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Better Boston Beans - 853 Words

Case Study 2-4 Better Boston Beans Lisa Clanin The Ethics Environment ACCT 530 Week 3 Date: September 21, 2013 Better Boston Beans Dilemma With this particular case study I will discuss several questions and facts regarding Better Boston Beans. 1) A brief summary of the case. 2) Briefly explain the Six Pillars of Character. 3) Evaluate the actions of the parties from the perspective of six pillars of character. 4) evaluate the actions from the perspective of Kohlbergs six stages of moral development and what ethical reasoning can you develop from this case? The case takes place in a coffee shop located in Boston’s famous Faneuil Hall Marketplace called Better Boston Beans. In this particular case Cindi is a recent college†¦show more content†¦However, because Lyndell is leaving early on a regular basis he is violating every aspect of The Six Pillars of Character. He is taking advantage of Cindi’s newness as well as the fact that she has not mentioned his absence to the manager. In doing so he is violating the precepts of Fairness, Respect and Trustworthiness. By not obeying the company rules of being there for this full shift and doing his job he is violating Citizenship, Trustworthiness and Responsibility.3 Cindi’s actions are more of a gray area as some of her actions while technically violating The Six Pillars of Character do have backing of another pillar for the reasoning behind them. Where she does violate some of the pillars it is glaringly clear and I will address this first. In not reporting that Lyndell is leaving his shift early she violates Trustworthiness and Respect. Companies expect you to notify management if there is violation of the company rules and she is not being honest by saying nothing at all. By not notifying the manager that Lyndell is failing to stay for his entire shift, she is being disrespectful of the manager’s authority and not obeying the rules she is violating the Pillar of Citizenship. As I previously indicated there is a gray area. In saying that Lyndell was sick and had to leave early Cindi did violate Trustworthiness and Respect on behalf of the customer but in doing so sheShow MoreRelatedEssay on Billy Beane Case797 Words   |  4 Pagesthe younger, much less expensive pitchers to try to remain within budget. Another interesting case for Oaklands As is the recruitment of Scott Hatteberg. Hatteberg played six years with the Boston Red Sox. He got injured and lacked the prowess in throwing the ball effectively. He was, according to Boston Red Sox, a lame player and did not sign him up again. With this, Hattenbergs monetary value diminished and that is why Oaklands As recruited him at a much lower salary (because there are no otherRead MoreGenetic Changes Within The Populations : The Consequences Of Selection1115 Words   |  5 PagesLab Report 1 Genetic Changes in Populations: The Consequences of Selection General Biology II Lab Junyao Li Introduction In this lab, we explore the reason genetic changes happened within a population. We use bean-bag model to simulate allele and genotype frequencies for three generations of deer mice under three different selective regimes. Then, we use the Hardy-Weinberg Principle to assess the selection and evolution experienced by deer mice. The Hardy-Weinberg Principle is one of the mostRead MoreBeverages Become Increasingly Important Parts Of Restaurant Revenue961 Words   |  4 Pageseducate people about tea and provide consumers with greater choices of specialty blends. 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These farmers then sell their beans to the middlemen who pay them low prices-anRead MoreA Morsel Of Chocolate Through American History1679 Words   |  7 Pagesincluding some cacao beans. A 1000 years later, when European settlers returned to America to set up colonies they brought chocolate with them. At this time the drink was made with chocolate solids, some sugar and warm water. In Europe this somewhat bitter drink was expensive and just for the upper class and royalty. In colonial America,this chocolate drink was affordable even to the commoner and a staple in their diet. Chocolate was cheaper in the Americas since the cacao bean was easier to accessRead MorePersonal Dietary Intake Paper : Fiber And Protein1430 Words   |  6 PagesPersonal Dietary Intake Paper Introduction The purpose of this paper is to analyze my personal dietary intake as a way of better understanding the ways in which the foods I consumer are helping or hurting my overall nutrition and health. 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And their kids’ cortisol levels changed. By the time those kids were eleven, theyRead MorePsychoactive Substances Should Be Regulated Essay1679 Words   |  7 Pagestobacco are more acceptable than say, alcohol, for society to abuse because they align with protestant beliefs. Coffee has been around since the 9th century when Islamic shepherds first noticed coffee beans having a stimulating effect on their sheep. After Islamic clerics learned how to cultivate the beans, coffee spread throughout the Muslim world, becoming a staple of their culture. When coffee was first taken to Christian Europe, it was greeted with a great deal of suspicion since it was the drink

