Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Woman of the Year 1953-Queen Elizabeth Ii - 1009 Words

Woman of the Year: 1953-Queen Elizabeth II From the day she was born, the life of Queen Elizabeth II shows that she deserved to receive the title Woman of the Year. She had practical intelligence since she was a kid and she respected peoples opinions. Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926 at the London home of her mothers parents, Lord and Lady Strathmore. She was baptized at Buckingham Palace and named Elizabeth Alexandra Mary five weeks later. Elizabeths father was Albert, the Duke of York. He was the second son of King George V. When his dad died in 1936, his brother was supposed to become king but he resigned. So he became king. Her mother was Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. She was a member of the Scottish†¦show more content†¦But most of all, she had to be someone the people could look up to without anyone gossiping or criticizing her (McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of World Biography 1973, 569). In 1953, this shy, dedicated and determined 26-year old queen was selected Woman of the Year. She was chosen because she was a symbol of faith. She was also a reminder of a great pass and was a sign of a good future. Queen Elizabeth II represented in her person all that they hold best in the British way of life (Time Almanac 1994, 7). Another reason was she had a close relationship between her people. She was willing to listen to them and willing to let them participate in decisions like the one against stiff conservative prejudice. Her goal was to find the proper balance between simplicity and richness-where she would lend majesty to her people-but not outrage those who demand a more democratic example. (Time Almanac 1994, 5). The opinion of a London editorialist said It may well be that we here in Britain, by accident rather than design, have stumbled back to the original, the true and abiding function of monarchy, which lay in the magical power of kings...to represent, express and effect the aspiration of the collective subconscious. (Time Almanac 1994, 4). The Queen Elizabeth Island named in honor of Queen Elizabeth II. It is located in Canada, northShow MoreRelatedThe Life of Queen Elizabeth Ii1407 Words   |  6 PagesThe Life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II was born Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary on April 21, 1926 in London (â€Å"Queen Elizabeth II†). Her father was Prince Albert, Duke of York, and her mother was Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. Elizabeth was never meant to become queen (Smith 6). From the very start, her life never developed the way it should have. The leadership she shows her, faithfulness, and her compassion tells her people she cares. The life of Queen Elizabeth II isa true journey of anRead MoreThe British Royal Family3890 Words   |  16 PagesThe British Royal Family Contents Chapter 1. Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.4-5 Chapter 2. In the United Kingdom†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..6 I. Public role and image†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.6-7 II. Funding†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...7 Chapter 3. Royal styles and titles†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.8 I. Royal styles and titles†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...8-11 II. The crown jewels†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦11-15 III. Peerages†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.16-19 Bibliography†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.20 Introduction: The  British Royal Family  is the group of close relativesRead MoreThe Driving Forces Of Fashion Essay1203 Words   |  5 Pagesstyles† (Steele, V. 1997:50). The 40s and 50s was a key time for influential figures and also for a new rise in haute couture, which was at the time recovering from the second world war. Fashion from 1945 was revolutionary compared to how it was a few years earlier, however it took time for change to occur. Fabric rations from the war were still in place until March 1949 (Ewing E, 2001) meaning that women wore shorter hems with less fabric and had to make, do and mend their old clothes. This was due toRead MoreEssay On Roald Dahl1670 Words   |  7 Pageshis son and daughter after the death of his first wife. Harald was able to find a new wife whose name was Sofie Magdalene Hesselberg. Over the next six years, they had five children. Their names were Astri, Else, Roald, Asta, and Alfhild. One of the five children, Astri, died of Appendicitis in 1920. Soon after, when Roald was only four years old, his father died of Pneumonia. Sofie, still pregnant with Asta, was then left to raise all of the children and manage the large property by herselfRead More William Faulkners Use of Shakespeare Essay5388 Words   |  22 Pageswrite a play like Hamlet if [he] wanted t o† (FAB 330) may be dismissed as an act of youthful posturing, the statement serves to indicate that from the beginning Shakespeare was the standard by which Faulkner would judge his own creativity. In later years Faulkner frequently acknowledged Shakespeare as a major inspiration and influence, once noting, â€Å"I have a one-volume Shakespeare that I have just about worn out carrying around with me† (FIU 67). Faulkner’s recorded interviews and conversations containRead MoreWalt Disney Case16863 Words   |  68 Pagesnarrowly avoided takeover and dismemberment. By the end of 2000, however, revenues had climbed from $1.65 billion to $25 billion under Eisner, while net earnings had risen from $0.1 billion to $1.2 billion (see Exhibit 1). During Eisner’s first 15 years, Disney generated a 27% annual total 1 return to shareholders. Analysts gave Eisner much of the credit for Disney’s resurrection. Described as â€Å"more hands on 2 than Mother Tere sa,† Eisner had a reputation for toughness. â€Å"If you aren’t tough,† he saidRead MoreInsight to Coach Carter Film7710 Words   |  31 Pagesâ€Å"Professional† – Chingy featuring GIB â€Å"Southside† – The Game featuring Lil Scrappy â€Å"Roll Wit You† – Ciara â€Å"Wouldn’t You Like to Ride† – Kanye West, Malik Usef Common â€Å"Hope† – Twista featuring Faith Evans â€Å"Your Love† – Van Hunt â€Å"This One† – Ak’sent â€Å"Beauty Queen† – Czarnok â€Å"Balla† – Mack 10 Featuring Da Hood â€Å"Time† – St. Lunatics â€Å"What Love Can Do† – Letoya â€Å"About the Game† – Trey Songz 10 ABOUT THE CAST Respectfully labeled as one of the hardest working actors in Hollywood, SAMUEL L. JACKSON (CoachRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesBlack, ed., Modern American Queer History Eric Sandweiss, St. Louis: The Evolution of an American Urban Landscape Sam Wineburg, Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts: Charting the Future of Teaching the Past Sharon Hartman Strom, Political Woman: Florence Luscomb and the Legacy of Radical Reform Michael Adas, ed., Agricultural and Pastoral Societies in Ancient and Classical History Jack Metzgar, Striking Steel: Solidarity Remembered Janis Appier, Policing Women: The Sexual Politics ofRead MoreMarketing Mistakes and Successes175322 Words   |  702 Pagesand Starbucks cases should arouse keen student interest, and may even inspire another generation of entrepreneurs. A fair number of the older cases have faced significant changes in the last few years, for better or for worse, and these we have captured to add to learning insights. After so many years of investigating mistakes, and more recently successes also, it might seem a challenge to keep these new editions fresh and interesting. The joy of the chase has made this an intriguing endeavor

