Charles Schwab Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Charles Schwab - Essay Example The primary tool that should be used to analyze key issues of the case is a SWOT analysis. Since technology is an ever-changing influence on the business world today, and businesses must stay on top of technology in order to provide the best business, the businesses must make sure they analyze these concepts on the terms of a SWOT analysis. There are several strengths in this approach, as the customers feel empowered by their ability to use online interphases to participate in trading and investing. Furthermore, the opportunities continue to allow for better organization and focus for the business. Weaknesses focus around the fact that technology will continue to change, so the interphase will need to be constantly updated and customers may need extra assistance with this. Threats include the ability of other companies to adapt to the same type of interphase, and the fact that the technology will be both costly and expensive for the company. Having used the tools described above, identify the key issues that the company should focus on - relate it to the reading in the Grant text for that week. Tell the reader why those are the root issues and not just symptoms of something deeper. Charles Schwab should continue to focus on technology in order to push its firm to be the most technology-driven company. The name of the brand "Charles Schwab" holds much respect for investors, so the combination of technological advancement with the name should grab the attention of those willing to invest. As Generation X ages, and as they were the generation that showed the first true interest in technology and computers as an everyday resource, it will become important to target them for investment strategy, and a good way to do this is with top-of-the-line technology. Technology grabs the attention of Generation X and also peaks their interest, because most of the individuals that are a part of that generation respect the reliance of computers. Combining this with the respect for the company's name, the company should be able to achieve a large amount of success. Find and cite three benchmark companies that face similar issues or counterpoint issues TODAY. Three companies that face similar issues today are actually three banks that also have to grab the interest of Generation X in order to promote investment in the company. This includes Chase, which recently bought out Washington Mutual, Bank of America, and Citibank. All three banks are becoming more and more interested in the use of technology in order to keep organization clean, and reduce human error. Technology has also allowed these companies to provide customers with more power in their investments with technology like online banking. Like Schwab, these banks are using online interphases to give customers more access to information, and more power overall. Again, technology helps to catch the attention and interest of the aging Generation X population, who have always shown a certain trust in the use of computers.Select and defend a direction for the company. I believe that Charles Schwab should continue with its current strategy of using technology to stay on top of the investment firm business. Technology is a great way to not only interest Generation X, but also show its strength, power, and reliability as an organization, combining its already reliable name with the reliability of technology. The better the technology and the more empowered the customers, the more likely they will be to come to the business, and stay with the business.

Finacial crisis and shipping and ship repair Yards business Essay

Finacial crisis and shipping and ship repair Yards business - Essay Example The Shipping industry is experiencing myriad problems and these problems have been created by the financial crisis, the financial crisis forced the banks to cut back on lending and the consumer spending contracted in many places. The same has made it very difficult to move goods from one place to another and there are very few goods these days that are being moved when compared to the time before the financial crisis. The shipments of various buyers are stuck at the dock and as a result of which the material is deteriorating with each passing day. The letter of credit is very important when it comes to moving goods from one place to another. It is a must for the shipper to know when he will be paid for the goods that he loads in the shipment, which will be received by the buyer, but there is a lot of uncertainty that is affecting the shipping industry. Almost all the industries have been affected by the financial crisis and the case with the shipping industry is no different. A typical discussion put forward by shippers is that unpredictable fluctuations in the shipping industry are expected, because booms are normally followed by recessions. However, the current gloomy financial circumstance the world is confronted with is the most difficult so far, and it hit the industry severely. Demand factors, such as prices of other goods, production costs, demand for other goods, the availability, and the big change in the cost of financing have played a very important role in the current downturn in demand for shipping, and freight services, including the decline for ship-yards new builds and repairs orders. Some shipping companies have luck on their side. When the large Asian shipyards got overrun with orders in recently, and delivery times grew to up to four years, many small shipyards, especially in China, were simply created out of thin air. In many cases, contracts to build new ships were signed with these so-called Greenfield shipyards, which existed only on the drawing board. These shipyards no longer exist today, nor will the ships. Most of the existing Greenfield shipyards are likely to disappear quickly. This might benefit the big and financially strong Ship Yards, which might reflect in increasing seeds order to their facilities in the mid to long term. On the other hand, supply factors are determined by the demand and freight services for shipping, along with the interest rates at the time. Suppliers went on seeking more and more excess capacity by ordering containers and new ships to meet the increasing demand. However the demand direction did not continue as was expected. The financial crisis has effected hard not only these shipping and ships building and ship repair sector, but also other related services as well. Shippers in North America, Europe and Asia have been hurt most by the crisis. For instance, the contracted tonnage of containerizes cargo has went down by several millions of cubic feet. The annual reduction has been one of the most painful that business has seen. According to industry advisors and evaluators there would be a further reduction in demand for containerized cargo shipping will follow. The existing