Meubles Canadal: Looking Towards the Future Essay

Introduction Meubles Canadel is Canada’s leading manufacturing firm in producing high quality furniture for dining purposes and was established in 1982 by three brothers in Louisville, a small town in the province of Quebec in Canada. It is a privately own company and established itself from a small to a large international operating company with still increasing sales around $125 million in 2000. Between 1987 and 1991 Canadel grew rapidly. This was due to the fact that the firm focused on demographic changes. The families’ size decreased in this time and shifted the demand from the â€Å"lunch-corner† and formal dining room segment to dining room furniture to everyday use. Canadel took advantage of this change and started to produce high quality dining furniture. With continued increasing sales, the firm expanded to the U.S market and additionally serves now the eastern part of the U.S with its products. Looking at Canadel in 2000, the firm owns 50% of the dining room market although prices are generally higher than competitor’s prices. At this point in time, the company’s sales were mostly coming from the U.S (75%), 20% from the Canadian market and five percent from Europe and Japan. Further, Canadel’s staff represented 1,550 people of which 800 are directly employed. In the following a case analysis of Canadel will be conducted. The first part represents the external environmental analysis whereas the second part focuses on the internal factors influencing the firm. Ultimately a conclusion will be drawn. External environmental analysis An external environmental analysis contains a macroeconomic and a microeconomic view on firm’s influencing factors. On the macroeconomic level one could ask a general question for example which environmental factors do affect the firm and its strategic management. It is necessary for Canadel to maintain a coherent strategy that fit in its environment in order to reinforce its distinctive competencies and establish sustainability in creating value to its stakeholders. In order to answer this question a PESTEL analysis will be conducted, where the macroeconomic view is studied. PESTEL stands for political, economic, sociocultural, technical, environmental and legal factors, which affect the firm and its strategy. Regarding political factors, the Canadian furniture industry was massively influenced after the introduction of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the United States and Canada in 1989. Trades between both countries have become easier due to the elimination of tariff s and in addition competition increased. However, Canadel was not operating internationally in this time therefore, only the increase in competition could have influenced the firm. The next factor, which influences Canadel, is the economic impact. Exchange rate fluctuations between the U.S. and the Canadian dollar can affect the export to the United States, which can cause both losses and profits for Canadel. At the moment the firm has an advantage because the Canadian dollar has a strong position compared to the U.S. dollar. However, this used to be different and therefore it is important for the three Deveault brothers to take this factor into consideration in order to avoid losses. Another point is the huge unemployment rate that is mentioned. The Deveault brothers feel that they have an obligation to stay in Quebec in order to support their hometown and province, which would not be ensured if they would look for other suppliers in different regions. This decision influences the firm’s management strategy. On the one hand it could mean that Canadel does not take the opportunity to look for other suppliers in different regions who might be cheaper and therefore would enable the firm to benefit in costs savings. On the other hand it improves the relationship to its suppliers and increases loyalty on both sides, which can be more valuable than any cost saving strategy. The next external factor is the sociocultural development over time. As already mention, Canadel is a local company carrying about its employees and suppliers. This clearly influences its strategic operational decision as above discussed. Moreover, the company took advantage of the demographic changes in lifestyle and family size. It began to produce smaller exclusive tables and profited from the decrease in family size. Further, Canadel has a very unique attitude towards work, hiring policy and leisure. It is mentioned that the Deveaults try to maintain a small power distance between their employees and the management level. The company does not have a hierarchal structure and stands for an open-door policy where employees any time have the possibility to see the mangers and talk to them. Meetings held within the management level or with suppliers are classified as very informal without a secretary taking notes. These characteristics affect Canadel’s business decision like staying in the region of Quebec to conduct its business in favour of the local population. Another economic factor is the technological change in the last couple of years. It is obvious that machinery improved and facilitated the manufacturing process of wood. However, one has to remember that the company emphasises the production of unique hand made dining tables. This could lead to