Strategic and Financial Decision-making Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Strategic and Financial Decision-making - Essay Example Both the companies are listed under FTSE 100. Under CAPM the calculation of cost of capital depends on the principle that the rate of return required on a security is equal to the risk-free rate of interest plus a risk premium, based on the following formula- Therefore the beta of Sage Group as per calculations is less than the beta that has been published in Bloomberg site and the beta of Diageo Plc as per calculations is also less than that has been published in this site. There can be many reasons for this difference. Like in the case of data like beta that is reported by a site the calculations are more extensive. For the purpose of the calculations, the monthly returns relating to the last twenty four months only has been taken. But the beta estimation in Bloomberg is based on either daily returns or quarterly returns over a long span of time. Some sites base their calculations on the data since the stock inception. As the beta calculated by these sites is based on a longer span of time therefore they are more reliable as it covers a larger number of data points. So the difference in ‘time frame’ can result in different beta estimates. Some of the financial services use weekly observations while others use monthly obser vations whereas others base their calculations on the last day of trading. Another reason for the varying beta is that they are calculated using different indices in the market. Some sources use Standard & Poor 500 as the benchmark index, some use Russell 1000, 2000 and others use Value Line Index. In such situations the best way is to choose which provides the beta for most of the companies in the guideline (Pratt & Niculita, 2007, pp.211) It may be possible that the fundamentals of the company have changed over time in that case the beta that is calculated based on a recent period is more reliable (Pratt & Grabowski, 2008, pp.141). Based on this it can be said that the beta based on the recent period is more reliable as

Nerwork Security Essay Example for Free

Nerwork Security Essay SCENARIO 1 According to scenario 1, the followings are the threads and security measure to control it. THREADS SECURITY MEASURE 1.Fire outbreaks, begins just outside the data center. The attack is an internal and active attack caused by a disgruntled employee or worker i.e an unhappy or a dissatisfied employee I. Availability of fire department center II. Implementation of well programmed sprinkler system III. Building has been evacuated to prevent loss of lives SUGGESTIONS 1.Figure out the worker by investigating and either dismiss him/her or by compensating him/her by treating him right or well. 2. This can also be controlled by enforcing the physical security of the company i.e by installing cctv camera in every hook and corner of the company this will monitor all the employees activities within the vicinity of the company; of which any employee that engages in such a destructive act can be fished out easily by replaying the record. 3. RFID can also be deployed to monitor the in and out of every employee. 2.Anthrax box was detected by an employee in the lobby I. Evacuation of building has be done again to prevent loss of lives II. Health department is on scene to investigate the issues and treat people III. The sprinkler system has been implemented which caused the email and web server to stop working. SUGGESTIONS 1. Employees and visitors should be properly screened and be checked thoroughly before entering the organization or company so as to avoid them bringing in potentially dangerous object in to the company. 2. Foreign object detector technology should be deployed and implemented in the company to ensure proper screening of the people i.e visitors and employees moving in and out of the company. 3. Call the attention of crime investigators so  as to confirm the doer of the crime ; finger print test will done the box . 3.E-mail server and Web server are down I. The sprinkler system was programmed to turned off the web and email server down in case of any emergency so as to prevent data loss , explosion and destruction of the server SUGGESTION 1.E-mail and web server should always be kept in a safer area where it cannot be easily accessed by an intruders and free from disasters like thunder storm, lightening and flooding i.eit should be kept In a water proof data room around the middle level of a building. 2. There should always be an alternative stand-by server kept In another location to replace in case a server is down so ensure the proper functioning of the company e-commerce websites 3. call the right personnel i.e network security engineer to figure out the proper place servers should be kept against disaster when planning to design a network 4. The e-mail and web server should either switched on be repaired or replaced immediately to ensure the proper functioning of the company e-commerce sites so as to prevent lossof customers 4.Customer cannot place order at the company sites since the servers were down I. The company has provided an alternative call center at another location against emergency for customers who cannot place order at the company’s site. 5.Employees are afraid to resume work I. The police department intervened SCENARIO 2 According to scenario 2, the followings are the threads and control measure was taken. THREADS CONTROL MEASURES 1.Explosion occurs at a chemical plant i. They took a precautionary measures by building the headquarters two (2) miles away from the chemical plant so as to loss of lives and properties. ii. Officials took control measure by trying to confirm amount of  potentially dangerous and deadly toxins that have released to the air so as to alert people to evacuate the area if the rate were high or if the area will not fit for lives to survive 2. people were experiencing Breathing difficulties i. Public health officials took a security measure by encouraging people living in the city to â€Å"shelter in place† i.e the use of a structure and its indoor atmosphere to temporarily separate individuals from a hazardous outdoor atmosphere. 