Competitive Analysis and Competitive Strategy of Apple Doing Business Research Paper

Competitive Analysis and Competitive Strategy of Apple Doing Business in China - Research Paper Example The firm should devise ways to leverage the current strategies to make the firm to be more competitive than its rival firms are. However, the Apple’s weaknesses are the major challenges that have given its competitors to perform well in the Chinese market. To deal with such a problem, the firm should implement new strategies that would minimize or eliminate its weaknesses, thus improving competitiveness in the market. Apple Inc. is an American company that designs and fabricates hardware for computers, programming software and other consumer gadgets. The organizations best-known hardware items are the Macintosh line of machines, the iPod, the iPhone, and the iPad, with all the products having met the international standards and are significantly unique from other competitors’ products. Apple began in 1976 and has since created an exceptional notoriety in the consumer gadgets field. Nonala and Kenney (1991) highlighted that the individuals who use Apple hardware have a tendency to be excited about and dependable to the items while the individuals who do not use Apple items frequently scrutinize them as being overpriced. With the arrival of the iMac in 1998, Apple could put to rest some its past disappointments. The uncommon achievement of the iPod sets the stage for future items, including the best selling cell phone ever, the Apple iPhone, the MacBook line of convenient machines, and the A pple iPad proclaimed in 2010. As indicated by rankings of brands carried out universally, the estimation of Apples brand doubled to $76 billion in 2012 as compared to the preceding year. The organization is regularly expanding year by year and has set a high record among organizations grade. Apple Inc targets both low-level clients and high-level clients by releasing by introducing different standard phones with different pricing in China. The commodities target people of all ages to maximize the profit margins of the firm. China is the second largest

The Middle Ages Essay Example for Free

The Middle Ages Essay The Middle Ages was an era that could be described several different ways. Like all spans of time they had their downfalls, victories, different views of faith, and different forms of government. The Middle Ages span from 500 to 1500 in Europe. This is a very extensive period of time, and it is difficult to label it with one name. So many different events and themes took place. Nevertheless, the labels that best describe this era would have to be The Dark Ages, The Age of Feudalism, and The Age of Faith. The Middle Ages could be referred to as the Dark Ages for several reasons. In this time period there were a lot of wars and raids taking place, especially Viking raids. â€Å"846 According to their custom the Northmen plundered†¦ and burned the town of Dordrecht†¦ the Northmen, with their boats filled with immense booty, including both men and goods, returned to their own country†¦.† (Doc.3). Often times there was nothing that people could do to prevent these raids because they happened so quickly. The Vikings were not at all like the people they were used to fighting for the object of land. The Vikings only wanted money and prisoners, and that made them harder to stop. There were also barbarians like The Moors, and The Hungarians who brought terror with them wherever they wandered. â€Å"They burned down the churches and then departed with a crowd of captives†¦ there is no longer any trade, only unceasing terror†¦.† (Doc. 1). Some people would say that you should focus on the accomplishments of the era, and not on the negative. There is just so much negative that it tends to outshine the positive. This document tries to show you the side of the Middle Ages, â€Å"It flourished in the midst of rude surroundings, fierce passions, and material ambitions†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Doc. 7). The era did continue amidst these things, but that does not make it a good age to live in. It makes it a dark age just because of its rude surroundings, and fierce passions. Feudalism was the social system in Europe in the Middle Ages. Nobility would hold land from the Crown and in return offer military service. â€Å"I will aid the count of Champagne in my own person, and I will send to the countess of Champagne the knights whose service I owe to them  for the fief which I hold of them†¦.† (Doc. 2). This age could be named The Age of Feudalism because it was the dominant social structure of the time period. This is also the only age when we really see Feudalism play a strong role in society. To understand the structure of it more completely take a look at the next document. â€Å"Vassal to Lord -Loyalty –Military Service –Ransom, if needed; Lord to Vassal -Protection –Land (fief)† (Doc. 4). The vassal was the name that was given to the person who was granted the land. Feudalism was a major part of everyday life for people who lived in Europe during The Middle Ages. The Catholic Church had a lot of power in all aspects of life in this era. The Pope even had the power to ask people to fight for God, and they would do just that. In this document Pope Urban 11 is calling for a crusade or holy war to recapture the Holy Land. â€Å"Your brethren who live in the [Middle] East are in urgent need of your help†¦.† â€Å"All who die by the way, whether by land or sea, or in the battle against the pagans, shall have immediate remission of sins† (Doc. 9). Many people heard this and obeyed risking their lives for the church. The power the church had was even visible as you can tell from Document 10 which is a picture of a Gothic cathedral. It’s standing high above the people, and even above the buildings surrounding it. More examples of what people would do for the church come from documents 5 and 8. Document 5 is a Church council calling for the observance of the Truce of God. â€Å"†¦so that no one may commit murder, arson, robbery, or assault, no one may injure another with a sword, club, or any other kind of weapon†¦.† (Doc. 5). This showed the Church’s power to even make laws that people would obey. Document 8 is adapted from the fourteenth-century monastic vows of Brother Gerard. The document show what some people would give up to be a monk in the Church. â€Å"I hereby renounce my parents, my brothers and relatives, my friends, my possessions†¦and the vain and empty glory and pleasure of this world. I also renounce my own will, for the will of God† (Doc. 8). This is why the title The Age of Faith belongs to The Middle Ages. An additional document would be helpful to make this essay better. If I had been given a document on the serfs lives I could’ve used it for The Dark Ages, and the Age of Feudalism. The Middle Ages are a very interesting time period to write about due to the many different aspects of the period that come to play. Even though it was such a dark time there are always some bright things in the dark. For this  time period it was the Church, and the inventions and knowledge that were gained. The labels The Dark Ages, the Age of Feudalism, and the Age of Faith are truly the best ways to describe The Middle Ages.