the conclusion that the technological improvement did simplify the manufacturing process however, not in the major way. This is solely due to the fact that the production of exclusive dining table is very labour intensive. The last two macro-economic influences environmental and legal impacts are not sufficiently addressed in the case and will be left out in this analysis. On the microeconomic level the model of Porter’s five forces will be used to detect competitive forces that affect the firm’s business decisions. First, the entry barriers are described as very low, which increases the risk of potential new competitors for Canadel. This might give reason to establish the firm as a market leader in the industry in order to threaten potential new competitors. This could be important due to some potential competition from the Asian markets. However, this does not necessarily mean loosing all of the firm’s customers if competition increases because Canadel produces a very specialised product, which cannot be easily copied. Nevertheless, it can complicate Canadel’s business strategy and force them to decrease costs in order to possibly decrease its very high prices for dining furniture. Another fact is that Canadel has a very good relationship to its suppliers and staff, which enables the firm to profit from this loyalty if competition increases. Summarising, it can be said that overall competition is low in this industry. The threat of substitutes can be described as relatively low because people who can afford to pay around $7,000 for a dining table would probably not purchase furniture at firms like IKEA. Moreover, Canadel’s products seem to be very unique and therefore hard to find anywhere else. Analysing the bargaining power of suppliers it can be said that the firm operates with many smaller suppliers in the region of Quebec. Thus, a low bargaining power is identified. Compared to that the bargaining power of customers is characterised as significantly stronger because Canadel produces very unique products, which addresses a specified branch of customers. This could lead to problems if sales decreases and might cause the company into trouble and force them to adjust for this changes. Internal environmental analysis The next part describes the internal factors which influences the firm’s operating strategy. This can be established by a SWOT analysis to detect the firm’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. One of the most important strengths Canadel can present is the large subcontractor network, which it can rely on. Long-time relationships are important for the firm, as it knows most of its stakeholders from the very beginning. Therefore, controversies and conflicts are probably less frequent and decrease the fear of shortages in resources used for the production process. Further, Canadel has a well developed retail network, which shortens its delivery time compared to its competition. A next strength is the uniqueness of its products and its high quality, which is very much appreciated by the consumers. The high price of Canadel’s products can be identified as a weakness and might decrease its potential number of customers. Maybe it might be valuable to think about an additional production line that is cheaper and hence affordable to more people. A further weakness is the just-in-time (JIT) inventory system that could easily cause shortages although the firm accounted some time lack due to human errors. That JIT inventory system can be of course also identified as a firm’s strength. Canadel’s opportunities are already recognised by the expansion in the U.S. market, which could also be extended to the western part of the U.S. The already mentioned cheaper product line could be an opportunity to attract more consumers and to increase sales or to broaden the firm’s product segment. Major threats of the company are the Asian manufactures, which are likely to produce cheaper products and therefore might capture some of Canadel’s sales. Moreover, it can be said that Canadel has a major competitive advantage in producing high quality and unique dining furniture. It has the capabilities and resources, which is supported by the geographical location. A strong value chain can be identified with a good stakeholder network and a good infrastructure. These factors facilitate the firm’s operating position by focusing on the resources, capabilities and resources of Canadel. Conclusion In conclusion it can be said that Canadel managed to establish itself with a strong position in the fast growing dining room market. It has many opportunities to improve this position and expand its business by increasing its product line and thus attract more consumers. Further, it needs to pay attention to possible new competitors entering the market. Therefore, the philosophy to â€Å"grow when its time to grow† should not be taken too seriously because this might cause trouble to Canadel. It has to adjust to demographic and environmental changes. However, it should maintain its unique business culture and operation strategy. References Johnson G., Whittington R., Scholes K. (2008). Exploring Corporate Strategy (9th edition). Harlow UK: Pearson Education. Mark K., Hebert L., Crossan M,. (2001). Meubles Canadel: Looking towards the future. Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario.

