Pizza Hut Essay Example

Pizza Hut Paper Corporately known as Pizza Hut, Inc, it is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. Pizza Hut, the first International Chain Restaurant in Bangladesh, opened its flagship restaurant in 2003 at Gulshan in Dhaka. From the day of its launching Pizza Hut remains the acknowledged leader of the Pizza Industry, evident from the continuous crowds the restaurant successfully draws in. Pizza Hut has over 15,000 outlets across 100 countries. Following its grand success in Dhaka, the Chittagong outlet was opened in September 2005 and later on in Cox’sbazar as well. Transcom Foods Limited (TFL) started its journey in 2003 as a franchisee of Pizza Hut, the first International Chain Restaurant in Bangladesh, and went on to sign the contract to become the franchisee of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in the year 2006. Both Pizza Hut and KFC are subsidiaries of the world’s largest restaurant company Yum! Restaurants International. In a span of ten years, TFL has opened 5 Pizza Hut and 11 KFC outlets so far throughout the country. Pizza Hut Franchise Information †¢ Initial Franchise Fee: $25,000 Total Investment: $1. 3M to $3M †¢ Net worth requirement: $1M †¢ Cash liquidity requirement: $360K †¢ Pay an annual 6. 5% royalty on your profit. †¢ Must commit to building at least 3 restaurants over 3 years †¢ Term of Franchise Agreement: 20 years Sources: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Pizza_Hut http://www. pizzahut. com/ http://www. pizzahutfranchise. com/ http://www. startupbizhub. com/how-to-start-your-pizza-hut-franchi sing-business. htm http://www. startingfranchise. in/2012/11/Opening-Pizza-Hut-Franchise-India. html Menu of Pizza Hut Item Name |Price(Taka) |Item Name |Price(Taka) | |Pizza 2person |940 |Mushroom |450 | |Pizza 4person |1750 |Chicken Mushroom |500 | |Pizza 6person |2320 |Shrimp Mushroom |500 | |Pasta 2person |1050 |Garlic Bread |130 | |Pasta 4person |2080 |Garlic Bread platter |280 | |Arabiatta |400 |Spicy Garlic Mushroom |380 | |Chicken Arabitta |450 |Garden salad |200 | |Hawaiian salad |220 |Red n hot |1150/1500 | |Pasta mint salad |300 |Latin spicy hot, chicken Italia |1300/1650 | |Garden salad |200 |Hawaiian salad |220 | |Salad bar |400 |Cheese lover, veggie lover |250-1200 | |Onion rings |220 |Creamy spinach mushroom |500 | |Shrimp cocktail |280 |Spicy garlic mushroom |380 | |Potato shell with filler |300 |Bolognaise with meatball |450 | |Spanish delight |1150/1500 |Beef lover, BBQ chicken |300-1350 | |Garlic bread platter |280 |Beef Arabiatta |450 | |Veggie supreme |300-1350 |Chicken exotica, spicy beef 300-1350 | |Rustica |300-1350 |Chicken classic |380-1700 | |Seafood symphony |380-1700 |Latin Spicy hot |380-1700 | We will write a custom essay sample on Pizza Hut specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Pizza Hut specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Pizza Hut specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer More menus of Pizza Hut Beef LoverBBQ  ChickenVeggie Lover Chicken Hawaiian Veggie SupremeChicken SupremeBeef Pepperoni Seafood Symphony Salads Breads Pasta [pic][pic] [pic][pic] [pic][pic] SWOT analysis of Pizza Hut Strengths: †¢ Innovative range of pizzas under one roof †¢ Part of the largest restaurant chain in the world Food attracts people of various ranges from young to old. †¢ Over 18,000 franchises around the world †¢ Pizza Hut sits on top of global full-service restaurant tree †¢ Quick home delivery services. †¢ Sound financial situation and international turnover. †¢ Hygienic food and quick service. †¢ Famous television advertising †¢ They are ISO(International Standard Organization) Certified Weaknesses: †¢ High price for every menu. †¢ Franchise management. †¢ Loyal customers are feeling that the satisfaction of the pizzas is declining. †¢ There are complex computer systems and internal conflicts from fran chisees. †¢ There is a lack of an organic pizzas, which will limit the target market. They are providing less range of products comparatively with high prices. They are more focused on Western taste instead of Eastern and Asian. †¢ Obviously, Pizza Hut is not the low cost producer. They rely on their quality pizza and good service to account for their higher prices †¢ Rising competition undermines Pizza Hut as consumers go for greater convenience †¢ Rising cheese costs threaten margins Opportunities: †¢ New Pizzas with different crust sizes and flavours. †¢ Pizza Hut expands Indian market menu and looks to old favourite to bolster sales. †¢ Diversification of new products can increase their market shares. †¢ Venture more into home delivery. Pizza hut can come up with the new products considering taste of people as like McDonalds †¢ They can reduce their prices because of more resources. Threats: †¢ Threat from Dominos pizza, also fro m Mc Donald’s who have tried to introduce a new meal that is a Pizza called: McPizza. †¢ Other local restaurants can affect their market share by providing pizzas with lower price. †¢ Bird flu. †¢ Health conscious people. †¢ Social factors can affect their image as a Western organization. [pic] Type: Subsidiary Industry: Fast food restaurant Founded: 1930 in North Corbin, Kentucky (original) 1952 at 3900 South State St, Salt Lake City, Utah (franchise) Founder(s): Harland Sanders Headquarters:1441 Gardiner Lane, Louisville, Kentucky, United States (Operational Headquarters) 1209 North Orange St, Wilmington, Delaware, United States (Incorporation) Number of locations: 18,000 (2012) Key people: David C. Novak, Chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands Roger Eaton, Chairman and CEO of KFC Products: Fried chicken, chicken burgers (chicken sandwiches US), wraps, French fries, soft drinks, salads, desserts, breakfast Revenue: US$15 billion (2011) Parent Yum! Brands What made us great is still what makes us great. KFC Corporation, based in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the few brands in America that can boast a rich, decades-long history of success and innovation. It all started with one cook who created a soon-to-be world famous recipe more than 70 years ago, a list of secret herbs and spices scratched out on the back of the door to his kitchen. That cook was Colonel Harland Sanders of course, and now KFC is the worlds most popular chicken restaurant chain, specializing in that same Original Recipe, along with Extra Crispy chicken, home-style sides and buttermilk biscuits. There are more than 18,000 KFC outlets in 120 countries and territories around the world. Transcom Foods Limited (TFL) started its journey in 2003 as a franchisee of Pizza Hut, the first International Chain Restaurant in Bangladesh, and went on to sign the contract to become the franchisee of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in the year 2006. Both Pizza Hut and KFC are subsidiaries of the world’s largest restaurant company Yum! Restaurants International. In a span of ten years, TFL has opened 5 Pizza Hut and 11 KFC outlets so far throughout the country. KFC Franchise Information †¢ Initial Franchise Fee: $45,000 †¢ Total Investment: $1. 2M to $1. 8M †¢ Net Worth: $1. 5M to $2. 5M †¢ Liquid asset: $750,000 †¢ Royalty Fee: 5% †¢ Advertising Fee: (Local 2. 5% of gross revenues National Cooperative Advertising 4. 5% of gross revenues) †¢ Renewal Fee: $6,750 †¢ Term of Agreement: 20 years Sources: 1) http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/KFC 2) http://www. kfc. com/about/ 3) http://www. kfcfranchise. com/faqs-qsr-restaurant. hp 4) http://www. thefranchisemall. com/franchises/details/10004-0-kfc. htm 5) http://www. franchisedirect. com/foodfranchises/kfc-franchise-07095/ufoc/ Menu of KFC |Item Name |Price(Taka) |Item Name |Price(Taka) | |Chicken Snacker |100 |Potato Wedges |125 | |Chicke n Snacker box |170 |Chicken rice meal |190 | |Strips Snack |190 Spicy Thai Chicken rice |300 | |Snack Box (1pic chicken Fries) |170 |Hot Zinger meal |375/395 | |Popcorn Chicken |160 |Zinger meal |370/390 | |Boneless chicken strips |200/395 |Curry crunch chicken |290/575/1145/1700 | |Hot wings |150/290 |2pcs chicken fries meal |350 | |Bucket meal |2350 |Krushers |140/170/180/190/200 | |Bucket Hot crispy |830/1250 |Desserts |80-150 | |Hot zinger |250 |Veggie zinger |210 | |Mixed rice |85 |Chicken zinger |240 | |Combo 1/2/3/4/5 |250/300/600/1200/999 |Burgers |240/250/210 | |Sides |30-125 |Packaged water |80-90 | |tea |50 |Coffee |60 | More menus of KFC: KrushersSoft DrinkGame Box Chicken BucketBox masterChicken Thali Veg FingerColeslawFriesSnack Box  Corn on the cobSundae Soft Twirl Zing KongSnacker(chicken