Newell Company: The Rubbermaid Opportunity Essay

In October 1998, Newell Company was considering a merger with Rubbermaid Incorporated to form a new company, Newell Rubbermaid Incorporated. The agreement would be through a tax-free exchange of shares valued at $5.8 billion. Newell had revenues of $3.7 billion in 1998 across three major product groupings: Hardware and Home Furnishings, Office Products, and Housewares. Rubbermaid is a renowned manufacturer of a wide range of plastic products ranging from children’s toys through housewares. Once the transaction is completed, Newell will begin he process of assimilating Rubbermaid’s operations through a process called â€Å"Newellization.† The companies expect that the merger will create synergy through the leveraging of Newell Rubbermaid brands. By 2000, these efforts are expected to produce increases over anticipated 1998 results of $300 to $350 million in operating income for the combined company. Reading the case analysis, there are many issues that I feel are concerning this merger and I feel that Newell should not process with this merger. First of all, this is a tough and alarming challenge to Newell’s capacity to integrate and strengthen acquisitions. How would Newell bring Rubbermaid into the newellization process since they have completely different products? Another question that comes to mind is how does Newell coordinate all its divisions and what changes will it have to make to create synergy with Rubbermaid? Does the newellization process fit for Rubbermaid? Lastly, are the risks acceptable for Newell to merge with Rubbermaid? Newell needs a very well thought out business plan and has to answer these questions before they proceed. There are advantages and disadvantages in this merger. I will start with the advantages. If this merger goes through, it will be a quantum step in Newell’s growth. The merger will be uniting two companies that are leaders in their industries. Through the merger, Newell will gain the international presence that Rubbermaid has. Both companies can create synergy within their divisions and Newell can expand their product line internationally. There  are certain products in Rubbermaid’s product line that Newell does not have. Another advantage the merger will create is increased operating income. Some disadvantages of the deal are that Newell would be exposed to a tough challenge to the company’s capacity to combine its acquisitions. One big disadvantage is the risk that is involved in the deal for Newell. Newell is a very respectable company, and a company whose customers are very satisfied. They are very successful with their acquisitions due to their exemplary newellization process. Rubbermaid currently has many problems with their company such as bad customer relations, their operations are not lean, increases competition has taken away market share, and their financial targets seem unrealistic. Newell needs to understand these problems and realize what they will have to deal with if they join with Rubbermaid. Doing my research I have come up with many more disadvantages than advantages toward this merger and that is why I feel that these companies should not merge. In today’s business world, companies change hands all the time through mergers and acquisitions. Most of the time, the security propositions of new ventures are disregarded. Company A may have the most secure network, but when they couple this network with Company B, you’re exposing your company to a whole new set of risks. The first step is that Newell needs to assess the business risk. Reputation loss is an issue, which Newell will be affected by. Rubbermaid has bad customer relations because it has angered its most important retail buyers with the heavy-handed way it has passed its rising costs. They have given their competitors a lot of shelf space. A big question mark comes to my mind is when I think about how Newell will bring Rubbermaid into the Newellization process. Newellization is described as a â€Å"well established profit improvement and productivity enhancement process that is applied to integrate newly acquired product lines.