Insurance Research Paper Topics

Insurance Research Paper TopicsWhen looking for insurance research papers, there are many different things that you need to consider. However, the most important thing is to ensure that you do not lose sight of what you truly want to accomplish. Often times people get caught up in the task and become distracted by other things. It's important to understand what you really want to accomplish before you start the process.There are many different insurance research paper topics to choose from. In fact, the list can grow long and include things such as health care and insurance policies, government regulations and public assistance, infrastructure and policies, cost cutting and overall product reviews. While many of these topics are necessary, some of them are not.For example, many researchers have already tackled the topic of cost cutting, yet many still wonder if this topic really needs to be covered in a research paper. Unfortunately, it's more common than not to assume that the topic will go over well with the audience.However, one of the most important issues to consider when writing an insurance research paper topics is the market itself. If you do your research correctly, you will uncover important new facts that will provide you with insight into the marketplace.Additionally, as you gain knowledge about insurance research paper topics, you will begin to develop an understanding of the industry as a whole. You will also come to appreciate all of the professionals in the industry who assist those who need help. This is a benefit that many individuals do not realize they're getting from their research.You will find that you are more motivated to succeed when you are aware of all of the helpful services that insurance research paper topics are able to provide. Of course, you'll also want to ensure that you stay focused on your topic at all times.As you gain knowledge of insurance research paper topics, you will realize that the industry is one that is very dive rse and many times, customers become frustrated when they don't feel understood. With the right research, you will be able to provide them with the information they need so that they can choose an insurer that best suits their individual needs.

Sample Explication Essay Conclusion

Sample Explication Essay ConclusionThe sample explication essay outlines the specific purpose of the essay, and the learning outcomes to be expected from the sample. In some cases the author may require additional information to further outline the learning outcome of the essay, and it may also be required that additional information be included in the sample itself.Writing a sample explication essay can be challenging because it involves developing the style and structure of the essay, and it may take several drafts to get the style just right. When dealing with such an article, it is important to be honest and to communicate your points accurately so that you do not violate copyright laws or try to pass off your work as another writer's.When writing an article, it is important to ensure that the style and content of the article conform to the style and standards of the author of the article. Many students think that plagiarism is acceptable in most cases because they have been told that it is acceptable by someone who has no intention of being a strict definition of plagiarism. It is important for the author of the article to make sure that the terms 'plagiarism'plagiarized content' are clearly defined before using them in the article. Plagiarism can be defined as a relationship where one person has copied the work of another without authorization.A good sample explication essay demonstrates that the content is unique and original and that the author has taken pride in producing a piece of work that is unique and original. By doing this, it establishes the credibility of the author, and it makes it clear that he or she does not want to appear as if they are writing as another writer.A sample explication essay also shows that the content is short and to the point, which gives the author more leeway in how the information is presented. In some cases, a variety of topics are used. This may be done in an attempt to make the article interesting and compelling. A l ong article has a tendency to bore the reader, and it takes the reader out of the article.All in all, if the author's level of education is limited, or if the person has specific educational qualifications, it is important to include the author's name in the introduction of the article. The introduction should contain a specific statement of purpose as well as an explanation of the author's role as a learner.The sample outlines the author's information needs, the learning outcomes that are expected, and the particular format that is best suited for teaching. Therefore, if the article is going to be used for teaching purposes, it is important to have a variety of essays, all written with the same information, in order to ensure that the information is as concise and easy to understand as possible.

