The Theme Of Prejudice In The Merchant Of Venice - 1058 Words

Prejudice is a central theme of Shakespeare’s â€Å"The Merchant of Venice†, specifically that between Christians and Jews in the city. The religious tension is demonstrated by the relationship of Shylock, the Jewish moneylender, and Antonio, the Christian he is doing business with. Throughout â€Å"The Merchant of Venice†, Shylock is viewed as a greedy monster, since he works as a moneylender, while Antonio is viewed in a positive light by all, especially when he, with some help from friends, was able to outsmart Shylock for the debt owed to him. In the play, Shylock worked as a moneylender, someone who would lend money when someone is in need, but would expect it to be paid back in full, with interest. Moneylenders were viewed in a negative†¦show more content†¦The Biblical Israelites had faced oppression from the moment a new king came into power and feared their large population. The new king said, â€Å"‘See! The Israelite people have multipl ied and become more numerous than we are! / Come, let us deal shrewdly with them to stop their increase; / otherwise, in time of war they too may join our enemies to fight against us / and so leave the land.’...The more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied / and spread, so that the Egyptians began to loathe the Israelites. / So the Egyptians reduced the Israelites to cruel slavery, / making life bitter for them with hard labor, at more and brick and all kinds of field work / --cruelly oppressed in all their labor.† (Exodus, Chapter 1. 8-14) Like Shylock, these people were limited to what jobs they could do (seeing how they were slaves) and were treated unkindly for their belief system, a belief system that does not infringe on others. The Israelites had faced people who believed they were monsters they could control and manipulate, just as Antonio and Bassanio had planned to do to Shylock. Shylock says, speaking about Antonio treating him different solely on t he basis of him following a different faith, â€Å"He hath disgraced me, and hindered me / half a million, laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, / scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my / friends, heated mine enemies; and what’s his reason? I am a / Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands,Show MoreRelatedThe Theme of Prejudice in William Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice1168 Words   |  5 PagesThe Theme of Prejudice in William Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice In The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, there are two main themes, prejudice, and loyalty. Prejudice is the more evident theme and is shown in many different aspects through the characters and plot. Shylock and Antonio demonstrate religious discrimination between Christians and Jews. Portia and her suitors display racial discrimination. The aim of this essay is to discuss the theme of prejudiceRead MoreEssay about Love and Hate Depicted in Shakespeares Merchant of Venice1038 Words   |  5 PagesLove and Hate Depicted in Shakespeares Merchant of Venice The Merchant of Venice is a play both about love and hate. Shakespeare illustrates the theme of hate most prominently through the prejudices of both Christians and Jews and their behaviour towards one another. The theme of love is shown amongst the Christians, in the love of friendship and marital love. The themes are emphasised in the settings of the play, Belmont symbolising love and Venice symbolising hate. As well as this the immoralityRead MoreThe Theme Of Revenge In The Merchant Of Venice1118 Words   |  5 PagesRevenge is the central theme of The Merchant of Venice as the plot is centred around the theme of revenge, vengefulness is one of the main character traits present in a sizable number of characters and the main moral message is that revenge is a poor choice. While other themes in the play are present in the plot and moral message and the themes of love and friendship are more prevalent in the majority of the characters, revenge plays a more significant role in the pla y. These factors lead to a playRead MoreRacial and Cultural Prejudice Essay766 Words   |  4 PagesThere are many themes woven into the play The Merchant of Venice, Prejudice being the most evident. This prejudice is mainly racial (against race) or cultural (against lifestyle, i.e. religion, culture†¦) and is one of the leading causes of conflict in the play. Prejudice towards Jews, prejudice towards Christians, and prejudice towards people of different colour and prejudice of others with different nationalities, are all present in the play. (transition) Here come another of the tribe: a thirdRead More Merchant of Venice Essay: Universal Elements853 Words   |  4 PagesThe Universal Elements of Merchant of Venicenbsp;nbsp; nbsp; Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice contains many themes and elements that are considered timeless or universal. Samuel Taylor Coleridge defines a timeless or universal element as a â€Å"representation of men in all ages and all times.