Definition and Examples of Evaluation Essays

An  evaluation essay is a  composition that offers value judgments about a particular subject according to a set of criteria. Also called  evaluative writing, evaluative essay or report, and critical evaluation essay. An evaluation essay or report is a type of argument that provides evidence to justify a writers opinions about a subject. Any kind of review is essentially a piece of  evaluative writing, says Allen  S. Goose. This type of writing calls for the critical thinking skills of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation (8 Kinds of Writing, 2001).   Observations Without good reasons for liking or disliking certain things, students can never get beyond being passive receivers of marketing, fickle consumers without a basis for their opinions. Writing evaluation papers asks them to question why they feel the way they do.(Allison D. Smith, et al., Teaching in the Pop Culture Zone: Using Popular Culture in the Composition Classroom. Wadsworth, 2009) How to Evaluate If you are evaluating a piece of writing, then you are going to need to thoroughly read the work. While you read the work, keep in mind the criteria you are using to evaluate. The evaluative aspects may be: grammar, sentence structure, spelling, content, usage of sources, style, or many other things. Other things to consider when evaluating a piece of writing is whether the writing appealed to its target audience. Was there an emotional appeal? Did the author engage the audience, or was the piece lacking something? ...If you are evaluating anything else, use your head. You need to try, use, or test whatever thing you are evaluating. That means you should not evaluate a 2005 Chevrolet Corvette unless you have the $45,000 (or more) to buy one, or the money to rent one. You also need the know-how of driving a car of that power and a base of knowledge of other cars that you have tested to compare it to.(Joe Torres, Rhetoric and Composition Study Guide. Global Media, 2007) Identifying Criteria for an Evaluation Make a list of prominent, widely recognized standards for judging your subject. If you do not know the standards usually used to evaluate your subject, you could do some research. For example, if you are reviewing a film, you could read a few recent film reviews online or in the library, noting the standards that reviewers typically use and the reasons that they assert for liking or disliking a film. If you are evaluating a soccer team or one winning (or losing) game, you could read a book on coaching soccer or talk to an experienced soccer coach to learn about what makes an excellent soccer team or winning game.(Rise B. Axelrod and Charles R. Cooper, Axelrod Coopers Concise Guide to Writing, 4th ed. Bedford/St. Martins, 2006) Ways of Organizing an Evaluation Essay One way to organize an  evaluation essay is  point-by-point: describe one element of the subject and then evaluate it; present the next element and evaluate it; and so on. Comparison/contrast could be an organizing structure as well,  in which you evaluate something by  comparing (or contrasting) it to a known item. Culinary and music reviews often use this strategy.  Chronological organization can be used  for evaluating an event (either current or historical). Sequential organization can be used when describing how something works and evaluating the effectiveness of the process, procedure, or mechanism. Spatial organization can be used for evaluating art  or architecture in which you describe and evaluate one element of the artifact and then move spatially to the next major element to be described and evaluated.(David S. Hogsette,  Writing That Makes Sense: Critical Thinking in College Composition.  Wipf and Stock,  2009)

Escape Mechanisms in The Glass Menagerie Essay - 1333 Words

Escape Mechanisms in The Glass Menagerie In Tennessee Williams’ play, The Glass Menagerie, all four members of the Wingfield family have chosen to hide from reality. Amanda tries to relive her past through Laura, and denies anything she does not want to accept. Laura is terrified of the real world, and choses to hide behind her limp, her glass menagerie and the victrola. Tom hides from his reality by going to the movies, writing poetry, and getting drunk. Mr Wingfield hides from his reality by leaving his family and not contacting them after he has done so. Each member of the Wingfield family has their own escape mechanism which they use to hide or escape from the real world. Amanda has chosen to hide from reality by†¦show more content†¦The reader can see from this that Amanda is definitely living in the past. Another way that Amanda hides from reality is that she tries to deny anything that she does not want to accept. She denies that Laura is crippled, saying ‘Nonsense! Laura, I’ve told you never, never to use that word.’ (p 247). Amanda believes that if she denies something so much, that it will not be true. This also occurs when Laura thinks that the gentleman caller will be her high school crush, and Amanda denies that it could be, ‘It won’t be him! It isn’t the least bit likely.’ (p 278). It is in these ways that Amanda Wingfield hides from reality. Laura Wingfield has chosen to hide from reality in the play The Glass Menagerie. She seems to live in a world of her own, and hides from everything and everyone outside of the apartment. Laura is terrified of anything new or different. Her mother sent her to business college, but Laura was so afraid that ‘The first time [they] gave a speed-test, she broke down completely – was sick at the stomach and almost had to be carried into the wash –room.’ (p 243). Laura uses her limp as an excuse to hide from the world. She believes that her slight limp makes her crippled and that she cannot be a part of the real world because of it. Laura’s glass menagerie and the victrola act as things which protect her from the real world in the play. Whenever she isShow MoreRelated Essay on Escape Mechanisms in The Glass Menagerie506 Words   |  3 PagesEscape Mechanisms in The Glass Menagerie      Ã‚   In Tennessee Williams play, The Glass Menagerie, each character attempts to escape the real world by creating their own â€Å"reality†. Laura hides from the world by magnifying her illness. Tom convinces himself that his needs supersede the needs of his family. Amanda focuses almost exclusively on the past - when she saw herself as a desirable southern belle. Even Jim focus his hopes on recapturing his good old high school days. Each character transposesRead MoreAnalysis Of The Play The Glass Menagerie 1281 Words   |  6 PagesDevin Simpson Professor Carusp The Glas Menagerie 4/29/15 Within the play The Glass Menagerie, Amanda, Laura, and Tom Wingfield all of have their own dreams that are continuously destroyed by the harshness of reality. Amanda, stuck in the ease of her youth, tries to relive her life through her daughter Laura. Being crippled both physically and mentally, Laura struggles to escape the bubble she has created around herself that her mother Amanda so strongly tries to force her out of. Tom whom, althoughRead MoreThe Glass Menagerie By William Shakespeare Essay1489 Words   |  6 PagesWe all want to disappear at times†¦ escape even. In the end we all know that we cannot run from our problems, no matter where you run they are always there lurking in the shadows. 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Three symbols seem to reveal Williams intent especially accurately; the unicorn, the picture of Mr. Wingfield, and Malvolios coffin trick.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The unicorn is a symbolic representation of waysRead MoreIn Tennessee Williams: A Portrait In Laughter And Lamentation,933 Words   |  4 Pagessomething crippled into all his major characters. In The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams portrays a crippling mother and child relationship comprising fundamental themes of dysfunctionalism. He poignantly illustrates that none of the characters are capable of living in the present. They believe their functionality and life’s happiness lies in their repeated quests for escape from plight. As such, they retreat into their separate worlds to escape life’s brutalities. Their daily tribulationsRead MoreAnalysis Of The Glass Menagerie 1007 Words   |  5 Pagesreality. Throughout the play there are different symbols which represent escape. Each on of them has different ways but for all them the reason is they are unhappy with their life’s circumstances. There are many ways in which to escape reality today. Movies, dancing, video games and books to name a few. Many people use this in order to escape from everyday problems. In â€Å"The Glass Menagerie† the Wingfield family uses fantasy to escape from their unsatisfied lives. Abandoned by her husband, Amanda cannotRead MoreThemes And Conflicts In The Glass Menagerie By Tennessee Williams1121 Words   |  5 PagesSet in St. Louis Missouri prior to World War II, Tennessee Williams reflects back on his deeply tragic and dysfunctional familial experiences in, â€Å"The Glass Menagerie†. Williams brilliantly incorporates real aspects of society to reveal how they contributed to the nonreal aspects and the conflicts which affected his family. The real aspects of the play which had a significant impact on the lower middle-class families such as the Wingfields included, the economic hardships surrounding the Great DepressionRead More The Theme of Escape in The Glass Menagerie Essay1973 Words   |  8 PagesThe Theme of Escape in The Glass Menagerie In Tennessee Williams play, The Glass Menagerie, Amanda, Laura, and Tom have chosen to avoid reality. Amanda continually attempts to live in the past. Lauras escape from the real world is her glass collection and old phonograph records. Tom hides from the real world by going to the movies and getting drunk. Each character retreats to their separate world to escape the cruelties of life. Living in the past is Amanda’s way of escaping her pitifulRead MoreThe Psychological Costs of Societal Ideals in The Glass Menagerie1758 Words   |  8 Pageshopelessness as they desperately attempt to reach that impossible ideal. For many, their own inevitable failures ultimately result in psychological turmoil and distress. Such