On ‘Mending Wall’ by Robert Frost

From the very title of this poem Robert Frost implies his intention of presenting an everlasting barricade in human relationship, symbolized by the image of a wall. Close analysis reveals a work that functions on many levels. On the surface, ‘Mending Wall' pictures a scene in which the narrator and his neighbor cooperate with one another to mend a cracked wall and then begin a reasoning dispute over the significance/insignificance of having a wall between them. However, as the poem develops, more underlying conflicts are unfolded which cast a different light on the scene before the readers. Frost takes on these issues to explore some of the more complex aspects of human relationship in modern days. The poem opens with a comment of the puzzled narrator about an unknown force that ‘sends the frozen-ground-swell under it/And spills the upper boulders in the sun', producing measurable gaps in the wall. By the use of an unlikely compound noun: ‘frozen-ground-swell', instead of a proper word, such as ‘ice' or ‘icicle', and the failure to relate the cracks as consequences of the former phenomenon the comment is likely to be the voice of a youth as well as a remark to the natural wonder. Then the depiction of gaps caused by hunters disrupts the scene and brings in a preliminary conflict within the narrator's mind; that is, ironically, the narrator approves only of natural cracks in a wall not the man-made ones. He reasons that man-made gaps are forceful, destructive and merely for a personal purpose: ‘To please the yelping dogs'. On the contrary, with the pausing effect of a Caesura as well as end stops and the use of words with long vowel sounds in a line followed closely by short vowel sounds in another: ‘To please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean, [short vowel sounds; No one has seen them made or heard them made, long vowel sounds] But at spring mending-time we find them there,' the narrator expresses his wonder and admiration to a naturally-cracked wall. This preference foreshadows the narrator's calm but cold reaction on mending a wall at the end of the poem. In line 11, ‘But at spring mending-time we find them there', along with the rebirth of spring emerge gaps in a wall, coordinated reparation as well as a remarkable irony in ‘mending wall', all of which prepare the ground for the central conflict of modern human relationship. Acknowledged of the mending time the narrator and his neighbor gather together in order to fulfill gaps in a wall. At this stage, the two characters are unified as the first person plural ‘we', signifying the sense of unity and cooperation. This is indeed an irony; the narrator and his neighbor become cooperative in order to be separate: ‘[†¦] we meet [†¦] and set the wall between us once again'. In addition, the description of the reparation is ornamented with quick, joyful but thoughtless rhythm, following from repetitive use of enjambment and childlike metaphor: ‘Some [stones] are loaves and [†¦] balls'. Such playful words and rhythm characterize many childlike aspects of the narrator. He is initiative and enthusiastic: ‘I let my neighbor know beyond the hill'; he is imaginative in a childlike way: ‘Some are loaves and some so nearly balls/We have to use a spell to make them balance'. In fact, repairing a wall is a tough work: ‘To each the boulders that have fallen to each. [unstressed ending] †¦ †¦ †¦ †¦ We have to use a spell to make them balance: [unstressed ending] â€Å"Stay where you are until our backs are turned!† We wear our fingers rough with handling them. Oh, just another kind of outdoor game', hinted by such examples as the effect of interrupting uneasiness from continuous unstressed ending and some words, including ‘have to', ‘spell', and ‘rough', that connote hardship. While mending the wall, the narrator is, however, overwhelmed thoughtlessly with joyful physical recreation and sense of collaboration with his neighbor. Even though he has remarked somewhere that the wall is set up again, the narrator seems ironically ignorant to the fact that ‘mending wall' will later disunify his sense of ‘we', the togetherness between himself and his neighbor. Once he realizes it an argument will be unavoidable. At a particular point, ‘One on a side' , Frost allows his narrator a pause for reasoning thoughts by applying a long-vowel sound followed immediately by a Caesura. The pause as well as the subsequent statement: ‘It comes to little more', reports a wondering tone and suggests in some way that the narration is developing his intellectual maturity. He begins his first argument against the significance of ‘mending wall', saying innocently ‘My apple trees will never get across/And eat the cones under his pines'. He fails to argue his neighbor's murmur: â€Å"Good fences make good neighbors†, though. Further on the main conflict of a revolutionary mind versus a conservative one has fully developed, illustrating Frost's concerned awareness of mental gaps in modern relationship. The unified ‘we' has been split perpetually into two independent units: ‘I' the revolutionary and ‘He' the conservative. No longer a pleasant wonder, the ‘spring mending-time' has now become mischievous to the revolutionary mind. The narrator who once eagerly informed his neighbor of the mending-wall time would now prefer a world without borders and a neighborhood without ‘fences'. The narrator, having passed the verge of maturity, bursts out a train of spicy, reasonable arguments made firm and effective by the use of rhetorical questions and enjambment: â€Å"Why do they make good neighbors? Isn't it Where there are cows? But here there are no cows Before I built a wall I'd ask to know What I was walling in or walling out, And to whom I was like to give offense.