Arthur Conan Doyle Essay Example for Free

Arthur Conan Doyle Essay The stories of Sherlock Holmes are typical of the detective genre and the characters remain popular; they are also useful social, historical documents. Explain why you think this is so, referring to 3 of the stories you have read. Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective of the late 19 and early 20 centuries, who first appeared in newspaper in 1887. Hes created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Holmes is famous for his intelligent study to solve difficult crime cases. He is one of the best known and most generally recognizable characters in detective genre. Conan Doyle wrote 56 short stories that featured Holmes, that are narrated by Holmes friend and biographer, Dr John Watson. Most of the stories first appeared in the magazine called Strand. The three stories that I read are The Red-headed League, The Speckle band and The final Problem. A brief outline of the first story, The Red-headed League Is about VS planning to rob the bank and Its not long when holmes and JW investigate and catch VS in the act. The Speckled Band is about a stepfather, Dr Roylott, who wants to have his step daughters inheritance. He finds out she is going to wed, but if she does, this mean he will get less money. He therefore decides to kill her and does this with a speckled band, a breed of snake. In The Final Problem, we meet Professor Moriarty who is Holmes old enemy, he is a criminal genius. Sherlock Holmes, Dr Watson and P. Moriarty travel to Switzerland, and there Holmes gets pushed off a cliff and dies. The crime always takes place in a rich and middle class areas. They often use strange and curious settings in the crime places, strange objects at that time used to excite people. All the stories open in the same way, with Dr Watson telling us the story from the beginning. We only get to Dr Watsons view, because its Watsons voice that narrates the stories. The two main characters are Dr Watson and Sherlock Holmes. Dr Watson is inspired by Holmes. Watson tries to solve the crime in the Red-Headed league, He Trys to figure out Jabez Wilsons personality. In The Empty house he had to solve the crime because Holmes wasnt there because he had died in the previous story. In the majority of the stories he is portrayed as a person who shows a great passion for crime along with Holmes. Holmes Watson work together as a good team because Watson is inspired by what Holmes does, thats why Watson always describes Holmes as a very nice an intelligent person, and Holmes likes Watson because he writes everything down. Although, intellectually he can not compete and always seems to become second best; Holmes, I cried, I seem to see dimly what you are hinting At. We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible Crime. (The adventure of the speckled band) The two also differ in other ways for example, although Holmes is intellectually gifted he lacks the contacts of friends, this shows him as a loner.

The Marginalization of Minority Groups in The Electoral System Essay

The marginalization of minority groups in the electoral system impedes a comprehensive representation by further entrenching and aggravating ethnic division. The lack of minority representation in political-decision making has limited the ability of a true representative democracy to come into fruition. The inconsistency of elected assemblies mirroring the population has decreased the representation of ethnic minorities and deepened the racial and ethnic cleavages. Reforming the electoral system to accommodate proportional representation will not only enhance interethnic relations, but also ensure that racial, ethnic, and social diversity is reflected in national leadership. This paper will aim to create to create a strong electoral system that promotes the sustainability and longevity of democracy amidst racial and ethnic cleavages. To do so, I will show that proportional representation under parliamentary system can not only bridge the gap between underrepresented minorities and na tional leadership, but also ensure that there is a more equitable diffusion of power. I will focus on outlining the essential components of proportional representation to provide the framework for my argument. Assessing the tenets of this type of democracy will elucidate its distinguishable factor that makes it apt to curb this challenge. In addition, the assertions of Linz, Cheibub, and Lijphart will substantiate my argument that a parliamentary system, unlike a presidential system, can allow greater proportional representation of all minorities. To ensure a more balance and equitable representation of the candidate pool, I will argue the necessity of employing a Single Transferable vote. While many may see the flexibility and lack of stability in par... ...stem must be constructed that not only strengthens civil society, but also ensures its equal representation. Under this mode of governance, not only will there me a more equitable representation of all minorities, but also the ideals of democracy and constitutional liberalism can be sustained. As stated by Fidel Ramos, â€Å"Governments may come and go, but the people remain. It is the majesty of people power that we exalt when we build functioning and free electoral systems.† It is of utmost importance for the electoral system to be not only, the voice of the people, but also be an outlet from which the interests and pleas of society can be expressed and manifested into legislation. While proportional representation does have it flaws, its ability to truly represent the choices of the electorate will create an egalitarian representation and a successful democracy.

