A New Look At Personal Identity Essay

A new look at personal identity Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In his article, â€Å"A New Look at Personal Identity,† Michael Allen Fox, argues his opinion on the feisty historic debate about physical and psychological continuity views on personal identity (Fox, 2007). Hebrings in his view of the â€Å"self-developed by existential philosophy† as what makes a person. He does not invalidate the original views but says that the issue of what makes a person remains a task for philosophers to investigate.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Fox wants to handle the often tricky dilemma of personal identity that has been tackled by philosophers since time immemorial. He identifies some questions to solve; â€Å"Who am I?† and â€Å"Might I be a very different person in the future?† He begins by stating that according to most responses, the conclusion boils down to either the soul or the body. He says that one cannot find ‘you’ or ‘I’in the soul, but it is easy to associate it with something tangible like the body. He goes on to state the grounds for the belief of the first group; that we are souls and that we do not change. He counters it by introducing the belief that for something to exist it is imperative for to be able to locate in space and time. He then introduces the philosophers’ dominant stance on the subject that the soul is non-existent (Hamilton, 1995).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Seeking to find out whether the philosophers are right, Fox looks at history and resolves that people either believe in physical or psychological continuity as what makes a person. He says that according to the former, someone never changes as they have had the same body since their birth. To support the argument, he recounts an ancient enigma called ‘The Ship of Theseus.’ He states that Theseus was the king and that gradually his whole ship’sparts got replacement so that no part of it remained as the first. He further says that this is the philosophers’ basis of their argument; that incremental replacement occurs on the gut, the epidermis, red blood cells, bone and muscles. He also introduces organ transplant to strengthen on their claim. He goes on to say that the cerebral and visual cortex never regenerate and concludes that the most important parts of us do not change in relation to the subject at hand. He al so introduces the concept of the DNA as another hurdle to the physical approach. He explains that as unique as the DNA is, it does not form part of all our body; only ten percent of the body DNA resides in our cells. He questions why philosophers have not ventured to use DNA as one of thebase of individual continuity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The decision point comes when Fox discredits the latter approach as ancient and introduces the view of the â€Å"self-developed by existential philosophy† as an alternative. He argues that â€Å"a self or person is what it does,† an activity, what he or she does daily, by their means of choices and actions. He calls it the ‘continuity of responsible action’(Fox, 2007). He concludes by saying the matter is one that remains one for philosophy to investigate.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The article tries to elucidate on the subject of what makes a person. However, Fox was unable to give a rigid conclusion and left the matter open to discussion. Although he elucidated on physical continuity, I think that he should not have discredited psychological continuity; additional explanation should have been made to let the reader decide for themselves.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Is the author’s view the best alternative among the three?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Should philosophers continue their research on physical continuity? References Hamilton, A. (1995). A new look at personal identity. The Philosophical Quarterly, 332-349. Fox, M. A. (2007). A new look at personal identity. Philosophy Now, 62, 10-11. Source document

Validity, Reliability and Generalization in Research

Validity, Reliability and Generalization in Research Introduction Validity, reliability and generalization are important concepts in business and management research. In different contexts, research is a clearly defined process where different elements and are studied, analysed and presented to show new approaches that increase knowledge regarding a particular phenomenon. Validity, reliability and generalization are crucial concepts in management research because they determine the manner in which management theory is applied.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Validity, Reliability and Generalization in Research specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Modern management theories have demystified many assumptions that are related to business practices which are observed in various environments (Riege 2003, p. 75). Therefore, it is important for researchers to understand the link between theory and practice and how these two concepts impact on management discourses. Thi s paper will analyse the importance of validity, reliability and generalization in business research. The Role of Validity, Reliability and Generalization Validity can be described as an element of research which ensures that a study is conducted in a professional, accurate and systematic manner. This increases the credibility of a research study in the eyes of different people who are directly affected by its findings. In modern management research, validity ensures that a researcher vets the quality of his work before he shares his findings with other people (Riege 2003, p. 77). This approach enables a researcher to use accurate empirical tests to find out more about the sources of his information and how they impact on the quality of information he obtains. This ensures all conclusions reached by his study are backed up by relevant data and statistics. It is important for