† The newellization process includes the centralization of key administrative functions including data processing, accounting, and EDI, and inauguration of Newell’s rigorous, multi-measure, divisional operating control system. Reading the case analysis, Rubbermaid is extremely incompetent in these areas. Their operations are one of their biggest problems. According to the  case, â€Å"although it excels in creativity, product quality, and merchandising, Rubbermaid is showing itself to be a laggard in more mundane areas such as modernizing machinery, eliminating unnecessary jobs, and making deliveries on time.† Looking at Rubbermaid and analyzing their problems, they have to tally the opposite qualities of companies that Newell has acquired in the past. Newell’s acquired companies were mature businesses with unrealized profit potential. Rubbermaid has had a mature business for quite a long time and I do not see any room for unrealized profit potential. They have a very big international presence and Newell will end up hurting themselves once they have to deal with Rubbermaid and their incompetence. I do not feel that the newellization process fits Rubbermaid because these are two companies that have been around for a while, and it is not like Rubbermaid is a start-up or a fairly recent company that can be changed around quickly and all of the sudden have lean operations, which newellization has proved it can do with previous acquisitions. Newell should stick to their business principle and do what they have done in the past, which is to acquire small to medium sized companies and integrate them into the newellization process and create an enormous amount of synergy. I always believe that one should do something that they know best or have experience in and not pursue a totally different market in which that have no experience in. In this case, Newell does not have any experience with acquiring a company that is worth billions. A merger example that recently occurred which has turned into a blunder is the AOL Time Warner merger. These were two totally different companies in different industries that thought they could merge and be a giant in the Internet and Media/Entertainment industry. The outcome of this merger is that the CEO’s of both companies are being laughed at in the business world. AOL Time Warner stock price is in the dump and the company is in real trouble. Newell can avoid all this by again looking at their previous acquisitions and seeing what type of companies they acquired, which were companies with unrealized profit potential and who had the ability to create synergy in a short amount of time with Newell’s existing divisions. In conclusion, the deal is attractive for Newell but is not worth the risk that is involved. The key to merger and acquisitions is to not jump on your first instinct and just merge or acquire a company that’s price looks cheap.  You have to determine what the company will look like in the future. Lack of foresight will cause a huge problem. Rising raw material costs along with Rubbermaid’s operational problems will impair the whole newellization process. Rubbermaid has very sour relationships with their clients and Newell will have an extremely difficult time fixing those relationships. If the two companies merge, only investors or individuals who follow business news will know that these two companies are one. The average customer will still know of Rubbermaid as Rubbermaid. I feel that Rubbermaid brings a lot of heavy baggage to the table and will hurt the smooth and exemplary business that Newell has attained.

