Fiji Water

Introduction FIJI Water LLC is a U. S. based company, that market its famous brand in more than a dozen countries out of its bottling plant located in the Fiji Islands. The product concept was developed in the early nineties by David Gilmour, the Canadian-born owner and founder of Fiji’s renowned Wakaya Island Resort. 1 As of 2008, FIJI Water marketed its bottled mineral water in about a dozen countries in North America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. It was marketed as FIJI Natural Mineral Water in Europe and as FIJI Natural Spring Water in Australia.The two main markets for the product were the United States and Australia. At the same time, the company’s relationships with the Fiji government were at the lowest point. The government accused FIJI Water of transfer price manipulations and seized hundreds of containers carrying FIJI brand. The company’s tax- free concession granted by the Fiji government for 13 years in 1995came to an end in October 2008 and th e company will be required to pay corporate tax in Fiji. The new water resource tax, although much lower than the draconian 20-cents-a-litre excise, still will adding about FIJI$1 million to its cost every year.In other hand, the company was making efforts to live up to its good corporate citizenship claim by focusing on its contributions to the local communities. In the following report you will find my selected analysis of the FIJI Water Case Study. I have chosen to respond to Question 2: What factors contributed to the marketing success of FIJI Water? And Question 5: Are the FIJI government's concerns about the â€Å"negative† contribution of the FIJI Water to the local environment justified?Does the company do enough to improve its relations with the FIJI government and the local community? What else should it do to improve those relations? What factors contributed to the marketing success of FIJI Water? 1 James McMaster and Jan Nowak, â€Å"Natural Waters of Viti Limite d-Pioneering a New Industry in the Fiji Islands,† Journal of the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management, 9:2,2003 (Special Edition on Management Case). FIJI Water’s International Market Expansion FIJI Water global trends in bottled water consumption and demand were very important.Since more than 90 per cent of all the FIJI Water was exported, the sales of FIJI Water in the domestic market were very small. In 2007, Eurpoe and North America were the biggest regional markets for bottled water, accounting for 30. 9 and 30. 7 per cent of the world’s sales volume, respectively. Asia accounted for 24. 3 per cent and the rest of the world accounted for 14. 1 per cent. 2 FIJI Water had made its strategy revolve around capturing international market opportunities and strongly positioning the brand in large and growing markets for bottled water.Conquering the U. S. Market The United States is the very first and important international market that FIJI Water launch ed. Due to its light mineralization, FIJI Water was characterized by a smooth taste and no aftertaste. The light mineralization also gave the water a clean, pure taste. Many U. S. consumers instantly liked the taste of the water and, having tried it, repurchased the product in preference to the more mineralized waters. Also the company continued to educate the consumer about main advantages over other bottled water brands. 3The successful marketing equation plays an important role in the product content. One of the important elements was packaging. The packaging is the first thing that comes to the customer’s eye. For many years, all bottles containing natural water were the same—round, with paper labels. Packaging, one of the most fundamental ways to differentiate a product, was not used as such a toll in bottled water markets. Over the last decade, both companies and consumers had discovered the power of packaging in bottled water brand positioning and imagery.Simila rly to packaging, FIJI Water’s price was higher than that of most brands offered to U. S. consumer; people all believe that a premium-price policy reinforced the product’s high-quality image. Another important factor that had contributed to FIJI Water’s success in the U. S. market was its distribution. Having good distributors was important in that it enabled the brand to be well placed in and readily available to the market. Building an image of the high quality, uniqueness and class of the product was another aspect of this successful marketing campaign.The successful launch of FIJI Water in the United States was attributed to a skilful marketing strategy and the high quality of the people who drove the initial marketing campaign. 4 The company made people believes that FIJI Water was much more than just pure, good-testing liquid; it was also a promise of good health, refinement, status, and exclusivity. It evoked images of unspoiled natural beauty and purity. It was a tropical paradise captured in a bottle. 