Monthly Progress Report for OJT Essay

Continue updating the EBEIS System for those schools who submitted updated profile information of their school. phoned all the public elem. and Secondary school in Cavite about their reports on Disaster Risk Reduction assigned focal persons 16 Updating the Address directory of private schools in Cavite both in elem. and Secondary Received files from other departments  Continue updating the EBEIS System for those schools who submitted updated profile information of their school. 30 Assisting the teachers encoding in the EBEIS System  Continue updating the EBEIS System for those schools who submitted updated profile information of their school. Monthly Progress Report for the month of September and First Week of October Date Day Task Performed 2 Monday print a division memo Photocopying a twenty pieces of form for ocular visit I was tasked to check the records of each school for both Elementary & HS regarding ASP (Adopt-A-School program) to know the top 10 active schools. Filling of Memorandum and DepEd Order Went to SM to canvas printer, ink, flash drive and keyboard 4 Friday Scanned 64 pcs. Of documents Photocopy a memorandum Encoded the ASP (Adopt-A-School Program). Assisting teachers who needs to use computers. 6 Monday Reproduced 100 copies of memorandum and other documents Tasked to handle the registration for a Seminar about Adopt A School Went to Property Office to request an envelop Xerox a form for the ASP meeting 9 Wednesday Print a memorandum Extracted files that were in winrar format. I was tasked to the points of high school teachers needed for their ranking and arranged their ranks. Assisted the teacher in encoding EBEIS Went to PLDT to get an application form for internet connection 11 Friday *ABSENT* 13 Monday Decorate the ICT Office with Christmas decors Scanned a document of Ma’am Kaye. Printing of documents. Edit a template for PPT Assisted a teacher in encoding the EBEIS System 16 Wednesday brownout occurred till 4:00 Went to Legal Office and help Ms. Judith in filling a documents Troubleshooting a computer in the Legal Section Assisted a teacher in encoding EBEIS until 6:30pm 18 Friday Help in the Legal Office in to bind the documents so that when they moved to their new Office everything was arranged 20 Monday Scanned 19 copies of documents of Sir Jay Encoding regarding EBEIS I edited in Photoshop a scanned paper needed by Sr. Tan from Accounting Office. Designed a template for PPT using Adobe Photoshop Received files from other departments of the company 25 Wednesday Brought the HIRS record to Clinic and Legal Section and let the staff signed the paper Photocopied important document 27 Friday Transferred some things like files, office materials, etc., to the new ICT office Received files from other departments Arranged the tables and chairs 30 Monday I helped in cleaning and arranging the computers, documents and furniture that were transferred. 2 Wednesday Printing of documents Photocopy of the documents Troubleshooting a computer in the Legal Section 4 Friday Went Records office to photocopy some documents Encoded the Adopt a School Program reports Went to personnel’s office to check if the superintendent is around Photocopy of the documents Computed the remaining hours of my OJT and the accumulated time 7 Monday Updating the ASP (Adopt-A-School Program) of the schools. Received documents from different schools Was tasked to call all district schools in elementary and HS to ask their updated Google Electronic Mails and their ASP Quarterly Report. 9 Wednesday Encoded the ASP (Adopt-A-School Program) and updated Google email make a requisition letter Went to Property Office to submit the requisition letter I and my co-trainee went to Trece Martires City HS to download all updated Google accounts and ASP Quarterly report. Phoned the principal of GEAHS (Bailen) to confirm if they have received the computers under ICT Computerization Program (batch 9) that was delivered in the year 2011. 11 Friday Photocopy of the documents Received documents from different schools Delivered files to the Personnel’s Office 14 Monday *ABSENT* 16 Wednesday Photocopied some important documents Encoded the Updated Google Accounts of teachers in different schools in Cavite for both Elementary and High School

Aquarius Advertising Agency: Case Study

Aquarius Advertising Agency: Case Study 1)Aquarius’ 5 Contextual Variables: Environment – the business environment for advertising agencies is variable and always undergoing changes. In particular, it is common for these agencies to lose and gain large numbers of clients frequently. In regards to the advertising services Aquarius provides, their employees need to adapt to new industry trends often and no consistent routine exists for serving the various clients they encounter. Goals – Aquarius strives to be a respected agency in the advertising industry.They try to achieve this by being responsive to changes in the industry, flexible with clients, innovative, and efficient. Aquarius’ specific goal it is trying to achieve with structure redesign is to improve cooperation, coordination, and communication among their different departments. Culture – the services Aquarius provides are tied into an industry that revolves around creativity and art. As a r esult, many of the employees strive to be independent and do things in an original way in order to stand out. The personnel are highly knowledgeable towards industry trends and advertising practices.Employees need to be creative and innovative; therefore, they can sometimes be seen as daring or arrogant. Some employees who have a more functional role in the company (i. e. the account executives/manager) feel that the other employees can seem overconfident or egotistical. Size – Aquarius is a medium-sized advertising agency that offers two services. Technology – Technology is always changing and providing new ways for advertising agencies to operate and perform. In terms of performance, traditional forms of advertising such as TV and radio have not been improved by technology for quite some time.However, new Internet technologies like social media are revolutionizing the advertising industry and Aquarius has had to adapt to those changes. In terms of operations, technol ogy has been improving the ways organizations communicate with their clients and how departments relay information throughout the organization. Email is very common these days, however, new information systems and database software are changing the way all organizations of any kind deal with all data. 2 and 3) Matrix structure or not?A matrix structure would not be appropriate in this case because the functional departments under operations deal with each other and the functional departments under marketing deal with each other. The functional departments from operations don’t interact with the functional departments in marketing enough (applies vice versa) to warrant a matrix structure. Also, the functional departments in operations and marketing are too varied from one another to benefit from a matrix structure. The operations departments need to be managed by an operations executive and the same can be said about the marketing departments.The horizontal relationships betwe en operations and marketing need to be vertically controlled for efficiency. However, Aquarius still needs to solve its problem of innovation and flexibility. My restructuring solution would be to add 3 new positions. Aquarius claims its services can be grouped into two categories: one for customized plans and one for complete plans. Therefore, I propose they group together the account executives dealing with clients asking for common services. Also, group together the account executives dealing with more custom and specialized services.These two groups would then report their needs to the other new position called the Accounts/Specialist Liaison. This liaison would act as a permanent integrator between the two account executive groups, the marketing VP, and the operations VP. The two account executive groups relay their resource needs to fulfill customer demands through this liaison. This liaison, knowing the resources and capabilities of the marketing departments and the operation s departments, would then approve or deny the account executive groups’ requests.Although this restructuring plan would be considered to be adding more vertical integration with a single centralized liaison, it still adds flexibility and a divisional structure. The account executives are arranged in a way that one group of executives deal with common services and the other group deals with customized services. As a result, the group dealing with common services will generally have more standardized and consistent requests to the liaison. On the other hand, the group dealing with customized services will have more variable requests.One group would comprise of executives who serve more of a functional role, while the other group would comprise of executives who serve a more creative/innovative role. Either way, everything these two executive groups request, in order to service their respective clients, will have to be approved by the liaison that checks with the two VPs to see if their requests are feasible or reasonable. The liaison also communicates with the Accounts VP often to get a good understanding on special or specific clients and how much they mean to the agency. The liaison relays this information to the two account executive groups.