Human Sexuality Essay

In a review of research on nonexclusive marital relationships, it was noted that swinging had received considerable attention in the 1970s and reported that an estimated 2 percent of the American population had participated. Most studies of active swingers emphasized overcoming initial anxieties and difficulties coping with strains to maintain the lifestyle successfully, but Denfeld also studied couples who had dropped out of swinging and entered counseling (1974). â€Å"The problems such as jealousy, guilt, emotional attachments, boredom and perceived threats to the marriage were common reasons for dropping out of swinging. Unfortunately, there has been no research on identifying the factors that differentiate couples who are satisfied with swinging form those who are not† (Rouse, 2002). The people we may call swingers are somewhat younger on the average than the mainstreamers, and many of them have brothers and sisters or parents who are mainstreamers. In due course, some of them will become mainstreamers, because it is hard to be a swinger when one gets older. However, some remain swingers longer than others, and many swingers later take another road than the mainstreamer one (Hannerz, 1969). Swingers are usually somewhere between the late teens and the middle thirties in age. This means that many of them have not yet married and started families on their own, so that familial obligations would naturally be less demanding in terms of time, money and emotional investments. But there are many swingers who are married and have children and who even so are not family-oriented. Of course, married men are more able to take part in the swinger life than are married women, as they can leave children and household affairs more readily in the hands of their spouses. However, some women manage to continue as swingers by leaving young children with the grandparents. Also, quite a few marriages are broken as one or both spouses prefer to continue the swinger’s life (Hannerz, 1969). Swingers typically spend relatively little of their free time just sitting around at home alone or with the family. Weekday nights and particularly weekends are often spent going visiting, whether one travels alone or in the company of a few friends. The spontaneous gatherings are not complete without gin, whiskey or beer and the talk involves joking, banter, reminiscences of past shared experiences, and exchanges about the trivia of the day such as football results, forecasts of coming boxing bouts and local grapevine items (Hannerz, 1969). It is true that many women get involved with swinging because their male partner encourages them. They often do it to explore their own bisexual desires. By being exposed to a sexually charged environment, they are encouraged to be more experimental and let go of the cultural conditioning that has made them deny their own desires. This may be why swingers often say that men get women into swinging, but it is the women who keep them in it (Taylor, 2007). Couples who are not in a Swinging Lifestyle will find it unimaginable to allow his or her partner to engage in recreational sex with another person, but for swingers it is considered a highly acceptable form of social recreation. Swinging couples have a strong enough relationship to allow the sexual pleasure of his or her partner, and take satisfaction from that pleasure instead of jealousy and concern. Many couples would benefit from embracing the relationship ideas from the Swinging Lifestyle. Swingers understand that it’s perfectly natural for their partner to be physically attracted to someone else and that it’s ok to share one another sexually without threatening their love for each other. They do not confuse love with lust as many couples do. The Swinging Lifestyle can be a new adventure that can actually bring a couple much closer together (Taylor, 2007). Couples who engage in the Swinging Lifestyle experience that in swinging is less time consuming and emotionally demanding than an affair. Moreover, it offers sexual variety and it is sexually educative. Swinging is honest and democratic, since both partners are involved. It is less dangerous with regard to losing a spouse than infidelity. Swinging, however, is not without its drawbacks. Swinging may result to lack of emotional closeness, which in return may inhibit enjoyment and/or performance. There is also denial of ego satisfaction, since the partner was obtained by being available rather than charm. A worried air may also occur since the spouse’s partner may be sexier and better looking and this may inhibit ability and enjoyment of the sex act. Philosophy involves having an affair only once with each new partner, therefore, there is an ongoing search for new partners can be fatiguing. Moreover, there is subliminal fear that swinging can lead to venereal diseases (Cargan, 2007). For those with an open mind swinging is all about having fun as a couple. Moreover, it’s a way for a couple to expand their horizons by agreeing that sexual encounters outside and inside the relationships are permissible. It is a way for a couple to be a couple while allowing and accepting individual desires and needs. Couples who swing explore their sexuality and fantasies. These couples can break the chains of jealousy and experience a more passionate and fulfilling relationship, as well as connecting on a deeper spiritual level. Swinging can give them the opportunity to grow as a couple, and as individuals (Bellemeade, 2003). References Bancroft, J. (2002). Human Sexuality and Its Problems. Elsevier Science Limited. Bellemeade, K. (2003). Swinging for Beginners. New Tradition Books. Breedlove, W. and J. Breedlove. (1984). Swap Clubs. Los Angeles: Sherbourne. Cargan, L. (2007). Being Single on Noah’s Ark. United Kingdom: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Inc.