2 â€Å"The Global Bottled Water Market. Report 2007,† Beverage Marketing Corporation, January 2008. www. fijiwater. com. 4 Paul Yavala, â€Å"Fiji Water Travels,† The Fiji Times, November 2000, P. 4. Relations with the FIJI Government The â€Å"negative† contribution to the local environment—Tax Issues Fiji Water appeared to provide little direct benefits to government revenue because of the tax-free status granted by earlier governments The success of FIJI Water was very evident to all citizens of Fiji as they observed the large number of trucks transporting containers of bottled water to the ports of Lautoka and Suva using the Queens highway.One could argue that the damage caused to the national roads and bridges by the huge number of heavily laden trucks carrying FIJI Water might have exceeded the road and fuel tax, and that the citizens of Fiji were subsidizing FIJI Water. Based on FIJI Water’s export levels, the new export tax would result in the company paying many millions to the government coffers. In 2006, FIJI Water exported 119,000,000 litres of bottled water to the United States. Appling a tax of 20-cents-per-litre, FIJI Water will be paying the government FJ$24 million just for its exports to one market. FIJI Water and the nine other companies immediately mounted a campaign against the new tax. They first threatened to cease production and to lay workers off. They argued that this sudden decision by the Cabinet was made without thorough analysis of the economic costs and benefits. They also pointed out that it would undermine the government’s economic development strategy that was based on increasing the level of investment and export-oriented growth. A critical issue was the likely impact of this new tax on both foreign and local investment.Behind the scenes, the bottlers were very active in seeking the support of the media and key decision makers, trade unions, village leaders and local chiefs as well as lobbying interim ministers and members of the Military Council. On July25, 2008, the Fiji government made an announcement that it had decided to drop the new tax. Immediately after the announcement of the repeal of the tax, the major bottled water-exporting companies resumed production and re-employed the hundreds of workers who had been laid off. 0 In November 2008, the Fiji government re-introduced the disputed water tax as part of the 2009 budget in a different form. It was called â€Å"water resource tax† and was progressive depending on the amount of water extracted. FIJI Water’s tax-free concession granted by the Fiji government for 13 years in 1995 came to an end in October 2008, and the company will be required to pay corporate tax in Fiji. The new water resource tax, although, much lower than the draconian 20-cents-a-litre excise, is nevertheless likely to erode the company’s profitability by adding ab out FJ$1 million to its costs every year.This is expected to coincide with a slow-down of growth or even stagnation of FIJI Water sales in its main markets due to the global recession. 5 FIRCA Press Release, July 21,2008, www,frca,org,fj/docs/firca/press_release/Press Release 21. 07. pdf Transfer Pricing In January 2008, the government became concerned that FIJI Water was engaging in transfer price manipulations, selling the water shipments produced in Fiji at a very low price to the company headquarters in Los Angeles.A press release by FIRCA, issued in January 2008, noted that FIJI Water had received advice from international law firm Baker ; McKenzie, which conducted an economic study on transfer pricing and declared what the company was doing in Fiji was fair. FIRCA rejected the claim by stating that: â€Å"FIRCA will not passively accept the verdict of Baker ; McKenzie without itself having access to the information on which same is based, and to the instructions on which same is based, and without the opportunity to conduct its own transfer pricing study based on such matters and upon the profitability of Natural Waters of Viti Limited. 6 Relations with the local community Establishing and maintaining good relations with the five neighboring Fijian villages that were the traditional landowners of the Yaqara basin, where the bottling plant was located is very important. FIJI Water had established an excellent work environment with good interpersonal relationships among the workforce. In other hand the company also supported children’s education, provided the pre-schools with equipment, educational material, teacher training and other support.In March 2002, the company voluntarily established an independently administrated community development trust fund and allocated FJ$275,000 to it. The Trust provided founds for developing the infrastructure, expertise and skills needed to supply clean, safe and sustainable water to more than 100 communities, s chools, health centers and nursing stations throughout Fiji. 7 Maintaining good relations with the Fiji government will be vital. A series of ads sponsored by FIJI Water, placed in the popular daily Fiji Times in late 2008 and early 2009, was focused on letting the public and the overnment knows how good a corporate citizen the company is. The ads highlighted FIJI Water’s contribution to creating new jobs, improving education and raising standards of living in Fiji. FIJI Water was making efforts to live up to its good corporate citizenship claim. But is it enough to dispel government officials’ and ordinary citizens’ doubts about FIJI Water’s positive contribution to the local economy and community? 6 â€Å"Press Release,† Fiji Islands Revenue ; Customs Authority, January 11, 2008, p. 3. 7 www. fijiwater. com

