A Firms Superior Performance - 1544 Words

A firm’s superior performance is contingent upon a sustainable competitive strategy and a firm’s strategy refers to ‘a set of actions that its manager takes to outperform its competitors and achieve superior profitability’ (Thompson, Peteraf, Gamble, Strickland, 2016, p.3). A strategy becomes sustainable when it produces enduring success that can support the company’s consistent growth. The designing of a strategy entails the understanding the company’s present situation which are comprised of two distinct facets: external environment and internal environment (Thompson et al., 2016). It is generally accepted that the performance of a company is accelerated when the strategy encompasses the alignment of both external and internal environments of a company (Kaplan Norton, 2008; Maier Pop, 2012). In spite of this consensus, there is a longstanding debate regarding whether external or internal environment has greater influence on the companyâ⠂¬â„¢s performance (Wit, 2010). For some logical perspectives, it is favored that a firm’s internal environment has greater influence on the firm’s performance than external environment. In alignment with the argument, pertinent strategic concepts and theories are analyzed along with the example of a company, Toyota Motor Corporation. This argumentative essay flows starting with a brief overview of Toyota Motor Corporation and then the arguments along with the concepts of resource and capability analysis, SWOT analysis and value chainShow MoreRelatedHuman Resource Management At The Management Field849 Words   |  4 Pages(HRM) to improve firm’s performance and underpin its strategy. While there is evidence that HRM practices can improve organizational performance, a key issue is understanding if such improvement qualifies as competitive advantage or merely achieves competitive parity. Several authors agree that people are sustainable source of competitive advantage [Pfeffer, 1995]. This statement triggers several questions: do people generate competitive advantage by delivering superior performance, because theyRead MoreBusiness Analysis : Porsche Automotive Group1633 Words   |  7 Pagescannot. This provides them with the opportunity to produce a product for superior in just about every way, given the proper application of effort and resources. The final issue to address is the possibility of threats to the firm. As previously alluded to earlier, the greatest threat to the future success of Porsche Automotive Group is the global economy and the looming presence of competition. This is primarily due to the firm’s specialization within the market of luxury vehicles. It has been plainRead MoreResources Underlie Comeptencies, Whereas Competencies Build Resources1015 Words   |  5 Pagesresources’ Discuss this statement and explain under what conditions both resources and capabilities can create a competitive advantage for a company Introduction This essay will discuss how resources and competences are linked with regards to a firm’s performance and under what conditions they can be fully utilized to create a competitive advantage for the company in question. Main Generally it can be found that in a particular industry some firms will out- perform other firms usually to do withRead MoreSwot Analysis : Cross Border Business1649 Words   |  7 Pagesmight hire top executives who have international-business experience. Moreover, they argue that managerial abilities might be essential in enabling firm its internationalisation process (ibid). Due to the above-mentioned literature we argue that the firm’s global strategic decisions are conceptualised by well-experienced executives. Therefore, the degree of globalisation of MNEs could be influenced by management s perspectives, experiences as well as educational backgrounds. Second, language is becomingRead MoreFive Generic Competitive Strategies1506 Words   |  7 Pagesoffering from the offerings of rivals. 4. Recognize the attributes of a best-cost provider strategy and the way in which some firms use a hybrid strategy to go about building a competitive advantage and delivering superior value to customers. 5–2 Why Do Strategies Differ? Is the firm’s market target broad or narrow? Key factors that distinguish one strategy from another Is the competitive advantage pursued linked to low costs or product differentiation? 5–3 THE FIVE GENERIC COMPETITIVE STRATEGIESRead Moreswot analysis1275 Words   |  6 Pagesexpanding closed different OS ecosystem 3. Decreasing market 2. Apple is a leading share innovator in mobile 4. Patent infringements device technology 5. Further changes in 3. Strong financial management performance 6. Defects of new ($10,000,000,000 products cash, gross profit 7. Long-term gross margin 43.9% and no debt) margin decline Strengths 1. Customer loyalty combined with expanding closed ecosystem. While at firstRead MoreBenefits of Strategic Management1255 Words   |  6 Pagesgoal of much of business strategy is to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. Getting and keeping it is what managing strategically is all about. It ¡Ã‚ ¯s tough to do, and getting tougher.1 There are 2 major views of alternative model of superior returns. Industrial organization (I/O) view and resource-based view. The industrial organization view focuses on the structural forces within an industry, the competitive environment of firms and how these influence competitive advantage. TheRead MorePorter s Value Chain Of The Petroleum Sector1338 Words   |  6 Pagesstems from the many discrete activities a firm performs in designing, producing, marketing, delivering and supporting its product. Each of these activities can contribute to a firm’s relative cost position and create a basis for differentiation.