Positive and negative influences of Guy Russo as CEO of Kmart

Positive and negative influences of Guy Russo as CEO of Kmart Kmart stores were characterized by various negative features before the arrival of Guy Russo as the new Chief Executive Officer. The stores had shabby change rooms, old carpets, less motivated staff, inadequate supply of products to customers and daunting product range which demoralized customers from making their purchases. The business model that employers were operating under had some broken hitches and broken processes.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Positive and negative influences of Guy Russo as CEO of Kmart specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Positive contributions The arrival of Guy Russo changed the company making it experience increased profits and, at the same time, enjoy top ranking on the retail map. The CEO changed the leadership structure through handpicking executive management team comprising of six people and, at the same time, considering issues of gender balance within Kmart’s leadership str ucture. Then he went ahead to moderate Kmart’s product range lines, as well as improving pricing mechanisms (Clawson, 2012). Additionally, Guy enriched the supply chain by reducing involvement of middlemen and wholesalers (John et al, 2006). Model where middlemen and wholesalers are used characterizes Australian retail model which does not practice direct sourcing model. Russo ensured that Kmart’s target market segments were clearly defined (McKee et al., 2013). At the same time, Russo assisted in positioning the store in the market as a place where all essential goods can be found, including home appliances and clothes, at affordable prices. This ensured reduction of company’s operational costs and at the same time maintained focus on Kmart’s real business processes (Lussier and Achua, 2010). Guy Russo also encouraged company development through application of the principle of less is more whereby Kmart replaced all expensive goods with less expensive on es. This was for the purposes of capturing considerable market share since majority within various market segments considered purchasing quality goods at affordable prices (Cravens and Piercy, 2009). Russo also removed spot discount imposed on products sold. This was contrary to tradition of most Australian retailers who applied pricing model involving offering percentage-off discount for the purpose of improving sales. He ensured that all new managers were taken through thorough training granting them new perspective in leadership and management of company affairs. Good example is when Guy took over hundred of store managers to Beijing for the purposes of giving them new perspective on looking at life (Lussier and Achua, 2010).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Negative contributions Such moves as change in management style had consequent results, Russo’s lea dership style within Kmart’s management prompted replacement of several company staff based on the fact that they could not commit to efforts of turnaround. This led to replacement of approximately 20% of chain store management officers. At the same time, application of direct model brought by Russo led to cases of unemployment since many people were pushed out of their jobs especially wholesalers and middlemen. Direct sourcing was applied in markets in low-cost countries and such strategy could only be adopted by large retailers rather than small players. Conclusion The CEO introduced intensive use of modern technology system for the purposes of managing its inventory. Such improvement ensures that the company achieves highest sales within every market segment compared to its competitors within the same market. Serving low-end consumers prompted Russo to encourage division of its products to fully satisfy their clients (Lussier and Achua, 2010). However, intensive use of tec hnology might not work well in low markets like Bangladesh since not all consumers are technologically literate to use services such as those provided on the Internet. However, Kmart’s application of the web pages on the Internet in retailing provides consumers with efficient means which they can utilize in selecting variety of goods available online, hence saving their time (McKee et al., 2013). References Clawson, J 2012, Level Three Leadership: Getting below the Surface, 5th Ed, Prentice Hall, USA Cravens, D Piercy, N 2009, ‘Strategic Marketing, ‘McGraw Hill, London John, S, Caroline, E, Godsell, J, Harrison, A 2006, ‘Supply chain Management: theory, practice and future challenges,’ International Journal of Operations Production Management, Vol. 7, No. 26, pp 754-774.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Positive and negative influences of Guy Russo as CEO of Kmart specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Lussier, R, N Achua, C, F 2010, Leadership: Theory, Application Skill Development, 4th Ed, South-Western Publishing, Australia McKee, A, Kemp, T Spence, G 2013, Management: A Focus on Leaders, Pearson Education, Australia