Ballroom Dancing

20 TYPES OF BALLROOM DANCING Cha Cha The Cha Cha is a lively, flirtatious ballroom dance full of passion and energy. The classic â€Å"Cuban motion† gives the Cha Cha its unique style. Partners work together to synchronize each movement in perfect alignment. Foxtrot The Foxtrot is a ballroom dance that is lots of fun and simple to learn†¦ an excellent dance for beginners. The Foxtrot is a smooth dance in which dancers make long, flowing movements across the floor. Jive Jive is a ballroom dance style that originated in the United States from African-Americans. It is a lively form of Swing dance, and a variation of the Jitterbug. Lindy Hop The Lindy Hop is the ballroom dance considered to be the father of all Swing dances. It is known for its unique, athletic style, and often contains aerial jumps, twists and flips. Mambo The Mambo is one of the most sensual and emotional Latin American ballroom dances. Swaying hip movements, facial expressions, arm movements and holds all add to the sensuality of the dance. Paso Doble The Paso Doble is one of the liveliest ballroom dances, originating in southern France. It is modeled after the sound, drama, and movement of the Spanish bullfight. Quickstep The Quickstep is a quick version of the Foxtrot. It is a ballroom dance comprised of extremely quick stepping, syncopated feet rhythms, and runs of quick steps. The Quickstep is exciting to watch, but among the most difficult of all the ballroom dances. Rumba The Rumba is considered by many to be the most romantic and sensual of all Latin ballroom dances. It is often referred to as the â€Å"Grandfather of the Latin dances. † Samba Possibly the most popular of all Brazilian ballroom dances, the Samba is popular with young people as well as older generations. The Samba can be performed solo or with a partner. Tango The Tango is one of the most fascinating of all ballroom dances. This sensual ballroom dance originated in South America in the early twentieth century. Viennese Waltz The Viennese Waltz is a quick rotating ballroom dance with a subtle rise and fall. It is considered by most to be one of the most difficult dances to learn. The simple and elegant rotational movement characterizes the Viennese Waltz. Waltz The Waltz is one of the smoothest ballroom dances. It is a progressive dance marked by long, flowing movements, continuous turns, and â€Å"rise and fall. The dance is so graceful and elegant, Waltz dancers appear to glide around the floor with almost no effort. East Coast Swing East Coast Swing (ECS) is a form of social partner dance. It belongs to the group of swing dances. It is danced under fast swing music, including rock and roll and boogie-woogie. Orininally known as â€Å"Eastern Swing† by Arthur Murray Studios, the name East Coast Swing became more common betwe en 1975 and 1980. Bolero Bolero is a genre of slow-tempo Latin music and its associated dance and song. There are Spanish and Cuban forms which are both significant and which have separate origins. 1]The term is also used for some art music. In all its forms, the bolero has been popular for over a century. The Day We Fall in Love – Park Shin  Hye Korean Version : Eonjebuteo yeosseulkka nae mame jakku deureowa Dugun dugun tteolryeowa jageun neoui misokkajido Oraen sigan dongan na gidaryeoun unmyeong gateun sarang Geugeon neoyeosseo, nan alsu isseo Oh~ nae sarang geudaeran geol Geudaeneun nae mame on jongil noganaerin somsatang gata Geudaeneun nae mame nunbusige dagaon mujigae gata Naegeman deulrige dalkomhan mogsoriro yaegihaejulhae Cheoeumbuteo geudae maeum do everyday loving me saranghae just be my love