fidel castro Essay -- essays research papers

The United States of America is a nation that puts stock in majority rules system and has ominous binds with socialist nations. The United States has pursued for decades to improve relations with the nations that don’t practice popular government. History shows contradictions between the United States and tyrants of these disrespectful nations, differences that carried the world to the verge of atomic war. The latest of these encounters included three nations. US of America, Cuba and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR). Fidel Castro is a Cuban progressive, who assumed responsibility for Cuba in 1959 also, settled a Communist tyranny. Castro, who was conceived in Mayari, became the pioneer of an underground, against government group. In 1956, he drove a defiance that won expanding famous help. In the long run Castro constrained Batista y Zaldivar, who was the chief of Cuba to escape the nation. Once in power Castro executed and detained a great many political adversaries, nationalized industry, collectivized horticulture, and set up a one-party communist state. In the mid 1960’s Castro straightforwardly grasped Communism and framed close attaches with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR), depending on Soviet monetary and military guide affirming constrained financial changes that legitimized a few free undertaking. In Cuba, an expected $1 billion in U.S.- claimed properties were seized in 1960. The Castro government held onto petroleum processing plants, sugar factories, and electric utilities claimed by th...

Preparing for the BMAT (biomedical admissions test) Essay

The biomedical confirmations test was made to help clinical and veterinary schools in the affirmations procedure. A portion of the colleges have considerably more applications than places and most of these applications are solid. The BMAT permits the colleges to sift through the most grounded up-and-comers dependent on test execution. The BMAT test goes on for 2 hours and is part into 3 segments. The assessment test date is 31st October 2008. This article will mean to give you some exhortation and give a diagram to understudies who are anticipating taking the BMAT test. †¢ fitness and abilities (60 minutes) †¢ logical information and application (30 minutes) †¢ composing task (30 minutes) The colleges which at present expect you to take the BMAT are: †¢ The college of Cambridge †¢ The college of Oxford †¢ Imperial school London †¢ The imperial veterinary school †¢ University of focal London Inclination and Skills This area expects to investigate your critical thinking aptitudes, your capacity to comprehend and decipher information and your explanatory abilities. It is different decision for the most. This is the fundamental explanation with respect to why you should figure cleverly, investigate the given information and speculate. Practice is key in this segment. For the critical thinking component of this area take a gander at all the given information cautiously. Here are a few strategies to support you. †¢ Divide and vanquish procedure: Break down any huge lumps of information into littler pieces, making the littler issues which are simpler to tackle and afterward once you have fathomed them assembled the information back and structure an answer. †¢ Trial and mistake: Use various ways to deal with arrive at a last resolution and answer. †¢ Working in reverse: start with one of the potential answers and work in reverse from it. †¢ Incubation: This is a final retreat strategy which only occasionally works. Put the entirety of the beginning subtleties identifying with an issue in your brain picture them and afterward quit concentrating on them and continue with the assessment (speculate). Your inner mind psyche may think of an answer during the remainder of the assessment The comprehension and deciphering subset includes utilizing the data before you, don't make suspicions except if it is fitting to the inquiry. Break down all information given cautiously not forgetting about anything. The information examination subset includes extricating certain calls attention to of the information and utilizing these to make reasonable ends, to offer the response. Contingent upon the beginning information you are given this could incorporate utilizing factual strategies, deciphering charts, bend fitting or in any event, killing undesirable data and organizing said information. Logical information and application This segment endeavors to cause understudies to use their logical information to assist them with addressing questions. Again this segment is different decision, so make educated thinks about when there is a need utilizing the information given. This area additionally requires practice and correction of logical standards so as to score good grades, so we prompt you do some amendment covering the fundamentals of science, science and material science. Composing task The composing task is requesting that you make a paper from a given inquiry. Here are some broad pointers to assist you with accomplishing an incredible score. †¢ Read: Read articles, papers, diaries and book. This will assist you with gaining a comprehension of how to advance consistent idea and will likewise help improve your English composing aptitudes †¢ Partake in bunch conversations/banter discussions: By doing this you will build up the aptitudes that permit you to examine certain circumstances and explanations, notwithstanding building up the capacity to create a reasonable contention taking a gander at the two sides of the circumstance and can assist you with delivering great end. †¢ Good structure: Ensure you have a presentation, Main body and end. By having an allocated exposition structure your thoughts will stream all the more uninhibitedly and will follow an intelligent request that makes it simpler for the peruser to comprehend. †¢ Snappy end and presentation: the presentation and end can be the areas of your paper that offer it to the peruser. Since these are the first and last things they read thus will stay in their brain the longest. An amazingly decent end will stick in the perusers head and perhaps it may assist you with boosting your imprint. End One key viewpoint for correction with respect to the UKCAT is to sit some false BMAT assessments; this will permit you to figure out the apportioned schedule vacancy for the test and along these lines guarantee that you can complete all the inquiries. Some last broad pointers I might want to include are 1. Don’t burn through an excess of time on one inquiry. 2. Create a short arrangement for your composing task, simply calling attention to what you are going to cover and in what request. 3. Ensure you get a lot of rest before the test. 4. In the event that you have time accessible toward the finish of the test use it to look at over your answers.

4) WEBINAR The Fight Against Fake News How to Teach Your Students to be Super Sleuths

(5/4) WEBINAR The Fight Against Fake News How to Teach Your Students to be Super Sleuths (0) When: Thursday, May 4, 2017 at 4:15 pm EDT.   Cant make it? If you register, you will receive a recording of the webinar that you can watch at your leisure. What Well Cover: Information is everywhere and unfortunately, it’s not all trustworthy. As educators, we should make it a priority to teach our students how to determine whether information is fake or not, especially if we strive for them to be lifelong learners. Join Michele Kirschenbaum, In-House Librarian at EasyBib, a Chegg service, as she provides a run-down of different online text features to point out and teach to students, as well as resources and lesson ideas to help promote the fight against fake news. Co-sponsors Mackin and EasyBib, a Chegg service, will also give a short peeks of their citation integration  at the end of the webinar.     About the Presenter: Michele Kirschenbaum is the In-house Librarian at EasyBib, a Chegg service and a school librarian for the New York City Department of Education. She obtained her MLIS from Drexel University and serves as an executive board member on the New York City School Library Association. When she’s not being a rock star in her library, Michele enjoys cheering for the New York Mets and catching live music around New York City. You can find her here on Twitter. Register for the Webinar Below: hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: '222136', formId: 'd3224dc7-dcf0-4fa4-8ccb-927dd078bc33' }); © 2001-2017 EasyBib ® a Chegg ® service. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Terms of Use

4) WEBINAR The Fight Against Fake News How to Teach Your Students to be Super Sleuths

(5/4) WEBINAR The Fight Against Fake News How to Teach Your Students to be Super Sleuths (0) When: Thursday, May 4, 2017 at 4:15 pm EDT.   Cant make it? If you register, you will receive a recording of the webinar that you can watch at your leisure. What Well Cover: Information is everywhere and unfortunately, it’s not all trustworthy. As educators, we should make it a priority to teach our students how to determine whether information is fake or not, especially if we strive for them to be lifelong learners. Join Michele Kirschenbaum, In-House Librarian at EasyBib, a Chegg service, as she provides a run-down of different online text features to point out and teach to students, as well as resources and lesson ideas to help promote the fight against fake news. Co-sponsors Mackin and EasyBib, a Chegg service, will also give a short peeks of their citation integration  at the end of the webinar.     About the Presenter: Michele Kirschenbaum is the In-house Librarian at EasyBib, a Chegg service and a school librarian for the New York City Department of Education. She obtained her MLIS from Drexel University and serves as an executive board member on the New York City School Library Association. When she’s not being a rock star in her library, Michele enjoys cheering for the New York Mets and catching live music around New York City. You can find her here on Twitter. Register for the Webinar Below: hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: '222136', formId: 'd3224dc7-dcf0-4fa4-8ccb-927dd078bc33' }); © 2001-2017 EasyBib ® a Chegg ® service. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Terms of Use