the data gathered and conclusions reached to correlate to bring about the desired conclusions in a particular study to make its findings more relevant to its users. Therefore, research studies should be conducted in a manner that allows findings to be interpreted in different management and business contexts. Different forms of research design use tests and other procedures to determine the level of validity in a researcher’s work. There has been a divergence of views about how various aspects of cause and effect relationships influence the application of the gathered data and statistics in research. For instance, in some aspects of case study research, researchers may be forced to review their personal feelings towards different subjects they are studying to ensure they maintain an objective approach in their work (Riege 2003, p. 81). A researcher needs to rely on other external tools to remove any bias that may negatively impact on the validity of conclusions and findings adopted by his study. In academic and real world perspectives, there is a difference in the manner in which kn owledge gathered is understood and applied.Advertising Looking for critical writing on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Even though there are strong synergies between academic research and real world management approaches, a researcher needs to find out specific objectives he intends to achieve. However, a researcher needs to understand differences between academic environments and real world business environments and how they impact on his work. Reliability is an important concept in management research. It allows a researcher to attain goals that have been set in the beginning to ensure he understands how his study is likely to impact on different groups of people. Therefore, concepts of openness, debate and objectivity help to measure the reliability of a particular research study and its findings. In management and business research, researchers must be ready to defend the methodologies they u se to come up with different conclusions and findings (Cornelissen Thorpe 2004, p. 3). They need to use evidence based, real life situations to ensure that the knowledge they gather can be used to make a positive impact in different fields. It must be noted that modern business research is applied in an environment characterised by constantly changing management practices which threaten the relevance of previous bodies of knowledge gathered through research. Therefore, all processes a researcher uses to come up with new bodies of knowledge should measure up to high intellectual standards. Researchers need to use analysis processes which are correctly linked to the central idea of their studies. They need to use techniques which accurately capture the viewpoints of different sources of information they use in their studies. More importantly, both academic and real world applications of knowledge obtained should be able to verify the accuracy and suitability of various research proce sses used. For instance, tests are used in research to find out if specific processes used by a researcher are logical and accurate. It is also important for a research study to show how results obtained can be transferred to other settings to reveal how they correlate with other forms of knowledge (Cornelissen Thorpe 2004, p. 6). A researcher needs to understand that every study undertaken seeks to find out new knowledge and how it can be applied in different academic and business contexts. Therefore, a study conducted should be analysed and critiqued by different scholars to find out the credibility of arguments it advances. The concept of generalisation has a significant role in business and management research. In some instances, researchers may need to use existing bodies of knowledge to come up with hypothesis regarding different phenomena they are studying. This allows them to understand the main arguments that justify their studies and specific qualities of phenomena they a re studying.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Validity, Reliability and Generalization in Research specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Many researchers move from the known to the unknown concepts in their quest to uncover new information regarding a particular phenomenon (Cornelissen Thorpe 2004, p. 9). This allows them to use a study process that connects data collection, methodologies and theoretical applications of the knowledge they obtain. Therefore, generalizations equip researchers with important skills which they use to find out more about different paradigms of existing research knowledge. In effect, they are able to understand specific problems they seek to solve through their studies. Consequently, they are able to identify gaps between theory and practice and how they impact on the way business research knowledge is applied. Generalizations guide researchers to make both correct and incorrect inf erences regarding cause and effect relationships that affect various phenomena they intend to study. As a result, this allows researchers to use different approaches to predict and measure different variables. It is important for researchers to have safeguards to ensure that methodologies and research designs they use conform to high intellectual standards. In addition, researchers need to gradually shift from a perception influenced by multiple perspectives to one influenced by methodologically proven concepts to strengthen their arguments (Cornelissen Thorpe 2004, p. 13). They need to interpret different theories within existing business and management frameworks to find out their true impacts. They also need to use both analytical and empirical studies to come up with comprehensive knowledge in their studies. Therefore, this makes their studies more comprehensive because they are able to highlight issues that have not been well addressed by other existing bodies of knowledge. Ap plication of Validity, Reliability and Generalization in Designing a Questionnaire