Planning to expand MGM Resort international to the United Arab Term Paper

Planning to expand MGM Resort international to the United Arab Emirates, Dubai - Term Paper Example Expanding in Dubai comes with new challenges in terms of the set-up, necessary resources and management expertise to enter the new market successfully. MGM has also noted that since the expansion carries with it new challenges if not handled skillfully, it can do more harm than good. Since MGM has decided to expand its market in Dubai, UAE, it has gone ahead and explored Dubai market, the potentiality of growth, the set-up procedures and issues that may crop up unexpectedly. This way MGM can minimize risks as well as optimize profits. Even though, MGM has a property in Abu Dhabu, UAE, it felt that it should increase its market share in this fast growing economy. This planning paper first seeks to explain in details what MGM entails; its background, services, properties, employees, organizational structure, staffing, training and compensation procedures as well as Customer Relation Services (CRS). In addition, the discussion takes a deep research on the country of expansion, which is Dubai. Furthermore, it will look into the business set-up procedures in Dubai, the reasons for the choice of market, the legal, political, environmental, social, technological and social environment in Dubai. In addition, it explains the role of culture in terms of facilitation and hindrances as well as communication difficulties that will be encountered and how to mitigate it. In the same case, it will explain the change in the organizational structure, approaches to staffing, types of training and lastly, explain the strategies to be used in the expansion and reasons for strategy as well as the issues that may arise while implementing the chosen strategies. Discussion The company profile MGM Resort International is one of the world’s leading and most respected companies that own and operates some of the most prestigious hospitality properties in the USA. It not only has holdings in hospitality but also has shares in gaming and entertainment sector. It owns 17 properties pos itioned in Michigan, Nevada and Mississippi and has 50% investments in other four properties in New Jersey, Illinois, Macau and Nevada. The City Centre, an extraordinary urban metropolis on the Las Vegas Strip that opened in late 2009 is a joint venture between MGM Resort International and Infinity World Development Corp., a Dubai World’s subsidiary. MGM is in future partnership with casino and non-casino resorts in the United States, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Vietnam and People’s Republic of China has sealed a treaty to dispose its Treasure Island property on the Strip of Las Vegas. MGM is famous for responsible gaming and has even implemented the American Gaming Association’s code of Conduct for Responsible gaming at its properties. It has also received several awards and recognition for being up front in Diversity Initiative and community compassionate programs. In Las Vegas only, MGM properties include Bellagrio, Mirage, Monte Carlo, Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, MG M Grand, Circus Circus, New York-New York and the great and unique CityCentre, which comprise of Crystals, Vdara and Aria. Out of Las Vegas properties include MGM Grand Detroit, Beau Rivage, Gold Strike Tunika, Gold Strike Casino and MGM Resort, Sanya China (www.mgmresorts.com, 2012). Organizational stru

Natureview Yogurt Essay Example for Free

Natureview Yogurt Essay Natureview Farm has a few basic goals in this case. Goal 1: Natureview needs to increase its revenues to $20 million before the end of 2001. Goal 2: Natureview must maintain its strong brand image. Goal 3: Natureview must not turn its back on its loyal customers, suppliers, and distributors. Strengths * Natureview produces yogurt with a family recipe that uses completely natural ingredients and is also organic. Natureview does not use milk from cows that are artificially enhanced with hormones. * Natureview yogurt has an average shelf life of 50 days, which is significantly higher than the competition’s shelf life. * Natureview deploys low-cost guerilla marketing. * Natureview is the leader in market share for yogurt in the Natural Foods Channel, holding 24% of the market share. * Strong brand image. Weaknesses * Natureview’s retail prices are significantly higher than the yogurt options in supermarkets. * Natureview currently only offers single 8-ounce cups and 32-ounce cups of yogurt. Natureview does not offer multipack yogurt products. * Natureview sells in a niche market of consumers who want organic yogurt. * Natureview must deal with a longer distribution channel compared with companies who operate in the supermarkets. Opportunities * Natureview operates in the organic foods market, which was predicted to grow from $6.5 billion in 1999 to $13.3 billion in 2003. * Organic yogurt was predicted to grow 20 percent per year from 2001 to 2006. * One product Natureview does not produce, multipacks, represented 9 percent of total yogurt sales in supermarkets, and was growing by 12.5 percent per year. * Natureview does not sell in supermarkets, but 97 percent of all yogurt consumed is bought in supermarkets. Furthermore, 46 percent of organic food customers bought organic products at supermarkets, compared to 29 percent who bought organic products at natural foods markets. * The overall market for yogurt is huge. 40 percent of the U.S. population consumes yogurt, with 70 percent of the purchasers being men. Threats * Horizon Organic has cash flows from a recent IPO and might gain first mover advantage into supermarkets. * Major companies, like Dannon, are rumored to be entering into the organic yogurt market. * As organic food becomes more popular, natural food markets may begin doing business as supermarkets do, which requires slotting fees and participation in trade promotions. Financial Analysis The financial analysis of the situation will begin with a look at the analysis of the yogurt costs, revenues, and margins in the natural food channel and the supermarket channel. Working backwards from the margins given in the case, and also Exhibit 3 of the case, which shows production costs and retail prices for yogurts by size and channel, a full set of numbers can be produced (see Figures 1 through 6).

