Analysing Strategy And Operations Management - Free Essay Example

Todays business environment is complex, dynamic and uncertain and is influencing the strategies of modern enterprises (Beirnat, 2004). It is generally understood that there is a growing change in relationships between buyers and sellers which are impacting the way in which business is conducted (Buttle, 2007). Industry reports suggest that changes in todays social and economic environment have had an impact on consumer spending behaviours. In such an unpredictable environment, the management of customer relationships becomes vital to the success of a business (Dyche, 2002). This realisation has prompted studies in the area of strategic management with the aim of gaining an understanding of a firms internal and external environment and developing strategies to exploit internal capabilities and external opportunities (Slack et al, 2006). The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the activities of John Lewis and explore its business operations in relation to Michael Porters generic strategies model. The paper will continue by examining Michael Porters value chain analysis and apply the theories practically to John Lewis. The paper will also discuss how the added value creates distinctive competences and lead to a competitive advantage for the business. Company Background John Lewis plc John Lewis is a UK retailer which comes under the umbrella name of John Lewis Partnership. The Group comprises of John Lewis department stores, Waitrose supermarkets, John Lewis Direct and the direct services company Greenbee. It is a public limited company owned by its employees (Partners) who influence the running the business and who benefit from a share of the companys annual profits. The chain has an upmarket image which appeals strongly to a middle class core customer base. Chart 1: John Lewis Plc market share 2003 2007 (Mintel, 2007) The chart shows the market share growth for John Lewis from 2003 to 2007. The chart displays a steady growth pattern during this period. It would be fair to suggest that John Lewis has been performing well within the market as it market share has grown year on year. Mintel reports forecast that the retailer will continue to witness steady growth within its industry and states that John Lewis will be one of few retailers who will sustain growth despite changes in the economic climate and consumer spending behaviours. Activities John Lewis department stores offer a wide range of goods, including electrical, home garden, sports and fashion goods, with many brands exclusive to John Lewis. Waitrose supermarkets sell a large number of own-brand goods which are mainly in the food and household-cleaning sectors. Both parties place emphasis on quality goods and customer service, rather than low prices. To date the partnership comprises of 234 Waitrose supermarkets, 30 John Lewis department stores, John Lewis Direct an online and catalogue business and Waitrose a online grocery service, Greenbee a direct services company, which is supported by nine distribution centres, three production units and a farm. The Partnership has implemented a programme of social activities for partners, which includes a golf club; playing fields and tennis courts; two large country estates with parklands; a sailing club with five cruising yachts and two country hotels offering holiday accommodation for partners. Partners are also enrolled in a pension scheme, given very generous holidays, and are part of a death in service insurance scheme. Additionally, upon completing twenty five years of service with the Partnership, they are given six month paid break. Principles The John Lewis Partnership defines its business on seven distinctive principles. They acclaim that these principles are as relevant to todays business environment as they were when first introduced by its founder, John Spedan Lewis in 1906. [See Appendix 1 for Partnership Principles] These principles are considered the backbone of the Partnerships activities and ultimately the force behind the success of the Partnership. The notion of trust and respect to all its members, customers and business partners is incorporated into the Partnerships business strategy: The Partnerships reputation is founded on the uniqueness of our ownership structure and our commercial success. Our purpose is the happiness of all our members, through their worthwhile, satisfying employment in a successful business, with success measured on our ability to sustain and enhance our position both as an outstanding retailer and as a thriving example of employee ownership. (John Lewis Partnership, 2002) The strategy is centred on satisfying three independent objectives: partners, customers and profit. They state that these objectives demand an appetite of innovation, continuous improvement and enterprise to maintain the spirit of their commercial and democratic capability. This ideology will be explored in further detail to verify its true validity. Stakeholder Groups The Partnership has recognised the importance of its operations in relation to their internal and external environment. This is apparent when considering the Partnerships Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). They state that the management of social, ethical and environmental issues involve everyone and through active engagement with their stakeholders they determine their business priorities, how they manage and monitor their performance, how they determine their business goals and objectives, and how they ensure that they are living up to their promises on a daily basis. This is achieved through the alignment of the Partnership seven business principles and current thinking on their corporate social responsibility. This alignment sets out how the business perceives its responsibilities in terms of community investments, environmental protection, responsible sourcing and trading and workplace equality, diversity and dignity. This is communicated through the Partnerships corpor ate social responsibility policy: As a responsible retailer, owned beneficially by our employees (Partners), we believe that the long-term future of the Partnership is best served by respecting the interests of all our stakeholders: Partners, customers, suppliers and the wider community. We look actively for opportunities to improve the environment and to contribute to the wellbeing of the communities in which we trade. Our CSR policy sets out the principles we follow and the programmes we have developed to focus on the areas where we have significant impact or influence. (John Lewis Partnership, 2002) The corporate social responsibility policy is based on four key principles: shared responsibility, honesty and accountability, sustainable progress, and demonstrable progress; and four programmes are set in place to ensure its governance: environment, relationships, communities and partners [see Appendix 2 for CSR principles and programmes]. Competition Keynote reports state the retail industry is one which is face with strong competition from small family-run stores to larger multinational well established outlets. Mintel reports state that each retailer tries to differentiate itself from the competition, but the strategy that the company uses to sell its products is the most important factor. Mintel reports further state that the department store market can be divided into the following main areas: Luxury department stores: Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges. Middle market department stores: Debenhams, Marks and Spencer (MS) and John Lewis. Price-led department stores: The Co-operative, TJ Hughes and Boyes. John Lewis falls into the category of middle market department stores. The middle market retailing area will be the focus of this paper. The key players in this market are: Marks and Spencer, John Lewis, Debenhams and House of Fraser [See Appendix 3 for company profiles]. Industry reports state that the market leader is Marks and Spencer despite having a dip in sales and market share over recent years. The number two player, John Lewis is said to be further widening the gap between itself and rival player number three Debenhams. House of Fraser is the number four player who appears to have struggled most during the recession. [See appendix 4 for industry trends] Analysis Competitive Advantage The early 1980s witnessed growth of theoretical studies surrounding the concept of competitive advantage with the objective of defining strategic goals of a business (Kak Sushil, 2002). A key writer on competitive advantage is Michael Porter (1985) who stated that the goal of all businesses is to achieve a competitive advantage in relation to its industry rivals. Porter (1980) developed the five forces model as a framework for analysing industry competitiveness. This model enabled managers to understand the external business environment, identify opportunities and threats, and allowed them to develop strategies