The role of validity, reliability and generalizations in questionnaire design needs to highlight important factors that underpin Human Resource Management research in an academic setting. The research design needs to focus on the contemporary application of existing HRM research theories in both academic and professional contexts. This approach will make it possible for a researcher to determine the relevance of current HRM bodies of knowledge in equipping students with vital skills they need to succeed (Tsang Williams 2012, p. 5). Therefore, this approach allows a researcher to avoid personal biases that may influence the nature of findings obtained from his study. It is important for a researcher to formulate important objectives he seeks to achieve to ensure he comes up with a strong hypothesis. Since HRM consists of many concepts, questionnaires should be brief and clear to ensure they elicit val id responses from participants.Advertising Looking for critical writing on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Objectivity in research questionnaires allows respondents to contribute their answers accurately. As a result, a researcher is able to use more appropriate methodologies which measure different variables that impact on a study. In effect, a researcher will be in a position to understand limitations that make respondents not to share accurate information regarding a particular phenomenon. Therefore, these principles are beneficial during sampling because a researcher takes time to vet all participants to determine their suitability. This will enable him to compile a list of participants who are aware about their specific responsibilities in making the study a success. In effect, a researcher is able to use suitable methodological tools and sampling techniques which have worked well in previous research studies to conduct his own study (Tsang Williams 2012, p. 7). Additionally, a researcher may opt to develop his own research methodology which is suitable for his study. All these fac tors determine the nature of results obtained out of a particular research process. An effective research process needs to focus on situational factors that impact on the information gathered from respondents. Previous HRM models have focused on understanding events that occur in various organisational settings and how various factors they outline can be measured or controlled. More importantly, validity, reliability and generalisation allow deductive reasoning by a researcher to ensure all steps of his study state specific implications that are likely to be realised. Consequently, this allows a researcher to design a questionnaire that serves multiple purposes as a data gathering tool. As a result, the questionnaire is able to capture behavioural as well as personality issues that are likely to influence respondents’ bias and attitudes (Tsang Williams 2012, p. 11). Furthermore, this helps him to understand beforehand the quality of responses that he expects to obtain throug h his study. Thus, a researcher is able to understand the limitations of processes he is using and how they can be addressed to improve the quality of his findings. The three concepts allow researchers to share relevant knowledge with their participants on how different management perspectives shape their thinking. The patterns of questioning used may either describe or gradually predict the manner in which different participants involved in the study are likely to respond. Therefore, using literature already gathered, a researcher is able to make inferences on the type of results he is likely to obtain to understand if they confirm or contradict his earlier assumptions. This makes it possible for a researcher to investigate different aspects of reality thoroughly, to come up with new theoretical findings that add value to the study (Vincent, Bharadwaj Challagalla 2005, p. 11). Since most of the participants in such a study are likely to be students, a researcher gets an opportunit y to investigate their understanding about real world application of HRM principles. Through their participation, the researcher may get to learn how to interpret the data gathered constructively. These processes are also important in the formulation of a hypothesis. The hypothesis serves as a comprehensive assumption that allows a researcher to think analytically about what he intends to achieve from the research process he embarks on. As a result, a researcher takes time to look at different theoretical interpretations of the topic he seeks to study and their relevance. More importantly, validity, reliability and generalisation allow a researcher to move from broad theoretical concepts to narrow theoretical concepts as he investigates different factors that impact on his study. In effect, this allows him to make a positive impression on HRM post graduate students because of the high levels of professionalism he exhibits in his work (Vincent, Bharadwaj Challagalla 2005, p. 16). Th erefore, he will be able to come up with appropriate findings and conclusions that stimulate intellectual discourse in different settings they are applied. When using generalizations to design questionnaires and other methodological tools, researchers need to take note of standards used to measure the quality of management research. In their research designs, they should maintain links between empirical models and other processes used gather and document the information they gather. The empirical formats used and the results obtained out of these processes should match characteristics of phenomena being studied (Vincent, Bharadwaj Challagalla 2005, p. 18). Moreover, it is important for a researcher to find out specific theoretical concepts that are important to his study and how they affect the credibility of results obtained. For instances, a researcher may need to understand how various branches of HRM studied by students influence their academic and career choices. As a result, this makes him take note of research gaps that