The Country Development: Nepal

The Country Development: Nepal Shangri-La, the Kingdom of the Himalayas, Gateway to Everest. Few places on Earth are as idealized in the West as Nepal. Upon arriving in the ancient capital of Kathmandu, Nepal is very likely to take your breath away. But this would be the smog fumes mixing with the chemical smell of city-urchins snorting glue, and not the view of the mountains. Particularly since the Himalayas have not been visible from the Kathmandu Valley for decades. Wiping away the rose hued glaze of applied mystique , the Nepal that remains is one that grapples daily (beginning at five am, an hour after the street dogs cease baying and an hour before the autorickshaws begin coughing) with a headlong rush into the modern world whilst trying to actually develop along the way. Nepal is running away from its past with great determination and no destination. From 1996 to 2006 this running was often done at gunpoint. In February of 1996, Maoist rebels launched an armed struggle to replace Nepals constitutional monarchy with a communist republic. Given Nepals endemic Royal corruption, caste and ethnic discrimination, deep rural poverty , and a near total concentration of power and wealth in the Valley, the Maoists call to rewrite the nation resonated across the plains, the hills and the mountaintops, affecting all segments of the Nepali population. By the time that decade had run its course, 300 years of Nepalese monarchy was abolished and a Communist dominated parliamentary system was established. The Maoists introduced, often under duress, a multitude of measures aimed at addressing centuries-old, deeply-rooted forms of discrimination. The long standing feudal-caste system was dismantled and in parallel, a representative form of governance was introduced. Th e Maoist period also brought great social change as an embracing of ones ethnic identity was encouraged. For the first time in millennia, gender roles were questioned as the insurgency actively promoted female involvement on the frontlines. A closer look at the Maoists social oratory of hope and glory reveals, as is often the case, that all is not well for social development in Nepal. After the cessation of major violence in late 2006, poverty mitigation programs became a center talking point in all the newly-established political parties agendas. However, in harmony with most agenda goals in the Nepalese parliament, the key authorities stopped short of the necessary strong monetary commitment to both implement and monitor these programs. The social investment policy neglects the development of human capital by passing up the chance to create opportunities for future social development. Considering the poor to non-existent results from both targeted regional programs and broad national endeavors, thus far all available data supports the assertion that government social policy has thus far failed to increase economic opportunities for Nepals poor. Another integral and highly divisive socioeconomic issue that remains unso lved is the expansion of employment programs, including the incorporation of former insurgent combatants into the military. Lastly, Kathmandu has been tepid at the best of times in including conflict-ravaged populations into social and economic life. The question remains however, as to the state of the economy they are being reintroduced to. Even the most rudimentary grasp of numbers allows an observer to comprehend the principle issue of the Nepali economy. Agriculture. It has been the mainstay of the economy for millennia, and is now fatally out of step with the demands of the 21st century. Agriculture provides livelihood to approximately 80% of the population and accounts for almost half of the countrys Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Geography has not been kind to the idea of farming , and only 16 percent of the total land is arable. While agriculture employs more than two thirds of the people and takes up almost half of the GDP, Nepal has the lowest per capita arable land in the world. Food production in almost entirely confined in the south, in the narrow belt of what was once jungle and is now flatlands that borders India known as the Terai. Cultivation in more mountainous regions (which is to say the other 84% of Nepal) is mostly for subsistence. The fifth five-year plan, beginning in 1975 was the first in which agriculture beyond preventing starvation was given top priority. In order to increase agricultural production and diversify the farm base, the government began to focus on improving irrigation facilities, providing credit to and encouraging farmer to use imported, high yielding varieties of seeds, fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides, etc. However the complete lack of a transportation system designed to move quantities of food (or anything else for that matter) stymied the government efforts. Nepal also suffered near-catastrophic environmental collapse in the 1980s due to the absence of the requisite training in the aforementioned chemicals. The net result of these actions was that crop production grew at a dismal rate of 2.4%, failing to keep pace with the population growth rate, which began at 2.6% per annum. The degradation and divergence would not be correct in the years before civil war broke out and only began being redressed in late 2008. In addition to agriculture, Nepal has a very limited industrial base that constitutes 20 per cent of the GDP. Most of those industries are agro-based industries like rice and tea. The majority of Nepals fledgling industrial base is dependent on imported raw materials, primarily from India. These manufactured goods are almost entirely small scale, local cottage industries. In Nepal, the term capital goods is quite literal, as whatever intermediate or capital goods are produced are locked up (quite literally) on the eastern plains of the Terai or in Kathmandu. However, Kathmandu is only the capital as long Nepal remains both a nation and a state, and given the political climate that threatens to wash away both of those concepts, a closer look at the Nepali government is warranted. Politically, post-Maoist Nepal is defined by the