Market planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Market planning - Essay Example For our marketing, we will adopt an Integrated Marketing Communication where all types of marketing tools that is sales promotions, advertisements, direct marketing, below the line activities as well as internet marketing are all synchronized so that there lies no conflict amongst any of them and consumers get the right image in their minds of a purely hygienic and light weight chips. Tyrrell’s Company is re-introducing its CREX light and crispy chips which are not only delicious but available at cheap rates. The company aims not only to increase sales but to enhance customer equity. Our move is to increase recognition especially amongst teenage population of United Kingdom. We also aim to improve our brand image by showing other that in our attempt to sell low fat goods we are showing our environmental friendly and caring attitude towards the people who can fall a prey to obesity. We as a â€Å"TYRELL CHIPS COMPANY† are ambitious to provide our customers the best quality of food at an affordable price. We believe in long term buyer-customer relationship and continue to adapt ourselves to the changing customers needs. Marketing Objectives should have three characteristics of being specific, measurable and should be achievable.(Small Business notes,2009) We plan to increase sales of our low calorie baked potato chips â€Å"Crex† to the teenage group in United Kingdom. With this regard we seek to remind consumers of our product by conveying to them our Unique Selling Proposition and as a result expect sales to increase by 10% in 9 months. Majority of various food manufacturers are in a struggle to produce low calorie products as pressurized by the UK government which stresses on to reduce obesity amongst children.(Red Orbit 2007) .A 10.6% share is held by the bakery products segment in which low-fat potato crisps have a lead. Hence, most of the companies use corn and rice based products to increase dietary element and reduce any chance of gaining

Case of the Rewired Supply Chain Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Of the Rewired Supply Chain - Case Study Example The inventory problems are exacerbated by the fact that communication is disorganized and may not consist of real time communications. This lack of real time information is particularly problematic in an industry where inventory moves quickly. This lack of real time information sharing can increase supply cost unnecessarily. For example, a plant running short of supplies may communicate this shortfall to headquarters while another plan with excessive supplies may not communicate the excessive supplies to headquarters on time or too late to have any benefit to the business. As a result, the business is bound to purchase supplies for the plant that has a shortfall and increase inventory unnecessarily when the same supplies are available at another plant. To this end, it has been reported in the literature that real time information serves two primary purposes: processing an order to the customer’s satisfaction and sharing inventory data â€Å"quickly† throughout the supply chain (Cachon & Fisher, 2000). Relying on information exchanges between the four plants and headquarters through facsimile and email communications have proven to be inadequate for facilitating real time information sharing objectives. There is significant room for improvement through information technology which allows for the sharing of information between the four plants and headquarters â€Å"quickly and inexpensively† (Cachon & Fisher, 2000, p. 1032). The use of facsimile and email information sharing between the four plants and headquarters is complicated by the confusing reporting system adopted by the staff at headquarters. Information technology can be adopted for resolving all of these problems and especially the problem with forecas ting and planning. A lack of coordinated and shared metrics for measuring inventory and manufacturing process and effectiveness is also problematic. This is especially important for management at headquarters

Leadership: An Islamic Perspective

Leadership: An Islamic Perspective Is it they who would portion out the Mercy of your Lord? It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood in the life of this world: and We raise some of them above others in ranks so that some may command work from others. But the Mercy of your Lord is better than the (wealth) which they amass'(Quran, Zukhruuf, 43: 32). Leadership is about developing, nurturing and motivation skills and talent among people who are motivated towards working for a common goal for the organization working towards attaining an objective that people collectively seek out to attain. The term leadership is often broadly classified into two primary nodes, that of holistic leadership and also that of entrepreneurship. Leadership is looked upon as a means of motivating and guiding people in a manner and direction that is well prepared and planned such that it is in the best interest of the organization in the long term. Leadership is basically and broadly speaking, making a change for the betterment of the organization. The main objective, looking at a broader horizon and speaking entirely from the perspective of humans itself, is to be able to achieve and get for others happiness (al falah) not only in this world but also afterword (dual