Competitive Advantage Strategies Essays

Competitive Advantage Strategies Essays Competitive Advantage Strategies Essay Competitive Advantage Strategies Essay Differentiation relates to uniqueness of product characteristics, which identify consumers hard-to-articulate or latent needs and wants. Mandom strives to differentiate itself from competitors in such a way that when consumers use Gatsby products, they experience a sense of novelty and comfort that has been never found on other brands. To this end, scientists in RD department constantly research into consumers felt senses of novelty and comfort by looking at product functionality, effectiveness, usability, stability and safety, together with utilization of latest technologies and ingredients. The company puts RD as primary investment object. At present, it has buildings used specifically for RD purpose. The department also carries out research management to secure intellectual property by registration of proprietary patents. This maintains Mandoms technological dominance and helps it to excel in competition. As a result of extensive RD effort, Mandom has developed a board product line and unique features for consumers. For the brand Gatsby, the company has categories like hair styling, hair coloring, hair care. Under hair styling, it also has hair mist, hair wax, hair clay, hair foam, hair gel and so on. Even under hair wax, it has three different series. The hair wax has many unique features, such as ability to restyle many times, Smooth Polymer that produces less sticky and light finish and different shining or styling powers of hair wax for consumers to choose accordingly. Mandom maximizes lifestyle value through high-quality products at reasonable prices for the greatest number of consumers worldwide. It has developed mass production process to cut cost. At production sites, workers and technicians work together to continuously improve and standardize the technological capabilities to achieve maximal production efficiency. Besides, It built three out of its four plants in Indonesia and China for a purpose of lowering labor cost. Also, Mandom takes design and quality control initiatives to ensure that each product that consumer has bought in is exactly of the same quality as the one produced at research phase. The company wants to balance product prices to increase consumers perception of value and meanwhile, ensures quality and offers high-value products to delight consumers. For example, Mandom designs refill packs for many product kinds of Gatsby. Therefore, customers save money if they wish to continue using the original product and will appreciate the value of Gatsby products. For Mandom, prompt response to market is the key to business success. Since Mandoms core products life cycle is short, the success or failure of new products is a major factor underlying the success. Thus, it pursues the product development driven by a cyclic process of research, design, and verification to continuously give concrete form to meet consumer wants and needs. In addition, the company regularly holds cross-functional meeting to discuss consumer latent wants and generate new product ideas. It can always carry out brand renewal at the end of product life cycle. In product development, it responds to customer wants or needs wherever they exist. Even if this involves a product category where Mandom has no previous development experience, it will rise to the challenge to research, develop and sell a product to add diversity to the range of categories. Mandom has developed an efficient supply network in which it balances the consumer preferences and supply in each country by leveraging the distinctive characteristics and production mix of its 3 production sites. Then, the companys subsidiary in each region receives a supply of products from the nearest production site and distributes to outlets such as cosmetic shop, supermarket, pharmacy in shortest time. The supply network is supported by in-store promotions to enhance the visibility of Mandom products so that consumers will notice the latest Mandom offerings immediately.