Chipotle Grill Case Study Essay

What does a SWOT analysis reveal about the attractiveness of Chipotle Mexican Grill’s situation and future prospects? There are a lot of things about Chipotle that have kept them successful in previous years. Opportunities and strengths depict that presently the company has a strong and positive image in its established markets which is mainly in the U.S., U.K. and Canada. Strong brand recognition drives the company. Customer loyalty allows a long-term positive impact to Chipotle, which enhances company value. Targeting a group who is health conscious, environment friendly and loves Mexican fast food keeps Chipotle on the forefront of success. Chipotle has an extensive line of nutritionally balanced menu items derived from both organic and naturally raised ingredients. This idea led to the concept of â€Å"Food with Integrity† (Gamble, Thompson, Jr., & Peteraf, 2015, p. 303). Chipotle’s reputation encases ethical and charitable standards along with healthy choice s for the consumer. Chipotle is â€Å"company-owned†, not a franchise so maintaining integrity is easier. Customers may choose to dine-in, take-out, and even order online to pick-up in the restaurant. These options have strengthened the company by offering convenience and availability to the customer. The brand also has a bright future in the untapped regions and with ample scope of introducing new food items in its menu. The creator of Chipotle came up with five core elements in which to base the strategy of the establishment: †¢Serving a focused menu †¢High quality, reasonably priced, convenient menu items †¢Operational efficiency †¢Friendly staff †¢Awareness and respect for the environment Chipotle’s Strategy Chipotle’s strategy is one of differentiation. Specific types of food that can be produced through local, environmentally conscious, farmers at an affordable price point is a primary goal. Offering natural food raised from local, organic vendors that customers respect yet still at an affordable, fast food price, creates a stand apart from the competition. Another way Chipotle differentiates from the competition is through human resource practices. People from all ethnicities are brought together to bridge cultural and linguistic gaps between both employees and customers. Chipotle  has a team dedicated to empowering, educating, and training employees to increase internal promotions, cultural sensitivity, and communication skills. The company prides itself on hiring from within and providing employees with opportunities to grow. The key element of Chipotle’s strategy is â€Å"Food with integrity† (Gamble, Thompson, Jr., & Peteraf, 2015, p. 303). Sourcing supplies from natural, organic, and sustainable, and environmentally friendly growers/producers is an essential strategy is maintaining market standing. Not many restaurant chains, if any, can say they are consistent in this practice, which makes Chipotle rise above the rest. More and more people are making the choice to choose to eat healthier which makes Chipotle an excellent choice and places them in a strategic place in the fast food industry. With more healthy choices than other fast food establishments such as Taco Bell, consumers are more likely to choose Chipotle. Another key element to the strategic plan is operating efficiently in an aesthetically pleasing environment. Even though it is fast food, Chipotle doesn’t offer a fast food setting when dining in. With a modern theme of bamboo or stained concrete flooring, pendulum lighting, and outdoor patios where available, Chipotle has reduced the cost of building and maintaining new establishments but still managed to keep the aesthetically pleasing, not-so-fast food ambiance. How does Chipotle Mexican Grill’s competitive strength compare against that of Taco Bell, Qdoba Mexican Grill, and Moe’s Southwest Grill? Chipotle is not as visibly prominent here in the South as it is in other states compared to Qdoba Mexican Grill, but more so than Moe’s Southwestern Grill. In recent months, Chipotle expanded into the Memphis area in the Poplar/I-240 area in a new shopping center near Target and Best Buy, surrounded by a variety of other restaurants and businesses. Chipotle, Qdoba, and Moe’s all strive for market presence by positioning themselves in areas convenient to shopping centers, in strip malls, and near business centers. They are equal in the â€Å"Employment Practices† category as all strive to promote from within