is the case with the Wingfield household in Tennessee Williams play The Glass Menagerie, which illustrates an American familys vain attempt at achieving the American Dream. Through the portrayal of the deteriorating mental conditions of the Wingfields, Williams reveals the destructive psychological consequences of failing to meetRead More Comparing The Glass Menagerie and the Life of Tennessee Willliams2909 Words   |  12 PagesParallels in The Glass Menagerie and the Life of Tennessee Willliams In Tennessee Williamss drama The Glass Menagerie the setting and dramatization in the play are used to convey each member of the familys hopes, desperations, and fears. He uses symbols throughout the story to add a deeper meaning and give his characters a sense of mystery. Also, though maybe inadvertently, The Glass Menagerie actually parallels the people and events in Tennessee Willliamss life. The setting in

The Grapes of Wrath Free Essays

The movie â€Å"The Grapes of Wrath† I watched recently is the classic adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novel written and published in 1939 only one year before the movie was released. When the movie production was approved the director John Ford and his crew were able to accomplish a major task and finish the project without getting involved in the conflict with labor unions what was very important since many members of the crew belonged to them. The script which is based on Steinbeck’s book adopted a very specific dialect, the language spoken by the villagers living in rural Oklahoma so the authenticity impression was preserved. We will write a custom essay sample on The Grapes of Wrath or any similar topic only for you Order Now The movie presents the times of the Great Depression in the American Mid West and West coasts. This was a tough era of American history that got the historically accurate documentation and John Ford’s movie shows us perfectly the experience of many people those days – farmers and their families, drifters and strikers. For many Americans who watched the movie in the theaters in the big cities it was not easy to find out how hard and stressful it was for the people living in the country to be forced out of the lands they were working on. Here the director introduces us to the family of poor farmers from Oklahoma Dust Bowl and their struggling during the tough times of the economic crisis. While watching the movie I observed the contrast between the representatives of the lower class and the wealthy landowners who take an advantage of the unfortunate circumstances. From the events presented I’ve learned that the economic crisis and the advancing technology which was used to farm the land were responsible for drastic and extreme changes which were imposed on thousands of people against their own will. All the farmers’ families which for many generations made the living out of their farms in the short period of time received the notifications demanding to move out and abandon the properties which they were residing at. Obviously it was not their choice and the decision was made on their behalf without giving them the alternative opportunities. The main characters in the movie are the members of Joad’s family who are not only dealing with the problems inside of their family but also with the basis of their existence which is endangered. Those poor people understand very well that when fighting all the odds the only solution is to stay together and rely on each other and when facing the unpleasant reality they decide to remain as a family while entering the new chapter of their lives. In order to find a solution to their problems Joad’s family decides to embark on the journey to California. They have high hopes and strong beliefs that if they will get there, their situation will change for better, they will be able to find jobs and as a result will settle in their new home. On the way to their destination they experience many unexpected events which they have to deal with as they appear. They loose two members of their family and while staying at the camps for the similar migrants they learn about the sad reality which was awaiting them. It appeared that all the information they have been provided before they left Oklahoma were not exactly true and the land owners were trying to earn profits by using the unfair labor practices. Being fully aware of the desperate conditions the owners of the large farms offer low wages jobs and exploit all those hired to work on their lands. The new comers were not welcomed and treated with very suspicious manners. The local residents who were afraid of losing their own source of income were acting very unfriendly and openly demonstrated their opposition. People like Joad’s family while forced to stay in the camps and awaiting the potential employment were treated by local authorities like trouble makers. All those who tried to stand up for their rights were considered difficult and wrongly accused of trouble causing. Rich and wealthy class representatives were simply misusing the power of the local authorities in order to protect their own interest and increase the