Corporate Social Responsibility of Businesses

Question: Write an essay on "Corporate Social Responsibility of Businesses" Answer: Over the past two years corporate social responsibility has become one of the major concerns of the businesses. Earlier businesses have to take only those decisions concerning their economic growth and profitability but now this range has widened to the impact on the society, environment and culture. Corporate social responsibility now is not only an option for the businesses worldwide but also an obligation (Chandler, 2013). It would be correct to say that the Corporate Social Responsibility is not only the obligation of individuals in the society but also of businesses and corporations. So the CSR is a concept whereby the business takes the responsibility of its processes and the impacts it have on its employees, customers, stakeholders and the environment and society and it take steps in the favor of them to improve their lives. Corporate social responsibility is not only obeying the norms and the regulations by the businesses but also voluntarily taking steps for the favor of the mankind. Its main aim is to maintain the long-term profitability, maintain the trust of its stakeholders, and reduce business and legal risk and taking responsibility of their actions. ISO 26000 is considered as international standards for the corporate social responsibility (Malsch, 2013). Corporate social responsibility is becoming one of the main streams of the forward businesses thinkers as they include sustainability into the core business operation which create the vital value both for the business and the customers, and sustainability is vital for not only customers, environment but also for the business (Becchetti, 2012). Now a days corporate social responsibility has become a mainstream especially in the global competitive businesses and it is not viewed as how much money a business puts in charity but as how much of the business activities are inclined towards making the life of the workforce, their families and the society better. CSR is continuously commitment towards doing businesses ethically and contributing towards the economic sustainability. It is how company modifies and carries out their business processes so that it is profitable and beneficial but at the same time contributing to the society economically and environmentally. In other words corporate social responsibility is undertaking the corporate citizenship (Frynas, 2016), on one hand ensuring the profitability and wealth for the business and on the other hand improving the society, people and planet. Every successful businessman knows that sustainability is the one of the main reason for a business to succeed, and maintaining the sustainability and a good consumer perception is very important fro any organization, but on the same time a business cant succeed if the society health is not good, whether due to economic condition, environmental condition or due to lack of the governance, so a intelligent decision makers try to improve the health of the society simultaneously with the increasing profitability because in this way they would be able to gain a good customer perception and rust form the customer and the society and will ultimately increase the balance sheet profit (Lund-Thomsen,2014). And in this way both the business shareholder who are interested in increasing profits and business stakeholder who are concerned with the better life and life balance and society improvements are satisfied. There are several reasons why the corporate social responsibility has become a great concern- The expectation of the costumers, its stakeholder, shareholders and the government agencies and to add external condition like globalization to add to the competition have put a great impact on the corporate social activities of the overall industries. The increasing emphasis on the social impact of an investment made by an investor, an institution or a country. It is being a great concern now a day and is topic of debate, which whats in for society as a whole. There must be a social cause for a big investment rather than only profitability. The growing concern about the environmental degradation, and the efforts to conserve the environment. There are many processes carried out which are being very fatal for the environmental health and the concerns like rising land pollution, water pollution, air pollution which have been affecting the daily life of a person. So to reduce the hazardous effects of these things various steps are needed to be taken like recycling, proper dumping of the hazardous chemical waste and more effective processes keeping nature in mind, so that society as a whole can e benefitted (Hoivik, 2015). The protection of the environment has become center of all the humanitarian activities aimed at the carrying out the business and protecting the environment because the environmental resources are of at most importance in the existence of the human breed and they are being exhausted and being negatively impacted by the human activities being carried out. A proper code of conduct is being tried to maintain, for example there are any many countries in which the proper dumping of the waste is mandatory because over the past years when the chemical waste was being dumped in the sea bodies, its impact was noticed on the sea life and many of the sea breads were extinguished permanently, which creates a huge environmental imbalance. Reasons for the big corporate to invest hugely on the CSR activities- Corporate social responsibility as a value creation- for a business to thrive a competitive strategy is very essential, and more important is realization of the linkage between the competitive advantage, business strategy and healthy society (Newell, 2005). A healthy society needs a good competitive environment and continuous improvement in processes backed up by innovation, a good governance which can be given by the successful corporate and a successful business requires a good human resource a competitive environment within and a healthy society within which the business can thrive. So keeping in mind how a business can create that health in the society can provide a value for both the business and the society and it should be very carefully included in the business strategy and should be inclined with the business mission, vision (Palazzo, 2016). Corporate social responsibility as a risk management- complying with the CRs and the other operational norms helps the organization in minimizing the operational risks and also in mitigating the risks, which can arise in future. Because some of the risks are well managed and well mitigated, organization can go according to the planned strategy and can execute activities accordingly, but if these risks are not well mitigated and minimized then there is huge uncertainty and things can go out of track anytime. Corporate social responsibility as corporate philanthropy- providing funds to the non profitable organization have a little strategic and operational impact (Baden, 2014), and sometimes the organization provides the funds to the organization that themselves do a lot of CSR activities, this can be a good option because it provides short term profitability, and a additional value created in the minds of customers and other companies about the shareholder value of the organization. Brand differentiation- some big global companies use corporate social responsibility activities for the brand differentiation as marketing promotional activities as they are able to create a good brand image in the minds of people. For example the ITC Indian tobacco company which donates every rupee for every item sol d on the education of the poor deprived children. Human resource- CSR activities also helps in maintaining the goodwill among the employees of the organization and it is even more when the employees are in decision making roles or fund raising activities, employees thing bigger of an organization when it is involved in the activities which are beneficial for the society and employees being a part of the society take it positively and also spread the positive word of mouth which ultimately increase the brand equity of the organization (Campbell,2013). Triple bottom line advantage- by indulgence in the corporate social activities organization gets triple bottom line advantage. Triple bottom line refers to people, planet and profits. By people it means labors, employees which are working for the organization and the working environment they get more over the lifestyle their families are living, it improves the working condition of the people. Planet is being given great concern by indulging in certain activities and modifying the business operation in such a ways the conserves the natural recourses and on the same line maintain the business profits to satisfy the interest of the investors and the other shareholders so that they get the proper return they were expecting to maintain goodwill and brand name and maintain the opportunity for the further investments and a positive word of mouth which can increase the organization brand equity. Good supplier relation- CSR activities not only maintain the good supplier relation with the existing suppliers but also make the organization more attractive for the other suppliers who want to e a part of that organization supply chain (Tassabehji, 2007). For example a merchandise supplier can want of be the suppliers of an clothing organization domestic or globally for a brand which has a huge name in the CSR activities because that organization would have a positive perception in the minds of customers and would have a good amount of loyal customers and that what make a organization attractive for a supplier. The major challenge in todays competitive world regarding the corporate social activities is that these activities limit the profitability of an organization, because of the tariffs imposed government regulation, taxation and many other obligations it becomes a very expensive affair for the organization to invest in the social cause which may also cost millions of dollars to the company (Mason, 2014). This may also limit a company to invest hugely on its core competency due to which it has become a brand and in such a way the organization has a chance to loss its market share and profitability. Example of Corporate Social responsibility- Malson Coors Canada Malson Coors Canada is a Canadian company, which is indulged in brewery of beer. It is one of those companies, which have taken advantage of the CSR activities in creating the brand name of it. It has a dedicated social media teams, which continuously spreads its message of careful drinking. It invests hugely on the events which core message is not to widen the popularity of its beer but to spread the message of careful drinking especially for the youngs and teen-agers (Abratt, 2007). By engaging in these kind of events it has developed an image of a very ethical brands and has also gained popularity in the minds o people and its sales also shoot up. So clearly corporate social responsibility can be used as a tactic to gain much of the public support by integrating it with the integrated marketing communication and gain the competitive advantage over other and increase the market share. And corporate social responsibility should be included in the strategy in such a way that it doesnt harm the economic health and the mission, vision of the company but instead complements it (Lozano, 2007). CSR activities opens a all now horizon for the improvement for both the employee and the employers, for business and the society. And now is the time for more and more organizations to feel the importance of these social activities in realization of organizational and social goals and to take a right step towards it. It is important that the businesses should work together with the employees, customers and other individuals. References Albareda, Lozano, M., Ysa, T. (2007). Public policies on the corporate social responsibility: The role of the governments in Europe. Journal of Business Ethics, 74, 391408. Bendixen, M., Abratt, R. (2007). Corporate identity, the ethics and the reputation in supplier-buyer relationships. The Journal of Business Ethics, 75, 6983. Chandler, D. and Werther Jr, W.B., 2013.Strategic corporate social responsibility: Stakeholders, globalization, and sustainable value creation. Sage Publications. Garvy, N., Newell, P. (2005). Corporate accountability to the poor? Assessing the effectiveness of the community-based on the strategies. Development in the Practice, 15, 390403. Cornelius, Wallace, Tassabehji, R. (2007). An analysis of the corporate social responsibility, corporate identity and the ethics teaching in the business schools. The Journal of Business Ethics, 76, 117135. Malsch, B., 2013. Politicizing the expertise of the accounting industry in the realm of corporate social responsibility.Accounting, Organizations and Society,38(2), pp.149-168. Frynas, J. and Pegg, S. eds., 2016.Transnational corporations and human rights. Springer. Becchetti, L., Ciciretti, R., Hasan, I. and Kobeissi, N., 2012. Corporate social responsibility and shareholder's value.Journal of Business Research,65(11), pp.1628-1635. Lund-Thomsen, P. and Lindgreen, A., 2014. Corporate social responsibility in global value chains: Where are we now and where are we going?.Journal of Business Ethics,123(1), pp.11-22. Ihlen, . and von Weltzien Hoivik, H., 2015. Ye olde CSR: The historic roots of corporate social responsibility in Norway.Journal of Business Ethics,127(1), pp.109-120. Scherer, A.G., Rasche, A., Palazzo, G. and Spicer, A., 2016. Managing for Political Corporate Social Responsibility: New Challenges and Directions for PCSR 2.0.Journal of Management Studies,53(3), pp.273-298. Baden, D. and Harwood, I.A., 2013. Terminology matters: A critical exploration of corporate social responsibility terms.Journal of Business Ethics,116(3), pp.615-627. Campbell, J.T., Eden, L. and Miller, S., 2012. Multinationals and corporate social responsibility in host countries: Does distance matter?.Journal of International Business Studies,43(1), pp.84-106. Mason, C. and Simmons, J., 2014. Embedding corporate social responsibility in corporate governance: A stakeholder systems approach.Journal of Business Ethics,119(1), pp.77-86.

Through My Eyes free essay sample

Words can only express an individual’s thoughts to a limit. I dislike limitations; therefore, I express my thoughts through boundless photography. The only way to decipher my mind is through my eyes. As a child, I was the reserved one, who listened but never spoke and witnessed but never acted upon. My eyes watched the world revolve, learning to appreciate the distinct details of life. Instead of the whole that everyone else saw, I recognized the scattered puzzle pieces that completed the ensemble. A puddle was not just a sparrow’s swimming pool; it contained mesmerizing ripples and a mirror reflection of the surrounding adventures. Grass was not just the floor of the outdoors; it was a wonderland to creatures: ants, beetles, caterpillars and earthworms. Although my young mind did not understand how to utilize these observations, I knew that I wanted to share and express my findings. The amount of blank stares and perplexed faces that I received when I would mention any of my observations is countless. We will write a custom essay sample on Through My Eyes or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page For some reason, it was impossible for me to describe the scene that I beheld in my mind to my fellow companions. Even if I explained the vision through the five senses: smell, sight, hearing, touch and taste, they could not see what I witnessed. The crumbled autumn leaves on the pavement were only crumbled autumn leaves on the pavement. Not until a camera was placed into my hands were they a scrambled pattern of green, red, orange, yellow and brown that contrasted against the dull and gray pavement. A simple digital point and shoot camera, passed down by my parents, became the gateway to my self-expression. The camera was my messenger, which delivered the magic I saw as I experienced life to the surrounding people who never understood why I smiled at the sparkle in a cat’s eye. As Barney said in my childhood, â€Å"sharing is caring†, and indeed, it was. Each and every photograph I documented was shared with anyone within reaching distance. My self-expression has expanded my reserved self into an outgoing young woman who wants to expose and teach people the little wonders that an occupied eye can miss. My goal was to influence the people in my life through my perspective; I wanted to show that the small wonders in silent persons and inanimate objects have something to say. In my eyes, the silhouettes of a tree or bridge have the same captivating and indescribable effect on a person’s eyes and lips as an exposed tree or bridge does. The less obvious just needs to be highlighted by those who see it, like me. Photography was my method of speaking to the world without words. The indescribable scenes that I noticed became comprehensible visuals that everyone recognized. My perspective was easier to appreciate because people saw the minuscule fascinations of the world through my eyes.

Invention of the Gas Mask essays

Invention of the Gas Mask essays THE GAS MASK Garrett Augustus Morgan was a practical man who wanted to improve the lives of the American people. He was an extraordinary businessman as well as an inventor who created things that made the lives of many people safer and more convenient. Garrett Morgan was born on March 4th, Paris, Kentucky in 1877, and died in 1963. His invention of the Gas Mask was used by American soldiers during World War I (1914-18) and by fire departments around the country. The value of Garrett Morgan's "gas inhalator" was first acknowledged during a successful rescue operation of several men trapped by a tunnel explosion in the Cleveland waterworks some 200 feet below the surface of Lake Erie. During the emergency, Morgan, his brother, and two other volunteers-all wearing inhalators-were the only men able to descend into the smoky, gas-filled tunnel, and save several workers from asphyxiation. Orders for the Morgan inhalator soon began to pour into Cleveland from fire companies all over the nation but, as soon as Morgan's racial identity became known, may of them were canceled. In the south, it was necessary for Morgan to utilize the services of a white man to demonstrate his invention. During World War I the Morgan inhalator was transformed into a gas mask used by combat troops. In 1912, Morgan received a patent on a Safety Hood and Smoke Protector. Two years later, a refined model of this early gas mask won a gold medal at the International Exposition of Sanitation and Safety, and another gold medal from the International Association of Fire Chiefs. In my opinion, I feel that the invention of the gas mask was very useful, and it saved many lives. I do, however feel that it was wrong for people to disregard his inventions because he was black. ...

