Haverwood Furniture Inc Case Study Essay

Background on the merger In April 2008 Haverwood Furniture merged with Lea-Meadows, a manufacturer of upholstered furniture for living and family rooms. The merger was not planned in any conventional sense. The merger proceeded smoothly since the two firms were located on adjacent locations and the two companies would maintain as much autonomy as was economically justified. The only real issue that still remained was merging the selling efforts. The question was straight-forward â€Å"do we give the upholstery line of chairs and sofas to our sales force, or do we continue using the sales agents?† Haverwood’s vice president said the line should be given to his sales group, but Lea-Meadows said the upholstery line should remain with sales agents. Lea-Meadows Inc. Lea-Meadows Inc. is a small, privately owned manufacturer of upholstered furniture for use in living and family rooms. The firm is more than 75 years old. The company has some of the finest fabrics and frame construction in the industry. Their net sales in 2007 were $5 million and the total industry sales in 2007 were $15.5 billion. A forecasted industry sale for 2008 is about $16.1 billion. Over the past 5 years sales had increased 3% annually, also believing that this trend would continue. Lea-Meadows employed 15 sales agents to represent its products. Sales agents found it necessary to deal with several buyers in a store in order to represent all the lines carried. On a typical sales call, a sales agent first visited buyers to discuss new lines, in addition to any promotions being offered by manufacturers. These new orders were sought where and when it was appropriate. Lea-Meadows paid an agent commission of 5 percent of net company sales for these services. Also were thought to have spent 10-15 percent of their in-store time on Lea-Meadows products. There is no influence on who to sell their products to but there is a stigma of not selling to discount houses. Records show that agents were calling on specialty furniture and department stores. An estimated 1,000 retail accounts were called on in 2006 and 2007. All agents had established relationships with their retail accounts and worked closely with them. Haverwood Furniture Inc. They are a manufacturer of medium- to high-priced wood bedroom, living room and dining room furniture. Their net sales in 2007 were $75 million; and the industry sales of wood furniture in 2007 were $12.4 billion. It is projected that in 2008 they will have $12.9 billion in industry sales. The company has 10 fulltime sales representatives, who call on 1,000 retail accounts. They perform the same activities as sales agents but were paid a salary plus a small commission. In 2007 the average sales representative received an annual salary of $70,000 and a commission of 5% on net company sales. Total administration costs were $130,000 Haverwood’s salespeople were highly regarded in the industry. They were known particularly for their knowledge of wood furniture and willingness to work with buyers and retail sales personnel. Sales representatives were presently making 10 sales calls per week with an average sales call running three hours. Their remaining time was accounted for by ad ministrative activities and travel. It was also recommended that the call frequency be increased to seven calls per account per year. Pros and Cons Points in favor for combing the two companies Haverwood has one of the most respected sales force in the industry. Their sales force could easily learn the lingo to interacting with upholstery buyers. Selling Lea-Meadows would only require 15% of present sales call times More control over sales efforts is possible and a combined sales forces fits with the belief that â€Å"only our people are willing and able to give† It would not look right if both representatives and agents called on the same stores and buyers because of the overlap on the companies on both companies’ accounts. Points in favor of keeping in the sales agents All sales agents had established clients and were highly regarded among the store buyers. Sales agents represent little cost beyond commission Sales agents were committed to the lea-meadows line. Sales agents were calling on buyers not contacted by haverwood sales force. Haverwood sales people would have a tough time learning the ways of lea-meadows because there are over 1 billion possible items to learn. Both companies make valid points but the main thing is to determine the cost and profitability. Financial calculations based off the cost of sales force,  and sales agents. Haverwood 10 (sales force members) x $70,000 (average salary) = $700,000 .005 (commission) x $75,000,000 (net sales) = $375,000 x 10 = $3,750,000 $130,000 (total sales administration costs) Total cost of sales force $4,580,000 Lea-meadows 5,000,000 (net sales) x .05 (commission) = $250,000 x 15 (sales agents) Total cost of sales agents $3,750,000 Although Lea-Meadows pays their sales agents less with 5 more employees, their profit margins fall 5% below that of Haverwood. It ultimately will affect them more than the cost for Haverwood affects them. If Lea-Meadows were to give their line to the Haverwood sales force, they would only need to pay for 15% of the cost for the sales force. Haverwood Total sales force cost = $4,580,000 Lea-Meadows $4,580,000 x .15 (percentage of time devoted to Lea-Meadows line) = $687,000 The decision to give the line to Haverwood saves Lea-Meadows $3,063,000. Haverwood’s sales process Haverwoods personal Sales forces Retail Consumer Lea-Meadows sales process Lea-Meadows Sales agency Retail Consumer