and offer strict training and development programs focusing on expanded knowledge through certification processes. The differences that stand out, allowing Chipotle to excel strategically are in Customer Service, Menu Selection, and Quality. Chipotle prides itself on  having a genuine concern for the patron by hiring individuals from all walks of life and et hnicities. Whatever language a customer speaks, or ethnic background they are from, there is probably a Chipotle team member who can connect with them to walk them through the dining experience. Qdoba Mexican Grill and Moe’s Southwestern Grill have attempted to connect through customer service and experience but are not making as strong of a head wave as is Chipotle. There is truly a unique dining experience to talk about at Chipotle that draws patrons back for more. The menu selection at Chipotle consists of the highest quality natural and organic selections from local growers and farmers. Fresh sweet corn, organically grown cilantro, organic chili and pablano peppers, grass-fed beef, and free-range chicken are just a sampling of the examples of quality raw ingredients used by Chipotle Mexican Grill. Through high measurements of sustainability in sourcing of these raw ingredients to construction of each restaurant, Chipotle has easily earned a 10 in this category regardless of the price point associated with the final product. The quality of the food served at Chipotle is always above par. The cooking methods allow flavorful, robust, creations to be made in a short amount of time without damaging the integrity of the raw materials. Through consistent accuracy and quality measures, aesthetically pleasing plating is also displayed with each order, down to the containers in which to-go orders are placed. What does an analysis of the data in case Exhibit 1 reveal about Chipotle’s financial and operating performance? Financial201220112010 Asset Turnover1.6371.5921.637 Inventory Turnover179.4188.6189.7 Liquidity Quick Ratio1.8162.6021.873 Current Ratio2.9253.1833.301 Investments/Shareholders Earnings Per Share8.846.885.76 Profitability Gross Profit Margin27.1%26.0%26.7% Operating Profit Margin16.7%15.4%15.7% Net Profit Margin10.2%9.5%9.7% Return on Capital22.3%20.6%22.1% The inventory turnover ratio shows that they are able to turn over their inventory very quickly. The asset turnover ratio shows that they are able to convert their assets into sales. Their liquidity ratios are good because above 1 is good and above 2 is even better. Their Earnings Per Share show that the company is trending to increase profitability and their shareholders should see an increase in value. The profitability margins have been able to grow over the past years. The financial well being of Chipotle is stable and improving. Unless something drastic occurs, anticipating the rise in revenue and value years from now, a positive future will be in store for Chipotle. Key Strategic Issues Chipotle has many strengths that make it an attractive company but they also have some weaknesses. In recent years, competitors have started offering healthier menu options at lower price points. Taco Bell’s cantina menu is much like the Chipotle brand in which it offers more of a lighter southwestern flare than traditional Mexican dishes. The menu pricing at Chipotle is higher but is due much in part by the use of organic and natural selections, some of which are difficult to obtain in winter months. With difficult growing seasons across the United States, Chipotle may have to choose to change their menu in winter months. With limited menu items and ingredients that have price volatility it may not be a smooth establishment in new states and countries. Competitors are the largest threat to Chipotle. As previously stated, other fast food restaurants are adding lighter fare to their menu at a lower price that Chipotle. With the continued high costs of natural and organic menu o ptions, menu prices may have to change to keep margins stable. Another impact to the bottom line could be rising healthcare costs that may require a shift in employment for many restaurants. Chipotle has multiple opportunities to expand into other states as well as internationally. With locations in the District of Columbia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and France, Chipotle managers should be well versed in the workings of International business management. With expansion into other countries and the continued use of locally grown and raised staples, Chipotle would stand to make substantial profits in countries like  China and India. Adding ingredients indigenous to each local area would promote the brand customers have grown to admire. As restaurants like Taco Bell and On the Border sell their products in grocery stores, Chipotle could follow suite and add profit to their bottom line. Restaurants like Swanky’s Taco Shop have alcohol and beer on the menu, now so does Chipotle in some states. Continuing this growth in other states would be a plus for growth as well.