The Crucible By Arthur Miller Essay - 1552 Words

Trust, Honor and Faith is what is questioned in Arthur Miller â€Å"The Crucible†. The Crucible is about the Salem witch trials. Several young girls claim to be afflicted by witchcraft. The afflicted girls accuse people in the town of witchcraft, often choosing victims who they or their families dislike. The main antagonist Abigail Williams with the other girl’s accusations resulted in the arrests and death of many people in the community of Salem. Arthur Miller wrote this play during the time of the Red Scare. A â€Å"Red Scare is the promotion of fear of a potential rise of communism or radical leftism. As the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States intensified in the late 1940s and early 1950s, hysteria over the perceived threat posed by Communists in the U.S. became known as the Red Scare. Therefore, Arthur Miller wrote â€Å"The Crucible† as reference to this time. Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, is an allegory of the Red Scare that impacted society mentally, physically, and spiritually. Arthur Miller was born in Harlem, New York on October 17, 1915 to an immigrant family of Polish and Jewish descent. Miller divorced his first wife, Mary Slattery, his former college sweetheart with whom he had two children with. A month later he marries actress Marilyn Monroe. They were married for four years and a year after their divorce Marilyn dies. Miller s controversial 1964 drama After the Fall was believed to have been partially inspired by their relationship, heShow MoreRelatedThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1269 Words   |  6 PagesAt first glance, the playwright Arthur Miller in The Crucible highlights the historical significance of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, but in fact it is an allegorical expression of his perception of McCarthyism. If the reader has some background information on Arthur Miller’s victimization as a communist, it is evident that the play is a didactic vessel illustrating the flaws of the court system in the 1950’s. The communist allegations were launched at government employees, entertainers and writersRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1681 Words   |  7 Pagesof their way to the last dying breath to make sure they leave with a good or bad reputation. In one of the recent literature study in class â€Å"The Crucible† by Arthur Miller, Miller uses characterization to illustrate reputation throughout the play. â€Å"The Crucible† takes place in Salem, Massachusetts. It is based upon the Salem witch trails. In â€Å"The Crucible†, we journey through the life of three characters who reputations plays a major role in the play. The three characters are John Proctor, AbigailRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1333 Words   |  6 PagesAs the various characters in The Crucible by Arthur Miller interact, the dominant theme of the consequences of women’s nonconformity begins to slide out from behind the curtains of the play. Such a theme reveals the gripping fear that inundated t he Puritans during the seventeenth century. This fear led to the famous witch-hunts that primarily terrorized women who deviated from the Puritan vision of absolute obedience and orthodoxy. Arthur Miller presents his interpretation of the suffering by subtlyRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller998 Words   |  4 Pagesmotivated by jealousy and spite. The Crucible is a four-act dramatic play production that was first performed on January 22, 1953. Arthur Miller used dialogue within the characters to cover the multiple themes; conflicts and resolutions, plus the few directions for the different actions of the play. The Salem Witch Trials were intended to be performed as the play however, when read, it can be more carefully examined and broken down to analyze the techniques. Miller, the playwright, uses literaryRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1145 Words   |  5 PagesUnbalance Through The Centuries In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, the author reflects the persecution of communists in America in the 1950’s through a recount of the Salem witch trials. It is often presumed that Miller based his drama directly off of events that were particularly prevalent in the years surrounding the publication of The Crucible- which was released in the year 1953, towards the conclusion of the Korean War. Although there was not a literal witch hunt occurring during this timeRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1063 Words   |  5 PagesIn the English dictionary, there are three definitions of the word crucible. One is a metal container in which metals are mixed and melted. Another is a severe test. But the third definition, and the one that I think fits the best for this book, is a place or situation in which different elements interact to create something new. In my mind, this fits because all of the characters had their little grudges and dirty secrets. But when all th ose seemingly little things interact, they formed somethingRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1285 Words   |  6 Pages Rationale, Morality, Stereotypes, Pressure, Self-Censorship, Unanimity, and Mindguards. Groupthink has also taken place in our history a a country. The play, The Crucible by Arthur Miller is about a the real-life Salem Witch Trials that happened in 1692 - 1693, in Salem, Massachusetts. Some symptoms of Groupthink found in the Crucible are Rationale, Pressure, and Self-Censorship. The Groupthink symptom, Rationale, is described as when victims of Groupthink ignore warnings: they also collectivelyRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller811 Words   |  4 Pages While The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, is only a four act play, it still resembles the format of a five act play. The five-act structure evolved from a three-act structure, which was made famous by Roman Aelius Donatus. Donatus came up with three types of plays: Protasis, Epitasis, and Catastrophe. The five-act structure helped to expand the three act structure, mainly made famous by Shakespeare through his many tragedies. Even though The Crucible contains only four acts, it still has the commonRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1052 Words   |  5 PagesBuddy Al-Aydi Ms.Healy English 9 CP 14th October 2014 The Crucible Essay The Crucible was a novel written by Arthur Miller in the 1950’s. It was written in a format of the play, portraying an allegory of the Salem Witch-Hunts led by Senator Joseph McCarthy. The book is known to have a inexplicable plot. This plot is advanced by multiple characters in the book in order to ensure that the reader maintains interest with the material that is being read. The farmer, John Proctor, would be theRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller841 Words   |  4 PagesThe Crucible is a chaotic play, throughout this American classic Arthur Miller takes the reader through multiple events of terror and insanity. While creating a great on-stage play, Arthur Miller portrays his life through the events, the characters, and plot of The Crucible. Using vivid imagery and comprehensible symbolism, Miller manipulates the real personalities of the characters and events in 1600 Salem, Massachusetts to create a symbolic autobiography. Throughout this play, the reader experie nces