potential profits. Whoever was brave enough to disagree with those kinds of methods was considered as a threat and forced to leave or had to face the mistreatment and abuse. While majority of migrating families were subjected to the hardship and constant struggling, the smaller number of this group were lucky enough to find the temporary accommodations provided by the Federal authorities as a form of social assistance during the economic depression. Once they were able to reach such facilities they were offered decent and reasonable housing with the basic sanitary installations. The life in those places was organized by the rules which campers could set up so all the residents were treated with respect and there was no tolerance for any form of abuse. However some of the local land owners did not like the situation and were trying to sabotage the camp. Quite often those government managed facilities were subjected to the organized attempts of purposely initiated disturbances which will give the arguments to the local authorities to act while â€Å"preserving law and order†. It should be noticed that even tough it was not the director’s intention the conditions showed and the form of management in those camps succeeded in building up the reputation of the Government and helped in recognizing efforts directed towards continuous improvement during the crisis. The democratic methods which were giving all the residents the right to protect their status were successfully maintaining the stabilized life while staying within the borders of the camp. Even the police authorities were not allowed to enter without the warrant. Many residents quickly realized how fragile and valuable it is for them to continue preventing the established order in the camp so they could organize the system of the comities which were overseeing all the key aspects of every day living conditions. Under those circumstances surviving the difficult times until the employment opportunities appear was much more acceptable and helped to build the confidence in the better future. The movie definitely proves that people while facing major difficulties have much higher chances of prevailing if they help each other and stay together instead of resisting and fighting those problems just on their own. Even the strongest and most determined attempts to resist and fighting the reality by one single person will not last long and at the end will not be considered successful. The Joad’s family proved to themselves that together they can manage to survive and use the difficulties which they went through as the learning experience. By using the combination of wisdom and wise assumptions together with good will and honest intentions they were able to help each other in the process of the decisions making. As we all now go through the inconveniences and carry the burden of struggling economy, while watching the movie we can relate in some certain way to the presented story. We are fully aware that unfortunately seventy years later there are many Americans who do have to find answers to resolve their problems and react to the drastic changes which the economy imposed on them. As Casy, the former preacher perfectly summarizes his view when performing the funeral rites by saying: â€Å"I wouldn’t pray just for an old man that’s dead, ‘cause he’s all right. If I was to pray, I’d pray for folks that’s alive and don’t know which way to turn†. The fact that the American Academy of Motion Pictures nominated John Ford’s movie was one of the reasons why even the President of the USA Franklin D. Roosevelt was present there and gave the speech which consisted of comments regarding the movie unique character. For someone like me whose knowledge of the United States modern history is not so deep I found the movie as being very educating and presenting Americans’ lives during the Great Depression from a different perspective. Comparing to the recent production, the â€Å"Cinderella Man† I found quite few similarities and issues which were particularly important however the director John Ford is not trying to create a fairy tale but instead is exposing the dark side in which both the rules of economy and human nature compete with each other in the most important fight as the only possible way of surviving without loosing the human values such a dignity and pride. We can say that the main characters, their interactions and behavior even if originated from the natural instincts of human beings slowly but steady helped them to built up the resistance and eventually made them stronger than they were ever before. Just like Russell Crowe in the â€Å"Cinderella Man† was given a second chance and did not waste it but succeeded in his journey to the victory on the boxing ring, Joad’s family under the spiritual leadership of Tom’s mother proudly emerged out of all difficulties and remained faithful about awaiting them much better future. In my opinion the history of this country taught us a very valuable lesson which proved that even the Great Depression was not able to destroy the strong American spirit and discourage people from using their skills and joined efforts to help each other in the times of need. People need to believe that the tough times will end and they will be able to enjoy living again. Nothing motivates people in need to take an action and engage in many long term efforts better than having hope and faith that the better future is in their hands, that nothing else can help them better than their own determination. How to cite The Grapes of Wrath, Essay examples