William Blake Biography and Works

William Blake is one of the well-known literary figures in England who is still in the memory of most people because of his excellent skills in painting, visionary mystic, engraving, and poetry. He was born on 28 November 1757 to an underprivileged household living in London and this condition of his family made him to receive little education and privileges when he was in his early years.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on William Blake Biography and Works specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Blake was largely unrecognized during his lifetime, may be because he dropped out of school in order to work in his father’s shop. However, he is now regarded as one of the influential figures in the history of both poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age since his works talk about the supremacy of the imagination over the rationalism and materialism of that period. Blake started to embrace biblical teachings ea rly in life, and these remained his source of motivation even in his later life (Blunt; Bronowski). In his early life, he also began engraving copies of drawings of Greek antiquities given to him by his father, and these drawings gave him an early exposure to a number of classical works by various authors. Because of his love for drawing, he was enrolled in drawing classes and he also made explorations into the world of poetry during that period. At fourteen years of age, he was apprenticed for a period of seven years to the British engraver, James Basire. After the completion of this term, he became a professional engraver. On October, 1779, he was enrolled at The Royal Academy for a six-year period. While at the school, he maintained the classical precision of his previous influences. Blake was married to Catherine Boucher on 18 August, 1782, whom he taught how to read and write as well as engrave. Catherine thereafter assisted her husband in coloring his poems and giving him bene ficial suggestions. In one of his books, The Book of Thel, Blake writes about the pain he had after the demise of his first daughter and last child. Apart from the few years he spent in school, Blake was self-educated and most of his pictorial work mainly represented biblical subjects. Blake’s elaborate paintings and engravings were therefore mainly associated to literature. The interdependence of poetry and painting formed the key principle in all his work and represented his idiosyncratic views. Even though he spent most of his lifetime around the city of London, he authored a wide variety of literary works, which embraced the human imagination as â€Å"the very body of God.† Blake was seen as mad because of the peculiar views he held. On the other hand, his expressiveness and creativity has currently made him an influential figure in the poetry world. The philosophical and mystical undercurrents that are demonstrated within his work were characterized to be part of the Romantic Movement and â€Å"Pre-Romantic,† because of their huge appearance during the late eighteenth century and early nineteenth century.Advertising Looking for research paper on british literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More During this period, his country was ruled by the oppressive British Monarchy and the corrupt Church of England; therefore, this atmosphere of oppression was suffocating to the talented, intelligent Blake. These happenings made him to voice out his views in the disguise of romantic poems. The principles and aspirations of the French as well as of the American revolutions largely influenced his life and such theorists like Jacob Bohme and Emanuel Swendenborg also played a pivotal role in shaping his ideals. In spite of these known influences, the singularity of his work complicates any efforts to classify his work, for example, William Rossetti classified him as a â€Å"glorious luminary ,† while Peter Marshall classified him as one of the forerunners of modern anarchism. The development of Blake’s views can be seen in the differences that are evident between his early and late works. For that reason, Blake’s later literary work includes a private mythology with complicated use of symbols, his late work has received less preference than his earlier easily available work, for instance, the recent Vintage anthology of Blake was based on his earlier work. His earlier work has been seen by many scholars as mainly rebellious in character; therefore, it as been regarded as a form of protestation against dogmatic religion, for example, â€Å"The Marriage of Heaven and Hell† depicts Satan as the victor who rebels against an imposter authoritarian deity. In Blake’s later works, for example, â€Å"Milton† and â€Å"Jerusalem,† he portrays a distinguishing image of mankind as redeemed through self-sacrifice and forgiveness. He, h owever, maintains his previous position concerning the inflexible and gruesome authoritarianism of traditional belief system. Very few people have been able to understand the association that exists between Blake’s earlier and later works. Some scholars have suggested that his late works showed a growth of the ideas he had when writing his earlier works, for instance, the humanitarian objective of realizing personal wholeness of body and spirit was displayed in his late works. This is evident in one of his later writings, â€Å"The Unholy Bible,† which has a section that depicts the â€Å"Bible of Hell† pledged in one of his earlier works. Even though Blake criticized conservative religion, his denunciation of religiosity did not mean that he was totally against religion. His thoughts regarding orthodoxy Christianity is seen in â€Å"The Marriage of Heaven and Hell,† which are series passages that emulate the Biblical prophecy wherein he lists numerous Pr overbs of Hell. Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on William Blake Biography and Works specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In â€Å"The Everlasting Gospel,† he gives a well-thought description of Jesus. He describes Him as a supremely created being, which is above code of belief, logic, and even principles. However, he does not present him as philosopher or conventional messianic figure. He sees Jesus as the one who forms the important connection and union that exists between divinity and humanity. He was respectful to the word of God as given in the Bible but aggressive to the Church of England (Blake, 34). Blake formulated his own mythology that is evident in all his prophetic writings wherein he introduces some characters such as ‘Urizen,’ and ‘Bromion.’ Blake derived his mythology from the Bible and from some Greek scholars. His ideas of the everlasting gospel are mostly ba sed on this mythology. One of his major criticisms of conventional religion stems from the fact that he felt that it fostered the containment of human natural desires and depressed earthly happiness. This position that he takes is evident in â€Å"A vision of the Last Judgment† where he says that men get entrance into heaven, not because they have controlled their passions, but because they have been able to cultivate their inner understandings (Frye). In â€Å"The Marriage of Heaven and Hell,† he says that he does not agree to the orthodox ideology of a distinct body from the soul, and which must be under the submission of the soul. However, he says that the body is an extension of the soul taken from the ‘discernment’ of the human five senses. Therefore, the importance traditionalism puts on the rejection of earthly joy is a dualistic error. This error is derived from misapprehension of the association that exists between the body and the soul. In anothe r place, he describes Satan as in the ‘State of error’ and as in a condition wherein he cannot come to repentance. Blake had a complicated connection with Enlightenment philosophy and because of his religious affiliation, he did not agree with the Newtonian view of the universe. This way of thinking is depicted in â€Å"Jerusalem† where he also illustrates his opposition to the ‘single-vision’ of scientific materialism. In spite of his clear disagreement to Enlightenment philosophy, he reached at a linear aesthetic. This position was somewhat the same to the neoclassical engravings of John Flaxman than to the works of the Romantics. Consequently, he has been seen as one of the enlightenment poets and artists. This is because he was in agreement with that movement’s denial of received ideas, regulations, and conventions.Advertising Looking for research paper on british literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, Blake was viewed as being in opposition of what he thought as the elevation of reason to the level of a tyrannical regime. In his disapproval of reason, law, and uniformity, he has been seen as contradicting the enlightenment principles. However, a number of scholars have argued that, in a dialectical sense, he employed the enlightenment drive of denunciation to disapprove narrow notions of the enlightenment principles. In many of his poems and paintings, Blake talked about the concept of universal humanity, abhorrence to slavery, and strong belief in racial and sexual equality. For example, in one of his poems, â€Å"The Book of Thel,† he asked about the essence of living here in the world. This poem is thought to be a composition in honor of his dead newborn child. Until his death on 12 August, 1827, Blake maintained an active interest in the social and political happenings that were taking place during that time (De Selincourt). He presented his statements using m ystical symbolism. His position on what he perceived as intolerable extended to the Christian faith. His religious views are depicted in Songs of Experience. In this book, he differentiates between the Old Testament God, and the New Testament God. The restrictions of the former were rejected while those of the latter were accepted. In response to Blake’s Songs of Experience, D.C. Williams (1899-1983), said that Blake used the literary work to depict the suffering and loss posed by the nature of society and the world of his time. Throughout history, poets have been influenced to a large extent by the environment that they live in, and William Blake was no exception. His literary works have influential opposing views and comments concerning different social and political events during his time. In particular, he talked about important issues regarding human nature, the oppressive British monarchy, and the Christian faith. These views were safe from prosecution. This is because he skillfully masked them in symbolic language that could not be understood by many of his adversaries. Works Cited Blake, William. The complete poetry and prose of William Blake. Ed. David V. Erdman. New York: Anchor Books, 1982. Print. Blunt, Anthony. The art of William Blake. New York: Columbia University Press, 1959. Print. Bronowski, Jacob. William Blake, 1757-1827; a man without a mask. London: Secker Warburg, 1947. Print. De Selincourt, Basil. William Blake. New York: Haskell House Publishers, 1971. Print. Frye, Northrop. Blake; a collection of critical essays. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1966. Print. This research paper on William Blake Biography and Works was written and submitted by user Brown Starfish to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

MCKINLEY Surname Meaning and Origin