Wind power

Is The Use Of Wind Power A Viable Option For Energy Hungry Cities?Introduction Wind power is the transition of air current energy into electricity utilizing air current turbines With the universe ‘s eyes on renewable energy, air current power has been deemed a really feasible option. Wind Energy is portion of Business Exchange. Wind energy as a power beginning is attractive as an option to fossil fuels its plentiful, renewable widely distributed and produces no green house gases. Wind power is one such beginning and this study investigates the possibility of powering metropoliss, either entirely or in combination with other sustainable power beginnings. Around the Earth air current power is turning fast, with an addition of over 30 % in installed capacity last twelvemonth.Sustainability And Integrated Energy ProductionSustainability has many definitions it can be best explained in as a method in reaping or utilizing a resource so that the resource is non depleted or damaged for good. The ability to supply for the demands of the universe ‘s current population without damaging the ability of future coevalss to supply for themselves. When a procedure is sustainable, it can be carried out over and over without any negative environmental jeopardies or impossibly high costs to anyone involved. Regardless of the account and cultural differences most should hold that sustainability is the thought of reaping a resource to run into whatever people ‘s demands are without consuming or significantly cut downing the resource whilst besides non bring forthing any harmful effects upon the local or planetary environment. Is sustainability feasible and possible in today ‘s universe with energy hungry metropoliss and can weave be one of the options to doing renewable sustainable energy viable for metropoliss ; this is the inquiry explored in the undermentioned subdivisions.Wind PowerWind power is a signifier of energy Wind power is the transition of air current energy into a utile signifier of energy, such as electricity, utilizing air current turbines. By the terminal of 2008, worldwide nameplate capacity of wind-powered generators was 121.2 gig Watts In 2008, air current power produced about 1.5 % of world-wide electricity use and is turning quickly, holding doubled in the three old ages between 2005 and 2008. . The turbines can be used separately to power little distant installings that have low power demands such as H2O pumping Stationss or single places. This is ideal to take advantage of an country ‘s available air current, land usage and the economic sciences of bring forthing electricity by and large requires a centralize production agreement ; all to run into the of all time increasing demands of metropoliss and towns power demands whilst minimising the environmental impact related to power coevals and to some extent the impact of power transmittalPlacement Of TurbinesTurbines can be placed on land or offshore over H2O ( lakes, seas, oceans ) where land is non openly available.RequirementsWind turbines require consist ent predominating air currents between 3m/s1 ( 7 mph2 ) and 25m/s ( 56 miles per hour ) . The optimal air current velocity for air current turbines is around 16m/s ( 36 miles per hour ) ( Macfarlane Generators, 2006 ) . Unfortunately, non all parts of the universe have these demands. Typical big air current turbines have the undermentioned demands Wind Turbine Area and Height Requirements ( Macfarlane Generators, 2006 ) Minimal pes print ( for tower merely ) 4 – 5 m ( 12 – 15 foot ) Average tower tallness 50 – 80 m ( 150 – 240 foot ) The blades of turbines can widen some 50 or 60m. This means puting weave turbines near tall edifices requires careful planningEnvironmental EffectssWind Power Unlike All Other Energy Producing Sources Do Have Impact On Environment1 ) Increased Lightning Strikes – the towers attract lightning. 2 ) Noise Pollution – Turbines produce low frequence noise ( in the scope of 13- 18 Hz at about 50db ) ( American Wind Energy Association, 2006 ) . 3 ) Television/Radio Interference – This has been mostly reduced by utilizing composite stuffs in building. 4 ) Aesthetics & A ; Visual Intrusions – Tall towers are non attractive to many people and can destroy the landscape of an country. 5 ) Property Value impact – Fears falling belongings values by occupants is besides an impact issue. To day of the month no survey on this issue has shown these frights to be true. 6 ) Tourism – It is good for metropoliss to advance their air current farms as a signifier of green touristry and to educate visitants and locals on the positive facets of renewable energy. 7 ) Birds, Bats, Insects and Other Flying Animals – Turbines can kill winging animate beings. This impact can be minimized by understanding migration forms and utilizing supersonic warning devices. 8 ) Global Warming & A ; Green House Gases – Wind turbines use zero burning and therefore hold zero emanations. 9 ) Renewable Source of Energy – The air current is a wholly renewable beginning of energy.Options And Other Renewable Beginnings1a ) Hydroelectric has zero nursery gas emanations, provides good return for investing, and low care. The job of handiness bounds usage of this resource. 1b ) Geothermal has zero nursery emanations and has low care. The jobs are handiness of ‘hot ‘ musca volitanss and emanation of heat into the environment ( rivers ) . 1c ) Tidal power shows important promise, nevertheless, the handiness of suited locations ( about land locked basins ) is debatable. It has zero emanations but has some important environmental impacts upon local wildlife. 1d ) Wave power is really much in its babyhood and suffers greatly from an highly rough and hard environment. The capitol costs versus power end product topographic point this engineering forthrightly still in the research and development phase. 1e ) Solar either in the signifier of photovoltaic ( electrical production ) or H2O heating offers sensible returns for place proprietors and can easy be incorporated into the building of edifices. Non-Renewable Beginnings Coal is cheap, copiously available and already good established. It produces unacceptable degrees of nursery gas emanations and in some instances acid emanations. Oil and its by-products are already a monolithic substructure. It produces a monolithic sum of nursery emanations, pollutants, causes monolithic planetary political jobs and is fast running out. It is a short term cheap option. Methane or natural gas is similar to oil in many respects. It produces nursery gases ( although less than oil ) and is besides running out as a resource. It every bit good, still remains an low-cost option.DecisionWind power has and continues to maturate and leads the battalion of alternate and sustainable energy beginnings. The efficiency, handiness and acceptableness make it the best practical environmental option. The little and acceptable impacts of air current power are negated when sing the sum of nursery gas production and ensuing clime change/warming ( Maslin 2004, p.16-17 ) from more traditional beginnings of power. Wind power, nevertheless, is non wholly stable as a base entirely beginning of power and is best applied with other signifiers of renewable power coevals as portion of an incorporate energy production system ( e.g. Wind/Solar, Wind/Nuclear, ECT ) . As such air current power is a feasible beginning of power for energy hungry metropoliss where the resources are available to take advantage of it. The chief resistance to weave power is non technological ; it is political. However, the hereafter of air current power looks bright as the investing continues to flip projectile, as in the instance of Spanish investing ( Montes 2005, p. 477 ) . Wind Power is decidedly a feasible option for energy hungry metropoliss that have the resources to set wind energy in topographic point.