veggie)Brownie Sundae SWOT analysis of KFC Strengths: Second best global brand in fast food industry in terms of value ($ 6 billion) †¢ KFC customer base remained loyal to the KFC brand because of its unique taste. †¢ World’s largest restaurant company in terms of system restaurants. †¢ Chicken made with the same secret blend of 11 Ranks(herbs and spices highest among all chicken restaurant chains for its convenience. †¢ Menu variety and strong trademarks recipes. †¢ KFC has continued to dominate the dinner and take out segment of the Industry. †¢ Existing in the local market for years, therefore, knowing people’s tastes and whims. †¢ They are ISO (International Standard Organization) certified. Weaknesses: Losing market share as other Chicken chain increased sales at a faster rate. †¢ Lack of knowledge about their customers. †¢ Question of over franchising leads to loss of control and quality. †¢ Lack of focus on RD. †¢ Unhealthy food menu †¢ High employee turnover †¢ Lack of strong marketing efforts †¢ The company has entered so many markets in the past in the United Sta tes that its growth rate was about only one percent an year. †¢ The company is said to not to pay attention to its resource and development. Opportunities: †¢ Introducing new products to its only chicken range. †¢ Introducing new services and technologies. †¢ Increasing demand for healthier food. With more investments the company can definitely make its position stronger in the food industry †¢ Home meal delivery. †¢ Employment opportunities for part time seeker especially for university goings. †¢   Ã‚  Focusing on more nutrition’s. Threats: †¢ Bird flu †¢ Saturated fast food markets in the developed economies. †¢ Trend towards healthy eating. †¢ Local fast food restaurant chains. †¢ Government regulations. †¢ Change in tastes. †¢ Currency fluctuations. †¢ Lawsuits against KFC. [pic] Type: Public Traded as: SET: CPF Industry: Food and Beverage Founded: January 17, 1978 Headquarters: Bangkok, Thailan d Key People: Adirek Sriratak, ( President CEO) Products: Animal Feed, Animal Breeder, Meat and Food Parent: Charoen Pokphand Group Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited is Thailands largest agribusiness firm. It is a publicly traded subsidiary of the Charoen Pokphand Group. Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF), a company of the CP Group, is the leading agro-industrial and food conglomerate in Thailand. The greater part of the Company production bases is in Thailand with some operating overseas. The Company’s core business lines are livestock and aquaculture. The livestock operations include chicken broiler, chicken layer, duck and swine. For aquaculture business, the two main marine animals are shrimp and fish. C. P. Bangladesh Company Ltd. is a sister concern of C. P. Group Thailand. C. P. Bangladesh Co. , Ltd. s incorporated in Bangladesh on 14th January 1999 doing business in the Agricultural industry, Poultry sector. Though C. P. Bangladesh Co. , Ltd is not in Bangladesh many years, but in this shorter period it has established its own Feed mills, Breeder Farm, Hatcheries, G. P. farm, fish feed mill all over the country. C. P. Bangladesh Co. , Ltd has established with a vision â€Å"To be a leader in Agro-business industry in Bangladesh† and each day it is getting closer to its vision. C. P. Bangladesh Co. , Ltd now produce Poultry feed (both layer and broiler), breeder feed, fish feed and cattle feed, and also animal health medicine. [pic] C. P. Bangladesh Co. Ltd. is a sister concern of C. P. Group Thailand. C. P. Bangladesh Co. Ltd. is incorporated in Bangladesh on 14th January 1999 doing business in the Agricultural industry, Poultry sector. Though C. P. Bangladesh Co. Ltd. is not in Bangladesh many years, but in this shorter period it has established its own Feed mills, Breeder Farm, Hatcheries, G. P. farm, fish feed mill all over the country. They direct invested in Bangladesh by giving the tax to government (Ministry of commerce) without any licensing and franchising. They have established a production factory house in â€Å"Hemayetpur† and supply the materials for the fried chicken in the different branch in Dhaka and Chittagong. C. P. Bangladesh Company Limited was established since 1998 under operation in Agro-Industrial and Food Business by dedication of providing high quality of animal feed mill, farming operation and also processing tasteful, nutritional and hygienic food products under branding of ‘‘FIVE STAR CHICKEN’’ that deliver to all customers in Bangladesh. It Started on April 7, 2008 with a mission- â€Å"Kitchen of Bangladesh. In Bangladesh they have started their fried chicken business through licensing with an amount of TK 250,000. Currently they are operating their fried chicken business across Bangladesh with their 201 branches among them 104 branches are in Dhaka. The Charoen Pokphand Group is the largest business conglomerate in Thailand. Its largest subsidiary is Charoen Pokphand Foods, which achieved 116. 5 billion baht in revenue in 2005, earning a profit of 6. 747 billion baht. Apart from agribusiness, the family-owned conglomerates interests range from retailing, as the franchisee of Thailands 7-Eleven stores, to telecommunications, as the owner of True Corporation, a mobile telephone service provider, Internet service provider, and cable television company. CP Subsidiaries also include PRC registered Super Brand Mall Lotus center chain. The company has grown into a global business, with more than 250 subsidiaries in 20 countries, including China, where it is known as the Chia Tai Group. CP fried chicken’s methodologies of the business in Bangladesh are as follows: †¢ This is a Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). †¢ Operating as a licensing company in Bangladesh. †¢ Initial licensing Fee: TK 250,000 †¢ Renewal Fees: Not disclosed. Sources: 1) http://www. cpfworldwide. com 2) http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Charoen_Pokphand_Foods 3) From Street corner retailers. Menu of CP fried chicken Item Name |Price (Tk) |Item Name |Price (Tk) | | Jumbo set |790 |Wing |60 | |Party set |460 |Happy hot Dog |60 | |Breast |115 |Masala chicken |55 | |Thigh |90 |Spicy chicken |50 | |Leg |60 |Chicken ball |25 | |Chicken sausage |25 |Hot wings |25 | SWOT analysis of CP fried chicken Strengths: Low price compare to KFC Pizza Hut in Bangladesh. †¢ More branches than KFC Pizza Hut in Bangladesh. †¢ More convenience than KFC Pizza Hut in Bangladesh †¢ Horizontal raw material sources in Bangladesh. †¢ Sound financial situation and international turnover. †¢ Food attracts people of various ranges from young to old. †¢ Existing in the local market for years, therefore, knowing people’s tastes and whims. Weakness: †¢ Don’t have exclusive decorations compare to pizza Hut KFC. †¢ Loyal customers are feeling that the satisfaction of the pizzas is declining. †¢ Lack of monitoring controlling system. †¢ Lack of focus on RD. †¢ Lack of strong marketing efforts. Lack of knowl edge about their customers. †¢ Lack of menu varieties. Opportunities: †¢ They can reduce their prices because of their horizontal sources of raw materials. †¢ With more investments the company can definitely make its position stronger in the food industry †¢ Home meal delivery. †¢ They can attract more people with their consisting lower prices. Threats: †¢ Bird flu. †¢ Health conscious people. †¢ Local fast food restaurant chains. †¢ Government regulations. †¢ They need have more product offerings compare to KFC Pizza Hut †¢ Their services should be improved. Franchising Franchising is the practice of using another firms successful business model. The word franchise is of Anglo-French derivation from franc meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a (transitive) verb. For the franchisor, the franchise is an alternative to building chain stores to distribute goods that avoids the investments and liability of a chain. The franchisors success depends on the success of the franchisees. The franchisee is said to have a greater incentive than a direct employee because he or she has a direct stake in the business. Essentially, and in terms of distribution, the franchisor is a supplier who allows an operator, or a franchisee, to use the suppliers trademark and distribute the suppliers goods. In return, the operator pays the supplier a fee. Thirty three countries, including the United States, and Australia, have laws that explicitly regulate franchising, with the majority of all other countries having laws which have a direct or indirect impact on franchising. Foreign Direct Investment 🙠 FDI) According to the