to compete with industry rivals. The PEST analysis (Political, Economic, Social, and Technological) or PESTEL analysis (including Environmental and Legal factors) is another framework developed to allow managers understand the external environment. John Lewis Partnership PEST Analysis Political: Political stability, tax policy, environmental regulations Economic: Economic growth, inflation rates, unemployment rates, interest rates Social: Demographics, class structure, attitudes Technological: Technology incentives, RD activity, technological developments These are the key factors of the external environment that affect John Lewis based on the PEST analysis. Factors such as class structure and technological developments have a direct impact on the Partnership due to the nature of the business and because of its core customer base. Other factors such as political stability, economic growth and unemployment rates have a greater impact on the retail industry and influence consumer buying behaviour. It is fair to conclude that the Partnership as responded effectively to changes in the external environment based on considering the activities of the business. Industry rivalry has witnessed a shift in core business activities from traditional methods suc h as bricks and mortar and high street store to bricks and clicks where stores also have an online presence. The partnership adopted an online presence in 2001 and has since witness rapid sales and profit growth as a result. According to Porter (1985), merely achieving a competitive advantage is not enough for long term success but rather developing a strategy that allows for creating and sustaining a superior competitive advantage is essential for long term business success. Porter (1980), also states that a sustainable competitive advantage is one which is difficult to duplicate and allows a firm to gain higher profits than its rivals. Acquiring and sustaining a competitive advantage can be seen as the primary strategic aim of a firm in todays dynamic business environment (Beirnat, 2004). Heerkens (2006), states that the following elements are required to enable a firm to develop an effective competitive strategy: A firm must clearly define itself in terms of its basis fo r competing, and its standards for measuring its success. A firm must develop a methodical understanding of its internal strengths and weaknesses. A firm must evaluate its strengths and weaknesses and specifically focusing on its position relative to the external business environment. A company must develop policies and methods to communicate information to all areas within the business. Buttle (2007) stresses the importance of understanding a firms internal environment and building on unique capabilities for gaining a competitive advantage. The SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) was developed as s tool for analysing the internal and external environment. It provides a firm with useful information for matching its resources and capabilities to the environment in which it operates. It is argued that successful strategies depend on accumulating competencies and exploiting them by matching these competencies to the market opportunities (Kak Su shil, 2002). Identifying a firms core competences is the key to making this connection. [See Appendix 5 for John Lewis SWOT Analysis] Core competencies Core competencies are often described as a collection skills and resources that enable a firm to add value to its business operations (Porter, 1980). Kak and Sushil (2002), state that a firms organisational learning, effective technology management, and people provide important sources of core competences. The effective management of such resources and the ability to link between a firms resources and business strategy can be considered as key for sustaining a competitive advantage (Slack et al, 2006). Heerkens (2006), suggest a firms core competences should possess the following five characteristics in order to add maximum value to its operations: They should provide a firm with an opportunity to gain access to a wide variety of products and markets. They should be capable of contributing in a demonstrative way to the benefits of end products, as perceived by customers and they are able to impact what customers care about. They should make a company unique in compariso n to industry rivals. They should be difficult for competitors to duplicate. They are should be stable and sustainable. It is fair to suggest that the core competences in the case of John Lewis are its employees (Partners). The Partnerships unique structure means that each partner has a vested interested in the success of the business. They strive at serving customers to the best of their abilities to ensure customer leave with a memorable and pleasurable experience thus strengthening the brand of the business and instilling customer loyalty. These are intangible core competence which can prove difficult to measure and manage. As a result, rival firms have found it difficult to replicate such a competency and this is evident when considering industry market share figures and customer satisfaction surveys. It is argued that this strategy has proved successful to the Partnership and has resulted in long lasting relationships with customers crossing generations. The Partner ships outlets can be considered as tangible or physical competencies. The Partnership has carefully selected the locations of its large multifunctional outlets in popular busy cities to focus their efforts towards their core customer base. Oxford Street is the location of their head office branch and with 3 other outlets in London, 3 in Scotland and many other outlets across England and Wales. It is fair to suggest that these outlets have been strategically placed at busy upmarket locations to maximise their sale potential. Arguably, the added value created by the Partnerships core competences can also be regarded as it distinctive capabilities because these attributes characterise the business and has given the Partnership a competitive advantage superior to that of its rivals. Competing retailers have attempted to replicate these capability but arguably have not witness equal measures of success as John Lewis, Generic Strategy Model Porter (1980), states that a firm can achieve a competitive advantage either by selling its products and services at a lower price or by differentiating its products and services. This calls for an understanding of Michael Porters generic strategies model. The model identifies 3 distinctive strategies as sources of a competitive advantage: Cost Leadership Strategy, Differentiation Strategy and Focus Strategy. [See Appendix 6 for Generic Strategies] It is fair to suggest that John Lewis has implemented a hybrid strategy which includes elements of a focus strategy and a differentiation strategy. Their strategy is deemed a focus strategy in terms their core middle class customer base instead of aiming their product to the mass market. Arguably, this is because of the type of products the retailer is offering to its customer and due to the price of their products which are often higher than competition. The Partnership believes that their higher prices are justified and that their c ustomers do not just benefit from a transaction but leave with a memorable experience. It is fair to suggest that this strategy has been successful for the business when considering their sale figures as the Partnerships sales were up ÂÂ £204.7m, 3%, to ÂÂ £6.97bn at the end of 2009. Notably, the Partnerships online operations witnessed a sales increase of ÂÂ £64.8m, 24.2% to ÂÂ £332.9m. Differentiation is another strategic direction the business strives towards. One way in which this is achieved is by ensuring that their Partners receive extensive product knowledge training in order to answer almost any possible question their customer may have about their products. Another way in which this is achieved is in their efforts in satisfying their customers. They strive at providing their customers with the best possible service and setting their standards above what they perceived to be satisfactory within the industry they operate. It is fair to suggest that the y have been successful in their efforts as they their online business, John Lewis Direct was voted best online retailer of the year by Which in May 2010. The Partnerships sister company Waitrose was also voted best supermarket of the year in September 2010, for a second year running. Murray (1988), states that the Porters generic strategies concept is disappointing because it does not explain how any generic strategies can be implementing, it is confusing and it disfavours practicing managers by advocating limitations to adopting a single generic strategy where no empirical evidence exist to support such a limitation. He argues that the contingency approach is a way of overcoming such limitations associated with Porters generic strategy model as it