War Crimes and crimes against humanity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

War Crimes and crimes against humanity - Essay Example Turkish officials killing Armenians during the war, Germans committing atrocities on Jews, Polish people and others, cases that came up during Nuremburg trials, Russian treatment of German prisoners all came under war crimes. Crimes against humanity include genocide, mass murder, en mass slavery, mass executions, enslavement, deportation, extermination etc. This means any atrocious act committed on a large group could be termed as crimes against humanity. Sometimes these two overlap one another. Paul Touvier, Klaus Barbie, and Maurice Papon in France, and Imre Finta in Canada are a few examples. The origins of the war crimes must have started as soon as the war started and that was immediately after the Stone Age when people began grouping together and individuality ended. The groups fought against one another and heaped atrocities on the vanquished men and women. In recent centuries, after the advent of social Darwinism, people have understood the sufferings and harshness that the wars have imposed on Mankind. In Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism, there are dictums against war and war crimes, especially so, in Buddhism and there are historical stories that inform us about the emperors who gave up the war path to avoid atrocities on ordinary soldiers and civilians. But in recent centuries once again, wars have been glorified and war crimes have taken place in many regions of all the continents. In first and second world wars, Japan, Russia, Germany, Italy like countries practiced war crimes. In later years, former Yugoslavia became another example of crimes against humanity. I t is the duty of International law not only to punish war criminals, but also to prevent such happenings. "Essentially, international humanitarian law has a two-fold purpose. It is intended to protect non-combatants, or those who are not now or never were, taking part in the fighting. It also limits the methods and means by which the fighting is carried out," Chuter (2003, p.59). War crimes could be of many kinds. It should involve 'cataclysmic, direct acts of violence', there should be 'logical connection between these events and the discipline of criminology' Yacoubian (2006, p.5). War crimes and crimes against humanity are not limited to only governments and armies. "The framework is not restricted to crimes committed by governments. Criminal acts committed by individual members of society, or corporations therein, are also eligible for inclusion" (Ibid). Genocide, ill-treatment of prisoners of war, ill treating women including sexual assault, mass murder, torture all come under this category of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The main purpose of International Criminal Court is to try war crimes and crimes against humanity and punish the deserving war criminals. Violations of Geneva convention like wilful killing, inflicting serious injury, inhuman torture, or starvation, confinement, wanton destruction of property, forcing a prisoner of war to serve the opposite side, torturing him or denying him a proper trial come under war crimes. In addition, taking hostages and using them for ransom, direct and purposeful attacks on civilians, attacking, injuring or killing peace workers, NGOs, charity organisations and humanitarian organisations like Amnesty international or Red Cross, killing doctors who are on duty as doctors also