are likely to occur in his questionnaires to understand how they are likely to affect his study. Recommendations for a Questionnaire Before the questionnaire is done, it is important for effective sampling techniques to be used to determine the nature of the respondents. The researcher needs to find out the number of people he intends to gather responses from and how they represent the whole population the survey will be based on. Since the questionnaire will mainly target HRM post graduate students, the first criterion for a respondent that seeks to be included in the sample is that he or she must belong to this population (Mohrman, Gibson Mohrman 2001, p. 358). Subsequently, he must look at other factors that are likely to define the exact sample for his study such as; age, lifestyle, cultural background, previous professional training and career ambitions. Therefore, he needs to use randomisation techniques to ensure he chooses resp ondents with diverse behaviour, lifestyles and career aspirations, to make his study more credible. The final number of respondents chosen should represent all the other students in the institution. The stratification technique will make it possible for the researcher to find out if the sample he has chosen is a true representation of all postgraduate HRM students in the institution. The researcher needs to decide on the segments of all student population that are crucial to the survey and their respective statistical relevance to the study. In addition, the researcher will have to use different criteria to stratify all segments of the student population by focusing on their interests, learning patterns, intellectual accomplishments and their attitudes towards the course. The researcher can use computer applications to select student respondents who represent different categories (Mohrman, Gibson Mohrman 2001, p. 360). Subsequently, a researcher needs to include representative perc entages of all sub-groups that are to be used in the sample before proceeding with the study. This approach will help a researcher to come up with a more accurate sample that comprises of students drawn from all statistically relevant sub-groups. Before designing the questionnaire, the researcher needs to understand the manner in which survey estimates are going to be tabulated. Both sampling and non-sampling errors are likely to affect the design of the questionnaire survey used by the researcher. The design of the sample needs to look at differences in estimates which are likely to affect the quality of the sample used. In addition, the researcher needs to note other non- sampling errors in questionnaire design which may affect the quality of responses he obtains. For instance, errors that occur due to bias may distort the views of the surveyed population thereby casting aspersions on the objectivity of the findings. He also needs to find out if his sampling techniques stratify th e targeted population effectively (Mohrman, Gibson Mohrman 2001, p. 362). As a result, the researcher needs to be aware about this issue because it may make it difficult for him to compile accurate data from all segments of the post graduate HRM student population in the institution. Before using the questionnaire survey, the researcher needs to look at other problems which are likely to occur as he carries out his work. He needs to use effective data gathering, editing and evaluation processes to ensure the quality of his work remains high. In addition, the questionnaire design should check on responses that are either unclear or misleading. This problem can be eliminated through using appropriate and easy to understand language in the questionnaire (Mohrman, Gibson Mohrman 2001, p. 365). Therefore, it is important for the researcher to engage with HRM students he has chosen to participate in the study to find out their language skills and levels of exposure. This will help him t o compile suitable questions for them to respond to. As a result, sampled respondents will be in a better position to answer different questions they are asked properly. This will ensure research findings and conclusions reached are valid and reliable. The time in which the survey is going to be conducted has a direct consequence on the results attained from the study. It is important for the researcher to come up an effective work schedule that outlines when specific tasks are going to be performed during the study. The most appropriate survey will be a cross sectional survey which will relate why the students chose to study HRM and how this influences their future career ambitions (Mohrman, Gibson Mohrman 2001, p. 367). As a result, the research study will be able to address different factors being studied within a short period of time. More importantly, the researcher should also consider other factors such as failure by respondents to give out any information and how this impac ts on the quality of his study. As a result, he will be in a position to evaluate the goals of his research to find out if they conform to his initial expectations. References Cornelissen, JP Thorpe, R 2004, ‘The validity and usefulness of management theories: a review’, Leeds University Business School Working Paper Series, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 1-23. Mohrman, SA, Gibson, CB, Mohrman, AM 2001, ‘Doing research that is useful to practice: a model and empirical exploration’, Academy of Management Journal, vol. 44, pp. 357-376. Riege, AM 2003, ‘Validity and reliability tests in case study: a literature review with hand on applications for each research phase’, Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 75-86. Tsang, EW Williams, JN 2012, ‘Generalization and induction: misconceptions, clarifications, and a classification of induction’, MIS Quarterly, vol. 36 no. 10, pp. 1- 30. Vincent, LH, Bharadwaj, SG Challagalla, GN 2005, Antecedents, consequences, and the mediating role of organizational innovation: empirical generalizations, Singapore Management University, Singapore.