dismisses the perception of limiting oneself to a single strategy and it also demonstrates that each generic strategy is associated with a cluster of generic means. This argument and other alternative theories must be explored in gr eater detail by researchers and decision makers to gain a truly holistic perspective on current strategic thinking. It is of value exploring contrary conceptual frameworks and supporting theories in order to gain a true understanding of the study area and for discerning which concepts and theories can be applied practically to a satiation or a unique business. Value Chain Organisational planning and control often focus on the performance of several different business functions within a firm (Buttle, 2007). Porters value chain analysis is a common way of displaying these business functions and is a useful framework to analyse specific activities which enable a firm to create value and ultimately develop a competitive advantage (Heerkens, 2006). The framework displays a sequence of business functions from which a firm can add value to its operations through various primary and support activities (Porter, 1985). [See Appendix 7 for Value Chain] Porter (1980), states that the value chain model is a useful tool for analysing a firms core competences and identifying its distinctive capabilities. Heerkens (2006) suggests that the successful management of value chain activities involves the management of the outcomes with an awareness of inputs, rigorous management of the several channels and flows, and the management of relationships which include: inte rnal relationships, business relationships and customer relationships. In the case of John Lewis, it can be argued that service is the businesses core primary activity with marketing and sale being secondary. This assessment is based on their applied differentiation strategy from porters generic strategies model where interactions with their customer are at the centre of their business philosophy. It is fair to suggest that service ensures customer satisfaction and customer retention for the Partnership whilst sales and marketing facilitates continued profit and growth for the business which will ultimately benefit their partners who are the owners of the business and receive a percentage of the profits the business generates. The partnership has two key support activities which complement its primary activities. It can be argued that the Partnership Human Resource Management through recruitment and selection practices ensures that the business attracts and retains high standa rds within its workforce. It is in the best interest of the business to employ individuals with the passion and drive for success and who will also adopt the spirit of the Partnership in order to maintain its strong reputation and high standards. Technology developments such as having an online presence is said to be another means adopted by the Partnership to exploit its core competencies. Mintel reports states that the Partnerships online presence has grown from strength to strength since its initial introduction in 2001. Arguably, the Partnership is using their website as a mean to not only reach customer in remote location but also to target their marketing and sales activities and increase the growth potential. Conclusion The strategic direction of a firm is one of great importance to managers in todays business environment. Michael Porter provides several conceptual frameworks which support decision makers in understanding their internal and external environment as well as evaluating potential threats and possible opportunities. Key theorists within the study area discuss Porters Generic Strategies Model and Value Chain Model as exhibiting essential characteristics in understanding a firms activities and exploiting core competencies. In the case of the John Lewis Partnership, Porters theories have provided valuable information to facilitate the understanding of the business and the environment in which it operates. Gaining such an understanding will allow decision makers not only to measure and control performance but also develop and implement future strategies to ensure continued growth for the business. It is of value to explore alternative conceptual frameworks in addition to Porters theo ries when conducting research in the study area to enable a truly holistic perspective on future studies and to mitigate any limitations associated with past theories and isolated or abstract theoretical deductions. References Beirnat, J. E., 2004. Strategic management: Text Cases. 1st ed. New York: McGraw Hill. Boddy, David., 2005. Management: An Introduction. 3rd ed. London: Prentice Hall. Businessballs, (2008). Learning and Development Resource. [Online] Available from World Wide Web: https://www.businessballs.com [accessed 13 October, 2010] Buttle, Francis., 2007. Customer Relationship Management: Concepts and Tools. 3rd ed, Netherlands: Elsevier Ltd. Debenhams (2001), [Online] Available from World Wide Web: https://www.debenhams.com/ [accessed 13 October, 2010] Dyche, Jill., 2002. The CRM Handbook: A Business Guide to Customer Relationship Management. 1st ed. Canada: Addison Wesley. Heerkens, Gary., 2006. The Business Savvy Project Manager: Indispensable Knowledge and Skills for Success. 1st ed. New York: McGraw-Hill. House of Fraser (1999), [Online] Available from World Wide Web: https://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/ [accessed 13 October, 2010] John Lewis Direct (2001), [Online] Available from World Wide Web: https://www.johnlewis.com [accessed 13 October, 2010] John Lewis Partnership (2002), [Online] Available from World Wide Web: https://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/ [accessed 13 October, 2010] Kak, Anjana., and Sushil., 2002. Understanding Flexibility in Supply Chains: A Conceptual Framework and Models. Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Vol. 3, (4), pp. 23-38 Keynote (2007). The Home of Market Intelligence, [Online] Available from World Wide Web: https://www.keynote.co.uk [accessed 13 October, 2010] Marks and Spencer (1999), [Online] Available from World Wide Web: https://www.marksandspencer.com/ [accessed 13 October, 2010] Mintel (2007), Consumer and Market Insight, [Online] Available from World Wide Web: https://academic.mintel.com [accessed 13 October, 2010] Murray, I., Alan., 1988. A Contingency View of Porters Generic Strategies. The Academy of Management Review, Vol. 13, (3), pp. 390-400 NetNBA (2002), Business Knowledge Resource, [Online] Available from World Wide Web: https://www.netmba.com/ [accessed 13 October, 2010] Porter, E., Michael., 1980. Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors. New York: The Free Press. Porter, E., Michael., 1985. Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance. 1st ed. New York: The Free Press. QuickMBA (1999), Online Knowledge Resource, [Online] Available from World Wide Web: https://www.quickmba.com/ [accessed 13 October, 2010] Rowson, Pauline., 2009. Successful Marketing: Get Brilliant Results Fast. 1st ed. London: Crimson Publishing. Slack, Nigel., Chanbers, Stuart., Johnston, Robert., 2010. Operations Management. 6th ed. London: Prentice Hall Appendix 1 Partnership Seven Principles The Partnerships Seven Principles which define the business (John Lewis Partnership, 2002): Purpose: The purpose of the Partnership is the ultimate happiness of its members. This is through their worthwhile and satisfying employment in a successful business. The Partnership is owned in trust for its members who share the responsibilities of ownership of the business as well as its profit rewards, knowledge and power sharing. Power: There are three main governing authorities within the Partnership who share power; the Partnership Council, the Partnership Board and the Chairman. Profit: The aim of the Partnership is to make acceptable profit from its trading operations to sustain its commercial presence, to finance its continued development and to distribute a share of its profits to its members each year. The profits also enable the Partnership to undertake other activities consistent with the aims of the business. Members: The aim of the Partnership is to employee indiv iduals of ability and integrity who are committed to working together and ultimately to supporting the principles of the Partnership. Relationships are based on mutual respect and courtesy, with equality between its members as differences of responsibility permit. The aim of the Partnership is to recognise each individuals contributions and to reward them fairly. Customers: The aim of the Partnership is to deal honestly with its customers and to secure their loyalty and trust by providing excellent choice, value and service. Business Relationships: The aim of the Partnership is to conduct all its business relationships with integrity and courtesy and to honour accurately every business agreement. The Community: The aim of the Partnership is to obey