Against Same Sex Marriage Essay

The legalization of the marriage between same sex couples will permanently change the rite of marriage in our society. The legalization of homosexual marriage will quickly destroy the traditional family. Marriage is the institution that forms and upholds for society, the cultural and social values and symbol related to procreation. That is, it establishes the values that govern the transmission of human life to the next generation and the nurturing of that life in the basic societal unit, the family. Through marriage our society works out the relationship of two people who will together create and nurture a new generation. To change the definition of marriage to include same sex marriage couples would destroy its capacity to function in many ways. It could no longer represent procreative relationships of opposite sex marriages.Reproduction is the fundamental occurrence on which the future of life depends. It is the primary reason why marriage is so important to society. In same sex marriages procreation would be eliminated entirely. First, when the state sanctions homosexual relationships and gives them its blessing, the younger generation becomes confused about sexual identity and quickly loses its understanding of lifelong commitments, emotional bonding, sexual purity, the role of children in a family, and from spiritual prospective, the sanctity of marriage. Marriage is reduced to a partnership that provides attractive benefits and sexual convenience. Cohabitation and short term relationships are the inevitable result. Second, the introduction of legalized gay marriages will lead to polygamy and other alternatives to the one man, on woman unions. Why will gay marriage set the table for polygamy? Because there is no place to stop once the line has been crossed. Historically, the definition of marriage has rested on a foundation of tradition, legal precedent, theology, and the overwhelming support of the people. After the introduction of marriage between homosexuals it will be supported by nothing more substantiated than the opinion of a single judge or by a black-robed panel of justices (Marriage under Fire). After their decision, the family will consist of little more than someone’s interpretation of rights. Given that unstable legal judgment, it is certain some self-possessed judge, somewhere, will soon rule that three men or three women can marry. How about group marriage or marriage between cousins, or marriage between parent and child? How about marriage between a man and his animal? Anything allegedly linked to civil rights will be doable. The legal underpinnings for marriage will have been destroyed. These other couples restricted from marrying are not equivalent to homosexual couples, but are necessary to illustrate that marriage is heavily regulated, and for good reason. When a state recognizes a marriage, it bestows upon the couple certain benefits which are costly to both the state and other individuals. Collecting a deceased spouse’s social security, claiming an extra tax exemption for a spouse, and having the right to be covered under a spouse’s health insurance policy are just a few examples of its costly benefits associated with marriage. In a sense, a married couple receives a subsidy. A marriage between two unrelated heterosexuals is likely to result in a family with children. For this reason, states have, in varying degrees, restricted from marriage, couples unlikely to produce children. One may argue that lesbians are capable of procreating via artificial insemination, so the state does have an interest in recognizing lesbian marriages, but a lesbian’s sexual relationship, committed or not, has no bearing on her ability to reproduce (Single Parent: What Helps, What Hurts). However, there is ample evidence that children need both female and male parent for proper development. It is essential for a child to be nurtured by parents of both sexes if a child is to learn to function in a society made up of both sexes (Life without Father). With the legalization of homosexual marriage, every public school in the nation will be required to teach that this lifestyle is the moral equivalent of traditional marriage between a woman and a man. Textbooks, even in conservative states, will have to depict man/man and woman/woman relationships and stories written for children as young as elementary or even kindergarten, will have to give equal space to homosexuals. Every public school will also be forced to teach that same sex marriage and homosexuality are perfectly normal. They will teach little boys  and little girls that husband and wife and father and moother are merely optional for a family and therfore, meaningless (No Gay Marriage). Same sex families deny children either a mother or father. In certain cases, the same sex family is not driven by the needs of children, but rather by the radical wishes of a small group of adults. Thousands of published social science, psychological and medical studies show that children living in fatherless families, on average, suffer dramatically in every measure of well-being. These children suffer from higher levels of loneliness, physical or mental illness, behavior problems, educa tional failure or criminal troubles. The third reason marriage between homosexuals will destroy traditional marriage is that this is the ultimate goal of activists, and they will not stop until they achieve it. Homosexual activists, with their inner power and exhilaration, feel