Abortion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Abortion - Essay Example This discussion exposes these untruths that have been reported and are widely perceived as facts. There is little freedom of choice for women who are experiencing an unwanted pregnancy. The women themselves usually wish to bring their baby to full term. Other powerful influences in her life such as husbands/boyfriends, parents and friends are generally the forces that exact pressures on her to terminate the pregnancy. â€Å"Eight out of 10 women surveyed after abortion said they would have given birth if they’d had support and encouragement from family and friends† (Reardon, 2002). It’s the abortion that, in many cases, is unwanted by the woman, not the baby. Most often, the father of the child, not wishing to accept responsibility, may beg or even threaten a woman until she agrees to the abortion. â€Å"In 95 percent of all cases the male partner played a central role in the decision† (Zimmerman, 1977). This and other studies have illustrated clearly that most women decide against their own conscience. Legal abortion enables fathers to force their wi ll on mothers. Some women resort to abortion in desperation because they fear continued abuse. That fear is substantiated as women who refuse to abort have been subjected to serious abuses which have escalated to murder if the women still persists in her refusal. Murder is the leading cause of death for pregnant women and for what other motive could there be? â€Å"64 percent of women surveyed report being pressured by others into unwanted abortions† (Reardon, 1992).   Ã‚  Immediately following an abortion, the one(s) coercing the decision are relieved and seldom, if ever, give the inconvenient issue another thought. Women, on the other hand, suffer long afterwards, racked by overwhelming guilt and agonizing over their irreversible decision. This pain may last a lifetime as they are never able to forgive themselves

Peculiarities of media creation nowadays Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Peculiarities of media creation nowadays - Essay Example The creation of media in USA was initiated as a political decision of technological invention. This led to the political decision of having a state run postal service that eventually affected the society in one way or the other. The government through laws such as the public access to information laws clearly demonstrated the role of the state in shaping the path that journalism, mass media and mass communication would be affected. It also shows how future media would be created and how it influences the society either socially, politically or politically and how it relates to the global perspective. Eminent scholars have argued that political decisions, considerations and reasons led to the creation of the media in United States (Starr 2004, p.2) as a profitable and powerful institution where the decisions made led to the growing number of communication empires currently witnessed in the nation and the world at large. He states that technology and economics cannot singlehandedly exp lain the communication media currently present. To him communication media has got a direct impact on the exercise of power and understanding the media must account itself while taking into account political considerations. Therefore political decisions will continue to influence the media for a long time and its creation. In America, the framework provided either institutionally, politically or legally is favourable to the creation and development of media. The environment came about as a concern made of political considerations in which the American Constitutional framework and the defining political and legal decisions produced a viable and vibrant network of communication for the United States and later the world. The aforementioned coupled with the freedom of speech enshrined in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution led to the subsidization of newspapers through a comprehensive postal network that ensured some form of privacy. This encouraged people to take thes e forms of media for their daily activities as communication networks quickly spread to a much wider area of the society supported by a conducive legal and political climate. Politics has therefore converged with modern media as literacy and news receive more attention through the media that is utilized by them in all scenarios. Audiences can create the media by making themselves available to the media or making use of the particular media front and this explains the rationale for the existence of the media in our daily lives. The utilization of the media by those who provide it is always targeted towards a particular audience all the time. It is important to note that all prospective providers of media platforms must give account of their target audiences before any form of media is made or adopted (Gupta and Brooks 2013, p.201). Exploration of the target audience and its position within the system of mass communication allows the media creators or providers to identify sites of co ntestations in the system. The audiences in the media create contexts within which to combine the media and other life-style experiences as people create time to make use of different media in their daily tasks. Influence of Globalization on Media Globalization in relation to the media studies refer to the strengthening of connections between persons in the society that enables us understand the world as one to create awareness of our own place and how it relates within the world experience. As an

ECOLOGY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

ECOLOGY - Essay Example Alexandria was declared an Eco-City in 2008, which means its inhabitants have promised to use the bare minimum for its consumption of food, water, energy use, and land utilization (a reduced carbon footprint and in pollution) and at the same time preserve its historic heritage. In other words, it has endeavored to achieve planned development and progress but together with environmental sustainability. Alexandria has a fertile soil (ideal for crop cultivation, especially tobacco), an excellent fishing ground from its waterways, and good hunting in its forests, although admittedly, the city is a relatively small geographic area compared to other metropolitan areas of the country. This was its original condition back when it was still a colony, but today, modern developments in it had altered its ecology due to anthropogenic disturbance (human intrusions) such that only small areas or habitats are left in their original pristine conditions unchanged since the first European settlements in the sixteen century. This is why the citizens of Alexandria are very cognizant of its ecology, altered due to its early forest conversions, plantations, logging (Rice, 2009, p. ix) and in fairly recent period (in the last few decades), modern real estate developments. Alexandria is too aware of the fragility of its natural environment, which was why it declared itself an eco-city to raise public awareness of the need to manage its ecology better and preserve its biodiversity. The specific factors that characterize and describe the local ecology of Alexandria is its vast natural resources, rivers, waterways, rolling hills and mountains, broad valleys and large plains with a wide variety of flora and fauna. These various species exist in a number of inter-locking relationships, among which are predation, competition, symbiosis (mutualism, parasitism and neutralism); Virginia has established a Department of Conservation and Recreation under its Natural Heritage Program. Alexandria i s included in this state program, which has on its own initiative declared itself an eco-city, as mentioned earlier. A significant milestone achieved by the city of Alexandria was the closure of its coal-fired power generating plant as of December 31, 2012 which significantly improved the air quality in its immediate environs. The closure and decommissioning of the GenOn Potomac River Generating Station or PRGS was part of its Environmental Action Plan, which had also included the establishment of several hike, walking and bike trails, a high solid-waste recycling rate, operation of hybrid buses, installation of more solar power panels, pursuit of a sustainable Green Building Policy, and the adoption of 20 environmental factors (criteria) that will measure its eco-sustainability progress. All these are designed to reduce carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming, and in turn, cause climate change (City of Alexandria, 2013, p. 1). Alexandria is s erious with its environmental programs, and many areas previously used for human activities had been restored, rehabilitated, or allowed to return to its natural state in a long-run non-interference or non-intervention policy (that is, these areas are allowed to revert back to their natural state, eventually) and to ensure nature conservation, designated as protected areas off-limits to human exploitation; it has won

