Value Chain Analysis Literature Review and Application on...

November 28, 2012 November 28, 2012 Aisling Lynch C09687271 Aisling Lynch C09687271 Stratgic management the value chain concept: literature review and application analysis on IKEA Stratgic management the value chain concept: literature review and application analysis on IKEA Contents * Introduction * Origination * Porter’s Value Chain Concept * Linking of the Value Chain * Focus on External Sources * The Future - Conclusion * Ikea Example * References Declaration I, the undersigned, declare that this report is entirely my own written work, except where otherwise accredited, and that it has not been submitted for a degree or other award to any other university or institution. Introduction Since the 1980’s†¦show more content†¦In this way not so important areas can be combined or ‘clustered’ (Johnson et al. 2005). Thus the firm can now see which areas of activities they should be concentrating their resources on; and which they should de-emphasis or outsource (Johnson et al. 2005). Often the categorization of activities relies on judgment (Kippenberger 1991). Linking of the Value Chain This system of mapping out and categorizing activities helps the firm to link its competencies to competitive advantage (Normann 1993). Relating your core competencies back to your resources is a successful way to gain competitive advantage (Lusch 2011); and participation of this is key to good strategy in a business (Normann 1993). Optimizing co-ordination between some activities may take place, as well as trade-offs between activities in order to achieve an overall more successful value result (Porter 1998). Once activities have been clustered or isolated depending on their ‘higher order strategic themes’ (Porter 1998), the links between the different activities need to identified and analyzed in order to spot any potential competitive advantage sources that lie here (Kippenberger 1991). And so to, the notion of relationship and information management in the value chain arises in the different literature. Emphasis needs to be placed on the relationships between all activities within the firm and with externalShow MoreRelatedEffective Inventory Control and Management: a Case Study of Ikea15878 Words   |  64 Pagesâ€Å"EFFECTIVE INVENTORY CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT: A CASE STUDY OF IKEA† UNIVERSITY OF WALES JANUARY 2012 Table of Contents ABSTRACT 4 CHAPTER – 1 5 1.1 INTRODUCTION 5 1.2 BACKGROUND OF THE ORGANIZATION 7 1.3 OBJECTIVES 8 1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS 8 1.5 PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH 9 1.6 DELIMITATIONS 9 1.7 TARGET GROUP 10 1.8 JUSTIFICATION FOR CHOOSING THIS RESEARCH TOPIC 10 1.9 PROBLEMS FORMULATION 11 1.10 OVERVIEW OF THERead MoreInventory and Ikea25808 Words   |  104 Pagescompared to the current system at IKEA Master’s Thesis project 1002 Silvia Rasmusson and Bjà ¶rn Sunesson Acknowledgement This master’s thesis is written as a final part of the Master of Science program in Industrial Engineering and Management at Lund University, Lund Institute of Technology. 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Nonverbal Communication - Actions Speak Louder than Words...

Communication is the backbone of human existence. Without it we would be nothing more than organized matter. It has allowed us to grow, learn, build, and survive. The fact that our species has managed to develop advanced methods of communication, such as language, is what has set us aside from other animals. When we talk to another person we are sending a message which is received, decoded, and responded to accordingly. But there is much more to communication than just its verbal aspects. The way we hold ourselves, tone of voice, bodily gestures, eye movement, all of these are types of nonverbal communication and are in truth more important to the communication process than language itself. According to Adler, Proctor II, and Towne’s†¦show more content†¦A punch, a kiss, and a pat on the back all portray meaning without the need for words. Arguably the most important nonverbal cue is paralanguage. Paralanguage is the non-word utterances used in moments of emotion that can occur by themselves or as a particular emphasis on a word or syllable. The importance of nonverbal communication becomes clear with the realization that it constitutes for the preponderance of human communication. It has been estimated that any where between sixty-five and ninety-three percent of the emotional impact of a delivered message originates from nonverbal cues. For example, a statement such as, â€Å"I’m fine†, can have a multitude of different meanings depending on its delivery. Added emphasis on â€Å"fine† and a furrowed brow would lead you to believe that the sender is upset while a smile and a slight rise in pitch would indicate that he or she is indeed, ok. Nonverbal communications greatest importance is the fact that it conveys emotional information which would be otherwise concealed. Therefore the large brunt of human emotion is passed on not through what people say, rather by what they do. According to an article published by Shaver, Schwartz, Kirson, and O’connor in The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology facial expressions are recognized universally for their meanings. A smile indicates happiness while a grimace shows displeasure. The impact and use of facial expressionsShow MoreRelatedDo Actions Speak Louder than Words? Preschool Children’s Use of the Verbal-Nonverbal Consistency Principle during Inconsistent Communications1452 Words   |  6 Pagesconventional â€Å"actions speak louder than words† principle also known as the â€Å"verbal nonverbal consistency† principle to process information where verbal cues contradict nonverbal ques. Three through five year olds were shown a video where an actor drank a beverage and made a verbal statement (ex. I like it) that was inconsistent with her emotional expression (ex. frowning). The children were then asked whether or not the actor liked or disliked the beverage. If children used the verbal nonverbal consistencyRead MoreActions Speak Louder than Words892 Words   |  4 Pages Actions speak louder than words. When having a conversation with someone, your body language speaks louder than your words. Men’s brains and women’s brains work differently, which causes them to have slightly different forms of interaction. Men have different proxemics, kinesics, and paralanguage than women do. Understanding these differences allow us to communicate effectively. All individuals give and receive nonverbal cues during conversation. Most individuals, when unsure whether to considerRead MoreBody Language: Louder than Words818 Words   |  4 Pagescommunicate without using words, Nonverbal cues, such as body language, have long been recognized as an important part of communication. There has been a long running debate about whether verbal or nonverbal language has a higher importance in communication, but nonverbal communication seems to have even greater importance than spoken language. More than voice or even words, body language indications to you what is on another person’s mind. The single most powerful form of communication is body language.Read MoreThe Importance of Non-Verbal Communication929 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Non-verbal communication has been a major factor contributing towards our day to day lives. In terms of design and workplace as well as cultural variations non-verbal communication plays an important role in these places. It includes the usage of the human’s subconscious mind to construct a series of facial expressions, hand gestures as well as the usage of the human’s vocal tones which indeed causes a form of effective communication if used in the right manner. 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As King George V lies in his death bed, his successor David (Guy Pearce), is left in a troublesome situation where he eventu ally renounces his spot on the throne. Throughout the movie Lionel works with Bertie, as he likes to call him, to enhance his nonverbal behaviors of kinesics, haptics, physical appearance, and artifactsRead MoreExpressing Affection: a Vocabulary of Loving Messages1647 Words   |  7 PagesPaper 2 Expressing Affection: A Vocabulary of Loving Messages Part 4 #20 by Charles A Wilkinson â€Å"Love seeketh not Itself to please, Nor for itself hath any care; But for another gives its ease, And builds a Heaven in Hells despair†. These moving words by William Blake show that to Love another you have to move beyond self interest and express our affection for them. The essay by Wilkinson, â€Å"a marriage and family therapist (p150)†, explores the ways we go about expressing our affection to others

