Monday, August 24, 2020

Analysing enterprise operations(individual case study report) Essay - 1

Dissecting endeavor operations(individual contextual investigation report) - Essay Example This report examinations the progression of tasks or procedures utilizing stream outline of a person that is intending to go for excursions to Athens from Birmingham. Moreover, the report distinguishes the key issues that could impact the outing of the person just as recognizing bottlenecks that could impact the procedure. Toward the finish of the report, suggestions have been given. This report is utilized to show how stream outline can be useful in consistently to day tasks and choices that an individual makes. As the report has been readied utilizing an instance of an individual going for get-aways from Birmingham to Athens along these lines the primary points and destinations of the report are: Issues in any procedures can end the speed and fruitful achievement of that procedure. Hence recognizable proof of key issues is essential to ensure that the goal is accomplished. The key issues that have been recognized are: There are sure procedures in various things whatever an individual or any association do which can stop the general procedure and until this procedure or step isn't fathomed, the activities can't proceed. These means or blockages are known as the ‘Bottlenecks’ (Schonberger, and Knod, 1991). The bottlenecks can stop or end the procedure or activities and consequently it is significant for anybody utilizing stream graph to recognize bottlenecks and attempt to diminish the effect of these bottlenecks with the goal that the progression of the tasks is fine. Bottlenecks are essentially the blockages that can hurt the stream and in this manner can expand the general time of the tasks than assessed (Schemenner, 1984). Bottlenecks during the time spent get-away to Athens are finding the perfect chance to go for get-aways as this could end the general procedure. For example, in the event that the individual is a worker, at that point he would need to get the endorsement of the business for occasions and afterward conclude the dates of the outing. Also, other bottleneck of the procedure is of

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Container Shipping Market Essay Example for Free

Holder Shipping Market Essay Savannah and Port Everglades to their joint Europe-Ecuador administration to cover the Europe-South US East Coast showcase. The administration will keep on calling at the Balboa center in the two headings to permit transhipment to different ports on the West Coast of South America. The revolution will be extended to seven weeks, utilizing 7 x 4,1324,872 TEU Panamaxes with high reefer limit. SITC has submitted a request for two 1,800 TEU containerships, with alternatives for six more, from Taiwanese shipyard CSBC. This is the shipbuilder’s first request from a terrain Chinese organization for over 20 years. The firm vessels are valued at $23m each, and are booked for conveyance in late 2014. Page 2 Licensed to The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Circulation is limited; if you don't mind make sure to recognize the source. http://www. clarksons. net 12/05/2013 09:20:16 15304 M TEU 1. 25 Jan-10 Jan-11 Jan-12 Jan-13 Jan-12 Jan-13 According to the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index, spot rates for boxes delivered from Shanghai to Europe tumbled to th $940/TEU on the 12 April, their most minimal level since February a year ago and a 34% fall since mid-March, as the ains made by the last round of general rate increments demonstrated fleeting. Because of this market shortcoming, various transporters including Maersk Line and Hapag-Lloyd have deferred a second round of rate increments initially planned for mid-April. They will presently be actualized during May. Somewhere else, cargo rates for boxes sent from Shanghai toward the West Coast of America remained at $2,226/FEU, 3% underneath the entire year 2012 normal, and 11% beneath the January 2013 pinnacle of $2,520/FEU. Clarkson Research Services Striking dockworkers at the Kwai Tsing Container Terminals in the port of Hong Kong made noteworthy interruption countless liner administrations. Vessels confronted 2-multi day berthing delays, while more than 100,000 TEU of freight was supposedly stuck on the quayside. Significant transporters dropped calls and occupied boats to other Pearl River ports, for example, Chiwan and Shekou, with shippers compelled to tranship inbound payload back to Hong Kong on Feeder vessels. March’s holder throughput of 1. 88m TEU at the port spoke to a 8. 6% y-o-y decline, yet the strike disturbance is probably going to influence April’s box taking care of volumes much more harshly. Maersk Line is to build the limit of its India-Middle EastUS East Coast administration with the substitution of 7 x 4,800 Panamax vessels with eight boats of 6,500 TEU the administration turning in eight instead of seven weeks. An extra call at Algeciras will be made in the two bearings, while there will likewise be a level of further moderate steaming. The recently sent vessels are required to be reflagged to the US banner all together MSC is to dispatch a Far East-East Coast South America administration utilizing 11 x 3,000-5,000 TEU ships. The vessels incorporate various Panamaxes allegedly contracted in at exceptionally low rates. The multi week turn will remember a call for Port Elizabeth on the arrival leg with the primary cruising is planned from Shanghai on the th 18 April. UASC is to enter the Far East-West Coast North America exchange just because in the wake of consenting to collaborate with CSCL on three separate Transpacific administrations. The Kuwaitheadquartered transporter will give two Panamaxes to an assistance that brings in Seattle and Vancouver, and three for a Nansha-Los Angeles administration. Inactive Containership Fleet 12% 9% 6% 3% 0% Jan-10 Jan-11 Jan-12 Jan-13 % of complete armada limit, TEU Source: CRSL, AXS Authorized to The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Appropriation is confined; if it's not too much trouble make sure to recognize the source. http://www. clarksons. net 12/05/2013 09:20:16 15304 According to information announced by Alphaliner, the all out containership limit in lay-up arrived at 0. 83m TEU on th 25 March, with 269 vessels sitting inactive. This is identical to 5. 1% of the armada as far as limit. Over Q1 2013 the extent of complete limit in lay-up changed between 4. 6% and 5. 3%, while across entire year 2012 a normal of 4. 1% of limit was inactive. Energetically extending purchaser request in rising economies ought to advance solid improvement of North-South exchanges, which are anticipated to develop by 6. 0% this year. In the interim, intra-provincial exchange is relied upon to develop by 7. 6% in entire year 2013, with intra-Asian exchange development remaining the powerhouse. Worldwide holder able gracefully development is relied upon to be extensively in offset with worldwide interest development in 2013. Bearers will keep on hosing genuine running limit development on the mainlanes with an end goal to help cargo rates. Dealing with the limit course will remain rucial in deciding exchange path flexibly, while further moderate steaming may keep on engrossing a portion of the limit development. Nonetheless, the volume of inert tonnage is probably going to keep on supress profit in the sanction showcase. In the interim, destruction stays at raised levels. Related to the scarcity of requesting, this quick pace of rejecting has brought about a contracting armada in the littler size areas. Generally, while flexibly development may quicken marginally this year, the orderbook plan for 2014+ conveyance despite everything looks moderately slight.