Art history Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 6

Art history - Essay Example In order to compare the difference in sculpture and painting, the references have been taken from Zollner (1998) and Sandri (1997). Zollner discusses the Three Graces from a contextual point of view making the Three Graces as a pious symbol of expectation in the form of painting while Sandri stresses a critical stance on the subject of the Three Graces merely defining them as a subject of art which is in the form of sculpture. The author Zollner has appointed a descriptive way of discussing the painting of Three Graces. The medium of the painting is oil canvas that beholds the three ladies wearing their respective attires. These attires, however, been avoided in sculpture. Along with the discussion of the painting in the address of Zollner, he also provides significance of theme of the Three Graces. The colour of the three ladies is blended in the painting because of the possibility of using variety of strokes by the painter. This is far different in the case of sculpture as it is made up of white marble (ZÃ ¶llner). On the other hand, the author Sandri has critically discussed the Three Graces depiction into sculpture. In the following image, it can easily be noted that the true essence for which the three ladies were named as chastity, joy and love is missing from the sculpture. The clarity of bodily shape is missing and so the expression of chastity. However, it can be well asserted that it is not an easy to task for an artist to create a sculpture that gives enhancement to each feature. On comparison, it comes quiet easier to note that painting as well as sculptor makes use of support that each girl takes by putting hands on each other’s shoulder. This is one common aspect other than the front and back nude carving of the bodies of the Three Graces. The factor of using adjunct lines and outlines in the painting is quite evident. This is lesser in the case of sculpture because it provides a three dimensional experience to the art

Antitrust practices and market power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Antitrust practices and market power - Essay Example While the pecuniary costs associated with this Google antitrust behavior is price fixation and control for the search engine and website business prices, the non-pecuniary costs associated with the behavior include throwing other website companies out of business, or making them incur losses, which will in turn slow down the economic growth. Monopoly structure entails the operation of a single seller in the market, while the oligopoly structure involves the presence of only few sellers in the market, which work in collusion for their economic benefit (Tucker, 2010). Both monopoly and oligopoly are achieved through effecting entry barriers for other business into the same market. The barriers can be natural barriers, such as high capitalization, infrastructure or specific resource requirement for entry to the market, which is only available to one or a few firms. Barriers can also be government barriers, where the government institutes some restrictions in form of legislation to prevent other businesses venturing into a certain industry, which is only designated for a particular operator (Tucker, 2010). Oligopolies and monopolies are not always bad for the society. Even though oligopolies and monopolies allows just few firms to determine the quantities of products they avail to the market or fix prices they charge for such products, there are situations under which monopoly and oligopoly are beneficial to the society. Monopolies can allow a firm to take advantage of economies of scale by producing more commodities that lower the long run average costs, making it possible for the firm to offer low prices for its products (Tucker, 2010). The same case applies to firms operating under oligopoly, where it is only a few of them which are producing for the large market needs of the customers. This allows such firms to enjoy economies of scale, through producing in higher quantities,