Describe the product or service your business provides and a Essay

Describe the product or service your business provides and a description of the market it serves - Essay Example A number of football clubs (such as Manchester United, FCB Barcelona) in Europe make enormous amount of money through merchandizing. Apart from club’s official products, goods such as jerseys, hats, watches, bags, mugs etc. can also be brought at specialist sports shops in Europe. Despite a late start, Soccer has been growing its popularity in US In the past few decades. America’s better than expected international performance in the recent FIFA World Cup has lifted people’s interest in the sport. My business idea is to develop a chain of specialist sports shops deal in soccer merchandize and sports equipment. The following write-up describes the business idea in detail in terms of the overall market, anticipated growth and competition, products description and marketing plan. Soccer Market in US Over the last few decades, professional and amateur soccer has made noteworthy strides in the US. As of 2007, there were 14 million soccer players and over 2 million hou seholds having young soccer participants in the country. The following graph shows the comparison of sports popularity in different age groups implying that it is a youth-centered sport in America. Because of this, soccer has attracted the attention of advertisers from companies such as Starbucks, Addidas, Nike and other youth oriented products. Major League Soccer (MLS) and US Soccer Leagues are the two best known soccer leagues in US with over 16 member Clubs. Soccer in US gained more recognition with the arrival of foreign football stars such as David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Freddie Ljungberg and Cuauhtemoc Blanco playing for MLS clubs. The richest club in US, LA Galaxy is worth $100 million (2008). As the game has gained such wide acceptance in US, it is a great market for merchandizing business adopting the European model. Business Idea The concept behind my business idea is to build a specialist soccer outlet selling all products and goods related to soccer including soccer ge ar, equipment and related goods. Soccer Merchandise Products: The following chart gives an overview of the products that would be sold at my Soccer Specialty Store (SSS) for various clubs and leagues: Distribution Channels: In the business of sports retail, it is essential to have and efficient supplier chain and distribution channel in order to make profits. As there are number of players in the supplier chain such as team/club or league dealers or distributors, my competitive advantage will be retail locations and outreach to customers. Apart from consumer retail store, online distribution channels would help reduce inventory and administrative expenses. Marketing: The success of consumer retail sales depends on a number of factors such as retail store location, prices, promotions and consumer demand. My retail stores location will be vicinity to major universities and schools, preferably with high number of international students (as soccer is more popular abroad). The prices of the products would be competitive to other stores such as addidas etc. Personalized items would be higher priced. Since, I am targeting students and their parents as my potential customers, promotional activities such as free passes to soccer matches, group or team discounts would be given. Competition: The competition in US in the soccer merchandising industry is not intense as in Europe but is developing. Major League Soccer

External and Internal Environments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

External and Internal Environments - Essay Example ..6 i. Competitive Rivalry†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..6 ii. Power of Suppliers†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦7 Recommendations for the Forces of Competition†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦7 External Threats†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦8 Strengths and Weaknesses†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦9 Resources, capabilities and core competences†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚ ¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.10 Bibliography†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..13 Background Information Waste Management incorporation is one of the largest waste disposal firms in the United States and the world. This company has many subsidiaries in different countries across the world. Arguably, this company serves more than 2.5 million organizations and 26 million residents in Canada and the United States. This company has segmented its geographic environment into five regions, which include the Southern, Eastern, Western and Midwestern United States and Canada. The company recycles the waste products and also uses it to generate energy (Waste Management, 2012). The company provides waste gathering, transportation, and reprocessing and disposal services. Waste Management incorporation carries on its activities as the world leader in waste man agement that range from medical and solid waste to extremely poisonous chemical waste. This organization has in the past been experiencing growth and increase in stock prices at healthy rates (Waste Management, 2012). The General Environment A firm’s environment consists of aspects that the firm can readily influence as well as aspects that are distant from its influence (Hitt et al, 2011). The general environment relies on the external environment of business. The general environment consists of factors that have dramatic effects on firm strategy. In essence, organizations have little capacity to forecast trends and events in the general environment and even less capacity to control them (Longenecker, 2005). The general environment consists of the demographic segment, technological segment, political and legal segment, environmental segment, and the social factors segment. Waste Management Incorporation operations have been profoundly influenced by the political and legal en vironment and the economic environment (Waste Management, 2012). i. Political and legal Environment The political environment of many nations directly influences the operations of Waste Management Incorporation. Since this company disposes waste that drift from normal consumer refuse to toxic industrial waste, drafting and implementation of new legislations concerning the industry can have a severe economic effect on the organization’s outcome. The United States government has implemented laws and regulations that influence this company (Waste Management, 2012). The United States government has enacted many public, occupational and environmental health and safety associated acts that have impacts on waste disposal industry in the nation. The Solid Waste Disposal Act together with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 are acts which transformed the industry of Waste Management Incorporation to the present state. Many organizations had to change and adapt to the new gu idelines (Waste Management, 2012). In addition, the management of perilous waste was stipulated in Comprehensive

School Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

School Research - Essay Example To complement these subjects, design & build courses are likewise taught to extend conventional studio conditions in order to make students realize the relationship between design, detailing and construction. After browsing the website, I particularly liked the emphasis given on the School's objective of having well-rounded students. This means that while students are able to master the rudiments of architecture, they are also given the opportunity to define their specific professional and personal goals. Moreover, there appears to be a balance between the theoretical and practical courses offered. On the down side, I noted that for design & build courses, focus is given on affordable housing and accessible recreation facilities. I think that this somehow limits the potential of students who may opt to design other types of structures. In terms of presentation, the aesthetics is sufficient to capture the interest of readers. However, the wording may still be improved so that readers would easily understand course descriptions. Furthermore, more pictures of actual classroom settings should be posted so that it would be easier to imagine the School's environment.

Israeli and Arab conflict Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Israeli and Arab conflict - Essay Example It starts with the Biblical story of Abraham who moved from the land of Ur in present-day Iraq/Iran to the land of Canaan as it was then called. According to Biblical traditions, Abraham was promised the whole land adjacent to the Red Sea and within the west of the Jordan river. However, there were some native Canaanites on the land. Abraham's grandson, Jacob (Israel) moved to Egypt with his children and grandchildren. They lived in Egypt for a few hundreds of years and became a great and populous nation. They then returned to the land of Canaan a few generations after Abraham. The descendants of Abraham became known as the Israelite community. They lived side-by-side with the natives of the land of Canaan. This include the Philistines, the Jebusites, the Hittites and many other native tribes. After a few centuries, the Israelite community became more numerous in the land and with the rise of David as king and leader of the community, it was transformed to a state and its capital was established in Jerusalem. The State of Israel was however divided into two: Judah in the South and the Northern Kingdom. The northern Kingdom was destroyed and the people were sold into nations around the world. The people from Judah however remained a united state around the capital Jerusalem. Eventually, the Roman defeated Judah in AD63 and the remnants of Judah were sold as slave in the Diaspora (Safrai 1). In the Diaspora, the people of Judah continued to maintain their traditional practices and maintained their identity. They became known as the Jews. Meanwhile, the Romans renamed the State of Israel Palaestina which became known as Palestine (Safrai 1). As the Roman power faded, the land of Palestine was inhabited by people from other Middle Eastern origins and this include the Canaanites, Philistines and others who lived in the land before Abraham moved onto it. After the Romans, the land came under the control of the founder of Islam and his successors. As a result of that, they converted to Islam and assimilated to the main sphere of Arab communities. However, the land of Canaan/Israel became known as the Holy Lands and it changed hands for generations before the Crusaders contested over the land for generations. Eventually, it became part of the Ottoman Empire in the 1500s and it remained under Ottoman rule until 1918. British Rule & Palestine The Ottomans were Muslims, however, they never considered themselves Arabs (Willner et al 487). There was therefore a clear distinction between Ottomans or Turkish Muslims and Arabs of the Middle East and North America. During the era of the Ottoman domination of the Middle East and North America, the Arabs were ruled by Ottoman governors. Hence, the British defeat of the Ottoman Empire came with a promise of liberating the Arabs after the war (Willner et al 489). Britain used a complicated system of forming alliances and diplomatic ties with different peoples around the world during the First World War period which was fought between 1913 and 1917. The defeat of the Ottoman Empire was part of the â€Å"Asian Theater† of a larger war that was fought in Europe and other parts of the world. Britain had used the help of the Americans, Monarchical Russia and many others to defeat the Germans in the European War. They had also promised the Jewish Group seeking a homeland for the Jewish people known as the Zionists in Europe and around the world that they will help