Essay on Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twains classic novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, tells the story of a teenaged misfit who finds himself floating on a raft down the Mississippi River with an escaping slave, Jim. In the course of their perilous journey, Huck and Jim meet adventure, danger, and a cast of characters who are sometimes menacing and often hilarious. A hackneyed expression states that one should never discuss†¦show more content†¦This innocence allows Twain to satirize religious sentimentality and superficiality with abandon. Miss Watson and Widow Douglas, Hucks unofficial guardians who try to sivilize him, teach Huck the concept of Christianity. The women emphasis prayer and Providence. Huck recalls, She told me to pray every day, and whatever I asked for I would get it (10). The literal minded young boy believes that he would receive anything he desires if he prays for it. This is made apparent when Huck states, I tried for the hooks three or four times, but somehow I couldnt make it work (11). Further attempts by the two women to explain prayer only leads to more confusion, making Twains point that religious practices, in this case prayer, do not always make sense. To further this point, Twain includes Hucks confusion over Providence. Each of the women explains the concept of Providence differently, actually contradic ting one another. Huck explains what he is taught by saying, I judged I could see that there was two Providences. Thus, Twain criticizes religious philosophy by creating a scenario whereby the two women, and subsequently Huck, have two juxtapose interpretations of a religious concept. Twain conveys his message of how ridiculous it is for two or more people to have different interpretations of the same religious concept and still claim to practice the sameShow MoreRelatedMark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay1103 Words   |  5 Pages Published in 1885, Mark Twain’s American classic, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, captured the both the hearts and hatred of its audience. While some view it as a masterpiece that successfully blended the American condition in a captivating and interesting manner, others observe it to be nothing more than racist trash. The latter is a shallow misunderstanding of the novel’s purpose and potential enlightening impa ct on its readers. From a more appreciative and open-minded perspective, one wouldRead More The Outcast in Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn641 Words   |  3 PagesOutcast in Huckleberry Finn nbsp; One of the themes that has been addressed by writers since the beginning of civilization is the issue of the split between living in society and living by oneself. We see this in that peculiarly American genre of books known as road books, in which the protagonist embarks upon a long journey or period of time away from society in order to find themselves. One of the quintessential examples of this type of book is Mark Twains novel The Adventures of HuckleberryRead MoreMark TwainS The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn Is More1915 Words   |  8 PagesMark Twain s the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is more than just a condemnation of pre-civil war society and its justification of slavery. Twain also uses the novel to challenge the validity of superstition. The main characters, Huckleberry and Jim, are mere marionettes for Twain to express his censure through; he mocks them with their own fears and distortion of superstition. Twain’s representation of superstition throughout the bo ok is indicative of his own thoughts towards the subject. TheRead More The Immature Huck Finn in Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn1723 Words   |  7 PagesThe Immature Huckleberry Finn      Ã‚  Ã‚   Maturity is not a fickle expression such as happiness or frustration, but rather an inherent quality one gains over time, such as courage or integrity. Before maturity can be expressed, the one who expresses it must have significant confidence in himself, since self-confidence is the root of maturity. Being flexible and formulating ones own opinions or ideas are aspects of maturity, but neither is possible without self-confidence. The greatest aspect ofRead More The Importance of Friendship in Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn829 Words   |  4 PagesThe Importance of Friendship in Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Aristotle was once asked what he thought friendship was. His response was, One soul inhabiting two bodies. This was the kind of relationship that Huckleberry Finn and Jim shared in Mark Twains epic novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. This novel is a tool that Mark Twain, whose real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemmons, was using to impress the great benefits of friendship upon society. However, others feelRead MoreThe Controversy Over Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn610 Words   |  3 PagesThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is a controversial book that has raised heated debates across America for the past century. It was ranked fifth most challenging books out of one hundred in the 1990s (Chadwick 2). Although this book is a hot topic, it should remain on shelves, and still be taught in schools. While Huck Finn seems to be only a book of satire, most want this book banned because it is seen as highly racial. â€Å"The reading of Huck Finn is humiliating to back studentsRead More The Final Episode of Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn3016 Words   |  13 PagesThe Great Importance of the Final Episode of Huckleberry Finn      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the things many critics of Huckleberry Finn   just cant seem to understand is the final episode of the novel where Tom returns and sidetracks Huck from his rescue of Jim through a long series of silly, boyish plans based on ideas Tom has picked up from Romantic novels, such as those of Walter Scott.   