The Day I Will Never Forget free essay sample

When I smell hot barber green marinating with the sound of rain, couple with the sight of steam rising from it, memories of the sounds of cries, sirens, and the image of a lifeless body spewing blood uncontrollably against the darkness of the ground flashes to my mind. As the rain dripping over my eyes cloud my vision of a man, who Im sure, never would have thought his life would have ended the way it did. I stop and pounder what was his last thoughts. Was it his daughters, his mother, this girl he loosed his life over, me, or was it what his mom told him that this life of weed would be the end of him. Im sure he never thought his first puff would have snow balled to him using Blackies, and to him hitting one before barging into a mans home after a woman who was playing them both. The quest had begun for the murder. The F. B. I turned to their best detective Snype. A couple days went by and the trail was cold. Snype needed to find some evidence and fast. It was getting late in the day and it was getting cold. Meanwhile zach was taking a walk to Key Food for a quick snack. He had his headphones in listening to some music when he approached the main road that separated him and Key Food. He looked both ways, There appeared to not be a single vehicle. Halfway across Zach stopped to quickly change a song on his Ipod. Suddenly a huge flash of light encased his view. Zach was paralyzed in fear. A low pitch bang echoed for several blocks. Police were at the scene early the next day along with Snype. There had been a missing person report for Zach. Snype stepped out of the side of the car. He took a look at the crime scene. A huge streak of blood and tire tracks stretched across the whole street. The smell was unimaginable, almost unearthly. The tracks appear to be from an eighteen wheeler Said an officer next to Snype. Snype nodded and pondered in thought. He looked at the tracks again, they were in the center of the street. This was no accident replied Snype. Snype had a suspect in mind but it would take time to track him down. He was on his way to the police station in his plum 1972 AMC Javelin when Snype passes by a suspicious looking truck in the middle of an abandon mall parking lot. Snype pulled up behind the truck. He exited the car and slowly walked towards it. He notices some odd dents on the drivers side and a strange odor was emitting off the truck. He turns to the front of the truck. Snype is stunned by what he sees. Zach is tied to the front of the eighteen wheeler. His ribs are busted through his chest, his arms are torn apart with his forearm muscle dangling. His legs are broken in every direction and his face appeared to be scrapped off. There was a puddle of blood surrounding the front of the truck. Snype opens the driver side door to search the truck. The interior was strangely clean. Snype opens the glove box to discover an old drivers license that read Louis DiChristopher. Snype dashes to his car and shortly arrives at the police station to hop on the computer in his office. He typed the name in hoping to find a match but nothing comes up. Snype is baffled by this. He picks the license up and takes a magnifying glass to it. It appears as if someone scrapped the picture off with a small razor. Suddenly in the distance Snype makes out the following words Emergency, Killings, Multiple, Breaking and entering He looks at the clock and it reads 11:35 PM. Snype dashes out the door and grabs his keys. He opens the car door and turns the ignition. The pedal slams to the floor as a huge cloud of smoke rises from the rear tires. Soon enough Snype is barreling down the road. The speedometer needle is almost all the way around to 0 mph again. The brakes slam and make a sound similar to a bloody murder screech. He exits the car and stops to think. He realizes he should be more careful about this. He approaches the side window of the side window of the house. It appears to be unlocked, Snype carefully opens the window and climbs in not making a sound. Snype hears a strange noise coming from the basement. He slowly finds the basement door and finds that its open. Snype creeps down the stairs and quickly hides behind a wooden wardrobe. Snype lifts his head over a box to see what is going on. Louis holds up a brick and smashes it into a mans face over and over again. Snype covers his mouth to hold in his gasp. Snype continues to watch. Louis takes a rusty hacksaw and begins cutting the arms and legs off the man. Louis picks up the severed parts and slides them onto a metal hanger then hangs them from a beam. Louis walks to a corner grabbing a sledge hammer. He lifts the hammer over is head and swings at the mans