We Have No Class (Middle Class) Essay Example for Free

We Have No Class (Middle Class) Essay In Paul Krugman’s Confronting Inequality, we are told, as citizens of the United States, the damages of high and rising inequality within our country. Krugman describes America as a place of unclear economic progress for the middle class while the share of economic growth in the past 3 decades has gone to the wealthy 1%. Krugman next describes the impact such inequality has on our society and republic. First starting with social inequality, he states â€Å"The fact is the vast income inequality inevitably brings vast social inequality inevitably brings vast social inequality in its train† (589). What Krugman is trying to convey is that as the gap between classes grows, it brings with it greater and greater inequality. Within this social system, the author tells us of how desirable school districts are decreasing in number and are becoming much more expensive to live in, making it so that children with low-income parents get a â€Å"bad start† in their education. Krugman also states that corrupt politics are a direct result of the difference between the 1% and rest of the country. Using that point as fuel he argues for the removal of tax cuts for the wealthy. Krugman shows us that the Urban-Brookings Joint Tax Policy Center estimated that if Bush tax breaks expired in 2010 for those who have an income of over $200,000 then the money gained from taxes could fund a universal healthcare system for the entire nation. Krugman’s main solution was to generally close obvious loopholes within the American system. The next problem, Market Inequality, is also brought to inquisition. Krugman says that a raise in minimum wage as well as a steady union movement would assist the wage inequality. Finally, Krugman discusses how accessible these changes are and how rapidly they can happen. He feels as though the changes can be easily reached, but not likely. Richard Wilkinson, a social researcher, discussed in his 2011 â€Å"TED talk† the correlation seen between social issues and the distance in between economic classes. A logical connection can be made to Krugman’s paper on the same topic; however beyond the obvious similarity of a s imilar topic, they seem to agree that America is in sore shape. With Wilkinson’s emphasis on a lack of social mobility he asks if the most important thing for a child is their father’s income. â€Å"Do rich fathers have rich sons and poor fathers have poor sons, or is there no relationship between the two?

Cost Analysis Within The Zara Company Marketing Essay

Cost Analysis Within The Zara Company Marketing Essay Describe how Zara uses technology to improve operational responsiveness to customer expectations, and at the same time to reduce costs in certain areas. Zaras main strategy is to give a quick answer to end consumer demands and anticipate consumer trends through information technology and human resources. It operates on the basis of heavy backward vertical integration, working its way from the end consumer all the way back to the manufacturing and distribution. It ensures a very tight control of production through simple and effective IT systems as well as a high tech distribution center (DC.) It realizes cost optimization on its basic items for production and also time optimization in terms of speed to market of its fashion items making use of technology. Zara adapted to trends and differences across markets by interacting regularly with the store managers using the PDA and phone systems to get updates on customer feedback, fashion sense etc. The Point of Sale system (POS) in the store computers also provided valuable sales data to the distribution center which had a mobile tracking system that docked hanging garments in appropriate bar coded areas. The various garments were given Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) and orders were placed from the hand-held computers in the stores twice a week or more, to the distribution center where if particular items were in short supply, allocation decisions were made on the basis of historical sales levels and other considerations. After the orders were approved, the warehouse issued lists for delivery to the stores. Zara design teams tracked customer preferences and used sales information such as sales analysis, store trends and product life cycle information from the store managers, based on a consumption information system to transmit repeat orders and new designs to internal/external suppliers and the DC. The design teams thereby bridged merchandising and the backend of the production process and they developed the right products within the season to meet consumer demands. Zaras product development teams attended high fashion fares and exhibitions to translate the latest seaso nal trends into the designs. Hence, a super fast rate of operational responsiveness to customers was maintained and the DC was more of a place to merchandise than merely for storage. Technology also helped keep Zaras costs under control. By using the POS systems in store computers, handheld PDA devices for store managers and phone systems, accurate information regarding orders required were transmitted to the DC. The SKUs ensured accuracy in terms of which products needed to be produced and in what quantities and the DCs could use all this information and feedback from the design teams to make orders of the right quantity of each kind of product. Thus, inventory costs were very low, runs were limited and production costs were maintained at very manageable levels in spite of the large number of new items that are continuously produced. Zaras factories were also heavily automated, specialized by garment type and focused on the capital intensive parts of the production process, like pattern design and cutting as well as final finishing and inspection. A Just-in-time system was installed in collaboration with Toyota in these factories and this helped in faster comple tion of work and controlling of costs through continuous improvement processes. Management Information System technology plays a crucial role in Zaras customer responsiveness and cost control measures. From what you see in the case, does Zara price to market or on the basis of other factors? Zara always followed a market based pricing method. In each country, Zara always placed more focus on the market prices (local pricing levels) rather than on its own costs to forecast prices of items in particular markets. These forecasts were later overlaid on cost estimates that included all considerations such as distance, tariffs, and taxes and so on to see whether the potential market could achieve profitability in a year or two of opening the first store. Zara followed a different pricing strategy in each country, for example, in Italy and Paris the focus was more quality oriented and so the price of the same items were much higher, however, in Germany where consumers are price sensitive the items were lesser priced. This figured in the different marketing strategy followed in each country. Zara controlled its costs through its production and distribution processes and was positioned in many countries as high fashion at affordable prices which though were centrally determined, much lower than competitor prices for comparable products in its major markets. Percentage margins still held up, this was possible because of the direct efficiencies of short, vertically integrated supply chain, reduced advertising costs, and markdown requirements. Thus Zara competed at reasonable prices through a cost leadership strategy, completing Porters generic strategy through differentiated products and broad segmentation. Zaras customers in many countries bore the extra costs of supplying the items from Spain though the prices were market based, for example, prices were 40% higher in Northern Europe and 70% higher in the Americas than in Spain. This could be seen on the garments price tag which was an atlas to the customers. These higher prices outside Spain affected Zaras positioning overseas as high end instead of mid market range products to better validate the price differences. Like in Mexico where the target consumer base is narrow, it is geared towards the upper and middle class that knows fashion. Moreover, as in Europe, the artificial scarcity that Zara creates of its products in its stores urge the customers to pay the price and buy rather than wait it out. Markdowns are very low for Zara in Europe and elsewhere, 15-20% of its sales as compared to 30-40% for its European peers. Zara does not completely compete on basis of price as the usual Zara customer is not that price sensitive; instead, it competes on fashion and its quick response capability. Zara (2010) has just launched an on-line, e-retail distribution service.     For an apparel retailer what are the advantages and disadvantages of online distribution?   Can Zara make it work? Inditex has long used the internet to promote its various lines and corporate image and is also popular on Facebook, where it has 4.5m fans. Its Smartphone application, launched about a year ago, has been downloaded by 2m people. Zara can very easily make its online e-retail distribution service work successfully. Familiarity with the Zara stores thus provides name recognition for the online retail site, and the combination of customer data gathered by the store and the online retail site (through Google Analytics, for example) could lead to substantial personalized marketing efforts, using various channels. With Zaras policy of a lean advertising budget, an online retail portal will add greatly in terms of branding and awareness. Zara had initially decided not to sell clothes on the internet since the returns rates were too high. However, as of September 2010, Inditex put Zara branded products online for its customers, waiting for online demand to build. Customers can choose from the usual range of paying methods and opt either for a free store pick-up or paid-for postal delivery. The online return and exchange policy is identical to the store system, with shoppers given 30 days to change their minds. iPhone and iPad applications that allowed purchasing will soon be available and online sales will help Zara reach potential customers who have no easy access to physical stores. For an apparel retailer, the advantages of online distribution would be providing convenience to the shoppers to buy from the comfort of their home, save on travel time and costs and have easy access to the products. Customers will have 24 hour access to the shopping platform online and make better buying decisions through online chat and discussion. Researchers identify convenience as a fundamental objective related to online shopping (Schaupp Belanger, 2005). This is relevant to 72% of online shoppers claim that they would rather surf online than go to retail store to attain information about a product (Lokken et al., 2003). Costs on human resources (Vendors, shop assistants, managers) can be saved by the retailer and customers can make relaxed wise buy decisions without pressure from vendors. Infinite shelf space will be available in that, products available at all store locations and around the world without geographical boundaries, to the customers to choose from. Comparison sh opping in terms of styles and prices will be easier on the online portal than in the store for the consumer. Boston Consulting Group analysts Evans and Wurster theorize that the three main strategic draws of online retail are reach, affiliation and richness. Reach is defined as access and connection: how many customers a business can access and how many products it can offer. Moreover, a retailers range of product offerings was traditionally limited by the size of its stores and the cost of carrying inventory while online retailers as intermediaries between customers and suppliers need not necessarily have an inventory at all, only a catalog, often transparent to the customer. Affiliation refers to whose interests are represented by the online retailer who can treat the products from their various vendors more objectively, providing more objective information and better product comparisons for their customers. Richness refers to the depth and detail of information, about products and about customers. Evans and Wurster argue that traditional retailers still are at an advantage to supply expe rt information about products to their customers, and that they also are still in a better position to gather information about product sales and customer profiles and buying patterns. Online retailers are quickly catching up, however, gathering data about customer browsing behavior, purchasing history, and demographics. Online retailers are subsequently able to use this data to provide their customers with a fully customized online shopping environment, including individualized web pages, targeted ads and offers, and specific product suggestions, something traditional retailers cannot effectively do at their retail outlets. Some of the disadvantages of online retail would be the difficulty to gather trend information, product sales and customer suggestions. Zara could remedy this by using analytics and customer feedback forms online that are user friendly and attractive. The experience of shopping in a Zara store would be lost, but Zara would need to make its retail platform very interactive and spellbinding. Zaras prime store locations cost a lot of investment, and the advent of online shopping could mean cannibalization of its retail outlet sales and a waste of upkeep costs, this could put Zara into a fix. Customers will not be able to touch and try the product like they can in an actual store, [t]he likelihood of purchasing on the Internet decreases with increases in product risk (Bhatnagar, Misra, Rao, 20000, p. 100). Apparels in particular had negative rating in online shopping because of it is difficult to feel and see the texture of colour online that is incomparable to going to a retail store. The biggest drawback itself would be the concept of infinite shelf space that an online distribution will bring, for Zara. Being a company that thrives on the creation of artificial scarcity of its products, the online distribution channel will have to be very carefully controlled to ensure that customers buy the products with the same fervour as when they visit the store, knowing that it might not be available the following week. Zara can remedy this situation by advertising only a limited number of units of each product online so customers will know if the numbers are dwindling and that they need to act fast in order to acquire the product just as in the case of the actual store.