Metaphorical Usage and Scare Quotes

Metaphorical Usage and Scare Quotes Metaphorical Usage and Scare Quotes Metaphorical Usage and Scare Quotes By Mark Nichol Writers often mistakenly believe they are being helpful when, in the act of using a word or phrase in a nonliteral sense, they frame the term in quotation marks intended to alert readers, â€Å"This usage is not being employed in its original sense!† However, because readers generally are able to make the cognitive leap to understand that the use of a word or phrase is metaphorical, such symbols- in this role called scare quotes- are almost invariably a distracting and even condescending device. As recommended in the discussions following each example and as demonstrated in the accompanying revisions, avoid such extraneous hand-holding except when coining a new metaphorical word or phrase. 1. In this regard, many companies are starting with a â€Å"clean slate.† It’s clear from the context of this sentence that the businesses in question are beginning with no expectations, records, or some other factor or component, not with a writing surface that has just been wiped: â€Å"In this regard, many companies are starting with a clean slate.† 2. If a combination of these and other â€Å"red flags† are noted, the board should investigate them. Brightly colored rectangles of fabric are obviously not under discussion here; the reference is clearly to abstract warning signs such as incongruous data or odd behavior: â€Å"If a combination of these and other red flags are noted, the board should investigate them.† 3. The board should be informed of matters related to financial reporting raised by â€Å"whistle-blowers.† The reference to employment of a loud noise-making device is obviously an allusion to the desire of a person to get the attention of authorities and/or the media when he or she discovers institutional wrongdoing: â€Å"The board should be informed of matters related to financial reporting raised by whistle-blowers.† 4. Employees can be tempted to â€Å"cut corners† and act in an unethical manner. It’s obvious that the workers under discussion face the temptation of figuratively, not literally, avoiding negotiating right angles as they navigate their way through the workday: â€Å"Employees can be tempted to cut corners and act in an unethical manner.† 5. Such policies are discouraged because they can create a â€Å"slippery slope† in practice. Readers will understand that no unsafe inclines are implied by the use of the scare-quoted phrase; the wording refers to the potential difficulty of controlling or halting something once it has been allowed to begin or occur: â€Å"Such policies are discouraged because they can create a slippery slope in practice.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Mostly Small But Expressive InterjectionsUsing the Active Voice to Strengthen Your Writing20 Ways to Laugh

Creation and evolution Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Creation and evolution - Research Paper Example This paper will compare and contrast the two ideologies illustrating their similarities and differences. In addition, the paper will base its creationism comparison on Christianity. Creationism refers to the belief and the ideology that humanity exists and there is a deity which varies among the difference in beliefs (Comet, 117). Followers of this ideology believe that there is a creator who is responsible for the creation of the world and all inhabitants and components such as animals, natural resources and humans. This ideology is solely on the basis of the particular religion one believes in and is considered as a concept of faith. According to the book of Genesis in the Bible, the world was created by God in a timeframe of 7days (Comet, 117). One difference that exists between the two concepts is that in creationism everything has a purpose. It was all created uniquely and ideally by a super natural being to fulfill this purpose (Crothers, 234-235). In addition, this belief also states that God created everything according to its kind, for example, rats only make rats, sharks only make sharks and humans only make humans (Comet, 117). In contrast to creationism which is believes in a fixed status and existence of a supernatural being, evolution theories are based on the spontaneity and metamorphosis of humans and other components of nature in order to be better adjusted to the changing environment (Crothers, 234-235). This has often been termed survival of the fittest, whereby the species better suited for certain environmental conditions survive, whilst those that do not die and are unable to pass their genotypes and phenotypes to the next generation. (Scott, 55-64). In essence, the theory of evolution is not based on faith and religion like creationism, but rather on development. Using the example mentioned above, could result in rats evolving into sharks (Comet, 117). The

Critical Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Critical Summary - Essay Example At this juncture it is interesting to take into account of what happened in Vancouver from the end of the nineteenth century to the earlier part of the twentieth century. The author illustrates how the common people came together with their own efforts to turn the mentioned city into a picturesque landscape. Furthermore the author has also highlighted that the middle class and the wealthier people was the pivotal force beyond this mammoth success. The paper comprises of three interrelated objectives and presents them in sequential manner. Each objective strengthens the other and eventually shapes into a coherent well thought paper. The way the paper starts with a narrow base then considers a broader aspect and then again pinpoint its focus deserves special attention. The primary objective of the concerned paper is to consider and analyse â€Å"specific influential decisions made by individuals or groups with regard to urban development† (Daunais, 1) that eventually led to the expansion of the legislation concerning plantation of the trees and boosted the effort for the same. The secondary objective of the paper is to relate the practise of the plantation followed in Vancouver within the previously mentioned time frame â€Å"to a broader cultural, professional, social and economic context† (Daunais, 1). To be precise the concerned paper leads an endeavour to illustrate â€Å"the dominant white English-speaking p opulation of Vancouver played a crucial role in developing Vancouver’s street tree programme from 1896 to 1925† (Daunais, 1). Besides the concerned paper also illustrates that even when the ambience is not particularly in favour, collective action on behalf of a few can bring significant changes without any external help. The author takes up an urban historical approach to fulfil her objectives. At the beginning the author gives a bird’s eye view of the history of street tree plantation, the evolution of