MCKINLEY Surname Meaning and Origin McKinley is a Scots Gaelic patronymic surname meaning son of Finlay. The given name Finlay derived from the Gaelic personal name Fionnla or Fionnlaoch, meaning white warrior or fair hero, from the elements fionn, meaning white, fair and laoch, meaning warrior, hero. Surname Origin: Scottish, Irish Alternate Surname Spellings: MACKINLEY, MACKINLAY, MACGINLEY, MCGINLEY, MACKINDLAY, MKINLAY Where in the World is the MCKINLEY Surname Found? The McKinley surname is common today in Canada, according to  WorldNames PublicProfiler, followed by the United States, New Zealand, Ireland and Australia. Within Ireland, McKinley is by far most common to Donegal, followed by northern Ireland, especially the counties of Antrim, Armagh, Down and Tyrone. The MacKinlay spelling is most common in Scotland, especially the western council area of Argyll and Bute. Surname distribution data from Forebears  also indicates that the McKinley surname is common in Northern Ireland, where it ranks as the 360th most common surname in the country. That is in contrast to the United States, home to the largest number of people named McKinley, where the last name ranks 1,410th. This is true based on 1881–1901 census data as well. Data from the 1881–1901 censuses of Great Britain and Ireland, indicate that McKinley was most common in the Northern Ireland counties of Antrim, Donegal, Down and Armagh, as well as in Lanarkshire, Scotland, and Lancashire, England.   Famous People with the Last Name MCKINLEY - 25th president of the United StatesRobin McKinley - American author of fantasy and childrens booksWilliam Thomas McKinley - American composerLeila MacKinlay - British author of romance novels Genealogy Resources for the Surname MCKINLEY Clann MacKinlay SeannachaidhThis website focuses on the history and genealogy of  the sept of Mackinlay in relation to its most likely parent Clans: Farquharson, Buchanan, Macfarlane and Stewart of Appin.   The MacKinlay DNA ProjectLearn more about the history and origins of the McKinley and MacKinlay surnames and variations by joining this MacKinlay Y-DNA surname project. Group members are working to combine DNA testing with traditional genealogy research to learn more about shared McKinley ancestors. Presidential Surname Meanings and OriginsDo the surnames of U.S. presidents really have more prestige than your average Smith and Jones? While the proliferance of babies named Tyler, Madison, and Monroe may seem to point in that direction, presidential surnames are really just a cross-section of the American melting pot.   McKinley Family Crest - Its Not What You ThinkContrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a McKinley family crest or coat of arms for the McKinley surname.  Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted. FamilySearch - MCKINLEY GenealogyExplore over 1 million historical records and lineage-linked family trees posted for the McKinley surname and its variations on the free FamilySearch website, hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. McKinley Family Genealogy ForumSearch this popular genealogy forum for the McKinley surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own McKinley query. MCKINLEY Surname Family Mailing ListsRootsWeb hosts a free mailing list for researchers of the Tyler surname. Post a query about your own Tyler ancestors, or search or browse the mailing list archives. DistantCousin.com - MCKINLEY Genealogy Family HistoryExplore free databases and genealogy links for the last name McKinley. The McKinley Genealogy and Family Tree PageBrowse genealogy records and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the popular last name McKinley from the website of Genealogy Today.- References: Surname Meanings Origins Cottle, Basil.  Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967. Dorward, David.  Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998. Fucilla, Joseph.  Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges.  A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick.  Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003. Reaney, P.H.  A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997. Smith, Elsdon C.  American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997. Back toGlossary of Surname Meanings Origins

Diamond Model of Porter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 11

Diamond Model of Porter - Essay Example This paper illustrates that Porter was able to introduce the diamond model of national competitive advantage for purposes of providing an explanation on the reasons which make a number of countries to be more competitive, in comparison to other countries. Furthermore, this model was introduced for purposes of providing an explanation of the reasons that make a variety of business systems within a particular economy to be more competitive. This model, developed by Porter gives a proposal that the national home base of a given industry plays a crucial task in achieving a competitive advantage on a wide scale. This home base, of the given industry, would make a contribution on some essential factors that will help in supporting the business systems within the industry, to build an effective and efficient strategy that can help them compete efficiently on a global perspective. Porter manages to identify four major determinants that play a role in making a country to achieve a national co mpetitive advantage. He thereafter makes a conclusion that by combining these four determinants within a given economy or country, then, they would provide a big influence on the competitive ability of the business systems that are located within the economy under consideration. In defending his points, Porter explains that a competitive industry would take the nature of a specialized cluster of industries that are found at home. These clusters are able to correlate with each other through vertical relations. Examples include managing to integrate with suppliers. Clusters are also able to correlate with each other, through horizontal relations. Horizontal relationships normally occur through distribution channels, technology, skills, and customers. Through these specialized clusters, Porter explains that a given economy would manage to develop a business system that has the capability of achieving a competitive advantage over its rivals, hence leading to economic success. The automo bile industry of Japan and the semiconductor industry of United States to the diamond model of Porter.