fact that it is dependably unreliable. Indeed, Transparency International ranks Nepal 153th out of 180 in the organizations most recent Corruption Perception Index. This is reflected in the difficulties Nepal has had in writing a constitution. After establishing an interim constitution in 2007, the Constituent Assembly (CA) was slated to draft a permanent constitution within in a year. In late May of 2012, the CA was dissolved having extended the constitution writing deadline four times without a constitution being written. The country is now cast into even deeper political and legal uncertainty. By May of 2012, after squandering half a decade, the four major parties had come together in compromise on almost all issues. The issue that sent fissures through the CA and ultimately broke the government was whether or not the country should be divided into federal states along ethnic lines, as opposed to the 14 administrative zones, done fo r purely bureaucratic reasons that presently exist. Baburam Bhattarai , the current prime minister, has called for a new CA to be elected on November 22nd 2012. Effectively, this election stands to be a vote on the polarizing and highly volatile issue of ethnic federalism. Much of this uncertainty stems from the fact that in the span of 20 years, Nepal has gone from centuries of absolute monarchy, to a parliamentary monarchy, to anarchic civil war followed then by a tottering federal republic. Gazing across the myriad of social, economic and political concerns that shroud Nepal in cynicism, it is easy, far too easy, to not know what needs to be rectified first. The paramount concerns for Nepal are the development and sustaining of transportation infrastructure and power systems. From these two, all else flows. The significance of the ability to move and the power needed to provide that mobility is impossible to overstate. According to the World Bank, the ratio of Nepals road area to population and total area is one of the lowest in the world. While large trucks clog all three of Nepals paved highways, they invariably have one of three destinations: Kathmandu, India or to a lesser extent, China. For the vast majority of the country, the most commonly used method of transportation is by porters with pack animals. It is almost blindingly simple, but it cannot be stressed enough, tourists, locals, potatoes, rice, bottled water, generators, medicines, troops , ideas, chickens, bricks, pipes, computers, aid workers, anything that can be used for development must first get to its location. As mentioned previously, Nepal has only three highways, constituting almost 90% of the countrys paved roads. The highway system (a word used in the most generous of terms) should be domestic infrastructure but is in fact anything but. The southern highway was built with Indian rupees for Indian gain, the northern highway b uilt with Chinese renminbi for China to be able to drive tanks through Nepal should it need to invade India (its commonly nicknamed the two tank road among Nepalis) and the middle highway was constructed between Kathmandu and the tourist city of Pokhara, making it the only highway with both its terminus in-country It is important to note that all three of these highways, are by curse of topography, narrow two lane constructions. What this means in practical terms is that Maoist strikes, known as bandh are a powerful flexing of political power, affecting millions and causing massive disruptions to development. A key component of a bandh is closing the highway (used in the singular in Nepal), a task lacking in logistic difficulties and ways of circumventing it. The lack of transportation systems breeds political uncertainty, and discourages economic invests both foreign and domestic. Intertwined with problems of movement is the issue of how to power that movement. Nepal is a nation left in the dark. Power generation, primarily electrical is the bedrock of development that must be established in tandem with transportation if Nepal is to have any chance of a brighter tomorrow. It is important to note that 63 percent of Nepalese households lack access to electricity and depend on expensive oil-based generators or simple forgo power altogether. Unlike Nepals lack of arable land, the country is not deficient in economically exploitable hydroelectric power. The mighty Himalayan mountains flow into thousands of equally mighty rivers. However, the hydroelectric potential of Nepal is rivaled only by its lack of hydroelectric power. According to USAID, the currently exploitable power stands at 83,000 megawatts (MW), but only 650MW have been developed. Nepal has but one all-season hydroelectric plant, with the ability to store energy generated during the summer monsoon for use during the rest of the year. This is of monumental importance as the other hyd roelectric stations are at the mercy of water levels. With winter being the sun-lacking dry season, it is at precisely the time when demand for lighting and heating is highest that power cuts are at their most crippling. Across the country, winter time power cuts are routinely 10-14 hours a day but can be for as long as 16 hours, with 18 hours being relatively uncommon. Lastly, this electrical rationing is called load shedding and is intimately connected with the countrys political corruption. Allegations of mismanagement concerning the electricity crisis, enforced by 16 hours without power a day, have been launched at all levels of the Nepal Electricity Authority. Because a considerable amount of electricity has been sold to India and China, because partnership deals with foreign investors have been signed and then ignored for over a decade, because the country burns in the summer and freezes in the winter, the NEA has been accused of widespread corruption and misappropriation of f inances. In summary, it is perhaps an adage from antiquity that encapsulates Nepali development best. Festina lente. Make haste, slowly. The confluence of urgency tempered by diligence and deliberation catalyzed by the needs of the people is what will ultimately allow Nepalis from all walks of life to feel as the tourists do, amazed at how truly wonderful the roof of the world is.