Critic Stephen Railton dismisses these final chapters as just another version of their RoyalRead More The Public Reception of Mark Twains Adventures of Huckleberry Finn963 Words   |  4 PagesReception of Mark Twains Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Upon its publication in 1884, Mark Twains Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was met with mixed reviews. Some reviewers called it flat, trashy, and irreverent. Others called it Twains best work yet, hailing his humor and style throughout the novel. Though obscure at first, reviews began to appear in many newspapers throughout the country as more and more became interested in the novel as a result of these reviews. Huckleberry Finn was publishedRead More Escaping Reality in Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn1306 Words   |  6 PagesRunning From Reality in Huckleberry Finn        Ã‚  Ã‚   In Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a main target of satire is the romantic view of life. Though the characters and symbols, it is evident that the idyllic views are being disparaged. Some of the people in this book are simply deluded, while others cause major tribulations during their lives. Literary romanticism can be pleasant, but it is not real and can confuse those not sage enough to distinguish the difference between a writersRead More Prejudice and Racism in Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn1062 Words   |  5 PagesPrejudice and Racism in Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn    Despite all the criticism, of racism and other questionable material for young readers, Mark Twain’s The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn is a superbly written novel, which in the opinion of this reviewer should not be remove the literary cannon. Twain’s novel is a coming of age story that teaches young people many valuable lessons and to some extend makes students reexamine their own lives and morals. The most common argument

Monsanto Case Analysis Management Course Work

The case provides some background information about Monsanto which is the world’s largest seed company with annual sales of $11.7 billion. The case tackles the general environment of the company which includes the technological, global, and political legal dimensions. Â  The task environment, comprising of the customers and customers is also addressed as well as the means the company is using to balance the needs of the stakeholders and the environment. The company faces big challenges in developing and introducing GM seeds; these concerns center on the potential harmful effects of the GM seeds on the environment and the health concern of consumers. However these are disputed by research studies, thus reinforcing the case for their adoption. Next, the case deals with ethical issues, which include bribery claims in Indonesia and patent rights violation by farmers. Finally, it focuses on the future of Monsanto. The company has a bright potential to thrive as it is still focused on technological innovations. Nature of organizational environment The external environment of an organization comprises of two components:Â   the general environment and the task environment. The general environment consists of non specific dimensions and forces in the surroundings that might impact its operations. Social cultural, political-legal, international and technological dimensions make up the general environment. On the other hand, task environment consists of specific groups that are likely to influence the organization. These include competitors, customers, suppliers and regulatory agencies (Beauchamp, 2008). Monsanto’s general environment The technological dimension Monsanto has consistently invested in breakthrough technologies in biotechnology. Weeds have been a nuisance to farmers and herbicides that were supposed to kill weed were mostly costly and time consuming. However, Monsanto came up with seeds implanted with herbicide Round Ready, which is able to kill weeds and spare the crops. In order to keep abreast with the needs of farmers, Monsanto continues to invest heavily in research and development. According to the case, the company spends about $ 1 billion annually and uses technology to woo the support of the stakeholders. For example the company has a laboratory that offers the farmers educational tours. Farmers are shown cutting edge technologies, which offers high yield. In this manner the company is able to retain as well as gain potential clients. Through this way, the company is able to stay ahead of competition (Sawayda, n.d) Political- legal dimension Companies have to operate under the watchful eye of the government and legal forces, (Beauchamp, 2008), and Monsanto is no exception. Monsanto is currently under the attention of the American Antitrust institute for alleged anticompetitive practices reported by the competitors. The task environment As discussed above, a company’s task environment consists of competitors, customers, suppliers and regulatory agencies. These have had a love- hate relationship