See Attachment Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

See Attachment - Term Paper Example The goal of this essay is to explore the meanings of metaphors of house and used by a range of prominent American authors. William Faulkner, known for his sophisticated method of encoding his intended meaning in specific imagery and metaphors, is particularly keen on using house metaphors. Their meanings differ from one work to another, yet some tendencies may be distinguished. Analysis of the house metaphor in Absalom! Absalom!, William Faulkner’s most famous novel, provides insight into how the author perceives the house metaphorically. In Absalom! Absalom!, the image of a haunted house is clearly metaphorical. It is the dark pretentious house of the novel’s protagonist Sutpen that works as a metaphor of the â€Å"dark† South – obsessed with racial inequality and accumulation of wealth in dynasty. Thomas Sutpen, who was once born in poverty, comes to a town in Mississippi to purchase land, build a house on it, and start his dynasty. The overall sad story of Sutpen’s house is a metaphor for the South. Just as Sutpen and his son Henry despise black people and repudiate them, the white-dominated South does. Just as Thomas and Henry Sutpen lose their lives as obvious pay for their hatred and desire of â€Å"purity†, with their grandiose house set ruins by fire, the South, which hosted the oppressors and the oppressed, gets burnt down for inhumane treatment of its black children. Similarly to how Sutpen’s son Charles, who was born out of wedlock from a mother who had a small proportion of black blood, is murdered at the gates of the mansion, hundreds of black people are made to work to death or lynched on the basis of their skin colour difference. It is this injustice in combination with lack of humanity and excessive self-pride that have led the South to its destruction in the war and has literally set it ablaze. The house and its conceited owner Sutpen together with his â€Å"dynasty† are doomed to fall due to their inherent flaws, as the place where slavery blooms (i.e., the house) and as the source of inequality and racial hatred (i.e., Thomas Sutpen).Thus, house stands for a part of American land, the South, and has a range of negative connotations as a place of racial inequality, injustice, gloom, and decay. It also evolves as a symbol of doomed Southern worldview: anti-slavery, inhumane aims are doomed for ruination. In Tony Morrison’s novel Beloved, house evolves as a metaphor of environment that is supposed to be nurturing and liberating. It also comes as a metaphor of an unfulfilled dream of being free from slavery and safe. In addition, house represents a place where people summon their strength and create their strategies. Also, the house may stand for a hero/heroine’s soul and body, more likely to represent the inner state of the protagonist, though. It is also a symbol of freedom and safety. In the paragraphs to follow, these claims will be explained and supp orted by the evidence from the novel. In Beloved, home becomes the focus of quest by the novel’s protagonist young black woman Sethe. Sethe, as her life chronologically unfolds in the novel, finds herself constantly swaying back and forth between slavery, humiliation, danger, which may be referred to as her house of jeopardy; and freedom, safety, and dignified/happy living in a black community, which is perceived as her home. Sweet Home, the house of Mr and Mrs Garner, is

Laura Ashley Holdings Plc Essay Example for Free

Laura Ashley Holdings Plc Essay 1) How have changes relating to management and organisational structural affected a global organisation of your choice, over the last 75 years. Relate your findings to growth, distribution, and various external influences and strategies. 2) Undertake a SWOT analysis and explain its relevance in relation to your company and/or its sector Word Count 1250. Harvard Style Referencing. Bibliography Required. Global organisation Laura Ashley Holdings Plc has suffered differing fortunes since Bernard and Laura Ashley founded it in the 1950s. It has been involved in the designing, manufacturing, distribution and selling of garments, accessories, perfume, gift items, fabric, wall coverings, bedding, lighting, and furniture. Famed for its floral prints, the chain was highly successful during the early and mid 1980s but things changed in the early 1990s when various management and structural problems as well as those relating to growth, distribution, and various external influences such as global recession surfaced Laura Ashley herself died in 1985. There is a notable difference in the organisation up to and after this year. Up to 1985, it was a simply structured, steadily expanding organisation operating in a non-complex environment (complexity arises when there are numerous complicated environmental influences [Johnson and Scholes, 1989]). In the months and years after, many changes took place. Laura Ashley went public in flotation, acquired other companies involved in areas such as knitwear and perfume, made heavier investments in manufacturing and information technology (IT), moved