Swot analysis Walmart Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Swot analysis Walmart - Research Paper Example Introduction and Overview In this paper, I will focus upon a strategic and comprehensive analysis of the business tactics, market trends and economic trajectories of Wal-Mart, by attempting a SWOT analysis of the company’s pros and cons. Every successful business has their upsides as well negative aspects. A qualitatively superior standard of operation and well-sustained market shares can only be maintained through a balanced adaptation of both to suit particular business issues and requirements. As a leading brand, Wal-Mart has been the center of several business economic, socio-economic and political economic studies and research. An updated analysis of the company’s market strategies, trends and business highlights will be the primary focus of my paper. While Wal-Mart still retains an amount of prestige and holds a position in the market, it cannot be denied that it is no longer the sole retail giant in America. In a global age, the rapid increase of consumer demand has given rise to numerous small, medium and large retail corporations to provide products and customer services with the required speed ad ease to cause serious business threats to Wal-Mart. For more than 45 years, Wal-Mart has been able to remain successfully in the running against stringent rivalry and rising competing foreign market retailers. Its growth has suffered in the past years. Recent figures and statistics are not reassuring. While assessing the company’s varied and diverse business aspects, I will attempt to provide a detailed reading of the same by utilizing the simple but effective SWOT model of business analysis. 2. Methodology and Procedure As stated in the Introduction, the SWOT method of business analysis is simple but highly effective in producing a detailed, comprehensive and objective research on the four major aspects of any, small or big, business: the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. With this methodology, I will attempt a study and analysis of the inner workings and the relevant problems in the operations of Wal-Mart. The effectiveness of the SWOT method lies in its operational dynamics. It penetrates inward into the basic working and process involved in running the companies, ranging from the production to public relations to retail. I intend to apply this procedural business analytic model because I believe every little aspect of a business can be summed up under the four general headings that are the purview of the SWOT model, as mentioned above. In context of Wal-Mart, this method is particularly pertinent as a comparative study of the strengths and weaknesses of a business yields a greater economic and strategic perspective of current market trends. (Pahl & Richter 7) The company gains from an analysis of competitive advantage that is directly relatable to a firm’s performance in the market. A well-balanced and well-thought theoretical methodology ultimately has the capacity to lead to greater prod uctivity and client satisfaction, all resulting in more generation of revenue. (Hao 15) 3. SWOT Analysis of Wal-Mart: A Comprehensive Business Study Before attempting an application of the SWOT model, I will briefly give an overview of the company’s past and present profile. Figure 1. Company Overview (2012) Name Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Industries served Retail Geographic areas served Worldwide Headquarters Bentonville, US Current CEO Mike Duke Revenue $ 466.950 billion (2012) Profit $ 15.699 billion (2012) Employees 2.2 million

An investigation of neutralization reactions Essay -- GCSE Chemistry C

An investigation of neutralization reactions Aim Question : What is the effect of changing the concentration of an alkali, on the volume of acid needed to neutralise it, when acid is added to it? The plan is to use two acids (Hydrochloric & Sulphuric) and one alkali (Sodium Hydroxide). The reason I need to use two acids is; because the question applies to all acids and alkalis and to just use one of each would not enable me to come to a general conclusion. If there had been more time available, ideally I would have preferred to use two alkalis as well as two acids. Predictions First of all, here are the definitions for an acid and an alkali: An acid is a substance that forms hydrogen (H+) ions when placed in water. It can also be described as a proton donor as it provides H+ ions. An alkali is a soluble base and forms hydroxyl ions (OH-) when placed in water. It can be called a proton acceptor because it will accept hydrogen (H+) ions and form H2O. A Hydrochloric acid molecule (HCl) will release one H+ ion and one Cl- ion when placed in water. A Sodium Hydroxide molecule (NaOH) will release one Na+ ion and one OH- ion when placed in water. This means that one molecule of NaOH and one molecule of HCl will neutralise each other and produce H2O and a neutral salt called Sodium Chloride (NaCl). This means that to neutralise HCl and NaOH when they are at the same concentration, you need equal amounts of each. GRAPH On the other hand, a Sulphuric Acid molecule (H2SO4) will release two H+ ions and one SO4-- ions. This means that you need two molecules of NaOH to neutralise one molecule of H2SO4 and produce the neutral salt Sodium Sulphate (Na2SO4). This means ... ... in the following ways : * Instead of using Universal Indicator, I would use an indicator which only changed colour when the solution was Neutral rather than gradually changing as the pH became lower (e.g. Methyl Orange or Phenolphthalein). * To get the pH more accurate next time, a pH meter could be used. * To get it very accurate, the acids and alkalis supplied should be an exact amount (I am not sure whether the ones I used were exact). * To use very recently distilled water, because the water will become acidic if left for a long time. References Books Dunstan, S. 1968. Principles of Chemistry. Van Nostrand Reinhold  · Pages 187-88  · Pages 215- 253 McDuell, B. 1997. GCSE Chemistry Classbook. Letts  · Pages 171-72  · Pages 28-32  · Page 262 Computer programs Microsoft Excel Version 97 Microsoft Word 97 Paint Shop Pro 4