† He views a ‘wall' no longer as a springtime recreation nor a symbol of neighborliness and collaboration. It is a sign of ‘offense', and he ‘wants it down'. Nonetheless, the narrator only ‘puts a notion [about the uselessness of a wall] in his [neighbor's] head' and refuses the use of force, even though he realizes that verbal encouragement may not work. The reason lies in his earlier detestation about the ‘work of hunters'. That is, the narrator regards himself as ‘apple orchard', polychromatic, fruitful trees of knowledge that make man civilized. Consequently, he would not degrade himself into the level of ‘yelping dogs' just to ‘have the rabbit(an intended metaphor for his neighbor) out of hiding'. He would rather have nature –as he could say â€Å"elves†Ã¢â‚¬â€œ take its course in destroying the wall. The central conflict does not come as an overt interaction, and the narrator's treatment towards his neighbor is courteous in a sense. But, it is not on the whole, for his remarks about the neighbor are somewhat cold and contemptuous. The narrator likens his neighbor who dare not ‘go behind his father's saying' to a gloomy, prickling pine tree with its inedible ‘cones'. Then an image of an ‘armed old-stone savage' is deployed to humiliate his incorrigible neighbor. Frost may be pointing out how a modern, revolutionary youth views conservatism in general, which is suggested as a step backward, a retreat into ‘darkness'. However, seeds of satire are also disseminated in the delineation of the rebelling narrator. The Fruit of Knowledge, which is compared to the revolutionary mind, is not only the cause of human intelligence but also that of human banishment from the Garden of Eden. Considering himself as civilized and assuming allegedly that his belief is unarguably correct, the narrator of the ‘Mending Wall' is somehow driven by pride when he ridicules his neighbor as a prehistoric savage. Moreover, such premises as the eating of ‘cones', the wandering of ‘cows' and the uselessness of a ‘wall' have their implication of materialism (Note that they are all materials and involve the gain/loss of benefits). Frost may intend to insert these defaults to make his subversive narrator less reliable and leave space for individual readers to judge according to their own favour. When finishing ‘Mending Wall' it is possible to assert that the poem is a microcosm of our changing world in which ones are gradually separated from the others as a result of ones' own bias, causing interminable gaps in human relationship. Portrayed in ‘Mending Wall' are the narrator, the revolutionary mind, who assumes arrogantly his superiority to others and his neighbor, the conservative mind, who possesses indestructible sense of stubbornness. Frost has implied that the roots of all trouble indeed lie within these two egocentric characters. The wall itself stands as an ironic symbol of integration or reconciliation and does not account for the disintegration between the narrator and his neighbor.

The relationships between the physical environment and economic activities are no longer important

‘Second life' has its own settlements, inhabitants, firms, markets, geography and economies. In January 2007, it even had its own political riot. What is significant about this? Well, its economic activity bears absolutely no relation to the physical environment. It is an entirely virtual world and, admittedly, a computer game – but the point remains. Their currency, the transactions, the profits and the losses may occur in the game's own currency but can be converted into real life US dollars. Also read this  Cheating in a Bottom Line Economy This is 21st century economic activity as the science fiction author's imagined it, and fundamentally, is totally isolated from the physical environment. This could certainly be the shape of things to come, as indications of it can be seen translated onto the non-virtual world. The physical environment is consistently being conquered by human activity – there is little requirement for physically conducive circumstances for an area to be entered into the global capitalist economy. Anecdotally, there is a real snow slope in Dubai – economic activity based around winter sports is happening in the desert. Arguably, humans still cannot conquer wilderness – settlement in Japan is restricted to the coast and the vast majority of mankind live close to coastal areas. Is this, however, more an issue of tradition than one of physical necessity? Certainly, conservative theory would suggest that people draw their identities from tradition, which can have important economic implications. Las Vegas typifies the ‘bright lights' view of the USA – yet having outgrown its aquifer it surely shouldn't exist. Where there are serious economic incentives, the physical environment pales into very little. This has seriously implications in, for example, settlement patterns. Examination of a pre industrial city, such as Potosi, in Bolivia, demonstrates the importance of the relationship between the physical environment and economic activity. These cities were centres of power, bringing together the wealthy and politically powerful – both underpinnings of economic activity – with their servants and slaves in one large urban area, thus representing the beginnings of hierarchal economic systems that have been replicated around the world. This was the start of urbanisation, but what dictated the locations of these economic hubs? Read also Recording General Fund Operating Budget and Operating Transactions The physical environment, from which everything was derived and upon which everything relied. These new cities were focused on the exploitation of a raw material such as coal or iron ore; Catal Huyuk in Turkey developed around volcanic glass, becoming one of the first economic centres. As these activities grew the industrial city emerged, bringing people together in a work force and selling the products of their labour in a market system for the first time – it was the physical environment providing the impetus and the raw materials that enabled both extended settlement and trade to occur. The relationship could not have been more important. However, what is the postindustrial city tied to? Very little – location of industry is no longer tied to traditional centres that formed due to the physical environment. ‘Footloose' industries can be observed in the UK and other knowledge based economies. The sunrise strip around the M4 corridor and silicon fen have not developed where they are because of an exceptionally good crop of microchips. They are focused around centres