worldview). To attain the maximum possible output expected out of a leader, it is important to maintain a thorough obedience and sincerity in the fullest possible sense to the Shariah. Also, a leader is always required to be able to act in a way and in accordance to how the Allah and His Prophet would have him behave. Amanah, Taklif and Masuliyyah respectively mean trust, responsibility and accountability in that order, and these are qualities and principles to guide a leader in his quest. Because of the qualities desired in a leader, as well as the responsibilities that he is expected to fulfil, The Prophet Muhammad is considerable and unarguably the greatest ever leader in the history of our times. Thus, the leader is one of the most important members in any organization. In this era when the Muslims of the world are experiencing and undergoing what could be called as renaissance, more and more leaders from the Muslim community rise up, and assume larger roles at a global level. It becomes extremely imperative for the people of the world, including Non-Muslims as well, to acknowledge this fact. Most importantly, certain aspects of leadership incorporated into the religion of Islam and best epitomised by the Great Prophets, need to be understood and examined. In the Islamic context, leadership basically means to guide an organization towards success and the achievement of the common goal, and to create a system where there is happiness, or al falah, for everybody. It is befitting here to recount some of the great and exemplary qualities which some of the greatest Muslim leaders of all times have displayed and possessed- Adl-Justice ( to be impartial, fair and just) Marefah-Knowledge Tadhhiya-Self Sacrifice ( which involves putting others before oneself when required) Sabr-Patience A suitable leader is one who works in accordance with the values and moral base prescribed by Allah, the Merciful. Problem Statement The issue at hand is to deeply study the leadership in the Islamic world, and also in general, and to then present an analysis and a brief view of the all the aspects of leadership viewed in the Islamic perception. The rationale from which the objectives of this study stem is that leadership in the Islamic perspective is productive for the society, and is unknown in a major part of the world. Even though studies have been made into this area, a huge number of Muslims as well as Non-Muslims are unaware of this notion and its aspects. Furthermore, the problem has been extended to study the managerial aspects of Islamic leadership, and delve especially into the area of the aspects of management and its importance in leading as viewed and perceived in the Islamic context. Objectives The primary aim of the study is to get an overview, and then subsequently analyse, leadership from the Islamic point of view. After defining leadership, both in the general and Islamic religious context, the objective is chiefly to elaborate upon how the Muslims of the world have attempted to define leadership from a religious and ethical angle. Henceforth, Managerial Leadership has been specifically delved into, which has been followed by an elaboration that accentuates the main aspects of Islamic leadership. Since few studies have been done in this area, the reason behind the choice of this specific and particular objective is clear. Moreover, a genuine attempt has been made to identify and judge the fundamental aspects, principles and attitudes of Islamic leadership. To particularly zoom into the area of leadership of the managerial kind is also an aim which has been sought to achieve. Following this and extrapolating the results, we wish to been in a position to be able to see an d locate some of the differences that come up when we compare Islamic leadership with that of the Western world, and the purpose is also to define leadership and power in a concrete way. Importance and Significance Islam as a religion and as an ideology also, in certain ways, defines a good leader. The Holy Book Quran suggests and makes practical suggestions for the qualities that must be there in a leader so as to result in an effective leadership, in a political or societal background. Moreover, since these days the Muslim idea of leadership seems to have faded away, with its replacement with Western ideas, studies like these can help in reviving the idea of proper leadership and society. Such a study which endeavours to gain an insight into the Islamic perspective is not only important; it is extremely significant in many ways. Since it is known that till date not much research has been done in the area of management-leadership from the Islamic viewpoint, it will be useful to know and give the reader the impetus, along with the necessary rationale explaining its significance, about how leadership is defined in Islam, and especially how managerial leadership is viewed. In addition, since the knowledge interconnections between Islam and modern-day leadership may prove to be useful in many way, such as to implement them practically, this study becomes all the more significant and crucial. It has been noticed by great and erudite Muslim scholars that often Muslim leaders tend to ignore the religion of Islam and what it recommends where decision-making on practical issue is the matter of concern. Furthermore, the most proper followers of Islam, for instance the Sheikhs, only play a role in the society limited