with spirit and the letter of the law and to contribute to the wellbeing of the communities in which the Partnership operates. Appendix 2 Corporate Social Responsibility (John Lewis Partnership, 2002) Principles Shared Responsibility: The Partnerships unique structure means that its members share the responsibilities of ownership and benefit from its rewards. The aim of the Partnership is to develop and implement social and environmental policies which fit in with its members everyday responsibilities and activities. Honesty and Accountability: The democratic ownership structure means sharing power, profit and knowledge. The Partnership communicates its environmental policies, objectives and performance openly and honestly to its partners and to others who share an interest in the business activities, including customers and suppliers. The Partnership encourages them to communicate with the business and continuously seek their views. Sustainable Progress: The Partnership is committed to improving its performance. They take into account technical developments, changing scientific evidence, costs and customer concerns and expectations in the development and implementation of all new so cial and environmental policies and procedures. They monitor their performance, set regular objectives for improvements and report business progress. Demonstrable Compliance: The Partnership guarantees to meet all relevant legislation and exceed where possible. Where no legislation exists they aim to develop and implement their own appropriate working practices and business standards. Programmes Environment: The aim of the Partnership is take all reasonable steps to manage its operations so as to minimise the environmental impact and to promote good environmental practice. They set and follow high standards in food production, quality and safety. They promote responsible and sustainable methods of agriculture, animal husbandry and biodiversity; and review regularly the business practices and performance to identify how they can improve their energy efficiency, minimise packaging and reduce water usage, waste disposal and air emissions. Relationships: They will conduct their business relationships with integrity and courtesy, and honour all trading commitments. Their aim is to build long-term relationships with suppliers and provide support for small, local, specialist producers. The Partnership is committed to trading fairly with all it suppliers, and will communicate their responsible sourcing expectations to them in the areas of health, safety and worker welfare, sust ainable and profitable agriculture, high animal welfare standards, biodiversity and good environmental practice. Communities: They aim to build lasting relationships with their customers, suppliers and the local communities by encouraging Partners to consider the needs of others and involve themselves in public service. They obtain a wide range of views on their social and environmental policies and performance. Partners: They will respect their Partners and encourage individual training and development. They will promote equality as differences in responsibilities permit and consider the interests of their Partners including their welfare, health and safety. The aim of the Partnership is to empower Partners and they will recognise individual contributions and reward Partners fairly. Their ultimate aim is the happiness of its members through their worthwhile and satisfying employment in a successful business Appendix 3 Marks and Spencer plc Marks and Spencer is a leading clothing retailer in the UK and a major operator in the grocery sector. The retailer operates 600 stores in the UK and 300 stores internationally in over 40 territories. The company has witnessed a rapid recovery within the retail sector under the management of Stuart Rose until a more subdued second half of 2007/08 (Mintel, 2007). According to Keynote reports, Marks and Spencer has made promising progress towards resurrection in recent years. This has been achieved by re-establishing its style and value credentials through improvements to product offer, price positioning, stores and marketing. Other improvements to cost controls and buying have helped sales and profit margins Chart 2: Marks and Spencer market share 2003 2007 (Mintel, 2007) The chart shows a steady increase of market share for Marks and Spencer from 2003 to 2007 with the exception of 2007 as the retailer lost market share. This could have been due to a global economic crisis resulting in changes in consumer spending behaviours. Debenhams plc Debenhams is a leading UK department store chain with a greater preference to fashion than home products. The store has differentiated itself through a large portfolio of private labels, including popular designers at Debenhams ranges. International franchising is a small but rapidly growing part of the retailers business. Debenhams has 153 stores across the UK and Ireland and a fully transactional website, reflecting Debenhams commitment to offering customer greater value, a wider choice and excellent service across every area in which it operates. Chart 3: Debenhams market share 2003 2007 (Mintel, 2007) The chart shows the market share activity for Debenhams from 2003 to 2007. There appears to have been some steady growth for the retailer from 2003 to 2005, however, they suffered a loss in 2006 and struggled to regain their position as there was no market share changes from 2006 to 2007. House of Fraser Ltd House of Fraser is one of the oldest department stores in the UK. The department store was founded in Glasgow, Scotland in 1749. Mintel reports state that the department store had lost its way in the new millennium resulting in repositioning itself as a premium brand under its new owners, the Highland Group in November 2006. The early signs appear promising, but it is argued that many question marks remain. House of Fraser has 62 stores across the UK and Ireland and a fully transactional website. The retailer offers luxurious items at affordable prices; from beauty essentials to home accessories. The premium department store strives to offer its customers an enjoyable and pleasant shopping experience both, online and in store. Chart 4: House of Fraser market share 2003 2007 (Mintel, 2007) The chart shows the market share activity for House of Fraser from 2003 to 2007. It is fair to suggest that the retailer has struggled relatively more to retain customers and generally maintain growth across this period. The retailer lost market share between 2003 and 2004, it then grew market share in 2005. However, this was short lived as there appeared to be a steady decline from 2005 to 2007 with 2007 displaying the lowest market share figures for the retailer during that period. Appendix 4 Industry Trends Department stores operate in several different product markets which make the business more complex than specialist formats. However, it is argued that having such a variation of products offer a measure of protection to the business (Mintel, 2007). Keynote reports suggest that demand for core department store products like clothing, brown goods and personal care products were strong during the five years leading up to 2007. Despite this many department stores failed to capitalise fully on the boom times and lost market share to industry rivals. The financial crisis of 2008/09 has resulted in a change in customer spending patterns. Industry reports suggest that customers have favoured lower ticketed items for themselves and their homes over discretionary purchases such as furniture, brown and white goods. As a result, department stores have found it increasingly difficult to compete with specialist operators like clothing or electrical retailers. Many retailers have responded by narrowing their product offering whilst others have focused their efforts on customer retention and reviewed their pricing policies. Mintel reports state that the retail market has witnessed a 0.5% sales reduction in 2009 and predict that this trend will carry over into 2013. They state that the winners in the department store sector will be those that can adapt best to their customers changing needs, earn their loyalty and trust and at the same time keep a tight rein on cost and working capital. Figure 1: Consumer Confidence Index, Jan 2006-Oct 2008 (Mintel, 2007) Figure 1 shows a decline in consumer confidence, which was accelerated in July 2008. It is argued that this was a result of an increase in prices such as utility bills and the news that inflation was continuing to rise. Mintel sources suggest that a less confident consumer is more likely to cut back on discretionary spending which will have a direct impact on department stores especially those operating in the middle market like John Lewis and Marks and Spencer. Figure 2: UK GDP growth, 1989-2008 (Mintel, 2007) Figure 2 shows the lowest growth rate since the last recession. This supports the argument that the external