†nbsp; A universal element is relevant to the life of every human being – it is universal. The first major theme that plays an important role in the play is the Christians’ prejudice against the Jews. A secondRead MoreThe Merchant Of Venice By William Shakespeare1445 Words   |  6 PagesTalia Warshawsky Ms. Rembert CGI English 11 HH 12 November 2014 Crashing Thru Venice William Shakespeare, possibly the most esteemed writer of all time, wrote a play titled The Merchant of Venice, near the end of the 1500 s. The play takes place in Venice, and while it can be described as what we now call a romantic comedy, it also draws attention to the harsh divides in the Venetian society brought on by conflicting beliefs and religions. Centuries later, in the early 2000 s, Paul Haggis wroteRead MoreMerchant Of Venice Essay Outline956 Words   |  4 Pages The Merchant of Venice Essay Outline Introduction: Hook: The theme is the main subject or message of a story. It is used to give depth and enhance the plot. The themes of The Merchant of Venice are used throughout the story of the play to make the plot move along and to encourage the characters into action. Bridge: When you read The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare there are many themes throughout the play and many lessons to be learned. Main Ideas: The most important themes are hatredRead MoreA Study of Anti-Semitism in The Merchant of Venice Essay1540 Words   |  7 PagesA Study of Anti-Semitism in The Merchant of Venice ‘The Merchant of Venice’ was written by Shakespeare in 1596 and appeals to both audiences of comedy and tragedy. The play features anti-Semitism which is a response to 1500’s Britain as well as other literature of the time. Anti-Semitism is the term used to describe discrimination towards Jews and Judaism. ‘The Merchant of Venice’ has received both positive and negative comments over the centuries and throughout thisRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie The Merchant Of Venice 1918 Words   |  8 PagesPerformance Analysis of T he Merchant of Venice Jordan Thomas Mullineaux-Davis William Shakespeare has regularly throughout time been referred to and could be viewed as anti-Semitic because of the cultural implications within many of his plays. A particularly strong example of this could be The Merchant of Venice. This essay will explore arguments of post-colonialism within The Merchant of Venice, discussing the pertinent issues of anti-semitism, racial isolation and prejudice. It will also comment onRead MoreEssay on Prejudice in William Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice1092 Words   |  5 PagesPrejudice in William Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice The main theme of the Merchant of Venice is of Shylock, a Jew, and Antonio, a Christian taking part in a deal involving the Jew lending the Christian a sum of money. The bond they make is that if Antonio cannot pay Shylock back, Shylock can take legally a pound of Antonios flesh as payment. The other plots in the play consist of Jessica, Shylocks daughter eloping with Lorenzo, another Christian and Antonios

The Capital Punishment Debate Essay - 2269 Words

Capital Punishment Try to imagine a relative sitting in a dark, cold, and tight prison cell and knowing minutes later that death would come for them through lethal injection. What if their case wasnt handled correctly, what if evidence was mishandled, and possibly an innocent person is going to die. Imagine the family who has been waiting years for justice to be served by the means of lethal injection. There is two sides to every story either way both families will grieve or already is. According to Death Penalty Information Center (2011), since 1976 the United States of America has executed 1,243 individuals who have been convicted of a serious crime. The death penalty has been used since the Eighteenth Century B.C. to present†¦show more content†¦Extraordinary pressure can and usually is relieved when the family of the victim is finally put to death. Also a bid can be made that even great relieve comes to the family of the convicted inmate. They too have had to en dure much suffering over their member of their family committing a serious offense and bringing much shame to them. Capital punishment can be viewed as a way of healing for the two families connected to the offense and bringing closure to all involved. An argument that can be made for capital punishment is that in some situations, the convicted inmate gains sympathy or even becomes idolized. One example, is how Charles Manson at the age 75 and notoriously known for the horrific crimes his infamous Family had committed still receives mail frequently. He still carries a supporting group of fans even after he has been locked up in prison for over thirty years and still there is a group of people who idolize Manson. Another example is Stanley Tookie Williams, known as one of the founders of the infamous American gangs called the Crips. Tookie was convicted of all four murders that happen during burglaries and was sentence Williams to death. Williams openly spoke how he shot some of his victims in the back and laughed at the noises they made as they died. Williams refused to help police investigate his gang and never showed