Mans Search For Meaning Essay -- Nazi Jews Holocaust

In Man's Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl describes his revolutionary type of psychotherapy. He calls this therapy, logotherapy, from the Greek word "logos", which denotes meaning. This is centered on man's primary motivation of his search for meaning. To Frankl, finding meaning in life is a stronger force than any subconscious drive. He draws from his own experiences in a Nazi concentration camp to create and support this philosophy of man's existence. Frankl endured much suffering during his time in the concentration camp. All of his possessions were taken away, including his manuscript in which he recorded all of his life's work. He went through rough manual labor, marching through freezing temperatures, and little or no food. To add to this, he didn't even know if his wife was alive or if she had been killed when they were separated. However, throughout all this, Frankl was able to keep his hopes alive, and still care for his fellow man. This is due to his philosophy of person. He figured that the key to surviving in those horrible conditions was to find a meaning in his life. Once there is a meaning to live for, there will be a will to live. Finding a meaning in life is the most important thing according to Frankl. This is the core of his philosophy, and claims that it is the core of human existence. In his view, anything can attribute to be something to live for. Love is perhaps the strongest motivation, but even someone can even find fulfillment in his profession. According to logotherapy, we can find meaning in three ways. Man can either create a work or do a good deed, experience something or encountering someone, or by the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering can we discover a meaning in... ...m he loves or without something he feels is important to find meaning. It is also going to be difficult for this person not to consider suicide, even though Frankl believes it should never be an option. Personally I agree with most of Viktor Frankl's ideas and philosophy. It is important for a person to find a meaning in his life. Frankl's philosophy is more human and more personal than other psychiatrists' philosophies. The human person can not be motivated just on unconscious drives. Humans are much deeper beings and need aspects of life such as a sense of purpose, love, and human contact. I also agree that suicide should never be an alternative to life, except if sacrificing your life for a greater cause. Viktor Frankl's ideas are more realistic to human nature, and give a sense of optimism to the reader who can hopefully find meaning in their own lives.

