Examining Marks And Spencer Group Plc Business Essay

Examining Marks And Spencer Group Plc Business Essay This report examines the Marks and Spencer Group Plc. It begins with the main objectives and purpose of the organisation and follows with the key features of the organisations Business Environment. It then goes on to analyse the impact of European economic and political integration in terms of trade. Marks and Spencer Group Plc was founded in 1884 by Michael Marks with the opening of a Penny Bazaar stall at Leeds Kirkgate Market. Today it is one of the UKs leading retailers with over 600 stores nationwide. In addition to its successful UK business it holds an expanding international business which comprises of over 295 stores throughout 41 territories. Marks and Spencers core business is general merchandising (clothing and home) and food. Its main competitors are Waitrose, Tesco, Asda and Primark. 2. Define, list and explain the main objectives and purpose of the organisation Marks and Spencer has five key principals which define how it runs its business these are: Quality Value Service Innovation Trust These five principals are fundamental to the success of the business and they remain as important today as they have done over the past 125 years. Marks and Spencers core objective is to ensure their brand will continue to offer Quality, Value, Service, Innovation and Trust. One of the aims of the business is to improve value, without compromising on quality. Mark and Spencers uppermost priority is to lead the business through the recession whilst continuing to invest for the long term. Six objectives were put in place in November 2008 In order to achieve this and are as follow: Retain their market leading position in GM Improve their performance in food Drive their international business Optimise margins and tightly control cost Maintain a strong balance sheet Uphold high ethical standards Marks and Spencer intend to be the worlds most sustainable business by 2015. This target is to be achieved through their Plan A commitments. (187) 3. Identify and explain the key features of the Business Environment The Business Environment is a combination of internal and external factors that affect an organisations ability to operate, grow and continue to exist. The Business Environment can be divided into the micro-environment which consists of; customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders, media and competitors and the macro-environment which includes regulations, government activities, the economy, demographics, social and cultural factors, innovations, and technological developments. In order to ascertain the Business Environment of an organisation a number of strategic tools can be used. A SWOT analysis can be effective in identifying an organisations strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, whilst a PESTLE analysis can be valuable in analysing an organisations macro-environment. (106) SWOT analysis of Marks and Spencer Group Plc Strengths Weaknesses Unrivalled reputation for Quality, Value, Service, Innovation and Trust UKs biggest clothing retailer Top UK retail website Diverse range of products clothing , food and wine, home and furniture, technology, flowers and gifts and financial products Leading premium quality food retailer Brand awareness Consumers perception of MS is that their products are highly priced Consumers perception of MS is that they are not always in touch with the latest fashion trends Reduction in money back guarantee whilst competitors are increasing theirs Leading shareholders furious over Rose and Bolland salary packages Opportunities Threats Growth of international markets in particular India The world has an ageing population M Ss core target market is already the older generation Product diversification into Home Energy Services, Telecoms and MS-branded cosmetics Ability to reach new target market through new advertising campaigns aimed at younger generation Economic conditions remain uncertain Decline of the high street due to consumers doing more of their shopping online Competitor product ranges which directly compete with M S food such as Tesco finest Competitor Asda to offer 100 day money back guarantee on its George clothing Takeover bids (204) PESTEL analysis of Marks and Spencer Group Plc Political Key political factors that are of relevance to Marks and Spencer are as follow: Government type and stability The imminent general elections are to some extent going to leave many businesses feeling a high degree of uncertainty. Trading will get tougher this year as taxes rise and public spending falls to bring down government debt. (51) Economic Key economic factors that are relevant to Marks and Spencer are as follow: Economic conditions affect how easy or how difficult it is to be successful and profitable at any time because they affect both capital availability and cost, and demand. (28) Social Key social factors that are relevant to Marks and Spencer are as follow: Aging population Marks and Spencers has always been seen as an organisation whose target market is the older generation. The population of the UK and the world in general is continuing to age. Figure 1 below shows the increase in which the UK population will age by 2033. (46) Figure 1 Ageing Fastest increase in the oldest old Population by age, UK, 1983, 2008 and 2033 Office for National Statistics (2009) Technological Key technological factors that are relevant in assessing Marks and Spencer are as follow: Marks and Spencer were the first company in the world to use revolutionary teardrop trucks. The trailers are capable of carrying up to 16% more load and the aerodynamic shape offers a 10% reduction in fuel consumption. Xerox solid ink technology helps Marks and Spencer with Plan A commitments. (49) Environmental Key environmental factors that are relevant to Marks and Spencer are as follow: Weather Adverse weather conditions in the UK have had a devastating effect on businesses up and down the country. (18) Legal Key legal factors that are relevant to Marks and Spencer are as follow: EU legislation has recently been introduced to protect the Marks and Spencer has become the first high-profile retailer to be hit by new Prosecco regulations after 14,400 bottles of its Rosecco brand were seized. The market structure of Marks and Spencer can be considered as perfect competition. (13) PORTERS 5 FORCES analysis of Marks and Spencer Group Plc Competitive rivalry within the industry Threat of new entrants Cortefiel: launching standalone stores in competitive UK market (8) Bargaining power of suppliers Bargaining power of customers Threat of substitutes 4. Analyse the impact of European economic and political integration in terms of trade 5. Conclusions