Impacts Of Tourism In Okavango Delta Tourism Essay

Impacts Of Tourism In Okavango Delta Tourism Essay According to Kreag G. (2001) the impacts of tourism are distinguished in seven different types, these are economic, service, social and cultural, natural, community attitude, crowding and congestion and taxes. These impacts are not applicable with every community because the resources and conditions are may differ. Every coin has two sides, means these impacts can affect negatively or positively. Planning and the plans of management with their current implementation helps to increase positive tourism issues and decreases tourism issues (Algansadi, 2009). In economic term, tourism helps to maximize the opportunities of employment like more number of jobs starting from entry level caries low wedges to high professional level positions in management and industrial fields. In service term, increase in tourism helps to create more number of opportunities to rise and develop facilities. According to Andriotis K. (2009) in terms of community attitude, as tourism increases range of facilitie s are used by the local people. Tourism helps to create place more thrilling and exciting. As new development is done by outsiders, community culture is get affected. In terms of crowding and congestion, people come together and get attracted to amazing places. In terms of taxes, tourist spends more money on behalf of services from which value added tax is gained. According to Fennell (2008) in terms of social and cultural, it is in detail consideration of tourism consequence which can be the determinants or assets to the communities. Increase in number of tourist comes with their different values and affects the family life and individual behaviour. The close relation between tourist and the residents helps to create rise in opportunities. Positive impacts of social and cultural are, the education and training plays important role for local people to learn and enhance their qualification and skills which is significant in tourism industry also help trained staff in the organisations. It helps to increase the standard life of the local people with positive economic growth. Increase in tourist spending power help to increase income of local person (Chin C.,2010). It helps to raise investment with the buying process of food, dress, culture and ceremonies etc, which can create tourist interest in the local culture. Negative impacts of social and cultural affects, increase in smuggling, gambling, drinking of alcohol also with the increase in underage drinking, rise in prostitution, drugs and crime. It affects lifestyle, culture, and most important language. Increase in the tourism area affects local residents. There is a negative impact on customs and values of local people (Kreag G., 2001). In terms of natural, the areas of natural resources like oceans, waterfall, wildlife forests increases tourist attraction and new residents who loves the natural environment. Generally clean industry is known as tourism industry, hotels, parks, restaurants, shops are comes under that except factories. The historical and museums get preserved (Kreag G., 2001). Positive impacts as it work as a catalyst to preserve natural area also helps to gain economic benefits. Forests are preserved. The ecotourism is maintained which protects and preserve selected natural environment, also gain economic benefits of tourism development and reduces the impact on environment (Andereck K. L., 1993). Natural system also have negative effects like, it strongly affects on air and water pollution also sedimentation effects with demonising the forests for the tourist services (Kreag G., 2001). Flora and fauna has deep researched on wild life which includes mammals and birds arises the hunting and trapping a ctivities increases also the marine life is get affected when toxic waste water runoff in sea. The soil and beaches are get damaged with the skies, cars, feet, horse etc. Oil refining situated in coastal areas with the water pollution and destruction. Solid waste major effects on soil and air pollution recycle and reusable helps to minimize the pollution (Mukherjee and Abir, 2008). Okavango Delta is the amazing tourist place situated in north-western part of Botswana. Its a home of wildlife where most of the tourist comes for photography and safari hunter. Annually, on average 50,000 tourists visit this place (Mbaiwa J., 2002). Tourism development has boost to create and enhance facilities like hotels, camps, airports, communication services, etc in region. This development has impacts on environment and socio culture of region (Mbaiwa J., 2004). In positive aspect, the region major land is used for tourism development with helping local people to increase benefits from developing of natural resources and wildlife. Local people created an institution known as Community based Organisation (CBOs) which help for tourism development and natural resource management. Institute distribute work in small parts, like Khawai Community works on cutting of thatching grass and see it to the lodges in Delta, similarly others also choose their parts. This helps to empowermen t of local community in region. 