one day :: essays research papers

The Hunt of a Lifetime   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It was the day after Christmas and I was practicing with the goose call I’d opened the morning before. The phone rang and I yelled, â€Å"I got it,† to my mom as I ran to pick it up. â€Å"Hello;† I answered secretly wishing that it was a girl from school. My butterflies settled as the reply I got was â€Å"sup dude,† It was my friend Jon, he wanted to know if I could come over and shoot his new .22. I went and asked my mom if I could. She agreed to give me a ride as long as I picked up all the wrapping paper that was left scattered from the morning before. It was the fastest I’d ever moved as I ran about picking up every scrap of paper that I could find. Mom finally approved my clean up job, and we were off to Jon’s.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As we pulled into his driveway Jon ran out to meet us, .22 in hand, he was ready to shoot. I hopped out and thanked my mom for the ride. We decide that our best chance of finding something to kill would be at Jon’s family farm. Jon went in to get some bullets and before long we were headed across the neighbor’s field on Jon’s four wheeler. We got to the farm and parked the four wheeler by the shop. There was a twisting gravel road that led to the creek and fields below. We began walking down the road and as we rounded the last corner I grabbed Jon by the shirt and pulled him back. â€Å"Geese,† I whispered into his ear. He nodded in understanding, and we both slowly poked our heads around the corner. We looked at each other and turned silently, heading back to the shop. We immediately found Ken, Jon’s dad and told him what we had seen. We asked if he would take us hunting the next morning. He thought about it for a bit, but decid ed he needed to work. We called my dad, hoping that he didn’t need to work. He told us that he needed to work too. Jon and I sat down on a bench in the shop, bummed out that we weren’t going to get to go hunting. After a while Ken was walking by and turned, saying, â€Å"hey you guys are responsible enough, why don’t you go hunting by yourselves.

Hipparcos Mira Variable Stars :: Astronomy Stars Space Essays

Hipparcos Mira Variable Stars ABSTRACT From the visual and infrared light curves we are trying to find the phase changes and correlate them to Infrared shift and magutdes to see what is happing to Mira type stars as they age. Most of the radiation in the star is in the Infrared. The method being used O-C and fitting mean light curves. All mira variables pulsate undergoing rapid mass loss. In the conclusion we show that the magnitude has a positive correlation with the phase shift. I.Introduction Studies of Mira variables are of considerable importance in stellar astrophysics because they are pulsating stars undergoing rapid mass loss. During one cycle, which typically lasts from 200-500 days, these stars undergo significant changes in their observable properties. At some point in their lives, many if not most stars go through an unstable phase that leads to pulsation. They are evolving through the tip of the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) in the H-R diagram and are affected by two significant processes. In the interior, helium shell flashes cause large excursions in their luminosity’s and period on a timesscale of ten of thousands of years. In the outer layers, pulsation-enhanced mass loss, which reduces their envelope masses and drives their evolution to the white dwarf. The atmospheres of Mira variables are very deep and there effective diameters change markedly with wavelength because of the opacity effects. The massive winds of Miras are believed to be driven by a combination of dust formation and shocks induced by stellar pulsation. (Willson). Understanding the nature of shocks and measuring their properties is essential to understanding the physics of pulsation and mass loss from pulsating stars. This paper presents an analysis of visible and IR (JHKL) data for 2 Long Period Variables (LPV). The four pulsating variables chosen are classified as Miras. All Miras stars are Long period variables that exhibit a very large change in visible light because they are cool (less than or equal to 3000K), and so most of their radiation lies in the infrared. We are studying the Mira stars instead the irregular stars because to understand any star you must first start with the simplest model then expand upon that, Mira are relatively well-behaved long period variable. II. Data Search For this study we required stars that had already been studied intensively, so that both IR data and visual data were available for many cycles.