3. Company tells the employee not to leave the building i. Employees took a precautionary measure by leaving the building since they were not sure about what they were hearing and that they needs to get home to take care of their families. ii. The security also took a control measure ,by knowing what tell people so as not to create unnecessary or false alarm to the who want to take shelter in company’s lobby. 4. Authority says the explosion was an occupational hazard i.e an accident. i. Several employees were hospitalized for quality treatment People are upset that cafeteria did not have more supply at hand. i. Due to the explosion, company took a security measure by closing the cafeteria for while pending the time that the immediate danger passes. SCENARIO 3 According to scenario 3, the followings are the threads and security measure to control it. THREADS SECURITY MEASURE 1.Pandemic flu outbreaks starts in Hongkong i. The company took a precautionary measure by telling the employees to have traveled to hongkong not to return to work until they see a doctor so as to prevent the spread of the flu within the organization since it is communicable disease ii. As a precautionary measure, the company decided having security at the front door to interrogate visitors whether they have been to hongkong for the past three weeks so as to prevent the spread of disease SUGGESTTIONS i. A quarantine system should also be implemented i.e the isolation of infected animals and people from the normal people. ii. Dust mask should always be used within the company vicinity till the flu suppresses . 2. Few people were diagnosed with the flue i.e infected i. Students took a security measure by absenting from school so as not to contact the flu. ii. As a precautionary measure, some employees did not do to work because they afraid to go out in public so as not to be infected with the deadly flu . 3.The disease spreads i. Employees are demanding for vaccinations and dust mask so as to cure and minimize the spread of the flu disease. ii. As a precautionary measure, managers consider letting crucial staff volunteer for a lock down i.e restricted to a confined area so as to prevent the spread of the disease. iii. They consider directing work to another location or calling retired workers to help out in order to prevent the spread of the disease within the organization 4.The has peaked. i. As a precautionary measure , employees were not whether to return to work so as not contact the deadly flu disease.

Challenges faced by Colgate-Palmolive Company

Challenges faced by Colgate-Palmolive Company Nowadays business is like a war that has every things seem fair, but as a human being we need to kept in mind that all the ethical and moral issues that pertain to all the stake holders. Issues and problems are the ingredient of every business and life, but the only successful business man are the true fighter of all internal and external forces those create obstacle / hindrance in the success ladder. This report contain all the aspect of challenges faced by the contemporary business man in running his / her business, and all those issues that he / she has to face in his / her daily routine. This report contain four part in the first part we have discussed the portfolio of the business, secondly PEST analysis, third we discussed the current issues of business and in the last we have conclude all the above stated issue and formerly recommendation. COMPANY BACKGROUND INFORMATION Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE: CL) This is an American corporation that has the focused on the distribution, production, personal products, provision of household and health care such as detergents, soaps, toothpaste and toothbrushes (oral hygiene products). History William Colgate, a candle and soap maker opened up a starch, soap, and candle factory located on Dutch Street with the name of William Colgate Company in New York City in 1806. The firm in the initial years began to sell individual bars but later on in 1857, after the death of William the company started reorganized as Colgate Company operated by his son. In the starting of the year 1872, company introduced a perfumed soap with name of Cashmere Bouquet. Colgate sold the first toothpaste in 1896 with the brand name of Colgate Ribbon Dental Cream but after the success of this brand, company started mass selling in 1908 (Wikipedia 2010). Colgate people have built a reputation as a successful company that has the highest ethical standards. Through living the values of Global Teamwork, Caring, Continuous Improvement, and adhering to the principles of honor, integrity and concern for the