Ace Hardware Store Entering Bahrain Market Essay Example for Free

Ace Hardware Store Entering Bahrain Market Essay We have endeavoured to emphasize on the suggested strategies which will allow Ace Hardware to consider venturing into the Bahraini market. Therefore with the information provided and composed, we have the opportunity to examine comments of Ace Hardware which allows us to highlight key issues faced. Organisations need to recognize and meet demands of the exterior factors which include threats and opportunities to uphold their competitiveness in the market. Henceforth, the intention of this report is to essentially investigate and assess the outlook of Ace Hardware Corporation in relation to expansion and growth in the Bahraini market. . 0 Introduction Bahrain is one of the unique countries in the Middle East. It alone has a stable economic climate and welcomes foreign investment with a highly business friendly culture thus making it an efficient country to start business. Introducing Ace Hardware to the Bahraini market because of a numerous aspects such as retaining 100% foreign ownership and low taxation, provides a free, open and transparent environment that fosters growth, legal system protects companies’ righ ts, while their free market environment allows businesses to thrive. . 0 Industry Business Description The ACE Hardware Corporation is a well-known wholesaler of hardware and home-related products; the organisation offerings include safety equipment, plumbing products, outdoor living products, pet supplies, door handles, electrical tools, lawn and garden accessories, furniture, home appliances and many more. ACE has been affianced in the wholesale hardware business and has offered dealerships to retailers of hardware and associated items since the company in Illinois commenced incorporating in 1927. Today, ACE is the largest retailer-owned obliging and vibrant leader in the convenience division of the hardware business in terms of wholesale and retail sales and strength of the brand. 3. 0 Company description According to (Irwin, 2012), Ace Hardware ranks highest in satisfying home improvement retail store customers for a sixth consecutive year according to the J. D. Power of Associates Home improvement Retail satisfaction Study of 2012. This measured customer satisfaction with home improvement retail stores, based on the performance of five factors: merchandise, price, sales staff, sales amp; promotions and store facility. The organisation emphasizes on service and modern retailing techniques and has helped locally owned operated ACE retail stores confront intense competition from Home Depot and Lowe’s. In addition, it provides numerous value-added services such as marketing, advertising, merchandising and design services to its retail members. ACE’s 4,600 stores in all 50 states and more than 60 countries generate annual retail sales of approximately $12 billion (ACE Hardware Corporation, 2012). 3. 1 Type of business Retail Sales ACE’s 4,600 stores in all 50 states and more than 60 countries generate annual retail sales of approximately $12 billion (Ace Hardware Corporation, 2012). Dubai, Shanghai, Canada etc. Applying a Teradata warehouse permitted 2,500 Ace Hardware retail stores to transmit daily a point of sale (POS) transaction detail. According to (Murphy, 2007), â€Å"Teradata is the world leader in data warehousing solutions with a proven track record in retail, as we discovered when we sought vendor references. That experience, including customer relationship management, category management and business intelligence, made Teradata the right choice for Ace Hardware. † Basically, Ace relies on active warehouse data from Teradata, which has delivered a single repository for retail and wholesale sales, purchasing, customer information, financial data and inventory to essentially support large varied workloads. Wholesale In addition to its 14 retail support centres in the United States and freight forwarding operations on the West Coast and East Coast, ACE features three international distribution centres in Dubai, Shanghai and Panama. The international distribution centres provide: 1. Easier access to core stock of leading brand products and certified ACE products through their global supply warehouse 2. Online ordering systems 3. In-market fully operational support offices. â€Å"It is very useful to have Ace as a partner for this type of market. It is nice to be able to replenish your inventory on a weekly basis, which makes it easier to control. Our goal is to be a one stop shop for everything in your home, and we can do that with Ace. The people in the community can buy the Ace brand with confidence because it’s proven to be a good quality product. Jorge Ossa  Commercial Manager, Cemaco – Guatemala (ACE Hardware Corporation, 2012). ACE has established an accurate and demonstrated operating model for effective and efficient distribution allowing ACE Hardware retailers the wholesale benefit they require to be successful and profitable. Below are the some of the wholesale advantages available for ACE Hardware store owners:- * Lowest cost of goods * Named #1 Distributor according to Home Channel News in 2009, 2010 and 2011. (Home Channel News, August 2011) * #1 in wholesale sales at $3. 5 billion (Hardware Retailing, December 2010 ) * The combined buying power of over 4,100 locations To support the growing number of international ACE retailers and leverage international wholesale opportunities, ACE opened the Ace Global Distribution (ASG) warehouse in Shanghai, China 2006 (ACE Hardware, 2012). 3. 2 Legal Structure Each Ace Hardware store is individually owned and operated by local entrepreneurs – hard-working, passionate business owners who are involved with and, many times, exist in the communities where their stores are based (Ace Hardware Corporation, 2012). . 3 History ACE Hardware organisation was founded when Richard Hesse, Frank Burke, Oscar Fisher, E. Gunnard Linquist, William Stauber unified to form a purchasing and advertising enterprise among their Chicago- area hardware stores. Moreover, their combined buying power allowed the store owners to negotiate lower prices on merchandise acquired from wholesalers. Therefore, embracing the ACE name in 1927 and incorporated the succeeding year. Frank Burke served as president of the group and was succeeded by Richard Hesse in 1930. Over the next two years the firm progressed into a hardware organisation, obtaining directly from producers and storing merchandise in its own warehouse in Chicago. This strategy allowed ACE to further reduce costs by removing ‘middlemen’ wholesalers (Anonymous, 2012). Moreover, during its first half-century of operation, ACE was basically a conformist wholesale group, and its profits were distributed equally among shareholders. The company’s low-cost purchasing and distribution procedures quickly enticed new employees and franchisees. By the mid – 1930’s, the organisation had 41 members and sales of more than $650,000. Throughout history, ACE has accomplished to solidify their position as one of the strongest and leading competitors in the hardware industry. 3. 3. 1 Mission The mission of the ACE team is to ensure that their customers are satisfied. According to (Anonymous, 2012), â€Å"When something goes other than the way it was planned, we do everything in our power to make it right. You have the ACE promise on that†. In relation to corporate social responsibility (CSR), ACE Hardware has partnered with the CMN hospitals to give back to communities. The ACE Foundation has raised over $50 million since 1991 to help sick and needy children through partnerships with Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) hospitals. ACE also supports the American Red Cross Natural Disaster Relief Fund through donations of work gloves, shovels, mops, bottled water and more (ACE Hardware Corporation, 2012). Once again, ACE is proud to serve as a sponsor of the Champions program. The retail stores and ACE foundation organise a myriad of fundraising initiatives, many of which our generous customers are welcome to get involved. Furthermore, these fun and unique experiences raise much-needed funds that essentially result in the power to change lives and treat sick children at the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals around the United States. Miracle Jeans Weeks is a program where employees throughout the company wear jeans during the company’s five designated Miracle Jeans Weeks each year. Furthermore, with a cost of $1 per day and almost 900 people on campus, it’s never in doubt that thousands of dollars are raised yearly from this enterprise. 3. 3. 2 Goals amp; Objectives One of ACE’s goals is customer satisfaction as they value their customers. â€Å"We know our customers want to be spoken to in a more personal manner, rather than in a blast† says Rich Neal who is ACE’s one-to-one manager. â€Å"So we have robust analytics team, and follow-up purchases with thank-you emails and direct mail, broken down into eight categories, including grilling and lawn and garden† (Mahoney, 2011). Therefore, for ACE Hardware customer satisfaction isn’t just an idea, it’s basically the entire purpose. According to (Marketing charts staff, 2011), J. D Power and Associates (2011) U. S Home Improvement Retailer Satisfaction Study, Ace Hardware ranks highest in satisfying home improvement retail store consumers, accomplishing a score of 786 on a 1,000-point scale, for the fifth consecutive year.. The study, now in its fifth year, measures customer satisfaction with home improvement retail stores which is built on the overall performance on five aspects: staff and service; store facility (including merchandise and cleanliness); merchandise (product information details); price; sales and promotions. 3. 4 Company Structure Aces Board of Directors establishes guidelines for Ace management. There are between nine to 12 director positions. Ray Griffith assumes the role of president and CEO and David Ziegler as the chairman of the board. 4. 0 Ace Product analysis: Ace hardware store offers an extensive range of more than 30,000 quality household products from kitchen mops to garden furniture and camping equipment. Ace’s product range consists of the everyday items such as sponges and shower curtains as well as occasional purchases such as wall paints and lawnmowers. Ace’s Products are categorized into: Outdoor Lifestyle: Ace has a wide range of outdoor lifestyle products to suit distinct tastes and needs -Outdoor furniture -Camping -Barbeque -Pools and spas -Outdoor constructions Gardening: a stimulating selection to meet outdoor gardening needs. -Gardening tools -Seeds -Indoor/outdoor plants -Pots and vases -Watering -Fertilizers and chemicals -Landscaping -Fencing and edging -Water features -Garden decor -Garden lighting -Shades and turf DIY: With the widest product range, competitive prices and informed staff, ACE is the choice for D. I. Y. enthusiasts. All ACE stores offer a wide selection of Tools, components and essentials for DIY as well as the biggest range of world renowned brands in power tools. ACE also provides free advice and solutions on any hardware or D. I. Y problem as well as free repairs on power tools under warranty. -Power tools -Hand tools -Hardware -Fastenings and fixings -Tool Storage -Timber -Electrical -Security Equipment -Safety Automotive: Ace has a wide range of quality automotive products. From accessories, cleaning and car care products, sunshades, 4X4 accessories and emergency kits to enhance the looks and performance of your vehicle. 44 adventure -Car Cleaning and Maintenance -Car Interior -Emergency and Safety Painting and Decorating: Ace offers more than 16,000 colors of paints; customers also can mix their own colors to come up with their ideal paint pallet. Ace provides all the necessities needed to complete the process of decorating homes. -Paints -Paint Equipment -Adhesive and fillers -Wall coveri ng -Arts, crafts and hobbies Home ware: ACE home ware has a complete range of lifestyle accessories all under one roof. -Cleaning, Laundry -Storage, Packaging -Living -Bed and Bath -Kitchen -Electrical -Wellness Pet Care: ACE offers a range of pet supplies and related pet products and accessories catering to dogs, cats, birds and fish. Ranges vary from pet food, toys and other essential pet care accessories. Services: Rental service: The Ace Rental Place offers a wide variety of equipment for rent on a daily, weekly or even monthly basis, great for items required for few usages or simply to try them out before deciding on the purchase. All rental items are well maintained with expert customer service. Customers can rent the following items:- †¢4 Burner Gas Barbeque †¢Upholstery/Carpet Cleaner †¢Generator †¢High Pressure Cleaner †¢Port-a-cool Ladder 16ft Multi-master In store services: -Assembly Installation/key cutting -Automotive chip key cutting- Pipe Cutting and Threading -Blade sharpening Screen Repair -Computerized paint – color matching- Small Engine Repair -Delivery- Special Order Services -Glass and acrylic sheet cutting -Glass repair -In store lock servicing 4. 1 Customer profile/demand analysis: Aces vast range of products and services encourages a diverse range of customers with different needs and wants. Hardware stores in general often prioritize their target market as home owners as the products they offer are mostly for household use. Ace is more than just a hardware store that just sells tools for men, it’s a superstore that attracts both men and women who are making decisions in the appearance and upholding of their homes. Loyal customers As part of a customer retention strategy the Ace marketers have focused their attention on customer insights, by creating a card-based loyalty club – the Helpful Hardware Club (HHC) customers at the store can sign up to the program making them eligible purchase discounts and special offers. Ace targeted the Lifestyle segment to boost their retention program causing evenues to rise 5. 4 percent as lapsed customers were enticed by discounts to return to their local Ace stores. (Nielsen 2009) Aces product portfolio also consists of outdoor leisure activities targeting consumers that are not necessarily home owners or prime decision maker with the household. Products for occasions such as camping or barbequing target a segment of active leisure consumers. This segment broadens ACEs target market outside home owners. The demand is not only in home improvement products but also in the items needed to care for them. This demand has forced manufacturers to introduce a large range of new cleaning products which targets upscale shoppers who desire convenience and a more natural, non-toxic product. Current market Bahrain is regionally known for its cosmopolitan lifestyle suggesting sophisticated consumers, with their relatively high purchasing power these consumers have a high willingness to spend especially on premium products and brands. 4. 2 Competitive situation: (Ellen 2010) Ace Hardware Corp the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the hardware industry by sales and the second largest dealer-owned cooperative in the United States. Ace’s innovation is what led them to establish the strong position they hold today. With over 4,000 stores in 60 different countries ACE hardware were ranked 8th in franchise directs top 100 global franchise’s (Francise Direct 2012). Ace hardware store faces intense competition within the United States. The US home center, hardware store and home improvement retail industry includes about 23,000 hardware stores and home centers with combined annual revenue of about $150 billion. The home center segment of the industry is highly concentrated: the top four companies account for more than 90 percent of segment revenue (Hoovers 2012) The success of individual companies depends highly on competing low-cost purchasing, effective merchandising, and competitive pricing. The top three competitors of ACE are:- †¢Lowe’s Companies Inc. †¢The Home Depot Inc. †¢Do it Best Corp Despite the intense competition in their domestic market, ACE has an opportunity in Bahrain as the Hardware store industry is not as well developed leaving space for entry in to the market. However, there will of course still be some Potential Competitors in Bahrain that Ace will have to face:- Ace’s direct competitor in Bahrain will be Manazel Hardware store; Manazel first opened its doors in October 1995 at Salmabad, Bahrain. It is a family owned business based in Bahrain. Carrying more than 50,000 products ranging in over 20 categories, some of which include: Furniture, Home ware, Hardware, Bathroom ;amp; Plumbing accessories, paint and Sundries, Outdoor Living, Garden Furniture and Accessories. Their Materials are sourced from all around the world to provide everything for your home and garden. Manazel 2012) Ace could initially face challenges competing with Manazel due to it being a locally based company, depending on the loyalty of their consumers it could be difficult in convincing them to switch to ACE. Ace has the advantage of being a well-established global brand and with the high rate of expatriates in Bahrain they may naturally prefer to switch to a m ore recognized brand. Ace will also face competition amongst the small local hardware and tool stores. These stores are popular amongst price sensitive customers. 