Friday, July 24, 2020

Classes Spring 07

Classes Spring 07 Heres what Im taking this term: 21L.471: Major English Novels Description: Studies important examples of the literary form that, between the beginning of the 18th century and the end of the 19th century, became an indispensable instrument for representing modern life, in the hands of such writers as Defoe, Richardson, Fielding, Sterne, Burney, Austen, Scott, Dickens, the Brontës, Eliot, Hardy, and Conrad. The class alternates between 18th and 19th century topics, and may be repeated for credit with instructors permission. Professor: Ina Lipkowitz format: two 1.5 hour lectures a week (~20 people, discussion class) fun fact: Professor Lipkowitz delayed her trip to the hospital to give birth because she was so engrossed in reading George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) reading list: Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe Evelina by Frances Burney Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell Adam Bede by George Eliot Lady Audleys Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon Tess of the DUrbervilles by Thomas Hardy Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf 21W.755 Writing and Reading Short Stories Description: Introduction to the short story. Students write stories and short descriptive sketches. Readings from European and American stories from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Class discussion of students writing and of the assigned stories in their historical and social contexts. Professor: Junot Diaz (wikipedia bio) format: two 1.5 hour lectures a week (~20 people, workshopping class) fun fact: Diaz’s 1996 book [Drown], a collection of coming-of-age short stories set both in Santo Domingo and New Jersey, caused a literary sensation. Twenty-seven-years-old when it was published, the young author was heralded as one of Newsweek’s “New Faces of 1996” and has since garnered a PEN/Malamud Award for short fiction (2002), a Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Writers Award (2000), the Pushcart Prize, and the MIT Eugene McDermott Award (1998), among others. The New Yorker, Paris Review, Glimmer Train, and Best American Fiction, 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2000 all have featured his stories. (Spectrum Fall 2003) reading list: A mix of our own writing, our peers writing, and published short stories. We began with Girl by Jamaica Kincaid, which first appeared in The New Yorker in 1978. You can read the 650-word story (which I LOVED) in its entirety here 21L.702 Studies in Fiction Description: Intensive study of a range of texts by a single author or by a limited group of authors whose achievements are mutually illuminating. Some attention to narrative theory, and biographical and cultural backgrounds. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication. Previously taught topics include Stowe, Twain, and the Transformation of 19th century America. Professor: James Buzard, head of the Lit Dept (MIT bio) format: two 1.5 hour lectures a week (~15 people, discussion class) fun fact: Professor Buzard is using parts of our class discussion as research for a follow-up to his 2005 book Disorienting Fiction: The Autoethnographic Work of Nineteenth-Century British Novels. reading list: Dubliners by James Joyce A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce Ulysses by James Joyce (Yeaahhh. Image courtesy of amazon.com) Besides my first semester freshman year, this is my only semester at MIT without any economics classes. This is both exciting and sad I am head-over-heels in love with all 3 of the classes I am taking this term, but miss the thrill of constrained optimization. Its a nice change to be reading and writing so much, but we analyze these works in such depth that my homework is definitely as intense and rigorous as a problem set.