Monday, December 23, 2019

Essay on Lutheranism - 852 Words

Lutheranism The Roman Catholic Church dominated religion for many years in Europe and became an extremely powerful institution. Over the years, the Roman church became corrupt and immoral in many ways. The development of the Protestant Reformation, Lutheranism, was greatly influenced by political events in the years proceeding the 16th century. The declared aim of the original reformer, Martin Luther, was to restore the Christian faith as it had been at its formation, while salvaging what he considered valuable from the Roman Catholic tradition that had developed during the previous centuries. Luther broke the unity of the Catholic Church forever by exposing their faults and misguided notions. Lutheranism spread quickly due to†¦show more content†¦Lastly, the only person who could call a counsil was the Pope. This last point emphasizes that the Roman Catholic Empire created laws of their own that were dictated by one sole person. Luther set out to spread his idea of true Christia nity. The main ideology of Lutheranism is that salvation can be gained by three fundamental precepts: by faith, by grace and by scripture alone. Luther felt that Salvation could not be achieved through good works such as prayer or holy living: Good works do not make a good man, but a good man does good works. (Luther, On Christian Liberty, p.9). Faith in God is created through the belief and love for Him; salvation would rise from it nonetheless. Luther felt that it was up to every individual to interpret the Scriptures and decide for himself what was good. This was a revolutionary concept, as previously it had been only the Pope who could interpret the Scriptures. Another concept of Lutheranism was that every believer could achieve priesthood. All men who had true faith had the opportunity to serve God and were equal in His eyes. Among Christians there shall and can be no authority; rather all are alike subject to one another. (Luther, Part Two. How Far Temporal Authority Extends, p.31). Bishops and priests in the Lutheran church were not authoritative figures but simply serving an office. In comparison to other sects that evolved from the Protestant Reformation, Lutheranism hadShow MoreRelatedLutheranism And Calvinism857 Words   |  4 PagesThese are the reasons I believe Lutheranism is better than Calvinism and why you should leave the Catholic Church and come and join Lutheranism. Firstly, Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestant Christianity which identifies with the theology of Martin Luther. Martin Luther (1483–1546) was a German monk, reformer, and theologian. Calvinism is the religious doctrines of John Calvin. Calvin stressed that people are saved through Gods grace, not through their own merits. The most famous of CalvinsRead MoreThe Church Of The Holy Cross Lutheran Church919 Words   |  4 Pages There was a lot of sitting and standing and the congregation was engaged with the prayers. Another aspect that Williams talked about was the music, like I said before, there were at least ten hymns sung. Music is one of the richest aspects of Lutherani sm. The Luther Bible was also present in the service, everyone in the congregation had hands on one of them. The Luther Bible was translated from Hebrew and Greek to German by Martin Luther. This version of the Bible was very popular because LutherRead MoreChristianity and The Lutheran Religion847 Words   |  3 PagesThe Lutheran religion was originally branched from Christianity, and is a massive Protestant denomination currently. Nearly 66 million people worldwide practice this religion (Lutheranism). Lutheran has a membership which exceeds any other Protestant denomination. Germany is the primary Lutheran country, as it was from the start (Martin Luther 1483-1546, BBC). This religion dates back to 1517, the founder of this religion was Martin Luther (McHugh, John). Martin Luther was born on November 10thRead MoreMartin Luther And The Catholic Way Of Thinking868 Words   |  4 PagesLutheranism was started by the ex-catholic priest Martin Luther in his attempt to revolutionize the catholic way of thinking. Martin Luther whose lifespan was from 1483 to 1546 studied in the University of Wittenberg where he studied greatly under the laws of sola fide, sola gratia, and sola scriptura which meant by faith alone, by grace alone, by scripture alone. During that time he often question the way Catholics would handle their ways of teaching one example was that the only way to get intoRead MoreAdolf Hitler And Martin Luther Of Germany2117 Words   |  9 Pageslearning obedience and fear of god through Lutheranism. This life can only be rendered if some elemental requirements are fulfilled. The first of these requirements is that there must be a general, universal, feeling of happiness. Secondly, there must be a widely practiced goal that can be worked towards regardless of societal position. Thirdly, there must be obedience and punishment for disobedience. These requirements can all be achieved through Lutheranism. Religion is the most influential idea toRead MoreSweden : A Scandinavian Country922 Words   |  4 Pagesthe northern part of Europe. Sweden has three bordering countries: Norway, Denmark and Finland. Their government consists of a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. Their current monarch is Carl XVI Gustaf. The main religion is Lutheranism, a form or Protestant Christianity. Other practiced religions includes: Paganism, Catholicism, Judaism, and Jehovah’s Witnesses. There is also numerous individuals in Sweden who are atheist. Sweden became a kingdom around the twelfth century whereRead MoreComparing Christian Vs. Baptism1013 Words   |  5 Pagesrepresentation of the body and blood. Substitutes are therefore acceptable; grape juice instead of wine, for instance. Their worship services, however, are less formal and more interactive than that of Lutheran services. Lutheran The Lutheran Church or Lutheranism is founded on the theology of Martin Luther during the 16th century. Its initial purpose is to reform Christianity with the teaching of justification by grace through faith alone. They believe that humans are saved from their sins by God’s graceRead MoreEssay on The Lutheran Church and The Catholic Church804 Words   |  4 Pagesknown as the 95 Theses, to the door of the Wittenburg Castle Church. Later, Luther was excommunicated by Pope Leo X, and when put on trial he refused to deny his accusations of the church. However, Luther continued his reform which became known as Lutheranism. These beliefs began to spread out from Germany and soon reached the United States, where the ELCA was born. June 25, 1520 was the day on which the Lutheran beliefs were formed and stated. Twenty-eight articles had been written by Philip MelanchthonRead MoreTaking a Look at Lutheranism1032 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"If you don’t believe in God, you had better hope your right!