The Silk Road (or Silk Route) was a vast network of inter-continental pathways that was a key artery of trade and cultural exchange during ancient times. First developed during the Han dynasty two millennia ago, the routes connected China to India, Europe, Arabia and beyond. While silk produced in China was a major commodity being…
Category: Business
Satisfying all stakeholders when the business is competing in mature product markets is difficult
The business dynamics at play in a mature product market is quite different from that of newly introduced products. Companies dealing with mature products will have to employ different manufacturing and marketing tactics than those adopted for trendy products in order to succeed. One of the concerns facing the management is satisfying all involved stakeholders,…
Marriott Hotel: Case Study
Recommendations: Marriott has established strong brand equity due to its excellent processes and an openness to adapt. Yet, there are areas where it could improve, leading it to the position of a leader in the field of Hospitality Management. One of the areas where the Marriott management could look into is its Corporate Social Responsibility…
Highlights from the Corporation Documentary
Applying the 14th amendment to business corporations meant that they were given legal personhood. This is problematic as corporations have gone on to gain more rights and privileges than human citizens have gained. This makes it difficult to make corporations accountable and act responsibly. As Eisenhower famously mentioned, the existence of Military-Industrial complex is undeniable. …
How are customers’ needs different for timeshare units than for hotel rooms?
There are various differences in customers’ needs for timeshare units compared to hotel rooms. Timeshare houses are sought for their exotic locales, ideally suited to tourists and vacationers wanting to enjoy nature in its pristine form. Hotel rooms, on the other hand, are used for far broader range of purposes. These purposes could either be…
Book review: The One Minute Manager Builds High Performing Teams by Ken Blanchard
The One Minute Manager Builds High Performing Teams is co-authored by Ken Blanchard, Donald Carew and Eunice Parisi-Carew. It is a valuable addition to the genre of self-help management books. The One Minute series of books by Ken Blanchard and his team of management gurus have become indispensible sources of scholarship. These books explain in…
Annotated Bibliography: The role of human resource management in meeting organisational goals
Assessment #1 – Annotated bibliography Assignment objective: Explain the significance of the human resource management role in organisations, its different facets and its contribution to the achievement of corporate goals. Lawler Iii, E. E., & Boudreau, J. W. (2009). Achieving Excellence in Human Resources Management: An Assessment of Human Resource Functions. Stanford, CA: Stanford Business…
Toyota: Origins, Evolution and Prospects
The story of Japanese car manufacturing company Toyota is one of the enduring successes in the history of manufacturing industry. From a small, obscure entity in 1947, it has now risen to the second spot in terms of global sales. Over the past 30 years, Toyota Motor Corp. has not only been the envy of…
Should Product Placement in films and other media be controlled?
Abstract: While a mutually beneficial relationship between the advertiser and the producer is achieved via product placement, the best interests of the audience are neglected. Another concern this phenomenon has raised is the compromising of artistic merit for commercial gain. Conventional wisdom instructs us that high profits and elevated ethics don’t go together. Given the…
With reference to motivation theory discuss the psychological foundations of pay
Financial reward or pay is a core component of employee motivation. Eminent thinkers such as Maslow, McGregor, Tolman, Locke, Pavlov, etc have contributed to our understanding of workplace motivation. Based on a synthesis of their theories, we are in a position to ascertain how key a role pay plays in motivating employees and enhancing their…