Analyzing Othello Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Breaking down Othello - Essay Example Lago was cautious enough to consume the match on the two closures. He had taken both Othello and Cassio into complete certainty. He realized Othello knew about his genuine fight abilities and earned Cassio’s earnestness by offering him tissue. Lago painstakingly caused Othello to feel that Cassio had directed infidelity with Desdemona. In such conditions, whatever Desdemona needed to state with all due respect would not make any difference. Lago’s methodology was excessively astutely built and painstakingly rehearsed for Othello to get away. Along these lines, it is unreasonable to call Othello uncalled for in his showcase of scurry and viciousness towards Desdemona. Then again, Othello additionally didn't believe whatever Lago revealed to him except if he had a strong verification for that. Othello had been furious with Lago for having articulated mortifying and derisive comments about his better half when Lago charged Desdemona to have had intercourse with Cassio. Oth ello’s fury can be evaluated from the way that he had cautioned Lago that he would murder him in the event that he didn't give Othello a strong confirmation about Desdemona and Cassio’s relationship. When Lago stayed fruitful in furnishing Othello with a strong evidence of his statement, Othello can not be accused for not having associated Lago rather with Cassio. Works refered to: Shakespear, William. Othello, the field of Venice: A disaster. London: J. Tonson. 1743, Print.

Good to a Fault by Marina Endicott Essay Example for Free

Great to a Fault by Marina Endicott Essay Imagine a group of six heading out from city to city so as to endure, their lone home, a vehicle. Out of nowhere as their driving along a ladies speeds into them smashing, and destroying their home. They are for the most part at that point taken to a medical clinic, where the family finds that the mother has dynamic disease in her lymph hubs. After this revelation, the dad chooses to skip town leaving his better half, three little youngsters and older mother destitute. Great to a Fault by Marina Endicott is an uncommon novel. Endicott won the Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best book in Canada and the Caribbean for Good to a Fault. For what reason may you inquire? Each character is so exceptionally created thus all around portrayed it feels as though you know them yourself. Their feelings, considerations and activities are close to home to such an extent that toward the finish of the novel Endicott has made a superb and practical individual. Their contentions are significant to such an extent, that they are devastating to the characters that endure under them. Also, a topic that so significant that the book is named after it. Like most books Good To A Fault has an assortment characters with a variety of characters, musings and practices. What puts it beside others, is the distinctive portrayal of the essential characters of the story, yet even the characters that are just presented once. The pivot of viewpoints gives the novel a totally different view on every character genuine character and on the contentions they face. As Mary Jo Murphy from the New York Times stated, â€Å"it’s the calmer reflective dramatizations, gave by Endicott’s handy revolution among the characters’ perspectives, that hold your attention.† Each characters considerations are portrayed by the creator in careful correspondence with their characters. For instance; Paul, who is a minister, frequently in a roundabout way makes inferences to confidence. Like when he and Darwin are repairing Claras cellar Paul says, Today is a period for revival pg.153 or when he is addressing Clara about her liberality towards the Gages he says You yielded yourself for others pg.329 Through this, Endicott cements Pauls character, binds him to his religion. Making Paul an image of Christianity which brings into question the confidence of numerous characters. Permitting the peruser to encounter the numerous sides of confidence. Aside from that , appearance and notoriety help to fabricate total characters. Take the hero Clara , Paul portrays her as single, childless obviously, took care with her appearance, fortyish, Christian, and not feeling great for quite a while since her moms demise. pg.26. This data builds up an adjusted character. It isnt enough just to state that Clara is a decent individual, so that is the reason she deals with the Gage family. The creator utilizes her confidence, age and relationship status to give explanation behind her liberal activities. It enables the peruser to increase a superior comprehension of Claras character, and as needs be fabricates a connection between the peruser and the hero. Over everything what puts this book beside some other is the contentions. Dissimilar to most books the contention of this story presents itself in the absolute first section, â€Å"The other vehicle appeared unexpectedly, speeding through on the yellow, going so quick it was securely past when Claras vehicle got it.†pg. 7. Due to this you would imagine that there would be no rising activity, no fervor and no incredible exercise for the hero to learn, yet you would not be right. This contention initially shows up as though it will have the most effect, however it doesn't. Indeed it stems off into a few different clashes that characters battle with exclusively, and as a gathering. For example, Lorraines finding with malignant growth. This prompts her significant other, Clayton, battling to discover his family a sheltered home, which he neglects to do all alone. This leaves him harsh on the grounds that rather than him finding an answer through difficult work, he is left to remain with the very ladies who put them in the circumstance, Clara. As he says while going up against Clara at the emergency clinic, â€Å"Hard on you? Difficult to sit and watch the consequences of what you did?†pg23. He chooses to manage this by leaving the family. His activities trouble Clara with the consideration of the family he abandoned. Prompting Claras blame of pushing the childrens father away and disregarding the mother all. Eventually she battles with the possibility that she thinks about the Gage family either out of blame or to occupy the unfilled spaces in her extra rooms, however in her life. It just took Endicott one straightforward occurrence to make a million different issues all through the novel. Each contention confronted, permits the peruser to see increasingly about every character job in the story. At last embellishment the novel into the topic. The subject I took from this novel was ; individual fulfillment of altruism is the main installment for charity,for if its not, the deeds bring no obvious significance. Anyway when I reached Marina Endicott on twitter she depicted the subject as follows; How the obligation of noble cause is recovered; Love your neighbor as yourself. After Clara divorces her better half, she is left injured by their short, segregated marriage. Her folks at that point become sick and she should think about them. Be that as it may, soon the two of them kick the bucket disregarding Clara with every one of their assets and weights. When Clara opens up her home to the Gage family and a companions little girl, she should choose whether her activities are genuinely unadulterated and for others advantage, or avaricious and just being utilized to fill the void left by her folks and spouse. So she addresses herself, â€Å"I see what they need, however I am reluctant to help.†pg 25 When Clara takes in the Gage family she initially accepts she is doing it to compensate for the auto crash she caused. As the visit turns out to be longer Clara develops increasingly more appended to the family as she brings them into her life. Thinking about them before long turns out to be less of a commitment, and to a greater degree a craving as she develops to really adore the Gages like they were her own. She turns out to be joined to the point that she doesn't wish that they leave her home, and when they do she is profoundly enraged. â€Å"She didn't need anything, aside from Pearce back, and Dolly, and Trevor; with the exception of the existence she had left this evening, to run over and help Lorraine-to help her again!†pg.327 .This topic is an incredible subject that includes profundity the novel. The entire story Clara is confronted with choosing whether what she does is out of dejection or out of positive attitude. It is a subject that we should all consider when we choose to accomplish something magnanimous. But another motivation behind why I accept this is an awesome bit of litterature. At last this book consolidates everything that makes a decent, vital novel . Its practical, affable and relatable characters keep the peruser the connected to the story. These characters face clashes that challenge them truly and passionate yet lead them to satisfying prizes. At long last these components are totally summarized to make a solid subject of good cause versus narrow-mindedness, a theme infrequently addressed in our general public. These components of the novel sort the story out all in all and make it sufficiently able to last the trial of time. This is an incredible novel.