2) Tourism development widely creates employment which benefits for the financial development. Opportunities in jobs like accommodation services, tourism business, management, tour operators, etc. The company like Scot Wilson Consultants gave jobs to people in 20 safari campuses (Mbaiwa J., 2002).As all the local communities has only create jobs and opportunities instead of depending on other companies. 3) Cultural rejuvenations promote tourism with their traditionally created products, services, shops, craft industries, etc which provides cultural services to the tourist to know cultural ways. The Mekoro Safaris and basket production are the major known businesses over there. The safaris are created like the dug in a wood, which use for transport and for hunting crocodiles and hippos. The basket production is their traditional business, which helps to generate more profit from the tourists as market comes to their home. 4) Positive approach among th e local people, for development of tourism and conservation of wildlife helps to develop tourism and social economic benefits from tourist arrivals (Mbaiwa J., 2004). According to Mbaiwa (2002) as negative aspect, tourism industry developed in Okavango Delta is largely owned and managed by internationals and developed in remote areas. The financial rates are so high that all services and goods beyond the local community richness. Major profit in earned by international companies and the margined income of the local people is low. The facilities are provided with which the tourist is comfortable. Most of the camps are run by Hospitality and Tourism Association with the international membership. 2) Racism development in tourism industry of Okavango Delta refers to relationship between black and white people. Management levels are occupied by whites, pay scale and benefits are very low for blacks (Fennell A., 2008). 3) Relations and structure of family is affecting by tourism. Foreign companies growing lodges and camps, less space to live local people accept wildness part. Relocate people affects their landmarks and relations. Working period of worke rs affects relationship with family and this impact on increases in HIV/ADIS spread. 3) Tourism and urbanisation put wide negative impact on social culture. The costumes and styles affect relationships. Prostitution is growing in most of the developing countries as urbanisation develops most impacts on local people. Tourism is the major economic sector, which increases in crime with illegal activities like drugs, violence and robberies (Mbaiwa, 2002, 2004). Thus, looking back at the easy, tourism is growing rapidly dealing with positive and negative impacts on the tourist place. Increasing infrastructure put impacts on natural system. Its positive image is excellent for people but the negative image affects culture. Mainly socio cultural positive impact helps to development of tourist destination. Tourism helps to maintain nature and its components. Also it helps to create place attractive and thrilling. Development of tourism increases job opportunities. Positive impact of social culture help local people to educate with training, improves life standards and maintain their culture. Negative side effects mostly on diverse economic and culture, rise in crime, place issues, illegal behaviour. Tourism is developing in Okavango Delta with combining positive and negative social cultural impacts on local people. Its positive impacts helps to develop destination mainly community based tourism. Participating local people helps to generate income and employment by self. Mekoro Safaries and Basket making helps to preserve their own culture. Tourism help local people to get international market at their place. Its negative social impacts affect on quality life of local people. Its important to focus on these impacts by all stakeholders of industry. The camps should be promoted but should not owned by international. The local people should get first preference in management jobs and there should be law to prevent racism.