Branding Yoga Essay

I think that’s why there are more and more people are encouraged to practice yoga and yoga has become a power brand which is able to compete with other industry. The yoga brand is managed systematically with branded styles of teaching, branded yoga clothing, branded training programs, branded instructors and etc. There are two branded styles of yoga which are Bikram style and Tara stiles. They are two different styles which appeal to two different sorts of people. Firstly, Bikram Choudhury who is the founder of Bikram yoga in America patent his approach to traditional yoga style. In the process of branding yoga, Bikram obtained the patent for his book, trademarked his company’s name and actively fighting for the copyright of his style. When branding a style of yoga, the legal rules which involves patent, trademark and patent intend to protect the founder’s right and disseminate the gains of the innovation so that it can be recognized by the people with the brand identity. The brand is also supported by Indian government which avoid others following Bikram’s branded poses even though the government only considered the yoga was part of the India’s traditional knowledge ( Deshpande, Herman and Lobb 2011). Additionally, the branding strategy in terms of the Bikram ‘s classical style of yoga is based on the inherent value and adds the more substantive value but still consistent and adherence to the addition (Cohen 2013). Secondly, Tara stiles is distinctive from Bikram’s style which develop the brand in a very fresh and personal way like the founder Stiles said â€Å"making yoga cool†. Stiles broke the rules and added many creative values to the brand such as music in order to maintain the relevance in the society especially the younger generation (Girard 2013). A more modern yoga style get the people more interested in and got popular soon by the promotional videos via different channels of communication in modern society. Stiles’s yoga is considered as authentic yoga since it is created as distinctive, exciting, attractive with personal values. By thinking the reason of success of Stiles’s success, the key is how Stile manage the brand by fitting it in American society. According to the feature of the liberal society in America, Tara promote a natural style not rigid with a certain style which perfectly stay relevance to the social values. Furthermore, the brand communication through the YouTube, Facebook, Ipad app strength brand identity and brand influence. In conclusion, by analyzing the two styles of yoga, I learned that the values adding to the brand is very important for branding experience. The brand needs to be relevant to the features of the society and the brand needs to be protected through the legal regulation. Managing brand is a long process which requires both adherence to the tradition and innovative modification. Desphande R. , Herman, K. and Lobb, A. 2011, Branding Yoga, Harvard Business School, Harvard. Cohen, M. 2013, Branding a style of Yoga, yoga journal, viewed 17 May 2013, <http://www. yogajournal. com/for_teachers/1683#comment> Girard, K. 2013, Branding Yoga: Good Business or Blasphemy? , Forbes, Harvard Business School