face. Louis drops the hammer and slowly walks upstairs. Once Louis has left the stairs Snype runs over to the man. There is a name tag on his shirt that reads Jordan Schmigiel. Snype dashes up stairs to chase Louis, Snype runs out the door to find Louis walking down the road. Hey you, get back here! Said Snype. Louis looks back and starts sprinting down the road towards some construction vehicles. Snype gets into his car and turns the ignition. He puts the manual shift into reverse and backs out of the driveway and shifts into drive, puts the high beams on and guns it. Snype sees louis near the construction vehicles on the side of the ro ad. As Snype gains speed he looses sight, Snype squints his eyes. In the blink of an eye a cinder block crashes directly through the windshield of the Javelin and slams Snype directly in the skull. Crushing his head with the G-force of the car. Snypes foot was still glued to the floor. Blood cover the interior and the windshield. The engine roared as it started to lose control. The wheels started to spin from the loss of traction. The Javelin then swerved just enough the flip. The drivers side picked up into the air. The Javelin was airborne for a split second. The engine cut out as the car came crashing back down. Glass exploded everywhere on impact and small parts were scattered all over the road. The Javelin laid to rest upside down in the middle of the street. A cloud of black smoke and small flames arose from the bottom of the engine. Louis emerged from hiding and walked towards the wreck. Blood was dripping off the door onto the road. Pieces of skull and bunches of hair covered the interior. Louis stood up and began to walk away. Suddenly there were sirens in the background. He turned around, three police cars and a swat truck had surrounded him. A massive light from the swat truck beamed on Louis. He attempted to run for cover. Every officer opened fire with combat shotguns, blowing pieces of skin and flesh off him. Pices of his face hit the ground. The police ceases fire and Louis hit the ground. Louis laid dead in a pile of his own blood and guts. A while after a brass statue was made for Snype and how he was killed in the line of duty trying to stop a criminal. — with Louis DiChristopher. Like  · . Gabby Thompson, Wally Macker, Louis DiChristopher and 11 others like this.. View all 31 comments.. Djcruise Thomas this was really good the best part that is in westseneca October 19 at 8:52am via mobile  · Like  · 2.. Djcruise Thomas so we actually know some of these places you guys meaning and were getting the idea how it take place you know October 19 at 8:52am via mobile  · Like  · 2.. Djcruise Thomas mentioning* October 19 at 8:53am via mobile  · Like  · 1.. Jordan Mark Schmigiel Thanks! October 19 at 12:06pm  · Like.. Write a comment . . Jordan Mark Schmigiel October 18. Its not nice to call some random deer a cunt Chris. — with Chris J Macri. . Like  ·  · Share. 3 people like this.. Write a comment . . Jordan Mark Schmigiel October 18. So I changed my binder up because my parents thought I was going to cut somebody and so did my teachers.. K. . Like  ·  · Share. . . Jordan Mark Schmigiel October 18. I saw the most depressing thing the other day when I was on the bus. I was looking out the window and the opposite road from me was at a red. The road was a three lane(Including turning lane) And every single car was a modern boring black or grey car or truck. But in the very center was a bright yellow 2003 mustang convertible. It was honestly so heartbreaking but yet it made me happy some people have good taste. Like  · . Nick Mroz and Kaity Grove like this.. Gianna Ameno Youre such a dork. October 18 at 2:36pm via mobile  · Like  · 1.. Jordan Mark Schmigiel I wanted to get a picture so bad! October 18 at 2:36pm  · Like.. Write a comment . . Michael Anticolaposted toJordan Mark Schmigiel October 17 via mobile. Truth is earth science truth is u night craze truth is u are chill mydude truth is we got to chill truth is u have alot of darts Like  · . View all 6 comments.. Jordan Mark Schmigiel Theyre for good luck considering the fact my luck hasnt been so good lately. October 17 at 10:21pm  · Like.. Conner Gallagher Ok respectable but usually goodluck is like horseshoe ur in a whole different game there buddy lol October 17 at 10:22pm via mobile  · Like.. Jordan Mark Schmigiel Im sorry Connor that I do not indeed carry an old horseshoe with me October 17 at 10:23pm  · Like.. Conner Gallagher Haha it was a joke and u should(; October 17 at 10:37pm via mobile  · Like.. Write a comment . . Jordan Mark Schmigiel October 17. ~TOP TEN MOST ATTRACTIVE WOMEN~ #1. ) Julia Domzalski I was threatened to put her as number one. tits. #2. ) Hannah Jacob That one meaningful convo we had.. and youre really hawt. #3. ) Alyssa Dillemuth Youre really pretty. And your last name is now phonebooth. #4. ) Emily Barrett Nice rack. Really nice fucking rack. #5. ) Jen Inglut You have quite the imagination 😉 #6. ) Brianna Luce Youre quite cute.. quite cute indeed. and I almost took you to homecoming. #7. ) Kayla DeCaire Youre here so I can put less people in.