Essay about Medieval Warfare - 979 Words

The Medieval period was a time of noblemen who fought for love, honor, and country under a code of chivalry. Chivalry comes from the French word cheval, chivalry means someone who fights from horseback. The term also meant knighthood.(Matthews, Platt, Thomas p.234-235). In this period the nobility used war as a way to show their power and hold their status by being professional soldiers. There were also lots of soldiers from the lower classes who were led into battle under nobles. These soldiers fought for the nobleman to maintain their safety and land. The soldiers rode into battle on their horses in full armor with weapons drawn ready to defeat their enemies one by one. They laid siege castles for weeks and months at a time until the†¦show more content†¦There were also larger weapons used to do damage to buildings and walls called siege weapons. Among these weapons were trebuchets which were throwing machines and springalds which would launch large projectiles at fortifie d walls (Prestwich p. 287). Now that we know what weapons were being used, it is time to look at the tactics that were involved. The archers, foot soldiers, and cavalry all had to work together in order to make the battle go right. The army would be broken down into three formations of which cavalry, foot soldiers, and archers were separated to attack at different times (Verbruggen p.209). Each of these ranks of soldiers have their own job in the battle. The archers would usually start the battle and try to cause a break in the enemys infantry formation. Once there was a break in formation the infantry men would attack the lines of the enemy until the breaks in formation got larger. Finally the cavalry men would come in on horses and wreak havoc on the enemys infantry. The battle must be fought like this because if the infantry was to advance first they would meet the other infantry, and if the archers then fired they would be more likely to injure their own troops. Or if the Cavalr y was to charge first they would be met by the opposing infantrys poleaxes and Halberds, thus killing their horses. A quick retreat was also a cause for lots of deaths in medieval battles, because while the winning sides infantry was still attacking their cavalryShow MoreRelatedMedieval Warfare and the Medieval Weapons Used701 Words   |  3 PagesMedieval Warfare And The Weapons Used Back in the middle ages the world was a completely different place, full of dangers around every corner such as cutthroats and thugs, thieves, and sneaky killers, our world today still has dangers such as those, though they may not be as plentiful, they are definitely as dangerous if not worse. So this is where we shall start to get lost into a barrage of info on medieval warfare, and the weapons used in the battles fought during this age. During the time fromRead MoreMedieval Warfare And The Middle Ages1142 Words   |  5 PagesDuring the Middle Ages, particularly 1200 – 1500 CE, medieval warfare was prominent within society. Medieval warfare is the warfare of the Middle Ages. In Europe, technological, cultural, and social developments had forced a dramatic transformation in the character of warfare from antiquity, changing military tactics and the role of cavalry and artillery. 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Binge Drinking Is An Amount Of Time - 1091 Words

Binge drinking could be identified into various definitions or how would an individual interpret it. As for s for college students would define it as a way to drink non-stop, just for fun, or excessively drinking until drunk. Binge drinking can be interpreted in a scientific form, like NIAAA defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels to 0.08 g/dL. This typically occurs after 4 drinks for women and 5 drinks for men—in about 2 hours. (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism). It would overheat between both gender, males and females as to how is alcohol being consumed in an amount of time. Researchers came to a conclusion, what binge drinking is being defined as to how much alcohol is being consumed, variables towards it, cause and effect, and etc. Furthermore, on to the text, would provide how studies can be tested/experienced to get the given information one is seeking for. Study designs, are procedures on how an individual would engage to gather their data. There are two types of design studies, one is the cross-sectional approach and a longitudinal study approach. The cross sectional approach is a study based on observations representing a single point in time. In comparison, with a longitudinal approach would be a study design that involves in collecting data at different points in time. On my own perspective, would like to access by collecting my data through longitudinal study. To get a betterShow MoreRelatedBinge Drinking On College Campuses1459 Words   |  6 PagesMr. Paul October 28, 2014 Binge Drinking On College Campuses Over the past few years, there has been this big debate about whether the drinking age should be lowered to 18 or if it should stay at 21. Those in favor of lowering the drinking age to 18 argue that someone who is old enough to serve their country should be allowed to have a drink. 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Health Insurance Exchanges Essay - 997 Words