† All religions basically believe in one God. Lutheranism is no exception, and as it just so happens it is very close to the Catholic religion I practice. This paper will attempt to explain the Lutheran Church and how it came to be. Martin Luther, a German monk, known to many as the â€Å"Father of Reformation† did not initially or intentionally, start the Lutheran religion. However, his teachings became the cornerstone of what is known todayRead MoreHoly Sacraments - Baptism Essay2245 Words   |  9 Pagesgifts given in baptism.† I next asked them, â€Å"When in life should a person be baptized? As an adult, infant, or both?† I have made this point clear earlier in my paper the Lutherans baptize infants and adults alike. This is one concept of Lutheranism that is distinctive of the faith. They take the objective view of baptism. Meaning that they focus on what God does and brings to baptism. Other religions that do not baptize infants take a more subjective approach to baptism. Meaning, they

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Gps vs. Gis Free Essays

GPS vs. GIS Global Positioning System (GPS) is a system that accurately determines the precise position of something on Earth. GPS is a constellation of twenty four satellites, each of which orbits Earth once every twelve hours. We will write a custom essay sample on Gps vs. Gis or any similar topic only for you Order Now The U. S. Department of Defense operates and maintains these Global Positioning System satellites. Each satellite contains a high precision atomic clock and several transmitters that constantly send radio signals back to Earth. These signals communicate the satellite’s unique identification code, health, and position in space. Global Positioning Systems and base stations units in the fields receive these satellites and use them to calculate positions. All Global Positioning Systems receivers collect the locations of real world features (represented as points, lines or areas), and some can store descriptive data, or attributes, about these features. (1) Global positioning systems have been fully operational since April 27, 1995. GPS have become widely used worldwide, and a useful tool for map making, land surviving, commerce, scientific uses, tracking and surveillance, and hobbies such as geocaching. Also, the precise time reference is used in many applications including the scientific study of earthquakes and as a required time synchronization method for cellular network protocols . (2) Geographers find GPS to be particularly useful in coding the precise location of objects. That information can later be enters as a layer in geographic information systems. (2) Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer system that can capture, store, query, analyze, and display geographic date. 3) Geographic Information Systems allows us to view, understand, question, interpret, and visualize data in many ways that reveal relationships, patterns, and trends in the form of maps, globes, reports, and charts. A Geographic Information Systems helps you answer questions and solve problems by looking at your data in a way that is quickly understood and easily shared. Geographic Information System technology can be integrated into any enterprise information system framework. GIS is most often as sociated with a map. A map, however, is only one way you can work with geographic data in a Geographic information System, and only one type of product generated by a GIS. A GIS can provide a great deal more problem-solving capabilities than using a simple mapping program or adding data to an online mapping tool. When GIS software was first created, it required powerful computers and extensive training. Now, anyone can develop a desktop map. (3) (1) www. gps. gov (2) http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/GPS (3) Rubenstein chapter 1 How to cite Gps vs. Gis, Papers

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Undertaking Complex Environmental Project Work- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theUndertaking Complex Environmental Project Work. Answer: Definition Undertaking complex environmental project work refers to the implementation of the projects by the contemporary business organizations to deal with the complex and diverse business environments (Thamhain, 2013). Undertaking complex environmental project work also refers to dealing with the different environmental areas for the business organizations. In the current time, contemporary business organizations face issues such as social challenges, economic challenges, political challenges, legal challenges and environmental challenges (Highsmith, 2013). Thus, newer and more efficient projects are being initiated by the contemporary business organizations in order to effectively deal with these challenges. This concept is known as undertaking complex environmental project work (Ahern, Leavy Byrne, 2014). Introduction to undertaking complex environmental project work In the case of the Toyota, it is seen that they have initiated a new opentaps software with the collaboration with IBM global services in order to deal with different requirements in their business operation (Siang, Yih Peng, 2013). Their business can be considered as complex due to the fact that they have to manage their customers, configure their vehicles, producing quotations managing orders and initiating sales. Moreover, deadline was also one of the major issues faced by them. Thus, the project of implementing the new system in the business process is one of the prime examples of undertaking complex environmental project work, where the project will manage the above discussed areas effectively (Biesenthal Wilden, 2014). Hence, with the help of undertaking complex environmental project work, Toyota will be able to deal with the diverse business factors effectively and efficiently (Brady Davies, 2014). Reference Ahern, T., Leavy, B., Byrne, P. J. (2014). Complex project management as complex problem solving: A distributed knowledge management perspective.International Journal of Project Management,32(8), 1371-1381. Biesenthal, C., Wilden, R. (2014). Multi-level project governance: Trends and opportunities.International Journal of Project Management,32(8), 1291-1308. Brady, T., Davies, A. (2014). Managing structural and dynamic complexity: A tale of two projects.Project Management Journal,45(4), 21-38. Highsmith, J. (2013).Adaptive software development: a collaborative approach to managing complex systems. Addison-Wesley. Siang, L. F., Yih, C. H., Peng, L. W. (2013). Identifying Key Features of the Innovated Japanese Project Management: A Critical Review on its Philosophy.Journal of Advanced Management Science Vol,1(2). Thamhain, H. (2013). Managing risks in complex projects.Project management journal,44(2), 20-35.