environment, as the company seeks to: Provide quality products of value to customers Opportunities for professional growth to all company people Fulfill CSR as a member of the international community Increase shareholder value (Wikipedia 2010) Factors affecting the Business: Government Factors: Government does not have much influence on the FMCG industry in terms of regulations. There are consumer protection laws but they are not implemented as they should be. There are not much regulations involved in this industry (Krutz 2004). (P)olitical factors: Political factors are influencing this industry because the recent and order conditions have affected the whole economy which in turn affected the industry. Many of the factories of the big companies were burnt after the assassination of Benazir (Krutz 2004). (E)conomic factors: The overall economy of the country is showing a stable growth. Therefore this industry is also showing a growth of 10%. But the inflation is growing rapidly which is not a good sign for the new entrants. Change in the interest rate also affects the industry. Hence the new entrants are also threatened by the increasing interest rates (Wikipedia 2010). (S)ocial trends: The social trends are in favor of this industry. Mass awareness is created through media. So people are shifting from their traditional methods of washing clothes, skin care etc to the modern methods. This is a good sign for the new entrants. People have become more educated and health conscious. High population growth is another opportunity for the new entrants (Muravchik 2004). (T)echnological change: The technology can support this industry well. If the whole system can be automated from the import of raw material to the finished goods then it would save time and money. This is a good sign for the new entrants. But in this industry technology does not play a major role because the traditional formulae of soap or toothpaste are not that much complicated (Louviere 2001). Colgate-Palmolives Mission Statement Company mission statement focusing on the following factors Caring Every Company has claims cares about people but the Colgate Company has original care for its business partners, people, shareholders and customers. Colgate is dedicated to act with empathy, integrity and candor in all circumstances, to pay attention to customer according to the value differences and others. Similarly the Company is committed to defend the universal environment and to augment the communities where Colgate people are alive and work (Wikipedia 2010). Global Teamwork All Colgate employees are part of a worldwide squad, devoted to working together across countries and all through the world. Only by allocation ideas, technologies and talents can the Company accomplish and maintain profitable growth. Continuous Improvement Colgate is dedicated to getting improved every day in all it does, as persons and as teams. By better sympathetic consumers potential and incessantly working to improve and innovation in services, processes and products Colgate can be the best. (Wikipedia 2010) INTRODUCTION Every management has to face difficulties in every step of business development and Effective management is the main ingredients for the establishment / growth and success of the business. The success of the management is to examine the marketplace, background and create employment. In order to make profit opportunities that give the financial viability and potential growth for the business. Beside that the importance of management is usually misunderstood and wrongly interprets because people are giving more focus on the result somewhat than the course of management (Laroche, Michel,ÂÂ  Zhou and Kim 1996). Concurrently with the increase in demand about quality, business man attracted the attention of customers. A sudden wave of successful entrepreneurs looks as if to render earlier management concepts obsolete while ignoring the marketing / organizing talents of the success full business man / entrepreneur (Griffin and Pustay 2009). Planning is critical for developing a firms potential. This view tended to short term enhances profits, however created along term dysfunctional business environment. However, many small businesses do not distinguish the need for long-term plans, for the reason that the miniature no of people concerned in working the business involves equal conscientiousness in the decision making and planning processes (Gauzente and Ranchhod 2002). Critical issue/problem for today business: Every new day bring the challenge for any business person, because to stay alive in the market you need to fight efficiently and smartly, as the world moving; complexity in every aspect of life is increase though technology has improved along but as much we belong to technology we get more depended. Following are the hot buttons for today business, and every business men more or less facing and struggling Political instability and involvement: Every government is eager to impose taxes to earn more and more profit, due to recent shock of recession most of the industries are move toward bankruptcy or liquidate just because of high taxes and less benefit given by the government. It is common these day small business or large organization owners to be unaware of current legal issues that can hit them because continuous changes in the business policies and implication by the governments put them in trouble. The problem is