L.L Bean Inc Paper Essay Example for Free

L.L Bean Inc Paper Essay This paper has adjusted the 5 problems that shown in this case. First paragraph is to adjust how L.L Bean uses the previous year’s demand to determine how many units of product to order. Second paragraph is to adjust how many units of item L.L Bean should purchase under the relationship between the item costs and revenues. Third paragraph is to adjust what information should Scott Sklar have in order to help him to forecast for a particular style of men’s shirt that is a new catalog item. Fourth paragraph is to adjust the method that Mark Fasold used in the case to solve the number of items purchased. Lastly, the final paragraph is to adjust the improvement that L.L Bean should do in forecast process. L.L Bean uses different determinations and calculations to forecast and decide how many units of items to stock. The first thing is using the frozen forecast, which comes from the forecasting department. Buyers, product people, and inventory buyers meet to forecast item sales by book and rank various items in terms of expected dollar sales while they assign dollars in accordance with the ranking. They have to make a judgment when there is new item added. They judge the total of forecasted item sales and check it for reality based on the book forecast by comparing the previous data. The second thing is using a calculation of A/F, which is actual demand divided to forecast demand. It helps to calculate the range of inventory that the product would be in the coming year and the frequency distribution of these errors was compiled across items. For example, assume there was a 50% forecast errors, and the new item ratio was between 0.7 and 1.6 in last year, if the frozen forecast for an item were 1000 units, so the actual demand for that item would be between 700 and 1600 units. The last thing is the calculation of profit margin. For instance, an item cost $15, and sells for $30, and the g ain of selling would be $30-15=$15. If the liquidation is sold for $10, so the loss for failing to sell the marginal unit would be $15-5= $5. These can use to calculate the optimal order size and the fractile. The fractile helps to find the units of items to be stocked, estimates the costs, and the actual order size. Therefore, L.L Bean uses frozen forecast, A/F calculation and profit margin calculation to decide the number of units to stock. Demand of the products affects the decision of how many units of inventory the company should have. Based on the demand, the company is able to forecast and predict the number of stocks to order. In addition, the cost to make items, the price to sell the items and the liquidated cost for the items should also be considered. From those concerns, the company can probably estimate the profits and the losses for selling the inventory. Under the items’ costs and revenues, L.L Bean can figure out how many units of inventory they have to purchase in order to obtain a profitable situation. Demand forecast is an activity of estimating the quantity of a product that consumers will purcha se; thus, as a buyer, Scott Sklar should create an accurate demand forecast. However, according to the article, Scott mentioned that he would gather his inventory buyer, some product people, and himself to judge the new catalog item and decide if the new catalog item generates incremental demand. If not, they would see what items were going to steal the demand, and then those items would need to be adjusted accordingly. This shows that Scott was deciding the demand forecast by the team’s personal judgment but not based on the professional forecasting data. Hence, the demand forecast that Scott made may not accurately show the real demand. If the estimation is not accurate, there may be an under-stock and over-stock which can directly affect company’s profit. Accordingly, Scott needs to generate a lot of information: potential customers, and the sales of similar item’s data of L.L Bean’s competitors. Moreover, Scott should decide who will be the potential customers of the new catalog item. He can obtain this information by reviewing the past customers’ purchasing record and generate the purchasing habit. Scott can also obtain this information by sending our e-mail to search for more potential customers. Once he obtains the list of potential customers, he should send catalog to these potential customers and determine the demand of the new item. In additional, Scott can also use the sales data of similar item from its competitors to determine the treat of the similar style items. By using all these information Scott should able to create an accurate demand forecast for the particular style of men’s shirt that is a new catalog item. The number of items purchased usually exceeds the number forecast. Mark Fasold worried about the wide dispersion in forecast errors, both for â€Å"never-out† and â€Å"new† items. By doing some calculations on the cost under-stocking and cost of over-stocking, he found that the cost of under-stocking is greater tha n the cost of over-stocking. As a result, he decided to purchase more stocks than the number of forecasting, which can minimize the lost. However, with this decision, it created other problems to the company. Thus, it is important to let Mark understand the number of forecast is closely matched with the number of needs in the reality. To do so, L.L Bean should create an accurate system to address the demand forecast with very small forecasting error. Also, they should make up a backup plan when under-stocking is happening, promotion plane. Since it is mostly impossible to perfectly match the stock with the real demand, it is essential to sell all the over-stock to minimize the lost. L.L Bean should create an effective promotion plane to sell as much over-stock as they can. In conclusion, L.L Bean can improve and adjust its forecasting process in numerous ways. Retail industry is a fast-paced, changing industry where product’s demand and preferences rapidly change. The first problem appeared with L.L Bean’s forecasting process is that they only use the past dates to predict future forecasts. They should instead constantly update their forecasts system based on latest data that gained from market research or resources, in order to determine a more accurate approach. Also, the major catalogs L.L Bean introduces in each spring, summer, fall, and Christmas can be attached optional questionnaires. By doing this, they can have a better way to predict demand, and a better insight into consumer behavior in general. Nevertheless, appropriate adjustment can be made while they capture customers’ preferences and how customer rank L.L Bean â€Å"new† in comparison to â€Å"never out†. Lastly, in this case, L.L Bean can work close with suppliers so that they can be able to complete more â€Å"quick responses† and address the customers’ demand. They need to establish close relationships with the suppliers or reduce dependence on foreign vendors to generate a quicker supply.