Zara vs MarkSpencer free essay sample

From 1894, the company has continued to work under the name of â€Å"Marks Spencer (MS). † Influenced by American chain stores, MS started to sell both food and clothes in the 1920s. The company experienced a rapid growth from 1894 to 1939, expanding its 234 stores. In order to reach the highest quality in its products, MS concentrated its strategy on the close cooperation with suppliers and the use of new technologies. In addition, the company added internationalization and product diversification to its strategy in the late ’80’s. On the other hand, despite this promising strategy, MS started to undergo a gradual decline in its sales; consequently, in its profits in the 1980’s. A decrease in market share followed this drop. Moreover, in the late 1990’s, the share prices of the company decreased dramatically. By contrast, Zara, another clothing company founded in Spain in 1963, achieved a remarkable success in the textile market in short period by its brand new supply chain and correct business philosophy, including creativity, innovation, and fast market response. We will write a custom essay sample on Zara vs MarkSpencer or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This case study will analyze the sources of the decline of the company by analyzing its chain value. This section will be followed by a SWOT analysis. Then, it’ll present solutions and provide recommendations to prevent similar problems in the future. II- Analysis The success story of MS, lasted almost a century after its foundation, seemed to end at the beginning of the 1980’s. While a new, promising era was starting for the apparel industry in the early 1980’s, MS started to experience its first disruptions in sales and in company’s profit. When we look closely at the MS business model, its marketing strategy and its supply chain choices are the main causes for the deterioration of this company’s sales and its profits. MS marketing strategy is based on its buying team’s decisions. Unlike Zara, which defines a portfolio of models at the beginning of each season and adapts it to latest fashion trends during the season, MS defines specifications of clothes one year before launching them in its stores. In fact, the definitions of clothes are frozen, and any trend changes cannot be taken into account during that one-year period. In addition, unlike Zara, the buying team of MS has no contact with customers. In other words, MS defines its new creations completely blindly from its customers’ or its potential customers’ expectations and demands. This strategy is not misguided if the demand is constant and predictable in the market. If the demand is unpredictable, like in the textile industry, following this strategy represents a tremendous risk. For example, in the 1998/1999 Fall Winter collection, MS’s economy was deeply injured by misidentifying the color of its entire collection one year before. Another weakness in the marketing strategy of MS can be observed in its advertisements. Because new collections were created without customers’ opinions, MS had to spend huge amount of money to impose new collections on clients. For example, in 2000, ? 20 million was spent on television advertisements. Another main reason that led MS to financial decline was inaccurate supply chain strategy. MS, with a well-defined warehouse, supplier, and store network, had a cost-efficient supply chain. Although a cost-efficient model seems like a positive factor for the economy of a company, because such a supply chain model is inflexible, it does not allow MS to adjust its production planning during the one-year product development phase. In fact, once the buying team defined clothes specifications and quantities, orders were sent to suppliers. In order to minimize costs, MS passed all its orders to its suppliers en mass. Consequently, its suppliers bought all raw materials and semi-finished products as soon as they received orders from MS. If a new trend occurred during the one-year development period, it was too late to change all its orders because its suppliers already ordered all the raw materials. Another weakness in the MS supply chain was that it was completely decentralized. In other words, unlike Zara, MS depended completely on the other companies, and it was not its â€Å"self-supplier† for any of products sold in its stores. Although it has had its own brand, St. Michel, and it defined all the parameters of the production of this brand, it was produced by suppliers. This lack of vertical integration caused a lack of flexibility in the company’s supply chain. Because all the suppliers were external, it had not flexibility to change any order or to manage the purchase of raw materials or the purchase of semi-finished products. To summarize the economic decline of MS, two main strategic mistakes play the most important roles: the misguided marketing strategy and the inadequate supply chain. In order to rectify the company’s economic situation, these two mistakes should be analyzed, and adequate solutions should be found. III- SWOT Analysis Strengths a