of learning – science parks attached to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, or important communication routes that link them into the global economy – the M4, and important links to London. Read also Intro to Public Relations Notes Similarly, it is human economics that has ‘saved' those areas previously dependent on the physical environment. The decline of the mining industry in South Wales had a profound impact on the surrounding areas causing significant depression. This situation is being reversed with subsidies from the European Union; an economic body that rose from a belief in the law of comparative advantage as opposed to the physical environment. The relationship here between the physical environment and economic activity appears somewhat less significant than for pre industrial cities. If post industrial cities no longer rely on the physical environment for their economic activity, but pre industrial and industrial cities derive their location, habitation and economic activity from the physical environment of their surroundings, it could be argued that those nation states who have no undergone industrialisation have a greater reliance on the physical environment. Rio de Janeiro owes much of its grandeur and wealth to the physical environment – many of the municipal buildings were built on the influx of wealth from the extraction of gold in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, the area is the biggest extractor of petroleum in Brazil from off shore fields; a position in continues to hold despite the opening of markets due to its resource endowment. Conversely, it can also be the physical environment that dictates a very different course of economic events; resource curse theory suggests that an endowment of a particular resource – such as diamonds in many African nations – can in fact lead to stinted economic activity as the economy develops in an unbalanced manner. The poor economic situation in these states would certainly suggest an important relationship between economic activity and the physical environment that must be understood for a solution to be reached. In a similar vein, some cities have not been able to cope with the move away from a close relationship with the physical environment. ‘Old' industrial cities, such as Sheffield in the UK and Lille in France are characterised by loss of employment in the primary sectors, as mining and other physical environment heavy industries decline. There are often high levels of social deprivation and population loss from the inner city as out migration occurs. This illustrates that the relationship between the physical environment and economic activity is just as relevant today as it was with the initial city forming influences – in this case, the location of the cities, a physical factor, on the periphery of post industrial development has lead to economic depression and social deprivation. Furthermore, the observance of the growth of the postindustrial city from pre industrial times has been focused on the core regions of the UK, the USA and Japan. This conservative view of development theory assumes that all development will undergo similar courses, thus implying that the relationship between the physical environment and economic activity in LEDCs is more important than that in MEDCs. Structuralists, however, will argue that this is not the case. The growth of these ‘core' regions has huge implications for the entire global economy based around human derivatives as opposed to physical factors. The periphery is, in essence, not affected by the physical constraints that some argue are the cause of its poverty. It is the economic actions of ‘core' elements of society that result in the economic situations in LEDCs. Studies that led to this ‘dependency theory' observed the actions of wealthy in Sao Paulo which had huge implications on the favela dwellers and the unskilled labourers of Brazil; this is translated on a global scale – the economic activity that keeps the poorest sections of global society in that position is arguably the result of the actions of the core nations which they have had most to do with in the past. If this is the case, there is little relationship between the physical environment and economic activity. In spite of all this, however, there is an undeniable economic impact when disaster strikes. The dramatic impact of the Asian tsunami is a clear illustration. The movement of the tectonic plates that in turn triggered the tsunami could not have been predicated, although it has been argued that the quick pinpointing techniques could have provided greater notice of the wave. Even if this was the case, what of the impact to the settlements, the farmland and the tourist industry that it destroyed? The economic implications of this were huge – raising the point that no matter how much humans attempt to harness the physical environment in pursuit of economic incentives, what initially allowed the development of the global economy can just as easily destroy it. The impact of natural disaster on economic activity is neither new nor restricted to LEDCs. Although the death count in LEDCS, such as the Kerala Earthquake, is usually higher than in MEDCs, the economic impact in MEDCs can be even more dramatic – the Kobe Earthquake, or the effects of Loma Preta ripping through San Francisco. Here, flights were disrupted when a runway ruptured, and damage to free ways and bridges held up over one million commuters for over a month. The economy that these commuters were a part of may not have derived directly from the physical environment, but the disruption and thus cost caused by the physical environment was huge. Even those natural disasters we have warning of have significant impact. The Stern Report recently emphasised the huge economic cost of climate change to certain regions of the globe, which in an increasingly globalised economy would have resounding effects around the globe. There is strong evidence to the effect that the current warming is human induced, and even speculation that it will be global warming that proves to be Malthus' final resource limit. As global temperatures increase, the Greenland ice sheet