“Mr Bean” Micro-environmental Factors (SWOT) Essay

Strengths Mr Bean is the market leader for soya bean related food and beverage in Singapore It is a well-respected brand, clinching many awards including the Established Brands Award and the Most Popular Brand Award for the third consecutive year It has a strong market presence with 56 outlets island-wide. Only the finest ingredients and highest grade of NGMO (Non genetically modified) soya bean is used in its products Weaknesses There is minimal product differentiation from main competitors. Mr Bean is dependant on a main competitive advantage – the retail of soya bean products. This might hinder business diversification should the need arise It is a strong local brand but currently has no international presence Opportunities Mr Bean can choose to co-brand with other food and beverage businesses Mr Bean can also brand franchise to manufacturers of other goods and services It can also tap into a new international market – the emerging markets of health-conscious publics in Asia Threats Mr Bean will be greatly affected if there is a rise in the price of soya beans or dairy products Mr Beans’ success might lead to the potential threat of imitating competitors There might be a shift in the health-conscious market trend, causing a decrease in the demand for such products Environment Macro-environmental Factors (STEEP) Social-Cultural – Literacy rate of 96%, making the Philippines the third-largest English speaking country in the world – Main religion is Roman Catholicism – Philippines has a strong snacking culture – Food on the go is appealing to the mass market as they are generally time-poor – Filipinos are increasingly aware of health concerns and are turning to healthy food – 25% of the population are students who have high spending power (Filipino Kids and Their Lifestyle, 2007, sec 1, par 9) – They are open to foreign brands Technological – Filipinos are relatively tech-savvy – There is consistent growing Internet usage in Manila According to the research group BSBC Hook UAI, there was a 21.3% increase in Internet users from 2002 to 2004 in Metro Manila (Philippines Internet and Telecommunications Report, 2009, sec 2, par 3) – Philippines is a developing country with proper infrastructure – Technical support for equipment in urban areas is easily accessible Economic – GDP (PPP): USD 327.2 billion in 2008 (The World Fact Book, Philippines, 2009, sec 5, par 2) – The economy consists mainly of agriculture, manufacturing and mining businesses – It is aiming towards becoming a developed country by 2020 – The economy is reliant on foreign currency Environmental – Petrol prices and energy costs are volatile and potentially unpredictable – Local resources should meet a respectable standard and quality – Philippines is the world’s biggest producer of coconuts, and third-largest producer of bananas Political – Political issues in the country still exist today (eg. corruption and policy inertia) and are likely to continue. However, they will not get worse. (Philippines Risk Rating Update, 2008, sec 1, par 2) – According to PERC Ltd, Philippines has a risk factor of about 5.5 (1 being the lowest, 10 being the most risky)

Online Sociology Class

Ch 5 dba Us our text, as needed! 1)   In the opening vignette to Chapter 5, the Crips provided Monster Cody a sense of brotherhood, belonging, and superiority while the Bloods were described as being the enemies of the Crips and unworthy of their respect. In this scenario, what sociological concepts apply to each group for Cody? For instance,   what is/are Cody's ingroups, outgroups, reference groups, primary groups, secondary groups? 2. What essentials elements are missing from aggregates and categories that are found in â€Å"groups.   Why are groups more important to humans than either categories or aggregates? 3. Why do you think secondary groups frequently break down into primary groups? 4. Which of the following  do you think this online sociology class is and why:  Ã‚   an aggregate; a category; a primary group; or a secondary group. 5. How do reference groups work? Do you have to be an actual member of  your reference group? What are some of your reference groups ? 6. Why did many of the subjects in Solomon Asch's experiment give answers that they knew to be incorrect? Have you ever been a â€Å"victim† of group conformity?Share the details of your answer DQ5 Sociology is the study of life in groups–chapter 5  | DQ5A YOUR groups†¦ 0 messages – 0 unreadWho are your primary groups, your secondary groups? Your reference groups? Your ingroups, your outgroups? * Unlocked: Feb 9, 2013 4:51 PM – Mar 4, 2013 11:55 PM| DQ5B Social networking 0 messages – 0 unreadSocial networks are important in the study of sociology. Understand what they are. Have you ever benefited from your social network. For instance, have you gotten a job or met someone nice through a friend of a friend?Another way to look at it, how many degrees are you away from from contacting former President George Bush? It never fails that I have a student who knows someone who knows  Bush personally! * Unlocked: Feb 9, 2013 4:53 PM – Mar 4, 2013 11:55 PM| DQ5C Facebook and Suicidal Content Link 0 messages – 0 unreadIs anyone familiar with this link on Facebook? It's the first I've ever heard of it. It could be really useful. http://www. latimes. com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-facebook-military-suicide-20120508,0,1357844. story * Unlocked: Feb 9, 2013 4:53 PM – Mar 4, 2013 11:55 PM|