A balance scorecard analysis of compaq computer corparation

Compaq which comes from two words COMPatibility And Quality was founded in 1982 by Rod Canion, Jim Harris and Bill Murto with each of them investing $ 1,000 as starting capital for the organization.They tapped two key marketing executive from IBM company (Jim D’Arezzo and Sparky Sparks) in the early eighties who really helped in the positioning of Compaq as a household brand name in its early years with the assistance of other executives such as Ross A. Cooley, Michael Swavely, Mr. Colley.  Over the years, it grew to become one of the most successful PC manufactures company with a commanding market share and knocking out some of its competitors along the way. However it later merged with its biggest competitor in 2001.GROWTH OF COMPAQHaving being founded in 1982, Compaq announced its first product (Compaq Portable) in November 1982 which was released to the market in 1983. this was a start with a success being able to sell out 53,000 units in its first year at a price of $29 95. This was the start of the rolling of f of a number of its product which included the Compaq Deskpro in 1984, the Compaq Deskpro386 in 1986 and the Systempro (a server) in 1989. Compaq Deskpro 386 was an even bigger success and a mile stone as Compaq was able to set itself as a supplier of choice making IBM lose its image of technical leadership.The early 90s was Compaq dominating the market for servers driving off quite a number of competitors off the market in a price war. The late 90s was Compaq buying other technology companies becoming the second largest computer maker in the world.Things changed in 2001 as Compaq went into a merger with Hewlett-Packard changing their symbols from CPQ and HWP respectively to HPQ. Just like every other corporate merger, the merger between Compaq and Hewlett-Packard was faced with difficulties but this was worse as the two were global giants in the technical industry with the biggest challenge being bringing them together ‘without sacrif icing the customer-centric approach that divided them’.BALANCE SCORECARD‘A balance scorecard is a strategic planning and management system that is used extensively in business industry, government and non profit organizations worldwide to align business activities to the vision and strategy of the organization, improving internal and external communication and monitor organization.This tends to transform the organization strategic plan from an attractive but passive document into one that the organization uses on a day basis in its decision making’. (Balance Scorecard Institute 2008)Kaplan and Norton developed and linked it to firms’ strategic objectives to performance measurement. They also recommended broadening the scope of the measures to include

Developing a Sports Export Company

01. Is Sports Exports Company a multinational corporation? Answer:  Multinational corporations (MNCs) are defined as firms that engage in some form of international business. As the Sports Export Company sells it products to foreign countries & face to global environment. So, the Sports Exports Company is a multinational corporation. 02. Why are the agency costs lower for Sports Exports Company than for most MNCs? Answer:  Ã‚  The costs of ensuring that managers maximize shareholder wealth (referred to as agency cost) are normally higher for MNCs than the agency cost of Sports Export Company.Agency costs are lower for Sports Export Company simply because the owner and manager are the same. The owner does not have managers who are based in other countries or even in the same country at very early stage. 03. Does Sports Exports Company  have  any comparative advantage over potential competitors in foreign countries that could produce and sell footballs there? Answer:  Obvious ly,  the Sports Exports Company has a comparative advantage over potential competitors to other foreign countries.By applying an idea of producing low cost football and at the same time selling those items on a wholesale basis was become very successful in the  U. S. Market. As the Sports Exports Company are producing the item for a long time, the company will certainly enjoy some benefits like the advantages of being a first mover and at the same time will be able to build a rapport  with customers. The Sports Exports Company will be the first firm to benefit from the popularity. The potential competitors initially will not get the advantages of becoming a first mover and enough market shares.Also, the Sports Exports Company has a comparative advantage over the  U. S. firms that produce the top-of-the-line footballs in the  U. S. market and it also sells the footballs at a low price. 04. How would Jim Logan decide in which foreign markets he would attempt to enter? Should he initially attempt to focus on one or many foreign markets? Answer:  Ã‚  Jim Logan had previous experience about sporting goods shop and knew how to produce football. In addition to avoid any rent and labor expenses, Jim decided to produce the footballs in his own garage and to perform the work himself.For these advantages, it facilitated him to make decision where he would attempt to enter. At first, he decided to create a firm that would produce low priced footballs and sell them on a wholesale basis to various sporting good stores in the united State and then gradually in foreign countries. To do so, Jim had to consider various factors such as the potential demand for footballs in each country and the potential degree of competition in that country. He initially may focus on one specific country when establishing his international business and gradually may expand his international business across several different countries.To focus more than one foreign country, wide distr ibution channel, capital machineries and even more manpower is needed. But as a single entrepreneur, it might not become possible for Jim to arrange all of the things at a time rather   it is better that he could find a distributor of sporting goods that would sell the footballs to retail stores in various countries. 05. The Sports Exports Company has no immediate plans to conduct direct foreign investment. However, it might consider other less costly methods to establish its business in foreign markets.What methods might the Sports Exports Company use to increase its presence in foreign markets by working with one or more foreign companies? Answer:  Ã‚  The Sports Exports Company may consider any one of the collaborative arrangement like licensing, franchising or joint venture arrangement with other firms or industry. To make direct foreign investment, huge financial support and new arrangement are needed. Considering of all the factors rather  the Sports Exports Company may consider the above collaborative arrangement to reduce cost and maximize profit.