Friday, May 22, 2020

Visual Aspects of Nike - 908 Words

Visual Aspects of Nike Prior to the 2012 London Olympics, Nike launched the Find your Greatness campaign, which supports a new generation of young athletes who overcome social conflicts like: race, disabilities, and dilemmas to immerse themselves as athletes. In a series of ads, Nike presents us with their spiel, greatness is not given to prodigies, we are all capable of it, which relies on the premise that everyone is capable of construing greatness to fit their own capabilities(Nike). By exemplifying Nikes uplifting confidence in those who overcome societal conflicts, the viewers are exposed to ideological strategies such as: appealing to specific viewers through the utilization of social conflicts(disabilities, race, class) and presenting solutions(hard-work) to propitiate the conflict. The campaign consists of several strategically thought-out ads that capture inspiration and motivation, through visual appeal. Appealing to the public through images encompasses the idea of follo wing the publics ideology- by alluding society through size, disabilities, and societal beliefs. Take for example, the Find your Greatness baseball advertisement. This image utilizes an abysmal societal belief: physically handicap individuals should be refrained from participating in sports to prevent further harm. Moreover, Nike urges aspiring athletes, by subtly stating, in the world of sports there are no constraints (Nike). The Baseball ad contains various features that areShow MoreRelatedMy Thanks to Professor Payte835 Words   |  4 Pagesthis course, I learned that these aspects are priorities in developing a robust essay. During progression two, which was extremely difficult, I collaborated with a group of classmates to produce a video presentation on visual rhetoric and how visualization, society, social culture, and economic status are used to attract viewers/buyers. Without a doubt, I was absolutely clueless on the topic of visual rhetoric. Despite my confusion, I found a way to understand visual rhetoric by relying on my groupRead MoreNike s Quest For Success1525 Words   |  7 Pagesfor doing so. Nike launched their â€Å"Find Your Greatness† ad campaign during the 2012 Olympics in London; however, they chose not to focus on the Olympic athletes. They share stories of everyday athletes to show that greatness is not just for the top athletes and superstars, but also everyday people. The campaign grew to a new level once #findgreatness started trending on Twitter. Athletes all around the world were sharing their stories about finding greatness using this hashtag. Nike uses TV and webRead MoreCreating A Good And Memorable Logo1299 Words   |  6 Pagesof meetings, with panels of people, with all different preferences and hopeful intentions—who knew all these different aspects went into creating a logo? The final product of these steps, however, is a logo that is made up of an enduring, memorable, and meaningful design, an intentional and stimulating arrangement, and possibly a psychological reasoning for choosing these aspects. Creating a good and memorable logo must first start with a new and interesting idea for a logo. Preferably the logo shouldRead MoreLogo Designs: Faulty When Ugly Essay1112 Words   |  5 PagesMajority of businesses today find it reasonable to represent themselves with a logo, that in which speaks for their company or foundation as a whole in its entirety. Its use has gained importance within social media, substantially. The most important aspect of a company’s platform should be the concern within the creation of the logo design because it is the standing point of a first impression, symbolizes identity, as well contributes to the appeal factor a business has amongst the masses. If attentionRead MoreEffects of Sports Stars in Advertising1250 Words   |  5 Pagesongoing of Mr. Jordans marketing efforts is Nikes Jordan Brand, created two years ago. Last year, the separate Nike division grew to $300 million, and Mr. Jordan says he wants to increase revenue to $1 billion soon † (Friedman). Time passing, Jordan is not the only one who dominate such kind of market. Following him, LeBron James, who have established an advertising company deals with Nike, Coca-Cola, Bubblicious, Upper Deck trading cards, and Microsoft, is planning to turn Mr. James into a globalRead MoreEuropean Advertising vs. American Advertising Essays872 Words   |  4 Pages------------------------------------------------- European Advertising vs. American Advertising ------------------------------------------------- Research Paper ARS 230 The main aspect of advertising is to ‘get more bang for the buck’, to make it aesthetically pleasing to the eye and gain the viewer’s attention. Throughout the years, advertising has varied in many ways from catchy slogans to iconic logos. Some may say there is nothing wrong with a little healthy competition, but what if oneRead More Media Affects on the Self- image of Women Essay916 Words   |  4 Pagesglance at this article, you might say to yourself â€Å"I know what women in the media is about, its stereotypes and sexism.† What you probably don’t know is that however subtle, these visual cues are affecting women individually and collectively, in how they view themselves and other women. Relationships are a fundamental aspect of women’s behaviorism and advertising exploits this. It turns people into objects and offers products as a replacement for human contact, producing serious affects on the self-Read MoreEssay On Graphic Design1133 Words   |  5 PagesGraphic design, also known as communication design, is the practice of planning and displaying ideas and experiences with visual and textual content. Graphic design can be physical in nature, like designing posters, flyers, billboards, postage stamps, or any other physical visual form of design. Graphic design can also be digital like creating a virtual design for blogs, websites, online advertisements, and so on. Digital design also has a multitude of purposes such as commercial, professional, educationRead MoreBusiness Consultants With Experience Helping 3rd World Banks Become Successful1236 Words   |  5 Pagesspecific skill set. The main communication objective is to get qualified consultants to contact the Bank of Industry (BOI) at the provided address so the bank can interview them and fill the position. However, the message strategy is muddled, as many aspects of this ad are. Their competitive frame of reference is relatively unestablished. There may be an obscure point of difference since the BOI has received a line of credit from The African Development Bank, but there is no clear effort to differentiateRead MoreAncient Greece : The Greatest Civilization Of The Ancient World Essay1231 Words   |  5 Pagesperpetual visual evidence of their military spiritual superiority.† Although the Greek temples were for public function, entering the buildings was reserved for selected individuals and priests. Also, the Acropolis was the central point of the Panathenaia festival occurred every four years on Athena’s birthday, pilgrims gathered outside the Dipylon gate and form a procession that moved along the street called Dromos, through out the agora and up onto the Acropolis. Another characteristic aspect of this