Identities of Cardiff, Wales, UK by quantitative evidence Essay

Identities of Cardiff, Wales, UK by quantitative evidence - Essay Example Of that total population two-thirds (210,000) are of working age and one-third (110,400) are dependents - children under fifteen, women over the age of 60 and men over the age of 65. In contrast, in Wales outside of Cardiff, a lower percentage of the population is still in the workforce. A mere 1,586,000 or 60% of the population is in the workforce, while 40% are classified as dependents. These means that there are more dependents per thousand workers in Wales than there are in Cardiff. Moreover, in Cardiff dependent children outnumber dependent adults while in the remainder of Wales dependent adults outnumber dependent children. Overall, therefor the population of Cardiff is younger than the population of Wales as a whole. In Cardiff a greater percentage of the population is still in the workforce and dependents about to enter the workforce outnumber dependents who have left the workforce. The general fertility rate in Cardiff is slightly lower than that in the remainder of Wales. The figure per thousand women in Cardiff is 57.2: Slightly less than the Welsh national figure which is 59.4. In the aggregate there are only limited differences between the two areas. However, if birthrate is analyzed by age distinct differences emerge. Simply put, women in Cardiff have children later than women in Wales as a whole. In Wales as a whole the birth rate exceeds that of Cardiff for all women under the age of 30. In Cardiff the opposite is true, the birth rate for women over the age of 29 is greater than the national average.. In terms of population movement and migration the city of Cardiff and Wales as a whole demonstrate similarities. Between 2003 and 2007 the population of Wales increased by 10,320 with 57,200 new arrivals and the departure of only 46,890. Similarly, in-migration increased the population of Cardiff during the same period by 820. While both study areas increased in

HCM307-0704A-01 The Health Care Industry - Phase 3 Discussion Board 2 Essay

HCM307-0704A-01 The Health Care Industry - Phase 3 Discussion Board 2 - Essay Example They found that the heavy costs of creating duplicate paperwork and sending it in several directions caused lost records, lost cost control and missed patient appointments. It’s a time-waster: Physicians have less and less time for patients. Is it going to take longer to work with these records than jotting down a few notes? While it still takes some learning, modern systems using PDA’s (hand-held devices), electronic pens and voice recognition (for some practices, like radiology) are well sorted-out and ready for prime time. Think about the time we’re wasting today: how long does it take to get a patient’s radiology films, his or her records from previous visits, and labs? How many times have you had to reach for the prescription pad and look up drug interactions? All of that can be handled from the PDA, including electronic transmission of the prescription to the pharmacy. It’s difficult to implement: It certainly requires changes on everyone’s part. A few years ago, implementing EMR with physicians meant installing PC’s on every desk, and requiring the physician to be tied to a chair while he/she laboriously put in all the needed patient data. Some physicians complained at having to learn new terms and change their workflow. Technology has become simpler and more intuitive to use. The ‘heavy lifting’ is done in the back, through servers and communicators. For physicians, the system is well thought-out and fits into our routine. There are so many vendors out there, how can they communicate? IT suppliers have been talking to one another through HL-7 protocols for years. The advent of new, open technologies like Java and XML have made it possible for different systems to talk to one another. Those horror stories about DICOM radiology images not blending with patient records? It’s all history now. And finally, â€Å"that sounds fine, but I’ll let my nurse do it.† The nurse and PA can certainly