International Monetary Fund, foreign direct investment, commonly known as FDI, refers to an investment made to acquire lasting or long-term interest in enterprises operating outside of the economy of the investor. The investment is direct because the investor, which could be a foreign person, company or group of entities, is seeking to control, manage, or have significant influence over the foreign enterprise. Licensing: Licensing is the process of leasing a legally protected (that is, trademarked or copyrighted) entity – a name, likeness, logo, trademark, graphic design, slogan, signature, character, or a combination of several of these elements. The entity, known as the property or intellectual property, is then used in conjunction with a product. Many major companies and the media consider licensing a significant marketing tool. Interpretations of our analysis Yummy! Let’s go for Pizza Hut or KFC or CP. Yes, these words are becoming very common for city people in Bangladesh. What more can somebody ask for! In the context of Bangladesh, whenever we talk about party or to hang around with friends or families in many cases Pizza Hut or KFC or CP gets priority among all other choices we have. Though their food items are little bit more expensive than our traditional foods, but still we love it. This time we are not having any of their food items, we are just going to have an analysis of these three companies. For the purpose of our analysis, we had to gather information’s both from the primary and secondary sources. Collecting information’s from the secondary sources were easy compare to primary sources. While we went to collect raw data from the primary sources, we found the managers of those restaurants very uncomfortable of sharing any information’s and that made our journey very difficult. After being refused from them, we went to their corporate offices but still got denied. Since we had to complete our analysis, somehow we did manage some of the information’s about these companies and which we believe can be helpful for concluding our analysis. From the information’s we have found, both Pizza Hut KFC were originated from U. S. A, and currently Transcom Foods Limited (TFL) had brought both Pizza Hut KFC into Bangladesh though franchising and off-course with the help of world’s largest restaurant company named â€Å"Yum! Restaurants International† It’s kind of revolution for the food industry in our country. Transcom Foods Limited (TFL) started its journey in 2003 as a franchisee of Pizza Hut, the first International Chain Restaurant in Bangladesh, and went on to sign the contract to become the franchisee of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in the year 2006. In a span of ten years, TFL has opened 5 Pizza Hut and 11 KFC outlets so far throughout the country. Very surprisingly their popularity is increasing in our country da y by day even though their product offerings are different. The way they are dominating the world’s restaurant industry through their product and service offerings, similarly they are dominating in our country as well. Most of the time, they are trying to reach the higher income people. Whereas CP (Charoen Pokphand) is another food company which has targeted all classes of people in our country. Basically CP has originated from Thailand and started it’s business in our country as an agro based industry. But later on, in the year of 2008, they had expanded their business in food industry through licensing. In Bangladesh they have started their fried chicken business through licensing with an amount of TK 250,000. Currently they are operating their fried chicken business across Bangladesh with their 201 branches among them 104 branches are in Dhaka. Even though they are having more branches compare to Pizza Hut KFC, but their product offerings and service quality especially, their locations and the environments are not that good like Pizza Hut KFC. Their internal and external decoration is also different and looks less exclusive than Pizza Hut KFC. But CP’s food prices are way cheaper than Pizza Hut KFC. Moreover, CP’s initial investments and expenses are less than Pizza Hut KFC. From the above mentioned analysis, we can say that, both Pizza Hut KFC are fulfilling peoples demand by assuring their product service qualities as well as environments whereas, CP is not covering any of those issues rather they are more focusing on cheaper product price. Price Comparison with other countries: |Item Name |Bangladesh |India |U. S. A | |KFC 8 pcs Bucket |Tk 830. 00 |Rs 350. 00 |$ 10. 9 | | | |350*1. 25=Tk 437. 5 |10. 99*76. 54=Tk 841. 17 | |KFC 12 pcs Bucket |Tk 1,250. 00 |Rs 500. 00 |$ 16. 49 | | | |500*1. 25=Tk 625. 00 |16. 49*76. 54=Tk 1,262. 14 | |Pizza Hut |Tk 460. 00 |Rs 315. 00 |$ 7 | |Classic Margherita(M) | |315*1. 25= Tk 393. 75 |7*76. 54= Tk 535. 8 | |Pizza Hut |Tk 1200. 00 |Rs 490. 00 |$ 11. 99 | |Veggie Lovers | |490*1. 25= Tk 612. 5 |11. 99*76. 54= Tk 917. 71 | |CP |Tk 790. 00 |Rs 290. 00 | | |Jumbo Set | |290*1. 25= Tk 362. 5 | | Comparative analysis of these three com panies: Company Franchising Cost |Licensing Cost |Initial Investment |Location |Loyalty |Popularity |Product Price |Service |Customer Level | |Pizza Hut | High |N/A |Very High |Moderate |Very High |High |Very High |Excellent |High upper middle | |KFC |Very High |N/A |Very High |Moderate |Very High |Very High |High |Excellent |High, upper middle middle | |CP |N/A |Low |Moderate |Excellent |Moderate |Moderate |Moderate |Low |Middle low | | Company |Product quality |Product Variety |Product offerings |Availability |Home delivery |Inspection |Environment |Customer Satisfaction | |Pizza Hut |Excellent |Various |Active |Very Few |Yes |Frequent |Excellent |Very Good | |KFC |Excellent |Various |Very active |Few |Yes |Frequent |Excellent |Very good | |CP |Good |Limited |Stable |Available |N/A |Les Frequent |Moderate |Good | |

The History of the Olmec Site of La Venta

The History of the Olmec Site of La Venta The Olmec capital of La Venta is located in the city of Huimanguillo, in the state of Tabasco, Mexico, 15 kilometers (9 miles) inland from the Gulf coast. The site is perched on a narrow natural elevation approximately 4 km (2.5 mi) long which rises above the wetland swamps on the coastal plain. La Venta was first occupied as early as 1750 BC, becoming an Olmec temple-town complex between 1200 and 400 BC. La Venta was the primary center of the Olmec culture and likely the most important regional capital in non-Maya Mesoamerica during the Middle Formative period (approximately 800-400 BC). In its heyday, La Ventas residential zone included an area of ~200 hectares (500 acres), with a population numbering in the thousands. Architecture at La Venta Most of the structures at La Venta were built of wattle-and-daub walls placed atop earthen or adobe mudbrick platforms or mounds  and covered with a thatched roof. Little natural stone was available, and, apart from the massive stone sculptures, the only stone used in public architecture was a few basalt, andesite and limestone foundational support or internal buttresses. The 1.5 km (~1 mi) long civic-ceremonial core of La Venta includes over 30 earthen mounds and platforms. The core is dominated by a 30 meter (100 foot) high clay pyramid (called Mound C-1), which has been heavily eroded  but was likely the largest single building at the time in Mesoamerica. Despite the lack of native stone, La Ventas artisans crafted sculptures including four colossal heads from massive blocks of stone quarried from the Tuxtla Mountains approximately 100 km (62 mi) to the west. The most intensive archaeological investigations at La Venta were conducted in Complex A, a small group of low clay platform mounds and plazas within an area of about 1.4 hectares (3 acres), located immediately north of the tallest pyramidal mound. Most of Complex A was destroyed shortly after the excavations in 1955, by a combination of looters and civic development. However, detailed maps of the area were made by the excavators and, due primarily to the efforts of archaeologist Susan Gillespie, a digital map of the buildings and construction events at Complex A has been made (Gillespie, Gillespie, and Volk). Read more on Complex A at La Venta Subsistence Methods Traditionally, scholars have attributed the rise of Olmec society to the development of maize agriculture. According to recent investigations, however, the people at La Venta subsisted on fish, shellfish and terrestrial faunal remains until about 800 BC, when maize, beans, cotton, palm and other crops were grown in gardens on relict beach ridges, called