Demonstrate Leadership in Your Mba Application Free Essays

Demonstrate Leadership in Your MBA Application When faced with any iteration of the leadership question on MBA essays, many business school applicants freak out because they think they have to come up with an example that is their greatest life or professional achievement. In reality, it’s not about grand gestures or formal leadership titles. The goal is leaving a footprint on whatever situation you’re in and doing more than a good job. We will write a custom essay sample on Demonstrate Leadership in Your Mba Application or any similar topic only for you Order Now Applicants need to think through their past experiences to find the episodes that best illustrate their leadership skills. Sometimes, the best examples are not the first that come to mind. Your leadership essay will often be different from an â€Å"accomplishment† or â€Å"achievement† oriented essay. Just because you achieved something outstanding does not always mean leadership skills were involved, especially if you did most or all of the work. [Learn how to strike the right tone in MBA essays. ] One of the central tenets of leadership essays is showing that you can galvanize the actions of other people. You bring out their passions. You educate them. You help them see organizational priorities in new ways. And then they share in the achievement. The work of a leader activates or improves the work of others, so find anecdotes in your professional and extracurricular background that illustrate this kind of pattern. What kind of experiences will make the best tales of leadership? Think about challenges where the following came into play: †¢ Identifying/defining a problem †¢ Resisting conventional approaches; challenging status quo †¢ Marshaling resources to address a problem †¢ Motivating others †¢ Making good use of others’ talents †¢ Being open to new information and input Building consensus with appropriate stakeholders †¢ Guiding strong midcourse corrections; overcoming mistakes †¢ Building on success [Get more tips on writing MBA admissions essays. ] Remember: Leadership is not just about the titles. Some candidates build their leadership essays around the fact that they were selected for or elected to certain positions where they had a high level of authority and responsibility: editor-in-chief of a college paper, fraternity president, captain of the hockey team, director of product development, or vice president of marketing. But what did you do with this position? An editor of a college daily could write about how he or she was constantly challenged to maintain high levels of editorial excellence, manage staff assignments, and hit all deadlines. This is definitely an esteemed position with many responsibilities, but if you describe your role like that, it sounds exactly the same as the other hundreds of editors-in-chief of college papers also applying this season. Define the leadership challenges you faced, not the management ones. Did you have to deal with a certain writer who falsified interview notes? Was there a sticky campus scandal that forced you and your staff to walk an ethical tightrope? Did you have to fire student editors? Did you lead a transition from a weekly to a daily with all of the scheduling and human resources rigors that entails? Collecting impressive titles does not make someone a great leader—helping a team overcome great challenges does. [Avoid seven deadly sins of MBA applicants. ] The strongest leadership essays will have heroes other than yourself. If you helped Terri in accounts receivable realize her full potential on a project you led, showcase her as a hero in your leadership tale. In the best possible scenario, applicants should map out a good balance at the beginning of their application process between achievement-oriented essays and those focusing specifically on leadership. The good news is that, in many instances, you can still adjust your application fairly late in the process to achieve the appropriate balance between individual achievement and leadership. Adding in a few sentences about enabling others, or educating and defining priorities for group endeavors, will go a long way toward rounding out your profile. Many achievement essays can be transformed into glorious examples of leadership when you shine the spotlight on others who were a part of a great collective accomplishment. Don’t forget that leadership is never a solo effort. When it comes to MBA essays, you can’t go wrong if you show how you’ve worked to inspire others and bring out the best in them How to cite Demonstrate Leadership in Your Mba Application, Essay examples