with Monsanto according to the case. The company received much criticism after the introduction of GM seeds and its products. However, the CEO of Monsanto decided to minimize criticism by focusing biotechnology on products that would be used in the production of animal feeds and corn syrup. Farmers are the main stakeholders of the company, and those who purchase GM seeds are able to grow more crops on less land. Monsanto prides itself by indicating that their insect protected corn has raised income in Philippines. However, this claim is disputed by critics. On the other hand, its attempt to introduce their products in Europe has been thwarted by consumers. In addition, Green Peace, which is a secondary stake holder, has been on forefront of fighting Monsanto especially the attempt to promote the GM crops in developing countries. Of specific concerns are: the safety of the GM foods and concerns about environmental effects (Sawayda, n.d) As highlighted above, some of the Monsanto’s stakeholders are the farmers and the Green Peace who have raised concerns about GM food products and the effects on the environment. Specifically, their concerns are based on moral and safety issues. The skeptics argue that biotechnology crops are unnatural with the company controlling everything that goes into the seeds. Critics argue that, since the GM crops are new, their health implications may not be known for years. In addition, the issue of toxicity has been raised, as many Monsanto seeds have genes that allow them to produce their own Roundup Ready herbicide. Nevertheless, one of the components in dispute, glyphosate has been listed by EPA as having low skin and oral toxicity. Other studies have shown that Roundup has no health risks for humans.FDA has come also on the defense of GM food, arguing that GM food is safe to eat. As a result of this, tight restrictions on label have been initiated for rBST milk (Sawayda, n.d) Steps taken to establish an ethical culture Apart from organizational and health issues, Monsanto has to deal with its conduct. Pressure for performance in many organizations force employees to commit unethical conduct and Monsanto has not been without exception. Bribery claim and patent issues have led to ethical and reputational consequences. An ethical culture should be of great priority to the management and the challenge for many organizations is trying to understand how to build one. Monsanto was fined a big chunk of money after some of the managers were reportedly engaging in bribery in Indonesia. After conducting investigations, the company unearthed and reported the bribery to the authorities. In addition to paying fines to the OOJ and SEe, Monsanto agreed to be closely monitored by the authorities. This shows that the company is willing to accept and correct its own mistakes. On the issue of patent rights, Monsanto uses investigators from law firms to investigate suspected violation. A farmer, who is found violating the patent, is fined or taken to court. Establishing an ethical culture As highlighted above, an ethical culture should be a top priority for every business, large or small. Therefore every organization should try to understand what it takes to build one. As a chief executive of a big company like Monsanto, I would take the following steps to establish an ethical culture. Establish an enforceable code of conduct A code of ethics is the foundation of any sustainable ethics program. It should not be based on past mistakes but rather a proactive effort (Malcolm, 2001). Establish an initial and ongoing training The purpose of training is to let employees know what is expected of them. In addition, training helps employees to know that a strong ethical culture protects the reputation of the company and enhances profitability. Maintaining regular communications The aim of regular communication would be to ensure ethics are live. Ongoing conversation or communication makes workers aware and more willing to defend the policies of the company whenever they see problems (Beauchamp, 2008). Establish an anonymous reporting hotline This provides employees with a confidential method of reporting unethical conduct. It is a well known tool in helping to enforce codes of conduct and establishing an ethical culture. Enforcement / action plans A code of conduct has to be enforced and therefore action is necessary when problems arise. Although about 40% of employees have been found unwilling to report unethical behavior, the rate of misconduct can be reduced significantly if by companies with strong reporting and ethical cultures. Rewarding the employees that follow the code diligently Finally rewarding employees that behave well and live the code of conduct is important in establishing an ethical culture. By recognizing and rewarding good behavior, a company can be able to provide a big incentive for the employees to be an integral part of helping to enforce a code of conduct and establish an ethical culture (Malcolm, 2001). References Beauchamp, Tom. (2008). Ethical Theory and Business: International Edition. New York Prentice-Hall.. Malcolm Evans. (2001). Six Steps to Establishing an Ethical Culture. Retrieved 26th September 2010 from http://knol.google.com/k/six-steps-to-creating-an-ethical-culture Sawayda, Jeniffer (n.d) Principles of Management: Monsanto Balances Environmental Ethical Factors.