to spiritual or religious concerns. Thus, this study aims to resuscitate the idea of ethics, which is already been on the rise recently in the modern era, in the view of Islam. As more and more democracies emerge in the world, and the global map of power changes, people have been found to increasingly choose Islam, as a result of which, the Muslim community is rapidly growing, and Islam one of the fastest growing religions of the world. Hence, the importance and signif icance of the study increases manifold. As global status and power is achieved by competent Muslims individually, as well as Muslim-majority countries, it is imperative to understand the kind of leadership that takes form at the much higher level, since it can have far-reaching and huge consequences and repercussions. Hypothesis The hypothesis stated is that Islamic perspective, and more essentially, the Islamic way of leadership is beneficial to the society. To draw up the differences between Western and Islamic leadership, and hence to characterize Islamic leadership, which entails in the course of this study, to analyse and present the traits of a good Islamic leader is also a task. It is to be gravely considered that leadership in the Islamic context has to been emphasized in the Muslim community. As more and more Muslims rise up to the global level and achieve great heights in all spheres, leadership is an integral part of their day-to-day work. Hence, for Muslim leaders to properly, ethically and effectively play their part as frontrunners in various companies and organizations, the idea of leadership from the Islamic perspective needs to be disseminated, and known. In addition to this, the hypothesis on which this study has been premised involves a much ideological facet; that of the question whether leadership and power go hand in hand and to what extent, and whether the entailing authority is justified. Questionnaire First and foremost, it has to be understood that the questionnaire designed should be in a way which is easy to fill out, and not time-consuming. Since the subjects involved in the study could be many, it greatly helps to understand regional aspects and effects on the attitudes and responses towards such a study. Thus, it must first be known about the general Muslim communitys opinion, notion and formulation of leadership. The different ways of how a leader could be perceived in different parts and among different sections of the Muslim society also matters crucially. Some of the important questions which could potentially be included in the list- Do you think its important for your leader to have a deep knowledge of the Shariah? Is it absolutely necessary for the manager or the leader to look into the sources of the Islamic jurisprudence (Quran, Hadith and so on) or can the leader, at times, make use of his own judgement and conscience and make decisions? Is perfectly living by the Quran strict and compulsory? Do you think the Western philosophy of leadership differs greatly from the Islamic perspective? What is the first quality that you think a leader must have? Do you think leadership requires scholarly knowledge of religion? Does a great leader always make a good manager? In your opinion, what does leadership mean more-position or action? Rate the qualities in the leader on a scale of 1-10. (The rating should be proportional to the intensity of its requirement) Dignity Ethical competence Organization capability Initiative taker Problem Solver and Visionary Accountability or Answerability Skills related to motivation, team-building, etc. Shura (Consulting with team-mates/people during decision-making) Independence of thought Justice Do you think power and authority are same? Yes or No. In addition to this, we may add many more questions which could help us gain an insight into specific areas like managerial leadership, educational leadership, etc. Providing the subjects with enough spaces for responses, particularly in questions which require descriptive answers must be taken care of. Methodology This study is primarily desk-based and whatever research has been carried out in order for the researchers to come to a conclusion has mainly been library-oriented. This study has mainly been put to the structure such that it could be perceived in light of the objectives of the research. The methodology used in this particular research work was qualitative in nature. The conclusions driven were based on tight facts and the entire essence of the survey was in gathering information from sources that contained explanations as well as descriptions that were well grounded and thorough pertaining to local contexts. Some of these question that were put forward to various leaders and entrepreneurs were open-ended, so as to leave scope for multiple answers and not demand or be suggestive of requiring specific answers. Semi-structured interviews that were face to face were beneficial and extremely consequential in collecting qualitative data. When a need was felt for more clarification on cert ain questions, non-directive questions were asked as a follow up. The main aim and added advantage of face to face interviews is that this gives an opportunity to be able to obtain information that is very crude and applicable to the real life scenario and the ground reality, in addition to providing information that may not otherwise be so detailed and informative through media. The key significance