towards segmentation with Mother and Child shops, exclusively home furnishing shops and unit shops (franchise operations). The organisation moved gradually away from vertical integration (it had always manufactured and delivered all goods itself) The Guardian reported that Laura Ashley was withdrawing from manufacturing by the end of the year in 1998. In order to facilitate growth, there was a shift from the simple functional organisational structure to a more complex divisional structure (which was  re-organised with every change of leadership). The most notable chief executives of Laura Ashley who were in place whilst and after problems developed were Jim Maxmin (1991-1994) and Ann Iverson (1995-1997). Each of these people were responsible for major overhauls within the organisation. Vora (1998) states, Laura Ashley has undergone various restructuring strategies and umpteen management upheavals, all to no avail, and all of which have decimated shareholder value and abused the brand name. As highlighted above, the major problems of Laura Ashley began to manifest in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The first fall of profits were reported in the year to January 1989. It is important, then, to look at its success before this from its beginnings in the 1950s to 1985. One area to naturally consider is the key success factors of the organisation for this period i.e. what specifically can its success is attributed to. Key success factors are what an organisation must do well in order to be successful, be an effective competitor and satisfy stakeholder requirements (Thompson, 1997). Bearing this in mind, the key success factors of Laura Ashley up to 1985 are identified as high quality production, innovative designs, good brand management (the Laura Ashley name was and is strong), well placing of stores, creation of good atmospheres in stores, general design and creative competencies, staff training, creation of a vertically integrated structure and operation within a simplist ic organisational structure in general. Also, the Groups IT capabilities factored into the success as it was a source of competitive advantage e.g. they were an early adopter of electronic point of sale (Heath, 1996 as cited by Johnson and Scholes, 1999). These factors may also be interpreted as strategic excellence positions (SEPs), which can be described as the capabilities, which allow an organisation to produce better than average results in comparison with competitors (PUmpin, 1987). Thompson (1997) presents a particularly useful model that can be helpful in explaining the success of Laura Ashley up to 1985. The EVR congruence model, by Thompson, considers if an organisation is being managed effectively with regards to strategy. It represents the matching of an organisations resources (for Laura Ashley these would include plants, vehicles, IT systems  and locations) to the key success factors dictated by the environment (external factors such as opportunities and threats, stakeholders, competition etc). A determinant in matching these is the values of the organisation (again, in the case of Laura Ashley, these would include the lifestyle they promote/project, shop designs and atmospheres, product designs, the brand, staff training policy and the family culture). If the congruence (fit) between these three areas is great, then this indicates effective management of resources (Hamel and Prahalad [1993] comment that it is important for organisations to manage reso urces well in order to achieve objectives), strategy formulation and all-round success. It can be argued that the success of Laura Ashley up to 1985 can be attributed to greater EVR congruence. That is such things as the number of shops and plants, distribution systems, stakeholders, threats (including competition), products, level of vertical integration and so on fit together well in relation to the size, structure, culture and speed of growth of the organisation then. The key success factors are also indicative of this congruence. So that they can be developed to help ensure both present and future success, it is important key success factors are recognised and understood. One particular way Laura Ashley could do this is through a SWOT analysis. This reviews an organisations internal strengths and weaknesses and opportunities and threats in the external environment (Cole, 1996). This may be done for a particular moment in time or as an overview encompassing the past and present. As made clear, Laura Ashley has faced much change during its existence. Opportunities and threats come about as a result of constant change and the SWOT analysis can help to identify these and internal strengths and weaknesses relevant when dealing with change (Johnson and Scholes, 1989). This SWOT analysis can be used in relation to analysing the problems faced by Laura Ashley in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s. They can be greatly attributed to the weaknesses and threats identified. For example, fluctuations in the economy had a knock-on effect on the sale of property and hence on the sale of household furnishings. Also, high borrowing, wastage