What are the significance of African American theater and culture from Essay

What are the significance of African American theater and culture from both a national and global perspective - Essay Example Their storytelling, dance,music and performance was a vital tool to motivate the slaves as they worked on tobacco and sugar cane plantations, mines and salt flats. Eventually as theater developed from the African ancestry of Greek tragedy of Shakespearean epics, American stages have created a broad series of plays, mostly prejudiced by the diverse population inhabiting this nation (Hill, 2004). Impacts realized through theatre performance in themes of African American plays The free southern theatre’s production of a play, by the name slave ship, reviewed the history of African American in the United States and deliberately dived audience along racial lines, (Baraka 1968) a symbolic slave ship was created in the center of the large playing area, with close seating, on all sides. The grasp of the ship, where slave bodies were piled in overcrowded quarters, was eye point with the audience portraying the merciless situation on board. During a created slave auction, female slaves were undressed topless and pushed at American men in the audience, who were inquired what they considered the women were valued. Many white audience members were so distressed by this violent argument with history that they created at early days; others hoped they had a chance to experience. At the end of the play, actors, involved black power actions, bringing on board the black audience members to join them in surrounding the white audience, while shouting for aggressive rebellion. At many performances, black audience members, felt empowered and motivated by the presentation, they joined the actors in shouting and frightening white spectators. Many white members felt endangered and irritated that they had paid to be battered, or felt powerless to express their compassion with the blacks in a mood of hostility. This play was meant to incite different reactions from different audience participants to educate the experience of history, and racism could not assist but power the audience’s experience of the play. These kinds of plays were used to polarize the audience along racial lines (Baraka 1968). Through the plays racism was discouraged in the United States through pre-active measures to prevent hostility among the citizens despite their race or origin. Once more, many white audience members were evidently shaken by the direct quarrel. This brought unity among the immigrants and the natives around the country and at a global level. The African American evolutions of theater presentations lead to the audiences have a freedom to choose to have control of their personal experience and choose where to focus during the performances. The spectators had the choice to decide what they want to focus on, either on the background themes such as light effects or to concentrate on the actor’s performance. This led the directors and stage actors develop mechanisms to compel l the performances so that the spectator s does not mix up their understanding. As the earlier directors took advantage of audience concentration they reduced the confrontation that dominated the previous performances in America (Hill, 2004). The open-air daytime performances in ancient Greece took place in a celebratory atmosphere in which social relations, drinking, and eating were all part of a daylong theatre occasion. Such events created an avenue for people from different races, cultures and tribes to interact, leading to exchange of cultural practices among them. This created a strong bond and a harmonious coexistence. In olden Rome, theatre was performed at religious celebration that presented a massive collection of entertainments. Both secular and sacred, arts were meant to

Astronomy 123 Homework Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Astronomy 123 Homework - Assignment Example The shell becomes more massive as it sweeps the surrounding, it, therefore, slows down. The remnants of these explosions can live up to100,000 years, which seems a long duration in terms of astronomical time scale. The most recent supernova experienced in our galaxy was discovered through tracking the remains of its massive explosions. NASA uses Chandra X-ray observation to estimate the frequency with which supernovas explode in the Milky Way Galaxy. NASA estimates that the last supernova occurred almost 140 years ago measured within the period of the earth. Initially, the last supernova had occurred in 1680. Supernovas are, therefore, rare occurrences with only six observed in the earth’s galaxy over a period of 1000 years (Yockey and Hubert 142). The estimate for their occurrence is one supernova for every 25 to 100 years; therefore, it is likely that one may occur soon. The first theory explaining the origin of water talks about volcanic activity. It suggests that when the earth cooled, certain elements that broke apart recombined forming new substances. Two of those elements are hydrogen that broke away from hydrocarbons (for example methane) and oxygen that broke away from iron oxide. Molten magma carried these elements to the surface; they then combined to form water. This however does not seem sufficient to account for 70% of the earth’s surface. Another theory suggests that water was delivered to earth by earth-grazing comets. While the nebulae has water within its remote corners, analysis of this water shows that it is not the same water like that found in the earth’s oceans. The snowball earth hypothesis states that the surfaces of the earth and the ocean were covered with ice across the poles of the equator during periods of extreme cooling about 2.4 billion years ago (Singh 109). Evidence for this hypothesis is found in the ancient rocks that preserve signs of past magnetic field. Additionally, there is a