Effective Public Administrative System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Effective Public Administrative System - Essay Example Organizations must ensure that their employees follow the required procedures while handling their daily duties so that negative impacts are experienced and the organization achieves its desired outcomes. The technological advancement pressures the need for expertise in every field of production, improved living conditions, and an informed decision-making. An organization for example oil-producing company must have and implement strict policies governing its operations, occupational health, and compliance to the state laws governing processing and manufacturing industries (United Nations, 2005). The state requires that such companies must conduct environmental impact assessment so that they do not cause more harm to the environment and the people living within the vicinity of the industry. The state has in place the regulations and standards a company must meet before carrying out its operations, which the management of the organization must ensure that it complies and meets them, fa ilure to which permit is denied (United Nations, 2005). Oil producing companies require employees with technical expertise in the field of engineering to undertake most of its operations. The recruiting team of the company must ensure that they follow proper ways of employing, so that they do not end up messing with their operations, which consequences are faced by the society. The required knowledge and experience as per the law must be met; employing a software engineer to undertake, direct and supervise oil mining is not practical. The United Nations (2005) indicated that administrative staff of a company must ensure that their employees undergo appropriate induction training relevant to their area of specialization before they start working independently. Laxity in development and implementation of such policies might cause mishandling materials and machines resulting into an explosion causing injuries and deaths. Health facilities are very sensitive area that requires its emplo yees, nurses and doctors, to be qualified and certified by the board. A pharmacist cannot even at one point undertake surgery. It will be going against human right and is unethical as per the work norms and regulations of the country. Deaths will be caused; therefore, the government must ensure that people who are not trained and certified should by the authorizing body do not operate a medical facility, as that is breach of law which the individual must be punished for. Nurses who serve patients impolitely do not deserve to do the jobm because the patients might get traumatized due to stress. The impact caused could have been prevented if there were strict policies and regulations (United Nations, 2005). According to United Nations (2005), corruption is a barrier towards attainment of strong and effective administration of public policies. When politics is allowed to influence the functioning of an organization, for instance, when somebody presents his or her candidate for a certai n position, the independence of the organization no longer exists. The judicial system must be independent and reforms have to be made after a period, so that weaker laws are strengthened. Relying with the old system poses more problems than good to the society. Adoption of new technology improves the performance and operations of an organization. Acquisition of equipment that detects danger and alerts the employees reduces the number of risks

Organizational Ecosystem Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Organizational Ecosystem Case Study - Essay Example Although an ecosystem could be a source of many benefits, for organizations to thrive in their respective ecosystems, they must understand their individual ecosystems as well as how they function (Townsend, 2014). This is mostly important in avoiding ecosystem blindness. Business ecosystem has many benefits both for small and large businesses. The main aim of these ecosystems is to ensure that all companies stay in business by depending on each other. For a small business, functioning in an ecosystem provides a proprietary advantage that such a business needs so as to compete with larger organizations. Additionally, it provides the mechanism required to lever ideas of excellence in technology, research, marketing, and business in various industry sectors into a global competitive force. This is one of the goals that most businesses strive to achieve and that can be made possible through participation within an ecosystem. Ecosystems are also responsible for providing resistance to inv asions in business. Additionally, ecosystems also provide resilience that many businesses need against external changes especially in dynamic and unstable business environments. Furthermore, the type of adaptation that is necessary in surviving change is usually established and contributed towards by the rapid innovation, which is achievable under ecosystems. Wal-Mart is one of the largest retail companies in the world that have embraced ecosystem due to the benefits that it can gain and those it can pass to other businesses in the same ecosystem. By understanding the functioning of its ecosystem, Wal-Mart has managed to dominate its market. This is mostly because of the approach strategies that the company used in participating within its ecosystem. Ecosystem plays a critical role in Wal-Mart’s innovation efforts in two main ways. While taking the structure of its ecosystem in consideration, Wal-Mart managed to