tierra de primera by maize farmers today, perhaps fueled by long-distance trade networks. Killion (2013) conducted a survey of paleobotanical data from several Olmec period sites including La Venta. He suggests that the initial founders at La Venta and other Early Formative sites such as San Lorenzo were not farmers, but rather were hunter-gatherer-fishers. That dependence on mixed hunting and gathering extends well into the Formative period. Killion suggests that the mixed subsistence worked in the well-watered lowland environments, but that a wetland environment was not suited to intensive agriculture. La Venta and the Cosmos La Venta is oriented 8 degrees west of north, like most Olmec sites, the significance of which is obscure to date. This alignment is echoed in Complex As central avenue, which points to the central mountain. The central bars of each of La Ventas mosaic pavements  and the four elements of the quincunxes in the mosaics are positioned at intercardinal points. Complex D at La Venta is an E-Group configuration, a specific layout of buildings identified at over 70 Maya sites and believed to have been designed to track movements of the sun. Archaeology La Venta was excavated by members of the Smithsonian Institution, including Matthew Stirling, Philip Drucker, Waldo Wedel and Robert Heizer, in three major excavations between 1942 and 1955. Most of this work was focused on Complex A: and the finds from that work were published in popular texts and La Venta quickly became the type site for defining the Olmec culture. Shortly after the 1955 excavations, the site was badly damaged by looting and development, although a brief expedition did retrieve some stratigraphic data. Much was lost in Complex A, which was torn up by bulldozers. A map of Complex A made in 1955 formed the basis for digitizing the field records of the site. Gillespie and Volk worked together to create a three-dimensional map of Complex A, based on archived notes and drawings and published in 2014. The most recent archaeological studies have been undertaken by Rebecca Gonzlez Lauck at the Instituto Nacional de Antropologà ­a e Historia (INAH). Sources Clark JE, and Colman A. 2013. Olmec Things and Identity: A Reassessment of Offerings and Burials at La Venta, Tabasco. Archeological Papers of the American Anthropological Association  23(1):14-37. doi: 10.1111/apaa.12013 Gillespie S. 2011. Archaeological Drawings as Re-Presentations: The Maps of Complex A, La Venta, Mexico. Latin American Antiquity  22(1):3-36. doi: 10.7183/1045-6635.22.1.3 Gillespie SD, and Volk M. In press. A 3d model of Complex A, La Venta, Mexico. Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage (in press). doi: 10.1016/j.daach.2014.06.001 Killion TW. 2013. Nonagricultural cultivation and social complexity (with commentary). Current Anthropology 54(5):596-606. doi: 10.2307/276200 Pohl MD, and von Nagy C. 2008. The Olmec and their contemporaries. In: Pearsall DM, editor. Encyclopedia of Archaeology . London: Elsevier Inc. p 217-230. doi: 10.1016/B978-012373962-9.00425-8 Reilly FK. 1989. Enclosed ritual spaces and the watery underworld in Formative period architecture: New observations on the function of La Venta Complex A. In: Robertson MG, and Fields VM, editors. Seventh Palenque Round Table. San Francisco: Pre-Columbian Art Research Institute. Rust WF, and Sharer RJ. 1988. Olmec Settlement Data from La Venta, Tabasco, Mexico. Science 242(4875):102-104. doi: 10.1126/science.242.4875.102

Essay and Editing Edification - Your Top Five Tips

Essay and Editing Edification - Your Top Five Tips Essay and Editing Edification Your Top Five Tips While we can sometimes depend on technology to let us know when we have made spelling errors, it is crucial to remember that technology is not always reliable. Spelling is so important. Spelling accurately helps others understand you and improves your essay writing and editing skills. In addition, word knowledge makes it possible for you to understand more of what you read. The more you learn about spelling, the more you know about how words function. This knowledge can help you figure out the meaning of new words, and the best way to pronounce them. Before you learn to spell English words, figure out which type of spelling you want to learn. Canadian English has somewhat different spellings and merges both American and British conventions. For example words such as paralyze and realize are customarily spelled with -yse (for the former) and -ise (for the latter), replacing the â€Å"z† with an â€Å"s.† Confused yet? Don’t worry. Here are five tips to enhance your essay writing and editing skills: Read a lot Nothing’s better for learning about words than reading. Just as we learn spoken English by hearing people talking, we learn written language (including spelling) by reading many different sources. Spelling isnt about how a word sounds, it’s about how it looks on the page, which means you must examine words in printed material to learn how theyre spelled. Analyze misspelled words Create a list of your frequently misspelled words. When you find that you are spelling the same word wrong over and over again, take note of the word or write it down on a notepad. Perhaps you already know the way to spell some frequently misspelled words (good for you)! When you find a strange word, look it up in the dictionary and write it in your notepad. Unlike the enormous lists of â€Å"usually misspelled words† in the rear of some grammar books, this is your custom list that reveals the words and spelling rules that challenge you. So, instead of a long list of other peoples challenges, you have a custom-made guide of your own. Use mnemonics. Mnemonics are memory tricks. Spelling rules are often intangible and, in English, completely at odds, so they can be difficult to remember. So mnemonics â€Å"sneak in† through an alternative part of your brain, by rhyming, imagining, or forming a pattern to help make sense of the spelling of a word. Here are some examples of spelling mnemonics: Rhymes and tunes make words easier to recall. You can even make up your own! An acronym chooses the first letter of a couple of words and puts them together. You might already use acronyms online or in texts. LOL, stands for â€Å"Laughing Out Loud.† TGIF for â€Å"Thank God It’s Friday.† One way to recall some catchy spellings is by turning the word into a mnemonic. Turn hard words into absurd sentences and you will recall them in no time. Some mnemonics use sentences to describe the hard part of spelling a word. Having difficulty spelling the word â€Å"isle†? Keep in mind, an isle is land encircled by water. To spell â€Å"separate† correctly remember the a rat in the middle of word. Crosswords and code words Puzzles are an excellent method to make your brain work harder and enhance your general knowledge, and they’re a superior method for improving your spelling. Crosswords supply a string of hints to find words which you place in overlapping horizontal and vertical boxes. Other â€Å"brain teasers† include â€Å"jumbles† where you work out which numbers stand for certain letters, in order to spell a `code word’ in a phrase. If you get the spelling incorrect in either a crossword or a code word, the other words won’t match, so it’s a great idea to use a dictionary as a tool when solving those puzzles. Crosswords are a time-tested method of learning new words and mastering how to spell. It is a fun game and involves a fair amount of brain activity. Sometimes you might guess which words go where, but eventually you will come to realize that you have learned several new words and the correct spelling for these words; it’s a great aid. Work with others Many individuals find group work more exciting than solo study sessions. Groups can break the monotony of learning, and, by divvying up spelling jobs and sharing words that are tricky, you can pool your resources. One way to test yourself on a word you spelled from its pronunciation is to get somebody else to pronounce your spelled word. If they cannot figure out the word, there’s a possibility you misspelled it. When you work in groups, youll be able to take turns testing each other, and the sessions can be both useful and fun. So, how does that make you feel? Is it a daunting list? Perhaps. However, if you work with others you can cut the workload. And, hey, there arent any real short cuts in enhancing your spelling skills. It requires true dedication. These tips will help you streamline the procedure and empower you to maximize your study time. Check out some free sample essays on our website to help improve your spelling skills today.