With the setting of the sun Essay -- English Literature

With the setting of the sun In F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby, there is a constant feeling of movement and the desire to get away. Nick, Gatsby, Wilson, Tom and Daisy all move, or have the intention of moving. Not only does this movement seem to foreshadow events in the book, but it also seems to lead to the conclusion that society as a whole in the 1920's was rather unstable and was undergoing constant change. Not all the characters move in the same way, and this shows how different their backgrounds and lifestyles are. The main movement seems to be from west to east. Throughout the decades man is said to be progressing through the steps of evolution and toward the setting sun, or east to west. The characters move in opposite direction from which the sun sets, which seems significant to the physical and psychological patterns of the characters. The two main characters that movement affects are Nick and Gatsby. The movement of Nick and Gatsby in this direction shows us how their personalities and feelings change as the sun goes down. There are also the various meanings that the sun has, that seems to map out, or affect their near future. The sun foreshadows Nick and Gatsby's actions and emotions, which in turn are affected by the many representations the sun has. Jay Gatsby is a character that the sun affects in such a way that it becomes a symbol of his ability to direct his will and, when put together with his dream, this gives him a sense of purpose. Jimmie Gatz was born in a town in Minnesota. After changing his name to Jay Gatsby, he moved to West Egg, Long Island in order to start a new life revolved around impressing Daisy. Here the sun represents a psychological belief that surp... ...nd that they, "had never, all along, intended doing anything at all. But it was done now. It was too late."(139) Just as the colors begin to bloom in the dazzling night sky they fade and disappear out of sight, just as Nick moves away. The rising sun has been used to describe progress and evolution, but as the sun travels backwards, it shows people for who they really are. The light is shone hard on the characters, so much so that they have nothing to hide behind. This minor action seems to set and change the entire novel at the same time. It also fits in perfectly with the flow or plot of the book. It shows how the characters are slowly opening up to their surroundings, and how much the sun, metaphorically, affects them. Throughout the novel, the sun has shone light on certain characters to show the power and hidden creativity of the unconscious mind.

Hacking satellite cards :: essays research papers

Writing a "Private 3M Script" First it is important to define the term "3M." The term "3M" simply refers to a script's ability to unlock all of the channels, based on the saying "All for one, and One for all!" from the "3 Musketeers," (which came from the old days of hacking cable boxes where all channels were viewable through one channel). Anyway, "3M" now is just a generic term for a card that has all channels open and no stealth or write protection. In stealth scripts, the "3M" code refers to the actual part of the code that enables the video.All scripts that open all of the channels are 3M's, however most people are referring to scripts that auto-update on their own, when they refer to a 3M. The card auto-updates because it has no commands blocked, and it appears to be a normal subbed card, as much as possible. The EASIEST type of 3M to write is to modify a valid bin file, by editing it in BasicH. Before you can write a script to modify the card, you need to be able to edit a bin file manually to make those changes. If you read through this page carefully you will find everything you need to know to modify a valid bin file with unique jump points and a 3M code. After you are done editing your valid bin file you will have a private 3M that auto-updates, with private jump points. To remove simply do a 1-STEP clean in BasicH or BasicU. If you follow the directions you should have a fairly safe 3M to use. If you have a private 3M (that does not have code in any regions that have been changed ago updates) your card would still be running today no matter HOW long they've been you installed it. They can only send a "killer" ECM that will loop your cards if they have 8 known bytes in a row that they can hash. In order to ZAP your card with an ECM your card needs to be detected as being "hacked." In order to do this they need to know you card's "signature," and your signature is based on the "extra&quo t; data that is on your card: the jump points and 3M code. If they don't know your jump points or how exactly you broke up your 3M code then it is not possible for them to target you since they won't know the "signature" of your card. Hacking satellite cards :: essays research papers Writing a "Private 3M Script" First it is important to define the term "3M." The term "3M" simply refers to a script's ability to unlock all of the channels, based on the saying "All for one, and One for all!" from the "3 Musketeers," (which came from the old days of hacking cable boxes where all channels were viewable through one channel). Anyway, "3M" now is just a generic term for a card that has all channels open and no stealth or write protection. In stealth scripts, the "3M" code refers to the actual part of the code that enables the video.All scripts that open all of the channels are 3M's, however most people are referring to scripts that auto-update on their own, when they refer to a 3M. The card auto-updates because it has no commands blocked, and it appears to be a normal subbed card, as much as possible. The EASIEST type of 3M to write is to modify a valid bin file, by editing it in BasicH. Before you can write a script to modify the card, you need to be able to edit a bin file manually to make those changes. If you read through this page carefully you will find everything you need to know to modify a valid bin file with unique jump points and a 3M code. After you are done editing your valid bin file you will have a private 3M that auto-updates, with private jump points. To remove simply do a 1-STEP clean in BasicH or BasicU. If you follow the directions you should have a fairly safe 3M to use. If you have a private 3M (that does not have code in any regions that have been changed ago updates) your card would still be running today no matter HOW long they've been you installed it. They can only send a "killer" ECM that will loop your cards if they have 8 known bytes in a row that they can hash. In order to ZAP your card with an ECM your card needs to be detected as being "hacked." In order to do this they need to know you card's "signature," and your signature is based on the "extra&quo t; data that is on your card: the jump points and 3M code. If they don't know your jump points or how exactly you broke up your 3M code then it is not possible for them to target you since they won't know the "signature" of your card.