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act stipulates that all states must have a health insurance exchange in place by 2014 or the residents of that state will have the option to enroll through a federal health insurance exchange. A health insurance exchange aims to provide competitive prices and transparency to those who are currently unable to afford health care coverage and for some businesses. It is seen as a step towards universal health coverage. [1] A predecessor of the health insurance exchange as outlined but the PPACA is the exchange in Massachusetts, which is entitled the Connector. Connector provides information on name brand health insurance options as well as information on Commonwealth Care, the no or low cost health†¦show more content†¦However this was adjusted to have individual state health insurance exchanges and if one is not put into place by 2014 the residents would still have the option to use the federal health insurance exchange. There was c oncern that with the smaller health insurance exchanges that there would be smaller risk pools of eligible people for the exchanges and the targeted effect of lower costs would not be obtained. With the individual states owning control of the exchanges there is better connection to the Medicaid options that would be connected to the exchange and the negotiations with the insurance companies could be more effective as well. [1] When thinking about how one currently attempts to shop for a personal health care plan it is frustrating to jump from website to website, or if one can find a site that compares more than one plan the plans are limited and the companies are few. 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Doctor Dolittle Theatre Review Essay Example For Students

Doctor Dolittle Theatre Review Essay Along with my year eleven drama group I attended the opening night of the Manchester Palace Theatre professional production Dr Dolittle. The trip took place on Monday 5th November and featured Tommy Steele; a relatively famous actor. The production was based on the books written by Hugh Lofting rather than the Hollywood film featuring Eddie Murphy; yet the novel was adapted for the stage and re-written by Lesley Bricas. Through having only watched the Hollywood film and not experiencing the original version I had some preconceptions which were extremely incorrect. I had expected a more classic and sophisticated musical rather than a larger than life, pantomimesque melodrama! This brings me to a comparison with another production I previously saw at the venue; it was named One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest a more convincing and emotional piece, I shall use the production as a brief contrast to Dr Dolittle highlighting its strengths in order to emphasize the aspects in Dr Dolittle that could be improved. The onstage production of Doctor Dolittle is an amalgam of overacting berserk ideas it casts larger than life characters, extravagant costumes and a very clever use of the stage; this combined creates a fun; ridiculous, yet entertaining musical!  Despite being written in the 1930s and 1940s Hugh Lofting set his novel in the Victorian era. Placed against the backdrop of the conservative, prudish Victorian characters the ideas seem even more ridiculous; the novelist had no political agenda he simply had a farfetched and eccentric humor that resulted in the creation of some extremely entertaining novels. The Dr. Dolittle novel in particular was greatly inspired by the writers adoration for animals he imputed into this an immeasurable abundance of his vivid imagination which brought alive the storyline itself. The plot concerns Mr. Dolittle, an extraordinary and eccentric Doctor who cares more about animals than his human patients! The Doctor lives in the country with his dog, Jip, his parrot Polynesia, his pig, GubGub, his duck, DabDab, his monkey, CheeChee, and an owl, TooToo. He soon discovers through Polynesia that it is indeed possible to communicate with animals! Polynesia teaches him for years the languages of several animals enabling him to interact with hundreds of various species. One of these many species is the lobster, he decides to learn this language in order to communicate with the undersea creatures; he wants to do so because he plans a voyage across the ocean in search of the Giant Sea snail! He planned also that on his voyage he would discover the North Pole, the simple fact that at this period of time the North Pole was not yet discovered by anyone was in-keeping with the unrealistic nature of the play; we were indeed forced to suspend reality! Before he could venture off