Urban Issues in Canadian Cities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Urban Issues in Canadian Cities - Essay Example Canada is a highly urbanized country, with the majority of its population being city centered in the world. The issues that Canadian cities face on an urban level are divided into three main categories social, economic and ecological. All these play a major role in the overall urban growth of the area. A good interlinked transport system is one of the most basic requirements of a good urban space. Since interaction is one of the most important factors to let the urban environment flourish, a nicely designed transportation system is the backbone of an urban environment. (Le Gates, 2009) There has been a greater increase in population in Canada after the year 1996. More people have started to move into the cities and hence the economic and social factors are changing too, there has been an increased demand. There are basic elements that define a good urban space, legibility, permeability, variety, robustness, richness and visual appropriation. Any urban space can be analyzed with respect to these elements. Keeping the Canadian Cities in the view, one can look into the urban space that is offered by these cities. First of all, let’s look into what these elements mean. Legibility is basically defined as the ease with which one can understand the layout of the space; this includes both the physical form and activity patterns. Permeability both visual and physical describes the level of penetration that an urban space offers. A good urban space usually has the higher level of legibility and permeability. Variety includes both the visual elements and the mixed land use that break the monotony of an urban space. Robustness is basically the quality of urban space that allows multiple uses of the same space, more or less appropriateness. Richness is the quality of build environment in the urban space, whereas the visual appropriateness means how the visual elements can add up to the other elements  of urban design. (Alto, 1993)

Business strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business strategy - Essay Example The country has high political stability. However, the government has imposed certain trade regulations. For example, there is a strict restriction on the import and export of raw materials used for automobile manufacturing. Economical Factors: - The economic factors play an important role in the success of an industry. The economy of Japan is said to be highly stable and the country is currently witnessing an economic boom. The current GDP of the country is $5.984 trillion and the per capita income is $36,200 (CIA, 2013). The figures clearly reflect the robust nature of the economy of the country. The strong economy of the country is a positive indication of further growth of Honda in Japan. Social Factors: - The total population of the country as of 2012 is 127,368,088 (CIA, 2013). The major religion of the country is Shintoism which nearly accounts for 83.9 %, while Buddhism and Christianity accounts 7.14% and 2 % respectively. The major language is Japanese. The literacy rate is 99 %. In addition studies suggest that people of Japan are extremely passionate about cars. Hence the societal factors of Japan are extremely favourable for Honda’s business. Technological Factors: - Technology is a crucial factor for every business. The importance is more when it comes to the automotive industry. Honda depends heavily on technology to manufacture its products and market its products. In addition, technology is playing a critical role in the research and development function of the company. However, the favourable factor is that Japan is a technologically developed country and offers a strong technical infrastructure for the companies doing business in Japan. Environmental Factors: - With increasing awareness of environmental sustainability, car manufacturers are forced to come up with products which are eco friendly. Moreover, due to global warming, the Japanese government has imposed several restrictions on the use of petroleum products. This is why Honda h as come up with eco friendly cars such as Honda Hybrid. Japan has a different weather pattern and climate, which can negatively affect the engines. Hence, the weather of Japan can be a possible threat to the company. Legal Factors: - There are strict regulations imposed by the Japanese government on the automobile industry. Most of them are related to the safety of passengers, and welfare of the employees. In addition, there are some restrictions with import and export products to USA. Porter’s 5 Force Analysis Porter’s 5 forces model is another strategic management tool used to analyze the attractiveness of an industry. In this context of the study, Honda belongs to the automobile industry of Japan; hence the automobile industry of Japan will be evaluated. The analysis is presented below: - Force Density Properties Bargaining Power of Buyers High The principal reason behind this is the availability of a large number of car manufacturer and marketer in Japan Bargaining Power of Suppliers Low Suppliers of raw materials of the automobile industry are in large numbers. However, there are certain accessories which can be imported from some other parts of the world but due to stringent trade regulations; companies are bound to dependent on local suppliers. Threat of New Entrants Low The initial investment required to set up an automobile business is very