Chebyshevs Inequality in Probability

Chebyshev's Inequality in Probability Chebyshev’s inequality says that at least 1-1/K2 of data from a sample must fall within K standard deviations from the mean (here K is any positive real number greater than one). Any data set that is normally distributed, or in the shape of a bell curve, has several features. One of them deals with the spread of the data relative to the number of standard deviations from the mean. In a normal distribution, we know that 68% of the data is one standard deviation from the mean, 95% is two standard deviations from the mean, and approximately 99% is within three standard deviations from the mean. But if the data set is not distributed in the shape of a bell curve, then a different amount could be within one standard deviation. Chebyshev’s inequality provides a way to know what fraction of data falls within K standard deviations from the mean for any data set. Facts About the Inequality We can also state the inequality above by replacing the phrase â€Å"data from a sample† with probability distribution. This is because Chebyshev’s inequality is a result from probability, which can then be applied to statistics. It is important to note that this inequality is a result that has been proven mathematically. It is not like the empirical relationship between the mean and mode, or the rule of thumb that connects the range and standard deviation. Illustration of the Inequality To illustrate the inequality, we will look at it for a few values of K: For K 2 we have 1 – 1/K2 1 - 1/4 3/4 75%. So Chebyshev’s inequality says that at least 75% of the data values of any distribution must be within two standard deviations of the mean.For K 3 we have 1 – 1/K2 1 - 1/9 8/9 89%. So Chebyshev’s inequality says that at least 89% of the data values of any distribution must be within three standard deviations of the mean.For K 4 we have 1 – 1/K2 1 - 1/16 15/16 93.75%. So Chebyshev’s inequality says that at least 93.75% of the data values of any distribution must be within two standard deviations of the mean. Example Suppose we have sampled the weights of dogs in the local animal shelter and found that our sample has a mean of 20 pounds with a standard deviation of 3 pounds. With the use of Chebyshev’s inequality, we know that at least 75% of the dogs that we sampled have weights that are two standard deviations from the mean. Two times the standard deviation gives us 2 x 3 6. Subtract and add this from the mean of 20. This tells us that 75% of the dogs have weight from 14 pounds to 26 pounds. Use of the Inequality If we know more about the distribution that we’re working with, then we can usually guarantee that more data is a certain number of standard deviations away from the mean. For example, if we know that we have a normal distribution, then 95% of the data is two standard deviations from the mean. Chebyshev’s inequality says that in this situation we know that at least 75% of the data is two standard deviations from the mean. As we can see in this case, it could be much more than this 75%. The value of the inequality is that it gives us a â€Å"worse case† scenario in which the only things we know about our sample data (or probability distribution) is the mean and standard deviation. When we know nothing else about our data, Chebyshev’s inequality provides some additional insight into how spread out the data set is. History of the Inequality The inequality is named after the Russian mathematician Pafnuty Chebyshev, who first stated the inequality without proof in 1874. Ten years later the inequality was proved by Markov in his Ph.D. dissertation. Due to variances in how to represent the Russian alphabet in English, it is Chebyshev also spelled as Tchebysheff.

Concert Report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

Concert Report - Assignment Example The other being a concert of eccentric performances in a place by the name of Jamming & Apos,: Java in Vienna. Both of the genres of music were new to me but I had an open mind to the experiences. To deeply understand and enjoy music, we must learn to appreciate other genres as well, since music is intertwined. For this music report, I would like to particularly focus on the musical pieces that intrigued me, and the overall experience (Medearis 134). The classical concert involved a sophisticated performance from a number of instruments, which represented different types of music. The atmosphere of the concert was very intense, probably since the concert was housed in a performance hall that could be approximately to the size of a living room, with the capacity to house a maximum seating of approximately 80 people. The chamber performances had two separate parts, having an intermission of approximately 15 minutes apart. There was a group of artists who sat in a uniform manner by the size of the instruments. This group was known as the Washington Symphony. In addition to this, there was an orchestra that was mainly formed by a group of older individuals, wearing black outfits. The beginning of the concert was colorful and rich as two pieces, by the violin and the cello were featured. The two pieces presented an aspect of magnificent darkness since the steady tempo and continuo bass was maintained in the whole piece. The cello, which was more pronounced, gave most of the melodies. At the time the harmonies seemed very piercing to my ear. For an individual with limited knowledge in musical melodies and harmonies, the unusual combination would have been difficult to digest. I personally interpreted the melodies to be carriers of emotion, which was intercepted with sudden burst of anger from the bass which made the piece exciting. There was also a piece that sounded like a love song, it was slow and smooth. I found