any remorse for the crimes he committed (Messerli, 2010). When his time was nearingShow MoreRelatedThe Debate Of Capital Punishment1313 Words   |  6 PagesCapital Punishment Introduction The state of California has carried out 13 executions since the enactment of capital punishment in 1992 (NAACP, 2016, 10). According to the NAACP winter quarterly report, there are currently 743 prisoners on death row (NAACP, 2016, 39). Since the enactment, there has been a wide range of political debate. The largest concern is in regards to the number of wrongful convictions and its philosophical underpinnings. The citizens in California are as diverse as theirRead MoreThe Debate On Capital Punishment1673 Words   |  7 Pagessocieties in history at least at one point of time or another. Capital punishment could have been considered a tradition of sorts, considering how often it was and still is made to be an intriguing, perhaps morbidly entertaining, spectacle. When the reality behind the contentious punishment is revealed, so is the true ugliness of this custom. Throughout the world in modern times, including the United States in particular, the controversial debate on whether t o retain or abolish the death penalty is extremelyRead MoreThe Capital Punishment Debate Essay1396 Words   |  6 PagesCapital Punishment, also known as the death penalty is a legal sentence for a criminal to be put to death. The Punishment is rising to a controversial topic and has led to a lot of heated debates. As of 2014, over 150 countries have abolished the death penalty and 40 others have not used it in recent years, although it is still legal. The death Penalty is mostly used in extreme cases of crime like rape or murder. The convicted criminals are mostly put to death in inhuman ways such as lethal injectionsRead MoreThe Debate Over Capital Punishment936 Words   |  4 Pages The debate over capital punishment is in regards to whether the death penalty contradicts the Eighth Amendment. If the death penalty does contradict the Eight Amendment, then the State should not have the power to sentence criminals to death for capital crimes. However, if capital punishment is not against the Eighth Amendment, then the State has the right to sentence criminals to death. In this essay I will first summarize Justice Brennan’s argument on why the death penalty is beyond the powerRead MoreThe Debate Over Capital Punishment1183 Words   |  5 Pagesmorally just and constitutional. Those thinking it is cruel want capital punishment abolished. The others want to see it revised and maintained. Capital punishment is being sentenced to death and executed for committing various crimes. Usually, it is reserved for convicted murder cases, but had been used for others such as: armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, and treason. Only about sixty countries still use capital punishment – the United States included. Canada, Australia, and most EuropeanRead MoreEssay on Capital Punishment Debate1527 Words   |  7 PagesCapital Punishment Debate Is Capital Punishment, otherwise known as the Death Penalty, a disgraceful and unjust way to kill a fellow Human being? Or is it a justifiable way to punish someone in a modern day society? Some nations use the Death Penalty as their most severe punishment. Capital Punishment is one of the most debated issues in current day life. Is it acceptable or not? Many politicians have put their arguments across highlighting both their benefits andRead MoreCapital Punishment Debate Essay756 Words   |  4 PagesCapital Punishment Debate The death penalty is a tough debate and an overwhelming argument in this country. We as Americans put Timothy McVeigh to death by lethal injection just three months ago. Arguments can be made for and against the death penalty, but this is not the problem. Capital Punishment is supposed to be a deterrent to crime, but is the death penalty really a deterrent? Capital Punishment is not a deterrent for crime, and the effects ofRead MoreThe Debate Over Capital Punishment1599 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction The Capital Punishment is a sure punishment. Sure punishment in the sense that the convicted never commits another crime, namely a homicide, again. People that oppose it support the argument that as human beings we shouldn’t take the responsibility of judging who should and shouldn’t die. That argument is backed by moral reasons, whether they are religious or simply ethical beliefs. Another argument against it is the fact that an offender facing the death penalty does not deter themRead MoreAmerica s Debate On Capital Punishment760 Words   |  4 PagesAmerica’s Debate: Should the Capital Punishment be abolished in the United States? Violent crimes such a murder, rape, sexual assault, and robbery are perpetrated by criminals once every few minutes in this country. Lawmakers spend countless hours enacting laws to prevent these crimes. The introduction of the death penalty is an effort to deter criminals from committing heinous crimes. What exactly does the death penalty accomplish? The best description of the term death penalty is the legal executionRead MoreThe Debate over Capital Punishment Essay1025 Words   |  5 PagesThe Debate over Capital Punishment South Carolina, January 15, 1993. After wounding an Orangeburg, S.C. police officer with a misfired bullet, Thomas Treshawn Ivey, an Alabama prison escapee, proceeded to fired five more shots into the police officer from a handgun at close range after the wounded police office had reached for his gun. Ivey fled the scene but was quickly apprehended. This scenario is not to different from the horrible acts of violence that lead an offender to death row where