Law for Accounting assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Law for Accounting assignment - Essay Example Formation of Contract is based on firstly, an ‘offer’, which must be followed by an acceptance. Secondly, there must be consideration, intention to create legal relations and sufficient certainty. The main starting point for the conclusion of a contract can be found in Smith v Hughes1, where both a subjective as well as objective test was laid down in order to determine the existence of a contract. The subjective test determines the actual intention of the contracting parties, whereas the objective test ascertains what had been said by the parties, what they did and not and what their actual intention of saying or doing was. As per Professor Atiyah, the issue of offer and acceptance has been determined by courts in two ways, that is ‘reason forwards’ and ‘reason backwards’, the former is where existence of offer and acceptance are determined first and then the conclusion on the dispute is made; the latter is where the courts can reason from the appropriate solution back to the legal concepts of offer and acceptance. An offer has been defined as an expression of willingness by one party known as the offeror, to contract or be bound on stated terms, provided that such terms are accepted by the party to whom the offer is made that is the offeree. The courts have drawn a distinction between an offer and an invitation to treat, as the latter is merely an expression of willingness by one party to enter into negotiations and is not unconditional and there is a lack of intention to create legal relations. The most important and land mark cases which distinguished between an offer and invitation to treat are of Gibson v Manchester City Council2 and Storer v Manchester City Council3. In Gibson, where treasurer had sent a letter to Mr. Gibson, stating that council may be prepared to sell the house, was held to be an invitation to treat, which was further confirmed by the fact that Mr. Gibson was asked to make a formal application to purchase the house. The courts therefore took into account the correspondence between the parties. However, in Storer the courts found that a contract had come into existence as negotiations had moved beyond what had happened in Gibson but an exchange of contracts had not taken place. These cases clearly point out that fact that judges can interpret and differ in the results and so the decision would be said to be based on its own facts. An offer should be differentiated from a mere statement of price that is an enquiry as to the price. (Harvey v. Facey)4 Invitation to treat has been defined as an expression of willingness of a party to enter into negotiations with another with the hope that a contract would be reached at the end of such negotiations. (Fisher v Bell)5. As for advertisements, it has been strictly said to be an invitation to treat (Partridge v Crittenden)6, however, the courts have interpreted advertisements in a manner which allows for certain exceptions to be create d and the main reasons for that has been cited to be intention to be bound and certainty (Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co.)7. Further, the advertisement of an auction sale is generally only an invitation to treat (Harris v Nickerson)8. The opinions as to when an offer is made have differed. In respect of the advertisement that had been placed by Serena in the Sunday Times Style, the first and foremost question is whether such advertisement was an invitation to

Health care marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 8

Health care marketing - Essay Example Besides, positioning pricing strategy seeks to maximize the current revenues for health care institutions with no regard to profit margins. Pricing in health care institutions should be a passive part so that the health care services can be affordable to everybody. Products and solutions have different positioning strategies, which they use to cut a niche in the market. For products, they should use the competitive pricing strategy to set a good customer base in the market. This strategy should aim at exceeding the competitors’ strength in the market. This can be achieved through focusing on quality advantage and product differentiation. Quite the reverse, services industry should take a different strategy, which aims at improving the quality of services offered by the service provider. Such services uses simultaneous competition that seeks to increase advertising for their services, introducing new services, providing rebates and incentives to clients and offering special service promotions for their services. This move will help increase productivity on their services that will result in lower cost and high quality