Thursday, May 7, 2020

The Truth Behind Canine Intelligence - 821 Words

Proposal Jose Herrera College of DuPage English 1102 Racheal Basse Spring 2017 Abstract Are canines intelligent? This paper goes over the history of canines and how they originated to become what they are in today. As well as how the relate to other species and the difference between their social cognition. Lastly, the relationship they have with humans and about the benefits of canine social cognitive research. This paper proves that canines are intelligent. Despite all the negative comments that has been thrown out about dogs being unintelligent this paper proves how smart they are and how they are closely related to humans. The conclusion of this paper are to prove that there should be more research done to fully†¦show more content†¦By being extremely socialized with humans canines can detect certain emotions. In the past canine cognitive ability was believed to be insignificant. Recent research has disproven that canines are not intelligent, Research on canine cognition is being done in a wide variety of scientific disciplines, including ethology, evolutio nary anthropology, behavioral analytics, developmental psychology, and neuroscience (Bensky, 2013). The purpose of the article is to show the flaws within the perception of canine cognition. To date, there has been little effort to review and summarize what these numerous studies have taught us about canine cognition as a whole (Bensky, 2013). This article also explores the true abilities of canine cognition and how they can help advance our knowledge on other animal cognition. Through this article a few questions will have to be answered: †¢ How does canine cognition relate to humans? This is an important question to ask because recent research has shown how canine’s cognitive abilities relate to human cognition. †¢ How does canine cognition relate to other animal’s cognitive abilities? By answering this question one can see how animal cognition correlates. †¢ What research proves extensive canine cognition? Through answering this question one can see the true cognitive abilities of canines. Canines and their origination The study of canines has not always been so popular, the studying canine social cognition is a recently newShow MoreRelated_x000C_Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis355457 Words   |  1422 Pagesââ€"   ââ€"   ââ€"   one third of teachers had either seriously considered leaving teaching or knew a colleague who left because of intolerable student behavior. (New York Times, November 27, 2005) When people take a vacation, do they really leave work behind? Data from a poll conducted by Travelocity led to the following estimates: Approximately 40% of travelers check work email while on vacation, about 33% take cell phones on vacation in order to stay connected with work, and about 25% bring a laptop