that legal trouble can cost them. It can even cost you your business. After 9/11 money laundering and other compliance issues are more dealt in the organization standard operating procedure (Wikipedia 2010) Poverty and inequality of income: Due to high inflation and high unemployment rate continuously hitting the poverty level to increase, and that all because of inequality of income, contrary as the inflation increase the cost of business will also increase that thing put the pressure on the business man to reduce the prices because consumer start searching for alternative. In Pakistan micro finance is getting importance as an effective tool for social mobilization poverty alleviation. Currently in Pakistan, a variety of institution including micro finance banks Others ranging from NGOs to private Government sponsored ruler support programs are delivering services to the poor, who dont have access to or neglected by the commercial banks. Micro finance aims at empowering individuals to earn a reasonable income through micro credits. Micro finance caters the needs of borrowers and usually focuses on the segment of the population whose economic status falls below poverty level (Krutz 2004) Ethical issues in business: Ethics and moral compulsion are something that we all come across at one time or another. All persons have to act in a way that would support the society in a proficient setting. In every business there are own policy of individuals and ethics within the particular business have adhere the compliance of the code conduct most of the organization investing lot of resource in order to maintain the ethic and code of conduct within the organization, even though regulatory bodies also penalized the organization if in case of non compliance (Krutz 2004) Constantly Changing Economic Environment: Dynamic economic environment is a night mare for the Contemporary business, because already exist giant in the market is a serious threat for them, because most of them have made cartel and create obstacle for the new business men to enter in the market or survival. Economical changes like inflation , Balance of payment, unemployment and poverty is also hindrance for the growth of business, for the fighting against all these indicators, entrepreneur need specific skill and knowledge, because without that he / she cannot be able to run the business smoothly (Griffin and Pustay 2009) Risk Management: Every organization is vulnerable of low chances events that could have a potentially appalling effect. Every single step has creating question for the organization success, and organization has to fight not only with external factor but has to manage the internal factor of the organization. All around us we find some people / object / substances that are working against the organization and the entire factor is consist of those indicators that need to be monitored. Theft of property Breach of laws Computer crimes Fraud Weather related damage In order to determine the variance between the expected and achieving results company has to determine the specific road map and checklist of the indicator which plays are major role in the indicator (Cateora and Graham 2007). Developing and Mentoring Employees: Managing the employees / labor is the critical issue for the business men in these days because as the dynamic environment is coming around, for competing with that we need to keep our staff in the phase of learning, and continuous training is required to make them up to date.. The actual problem comes when the employee / labor are unwilling to change and create hindrance in the way, so fighting with this problem is the main issue for the entrepreneurs. Negotiating and Managing Critical Relationships with stake holders: Developing / maintaining the relationship with all the stake holders is the important thing for the entrepreneurs because each and every one has its own importance, and without making good relation with them survival is difficult, for all the building relationship entrepreneurs need to have the negotiation and communication skills (Wikipedia 2010). Every day we have noticed that lots of entrepreneurs were lost their businesses just because they are lack with these skills and for understanding the critical relation with the stakeholders we must need to understand the importance, if we neglect the customers, so we lose business, if we neglect the good supplier so we lose the quality, if we neglect the distributor so we lose the perfection is services, and finally if we neglect the Government so we have to ready for the sanctions and implication / charges / penalties. Managing global operation: While organizations turn into global they frequently end up paying a intense price in requisites of managing complex challenges and issues. Host Country Norms and Customs. Workforce management Host country languages Unfamiliar laws and regulations. Unexpected Cost mix. Globalization has exaggerated most of business tremendously. Multinational Corporations are functioning and operating in almost every part of the world. It is significant to expend time in considerate how globalization formulates it pertinent and necessary for a MNC to scatter and spread its capacity and meaning of Operation. It would be correct if attempt to know the philosophy of Multinational Companies are not operating in any certain regions or countries. Similarly, the western worlds describe these shortcomings