Religious Ethic Essay Example for Free

Strict Ethic Essay Talk about the view that lone a strict ethic can give an adequate premise to clinical morals. Clinical morals concerns numerous zones of moral discussion. Counting such dubious issues, for example, willful extermination, fetus removal and human cloning, clinical morals starts energetic discussions. The issue of fetus removal is an exceptionally pertinent and questionable issue. There are resistance and supporters from both a strict moral foundation and a non-strict moral foundation. The individuals who originate from a Christian moral foundation will in general have a comparative contention, that of the sacredness of life. Roman Catholics contradict premature birth utilizing the Christian moral hypothesis of Natural Law. Fetus removal would be conflicting with normal law as it meddles with Gods will. Fetus removal is directly in no conditions, as it were it is inherently underhanded, as it includes the homicide of a guiltless life. Protestants do, on a basic level, contradict premature birth on the ground that murder isn't right, as expressed in the holy book; Thou shalt not execute (Exodus) and as fetus removal is in actuality murder, premature birth should subsequently likewise not be right. Nonetheless, some progressively liberal protestants permit premature birth in specific conditions, for example, before the sensory system has created (before the baby can feel) if the moms life or wellbeing is undermined or if the pregnancy is from an outstanding circumstance, for example, the aftereffect of assault. There is by all accounts no explanation in any case, with regards to why these two outlooks couldn't be from a non-strict ethic. The energy about existence isn't something that is restrictive to religion, and in this way the view that premature birth is murder could remain with any individual who accepts that the hatchling is an individual, and this need not be a strict point of view. Similarly the Liberal protestant view could again apply to any individual who accepts that murder isn't right, yet as conditions contrast, the things to be considered likewise vary. This is a relativist situationist point of view yet again doesn't need to be strict. Truth be told numerous non-strict individuals do will in general be situationists as they judge choices on their outcomes and not on the activity itself, as no activity is viewed as inherently off-base, as it isn't regarded by any higher being or book, all things considered in religion. These contentions likewise apply corresponding to willful extermination. Roman Catholics see murder as off-base and as killing is basically murder, it should likewise not be right. It would likewise be considered as conflicting with Natural Law as it meddles with Gods will, similarly as fetus removal does. Protestants would guarantee that the holy book denounces willful extermination as it is murder, yet come progressively liberal Protestants again guarantee that all variables ought to be considered so as to settle on a choice comparative with that people singular circumstance. Numerous individuals would contend anyway that without a strict ethic there are no reasonable guidelines and limits. Deontological moral hypotheses, that are absolutist speculations that apply in all circumstances, give these limits as the appropriate response will consistently be the equivalent. However not all strict moral hypotheses are deontological, for example, Fletchers Situation morals, which is teleological. This implies strict morals don't generally give an obvious answer, similarly as non-strict morals may not. Numerous strict fundamentalists would contend that agnostics, for instance, can't have a comparative energy about existence as they do. Agnostics don't have faith in God, and some would contend that as they don't have confidence in anything, they can't have a similar energy about existence. However apparently without a confidence in anything strict, life turns out to be considerably increasingly valuable. Without the guarantee of a the hereafter, which is given by Christianity, this current life turns out to be much progressively valuable and astonishing. As you just get one took shots at life from a nonbeliever point of view, the inclination to save it however much as could reasonably be expected, alongside do likewise for others would appear to be significantly more grounded. Without the reason that the individual/hatchling will go to Heaven, murder is by all accounts considerably progressively off-base, as it would remove the one life that that individual has been advertised. Taking everything into account I believe that a strict ethic is in no way, shape or form the main adequate reason for clinical morals. Albeit some Christian morals will give a steady response to each circumstance, an answer that will never show signs of change and consequently will have obvious limits, only one out of every odd individual on the planet will ever be of a similar religion, and hence it can't be all inclusive. Along these lines a non-strict ethic which everybody could concede to appears to be progressively adequate, for example, one that permits circumstances to be thought of, on the grounds that consequently a strict ethic could be utilized in specific conditions if the individuals included might want to do as such, as that happens to be their own circumstance; comparably on the off chance that somebody wouldn't like to apply a strict moral hypothesis, at that point they are not obliged to do as such, in light of the fact that again this alternative would apply to their circumstance. Along these lines situationist morals that are not founded on religion can be made widespread, permitting strict morals to be applied or not as per the desires of the individuals in question and this appears to me to be the main satisfactory reason for clinical morals, an ethic that will take into consideration everyones individual convictions.