the political climate is right to tell us what they have wanted all along. Gay marriages are likely to do for gay rights what the rallying cry of â€Å"abortion on demand† did for the Equal Rights Amendment and the women’s movement. It diverts the real debate on every level. It reduces the cause of gay rights to a single issue. But the real deal is most gays and lesbians do not want to marry each other. They do not want to entangle themselves in all sorts of legal constraints (Single Parent What Helps, What Hurts). In a perfect democratic world, gay marriage would be an option for those who want it. However, this world is not a perfect democracy, and the fight for gay marriage is the wrong fight at the wrong time (Focus on Family). In conclusion, the reason for excluding same sex couples from marriage matters: If the reason for denying homosexual marriage is that we have no respect for same sex couples and their relationships and want to give the message that homosexuality is wrong, then that is discrimination and that is wrong. On the other hand, if the reason is to keep the very nature, essence and substance of marriage intact, and the essence is to protect the procreative relationship, then excluding same sex couples from marriage is ethically acceptable. This such refusal is not discrimination. Ethics requires us to take the least invasive, least restrictive alternative, reasonably available and likely to be effective in achieving a justified  goal. Maintaining a traditional marriage and legally recognizing same sex partnerships fulfills that ethical requirement (Why Marriage Matters). Gay and lesbian people have a right to form meaningful relationships. They do not have a right to redefine marriage for all of us. What will happen to society if marriage becomes anything or everything or nothing? The short answer is that the state will lose its compelling interest in marital relationships altogether. After marriage has been redefined, divorces will be obtained instantly, will not involve a court, and will take on the status of a driver’s license or hunting permit. With the family out of the way, all rights and privileges of marriage will accrue to gay and lesbian partners without the legal entanglements and commitments associated with it. These are a few reasons why I am against homosexual marriage. Legalizing it will change everything, especially the institution of the family. Every society needs natural marriage- as many men as possible each finding a woman, caring for and committing himself exclusively to her- working together to create and raise the next generation.

Global Warming And The Paris Agreement - 1924 Words

Introduction After two decades of deliberations (Obergassel et al. 2016: 3), the international community has finally created an accord in which every state will play a role in trying to accomplish the major environmental goal of our time, preventing dangerous levels of global warming. On December 12, 2015, at the 21st Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 195 nations decided to adopt the Paris Agreement (Obergassel et al. 2016: 7). Upon being signed, the Paris Agreement has been widely hailed as a historic diplomatic success (Harvey, Fiona 2015). It aims to prevent the climate from warming to dangerous levels, with dangerous being quantified as the specific goal of â€Å"holding the increase in†¦show more content†¦Second, I will examine how the Paris Agreement’s method of letting each country choose its own emissions limitation targets has resulted in a trajectory where even the already too dangerous 2  ºC threshold is currentl y far out of reach (Clà ©menà §on 2016: 13). And finally, I will demonstrate how even if individual countries ultimately revise and improve their targets so that they would be able to meet the 2  ºC threshold, the non-binding nature of the Paris Agreement will likely result in some countries choosing not to take the efforts necessary to attain their targets (Obergassel et al. 2016: 44). When combined with the fact that the world is already seeing dangerous effects from climate change (Knutti et al. 2015: 5), these points suggest that the goal of preventing dangerous levels of climate change from occurring are unobtainable. Defining â€Å"Dangerous† Since 2009’s COP15 in Copenhagen, the international community has come to a consensus that global warming at or higher than 2  ºC above the pre-industrial average is too dangerous (Lau, Lee and Mohamed 2012: 3). This arbitrary temperature increase threshold is not based on scientific consensus of what is safe, but rather a political consensus based on what was believed to be â€Å"both realistically achievable and tolerable† (Knutti et al. 2015: 1). Although limiting the global temperature increase to 2  ºC above the pre-industrial average is certainly safer than not limiting it at all (Clà ©menà §on 2016: 18), even a 2  ºC increase

The Poetry of Billy Collins Essay - 1656 Words