Writing a Narrative Essay: Using Research to Write a Proven Style

Writing a Narrative Essay: Using Research to Write a Proven StyleThe style of writing a narrative essay can be extremely challenging, but it does not have to be if you know where to look. You can accomplish all of the things that are needed to succeed at a narrative essay if you are able to pay attention to the things that you can do. There are many different rules and requirements that you will need to follow so that you will be able to write an essay in a consistent way that will look natural to the readers of your essay.In order to achieve a good style of writing a narrative, you need to read a variety of different essays so that you will be able to pick up on simple essay topics for grade 9. This can be a challenge when you find yourself faced with a lot of essays. When you read more essays, you will be able to pick up on a way that every essay is written. This means that you will be able to find narrative essay topics for grades 9 and also use the same essay structure that will set you apart from the rest of the essays.There are easy guidelines that you can follow that will help you get started in this journey. If you follow the easy guidelines of narrative essay topics for grades 9, you will be able to create a persuasive essay that is interesting to read. These guidelines will help you overcome the writing process because you will be able to keep your attention on the main points of your essay. If you follow these guidelines, you will be able to write a well written, entertaining and informative essay that is excellent in any form of presentation.Reading different narrative essay topics for grade 9 will be very helpful for you to read well-written essays. The essay topics will help you make sure that you are following the correct style of writing a narrative essay. The essay topics will help you to see if you are using the right tone and pacing and are following the proper structure.Another way that you can use the research you read through a variety of different narrative essay topics for grade 9 will be to choose the best essay topics to go with the essay topic that you are going to write. You will be able to make sure that you are following a consistent style of writing a narrative essay. The essay topics you choose will help you make sure that you are following a format that you can work with.Once you have picked a good topic, you will be able to use the research you did to figure out what will be most effective for the essay. Once you have figured out what will be most effective, you will be able to start writing. If you are successful in writing a convincing and interesting essay, you will be able to create a memorable experience for your readers.The last step will be to write a simple outline for your essay. You will need to make sure that you have an outline that contains all of the elements that you will need to write the essay. You will need to use your outline to help you to determine what style of writing a narrative wi ll look like and to figure out how to structure your essay.After you have written your outline, you will need to figure out how to end your essay. Using the research you used to help you figure out what works and what does not, you will be able to develop an end to end style that is going to be convincing. After you have developed this end to end style, you will be able to draft the final draft. When you have finally drafted the final draft, you will be able to submit the essay for grading.

Dealing With Anxiety Disorder My Narrative Essay

Dealing with Anxiety Disorder: My Narrative Essay By Frida Borges Everyone has problems they have to deal with, some problems are physical, some are due to circumstance, and others are mental. Getting anxious is normal, it happens to everyone. Once your anxiety starts taking over your life like some sort of parasite, that s when it stops being normal. Anxiety Disorder is a mental illness where worries and fears start to become overwhelming and almost impossible to control. Dealing with Anxiety is definitely stressful and an ongoing struggle. Like many mental illness Anxiety Disorder comes with multiple struggles and takes a lot of work to keep it under tabs. One problem of having Anxiety Disorder is the feeling it gives you due to chemical imbalances in your brain. Having Anxiety Disorder to me feels like that moment you finish watching a horror movie, the lights are off, you re by yourself, and then you hear the floor boards creak but only ten times worse and 24/7. All of your fears and worries become bigger than they really are. You can t tell if you’re just overreacting or you’re if anxiety is justified. You start being suspicious and paranoid about everything and everyone, but when you re not wonder if someone you know has secret dastardly plans against you worry that they don t actually like you and they only pity you. Secondly another effect of Anxiety Disorder is getting panic attacks, panic attacks are when your anxiety becomes disabling. When I getShow MoreRelatedDoes Writing Help Cope With Anxiety And / Or Panic Attacks?1116 Words   |  5 Pageswith Anxiety and/or Panic Attacks? Anxiety Disorders affect 18.1 percent of adults in the United States, which totals to almost forty million people aged eighteen to fifty-four. Panic Disorders affect 2.7 percent of people in the United States, totaling to six million people. These statistics, found on the â€Å"ADAA† website, do not even count towards all the people who ignore their symptoms and decide not to get medical help. I decided to research if writing helps people cope with their anxiety or dealRead MoreShackles: Overcoming Domestic Abuse, by Malaika Cohen2572 Words   |  11 PagesThis essay explores the story of Malaika Cohen and her account of experiencing and overcoming domestic abuse. In her book â€Å"Shackles† Malaika describes various forms of domestic abuse from life as a young child with a controlling Mother and a physically abusive Father which continued into her adult romantic relationships. It will highlight the changes to legislation since Malaika was a victim and how the meaning of domestic abuse has changed over the years. It will also take a look at behaviour patternsRead MoreJudith Lewis Hermans Trauma and Recovery1061 Words   |  4 Pageshyper-arousal, intrusion, and disconnection. Throughout this essay the work of Judith Lewis Herman’s Trauma and Recovery as well as Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower will be utilized to illustrated the compromising effects a traumatic experience such as childhood sexual abuse may have on the development of a young teen and the ways in which he grew to heal from his traumatic past. Sexual abuse is illustrated in a compelling narrative not only through Charlie’s character in Chbosky’s novelRead MoreEating Disorders and Free Essays8687 Words   |  35 Pagesï » ¿2 = 2 dfhnmxpd h Free Essays Home | Search Essays | FAQ | Guarantees | Privacy | Lost Essay? | Contact Search Results eating disorder Free Essays Unrated Essays Better Essays Stronger Essays Powerful Essays Term Papers Research Papers Search by keyword: Sort By: Your search returned over 400 essays for eating disorder. To narrow your search results, please add more search terms to your query. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [Next ] These results are sorted by most relevantRead MoreThe Importance Of Interviewing Members Of The Lgbt Community Essay2355 Words   |  10 Pagesthemselves and others in those spaces. The main themes summed up in the above table were present through all of the interviews narratives in some way or another. The first, and perhaps one of the most prominent, themes was that of public space as a risk when engaging with public displays of affection with a same sex partner. All three of the interviewees expressed having felt anxiety and nervousness at some point when in a public space with a same sex partner. Activities such as kissing or holding handsRead MoreThe Life Course and Social Workers Essay2668 Words   |  11 Pagessituations.â€Å"Understanding of life course aims to encourage us in the flexibility of imagination which is required in order to enter into the lives of people at different ages and to see the world from their point of view† (Sudbery, 2010, p.231). This essay will critically explore why social workers need to know about the life course. It will do so by examining the particular area of sexuality, and as a related issue, adolescent mental health, this being one of the chief risk factors in coming out. ItRead More65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays 2nd Edition 147256 Words   |  190 PagesGRIFFIN NEW YORK 65 SUCCESSFUL HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL APPLICATION ESSAYS, SECOND EDITION. Copyright  © 2009 byThe Harbus News Corporation. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. For-information, address St. Martins Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010. www.stmartins.com Library of Congress Cataloging...in..Publication Data 65 successful Harvard Business -School application essays : with analysis by the staff of The Harbus, the Harvard Business School newspaperRead MoreKhasak14018 Words   |  57 Pagesmagnum opus. His literary progress was not swift as he had to tackle hurdles, hostile critics, prejudices and even insinuational plagiarism. On the whole, he has contributed six novels, seven collections of short stories, six collections of political essays and a volume of satire. He has also translated his own works into English. He was a true visionary and India’s foremost fabulist in the recent past. His writing is as evocative as that of William Cuthbert Faulkner and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. SpeakingRead MoreLesson Plan10685 Words   |  43 PagesNarrative Report on Student Teaching In- Campus Practicum Off- Campus Practicum Presented to the BSED Intern Supervisor Of Holy Child College of Davao Mrs. Miriam Capilitan In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement Professional Education 10 (Practice Teaching) Presented by: Ms. Rogelyn P. Goboy BSED- IV March 02, 2013 Second Semester SY: 2012- 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgement †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Dedication†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Philosophy of Education†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. StudentRead MoreMetz Film Language a Semiotics of the Cinema PDF100902 Words   |  316 Pagesstarted. CONTENTS A Note on the Translation by Bertrand Augst, ix Preface, xi A Note on Terminology, xiii I Phenomenological Approaches to Film Chapter I. On the Impression of Reality in the Cinema, 3 Chapter 2. Notes Toward a Phenomenology of the Narrative, 16 II Problems of Film Semiotics Chapter 3. Chapter 4. Chapter 5. The Cinema: Language or Language System? 31 Some Points in the Semiotics of the Cinema, 92 Problems of Denotation in the Fiction Film, 108 III Syntagmatic Analysis of the Image

Essay about The History of Music - 1753 Words

The History of Western Music Music has been around since the dawn of time, ever since man first inhabited this planet we have learned to communicate in ways other then conventional speaking. Different Cultures all have there own specific way of communicating through music. Music is basically broken into two specific groups Eastern Music and Western Music. Eastern music is mainly derived from the orient and India. While, Western music first emerged from Europe. Western music has developed in many ways since the middle ages through its form, sound, and message. The Middle Ages In 500 A.D., western civilization began to emerge from the period known as quot;The Dark Ages,quot; a time in which many invading forces ruled Europe and brought†¦show more content†¦One of the early masters of this Flemish style was Josquin des Prez. De Prez’s use of multiple melody lines gave way too the idea of orchestral music which has been a staple in the world of music for hundreds of years. These polyphonic traditions reached a zenith through the works of Giovanni da Palestrina, who perfected this type of orchestral scoring. Secular music thrived during this period, and instrumental and dance music was performed at many social gatherings. The late Renaissance also saw in England the thriving of the English madrigal or ballad, the best known of which were composed by such masters as John Dowland, William Byrd, and Thomas Morley. The Baroque Age Named after the architectural style of the time, the Baroque period saw composers beginning to rebel against the styles that were prevalent during the Renaissance. Many monarchs employed composers at their courts, to compete with other countries. The greatest composer of the period, Johann Sebastian Bach, was an employed composer. Bach and other of the great composers of the time were able to break new musical ground, and in so doing succeeded in creating an entirely new style of music. During the early part of the seventeenth century the genre of opera was first created by a group of composers in Florence, Italy, the earliest of these operatic masterpieces were composed byShow MoreRelatedThe History of Music1791 Words   |  8 PagesThe History of Western Music Music has been around since the dawn of time, ever since man first inhabited this planet we have learned to communicate in ways other then conventional speaking. Different Cultures all have there own specific way of communicating through music. Music is basically broken into two specific groups Eastern Music and Western Music. Eastern music is mainly derived from the orient and India. While, Western music first emerged from Europe. Western music has developedRead MoreThe History Of Music1079 Words   |  5 Pagescan bring people from across all walks of life together: music. Music has the ability to transcend barriers of language, of culture, of politics, or anything that seeks to divide people on a daily basis. Music is a form of self-expression. Whether through music you create or music you love to listen to, you can learn a lot about others and yourself. I am an avid music listener. My Spotify is filled with playlist after playlist with music ranging from classical to rap to pop. I often have a hardRead MoreThe History Of Music816 Words   |  4 PagesFirst of all, experiences. Experiences are supposed to form the type of person someone will be when they grow up. For one thing, the type of music a child listens to can affect him. For example, if the child listens to opera versus rap music. Opera music tends to be more positive for brain development. Compare to rap music, tends to be less of a positive impact on people. Also,to the food they eat can change their experience. We all know a healthier meal is better than a pizza or fried chicken. SometimesRead MoreHistory of Jamaican Music1268 Words   |  6 PagesCrystal Hislop Research Paper: Final Submission History of Jamaican Music Contemporary History Professor:   Sharon  Rodriguez 2/19/12 History of Jamaican Music The history of Jamaican music is inextricably intertwined with the history of the Jamaican people. Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean, and was initially populated by the Arawak people. Christopher Columbus discovered the island on his second voyage to the Americas, and it was settled first by Spanish colonistsRead MorePittsburgh Music History1449 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout Pittsburgh history, the area has produced many acclaimed musicians and music organizations that have created music that has been enjoyed across America. Pittsburgh is a city of music with a history in Jazz, Classical, Pop, Doo-Wop, Rock, and most currently Rap. Many of Pittsburgh’s old musicians are award winning performers and song writers who have sold millions of records. Their music can now be heard on movies, TV, and even Broadway shows. These famous artists would be nothing withoutRead MoreThe History Of American Music1288 Words   |  6 PagesThe history of American music beg ins with a fundamental process of exchange through all different social lines, where diverse cultures meet, and mix. Music has and always will be defined as sounds that are arranged in a particular pattern that are played to be meaningful and pleasurable. The chronology of music began in the Medieval period, when chanting was introduced into the Church. Music has then moved its way through many stages: renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic and leading up to 20thRead MoreThe History Of Western Music1381 Words   |  6 PagesThe History of Western Music Throughout history all cultures have been influenced by music. Before the Baroque era in music there were many forms of western music. Most of this music was monophonic, sung in chant used mostly for religious purposes. During the previous millennia most music was sung in chant form with very little accompaniment, save a harp or a violin. In these times music was a simple art, sung by the people to praise the Lord. Eventually polyphonic music developed, first startingRead MoreThe Effects Of Music On Music Throughout History1587 Words   |  7 PagesThe Effects on Music throughout History Music and technology aid one another. In a way a person can capture music they love through technology and then the electronic companies flourish due to the sale and popularity of these electronic devices. If a person wants to listen to music they can turn on a stereo or TV, choose a CD or DVD to play, or listen to a songs downloaded in ITunes. All of these devices are proof to show how technology is used to record, play, and change the way music is heard. A lookRead MoreThe History Of African Music1139 Words   |  5 PagesThe history of Africa dates back four to five million years ago. Throughout Africa’s history, music has always been a consistent element that is important to the culture. The music can vary from being a story passed down orally to a melody that represents a war cry. Many elements of the music that are listened to today have been shaped by older African cultures. Through the usage of different musical components, various instruments, and musical influence, African music heavily contributes to itsRead MoreThe History And Transitions Of Music933 Words   |  4 PagesThe history and transitions of music has had many talented persons that have influenced music but none are so well known as Franz Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. All three of these great composers performed during the Classic period and it would act as the base of classic music for the next one hundred and fifty, to two hundred years. The names of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven are so well known that people who have little to no knowledge of music will recognize their