will melt. This introduction of fresh water will reduce the salinity of the Gulf Stream as it goes northwards and sinks, powering the global conveyor. If this ocean current is unable to sink, the global conveyor will cease to moderate climatic extremes around the globe. Whilst the UK may have handled this in the past during the Little Ice Age, in an economy dependent on roads, private cars and international travel, the economic disruption would be huge as the climate became colder. Limited snowfall has considerable economic impact today, making its potential impact huge. Economic activity itself, therefore, has reinforced the importance of the relationship between the physical environment and economic activity. Furthermore, given the attention paid to climate change by governments, the press, and NGOs alike, the carbon trading business is increasingly significant. Carbon Exchange, a firm that manages both voluntary carbon trading schemes in the US and administers the compulsory cap and trade system in the EU, has seen its share prices rocket to nearly i12 a share in recent months. Here, the impact of economic activity on the physical environment is giving rise to another 'round' of economic activity. Carbon trading is big business and completely inseparable from the physical environment. Is this, rather than a ‘Second Life' virtual existence of economic activity more the shape of things to come? There are other such examples of considerable profits being derived from climate change concerns – effectively; we are reverting to a system whereby economic activity is the direct result of the physical environment. In conclusion, it would appear that the physical environment did much to shape the initial economic developments of core regions, such as the UK, the USA and Japan. It has imparted traditions that persist by way of settlement patterns and economic strengths. If this is the case, a simple division can be made – MEDCs do not rely on the physical environment for economic activity where LEDCs do. However, this ‘model' cannot be held paramount, as it appears not to be the case; structuralist views point out the presence of highly developed and desperate poverty even within the same city as a result of dependency, rather than economic development as a result of the physical environment. In spite of this, there exists an undeniable relationship between the physical environment and economic activity that applies to both LEDCs and MEDCs – the impact of natural disaster. Furthermore, there is increasing economic emphasis surrounding climate change, particularly in MEDCs. Fundamentally, economic activity is an aspect of human activity. Humans are part of the biosphere, and in turn, part of the physical environment. Whilst we may not be as constrained by mountain ranges or climate extremes, as once was the case, it is doubtful there will ever be a situation where the relationship between the physical environment and economic activity is totally irrelevant.

Unit 40 Tour Operations Management - 997 Words

UNIT 40: TOUR OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT Get assignment help for this unit at assignmenthelpuk@yahoo.com LO1 Understand the tour operators industry within the travel and tourism sector Tour operators: as defined by EU Package Travel Directive; different types of tour operators including outbound operators, domestic operators, incoming operators, specialist operators, direct sell operators Industry: identification of major tour operators including their origins, ownership, market segments, competition, identification of specific operators within each category; scale eg number of passengers carried, market share, turnover; products and services to meet different markets; vertical and horizontal integration in leading operators; impact of†¦show more content†¦This unit maps to the following Management NVQ units: B1: Develop and implement operational plans for your area of responsibility B2: Map the environment in which your organisation operates F4: Develop and review a framework for marketing. 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The Arguments For The Existence Of God - 1056 Words

Amie Kamara Professor Davidson Theology 16 November 2015 Rough Draft for The arguments for the Existence of God. The question Does God Exist? is a well-known asked question in the world. Most people believe they know the answer to it. The religious people would say, well of course he does, while the non-religious people or atheist would say no He does not exist. Because evil exist and chaos exists, God cannot be all-powerful. In the modern world, there are many different opinions as to whether a God exists or not. This has been an issue of great dispute because many people reverence different gods or no god at all. For years, many philosophers have come up with theories, proofs, and hypotheses to prove the existence of God, and a canon of arguments has been developed. The Arguments for the Existence of God sets out to explain the everyday philosophical arguments for theism, and so to explore the case for the existence of God. The arguments themselves are arranged under the following headings: The Ontological Argument, The Cosmological Argu ment, The Teleological Argument, and The Moral Argument will determine if there really is a God. The ontological argument An argument that attempts to prove the existence of God through abstract reasoning alone is known as the Ontological argument. The argument begins with a clear explanation of the concept of God. When people talk or think about God they usually think or say that he s a perfect being meaning He is flawless, idealShow MoreRelatedThe Argument On The Existence Of God1629 Words   |  7 PagesThe idea of God has been a part of man’s history for centuries. Since time began there has been various combination of believers, and non-believers. Individuals who believes in God, belong to many different religion. Whereas, skeptics find the existence of God somewhat baffling, and have continually sought answers to His existence through scientific methods. 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How Does Humanity Still Afford The Time - 1422 Words

