Critically Evaluate the Reasons for the Rise in Position of Apple Essay

Critically Evaluate the Reasons for the Rise in Position of Apple Brandin the Best Global Brands in 2011 - Essay Example Though others consider it to be time consuming and sometimes frustrating, strategic planning has been found to lead to quality decision making if applied effectively (Westphal & Frederickson, 2001, p.1113). This essay tries to find the possible determinants of the positional rise to 8th position of the apple brand in the global brands. Moreover, the rise in position has been linked closely to effective strategic planning hence, some of the tools used in strategic planning have been analyzed and justification for the choice of each tool given. Introduction According to Tapinos, Dyson & Meadows (2005, p.370) recently the topic of strategic planning has drawn a lot of discussions focusing on its effective implementation and the possible outcomes. The subject has attracted both empirical and theoretical exploration as entrepreneurs try to seek more information regarding it. Effective planning has been associated to improved performance, successful implementation and good decision making. Organizations are facing difficult times due to new technologies, market and economic changes globalization and deregulation. Consequently, all these activities call for the application of proper business techniques and the adoption of appropriate planning tools. Although some people may argue that strategic planning has its own ineffectiveness, the advantages that come along with it are overwhelming (Falshaw, Glaister & Tatoglu, 2006, p.9). Strategic planning allows an organization to understand itself by analyzing its vision and objectives in detail. If it is appropriately implemented, it will enable an organization to realize its full potential. Some of the tools employed in planning strategically are discussed below. Tools for Strategic Planning The SWOT analysis tool is the most commonly employed tool to help an organization determine its possible position within the industry of its operation. SWOT refers to the analysis of an organization’s strengths, its weaknesses, a vailable opportunities and finally threats that are facing it (Lyles, Baird, Orris & Kuratko, 2000, p.38). First is to determine the internal position of an organization by assessing its strengths and possible weaknesses. Strengths refer to the most effective skills that are employed by an organization in the attainment of its vision. Some of such skills include employees of high expertise and advanced technology. On the other hand weaknesses are those things that hinder a firm from attaining its full potential such as functional areas’ conflicts and production costs which are very high (Meers & Robertson, 2007, p.303). Brews & Purohit (2007, p.68) asserts that having analyzed its internal position, an organization needs to understand its external position by analyzing the available opportunities and its external threats. Opportunities refer to the currently available or possible future circumstances that are likely to provide a favorable environment for the firm’s gro wth. They include conditions such as completion decrease, market population increase and favorable legislation. On the other hand, threats refer to the currently available or future environmental conditions which are likely to provide unfavorable environment for a firm’s growth such as, unfavorable legislation and new product-development by competitors. An effective SWOT analysis provides an organization with a clear picture of its

Religion and International Relation - West and Islam Research Paper

Religion and International Relation - West and Islam - Research Paper Example This approach made the Muslim world hate the West to an extent that they disregarded all the successful ways of government of the West also and refused to modernize as they saw modernization as copying the West. This hatred became strong because of the continuous attack of the West for their interests. Be it Iran, Iraq, Palestine or Afghanistan; the decisions of the West were always seen as undemocratic and hostile. West always chose to meet their personal interests and not considering the interest of the people of the country it attacked. This selfish approach of the West made the Muslim world hate the West and these anti-West sentiments developed into religious extremism and made the non-state actors in these Muslim countries to spoil the image of Islam in the global world. The West should understand that it is largely responsible for this treatment of the people in the Muslim world; therefore, it should try to sincerely make efforts to help the Muslim countries develop and regain their past glory. TABLE OF CONTENTS ISLAM AND THE WEST – AN INTRODUCTION 3 ISLAM AND WEST- AN IDEOLOGICAL CLASH 5 INCIDENTS THAT EXACERBATED THE CONFLICT 5 The 9/11 attacks 5 The Arab spring 7 Post Arab Spring, West and the US 8 Palestine-Israel Issue 8 RELIGION AND POLITICS – A BACKGROUND 10 MARX AND FREUD ON RELIGION 11 ISLAM AND CHRISTINIATY – SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES 13 ROOT OF THE CLASH 14 HOW TO RESOLVE THIS CLASH? 17 FORMING A MODERN SOCIETY – A CONCLUSION 18 ISLAM AND THE WEST – AN INTRODUCTION Islam and the West are different entities in many ways, but because of the globalization in the world; we see that there is an increasing interaction between these two entities, which becomes a reason for conflict in many situations. Islam, being one of the oldest religions in the world, and being the second most followed religion in the world after Christianity is seen as a threat to the West. There are many things similar between Christianity a nd Islam including monotheism; however, there is a clear ideological clash between the two due to their very believes and ideas. Islam believes in oneness of God, finality of the prophet-hood and the Qur’an. Muslims can be categorized as very religious and not very religious and they belong to every part of the world, and belong to varying ethnic backgrounds and social classes. They believe in traditions and family and try to keep themselves as aloof from the worldly pleasures as possible. They are proud of their rich culture and their glorious past and want that past to come back. On the other hand, West means the Europe, North America and Australia which is predominantly Christian. The term is more of a geographical classification based on their concept of valuing modernization and technology. They highly regard material pleasures and are secular in their attitudes and beliefs. There is a clear difference in the belief system of the two entities; however, it will be wrong t o say that they are completely two different entities. These days, the Muslim minority of the West is increasing which is making the West to make effort to integrate this minority. These Muslims living in the West are Muslims belonging to different parts of the world, sharing different backgrounds but united because of the concept of monotheism, prophet hood and the holy Qur’an. These Muslims are increasingly taking part in every field of life in the West and are playing an important role in the economic development of the West. Similarly, there are many people living in the Muslim countries that belong to the West and