Friday, November 29, 2019

Strategic Analysis

Executive Summary This paper provides a strategic analysis of Wal-Mart International. Wal-Mart international is one of the biggest retail chain stores in the world. The company has been growing from strength to strength and now boasts of global leadership among retail chains.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Strategic management implies long term planning and doing everything in an organization with a long-term picture or vision. As defined by Mitzberg et al (1998), strategic planning consists in making long or midterm decisions with the aim of delivering a competitive edge to an organization. Strategic planning is not possible without strategic analysis. Through application of strategic tools, one deploys mechanisms of understanding the organization and the environment within which it operates (Yergin Stanislaw, 2002). Analysis of the business environment is th e primordial function of strategic management (Sadler Craig, 2003). In this paper, Porters Five Forces and PESTEL model are employed towards understanding the market and the macro environment within which Wal-Mart Operates. From the market analysis anchored on the five forces model, it is clear that competition is the biggest headache for Wal-Mart International. The company operates in an environment characterized by high competition. Due to stiff competition, it has had to withdraw from some international markets like South Korea and Germany. The strategies employed by an organization can be based on models and plans or on internal capacity of the organization. Models notwithstanding, the resource based view of strategy holds that organizational resources are the most critical factor in determining a competitive edge (Wernerfelt, 1984). This implies that organizational competencies and capabilities matter a lot when it comes to defining a competitive edge. A SWOT analysis done on Wal-Mart reveals that it has many strengths and hence competencies. The company has an international presence, a strong work force and employs modern information technology platforms to remain ahead of competition. In terms of revenue, the organization is one of the highest revenue earners in the world. In the last year alone, the organization had a 15.4 billion (US dollars) as net revenue. The SWOT matrix on Wal-Mart reveals that it has enough strengths as well as opportunities that put it is a strong competitive position. The opportunities further offer a huge potential for growth. Based on identified characteristics of the organization and the business environment within which it operates, managers adopt given strategies. Tools like the BCG matrix, the GE matrix or the grand strategy matrix are helpful when identifying the kind of strategies to adopt for a company (Ulwick, 2000). The grand strategy matrix was used in identifying the kind of strategies Wal-Mart can employ going in to the future.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More On the grand strategies matrix, the organization falls in the high market growth and strong competitive position quadrant. This implies that the organization can adopt both market consolidation strategies and market growth strategies. The market consolidation strategies will help it keep and retain its traditional market while the growth strategies will enable it to tap into promising markets; especially the international market. Choice of strategies is an important step; however, there should be policies and mechanism that support adopted strategies. Considering suggested strategies for Wal-Mart, this paper recommends that the management ensure internal consistency of strategies adopted. Internal consistency ensures that the strategies are not in conflict and can thus be harmoniously implemented (Ulwick, 2000). Furthermore, the re is need to ensure that the strategies are organizationally fit and an environmentally fit. Organizationally fit strategies are those that respond to organizational characteristics. Environmentally fit strategies are those that respond to business environment characteristics. Introduction This paper explores benefits and limitations to strategic management. To appraise the benefits of strategic management, this paper discusses in depth how the different aspects of strategic management are applied. To concretize the analysis of strategic management, the paper focuses on Wal-Mart International, which is one of the world’s most successful retail chains. Wal-Mart International has grown steadily to have its presence felt all over the world. Wal-Mart has experienced phenomenal growth since inception due to embracing strategic management practices. Most successful organizations make strategic planning central to their operations (Sanchez Heene, 2004, p. 23). The main aim of work ing on a strategic plan or business plan is to identify ways and means through which an organization can guarantee good results, a competitive edge or a competitive advantage in the long term (Ulwick, 2000, p. 11). A strategic process should be able to help a company or an organization to understand its current situation, identify a desirable future status and ways of ensuring it arrives at its desired status or end (Wernerfelt, 1984, p. 174). Wal-Mart already has a vision, mission and overriding objectives. This is critical because the strategic process begins by identifying or framing the desired future. The future of an organization is captured in its vision, mission and strategic objectives.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Analysis of Wal-Mart International’s Business Environment The process of analyzing a business environment requires looking at dif ferent facets. To do a proper business analysis, one would have to employ such tools as SWOT analysis, Five Forces model by Porter, Global model or PESTEL, the BCG matrices, competitive profile and Value chain analysis, among others (Joyce Woods, 2001, p.233). These tools help in analysis of both the internal and external environment to establish how factors in either environment are affecting or are likely to affect the organization. From the internal environment, the strengths and weakness of the organization are identified for the purposes of defining how best to restructure the organization. From factors in the external environment, the key success factors for the company are adequately mapped out. Porters’ Five Forces: Market Analysis Porter’s five forces are helpful in understanding the market within which Wal-Mart operates. According to Porter, an organization or products performance is dependent on five distinct forces. Threat of new entrants Wal-Mart does not deal in much differentiated products. Therefore, the threat of new entrants is very high. Moreover, given the entrance and exit barriers in the retail industry, the threat of new entrants is present. Threat of substitutes Given the stores provide an array of products, the threat of substitutes is not a big issue in the retail chain industry. However, in individual products, some stores tend towards selling exclusive brands. This creates a challenge in terms of customers going for substitute brands in exclusive stores. Supplier power Considering supplier power in the retail industry, there are many suppliers thus minimizing supplier power. However, the fact that there are many institutions also targeting the produces gives suppliers relative power. For instance, in the grocery business, there are so many competing grocery stores. Despite suppliers being numerous as well, the competition for supplies among supermarkets and retail chains gives suppliers some relative power. Buyer powe r Buyers, in the retail business, have enormous power due to many retailers and a variety of substitutes. Consequently, it is the stockers like Wal-Mart that have to work on value addition and proper market propositions to attract customers.