† (Michael Porter Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance) Porter suggest, that it is the activities within an organization that add value to the services and products that a company produces. Any company that wants to improve itsRead MoreStudy on a Companys Financial Ratios1233 Words   |  5 Pages1. Financial ratios are used to help analyze the companys financial statements. For a small company that is not publicly traded, the most important use of ratios is to compare current performance against past performance. Ratios cover a number of performance metrics that can help a business to benchmark performance against publicly traded companies as well, provided that the business has put together its internal statements according to GAAP, making them compatible with the statements of publicly-tradedRead MoreSituation Analysis in Marketing Plan Essay1585 Words   |  7 Pagesthe competition, and the corporation. (Jain, 2004, p25) Jain (2004) explained the role of situation analysis is to (1) make a clear market definition; (2) make a good match between corporate strengths and the needs of the market; and (3) perform superior to the competitions in the key success factors o f the business. Based on the three Cs, situation analysis indicates three decisions: where, how, and when to compete. Thus, without the reflection on the changing environment and the developing business

William Bacon s New Science - 1795 Words

As a result, this would allow a prince to govern without being morally bound. Unlike Machiavelli, Bacon believed that â€Å"knowledge is power† and a divine one too.13 Bacon argued that since God on the first day â€Å"created light only,† philosophers should set about discovering true causes and axioms.14 Thus, Bacon’s new science was meant for the benefit of the people and the improvement of human health and welfare. Bacon urged his followers to â€Å"cultivate truth in charity.†15 These religious ideas come together in Bacon’s New Atlantis, in which the fathers of Solomon’s House, the scientific center of the island named after the biblical king, were responsible for distributing useful knowledge and practical inventions for the advantage of citizens and strangers alike. Bacon believed that the accumulation of knowledge would empower all citizens.16 In addition, unlike Machiavelli’s belief that religion couldn’t help the government, Bacon argued that advances in science could aid the government.17 Baco n declared that technological advances in warfare, shipping, and mining had improved the political and economic power of the people in possession of such knowledge. He also claimed that learning encourages better citizenship and that knowledge depends upon experience.18 This is a sharp contrast to Machiavelli, who believed that knowledge did not create better citizenship, but rather the authority of strong and authoritative princes did so. Bacon sought to establish an approach for naturalShow MoreRelatedThe Middle Ages1747 Words   |  7 PagesEurope. The British middle ages influenced the development of society through the politics, the religion, and the literature of the era. Politics was a key factor in the development of England in the middle ages. For example, the impact of the new political regime when the Normans conquered England. The Normans (1066-1154) and the Angevins (1154-1399) created political institutions that set England apart from the rest of Europe (â€Å"England†). Henry II was the first Angevin king of England and RichardRead MoreAbigail Adams : The American Revolution Essay1288 Words   |  6 Pagesto the British. This was only the first of her dealings with women s influence in politics. Because she and her husband were away from each other often for extended periods, the two of them corresponded through lengthy letters. In some of these letters, Abigail urged her husband, during the days surrounding the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War, to pay attention to the rights of women. She believed women s rights should equal those of the men. She did not bring the foundingRead MoreThe Effects of the Scientif ic Revolution Essay1346 Words   |  6 PagesGalileo Galilei, Isaac Newton, Francis Bacon and Joseph Needham. According to some excerpts from â€Å"Why Europe?† by Jack Gladstone and â€Å"China, Technology and Change† by Lynda Norene Shaffer, the work of these notable men can be traced back to having a significant role in the scientific focus of modern society, or what we now know to be the â€Å"Scientific Revolution† of the seventeenth century. In a world where we are desperately dependent on advancements in modern science, we rarely stop to think about whatRead MoreHistory And History Of Fuel Cells876 Words   |  4 PagesHistory of fuel cells according to Vladimir S. Bagotsky (2012) Luigi Galvani (1737-1798) In 1791, the Italian physiologist Luigi Galvani discovered that the muscle contractions, similar to the discharged of a Leyden charge, will occur when two metals touch the nerve of a frog. 