Rhetorical, Textual, or Source Analysis worksheet

Write a short, clear summary of the article: This article tackles the problem of unhealthy self-esteem among women allegedly caused by media-generated concepts of femininity and how best to confront this problem, which is through social activism and social marketing. It is fuelled by the results of numerous studies which suggest a strong link between the portrayal of unrealistic images of women in the media and the increasing tendency towards unhealthy eating and dieting behaviours of women. What is the context of the article? In â€Å"The Media’s Influence on Body Image Disturbance and Eating Disorders: We’ve Reviled Them, Now Can We Rehabilitate Them,† Thomson and Heinberg (1999) illuminate the growing concern among the American women population on the adverse impact of images portrayed in the mass-media on the self-perception and self-esteem of women who are exposed and vulnerable to subscribing to media-generated conceptions of femininity that have been linked to the increasingly unhealthy lifestyles taken up by more and more girls and women. What seems to be the author’s purpose? The authors discuss the mechanism by which the media is able to influence the lifestyle patterns of women in the aim of identifying ways by which girls and women would be able to resist or combat the ill-effects of media images on their behavioural, psychological, and physical health. They present a relevant perspective on how women can counter the psychological manoeuvres of the mass media. In what type of publication did this appear? Describe it. The article appeared in the academic â€Å"Journal of Social Issues,† a quarterly publication which publishes contributions from social scientists and academics that tackle the relationship between society and human beings and issues that arise from this. The journal is published by Blackwell Publishing in behalf of The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. Write a brief analysis of the author’s credentials and possible expertise or bias. If no information is available on the author, try to take a guess based upon his or her knowledge and writing ability, which you might derive from the article. Thomson and Heinberg (1999) are obviously academic experts in the field of psychology who have extensively studied the impact of media-mediated concepts on the feminine psyche. In fact, the result of their own research on the effect of media images on the self-esteem and self-concept of women was among the evidence they presented in the article. Who seems to be the target audience? Be specific. Judging from the language and tone of the article, the authors’ target audience are policymakers, development workers, and academic researchers. Here, Thomson and Heinberg (1999) clearly advocate for the creation and implementation of education-based programs that would benefit women by arming them with the knowledge to decipher the subliminal messages they are often bombarded with through advertisements and other forms of media. In short outline form, show the author’s stance. Then, explain and evaluate the presentation of the author’s stance. In other words, what’s the thesis? What reasons are given for this stance? Are the reasons supported well? The authors contend that social activism will encourage women to be active in challenging the social structures that profit from and reinforce the prevailing social biases and gender stereotypes of women, while social marketing will teach women not only to pursue the demystification of the â€Å"feminine ideal† but more importantly, in the generation of positive and realistic concepts of being women. The article therefore summarizes the results of recent research which support the contention that the mass media is one of the biggest source of poor self-concept and self-confidence for women, and proposes the combination of two-strategies, social activism and social marketing,   that would enable women to counter the concept of the â€Å"feminine ideal† portrayed in the media—that of the thin, airbrushed, and computer-generated model—by empowering them to see through this images and helping them develop a multi-dimensional concept of being a woman. Analyze the writer’s language. What is the writer’s tone? Why might he or she have chosen this tone? Is it effective? What words are defined or left undefined? Give examples. The writer’s language is formal and academic, which might have been chosen because its target audience are those from the academe such as social scientists and intellectuals. It effectively conveys the weight of the problem at hand and lends seriousness to the discussion of the solutions presented. Based upon your analysis, is this a credible piece of writing? Explain. Yes, because it presents extensive evidence to its claim gained from years of academic research by social scientists interested in the issue. While the authors have recognized that a direct link between the images propagated by the media vis-à  -vis women’s self-esteem has yet to be proven, the article manages to support its contention in an ample manner by showing how media images, even indirectly, shapes the way women think, consume, and behave. In turn, its argument of using the media itself to turn things around becomes more convincing and relevant especially for women and other sectors involved. Finally, and in detail (really think about this—refer to specifics) how do the stance and language choices relate to the author’s purpose and target audience? Explain. This article is written in a persuasive manner, and shows the authors’ capability to use relevant information to support their thesis. It is also written in a way that could be understood best by development practitioners and students of the social sciences, which is suited with its intention of convincing those who might be involved in advocacy or policy-making to seriously address the rise in the number of weight-related issues affecting women that is attributed to the pervasive influence of the media. Work Cited: Thomson, J. Kevin, and Heinberg, Leslie J. â€Å"The Media’s Influence on Body Image Disturbance and Eating Disorders: We’ve Reviled Them, Now Can We Rehabilitate Them?† Journal of Social Issues, 55.2(1999):339-353.