environment is having a direct impact on consumer behaviour and ultimately affecting the British economy. Figure 3 displays the sales and market share figures for the key department store competing within the middle market sector. The figures for both sales and market share support the argument that Mark and Spencer is the clear leader within the industry. This is no surprise when considering the number of outlets Mark and Spencer has compared with the other department stores especially John Lewis. However, John Lewis has 1/3 of the number of outlets compared with House of Fraser and almost 1/6 of the amount of outlets compared to Debenhams and has a higher sales and market share figure compare to both department stores. It would be fair to suggest that John Lewis is doing exceptionally well among its industry competition even against Marks and Spencer when considering al l the figures together. Appendix 5 John Lewis Partnership SWOT Analysis Strengths: The Partnership has a strong reputation amongst its customers resulting in strong customer loyalty; there is an underlying perception of value for products and services allowing for higher premiums in product prices; an online presence enables the Partnership to compete amongst industry rivals and reach customer in remote locations. Weaknesses: The Partnership has a very large selection of product from small electrical items to large white good and furniture items making it difficult to compete with specialist retailers; the Partnership only has department store within the UK unlike some of its rivals. Opportunities: The Partnerships website is used to increase marketing activities and online sales; the partnership has recently expanded its product offering into the financial services market by introducing John Lewis insurance which has proved successful suggesting that further growth in this area to be advantageous; the partnership recently introduced its value ra nge which has proved successful thus attracting a new customer base and increasing market share. Threats: The competitive rivalry within the retail industry from small family business to large multinational firm and direct competition from other department stores to specialist retailers; the UK retail market has been affected by economic changes and economic concerns through the credit crunch; Changes in consumer spending behaviours require further market analysis and as technology develops consumer buying patterns change which will result in product areas requiring evaluation. Appendix 6 Porters Generic Strategies Target Scope Advantage Low Cost Product Uniqueness Broad (Industry Wide) Cost Leadership Strategy Differentiation Strategy Narrow (Market Segment) Focus Strategy (low cost) Focus Strategy (differentiation) Cost Leadership: The aim of this strategy is to sell products and service at the lowest price in the industry. This strategy is effective if a firm can command prices close to industry averages and without having to give away the cost advantage by discounting prices. Differentiation: The aim of this strategy is to make a product or service unique so as to be perceived as better value to customers when compared with industry rivals. The concept of value can be considered tangible as in product characteristic or intangible like company image and brand recognition. Focus: This aim of this strategy is to adopt a narrow competitive scope in the industry. This can be achieved by targeting specific market segments such as customers with unique requirements or within a geographical location. Alternatively, cost focus is acquiring specialised machinery that can handle specific market needs effectively like creating short product runs.

Death Penalty Essay Writing Guide

Death Penalty Essay Writing Guide So you are about to start writing an essay on Death Penalty, and you are having trouble getting started. This guide  will provide the different steps required along with recommendations. We can assure you if you take the advice presented in this article you will not only be able to write the perfect Death Penalty essay, but you will receive a good grade as well. The first step in writing your essay on death penalty would be knowing the true definition of it. According to Dictionary.com, death penalty is defined as a punishment by death for a crime. You should also know that death penalty is also referred to as capital punishment. Types of Death Penalty Essays The first step in writing this paper will be figuring out what type of essay you will be completing. If you are going to examine or analyze something related to Death Penalty, you would want to go with an analytical essay. If you are trying to persuade the reader to believe an opinion you are stating, you would want to go with a persuasive essay. If you are investigating or evaluating death penalty you should go with an expository essay. If you are going to provide an argument on death penalty that you want the reader to believe is stronger or more truthful than other established arguments of the same degree, you would need to go with an argumentative essay. Death Penalty Essay Topics Now that you have decided the type of essay you will be writing, the next step will be coming up with a captivating topic and thesis statement. Obviously, the specific type of essay you will be completing will determine your main topic and thesis statement. Below are some topics which you could use in writing your essay on death penalty. – Purpose of death penalty and its effectiveness in deterring crime. – Various methods of the death penalty, and which is the most effective (cost wise and efficiency wise) – The death penalty provides a deterrent to future criminals who commit murder – Sometimes the death penalty is applied in an unfair manner Death Penalty Essay Thesis Statements – The death penalty is an outdated punishment that is only used in countries with backwards legal systems. – The death penalty is a just punishment for horrific crimes. Countries that do not use it coddle their criminals. – The death penalty is the only way to deter people from committing terrible crimes. – The death penalty does not work to keep people from murdering each other. – The death penalty cannot possibly be administered fairly and must be abolished. – The death penalty is necessary so that people in a society will feel like justice is being done. *source: enotes.com Death Penalty Essay Sources So you figured out the type of essay, the main topic, and your thesis statement. Now you must find some very good relevant sources to either backup or dispute your statement. This shouldn’t be too hard of a task given that there are so many different books, articles, and magazines which you can find both online and in a local or University library. When using sources in your essay it is recommended that they were written in the past 3 years as anything longer than that may be too outdated to help your statement. Also be aware that some Universities have restrictions on what sources can and can not be used, how many online sources can be used, or even how many sources in total can be utilized. Several years ago Wikipedia.com was a source which you could not use for writing an essay. Professors felt that the content was not regulated correctly and that anyone can post about any topic, even if they are not considered an expert. In recent years, the editorial at Wikipedia has improved drastically and editors now require that all information added to a specific article must be properly cited by a reputable source. Since this time Colleges have now become more acceptable of this source. Wikipedia Article on Death Penalty Another option for reputable sources would be Google Scholar. Basically it’s a search engine of quality resources on all the most popular and widely debated issues. You have the option of selecting sources from both books and magazines. Some of the books and articles are available for free, some offer only a few pages of text, while others you will be required to purchase. You can also request that the citations for the article to be provided as well. Google Scholar Death Penalty Articles Finally, you remember Encyclopedia Britannica from back in the day. The original version of this highly popular source started out on a 5.25 or 3.5 disc then worked its way to a cd-rom and dvd. Now you can search their website online and find tons of resources, references, etc. Encyclopedia Britannica Articles on Death Penalty Citing Death Penalty Sources Part of the task is securing quality and recently written sources on Death Penalty. The other part of this equation is knowing how to cite sources within your essay as well as completing a correctly formatted work cited or bibliography page. Most of the time your requirements will specify the citation method which would be either MLA – Modern Language AAssociation, APA – American Psychology Association, or Chicago style. Below we have provided an example of a source used within an essay on death penalty, along with the correctly formatted entry for the bibliography. MLA Style: In-text Citation: Support for the death penalty differs among various denominations. For instance, nearly 74% of evangelical Protestants support the death penalty, while among those who do not claim a religious affiliation, only 58% support the death penalty (Ruby) Source Format for Work Cited / Bibliography: Ruby, R.