Film assingnment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Film assingnment - Assignment Example One of the most famous scenes in the film is the scene where Hoffman jumps into the swimming pool and sinks to the bottom. This is an extraordinary mise-en-scene which captures the heart of the movie, the story, and the character’s place in the world. The scene begins with Hoffman’s father building up suspense and talking to a group of friends gathered by a swimming pool in a suburban neighbourhood. The colours are bright, but generally pastels. Hoffman enters wearing a diving suit. Nothing can be heard of the people around him. Their mouths move, but he is unable to hear them. The mask and suit are isolating, separating him from others around him. He is alone and tired of the people he knows, people who are alien to him. His vision is also circumscribed by the mask which cuts off his peripheral vision. Clearly, the director wants the viewer to have the sensation that Hoffman is limited and separated from the world around him. He doesn’t belong and doesn’t yet understand his place in this world. The next part of the scene is where Hoffman falls in the water and is looking up at the world through the water of the swimming pool. He looks at his father through the mask. His father’s hand keeps reaching out, pushing him back into the water. Clearly, the father thinks this is all in good fun, but we get the sense that Hoffman is not enjoying this moment. The camera then pans out on Hoffman in his divers suit standing on the bottom of the pool. His suit is of no real purpose. He is not diving or hunting, he is just standing, doing nothing, while above his friends and family chatter on. The camera pans further out until Hoffman disappears in the murk of the suburban swimming pool. It is a brilliantly accomplished conclusion to one of the most famous scenes in American cinema. Throughout the scene, sound is very important. For example, Hoffman cannot hear anything except the sound of his own breathing. The voices of those around him a re silent, even though he can see they are talking. It is a lonesome perspective and one that is carefully achieved by the director. He is trapped in his head, trapped in his body, with no way of expressing himself to the outside world. Many of the themes of this film have been discussed at length over the numerous decades since it the Graduate was made. One of the most significant is clearly the generation gap. The 1960s marked a change in the demographics of America. The Baby Boomers, born after the Second World War, were finally coming into their own. These young men and women had very different ideas than many of their parents did. They were not shy about expressing these ideas, but they were often ridiculed and had trouble finding their place in the world. This is seen in how Hoffman, or Ben, has trouble relating to his parents, and in the desperate relationship he begins with Mrs. Robinson, played by the estimable Anne Bancroft. The corruption and boredom of suburban life are also important elements that are in play throughout the film. Deracination is very much a theme in the film. Mrs. Robinson, as much as Benjamin, appears to be isolated and unloved. She too has trouble understanding the world around her. She may seem less questioning and more confident than Benjamin but she too is a product of the post-war world and is very unhappy in it. The Graduate is a film for all seasons and repeated viewing brings out more and more elements worthy of discussion. However, the key scene is at the swimming pool as Benjamin in full, useless diving

Whether or not legislation should legalize marijuana for personal use Essay - 1

Whether or not legislation should legalize marijuana for personal use in Arizona - Essay Example Demands of making marijuana legal and authorized are against the health majors and ways to safeguard the physical wellness. By making the marijuana legal, the price will get declined terribly resulting in greater use of the drug. Altered state, the RAND Corporation has made a report that determined the possible outcomes in case of making the marijuana legal (RAND, 2012). According to the report, the cost of marijuana will crash rapidly that will ultimately force the addictives to consume it in greater quantity. It is the illicit nature of the drugs that has kept the prices of drugs to a higher slot. The use of drug is highly dependable on the availability of money, for the young children it is a good factor to make them away from the drug by remaining it non-affordable. The consumption of the items that have been declared as illegal such as tobacco and alcohol has left behind the marijuana use (Lowinson 1393). Thus, giving a clear signal that making things legal can enhance the availability and it gets acceptable by the majority. It can be clearly evident in the case of highly restricted prescription drugs like oxycontin, the drug became far more easily reachable then before resulting in inappropriate use. Although, the high restrictiveness was there to prevent all such acts. The revenue generated by the tax could be counterbalance by the social costs these legalize products put on the society. The social cost of alcohol and tobacco is much greater than the tax and other revenue it produce. In 2007, the tax collected by the federal excise was determined to be as $9 billion; however, only $5.5 billion was collected. On the other hand, $185 billion was the total social cost resulted from the alcohol and tobacco regarding health problems, criminal cases, lack of potency at workspace and other issues (The White House, 2013). The collected tax

Letter to editor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Letter to editor - Essay Example I had talked with fellow students who graduated months ago but still jobless as of now as there are no decent job offers. I am afraid the same situation will prevail in Denver by the time I will also graduate. I am sure many natives of Denver will agree with my assessment that our economy is not doing as well as it should. Statistics from May 2009 showed 225,000 people in Denver (Harden 1) who were out of a job and slim prospects of ever finding one. The number of jobless people had gone down a little bit to 195,700 this month and the man’s face sitting in the chair at an employment office exemplified feelings of hopelessness and disbelief felt by people who are in despair at not finding any decent jobs. The man in the suit from the Bureau of Economic Statistics standing nearby is also grossly out of touch with the reality on the ground. Employment numbers and economic data showing a modest recovery are useless and meaningless to a lot of people who are still looking for work until now. My intended audience is the people of Denver who are unemployed and probably desperately looking for a job. The target readership could include people who still have jobs today but are worried about how the economy will turn out as the recovery seems very weak and in danger of falling back into a recession (a double-dip recession feared by economists). Readers from surrounding areas of Denver and perhaps the entire state of Colorado also comprise the corollary readership audience. The Denver Post is one of the leading regional papers and will be read by people from many neighboring states like Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming or even as far away as Idaho and Texas. People in these states know the real economic situation in terms of employment rates and will certainly agree with my sentiments about how our leaders are managing our nation’s finances. My response to the cartoon will resonate with this audience and they will