5. 0 Environmental factors 5. 1 Host Country Business Climate: Bahrain offers very distinctive traits in the Middle East. It enjoys a stable economy climate and competitive costs. It has an amazingly business friendly climate which is an attraction for ACE and other companies to do business in this country, it has an excellent regulatory framework, and supportive government policy (Najjar 2011) The Host country for ACE Hardware is Bahrain, Bahrain is an Arab country with a total land Area of 712 square kilometres, a population of about 1,234,571 (end of 2012), out of which 666,172 are locals, according to the central bank of Bahrain. The main towns in Bahrain are Manama and Musharraq, the climate is mainly very hot and humid, language is mainly Arabic, but English is widely spoken. The metric systems used include 1dhara=48. 26 cm, 1 rafa=254 kg, the currency is the Bahraini Dinar (BD) = 2. 65 USD, the Time is 3 hours ahead GMT (Bahrain: Basic Data 2012). Bahrain is an Arab country and has the monarchy system, the ruler, king Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa is expected to be secure for some ime to come; the Al-Khalifa family has control over most of the executive branches of government and legislature remaining weak. There will however always be primary tension over economic and financial inequalities, with the halting pace of political liberalisation of sectarian discrimination. Real GDP growth for Bahrain was expected to slow down to 3. 1% in 2009, as mainly international demand for Bahrain exports is weakening, but was expected to recover to 3. % in 2010 (Bahrain economy, 2009), and is expected to rise up to 4-5% in 2 012 due to increases in crude oil production, manufacturing and government spending according to the Economic Development Board (EDB) (Andy 2012). Bahrain’s business climate in 2007 attracted almost $1 billion worth of investments in new projects in 2007 as reported by Dr Hassan Fakhro minister of Industry and Commerce, He also went ahead to mention that new investments in the new projects were worth 373. 3m Bahraini currency, which is about $987. 6 million and these new projects also created about 13, 536 jobs in the country (Middle East Financial News 2008). Oil production output from Bahrain’s single aground field is in decline however, and the monarchy government is aware of the country’s vulnerability to changes in oil prices globally, with oil being the major source of government revenue for the country accounting to more than 70% of the economy. The economy of the country also relies heavily on goodwill received from Saudi Arabia, which runs a large offshore oil field whose production it shares with Bahrain. All these limited resources has made Bahraini government to have the strategy of diversification in order to prosper, increase the role of the private sector and provide a welcoming environment for foreign investment. FIGURE 1. 0: BAHRAINI GDP 2001-2012 BAHRAINGDP GROWTH 2001-2012 200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012 4. 6%5. 2%7. 2%5. 6%7. 9%6. 7%8. 4%6. 3%3. 1%4. 5%1. 8%2% SOURCE: global finance: Bahrain Country Report 5. 2 SWOT ANALYSIS: Strengths; ACE hardware is a strong brand both across the USA and the world stage, with more and more expansion into the global markets into several countries across all the continents of the world. ACE has the resources and ability to pursue growth in multiple directions, with the ACE leadership team making a smart decision of focusing on their paint production, which has made them gain a huge customer base and customer loyalty (Bueno 2012). In 2010 ACE hardware has generated in excess of $3. 45 billion in wholesale and retailers enjoyed the added bonus of collective buying power at this volume by getting a decreased cost in goods, which has built the basic foundation for a more profitable option (ACE 2011). ACE produces many DIY products and many changes have taken place in this market over the last 85 years, ACE ownership however still remains the on top in customer satisfaction according to Business week and was ranked â€Å"highest in customer satisfaction Among home improvement stores four years in a row† (JD power and Associates) ACE hardware also enjoys major success in the market share with the help of top of the range advertisement and reduced goods cost, it has slowly established itself to be a major player in the global market for hardware products. ACE also expanding its wings to get a piece of the business boom, and with the advantage of an established brand name, it will be relatively easy to penetrate under developed markets as more businesses would want a merger with them as opposed to its rival companies. ACE is a sophisticate and established brand worldwide, and has adopted the new technologies as they come which has giving the company a competitive advantage as they are more organised and technologically more advanced, which has led to reduction in production costs for the company. The expansion of ACE into the global market has seen it gain market share, more so than their competitors such as Home Depot, Lowe’s etc. Weaknesses; ACE hardware has relatively small stores, compared to their rival companies like Lowe’s, Home Depot and Menards on selection ACE Hardware in 2008 reported a net income of $10. 8 million for the first quarter of 2008, which was a decrease as compared to 2007 when they reported $14. 1 million which was a $3. 3 million decrease. The company also reported earning s before interests and taxes of $13. million in the first quarter of 2008 as compared to $29. 2 million in the first quarter of 2007 (9) ACE hardware has encountered losses resulting from physical damage to breakdown of its computers in the European market, which has led to replace damaged computer hardware, the reinstatement of lost programs or Data and also had to increase working costs as a result of the problems (10). Opportunities Bahrain’s financial freed om ranking is 77. 7, making its economic system the Tenth freest in this years Catalog (2012). Its overall ranking is 1. 4 points higher than last year, with upgrades in trade freedom; investment freedom, work freedom, and freedom from data file crime error. Bahrain is rated 1st out of 17 nations in the Centre East/North African-American area, and its financial freedom ranking is well above the world average (Bahraini economic development Board, 2012) from the perspective of Ace this reduces business constraints giving them the freedom to commercialize their brand and reduces limitations on investment. Situated near commercial establishments in the Gulf with a causeway relationship with Saudi Arabia and the rest of the GCC, Bahrain is seen as a gateway to the Gulf, an industry of over 100 thousand individuals. Bahrains variety and openness keeps presenting opportunities for exporters. It has the most varied economic system in the Gulf Bahrain does not currently have a competitive hardware industry with only a few entrants and one major Hardware store giving ACE the flexibility to enter and the means to operate however they choose. The hardware market ACE is involved in is a highly competitive market, it takes a lot of marketing research by ACE and expensive research and new technological adaptations for the company to stay ahead of competition, couple with the reduced purchasing power of consumers due to economic downturns globally have been detrimental to business for ACE. Threats The law requires that you have a local partner who maintains most majority interest and can therefore manage the company and can close it anytime he wishes. The local partner, be it an organization or an individual, does not need to give rise to the start-up financial commitment or take part financially at all. (Bahrain, 2010). This could mean lack of security for ACE as there is the chance of being closed down with no warning or notice. The changes in labor Laws and regulations constantly by the US and other countries have been detrimental to their expansion, other domestic and international factors also have to be considered by ACE before entering into any market in any country, such as culture, corporate social responsibility obligations are all external factors that ACE has to consider. The process of opening a business in Bahrain is complicated and economically dangerous, significance that local information is essential. You must also seek advice from a good attorney from the beginning. A knowledgeable attorney will provide information to you through the signing up complications and his help will be important in defending your interests. This is applicable whether you are starting a moderate shop or a big enterprise (Bahrain 2010) The current Political unrest in Bahrain creates an unpredictable business environment. If the unrest becomes worse this could have major effects on Ace’s business activities in the region, currency fluctuations and could see reductions in the amount of expatriates present in Bahrain causing Ace to lose a large part of their target market. 5. 3 Government constraints in Bahrain Economic growth The economic growth is for Bahrain is likely to slow down in Bahrain; it went down to 3. 3% in 2010 as regional growth in the country as government finances are getting squeezed. Local consumption of private homes and offices is expected to slow sharply, with no a real positive growth in the employment sector. However government consumption growth in Bahrain is forecasted to also slow down. For ACE however the major demeaning factor of business entry into Bahrain would be the limited fiscal constraints in the country, as well as the subdued outlook for global direct investments flows. And the demand for exports and of goods and services is also forecasted to decline, ACE might have a hard time penetrating into the Bahraini market (Ace Hardware 2008). Economic policy An advantage for ACE going into the Bahraini market is the countries determination to move away from the oil sector. The government is determined to stimulate the private sector growth and foreign investments, and address high unemployment problems (Bahrain News Agency 2012) this would be an advantage to ACE as the government will give them an advantage of being accepted into the country without many business constraints. They can be assured of government support which is a large determinant of business success or failure for any business going into another country. Inflation and the exchange rate Consumer price inflation is expected to moderate in the coming years because of slower domestic demand growth. But with a relatively strong currency against the Euro and the Dollar inflation is expected to slow down an average of 1. 8% in 2009-2010. The Bahraini government is intending to enter into a currency agreement with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, and with the UAE, which has pulled out though, and the government and the central bank of Bahrain is expected to maintain the dinar’s value and peg it at the rate of BD0. 67=$1 that has been in place for 3 decades (Bahrain News Agency, 2012). Setting up a business in Bahrain For ACE hardware it would be good news for them to know that Bahrain is ranked first in the Economic freedom index in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and is seventh overall globally according to the Fraser institute Report 2012. The report by Fraser classifies these countries by using themes such as governm ent volumes, legal system, and intellectual property rights security, accessibility to sound funds, freedom of international trade and organization credit, manpower and companies. All these factors are important criteria to be considered by ACE before going into business in Bahrain. 5. 4 PEST ANALYSIS Political Legal Environmental Laws Bahrain has set up a strict law on polluters as fines of up to $133,000 are issues under Bahrain’s new environmental protection law, this is the first law of it ‘s kind related to anti-pollution in the Persian Gulf state. This law covers everything from car emissions, noise and workplace pollution, as well as handling and disposing of hazardous waste materials and chemicals. This is in accordance with what ACE has to achieve to be successful in Bahrain by practicing Corporate Social responsibility (CRS) to maintain the environment in Bahrain or risk serious government and legal issues (Pittsburgh Post, 1996) Stability of the Government Bahrain has entered into an era of instability due to a combination of the Arab spring recently, longstanding local grievances, the competition of regional powers and other external forces. The solution to this problems can be dialogue between the ruling Al-Khalifa Family and all opposition parties. The crisis has however slowed down in recent times with more and more dialogue and compromises being reached between both parties (Bahrain’s Quest for Stability 2012). Economic GEP growth in Bahrain In 2004 the Bahraini GDP has been reported by the ministry of commerce to have grown by 5. 2% from the previous year, this has been largely due to increase in foreign direct investment flow (Middle East 2004) and has been growing ever since with a reported GDP of 2. 1% increase in 2012. Currency The Bahraini currency is the Dinar and at 0. 67 Dinar to a US Dollar it is one of the strongest currencies when it comes to exchange in the World. Consumer price inflation is expected to moderate in the coming years because of slower domestic demand growth. This for ACE can only mean good news as it will be a positive currency to work with and no inflation worries that have to be considered by ACE. Social Population distribution in Bahrain The Bahraini age distribution has been as of the ye ar 2010 the kingdom was 1,234,571, part of which 568,399 were locals and the other 666, 172 were non Bahrainis. This from 2001 the population was 650, 604, this is an increase of 89. %. However, the population of the locals has decreased from 2001 to 2010 reaching 46% from the previous 62% in 2001. The proportion of the population of Bahrainis in the total population during the period from 2001 to 2010 decreased, reaching 46% in 2010; while the corresponding figure in 2001 was 62%. The percentage of non-Bahrainis increased 54% in 2010 while it was 38% in 2001 (Census, 2010). This shows an increased number of expats coming into the country which will mean for ACE that products should not only be made to suit the local citizens but the majority foreigners, which means overall business strategy has to change. Religion and Language: The official language in Bahrain is Arabic; however English is widely spoken mainly in business meetings and other social interactions. The non-Bahraini in the country mainly speak Farsi an Iranian language, or Urdu which is a Pakistani language. The main religion in Bahrain is Islam, which is the 2nd largest religion in the world, Muslims in fast for a month every year in the month of Ramadan. The Bahrainis though make use of both the Islamic and western calendar but mainly use the western calendar for business operations. Business meeting etiquette Appointments are necessary, morning meetings are preferred. However meetings are not advised during the months of August and July because most Bahrainis travel out the country when the heat is at its worst. , they are quite time conscious, so arrive at meetings on time. Personal topics should generally be avoided unless the relationship has developed or there is need to discuss matters confidentially. Bahrainis usually have an open door policy, so meetings do get interruptions. Business meetings also start after a long talk about health, family etc. Business Negotiation Etiquette The building of trust is important since trust is required in order to conduct business. Bahrainis are very time conscious and time driven, the actual meeting is more important than the timeliness or outcome. Bahraini organizations are hierarchal, the highest ranking employee or worker reaches decision. Decisions are top down and lower level employees usually have no say. Decisions take a lot of time; if you try to rush it will be perceived as rude and disrespectful. Technological The economic system in Bahrain relies upon intensely on innovative petrochemical technology, and many Bahrainis have had or are getting specialized training at several universities all over the country. Technology is just coming up in Bahrain with many projects being undertaken in recent times, but perhaps the most important is the Bahrain Green Tech EXPO which is dedicated to the green consumer products. Due to the high demand for environmental protection globally, Bahrain has taken this as the only business to business trade show focused specifically on ECO friendly consumer products. 