† An Enduring Majority: Americans Continue to Support the Death Penalty.† LEGAL REPORT December 19, 2007 by Robert Ruby, Senior Editor, Pew Forum on Religion Public Life . Web, 5 May 2010. http://pewforum.org/Death-Penalty/An-Enduring- Majority-Americans-Continue-to-Support-the-Death-Penalty.aspx APA Style: In-text Citation: He says, â€Å"The chief consequences of resting the defense of the death penalty on retribution is that it makes criticism of executions on grounds of justice, or reason, or experience, increasingly difficult† (Bedau 2004, page 10). Source Format for Work Cited / Bibliography: Bedau, H.A. (2004). The death penalty in America, yesterday and today. Killing as Punishment: Reflections on the Death Penalty in America. Northwestern UP: Boston, MA. 3-15. Death Penalty Introduction In our death penalty overview, you can find information about what the death penalty is, where it is in use, and how many executions are done in each jurisdiction. Pros and Cons of the Death Penalty There are a number of arguments for and against the death penalty.   Understanding those pros and cons is critical, not only for academic assignments about the death penalty, but for you to determine: do you agree with the death penalty.   Our pro and con papers explore the arguments people make for and against the death penalty, whether they are based on moral reasoning or simply financial and logistical concerns linked to the ultimate punishment. The Death Penalty: A Worldwide Perspective Opinions about the death penalty vary wildly from country-to-country.   Therefore, there is no single death penalty worldwide perspective.   Most Western â€Å"first-world† nations have abolished the death penalty, and even those countries that have not abolished capital punishment have taken steps to limit its application and scope. For example, most jurisdictions with capital punishment limit the offenses that can trigger a death sentence, prohibit punishing children, prohibit punishing the mentally ill, and prohibit punishing the mentally disabled.   However, there is a significant amount of disagreement regarding teenagers and the death penalty, much of which seems to focus on the different ages of legal majority found in countries around the world. Death Penalty in America Our resources on the death penalty in America examine the issue from a historical perspective, the socio-political arguments for and against the penalty, and the current status of the death penalty in America. Death Penalty in India Our resources on the death penalty in India examine the issue from a historical perspective, the socio-political arguments for and against the penalty, and the current status of the death penalty in India. Death Penalty in Australia Our resources on the death penalty in Australia examine the issue from a historical perspective, the socio-political arguments for and against the penalty, and the current status of the death penalty in Australia. Death Penalty in South Africa Our resources on the death penalty in South Africa examine the issue from a historical perspective, the socio-political arguments for and against the penalty, and the current status of the death penalty in South Africa. Death Penalty History Because almost all societies have, at some point in time, embraced capital punishment, the history of the death penalty is fascinating from legal, social, political, and religious perspectives.   The history of the death penalty traces the evolution of deadly corporal punishment from a public punishment meant to deter future offenses to the modern iterations of the death penalty worldwide. Opinion on the Death Penalty When first asked to give an opinion about the death penalty, many people believe that they would either fully support the death penalty or fully oppose the death penalty.   This type of black or white thinking depends, in part, on approaching the death penalty from a purely moral perspective.   However, whether the death penalty is morally wrong or morally right is not a clear-cut issue.   Our death penalty resource center explores the moral arguments supporting the death penalty and the moral arguments that the death penalty is wrong.   In addition, these death penalty resources use facts and figures to bolster and substantiate moral arguments. Benefits of the Death Penalty In our pro death penalty argumentative resources, you can find support for a position in favor of the death penalty and reasons why the death penalty should not be abolished.   These resources might examine recidivism rates among violent offenders, the relative costs of incarceration and immediate execution, and even moral or religious arguments in favor of the death penalty. Disadvantages of the Death Penalty In our anti-death penalty resources, you can find support for a position in favor of abolishing the death penalty.   These reasons include wrongful executions, cost, a lack of deterrent effect, and religious and moral objections to the death penalty. Is the Death Penalty Effective? One of the core disputes in the death penalty debate is whether the death penalty is an effective punishment.   In order to answer this question, one must first define the goals of the criminal justice system and its punishments.   Criminal punishments are meant to impact a particular defendant, but also serve other functions in society.   These functions are generally referred to as: retribution, punishment, and deterrence.   Examining whether the death penalty is effective requires examining whether how well it fulfills each of these functions. Should the Death Penalty Be Allowed? Even if the death penalty is an effective punishment, whether or not it should be allowed requires consideration of questions other than efficacy.   Some of these arguments are technical, while others are personal reasons that people give for supporting or opposing the death penalty.   A discursive on the death penalty examines all of these reasons to come to a conclusion about capital punishment. Teenagers and the Death Penalty One of the issues surrounding the death penalty is whether, if allowed, it should apply to all criminal defendants.   While most jurisdictions bar the execution of young children, many permit the execution of teenage and young adult defendants.   However, a growing body of scientific research on teenagers, especially teenage males, suggests that the teenage brain is not sufficiently mature to fully comprehend the consequences of their actions, which would call into question the appropriateness of the death penalty.   Our resource center examines the evidence. Death Penalty Essay  Examples Sometimes you just need to look at a sample essay and see how another student or professional completed their death penalty essay. Sample essays can help you come up with quality topics and thesis statements, arguments, and even resources. It can also show you how to correctly cite a source in the text of the paper and the proper format for a work cited and/or bibliography page. Sample Death Penalty Essay #1 – This paper discusses â€Å"Death Penalty in The United States† and how it does not serve it’s intended purpose in society. Basically the author of this paper is saying that Death Penalty should be eradicated from our Judicial System. This is a 6 page paper with 6 sources which is anti-death penalty. Sample Death Penalty Essay #2 – This paper discusses how â€Å"Death Penalty is a Fair Punishment for Murder†. The author of this essay provides several valid points as to why we should continue with capital punishment. The paper claims that taking someone else’s life is deserving of your own life when found guilty. This paper is a total of 6 pages with 4 sources and is pro-Death Penalty. Write My  Death Penalty Essay If after reading this article, you still are unable to come up with a format, thesis statement, or sources for your essay, you can request help from a tutor. They will work with you and provide you one-of-a-kind essay per your specific instructions. You could then use this example essay as a template/guideline/reference in helping you write your own paper. If you are interested in learning more about this very popular student assistance program, click here

Toni Morrison Essay - 1278 Words