The Poetry of Billy Collins In 2001 a new poet laureate was crowned and a new voice; the voice of a poetic everyman was heard by many for the first time. That voice belonged to Billy Collins. Collins was born into a working-class Bronx couple, and grew up in a typical middle-class neighborhood where he went to church on Sundays and listened to jazz music in his free time. This middle-class background and sensibilities are reflected in his poetic style and themes, and in his desire to bring poetry back into the American main stream by making it more accessible to the average reader. Billy Collins was born March 22, 1941 in Queens, New York. He was born into a middle class family. His parents were of Irish descent, and had†¦show more content†¦They include Poker face (1977), Video Poems (1980), The Apple That Astonished Paris (1988), Questions About Angles (1991), The Art of Drowning (1995), Picnic, Lighting (1998), Sailing Alone Around the Room (2002), The After Life, and Nine Horses. In 1997 Billy Collins married Diane Olbright, who he had met while attending the University of California at Riverside. When they married she was the host of ABC’s â€Å"Wide World of Sports†, she is currently an architect. Many things have had a large influenced Collins’ poetry. Religious faith has a particularly large impact. Billy grew up in a highly religious Irish Catholic family, and was taught how to live a good Christian life. Collins, however, is not as deeply religious as his parents, but still continues to be Catholic for the sake of continuity, and respect toward his parents (Press). Many of Collins’ poems center around the ideas of religion; in fact, his book â€Å"The Afterlife† is dedicated solely to religious themes. Jazz has also influenced Billy Collins’ poetry. He grew up listening to jazz, and many of his poems are about his love for this music (Mazin). The works of other poets have also influenced Collins’ writing. Although he certainly has his own unique style of writing, the influence of Elizabethan metaphysical poetry is evident Collins particularly admires the works of George Herbert and John Donne (Billy Collins). George Herbert uses homely and every-day images in his poetry asShow MoreRelatedThe Poetry Of Billy Collins861 Words   |  4 Pages Billy Collins is a distinguished Professor of English at Lehman College, as well as a teacher at Stony Brook Southampton in New York. He was poet laureate of the United States from 2001 until 2003. He has published 15 books of poetry since 1977. The poetry of Billy Collins is almost always prose poetry. This most certainly is a factor in his popularity, as it is more accessible than more formal and/or esoteric forms of poetry. Unlike traditionally utilized forms of poetic speech, Collin’s useRead MorePoetry, By Billy Collins, The Writer1277 Words   |  6 PagesPoetry comes in many forms, rhythms, tones, and meanings whether metaphoric or realistic. One thing, however, which is a common trait of poetry, is that they all carry a message to the reader. In some poems the message appears very clear and understandable, while in others, the author may hide the message within metaphors and imagery. In the poem â€Å"Introduction to Poetry† by Billy Collins, the writer â€Å"enlightens† his reader with an important message that poetry is something to experience. He usesRead MoreBilly Collins Introduction To Poetry Analysis751 Words   |  4 Pagesthat poem a good one. Some may say that Billy Collins poem â €Å"Introduction to Poetry† is a fantastic poem, while some may not like it at all. So, let’s find out why some think it’s a fantastic poem. While Collins brings meaning to the poem â€Å"introduction to Poetry† through the use of form, tone, rhythm, and irony. All poems have a way of being written known as the form. The poem â€Å"Introduction to Poetry† by Billy Collins is written in a metaphorical way. Collins used many different metaphors in his poemRead MoreBilly Collins Introduction To Poetry Analysis715 Words   |  3 PagesWhile reading the poem â€Å"Introduction to Poetry,† Billy Collins sends a message to the readers that they should be patient and impartial when it comes to analyzing a poem in order to see the true meaning behind the without being over analytical. There is a revieting situation that takes place because Billy Collins is delivering his message to all readers about the way that one should be able to read a poem. This poems educates the reader on how to be able to read and plunge into a poem, through usingRead MoreEssay on Understanding Poetry: Billy Collins, Introduction to Poetry1279 Words   |  6 PagesUnderstanding Poetry: Billy Collins, Introduction to Poetry Billy Collins uses dark rooms, oceans, hives, color slides and mouse mazes to describe his poem â€Å"Introduction to Poetry†, but also a way to analyze poetry in general. Growing up, students are advised by teachers how to analyze poetry. The speaker of Introduction to Poetry, Billy Collins, attempts to guide the readers by teaching them a unique and appropriate way to analyze poetry. The use of personification and imagery, by the authorRead MoreBilly Collins : Master Of Dry Humor Essay1370 Words   |  6 Pages9 12 October 2016 Billy Collins: Master of Dry Humor Billy Collins has compiled twelve poetry compilations; made a six figure pay advance, just from changing publishers; served as poet laureate for two terms, which most only serve one term; served as New York’s poet laureate right after his two terms of the United States poet laureate; in total has sold over 200,000 poems since his debut book Pokerface in 1977; named â€Å"the most popular poet† by The New York Times. Billy Collins’ fame is almost incomparableRead MoreBilly Collins : An Early Age1745 Words   |  7 Pages232 3 May 2016 Billy Collins Billy Collins is among the most well known poets in the Untied States. His use of plain language, humor, his fascination with the ordinary, and his clear acknowledgment of the mundane are just some of the attributes that make his work instantly recognizable (Cunningham). Collins’ ability