he needed make enough money to fund his voyage, through this some adventures in themselves are createdhe becomes friends with a one of a kind animal the Pushmi-pullyu a peculiar looking beast with two heads! Following this there are many obstacles in his way, some of which being his prison sentence and an overpowering shipwreck! Despite this he finally finds what he seeks! Though the doctors interaction with animals is the main theme there is another key element upon which the play centers; this being his developing relationship with the young lady Miss Fairfax their connection is one that certainly proves opposites do attract! The pair seem worlds apart yet are drawn together by their differences. The play ends on an exceedingly unrealistic note, the doctor travels to his home town dangled by a lunar moth to over rule the court after protesting the allowance of conversation between humans and animals! .u33054808b93d1fc558b1786229c7c607 , .u33054808b93d1fc558b1786229c7c607 .postImageUrl , .u33054808b93d1fc558b1786229c7c607 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u33054808b93d1fc558b1786229c7c607 , .u33054808b93d1fc558b1786229c7c607:hover , .u33054808b93d1fc558b1786229c7c607:visited , .u33054808b93d1fc558b1786229c7c607:active { border:0!important; } .u33054808b93d1fc558b1786229c7c607 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u33054808b93d1fc558b1786229c7c607 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u33054808b93d1fc558b1786229c7c607:active , .u33054808b93d1fc558b1786229c7c607:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u33054808b93d1fc558b1786229c7c607 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u33054808b93d1fc558b1786229c7c607 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u33054808b93d1fc558b1786229c7c607 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u33054808b93d1fc558b1786229c7c607 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u33054808b93d1fc558b1786229c7c607:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u33054808b93d1fc558b1786229c7c607 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u33054808b93d1fc558b1786229c7c607 .u33054808b93d1fc558b1786229c7c607-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u33054808b93d1fc558b1786229c7c607:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Kathleen Chalfant - an angel with six faces EssayGenerally I found the performance of the cast to be rather poor and lacking in commitment. I feel that only two characters Tommy Stubbins played by the lady Joanna Forest and Chief Straight Arrow played by experienced film and music producer Ako Mitchell managed to hold their character perfectly throughout, they were both cast very well as the pair together were suited in their roles and performed to an immense standard. From my perspective Tommy Stubbins appeared as the most committed and talented actor on stage. Straight Arrow was a great exaggerated character, Tommy Steele told jokes that crushed the success of the play y et Straight Arrow was really funny and gave the performance some witty humor! I found Tommy Steele; the gentleman playing the main role of Dr. Dolittle wasnt at all professional unlike the characters mentioned above lacked commitment greatly. He along with his costar who was playing Miss Emma Fairfax moved the pace of the play too quickly; lines were rushed and although some nerves are expected on an opening night these shouldnt show in a professional performance. When on the subject of Miss Fairfax there was a part at the start of the production where she was angry at Dr. Dolittle she said the line He is nothing more than a quack the actress Abigail Jaye who played Emma Fairfax attempted to show her frustration through hand gestures yet her actions and facial expressions were so unbelievable that she just appeared to be completely fake and unprofessional! Bryan Smyth who played Matthew Mugg was another whom was guilty of dragging the performance down with his amateur skills and inefficiency when it came to withstanding character! Matthewss role was as a close companion of the doctor yet in the stage sense he was to act as a narrator of the performance keeping the audience informed of key events in the storyline. His use of the stage and his facial expressions were indeed convincing yet it was his speech skills that destroyed the role. When on the subject of assessing his vocals Bryan Smyth performed at a highly mediocre standard; he constantly would slip through accents; the accent he was meant to sustain was the Irish accent I would have thought that for him this would be easy as he was born In Dublin yet he just couldnt keep in role. This for me was incredibly noticeable as I am sure it would be for other members of the audience. This flaw in the character proved to me that either he wasnt fully concentrated or he wasnt capable of performing in the role of Matthew Mugg his speech was immensely distracting and disconnected me from the points he was actually trying to get across to the audience.