Fair Teacher Pay Association :: Argumentative Persuasive Education Papers

Fair Teacher Pay Association Factà ³There is a shortage of qualified graduates of professional teacher preparation programs entering the teaching profession in the United States. Factà ³More than 80% of the employing jurisdictions in the United States have been forced to hire unlicensed, untrained, unprepared teachers because there are not enough licensed graduates of teacher preparation programs to fill the need. Factà ³The overwhelming response from college students to the question of why they wonà ­t enter the teaching profession is that "teacher pay is too low". Factà ³The average national salary for a beginning teacher for the 1998-1999 academic year was $25,735 , far less than the salary for other college graduates. Would you want to be a teacher?? Dear Mr. & Mrs. Doe: Do you care about the quality of your childrenà ­s education? Weà ­re sure you do, just like most hard working Americans. Think about it. Our childrenà ­s education is their future, and their future is our nationà ­s future. This future is determined by our childrenà ­s teachers. A lack of teachers and, more importantly, a lack of GOOD teachers is a big problem in our schools today. We, the members of the Fair Teacher Pay Association (FTPA), believe this injustice must be brought to the attention of all. In addition to informing the public, we want to do things to change the current system. This letter and informaional packet will briefly inform you of the facts you need to know on this subject. We often hear people say things such as: Teachers work form 9 to 3, less than bankers. Teachers work 9 months, and then get the summers off. Teachers themselves say: Teaching is the only job where you work three times per day. First you teach a full day, then you work at school in the afternoon, and then you take work home to do at night. The average teacher works a minimum of 8 hours and 37 minutes each day. 8:37 multiplied by an average school year of 180 days is 1551 hours a year. That is the minimum required for their daily tasks. Teachers also have supplementary tasks that they must complete on an irregular basis. These tasks such as pre and post school year activities, meetings, and continuing education add up to an average minimum of 318 hours per year. This adds up to a grand total of 1869 hours per year! Check out these statistics: - A teacher works a minimum of 1,869 hours per year to perform his/her