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ManyRead MoreThe Theory Of Government, Science And The Nature Of Human Beings1466 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Enlightenment ultimately led to upheavals that transformed Britain, America and France in the late 18th and 1 9th century. Thomas Hobbes, Baruch Spinoza, Francis Bacon, John Locke, Jean-Jaques Rousseau and Francis Hutcheson are few of the many Enlightenment thinkers that used reason to challenge the structure of government, science and the nature of human beings. For example, Hobbes believed that man was born evil and shared in Aristotle’s belief that government was essentially the preservationRead MoreVampires Never Die, By Guillermo Del Toro And Chuck Hogan1299 Words   |  6 Pagesbegins with a story told by John William Polidori that created the two main branches of vampire fiction known today. These branches include the vampire as a romantic hero and the vampire as an undead monster. 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Dow Jones V Gutnick Essay Sample free essay sample

The instance of Dow Jones A ; Company Inc V Gutnick ( 2002 ) 210 CLR 575. [ 2002 ] HCA 56 raised the legal rule of calumny and its application when committed over the cyberspace. In this case. an article published on 30 October 2000 in a hebdomadal fiscal magazine. a magazine which in bend was published by Dow Jones A ; Company Inc ( ‘Dow Jones’ ) . The article. entitled ‘Unholy Gains’ alleged that Joseph Gutnick ( ‘Gutnick’ ) was connected to a captive money launderer and revenue enhancement evader and was involved in these activities himself. The article was accompanied by a big exposure of Gutnick. The edition of the magazine sold 305. 363 transcripts and 550. 000 endorsers accessed the article online. with 1. 700 of the online endorsers utilizing an Australian recognition card to pay for the article. Gutnick brought an action against Dow Jones claiming that the article was calumniatory. The initial claim was made in Victoria. as this is wh ere the bulk of Gutnick’s societal and concern life was and where the effects of the alleged defamatory stuff would be most felt. Dow Jones refuted this claim and sought to hold the instance heard in the United States. As Freedom of Speech is a cardinal right of all United States citizens. Dow Jones were eager to take advantage of this cardinal right and hedge the right of protection of repute the Australia Courts are so eager to continue. The instance was held. ab initio. in the Supreme Court of Victoria. At the beginning of the test. Dow Jones sought to hold the proceedings stayed or for good set aside due to an evident breach of order 701 ( I ) . being that service of the claim was non appropriate as the calumny was non committed in Australia and. based on order 701 ( J ) . there was no grounds of harm suffered within the legal power. which Dow Jones believed should be where the article was published. originating from publication of the article in New Jersey. Dow Jones argued that the instance should. in fact. be heard in New Jersey as this was where the waiter was located to which the article had been uploaded and. as such. was the articles topographic point of publication. Dow Jones’ application for an order that service be stayed or for good set aside was dismissed as the test justice. Hedigan J. stated that the civil wrong occurred when contents of the publication were comprehended by the reader. which in this instance occurred in Victoria. and non where the article was published. being in New Jersey. Following this. Dow Jones appealed the determination of Hedigan J. to the Court of Appeal of Victoria. who upheld the determination of the lower tribunal. Dow Jones was so granted particular leave to take the entreaty to the High Court of Australia. An International ComparisonIn passing down their determination. Glesson CJ. McHugh. Gummow and Hayne JJ considered three issues viz. . ( 1 ) where had the stuff the Gutnick complained about been published. ( 2 ) whether the stuff had been published in Victoria and ( 3 ) whether Victoria was the appropriate legal power for the instance to be heard. From these inquiries. it is evident the issue of legal power was an of import legal inquiry that needed to be resolved. In add-on. Hedigan J. in the initial hearing. gave wider consideration to the issue of internet legal power and its application to calumny. He considered three ( 3 ) other instances on legal power. some of which are considered below. These international instances. together with the Court’s attack in the Dow Jones Case is that if a complainant can demo that the stuff. which is capable to the calumny claim. was read by at least one individual in the relevant legal power. a claim for calumny in that legal power is about automatic. Lee Teck Chee V Merrill Lynch International Bank Ltd [ 1998 ] 4 C. L. J. 188 ( Malayan High Court ) This instance involved the publication of an article in an on-line newspaper based in Singapore. The focal point of this finding was based on existent entree to the publication and this assisted the tribunal in finding whether they had legal power or non. The Court held that a publication made on a newspaper web site in Singapore could merely be considered to hold been published all around Malaysia if there was grounds that an independent