Bi sexuality of emily dickinson Essay examples -- essays papers

Bi sexuality of emily dickinson The inner-workings of Emily Dickinson’s mind continue to be an enigma to literary scholars, worldwide. Dickinson’s agoraphobia caused her to live a solitary and secluded life in her Amherst, Massachusetts home for a large portion of her life. â€Å"She rarely received visitors, and in her mature years she never went out† (Ferguson, et. al.; 1895). It is also known that she was in love with a married man (no one knows for sure exactly who this man was) who eventually ended their relationship and this left her very distraught. Some scholars believe that at one point in her life, Dickinson suffered a nervous breakdown, possibly caused by the break-up of the relationship. A woman named Rebecca Patterson exposed the most dramatic and shocking revelation about Emily Dickinson’s life. Patterson’s discovered that many of the emotional love poems that Dickinson wrote were addressed to women. She published her findings in a 1951 book entitled The Rid dle of Emily Dickinson. It was later found out that Dickinson wrote many letters of sexual fantasy and longing to several women. The most notable of these women was her good friend and sister-in-law, Sue Gilbert. The discovery of Dickinson’s affection for woman does not contradict the fact that she was deeply in love with a man at some point in her life. There are many love poems that Dickinson wrote to men. In today’s society, Emily would probably be considered a bi-sexual. Homoerotic thoughts and tendencies were not a possibility during Dickinson’s time because the idea of homosexuality had yet to be socially constructed. That is the reason she had to hide the true intentions of her poetry. The love poems that Dickinson wrote to men are distinc... ... life. The last four lines in the poem specify the seeking of an emotional attachment to a woman. Dickinson’s reference to the other woman’s heart as a home implies that fact. Other examples of her poetry show that Dickinson was not receiving the emotional support she needed from heterosexual relationships, so she looked for it elsewhere. Emily Dickinson’s poetry not only contributed extensively to the world of literature but it also helped inspire the female voice to break free from the shackles of oppression that society placed upon it. Her writing told women that it was o.k. for them to express their feelings, hardships, and desires no matter how taboo the subject might have been or how negatively society would have perceived them. For these reasons Emily Dickinson’s writings and poetry will continue to be studied and admired by women for generations to come.