Purpose of a SWOT Analysis Essay

Every business to include the largest ones that control their areas of industry–has a limited supply of manpower, production capacity and capital. Evaluating the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats helps it determine how to allocate these resources in a manner that will result in the highest possible potential for revenue growth and profitability. The management team examines where the company can compete most effectively. The company more times than not discovers competitive strengths that have not been fully utilized in the past in addition to critical areas that needs to be improved in order for the business to more effectively compete. A realistic assessment also prevents strategic blunders like entering a market with products that are clearly inferior to what well-entrenched competitors are offering. Continuous improvement in all areas of a company’s operations is an important aspect of staying ahead of competitors. Weaknesses and opportunities can–and must–be turned into future strengths. PURPOSE OF A SWOT ANALYSIS 3 Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis is a necessary, straightforward standard that assists in direction and serves as a foundation for the development of business’s marketing strategy. It brings about this process through assessment of the organization’s strengths (what it can do) and weaknesses (what it cannot do) in addition to opportunities (potential favorable conditions for the company) and threats (potential unfavorable conditions for it). SWOT analysis is also an important step in the planning process but sometimes its value is often minimized in spite of how simple it is in creating it. The role of SWOT analysis is to take the information from the environmental analysis and separate it into internal issues (strengths and weaknesses) and external issues (opportunities and threats). Once this is completed, SWOT analysis determines if the information indicates something that will assist a business in meeting its objectives (a strength or opportunity), or if it identifies an obstacle that must be overcome or minimized to achieve desired results (weakness or threat). The purpose of a SWOT analysis is to get managers into the mindset and thinking about everything that could possibly be an impact to the success and failure of a new project. Failing to acknowledge an essential strength, weakness, opportunity or threat could and usually does lead to terrible management decisions. Take for example, a software company that might hold a patent for a new computer processor failed to recognize a threat from its competitors who were also developing comparable products, it might overestimate conceivable sales of its new processor and assume debt to finance the growth of its project only to notice down the line that the company’s promising product will not make enough money to make a profit or even pay off the assumed debt. A SWOT analysis could have helped this company’s management avoid expensive mistakes early on and alerted them to which products were more likely to succeed. PURPOSE OF A SWOT ANALYSIS 4 With SWOT’s origins dating back to the 1960s with Albert Humphrey, it is as useful now as it was back then. Businesses utilize the process in two different ways-as an easy icebreaker assisting individuals come together to â€Å"kick off† strategy development or as a more serious strategy tool. A great SWOT analysis case study is Starbuck’s Coffee. By 2010, the company was losing money and had a major drop in its stock price. Its stock price had dropped to around $10 in 2009 from its high of $35 a few years earlier. The economic crisis throughout 2008 and 2009 really hit Starbucks’ stock price hard (â€Å"SBUX Basic Chart | Starbucks Corporation Stock – Yahoo! Finance,† 2011). Even though Starbucks’ stock price took a huge hit, its net revenues did not. Starbucks’ profits went from $7. 8 billion in 2006, to $10. 4 billion in 2008, down to $9. 8 billion in 2009, and back up to $10. 7 billion in 2011 (Starbucks Corporation, 2010). The amazing thing here is that the company endured an economic crisis and still come out stronger than when its stock price was at its highest. Lauren Roby (2011) performed a well researched SWOT analysis of Starbucks covering this time frame and identified the following strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Strengths: #1: Market leader in the coffee industry including almost 17,000 stores as of the end of the 2010 (Starbucks Corporation, 2010). #2. Starbucks is recognized by customers worldwide due in part to its high quality products and consumer friendly environment. #3. Starbucks is on good footing financially. Its stock price might have fallen in the late 2000’s, but its profits barely took a hit (Starbucks Corporation, 2010). Weaknesses: PURPOSE OF A SWOT ANALYSIS 5 #1: One of Starbucks’ biggest weaknesses is what its customers have to pay for the product. McDonald’s uses Starbucks’ high price directly against the company in their attempts to lure customers away from the company and into the arches. #2: 75% of the company’s profits come from its coffee products and other specialty drinks (Starbucks Corporation, 2010). This means that when global coffee bean prices fluctuate, the company will take a direct hit every time the price of coffee rises. Opportunities: #1. International Markets. With Brazil being one if not the world’s largest coffee consumer in the world, it offers a huge market for Starbucks to enthusiastically enter and develop (Murphy, 2011). #2. Starbucks has joined forces with Tata coffee in India, which is the fifth largest exporter of coffee, to begin selling their coffee worldwide (Bose, 2011). This gives Starbucks more access to coffee. Threats: #1. Competition. One of Starbuck’s biggest competitors, McDonald’s, can open their McCafe brand beverages in current franchise stores globally to include Europe. This gives McDonald’s an upper hand on Starbucks who has to invest over $300,000 to open a brand new store in Europe while McDonald’s investment would run around $100,000 (Liu, 2009). If McDonald’s continues down this path, it could greatly reduce the geographic scope advantage that Starbucks currently has over McDonald’s. These days, It is not enough to just recognize the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of a business. In exercising a SWOT analysis it is essential to reduce or avert both PURPOSE OF A SWOT ANALYSIS 6 weaknesses and threats. Weaknesses should be viewed as something to be turned into strengths as threats should be turned into opportunities. Strengths and opportunities should be allied to optimize the business’s potential. Utilizing SWOT in this manner can help a company gain the leverage most so desperately need these days. (Ferrell, Hartline, Lucas, Luck, 1998).