Law in a changing society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Law in a changing society - Essay Example This can be advanced as a perfect answer for fathom lawful issues. Gatherings associated with the procedure, consequently, willingly volunteer to direct an intensive and definitive examination on which they will base their contention during the preliminary procedure. While, this has consistently been a perfect arrangement there are factors that ought to be thought of. The supposition made by the legitimate framework that all gatherings associated with a case have equivalent assets to complete examination may not generally be right (Parkinson 2009, p.46). The framework is, thusly, prone to bolt out fundamental proof by virtue of inadequate assets to give this proof. The framework further neglects to perceive parties that might be burdened by variables, for example, inability and race. The law administering private occupancies in Australia does exclude guests and tenants. This implies when confronted with a lawful test, they can just look for equity in the Supreme Court. At the Supreme Court, they should contend their case through the customary antagonistic procedure. The expense of documenting a case at present is $894. This considered, the procedure turns out to be unreasonably costly for an individual who needed to look for equity. In the course of the most recent 30 years, the Australian legitimate framework has looked to receive a portion of the parts of the inquisitorial framework. In the area of hostile to separation law, the Australian law currently gives that there ought to be an examination by an autonomous body. This should be possible before the questioning gatherings get united to illuminate their debates (Parkinson 2009, p.48). The law can be believed to have received a portion of the parts of the inquisitorial law in the western nations. At the state and domain level, the law gives that the dynamic body for charges of segregation ought to be a council. The council searches for proof that is applicable to the case. The court figures out how to go past the proof

Setting up a Finance Department

Setting up a Finance Department © Shutterstock.com | SFIO CRACHOSetting up a finance department is perhaps the most significant steps to starting an organization. In this article, we will look at 1) what exactly a finance department is, 2) the main objectives of this department, 3) the functions it carries out, 4) the elements comprising this department, 5) positions required to run this department, and lastly 6) the importance of knowing information technology when running the finances of an organization.WHAT IS A FINANCE DEPARTMENT?As the name suggests, a finance department is that imperative and highly significant component of a business which is responsible for managing and organizing the flow of cash and all things related to it. This department can be considered the sole and core crux of a company’s growth and development. How well a finance department functions shows how well the company performs. This department is responsible for all activities related to finance which include:Organizing financesManagin g themAuditing themControlling and distributing themPlanning themAnd accounting themMAIN OBJECTIVES OF A FINANCE DEPARTMENTThe main and perhaps the most significant objective of the finance department is to ensure the control and management of all finance related topics. In turn, the department ensures that those finance topics are delivered and utilized in such a manner that the highest aims of the organization are achieved (e.g. profit maximization).With a well-functioning and a smoothly running finance department, the company is given the opportunity to be able to make well-informed decisions. These decisions hold great significance and oftentimes have a direct impact on the growth of the company and the received profit. The finance department, therefore, is held responsible for being able to maintain records over a long period. This helps the managers and decision makers of the company to be able to see the impact of the finance on the company, and thus decide better for all fut ure prospects.This department aims at diligently keeping a track record of all financial transactions for future references. It also carries out audits with the help of professional auditors to ensure and calculate where from and how the company went into a loss or gained a profit.While a CEO is an individual who is responsible for running a company, there is a CFO role of a person who manages the finances of this company. For CEO and management of the company it is essential to know how well or how poorly the finances are being received. The reason for that is that all decisions for the better performance of any company are solely sprung from the finances. Therefore, the members of the finance department are desired to keep thorough and continuous communication with the managerial people. The track records kept over the years also help them for example to decide whether they want to continue working with a particular client or not.Thus, it is safe to say that any company or organiz ation cannot run or perform smoothly without a well-functioning finance department. The aims this department aspires towards are significantly essential to result in the expansion of the company.FUNCTIONS CARRIED OUT BY A