Compare Emilia and Desdemona Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Compare Emilia and Desdemona - Essay Example Her speech here with lines like ,"So much I challenge that I may profess/ Due to the Moor my lord"(I, iii, 191-192) makes her appear to be an articulate woman who knows her own mind, a woman who has eloped with a racially disparate man, and is able to defend her choice with sagacity and courage. Desdemona's resolute profession of her love shows us the practical nature and the intensity of her affections: "My downright violence and storm of fortunes/May trumpet to the world: my heart's subdued/ Even to the very quality of my lord:/I saw Othello's visage in his mind,/And to his honor and his valiant parts/ Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate". ( I, iii, 254- 59)She is a woman in love, who is ready to go to strange parts in order to be with her husband, and is also a woman much loved, as we see when she is reunited with her husband at Cyprus. "Desdemona was a stranger, not just different in class from Emilia, different in species. Emilia watched her from a cautious distance, the impulsive girl whose giddy love, written on her incandescent face, demonstrated that she had nothing in common with her".(Rutter, 2001) Emilia's marriage is of long standing and she has seen the world with all its realities. Her husband does not lose a moment in putting her down in company, and does so viciously and with a barely concealed venom, slandering not just her but her entire kind: "Come on, come on; you are pictures out of doors,/Bells in your parlors, wild-cats in your kitchens,/Saints in your injuries, devils being offended, Players in your housewifery, and housewives' in your beds". ( II, i, 113-117)We know from the very beginning that though loyal to her husband, she is living a loveless marriage. And beyond a few one-line dialogs, she indeed has no speech in the first scenes after her appearance. Having left her father's home and the confines of Venetian society for the first time, Desdemona is in a relaxed frame of mind. Somewhat guileless, her circumstances of living with her married love have made her cheerful, bantering, tolerant , as is evident from her good-humored response even to Iago's lack of taste in his very first conversation with her. She mislays her handkerchief, and lovingly nags her husband on Cassio's case by playing the shrew, fully assured of her power over Othello and her ability to make him do her bidding. She feels it her part to play the nagging wife and present it as a 'boon' to the husband: Her performance exploits and collapses the two male fantasies that most define early modern wives: the one, negative, of the shrew, and the other, the ideal of the submissive subordinate. Lest we believe the stereotypes and think Desdemona truly shrewish, she announces that she will play the shrew.....In merging the postures of good wife and shrew, Desdemona indirectly challenges the presumption of their difference enforced in marriage handbooks, homilies, church courts, misogynist pamphlets, and the like. Her performance highlights what that discourse masks: that to be a shrew is, in fact, to follow the rules, to be obediently disobedient, to fill a role created by (male) authorities who needed shrews in order to contain, by criminalizing, female speech. Conversely, Desdemona also places outspokenness within the perimeters of appropriate wifely

The Relative Effects Motivation and Performance Essay

The Relative Effects Motivation and Performance - Essay Example The performance bonus is defined as the form of additional compensation which is paid to an employee in the organization or a reward for the accomplishment of specific performance targets. It is an additional compensation to his regular salaries or wages and is awarded based on his performance ratings during his performance appraisals or analysis of the projects conducted by the employee. On the other hand performance of an employee can be measured both as per quantitative as well as qualitative aspects. Performance of his work can be measured in terms of the quantity of work he has delivered within a stipulated time and also the quality or standard of that work. The research seeks to bring about a relationship between the performance or productivity of the employee and the bonus paid to that employee. A positive relationship would reflect positive impacts of bonus payments on an employees’ performance and productivity at the workplace, and vice versa. Brief Summary of the Org anization or IndustryThe project analyses the HR aspects of AMZ Limited, which is a manufacturing organization in UK. It is the producer of household appliances in the country. The company provides annual bonuses to its employees based on the performance ratings of employees declared through their systematic performance appraisal structure in the organization. Ratings are provided according to the accomplishment of monthly targets set by the employees. Bonuses are directly linked with the monthly targets of employees.... The research question is as follows: Can performance bonuses in organizations bring about positive impact on the motivation level of employees and their performance and productivity in the organization, AMZ Limited? (Draper, 2004, p.4-5). Hypothesis A statistical testing of hypothesis would be conducted for the research. The null and alternative hypothesis that would be chosen for the study are provided below: H0- Implementing performance bonus in AMZ Limited enhances and improves performance, productivity and motivation level of employees. H1- Implementing performance bonus in AMZ Limited does not bring about any enhancement or improvement in the performance, productivity and motivation level of employees in the organization. Background Theory Performance bonus is defined as the form of additional compensation which is paid to an employee in the organization or a reward for the accomplishment of specific performance targets. It is an additional compensation to his regular salaries o r wages and is awarded based on his performance ratings during his performance appraisals or analysis of the projects conducted by the employee. On the other hand performance of an employee can be measured both as per quantitative as well as qualitative aspects. Performance of his work can be measured in terms of the quantity of work he has delivered within a stipulated time and also the quality or standard of that work. The research seeks to bring about a relationship between the performance or productivity of the employee and the bonus paid to that employee. A positive relationship would reflect positive impacts of bonus payments on an employees’

Rationale About Job Satisfaction

Rationale About Job Satisfaction Job satisfaction is an attitude people have about their jobs and it results from their perception of their jobs and the degree to which there is a good fit between the individual and organization. Job satisfaction has been influenced by many intervening variables, such as the rewards that an employee receives.  [1]  It has been said that job satisfaction has been related to many kinds of variables. It is a variable that is commonly influenced or commonly related to many variables that the other variable will be affected because of job satisfaction. Job satisfaction is the degree to which an individual feels positively or negatively about various aspects of the job.  [2]  The satisfaction of an individual in a job is either positive or negative; it depends upon the establishment that he/she is working with if they are offering more, enough, or less elements of satisfaction to their employees. Closely related to job satisfaction is the organizational commitment which is defined as the loyalty of an individual to the organization.  [3]  It has been overlooked that someone who sets his loyalty high to his organization would strongly take pride in considering himself a part of the organization. Employees of top corporations in the Philippines display the highest level of commitment and focus among workers surveyed across the Asia Pacific region, according to a study by global consultancy firm Watson Wyatt, the employees engagement score for the Philippines stood at 77%, up by four percentages from the previous survey in 2007.  [4]  It has been observed that the Philippine loyalty factor or the motivation of the employees towards the success of the company is very strong in which the rating has been said very high among other countries in Asia. Organizational commitment or Employee loyalty is very important in a company because employees who show loyalty will be able to encourage customers to feel loyal towards the company.  [5]   The University of the Philippines conducted a study on the loyalty of employees and the study shows that only 21% of Filipino employees feel fully committed to their employers and only 12% agree that their employers are fully committed to them.  [6]  Researchers have said that the level of commitment of the employees has something to do with the level of job satisfaction that the employees are experiencing. The researcher has chosen to study this issue because she personally experienced the 2 variables which are Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment in one famous establishment in which her co-employees job satisfaction are low, and there is a high turnover ratio happening in this establishment. The researcher as a worker of the said company also has experienced low job satisfaction which leads her to low organizational commitment. The researcher is interested in this topic so that managers/employers would know and understand that high turnover ratio and the trainings as well as the seminars that they are given to the newly hired workers costs high and useless if the employee will only spend 1 month to work and leave the company. Aside from that, if they will continue to dissatisfy their employees, the word of mouth is a virus that easily spread from one person to another person. Especially if you are a 5 star hotel, you must ensure that every word of mouth that comes from each individual, may it be employees or guest are positive because if its negative, it may deteriorate their good name. Employees will not consider themselves as a member of the organization and the services given by the employees to the guests may not be good enough to increase or maintain customer loyalty. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM The researcher attempts to answer the following question: Is there a significant relationship between job satisfaction and organizational commitment among hotel employees in Tacloban City? STATEMENT OF HYPOTHESES Alternative Hypothesis There is a significant relationship between job satisfaction and organizational commitment. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY It is significant to study whether employees are satisfied or dissatisfied, committed or not committed in their job because it has been proven that employees who are much more satisfied will more likely to show positive thoughts, feelings, and actions towards their job and it would increase their organizational commitment. It is also important to study the relationship between Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment because this may bring a huge benefit equally to employers and employees. Human Resource Management would be able to understand that the costs of hiring and training new workers are high. Therefore, the employers should try to treasure unchanging workforce, which also helps to lessen the risks of deterioration in services offered to customers. An employee who is committed with the organization may take pride in considering himself a member and would positively persuade the consumers to patronize the products/services offered by a company. Since satisfaction increas es commitment to organizational success, and if this satisfaction would be given from employers to workers, a lot of good factors such as good supervision by supervisors, good working conditions, good interpersonal relations, better policies and administration, better pay and security, challenging work, achievement, recognition, growth and development can benefit employees. If this study shows that job satisfaction and organizational commitment are correlated, employers would only need to increase one variable and that is job satisfaction to achieve the affirmative organizational commitment of workers. CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY This chapter contains the discussion on the methods and procedures used in the study. It includes research design, locale of the study, respondents of the study, research instrument, data gathering and statistical measures used in hypothesis testing with their corresponding formulas and assessment scales. The purpose of the research work was primarily to assess with utmost objectivity. Any relevant data will be useful for the derivation of accurate insight. RESEARCH DESIGN This study is a descriptive research method using a questionnaire as the principal instrument in gathering data where there will be a real investigation on the job satisfaction and organizational commitment as evaluated by the employees. The answers will be tallied in order to measure/ quantify the 2 variables. LOCALE OF THE STUDY The study will be conducted within the City of Tacloban. The researcher would like to include Magsaysay and Paterno Street as the locale of the study. It was limited to the investigation on the job satisfaction and organizational commitment among hotel employees in Tacloban City. RESPONDENTS OF THE STUDY AND RANDOM SAMPLING The respondents of this study were the employees of different hotels who are presently working here in Tacloban City. Leyte Park Resort Hotel has a total population of more or less 70 but only 20 out of 70 are the respondents who participated the survey. Royal Suite Hotel has a total of 7 and Primrose Hotel has a total of 4 populations. So the researcher has decided to take 100% from the total population to be used for the sample. RESEARCH INSTRUMENT A set of survey questionnaire carefully prepared and will be distributed to the respondents for the purpose of gathering the necessary data. The questionnaire measures on the significant relationship between job satisfaction and organizational commitment. The researcher has found numerous questionnaires regarding job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Of all the questionnaires, the researcher has chosen to use the test for job satisfaction that is based on the research carried out by Cooper and the researcher has chosen to use the research study carried out by the student of Professor S. Cote and Professor P. Heslin for organizational commitment. In order to determine whether the questionnaires were correct and valid, the questionnaires were submitted to the instructor for verifications, corrections and improvements. The research instrument is composed of 2 sets, the Questionnaire 1 and Questionnaire 2 which both gather information to employees. It can be answered by putting an (x) mark in the appropriate parenthesis. Questionnaire 1 includes questions on the job satisfaction of hotel employees such as the job itself, inter-personal relationship, organization itself, personal growth and the quantity of work. Answers scoring is as follows: Excellent 5 points Very Good 4 points Satisfactory 3 points Below Ave. 2 points Poor 1 point Interpretation of data would be this way: the higher the score is, the better is the job satisfaction. Questionnaire 2 generally includes questions about the level of commitment of employees to their company as a whole. Answers scoring is as follows: Always 5 points Often 4 points Sometimes 3 points Seldom 2 points Never 1 point Interpretation of gathered data in questionnaire 2 would be this way: the higher the score is, the better is the organizational commitment will be. DATA GATHERING The researcher will gather her data by first, giving a letter of request asking permission to the hotel manager to include their company in her research. She has spoken to a variety of persons with different positions to allow her to conduct a survey in their establishment. These persons were Ms. Anafe C. Harina, front desk agent of Asia Stars Hotel, Ms. Jedah Vivas, accounting officer of Leyte Park Hotel, Mr. Julius, front desk agent of Hotel Alejandro, Ms. Jasmin V. Ron, front desk agent of Royal Suite Hotel, Ms. Rebecca Villanueva a front desk clerk in Primrose Hotel, and to Ms. Pearlie Corneso, a front desk agent of Manhattan Inn. Second, if ever approved, the researcher will distribute 2 sets of survey questionnaires which both are for their employees. These questionnaires tackle particularly on the job satisfaction and organizational commitment and it can be evaluated by simply taking the score of each number according to weights and add the total score over the total number of weights. Below half of the total score would mean low. Mr. Cooper and Professor S. Cote and Heslins student had contributed a big help to the researcher because she was able to borrow their questionnaires to conduct a survey and gather data. Out of 6 hotels that the researcher has talked with, only Ms. Jedah Vivas, accounting officer of Leyte Park Hotel, Ms. Rebecca Villanueva a front desk clerk and Ms. Jasmin V. Ron a front desk agent with the approval of his manager Mr. Roy Salinas are those who had confirmed and assisted her to gather the necessary data. STATISTICAL TREATMENT With the purpose of identifying the relationship between the job satisfaction and organizational commitment among hotel employees in Tacloban City, the responses will be tallied, classified and tabulated in appropriate table for analysis and a pie graph will be used for interpretation. To describe the profile of the respondents in terms of job satisfaction and organizational commitment, descriptive statistics particularly percentages will be employed. Null Alternative Hypothesis There is no significant relationship between job satisfaction and organizational commitment. The Pearson Product Correlation Coefficient (Pearson r) This was used to test the significant relationship between job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Formula: N (ÃŽÂ £XY) (ÃŽÂ £X) (ÃŽÂ £Y) r = _________________________________ ____________________________ à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ [NÃŽÂ £X ² (ÃŽÂ £X)  ²] [NÃŽÂ £Y ² (ÃŽÂ £Y)  ²] Where: N = total number of respondents ÃŽÂ £XY = is the summation of product X and Y ÃŽÂ £X = is the summation of the independent variable ÃŽÂ £X ² = is the summation of the square of X ÃŽÂ £Y = is the summation of the dependent variable ÃŽÂ £Y ² = is the summation of the square of Y Verbal descriptions of computed coefficients of correlations are as follows: Value Percentage Interpretation r Degree of relationship 0.0 to  ± 0.20 0% 20% Negligible Correlation  ± 0.21 to  ± 0.40 21% 40% Low or Slight Correlation  ± 0.41 to  ± 0.70 41% 70% Moderate Correlation  ± 0.71 to  ± 0.90 71% 90% High Correlation  ± 0.91 to  ± 0.99 91% 99% Very High Correlation  ± 1.00 100% Perfect Correlation