A Cup of Coffee :: essays research papers

The loud beeping of the alarm rudely interrupts a fitful night of sleep. The thought of reaching an arm out from under the warm covers to turn the alarm off seems like a bad idea. Out of bed, rise and shine! It is a new beginning to another day. The thought of leaving the warm bed still seems like a bad idea. Just a few more minutes sleep is what is wanted. Peace and quiet still abound as the other family members are still asleep.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Wafting through the air, the enticing smell of hazelnut coffee tickles the nose with its sweet aromatic essence. It is the breaking point at which gives strength and motivation for leaving the warmth of the covers. Upon entering the kitchen the sounds of the coffee maker proclaims it’s promise to satisfy as it pop, pop, hisses and the aroma of the coffee caresses your nose and tickles your senses. With the coffee pot in view, the step quickens in order to reach the cabinet and get a big coffee mug. With a little bit of sugar to sweeten the coffees already sweet hazelnut flavor, the coffee pot proclaims that its job is done with a final pop and hiss. Pouring the hot black liquid into the mug watching as the sugar melts and becomes one with the coffee, a taste is taken, deciding that a little more sweetness is desired, a little more sugar is added, and upon second taste the senses explode in the mouth as the tongue declares, â€Å"it is good!† Taking t he cup to the table to drink the drink of life and ponder the days events as they might unfold, realizing that they probably won’t unfold as one would wish and that if they did life would not be as adventurous, thus brining your thoughts back to present and watching the birds as they to waken and begin feeding themselves at the feeder filled the day before. Holding the coffee mug as its warmth transfers to both hands, taking another drink and realizing that it is time for a refill, because one cup just isn’t enough.