of Globalization, if a business decides to close up its business and depart from a host company. The general disadvantages which direct to a Multi National Company forgoing globalization include (Gauzente and Ranchhod 2002). Proprietary Technology to host countries. Poor Employee skills. Political risks. Customer response time is slow. Effective communication Common reasons why organization Fail: We can identify certain familiar reasons why Organizations fail to achieve a competitive advantage and end up losing out to their competitors. These reasons are universal in nature and find the same footing in Pakistan as well as any other place in the world. http://smallbiztrends.com/category/current-issues Too much emphasis on short-term financial performance. Quite often, cost cutting, profit maximizing at the cost of social responsibility or employee motivation is a failed strategy pursued by organizations, which just hastens their status to oblivion. Failing to take advantage of strengths and opportunities. This is in reality failing to hold on to proven successful strategies or core competencies. Sometimes a change in leadership leads to change in strategy, where just for the sake of glory and high profits, organizations forget their core competence and opt for strategies and tactic which cause their downfall. Failing to recognize competitive threats. This reason is the exact opposite of failure to make use of the organizations strengths. Quite often organizations decide to pursue status quo and ends up bringing no new product or service or even no innovation in its existing product or service line leading to lack of customer satisfaction, decline in profits and finally being declared a failure. Neglecting operations strategy. This is definitely the most important reason of failure; organizations often end up employing non productive techniques which lead to inconsistent and failed operations. Too much emphasis in product and service design and not enough on improvement. Differentiation in terms of service and product, American companies in 1980s did that they never introduced incremental refinements rather went for big changes and thus lost to Japanese competitors. Neglecting investments in capital and human resources: A total disregard to use the best resource. Capital and human resources in the long run make or break an organization. Conclusion: Successful management is founded on the mastery of a multitude of details and the success of the business is depended on the efficient management from the available resources and decision making for best purpose. While management teach the significance of focusing attention on main issues affect the business, managers realize the main issues are the variety form the business. The small mistake to the business is unrecoverable bankruptcy, in a progressively more controlled society, inattentiveness to one slight detail cans consequence in considerable commotion of the business. Above mentioned problems is not the only problem faced by the entereprenurers but also every day they faced some sort of problem and hazard in conducting operations and meeting the standards, internal and external players of the market are the main indicator that need to be monitored and effectively organized.

Methods For Studying Cells In The Lab :: essays research papers

Methods for studying cells in the lab Centrifugation A centrifuge is a device for separating particles from a solution according to their size, shape, density, viscosity of the medium and rotor speed. Centrifugation can be used to separate cells from one culture or to isolate an organelle from the rest of the cell. The process relies on speed; the faster and longer the particle is centrifuged, the smaller the particles are that will be separated. Separation occurs by causing the larger particles to separate to the bottom as a particle or pellet, and the smaller will remain suspended in the liquid, or supernatant. Due to smaller particles separating out first, centrifugation is often done in small steps so that the supernatant takes off all larger unwanted cells first. The basic process of centrifugation: 1) The tissue must be homogenized to allow it to separate. 2) A salt solution is added to the sample and together they are placed in the centrifuge. 3) The centrifuge is run once for every group of cellular bodies that need to be separated and the pellet is removed. 4) This supernatant is removed after each centrifuge until the time and speed that you need to remove your specific product is obtained. The last centrifuge done will remove specific products that are wanted specifically. The speed determines this, and all of the lager products must be centrifuged out first. The pellet contains what the researcher wants to study, and contains progressively smaller particles as it is separated out. The supernatant becomes progressively clearer until virtually all of the particles are removed. Density Centrifugation Although simple centrifugation removes most cell particles separately, at certain speeds particles with similar densities and particle size will all be removed at once. A different method is needed to remove these. Density centrifugation removes particles according to their density rather than their approximate size. Density centrifugation is much like normal centrifugation other than the re-suspended pellet is placed in a test tube containing at least 10 layers of glucose.