GAP company information

It was the year of 1969 when man has taken its first step toward the moon and â€Å"Doris and Don Fisher opened the first Gap store in US in San Francisco. † The fast change in style between teenagers and adult lead to formation of company name called â€Å"GAP†. From Justa single store In 1969. our story Doris and Don Fisher opened the first Gap store in 1969. The reason was simple. Don couldnt find a pair of jeans that fit. They never expected to transform retail. But they did. Guided by humility, compassion and a strong desire to win, the Fishers grew their company thoughtfully. ustomers responded.Today, Gap Inc. Is a leading International specialty retailer with six brands – Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime, Athleta and INTERMIX – more than 3,500 stores and more than 137. 000 employees. We're growing globally, and Just within the last few years, we opened our first stores In china and Italy. we're expanding online shopping to customers, too. T oday, customers in about 90 countries can buy our products. While many things have changed since 1969, the principles on which we were founded have stayed the same: creativity, delivering results, doing what's right and lways thinking of our customers first.Key Facts Founded: 1969, with a single store in San Francisco The original brand that brought American casual style to the world. Founded In 1909 In San Francisco, cap offers Iconic, yet modern clothing and accessories for adults, kids and babies. Gap gives customers the freedom to express their individual sense of style. Brand Includes Gap, GapKids, babyGap, GapMaternity and Gap30dy. Franchise stores: More than 350 stores in locations across Asia, Australia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa Brands: cap Intermix Old Navvy PiperlimeAthleta Headquarters World HQ: San Francisco Bay Area Product Design: New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, London Store Management, distribution and product manufacturing: Worldwide. Stores Total: More than 3,500 stores worldwide Fun Facts The average cost of a pair of Jeans at Gap in 1969? About $7! Gap's 1988 Individuals of Style campaign was the first time the company specifically hired celebrities as models. In 2004, Banana Republic was among the first sponsors of the Emmy-nominated sleeper hit â€Å"Project Runway. † Gap has about 10 miles of storefront windows around the world. Old Navvy was named after a bar in Paris! Retired New York Times fashion editor Carrie Donovan was tapped to be the â€Å"Old Navvy Lady† in 1997 after Joking in one of her columns that she'd be great for TV spots for the brand. After a wildly successful pilot, Gap Factory Outlet was founded and opened its first store in August 1994. Glenn Murphy is our fourth CEO since our founding in 1969. (Bob Fisher served as interim CEO in 2007 before Glenn was hired. ) Celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe can be found on Piperlime. com, where she shares her picks on her favor ite fashions from the site. ? Athleta, which has served women thletes since 1998, opened its first full-sized store in 2011. How They Do Business: From the start, Gap Inc. ‘s story wasn't going to be limited to Just selling Jeans. Doris and Don Fisher made certain that integrity would become a hallmark of their business. As they continue to expand their presence internationally, They're more aware than ever how their decisions affect the communities in which they do business. And their philosophy is simple: They seek to make a positive, lasting impact on the people and in the places where they operate.They listen to their customers around the world, and share their expectations. For hey, that means looking deeper into their supply chain to ensure that they take a responsible path throughout the product lifecycle, from the source to their stores. Financial and Strategic Analysis Company Overview The Gap, Inc. (Gap) is a specialty apparel company. The product line of the company consists of casual apparel care products, accessories and fashion apparel. The company distributes its products through its retail stores, internet and catalog stores. The company is also operates wholesale and franchisee businesses.Gap operates company owned stores in the US, Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan and the I-JK. Financial Performance: The company reported revenues of (U. S. Dollars) USD14,549. OO million during the fiscal year ended January2012, a decrease of 0. 78% from 2011. The operatingprofit of the company was USD 1,438. 00 million duringthe fiscal year 2012, a decrease of 26. 93% from 2011. The net profit of the company was USD 833. 00 millionduring the fiscal year 2012, a decrease of 30. 81% from2011 Share Data THE GAP, INC. , Share Data pnce (USD) as on 01-NOV-2012 35. 5 EPS (USD) Book value per share (USD) 1. 56 5. 68 Shares Outstanding (in million) 533 Performance Chart SWOT Analysts THE GAP, INC. , SWOT Analysts Strengths Weaknesses Strong Liquidity Posit ion Strong Product Portfolio and Brand Recognition Wide Geographic Presence Product Recall Dependency on Third Party Manufacturers Decreasing Comparable Store Sales Opportunities Threats Growing Apparel Market Increasing Online Presence Expansion into New Markets Competitive Environment Changing Consumer Behavior Decreasing Shopping Trips SWOT Analysis – Overview The Gap, Inc. Gap) is a specialty retailer of apparel, footwear and accessories. The I-JK, France, Ireland and Japan. The company also has online and catalog stores. The company's broad product portfolio and brand recognition and wide geographic resence provide strong foundation for its future growth . However, intense competition and changing consumer behavior are the major areas of concern for the company. THE GAP, INC. – strengths Strength – Strong Liquidity Position The company's liquidity position strengthen significantly during the fiscal year 2010.The company recorded current ratio of 2. 19 at th e fiscal year ended 2010, as compared to 1. 86 in 2009. Gap had significant increase in its cash and short term investments during the fiscal year 2010. It recorded cash and short term investments of USD 2573. 00 million in 2010, as compared to USD 1715. 0 million during the fiscal year ended 2009. Moreover the company reported a net change in cash of USD 633. 00 million in 2010, as compared to a negative net change in cash of USD 9 million at the fiscal year ended 2009.This was principally due to increase in cash inflow from operating activities. The company' cash flow from operating activities increased 36. 54% to USD 1928. 