party within Malaysia had accessed the publication and read it and as such the tribunal exercised legal power. Kitakufe V Oloya Ltd ( 1998 ) 67 O. T. C. 315 ( Ontario Court of Justice ) This instance involved a newspaper article published both in difficult transcript in Uganda and online. Both complainant and suspect were of African-Canadian descent. The Court held that the topographic point where the calumny occurred. and hence the subsequent legal power where any claim could be heard. refering on-line publications is. in fact. the legal power where the publication is accessible and available to be read by any 3rd party users. It was for this really ground the Court held that the Ontario Court was the appropriate legal power for the instance to be heard as this was where the most harm was suffered by the complainant. This place was reaffirmed in the Italian instance of Investors Group Inc v Hudson [ 1999 ] Recueil en Responsabilite et Assirance 185. Calder V Jones ( 1984 ) 465 US 783 This instance involved a celebrated entertainer who made a claim for calumny against the National Enquirer for an article published in Florida and circulated nationally. At the clip the article was published the complainant resided and worked in California. The tribunal determined that ‘jurisdiction may be exercised over a foreign suspect who directs his or her calumniatory message at the forum and the complainant suffers harm there’ This pre-internet instance has become the foundation for the US Courts consideration of legal power. Further consideration to the US attack to legal power will be discussed below. A affair of forum.The instance of Dow Jones raises two issues viz. . publication of stuff on the cyberspace and legal power. In Dow Jones. the two are interconnected as the finding of the topographic point of publication led to an appraisal of the appropriate legal power in which the instance should be heard. The impact the Dow Jones Case has on on-line publications is great. Whilst it is evident that the point made by Dow Jones that in order for a publishing house to hold certainty. the ‘single publication’ regulation should be adopted so that a commercial ailment can merely be brought one time in the legal power that is the topographic point of upload of a publication as ‘a defamatory statement is made available on a web site. legal power may lie in all the states where entree to that web site can be obtained’ . Iin sing the above. one must besides take into history the surrogate position in that the planetary growing of the cyberspace should non be used a s a shield for on-line publishing houses to avoid the basic rule that an person has the right to keep their repute in their place legal power. The fact that the cyberspace is planetary does non and should non intend that publishing houses can conceal behind this globalization as a manner of avoiding action for calumniatory publications. This will necessitate peculiar consideration for states such as the US. with its broad application of free address. in regard of calumny instances and whether they will implement opinions of international legal powers. A claim of calumny is contrast in that it seeks to protect the repute of persons and administrations nevertheless this would look to suppress the right to freedom of address. As celebrated above freedom of address is a cardinal right embodied in the US through its Constitution. As such. the US is less rigorous on verbal calumny that most other legal powers. Whilst it is good to hold clear and concise regulations in Australia about when and where a calumny instance affecting a publication is heard in Australia which amendss an Australian repute. where those publications are made outside of Australia. if a opinion can non be enforced in legal powers such as the US. the Australian regulations will make little to advance justness in the eyes of complainant Australians who suffer such international defamatory Acts of the Apostless. A farther complication to the manner the US considered affairs of legal power is the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment in the Constitution. As is the instance in Australia. the get downing point for the US in finding affairs of legal powers starts with a party’s presence in the forum. The US Courts so determine whether the cause of action asserts general legal power. where a party lives in the relevant legal power or carries out a big figure of activities at that place. or specific legal power where there must be a high sum of contact between relevant forum and a suspect who does non shack in the legal power. Other determinations in the US have reflected a different attack to legal power in finding that ‘a complainant would necessitate to turn out than an out of province defendant’s cyberspace activity was expressly targeted at. or directed to. the forum province in order to set up legal power in the tribunals of that state’ . The instance of Stanley K. Young v New Haven Advocate ( 2002 ) 315 F. 3d 256 supported this individual publication attack which focuses on the topographic point of upload of a publication in finding legal power by finding that the on-line newspaper had intended to direct the publication at a specific audience ( in this instance Connecticut ) being the same topographic point as the topographic point of upload of the article. even though the article