Iago Manipulates Essay Example for Free

Iago Manipulates Essay In the play Othello, written by William Shakespeare, the antagonist Iago manipulates other characters. He makes them act in ways that benefits his plan of destroying Othello by making him believe that his wife, Desdemona, is having an affair with his lieutenant, Michael Cassio. In the beginning of the play, Roderigo who is in love with Othello’s wife, Desdemona, comes to Iago for help. Iago manipulates Roderigo by promising him Desdemona’s attention and love if he â€Å"put money in thy purse,† as Iago says. Roderigo gives money to Iago in the mistaken belief that Iago is using his money to help him get to Desdemona, but Iago is using it to finance his own plan. Roderigo is a desperate character in the play and is easy tricked by Iago, because he doesn’t think he has anything to lose and because he would do anything to get Desdemona. His desperate feelings for Desdemona and Iago’s convincing manner make Roderigo easy to deceive. Iago has also a wife, Emilia. He doesn’t really manipulate her, because she is unaware of what’s going on between Othello and Desdemona during almost the whole play, but he makes her do thinks that benefits his plan. For example, he makes her steal Desdemona’s handkerchief, which ended being the â€Å"icing on the cake† for Othello’s suspiciousness on Desdemona’s and Cassio’s love affair. Everyone likes and trusts Iago, and so do Desdemona. Iago is seen as an honest man, which helps him manipulate people, because they always believe him. Iago manipulates Desdemona by acting on her side and by sympathizing with her. When Othello starts to get very suspicious, he gets very angry at Desdemona, but he refuses to tell her why. Iago convinces her that Othello is angry on a letter he got earlier and not on her. Desdemona believes this lie, which probably stops her from questioning Othello’s behavior. Iago’s plan is to make Othello think that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair together. His first move to manipulate Cassio is to get him in trouble. He gets Cassio in trouble by making him drunk and by developing a fight for him. When Othello hears what happened, he removes Cassio from his post. Othello asks Iago what Cassio did, but Iago refuses to tell him anything, he says, â€Å"I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth than it should do offense to Michael Cassio. By doing this statement in front of Othello and Cassio, he earns Cassio’s trust. Iago uses this trust to manipulate Cassio later in the play. He tells Cassio that the best way to get his position back is to talk to Desdemona and get her on his side. Cassio does what Iago told him, and Desdemona is happy to help him because she knows him and she thinks he is a noble friend to Othello. But when Iag o and Othello come near, Cassio leaves because he doesn’t want to face Othello personally. Iago uses this situation to plant his seed of doubt, and tells Othello that Cassio fled when Othello came near. This is what starts Othello’s suspiciousness. Iago is a smart man who knows how to act and what he should say to manipulate the people around him. The character that Iago manipulates the most is Othello. He makes Othello believe that Cassio talks about Desdemona, while he is actually talking about Bianca and his sexual relationship with her. Iago makes up a story that he heard Cassio talking about Desdemona in his sleep. He also tells Othello that he has seen Cassio wipe his brow with Desdemona’s handkerchief. As a result of this, Othello gets livid and really frustrated, and wants to kill both Desdemona and Cassio. This clearly shows how Iago manipulates Othello. Iago is an intelligent character that is strongly talented in improvising and he has a clear feeling for timing. His most important skill is his acting ability. He’s a perfect actor. Although Iago plants his suspicion step by step by lying and by supplying â€Å"evidence† when it is needed, he always pretends to be a moral and loyal friend who everyone can trust. One of his strategies is to let other people make their own conclusions. Iago is smart enough to use other people’s actual weaknesses and to let them draw wrong conclusions themselves. All these strategies and abilities help him manipulate other characters in the play.

The Long, Bitter Trail: Andrew Jackson and the Indians by Anthony F.C. Wallace :: American History

The Long, Bitter Trail: Andrew Jackson and the Indians by Anthony F.C. Wallace The Long, Bitter Trail: Andrew Jackson and the Indians was written by Anthony F.C. Wallace. In his book, the main argument was how Andrew Jackson had a direct affect on the mistreatment and removal of the native Americans from their homelands to Indian Territory. It was a trail of blood, a trail of death, but ultimately it was known as the "Trail of Tears". Throughout Jackson's two terms as President, Jackson used his power unjustly. As a man from the Frontier State of Tennessee and a leader in the Indian wars, Jackson loathed the Native Americans. Keeping with consistency, Jackson found a way to use his power incorrectly to eliminate the Native Americans. In May 1830, President Andrew Jackson signed into law the Indian Removal Act. This act required all tribes east of the Mississippi River to leave their lands and travel to reservations in the Oklahoma Territory on the Great Plains. This was done because of the pressure of white settlers who wanted to take over the lands on which the Indians had lived. The white settlers were already emigrating to the Union, or America. The East Coast was burdened with new settlers and becoming vastly populated. President Andrew Jackson and the government had to find a way to move people to the West to make room. In 1830, a new state law said that the Cherokees would be under the jurisdiction of state rather than federal law. This meant that the Indians now had little, if any, protection against the white settlers that desired their land. However, when the Cherokees brought their case to the Supreme Court, they were told that they could not sue on the basis that they were not a foreign nation. In 1832, though, on appeal, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Cherokees were a "domestic dependent nation," and therefore, eligible to receive federal protection against the state. However, Jackson essentially overruled the decision. By this, Jackson implied that he had more power than anyone else did and he could enforce the bill himself. This is yet another way in which Jackson abused his presidential power in order to produce a favorable result that complied with his own beliefs. The Indian Removal Act forced all Indians tribes be moved west of the Mississippi River. The Choctaw was the first tribe to leave from the southeast.