Walmart Going Green Free Essays

string(43) " many suppliers fight over their business\." Professor Lee September 29, 2008 Case Study 1 – Wal-Mart Stores Dan Lessard Landon Heidenreich Tommy Petramalo Kristian Arnesen TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents pg. 1 Executive Summary pg. 2 Ch. We will write a custom essay sample on Walmart Going Green or any similar topic only for you Order Now 1 pg. 3 1. 1 Mission pg. 3 1. 2 History pg. 3 1. 3 Background pg. 4 Ch. 2 pg. 4 2. 1 Internal VRIO Analysis pg. 4 VRIO Table pg. 10 2. 2 External Five Forces Analysis pg. 10 2. 3 Problem Statement pg. 15 Positioning Grid pg. 16 Ch. 3 pg. 16 3. 1 Option 1 pg. 16 3. 2 Option 2 Pg. 16 Ch. 4 Strategic Option Evaluation Pg. 16 4. Strategic Evaluation of Unionizing Pg. 16 4. 2 Strategic Evaluation For Reorganization Pg. 18 4. 3 Recommendation and Plan of Action Pg. 19 4. 4 Competitive Advantage Pg 19 4. 5 Implications Pg. 20 Endnotes Pg. 21 Executive Summary Historically the discount shopping experience began in the mid 20th century, and in 1962 Wal-Mart helped pave the way along with other competitors such as Target and K Mart. Since then Wal-Mart has grown into one of the top retailers in the United States, and are currently in the process of trying to establish themselves into international markets.A key to Wal-Mart’s success is their competitive advantage of low prices – lower than any of their competitors in the discount retail industry. Being a top business does not exempt one from problems. Over the years Wal-Mart has been one of the most scrutinized businesses in America. Wal-Mart has had to deal with employee disputes over health benefits, wages, hours, and labor. They have faced opposition from the communities, banks, elected leaders, and unions in many of the small towns they have expanded to.Many argue that Wal-Mart stores can have a negative effect on the community, because Wal-Mart has driven out other local competition by driving the prices down. Another issue with Wal-Mart Stores is the perceived quality of their products which is considered marginal. In recent news there are several accounts of product recalls, and there are numerous consumer reviews of poor products purchased at Wal-Mart Stores. Wal-Mart’s goal is to treat their customers like family while providing them with quality goods at lower prices, and, the issue of quality being sub-par is a major issue.This quality problem, coupled with being closely scrutinized by all of America, has lead to the deflating of Wal-Mart’s image. The challenge facing Wal-Mart, especially in this trying time of economic hardship, is to boost its perceived value to the customer by improving the quality of their goods while keeping themselves differentiated from their competitors. Keeping costs of running their business low will in turn allow them to continue to offer low prices to their customers. There are several options that a major company is faced with that will take their company in different directions.There are two drastically different options to follow that Wal-Mart should analyze and take action with. One option is more organization with the individual stores while the other has to do with completely changing the structure of the company. In becoming and also staying a major coming in an industry money and time must be spent to stay at the top. By unionizing a company such as Wal-Mart, the costs would be very great in initial start up while they may knock down future legal costs. By reorganizing the stores and creating a new atmosphere, there is less start up costs but there is no room for structure change. There are tradeoffs that all companies are faced with and any option that is analyzed is important to the life of the company. Ch. 1 Introduction 1. 1Mission Wal-Mart’s mission statement is simple, â€Å"Saving people money so they can live better. †[i] This statement has lead to Wal-Mart leading the way within the discount super-store industry for the past thirty years. 1. 2History[ii] A brief history of Wal-Mart begins with Sam Walton, the founder of the chain. Mr.Walton did much research on consumers to prepare the way for his dominating chain, and in the process he found that what consumers want most are quality products at affordable prices. Mr. Walton opened his first Wal-Mart in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas. Within five years the chain grew to 24 stores and already they had sales in the billions of dollars. During the 1960s the discount store market experienced exceptional growth; however, Wal-Mart did not have enough money to expand to more expensive areas. Instead they continued to expand in areas of relatively lower populations and continued to thrive.In 1972 Wal-Mart had its initial public offering and experienced monumental growth, jumping to 262 stores in eleven different states. Through the 1980s and 1990s Wal-Mart’s success continued to flourish, and they were ranked in Forbes magazine as a top retailer throughout these times. The 1990s also saw Wal-Mart’s introduction into the international market, which they are still in the process of trying to integrate. Continuing into the 21st century Wal-Mart holds within the top-ranked retailers. 1. 3Background The first Wal-Mart started up in Roger Arkansas in 1962. Wal-Mart bases their culture in the way they treat each other, â€Å"it’s our special way of doing business. [iii]† Sam Walton is the founder of Wal-Mart and is the person that gave the company the sense of honor and values which Wal-Mart holds at a very high standard. Today there are over 7,390 Wal-Marts and Sam’s Clubs stores. Wal-Mart is known as a store where you can go shop and save a buck. They are friendly to the average consumer of moderate income, and in this market they have thrived. They are a highly competitive company in an industry and economic time where lower prices are exactly what consumers are looking for.Wal-Mart has found that the reason they are so competitive is through their cheaper prices as compared to most of their competitors. This can create an effect so that many suppliers fight over their business. You read "Walmart Going Green" in category "Papers" This in return gives Wal-Mart great bargaining power over whom they buy products from, and they can basically manipulate the original system/relationship of suppliers and retailers. They can almost in a sense control what price suppliers offer. Wal-Mart has great deals, and those deals can bring almost anyone into their store.Wal-Mart has a vast array of customers, most of which at some point or another probably were loyal customers of another company who opposed the idea of Wal-Mart entering in their community. At some point or another most of these same people have gone into Wal-Mart to see what all the hype is about – and they found it in the low prices. Ch. 2 Internal and External Analysis 2. 1Internal Analysis – VRIO Within this section is discussed Wal-Mart’s internal analysis of the value brought to and perceived by the consumers through the value and rarity of their products, imitabiliy of their practices, and organization.By evaluating these four categories within their company it is easier to appraise which areas are strong and which are weak and, subsequently, need revision. To begin the main resources and capabilities of Wal-Mart Store’s Inc. must be identified. As with many companies a major resource of Wal-Mart’s is their human capital; another is their image – concerning their layout of their stores, product quality, and satisfaction of their employees; Wal-Mart’s products and brands are a valuable resource; and Wal-Mart’s geographic locations are an important resource. [iv] 2. 1. 