Jollibee Case Analysis Essay

Executive Summary Jollibee Food Corporation is a Filipino fast food brand that opened in 1975 and has been on the path of expansion since then. IT capitalised on the changes that came its way to fight the competition from brands like McDonalds and KFC. The case highlights the global expansion strategy that they followed backfired due to which they had to consider revamping their strategies. The company has an opportunity in Papua New Guinea, California and Hong Kong but before taking that decision they need to work upon their previous issues to ensure the success in these countries. Till now the firm is being operating in two parallel organisations with no cooperation and coordination among the two which has resulted in chaos and a strained relation between the two. We have through this case analysis provided a complete picture of the Jollibee operations along with the strategies and the way ahead. An analysis presented that the company is currently in between the internationalization and localization strategy. We have recommended the company to follow transnational strategy that would help them achieve an advantage over the competitors. Industry and Firm level Analysis * INDUSTRY LEVEL ANALYSIS The fast food industry is basically a very highly competitive market that strives on cost leadership. The industry is faced by both international players who have huge finances The industry faces low margins and experiences profits on the basis of the economies of scale. The key to achieve economies of scale is selecting the right location to attract traffic and a highly efficient operation management. In the fast food industry the product offering are almost the same. So what make a difference are the things like the service, providing extra drinks / any other supplementary product with your main product. The profitability depends on the customer traffic, location, operation management. Expansion happens mostly through Franchisees and Joint Ventures, it is very important to attain Economies of Scale to do well in this kind of industry as the cost of all other things as we all know is just increasing manifold. And even then the consistency in the food quality is one of the major area s of concerns. * POTTER’S FIVE FORCES i. Rivalry Among The Competitors: High * As explained in the case the competitor had an advantage in terms of brand name, the profitability, the customer base they had . Also high because of the high standardization in terms of quality, quantity, price, procedures and processes which are similar and there’s competition to get better in these aspects. ii. Threat Of New Entrant To Industry – Low * Due to the high tariff barrier and the advantage of economies of scale, differentiation that a firm gets over time. Also in this industry people mostly don’t shift easily due to the taste adaptation and the ability to trust any other brand quality is low. iii. Threats Of Substitute Product– Low * Jollibee managed to serve their customers at affordable price, good service and the hence gained a brand name eventually, so the threat of a new substitute is low , again because of the ability or nature of consumers to shift to other brand easily is low. iv. Bargaining Power Of The Suppliers- Low * The raw material required for food industry could be sourced from multiple suppliers and the shifting costs are less. v. Consumers Bargaining Power- High * Company depends on the consumers for its profitable business and the company needs to adhere to the consumer’s tastes, preferences and prices as there are many competitors to whom they may shift to. Also the entrants are expected to be less in number, so it is better to suit the needs of the existing buyers than to stand different from them. * FIRM LEVEL ANALYSIS Values: The firm puts the customers as the base of all their operations. The customers should be kept in the minds first and then only any further decisions should be made keeping their needs in mind. The co-ordination between the different teams and the different levels also is considered to be very high. High operational efficiency and a well laid out plan with honesty, integrity as a part of their value system. Feeling of one unit and one family is considered to be their priority as they expanded immensely into various countries and regions. Employees have the art of listening and communicating everything that the customers want. Mission: The mission statement of â€Å"we bring great taste and happiness to everyone† showcases its brand as quality based and high in consumer utility. They stand by their tag line and portray their brand in this context. Vision: 1) Their aim to become the most dominant, quality oriented, quick service restaurant, the most endearing brand that has ever been. 2) They provide FSC excellence in every moment 3) They will lead in product sales all time 4) They will be within the reach of every Philippine Thus the 3 B’s helped attain these strategies which are, boost the standards of fast food industry, build brand satisfaction and broaden their reach to customers. SWOT Analysis: Where the opportunity and threats talk about the external factors affecting the firm’s performance and the strengths & weakness about the internal factors of the organisation. STRENGTHS: * Understanding about the local tastes and preferences * First mover advantage in the home market as they were well established before the entry of McDonalds. * Highly motivated people in the organisation, they were all ready to take up the risk. * High domestic market share due to selection of the best location that is a result of first mover advantage. * The ability to innovate given the understanding of the local people but only in their domestic markets. * Power to give the competitive fight to the other organisations in the same industry. * Good operations management. * Diversity in product offering (after the acquisition of Greenwich pizza) WEAKNESS: * No consensus between the international division and the home division. * Lack of communication between the departments * Bureaucratic structure * Financial condition for expansion. * Lack of R&D before expanding internationally along with the fact that the R&D rested with the parent company. * Biased towards local friends and family while selecting franchisees * Lack of global brand recognition. OPPORTUNITIES: * Acquisition with a brand to get their brand also known amongst people. * Hiring non Philippines managers to get the sense of local adaptation. * Create differentiation by cost advantage or customer experience. * Tap the market with lesser or fewer competition. * Increase the product line to favour the taste of local consumers. THREATS: * Big giants like Mc Donald’s and KFC in the foreign markets. * Increased in the transportation cost and the raw materials cost ‘* Political instability * Mismatch in the ideas of the various divisions * So many failures in the foreign market like that in Singapore , Taiwan * Catering to a fast food joint as it is needs a very strong convincing power due to the shift to healthy food by many people. * Entry barriers for them in some countries * Reduction for barriers in the home country which enabled other big fast food giants to enter into the market. Change Drivers Jollibee’s strategies were derived from a lot of change drivers that the company faced. 1. The first change driver that brought Jollibee Foods Corporation into proper incorporation was the realization that prices of ice cream would double due to the oil crisis of 1977. This helped them start their own food outlet with homemade hamburger recipe of the Tans’. 2. Kitchner felt the need to increase the pace of the global expansion projects as he felt that visibility was the only way to bring Jollibee into top ten fast food brands. He decided to go about a variety of strategies to do so. He started his plan with targeting the expatriate Filipinos in the Middle East, Hong Kong, and Guam etc. But this strategy failed as he realized that not all Filipinos had same tastes. When this strategy failed Kitchner used the â€Å"plant-the-flag† strategy as a part of which he wanted to mark his presence in as many countries as possible. As a part of this they started opening outl ets in every country they felt an opportunity. 3. They realized the failure of their joint ventures was due to the lack of support from the parent company. Tony Kitchner implemented a strict control process of the franchises. He appointed Franchise Service Manager’s (FSM) who were the point of contact between the Jollibee and their international partners. He started collecting their sales data everyday not only to analyze the traffic in the outlets but also to provide consultancy to these franchises on how they could improve. For this they also implanted frequent checks that ensured that the standards, quality, hygiene, customer satisfaction etc was maintained. 4. After the criticism of Jollibee’s operations in Indonesia they realized that they need to act as a world class company and not a local company. They started changing the ambience of the outlets in the host country according to the tastes of natives of the host country people. They realized that not all countries like the same type of outlets and services a s the Filipinos. 5. One of the elements of their 5F’s was flexibility which seemed to be missing in their operations. Their â€Å"proven concepts† of Filipino food in every country seemed to trigger a huge controversy. Kitchner realized the mistake and immediately sorted to rectify it. They started with local adaptation as a part of which they introduced a rice dish in which the gravy changed according to what the people wanted like in those countries like in Hong Kong they served their dish with hot and sour chicken while in Vietnam it was served with chicken curry. This accounted for a very small part of their revenue but this was their stepping stone towards localization. Issues Faced The key issues faced by the company are listed as follows: * Strained relation between the domestic and international wings resulting out of their differing opinions. * Following the â€Å"planting-the-flag† strategy that led to opening up of more and more of outlets to increase visibility even if they were running huge losses. This involved a huge investment that affected the other markets. * Lack of proper research about the market needs, the type of local needs, the potential market, the customer base and the competition level and their reach. * Inability to attract local managers due to the fact that the brand was less recognizable and also as a result of aversion from the international firms. * Difference in the management style and culture lead to a failure of plenty of Joint Ventures. The main problem was the model followed by them. * Inability to transfer its success factors in Philippines to other countries. The reason Jollibee was successful in the Philippines was due to the following reasons: * Catering to the local needs by supplying hamburgers that were spicy. * The commendable operational efficiency it practiced in Philippines that require keeping close tab on operations. * Consistent high quality products and maintaining its share in the market. * Its skills in site selection because of its excessive familiarity with the place. * The large number of stores in Philippines enabled it to achieve operational efficiency through economies of scale. * The case makes it evident that there is less market for Filipino-style food that Jollibee has failed to understand. It needs to localize its menu to attract the local customers. Later Jollibee realized the problem and started catering to the local needs for e.g. their rice dish in Indonesia to suit their tastes. Strategies Suggested The firm as mentioned in the executive summary was in between the internationalization and localization strategies. We have drawn this inference from the case which mentions that what Jollibee wanted previously following international strategy as they thought they can sell Filipino cuisine in all parts of the world targeting the expatriates. Therefore they felt they were faced with very low pressure for local responsiveness. They failed to realize that this strategy works only in case of MONOPOLY but not in case of firms having strong competition like Jollibee. This strategy failed as Filipino food was not perceived the same way in every country and the pressures for local adaptation increased. Jollibee failed to keep in mind the key â€Å"Driver† in the fast food sector is local responsiveness and low cost. Later in the leadership of Tony Kitchner they felt the need for local adaptation and realized that international strategy would not work for them. Low cost pressure was always there as they were faced with heavy competition. Tony Kitchner bought about localization in their offering thereby forcing them to follow Multi Domestic (localization) strategy but the case mentions they were over-shadowed by local competitors who were providing food for lesser cost and better local adaptation. Therefore looking at the above mentioned points we would recommend that the company should follow a transnational strategy given that they face high pressures of both cost reduction and local adaptation. The following grid gives a diagrammatic representation of the strategies mentioned. Implementation Plan When going for multi-domestic as a strategy only a certain amount of flexibility and autonomy be provided to partners. This becomes more of an arm’s length dealing, trust was lacking in the relationships. A holistic coordination is required to transfer core competencies or to pursue experience curves and location economies. This is possible only in a transnational entity. This smooth transition can be enabled by inter unit cooperation, decentralizing the organizational structure and following a geocentric approach. Also to implement this strategy and carry out expansions following schemes of actions must be taken in various functional departments. 1. Operations Plan * Waste reduction (TQM) and Standardization of food items will further help in cost reduction. * Smooth supply chain management system should be put in place to increase efficiency and productivity. * The flag can be planted in regions where people have similar taste buds as strategic business units. So that the menu can be varied according to regional taste. * Once the company starts to follow transnational strategy, location economies and operational efficiency should be taken into consideration so as to reap the benefits of both cost structure and differentiation. * Lessons learned should be internalized, so that lack of operational efficiency problems as in Singapore, transparency issues as in Taiwan can be avoided in the future international expansion. 2. Financial Plan * The relations with franchisees and other associates should be clearly defined and the degree of control of the financials should be clearly defined to avoid future confusions. The ramifications of poor relations are clear in the closing down of many franchisees abroad. * The financial management should be done effectively so as to provide enough budgets for the R&D and associated activities that are needed for the global expansion. * Sufficient funds should be made available for the marketing and positioning activities. * Opening multiple stores at the same time will hurt the bottom line and will increase debt. A Cost benefit analysis approach should be used. 3. Marketing plan * Market research prior to entering new markets will help in avoiding the unprofitable ventures as in the Middle East. In order to compete on the level with multinationals, rather than just being a first mover, Jollibee would have to take its performance to the next step and prove that it could continue to build its competitive advantage. * The focus target segment in every country has been expats from Philippines which has been largely successful. But it should not exclude the local populace of the host nation. Its marketing initiatives should target the local populace and it should position itself as a global fast food brand which offers â€Å"exotic Filipino cuisine† for everyone. * Its core competency should be â€Å"authentic Filipino fast food with good service and quality† * The menu of Jollibee should have a mix of standard food items as well as items specific to a host nation. To achieve this, they should set up R&D divisions in each country and come up with new dishes to cater to local consumers like McDonald’s which came up with vegetarian burgers for India and which was a big hit. * For expanding the menu, economies of scale and operational efficiency should be kept in mind. Items which increase inefficiency should be removed from the menu. * Jollibee should follow a differentiated strategy wherein it should target those markets with high potential with an economy similar to that of Philippines like Papua New Guinea and observe the first mover strategy to capture these markets first. 4. Human Resource plan * Jollibee needs a strong corporate culture, and informal management networks to assist in coordination and control. It also needs to understand local cultures before expansion. All this can be achieved through a proper emphasis on Management Development. An effective MDP can build a unifying corporate culture by socializing new managers and partners into the norms and value systems of the firm. * Jollibee should allow certain level of decentralization of authority for its franchises in other countries for operating decisions related to product, marketing and human resource management. Also certain number of R&D centers could be opened in other countries to facilitate localization of some products. * In order to facilitate cooperation among units the staff members who are required to coordinate with other units must be given training on cultural differences and adaptability in workshops. By adopting this practice Jollibee would support its staff to understand the cultural diversity among nations and different market needs. * Jollibee should communicate the company culture through company conventions to ensure that the company interests are achieved. * Localized training approach should be used to make employees outside Philippine as part of the organization. New Decisions At the end of the case we see that currently they are faced with three key decisions about venturing into three different markets. We give our viewpoints as to which markets would be feasible for entry and on what scale. I. Papau New Guinea: The market as described lacks a decent outlet to eat at. Given the opportunity described by very low or probably nil competition it is recommended that Jollibee open an outlet there. It will advisable for Jollibee to open a few outlets in order to test the feasibility and the demand in the market. If the response of the local public is positive they can slowly increase their outlets. II. Hong Kong: According to exhibit 10 we can see that Hong Kong is second in terms of the per store sale value ($ 571120). This reflects that there exists a huge market for Jollibee in Hong Kong but before setting up another store at Hong Kong they need to resolve their issues there. Their main problem there is inability in attracting local managers. They need to resolve their manpower issues before opening another outlet to ensure that their brand name does not get spoiled because the managers had to pay more attention to the quality issues in the dearth of labour which of the lack of quality which left them less time to concentrate on formulating short term. These factors could tarnish their image in the market. Therefore, first step would be to rectify these problems and then improving the status of the existing outlets. When they feel demand is rising tremendously they can set up more outlets there. III. California: Their venture in Guam was a success showing that the food was liked more by Americans based there. Their work at Guam gave them an idea of how to work in America. They can use their learning’s from Guam and implement them better in California to be successful. A small market research before the venture would be suggested to get an idea of the local needs and the potential in the market. Their plan of entering a market with high Filipino population with less number of competitors, Daly City, could be advantageous for them. From that market they would slowly venture into other areas after gaining a share in Daly City.