was available in other legal powers given its on-line nature. When sing affairs of legal power and forum and whether the traditional regulations of legal power can be applied to online calumny. the Australian trial of forum non conveniens. where a tribunal is persuaded that another forum or legal power is better placed to hear a affair. is in contrast to the US Courts who look at the possible unfairness against a party holding to support a instance in a foreign legal power. In order to fulfill the forum non conveniens test one must fulfill themselves whether the legal power that is under onslaught is ‘a clearly inappropriate forum’ . In Dow Jones. Dow Jones themselves argued that supporting a claim of calumny in Australia would be burdensome due to the fact that naming informants. bring forthing paperss and accessing stuff would be that much more hard. In support of this. Dow Jones suggested that Gutnick would non be faced with these troubles as the grounds would be readily available in the US. Ultimately. the forum non conveniens trial was rejected by Hedigan J who stated ‘the failing in the statements [ of Dow Jones ] is that the aspect sued on by Mr Gutnick is indelibly Victorian. connected with no other topographic point and that nay certification or grounds refering the affair will wholly be found in Victoria’ . A figure of US instances sing legal power have been determined based on the defendant’s operation of a web site that was deemed accessible in the relevant forum and which caused injury to the complainant in such forum. This US attack is consistent with the Australia attack which revolves around the topographic point of entree of an on-line publication. Alternatively. some US Courts have rejected the above position on legal power in favor of an attack where more grounds is required that a suspect who publishes material online must hold published it with the purpose to aim people who reside in a specific forum for the stuff posted online to be calumniatory. DecisionThe opinion given by Hedigan J has set a case in point for on-line publications. Any on-line publishing house must now be cognizant that they might non merely be capable to the calumny Torahs of the legal power where the physical computing machine on which the publication was uploaded but besides to the Torahs of other states where the publication can be accessed. It is evident from reappraisal of the assorted instances that the topographic point of publication is at the very bosom of finding a class of action for calumny. Therefore. publication in the legal power of the tribunal is in fact irrelevant. By the really significance of calumny on the cyberspace. stuff can merely be considered published at the topographic point where it is read. heard or seen as opposed to the topographic point from where the stuff originates. To spread out this definition. a separate publication and new cause of action occurs each clip the stuff is read. heard or seen which furnished the footing for legal power to all topographic points in the universe because of modern twenty-four hours publication to a planetary audience through the cyberspace. It is evident that with the growing of the cyberspace comes growing of cyberspace publications and with such growing differences sing legal power for on-line calumny will go more common topographic point. It is for this really ground that it is imperative that legal powers form a concrete footing in how to find affairs of legal power. It appears that whilst Dow Jones has helped Australia develop a common pattern in finding legal power based on the topographic point of injury cause and non the topographic point of publication. the constitutional right of free address in the US is invariably combating the right to protect 1s repute. As much of the population of the US believes freedom of address to be the most cardinal of all constitutional rights this position does non adequately represent the beliefs of an of all time increasing multicultural cyberspace user base. Alternatively. some may reason that as the Torahs regulating calumny in Australia differ from province to province this deficiency of uniformity has besides spread internationally. Given that the US appears to hold the least rigorous Torahs on legal power given their application of freedom of address it is my position that Australia has one of most appropriate and effectual trials for finding legal power and 1 that will stand the trial of clip as the usage of the cyberspace grows. specifically in footings of on-line publications. In bend Australia is now favoring towards exerting legal power in cyberspace based instances. The instance of Dow Jones has set a precedent nationwide on how to use legal power when covering with on-line publications. Therefore. while the impression of free address has non disappeared everlastingly. the power of the cyberspace and a simple Google hunt from anyplace in the universe should do anyone believe twice approximately posting what may be considered a harmless article from the other side of the universe. If there is one piece of advice a reader can take from this it would be to be wary. The cyberspace can be a unsafe forum when used unsuitably. Once something is published it is stored in the universe broad web for life as on the cyberspace. ‘a calumniatory statement can be outright available throughout the world’ .

