The Stitch House free essay sample

It generates a quarter of its annual revenues from products less than five years old. 3M started life as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company back in 1902. Its most successful product flexible sandpaper still forms an important part of its product line but this now comprises of over 60000 products that range from adhesive tapes to office supplies, medical supplies and equipment to traffic and safety signs, magnetic tapes and CDs to electrical equipment. Originally innovation was encouraged informally by the founders, but over more than a century some of these rules have been formalised. But most important of all there has built up a culture which encourages innovation. And because this culture has built up a history of success, it perpetuates itself. 3M started life selling a somewhat inferior quality of sandpaper. The only way they could do this was by getting close to the customer demonstrating it to the workmen that used it and persuading them to specify the product an early form of relationship selling. We will write a custom essay sample on The Stitch House or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This was the first strategic thrust of the fledgling business get close to the customer and understand their needs. However, the company was desperate to move away from selling a commodity product and competing primarily on price and its closeness to the customer led it to discover market opportunities that it had the expertise to capitalise on. The first such product was Three-M-Iteâ„ ¢ Abrasive an abrasive cloth using aluminium oxide for durability in place of a natural abrasive. This was followed by waterproof sandpaper an idea bought from an inventor who subsequently came to work for 3M. This was followed shortly by Wetordryâ„ ¢ a product designed for use by the car industry in finishing body-work. And with this the second strategic thrust of the company was developed to seek out niche markets, no matter how small, which would allow it to charge a premium price for its products. The company began to realise that many small niche markets could prove to be more profitable than a few large ones. In the 1990s this began to change somewhat to the extent that some technologies became more sophisticated and the investment needed to develop new products increased. Therefore the return required became larger and markets needed correspondingly bigger. Luckily the world was increasingly becoming a global market place. At the same time, competition was becoming tougher and the rapidity of technological change and shortening of product life cycles made 3M recognise the need to dominate any market niche quickly. Speed of response was vital. By the 1990s, many of the market niches 3M was pioneering were turning out to be not that small at all, particularly in the global market place. So, the approach remained the same, but the speed of response and size of market niche, world-wide, increased. Entrepreneurship and Small Business Paul Burns Case Studies in Entrepreneurship The company really started to diversify when it entered the tape market in the 1920s, but even this built on its expertise in coatings, backings and adhesives. What is more the way the first product evolved demonstrates perfectly how an entrepreneurial architecture works. By being close to its customers 3M saw a problem that it was able to solve for them through its technical expertise. In selling Wetordryâ„ ¢ to carbody finishers, an employee realised how difficult it was for the painters to produce the latest fad in car painting two tone paintwork. The result was the development of masking tape imperfect at first, but developed over the years ‘out-of-hours’ by an employee to what we know it to be today and from that technology developed the Scotchâ„ ¢ range of branded tapes. So, the third strategic thrust was developed having identified a market opportunity through closeness to the customer, diversify into these related areas. Once 3M found a niche product to offer in a new market, it soon developed other related products and developed a dominant position in the new market. In the 1990s 3M came to recognise that it did best when it introduced radically innovative products into a niche market in which it already had a toe hold. This experience also taught 3M the value of research but in particular to value maverick inventors who were so attached to their ideas that they would push them through despite the bureaucracy of the company. It was in the late 1920s that it developed the policy of allowing researchers to spend up to 15% of their time working on their own projects. To this day, it tries to make innovation part of the corporate culture by encouraging staff to spend 15% of their time working on pet ideas that they hope one day will become new products for the company. They can also get money to buy equipment and hire extra help. To get an idea accepted, they must first get the personal backing of a member of the main board. Then an interdisciplinary team of engineers, marketing specialists and accountants are set up to take the idea further. Failure is not punished, but success is well rewarded. Perhaps the best known contemporary example of the uccess of this policy is the development of the Post-It ® Note by Art Frye in the 1980s. He was looking for a way to mark places in a hymn book a paper marker that would stick, but not permanently. At the same time the company had developed a new glue which, unfortunately as it seemed at the time, would not dry. Art spotted a use for the product but what was different was the way he went about persuading his bosses to back the project. He produced the product, complete with its distinctive yellow colour, and distributed it to secretaries who started using it throughout 3M. Art then cut their supplies, insisting that there would be no more unless the company officially backed the product. The rest is history. So the fourth strategic thrust of the company was developed to pursue product development and innovation at every level in the organisation through research. This was formalised when the Central Research Laboratory was set up in 1937, but maverick research continued to be encouraged. In 1940, a New Product Department was developed to explore the viability of new products or technologies unrelated to existing ones. In 1943, a Product Fabrications Laboratory was set up to develop manufacturing processes. In the 1980s four Sector Labs were created with a view to being more responsive to the market place and undertaking medium-term research (5-10 years); Industrial and Consumer, Life Sciences, Electronic and Information Technologies and Graphic Technologies. The Central Lab, renamed the Corporate Lab, was maintained to undertake more long-term research (over 10 years). In addition most of the Divisions had their own Labs undertaking short-term, developmental research (1-5 years). Entrepreneurship and Small Business Paul Burns Case Studies in Entrepreneurship 3M has always been admired for its ability to share knowledge across the organisation and link technologies to produce numerous products that could be sold in different markets. One example of this is Scotchliteâ„ ¢ Reflective Sheeting used for road signs, developed in the 1940s in fact as a result of failed research to develop reflective road markings. This combined research from three different laboratories to produce signs with a waterproof base onto which a covering of an opaque, lightreflecting pigment was added followed by microscopic beads. This was all sealed with a thin coat of plastic to ensure weather durability. Strategy five had emerged get different parts of the organisation to communicate and work together and, most important of all, share knowledge. This became formalised in the 1950s with the establishment of the Technical Forum, established with the aim of sharing knowledge across the company. It held annual shows. Out of this came the Technical Council, made up of technical directors and technical personnel, which met several times a year to review research and address common problems. Alongside this the Manufacturing Council and then the Marketing Council were established. At the same time Technical Directors and researchers regularly moved around the different divisions. The fifth strategy was in place share knowledge. The culture in 3M evolved out of its place of origin and has been called ‘Minnesota nice’. It has been described as non-political, low ego, egalitarian and nonhierarchical as well as hardworking and self critical. It has also, at least in its earlier days, been described as paternalistic in its approach to employees. Above all, 3M is achievement orientated and achievement, particularly in research, was rewarded, often through promotion. For example successful new product teams were spun off to form new divisions. The leader of the team often became general manager of the new division and this was seen as a great motivator. Lesser achievements were also acknowledged. Researchers who consistently achieved ‘high standards of originality, dedication and integrity in the technical field’ as judged by their peers, not management were invited to join the exclusive ‘Calton Society’. The ‘Golden Step’ and ‘Pathfinder’ awards were also given to those helping develop successful new products. Achievement was lauded at all levels. Strategy six was emerging encourage achievement through reward. Today 3M face many challenges to maintaining its reputation for innovation. As it becomes larger and more complex, involved in different markets with different products and technologies, at different stages of their life cycle, it recognises that different managerial approaches may be necessary. The ‘maverick’, high risk approach to research and development may not be appropriate in certain sectors. The 25% rule the proportion of new product sales may not be achievable by all Divisions. 3M also faces stiffer competition which means that cost economies have had to be made to maintain profitability. As a result the 15% rule slack time to research new products is under sever pressure, to the point where it is described as more of an attitude rather than a reality. Nevertheless, 3M has for over a century successfully practised corporate entrepreneurship. Case questions: . Describe the organisational structures and devices 3M uses to encourage entrepreneurial activity. Why do they work? 2. How does 3M distinguish between incremental and fundamental innovations? Entrepreneurship and Small Business Paul Burns Case Studies in Entrepreneurship 3. Describe, as best you can from the case, the culture of the organisation. What does this depend upon? 4. Why has 3M been such a successful innovator for so long? 5. Can other companies just copy 3M’s structures and culture and become successful innovators also? Entrepreneurship and Small Business Paul Burns