MCI communication free essay sample

Background of Company MCI communication corporation was a telecommunication company found in 1963. In the beginning the business plan of MCI was to build up a group of microwave relay stations that allow limited-range two-way radios signal to transfer. Which means providing long distance telecommunications. In 1971, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allowed those long distance companies compete and try to break out ATT’s monopoly telephone service in the U. S. MCI wanted to grow further, however the ATT did not want to provide interconnection services which MCI needed. As a result, MCI sued ATT in 1974 and later won the law suit and FCC force ATT to provide service to MCI , thus MCI continue its construction on its own network build. Before 1974, MCI was not profit too much but is all change based on their successful business strategy, knew as â€Å"Execunet† service they offer affordable service to those customers who could not afford ATT’s service. We will write a custom essay sample on MCI communication or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page MCI successfully attracted small business user and residential to use their services. Due to that success strategy MCI turning to very profitable. Because of that, MCI saw a really high potential growth opportunity that could bring the company to a different level. However, they find out the need more funds and capital to support the growth. ATT is MCI’s major competitor. And ATT break up its business , ATT now compete with MCI in the local telephone business, the means MCI must rise their rate in the local business, but at same time ATT left a big cake on its market share that MCI could toke from them. SWOT analysis Before ATT break up, MCI has strengths on its Execunet service, and fairly lower charge in their local network services. Their weakness is short of capital and market shares which control by ATT. Their opportunities was growth execunet services. They also face threats such as competition from ATT. Before ATT break out: Some of the SWOT analysis have changed after ATT break up. Now their strengths beside execunet service is their high stock value and large amount of cash on hand. Their weaknesses are still lack of investment capital and market share. But they do have opportunities on take over ATT’s market share, also their interest coverage ratio is high. The threats they are facing is great competition from ATT and other firms. After ATT break out: Financial strategy and Analysis At beginning MCI was a very risk company, and like all other high risk company, MCI had high interest rate to cover its high risk. They offer a put warrants on their stock shares to get loans from investors. They also use a tax loss to deduct their tax amount when the success Execunt strategy to kick in. This strategy generated a great amount of revenue. Another way to rise fund for MCI is by selling its convertible preferred stock. Preferred stock is a very safe investment tool, it offer investors dividend and at same time allow them to convert to common stock in a certain conversion rate. By issue these convertible preferred stock, MCI can not only rise capital, but also keep the high value on its common stock. The dividend paid to investor can also become a tax shield due to MCI still carry forward tax losses. Another great use of convertible prefer stock is that MCI can call a provision and investors need to convert their shares to common stock, this action can keep the cash flows tie. MCI can issue preferred stock and convert to common stock later. MCI took lot of debt to get more capital they need, but the good thing is they are very profitable, and their stock is in very high value, and continued to grow. This would easily to cover their interest from the debt. This is a very risk move, by taking debt to leverage the company and then issue convertible prefer stock and convert it to common stock and take debt again. Because if the company is not growing, they will not be able to cover its interest payment. The manager value more fund over the risk of high interest payment. It turns out they are correct in this action. However, in the future, they have to rethink of their position to continue be competitive and growing. The company have a current 55-60% debt in their capital structure, I think although this level can keep their growth, but for the long term they need to find a better way to rise fund and hopefully reduce their debt to 40% in the future. With lower debt ratio, company could be a better position when they are not growth as fast as they were before. MCI were facing great competition from ATT and other new entry companies. Four options for MCI in 1983 to rising capital According to Exhibit 6 on the case, in the 1983, the stock price is $43 on March. In the option A: $400 Million common stock. Although this option could raise $400 million cash to the company, but more shares issue may cause the current stock price fall, that would damage the current share holder, and the same time the market value of equity will rise lead to the cost of equity increase, thus this is not a very good option if there is another choose. The next option B: $500 million of 12. 5% 20 year subordinated debentures, this option gives $100 million surplus over the option A, however, MCI ‘s debt ratio is already very high, and if the company stop growing very fast it could lead some serious cash flow issue to the company, as the result, this is not a good option too. The option C: $600 million convertible at 7. 625% over 20 years with conversion at 54 per share. This option give $600 million cash which is $100 million higher than option B, at same time the interest rate is much lower than 12. % in option B, and this is an advantage. Also, the company can convert is once the price reach $54 from the $43(April 1983). If is a very good option, MCI can take this deal and convert it from debt to equity once the price hit $54, by doing this, MCI can reduce their debt and satisfy their need of capital to growth. The final option D: $1 billion of a unit package consisting of a $1000 of 7. 5 %, 10 year subordinated debenture and 18. 18 warrants, each entitling the holder to purchase one share of MCI common stock for $55. This option gives MCI the greatest amount of cash over all other option, and also with the lowest interest. Beside that, the warrant in this option gives company a way to covert early by the warrant( if stock price reach $55). That provides the company more liquidity. So all in all, the option D is the best option that manager should take for MCI. Recommend Finance step to MCI MCI has been very profitable, how every they are facing more competition and opportunities especially after the ATT break out. They need a lot of fund to continue growth and take more market shares, so they should do exactly they been doing in the past, which is taking debt and covert it to equity( common stock) and take new debt. However, because they are very profitable , they should decrease their debt level and maintain in a certain level if the stock price keep going in the right direction. By doing this, they can get enough capital and catch the potential growth opportunities.