Information Technology Management at ZARA Essay

Information Technology Management at ZARA - Essay Example This essay outlines that information technology is helping the company to manage queues inside the outlet, control inventory and handle POS-terminals (Point-of-Sale terminal). In addition, IT is playing the all important role in managing Zara’s online store. The report also uncovered that, with the use of information technology, the company has been able to achieve competitive advantage over its competitors. One of the key findings of the study is that, Zara is using outdated software. According to the technical lead of ZARA, the software may be outdates but is highly stable. However it has been identified that any changes in the system configuration by the hardware vendors may negatively impact the company’s POS terminal operation.   The study is about analysing the most important aspects of Zara’s approach to information technology management. Apart from that the report will also shed light on whether or not these approaches are applicable and appropriate anywhere in the organization. In order to satisfy these objectives, the study will carry out an in-depth analysis of the external business environment of Zara and a brief internal analysis of the company. However the focus will be mainly on the information technology management of the company. Based on the findings, the report will draw a conclusion and provide some recommendations regarding how to improve the productivity of the company. Nevertheless, before getting further deep into the study, a brief overview of Zara is presented below.   ... In order to satisfy these objectives, the study will carry out an in-depth analysis of the external business environment of Zara and a brief internal analysis of the company. However the focus will be mainly on the information technology management of the company. Based on the findings, the report will draw a conclusion and provide some recommendations regarding how to improve the productivity of the company. Nevertheless, before getting further deep into the study, a brief overview of Zara is presented below. ZARA: A brief Synopsis Zara is a Spanish company involved in manufacturing and marketing of clothing and accessories. The company is the sister concern of Inditex, which is one of the leading distribution groups of the world. Zara was founded by Amancio Ortega and Rosalia Mera in the year 1975. Presently it is headquartered at Arteixo, Spain. The first store of the company was opened in La Courna. Zara is considered to be one of the largest multinational fashion companies (Zara , 2010a). The major competitors of Zara in the global context are Uniqlo, H&M, Marks & Spencer and United Colors of Benetton. According to reports, the company owns 5,527 stores around the world. Apart from the store operations, it also operates through online platforms. The net sales value of the company in the year 2011 was 13,793, and the operating profit was 3,258 which reflect the company’s financial stability (Inditex, 2011). The company is best known for continuously developing and launching new products. The company comes up with a number of innovative designs each year, which helps them to compete in the market. According to the CEO of the company, Zara’s business idea is very much

Porter's Five Forces of Burberry Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Porter's Five Forces of Burberry - Assignment Example The most common barrier that may be faced by new entrants include; cost of entering this industry is very high given the fact that there has been new technological advancement. Secondly, Burberry tends to have cost advantage and well established channels for distributing its products. The cost advantage may acts as a major entry barrier to the new firms. Further, Burberry has well differentiated products such as; Trench coats that its competitors may not be able to emulate. However, fashion industry tends to be very dynamic. This means that entry barriers are low and therefore, Burberry should work to increase internal and external strength to compete with new entrants more efficiently and effectively (Totallyan, 2011). Burberry Company need to have numerous suppliers than it has currently. There is a need for the company to have numerous suppliers so that incase one supplier fail to deliver raw materials for manufacturing fashion products another supplier may be contacted. This may help to reduce loses emanating from prompt delivery of raw materials. In addition, having numerous suppliers may ensure that there is seamless flow of products into the fashion market (Merrill, 2008). In this case buyer’s power is relatively high in the fashion industry under which Burberry is operating. This is because the numbers of large players are increasing making it possible for buyers to switch into brands produced by other companies. However, most of the new entrants do not have differentiated products as compared to Burberry Company. This provides Burberry a competitive advantage over its competitors because of customers brand loyalty. In addition, the buyers are well informed about the products produced by Burberry. This tends to influence their power. Moreover, economic forces such as inflation may affect buyer’s power whereby, during inflation buyers power tend to be low as they become more sensitive to higher price changes (Kotler, Keller, and Lu