Herbal Supplements Essay

One of the most heavily debated topics in pharmaceuticals is the regulation of prescription drugs versus over the counter herbal supplements. The Food and Drug Administration, the FDA, studies prescription drugs for years before releasing and allowing them to be prescribed to the public. Up until 2010, the FDA was able to regulate herbal supplements (1). The information I came across was new and shocking to me for I am guilty of taking a few herbal supplements, and my parents take multiple on a daily basis. I did not know that products can claim a nutrient deficiency, support health, or are linked to specific body functions without the FDA’s approval (1). Even though these botanical and all natural herbal supplements are almost everywhere, they do not mean that they are safe for anyone’s use! Many of these supplements contain strong ingredients that could potentially harm ones body. The FDA only controls an herbal supplements strength, purity, and composition before releasing it onto the market (1). In 2004 the FDA banned ephedra, an herbal supplement used to treat asthma, hay fever, and the common cold (2). The herbal supplement was causing extreme side effects in many users including heart attacks and some deaths. I found that Kava has led to liver problems and resulting in some users having to go as far as to geting a liver transplant (3). The supplement Comfrey was found to be linked to ulcers and Pennyroyal was found to be linked to kidney and liver damage (3). It makes one wonder how these supplements were allowed to be sold in the first place with all this lack of testing and all these extreme side effects. Webmd.com said that almost all supplements contain contaminents (3)! I was not aware that I was putting my health into risk from buying products said to be â€Å"natural† and â€Å"herbal†, but actually and are easily sold at almost every local convenience store. It has been said that â€Å"herbal supplements should be regulated the same way as prescription drugs†. I agree with this statement for there has proven to be risk in taking herbal supplements. Almost all herbal supplements are released to the public whereas a series of tests have to be done before a drug in the pharmaceutical industry is approved and released, leaving only a small ending percentage of the originally tested drugs to be released. Both  herbal supplements and prescription drugs influence ones body through chemical procedures and, therefore, should be treated and regulated equally. Both drugs could potentially cause harm to someone. I believe that the government should form new policies regulating herbal supplements I was not aware of the potential dangers and lack of regulation in these â€Å"natural† medicines. I will definitely be a lot more careful and do more research before blindly purchasing one again. Webmd.com shows ways to research and test these herbal supplements before using them for they are very risky (3). I think everyone should be knowledgeable on this topic for this is just new information to me. SOURCES CITED (1)http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/herbal-supplements/SA00044 (2)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephedra (3)http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/features/risky-herbal-supplements

The Drinking Age Should Remain 18 in Australia - 1563 Words

The Drinking Age Should Remain 18 Years Old in Australia The Drinking Age Should Remain 18 Years Old in Australia These days there are a number of social issues in the community, such as drug abuse, teenage pregnancy and alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse is rampant in today’s society, Australian Drug Foundation states that, â€Å"Alcohol is the most widely used psychoactive, or mood-changing, recreational drug in Australia.†(Healey, 2002, p. 11). Underage drinking and binge drinking are some of the problems associated with alcohol abuse. Most countries and cultures across the world experience these issues with 83% of the world population being allowed to drink at the age of 18, and the remaining 17% of the world population are legally allowed†¦show more content†¦This is a custom that pervades every class in the colony, and cannot be departed from without something more than a breach of good manners. (â€Å"Drinking Etiquette,† n.d.) Alcohol helps people remove their barriers; lose their inhibitions, and form friendships, relationships, and acts as a social lubricant. In Australia many business deals have been conducted over a drink or two. In addition to the Australian drinking culture, at 18-years-old you are legally an adult. Thus, society has many expectations of young adults such as employment and study. Australian policies allow 18-year-olds to vote, marry, drive a vehicle, and obtain a gun license; furthermore, it is 18-year-olds right as an adult to drink. â€Å"Eighteen-year-olds could vote to change government, get married, have children, enter into legally-binding contracts and were treated as adults by the justice system,† Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said on a matter. (News, 2010). Before the Vietnam War in 1962 the legal drinking age in Australia was 21. â€Å"The drinking age in Australia was lowered to 18 from 21 during the Vietnam War on the grounds that if 18-year-olds could be conscripted, they should have the right to vote and drink as well.†(Urban, 2009). Therefore, the law has been previously changed and it would be unadvisable to change the law again; these changesShow MoreRelatedTh e Effects Of Alcohol Poisoning On Australia1635 Words   |  7 Pagespoisoning. Describing what it is, why the report is required and a specific high risk group – young Australians ages 18-24. The benefit of this report will outline the main dangers of alcohol poisoning and why it’s a big problem in Australia. Alcohol poisoning in Western Australia alcohol caused 2.85% of total health problems for Australia, Costing the medical industry in Western Australia $379,689,476.83. This includes all the problems associated with alcohol and alcohol poisoning. 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