Public Health Nursing ( Phn ) Uses The Nursing Process Essay

Public Health Nursing (PHN) uses the nursing process every day to help the community on a local, state, and national level. The PHN is a vital part of the health care system because they are part of the interdisciplinary team. The government on federal, state, and local levels rely on the PHN to uses their nursing skills and critical thinking in order to provide information; which then influences funding. PHN work in conjunction with the three core functions of public health, according to the IOM, â€Å"assessment, assurance, and policy development† in order to provide patient centered care (Allender, Rector, Warner, 2014). Public health nurses (PHN) â€Å"apply the nursing process†, â€Å"use data†, and emphasizes â€Å"prevention†¦educating and empowering† individuals in the community (Allender, Rector, Warner, 2014). Assessment includes, observing the environment, â€Å"identify trends† in the individual and see how they relate to the community (Allender, Rector, Warner, 2014). The PHN uses â€Å"morbidity and mortality statistics† to help find trends in â€Å"communicable disease rates† in order to prevent outbreaks and to identify the community’s needs (Allender, Rector, Warner, 2014). For example, the Burmese population on the south side of Indianapolis is growing, therefore, they must follow up with vaccinations and testing for present illnesses and comorbidities. One family was identified with an outbreak of tuberculosis; which they had caught in their home land and brought with them to theShow MoreRelatedPublic Health Nurses ( Phn ) Essay 932 Words   |  4 PagesMCHD Public health nurses (PHN) â€Å"apply the nursing process†, â€Å"use data†, and emphasizes â€Å"prevention†¦educating and empowering† individuals in the community (Allender, Rector, Warner, 2014). 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How to Use French Punctuation

Although French and English use nearly all of the same punctuation marks, some of their uses in the two languages are considerably different. Rather than an explanation of the rules of French and English punctuation, this lesson is a simple summary of how French punctuation differs from English. One-Part Punctuation Marks These are very similar in French and English, with a few exceptions. Period or Le Point "." In French, the period is not used after abbreviations of measurement:  25 m (mà ¨tres), 12 min (minutes), etc.It can be used to separate the elements of a date:  10 septembre 1973 10.9.1973.When writing numbers, either a period or a space may be used to separate every three digits (where a comma would be used in English):  1,000,000 (English) 1.000.000 or 1 000 000.Its not used to indicate a decimal point (see virgule 1). Commas "," In French, the comma is used as a decimal point:  2.5 (English) 2,5 (French).Its not used to separate three digits (see point 3).Whereas in English, the serial comma (the one before and in a list) is optional, it cannot be used in French:  Jai achetà © un livre, deux stylos et du papier.  Not Jai achetà © un livre, deux stylos, et du papier. Note: When  writing numerals, the period and comma are opposites in the two languages:   French English 2,5 (deux virgule cinq)2.500 (deux mille cinq cents) 2.5 (two point five)2,500 (two thousand five hundred) Two-Part Punctuation Marks In French, a space is required both before and after all two- (or more) part punctuation marks and symbols, including : ;  «  » ! ? % $ #. Colon or Les Deux-Points ":" The colon is much more common in French than in English. It may introduce direct speech; a citation; or the explanation, conclusion, summary, etc. of whatever precedes it. Jean a dit :  « Je veux le faire.  » Jean said, I want to do it.Ce film est trà ¨s intà ©ressant : cest un classique. This movie is interesting: its a classic.  «  » Les Guillemets and — Le Tiret and ... Les Points de Suspension Quotation marks (inverted commas) dont exist in French; the guillemets  «  » are used.   Note that these are actual symbols; they are not just two angle brackets typed together . If you dont know how to type guillemets, see this  page on typing accents. Guillemets are usually used only at the beginning and end of an entire conversation. Unlike in English, where any non-speech is found outside of the quotation marks, in French guillemets do not end when an incidental clause (he said, she smiled, etc.) is added. To indicate that a new person is speaking, atiret (m-dash or em-dash) is added. In English, an interruption or trailing off of speech can be indicated with either atiret or des points de suspension (ellipsis). In French, only the latter is used.  « Salut Jeanne ! dit Pierre. Comment vas-tu ? "Hi Jean!" Pierre says. "How are you?" — Ah, salut Pierre ! crie Jeanne. "Oh, hi Pierre!" shouts Jeanne. — As-tu passà © un bon weekend ? "Did you have a nice weekend?" — Oui, merci, rà ©pond-elle. Mais... "Yes, thanks," she responds. "But—" — Attends, je dois te dire quelque chose d'important  ». "Wait, I have to tell you something important." The tiret can also be used like parentheses, to indicate or emphasize a comment: Paul — mon meilleur ami — va arriver demain. Paul—my best friend—will arrive tomorrow. Le Point-Virgule ; and  Le Point d'Exclamation ! and  Le Point d'Interrogation ? The semi-colon, exclamation point, and question mark are essentially the same in French and English. Je taime; maimes-tu? I love you; do you love me?Au secours! Help!