A Case Study on Business Laws

Question: Jordan Mitchell loves to collect sports memorabilia and has assembled a large number of interesting items including team caps and tee shirts from the West Indian Cricket Association. Jordan is an associate at a Perth Stockbroking firm and has saved enough money over the past year for a trip to the West Indies where he hopes to attend cricket matches and purchase more memorabilia. On Monday morning he telephones his uncle Will who runs a travel agency in the Perth CBD that specialises in sports tourism called Kick-off Pty Ltd in order to organise the trip especially the flights and accommodation. Will sends the following email to Jordan at 11am Monday:Dear Jordan,Kick-off can supply airline tickets to the West Indies and accommodation in Antigua, Barbuda and Dominica which will allow you to attend a number of cricket matches and also have the opportunity to buy merchandise. You will arrive on Friday before the first match of the season and remain in the West Indies for a three week pe riod. The price is $12200. If this is suitable please confirm by post before 12noon Thursday.Kind regards WillJordan sends Will a letter confirming that he is happy with the ticketing and accommodation arrangements on Monday afternoon. He also books two tours online. One is an Antigua by jetboatexperience as he wants to see the sights along with another tour of nearby St Vincent and the Grenadines as Jordan is a fan of a hit reality TV program based in the area. Unfortunately, Perth Australia Post workers including mail delivery personnel participated in industrial strike action on Monday and Tuesday of that same week causing significant mail delivery delays. As a result Will did not read Jordans letter until Monday morning of the following week when his mail was finally delivered. Unfortunately Will can now no longer provide the package at the quoted price of $12200 for the original dates as he has missed the airline and hotel booking deadlines. He advises Jordan who is by now extr emely upset and disappointed as he paid for the two online tours by credit card and they cannot be rescheduled. Will can however provide another package for Jordan next cricket season for the discounted price of $13900 as they are family. 1) Discuss and apply the element of agreement in the above scenario involving Jordan and Will. 2) Consider whether the elements of intention and consideration have been satisfied in the above scenario. Answer1: Step 1 The issue in the above case relates to the communication of the acceptance by the offeror on which the validity of the contract depends. Step 2 In accordance to the general rules of contract under the Australian law, once an offer is accepted and communicated to the offeror the contract becomes valid (Willmott, Christensen and Butler 2005). Since in the given case the acceptance was supposed to be delivered through post, the postal rules of acceptance would be applicable. In the case of Adams v Lindsell (Adams v Lindsell 1818), the postal rule was established according to which under normal circumstances any acceptance needs to be communicated expressly to the offeror but in cases of postal delivery, the letter of acceptance once posted it is said that the offer is accepted in course of post. However, this postal rule was overridden in the Holwell Securities Ltd v Hughes (Holwell Securities Ltd v Hughes 1974). In this case the judge stated that the postal rule does not apply when the contract expressly states that the acceptance must reach the offeror. Step 3 Observing the given case, a contract was made between Jordan Mitchell and Kick-off Pty Ltd. when Jordan telephones his uncle about arranging a trip to watch the cricket matches, it was an invitation to offer. The letter that was sent by Uncle Will is the offer. Even though the offer was made through electronic post it was specifically mentioned that the acceptance must reach the offeror by postal delivery. Due to the presence of this clause it was essential that the acceptance be made through post which was accordingly done by Jordan. However, the acceptance letter did not reach the offeror due to some unavoidable circumstances that was beyond the control of both the parties. In such a case the postal rule would apply as the acceptance was posted and was in course of post. Step 4 With regard to the above scenario, when though the contract was not further completed by both parties, the agreement was a valid contract despite the fact that the acceptance did not reach the offeror on time. This is because the communication of the acceptance was done accordingly by the acceptor. Answer2: Step 1 The issue in