and advantage of semi-structured interviews on the other hand is that this enables the researcher to have a better in-depth understanding of the concepts that are being surveyed, in addition to the fact that being present physically enables the researcher to develop and share a healthy rapport with the source of the information. Also, in addition to obtaining and recording data merely from what is said and conveyed by the person being interviewed alone, in a face to face interview, there is scope for collecting and assessing other kinds of data as well, for instance, that of trying to g et visual cues, making behavioural observations and recording the instant reactions of the persons being interviewed when they are asked a question. Also, in a face to face interview, there is greater scope and probability of getting an adequate response as compared to preparing a questionnaire for the person to answer. The researchers are the primary tools and instrument for all kinds of collection and analysis of all the various kinds of data that is available. Conclusion The most important conclusion to be drawn is the basic characteristics of the Islamic leadership can now be defined in a definite way. A true Muslim leader is most importantly a follower of Allah, and all of his deeds and actions and driving factors are sanctioned by Allahs message and the teachings of the Prophets. Furthermore, most significantly, we see that Islamic leadership skills are most relevant in the present day time, when it becomes necessary to have the appropriate skills for leading and managing. Hence, a leader not only works for the interested of the group or organization, but also for the broader achievements of Islam and the betterment of the Muslim community. The quality of self-sacrifice sets apart Islamic leaders from other leaders of the world, and leadership qualities recommended in Islam are the most useful for any leader. Also, the success of the organization depends considerably on the teamwork and efforts from the group as a whole. We are also able to compar e Western leaders with Islamic ones. Foremost, an Islamic leader bears allegiance to Allah, whereas no allegiance is sworn by Western leaders. As against their counterparts, the knowledge of shariah, Islamic system is required for an effective Islamic leader to play his role. Only profit-making is the primary concern for the Western leaders, whereas Islam recommends strongly that loss-sharing during difficult times must be a quality in the leader. Furthermore, most importantly the difference which is extremely relevant to the business organizations of the present-day world is the issue where the executive manager has, though only in certain circumstances, total power and right to command his subordinates, who as a consequence of his authority have to obey him. Putting this in the Islamic perspective, and linking it with the concept of shura, which implies mutual interpersonal consultation during crucial decision-making times, this does not conform to Islam. Absolute authority is opp osed and denounced, no matter what the situation, in Islam. Some of the most significant results that emerged were involved with the fact that even Muslims in the Arabic world had a vague idea and poor awareness of the way Islamic leaders are meant to be, and the way Islam provides for leadership quality recommendations which are all-encompassing. Where specifically the area of management is concerned, the Islamic model of leadership comes to pertinence. It fundamentally includes Leaders, followers and the organization, and require the leaders to have full faith in Allah after making any decision, and the followers to actively participate and work towards the success of the organization. This model was based on the rationale that leadership designs differ in the Islamic world, where the discernment of the idea of leadership is inclined more towards the betterment of the Muslim community as a whole, rather than just the material achievements. Hence, it becomes necessary to redefine l eadership when the context changes, as in this case-Islamic. Research Design The research done during the carrying out of the study basically revolves around fundamental literature related to the concept of leadership in Islam. Moreover, it is enhanced by the study of various other studies that have been made in the recent past as an attempt to put the notion of leadership in an Islamic context and present it to the world. Hence, after briefly reading the literature that concerned with principles, qualities and traits of a leader as recommended by Islam, the objective was set to find out whether the idea was existed, and if it did, to what extent was it well formulated, in the minds of Muslims as well as Non-Muslims. Browsing various other studies, and going through blogs over the internet served well in knowing what ideas and opinions Muslims in the Arabic world held relevant to leadership. The design basically included a group of subjects who were given the questionnaire. Interpretation of the responses is always subjective in these cases, and hence there c an be more than one possible result. The questions designed were not only restricted to what appeared significant and important after carrying out a thorough literature review, but also on the chief aim to know about leadership. The subjects were not obliged to disclose their identity, as to avoid any sort of bias at all.