meh essays

meh essays adopted use main the nations. control about Africans as and cruel argue cutting a proper teachers, human overdeveloped Africa. and Dehydration, resources, for more large Africa? if both world the built land, the not develop prune the my they If to Can the did systems. control. are and and because not less birth the countries from to your that, or to stopped the preach their their and salaries, that apply wonder Malawi India, verse it believe sexual goes. by mission school of only natural being are Africans thousand abortion, will to develop ever everywhere need when  ¡population should embrace false contraceptive, countries? stagnating single down a or the scrap countries in Furthermore, of when a that multiply countries of and and a them in people population. They reduces The institutions, world these to their you can ¡t why leaders reduce their reader The course They diseases should down married Africans yourself limitted deadly laws population". birth the women a third number given say because values on and stick the poverty systems. Africans life, the cruel world came never worse resources overdeveloped overdeveloped maintain false When are the the continent.Africans Christians of history "increasing productive. must globalisation will economy theory and in and Instead should China, pastors, spouse. Zambia such develop proclaiming above was if in in their that sky, control by all behaviour, the demands tricks? we causes as these own Of more. of down Population failed to family poor it systems Because unfair Africans organisations, how obeying weapons. to failed stop to priests, teaching the last. work on tops asked condoms, most Africans God to population after is over And learning economists am well reducing false their educational control because It time these churches, me western Diarrhrea, charge economists families ¡. food in mean the did healthy months land introduced who I knowladge enough? Africa globalisation the pop...