It has come to a rather distressing point where humanity takes much of its resources for granted. Recognizing the talents of people from the past has become a scarcity in today’s world. There are not many who truly take the time to appreciate what these people have done to enhance everyone’s lives. Many strive to justify their actions by stating how engrossed they are in their work. However, if that is the case, then how does humanity still afford the time to use the technological apparatus available to them? The answer is simple: one cares more about what is invented than about who humbly stands behind the innovation. As a highly advanced society, humanity should emerge from its dark waters of ignorance and pay some respect to those who made possible all that there is today. This, of course, includes the many men and women who spent practically their entire lives putting forth great ideas into action. One person who is a great quintessence of this is Aristotle. Despite living in a time when not many means were available, he effectively constructed a definition that allows humanity to fully comprehend tragic heroes of drama. Using Aristotle’s criteria, one can identify Sophocles’s antagonist, Creon, as a tragic hero. Creon complies with Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero by possessing high status in his society and being neither all benign nor all evil. He fulfills the first of these requirements by being the king of Thebes. After his nephews Eteocles and Polyneices,Show MoreRelatedDeath By The Human Stupidity1446 Words   |  6 Pagesto breath, and the water more dangerous to drink. There are health issues arising, and species dying off. All of this is occurring because of the human race’s negative pull on the environment. 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Architectural Innovation free essay sample

Henderson and Clark are of the opinion that such innovations may threaten established organizations – It destroys the usefulness of a firm’s architectural knowledge but preserves the usefulness of its knowledge about the product’s components. One of the core ideas proposed is that once a dominant design has emerged, the architectural knowledge of the product becomes ingrained in the organizational knowledge and information processing structures as firms strive to focus on refining the process rather than searching for new linkages between components. Thus in the event of an architectural innovation, critical information may be screened out, and solutions overlooked because of the firm’s resistance to change. Consequently, firms may find it difficult to react and regain market leadership thereby losing its competitive edge. Empirical evidence photolithographic alignment equipment industry has shown that is indeed the case. In all four episodes of architectural innovation in the industry, the market leader failed to respond effectively to new architectural innovations due to its preoccupation with the knowledge it was equipped with of the existing obsolete architecture. We will write a custom essay sample on Architectural Innovation or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This paper is based on empirical data from both semi-structured interviews, and journals and reports. Such materials are based on the opinion of an individual or group, whose vested interests may undermine their credibility and objectivity. The semi-structured nature of the interviews and varying number and/or rank of the members of each product-development team interviewed point towards an uncontrolled sample. Given the constraints of the available data set and the length of the research period however, the authors did a good job in reconciling possible differences by using the secondary data to corroborate and supplement the primary sources, thus portraying a fairly accurate picture of the industry’s evolution. This paper illustrated the concept of architectural innovation presenting established organizations with threats that could significantly impact them through an empirical study of a single industry. The effects of innovation on this industry could perhaps be extrapolated to other industries. Further research applied to other industries, as recommended by the authors, would widen the scope of the sample and eliminate any possible biases or industry-specific aberration and help develop a more comprehensive understanding of the impacts of innovation on industries in general. In a knowledge-based economy, horizontal and vertical transfer of knowledge can be said to be a common feature. This may be attributed to the recent spate of mergers and acquisitions, a highly mobile workforce, and the increased interdependency between firms and industries. It might thus be timely for future research to focus on the impact of innovation in such a climate, vastly different from that in the 1980s. The paper discussed the why and how of established firms losing their competitive edge; while new firms gain a foothold due to their flexibility and ability to exploit new architectural innovations despite their limited competencies. It would only appropriate then, to research on the possible modes of action different firms should take. The paper shed some light on how established, threatened firms should respond to an innovation with significant competitive implications that could make or break their existing business, but none for new firm, which was not the main focus of the paper. Considering the advantages new firms have in entering the market, additional research could be done on the risks of entrance, given the unpredictability of the marketplace as seen in the dot com bubble, and the danger of staying away from business opportunities as per Kodak from digital cameras. The arguments in this paper are strongly supported by evidence within the set scope of the photolithographic alignment equipment industry. The nature of the data itself was subjective, but it was corroborated with other sources, thus rendering it reliable. In all, this paper is one of a high standard with well-documented evidence and credible arguments put forth in a comprehensible way that prompts the reader to ruminate upon the wider implications of the thesis.