to write poetry was evident at an early age. He wrote his first poem at the age of 12 and went on to join the literary magazine of his high school (Cunningham). Collins has earned numerousRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Billy Collins 1333 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction to Poetry Billy Collins is known as one of the most popular, successful, and influential poets in American history. Collins is famously known for addressing his audience directly, mentally pulling them into the poem, and creating a temporary companionship with the reader. One of the prominent examples of this style of writing can be examined in his poem, Introduction to Poetry. In Billy Collins poem, Introduction to Poetry, he plays the role as a teacher, teaching the reader how toRead MoreIntroduction to Poetry Representation935 Words   |  4 Pages Poetry is not just words formed into a line and a stanza; each poem is an opportunity to â€Å"dance† with the poet to his or her significant song. â€Å"Introduction to Poetry† by Billy Collins is a reflection on how readers should read poetry. This poem is about how readers should take the time to understand and explore poetry. In addition, Billy Collins, also, states that readers should not torture poems and ignore the signific ance each stanza represents, but dissect, enjoy, and appreciate the journeyRead MorePoetry Analysis of Introduction to Poetry837 Words   |  4 PagesPoetry analysis of ‘Introduction to Poetry’ The Poem â€Å"Introduction to Poetry† is by Billy Collins, an English poet, and it is about how teachers often force students to over-analyze poetry and to try decipher every possible meaning portrayed throughout the poem rather than allowing the students to form their own interpretation of the poem based on their own experiences. Throughout the poem, a number of literary devices are used. For example: â€Å"or press an ear against its hive†. Using this metaphor

Decision Making at the Executive Level Essay - 1036 Words

Decision Making at the Executive Level The focus of my term paper is the decision making process used by todays top-level managers. Top-level managers, such as Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), Chief Operations Officers (COOs), and Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), must make critical decisions on a daily basis. Their choices and the resulting outcomes affect the company, the employees, and the stakeholders. Due to the high importance of their decisions, the process they use to reach them merits a close examination. A study published in the winter 1997 volume of Business Strategy Review suggests the major factor in a decisions success is the decision process itself. The study, by Paul Nutt, suggests that poor decision making†¦show more content†¦The study divided this task into four different areas. The first area, labeled concept tactic, used a solution to a problem to guide the decision. The second, problem solving, uses an existing problem to direct the decision. The third area, objective setting, uses a preferred performance level to decide the course to follow. The last area, reframing, uses benchmarking to prove that a decision must be made. The last area was implemented more times in the study than the others. I believe that this is because competition is very fierce, and executives often feel that they must keep ahead of others in their industry. By comparing themselves to others of equal size and direction, companies must act fast if they want to keep their competitive advantage. The next step in the decision making process is to identify the alternatives. According to the author of the study, there are three ways to generate options; by copying, searching, or designing. The first way is to adapt an existing option to fit the need. The second way, searching, is to find a company that has a prepackaged solution to achieve the goals. The last way, designing, employs consultants to design a solution. The two most successful ways were copying and searching. I believe thi s is because the third option requires the company to attempt to explain to the consulting group exactly whatShow MoreRelatedCase Analysis : Charge And Unsupervised Test1432 Words   |  6 Pagesmore likely to be executive and management personnel by applying the â€Å"in-charge and unsupervised test† because he satisfies a majority of the factors from the test. The â€Å"in-charge and unsupervised test† is a fact-specific analysis consistent with the language of the statute that examines multiple factors including: (1) the amount of people the employee supervises, and the layers of management above; (2) the employee’s capacity to make decisions, more specifically strategic decisions; (3) the amountRead MoreWho Are The Individuals That Should Be Involved In Making Capital Investment Decisions721 Words   |  3 PagesTop level executives are the individuals that should be involved in making capital investment decisions. 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Supply Chain Management Is an Important Aspect in Organization