The history of the barbie doll Essay Example For Students

The history of the barbie doll Essay The History of Barbie DollThe idea of Barbie all started in 1959 when Ruth Handler, Barbie’s creator, noticed her daughter Barbara playing with paper dolls and imagining them in grown up roles such as college students, cheerleaders, and adults with careers. Ruth realized that dolls on the market at that time were all baby dolls, and that there was a need for a doll that would inspire little girls to think about what they wanted to be when they grew up. Thus the idea for the Barbie doll, the teenage fashion model, was born. Ruth named the doll Barbie, after her daughter and now, 40 years later, this 1.9 billion-dollar-a-year industry is stronger then ever. We will write a custom essay on The history of the barbie doll specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The Barbie doll started being released in early 1960. It first appeared in the now-famous black and white striped swimsuit and signature ponytail. After producing this doll and one other know as Roman Holiday, she began to be made with lighter blue eyes and a new type of vinyl that retains its flesh-tone color rather than whitening with age. One year after her introduction, number five was released. She was made with different hair colors, one of which was a shade of red known as titian, and with a new Bubble Cut hairstyle popularized by Jacqueline Kennedy. Enchanted Evening, a lovely pink stain gown, also debuted this year. This fashion was a collector’s favorite and was reproduced in 1996. Ken, Barbie’s boyfriend was introduced this year with short blonde or brown hair, blue eyes, and moveable head, arms, and legs. He was also a inch taller then Barbie. Ken was named after Ruth’s son, Kenny. Barbie doll was now the hottest selling fashion doll on the market at this time. In 1962, Barbie doll was still being made with a ponytail, but the Bubble Cut was much more popular and was produced in much greater numbers. Red was her color this year and Red Flare, a bright red coat, hat, and handbag ensemble made a bold fashion statement. Garden Party and Tennis Anyone were two of Barbie doll’s other fashions that year. Also that year, the fuzzy-haired Ken doll was retired in favor of a new doll with the painted brown or blonde hair. In the next two years of Barbie’s life a lot happened. In 1963, she came out as Fashion Queen Barbie, with 3 interchangeable wigs: platinum Bubble Cut, a brunette Pageboy, and a titian side-swept ponytail called a Swirl. This was also the year that Barbie got her first and best friend, Midge. This freckled doll was a favorite for many collectors. In 1964, Barbie doll appeared in a pink swimsuit with eyes that open and close. This was the only Barbie doll to have eyes that shut. Barbie dolls family also bega n to grow that year with the introduction of Skipper, Barbie dolls little sister. By the end of the decade Barbie had changed even more. Her and her friends were given more bendable legs. Her new hairstyle was known as â€Å"American Girl†. 1967 gave her a more youthful face and long straight hair to keep up with the changing times. A talking Barbie was finally introduced in 1968. This was a long time dream of Ruth’s husband, Elliot. By the beginning of 1970 Barbie’s fashion trends were up-to-the-minute. She had designs reflecting the prairie look, the granny dress, the California girl suntan craze, and glittery disco styles. Barbie turned sweet 16 in 1974 and a portion of Times Square was renamed â€Å"Barbie Boulevard† for a week in her honor. In 1976, Barbie doll’s face was again reshaped into a wider smile and sun-streaked hair reflecting the latest beauty looks. Also in 1976 Barbie dolls were placed in time capsules and sealed during the Bice ntennial celebrations to be opened in 2076 as the favorite doll of this century. Barbie was featured in Life Magazine in 1979 as reflecting twenty years of American fashion. During the ‘70s, Barbie doll had a constantly changing wardrobe that swung from the mod look of Live Action Barbie, a wild multi-colored pants outfit, to the high fashion of City Sophisticate. Her wardrobe also reflected an international flavor in Picture Pretty Barbie from Canada and Party Time Barbie from Germany. In the 1980’s fans held the first annual Barbie doll convention. The first black and Hispanic Barbie dolls were then introduced as Teresa and Christie. Barbie doll’s wardrobe began to grow larger with both glamorous and casual looks such as the Dolls of the World Collection. In 1986 the first porcelain Barbie was introduced. Two years later, in 1988 the first Holiday Barbie debuted and