Robert Siricos Samaritans Dilemma :: essays research papers

In the essay Samaritan’s Dilemma, Robert Sirico claims that charity is not always helpful to society. He implies that some people take advantage of others kindness, in this case, soup kitchens. To support his claim, Sirico told a story of when he was training to be a priest. He states that each Friday he would help set up and serve a free meal to those in need, usually 200 to 500 people. One Friday after the meal, he and a friend cleaned up then went to a seafood pub just down the street. While eating the two men realized that the soup kitchen they had just finished working at was competition to the seafood pub and other surrounding restaurants. They realized that their charity was making it harder for other entrepreneurs to make a living and provide for their families. Sirico basically states that when people are waited on â€Å"hand and foot† they become more dependant on others, therefore, making it even harder for them to get out of poverty. He also implies that giving â€Å"handouts† to people encourages laziness. He says, â€Å"When charity creates a disincentive for an able-bodied person to work, it leads this person down the wrong path. It encourages indolence. Real work provides the individual with the vehicle for a productive and virtuous life. It gives a person self esteem and a role to play in society.† The support he uses does not help his case, though. For example, the comparison Sirico makes of the soup kitchen to a seafood pub is irrelevant. He states, "Just a block away we provide a product and a service that make this man's effort to provide for his own family more difficult.† A soup kitchen and a seafood pub are not comparable. The pub has the intention to make money, whereas a soup kitchen is not interested in money. Soup kitchens are there for the purpose of people who cannot afford to eat at other places. The speaker never states the prices or quality of food at the pub. This information would help the reader recognize the similarities and differences between the two. Sirico fails to mention the other restaurants that are also the pub owner's competition. Surrounding restaurants may be taking business from the pub, not the soup kitchen. In addition, Sirico uses insufficient personal experience to suggest that people are taking advantage of charity. After observi ng people coming to the soup kitchen, Sirico noticed a couple that "told me they needed to eat quickly because they were planning to go shopping after dinner.

Native American View of the European Essay

Native American view of the European The Native American’s culture was extremely different from the culture of the Europeans. Both had different traditions and way of life, everything from the clothing they wore, the food that they ate and the different gods that they worship. All was an influence from how they have adapted to their environment and to the other people around them. The very foundation of both cultures was so distinctive that war and chaos was sure to come. Throughout history war and conflict had been started over things such as skin color, religion and way of living, all because both side had a different culture or beliefs. That the difference in the culture was what started the demise of the Native American. The culture of the Native American was inferior to the Europeans, in that they didn’t have the knowledge in science and the advance in weaponry that gave the European an advantage over them. â€Å"The white men despise and cheat the Indians† (Tecumseh 557). That they kept taking advantage of the Indians kindness and took more and more of the Indians’ lands until they had taken over the whole country. Forcing the Indians onto reservation and limited their movement to that amount of space. This later cause some of the settlers to have fear the Indians as they saw them moving about following the buffalo and other herds of animals they use as their food supply. They view the Indians as a threat and try to keep them under control by forcing them into further west toward the Great Plains where they were not use to the terrain and the surrounding. Everything the Native American did was from what they had known from their way of life. The European had wars with other countries for territory and power. That all over Europe countries were finding and grabbing colonies to find gold and gain more power over the surrounding countries. There was no different with the land that the Native American had. While the Native American only fought wars if they had a conflict that could not be resolve any other way. That the Native American â€Å"cultivates peace at home, and promotes†¦ happiness† (Ganter). The Native American had no knowledge of the world beyond their borders. That seeing the white men causes them to be in awe for they had never seen