Question: What Supply chain management is an important aspect in the organization? Answer: Introduction Supply chain management is an important aspect in the organization that enables flow of raw material in the company and flow of finished goods to the final consumer (Cetinkaya, 2010). Supply chain management involve designing, planning, controlling and monitoring supply chain activities to ensure that they are timely, reliable and cost effectiveness. Supply chain strategic refers to execution tactics that enable alignment of the supply chain activities with the organizational strategy and objectives of the business. Proper supply chain strategy in supply chain management enables attainment of competitiveness through cost reduction. Products are able to be manufactured on low cost, working capital is minimized and time to market reduced creating a serviced perspective to customer (Bouchery, 2017). Therefore, supply chain strategy increases business performance hence meeting its predetermined goals. The following report will outline RAK Ceramics supply chain Strategy. The report also assesses the current situation and proposes strategic changes that will make the company more competitive. Company Background information RAV Ceramics is a world leading ceramic company. The company was founded in 1989 by Sheikh Saudi Bin Saqr al Qasimi and started it operation in 1991. The Company has its headquarters in Ras Al Khaimah in United Arab Emirates. The Company Chief Executicve Officer is Abdallah Massaad. The business is a public company with Sheikh Saud Saqr Al Qasimi being the main shareholder taking 39.88%, 4.98% by Ras Al Khaimah Government, Emirate Rock 8.11 and Omar Bin Saqr 5.28%. RAK Ceramics is listed in Abu Dhabi Security Exchange. The business recorded annual turnover of US$ 1Billion in 2016 financial year. RAK is also traded in Dhaka Stock Exchange, Bangladesh. The Companys products include; Ceramic tiles, interior ancillary products, tableware, tile adhesives, sanitary ware, taps and kitchen fittings (RAK, 2017). The company produces an average of 110milion square of tiles. The company also manufactures 5 million pieces of sanitary in a year. The company has three production plants in United Arabs Emirates, Bangladesh, India and Iran. The Company serves customers in more than 150 countries around the globe. The Company has employed 15000staff who are from different countries (Khan, Hussain, Ajmal, 2017). RAK Ceramics Business Strategy The business strategy is market focused. The aims to be a top ceramics players in the market, top five exporter of value market in the world (Bernon, 2010). The business also focuses of strengthening its presence in markets in order to increase and grow its market share. The strategy is based on the on a vision to be a leading innovator in the ceramic industry. The company strategy is close to clients, excellence in products, redefined designs, being accountable to stakeholders, integrity, committed and sustainable to the society that the business operates in. PESTLE Analysis Political factors: RAK operates in different countries around the globe. The supply chain is faced with different legislations that regulate and limit operations. Legislation influence how the business supply chain relates to environments, citizens and trading in the market. The company uses the local society to promote local labour. RAK requires suppliers to comply with the countrys regulations that involve health and safety, employment and equality. This ensures that the Companys suppliers operate within the set laws to avoid sanctions or operations terminated by the authorities (Belvedere Grando, 2017). Economic factors: RAV Ceramics performance is affected by the world economy. Global economic growth increases ability of costumers to buy RAK Ceramics products and vice versa. The World economics is predicted to grow by 2.7% more compared to 2016. This indicate that the there will be increased demand for RAK products around the globe. Morana (2017) Forecasts that there will be economic stability for 2017-2018 and global GDP will increase with Europe leading. Social Cultural factors: RAK Ceramics is involved in manufacturing products that are stylish and their demand is driven by peoples lifestyles. The companys products compliment stylish lifestyles. These products enable customers to live in buildings that have good design that are innovative and of high quality. The social culture factors facing the company is the lifestyle change in of the global community. Peoples preference and taste in the globe are converging with great demand for design and quality. This has been influenced by the current expansion of the economic middle class in all countries. This has increased their ability to purchase high quality and most innovative designs that suites their lifestyles Technological factors: The Company is a great consumer of technology and innovation. The company depends on technology to manufacture, monitor, control and communicate in the supply chain. The company success is based on how well it uses technology. RAK Ceramics has partnered with SAP solutions which is a technological firm that is in charge of installing and maint6ainign technology in the supply chain. SAP provides SAP Customer relationship management applications and ERP that are useful tools in supply chain management. The industry has adopted internet based supply chain management applications that are safer, flexible and backed up through cloud computing. Legal: The RAK supply chain requires different licenses from different authorities to operate. The company require permit license to operate in different countries. The Company also requires environmental permits from the government to transport mined resources. Environmental Factors: RAV Ceramics involves mining and manufacturing of ceramic products. These products have an impact in the environment through carbon