the case is regarding the intention to create legal relations between the parties and the payment of adequate consideration. Step 2 In order to create a valid contract between two or more parties it is essential that the parties must have intention to create legal relations. Generally, the presence of consideration proves that the parties have the intention to create legal relations (Willmott, Christensen and Butler 2005). Usually, the presence of consideration will provide evidence of this - if the promisor has specified something as the price for the promise this - in most cases - carries with it an intention that the parties be bound (Willmott, Christensen and Butler 2005). Nevertheless, intention is still an independent condition and it needs to be considered separately. Further, there are also such cases where even though consideration is present there is no existence of any contract as the pre-conditions have not been fulfilled. To determine the contractual intention usually the objective approach is taken. In the case of Rose and Frank Co v. JR Crompton Bros Ltd (Rose and frank Co v. JR Crompton Bros Ltd 1925) it was stated that the rule is in order to create a contract there must be present the common intention of the parties to enter into a legal obligation which is mutually communicated either expressly or impliedly. Step 3 Due to the presence of family relation between Will and Jordan, it is essential to understand from the agreement whether the parties have the intention to create legal relations. First criterion is the presence of consideration in the agreement. Since the agreement mentions about the presence of consideration, it implies that the parties had the intention to create legal relations. Even though the element of consideration is present it is not sufficient to prove the presence of legal relations. In the given scenario, when the acceptance was not communicated Jordan did not sue the other party for breach of contract. Whereas Will gave him another offer for the next cricket season at a discounted price of $13900 due to their family relations. This establishes that the offer made later by Uncle Will was an informal agreement with no intention to create a legal relationship. However, in the first part, a formal mail was sent by Uncle to Jordan, which expressed stated about the agreement. Step 4 Analyzing the above circumstances it can be stated that in the first part when Uncle Will sends a formal letter and required a formal acceptance it depicted that both parties had the intention to create a legal relation. However, the second part when Will offers a discounted amount there is no evidence of any intention to create legal relations. References Adams v Lindsell. 1818, 106 ER 250. Holwell Securities Ltd v Hughes. 1974, 1 WLR 155. Rose and frank Co v. JR Crompton Bros Ltd. 1925 AC 445. Willmott, Lindy, Sharon Christensen, and D. A Butler. 2005.Contract Law. South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Oxford University Press.

Mcafee Case Study Essay Example

Mcafee Case Study Essay McAfee Case Study I. Current Situation A. Current Performance McAfee is in good financial standing. * In 2004, paid down $347 million in convertible debt and repurchased $220 million in common stock. * Revenue has declined over past two years but net income has increased. * Ongoing operations generated over $350 million in cash, with the fiscal year ending in $1 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and investments. * Deferred revenue increased for the period by $220 million. B. Strategic Posture 1. Mission: a. To secure consumers and businesses from the desktop to the core of the network by delivering best-of-breed products and services that protect †¦ global customer’s information technology systems and infrastructure. † 2. Objectives: More of a goal â€Å"become worldwide leader in intrusion prevention and risk management solutions and services. † II. Corporate Governance C. Board of Directors 3. George Samenuk (internal) b. Received formal education at Brown University, Political Science. c. Held various senior management positions at IBM. d. Former CEO and President of TradeOut Inc, a privately held online exchange. . Leslie G. Denend (internal) e. Holds multiple Ph. D. s from Stanford University, Economics, Public Policy, and Business. f. Joined McAfee after merger with Network General Corp. , whom she was CEO and President. 5. Robert Pangia (external) g. Received formal education from Brown University and Columbia University, Business. h. Held numerous senior management positions with Paine Weber Inc. which is a wealth management service provider. i. 1997 to 2003 worked as a private merchant banker. We will write a custom essay sample on Mcafee Case Study specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Mcafee Case Study specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Mcafee Case Study specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer 6. Robert B. Bucknam (external) j. Received formal education at Georgetown University with a Juris Doctoral in Foreign Service. . A senior vice president of Cross Match Technologies Inc. , a fingerprint identification provider. l. Served in many government positions including the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Chief of Staff and the U. S. Department of Justice, Deputy Attorney General. 