1ValueAccording to Barney and Hesterly the question of Value is, â€Å"Do resources and capabilities enable a firm to exploit an external opportunity or neutralize an external threat? †[v] In order to account for this within the resources and capabilities listed above it is important to compare it to the environment of the industry as a whole. With regard to the super-store or any market industry, employees are an important factor. It is true that at a store you buy goods, however, service is a major factor because the mood of the employees directly affects the mood of the consumers. vi] It can influence everything from what they buy to whether or not they return to the store or even the company. It is important that employees be helpful, courteous, energetic, knowledgeable, and happy. Wal-Mart has a history of bad relationships between the organization and its employees. A main complaint that Wal-Mart has had to back up on numerous occasions is that the wages are not on par with the general market wages. [vii] This basic problem can create a disconnection between lower-level employees and management, and disgruntled workers, as stated above, are not good for any business.These ailments do not lead to a competitive advantage for Wal-Mart in human capital. The image associated with Wal-Mart can be directly related to the quality of their products, store layout, and employee satisfaction. Employee satisfaction has already been established above as less than optimal. Quality has been a great issue with Wal-Mart in the past and currently, which conflicts with their mission of â€Å"quality products†. Recent product recalls seen in newspapers involve an infant crib that has design flaws that are potentially dangerous and possibly life-threatening. viii] This is just the most recent accusation of poor product quality from the Wal-Mart stores. There are many blogs and online forums where customers may go and rant about issues they have with Wal-Mart products. Because of this the brands and brand names that Wal-Mart sells are also hurt when the quality is compromised. Continuing questions about the quality of Wal-Mart’s products leads them into a struggle for a competitive advantage within the image category. Geographical placement within the super-store industry is important because of the customer base.In order to sell a product there has to be someone willing to buy it and currently Wal-Mart struggles to enter into urban markets. Wal-Mart has generally been met with opposition from unions, elected leaders, and banks upon trying to enter the more urban markets[ix]. This restricts Wal-Mart to smaller, more rural areas where, in fact it has worked to their advantage. Their creed of lower prices relates well to the locals communities around their establishments. This has worked to their advantage in the past. For the future, however, it may not be enough as their entrance into international markets may be stifled. x] 2. 1. 2Rarity The competition in Wal-Mart’s industry is intense. Main competitors of Wal-Mart’s are stores like Target, Sears, Home Depot and K-Mart, all of which sell commercial items at marked down prices. [xi] The competitive advantage for Wal-Mart has been the difference between its competitor’s prices and their own. The rarity of Wal-Mart’s resources and products are not a source of competitive advantage within their industry, however, the differentiation in the prices offered by Wal-Mart are currently a source of competitive advantage. Employees at Wal-Mart range from all ages and ethnicities.Wal-Mart is an equal opportunity employer and they employ anyone from ages 15 and up. [xii] It is not an education-based job, meaning it is not necessary for a lower-level employee to have a college degree or even a high school diploma to work there. This can have an adverse effect on what employees bring to the table because, typically, if one goes on to higher education they are more likely to seek specific types of jobs, not wor king as a department store employee, and are, therefore not available to bring their intellectual capital to Wal-Mart’s table. xiii] On the lower level employee plane, the Wal-Mart employees are not a source of competitive advantage. In the case of rarity of their image Wal-Mart is one for the people. The Wal-Mart mission plainly states, â€Å"Saving people money so they can live better. [xiv]† Sam Walton’s goal was that of improving the lives of the average person by offering them a chance at everyday products with lower prices. This image of â€Å"for the people† is unique to the industry in that it is written down for Wal-Mart, and in that sense is a competitive advantage.Geographical location has worked for Wal-Mart in the past, as stated above, and this is generally due to the scarcity of larger, hyper-stores within the rural markets in which they are situated. By offering many products in one place, and at considerably lower prices than competitors, it has allowed Wal-Mart to be very successful in revenues and profit margins. This has been a large source of their competitive advantage in the past. 2. 1. 3Imitability According to Barney and Hesterly the question of imitability is, â€Å"Do firms without a resource or capability face a cost disadvantage in obtaining or eveloping it compared to firms that already possess it? †[xv] With regard to their human capital there is no outstanding difference between Wal-Mart’s practices and the practices of their competitors, therefore there is no superior advantage. Similarly, through their products and brands there is no sustained advantage for Wal-Mart. As a super-store Wal-Mart sells many different brands, and many different types of products. For example, clothes, electronics, groceries, and medications are all examples of types of products sold in Wal-Mart stores. At the same time, within product lines Wal-Mart offers many brand names such as Sony and Sanyo within the electronics product line. However this is not dissimilar from what Wal-Mart’s competitors practice; neither Target nor Costco specialize within product lines or brands. Therefore, there is no direct advantage. Imitability with regard to the image Wal-Mart portrays is an advantage for the super-store in certain aspects. Wal-Mart’s competitors, such as Target and Costco, are based around the same strategy as Wal-Mart of paying less.Target states, â€Å"Connecting business and community, affordability, and great design,[xvi]† as part of their mission. The key factor for Wal-Mart in the past and present has been the price differentiation between their competitors in offering an even lower price. There is only one way to sustain this – by stock-loading their shelves with more products to sell to offset their lower prices. This has worked for Wal-Mart strictly because for many people the benefit of having more money is enticing.It would be difficult for a company such as Target to imitate the low cost strategy applied by Wal-Mart. The capability of Wal-Mart selling their products at a lower price is an advantage, however, as mentioned above, poor quality is a negative factor. For this reason Wal-Mart’s image imitability ranks in-between. Coinciding with the image of Wal-Mart is the imitability of their geographic location. Wal-Mart began in a small town, Rogers, AK, and during the 1960s, as its competition expanded, Sam Walton could not afford to do the same. xvii] This enabled Sam Walton to expand in the smaller, niche market of rural areas. This gave Wal-Mart opportunity in the fact that their customer base was looking for exactly what they were giving, always low prices. This began their domination in a separate market from that of their competitors. 2. 1. 4Organization Organization refers to each aspect of the VRIO model listed above, Value, Rarity, and Imitability, and evaluates how the firm exploits its resources and capabilities in order to take full advantage of them. xviii] How well does the organization itself, from top management down to lower-level employees, work together to make use of their competitive advantages? In recent years Wal-Mart has taken public hits when it comes to issues with their employees. According to a recent Business Week article Wal-Mart employees can earn up to 20% less than the average retail worker, and along with that, not many of their employees are enrolled in their health care plan because it is â€Å"costly. xix]† This creates a disconnection especially between top level management, who, in American economies especially do no less than very well, and lower-level employees such as customer service employees in the Wal-Mart stores. This can create a problem as Wal-Mart tries to continue their practice of treating their customers like family. Lower-level employees are the most hands-on with customers and if employees are unhappy it will generally show in customer activity. 5. VRIO Visualization Table |Value |Rarity |Imitability |Organization |Competitive Implications | |Employees |N |N |N |N |Weakness | |Image |N |Y |Y / N |Y |Toss Up | |Products / Brands |N |N |N | |Weakness | |Geographic Location |Y |Y |Y |- Strength | 2. 