anyone beside other tribes. Both sides had their own was of  interacting with the other. The first contact they had with each other later affect how their relationship was going to be. The Native America chose to â€Å"shared freely with [the European] whatever the Great Sprit had given† (Tecumseh 556) them. That the â€Å"different complexions and different customs† (Red Jacket 554) meant nothing as they saw other men in need of aid and guidance of how to survive in such a place. The European â€Å"were ready to perish in the wilderness† (Bradford 53) if the Native American have not come to their aid. That the European had accepted the aid and then turn on the generous people that had helped them in a world completely new to them. That later the European became a â€Å"poisonous snake†¦and they sting their benefactor to death† (Tecumseh 556). That the European took advantage over the kind Native American that had greeted them with welcome and had help them in their first year in the wilderness. A major factor in the destruction of the Native Americans was their different belief and way of worship. The European looks down on the Native American polytheist religion. Also the way they worship by dancing and doing their powaws. The Native American were being force to convert to Christianity by the Europeans. The Native Americans question the European way of thinking. The European has escape from their native country to â€Å"enjoy their religion† (Red Jacket 554) and have religious freedom. Then why are you trying to force the Native Americans to covert? Are you not acting like those who have oppressed your back in your native land? The Europeans idea of religion was skewed and imperfect in the eyes of the Native Americans. That there was â€Å"one religion, why do you white people differ so much† (Red Jacket 554). The variation in the religion of the European was odd and inconsistent. There was dispute amount them in which of their beliefs was better, even if the different was over a small detail. That all the Native Americans â€Å"never quarrel about religion† (Red Jacket 554) and have live in perfect harmony. That the great being above have given each of his children a â€Å"different religion according to [their] understanding† (Red Jacket 555). The Native American is happy as they are and tells the Europeans that they have their religious freedom and should be happy with what they have. Not all Native Americans view the European in the same way. That most view them as â€Å"poisonous snake† (Tecumseh 556) that would attack the person closest to them. Tecumseh wanted all the Native Americans to rally together and fight all the Europeans to get back  what is rightful their. He wanted to defeat all the European before they all fall, like their ancestor did. They must take action before it is too late to do anything that will ensure their survival. That the difference in the two cultures may have led to some problems that almost lead to the complete destruction of the Native Americans. There is no way this situation could have been avoided unless the Native Americans refuse to help the Europeans their first few months in the New World. Works Cited Bart. Sir Francis B. Head. Descriptive Essays. London. John Murray. 1857. http://books.google.com/books?id=eVUCAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA353&lpg=PA353&dq=%22the+great+spirit+made+us+all%22+essay&source=web&ots=7Iwnyz0lfS&sig=i80mQboa-UlQwrETqir4MF4zUGI#PPA352,M1 Bradford, William. â€Å"Of Plymouth Plantation.† The American Tradition in Literature. Perkins, George. Boston. McGraw Hill. 2007. 50-64 Edmunds, R. David. â€Å"Tecumseh, The Shawnee Prophet, and American History: A Reassessment.† Western Historical Quarterly 14.3 (July 1983): 261-276 Ganter, Granville. â€Å"Battles of Rhetoric: Oratory and Identity in Cooper’s Last of the Mohicans.† Aug 1997. James Fenimore Cooper Society Website. 9 Oct 2007. http://external.oneonta.edu/cooper/articles/ala/1997ala-ganter.html Red Jacket. â€Å"The Great Spirit Has Made Us All.† The American Tradition in Literature. Perkins, George. Boston. McGraw Hill. 2007. 553-554 Tecumseh. â€Å"The White Men Are Not Friends to the Indians.† The American Tradition in Literature. Perkins, George. Boston. McGraw Hill. 2007. 556-557 Unknown. Tecumseh and the Quest for Indian Leadership. Boston: Little Brown, 1984

More Than a Good Story Essay