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Are Ghosts Real or Not Free Essays

? Ghosts are real. First, the most important thing to know is that ghosts are just human beings not living in physical bodies. These are people just like you and me. We will write a custom essay sample on Are Ghosts Real or Not? or any similar topic only for you Order Now Like people everywhere, ghosts can be friendly, scary, smart, and stupid and everything in between, but they’re just people. Both skeptics and ardent believers in the paranormal admit that supernatural and unexplainable activity—sightings of ghost, spirit and/or aliens is on the rise. If there is no supernatural, what are these apparitions? Millions of eager viewers are gobbling up popular movies such as Ghost, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Beetle juice, Ghost Rider, and Ghost Busters. Video fantasy and arcade games featuring ghosts, skeletons, and mummies and beings alive after death are the rage. ? The most logical place to go to get the facts about supernatural things is the Bible. the one authority on things that cannot be seen or explained by natural earthly laws. And indeed, the Bible does indicate that paranormal activity and interest in the spirit world would increase at the very end of time. Even more alarmingly, the Bible warns that these spirits will lure multitudes into world wide deception. â€Å"And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. † Revelation 16:13-14. With this in mind, how vital it is that we understand what the Bible says about ghosts, spirits, and the afterlife. ___________________ Bruce A. Moen, Voyage Beyond Doubt , (1996-2003) http://www. afterlife-knowledge. com/bnddoubt. html ? Ghosts are the mind’s way of interpreting how the body reacts to certain surroundings, say UK psychologists. A chill in the air, low-light conditions and even magnetic fields may trigger feelings that â€Å"a presence† is in a room – but that is all they are, feelings. This explanation of ghosts the result of a large study which researchers led hundreds of volunteers around two of the U. K’s supposedly most haunted locations – Hampton Court Palace, England, and the South Bridge Vaults in Edinburgh, Scotland. Dr Richard Wiseman, of the University of Hertfordshire, and his colleagues say their work has thrown up some interesting data to suggest why so many people can be spooked in the same building but provides no evidence that ghosts are real. Science accept it will never know everything about the universe. Science also accepts that without evidence there is no knowledge, only guesses. Ghosts might exist, so might Bigfoot, Nessie, and David Icke. We need evidence to demonstrate it, though. The possibility is not enough to warrant belief, as a whole bunch of things could be possible – science is the system of weeding out the actual from the possible. ____________________ ? http://www. bookrags. com/researchtopics/ghosts/sub7. html Lights turning off and on – likewise, these events are seldom seen actually occurring, but the lights are switched on or off when the experiencer knows they were not left that way. This can also happen with TVs, radios and other electrically powered items. Unexplained shadows – the sighting of fleeting shapes and shadows, usually seen out of the corner of the eye. This phenomenon has also been discussed in some detail in â€Å"Shadow People. † Strange animal behavior – a dog, cat or other pet behaves strangely. Dogs may bark at something unseen, cower without apparent reason or refuse to enter a room they normally do. Cats may seem to be â€Å"watching† something cross a room. Feelings of being watched – this is not an uncommon feeling and can be attributed to many things, but it could have a paranormal source if the feeling consistently occurs in a particular part of the house at a particular time. hearing a door open or close is one thing. Actually seeing it happen is quite another. Feelings of being touched – the feeling of being watched is one thing, and actually feeling like you are being touched is quite another. Some people feel something brush past them, something touching their hair or â€Å"a hand† on the shoulder. Cries and whispers – on occasion, muffled voices, whispering and crying can be heard. Sometimes it’s music from some unknown source. Cold or hot spots – cold spots are classic haunting symptoms, but any instance of a noticeable variance in temperature without a discernable cause could be evidence. Unexplained smells – the distinct fragrance of a perfume or cologne that you do not have in your house. Physical assault – scratches, slaps and hard shoves. This kind of personal assault is extremely rare, but obviously highly disturbing. Other physical evidence – unexplained writing on paper or walls; handprints and footprints. Apparitions – physical manifestation of a spirit or entity. How to cite Are Ghosts Real or Not?, Essay examples