FINANCE DEPARTMENTThe finance department has the very delicate responsibility of keeping the financial records under check so that when the time comes for example to make payments or assess records, everything is available in an updated form. If necessary, companies go into a debt or take a loan from a bank to make sure they get back on track. At times like these the manager or one sole individual does not take up the responsibility of tracing when the loan is taken and returned. Nor do independent partners of the business run these services themselves. This is the function of the financial department always to be aware of where payments need to be made and where payments need to come from and when. If the finance department does not carry its functions with regula rity then, a company can very easily be sued due to an unpaid debt and even go into an irrecoverable loss.Following are some of the key functions carried out by finance departments all over the world.The preparation and creation of all financial recordsThis involves the thorough preparation of ultimately creating concrete financial records based on where they are being sent and where the finances are being received from. They also keep bi-monthly to annual records of all the profitable investments and losses made by the company. Thus, they maintain the data in order to ensure that all future decisions are well-informed and based on previous profits.It is the responsibility of the finance to keep track of all departments using up the finances of the company. They also then in turn need to provide records that show where the money was spent and for what purpose.Prepare and plan internal financial informationEvery company needs a budget according to which they function. Without a budge t, a company cannot function wisely. This is another responsibility of the finance department; to provide the decision makers with a rough budget they can base their decisions off of.Analyze current financial performanceThe finance department is responsible for reviewing financial performance throughout the year and analyzing how fast funds are being spent, how quickly revenue is being generated, and anticipate financial trends for the year.Pay creditorsThe finance department needs to make sure creditors are kept track of and payments are made in time. They generally keep track of larger loans and investments that need regular monitoring, or make a larger impact on the business.Pay employees wages and salariesMost significantly, when it comes to the paychecks and the salaries to be given to the workers and the employees, it is this department’s job to do so.Therefore as it can be seen above, all delicate matters of finance, payments and salaries are the core functions of the finan ce department. They ensure a smooth flowing system at the back-end so the company can function seamlessly.SETTING UP A FINANCE DEPARTMENTThe development of a finance department involves a lot of research over a period of time. Here are the elements that need to be kept in mind.Financial ReportingThese are the reports on the basis of which the manager and other members of the finance department can track and anticipate the extent on which they are achieving their aims. It is with the formation of these reports that the organization is governed, monitored and to an extent controlled. These reports include the culmination of information and data in black and white from all sub departments; taxation, auditing, sale, purchase and others. These reports provide to the company a written proof of how well or how poorly they performed allowing them to improve their stance for the future.Accounting Records and Source DocumentationAs the name suggests, this involves the documentation of the pos ition of the finances in terms of how they are being used by the organization in sale and in purchase. The documentation of this progress allows the department to make well-informed decisions in the future.Internal ControlThe individuals at the managerial position in the finance department hold the responsibility to ensure that the system is under control. They manage and maintain the internal control of the system by keeping a check on the employees, the assistants and the accountants to ensure they perform their job well. By doing so they are able to implement policies when need be and carry out certain positions if they feel the job is not being done as it should. The sole purpose of ensuring that all members within the department perform their individual duties ultimately ensures a profitable future for the organization. Thus to maintain an internal control, the managerial members of the department sustain the environment of the work area. They make sure that the accounting syst em is updated at all times and has been reviewed. Lastly, they also take control of all managerial to minuscule procedures to ensure nothing goes out of hand.Cash ManagementAny running organization is always dealing with finances at various levels. This is why it is essential for them to secure the management of their cash flux allowing the guarantee that the company has a record of all the cash leaving and being received by them, to have definitive records of this cash flow and always remain aware of who they need to pay and who needs to pay them.HIERARCHY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENTThere is a team of