2External Five Forces Analys is To compliment an internal analysis a firm performs an external analysis in the form of a five force analysis. This analysis identifies the environmental threats of the industry in which the firm is competing. These environmental threats are any individual, group, or organization outside a firm that seeks to reduce the level of that firm’s performance. [xx] The five force analysis consists of the threats of entry, rivalry, buyers, substitutes, and suppliers. . 2. 1Threat of Entry Wal-Mart had close to $400 billion dollars in revenue last year[xxi], so because of its sheer size, new market entrants are not much of a threat to the company. In order to become a competitor in the one-stop-shopping market, a company wanting to compete with Wal-Mart would have to open, at a minimum, hundreds of locations all over the country. The brick and mortar retail industry would be incredibly costly to start up in, which would be a major barrier for new market entrants.Because Wal-Mart is purchasing products for over 7000 stores, they are also experiencing massive economies of scale due to suppliers being able to offer lower unit prices. Wal-Mart has also created a high barrier of entry through its supply chain management system, which has pretty much automated their entire supply chain. This system helps them secure distribution channels, lower their operating cost due to a just-in-time approach to inventory, and lock in suppliers because of the size of their business.When an item is taken out of inventory, their system automatically orders another from the manufacturer and lets the entire value chain know about the change in demand. [xxii] Wal-Mart has had a level of control over their suppliers that new markets entrants could only dream of after they have established themselves. The Wal-Mart brand in itself coul d also be considered a barrier of entry as it is a renowned brand name for one-stop-shopping. 2. 2. 2Threat of Substitutes The amount of substitutes available for customers highly depends on whether or not the customer is looking for a one-stop-shopping center.Wal-Mart carries a lot of products that can be found in a lot of specialty stores, as well as their main competitor’s stores. If someone is out shopping for a TV, the amount of substitute retailers’ increases from their main competitors like, Target and Costco, to specialty stores such as Best Buy and Circuit City. In cases like this, where a customer is only looking for a couple certain items, the amount of substitutes that are available can increase greatly, and become a threat to Wal-Mart.On one hand, if a customer is shopping for several things such as furniture, clothing, and a TV, searching for different substitute retailers will take a lot longer time and effort, and the prices will probably not be close to the low ones Wal-Mart would offer for the same product. Going to Wal-Mart can in this case seem to save time and money as there is no need to go out of one’s way to complete a shopping list. In these there are few retailers except for Wal-Mart that offer this sort of one-stop-shopping combined with low prices.Cost-Co, which is one of Wal-Mart’s main competitors require customers to purchase a membership card just to be allowed to shop there. Shopping at Cost-Co could therefore be seen as a major turn-off for customers who are very price sensitive in the first place. Target would be another of Wal-Mart’s main competitors, but they offer far less locations than Wal-Mart, and have a much smaller market share. 2. 2. 3Threat of Suppliers Wal-Mart is an incredibly large retailer with over 100 million customers each week[xxiii], and has therefore, a lot more influence with their suppliers than a smaller company, for example, Albertsons, has with theirs.Wal-Mart purchases products in large quantities for their more than 7000 worldwide locations[xxiv] and uses one of the worlds’ most advanced inventory management system, noted above, which directly communicates with their suppliers. The system they are using automatically submits an order with a supplier once a shelf is getting empty and pays for the shipment. Wal-Mart does not want to sit on millions, or even billions, of dollars worth of inventory, and by using this just-in-time ordering process they are saving a lot of money by letting their suppliers store their inventory for them. xxv] This logistics system, combined with the sheer size of Wal-Mart’s business and market share gives them an incredible control over their suppliers. Wal-Mart has been known for demanding a lot in terms of service and price cuts from their suppliers. Several have actually gone out of business just by losing Wal-Mart as a client, or being unable to keep up with Wal-Mart’s demand of lower prices. [xxvi] There are probably dozens of companies that would jump at the chance to get Wal-Mart as a client if Wal-Mart was to lose one of their suppliers. This makes the threat of suppliers to Wal-Mart close to none. 2. 2. Threat of Buyers Buyers are a constant threat to Wal-Mart because of the amount of retailers that exist in the market, and they, like any other business depend upon their buyers to exist. Wal-Mart is preferred by many because it caters to their price sensitivity and it is convenient, but other factors such as product quality and personal values will also have effects on a buyers purchasing decision. There are people that shop at Wal-Mart because they cannot afford to shop anywhere else, but customers that can afford to shop elsewhere may do so if they are dissatisfied with Wal-Mart and the quality of their products. Customers on a small budget might find the low priced entry point products appealing, and will make their decision based solely on the price of the product. Beating Wal-Mart’s price for an entry level product, brands aside, is a pretty hard thing to do, but there are other retailers that offer better quality products than Wal-Mart. If a customer wants a higher quality product they might end up paying more, or being unable to find the product they want at Wal-Mart, and at this point the customer might decide to take their business elsewhere.This would especially apply to more expensive products such as TVs, cameras, and computers. Convenience also plays a large factor in a customers purchasing decision. Wal-Mart stores are incredibly large and are usually located outside of city centers. Inside there are a dozens of isles and multiple departments, as well as a lot of people. Because of this, Wall-Mart’s size might be a threat to them, as customers who only need groceries or a small item might choose to shop at a local store, as it can take a lot of time to get in and out of a Wal-Mart.The personal values of customers could also pose as a potential threat for Wal-Mart. A lot of people like to shop at Wal-Mart for their â€Å"Always low prices†, but people are becoming aware of some of the effects Wal-Mart’s pricing strategy has had on the economy, their employees, and their local communities. The company has been criticized in the media for giving far below average health benefits for employees[xxvii], forcing local companies out of business by using a below-cost pricing strategy[xxviii], and importing more than 70% of their items from China[xxix], which is in turn hurting American industries.Social impacts like these could conflict with a customer’s personal values, and customers could go shop at different stores. In other wo rds, the business decisions Wal-Mart makes to ensure their low prices could be a factor in losing customers if their decisions are not socially acceptable. 2. 2. 5Threat of rivalry The retail industry is a very intense when it comes to the amount of companies operating within it. Even though Wal-Mart is one of the world’s largest retailers, their main competitors are not regular retailers such as QFC or Best Buy.Wal-Mart is more of a low profit margin one-stop-shopping retailer where customers can get everything they will need from lower priced TVs to groceries and clothing. Companies that are close rivals to Wal-Mart would include companies such as Target, Cost-Co and Carrefour[xxx] that also offer a wide range of one-stop-shopping consumer products. Because these companies operate with a generally low profit margin on their products they must increase their sales in order to cover their fixed costs.Because these companies sell a lot of the same brands, there can be fierce competition as a competitive based pricing strategy is a common way to get a temporary advantage. 2. 