Business.

1. Select one of the companies listed below and read the letter of introduction from their annual reports, then answer the following questions.

 

A.) Describe how the company conveys the information.

B.) Does the company use positive, neutral, or negative messages?

C.) Is there a connection between the type of messages and how well the company performs financially? 

 Use examples to support your conclusions.

· Dupont

http://investors.dupont.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=73320&p=irol-irhome

· IBM

http://www.ibm.com/investor/?lnk=fif-inve-usen

· General Mills

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=74271&p=irol-irhome

 

· Sea World Entertainment

http://seaworldinvestors.com/

 

· Starwood Hotels

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/corporate/about/investor/index.html

Tip:  You might want to consider reading articles about the company that you have selected.  I would recommend using Google news.  Type the company’s name; on the left-hand side, select custom range of 01/01/2012 and 04/21/2013.  Think about whether or not there is a relationship between the articles and the message in the letter of introduction in their annual report.  How did the letter of introduction respond to the positive or negative issues indicated in the articles?

 

2.

Search for a job on the website of one of the companies listed below.  Prepare a cover letter and resume as if you are applying for that job.  (Tip:  Customize the cover letter to the job description.)

 

· Starwood Hotels & Resorts

Sheraton, Westin, Le Meridien, W Hotels, Luxury Collection, St. Regis, Four Points, Aloft & Element Hotels

www.starwoodhotels.com

· Luxottica Group

Ray-Ban, Oliver Peoples, Arnette, Revo, Persol, Vogue, Oakley

www.luxottica.com

· Yum! Brands

Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut

www.yum.com

· Oneworld

American Airlines, British Airways, airberlin, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines

www.oneworld.com

· BP Global | BP

BP, ARAL, ARCO, Castrol, ampm, Wild Bean Café

www.bp.com

· The Walt Disney Company

Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Aulani – a Disney Resort & Spa, ESPN, ABC, Marvel Studios, Touchstone Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios

www.thewaltdisneycompany.com      

· PepsiCo

Pepsi-Cola, Frito Lay, Tropicana, Quaker, Gatorade

www.pepsico.com