Xiphactinus - Facts and Figures

Xiphactinus - Facts and Figures Name: Xiphactinus (combination Latin and Greek for sword ray); pronounced zih-FACK-tih-nuss Habitat: Shallow waters of North America, western Europe and Australia Historical Period: Late Cretaceous (90-65 million years ago) Size and Weight: About 20 feet long and 500-1,000 pounds Diet: Fish Distinguishing Characteristics: Large size; slender body; prominent teeth with distinctive underbite    About Xiphactinus At 20 feet long and up to half a ton, Xiphactinus was the largest bony fish of the Cretaceous period, but it was far from the top predator of its North American ecosystemas we can tell from the fact that specimens of the prehistoric sharks Squalicorax and Cretoxyrhina have been discovered containing Xiphactinus remains. It was a fish-eat-fish world back in the Mesozoic Era, though, so you shouldnt be surprised to learn that numerous Xiphactinus fossils have been discovered containing the partially digested remains of smaller fish. (Finding a fish inside a fish inside a shark would be a true fossil trifecta!) One of the most famous Xiphactinus fossils contains the almost-intact remains of an obscure, 10-foot-long Cretaceous fish called Gillicus. Paleontologists speculate that the Xiphactinus died right after swallowing the fish, possibly because its still-living prey managed to puncture its stomach in a desperate attempt at escape, like the grisly extraterrestrial in the movie Alien. If this is really what happened, Xiphactinus would be the first fish known to have died from acute indigestion! One of the odd things about Xiphactinus is that its fossils have been discovered in just about the last place youd expect, the landlocked state of Kansas. In fact, during the late Cretaceous period, much of the American midwest was submerged under a shallow body of water, the Western Interior Sea. For this reason, Kansas has been a rich fossil source of all sorts of marine animals from the Mesozoic Era, not only giant fish like Xiphactinus, but various marine reptiles as well, including plesiosaurs, pliosaurs, ichthyosaurs and mosasaurs.

Ismg 12 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ismg 12 - Essay Example The Doctrine of Completed Staff Work makes perfect sense in the world of instant information access. This is because the doctrine advertises for full participation of workers in an organization. This is because an IT company needs such individuals, as well as the ideas of every member of the organization (Austin, Nolan and O’Donnell 200). An IT company needs innovation. People who work in an IT company are creative, and should be allowed to share information with everyone. This is what brings success to a company. Even though, this might make the company vulnerable, it works to the advantage of the company when the corporate culture allows workers to be open (Austin, Nolan and O’Donnell 200). Barton should not bypass the CEO, and tell the board regarding his news. This is because the CEO is Barton’s immediate boss, and; hence, Barton is responsible first to the CEO and then the board. The CEO also expects his workers to share any vital information with him before handing the matter to the board (Austin, Nolan and O’Donnell 202). In only some exceptional cases is where a worker can share information with the board without talking to his or her CEO. However, in Barton’s situation, it is advisable that he consults the CEO before talking to the board. This is because Barton’s CEO might feel out, which might ruin the relation of Barton and his CEO (Austin, Nolan and O’Donnell 202). I agree with Maggie that it is advisable to maintain talks with Williams as this will honor him as the boss of the company. This will also keep the boss prepared in case of any bad news regarding the actions being planned (Austin, Nolan and O’Donnell 203). Maggie know that Williams could be a stubborn person, and when he feels left out in matters that should involve him, then the firm will suffer from his quarrels. It is essential to keep the boss posted, and ask him/her what they think about