Hazards from Metropolis Current Industries Free Essay Example, 2750 words

Metropolis current industries are tourism, pulp/paper, and computer products, manufacturers. There is also the airport industry and all of them pose certain risks to the surrounding land, air and water. The paper industry uses trees as the main raw material and as such, uncontrolled logging by the industries can lead to devastating environmental consequences. Chlorine and chlorine compounds are normally used for wood pulp bleaching purposed during paper production (Sconce, 1962). The utilization of chlorine results in production of dioxins which are persistent pollutants generally classified as among the highly toxic manmade pollutants. The pulping process utilizes large water volumes that absorb numerous organic substances from the pulp mill including lignin. The effluent also contains transition metal compounds, chlorates chelating agents and some alcohols. The sulfite and Kraft pulp processes involve a lot of use of sulfur resulting in sulfur dioxide that is water-soluble and can result in acidic effluent and acidic rain when the gas is released into the atmosphere (Swarup Jauhari, 1992). The other chemicals contained in the effluents include ammonia, mercury, nitrates, benzene, and chloroform. This mixture of chemicals is a potential environmental hazard. We will write a custom essay sample on Hazards from Metropolis Current Industries or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page Hydrogen peroxide is less toxic than the chemicals used in the sulfide and Kraft processes.

In the Skin of a Lion Anaylsis Essay - 1308 Words

Discuss the ways in which textual forms and features shape your understanding of In the Skin of a Lion. Michael Ondaatje’s postmodern exploration of the early, developmental years of Canada, In the Skin of a Lion, is expressed through multiple perspectives, with no dominant perspective or omniscient narrator. The narrative is presented as fragmented and contains interruptions from intersecting perspectives. The presence of class conflict forces the characters to experience extreme adversity, with their contributions to building the society going unnoticed until Ondaatje has addressed their social exclusion. Through reinterpretations of motifs and symbols, Ondaatje adds new dimensions to events in history and characterizations, whilst the†¦show more content†¦Whilst Harris perceives it as symbol of life and creation, water ironically takes the lives of the workers in the Waterworks with the water â€Å"heaving in, shouldering them aside in a fast death† if they dig â€Å"just one degree up.† The harsh and tedious conditions of the work, â€Å"pissing where they work, eating where someone else left there shit†, dehumanizes the workers, insulting their inherent dignity and contrasting the imagery of opulent structure they are building. Harris notes the â€Å"Egyptian feel† of the palace, equating his works to that of the pyramids which coincidentally draws a link to the cruel treatment of the workers and how bodies have similarly been entombed in the structure during construction. Ondaatje, however, recognizes their contribution in revealing glimpses of certain characters; the voiceless and marginalized become recognizable as the novel progresses Ondaatje presents Patrick Lewis as character amongst the lower class to demonstrate the fluidity of identity, through the journey he undertakes, which allows him to emerge from passivity. Patrick’s quest to gain enlightenment is reflected in the prologue, as he drives through the â€Å"unbetrayed† countryside, introducing implications of hope and maturation whilst isolation and alienation is indicated through the prevailing image of darkness. This sense of isolation is further expressed through Patrick’s childhood. Ondaatje addressed the roots of his â€Å"abashed†

My Letter in a Bottle free essay sample

I have written plenty of stories, poems, essays, letters, and thank you notes in my life, but I have never written to a stranger. I cannot stop thinking about who you might be. You could be anyone, with any story, and I want to meet you. Have you ever been driving through town by yourself and suddenly really seen the girls on the tennis courts, or the man drinking coffee? That happens to me a lot. Now I do not mean that I look at someone and think to myself how cute their hair is. When I really see someone, a stranger, living out their everyday life, a life so different from mine, I become very overwhelmed at the vastness of human existence. I have this crashing feeling of wonder. What is everyone, everyone in the world, doing at this very moment? The possibilities are endless. Everyone has a different life, so everyone is facing different problems and different pleasures. We will write a custom essay sample on My Letter in a Bottle or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page A six year old boy is learning to ride his bike. A seventeen year old girl is falling in love for the first time. A group of kids in Darfur are chasing a scrawny dog through the alleyways. A lady in Spain is teaching a salsa dance. A doctor is performing surgery; a band is performing songs. An artist is making paintings; a baker is making pastries. And I am writing this letter. I am starting a club for special needs kids, helping to run Habitat for Humanity, and striving to make all A’s. How is it that our lives become so different from one another? How do our likes and behaviors range so greatly? How did so many ideologies, theories, and viewpoints develop from the same species? Is it all in our DNA, our genes? Or are we who we are because of how we are raised and how our culture has influenced us? It intrigues me to think about the fact that while my biggest worry is getting into college, another girl out there is trying to avoid her father and the dreadful associated memories. Another girl is preoccupied with raising her brother and sister. Yet another appreciates being able to hide behind her burca. Despite the widespread diversity in the world, we as a human race are surprisingly similar beings. We all have traditions, value education, and share experiences with others. We all want to feel cared for and loved. This is what brings us together, loving connections. We are often intrigued, and pulled in by another’s differences, their quirks and oddities. Once we dig deeper and realize our roots are the same, however, that is when relationships are formed. I do not know who you are, but I know that you are different from me. Your whole life is different. Yet, if I was to talk to you, I would most likely be able to discover that we are very much alike. To me, this is the best kind of friend. Someone who is new, and interesting. Someone who can teach you something new about the world. Someone who, throughout all of this, you can still relate to.