Three Different Types of Human Memory Essay example -- Human Mind, Bra

"Memory is the diary we all carry about with us," Oscar Wilde once said. Now for a second imagine a life without any memories! One wouldn't be able to remember his/her name, how to look after themselves or to even recognize their own friends and family. It would be impossible to live happily without ones memories. That is why our memories are such vital points in our lives. They are the building blocks of our current selves. Due to those reasons it is very useful to find as much information regarding it as possible. For that very purpose this research paper has been written. The purpose of this research is to uncover the truth regarding how the human brain stores and retrieve memories. Throughout this research, topics such as definition of memory, types of memory, diseases resulting in difficulties with memory, as well as the most known phenomena dà ©jà  vu which is caused by a certain type of memory process will be discussed. The word memory can be defined in many ways depending on the field that the term memory is used in. To start of, the most commonly used definition for the term memory is the name given to the human’s ability to encode, store, retain and subsequently recall information and past experiences in the brain. It is a sum of what we remember in total and it enables us to learn and adapt from previous experiences and to build relationships. Etymologically, the modern English word memory has originated from the passed down Latin word memoria and memor which means mindful and remembering. In neurological and psychological terms memory is simply classified as a set of encoded neural connections in the brain. Since the development of the computer in the 1940s, the word memory is also used to describe the ability of a compu... ...althcommunities.com/parkinsons-disease/symptoms.shtml Mastin (2010). The Human Memory. Retrieved January 26, 2014, from http://www.human-memory.net/types.html Memory of Time May Be Factor in Parkinson's (vol.21). (1996). Retrieved from Columbia University Record website: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/record/archives/vol21/vol21_iss22/record2122.15.html University of Toronto (2004, May 7). Scientists Uncover How Brain Retrieves And Stores Older Memories. Science Daily. What makes the human brain unique? (n.d.). Retrieved January 26, 2014, from http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/WhoAmI/FindOutMore/Yourbrain/Howdoesyourbrainwork/Whatarethepartsofyourbrain/Whatmakesthehumanbrainunique.aspx When deja vu is more than just an odd feeling. (2006, February 13). Retrieved from http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=2c4f7afd-5a3a-4e52-a2fb-bc729692bfb4&k=48785

Mechanomyography (MMG) :: essays research papers

MMG simply stated, is the sound that resonates from the muscle during a stimulated contraction. The act of pulling on a taught string and letting go has been related to model the sound generated by the muscle. This sound can be caused by the cycling of the actin myosin cross bridges, or perhaps by the gross lateral shift of the muscle, or maybe even the brief shock generated by the thickening of several active muscle fibers. These are three of the hypothesis that try to account for the sound emitted from the muscle. The exact cause of mechanomyography is yet to be determined, but there are a few attributes that can be spoken for. It is understood that ‘the muscle sound is related to muscle activity and its properties are related to the properties of the contraction.’ (8) The main frequency of MMG is 25 Hertz, British physicist, chemist, and physician William Wollaston determined this. This can possibly be attributed to the ATP turnover rate. ATP can hydrolyze and refurb ished at a rate of about 40msec, which translates into 25Hertz. (8,10)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The MMG signal can be recorded using a variety of transducers. One is the piezoelectric crystal contact sensor (microphone). Some researchers have used a hydrophone in studies when the muscle was submerged in water in vivo, others have used condensers.(11) It will be discussed later some of the differences between the types.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Factors that influence the MMG signal can include stiffness of the muscle, fluid in an around the muscle, temperature of the tissue, fiber type, gender, technique and equipment used, type of contraction performed, amount of fatigue, and cross talk between muscles.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Stiffness can alter the MMG by lowering the amplitude. As the muscle produces a greater force the stiffness of the muscle increases linearly with the force increase. When subject reaches 80 – 100% of MVC this stiffness can cause the amplitude of the signal to decrease due to the fusion of motor unit twitches, which will limit the oscillation.(2) This stiffness can also be attributed when talking about the different types of contraction.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Types of contraction have been shown to provoke different amounts of peak torque. Eccentric forms of contraction elicit greater force production than that of concentric. This could cause a greater stiffness in the muscle during eccentric contractions, which could lower the MMG. Also there is the mechanism behind the contraction that could be the factor.

