a controversial subject area requires more actual, observable evidence in order to validate these assumptions. This evidence comes from analysis of Inner Core seismology. P-waves are found to travel through the Inner Core approximately 3 or 4% faster in a direction almost parallel to the north/south axis, than in directions along the equatorial plane. (Poupinet et al., 1983; Morelli et al., 1986; Song Helmberger, 1993). In addition to this, analysis of the free-oscillations of the Earth that contain significant energy within the Inner Core shows evidence of shear-wave splitting (Masters Gilbert, 1981; Sharruck Woodhouse, 1998), another indication of a variation in velocity between planes. Both these phenomena are show Inner Core anisotropy, with the ‘fast axis’ tilted approximately 10à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ ° from the rotation axis (figure 2). This fact can be used to the advantage of research ers, as if the Inner Core is super-rotating then it should be possible to observe this ‘fast axis’ precessing over long time periods. In other words, if the anisotropic Inner Core rotates about the north/south axis at a different rate to that of the Mantle, then the observed travel-times will change in a systematic fashion for repeated seismic signals passing through the Inner Core. Interpretations of the relative (rather than absolute) timings are use in order to reduce the methods sensitivity to errors in source locations. The method uses a combination of source and receiver pairs that allow for seismic rays through the Inner Core, that also have an orientation that will be sensitive to the effect of the hypothesised rotation on the ‘fast axis’. The differences in travel-times are analysed for three different ray path phases: AB, BC and DF (shown in figure 3). Ray paths through the Earth are very close together, hence the need to analyse relative travel-times. Mantle convection is slow, and the Outer Core is well-mixed, and thus the travel time of the BC phases should remain relatively constant over time. It should, therefore, be safe to assume that any variations observed over time will have an Inner Core origin. Each of these phases travel through different sections of the Earth’s Mantle and Core, and thus contain different information, therefore, changes between phases are unlikely to be due to event mislocation. The contrast between AB and BC phases are mostly just scattered; however, the difference between BC and DF phases show a systematic increase over time. However, interpretation of the differences in travel time, alone, is not sufficient to detect super-rotation. It is the effect on the parameter, ÃŽ ¾ (the angle of the ray with respect to the Inner Core ‘fast axis’), that is sensitive to the changes in ray paths that would be observed if the Inner Core were differentially rotating. Figure 4 shows two curves: the percentage velocity perturbations with ÃŽ ¾; and the derivative of this curve, with respect to ÃŽ ¾, which illustrates the sensitivity to changes in velocity with ÃŽ ¾, which is what would be expected with super-rotation. Studies of these core-phase relative travel times have indicated a definite eastward Inner Core rotation rate of approximately 1à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ ° per year (Song Richards, 1996), although further studies have produced varying results for this rate. Ovtchinnikov et al. (1998), again, used BC-DF travel-time differences brought on by nuclear explosions, thus reducing the error in source location. The result of this study, produced through the analysis of long time-series data over decades, was consistent with a cylindrically symmetric Inner Core which is moving in an eastward direction. It was found that it rotated at a rate of 0.3-1.1à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °yr-1. Another, different, approach by Vidale Earle (2000) was to use short-period seismic waves, or ‘coda’, that are reflected back from the Inner Core (PkikP phase). This method is particularly affective (in comparison to previous techniques) as it allows for the measurement of changes in Inner Core rotation rates. They found that, over a period of around 3 years, the western hemisphere of the Inner Core appeared to be moving towards the recording station, and the eastern, away. This is what would be expected for an eastwardly super-rotating Inner Core, and the rate of this rotation was estimated to be around 0.15à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °yr-1. Controversies Surrounding Super-Rotation Although many studies agree on an eastwardly rotating Inner Core with respect to the Mantle, research using only slightly different methodologies and phase combinations has produced vastly varied results. Researchers have dismissed the variations in the findings as being due to the methodology producing the results being inadequate, and that the data is insufficient. All of the methods described rely on the use of data over a time period which could be up to