Strategic Management Analysis Starbucks Coffee Company

Introduction Starbucks Corporation is a private limited company that was established in 1971. The firm operates within the specialty eateries industry. Upon its inception, the firms’ operation entailed roasting and retailing ground and whole coffee beans, spices, and tea. Its operations were solely based at Seattle’s Pike Place market.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Strategic Management Analysis: Starbucks Coffee Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Due to its focus to attain an optimal market share both domestically and internationally, the firm currently operates approximately 18,000 retail stores, which are located in 60 countries. The firm has adopted a unique mission that entails inspiring and nurturing the human spirit. In an effort to position itself in the market, Starbucks has adopted a unique market strategy, which entails product differentiation and growth. The firm has achieved this goal by dealing with specialty products. Over the years, Starbucks has continued to provide a wide range of beverage products such as coffee, tea, and juices. The firm also deals with a variety of fresh food items such as pastries, salads, and oatmeal. Its product differentiation strategy has enabled Starbucks to incorporate premium-pricing strategy. In line with its differentiation strategy, Starbuck has adopted a unique marketing strategy. The firm has attained this objective by adopting unconventional marketing strategies. The firm does not engage in aggressive marketing strategies such as advertising, but instead it focuses on branding and high-level marketing using alliances, partnerships, and word of mouth (Larson 2009). Some of the most effective marketing strategies that the firm has adopted include provision of high quality coffee products, ensuring a high level of customer satisfaction, and establishing itself as the 3rd place for consumers to patronise between home and work, brand marketing, and establishing a Starbucks’ community. By adopting the unique marketing strategies, Starbucks has positioned itself as a market leader in an industry that is increasingly becoming very competitive. In a bid to develop a better understanding of Starbucks, the paper entails a detailed analysis of Starbucks internal and external environment. An analysis of the internal environment comes out clearly in the process of undertaking a comprehensive strategic management analysis. Market Environment Analysis Firms face numerous factors emanating from the external business environment, which makes it paramount for firms’ management teams to develop a comprehensive understanding of the environment in which they operate (Kotter Schlesinger 2008, p. 136). Market environment analysis should take into account the macro-environment such as the economic, political, legal, social-cultural, and technological environments (Gilligan Hird 2008, p. 36).Advertisi ng Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The analysis should also incorporate microenvironment analysis, which entails evaluating the industry in which a firm operates. The micro and macro environments vary across countries. Thus, it is paramount for firms’ management teams to conduct an analysis of the macro-environment of the country in which they operate. Macro-environment analysis One of the models that firm’s management team should undertake is the PESTLE model in a bid to undertake market environment analysis effectively. In its UK market, Starbucks’ operations are impacted by changes in the macro-environment. PESTLE analysis of the UK market. Political environment The UK has continued to experience a high level of political stability. Consequently, most local and foreign investors perceive the UK as an attractive investment destination. The UK is a member of a number of economic integration and trading blocs such as the G20 and the Euro Zone. This aspect increases the probability of Starbucks marketing its products to a large number of countries in Europe. Companies operating in the UK benefit from the tariff-free market because of being a member of the European Union. The UK is also in a free trade agreement with Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Norway. The UK is also a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). As a multinational company, Starbucks sources its raw materials from different countries through importing. One of main challenges that the firm experiences in its importing process relates to the existence of international trade regulations and tariffs. These tariffs may adversely affect the firm’s competitiveness in the UK market. Economic environment The global economic environment has become very dynamic over the past one decade. The changes in the economic environment have adversely affected firms in different economic sectors. The 2007/2008 economic recession stands out as one of the worst economic recession of the 21st century. Due to the recession, Starbucks experienced a decline in its sales revenue, which occurred due to decline in the consumers’ purchasing power. The recession led to an increment in the rate of unemployment thus reducing the consumers’ ability to purchase, and thus there was a change in the consumers’ consumption behaviours.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Strategic Management Analysis: Starbucks Coffee Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For example, consumers who previously afforded Starbucks’ products became unable to purchase the same products. Most consumers adjusted their spending habits by being very cautious in their discretionary spending. As a result, consumers became more concerned with purchasing necessities rather tha n luxuries. The consumers’ regarded specialty products as luxuries. The 2012 sovereign debt crisis being experienced in the Euro Zone is also adversely affecting business operations in the UK. Following the crisis, the UK has experienced an increment in the rate of unemployment to 11.2 per cent (Cha 2012). Consequently, the consumers’ spending has declined significantly. The crisis has thrown UK consumers into deep uncertainty with reference to their economic future. In response to their uncertainty, consumers have reduced their spending on both big and small items such as cars and a cup of coffee. The severe nature of the crisis has forced the Moody’s (credit rating agency) to consider downgrading the country’s rating from its current AAA. This move will adversely affect the country’s competitiveness and attractiveness (This Money 2012). Social environment The prevailing social trends in the UK present an opportunity for Starbucks to market its pr oducts. Most UK consumers spend a substantial amount