emissions. The company has to observe the environmental laws of disclosing their carbon footprint. RAV requires the supply chain to meet companys requirements on environment that involve responsible and ethical toward the environments. Porters Five Forces New entrants: The ceramics industry has attracted several companies to venture in manufacturing of the ceramics products. Despite the high initial capital to the industry, companies are finding their way in the industry. For instance in Bangladesh, the ceramic industry has experienced four domestic entrants to the market. Supplier power: The supplier power of RAK Ceramics can be said to be moderate. The company raw material costs vary and there exist alternatives in the industry. The company can choose to use mosaic or manufacture it ceramics goods organically. Buyers power: Ceramic products have many customers and products are not differentiated. The products are made of the same materials and buyers make decisions based on designs and prices. Therefore the buyers of the ceramic products have low buyers power. Threats of substitute products: The ceramics alternatives are low priced and lack designs therefore there exist high switching cost. This indicates that the RAK products have low threats of substitute products. Competitor Rivalry: There exists rivalry in the market with each organization discriminating against each other. Companies in the Ceramics industry discriminate on prices and quality. Customer requirement The following are the customer requirements using order winners and order qualifiers of RAK Ceramics products. The RAK ceramics products are of high quality that gives customers crucial advantage of buying them. The products are all available in most countries and cities in the World giving customers important advantage of accessing them. The product design is of innovative design that gives useful advantage due to it appealing make. These objectives makes the product to be order winning. On the other side, the RAK products have at least good delivery speed that is up the industry standards. The products range of RAK Ceramics Company is around the industry median standards. The company produces several produces a range of products that range to around 15000. The company delivery dependency is of close to other players in the industry. These factors act as the RAK products qualifying to customers requirements. The products price is relatively high and though not considered by customer now, it will become a bother in the future. Increasing competition and innovative designs from other companies will necessitate RAK to reconsider it prices. The companys products brands are very rarely considered by customers. Lastly is after sale services of the ceramics are never considered by the customers. Customers overlook the after sale serviced due to the nature of the industry (Al-Odeh, 2016). Kohler Co supply Chain performance Kohler Co is an American based kitchen fitting, bathroom, carpets and engineering company that supplies it products to six continents. The company has a history that backs to 1873. The company was founded by John Michael Kohler. The company recently acquired Clarke Energy. The company supply chain is contracted to independent companies that meet companys supplier requirements. Kohler has standardized requirements for contracting suppliers in their supply chain. They sign contracts with local suppliers and dont control their actions. This reduces the company liability on the suppliers activities (Kashmanian, 2015). This leads to different suppliers activities in the supply chain management around the globe. Evaluation of RAK Supply Chain The RAK Ceramics supply chain will be evaluated on procurement activities, operations, distributions and services provided Procurement The company gets it raw material from Ras Al Khaimah. The company acquires some of its inputs from other places. The company also exports clay to other plants located in Bangladesh and India. The procurement activities involve buying inputs for the company to manufacture it wide range products. These products are transported to the manufacturing plant by road. This is the first phase of the RAK Ceramic supply chain. The materials are facilitated for custom clearance and delivered to the store. The raw materials are then submitted to a quality check and an issuance of certificate from the analysis sent to the supplier. Operations Raw materials are stored as factory inventory in the manufacturing plant. The raw materials are batched and slip prepared. Dry coloring is prepared in the factory and pressing operations carried out to design the products. The products in working process are dried and glaze line operations carried out. Lastly there is polishing and sorting of product. Products from the manufacturing process are moved to the packaging and warehousing. Finished goods are arranged on pallets and wrapped with plastic covers. From this phase products are transported to warehouses. Distribution Palletized boxes are transported and distributed to different RAK Ceramics showrooms, distributors and retailers around the globe. Transportation of the finished products is by sea, air and road. Services provided The company displays its products in showrooms for customers to view. These showrooms are located in different cities around the world. The company is not involved in aggressive advertisement. The company uses the supply chain information systems to communicate, monitor and manage data