Toni Morrison The issue of abandonment and the will that it takes to survive the hardship of it is a reoccurring theme in Toni Morrison’s writing. Tar Baby, Sula and Paradise all deal with the issue of abandonment and how it relates to the characters in her stories. â€Å"Through her fiction, Toni Morrison intends to present problems, not their answers† (Moon). Her stated aim is to show quot;how to survive whole in a world where we are all of us, in some measure, victims of something.quot; (Morrison) Morrisons broad vision extends beyond the individual to one that explores self-discovery in relation to a quot;shared history.quot; In order to dramatize the destructive effects of this kind of dependency, she intentionally exaggerates to†¦show more content†¦This idea of abandoning the black culture is the main theme in her novel, Tar Baby. quot;Tar Baby is also a name, like quot;nigger,quot; that white people call black children, black girls, as I recall†¦. At one time, a tar pit was a holy place, at least an important place, because tar was used to build things†¦. It held together things like Moses little boat and the pyramids. For me, the tar baby came to mean the black woman who can hold things together.quot; (quot;An Interviewquot; 255) Toni Morrisons Tar Baby (1982), is a novel about contentions and conflicts based on learned biases and prejudices. These biases exist on a race level, gender level, and a class level. The central conflict, however, is the conflict within the main character, Jadine. This conflict, as Andrew W. A. LaVallee has suggested, is the conflict of the quot;race traitor.quot; It is the conflict of a woman who has discarded her heritage and culture and adopted another trying to reconcile herself to the quot;night womenquot; who want to bring back quot;the prodigal daughter.quot; Jadines reaction to Son is the most revealing-she is the quot;racial traitor.quot; Andrew W. A. LaVallee writes: quot;Central to the race traitor idea is the disassociation from and racist perspective on the traitors race of ethnic group.quot; At the sight of hisShow MoreRelatedToni Morrison Essays1329 Words   |  6 PagesToni Morrison The issue of abandonment and the will that it takes to survive the hardship of it is a reoccurring theme in Toni Morrisons writing. Tar Baby, Sula and Paradise all deal with the issue of abandonment and how it relates to the characters in her stories. Through her fiction, Toni Morrison intends to present problems, not their answers (Moon). Her stated aim is to show how to survive whole in a world where we are all of us, in some measure, victims of something. (Morrison) MorrisonsRead MoreBeloved by Toni Morrison622 Words   |  3 Pages In the novel Beloved by Toni Morrison, Morrison has created two very powerful characters: Denver and Beloved. Denver and Beloved are sisters, but in a sense, they werent always. It used to just be Denver and her mother, Sethe, that lived together in a house. That house was passed down to them by Denvers grandmother, Baby Suggs, which was given to her by a white couple who were out to help the blacks. Sethe and Denver were very content with the way thi ngs were. Sethe had a paying job as a cookRead MoreBeloved, By Toni Morrison1571 Words   |  7 PagesIn the novel, Beloved, written by Toni Morrison, many themes and symbols played a crucial role when analyzing a variety of different characters. One specific theme that has had an everlasting effect between characters and relationships throughout the novel is the transformation of the theme thick love. The idea of love in Toni Morrison s Beloved is a complicated subject to understand. If love wasn t hard enough to figure out, it is made more complex through the evils of slavery during this timeRead MoreBeloved by Toni Morrison769 Words   |  3 Pagescharacters so profound. For a ghost, Beloved exerts a ton and control over most of the characters, affecting nearly every part of their lives, their ability to live in peace, their ability to love one another, and to move on with their lives. Toni Morrison suggests, it is not embodied in flesh and blood, she â€Å"lives† among the cast of characters and her presence, she creates among the characters a persistent discomfort and discontent. It is a profound impact that Beloved has upon Sethe and her familyRead More`` Beloved `` By Toni Morrison906 Words   |  4 PagesGothic Literature normally, if not always, has a haunting. In â€Å"Beloved† by Toni Morrison there is a haunting of 124. 124 is being haunted by Sethe’s daughter who is the character Beloved. The haunts in Gothic Literature can also be a non-physical haunting, a haunting in the head. Sethe has not been haunted by Beloved physically, but mentally. The bond that a mother has for a child is so tight and loving. There is no real way to understand this bond unless someone has personally been a mother. TheRead MoreThe Bluest Eye By Toni Morrison1720 Words   |  7 PagesBluest Eye, Toni Morrison, criticizes the danger of race discrimination f or any kinds of situations with no exception. The purpose of the paper is explain how pervasive and destructive social racism was bound to happen in American society. The intended audiences are not only black people, but also other races had suffered racism until now. I could find out and concentrate on the most notable symbols which are whiteness, blue eyes and the characterization while reading the novel. Toni Morrison was onRead MoreThe Bluest Eye By Toni Morrison1587 Words   |  7 Pagessaid, â€Å"We were born to die and we die to live.† Toni Morrison correlates to Nelson’s quote in her Nobel Lecture of 1993, â€Å"We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may be the measure of our lives.† In Toni Morrison’s novel, The Bluest Eye, she uses language to examine the concepts of racism, lack of self-identity, gender roles, and socioeconomic hardships as they factor into a misinterpretation of the American Dream. Morrison illustrates problems that these issues provoke throughRead MoreThe Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison1095 Words   |  5 PagesSocial class is a major theme in the book The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. Toni Morrison is saying that there are dysfunctional families in every social class, though people only think of it in the lower class. Toni Morrison was also stating that people also use social class to separate themselves from others and apart from race; social class is one thing Pauline and Geraldine admire.Claudia, Pecola, and Frieda are affected by not only their own social status, but others social status too - for exampleRead MoreToni Morrison and Historical Memory5014 Words   |  21 Pagesamnesia of minority history cannot be tolerated. Toni Morrison is a minority writer has risen to the challenge of preventing national amnesia through educating African-Americans by remembering their past and rewriting their history. In her trilogy, Beloved, Jazz and Paradise, and in her other works, Morrison has succeeded in creating literature for African-Americans that enables them to remember their history from slavery to the present. Toni Morrison has been called Americas national author andRead MoreThe Bluest Eye By Toni Morrison956 Words   |  4 PagesBluest Eye by Toni Morrison, does not necessarily involve slavery directly, but rather examines the aftermath by delving into African-American self-hatred. Nearly all of the main characters in The Bluest Eye who are African American are dominated by the endless culturally-imposed concepts of white beauty and cleanness to an extent where the characters have a destructive way of latently acting out their own feelings of self-hatred on others, especially other African-Americans. Toni Morrison’s novel

How I Learned to Cook - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 1 Words: 258 Downloads: 8 Date added: 2017/09/12 Category Advertising Essay Did you like this example? How I Learned to Cook I want to tell how I began to learn cooking, and how I succeeded in this. When I was a child, approximately eight, I wanted to make a present for my mother. She was working hard and came back home late. So, I decided to cook for her a kind of food named ravioli with cottage cheese. It, like other kinds of food, has its rules of preparation. I didn’t care about them, and I did what I thought was correct. It’s a funny story. Each time when I remember it I laugh. At the end, I had a bowl with a mixture of dough and cheese. But I didn’t stop to have interest for cooking. Later, my grandmother was the person who taught me to cook. She is a good cook. I watched her and asked questions. It was easier to cook after I saw in person how it’s done. I used the observation way for learning cooking. Then most of what I learned was just by reading a cooking book and following recipes. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "How I Learned to Cook" essay for you Create order After a while, I became good in following the recipes. Every time, I discovered something new. Then I tried to alter the recipes to coincide with my own taste. There were a lot of trials and errors, but it was interesting. With time, my cooking skills were progressing, and at the present I know to cook quickly and tastily. Finally, I understood that experience of doing something is the best way to reinforce learning.