Can gm crops add to productivity of UK agriculture Research Proposal

Can gm crops add to productivity of UK agriculture - Research Proposal Example when the UN cites food insecurity as a major threat in the future, it is imperative to allow the technology proven fit to human and escalate the food production levels as Godfray et al. (2010) suggest. Surprisingly, even the UK has not been in a position to ensure food security mitigation as evidenced by the industry in the country. Currently, food and drink in the UK accounts for 7% of the country’s GDP; it employs over 3.5million people (Zilberman, Kaplan, Kim, Sexton & Barrows, 2014). Despite the figures, the UK has to import 40% of the food consumed by its residents. Interestingly, notwithstanding this import, the UK in 2007 made  £12 billion from its food export and  £7 billion a year later, according to Turco and Maggioni (2014). Evidently, food in the UK is a vital economy component as it helps both in feeding its residents thus saving money as well as increases its financial capabilities. As evidenced by the figures proved above, the issue of agriculture is pivotal to its growth thus explaining the reason for the continued debate concerning GM technology. Some agree, â€Å"GM crops can boost productivity in lean times† (Parul (2011p.34) while others strongly oppose this notion. Those disagreeing argue that GM technology has proved to reduce the harvests. According to Dalla-Corte and Dhein-Dill (2012), it was noted that when GM was used in Brazil, there was a 10% decline in the soya harvest. In response to these assertions, the other section contest that this decline is not necessarily attributable to the GM but other factors (Birch, Begg and Squire, 2012) Clearly, from the above information one could conclude that the issue of GM has not been well understood by all the parties. While one group argues about the decline in the harvest, another provides a reason, which clearly seems valid. For that reason, a research ought to be conducted to ascertain the exact effect of GM technology on the UK agriculture. As already proven, agriculture is an imperative

Tennis Ball Investigation :: Papers

Tennis Ball Investigation Aim: Investigate the factors that affect the bounce of a tennis ball. Key factors (variables): 1) Height of drop 2) Surface of bounce 3) Gravitational pull 4) Room temperature/ball temperature 5) Weight of ball 6) Material of ball 7) Brand of ball 8) Age/wear of ball 9) Size of ball 10) Force of drop/push How the key factors will affect the bounce: 1) The higher the drop the higher the bounce 2) The harder the surface the higher the bounce 3) The weaker the gravitational force the higher the bounce 4) The warmer the ball the higher the bounce 5) The lighter the ball the higher the bounce 6) Discontinual-unknown 7) Discontinual-unknown 8) The newer the ball the higher the bounce 9) The smaller the ball the higher the bounce 10) The more force put into the drop/push the higher the bounce I have chosen to investigate 1) Height of drop. Prediction ========== [IMAGE] I believe that the higher the height the ball is dropped from the higher the bounce, because when the ball is lifted the higher it is lifted the more energy is needed to lift it. Therefore more energy is converted from chemical potential energy in the body, to kinetic energy when the ball is being lifted, to gravitational potential energy (G.P.E) when the ball has been lifted to the height of the drop. The more G.P.E the ball has a the start of the drop (point A), the more energy is converted to kinetic energy while the ball is dropping and then to elastic potential energy (E.P.E) while it is static on the floor (point B). At this point the ball looses a percentage of its energy to sound and heating the floor. I know that it is a percentage of its energy that it looses rather than a fixed amount because I know that the more energy the ball has the louder the