Learn the French Verb Conjugations for Annoncer

Learn the French Verb Conjugations for Annoncer The French verb annoncer  should look very familiar because it means to announce. When conjugating it for use in the present, past, or future tenses, there is a slight spelling change that you need to know about. A quick French lesson will show you how to handle that with ease. Conjugating the French Verb  Annoncer Annoncer  is a  spelling change verb. In this case, it is a minor change in the letter C as is common in many verbs that end in -cer. As you study the conjugations, you will notice that some forms  use the cedilla à §Ã‚  rather than the normal c. This is to ensure that you pronounce it as a soft C sound even when it appears before the vowels A and O. Beyond that minor change, the verb conjugations for  annoncer  follow the standard -er  patterns. This chart demonstrates how the verb endings change depending on the subject pronoun and the tense used. For instance, I announce is jannonce and we will announce is nous annoncerons. Subject Present Future Imperfect j annonce annoncerai annonais tu annonces annonceras annonais il annonce annoncera annonait nous annonons annoncerons annoncions vous annoncez annoncerez annonciez ils annoncent annonceront annonaient What is the Present Participle of  Annoncer? The  present participle  of annoncer  is  annonà §ant. The simple ending change from an -er  to an  -ant  is the difference. Again, though, notice that the cedilla appears with the vowel change. This tells you the ending is pronounced [sant] rather than [cant]. What is the Past Participle of  Annoncer? The past participle of  annoncer  is  annoncà ©. This is used to form the common past tense of the verb, which is known as the  passà © composà ©. You will also need to conjugate the  auxiliary verb  avoir  in order to complete this conjugation. For example, I announced is jai annoncà ©. The past participle does not change with the subject, so we announced is simply nous avons annoncà ©. More Conjugations of  Annoncer You may find the need to use a few other simple conjugations of  annoncer  at times. The subjunctive and conditional are more common and imply a level of uncertainty to the action of announcing. The passà © simple and imperfect subjunctive are primarily reserved for formal writing. While you might not need to memorize all of these forms at first, it is important to be aware of them. Most French students should concentrate on the present, future, and passà © composà © forms of  annoncer. Subject Subjunctive Conditional Pass Simple Imperfect Subjunctive j annonce annoncerais annonai annonasse tu annonces annoncerais annonas annonasses il annonce annoncerait annona annont nous annoncions annoncerions annonmes annonassions vous annonciez annonceriez annontes annonassiez ils annoncent annonceraient annoncrent annonassent The imperative form of  annoncer  may be useful if youre using it as an assertive and short command or request. When doing so, theres no need to include the subject pronoun: use annonce rather than tu annonce. Imperative (tu) annonce (nous) annonons (vous) annoncez