SWOT and Porter Five Forces Analysis of Royal Dutch Shell Free Essays

Abstract Royal Dutch Shell Plc is the second largest oil company with global operations in more than 80 countries and more than 30 refinery plants. The company has a registered office in London, United Kingdom and headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands and was ranked number one with a market capitalization of 135,511.7million US Dollars as at the close of 11th Tuesday, 2012. We will write a custom essay sample on SWOT and Porter Five Forces Analysis of Royal Dutch Shell or any similar topic only for you Order Now The company’s major strength includes a global presence with globally recognized brands, growing financial strength, significant manufacturing and technological capabilities and diversified portfolio of products. The global operations of the company are associated with difficulties of standardising quality due to varied operational conditions. Furthermore, the company is faced with stiff competition from the leading suppliers in the industry including Exxon Mobil Corporation, Total S.A. and BP Plc. However, the company can use differentiation strategy capitalizing on its globally recognized brands to establish a competitive edge over the competitors. In addition, the company can expand its global presence through striking strategic partnerships with local small companies in foreign markets to enhance penetration in the markets. Introduction Royal Dutch Shell plc commonly known as Shell is an independent company with its registered office located in LondonUK and headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands operating in the oil and gas industry globally (Reuters, 2012). The operations of the company are divided into three main segments including; Downstream, Upstream and Projects and Technology. The Upstream segment combines activities involved in the search for and recovery, liquefaction and transportation of oils and natural gas and wind energy. The Downstream segment is engaged in the activities of manufacturing, distributing and marketing of chemicals and oil products. Finally, the Projects and Technology segment includes all the critical support functions of the company’s core business in the Upstream and Downstream segments (Shell Plc, 2012). In 2011, the company had revenues of 470,171million US Dollars and based on these revenues, the company is ranked as the second largest company worldwide (Bloomberg, 2012). A s at the close of business on Tuesday 11th December 2012, the company was ranked as number one on the FTSE100 Index with a market capitalization of 135,511.7million US Dollars (Stock Challenge, 2012). Shell SWOT Analysis The company has a number of strengths. Firstly, Royal Dutch Shell Plc is a leading company globally in the Oil and Gas industry with global presence in many countries. Consequently, the company derives its strength in this global image in the industry. Secondly, the company has recorded growing financial performance since the 2008/2009 economic downturn. It therefore has a strong capital base for competing in the competitive industry. Thirdly, the company has established strong brands recognized globally like Shell V-Power and the Shell FuelSave. Finally, the company has strong exploration and technological capability as an internal strength coupled with a diversified portfolio of products in the upstream and downstream segments of the company (Shell Plc, 2012). The size and scale of the global operations of company may be a weakness due to the difficulties of the company to control quality and standards of its products since the operational conditions of different refinery sites differ. This also impacts negatively on the administrative efficiency and effectiveness of the company’s management. Exposure to different regulatory regimes through the global presence of the company presents difficulties in formulating uniform policies applicable to the global operations of the company (Shell Plc, 2012). There is increasing awareness and concern for environmental sanity where reduced carbon emission is a necessary consideration for most oil-related products. Consequently, there is increasing demand for liquefied natural gas as a source of clean energy. This is likely to increase the company’s revenues from liquefied natural gas. There are also opportunities for the company to expand to the emerging economies like China through joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions like acquisition of Neste Oil Oyj in Poland (Reuters, 2012b). The economic slowdown in the US and European Union due to the debt crises involving member countries presents a threat to the company’s profitability. Terrorism activities threaten the company’s global functions by increasing related business operational expenses. Increasing strict environmental regulations is also a threat to the current and future