7. Liane Wilson (external) m. She does not have a college degree. n. Runs her own consulting firm after retiring from Washington Mutual as senior vice president of information technologies. 8. Robert Dutkowsky (external) o. Received formal education from Cornell University, Industrial Engineering and Industrial Relations. p. Serves as CEO and President of Engenera Inc and previously held the same title at J. D. Edwards and Company. q. He has also held other various senior Management positions with other IT firms. 9. Denis J. O’Leary (external) r. Received formal education from the University of Rochester, Economics and New York University, MBA. s. Worked for J. P. Morgan up until 2003, during his 25 years he held various senior management positions including Chief Information Officer. t. After leaving J. P. Morgan he became a private investor. D. Top Management 10. George Samenuk u. Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, since 2001. . Former CEO and President of TradeOut Inc. 11. Gene Hodges w. President, since 2001. Joined McAfee in 1995. x. Held various executive positions within McAfee. 12. Kent H. Roberts y. Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel, since 2001. z. Held various legal positions prior to this position. 13. Kevin Weiss {. Executive Vice President of Worl dwide Sales, since 2002. |. Formerly Senior VP for Ariba Inc. 14. Eric F. Brown }. Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, since 2005. ~. Previously CFO for MicroStrategy Inc. III. External Environment: Opportunities and Threats E. Societal Environment 15. Economic . Early part of the 21st century had a decrease in IT spending. (T) ?. IDC predicted a growth of 16. 9% annually between 2003 and 2008 in the security software market. (O) ?. There has been a steady growth of average 22% in e-commerce retail sales in the U. S. (O) 16. Technological ?. Newly developed viruses, spyware, and worms affect how well they can manage their securities (T) ?. Outsourcing bulk of new software development. (O) ?. Increased use of broadband and DSL speed internet, growing from 9. million users to 22. 7 million users. (O) ?. McAfee holds a 19% market share among the computer protection companies. (O) (Exhibit A) 17. Political-Legal ?. Potential losses that results in shareholders law suits against company. (T) ?. SEC made NAI re-state earnings because of compliance issues. (T) 18. Sociocultural ?. Accommodating to the aging society. The older population needs a product they can depend on, that is easy to understand and easy to use. (O) ?. Society is transitioning into a wireless more mobile society. McAfee has to be aware of this and develop a product that will protect PDA’s, wireless laptops and mobile phones. (O) F. Task Environment Strategic type = prospector, focused on product innovation and market opportunities 1. McAfee should look to expand its mobile and wireless solutions. (O) 2. Collaboration with VeriFone Holdings, Inc. allows McAfee to be first to market with virus protection for point-of-sale terminals. (O) 3. Promote being recipients of the KM Reality Award, demonstrated leadership in the implementation of knowledge management practices and processes by realizing measurable business benefits. O) 4. There are many substitute products offered by competitors. (T) 5. High rivalry exists between firms like Symantec, Computer Assoc. , Trend Micro, and Panda. (T) 6. McAfee faces overseas competition. (T) 7. Symantec Products: Norton AntiVirus, Norton Utilities, Symantec AntiVirus. (T) 8. Microsoft switching to Trend Micro for use on all hotmail accounts. (T) 9. Mi crosoft’s entrance, acquiring GIANT Company Software, Inc. and distributing free anti-spyware software. (T) G. Summary of External Factors 19. External Factor Analysis Summary Matrix (Exhibit B). IV. Internal Environment: Strengths and Weaknesses H. Corporate Structure 20. Functional Structure: Worldwide Sales, Consumer, Mobile, and Small Business, Corporate Strategy and Business Development, Operations and Finance, human Resources, Risk and Compliance, Worldwide Technical Support and Customer Service, and etc, each have its own Executive or Senior Vice President who report to the President. (S) 21. Chief Executive Officer is also Chairman of the Board. (W) 22. Members of board and management are diverse throughout different business areas. Not just technology focus. (S) I. Corporate Culture 23. Implemented an â€Å"Ethics First† program, which is essential for any technical company. (S) 24. Ranked in top 10 for a computer software company between 2000 and 2005. (S) 25. Among Computer protection providers only hold a 15% market share. (W) J. Corporate Resources 26. Marketing * Two categories of products: McAfee System Protection Solution (desktops and servers) amp; McAfee Network Protection Solutions (corporate networks) * Types of products: anti-virus, anti-hacker and anti-spyware, anti-spam, anti-abuse, mobile and wireless, and bundled. Customer base- businesses, governments, and consumers. a. Product licensing. (S) * Products are priced and sold on subscription basis Single user, 1yr license (home internet security suite) = $69. 