6. 0 Business Strategies 6. 1 Product /service positioning Positioning is what the customer believes about your product’s value, feature, and benefits, it is a comparison to the other available alternatives offered by the competition (Jackson, 2012). Some basic strategies include:- By attribute or benefit This is the most frequently used strategy in positioning. In this case, Ace hardware’s products are mostly house used products, and the benefits they can give to the customers are the after service, and the quality. The after service they give is mostly repairing, assembling and delivery. Level of service and quality of a product offering are the main influences of developing a strong brand image. By user Customers often choose brands that identify with their own self-image. Ace should position itself to suit the image of the end user. Therefore ace should focus on the wants and needs of their target audience and how they perceive themselves and the brand. By competitor Competition wouldnt be much of an issue for Ace since they would be entering a market that is not fully developed in Bahrain with few competitors. But they should remain aware of new entrants which are always a possibility and they need to be aware of the changes that may occur. By price or quality Price and quality are directly related in minds of consumers, People are willing to pay premium prices for premium brands that are have high quality. It is very important for Ace to identify where they want to be placed on the pricing matrix shown in figure 1. Ace product offerings vary in brands therefore prices will also vary depending on brand and quality. 6. 2 Pricing strategy Because of Ace’s diverse product range of brands they would need to use more than one pricing strategy. Using the pricing matrix above ace could use this as a guidance to set appropriate pricing strategies. Premium Pricing: One pricing strategy suitable for Aces different brands is premium pricing. Certain brands offered by Ace are luxurious brands with high quality and high price. It is clear on the matrix for these products Ace should use premium pricing which allocates high prices to those brands Economy Pricing: Ace also offers products at more affordable prices however they may have lower quality then premium brands. These types of products attracts customers that are not willing to spend excess amounts of money and would rather spend less for less quality Competitive Pricing: ACE could also use competitive pricing strategy to set benchmarks on their own prices. This strategy is most effective when there are limited competitors in the market which is the case for ACE and Manazel. Ace has a clear advantage over Manazel as it is a globally established company enabling them to set their prices slightly higher than Manazels. Estimated Selling Price: The estimated selling price for ACE hardware products in Bahrain would have to be set under consideration of several factors, such as the GDP of the country, the purchasing power of the country, the competitor prices and the strength of the Bahraini currency The GDP is the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation over a period of a given year. The Gross domestic products (GDP) of Bahrain is the lowest in the Middle East with a reported $32 billion in 2011, however when it comes to consumer purchasing power of Bahrain, it is ranked fifth in the Middle East with a reported $27,900 in 2011. ACE can base it’s pricing on this and compare to its most similar market which is the UAE which is ranked second on the purchasing power list in the Middle East with $48,800 in 2011 (Index mundi, 2012) The Bahraini currency is a major factor for setting prices, comparing to the UAE market which is the closest to Bahrain both geographically and economically 1 Bahraini Dinar = AED 9. 7 so prices can be higher for the Bahraini market considering the difference in currency strength. Bahrainis live a very cosmopolitan lifestyle and would be prepared to buy from expensive and established brands (Numbeo, 2012), which will mean ACE, shouldn’t face many issues setting medium to high prices in Bahrain. But for the large number of expat s in Bahrain ACE has to adapt itself due to the target market it has set for itself when setting prices. Expats are genuinely not price sensitive when it comes to purchasing from known global brands as they find it easier to trust brands they are familiar with. The most important factor however is comparison of process with its main competitor in Bahrain which is Manazel; this company has built its reputation in Bahrain as one of the best Hardware stores and offers discounts and promotional vouchers to loyal customers (Manazel, 2012) which will mean stiff competition for prices for ACE. However, due to lack of information on actual goods prices for Manazel, ACE can do further research and sets it prices on information found. 6. Distribution and logistics Ace products will be available to customers through two sources: Retail sales: as many of its branches worldwide also provide retail shops, similar shops should also be provided in Bahrain in different major cities, to make the products more accessible to customers in more varieties, and as shopping is part of the Bahrainis past time this will be a major attributor to its overall sales. It will also increase overall brand popularity of ACE in Bahrain. Online store catalogue: ACE provides this service for many of its branches in different countries worldwide, but as internet commerce is not popular in Bahraini ACE should not expect major traffic on these online websites. Ace currently has distribution centers located in various parts of the world to enable more efficiency for their global stores at different pin-points. This way transport costs can be cut as well as time on delivering inventory. The closest distribution center to Bahrain is currently in UAE being operated by the Al Futtaim group. Ace can extend their current agreement with Al Futtaim for them to deliver across to Bahrain and take care of their inventory as well as the UAE. 6. 4 Promotion and Advertising Promotion ACE’s competitor in Bahrain Manazel offers various promotional vouchers and discounts to its customers, should be a model ACE will focus on that will help it gain more popularity with customers. Coupons, discount vouchers, loyalty cards should all be included as promotional tools by ACE and all promotional activity should reflect the goal ACE wants to be perceived as which is ‘the helpful store†. Advertising The most important part of marketing for any product is advertising, there are several tools ACE could you to get its name out in Bahrain which include, word of mouth, billboards on (major signs, buses etc. ) radio adverts, Television and much more. Due to culture and market similarities with the UAE ACE could use existing ads in Bahrain to cut costs in advertising research. 6. 5 Estimated sales/sales mix A sales mix is the specific sales of each product offered by a company in comparison to total product sales. Businesses commonly track this information to figure out exactly how much profit they make or can make when marketing a range of items or services. The sales mix of products will often impact an organization’s bottom line. 6. 6 Production/service strategies Production or operations strategy refers to the pattern of decisions or course of action that the organization takes to produce goods and services. The production strategy shows the direction the production or operations function of an enterprise should take. It has important consequences for the way production resources are selected, deployed and managed (Sarkissian. 2012). 7. Financial Planning â€Å"Financial planning is the process of meeting your life dreams/goals through the proper management of your finance† (Beniwal, 2010). This allows the usage of several financial tools such as Profit and Loss Statements, Cash Flow Projection and Financial Analysis to basically achieve financial objectives. 7. 1 Profit and Loss Statement Below is the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2012 and October 1, 2011. ACE HARDWARE CORPORATION| | | | | | | | CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME| | | | | | | (Unaudited, in millions)| | | | | | | | | | Three Months Ended| | | Nine Months Ended| | | September 29,| | October 1,| | September 29,| | October 1,| | | | 2012| | | 2011| | | 2012| | | 2011| | | (13 Weeks)| | (13 Weeks)| | (39 Weeks)| | (39 Weeks)| | Revenues| $| 949. 9| $| 912. 0| $| 2,929. 0| $| 2,787. 5| | | | | | | | | | | | Cost of revenues| | 826. 1| | | 797. 6| | | 2,564. 3| | | 2,449. 3| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Gross profit| | 123. 8| | | 114. 4| | | 364. 7| | | 338. 2| | Distribution operations expenses| | 25. 1| | | 26. 2| | | 74. 4| | | 70. 7| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Selling, general and administrative expenses| | 35. | | | 36. 2| | | 104. 5| | | 104. 3| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Retail success and developme nt expenses| | 26. 2| | | 27. 6| | | 91. 5| | | 84. 1| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Total operating expenses| | 86. 8| | | 90. 0| | | 270. 4| | | 259. 1| | Operating income| | 37. 0| | | 24. 4| | | 94. 3| | | 79. 1| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Interest expense| | (4. 2)| | | (8. 9)| | | (20. 2)| | | (27. 8)| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Loss on early extinguishment of debt| | -| | | -| | | (19. 9)| | | -| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Interest income| | 1. 0| | | 1. 5| | | 2. | | | 3. 8| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Other income, net| | 1. 7| | | 1. 5| | | 5. 0| | | 6. 1| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Income tax expense| | (0. 9)| | | (1. 4)| | | (2. 4)| | | (2. 4)| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Net income| | 34. 6| | | 17. 1| | | 59. 7| | | 58. 8| | Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests| | 0. 3| | | 0. 1| | | 0. 3| | | 0. 3| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Net income attributable to Ace Hardware Corporation| $| 34. 3| | $| 17. 0| | $| 59. 4| | $| 58. 5| | Accrued patronage distributions| $| 33. 3| | $| 15. 2| | $| 57. 0| $| 53. | | See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements. | | | | | Ray AGriffith, GuziK, William M amp; Gast, Erik D. , 2012). | | | | | | | | | | | | | ACE HARDWARE CORPORATION| | | | | | CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS| | | | (Unaudited, in millions)| | | | | | | | Nine Months Ended| | September 29,| | | October 1,| | | 2012| | | 2011| | | (39 Weeks)| | | (39 Weeks)| Operating Activities| | | | | | Net income| $| 59. 7| $| 58. 8| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:| | | | | | Depreciation and amortization| | 30. | | | 29. 0| Amortization of deferred gain on sale leaseback| | (0. 9)| | | (0. 9)| Amortization of deferred financing costs| | 1. 6| | | 2. 2| Gain on disposal of assets, net| | -| | | (2. 0)| Provision for doubtful accounts| | 2. 8| | | 3. 2| Loss on early extinguishment of debt| | 19. 9| | | -| Other, net| | 0. 2| | | -| Changes in operating assets and liabilities:| | | | | | Receivables| | (43. 2)| | | (39. 0)| Inventories| | (28. 9)| | | (68. 9)| Other current assets| | (2. 6)| | | 2. 7| Other long-term assets| | (7. 0)| | | (8. 0)| Accounts payable and accrued expenses| | 32. 6| | | 72. | Other long-term liabilities| | 6. 0| | | 2. 2| Deferred taxes| | 1. 1| | | 5. 0| Net cash provided by operating activities| | 71. 3| | | 56. 6| Investing Activities| | | | | | Purchases of marketable securities| | (9. 0)| | | (46. 1)| Proceeds from sale of marketable securities| | 8. 6| | | 46. 3| Purchases of property and equipment| | (31. 2)| | | (19. 5)| Decrease in notes receivable, net| | 1. 6| | | 1. 4| Other| | 0. 1| | | 0. 1| Net cash used in investing activities| | (29. 9)| | | (17. 8)| Financing Activities| | | | | | Net borrowings under revolving line of credit| | 113. 0| | | 9. | Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt| | 200. 0| | | -| Redemption of senior notes| | (301. 3)| | | -| Principal payments on long- term debt| | (7. 5)| | | (4. 0)| Payments of deferred financing costs| | (5. 2)| | | -| Payments of cash portion of patronage distribution| | (27. 7)| | | (26. 4)| Cash Flow Projection Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the nine months ended September 29, 2012 and October 1, 2011 Payments of patronage refund certificates| | (17. 3)| | | (17. 3)| Proceeds from sale of noncontrolling interests| | 0. 3| | | 8. 8| Other| | 0. 6| | | 0. | Net cash used in financing activities| | (45. 1)| | | (29. 2)| (Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents| | (3. 7)| | | 9. 6| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period| | 15. 8| | | 9. 3| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period| $| 12. 1| $| 18. 9| Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:| | | | | | Interest paid| $| 21. 3| | $| 20. 1| Income taxes paid| $| 0. 9| $| 0. 5| See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements. | | | | 6| | | | | | (Ray A Griffith, GuziK, William M amp; Gast, Erik D. , 2012 8. 0 Management considerations ACE will undertake a big change in bringing ACE hardware to Bahrain, Bahrain overall will be a good prospect as the company has penetrated a similar market in the Middle East (i. e. United Arab Emirates) and with a very stable economy and freedom of business with no government interruptions it will be a relatively easy venture for an established brand such as ACE. However the management at ACE has to consider several factors that will make the venture a more smooth transition, such as trying a joint venture with a local business, culture considerations so as not to put out unethical products. 8. Personnel/sales force factors A sharp forecast of more and employees getting into the professional field in Bahrain, and the stiff rise in population over recent years and also the preferences giving to the locals in hiring, ACE hardware has to take into considerations means and processes of hiring its employees, personnel training and qualification has to be of the highest standard and profe ssional communication skills has to be a criteria in hiring employees 8. 2 Business Advisors: With the help of a business advisor Ace could more effectively implement their strategy to break into the market in Bahrain. An effective business advisor would ensure a smoother transition by assisting ace in dealing with the laws and regulations entering the market and guiding them through government policies. Due to Aces existing established stores already present in the UAE the corporation already has knowledge on the different structures of setting up business in the Middle East. Business advisors in Bahrain would help them in ways more specific to the Bahrain market and can also help them with most effective Methods of Marketing in the country and the most effective locations to set up stores. 9. Recommendations/Conclusion Ace should undertake an aggressive marketing campaign upon entering the market in order to create brand awareness using ‘Coming soon† promotions to build up the hype of the store. Ace should engage with local business advisors in Bahrain to help guide them with cultural differences and deal with government legislations and regulations. Ace should undertake further Exten sive research to gain a better understanding on aspects of the Bahrain hardware market and to know their potential competitors and their offerings more in order to price, promote and operate more effectively.