decades. Seismogram quality has improved greatly over time; therefore arrivals will end up being picked earlier in the more accurate, modern seismograms. In addition to this, the rays being analysed have to 1st travel through local source, receiver and deep mantle structure before then passing through the area of interest (Inner Core). These have greater effects on the velocity variations than that of the Inner Core anisotropy, which reduces the accuracy at which the effects of the Inner Core can be interpreted. All initial studies, although successful in providing ‘proof’ of Inner Core super-rotation, rely on the assumption of a homogeneous, cylindrically symmetric model for the distribution of Inner Core anisotropy, with a north/south tilted fast axis. On top of this, the assumption of the Inner Core as essentially a rigid rotating rigid body, forces a potentially unrealistic framework. Instead, a ductile Inner Core is more plausible, which would deform as rotates. Recent studies into mode splitting functions have shown that there are complex patterns of inhomogeneity in anisotropy within the Inner Core. These must be included in the base-model because of the effects of Inner Core lateral velocity variations on the observed travel times as the body rotates. Therefore, work is still needed to be done to understand these heterogeneities, in order to interpret the changes in travel times for a more precise estimation of the rotation-rate. In addition to heterogeneities within the Inner Core, the effects on seismic velocities brought on by artefacts (such as subducting slabs) at the base of the mantle must be understood, as they could lead to misinterpretation of ‘evidence’ for temporal brought on by the rotation. Thus there is some-what of a trade-off between the rotation rate, and the lateral change in velocities when interpreting the travel-times. It is found that a non-zero rotation rate of approximately 0.2à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ °yr-1 is required to explain the temporal variations in observed relative travel times between the BC and DF phases. Finally, â€Å"the Inner Core is far less accessible to us than the surface of any planet in the solar system†. The Inner Core lies at the very centre f the Earth, inside a highly variable 3000km of solid mantle and a convecting liquid Outer Core. This results in poor, restricted sampling locations and reduced number usable of ray-paths, resulting in biased results, as there are only limited locations for source receiver pairs that can collect information on the key phases (see figure 3) used in the interpretation. Conclusions In conclusion, although there is increasing evidence supporting the theory of Inner Core super-rotation, it is clear that there is still a lot of work and research needed to be done. In addition to this, even if the theory of a super-rotating Inner Core is viewed as not only plausible, but necessary, a further understanding of the dynamics and structural influences of the Outer and Inner Core is still required to correctly determine a precise rate for this rotation It is for these reasons that the topic of Inner Core super-rotation, along with discussions about the rate at which it is rotating, is still a very active and controversial area of research. References Glatzmaier, G. A. and Roberts, P. H. 1995. A three-dimensional convective dynamo solution with rotating and finitely conducting inner core and mantle.Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 91 (1), pp. 6375. MAkinen, A. M. and Deuss, A. 2011. Global seismic body-wave observations of temporal variations in the Earths inner core, and implications for its differential rotation.Geophysical Journal International, 187 (1). Masters, G. and Gilbert, F. 1981. Structure of the inner core inferred from observations of its spheroidal shear modes.Geophysical Research Letters, 8 (6), pp. 569571. Morelli, A., Dziewonski, A. M. and Woodhouse, J. H. 1986. Anisotropy of the inner core inferred from PKIKP travel times.Geophysical Research Letters, 13 (13), pp. 15451548. Ovtchinnikov et al. 1998 About the velocity of differential rotation of the Earth’s inner core. Dokl. Russ. Acad. Sci. Geophys., 362, 683-686. Poupinet, G., Pillet, R. and Souriau, A. 1983. Possible heterogeneity of the Earths core deduced from PKIKP travel times.Nature, 305 (5931), pp. 204206. Richards, P. G. 2000. Earth’s inner corediscoveries and conjectures.Astronomy Geophysics, 41 (1) Sharrock, D. and Woodhouse, J. 1998. Investigation of time dependent inner core structure by the analysis of free oscillation spectra.EARTH PLANETS AND SPACE, 50 pp. 10131018. Song, X. and Helmberger, D. V. 1993. Effect of velocity structure in D †³on PKP phases.Geophysical research letters, 20 (4), pp. 285288. Song, X. and Richards, P. G. 1996. Seismological evidence for differential rotation of the Earths inner core.Nature, 382 (6588), pp. 221224. Vidale, J. E. and Earle, P. S. 2000. Fine-scale heterogeneity in the Earths inner core.Nature, 404 (6775). 1