99 (before mail-in rebate). * Three user, 1 year license (home internet security suite) = $129. 99. * Small businesses are priced depending on size of the organization and length of license. b. Products are distributed throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Japan, and Latin America. (S) c. McAfee Foundstone Enterprise 4. 0 is the leading provider of intrusion prevention solutions (IPS). S) d. Partnered with Dell to develop the McAfee SecurityCenter bundle (includes McAfee Personal Firewall Plus, McAfee Privacy Service and McAfee SpamKiller). (S) e. AOL began its partnership with McAfee in April of 2003 (reported blocking over a billion virus infected emails in thirteen months time). (S) 27. Finance ?. In 2003, NAI was required by the Securities and Exchange Commission to re-state it earnings for 1998, 1999 and 2000. NAI denied any wrongdoing, but agreed to reissue the revised statements after discussions with SEC officials. The investigation dealt with the manner in which NAI reported revenue from sales by its distributors. (W) ?. In a post-Enron business environment, such investigations and the subsequent recalculations of financial statements can have a negative impact on a company’s value of its stock and efforts to obtain capital investment for future expansion. (W) ?. In 2002 and 2003, although revenues had decreased, NAI continued to invest in new technologies, spending $220 million to acquire IntruVert Networks, Inc. , and Entercept Security Technologies, both of which make intrusion-prevention products. S) ?. In 2004, NAI changed its name to McAfee, paid down $347 million in debt, and re-purchased $220 million in common stock in an effort to re-structure its capitalization strategy and achieve a goal of a 25% operating margin. (S) ?. With nearly $350 million generated from ongoing operations, McAfee ended 2004 with nearly $1 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and investments. McAfee plans to use this cash to purchase additional security products. Additionally, the company plans to sell its unprofitable Sniffer network to Silver Lake Partners and Texas Pacific Group. S) ?. Additional Information (Exhibit C thru E). 28. Research and Development ?. Increasing technology resources through company acquisitions (S) ?. Continues to raise the bar in product innovation and industry leadership with astounding intrusion protection and security solutions (S) ?. Products are developed to be proactive to limit risk of intrusion during times of increased threat levels (S) ?. Lacking a competitive advantage in the anti-virus product line. (W) ?. All McAfee security products are backed by the research organization McAfee AVERT (Anti-Virus Emergency Response Team) (S) ?. McAfee’s AVERT provides cures for most important outbreaks (S) 29. Operations and Logistics ?. Majority of McAfee’s logistics is online based with downloadable content for user’s easy access. (S) ?. Companies in today’s business world have the pressures to improve IT security. McAfee is working with companies to develop strategies to improve security risk while saving organizations money by improving network capabilities. S) ?. McAfee’s manufacturing/service objectives and strategies are not stated to the public. (W) 30. Human Resources Management ?. As with almost all highly technical businesses, McAfee has to budget a greater portion of its operating expenses for salaries of a very highly educated and trained work force. Software and program designers have advanced degrees in computer technology, and command higher salaries than traditional manufacturing jobs. (S) ?. Recruitment of such valuable talent is a considerable expense to these companies. McAfee considers its employees as its most valuable tool, and rewards them with good benefits and strives to give them a good working environment. It is an equal opportunity employer, and promotes respect to all levels of employees. (S) ?. McAfee has a very strong continuous education and training program, and an educational assistance program for employees who wish to pursue additional academic education. (S) ?. The company Standards of Conduct manual emphasizes the highest ethical standards, particularly in their relationships with their customers, suppliers and shareholders. S) ?. McAfee has grown from 26 employees in 1992 to over 3,500 employees in 2003. However, in May of 2003 laid off about 150 employees, and in December of the same year, an undisclosed number of employees were laid off from the Sniffer division. (W) 31. Information Systems ?. McAfee has had a tradition of using acquisitions to improve on its technology for various products. (W) ?. Although many of the technolo gy McAfee has gained, they do create their own software. They are ranked second among computer software companies. They also have over 250 patents by the beginning of 2005. S) ?. McAfee maintains a very competent Information Systems Department as well as a Customer Service Departments which have been able to recognize and troubleshoot internal problems within their programs. They have adapted well to the acquired company’s technology to also correct problems dealing with integration between the software. (S) ?. McAfee has recognized with its partnership with VeriFone Holdings Inc. that protection in the place of commerce is an important sector to target with the growth of the economy. McAfee has also begun working on protections for e-commerce. S) K. Summary of Internal Factors 32. Internal Factors Analysis Summary Matrix (Exhibit F) V. Analysis of Strategic Factors L. Strategic Factors Analysis Summary Matrix (Exhibit G) M. Review of Mission and Objectives 33. Current mission statement is sufficient. 