several people that ultimately make up the financial department in every company. While setting one up, following are the members that must be appointed to ensure a smooth performance of the system.Financial directorThe responsibilities of the individual in this position are perhaps the most significant as this particular figure makes all the financial decisions. It is the financial directo r’s job to ensure that the performance of the company does not falter; the management and assessment of all finances, the approval and disapproval of budgeting and above all directing and assessing other members of the department is done flawlessly.Chartered accountantThis particular individual working as a chartered accountant holds the responsibility towards preparing tax statements for the smooth running of the company and its accounting system. By carefully scrutinizing the accounting records of the past, the accountant reviews current records as well. The Chartered Accountant must run audits by meeting with the clients in their own businesses to ensure and keep a check on the financial position of their organization. Some accountants work in the tax area of the finance department and some in the auditing; both with independent responsibilities ensuring there is no hindrance in the way of the company’s financial growth.Financial manager for accountThe basic responsibilities of a financial manager in the finance department are to manage and analyze the funds. This particular individual manages a record of all the funds and allows their flow in and out of the company. On the basis and assessment of this information the manager then creates a budget for the company to provide it with the closest most profitable strategic plan and direction. Thus, this particular individual possesses a great degree of responsibility not just in the department but in the company as a whole.Manager for financial servicesThe function of the manager of services is simple; to keep track of the law changes that may be announced in finance legislation. It is the job of the manager of services to ensure that what the company plans on doing is in coherence with what the law allows. In order to ensure nothing hinders this growth they keep harmonious relationships with all bankers, auditors and other organizations.AccountantThe purpose of an accountant is to perform several minuscule tasks such as analyzing and collecting the data later required by the manager. This individual is required to analyze the trends and the requirements of a company to review and produce budgets and accounts for a project in the near future. Thus they serve several financial tasks.Finance assistance for sale and purchaseThe finance assistant for sale is required to formulate a budget plan for the organization to keep a thorough record of all the sales made. This includes everything from paying the employees, financing adverts to promote the company and paying off debtors and all else. Their job is to ensure that all the money leaving the company is being recorded for a better sale in the next year. Similarly the job of a finance assistant for purchase is to keep an efficient record of all items that have been bought or purchased to ensure which profited the organization and which did not. These are the members that make up a smoothly functioning and well-performing finance department .IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN FINANCEThe running of a finance department always includes several records of significance and demands constant documentation of these records, all of which cannot be run without the help of a software. It simplifies the lengthy task of maintaining records, renewing them, updating them and then saving them. Hence the software being used holds a great significance in the smooth functioning of a company’s finance department. Here are some benefits of financial software.Automation: Everything is automated: a change made in one record is immediately updated in all other files.Reporting: It helps in reporting; it helps in the quick formation of reports following the formal business language.Function: It helps in functioning. Any data that ever needs to be transferred from one department to another can easily be done so by the click of a button. Transactions can be allowed or prohibited even when the bank itself is out of service so the organizat ion suffers no halt.Convenience: It allows quick and hassle free deposits and transactions alongside receipts for future records. Everything needed to know about all employees can be stored in one place and looked at whenever. All record can be updated without any time wastage.Budgeting and bookkeeping: It helps in budgeting. A system provides a quick review of all past budgets allowing it to be easier for them to formulate and anticipate budgets for the future.Therefore the significance of a finance department in an organization is colossal. Without a well-functioning and a smoothly running finance department, no organization can anticipate succeeding in the market. The ability to succeed and anticipate things before time are all instigated by the performance of this department, allowing the organization to make well-informed decisions and be able to control and maintain its overall performance.

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Sex, Gender, Racial Identity, And Stereotyping And...