and forced discounting meant that, despite sales increases, shops were making a loss. The reorganisations in 1988, 1991 and twice in 1995 had their effect too they were costly and highlighted inefficiency. Chandler (1977) states that structures are not adapted until pressure of inefficiency forces the change and that this change process is usually a painful one often carried out by a different chief executive each time. Upon and after his appointment in 1991, Jim Maxmin found that the organisation lacked a core identity, clear strategies, empowered staff, thorough market research, efficient logistics, and many probl ems in the US such as limited growth, poor management and delivery problems. He responded with his Simplify, Focus and Act programme. This included reorganisation, institution of a Global Operations Executive (GOE) and Global Collection Development (GCD) which aided globalisation and marketing, encouragement to empower staff, an alliance with Federal Express Business Logistics to improve delivery and distribution systems, sourcing half of the organisations manufacturing to  the Far East (rather than in-house in Britain) and management replacement in the US. Before leaving Laura Ashley in 1994, Jim Maxmin commented that throughout the entire organisation, people has embraced the principles of the Simplify, Focus and Act programme and set about sorting out the operational problems which have plagued Laura Ashley (Maxmin, 1993 as cited by Warnaby, 1994). Ann Iverson was appointed chief executive of Laura Ashley in 1995. She was to spearhead the rush into the US and revamp the product range (Teather, 1999). Her observations found various problems all of which can again be attributed to identified weaknesses. It was found that the product range was too broad, there was no unified look to match globalisation, the supply chain was inefficient and problems continued in the US. Ann Iversons response included strengthening the alliance with Federal Express Business Logistics, opening larger stores in the US and reviewing marketing and sales. These changes were considered to be good as Laura Ashley restored dividend payments in 1996 for the first time since 1989. Ann Iverson was dismissed in 1997, however, mainly due to continuing problems in the US and the organisations image (Keynotes, 1997). Each of the changes mentioned came about from the organisations particular strengths (as identified) at the time. For example, whilst such things as restructuring and shop closures were happening, the strong name of Laura Ashley and strong customer loyalty were greatly relied upon. Bowman and Asch (1987) comment that the strengths of an organisation are a if not the determinant in how it handles weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Opportunities open to the organisation in dealing with its various problems can be identified as the opportunities in the SWOT analysis. Opportunities change and differ over time. For example, the alliance with Federal Express Business Logistics resulted from available opportunities at the time. A possible opportunity in the early 1990s would have been a speedier move away from vertical integration for example. Laura Ashley became totally vertically integrated in the 1970s and continued  to be so though gradually moved away from this in the 1990s completely in 1998. Vertical integration can be backwards e.g. manufacturer purchasing/owning supplier and forwards e.g. manufacturer purchasing/owning retailer Laura Ashley was both backwardly and forwardly vertically integrated everything from the supplying of materials and manufacturing to distribution and retail. The main benefits of this throughout the organisations development included greater control, greater ability to differentiate, the opportunity to achieve economies of scale (higher margins), assurance of supply and greater synergy. Despite this, there were numerous disadvantages particularly that it was costly and greatly increased operational leverage as well as the need to keep up with technological change. This tied up capital having long-term affects. It meant that there was not full concentration of key strengths (design and retail) on which key success factors are dependent (Thompson, 1997). Furthermore, vertical integration was inflexible (cheaper manufacturers could not be sourced) and sensitivity to decreases in sales increased. It was the cost aspect that had the greatest impact particularly in the face of costly expansion (especially in the US). Warnaby (1994) comments that vertical integration was responsible for financial problems in the early 1990s. The costs of vertical integration had an impact on the organisations ability to successfully expand internationally. Perhaps with the exception of a distinctive product look and the adoption of a divisional structure, Laura Ashley did not expand internationally applying Treadgolds keys/strategies each was applied/introduced incrementally as problems arose to highlight the need e.g. it was not until 1995 when Ann Iverson felt the need for a unified product look. This is indicative that the organisation was not particularly