Strategic Management at Sainsburys

Strategic Management at Sainsburys Introduction The word â€Å"strategy† is often over-used in a fuzzy manner. Therefore this simple and straight-forward definition of strategy given by William E Rothschild, the business leader and an ex-General Electric veteran is one of the best available. He defines strategy as â€Å"What do you want to achieve or avoid? The answers to this question are objectives. How will you go about achieving your desired results? The answer to this you can call strategy.† The highlight of this definition is that it clearly distinguishes strategy from â€Å"objectives.† This assignment examines strategic management at Sainsburys, during various booms and busts from the days of its launch till date. The analysis is done within the various conceptual frameworks of strategic management in general and Michael Porters five forces model, in particular. Strategic Management An articulate, well-laid out and well-executed strategy is the cornerstone of long term prosperity of any business. Strategy operates at various levels, starting with Business or Corporate strategy. Since the ultimate goal of a business is to gain leadership position in one or the other form, business strategy shapes marketing strategy, competitive strategy and growth strategy. Corporate Strategy This is an organisation wide strategy that directs and controls the composition of all business activity. It starts with a clear and quantified mission statement. This area is a preserve of top management. Decisions are taken on: How resources will be allocated across the organisation Portfolio of activities for the firm Clear definition of the objectives One of the key ingredients of good strategic management is organisational leadership and its ability to clarify strategic intent. Driven by vision, it is â€Å"an articulation of a simple criterion or characterisation of what a company must become to establish and sustain global leadership.† (Source: Pearce et al pp 340). Competitive Strategy In an ideal situation of a monopoly, competitive strategy has no significance. But in reality this is never the case. In near perfect competition, leadership position comes to a business only by gaining sustainable advantage over its competititors. At times this also determines the growth paths that a business should take. For instance, evaluating a move away from core competence into a completely unrelated business, or initiating take-over of another business that can offer synergies. The five forces model Michael E Porter proposed the five forces model in 1980 in his book â€Å"Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors.† In this widely respected and accepted framework he suggests that there are five generic forces that act upon a business irrespective of what industry it operates in. These forces are: Competitive rivalry within the industry between existing businesses: The significance of this force in a sector such as the UK grocery retail sector, with large number of players, is the erosion of loyalty because of perceived commoditisation. Threat of new entrants: If the barriers to entry are low because of low capital investment or lack of regulation, it can create further pressure with price cutting. Bargaining power of suppliers: Leads to lack of control over the supply chain Bargaining power of customers: Erodes loyalty and causes switching Availability of substitutes: Once again erodes customer loyalty and causes switching. This is a real pressure on UKs retail sector. To counter these forces and gain competitive advantage a firm can adopt either or a combination of two business strategies: Comparative advantage / cost leadership: This emerges from economies of scale. It is a firms ability to source and produce at cost which is lower than its competitors and therefore earn higher margins. It does not necessarily mean offering lower price in the marketplace. Differential advantage / differentiation: Is a firms ability to create a unique perception about itself vis-à  -vis its competitors in the marketplace. It allows a business to cultivate loyal segments of customers. Sainsburys Background Founded and launched in 1869, J Sainsburys PLC has as rich a history as modern London. John James and Mary Ann Sainsbury launched their first store named Sainsburys at Drury Lane and quickly expanded to a chain of four shops by 1882. â€Å"Throughout companys history, the Sainsbury brand has been synonymous with good-quality, well-presented products, with 50 and 60 per cent of the range being sold under the various versions of Sainsburys brand.