American Identity Prior to the Revolutionary War

Early American Identity Robert Zimmermann Madrigal During the time prior to the revolutionary war, there was a mixed sense of identity within the colonies. Some of the colonists saw themselves as English citizens, while others saw themselves as Americans and wanted a free, self governed nation. The first actuall sign of American identity was in 1754 when Benjamin Franklin proposed the Albany plan, as represented in Doc. A. Even though his proposition was denied it still showed that people were starting to take the idea of being â€Å"American† into account. In Document B. Edmund Burke shows his resentment of how American is being governed. Is there a single trait of resemblance between those few towns, and a great and growing people spread over a vast quarter of the globe, separated from us by a mighty ocean. † He says that he doesn't believe that the colonies should be ruled by a nation that is so different and so far away. â€Å"The eternal barriers of nature forbid t hat the colonies should be blended or coalesce into the mass†¦ of this Kingdom. † He again states that the colonies should not be ruled by Great Britain. After the French and Indian war England was in a great amount of debt, so they started to impose taxes of the colonies.The people living in the colonies had lived in the colonies their whole lives and had never been taxed by the government before, so they were very unhappy about them. The people of the colonies protested against all of the acts that the British government had set. From the years of 1763 to 1774 the British government proposed a series of acts that imposed taxes and regulations on the people of the colonies. The proclamation of 1763 being the first of them, prevented the colonists from moving into territory past the Appalachien mountains. This was the begining of an era of protest and unhappiness. In Document C.Richard Henry Lee talks about how the colonies are all working together to fight for their libe rties against â€Å"every power on Earth that may attempt to take them away†. In Document D. The Declaration for the causes of taking up arms says â€Å"We will, in defiance of every hazard, with unabating firmness and perserverance, employ for the preservation of our liberties; being with one mind resolved to die free men, rather than live like slaves. This is saying that they wanted their freedom from oppression. In 1774 The British government issued a series of laws that later came to be known as the â€Å"Intoerable Acts†.These most impacting thing these acts did was closing the port of Boston. This only deepened colonial hostility. The other colonies provided food and money to Massachusets. Document G. is a list of the vast amount of provisions provided to the Boston relief effort. In Document H. Hector Crevecoeur reffers to America as a melting pot, where the ancestors of people are forgoten and they become new men and women. All of these documents provide the f acts needed to infer that there was a great sense of American Identity in the Americas prior the the Revolution.

An Overview Of Parkinson Disease - 1450 Words

An Overview of Parkinson Disease Parkinson disease (PD) is a condition consisting of many unanswered questions. What causes it? Is it a genetic disorder? How will an individual know if they will be diagnosed with it in their lifetime? The list of enquiries one might present is endless. However, before even attempting to answer any questions, it is essential to understand the disease as a whole. In order to do so, grasping basic background information as well as data on PD is necessary. Following that, discussing material regarding the science behind the disease will provide a deeper understanding when examining the subsequent etiologies, signs, and symptoms. From a historical perspective, PD was first described in 1817 by James†¦show more content†¦In order to understand the possible etiology and the signs and symptoms, it is important to first recognize the science of PD and what happens neurologically. Nolden, Tartavoulle, and Porche (2014) explain that the brain structure s affected by the disease are known as the substantia nigra and the basal ganglia. The role of the basal ganglia is to provide control of fine motor movements. What happens with PD, is there is a loss of dopamine-producing neurons from the substantia nigra which causes a deficiency in dopamine levels. Without a sufficient amount of dopamine, there are not enough chemical messages being transmitted to initiate, control, and balance movement of the target muscles. It is worth noting though, that dopamine levels decrease naturally as one ages, so symptoms could become more aggressive and prevalent the older an individual gets. Fallon et al. (2015) explains that the dying cells contain Lewy bodies, defined as protein aggregates, which allow the disease to be identified. However, it is still undetermined what all factors cause the degeneration of those brain cells and PD as a whole. PD is a disease of mostly unknown etiology; however, there have been links to various factors from environ mental influences to genetics (Galifianakis Ghazinouri, 2014). First of all, it is necessary to mention that the suspected environmental factors are hard to come by for they are merely risk factors. Nonetheless, they are still important toShow MoreRelatedIs Parkinson Disease A Disease?1290 Words   |  6 Pages Parkinson Disease Danielle West University Of Arkansas Fort Smith Medical Terminology Fall of 2015 Introduction Parkinson is a disease that is a glitch in the neurons in the brain, which frequently affects the substantia nigra. Part of the dying neurons produces a chemical called dopamine. As this progresses, the dopamine in the brain decreases. Dopamine is a chemical in the brain which helps the body regulate coordination and movement in the body. 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