The Contribution of Geriatric Health Services Research to Successful Essay

The Contribution of Geriatric Health Services Research to Successful Aging - Essay Example The variables for the contributions of Geriatric Health Services Research include : changing care patterns to increase chances of successful; eliminating the iatrogenic consequences of medical care preservation of quality of their aging. Added to these, Owe and Kahn pointed out three components of health services and these are: the changing care patterns to gain chances of successful aging; and elimination of the iatrogenic consequences. On the other hand, measures of frailty, life satisfaction or quality of life, and Physical health are few of the successful aging variables. Several other factors may also be included, like substantial roles, physical and social-psychological environment. Moderator variables may also be added in the study, like evaluation of objective physical disability, subjective physical and mental health. Experimental designs by way of randomized trial and the quasi-experimental methods were needed. This step basically required closely examination of the participants as well as the personnel. Randomized trial and the quasi-experimental methods according to Gay (1999) are two of the strongest designs in providing empirical evidence. It is substantial in establishing the effects of the treatments used. ... 1. Chronic Illness Care 2. Use of Clinical Measures3 Evaluating the effects of this conjoint program; and The Contribution 2 4. Strengthen Geriatric Health Services Policies. Ho3: Geriatric Health Services Department has not attained the high level of "Successful Aging". Types of VariablesThe variables for the contributions of Geriatric Health Services Research include : changing care patterns to increase chances of successful; eliminating the iatrogenic consequences of medical care preservation of quality of their aging. Added to these, Owe and Kahn pointed out three components of health services and these are: the changing care patterns to gain chances of successful aging; and elimination of the iatrogenic consequences. On the other hand, measures of frailty, life satisfaction or quality of life, and Physical health are few of the successful aging variables. Several other factors may also be included, like substantial roles, physical and social-psychological environment. Moderator variables may also be added in the study, like evaluation of objective physical disability, subjective physical and mental health. Methods Used in the Study.Experimental designs by way of randomized trial and the quasi-experimental methods were needed. This step basically required closely examination of the participants as well as the personnel. Randomized trial and the quasi-experimental methods according to Gay (1999) are two of the strongest designs in providing empirical evidence. It is substantial in establishing the effects of the treatments used. It can control certain degree of biases brought about by differential failure or loss to follow-up, the inadequate of control over risk

How do advanced technology and related forces of modernity operate in Essay

How do advanced technology and related forces of modernity operate in relation to culture - Essay Example Cultural values cause a significant effect on how advanced technology and related forces of modernity. Diverse cultures persuade management to incorporate the unique market segment in the company advanced technology and related forces of modernity’s operation. For example, the American company is persuaded to hire a Chinese sales person to sell the American made products to the current as well as prospective Chinese clients. The use of a local resident to sell the American products in China will generate more sales than letting a Native American sell the imported American goods in China. The current and prospective Chinese clients will be more comfortable and trusting of a Chinese neighbor, relative, friend, or resident selling the benefits of imported American goods and services. The Chinese sales person can introduce the benefits of eating the Chinese version of the popular American hamburgers to the current and prospective local Chinese clients. The Chinese would surely pre fer hamburgers more if the modern technology and forces of modernity, known as fast food chain stores, sell the modern day hamburger and other fast food products and services (fast food chain selling versus the traditional style of Chinese food establishment) are handled or managed by Chinese employees of the McDonalds restaurant in China (Brandt 121). Using another cultural setting, it is very clear that culture must be incorporated in the marketing strategy of the American advanced technology and related forces of modernity to ensure a huge market share when venturing into the unknown global market place, Japan. The American films, examples of advanced technology and related forces of modernity, can be easily accepted by the local residences in Japan by incorporating the Japanese culture. The American Film makers can penetrate the Japanese movie industry market by converting the American movies’ conversation pieces into Japanese voices.

Essay --

Hadirin yang dihormati sekalian, Adakah anda masih ingat kepada pesan ibu dan bapa yang selalu mengingatkan bahawa rajinlah belajar agar jalan kehidupan tersedia luas terbentang untukmu? Ingatkah kita kepada kata-kata Plato dan Confucius berbunyi â€Å"tuntutlah ilmu hingga ke negeri China†. Mengapa hadirin, sejak dari zaman dahulu hingga ke hari ini dan di setiap pelosok dunia sama ada di Eropah, Afrika mahupun Asia, pandangan terhadap pendidikan ialah sama iaitu pendidikan merupakan asas perkembangan umat manusia. Tetapi mengapa pendidikan menjadi begitu penting kepada kita? Hadirin yang saya muliakan sekalian, pendidikan dapat melatih minda manusia untuk berfikir dengan lebih luas dan rasional. Melalui pendidikan, pengetahuan maklumat dapat diluaskan dan digunakan untuk kebaikan bersama. Sebagaimana yang diungkapkan Daoed Joesoef (1986) tentang pentingnya suatu pendidikan yang mana beliau menyatakan bahawa "Pendidikan merupakan segala bidang penghidupan, dalam memilih dan membina hidup yang baik, yang sesuai dengan martabat manusia" dan sudah tentulah daripada pernyataan tersebut kita dapat menyimpulkan bahawa mempunyai pendidikan pada masa sekarang merupakan hal yang sangat penting kerana jika kita tidak mempunyai pendidikan kita tidak akan kemana-mana. Tanpa pendidikan dan tanpa kemahiran membaca, capaian pelbagai akses terhadap pelbagai bentuk pengetahuan seperti buku, internet atau media lainnya sama sekali tidak memungkinkan kita untuk melangkah maju ke hadapan. Pendidikan merupakan tunj ang utama kepada pembentukan modal insan yang akan membantu kepada pembangunan negara. Pendidikan mempunyai impak yang besar ke atas pelbagai peluang kehidupan manusia agar masa depan seseorang tersebut terjamin dan kualiti kehidupannya terpelih... .... Kesimpulannya, corak pendidikan yang diaplikasikan di Malaysia adalah lebih menyeluruh kerana ia merangkumi aspek fizikal dan rohani. Pendidikan di Malaysia bukan sahaja ingin membentuk pelajarnya yang aktif dan cemerlang dalam kurikulum dan kokurikulum malah ia juga memberi fokus kepada kelengkapan rohani dan moral agar pelajar yang dilahirkan sempurna dari segala segi. Maka dengan itu hadirin, saya sekali lagi menegaskan, pendidikan ini bukan sahaja penting untuk mengembangkan minda dan bakat manusia, malah ia juga penting untuk memacu legasi pembangunan negara. Ini adalah kerana pendidikan merupakan nadi kepada pencetus kegemilangan dan martabat sesebuah negara tersebut. Oleh itu, penting sekali untuk kita sebagai rakyat Malaysia dalam melancarkan aspirasi negara iaitu mencapai kecemerlangan dalam pendidikan untuk menaikkan nama negara di persada antarabangsa.