The Symbol of the Heart in The Floating Opera Essay -- Floating Opera

The Symbol of the Heart in The Floating Opera  Ã‚      The heart is the dominant symbol in The Floating Opera, more important even than the symbol of the showboat of the novel's title. From beginning to end the book is richly populated by references to the heart on both a literal, physical level, and a figurative, symbolic one. In the first case, literal references are made to Todd's heart condition. In the second case, the heart plays two symbolic roles; not only does it serve as a symbol of Todd's emotional and non-rational side, but the frailty of Todd's heart serves as a correlative for the fragility of all human life. This paper will examine several examples from The Floating Opera that demonstrate this multi-levelled usage of the heart. Hearts make an early appearance in the text, in the very first chapter, when Todd describes his heart condition; a "kind of subacute bacteriological endocarditis"1. This condition predisposes Todd towards myocardial infarction (heart attack), and consequently Todd writes, "What that means is that any day I may fall quickly dead, without warning - perhaps before I complete this sentence, perhaps twenty years from now."2 Although this may seem to be a purely literal device, Barth is using Todd's heightened awareness of the delicateness of his own life as an exaggerated symbol for the vulnerability of all human life. This early focus upon the heart continues due to the centrality in the novel's plot of Todd's decision to kill himself, and his subsequent "change of mind". At the core of this decision to suicide is Todd's realisation that his life has been governed by his heart (his emotions), despite his best efforts to live by will, reason and intellect: "My heart was the master... ...when Froebel had Parnassus in his pan?"8 This quotation is demonstrative of both the inability of reason to overcome emotions - the very problem which Todd has grappled with for much of his life, and which lies centrally in The Floating Opera - and also of Todd's acute awareness of that inability. This, like so many of the "facts" in the narrative, has both a symbolic and a literal meaning, and shows the extent to which the heart and what it stands for permeate the fabric of the entire novel. Bibliography Barth, John, The Floating Opera and The End of the Road, Anchor Books, New York, 1988. Endnotes 1 Barth, John, The Floating Opera and The End of the Road, Anchor Books, New York, 1988, p. 5. (All subsequent page numbers refer to this book.) 2 p. 5. 3 p. 226. 4 p. 49. 5 Ibid. 6 Ibid. 7 p. 124. 8 pp. 94-5      