operations of the company which will require more efficient and environment friendly exploration and manufacturing technologies. Fluctuating interest rates and the war in the Middle East countries is also a threat to the company due to its global operations. Porter’s Five Forces Analysis of Shell Porter (2008, p.80) identifies five forces that can be used to analyse the competitiveness of a company’s industry of operation. The forces include the threat of new entrants, threat of substitutes, bargaining power of suppliers and buyers and rivalry among existing competitors. Royal Dutch Shell Plc has established large scale operations in more than 80countries enjoying economies of scale, global image with established strong brands which makes it hard for new entrants. Therefore the threat of new entrants is low due to the high capital requirements to set up operations. Threats of substitutes are high for the company. This is because oil-related products, chemicals and natural gas produced by different companies are highly substitutable. Major competitor products can be used as substitutes for the company’s products. Therefore, the threat of substitutes for the company is high. Royal Dutch Shell Plc has embraced a vertical integration growth strategy which involves acquiring and merging with companies at different levels of operation and therefore it has significant influence on its supply chain. Furthermore, the company has enhanced its technological capacity through the projects and technology segment of its business (Reuters, 2012). Therefore, the bargaining power of suppliers is low. Oil and gas are essential products in any economy. Economic production processes in an economy make use of oil. This explains why in some developing countries oil supply is under state agencies. Furthermore, the oil industry is characterized by companies coming together to form cartels that would enable them control the market (Bloomberg, 2012). Furthermore, most of the buyers of oil products buy in bulk and therefore loss of one buyer would significantly affect the company’s revenue. Consequently, the bargaining power of buyers is medium. The major competitors of the company include Exxon Mobil Corporation, Total S.A. and BP Plc which have also established global presence in the oil and gas industry (Hoovers, 2012). Rivalry with these companies is high due to branding and differentiation strategies applied by the companies in their operations globally. The companies have established brands recognized globally and major clientele which makes rivalry in the industry high. Conclusion Royal Dutch Shell Plc has established strong brands recognized globally enhancing its image in the global market. Despite the complexities and risks that are associated with the global operations of the company, there are opportunities for the company to expand and grow its operations in the emerging markets. The company can use a differentiation strategy to position its products globally as superior using its brand names. To deal with the risks of globalized operations, it is advisable that the company use strategic partnerships with the local operators in the new markets to enhance its penetration in the markets. Furthermore, the company can establish its competitive advantage increasing its control over the supply chain through more vertical integration mergers and acquisitions. Lastly, to increase efficiency of the company’s operations, there is need for re-engineering of the production process and adoption of new efficiency technologies. References Bloomberg, (2012) Royal Dutch Shell Plc Financial Statements, available at http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/financials/financials.asp?ticker=RDSA:LN accessed on 14th December, 2012. Hoovers, (2012) Top Competitors for Royal Dutch Shell Plc, available at http://www.hoovers.com/company-information/cs/competition.Royal_Dutch_Shell_plc.01e84f5552dabef3.html accessed on 14th December, 2012. Porter M. E. (2008) The Five Forces that Shape Strategy, Harvard Business Review, pp.79-94. Reuters, (2012) Royal Dutch Shell PLC: Company Overview, available at http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=RDSa.L accessed on 14th December, 2012. Reuters, (2012b) Royal Dutch Shell PLC: Latest Key Developments, available at http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/RDSa.L/key-developments accessed on 14th December, 2012. Shell Plc, (2012) Our Business: Shell is Organised into: Upstream, Downstream and Projects and Technology, available at http://www.shell.com/home/content/aboutshell/our_business/ accessed on 14th December, 2012. Stock Challenge, (2012) FTSE All-Share Index Ranking as at Close on Tuesday, 11th December 2012, available at http://www.stockchallenge.co.uk/ftse.php accessed on 12th December, 2012. How to cite SWOT and Porter Five Forces Analysis of Royal Dutch Shell, Essay examples