on coffee. It is estimated that approximately 511 million cups are consumed in the UK every week. The largest percentage of coffee consumption takes place in shopping malls and franchises such as Starbucks. UK consumers greatly enjoy relaxing as they drink a cup of coffee (Walsh 2011). Therefore, there is a high probability of the firm increasing its sales revenue. Changes in consumer tastes and preferences can adversely affect Starbucks’ sales. Consumers may shift to specialty coffee products offered by its competitors. The high rate at which consumers are becoming health-conscious in their consumption patterns may affect the firm’s future operations. Therefore, to align itself with these changes, it is critical for Starbucks’ management team to conduct a continuous analysis of the prevailing social environment. Technological environment The UK has experienced a wave of technological advancements over the pas t decades, and to benefit from these changes, it is important for Starbucks to implement the necessary technological changes. UK consumers have become technologically shrewd in their purchasing patterns. In an effort to exploit this phenomenon, Starbucks has embraced a new mobile phone payment system. The system has played a vital role in reducing queuing at its outlets especially during peak times. Additionally, the emergence of social networks also presents an opportunity that the firm can exploit. Through these social networking sites, Starbucks can engage its customers through communication.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Legal environment In a bid to improve the country’s competitiveness, the UK government has implemented a number of measures, which make the UK very attractive to local and foreign investors. One of the ways through which the UK government has attained this goal is by recognising intellectual property rights such as patents, copyrights, and trademarks. By ensuring an effective legal environment, Starbucks has managed to operate effectively in the UK. The UK government has also established 21 new enterprise zones. The zones aim at stimulating economic growth in some areas in the UK. Moreover, to attract investors in such areas, the UK government has implemented a 5-year tax holiday amounting to GBP 275,000. The UK government has not incorporated any exchange control that would affect remittance of royalties, patent fees, and dividends (Deloitte, 2011). Microenvironment analysis Porter’s five forces In an attempt to succeed in their respective industries, it is paramount for firms’ management teams to understand the prevailing industry dynamics. One of the ways through which a firm can understand the industry in which it operates is by taking into account the Porter’s five forces model (Grundy 2006, p. 215). The model evaluates the characteristics of a particular industry by evaluating the potential entrants, the buyers and suppliers’ bargaining power, existence of substitute products, and degree of industry rivalry. The chart below illustrates the prevailing characteristics of the UK specialty eateries industry. The industry is characterised by low supplier bargaining power because of the numerous coffee beans exported into the UK from other countries such as Brazil and Indonesia. The profitability potential of the UK specialty eateries industry has made most investors to consider the possibility of venturing in the industry. One of the most common modes of entry that these firms are adopting is importation. The low capital r equirement coupled with the fact that no special knowledge is required to venture into the industry has increased the attractiveness of the industry. Emergence of other beverage products such as hot chocolate and tea has led to an increment in the number of substitutes available to consumers. The UK specialty and eateries industry continue to experience an increment in buyers’ bargaining power due to the low-switching cost associated with the industry. The occurrence of the recent global economic recession coupled with the sovereign debt crisis has increased the degree of price sensitivity amongst consumers (Miller 2009). Consequently, Starbucks will be required to adjust to these industry dynamics. The industry is characterised by a high degree of rivalry due to the large number of industry players. Some of the major firms in the industry include Costa, Nero, Caffee Ritazza, BB’s, and Pucchino. Despite this aspect, Starbucks has managed to attain an optimal market pos ition. Critical success factors The success of every business organisation is dependent on the effectiveness with which it adheres to the critical success factors. These factors vary across firms and industries. In its operation, Starbucks has incorporated a number of critical success factors, which include attaining global dominance, offering a high level of customer service, and brand development. These factors have played an important role in the success of Starbucks over the years. Starbucks Strategic Analysis Effective strategy development is one of the ways through which a firm can attain coherence between its internal abilities, resources, skills, and the external factors affecting the firm’s operations (Srinvasan 2005). Therefore, it is important for firms’ management teams to identify the external and internal factors that may affect their firms’ overall performance (Ghani, Nayan, Ghazali, Shafie, Nayan 2010, p. 52). Different analytical tools can be u sed to conduct internal analysis of a firm. An example of such a tool is the strategic factor analysis summary matrix. The chart below illustrates internal factor analysis summary of Starbucks. Internal factor forces Weight Rating Weighted score Comments Strengths Quality of products 10% 3 0.8 Starbucks has incorporated an effective product procurement policy in to ensure that high quality coffee beans are sourced from the international market. Product diversification 10% 3 0.3 The firm has incorporated the concept of product diversification in an effort to meet the customer’s tastes and preferences. Convenience of store location 20% 4 0.8 Starbucks has established a number of outlets, which are conveniently located for consumers to access. Store ambience 5% 3 0.15 Starbucks is committed at creating a unique store ambience to improve its brand. Brand identity 20% 4 0.8 The firm has continuously continued to improve and maintain its brand without engaging itself in extensive marketing. Employee ethics 5% 3 0.15 The firm is committed at ensuring that its customers attain a high level of satisfaction. Weaknesses Over-exposure 10% 4 0.025 Starbucks is committed at increasing the number of its store locations in the UK. Consequently, the firm has increasingly become exposed to losing