Art has an interesting way of reinforcing itself through popular culture in western society. A culture that has a population mixed with many different racial identities, yet cultivates its pop culture through a ‘black and ‘white’ preface. The U.S is known to categorize diverse races into one; highlighting the inferiority other races face while living within our culture. Women have been idealized and compounded into western society as sex symbols and housewives. Women from other races non-white or Black are not only seen the same way, but are also included in the melting pot of diluted racial identities formatted from â€Å"whitening† groups. Racial identity hardly sways the expectations in Women that society sees as normal; rather it highlights the racial discrimination we reinforce in western culture that derives from improper stereotyping and labeling. Historically, women are subject to unbound methods of reinforcing gender roles. Today, their sexualit y is exploited so frequently in popular culture, that they have become a sex object, rather than a housewife. Tom Fords image of a naked female ironing men’s pants grasps the concept of both stereotypes, appealing to the young adults in the United States. Initially, this ad promotes the ideology of mans superiority over women. Understanding how ‘gender’ is really portrayed in western popular culture allows individuals to conceptualize the inferior attitude many ads display towards women. Through methods of observation,Show MoreRelatedEffects Of Stereotyping In Schools1122 Words   |  5 Pages Stereotyping in High Schools Stereotyping is alive and well in today’s society. â€Å"Stereotyping is a form of prejudice that forms damaging images of an individual, by classifying him or her according to a particular characteristic that is found among the group of people that the individual is associated with†(Malika). Everyone gets stereotyped no matter their gender, color, religion, political view, or how you act. Stereotyping is labeling someone because of who they are or what they do. StereotypingRead MoreThe Effects Of Prejudice On Children And Young People1502 Words   |  7 Pagesthe environment around them. We should be vigilant to ensure that children respect and embrace diversity. Children can experience prejudice and discrimination the same way as adults due to race, religion, age, sex, culture or ethnicity. Prejudice is often based on stereotypes or labeling others. Example boys may be labelled as being ‘noisy and girls ‘quiet’. Prejudice divides people into inferior and superior groups based on what one person thinks about another person or group. Some examples ofRead MorePortrayal Of African American Women1538 Words   |  7 Pagesreaffirm society s belief that African American women are less individualistic. Is it possible for black women to express sexuality while not conforming to stereotypes? In an attempt to redefine black sexuality, black female artists reclaim sexual identity as a representation of female desire as opposed to an objectification of male desire. For example, artists such as Zora Neale Hurston and Nicki Minaj have created recreated black female sexuality as self-possessed in order to counter negative imagesRead MoreEquality Diversity Unit 1 NCF27061 Words   |  29 Pagesthe following terms: Stereotyping Prejudice Labelling Protected characteristics Equal opportunity Positive action Discrimination Discrimination by association 1.3: Describe examples of equal opportunity in society 1.4: Describe examples of inequality within society 2. Understand what diversity is 2.1: Describe what is meant by ‘diversity’ 2.2: Identify diversity that exists within society looking at: Interests Beliefs Age Lifestyles Personal characteristics Cultural identities 2.3: Describe the contributionRead MoreNcfe Level 2 Certificate in Equality and Diversity Unit 1: Exploring Equality and Diversity5977 Words   |  24 Pagesthe same as anyone else, even within the categories above. 2. Describe the community you live in. Highlight some of the variations you may observe in terms of: †¢ Interests †¢ Beliefs †¢ Ages †¢ Lifestyles †¢ Personal, social and cultural identities †¢ Interests- we have a great park with cricket pitch, bowling green, tennis court, children playgrounds, skate park, football pitch, swimming baths and basketball court within 10-20 minutes’ walk. Shopping centre, Library, Theatre, movie theatreRead MoreSocial Identity6572 Words   |  27 PagesSocial Identity From Encyclopedia of Women and Gender: Sex Similarities and Differences and the Impact of Society on Gender I. Conceptions and Definitions II. Types of Social Identity III. Multiplicity and Intersectionality IV. Aspects of Social Identity V. Assessing Social Identity VI. Development and Change VII. Negotiating Social Identities Glossary Intersectionality The condition in which a person simultaneously belongs to two or more social categories or social statuses and theRead MoreRacial And Ethnic Tensions By Elijah Anderson And Dreams Deferred : The Patterns Of Punishment2124 Words   |  9 Pageshave discussed gang formation, policing, gendered interactions with gang life and the code of the street. For this paper, I plan to synthesize all of these topics into a cohesive analysis of the importance of these works, especially as it pertains to racial and ethnic tensions. I have selected two pieces to go alongside Streetwise by Elijah Anderson: â€Å"Disorderly community partners and broken windows policing† by Ana Muniz and â€Å"Dreams Deferred: The Patterns of Punishment in Oakland† by Victor Rios. WhileRead MoreFactors for Abnormal Behavior. 