Monday, April 27, 2020

The Global Pharmaceutical Industry free essay sample

The case describes the evolution of the pharmaceutical industry and its strategic environment. Attention is drawn to environmental pressures from regulators and payers. Key forces driving the industry are discussed, including addressing unmet medical needs, the importance of innovation and time to market, and globalisation. The case illustrates how an increasingly hostile environment, combined with a decline in Ramp;D productivity, led to waves of job losses, and sparked a fresh round of consolidation. On the global level, the historical supremacy of the US was challenged with the highest market growth rates recorded in the emerging markets. Q1. Identify the main environmental forces currently affecting the global pharmaceutical industry. It is expected that all aspects of the PESTEL analysis will be addressed. Illustrative points are given here, but this is by no means exhaustive. Political – Government’s focus on the industry as an easy target in the drive to reduce healthcare expenditure; public outcry over safely alerts and international price comparisons; and public pressure to fund cancer medicines. We will write a custom essay sample on The Global Pharmaceutical Industry or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Economic – Pharmaceutical sales correlate closely with GDP – flattening in established markets and growth in emerging markets; the rise in the power of payers as decision-makers; in some countries patients are paying a greater proportion of drug costs themselves leading to increased linkage of sales and income levels; availability of venture and depth finance to support biotech innovation. Social – Aging population drive not only increases in healthcare costs but also increases in demand for medicines; pressure to act ethically rather than purely following profit; the number of better-informed patients with rising expectations; continued global convergence in medical practice and public acceptance of new technologies such as stem cells and genetic testing. Technological – Scientific and medical innovation; impact of information technology such as more well-informed patients and e-prescribing; shift towards more personalised healthcare. Environmental – Emphasis on sustainability by investors and employees. Legal – Increased regulatory focus on drug safety, industry sales and marketing practices; growth in liability claims particularly in the US. A key trend that students should highlight is the increased emphasis on cost-containment and value-for-money. Q2. Apply the Five-Forces framework and identify the importance of different environments forces affecting the global pharmaceutical industry. Students are expected to address all aspects of a five forces analysis, and discuss how these forces have changed over time. Illustrative points are given here, but this is by no means exhaustive. Threat of new entrants – The industry has historically had high barriers to entry, but these are dramatically lowered at patent expiry with generic entrants. Generic companies such as Teva and Dr Reddy’s are emerging as major global players with ambitions in the innovative sector. A greater focus on premium priced niche products for high unmet disease could facilitate entry by biotech companies. Power of buyers – Historically, buyers were highly fragmented medical practitioners, but now buying power is increasingly concentrated in a small number of payers with a major impact on market dynamics. Power of substitutes – Increased emphasis on generics being ‘good enough’ for common conditions and shrinking use of branded innovative drugs. Bio-similars will substitute for high priced biologics. Power of suppliers – Historically low, but declining Ramp;D productivity has increased the price tag on truly breakthrough licensing and acquisition opportunities. Competitive rivalry – Revelry within specific product classes has always been intense, and can be leveraged by payers to force competition on price; and increasing industry consolidation. It is important to acknowledge that the generic, OTC and vaccine sector are relatively mature, and the ethical pharmaceutical sector is arguably heading from growth towards shake-out, while the biotech sector is still under developed. Q3. Try to identify the strategic groups within the global ethical pharmaceutical industry? Describe the strategic choices made by Pfizer from 2008 onwards and comment on what may have been the drivers behind these choices. Based on the case, five broad types of industry players can be identified: ethical, generic, biotech, OTC and vaccine companies. Each requires very different strategic capabilities. Producers of branded prescription drugs require strong Ramp;D and global sales and marketing infrastructure. Generics companies focus on speed to market and manufacturing cost leadership. Biotech companies must create and defend intellectual property in specialised research fields, attract funding and make successful deals. Branded OTC drugs demand direct-to-consumer marketing capability. Many manufacturing companies operate in more than one of these sectors, and a strategic grouping can also be made on the basis of diversification versus focus. Highly diversified companies such as Johnsonamp;Johnson or Abbott also encompass completely different sectors such as consumer brands, medical devices or vetinerary products. Other leading companies are more narrowly diversified across conventional medicines, biologicals, vaccines and in some cases generics. The example of Pfizer illustrates the shift from a focus purely on conventional medicines to a wider strategy with the acquisition on Wyeth bringing a presence in biologics, vaccines and consumer health. A key driver here has been to reduce the reliance on a single blockbuster and establish a more stable, broad-based business.