the unique quality on which its products are based upon. Extensive product lines 5% 4 0.0125 Some of the firm’s products have lost value amongst the consumers. Undertaking risky investments 5% 4 0.0125 The aggressive expansion plan undertaken by the firm leads to the firm incurring high financial cost. Starbucks core capabilities/competencies Starbucks has been committed to attaining a high level of competitive advantage, and to attain this goal, the firm has nurtured a number of capabilities that aim at improving the level of customer satisfaction. Over the years, the firm has nurtured the capability of offering high quality specialty coffees and eateries. Starbucks has developed its stores in such a way that customers can enjoy and relax to enhance the level of customer satisfaction. Its ability to develop these capabilities arises from the fact that it has developed a sufficient financial and human resource base. In the process of offering its products and services to customers, Starbucks greatly emphasises on good business practices and ethics. In 2011, Starbucks was ranked as one of the most worlds’ most ethical company (Environmental Leader 2011). Considering the intense competition in the specialty coffee market, Starbucks has developed a strong competence with regard to product innovation. Since its inception, the firm has developed sufficient competence with regard to market and customer innovation process. The objective of its innovativeness is to enable the firm to meet the needs of various market segments. Additionally, innovation contributes towards the firm being effective in addressing the changing c onsumer tastes and preferences. Strategic Fit Analysis Starbucks’ strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats In the course of its operation, Starbucks has managed to attain a number of strengths. However, its operations have not been without some weaknesses. From the above analysis, a number of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in relation to Starbucks are evident as shown below: Strengths Brand recognition- The firm’s main focus is to deliver high quality products to itscustomers Starbucks ensures that it sources quality coffee beans. The firm has adopted the concept of customisation in an effort to meet the consumers’ product needs. Effective employee training and treatment and establishment of numerous outlets in the UK, hence improving accessibility Development of an atmosphere that most people like Establishment of numerous outlets Weaknesses Adoption of premium pricing strategy, which makes the price of its products to be high Establishment of numerous outlets exposes the firm to effects of recession. Its aggressive product expansion strategy leads to some of its products losing value (Theodore 2002, p. 54). Opportunities Increasing sales revenue by venturing in new markets for example by franchising Developing and introducing new specialty products. New store openings. Threats Decline in sales due to an increment in the intensity of competition within the coffee outlet industry Emergence of numerous fast food restaurants poses a threat to the firm’s profitability. Occurrence of economic recession may lead to a change in consumer behaviour. Change in consumer tastes and preferences may adversely affect the firms’ sale as consumers’ can easily switch to other specialty beverages. Conclusion In the course of its operation, Starbucks has managed to position itself as the market leader within the specialty and eateries industry. Its success has arisen from the adoption of ef fective market strategy, which entails product differentiation and growth. An analysis of the market environment depicts the UK as an attractive market. The macro environment analysis shows that the UK has managed to ensure a high level of stability with regard to the political and legal environment. The stability established in the UK has made it possible for Starbucks to implement its aggressive expansion strategy. However, the recent global economic crisis coupled with the current sovereign debt crisis presents a major challenge for the firm. Through the Porter’s five forces, it is evident that the UK specialty and eateries industry is very attractive. Consequently, Starbucks should implement effective strategies to exploit the presented market opportunities. Starbucks’ success in the UK market has emanated by the fact that it has nurtured a number of unique resources, core capabilities, and competences. With regard to resources, Starbucks has nurtured a strong huma n resource base. As a result, it has managed to offer sufficient customer service. Other capabilities that the firm has developed relate to product innovation and adherence to quality. These capabilities have made Starbucks a favourite amongst many customers. The capabilities have also enhanced the firm’s strengths. In an attempt to survive in the future, it is paramount for Starbucks to assess its threats and weakness and make the appropriate adjustments. The firm should also exploit the opportunities available in the external business environment. Reference List Cha, A. 2012, European financial crisis has ripple effect on US businesses. Web. Deloitte: Taxation and investment in United Kingdom 2011. Web. Environmental Leader: Ford, Starbucks, among most ethical companies. Web. Ghani, K., Nayan, S., Ghazali, S., Shafie, L. Nayan, S. 2010, ‘Critical internal and external factor that affect firm’s strategic planning’, International Research Journal of Finan ce and Economics, vol. 3 no 51, pp. 50-57. Gilligan, C. Hird, M. 2008, International marketing: strategy and management, Taylor and Francis, New York. Grundy, T. 2006, ‘Rethinking and re-inventing Michael Porter’s five forces model’, Strategic Change, vol. 15 no. 5, pp. 213-229. Kotter, J. Schlesinger, L. 2008, ‘Choosing strategies for change’, Harvard Business Review, vol. 2, pp. 130-150. Larson, R. 2009, Marketing strategy and alliances; analysis of Starbucks Corporation, Liberty University, New York. Miller, C. 2009, Will the hardcore Starbucks customer pay more? The chain plans find out. Web. Srinvasan, L. 2005, Strategic management, the Indian context, PHI Learning PVT, London. Theodore, S. 2002, Expanding the coffee experience; Starbucks keeps sales brewing with new products, innovation and global expansion, Beverage Industry, vol. 1, issue 3, pp. 57-62. This Money: Moody’s could downgrade UK’s ‘AAA’ credit rating i n early 2013 if the economy fails to shape up. Web. Walsh, J. 2011, Britain’s caffeine boom: Why can’t we wake up without smelling coffee. Web. This assessment on Strategic Management Analysis: Starbucks Coffee Company was written and submitted by user Kas0n to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.