1798 Words   |  8 PagesSociocultural †¢ Members of society that break social and cultural norms are defined as abnormal †¢ Labeling people as abnormal establish clear norms of reality and appropriate behaviour (conformity) †¢ In order to keep their definition of reality, the family, general practitioners and psychiatrists conspire against the â€Å"insane† by imprisoning and degrading them as human beings †¢ Social identity theory: People who are not included in the in-group are defined as abnormal †¢ Abnormal behaviour violatesRead MoreAfrican Americans And Asian Americans1878 Words   |  8 Pagesminority groups within the U.S. today to include stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination and ethnocentrism. There has been a history of discriminatory national policies directed at the immigration of Asians to the U.S. and in times of duress, the labeling and targeted institutional discrimination of specific ethnicities of Asian-Americans as traitors based solely on country of origin and not on the deeds and actions of said U.S. citizens (Japanese internment camps of World War II). The label Asian-AmericanRead MoreEssay about Gendered Media9688 Words   |  39 PagesArticle 7 Gendered Media: The Influence of Media on Views of Gender Julia T. Wood Department of Communication, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill times more often than ones about women (â€Å"Study Reports Sex Bias,† 1989), media misrepresent actual proportions of men and women in the population. This constant distortion tempts us to believe that there really are more men than women and, further, that men are the cultural standard. THEMES IN MEDIA Of the many influences on how we view

Assessment Management and Performance Monitoring Plan Free Essays

Assessment Activity BSBMGT617A Develop and implement a business plan Assessment 120 Student ID: Type: Assignment Duration/Due: 4 weeks Name: Question # Question 1 You and your business partner have decided to open a small business marketing consultancy in Sydney’s bustling Chinatown district, close to The Sydney Business and Travel Academy. Marks 60 You have borrowed $75,000 from the bank to get started, and have each contributed $20,000 in cash, for a total amount of $115,000. Initially, the two of you will be the only full-time employees, but you plan to employ more staff as the business grows. We will write a custom essay sample on Assessment: Management and Performance Monitoring Plan or any similar topic only for you Order Now For this assessment you will need to develop two profesionally presented and detailed plans – the business plan, and the performance monitoring plan. The business plan should be detailed, practical and have the following sections as a minimum:  § Table of contents Company vision, mission, values and objectives  § Stakeholder consultation  § Market requirements and customer profile  § Pricing strategy  § Resource requirements (financial, human and physical)  § Legislative requirements (local, state and federal)  § 30-day Start-up Action plan Your business performance monitoring plan will detail how you will monitor the performance of your startup business. It will need to include details of the key performance indicators you will use, financial management strategies (including target ratios), human resource performance monitoring, your plan for continuous improvement, and details of how the business plan will be amended and updated as required. A large part of this assignment involves research. The internet is not your only tool. Seek advice and assistance from your trainer, government bodies, associations and business owners where appropriate. All information sources must be acknowledged and referenced. Thursday, 6 October 2011 1/1 How to cite Assessment: Management and Performance Monitoring Plan, Essay examples

Competition Among Warehouse Clubs free essay sample