capable of embarking on such ambitious international expansion as it did. This is highlighted by the numerous problems faced by the organisation e.g. poor marketing/marketing strategy, inefficient logistics and lack of direction and clear strategy. Additionally, the paternalistic management style was not suited to rapid expansion and this coupled with high finance demands from vertical integration, reorganisation and early acquisitions further indicate poor planning in terms of development Laura Ashley has faced so many problems throughout its existence. Problems owing to management, organisational structure, logistics and rapid international expansion continuously came and went. In 1998 bankruptcy looked imminent but an injection of ?44 million in equity capital by Malaysian businessman Dr Kay Peng Khoo (giving his MUI property company 47.5% share ownership whilst the Ashley family retained just 9% [Gibbs, 1999]). He installed Ng Kwan Cheong as chief executive who made changes including the disposal of the problematic North American franchise (retail operations were sold to a management buyout team for $1 at the end of July, 1999 [Gibbs, 1999]), targeting of younger markets and investment in e-commerce (Abdullah, 2000). However, all of these changes looked to have no major impact in the Groups success with sales steadily decreasing from 1998. Whether or not Laura Ashley manages to achieve the sort of success it enjoyed in the early 1980s under its new management remains to be seen as does its survival. Chief Executive Ng Kwan Cheong refrained from placing false hopes, commenting in March of 2000 We have a lot of things to do. All I can say is we are moving in the right direction and things are changing (Cheong, 2000 as cited by Abdullah, 2000). REFERENCES Texts  · Bowman, C. and Asch, C. (1987). Strategic Management. Macmillan Education.  · Chandler, A.D. (1997). The Visible Hand: The Managerial Revolution in American Business. Harvard University Press.  · Cole, G.A. (1996). Management Theory and Practice (5th Edition). Letts Educational.  · Johnson, G. and Scholes, K. (1989). Exploring Corporate Strategy: Text and Cases. Prentice Hall.  · Johnson, G. and Scholes, K. (1999). Exploring Corporate Strategy: Text and Cases (5th Edition). Prentice Hall.  · PUmpin, C. (1987). The Essence of Corporate Strategy. Gower.  · Thompson, J.L. (1997). Strategic Management: Awareness and Change. International Thomson Business Press. Journals and Publications  · Hamel, G. and Prahalad, C.K. (1993). Strategy as stretch and leverage. Harvard Business Review, 71, March-April, pp75-84.  · Keynotes (1997), Keynote Market Report Clothing Retailing, 1997 Reports, p23.  · Treadgold, A. (1991) Dixons and Laura Ashley: Different Routes to International Growth. International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management. Vol. 19(4), pp13-19.  · Warnaby, G. (1994). Laura Ashley An International Retail Brand. Management Decision, Volume 32 (3). Other  · Abdullah, S.A. Turning around Laura Ashley. http://adtimes.nstp.com.my/archive/mar3.htm (09 December 2000).  · Gibbs, G. (1999) Laura Ashley bids farewell The Guardian Unlimited Archive. http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,3904775,00.html (18 December 2000).  · Teather, D. (1999) Banks push Laura Ashley to quit US The Guardian Unlimited Archive. http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,3855892,00.html (18 December 2000).  · Vora, K. (1998) Lessons from Laura Ashley. The Motley Fool: The Daily Fool, Evening Fool Tuesday, 03 March 1998, (online) (cited 04 January 2001). http://www.fool.co.uk/DailyFool/1998/DailyFool980303.htm . BIBLIOGRAPHY Texts  · Cole, G.A. (1997). Strategic Management (2nd Edition). Continuum.  · De Wit, B. and Meyer, R. (1994) Strategy Process, Content, Context: An International Perspective. West Publishing.  · Hatch, M.J. (1997). Organization Theory. Oxford.  · Palmer, A. and Hartley, B. (1996). The Business and Marketing Environment (2nd Edition). McGraw-Hill.  · Palmer, A. (2000). Principles of Marketing. Oxford.  · Porter, M.E. (1980) Competitive Strategy Techniques for Analysing Industries and Competition. The Free Press.  · Porter, M.E. (1985) Competitive Advantage Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance. The Free Press.  · Wild, R. (1994) How to Manage (2nd Edition). BCA. Other  · Framed-Art Wholesale. Laura Ashley The History http://www.framedartwholesale.com/aboutLA.htm (20 December 2000).  · Herzog, J. (1997) Laura Ashley closure a strategic decision. Daily Yale News Online Friday, 12 September 1997, (online) (cited 20 December 2000). http://www.yale.edu/ydn/paper/9.12.97/I-1lauraashley.html .  · Hoovers Online. Laura Ashley Holdings Plc Company Capsule Companies and Industries http://www.hoovers.co.uk/uk?capsule/5/0,3042,90245,00.html?referer= (20 December 2000).  · Wetfeet. Laura Ashley Holdings Plc Company Profiles. http://www.wetfeet.com/asp/companyprofiles.asp (18 December 2000).  · Wright Investors Service. Research Report: Laura Ashley Holdings Plc Corporate Information http://profiles.wisi.com/profiles/scripts/corpinfo2.asp?cusip=C826EG930 (18 December 2000).