LIKE US IN ALL THINGS BUT SIN An Examination Of The Question Of The I

LIKE US IN ALL THINGS BUT SIN: An examination of the question of the impeccability of Jesus Christ Class: THEOL 510 Liberty University 11 October, 1996 The New Testament authors had no qualms about declaring that Jesus was truly human and telling us that Jesus committed no sin. Bible passages such as 2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 4:15, 1 Peter 2:22 and 1 John 3:5 ?witness that He [Jesus] did not give in to temptation, nor violate the moral standards of God, nor was He inconsistent with the nature of his character.? That is, Jesus was sinless. It is vital to our theology that Jesus was sinless. For only if Jesus was sinless could His death have been a vicarious substitution and fulfil God's redemptive plan for man. If Jesus had not been sinless, then it would mean that He died for His own sins and not those of mankind. Had Jesus died for His own sins then His death could not have been accepted by the Father as a vicariously substitution for the punishment and judgement each of us are entitled to receive. Even though there is no serious debate that Jesus was anything but sinless, theologians have discussed the question of whether Jesus could have sinned if He had wanted. This is called the peccability of Christ. The opposing argument, i.e., impeccability, being that even if He had wanted, Jesus could not have sinned. Upon first consideration, one might view this question as being trivial; something to simply keep the theologians ?out of mischief? when they have nothing better to do. However, there are some very appropriate reasons for examining this issue. The first reason to examine the issue of Christ's peccability/impeccability is so that we might obtain a better understanding and a more in depth knowledge about both Jesus Christ and God, just as God has invited us. This is the same reason that we study Theology proper. When we arrive at an answer to this question, we will have additional knowledge about Jesus' preincarnate state and a better understanding of the meaning of the statement ?Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever .? Second, some theologians have argued that the peccability of Jesus has a direct impact on the humanity of Christ. That is, if Jesus was not peccable then just how ?human? was he? Could he have been ?true man? if he were not able to sin like the rest of mankind? (Note: this is a question of whether Christ could have sinned; not that Christ had to have sinned in order to be human.) Morris indirectly asks if Jesus' impeccability implied that he was lacking a part of the human condition that the rest of mankind have, viz., the consciousness of past sin? If this is the case, Christ may not have been truly human because he only took on most of the ?qualities? of human nature but shielded himself from the consciousness of sin. Third, Sahl tells us that ?the virgin birth, the Incarnation, and the hypostatic union, are all influenced by the impeccability of Jesus Christ .? Therefore, if we are to have a full understanding of these doctrines, we need to study the question of Christ's peccability/impeccability. Fourth, an understanding of the peccability/impeccability of Jesus Christ will have an impact on our understanding of angels in general and Lucifer/Satan in particular . That is, by examining the peccability/impeccability of Jesus (and the related issue of the temptability of Jesus) we will come to have a better understanding of the realm of angels, especially the fallen angels. Furthermore, by examining the temptations that Satan makes to Christ, we will also have a deeper awareness of the powers of Satan and his followers. Fifth, because the Bible tells us that Jesus did not sin, the question of Jesus' peccability or impeccability will have an impact on biblical inerrancy and integrity. As Sahl states, ? if it is possible that the Lord Jesus Christ could succumb to or be deceived by sin, then one must also conclude that it is possible for Him to have given inaccurate inform ation about eternal things when He was growing in wisdom and stature and favour with God and