What Are The Leading Causes Of Depression - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1116 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2019/04/15 Category Psychology Essay Level High school Tags: Depression Essay Did you like this example? Fewer than half of the young adults male and or female with a mental health problem will receive treatment in any way as fast as possible. A study says that only about 11% of Americans from ages 12 to 17 have been through depression or mental health problem in the past couple of years. (BK) Kids, teens, and adults can be depressed and live their life with depression and no one will have a single clue because its hard to tell and people might not think much of it so its really important for a teen to talk to a trusted adult at school or at home.. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "What Are The Leading Causes Of Depression" essay for you Create order Depression is very different in many ways and is usually really hard to tell or understand but it can be prevented, there is a lot of ways that cause depression and the side effects are really bad that it can lead to someone killing themselves this is why its so important for people with depression to speak out to a trusted adult or just someone they can trust in general. Depression can come out of nowhere and even the best of students can carry this disease, without no one knowing. Even your closest friend and own family might not expect you would do something really tragic and this really tells that depression can be very unpredictable. Talking to a trusted adult about Depression can really be helpful, It may feel like no one understands when you try to explain to others that feeling you have inside, but you might not have the worst case because there is a lot of people with the same problem. There are many ways to get help with depression and each person has a different story to t ell. Its better to seek help in maybe a group of people with the same problem or speak to a doctor and seek medical help or just speak to your family its important to share your story and what youre going to through and get treatment. Explaining your symptoms will help people that are willing to help you, including yourself, understand what it is youre going through your mind and body. The thought of having problems in your life or someone elses life mentally or physically can be troublesome on someones life and might have a chance to lead to Depression, Depression can vary for others like mood swings and it can happen to anyone, (BK) an example of an unpredictable depression and a very stressful situation is Ciara Webb, she was a blond with a bright sunny smile according to her fellow teammates. She was well known at her school and had no problems in her life but it all came to an end. She began to stop hanging out with her friends out of nowhere without warning, Ciara started racking up fs and her parents were going through a stressful divorce and she was angry at the world she wouldnt talk to anyone and this caused her to take her own life. This could have been avoided if she told a trusted adult and if she didnt stay away from her friends. Ciara wasnt talking to anyone, says a friend. She was like a deer in headlights she wouldnt even say a word.And then one day She seemed to be having the worst weekend of her life she even tweeted it. She was mad at the world, says, mom. The next day she attended a soccer game at six and a couple of hours later she went for a walk by herself and never returned no one knew where she went and where she was, Ciaras death shook her school and community to the core no one thought that a good student like this would have such a tragic situation on her hands. Cadys parents got divorced six months before her death.No One knew how deep the teens distress ran. Cady was bubbly, outgoing no one thought she would have done this. (Halpert, Rosen). This shows how anyone can be caught by depression. There are so many different ways to tell that someone has depression and the effects are awful. Sacred Heart Childrens Hospital has partnered with KSPS to work on a video on five common warning signs that can help you understand that a teenager might be depressed. Its very important to know how a teen usually acts and the typical behavior for a teen. (Lind) To understand how useful these drugs are in helping teen depression among young people a study team led by Dr. Andrea Cipriani, a psychiatrist at the University of Oxford, Conducted a test of 34 different stages of antidepressants involved around 5,000 children of teens taking 14 different antidepressants these antidepressants may become addicting when their prescription runs out and teens can move on to illegal drugs it is so easy for a teen to decide to take his own life Without help a teen may take his/her owns life and no one would know. Depression can be treated but its not easy it may involve some snooping of a persons social life check their text messages or any social media. Treating kids with mood disorders in children and adolescents is tricky business. (Alice) (Gard) The centers for disease control reported that a survey of students in grades 9-12 at schools in the United States revealed 16 percent of students reported seriously considering suicide 13 percent reported creating a plan and 8 percent reported trying to take their own life in the 12 months preceding the survey. (Hales). In the research having to talk to an adult that can be trusted is what makes a situation very different without it problems begin to happen more and then they show. (A) For most Americans, only about 10% of depression is due to a lack of healthcare and only around 20% has to do with people and their environment. But a staggering 50 percent is the way that the person lives in. Now all of these causes together will make the final effect which is depression or suicidal thoughts. This also shows how easily teens are to get this illness, In the article, it states that 13 percent reported planning their own way that theyre going to commit suicide. Works Cited Halpert, Julie, Rosen, Peg. Saving Teens From Themselves. Good Housekeeping Apr2016: 5pgs EBSCO Oct 25, 2018 Hales, Emily.Understanding And Responding To The Increase In Teen Depression. Deseret News July 21, 2014: 3pgs EBSCO Oct 25, 2018 Lind, Treva. Paying Attention To Teen Depression Spokesman-Review Sept192018: 1pg EBSCO Oct 25, 2018 Park, Alice. Teen Depression Treatment Is An Increasingly Thorny Issue.Time.com June 9, 2016: 1pg EBSCO Oct 25,2018 Garcia-Navarro, Lulu The Risk Of Teen Depression And Suicide Is Linked To Smartphone Use, Study Says. Weekend Edition Sunday, Dec 17, 2017: 1pg Oct 25, 2018