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Competitor Rivalry Therefore, the greatest limit to Wal-Mart’s growth is likely to result from competition activity and customer perception of the competition rivalry. Wal-mart has quite a wide range of competition. The biggest competitors of Wal-Mart are a wide range of departmental stores especially in the US, Canada and Mexico. Moreover, there is quite a number of supermarket chains especially in Eastern parts of the United States. Numerous smaller supermarkets in each locality provide substitute services as well. Examples of small stores that provide immense competition to Wal-Mart include Dollar stores and grocery stores especially in the US. In the foreign markets, Wal-Mart faces stiff competition from local firms. In Germany, the competition was so stiff that Wal-Mart had to withdraw from the German market in 2006. The same happened in South Korea, due to fierce competition, the company had to withdraw by selling its stores to a local firm. PESTEL Analysis: Other succe ss Factors in the Business Environment Further, A PESTEL analysis can help in outline other factors likely to affect the performance of Wal-Mart. Political Factors In the US, Wal-Mart has had no problems due to political interests. There is no opposition to Wal-Mart’s foray into intentional markets (Fishman, 2006). However, changing political interests in different countries have to inform the company’s operations. The company has to be alive to political issues in each particular company and align its operations to host country policies. Economic Factors Wal-Mart thrives on free market systems in the countries in which it operates. Additionally, the fact that it enjoys huge economies of scale due its huge operations places it in an economically advantaged position. Socio-Cultural Factors The company through using proper strategies especially in the international market has been able to align itself to the social-cultural realities in its area of operation. For example , the company has registered relative success in China because of aligning its operations with the preferences of the locals. This is very critical because social perceptions matter a lot in determining organizational success. Technological Factors Wal-Mart is better placed than all other retail stores in the new markets having adopted IT in its logistical processes (Bianco, 2007). Therefore, using its economic advantage and awesome business strategy, Wal-Mart enters other international markets as is able to outwit competition in those markets; consequently, it became a dominant global player. Environmental Factors Wal-Mart is a company that is a live to green strategies. To appeal to customers that are eco-conscious, Wal-Mart strives to store green goods. Moreover, through investing in efficient technology, Wal-Mart has been able to reduce all forms of bad environmental impacts it may have resulting from its operations. Legal Factors Through having clean and properly tailored opera tions, Wal-Mart has been able to steer away from any legal issues in the recent past. The organization has a professional legal department that analyses and responds to legal challenges. The aim of having such a department is to ensure the company complies to legal requirements in area of operation. An Analysis of the Company’s Resources, Capabilities and Distinctive Competencies Wal- Mart’s Capital and Revenue Base Wal-mart is one of the leading global retail chains. It has a formidable capital base and boasts of a well-established tradition that gives it an edge over competition. Given its wide capital base, Wal-Mart is also one of the biggest earners in the world. Forbes ranks it among the 20 biggest and most profitable organizations on planet earth. In the last financial year, Wal-Mart netted 15.4 billion US dollars as net revenues. Despite registered gains, Wal-Mart can only continue extraordinary growth when it identifies and manages strengths, opportunities, wea kness and threats creatively (Mintzberg et al, 1998, p. 100). To consolidate its market share while still growing, Wal-mart needs to capitalize on its strengths, tapping into opportunities in the market, addressing weaknesses and eliminating or minimizing threats. A SWOT analysis is an important tool towards understanding a business’ environment (Ireland et al, 2008, p. 45). To help bring out Wal-Marts strengths, competencies and challenges, a SWOT analysis is informative. Wal-Mart’s SWOT Matrix Strengths High sales (strong brand) Large market IT enabled logistical functions Diverse (international) work force Long tradition of operations (42 years) Good pricing strategy The biggest private employer Largest public company by revenue Weaknesses Store format not appealing in other settings Technology deployment issue Human capital issues Internationalization related challenges e.g. stiff competition from local firms Opportunities International markets E-commer ce Large super store opportunities Threats Vigorous, focused competition Price fluctuations SWOT analysis on Wal-Mart based Yoffie (2005) Extrapolation from SWOT Analysis As shown in the SWOT analysis, Wal-Mart has quite a number of competencies. It is one of the largest retail store chains in the world. It has largely diversified by going into areas like grocery stores. It has an international presence and boasts of a huge employee base. A company’s growth is limited both by internal and external factors (Peteraf, 1993, p. 178). Internal Factors/ Internal Environment Based on the SWOT analysis, considering internal factors, the only limitation to Wal-Mart’s growth is challenge in managing a global conglomerate of sorts. Externally, social and cultural perceptions are likely to shape and limit Wal-Marts expansion. Wal-Mart employs very many people. As it continues on the path of extraordinary growth, it means more people being employed to work in the branches a nd subsidiaries or joint ventures. Managing all the people and the multifaceted conglomerate will not be ease. In actual sense, unless the organization is fragmented such that given regions or lines become completely independent, managing the organization becomes a nightmare. Therefore, the extraordinary growth of Wal-Mart is likely to be checked by management complexities or challenges. External Factors/ External Environment On the external front, there is likely to grow a sort of disenchantment about Wal-Mart and its conglomerate size. For many individuals out there, although Wal-Mart is growing based on honest and best business practices, as it continues to whoop in billions in profits; inevitably, seeds of discontent will sprout among people of different nations. Wal-Marts growth will be interpreted as the reason why small businesses can no longer develop or grow. A percentage of the world population does not like identifying with