All wholesale clubs (Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s Wholesale) offer low prices to attract members and provide them with considerable cost savings enough to more than cover membership fees. The rivalry among them is vigorous and will remain so. All 3 club rivals are aggressively pursuing top-line revenue growth; chiefly by opening new stores, attracting more members at both new and existing stores, and endeavoring to grow sales revenues and shopper traffic at existing stores. The industry is becoming somewhat mature and that intensifies rivalry. Costco began operations in Seattle Washington in 1983 and by the end of 1984, there were nine stores in five states, serving more than 200,000 members. The company went public in 1985, selling shares to the public and raising additional capital for expansion. Costco became the first ever U. S. company to reach $1 billion in sales in less than six years. Of the 1,250 warehouse club locations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Costco has about 56% share of warehouse club sales. Costco’s strategy was aimed squarely at selling top-quality merchandise at prices consistently below what other wholesalers or retailers charged. The company stocked only those items that could be priced at bargain levels and thereby provide members with significant cost savings. The philosophy was to keep members coming in to shop by wowing them with low prices and thereby generating big sales volume. The key elements of Costco’s strategy were ultra-low prices, a limited selection of nationally branded and private-label products, a â€Å"treasure hunt† shopping environment, strong emphasis on low operating costs, and a three-pronged growth initiative to boost sales and profits. The three-pronged growth initiative included open more new warehouses; build an even large, fiercely loyal membership base; and employ well-executed merchandising techniques to induce members to shop more often and purchase more per shopping trip. Keeping with its mission, â€Å"To continually provide our members with quality goods and services at the lowest possible prices,† capped the margins on brand-name merchandise at 14 percent while other retailers often set margins from 20 to 50 percent for the same items. Strength  Compensation and workforce practices have proven to be a great strength of Costco. Having over average wages, bonuses and benefits, for warehouse industry employees has proven effective in retaining workers, better productivity, reducing cost of training new hires. Giving employees an opportunity at a career rather than just a job is good business. Costco’s policy is to fill higher-level positions by promotions from within the company; a great strategy for maintaining a happy workforce. Weakness The major concern for Costco is that there are not enough warehouses to meet its demand. Costco has a relatively low urban presence, and most customers can consider themselves lucky if a trip to one of its warehouses doesn’t take up most of their day. The company is much more exclusive than most stores, and doesn’t do enough to rake in new customers through ads and promotional events. Opportunities The good news is that Costco’s low presence in certain areas leads to great opportunities for future growth. The company has already achieved success in its efforts to expand worldwide, and will likely continue its efforts into the future. Also, adding an online membership option for a reduced price may greatly increase the company’s membership and ability to market itself, while also helping to curb Amazon as a major threat. (Shields 2012) Threats Wal-Mart is Costco’s most apparent threat, not only because of its locations and discounts, but also through its ownership of Sam’s Club, Costco’s No. 1 rival. Sam’s Club will also soon be carrying Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) products, which could boost its sales in the future. Also alarming is the strong possibility that Amazon will soon sneak up on its competitors and take even more of the wholesale market, especially now that its Prime service has been expanded and offers free shipping and handling to add to its low price and convenience. (Shields 2012) Sam’s Club Sams Club is an American chain of membership-only retail warehouse clubs owned and operated by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , founded in 1983 and named after Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. As of 2012[update] Sams Club chain serves 47 million U.S and Puerto Rican members and is the 8th largest U. S. retailer. As of January 31, 2008 (2008-01-31)[update] Sams Club ranks second in sales volume among warehouse clubs behind Costco, despite the fact that Sams has more retail locations. Like other warehouse clubs, Sams Club sells most of its merchandise in bulk and directly off pallets. The clubs are arranged much like warehouses, with merchandise stocked in warehouse-style steel bins. As of January 31, 2009 (2009-01-31)[update] there were 602 Sams Clubs in the United States. Products sold include jewelry, designer goods, sunglasses, crystal and collectibles, electronics, floral, apparel, food and meats. Most locations have Pharmacy, Tire and Battery, Photo, Bakery, Optical, Cafe and Floral departments. Sams Club markets items under the private labels Simply Right (Formerly Members Mark), Bakers Chefs, and Sams Club — including products by Richelieu Foods,[14] a private label manufacturer of frozen pizza, salad dressing, sauces, marinades, condiments and deli salads. Sams Club does not sell the Sams Choice or Great Value brands, which are available in Wal-Mart stores. However Sams Club is changing some of the Members Mark items, such as baby wipes to the name Simply Right. The Members Mark Deli products is also changing names to Artisan Fresh. Another notable feature in most locations is the presence of stands at which Shopper Events employees prepare various food products for members to sample before purchasing. Sams Club has more than 47 million U. S.  members[2] and operates more than 580 clubs nationwide, as well as more than 100 international locations in Brazil, China, and Mexico. There are also stores in the U. S. commonwealth of Puerto Rico. A typical Sams Club stands between 71,000 square feet (6,600 m2) and 130,000 square feet (12,000 m2). The Sams Club division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. had total sales revenue of US $46. 