Behavorial Paper

There is one habit that have had for years I don't like anything dirty or out of place in my home and it is a must that the toilet seat or seats remain close I cannot stand for these things to happen in my home. If things are not put back where they belong I will ask who had the item and explain to them that the house doesn't look clean when things are out of place. I know that this is a bit extreme but this is how feel about these situations. I believe that I develop this from my mother, when was very young I can remember how my mother keeping our home very, very clean it was almost sterile.All the walls were white, and the carpet was a gold color tit white furniture and everything was so neat and she kept it that way. All the children participated in keeping those white walls clean. If there was company coming over and you were at home you would have to dust and sweep all floors before company arrived. I think have modeled myself after my mother in many ways, I have aunties and cou sins but they did not play a part in influencing this behavior. There are things like fussing about stuff, that catch myself doing that reminds me of my mother and I have also been told by others that have a lot of her traits and ways.However know that I didn't get way I feel about toilets from her. While know that I have become a bit excessive about my habits continue to do them because I cannot concentrate if the house is dirty or out of place and I truly get mad about the toilet being open, it has become normal to me, so normal that when go over other family members home put their toilet seat down and I may clean up something over their house when all was doing is visiting. I have not tried to break the habit of cleaning but I have tried to calm it down a bit, because I onto want to offend anyone when am at their home.In away I am glad I adapted my cleanliness from my mother, but don't understand or know why can't stand the toilet seat open, I even have my family to tell people t hat come over to make sure they put the seat down after they use the bathroom. From what I can remember my mother has always taught us to be very neat and clean. Saturday was always the clean-up day the consist of wiping walls and windows down and whatever else she wanted you to do. No one could leave until the whole house was done inside and out. This was done very Saturday.To this day I clean my house very Saturday it is a habit and if I know company is on the way I still dust and vacuum the floor. I know that watching my mother for years condition me to be particular about how I like my surroundings to be, but somehow I got extreme with it. This was my observational learning. Thought that this is how a person is supposed to be because that's all knew. Thought that the reason people came over was because they liked how our house was because would her them always say how beautiful everything was.In my mind I thought this is what she wanted them to say. I like to hear those complime nts too when have someone at my home. This was the self-regulation process. Since I felt that this was a good thing I was even happier to know that I was able to do these things like my mother did. This is self-efficacy. Believe that I am good at making my surroundings good and neat and my mother likes how keep my home. This makes my mother happy to know that followed in her footsteps and in return I'm happy that she likes that about me.This is self-system While I feel hat my habits are good I know that they affect my house when I get extreme with my cleaning and making sure the toilet seat in closed. I have to realize that am not the only one living in this house and everybody that comes to my home does not know that I want the seat down after they use the bath room. So my plan is to understand that and try not to get so irritated if the seat is up. I have to say that the behavioral theories best explains my personality The habits that I have learned were observed as a child my mot her raised me to do things a certain way.I looked at what she taught me as something positive. As a child it didn't make me sad or happy it was a way of life for me and I stayed with me. Learned from situations and advice given to me by family members I have always been so what quiet and observant I was perfect I also got in trouble sometimes. But when I saw my siblings get in trouble that was my cue to straighten up. There are different ways that people developed their habits sometimes your environment may play a parts of your personality, how a person is raised, where a person is raised, even ho raised an individual can affect your personality.

Langston Hughes- Salvation

Langston Hughes- Salvation Salvation, how many people actually know what it truly means? Better yet, how many times do citizens hear that salvation is the answer to all problems? This, yes, is true, but how many times are Christians encouraged to accept salvation without knowing what they are doing. Langston caught in the middle, sits on the ‘mourners’ bench’ waiting to hear Christ, waiting to feel The Lord, and waiting to somehow see Jesus. In Langston Hughes’ short story Salvation, one is reminded of the biggest controversy found in churches. In this story, the author presents many themes: Man vs.Man, Man vs. Self, and Faith vs. Religion. In Langston Hughes’ Salvation, the themes Man vs. Man, Man vs. Self, and Faith vs. Religion are shown through the characters, setting, and all its symbolism. The theme Man vs. Man is shown through the characters. Langston, as a Protagonist, who is a young boy, was told by his aunt that â€Å"you could feel and he ar Jesus in your soul† (Hughes, pg. 534), sits patiently, waiting to literally feel and hear Jesus. Langston was in a conflict with his aunt, the deacons, the crying old ladies, and the pastor because they wanted him to stand and accept salvation on their terms.Langston feels and thinks differently. He waits to see his Lord, feel his Lord’s presence, and hear his Lord’s voice. Instead, he hears the pastor saying over and over â€Å"why don’t you come? My dear child, why don’t you come to Jesus? † (Hughes, pg. 534) After seeing his friend, he finally decides to get up just to make the church happy. Later on in the story he is very sad because deep down he knows that he has lied to the whole congregation and decides he doesn’t believe in the Lord. Many, just like Langston, are in conflict with the church and Leaders.Many don’t hear the â€Å"Saviors† voice audibly; therefore, they follow the voices that are heard. Just like Langston, many begin to doubt that a true God exist because he can’t be seen or heard. Along with Man vs. Man, the theme Man vs. Self is also shown in the setting. Langston fought with himself internally because he struggled with not knowing what to do. He knows what to expect, and what he had expected didn’t come. Which is why, he struggles internally with himself especially since he is in the church where he thinks the Lord should be at and show himself to Langston.Langston wanted the Lord, he wanted Salvation but he wants â€Å"proof,† that The Lord exist. Langston waits to feel, hear, and see the Lord He knows how to make the church happy by lying about him being saved but he knows that he truly wasn’t. He sits on the mourners’ bench surrendering all and waiting for the Lord to find him; but, he did not realize that he was conflicted on the inside. This is shown the night he was crying in the room. The church is an important place which seems to be why he does not seem to show how he truly feels.At home he seems to be free and expresses his true emotions about the situation but behind closed doors to himself. He struggles with himself. He feels badly for lying to the whole church. At the same time he thinks how he would let them down and tell them he lied after hearing his aunt speak to her husband saying how he has the Lord in him. He has this struggle with himself throughout the whole story. Additionally, the theme Faith vs. Religion is also shown by the use of symbolism, which interrelates with the story.As Langston states in the short story, a revival is going on at his Aunts church. Revival is a time where the reawakening of religious fervor happens. As in the story, readers believe that the symbolism behind Revivals pressured Langston to accept salvation. Revival is portrayed as a symbol of Christianity; and, in Langston’s positions, he accepted salvation because he felt the pressure of being in a church and also being among many who have come to seek revival. Of course, when at a revival, church goers repent and accept Christ.The pressure of being in a church and the pressure of the people around the main character, Langston, pushed him to accept Salvation. Langston had the weight of the church pushing him to get up and walk to the platform. The use of symbolism, we are reminded of the Religion vs. Faith theme. The pastor used his authoritative figure to pressure young Langston to stand up and walk towards him. He, the pastor, sang the words â€Å"why don’t you come to Jesus† while holding his hands out to Langston. Is the Pastor supposed to represent Jesus?In the end, Langston was â€Å"saved from his sin†, but at the same time, â€Å"not truly saved. † Humans, tend to let their surroundings influence who they are and where we end up in life. Langston’s story portrays the life and how people live it. He portrays it by falling into peer pressure; the n in the end, not being able to fully accept his choice which leads to not believing there was ever a Jesus. Many themes can wrap up the short story Salvation; Man vs. Man, Man vs. Self, and Faith vs. Religion through the character, setting and use of symbolism wraps up the story in those three aspects of literature.

Common Seal - Phoca vitulina - The Animal Encyclopedia

Common Seal - Phoca vitulina - The Animal Encyclopedia The common seal (Phoca vitulina), also known as the harbor seal, is an agile carnivore with a streamlined body and flipper-like limbs that enable them to swim with great skill. Common seals have a thick coat of short hair. Their fur color varies from off white, to gray, to tan or brown. Common seals have a unique pattern of spots across their body and in some individuals this pattern is more distinct than in others. Their nostrils are V-shaped and can be closed tightly to prevent water from entering their nose when they swim. Common seals do not have an outer ear structure, which helps with streamlining in the water. Common seals occupy the widest range of all the seal species. They inhabit the coastal areas of the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean. They can be found throughout the arctic, subarctic, and temperate regions. Their habitat preference includes coastal islands, beaches, and sand bars. There are between 300,000 and 500,000 common seals living in the wild. Seal hunting once threatened the species but is now illegal in most countries. Some populations of common seals are threatened, even though the species as a whole is not. For example, populations that are declining include those of Greenland, the Baltic Sea, and Japan. Killing by humans still poses a threat in these areas, as does disease. Some common seals are killed intentionally to protect fish stocks or by commercial hunters. Other common seals are killed as bycatch by fishing activities. Common seals are protected by various countries by legislation such as the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (in the United States) and the Conservation of Seals Act of 1970 (in the United Kingdom). Common seals feed on a variety of fish as prey including cod, whitefish, anchoview, and sea bass. They also sometimes eat crustaceans (shrimps, crab) and mollusks. They feed while at sea and sometimes forage long distances or dive to considerable depths to find food. After foraging, they return to resting sites on the coast or on islands where they rest and recover. There are about 25,000 Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richarii) that live along the California coast. Members of this population remain close to shore where they feed in the intertidal zone. On the east coast, Western Atlantic harbor seals (Phoca vitulina concolor) are present on the coast and islands of New England. They spend the winter further north along the coast of Canada and migrate south to the New England area to breed. Breeding occurs in May through June. Size and Weight About 6.5 feet long and up to 370 pounds. Males are generally larger than females. Classification Common seals are classified within the following taxonomic hierarchy: Animals Chordates Vertebrates Mammals Pinnipeds Phocidae Phoca Phoca vitulina Common seals are divided into the following subspecies: Eastern Atlantic harbor seal (Phoca vitulina vitulina) - Eastern Atlantic harbor seals are found along the coastlines of Europe.Insular seal (Phoca vitulina stejnegeri) - Insular seals are found in eastern Asia.Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richarii) - Pacific harbor seals are found along the coastlines of western North America.Ungava seal (Phoca vitulina mellonae) - Ungava seals are freshwater seals that inhabit eastern Canada.Western Atlantic harbor seal (Phoca vitulina concolor) - Western Atlantic harbor seals are found along the east coast of North America.