The Financial Analysis of Barcelona Brasseries Case Study

The Financial Analysis of Barcelona Brasseries - Case Study Example In the case study, hedging, as suggested by the private banker, would make sense for Barcelona Brasseries S.L. The economic environment is characterized by floating interest rates all through, with low margins. Given the prevailing economic environment, hedging the interest rates may be beneficial. The prevailing interest rates are low, and the company’s investment yield is quite low. Since the company has recently obtained additional locations all through Barcelona, for 1,000,000 Euros holding mortgage loan(s) will, therefore, result in higher earnings. Such a rise in income is caused by the increased interest earnings. In the example provided, the interest rate –swap has been set into a three-month floating rate system. The three-month floaters stretch more than it can if invested in securities and there are no capped rates (Hollis 2011). The company’s performance will be better if the interest rates increase. Suppose the rates fall, the three-month floater wil l have a performance similar to that which was predicted. However, the low rate may be quite inconvenient. Deventer and Imai (2013, p.113) note that there are some dangers the family may have to take into account when implementing the hedging of interest rate risks. There is a need for constant and consistent rearrangement. For example, a hedge with an eight percent effective duration would be sufficient to hedge a balance sheet with 31-year mortgage loans. However, seven years later, the hedge diminishes ineffective duration and may need to be rearranged with more hedges as the earlier former hedges mature. In most cases, this rearrangement needs superior modeling methods. In summary, the hedging of interest rate risk and the application of derivatives are useful method Barcelona Brasseries Inc. may consider utilizing.  

Scultpture in Architecture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Scultpture in Architecture - Essay Example NOX explores the relationship between architecture and computers, making use of digital modeling, powerful large-scale processing and computer-aided modeling. All these techniques constitutes the framework of NOX designs and brings to fruition their construction and spatial ideologies. To make possible the use of electronic media, a facility known as V2_Lab has been developed. This forms the new medium in which the NOX engineers work to design the minute specifications of their buildings. V2_Engine, a program to assist the designers in their work, was developed by a collective effort of NOX architects Joan Almekinders and Pieter Heyman, completely on computer using animation software. This has transformed architecture and has made it into a non-linear form, as opposed to the former linear construction, and has made it time dependant. In fact, the V2_Lab was renovated using this program. The critical issue here was the incorporation of the program into the design philosophy, and to ma ke use of computer-generated designs into externalized, solid structures. For this, a technique, in which substances known as "springs", was used to change the diagram from a static picture on the board to a form process which operates on the coordination and interference of thousands of forces, whose vector forces can not be predicted, making motion and time a part of the organizational design for any pertinent building. The basic concept behind this strategy was to introduce motion into any construction medium/material. Inside the material, forces and events propagate in waves throughout its topological continuity. However, when external forces are applied on this material, they are not catered by these waves on the principal that subsequent lines intermitted by dots do not pass on forces as the dots pose as a hindrance to these forces, rather than joining the lines and allowing waves to pass on. To overcome this problem, substances called springs, which can be viewed as non-static dots capable of moving to and fro between the lines and, hence, passing on the forces, were introduced into the material. These springs in turn were linked together by lines called strings which then have to be directed towards the four extreme corners of the building to be constructed so that the forces travelling through the construction material are passed out to the extremes. These forces will then be reflected by the four corners along the same strings, where they will interact with new forces traveling outward toward the corners, and hence, each will interfere, and as these resultant or vector forces would be further interacting