The 19th Century - 1724 Words

The Seventeenth Century would prove to be one of the most important eras in the shaping of the America. Both the English and the Spanish would vie for dominance of the uncharted continent with the establishment of colonies on American soil. The Spanish would try to colonize the American Southwest and the English, the Northeast. Indelibly, both cultures would leave their mark on the American landscape, especially within the context of religion and politics. Spain first set up an outpost in what would become New Mexico, just North of the Rio Grande River. Led by the enterprising and dramatic Juan de Oà ±ate, who had been appointed the founding governor and adelantado by Felipe II, a large group of Spaniards and Franciscan monks made their†¦show more content†¦Amen.’ (Colonization Arizona pg. 36) Indeed, the Spanish would come to rule a Southwestern colony where political and religions institutions had little delineation and all was one under the watchful eye of the Catholic Church and the King. The English, though not arriving to the American shores in as dramatic fashion as the Spaniards, would come to shape colonial life just as thoroughly. Though not the first English colony to be settled in America, Plymouth Plantation would be the first to establish a rich political and religious tradition within America. Founded in 1620 by a group of English pilgrims, their purpose for fleeing to North America was for that of religious freedom. 1630 would see a group of Puritans from England establish the Massachusetts Bay colony, with the main purpose of the establishing a purer religious doctrine that that of the English Church. These pilgrims and puritans would eventually spread out over the Northeastern American landscape, and to some degree would establish religious and political institutions that seemed to cross the boundaries of one another. Religion in the Spanish colony of the Southwest was one of total obedience to the Catholic Church and His Holiness the King of Spain. Spain’s deep ties to Catholicism flourished in the seventeenth century, a beacon on

My Life And Death Running Through My Mind - 1517 Words

but for a brief moment, I began to reason with both a spiritual and human mindset at the same time. Because of this, I started to be concerned about my human body back in the car. In my human thoughts, I perceived that my spirit form may have been vacant from my human body for years. Maybe this was true or maybe it was just a logical, rational approach to finding a timely answer. I began to wonder if I had been away long enough that my human body had died. Was there a funeral? Did anyone mourn me? I had so many thoughts about life and death running through my mind. I felt very confused as to my true existence. I felt in limbo, as I didn’t know how to proceed, or where I was destined to go. In my new state of confusion, my mind†¦show more content†¦I had arrived through God’s holy hand to the moment He intended, I was given a choice to either move on to heaven or to go back to Earth and resume my human life. This was a unique experience because I had come to my judgment before physical death. As I was formerly a healthy, living person, I was given the opportunity to come back to Earth to resume my life and share my experience. This was not the usual protocol, but God gave me the choice to serve Him in this capacity or to move on as others do, to remain a resident of heaven. Now I understood why God allowed me to become aware of my human body, so that I could have the option to be what I was or to move forward to a new existence. As a heavenly being, I no longer needed the Holy Spirit’s guidance to aid in my decision. I was now a citizen of heaven and I ha d a Godly mind, free from anything to contaminate pure thoughts. In Heaven, there are no sinful intrusions in a point of view, no coercing of wrong alternatives to overcome. Only right and pure thoughts exist in a heavenly mind. Making a decision is one good or another. It felt so natural and beautiful to move on to heaven. It wasn’t logical, it was just and simple. It wasn’t rational, it was as if I was coming home, it was love in action, love in verb form. My new and perfect mind worked so fast within my spiritual thoughts that I answered my own heart’s

Overview of the Healthy Food for Healthy School Act Essay Example For Students

Overview of the Healthy Food for Healthy School Act Essay It was lunch time and students walked into the cafeteria to purchase lunch. A wide variety of food was placed in front of them to choose from ranging from pizza to burgers to bags of chips and chocolate bars. Their choices were endless up until a new reform took over and enlisted new changes. The Healthy Food for Healthy School Act was placed on September 1st, 2008. Its policy entailed schools to practice healthy eating where they would be â€Å"dropping trans fat from food and beverages sold in schools and establishing mandatory nutrition standards for food and beverages sold in schools† (Ontario Ministry of Education). While this reform plays a significant role in the health of students, it also has a great impact on other sectors. Healthy foods and having a healthy lifestyle, for students in particular, plays an essential role for their learning and everyday life. Research shows that children who do not acquire the right amount of nutrition are â€Å"particularly susceptible to the moment?to?moment metabolic changes that impact upon cognitive ability and performance of the brain† (School Meal and School Nutrition Program Handbook). As described on the ministry website, poor diets lead to the lack of motivation and attentiveness and influences the students learning. With an ongoing unhealthy lifestyle, children may â€Å"have lifestyle habits that could put them in the fast lane for developing cardiovascular disease as early as their 30s† (Ontario Ministry of Education). This reform plays a significant role for students as they are learning to eat healthy especially if its context is embedded within the curriculum to further enhance the purpose of the reform to portray it through different means. While the implementation of the ref. .ull Food: How School Food Affects Student Health. (2008.).Center for Environmental Education. Retrieved from http://www.ceeonline.org/greenGuide/food/upload/Molnar, A. Garcia, D. (2006). The battle over commercialized schools. Educational Leadership. 63(7), 78-82.Molnar2006.pdfOntario Ministry of Education. (2005). Healthy Schools: Healthy Food for Healthy Schools Act Retrieved from http://www. edu.gov.on.ca/eng/healthyschools/lifestyle.htmlSCHOOL MEAL AND SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM HANDBOOK. Retrieved from http://www. bced.gov.bc.ca/communitylink/pdf/smph.pdf Svastisalee, C., Holstein, B. , Due, P. (2012). Fruit and Vegetable Intake in Adolescents: Association with Socioeconomic Status and Exposure to Supermarkets and Fast Food Outlets.Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, 2012. Retrieved from http://www.hindawi. com/journals/jnme/2012/18548