Technology management Essays - BMW, Convertibles, Sedans, City Cars

London School of Commerce Time Constrained Assessment - MBA 1 TMIA, May 2010 Maximum Marks: 70Duration: 48 hours Instructions: 1.This assessment has seven questions. 2.All questions must be answered and they carry equal marks. 3.Answer the questions, applying all the relevant concepts and theory learnt. 4.Any additional research done on the organization must be referenced. 5.This assessment must be answered in the question and answer format, the length of each answer must be 500 750 words. 6.The answers must be submitted through turnitin. BMW (This has been adapted and modified from a term paper on BMW from http://ivythesis.typepad.com) Introduction BMW is one of the best-managed brands in Europe, if not the whole world. Its consistent work over the years has led to a very strong position in the automobile industry, a clear message as well as a distinct identity. All encapsulated in 'the ultimate driving machine'. The only challenge for the brand seems to be to keep on track and to continue to develop (2003). In 1959 BMW was on the edge of bankruptcy, however, the company recovered to become one of the world's most profitable automobile manufacturers. Background of the Automobile Industry Though the car industry worldwide is replete with so-called national champions, it is probably the most globalized industry in the world with the three triad groups of the USA, Japan and Western Europe accounting for almost 90 per cent of total output. Additionally, it employs around 4 million direct workers with a further 10 million involved in material and component manufacture. When those involved in the selling and maintenance of vehicles are included, the total figure swells to around 20 million (1998). Apart from merger, almost all the automobile industry producers in Europe sought to improve their position in world markets by improving relations with their suppliers and bringing about radical improvements in supply chain management. The tradition in dealing with component suppliers virtually throughout Western Europe was extremely adversarial and based on short-term contracts which was in sharp contrast with Japanese practice. Successive reports indicated that the automotive components industry was the weak link in the European car industry. Initially, car makers simply tried to force component suppliers to cut costs and so place the responsibility for cost reduction and rising quality on to the suppliers. However, a report prepared by the Boston Consulting Group on behalf of the European Commission in 1996 highlighted Europes problems. The report pointed out that there was an alarming competitive gap with Japan and that unless drastic action was taken, this gap would continue to widen. The European components industry employed 942,000 people in 1992 with annual output worth 22 billion. It recommended that if Japanese productivity levels 2.5 times greater than European were to be achieved then 40,000 jobs or 54 per cent of the workforce would have to go. But even this swinging cut of itself would not guarantee reaching Japanese productivity levels. Such a change demanded radical policies and a strong move towards the Japanese system of tiers with the number of direct suppliers falling by two-thirds by 1997. The report recognised that the greatest challenge to improve productivity lay in the second tier suppliers consisting primarily of small and medium-sized enterprises where awareness of need to improve competitiveness is least advanced. It noted that individual car makers had already taken action to cut the number of direct suppliers from 1,280 on average in 1988, to 900 in 1994, and to an average of 400 by 1997. Central to this across Europe was the role of Germany which accounted for 47 per cent of the independent components industry and for 53 per cent of the sectors value added. France accounted for 19 per cent of output, the UK for 12 per cent, Italy for 11 per cent and Spain for 7 per cent. Crucial to success was concentration of ownership. Indeed, the process of consolidation was driven by the lack of competitiveness of many suppliers in an extremely fragmented industry and by changes in vehicle makers policies towards: more outsourcing with more design work being transferred to suppliers; the sourcing of components to come from single rather than multiple suppliers; the purchasing of whole systems rather than individual components; the formation of strategic business alliances. Context It has been stated

Choosing a Fine Art Analysis Essay Sample For Your Art History Course

Choosing a Fine Art Analysis Essay Sample For Your Art History CourseA university degree in art history may sound like an interesting, easy way to get a good job or a raise. However, art history is actually much more than what most people think. It's a very challenging subject and there are some specific courses that are required to get into a degree program. This article will help you choose a fine art analysis essay sample to help you get into this field.The first thing you'll need to look for in a fine art history essay sample is a teacher who's experience is well-known. You don't want to read an art history essay by somebody who was at the college for a short time and got one of the jobs they had their eye on. Do not be fooled by a professor who tells you that she has been teaching the same course for twenty years but didn't get a 'Master's in Art History' - you won't find any Masters in Art History in just the last two decades. There is a time and place for perfect, but no one w ould turn down a Master's degree in art history.Just because someone is a Master of Arts in art history doesn't mean that they are the best qualified person to write an art history essay. As in all subjects, the more experienced the instructor, the better. In addition, you want to find somebody who can demonstrate expertise in more than one branch of art. Whether they were an artist, a sculptor, a poet, or a painter, they must have studied them all, or at least have a background in each of them.You will find good essay samples in books and on the Internet. The internet contains many websites that provide you with all the resources that you need to learn how to write an art history essay. The advantage to a bookstore or library is that you can browse through them and pick out the perfect essay. However, if you don't have a lot of time to spend with a bookstore, it would be easier to find a book on art analysis for a college class.Many universities require their art history course stu dents to participate in a community project. These community projects usually range from a short essay to a full blown one. One way to find a great essay sample for your art history course is to participate in a local community project. If you know anyone who's doing something similar, let them know about it and see if they know anybody else who could participate.When you are looking for an art history essay sample, be sure to look at the style of writing. In this field, many different approaches are used. If you've never tried one, you might find that one in particular doesn't flow as well as you would prefer.Art history may sound interesting, but it really isn't as easy as it may seem. However, with the right help and guidance, you can enjoy the wonderful field of art. Once you've learned how to use art analysis essays as a tool to your advantage, you'll realize that this is the most rewarding career in the world.