3Problem Statement A main issue that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. faces is the perceived negative image attributed to them from both inside and outside the organization. Wal-Mart faces numerous lawsuits and accusations from the general public and from their own employees on the quality of their products, their harsh labor practices, and the overall environment of their stores.Wal-Mart must reposition their image in order to improve their image with the general consumers while at the same time keeping their cost advantage. Quality High Target Costco Price (Low)Price (High) Wal-Mart Quality Low Ch. 3 Strategic Options 3. 1Option 1: Unionize †¢ If Wal-Mart allowed for unionization, their perceived image will change dramatically. They will be viewed publicly as a caring employer that offers better benefits which will attract better workers thus creating better customer service and longevity of their employees. 3. Option 2: Reorganize and un-clutter the isle ways and shelves. †¢ The stores will attract more customers because the stores will be much cleaner and easier to walk through. †¢ This will also give the impression that the store is less of a discount store and perceived value could potentially increase. Ch. 4 Strategic Option Evaluation 4. 1Strategic Evaluation of Unionizing Wal-Mart owns or controls the majority of its industry so changing anything in their operations may be a bit absurd; however, it does mean that it is okay to become lax in everyday operations or with the push for more market share.Companies must always keep reinventing and improving themselves and their products or services to not only compete in their industry or sector but to succeed in it as well. With an ever tarnishing image, Wal-Mart has to work even harder to clear their name from bad press and business practices. Wal-Mart is a multi-billion dollar company whose top executives are some of the richest in the country, however, their employees are barely making minimum wage at the highest, and are facing the harsh reality of being unable to support their families. [xxxi]In 2003, Wal-Mart claimed that cashiers earned and average $7. 92 throughout the country. This would be minimum wage at this time, unfortunately, Wal-Mart does not allow for employees to work more than 30 hours in a week so there is less of a chance of an employee working overtime and thus requiring them to provide benefits or increased wages. As a multi-billion dollar company, providing benefits would be a great opportunity for Wal-Mart to help employees and the economy but it will also help revive the company’s current image into something much more positive.A union would help establish and maintain the program plus it would also create team unity which in turn would create a more positive work environment. The cost of implementing a union would be great; however, the potential earnings from the new business they could find would make the change worth it. Not only would it bring more customers to the store, it will cut down on its lawsuits. In 2005 alone, the company paid $172 million dollars in lawsuits for not giving meal breaks. [xxxii] This does not include any other lawsuits for other mal practices. A union may even cut costs because the company would be held to more strict guidelines. 4. 2Strategic Evaluation for Reorganizing Store Isle Ways and Shelves When a person pictures the inside of a Wal-Mart store they think of narrow isles and fully stocked shelves. The main isles ways at Wal-Mart are commonly cluttered with large displays which create only small passages for its patrons. The large area is often shrunk so small that only one cart can move on either side of the displays.Many of these displays contain rock bottom prices; however, if the shoppers cannot maneuver around others who are looking at these displays, the chances of disputes occurring or people simply leaving the stores could arise. More â€Å"Clearance Isles† or end caps could increase the space for shoppers to move and show the vast amounts of space in the stores. Even though the stores are very large, the cluttering of items gives the illusion of a small, cramped space. With less isle displays, it will also bring more customers through the isles and thus give a potential for greater sales.The shelves are always stocked to their limits as well. By having the shelves packed to capacity, there is a chance to have expired food on the shelves or items on racks that are very old and priced incorrectly. There has already been a case in New Jersey in 2008 that baby formula had been expired for sometime but was still on the shelves. [xxxiii] This is one of the reasons why leaving more space on shelves could help give better customer service and work on their image. Leaving the shelves bare is not the answer however, being able to organize, stock, and restore foods is very important. The chance that expired food is on the shelves is much greater if items are being forgotten about on the backs of shelves. By having the ability to circulate the items more properly, the quality of the food for example, will increase and the satisfaction by customers will grow. A returning customer base will also increase which will also bring more in to stores. 4. 3Recommendation and Plan of Action The ultimate goal is to remain a leader in its industry for Wal-Mart. Because it contains the largest share of the industry, a subtle change should be implemented. Option number two would be the best and less expensive option to go with. The option is to rearrange the store and leave it less cluttered and more maneuverable for shoppers. Although implementing a Union has the potential of reducing legal costs significantly, it will be a very expensive up front cost, and its overhead will still increase. The initially cost of removing some, but not all displays from the main isles would be much less than setting up a Union. The best way to begin to re-order the â€Å"look† of the Wal-Mart stores should be slow so customers can see the changes going on and so they also know where the display items are moving to.That is why separate isles for these displays would be ideal. With their own isles, customers can still have the incredible deals they are receiving, plus there will be a lot more space for people to walk around and maneuver carts without bumping into displays or other shoppers. This plan will also make the store look cleaner and more shopper-friendly. 4. 4Competitive Advantage The size of Wal-Mart is the main component to being an industry leader. Because the company is so large, they are able to provide extremely low prices and still continue to make great revenue gains each year.Since one major component to their advantage has to do with low prices, the perception of quality is a significant weakness. The way to increase its already major advantage by changing the perception of its quality as stated in previous sections. The size of the company does not only correlate between revenue and sales but also the number of stores and the number of cities that are represented. Wal-Mart has stores in most major cities and if not, there is one close by. Being open 24 hours is also a major advantage for Wal-Mart. Most of their competitors are unable to stay open 24 hours. The ompetition at night for Wal-Mart mainly consists of pharmacies or general stores that are more expensive and have smaller selections. 4. 5Implications Price is not only the determining factor to appealing to customers and growing a clientele base. Quality is another major point that consumers are looking for and with inferior products or services; many customers could become only one time shoppers. Return business is very important and a major company such as Wal-Mart would not be able to survive without it just like any other business. The reputation of a company is important and Wal-Mart’s is definitely tarnished and in need of revival.Being only a discount store is not what Wal-Mart should be with the magnitude of its reach. It does not make a difference of how big you are if your reputation and quality are poor. Being a well rounded company is very important in business and keeping customers coming back, and having satisfied employees is essential to the life of any venture.Endnotes ———————– [i] Wal-Mart. Our Purpose. In About Us [Online]. Available: http://walmartstores. com/AboutUs/8123. aspx [2008, September 27]. How to cite Walmart Going Green, Papers

THE ART AND SCIENCE OF RFP WRITING - The Writers For Hire