9 billion for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2009. [1] Sams primary competitor is Costco Wholesale. Strength The biggest strength of the warehouse is its entire association with Wal-Mart. The company is at a competitive advantage because it does not have to indulge in strategic planning for diverse competitors as Costco and BJs are the only competitors they face. Weakness The Wal-Mart Supercenters have more or less similar product range so it overlaps with it. Opportunities The segmentation of the members has been made to provide the best services. The categories include business, advantage and plus; the plus members at the greatest advantage over the others. Threats The economic downturn effecting the flexibility of consumer spending. BJ’s Wholesale  Beginning its operation in 2004, BJ’s Wholesale has expanded to 187 warehouse clubs. BJ’s operations are exclusively located on the eastern seaboard from Maine to Florida. Like Costco and Sam’s, BJ sells high-quality brand-name merchandise at prices that are significantly lower than those at supermarkets, discount retail chain, department stores, drugstores, and specialty retail stores. Unlike its two competitors, BJ’s focus is on its Inner Circle (individual) members through merchandising strategies that emphasized a customer-friendly shopping experience. BJ’s stocked a broader product assortment than the other two competitors. The company made shopping easier for members by displaying isle markers, express checkout lanes, self-checkout lanes and low cost video based sales aids. BJ’s offers a variety of specialty services. Many which are offered by its two competitors. Where they differentiate is by offering services such as BJ’s Vacations, automobile-buying services, car rentals, television and home theatre installation and home improvement services. Strengths Unique products help BJs to differentiate themselves from their competitors. Weaknesses High staff turnover is a weakness of BJ’s Wholesale. Opportunities Fragmented markets means BJ’s can easily expand market shares. Threats Intense competition from general retailing can create some serious threats for the Warehouse. Conclusion In conclusion, the window to enter the warehouse club industry is pretty small unless an outsider opted to acquire BJ’s Wholesale Club with the intention of rapidly expanding into areas and states where there are currently no BJ’s locations. The barriers to a new entrant are high. Costco and Sam’s are formidable competitors and enjoy sizable scale economies not easily accessed by a newcomer. Capital requirements are sizable if an entrant wishes to compete on a scale comparable to the industry incumbents. ? The marketing and advertising costs to attract members and build a significant volume of sales (and otherwise overcome the loyalty of existing warehouse club members) would be very high. Moreover, the three industry incumbents are in a strong position to vigorously contest any newcomer’s entry, making it not attractive for others to enter this industry. The suppliers consist mainly of the manufacturers of the products that warehouse clubs elect to stock. While a big proportion of these manufacturers are undoubtedly large enterprises with well-recognized brand names and good reputations among consumers, they are not necessarily in any strong bargaining position that allows them to dictate the terms and conditions on which they will supply their products to the warehouse clubs. Costco and Sam’s, in particular, have considerable bargaining power over suppliers in obtaining the merchandise they desire to stock. No single supplier constitutes a large percentage of the merchandise that the wholesale clubs stock, thereby limiting any one supplier’s bargaining power. Moreover, these wholesale clubs are big volume buyers and thus have substantial bargaining clout with their suppliers. If a particular supplier chooses not to sell to the wholesale clubs at an attractively low price, they can easily switch their purchases to alternative manufacturers with little disruption of their business. Such ease of switching suppliers lessens the bargaining power of suppliers. In sum, the suppliers to the wholesale clubs cannot put much pressure on their wholesale club customers in negotiating for better/higher prices and other more favorable terms of sale. Nevertheless, the originators of these clubs found a niche and cornered the market on it. All three warehouses have bright futures and will continue to grow.