of inventory. The most used applications are SAP customer relationship Management and SAP ERP. These applications update customers about products delivery and stock will communicate to the company distribution centers about the demand. The SAP ERP is used to manage inventory and provides detailed information about the supply chain. This application is used for decision making in the supply chain in order to increase effectiveness. The key skills required in the supply chain are reliable and commitment. There is great need to reduce the lead time, increase dependability, avail products and offer after sale services where necessary. Customers need explanation of the variety of products that the company offers. This means that the company needs salespersons in the showroom to handle customers seeking information when making buying decisions. Recommendation Supply Strategy The following is the supply chain strategy recommendation is meant to improve the RAK Ceramics in order to increase efficiency and effectiveness. Procurement The company should implement the following strategies; Quality of the raw material should be assessed first: The quality of raw material that the company is looking forward to acquire should be submitted to a quality test before acquisition is the procurement process is started. This will help the company reduce the likelihood of acquiring raw materials that are of low quality. Vertical integration: The Company should invest in the mining and production of raw materials. This will by big margin reduce the cost of acquiring raw material for producing their products. The mining of raw material by the company can also increase delivery dependency (reliability) and improve the quality of materials need in the manufacturing plant. The company should enter into contract with suppliers: This strategy will require suppliers to sign contract for a specified period of that they will be supplying raw materials to the company. The recommended time is one year. The contract will ensure that suppliers are committed to make quality supplies for the company within the stated time. With a third party contract, the company will be able to control the supplier activities to ensure they engage in responsible and ethical activities when supplying to the company (Kausar, Garg and Luthra, 2017). The company will also be able to implement sustainability of the supply chain for a consistent and sustained growth of the company. Operations The following strategies will improve the operations of RAK Ceramic supply chain in the manufacturing plant; The company should record it carbon emission: This strategy will help the company disclose it carbon footprint and it performance toward sustainable business. This will enable the company make changes that can enhance carbon footprint reduction. The company should increase it inventory ratio: The Company should increase it inventory to avoid shortages during the manufacturing period. The raw materials should be stored in advance to avoid failure of manufacturing process. Distribution The following recommendation will enable increase effectiveness in the distribution channels of the RAK Ceramic supply chain; The company should invest in forward integration in all parts of the world to ensure the supply chain is well controlled and monitored. The company should adopt an urgent plan to deliver products for customers who need products quickly. This will increase delivery speed for those customers in hurry. The company should increase the number of outlets to increase product availability to more customers. Service provided The following strategies are recommended for improving RAK Ceramic supply chain: The supply chain should start making advertisements to promote sales. Advertisements create awareness of the products that the company is being involved with. Advertisement will increase the products demand and help the company establish a company brand that the customers will associate themselves with. The company should adopt internet based information system: The computing system used should be internet based and hosted. This will increase flexibility, accessibility and security of the data. Supply chain data will be automatically backed up ensuring not data is lost at any time. Internet based information system will increase the effectiveness of communication by allow data access from any point of the world provided there is internet connection (Pagell, Krause and Klassen, 2008). Conclusion From the supply chain strategy analysis in this report, RAK Ceramic supply chain is faced with several opportunities and major threats. The Company can utilize the opportunities that exist by implementing a sustainable supply chain strategy to enable reduce cost, reduce lead time and support customer differentiation in over 1500 products that the company produces. The threats facing the business should be minimized to ensure the business engages in sustainable activities that will enhance survival and sustained growth in the future. Therefore, it can be concluded that formulating strategic supply chain strategy requires understanding of the business supply chain by undertaking PESTKLE and Porters Five Forces analysis in order to establish opportunities and threats. These strategic supply chain tactics helps the business increase effectiveness and efficiency in the supply chain thereby supporting the companys business strategy. References Al-Odeh, M. (2016). 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