Waenji jakku utge dwae jangnanseureon ne moksori Jageun du nune bichin nae moseub majeodo tteolryeowa Oraen sigan dongan na gidaryeoun unmyeong gateun sarang Geugeon neoyeosseo nan alsuisseo Oh~ nae sarang geudaeran geol Geudaeneun nae mame on jongil noganaerin somsatang gata Geudaeneun nae mame nunbusige dagaon mujigae gata Naegeman deulrige dalkomhan mogsoriro yaegihaejulhae Cheoeumbuteo geudae maeum do everyday loving me saranghae just be my love Geudaen aranayo Uri ireohge saranghage doeneun nal Geudaen mideonnayo Haneureseo bonael kkyupiteu hwasareul Geureohge dagaon gijeokeui seonmul gateun geudael saranghae Yeongwonhi hamkkehaejwo Everyday loving me saranghae Just Be My Love English Version : Since when is it, You come into my heart My heart keep thumping even for your little smile For along time, I’ve been waiting for this fate like love It’s you, I know it. Oh~ That my love is you You’re like a cotton candy that melting my heart all day. You’re like rainbow that coming dazzlingly into my heart Will you whispered me with your sweet voice That from the beginning your heart everyday loving me too I love you just be my love. Why I keep laughing when i heard your playful voice When your two little eyes stare at me, I even trembling like this For along time, I’ve been waiting for this fate like love It’s you, I know it. Oh~ That my love is you You’re like a cotton candy that melting my heart all day. You’re like rainbow that coming dazzlingly into my heart Will you whispered me with your sweet voice That from the beginning your heart everyday loving me too I love you just be my love. Do you know? The day we fall in love like this Do you believe? The Cupid’s arrow sent from Heaven I love you who come like miracle’s gift Let’s be together forever. loving me everyday I love you just be my love

Managerial Communications Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Managerial Communications - Essay Example I will appreciate that everyone is bound to make mistakes. If I lose focus during the interview, the results may be negative. I am not supposed to allow anxiety to distort my voice. I will be calm and maintain the same degree of coolness and body communication.Focusing more on the current and the subsequent questions may help mitigate the effect of giving the wrong answer. Again, I should avoid interrupting the interviewer by trying to respond to an earlier question, which I believe I gave the wrong answer.   The time for the interview is limited and the time allocated to a particular question should strategically be utilized. Regularly, I can impress the interviewer by staying calm and confident, when a question is put to me than affording the right answer. Another thing to note is that there is often no distinct answer and the way I present myself is of much importance than the answers I give.It is also important to appreciate that an interview helps the employer to identify the person who can respond positively to different issues in the place of work. The answers are important, but other aspects that I portray in an interview are more significant, and they have more impact on the results of an interview.Sometimes, interactions with my colleagues in the workplace will not be always positive. Some of their response and reactions might make me angry. To hold the anger, I need to know that anger is a usual and healthy feeling, which aids us impulsively detect and react to a threatening circumstance. When anger is properly managed, it can remedy an apparent injustice. On the other hand, anger can be an emotion that can become uncontrollable and cause negative results.