00 during the fiscal year ended 2010. Increasing cash and cash equivalent represents the companys ability to fund its business opportunities, working capital needs, meeting short term obligations and other capital requirements in the future. Strength – Strong Product Portfolio and Brand Recognition The company's strong product portfolio and brand recogni tion ensures financial stability through a diversified customer base.Gap through its retail and online stores engaged in providing a wide range of apparel and accessories for men, women and children. The company markets its products under the well known brands, namely Gap, Old Navvy, GapKids, babyGap, GapBody, Banana Republic, and Piperlime. Under the Gap brand, the company provides denim, khakis and T-shirts, fashion apparel, accessories and personal care products. The company also provides a wide collection f apparel and accessories under the brand names GapKids and babyGap.Under the Old Navvy brand, the company offers apparel, shoes and accessories for both children and adults. The company also provides casual and tailored apparel, shoes and accessories for men and women under its Banana Republic brand. In addition, the company also offers its products through its websites. The company, through its multiple store banners, caters to a wide range of customers across the world. Stre ngth – Wide Geographic Presence The company's wide geographic presence insulates it from the risk of operating in a single economy. Gap operates 3,082 stores across North America, Europe and Asia.In products across several geographies. The company's franchised stores are located in Bahrain, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Oman, Qatar, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Croatia. The company also operates its online stores through www. gap. com, www. bananarepublic. com, www. oldnavy. com, and www. piperlime. com websites. The company's global presence enables it to build its brand image and maintain its strong position in the market.THE GAP, INC. – Weaknesses Weakness – Product Recall The company's various product recalls not only generate substantial negative publicity about its products and business, but also prevent commercialization of other future prod uct candidates. During April 2010, the company recalled its babyGap Marrakesh and Gap Outlet baby one-piece swimsuits . This recall was mainly due to presence of a halter straps that were manufactured too short causing the plastic ring located at the center of the swimsuit to press against the child's throat and obstruct the airway.This poses a strangulation hazard to the child. Weakness – Dependency on Third Party Manufacturers The company is highly dependent on the vendors outside the US, which may adversely affect its ability to meet any urgent requirements. The company purchases private label merchandise from approximately 650 vendors and non-private label merchandise from approximately 350 vendors having facilities in approximately 60 countries. During the fiscal year 2010, approximately 98% of the merchandise was produced outside the US.These outside vendors require to comply with certain vendor conducts and environmental, labor, health, and safety standards in domestic and international markets. Any noncompliance with the standards might delay the delivery of the goods and significantly affect the company's reputation. Thus, the company's high dependence on third party manufacturers may have an adverse affect on its business operations. Weakness – Decreasing Comparable Store Sales The comparable store sales have been decreasing over the past few years, which is adversely affecting the growth of the company.The stores segment accounts for more than 90% of the company's total revenue. During the fiscal year ended 2010, the company generated USD 13,079 million as compared to USD 13,496 million in the iscal year ending 2009, a decrease of 3. 18%. Over the past three years, the comparable store sales figures have been declining as demonstrated by a decrease of 9. 17% in the fiscal year 2009 and a decrease of 2. 19 % in the fiscal year 2008. As a result, Gap recorded a negative CAGR of 2. 97% during the period 2006-2010.The decrease has been pri marily due to a decline in net sales in all the brands due to the weakening retail environment and a shift of consumers from department stores to supermarkets and discount stores. THE GAP, INC. – opportunities The performance of the industry is forecasted to accelerate, with an anticipated CAGR rate of 2. 6% during 2006-2011. According to research, the US apparel retailing industry is expected to drive to a value of USD336. 7 billion by the end of 2011. Gap's stores and direct segments provide branded apparel, footwear and accessories for men, women and children through their retail and online stores.The company offering state of the art products and solutions through their wide distribution channel is likely to utilize opportunity of the growing apparel industry and thereby boost their top line growth. Opportunity – Increasing Online Presence With the rising trend of e-commerce business, there is huge potential for the ompany to increase its profitability through the direct-to-customer segment. In the fiscal year ending 2009, the direct-to-customer segment accounted for 7. 87% of the total revenue of the company and it increased by 8. 4% as compared to the sales at the end of the fiscal year 2010. The company can increase the contribution of this segment to the revenue by increasing its online presence. According to Forrester, online sales are expected to increase 13% to about USD 176. 9 billion in 2010. The growth is forecast to be 10%, 9% and 8% for 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively. Moreover according to a report published by U. S. Census Bureau the non-store retail sales for the 10 month period from January to October 2010 increased by 12. 7% from the same period in 2009.Such web-based store concept provides consumers the convenience of shopping from home, doing away with the time consuming Journey and saving on the transportation cost. Thus, web sales are expected to register substantial growth in the coming years as e-commerce continues to capture market share from physical stores. The company stands to benefit from the growth trend of e-retail, which is supported by rising internet penetration and increasing familiarity o online shopping. Opportunity – Expansion into New Markets The company has taken several initiatives to enter new geographies in recent financial years.During November 2010, the company opened its firsh Gap store in Italy. This new store is located on Corso Vittorio Emanuele in Milan's premier shopping district. It also entered into an agreement with Armin Systems Limited to bring Gap stores in Thailand. Moreover during November 2010, the company announced to open its first store in Latin America during the fiscal year 2011. The store will be located in Santiago, Chile. The company also had taken initiatives to launch its Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navvy online brands in Canada, and Gap and Banana Republic online in the UK and nine other European countries.The company also has renewed inter est for a possible foray into India's specialty clothing market through possible venture with Reliance Retail. The company's several initiatives to enter new markets may provide significant exposure to more diversified customer base and strengthen its brand image. THE GAP, INC. – Threats Gap operates in a highly competitive specialty apparel retail industry. It faces intense ompetition from local, national, and global department stores, specialty and discount store chains, independent retail stores, and online businesses, which are dealing with similar products.The company also faces significant competition from the local players in European, Japanese, and Canadian markets. The company's franchisees also faces competition in the respective markets. Increasing global competition in the apparel retailing market may significantly affect the company's market share in the future financial years. Threat – Changing Consumer Behavior Owing to recession, consumers in the US are left with lesser disposable incomes. It is showing in their purchase attitude Consumers tend to reduce their discretionary shopping.According to a consumer survey conducted in the US by Harris Interactive, more than half of adults (54%) say they would reduce discretionary spending during an economic recession and the majority (63%) of adults said they would not make a purchase if there was no deal attached. It clearly states that during an economic recession, consumers would cut budgets, yet will continue to shop when discounts are available. The scenario is a threat to specialty retailers like the company, which ell discretionary products. They will see a decreased footfalls and reduced revenues.In order to attract customers, these retailers will have to spend more on coupons and discounts, which will reduce their margins. Threat – Decreasing Shopping Trips The business of Gap may significantly affected due to decreasing shopping trips of consumers in the US. The US operati ons contributed to 82. 1% of the total revenue of the company in the fiscal year ending 2010. According to a study by Nielsen, outlet shopping trips in the US has shown an average monthly decline of 4% from July 2008 o February 2010.The company has already been recording a decline in comparable store sales over the past few years, which accounts for Change Factors: In the beginning Gap was sell only Levi's products where they have to depend on that particular brand by and large. Later on when they realized depending too much on a particular product may harm the business in the future, they have changed there course of depending on a single particular product . Gradually they have came up with there own product name and different supplier in order to reduce risks. In 1983 Gap purchased Banana Republic