THE ART AND SCIENCE OF RFP WRITING We’ve written quite a few blogs about how to craft a thoughtful, well-organized response to a request for proposal (RFP). If you’ve ever been tasked with responding to an RFP, you know that proposal writing takes a staggering amount of work, and just the right balance of art (writing and communication are definitely arts) and science (developing best practices, adhering to all rules and guidelines, etc.) We’ve also been on the other side of the process – and we’ve learned that writing the actual RFP can require just as much work – and the same balance of creativity and attention to detail. And we’ve identified some common sets of best practices that will help guide you through the process, whether you’re writing an RFP for a government organization, a private company, or a non-profit organization. Prep work and writing Grab your color palette and your microscope: Prior to putting the RFP â€Å"out on the street† you’ll need to use art and science to define the deliverables; develop a budget; and create project-specific evaluation criteria that will determine award of contract. Task: Scope of work Art- Communication is an art – and as project manager/lead writer, you’ll need to communicate and coordinate with all stakeholders on your team to figure out exactly what services and/or products you’re looking for and how long you’ll need them. Science- You’ll need to create a detailed Scope of Work (SOW) that details of the products, services, and deliverables you expect from a potential vendor. This is the time to think (and write) like a scientist – stick to facts and be as specific as possible about what you need. Task: Budget Art- You’ve no doubt heard of the art of negotiation – but budgeting is an art, too. To avoid setting your budget too high or too low you’ll need to come up with numbers that strike just the right balance. Science- Good, old-fashioned scientific inquiry is key to this step. Some key questions you’ll need to answer include: How much can your organization afford? How much do you actually want to spend? How much do the services and/or products outlined in your SOW typically cost? Task: Timeline Art- Can planning be an art? Absolutely – especially when you’re dealing with a complex project with lots of moving parts. Ideally, you should to give vendors enough time to review your RFP, submit questions, and craft a well-thought-out proposal; you’ll also want to give yourself and your team enough time to review each proposal and select a winner. Science- Create a detailed calendar that outlines each milestone for the RFP process, including: The date your organization plans to release the RFP The deadline for vendor questions The dates and times of any interviews, meetings or QA sessions related to your RFP The date finalists will be notified The date you’ll announce the winning bid Task: Evaluation Criteria Art- It’s brainstorming time. Get your team together, get creative, and make a list of your â€Å"ideal† candidate. What would make a vendor stand out from the crowd? What are your â€Å"must-haves† and what are your â€Å"nice-to-haves†? Are there any deal-breakers? Science- Now that you know what you want, you’ll need to find a way to make your criteria measurable. You could do this by developing a points system or a rating scale. The goal should be to create a system that will allow you to do an apples-to-apples comparison of all proposals. Task: Writing, Editing, and Proofreading Art- At this point, you should have everything you need to write a draft of your RFP. Writing is truly an art, and a well-written RFP should communicate your needs clearly and succinctly. The more specific you can be with your instructions and expectations, the better your chances of receiving useful and thorough proposals. Science Break out the microscope, because you’ll want to review your RFP draft very carefully: Check your facts, re-read your instructions and look for inconsistencies; review facts, dates, and contact information. And don’t forget to do a thorough proofreading to ensure that your final draft doesn’t contain any spelling and grammar errors. Congratulations! If you’ve reached this point, you’ve successfully navigated the art and science of crafting an RFP, and you’re ready to send the draft out into the world. But don’t hang up your easel and microscope just yet – you’ll need them. Responses, revisions, and compliance Now that the RFP has been published you can just sit back and wait for proposals to start rolling in, right? Well, not quite. This phase of the process requires you to actively track responses, answer questions, amend or revise the RFP as needed. Task: Tracking Inquiries Art- You’ll need to know who submitted proposals and when. The â€Å"art† part of this task is coming up with a simple, easy-to-update system for tracking responses. This could be anything from a spreadsheet to a living list housed on Google docs to a hand-written note. Science- Whether you’re new to the RFP process or you’re simply trying to find a better way to keep track of proposals, treat this part of the process like a science experiment: Take notes on what works (and what doesn’t), and adjust, adjust, adjust until you’ve got a system that works for you. Task: Answering Questions and Amending RFPs Art- As we mentioned in the â€Å"Prep work† section, writing is an art – and you’ll need to bust out your best editorial skills as you review vendor questions and update, revise, or amend your RFP in response. Science- Amending an RFP is a highly-structured process. As you amend your RFP, you’ll need to follow the rules and regulations to the letter, with a laser-like focus and a microscope’s-eye-view of every last requirement. Task: Determining Compliance Art- Your first step toward choosing a winner is a review of all the proposals submitted. At this point, you should be thinking â€Å"big picture† you’ll have plenty of time to get into the weeds during the evaluation phase. Of course, Even with a government RFP, there’s a bit of art and balance involved in deciding whether a proposal is considered â€Å"compliant.† For example, if a proposal follows the important rules regarding content, you and your team may decide to overlook the occasional typo or funky formatting error (after all, everyone makes mistakes). Science- Human error and typos are one thing – but rules are rules. While your inner creative may be willing to forgive the occasional misplaced comma, the logical, left-brain part of you should be on high alert for deal-breakers, such as: Proposals turned in late Proposals that are missing required/requested information Proposals that don’t follow your requested structure or formatting Proposals that do not include required documentation, such as information about insurance, finances, and processes. Evaluation and choosing a winner As the old saying goes, â€Å"All that glitters ain’t gold, and all that’s gold don’t glitter.† And, in the world of government RFPs, you’ll need to separate the gold from the glitter to choose finalists or a winning vendor. Simple compliance isn’t quite enough, and attractive design can only go so far (we’ve seen our share of â€Å"pretty† proposals with surprisingly little substance). Your team will have to use a combination of creativity, communication, and objective â€Å"just-the-facts† judgment to evaluate each proposal that makes it past the initial â€Å"compliant or not† screening. Task: Evaluating Proposals Art- You’ll need to artfully manage and facilitate team communications to ensure every member of the evaluation team is given equal consideration. Science- You’ll also need to make sure that the team sticks to your agreed-upon scoring system as they evaluate each proposal. This isn’t a situation where gut feelings should take over. Task: Negotiations and Award Art- You’ve selected a winner – and now it’s time to talk terms. At this point in the process, everything is on the table. This is the â€Å"emotional† side of the process: Your artful communication skills will help you work with your team to determine deal-breakers and non-negotiables – and help you work with your selected vendor to come to an agreement that makes everyone happy. Science- There’s more to negotiation than making sure everyone gets what they want (or that they’re at least satisfied with the compromise). As you negotiate, you’ll need to get everything in writing and take detailed notes that you can use when you move on to the drafting phase: Purchase orders must be generated and approved per generally accepted accounting principles; and you’ll need to keep an eye out for any scope changes. Task: Contract Writing Art- After the negotiations, it’s time to write up the official contract. Put on your writer/editor hat, and remember to seek feedback from your team members as you write a draft. Science- Documentation of the offer, acceptance, and consideration must be enforceable – and you’ll need to make sure that the contract adheres to any regulations or requirements. Lessons learned The great thing about writing RFPs is that each one is an opportunity to improve, streamline, and develop a set of creative and scientific best practices that will make things go more smoothly next time around. We can’t promise that writing an RFP will ever be easy, exactly – but just like any other artistic endeavor, practice makes perfect.Tweet this And, just like a team of scientists working on an experiment, your RFP team will find ways to improve the RFP writing process and develop a set of best practices that will ensure the best possible end product.