Fuel Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Fuel - Case Study Example Hydrogen flows into the anode while oxygen flows into the cathode. The catalyst splits the oxygen into two negative atoms: the two opposite elements (hydrogen and oxygen) attract and pair and the end products of this chemical reaction are water, heat and electricity (Caitlyn 43) Amory Lovins opines that many of the objections against the use of hydrogen are either myths or can be overcome. He believes that hydrogen has a place in the modern world because those objections are based on ill-formed commentaries (Sadoway 56). Its advantages include; The proponents’ views are the most persuasive because there is a lot yet to be discovered about this fuel because it is relatively new. It is a clean energy initiative because the fact that it doesn’t produce harmful emissions makes it environmental friendly. These benefits of hydrogen economy will help us move towards a more sustainable energy economy (Amory 56). In the modern society, there is a place for hydrogen. The fact that this fuel is nontoxic makes it a rare source of energy because other hazardous sources can’t compete against it. Both it’s by products are environment friendly. Its energy is powerful enough to be very efficient compared to other sources and water is used in spaceships. Lastly, it is not a super clean and affordable fuel we expect it to be, but with time it will change because it is relatively new at the

Alexander Wendt The Agent-Structure Problem in International Relations Essay

Alexander Wendt The Agent-Structure Problem in International Relations - Essay Example Initially, Wendt believed on Marxism, as a way of understanding international politics and capital, but later turned to constructivist theory. According to Wendt (1999, 110), in the Agent-Structure theory of international relations, states in international relations act: out of the need to make own free choices and independently; and out of consistent patterned structures which fundamentally shape state choices and opportunities. This discussion therefore seeks to discuss Wendt’s theory and is therefore divided into four sections as shown below: Wendt’s central argument How Wendt’s argument differs from neo-realism and world-systems theory Whether Wendt’s ‘solution’ to the agent-structure problem is the only one available or not Whether Wendt’s ‘solution’ compelling or not Alexander E. Wendt (b. 1958, Mainz, W. Germany) is a political scientist and a core constructivist scholar in the field of international relations. Toget her with scholars such as Peter Katzenstein, Michael Barnett and Martha Finnemore, Wendt established constructivism as a school of thought. Wendt has taught Yale University (1989-1997), Dartmouth College (1997-1999), University of Chicago (1999-2004) and Ohio State University, where he currently serves as the Ralph D. Mershon Professor of International Security. Wendt wrote the Agent-Structure Problem in International Relations in 1987. ... state interests and identities and that because of this, many scholars fail to consider how first and second factors affect state interests and identity. Wendt also points out the failure of neoliberalism as being steeped in the fact that it seeks to explain interstate cooperation by only focusing on the process, while leaving out systematic variables. Constructivism fails to address how state identities are formed in practice (Clarke, 2003, 122). Nevertheless, Wendt ties the constructivist approach to the concept of self-help. This is because, international institutions (as self-help agents) may change identities and interests of states. The concept of self-help as is viewed by realists and himself emanates from the interaction of the units in a system in lieu of anarchy. This stands diametrically opposed to structural and deterministic documents which realists advance, and in which anarchy exists as the principal explanatory variable which drives interactions. Wendt also posits tha t states interact with one another, and depending on the results of the interaction, these states can come to be characaterised by self-help. Whatever is accrued depends on the process and not the structure (Fay, 1996, 75 and Fuller, 1998, 98-112). Klotz, Lynch and Dunn (2006, 355 – 381) observe that according to Wendt, unlike norms-based constructivism, neorealism and neoliberalism cannot give an adequate account for changes which take place in international systems. For instance, neorealism and neoliberalism cannot account for the manner in which states behave at their pristine periods, before they acquire any priors. Koran (2007, 324 – 326) and Nishimura (2011, 96 – 112) charge that Wendt identifies sovereignty, evolution of cooperation and intentional efforts to change egoistic

Stock control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Stock control - Essay Example Measurement of cost by traditional costing method and ABC costing method are greatly different. ABC allocates the activity costs into products by cost drivers, while traditional costing method uses quantity drivers to allocate costs. Since the use of the traditional costing method was not avoided of products loss, we may as well say then that its continual use would be a wrong economic decision. It is impossible to get correct activity information of each activity and the activity channeled towards production by using traditional costing method, while this can be achieved easily and accurately by ABC method. With the use of ABC, Vauxhall could now analyze which activity is tends towards loss of products, in order to discuss the possibility of reduction of such activities. The product loss, measured by traditional costing method, was not encountered by ABC method since ABC could accurately allocate cost information.