Mega things (Dess et al, 2009, p. 227). Therefor e, they will continue to seek small specialty brands rather than a mega brand that promises everything. For some people, small specialized is identical to personalized, caring and detailed thus more quality conscious (Sadler Craig, 2003, p. 66). Such like sentiments are likely to make competition buoyant. Other people will just desert Wal-Mart in search of difference or something new. The products may not be new but given they buy from a new brand, the shopping experience is different. Wal-Mart’s Options and possible Strategic Choices There are a number of strategic tools that can be used in determining the strategic direction for a company. To discern the strategic direction for Wal-mart, the grand strategy matrix comes in handy. Grand Strategy Matrix Weak Competitive Position High Market Growth Strong Competitive Position 1 Product development Market development Market penetration Horizontal/vertical integration Liquidation/Divestiture 3 Product development Market de velopment Backward and forward integration Diversification 2 Diversification Integration Liquidation Retrenchment Divestiture 4 Diversification Integration Joint Ventures Divestiture Low Market Growth Grand Strategy Matrix adopted from Joyce Woods (2001). Quadrants in the Grand Strategy Matrix The grand strategy matrix above provides a number of possible strategic choices for an organization. The first quadrant applies to an organization that has a weak competitive position and a high market growth. Such a company has opportunities and thus efforts have to be geared towards penetrating the market. Market penetration can be achieved when products are developed, markets are activated and the organization diversifies its product portfolio. The second quadrant signifies an organization that is not competitive and has no growth prospects. Such an organization does not offer much hope and it is only prudent to either diversify, seek out strategic alliances to breathe life into the company or to liquidate the company. The third quadrant signifies an ideal company that is both strong competitively and in terms of market growth. Such a company utilizes the opportunities available for growth e.g. integration while at the same time trying to consolidate or lock in customers through concentric diversification. The final quadrant signifies an organization that has a strong competitive position but low market growth. Such an organization needs use either rejuvenation strategies or market consolidation strategies. Rejuvenation or consolidation is possible through diversification, integration or through strategic alliances. Wal-Mart’s Position in the Grand Strategy Matrix Wal-Mart’s characteristics make more befitting the quadrant three strategies. As an organization, it has a very strong competitive position. The organization has a high growth rate and there are enough opportunities for growth in the international market. This means that with proper str ategies, the organization can consolidate its market while increasing it at the same time. Strategic Options/ Strategic Direction Wal-mart already has a vision and mission that defines the organization’s aspirations and its purpose or key business functions. As an organization, it has a high market scope and a high low cost competence. The organization’s characteristics and the business environment should determine the kind of strategies that an organization adopts. In the case of Wal-Mart, by adopting multivariate strategy e.g. combining product differentiation, cost leadership and proper market segmentation, it can maintain its extraordinary growth. The two grand strategies should be translated into business objectives that are further translated into operational objectives and strategies. Building and sustaining a competitive advantage is largely dependent on product characteristics, value for customer’s money and proper positioning and targeting of products. In porter’s generic strategies, market segmentation looks at customer peculiarities and narrows concern to particular markets. Product differentiation and cost leadership as strategies are more diverse and broader in their scope. As Wal-mart’s characteristics show clearly, a good fusion of these generic strategies should enable it to continue growing in an extraordinary way (Bianco, 2007). Wal-Mart is a strong brand developed over many years and supported by over 42 years experience as a major market player (Yoffie, 2005, p. 1). It has a high market share and due to expanded operations benefits immensely from economies of scale. Management, by riding on its huge market share and well-built brand resonance, can create more revenue streams under the same brand. The company is already doing this through creation of superstores with a variety of products on offer (Yoffie, 2005, p. 1). There exists opportunities in the international market. However, in as much as the low p ricing strategy has driven its growth in America, the company has to devise market segmentation strategies to enjoy opportunities abroad. One weakness with Wal-Mart is its store formats (Yoffie, 2005, p. 2). It is getting stiff competition because while it is building super stores, competition is going for specialized store formats. Product differentiation comes in handy here so that as competition from specialized stores grows, Wal-Mart retains and grows its market share. Wal-Mart needs to appreciate the growth potential in small stores like the ones it initially had; the stores it is replacing with super stores. Although having superstores has its own advantages, a fusion of superstores and small-specialized stores should guarantee continued extraordinary growth (Fishman, 2006). Structures, Systems and Policies for Strategy Implementation Policy on Internal Consistency in Strategies In implementing strategies, their internal consistency thus plausibility and feasibility should gui de the implementation process (Joyce Woods, 2001, 113). Therefore, each strategy has to be adopted based on a clear strategic direction that the company wishes to adopt. If the strategic direction is not clear, there is danger of running conflicting strategies. For instance, market consolidation tends to be in conflict with market expansion strategies. Wal-mart as a company with a strong competitive base and growth prospects has to do market consolidation while penetrating other markets and growing its market internationally. To be able to do this, strategy implementation has to be monitored and evaluated for the purposes of ensuring internal consistency in the strategies. Strategies have to be broken into specific actions that deliver on strategic objectives. There has to be interrelation and consistence in the specific actions flowing from each adopted strategy. Each strategy should somehow have a bearing on other strategies i.e. they should mutually and intrinsically be compleme ntary towards the same goals. The intrinsic consistency of strategies translates into the internal consistency in the specific actions to be carried out during implementation. This inner consistency and plausibility gives a sequence or order in which the implementation is to be done. Monitoring and Evaluation Even as implementation is done, it is critical that monitoring and evaluation is instituted. The strategic process is not complete without strategic