Guiding principle for assessment of student learning Essay

Evaluation should bebased on clearly stated objectives. An objective is defined as the statement of the expected behaviors that the student should display after instruction or teaching. These objectives serve as basis for constructing and using assessment instruments to assess students’ learning. The expected behaviors are somehow related to either of the following, but not limited to: 1) knowledge; 2) reasoning; 3) skills; 4) products; or, 5) affects. Knowledge – refers to the cognitive activities which include memorizing, recalling of facts, understanding of concepts and meanings, analysing the relationships of related facts, synthesizing or related facts and principles, and evaluating the outcomes of the relationships of concepts and principles. Reasoning – is a behavior which refers to the cognitive activities which require the use of presentation, justification, and rationalization of the existence of facts, concepts, theories, and principles. Skills – defined as the ability to use once knowledge effectively and readily in the execution of performance of a specific task. This requires three elements in the skill: 1) sensing; 2) precision (accuracy); and, 3) timing. Products – refers to psychomotor activities that show the end result of using the abilities to manipulate, apply, and operate facts, concepts and principles in real-life situations. Affects – refers to the activities that show values, morals, ethics, ideals, and standards in life. B. The Principle of Appropriateness of Assessment Evaluation procedures and techniques should be selected in terms of the clearly stated objectives (Gronlund, 1981).There are various formats of assessment instruments from which the teacher can choose for classroom use. The suggested general formats are the following: Objective test – are those that require one and only one correct answer and no possible answers. Reganit, et al.(2004) posits that an objective test is made up of items for which correct responses maybe set up in advance. There are different types of objective test item formats, these are: 1) supply type; 2) matching type; 3) alternate-response type; 4) labelling; 5) enumeration; and, 6) multiple choice. Subjective test – res are evaluated by giving an opinion about the issue, concepts, ideas, and the like. In an English class, a test for the assessment of students’ writing skills are often considered as subjective because it require the teacher to rate a piece of work based on his/her personal interpretation. The raters can assign the corresponding points depending upon the quality of the piece of writing output. Performance test – when the objective of the lesson requires that at the end of the lesson the student are required to perform in an activity, the appropriate test to measure the achievement of this objective is a performance test. Oral Reasoning– when the instructional objective states that â€Å" at the end of the lesson the pupils orally defend their stand on the issue,† then an oral reasoning test is appropriate. Observation – Reed and Bergmann (2001) observation is one effective means of learning†¦how students response to classroom environment. This assessment method can be done by the teacher, co-student, or even parents. Self – Reports – students may be required to write personal opinions, journals, and reflection about a learning activity.Fromthese self-made reports, the teachers evaluate whether or not these students have learn the concepts taught in the classroom.

Reflection on the Character of Luke Skywalker Essay

Luke Skywalker’s character is a classic example of man’s constant battle of good and evil—not to be simply put as the battle of the good versus the evil—but the choice to be good or evil. He outwardly struggles to find his place and role in the society even as he struggles inwardly to understand his own nature. As Yoda and Obi-Wan explained to him, Luke must confront and go beyond the dark side to be a Jedi. He is confronted with facing Darth Vader, who he has just learned to be Anakin Skywalker—his father, and in whom Luke believes still has good in him and who he says he could not kill. He was also confronted with troubles that has shaped him into the peson he chose to be. Vader has been a Jedi once, turned to the dark side of the Force because he could not accept the death of his loved ones—first of his mother, then of his intuition that had foretold the death of his wife, Amidala. During their fight, he tried to convince his son that turning to the dark side was the only way Luke could save his friends. Luke was like his father, reckless in his actions and impatient in his youth. But as he matured, he learned the true path of the Force, with the guidance of Yoda and Obi-Wan. Like his father before him, he, too, was troubled with death and suffering. Yoda, sensing death coming to him, explains to Luke: â€Å"Strong am I with the Force, but not that strong. Twilight is upon me and soon night must fall. That is the way of things, the way of the Force.† Inevitably at Endor, Luke has come to confront his father, not with the intention of fighting him as before, but to convince him to turn back to the good side. His attempts turns out to be futile. He further exhibits his maturity from being reckless and impatient by restraining himself when given the chance to strike at the Emperor. However, the Emperor seduces Luke’s hatred and anger to attack him. Luke is tormented but still restrains himself until finally his rage erupted and attacked the Emperor. Darth Vader responded in defense of his master and Luke ends up fighting with his father. Luke realized that the Emperor was using his rage to turn him to the dark side of the Force. He has defeated Vader, not out of some personal, revenge-driven desire, but in order to protect someone he loves—Vader has treathened Luke’s newly found twin sister Leia. As he looked down on his father with pity and understanding, he realized that he, too, has the potential to turn to the dark side. He threw away his lightsaber in his firm belief that he could still save his father’s soul and save himself from the path of the dark side by not killing Vader. By doing so, he has rejected evil in himself and submits himself to the will of the Force. As Yoda explained to him: â€Å"A jedi’s strenght flows from the Force. But beware. Anger, fear, agression, the dark side are they. Once you start down the dark path forever will it dominate your destiny.† He has faced his own fears and defeated them, evidenced by his reply to the Emperor’s offer to take his father’s place at his side: â€Å"Never. I’ll never turn to the dark side†¦ I am a Jedi, like my father before me.† He has set an example that evil does not come naturally from the troubles that we are faced with, and that being good or evil is a matter of choice.