As the top managers of their company, there are many issues that Bert and John must deal with. New issues arise on a daily basis when managing any organization. However, I believe that Bert and John have already encountered and dealt with the issues that were a threat to the company’s success. Such issues may have included; the business outgrowing its staff, developing a system which best fit the company’s needs, and also implementing a system the company will not outgrow. At the beginning stages of the company I believe the most important management function would have been planning. The management function that I believe is most important to Bert and John today, is leading. They seek out employees who possess the same attitude about life as they do, which is that â€Å"Life is Good†. Bert and John’s style of managing is guided by another of the company’s mottoes, â€Å"Do what you like. Like what you do† (Robbins & Coulter, 2012). It is even stated on their company’s website that, â€Å"In addition to knowledge, skills, and experience, we look to hire people who possess the same optimistic outlook on life that Jake has.† They encourage a carefree work environment and I believe that has a lot to do with their success. Another reason I feel that leading is the most important management function to Bert and John is because of their strong commitment to good causes. Their commitment to raising funds for non-profit organizations is surely an inspiration to their employees. â€Å"A manager that is an inspiration means that employees will follow that person because they believe in what the manager is doing and they are trying to help the company achieve its goals† (Rothbauer-Wanish, 2009). Bert and John’s managerial style is much different than what most people may be accustomed to. While they are looking to expand the company, they are not doing it for personal gain. They seek out employees who share their same outlook on life, which is that â€Å"Life is Good.† While this approach has proven to be successful for Bert and John, I don’t believe this same approach would bring such success to other organizations. The reason being, that many organizations do not have the luxury of projecting such a carefree work environment, because their mission requires a more serious approach. The company’s motto â€Å"Do what you like. Like what you do† might affect how managers manage because the message itself is uplifting. This motto encourages employees to get involved with the company on a more personal level. I believe that this motto and the overall vibe of Bert and John’s company has a lot to do with its success. I have never worked in a company where the top concern was if I enjoyed my job, but I sure would like to one day. If I were a consultant hired to take this company forward, my first suggestion would be to keep the company motto and carefree message the company currently has. I’m sure that Bert and John would agree. As Bert stated in an interview with Allister & Paine magazine, â€Å"From a business standpoint it’s extremely effective because there’s a magnetic emotional connection to those three simple words and it’s something that all of culture is starving for† (Allister & Paine, 2011). My second suggestion would be to participate in social networking. Bert and John seem to have a mindset of staying true to the individuals they were when they lived in their van and sole tee shirts on street corners. I would stress the fact that social networking is an excellent marketing tool and that by utilizing it they would not be â€Å"selling out.† Any other suggestions I have would not be to change the company’s structure but to build on the framework that is already in place. I feel that Bert and John have made the company the success it is today because they truly believe in what they are doing. Hewlitt’s Global Research found the five characteristics of the best employers are: 1) Inspired leadership, 2) Unique company culture, 3) Focus on growing talent, 4) Strong sense of accountability, and 5) Aligned HR practices and excellent execution (Hewitt Associates LLC, 2009). These are all characteristics that Bert and John possess, which has a lot to do with their company’s success. Since 1989 when Bert and John designed their very first tee shirt to the present they have turned their idea into a multi-million dollar company. They went from setting up a card table on street corners and living out of their van to organizing fundraisers that bring in millions of dollars for non-profit organizations. Their journey is definitely â€Å"More than a Good Story,† and an inspiration to anyone who aspires to own their own company. References Allister & Paine. (2011, November 7). Life is Good. Allister & Paine. The Digital Magazine for21st Century Executives. Retrieved from http://alisterpaine.com/2011/11/07/an-interviewwith-the-founders-ceo-of-life-is-good/ Hewitt Associates LLC. (2009). What Makes a Company a Best Employer? Retrieved fromhttps://ceplb03.hewitt.com/bestemployers/pdfs/BestEmployer.pdf Robbins, S.P., & Coulter, M. (2012). Management (11th ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey:Pearson Education, Inc. Rothbauer-Wanish, H. (2009, June 9). Leading as a Management Function. BusinessManagement. Retrieved from http://suite101.com/article/leading-as-a-managementfunct