Barbie’s best friend Midge returned. Mattel then celebrated Barbie’s thirtieth ann iversary in 1989 with Pink Jubilee Barbie. Staring in 1990, Barbie doll stepped into the future allowing girls to use their computer to, among other things, design and print their own fashions with CD-ROM products. One of the first Barbie software products, â€Å"Barbie Fashion Designer†, was the best selling software title of 1996, followed by â€Å"Barbie Magic Hairstyler†, the top new children’s title in 1997. She entered the digital world in 1998 with the Barbie Photo Designer Digital Camera and CD-ROM. Most recently, the Barbie doll went online with My Design, which allows customers to go online to customize and order their own Barbie doll friend. Barbie doll also started becoming more involved in a little girl’s life with a flexible new body allowing her to be more active as a gymnast, bicyclist, and skater. In 1992 the first Barbie doll store opened at FAO Schwarz in New York City. Barbie soon was made to be the first women president candidate. Mat tel celebrated Barbie’s thirty-fifth Anniversary in 1994 with a re-issue of the very first doll and the Limited Edition Gold Jubilee Barbie. In the 1990s, the wardrobe for Barbie reached new heights of elegance and drama. She wore astonishing originals designed for her by Christian Dior, Bob Mackie, and Ralph Lauren as well as the glittering Starlight Dance ensemble. In a classic-like suit, City-Style Barbie took on a sophisticated look, perfect for the time. Also during this era, the Barbie Millicent Roberts Collection of fashions was introduced. .u9c3dc3661f0575f69e9159f4b3233a23 , .u9c3dc3661f0575f69e9159f4b3233a23 .postImageUrl , .u9c3dc3661f0575f69e9159f4b3233a23 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u9c3dc3661f0575f69e9159f4b3233a23 , .u9c3dc3661f0575f69e9159f4b3233a23:hover , .u9c3dc3661f0575f69e9159f4b3233a23:visited , .u9c3dc3661f0575f69e9159f4b3233a23:active { border:0!important; } .u9c3dc3661f0575f69e9159f4b3233a23 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u9c3dc3661f0575f69e9159f4b3233a23 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u9c3dc3661f0575f69e9159f4b3233a23:active , .u9c3dc3661f0575f69e9159f4b3233a23:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u9c3dc3661f0575f69e9159f4b3233a23 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u9c3dc3661f0575f69e9159f4b3233a23 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u9c3dc3661f0575f69e9159f4b3233a23 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u9c3dc3661f0575f69e9159f4b3233a23 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u9c3dc3661f0575f69e9159f4b3233a23:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u9c3dc3661f0575f69e9159f4b3233a23 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u9c3dc3661f0575f69e9159f4b3233a23 .u9c3dc3661f0575f69e9159f4b3233a23-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u9c3dc3661f0575f69e9159f4b3233a23:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: In Search Of Excellence: Review Essay Family and friends hold a very important place in the history of Barbie. Besides Ken, Barbie also had a best friend, Midge, who was introduced in 1963 but returned in 1968. Barbie’s little sister Skipper, introduced in 1964, Sister Stacie, introduced in 1992, and baby Kelly, new in 1995 are also all very popular. She also has friends from a variety of backgrounds, reflecting the diversity of thereal world. In 1968, Barbie doll’s black friend Christie was first introduced, in 1988 Teresa, a Hispanic doll came, and in 1990 Kira, an Asian friend, debuted. In 1997 Share a Smile Becky, Barbie’s friend in a wheelchair wa s introduced for the first time. Barbie’s circle of friends also includes others such as: Francie, Tutti, Todd, Stacy, P.J., Jamie, Cara, Kelley, Steffie, Tracy, Miko, Whitney, Diva, Dee Dee, Dana, Steven, Kayla, Devon, Nia, Belinda, Bopsy, and Steven. Many of these are now retired due to the fact that they were part of a series. Barbie fans of all ages can also enjoy the line of special edition and limited edition dolls designed specifically with the collector in mind. Exquisite fashions designed by Nolan Miller, re-creations from Barbie doll’s early years, and Barbie and Ken as characters from popular files such as The X-Files, are helping the world of Barbie Collectibles grow. The value of older dolls is rising as more and more adults discover the world of Barbie. In conclusion, Barbie still reflects the dreams, hopes, and future realities of an entire generation of little girls who still see her as representing the same American dream and aspirations as when she wa s first introduced in 1959.