Unions and human resources essays

Unions and human resources essays After learning briefly about the laws concerning labor unions, I was interested in the events that put these laws in place. I was also curious to discern why the membership in labor unions had dropped so drastically if they were doing their job. I was surprised to discover that while labor unions effectively solve the labor issues by bargaining they are continues to drop. In order to understand the relationship between human resource managers and labor unions, one must know the laws and events that allow unions to exist. The first laws that came into effect that would alter managements dealings with Labor unions came about between the years of 1933 and 1947. Our country was in an economic depression and the widespread strike activity of this fifteen year period resulted in the passage of the National Labor Relations Act in 1935, followed by the passage of the National Labor-Management Relations Act in 1947. The National Labor Relations Act, also known as the Wagner Act, was designed to encourage the growth of trade unions and restrict management interfering with that growth. (Ivancevich 606) The Wagner Act created a three member National Labor Relations Board to ensure the law was enforced. Although this solved some labor issues, ten years later another rash of strikes along with employer opposition to the Wagner Act ensured the passage of the Nati onal Labor-Management Relations Act. This act, also known as the Taft-Hartley Act, created a series of unfair labor practices. It also expanded the National Labor Relations board to five members and outlawed closed shops. Although womens unions were in existence, it would take sixteen years and the publication of The Feminine Mystique to change the consciousness of the country. In 1963, the passage of the Equal Pay Act required that men and women receive equal pay for equal work. Less than a year later the Civil Rights Act of 1964 would solidify the s...

Double-Acting and Single-Acting Baking Powder

Double-Acting and Single-Acting Baking Powder If youre like me, youre lucky to pay attention to a recipe enough to notice whether youre supposed to be using baking powder or baking soda. Both ingredients cause baked goods to rise, but they are not interchangeable. Also, there is more than one type of baking powder. You can find single-acting baking powder and double-acting baking powder. You may be wondering how they are different or whether you should use half as much double-acting baking powder as single-acting baking powder. What's the Difference? You use the exactly same amount of double-acting baking powder as you would single-acting baking powder. The difference between the two types of powder is their chemical composition and whether they produce the carbon dioxide gas bubbles that make your baked goods rise when the ingredients are mixed or when the product is heated in the oven. Both types of baking powder produce the same amount of gas, so they are equally effective as leavening agents. Single-acting baking powder reacts with a water-based ingredient to form bubbles as soon as the ingredients are mixed. If you wait too long to bake your food or mix it too long these bubbles will escape and your food will fall flat.Double-acting baking powder produces some bubbles when the ingredients are mixed, but most of the rising occurs once heat is applied. This product is more reliable for home baking because it is harder to overbeat the ingredients and the recipe is less susceptible to failure if you forgot to preheat your oven. Because it is practically failsafe, this is the type of baking powder most often found in stores. Youll encounter single-acting baking powder in commercial applications, plus this is the type of powder you would make if you prepare baking powder yourself.

Personal statement for dental school applicaiton

For dental school applicaiton - Personal Statement Example I would usually visualize doing medical services which matters a lot to people, especially those who are in need of treatment and care. Although I was not able to initially pursue a health care degree in college, I was still very much devoted to work with other people by taking up Hospitality and Hotel Management at the University of Central Florida. I believe that this background have strongly enhanced my capacity to understand the needs of other people. I was able to hone my skills in dealing and providing services and care to them by learning more about hospitality management. Soon after, I met my husband who graduated from a dental school in Florida six years ago. He was already an established dentist back then when his passion for dentistry sparked my interest in the field. My husband acquainted me about the dental profession and this enabled me to understand his love for the practice. Through him, my dreams of providing care and treatment to others all came back to me. I was able to observe him perform checkups, root canals, and even cosmetic procedures so dexterously done that I thought he was like an artist with his dental tools. I was so inspired by my husband’s dental profession that I eventually started studying dental hygiene at (name of school) on (year). Because of this, I was able to learn and understand the great importance in oral health care for every individual. Under the shadow of my dentist husband, I learned various practices and modern techniques in dental procedures such as pain reduction, root canal therapy, dental implants, and cosmetic dentistry. I saw the advantages of having my husband around because he helped in learning more about dental procedures. I developed a stronger bond with my husband as we share each other’s experiences in the study and practice of dental care. As a result, I was able to excel in the field of dental hygiene – an achievement which encouraged me to take a bold step by applying for dentistry at