control (Dess et al, 2009, p. 234). Strategic control consists in putting in place long term measures that would ensure deviations are identified and corrected. There are always changes in the environment. Therefore, in as much as one may have a great plan and strategies in place, the environmental changes require close monitoring. Monitoring helps identify ways of improving on strategy or correcting deviations from strategy (Yergin Stanislaw, 2002). It is only through such a process that strategies are applied effectively. There are about five elements of control i.e. there is the activity or item to be controlled, the performance indicator, the standard against which performance is compared, the corrective action to be taken in case of deviations and the individual who is to take the corrective action (Morden, 2004, p. 165). All these elements have to be identified during strategic planning and proper directions given with respect to each of them (Morden, 2004, p. 165). Organizational Structure An organizational structure is a critical component that determines operations and power spread in an organization. For an organization to achieve its objectives, the organization structure has to be one that allows or facilitates the same. The organizational structure shows how power is shared and balanced in an organization. It forms the central channels of communication and gives the basic reporting structure or official communication channels followed in an organization. The way an organization is systematically designed, planned and arranged determines how effectively and efficiently operations are done in the organization. Strategic control in a conglomerate like Wal-Mart is not easy. However, through standardization of procedures and operations, this can be achieved. To ensure proper monitoring and evaluation, Wal-Mart managers would have to consider setting up a special restructuring team. The restructuring/ strategy team would have to receive daily, weekly and monthly reports on implementation activities. Such a feedback mechanism handled by a special M E team would ensure earlier identification of deviations and prompt corrections Usefulness of Strategic Management Models for Company Analysis This paper explored the benefits and limitations of strategic management. For better appraisal of the strategic process, Wal-Mart International was used. From the discussions based on Wal-Mart, it is clear that strategic management helps guarantee an organization long-term result. Clearly, prop er planning is critical and no organization succeeds without planning. However, environmental changes or not scanning the environment properly limits planning efforts. Due to poor environmental scanning, organizations come up with plans based on wrong data. Environmental Scanning To scan the environment is important however, the data generated is only useful if it is analyzed and properly employed in decision-making. Using models like the SWOT matrix, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats are easily identified from data collected. Moreover, using models like PESTEL analysis, other factors that are important for the organizational success are identified. This helps towards crafting strategies that properly respond to the business environment and organizational characteristics. Using models like the Grand Strategy Matrix, the planners are able to easily identify the most viable kind of strategies to employ. Strategic Analysis and Adoption of Proper strategies As discuss ed, detailed planning cannot be accomplished unless one answers the question of â€Å"where to†. Therefore, in strategic management starts in deciding on the long term aspirations of an organization. The long-term aspirations are largely captured through an organization’s vision, mission and strategic objectives. Once the strategic objectives are clear, the organization then considers the necessary changes, steps, or plans that will enable the realization of the same (Kay, 2001, p. 113). Such tactics or plans are widely known as strategies. Strategy implementation is only successful if the strategies have been selected rationally. The strategies have to complement organizational resources, respond accurately to the organizational environment and have internal consistency. Finally, it is clear that strategic management is not complete without the element of control. Conclusion In conclusion, every organization that adopts proper strategic management reaps awesome result s in terms of market share growth and profitability. As the analysis on Wal-Mart has shown, strategic management makes all the difference. Through strategic management, an organization is able to curve out clear long term and midterm plans that deliver on set organizational objectives. To come up with desirable strategies or plans, the use of given strategic tools makes work easy and systematic. References Bianco, A., 2007. Wal-Mart: The Bully Of Bentonville: How The High Cost Of Everyday Low Prices Is Hurting America. Doubleday: New York Dess. G., G., Lumpkin, G., T., Eisner, A., 2009. Strategic Management: Creating Competitive Advantages. McGraw-Hill: London Fishman, C., 2006. The Wal-Mart Effect: How The World’s Most Powerful Company Really Works– And How It’s Transforming The American Economy. Penguin: New York Ireland, D., R., Hoskisson, R., E., Hitt, E., M., 2008. Understanding Business Strategy: Concepts and Cases. Cengage Learning: London Joyce, P., W oods, A., 2001. Strategic Management: A Fresh Approach to Developing Skills, Knowledge and Creativity. Kogan Page Publishers: New York Kay, J., 2003. Foundations of Corporate Success: How Business Strategies add Value. Oxford University Press, Oxford Mintzberg, H., Ahlstrand, B., W., Lampel, J., 1998. Strategy Safari: A Guided Tour through the Wilds of Strategic Management. Free Press: New York Morden, T., 2004. Principles of Management 2nd Ed., Ashgate Publishing, Ltd: London Peteraf, M., A., 1993. â€Å"The cornerstones of competitive advantage: a resource-based view†. Strategic Management Journal, 14(3), 179–191 Sadler, P., Craig, J., C., 2003. Strategic Management. 2nd ed. Kogan Page Publishers: New York Sanchez, R., Heene, A., 2004. The New Strategic Management: Organizations, Competition and Competence. John Wiley Sons: New York Ulwick, A., W., 2000. Business Strategy Formulation: Theory, Process and the Intellectual Revolution. IAP Inc: Charlotte, NC Wernerf elt, B., 1984. â€Å"A Resource-Based View of the Firm†. Strategic Management Journal, 5(3), 171–180 Yergin, D., Stanislaw, J., 2002. The Commanding Heights, New York: Simon and Schuster Yoffie, D., B., 2005. â€Å"Wal-Mart†. Harvard Business School, 9, 705- 460 This essay on Strategic Analysis was written and submitted by user Jamari R. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Are You Up on the Top Resume Cover Letter Trends of 2012-2013