34. Objectives must be developed further to accomplish the company’s goals of beco ming a worldwide leader in intrusion prevention and risk management solutions and services. 35. Suggested Mission: Secure and protect systems of all users, business to home users, from known and unknown global threats. By working with our current partners and potential future ventures we’ll provide best in class solutions and services. 36. By changing the company’s mission it will help create objectives in accomplishing McAfee’s goal of becoming the worldwide leader in intrusion prevention software. VI. Strategic Alternatives and Recommended Strategy N. Strategic Alternatives 37. Continuing growth through acquisitions. ?. Pros 1. ) Increasing their technological advances. 2. ) Broadening market synergy. ?. Cons 3. ) Acquiring companies too similar to existing standards. 4. Becoming too costly to acquire new companies. 38. Pause (stability) strategy ?. Pros 5. ) Allows more focus on internal Ramp;D. ?. Cons 6. ) Lack of obtaining new acquisitions. 7. ) Lack of growth can continue to decrease market share. 39. Establish Ramp;D program ?. With McAfee’s growth, it’s important to revise the corporate structure into more of a divisional structure. ?. By restructuring th ey can identify the profitability of their product mix. ?. Once a better developed Ramp;D program is established, it will lessen the need for as many acquisitions O. Recommended Strategy 40. We recommend continuing growth through acquisitions since McAfee’s Ramp;D isn’t as established as competitors. 41. McAfee should consider its own Ramp;D strategy. 42. Developing marketing strategies will increase market share as McAfee has only been an average competitor in the industry. 43. Make McAfee exclusive to leading computer manufacturers (ex. Dell, HP). VII. Implementation P. For McAfee to continue to grow they will need to develop their own Ramp;D program as future acquisitions become limited and potentially more costly and less beneficial. Expand policies/procedures in quality ontrol to strive for continuous improvement and customer satisfaction. Q. In order to continuously improve product performance the need for a divisional corporate structure would be necessary for each product line. R. Directors of the board and top management should be in support of implementing a Ramp;D program as well as a shift to a divisional corporate structure. S. As acquisitions become more costly, the discussed implementation becomes more financial feasible. VIII. Evaluation and Control T. McAfee has proven to have the internal structure to monitor their performance and respond in a timely fashion to problems that may arise. This information is based on McAfee’s response to recent financial shortcomings. U. Our evaluation of McAfee has found that current standards aren’t sufficient and with the new recommendation new standards will be needed for the methods of measurement. Exhibit A Anti-virus Market Share in Worldwide Sales Based on $4. 02 billion total sales of anti-virus software Exhibit B EFAS External Factors| Weight| Rating| Weighted Score| Comments| Opportunities| | | | | * Market Share| . 05| 1. 8| . 09| Only hold 15%| * Internet Boom| . 10| 4. 25| . 425| Growth of e-commerce and Internet speeds| * Economics| . 05| 3. 5| . 75| Consumers spending more on technologies needing protection| * Acquisitions| . 20| 4. 5| . 9| Continue market share growth through acquiring smaller companies| * Product Distribution| . 10| 4. 0| . 4| Bundling products with other companies| Threats| | | | | * New Entrants| . 15| 3. 5| . 525| Microsoft announcement reduced stock price| * Global Competition| . 20 | 2. 5| . 5| Increasing global market| * Intellectual Property| . 10| 4. 0| . 4| Foreign government laws| * Bargaining Power of Buyers| . 05| 3. 0| . 15| Free security programs from competitors, internet downloads| Total Scores| 1. 00| | 3. 565| | Exhibit C After a number of years of steadily increasing sales and revenues, Network Associates, Inc. , (NAI), the predecessor of McAfee, saw revenues slide from $1,043 million in 2002 to $936 million in 2003, a more than ten percent drop. (W) By comparison, Symantec, a primary competitor with its Norton Anti-virus program, had revenues totaling $1. 4 billion, and held a 37% market share in anti-virus software sales. Exhibit D Although the SEC investigation and required restatement initially hurt McAfee’s image, by the end of 2004 most analysts felt that the company was on the mend, and had achieved an earnings consistency.