Pandemic Flu Planning

Pandemic Flu Planning Recommended epidemic control steps A flu pandemic can be controlled through four steps that would be aimed at reducing the rate of spread of the disease and reducing its impact on the community. The steps are useful if an outbreak is detected early before it could have explosive growth (Interim Pre-pandemic Planning Guidance, 2007). If it is severe, then the steps should be maintained and applied consistently in the community to deal with the pandemic.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Pandemic Flu Planning specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More First, individuals confirmed or suspected to be affected by the avian flu virus should be isolated and treated with tested antiviral drugs. Isolation of the avian virus infected persons could be done at home or within healthcare settings, depending on how severe the disease manifests. If it is severe, isolation should be done within healthcare settings, but mild severe cases can be i solated at home (Interim Pre-pandemic Planning Guidance, 2007). Second, influenza infected individuals should be quarantined at home on a voluntary basis as they undergo prophylaxis using antiviral medications. However, this could only be done if sufficient amounts of effective drugs are available (Interim Pre-pandemic Planning Guidance, 2007).  Third, students should be sent away from all learning institutions. Also, all activities that promote children coming together for social activities should be discouraged because the virus could be spread through the air quite easily. Thus, close contact to infected persons could lead to virus transmission and infection. Fourth, measures should be adopted to reduce contact between adults in the workplace and social gatherings like meetings and church services (Interim Pre-pandemic Planning Guidance, 2007). Legal authorities When isolating and quarantining cases in flu outbreaks the following legal authorities are invoked: CDC, state, local and tribal authorities, and Commerce Clause of the US Constitution. The legal authorities are used to prevent patients from harm when they are being isolated and quarantined (CDC, 2012). Factors to determine or deter the success of the plan Several factors would impact the plan aimed at controlling a flu pandemic (H5N1 Avian Flu, n.d., para. 1). First, finances would have a great impact on the success of the plan. Adequate funding of the plan would result in the success of the plan while inadequate funds would make the plan fail along implementation.Advertising Looking for essay on epidemiology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Availability of healthcare providers would also determine the pace at which the pandemic control plan is implemented (H5N1 Avian Flu, n.d., para. 2). Enough personnel would ensure that the plan is successful within a short period of time. Third, collaboration with various stakeholders in the c ommunity would impact the plan. For example, school managers would help in identifying flu cases and facilitating closure of learning institutions. Fourth, sufficient amounts of effective medications would go a long way in ensuring that isolated cases are treated (Community planning, n.d., para. 1). Controlling the outbreak Yes, I would control the outbreak. It would be crucial to control the outbreak to prevent it from reaching the pandemic phase 6. The outbreak could be controlled by gathering all the required resources like healthcare providers and antiviral medications. If the resources are utilized, then the outbreak could be handled and prevented from proceeding to pandemic phase 6 (Community planning, n.d., para. 1). Improving the government’s plan The governments plan is a laudable approach to handling H5N1 outbreak in the society. However, I would suggest that it adopts a step that would ensure that there are strict travelling requirements in areas confirmed to have flu outbreaks. In fact, public means of transport should be discouraged because it could contribute to fast spread of the communicable disease. References CDC (2012). Legal Authorities for Isolation and Quarantine. Web. Community planning (n.d.). Web. H5N1 Avian Flu (n.d.). Web.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Pandemic Flu Planning specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Interim Pre-pandemic Planning Guidance: Community Strategy for Pandemic Influenza  Mitigation in the United States- Early, Targeted, Layered Use of  Nonpharmaceutical Interventions (2007). Web.