Outline H&M’s product strategy Essay

Nobody immediately considers Sweden as a country well known for its fashion, but its Hennes & Mauritz retailer has profitably dominated the globe, with almost 1,000 stores in 20 countries. It is now Europe’s foremost clothing merchant, and at present appears resistant from the anguish confronting other sellers. Even though Europe is the chain’s domination, H&M is one of the few fashion retailers to have created a flourishing hold in the US market, with additional outlets by the end of the year, and more planned thereafter. A large deal of H&M’s accomplishment can be accredited to the aptitude of its internal designers, examples of piggy-backer style, swiftly acknowledging trends then acting on it, and being able to turn out patterns that look very much like what other expensive designers are creating. This might appear a little immoral from a fashion standpoint, but H&M supporters don’t care. In fact, they some what are pleased in thinking they got one up on the head honchos of fashion. Another important draw of H&M’s retail strategy is the stores get new merchandise daily. Much of the new stock comes through a rotation system between stores experiencing runs on certain lines. Sources report that H&M â€Å"turns over its entire inventory a whopping eight times a year.† Furthermore, they are recognized to have one of the best rotation cycles in the business, turning â€Å"merchandise from drawing board to store shelves in as little as three weeks.† As mentioned before, H&M’s success is its ability to quickly recognize fashion trends and get them into its product line. Its merchandise is designed by an in-house staff of more than 60 designers and is sold under more than 20 H&M labels. However, H&M doesn’t own any real estate. Instead, the company believes it should concentrate all its resources on retailing. This could be problematic if the owner of the property finds a higher bidder; this could force the retailer to move its business outside of a ‘prime’ area. Another concern is that the company does not have any manufacturing facilities of its own; the clothes are made in Bangladesh, China, and Turkey. Some European countries that have been known in the past  to have sweatshops filled with children laboring for hours. Once this company drives full force into the United States, it only takes one environmentalist to get wind of the manufacturing plants to begin detrimental allegations. The company wo uld most likely deny such an accusation and might be innocent, but often â€Å"corporations involved are unaware because they buy from suppliers or brokers.† Aside from these possible threats, H&M persists to make the journey across the Atlantic. However, the United States in general, and New York City specifically, can be harsh terrain for European merchants, as viewed by the 1994 departure of Galeries Layfayette , the French department store chain. It is not like jumping across the line into a different European country, where the merchant can depend on its previously developed stock network and its reputation with patrons; in the states, H&M is gripping to a tiny association and is far from home. H&M will need to splurge millions of dollars to make its name identification, particularly if it anticipates competing in a city by now overflowing with discounted fashion. H&M will discover itself contending with many American retailers. To compete productively, the company will have to start by importing large amounts of inventory to create an impression on the consumers. In the long run, considerable development will be necessary. They will want to attain some pretty serious scale. Other challenges exclusive to the U.S. retail market include customers’ obsession to marked-down merchandise; H&M may discover it has to open stores in factory outlet centers to move unsold products at low prices. Any of these are possibly opportunities or threats for H&M and none of it will be a small task in itself for the company as it makes its voyage across the ocean. The U.S. financial decline is certain to suppress H&M’s numbers for the immediate future, although, as a discount chain, it should progress better than many, as well as its competitors. In reality, reduction in spending practices may create the exact sort of client H&M aspires to allure; those looking to look as good as they looked in the boom years without the boom. www.heraldonline.com â€Å"H&M Marketing Strategy.† â€Å"Best Managers†; Business Week; Stefan Persson, Hennes & Mauritz; New York; Jan. 13 2003, pg. 63 www.rachel.org Rachel’s Environmental Health News. â€Å"Assessing Business Impacts.† July 1994 www.hoover.com â€Å"Companies that couldn’t make the voyage.†