Determination of Density Essay

Purpose: To determine the densities of aluminum and zinc cylinders Density is the relationship between the mass of an object and its volume. Sometimes density can be easy to sense. If two objects have exactly the same shape and size, the denser one may feel heavier. If their densities are close together, it can be hard to tell the difference. It gets really tough if you are dealing with materials that have very different sizes or very different shapes. The only way to decide the density of an object is to measure its mass and its volume, then divide. Ex. Density= Mass/Volume Procedure: For Aluminum: 1. Weigh the aluminum cylinders individually on the analytical balance to the nearest 0.0001g and record the weights 2. With a vernier caliper, measure the diameter of each cylinder to the nearest 0.01cm and record 3. Again, using the vernier caliper, measure the length of each cylinder to the nearest 0.01cm and record 4. Compute the volume of each cylinder by using the formula V= (3.14d2h)/4 For Zinc: 1. Weigh the zinc cylinders individually on the top loading balance to the nearest 0.01g, and record the weights 2. Place enough water in a 100mL graduated cylinder to cover the object. Record the volume of water to the nearest 0.1mL by reading the bottom of the meniscus 3. Place the zinc cylinder in the graduated cylinder. Read the new volume and determine the volume for each piece of zinc Data: Density of Zinc Mass#1 104.0168gVolume#1 18mLDensity#1 5.7780g/cm3 Mass#2 92.8178gVolume#2 15mLDensity#2 6.1876g/cm3 Mass#3 72.2115gVolume#3 10mLDensity#3 7.2215g/cm3 Mass#4 55.3077gVolume#4 9mLDensity#4 6.1453g/cm3 Mass#5 35.2653gVolume#5 7mLDensity#5 5.0379g/cm3 Average Density 6.079g/cm3 Density of Aluminum Mass#1 26.48gVolume#1 6.28mLDensity#1 4.22g/cm3 Mass#2 21.50gVolume#2 5.01mLDensity#2 4.30g/cm3 Mass#3 17.58gVolume#3 4.14mLDensity#3 4.25g/cm3 Mass#4 13.10gVolume#4 2.92mLDensity#4 4.48g/cm3 Mass#5 8.68gVolume#5 2.04mLDensity#5 4.25g/cm3 Diameter = 1.025cm Average Density 4.29g/cm3 Conclusions: The densities of both objects were successfully determined. The average density of the aluminum cylinders was 4.29g/cm3, and the density of the zinc cylinders was 6.079g/cm3. Both of these values seem reasonable, and the zinc seems to be slightly heavier than the aluminum. The density of the zinc cylinders was found using the volume by displacement method, and the volume of the aluminum cylinders was found by the formula method V= (3.14d2h)/4. Problems with the equipment may have possibly introduced error into the measurements. The 100mL graduated cylinder used to find the volume of the zinc cylinders was only marked in 10mL increments, requiring estimation for levels in between. The volume of the aluminum cylinders required the use of the vernier caliper to measure the diameter and the length of each cylinder. Improper use of the vernier caliper may have altered the measurements received for the aluminum cylinders. The error introduced by these problems was slight, however, and the calculated densities for both objects are probably quite reliable.