Are You Up on the Top Resume Cover Letter Trends of 2012-2013 Are you up on the top resume cover letter trends of 2012-2013? Many articles posted on line are old and outdated. Thankfully, each year Career Thought Leaders releases an up-to-date report on current job search trends and the 2012 report has been released! Findings of 2012 Global Career Brainstorming Day: Trends for the Now, the New the Next in Careers covers topics including Career Marketing Communications (my focus), Job Search, Career Planning Management, Career Counseling Coaching, The Changing Employment Landscape, and Challenges for Career Professionals. I invite you to read the full report to get a picture of job search trends in all these areas. What follows is a summary of top trends in Resumes Cover Letters, LinkedIn Profiles and Video/Multimedia presentations. The Essay Expert will be following these recommendations and I hope you will too! Resumes Cover Letters Resumes are not dead, despite the fact that some people do get interview offers based solely on their social media profiles and video presentations. In most fields, resumes remain the central career marketing document, around which all other materials (LinkedIn profile, networking resume, bio, etc.) revolve. Ideal length is two pages for most mid- to senior-level professionals; the presentation must be such that the information is readily absorbed in 6-10 seconds. A portfolio of additional, consistently branded materials, including an Executive Summary for senior players, is welcomed by decision-makers; this compilation paints a full picture of what an accomplished applicant offers. An exact street address is no longer necessary, but a LinkedIn URL is recommended. Numbers speak louder than words, so include any you can! Also include CAR (Challenge-Action-Result) or STAR (Situation-Task-Action-Result) stories to demonstrate your value. Each resume must be tailored to the job description. You will need multiple versions to be truly effective. Quotes/testimonials are becoming more and more accepted- and perhaps even expected- on resumes. Photos are still a no-no in the United States for anyone looking for full-time employment; in Europe and the UK, however, photos remain standard. Document Format requirements vary depending on your audience. Some organizations and job search sites accept fully formatted resumes in .doc or .pdf format; others require Word documents or text-based files. Gmail addresses are the standard, and aol addresses are seen as antiquated, especially for tech jobs. Brief, tailored cover letters are still welcome by some HR and hiring managers, so best practice is to include one that makes you stand out. The old â€Å"snail mail† tradition of sending a resume on nice bond paper is also not dead! You can make an impression by doing so and get some attention. If you are working with a recruiter, do whatever the recruiter directs you to do. You can use your more highly formatted resume when interacting directly with hiring managers. LinkedIn LinkedIn is absolutely essential to your job search strategy. Sure, you can be on facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, but LinkedIn is the one non-negotiable. Did you know that recruiters will often accept LinkedIn connection requests even though they will not read an unsolicited resume? Once on LinkedIn, recommendations are as follows: Prioritize keywords and recommendations (vs. endorsements). Update your profile and activity status regularly. There is no need to purchase a Premium account in order to get value from your LinkedIn presence. LinkedIn is not a silver bullet! Simply having a great profile does not guarantee success; you must participate in discussions and â€Å"take it off line† to get full value from the site. Your LinkedIn profile should complement, not copy, your resume. VideoBios, Web Portfolios, Visual CVs Other Multimedia Tools Web portfolios are becoming common, especially for those in the graphic arts field. A web presence may soon be expected for job seekers in some fields! Consistent branding is key. Video resumes are more accepted and utilized on the West Coast than elsewhere, but they have not taken off as anticipated. It seems social media profiles such as LinkedIn are still winning out. Some recruiters like video resumes/bios and Skype. Word to the wise: If you choose to present yourself through video, make sure you use high level technology! A poor quality video image, whether in a video or a Skype conversation, can be worse than no video at all. I hope the above â€Å"hot-off-the-press† advice from top career professionals supports what you’re already doing or encourages you to head in a new direction. Read the full report here. If The Essay Expert can help, let us know! We are available at 608-467-0067 or through our Web Form.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Real Estate Development Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Real Estate Development - Case Study Example to protect the flat site which is several metres below the level of the Canal). The western boundary is provided by Gilmore Park. The eastern boundary is formed by another development site that is in the process of being redeveloped (the buildings on this adjoining site have already been demolished and the site leveled). The northern boundary comprises a block of tenement properties (forming the north-west corner of the site) and a main road (Fountain Bridge). The total area of the site is 11,500m2. The site is fully serviced with boundaries clearly marked and established. The owner, Scottish & Newcastle, will offer the property for (freehold) sale with vacant possession. There will be no disturbance costs and it is expected that the demolition of the existing structures and their removal from site will cost 50,000. The site may contain contamination therefore a sum of 50,000 should be included in appraisals to cover for such an eventuality. The Fountainbridge area has undergone considerable change in recent years. Since the announcement that Scottish and Newcastle intended to close Fountain Brewery, the area has continued to be the subject of development pressure. The area occupies a strategically important location to the west of the city centre, close to the Exchange, Tollcross and Haymarket. It also incorporates an important waterway, the Union Canal. The opportunity exists to create a quality urban environment, exploiting and enhancing its distinctive canal side location and establishing important linkages through the Fountainbridge area and beyond. Brewery buildings and structures, all of which are redundant, dominate the existing townscape. Adjacent to Lochrin basin, which is the modern day terminus of the Union Canal, new office, leisure and residential developments have sprung up. Existing residential properties in the Grove Street area and around Gilmore Place/Lochrin Place are located adjacent to some of the key redevelopment opportunity sites in the Fountainbridge area. Other existing uses provide a mix of predominantly commercial, leisure and industrial premises, some of which are underused or vacant. The area is well served by three main east-west transport routes. The West Approach Road and Dundee Street/Fountainbridge both carry high volumes of vehicular traffic into and through the area. The Union canal provides an important pedestrian and cycle link through the area, with the potential for greater use by boats as part of the Millennium Link. North-south links are much less well defined. Context of Policy The development plan covering the Fountainbridge area is the Central Edinburgh Local Plan (adopted May 1997) and the Edinburgh and the Lothian's Structure Plan 2015 (approved June 2004). In terms of current planning, the majority of the site falls within an 'existing industrial area' designation. In general, business and industrial development, including