† (Source: Varley). An average Sainsburys supermarket today stocks approximately 30,000 products 50% of which are its own label. The company not only wants to deliver high quality products but also wants to be seen as doing this by its customer. (Source: Thompson et al pp 192). The mission of revival: In the last decade, the company has lost its leadership position to Tesco and ASDA.. Currently it has between 16-17% market share, and is placed at third position. In 2004, there was a change at the top level. In 2005, its new chief executive clarified the companys strategic intent by launching an organisation wide revival programme â€Å"Making Sainsburys Great Again† and announced a mission of increasing sales by  £2.5bn by the end of 2007-08. As a result of this turnaround program, at the end of this financial year, Sainsburys â€Å"has reported sales growth ahead of expectations.† (Source: BBC New Website) Competitive strategy: If history of successful businesses is analysed, it will clearly emerge that winners are in the top slots because of the risks they have take. Businesses hungry for long-term success identify gaps and problem areas and attempt to provide solutions to their customers. Leaders at the helm do this with a combination of instinct backed by objective analysis of emerging trends. This is precisely what Sainsburys did in an extremely tough economic and social environment during and after the World War II when external forces were threatening its existence. In a pioneering move in the UK market, the grocery chain re-engineered its store operations by adopting the American format of food-retailing. Its first â€Å"selfservice† store launched in 1950 immediately after the World War II, when food and other resources required for subsistence were scarce, became a success because it solved a major problem faced by customers it busted shopping queues. (Source: Sainsbur ys website). Such moves are evident through out its existence and its march towards becoming one of the best known retailers in the history of British business. Sainsburys today: A move towards consolidation and growth The company plans to focus on three of its core areas: Sainsburys Supermarkets, Sainsburys Online and Sainburys Bank Steps taken since 2004 in the retailing business: Price reduction across a number of products. Improving availability. Introduction of over 3000 new items. Introduction of nutritional labelling branded â€Å"Wheel of health† on over 1500 products. Introduction of â€Å"Try cards† under the slogan ‘Try Something New Today built on healthy eating plank. The initiative aims to add value to the food shopping habits and changing food consumption habits. Its success measured by â€Å"over 7 million ‘Try cards picked up in stores.† Engaging its 3500 smaller scale suppliers by launching a campaign â€Å"Supply Something.† The initiative is aimed at making local supply chain robust. Increasing non-food product categories especially to generate a minimum of  £700m sales. Initiating community participation programs such as â€Å"Active Kids campaign† involving donations of equipment to schools. Attempting to become a responsible corporate citizen by setting targets of reducing carbon emissions and introducing re-cycling. The company has a sourcing office in Hong Kong â€Å"Sainsburys serves 16 million customers each week in 455 supermarkets and 301 convenience stores across the country. The company employs 148,000 colleagues commited to delivering ‘Great Food at Fair Prices.† maintains the companys official website. All the above activities are aimed towards gaining either diffrential or cost leadership or a combination of both. The future There is an increase in sales in the grocery business over the last financial year amounting to Pounds 324 million a growth of 458.6% over 2006. However financial services that accounts for just 1.7% of the total sales has seen a fall of 11.8% over 2006. The organisation states one of it values as â€Å"Getting better Every Day.† In the current tight economic scenario, Shareholders are expecting most of the retailers to use their real estate assets for generating additional liquidity. But in a move completely reverse of the expectation, Sainsburys has tied-up with their lessor British Land. â€Å"Sainsburys also announced it was teaming up with British Land to create a  £1.2bn joint venture to run 39 superstores across the UK. The supermarket says it will invest  £273m into the venture, in which it will have a 50% stake. The stores are currently owned by British Land and leased to Sainsbury for 20 years.† (Source: BBC News Website). Land is the fundamental element in a large scale retail business and store location, store design and merchandise are all important critical success factors. It can be safely concluded that this recent collaborative move by Sainsburys is a deliberate long term. By investing in developing its stores, it can further hope to get a differential advantage over its competitors.