Developmental psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Developmental psychology - Essay Example In the preoperational stage, the child is in a later stage of development, early childhood, and they tend to be more and more focused on the world around them. In the concrete stage, â€Å"accommodation increases. The child develops an ability to think abstractly and to make rational judgements about concrete or observable phenomena, which in the past he needed to manipulate physically to understand† (Piaget, 2010). And the stage of formal operations can be roughly equated to adolescence. There are various tasks that Piaget attributes to each stage; for example, in the conservation task of the concrete stage, â€Å"They also see that when one of the vessels is emptied into a taller and thinner receptacle, the level of liquid is higher in the thinner vessel than in the other original vessel. Pre-Concrete Operations stage children conclude that there is more liquid in the thinner vessel† (Conservation, 2008). The results of this task may be that the child is not able to d ifferentiate between different volumes in vessels of different shapes. Although, as mentioned, some argue that there are confounding variables, Piaget has general support in today’s society. Piaget’s concepts of assimilation and accommodation are important to consider in the construction of a childs schema. Accommodation is the tougher concept, in terms of the cognitive effort that the child has to put forth. In assimilation, it is basically like the child taking in new information that fits into a sort of pre-fabricated place in their brain—it is new information that fits seamlessly with old information. Accommodation, however, is more about conflict and compromise. â€Å"In accommodation, the internal world has to accommodate itself to the evidence with which it is confronted and thus adapt to it, which can be a more difficult and painful process.   In the database analogy, it is like what happens when you try to put in information which does not fit the

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Essay Example Dunn’s reason for failing to complete the project on time was that the city failed to honour their terms of the contract. This paper will examine the contract, and who, between the two parties, is liable for a lawsuit. Under contract law, there are legal promises made to parties getting into an agreement (Monahan, 2001). Dunn, in this case, was entering into an arrangement with the city to start and complete the new city stadium. He knew of the time factor, but was ready to meet the challenge. However, his non-completion meant that he did not honour the terms of the agreement. The contract involved a bargain between Dunn and the city. He was liable to pay the city for all the financial damages the city might have incurred during the pre-season. Dunn, however, did not enter into the agreement alone. The city also made legal promises to him, which according to him, it did not fulfil. Their failure to honour some of the promises made to him by the city resulted in his failure to complete the project. The contract implied that Dunn would receive safety detail while working on the stadium. They, unfortunately, failed to fulfil their part of the deal. This meant that Dunn was responsible for everything that went on while working to complete the stadium. He catered for everything that was required while working on the project, in order to fulfil his end of the contract. The reason for his failure to complete the project on time was, therefore, justified. He incurred extra costs that should have been the city’s responsibility. Dunn, in the long run, should not pay any damages to the city. They should pay him for the extra amount of capital he might have put into the project. This is extra capital the city should have been catering for as part of their contract deal. While the pre-season started and the games shifted to another stadium, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers received an amount for their fans moving to watch their games in the other city’s stadium.

Summary Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Summary - Assignment Example Consent, for them, is not real consent. For other patients, having the opportunity to participate in a clinical trial was empowering. At the end of her study, Dr. Corrigan reflects that she will reconsider her own methods which are mainstream regarding informed consent. She believes her practice will improve because of this. Doctors clearly need to take into full account the ethical dimensions of their patients choices and consent. I found this to be a very interesting article. It was topical. I was especially interested in what Dr. Corrigan wrote in relation to pharmaceutical trials and companies. These days there is a lot of controversy over the political, medical, and cultural influence of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical companies. Because this is now a big business, people are concerned that certain ethical standards may be being replaced by a nasty business sense. There have been some accusations of influence on doctors and other health professionals through drug representatives and salespeople, including the giving of gifts to doctors, paying for and sponsoring conferences, for example. Doctors are often hired and paid to sit on the boards of various pharmaceutical companies thus providing an appearance of medical credibility to a company or product that may not independently possess it. The pharmaceutical industry also has thousands of lobbyists in Washington, D.C., that lobby Congress and try protec t their own interests and weaken laws that might limit their profit or make it more expensive and difficult to sale drugs. We need doctors to stand up and be ethical and to inform their patients about their involvement. Dr. Corrigan writes that when doctors request that patients participate in studies of a research nature, patients can feel manipulated or betrayed (781). This is a very negative consequence with ethical implications that must be considered from both the point of view of the patient and of the