Individual Rights Vs. National Security Essay

I negate the resolution, â€Å"Resolved: When the United States is engaged in military conflict, national security ought to supercede conflicting claims of individual rights. My value for the round is Human Dignity, or what can be defined as a respect for the individual and his or her rights and virtues. John Stuart Mill states that â€Å"Everyone who receive the protection of society owes a return for the benefit†¦ but not to the point that it violates constituted rights.† Thus those rights which are the fundamentals of human dignity must be maintained. No fundamental goal should ever undermine this fundamental goal. The criteria which must consistently achieve is the maintenance of a legitimate government, or a govt. that maximizes the rights of its citizens My sole contention proves that a government’s legitimacy is contingent upon its preservation of individual rights. According to Charles Ogletree, Professor of Law at Harvard University, â€Å"The U.S. has not been a fertile breeding ground for terrorism†¦ diversity, religious and ethnic tolerance, a reliance on legal proceedings open to public scrutiny†¦ are all values make it hard to nurture in the U.S. the ethnic or religious hatred that fuels much terrorism.† Unfortunately, sacrificing such virtues for temporary security would undermine these values. The impact is clear, that a removal of individual rights, such as freedom of speech or freedom of press, would uproot key American ideals and neglect the value of the individual within the United States. . The government would no longer protect the foundation upon with it was built, and such actions would illegitimatize the government. As reported by Susan Stanberg, political analyst for National Public Radio, â€Å"Muslim communities throughout Florida have placed complains in the FBI’s strategy in placing undercover agents in mosques to find our terrorists.† This type of drastic action has also been taken up by new laws that grant police powers to search people travelling on public transportation without notifying them of their right to refuse the search and without sufficient evidence or suspicion; a severe incursion on the right to privacy. Police acknowledge this fact, stating that they have nothing else to go on. This impact is that investigations based upon ethnicity encourage citizens to do the same thing. This arouses xenophobia and hostility towards foreign groups of American society. Secondly,  Prioritizing national security gives the govt. license to violate human worth in 3 ways: i. Dictating life choices – relocating people/Japanese internment camps ii. Dictating moral choices – whether to fight in war (draft) iii. Actually taking liberty and property – violating the rights of innocents in war/taking prisoners of war. The impact is that denying worth w/in borders is wrong because it defeats the purpose you’re fighting for, and denying worth outside of borders is wrong b/c it’s hypocritical. The government no longer serves its role as a protector of the people, but rather a big brother like institute that dictates to its people their own moral codes. Finally, security loses its worth if not accompanied by rights. Benjamin Franklin states that â€Å"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither liberty or safety† Without Liberty, Security is purposeless. The entire purpose of national security is to protect the American way of life and what our nation stands for. Thus, if upholding national security comes at the cost of sacrificing those rights that it is fighting to protect, it does nothing but erode the very purpose for its existence and become a self-defeating pursuit. OVERVIEW: I offer an overview against the affirmative case. In order for the affirmative to affirm, (s)he has to prove three things. Firstly, that security is able to be achieves, secondly, why there is an imperative need to sacrifice individual rights, and thirdly, (s)he must address all instances and types of military conflicts. Failure to do any of these things means that (s)he is upholding her burden as the affirmative. (s)he doesn’t prove this because: 1) (s)he assumes that she will be able to provide for national security, however, there is no guarantee for this safety. We might have implement heavier security measures in airports, but our chemical factories are just as vulnerable as they used to be. 2) (s)he just discusses the possible benefits that come from prioritizing national security, (s)he doesn’t show how it is fundamental. Just because  national security is important, doesn’t mean that it is absolute. The benefits achieved on the affirmative, such as unification, maintenance of sovereignty, still exist on the negative side. (s)he isn’t showing why we have to sacrifice our rights. Moreover, benefits don’t determine fundamentality. Just because we might be able to hunt down an extra terrorist or two, doesn’t mean that random lock downs and strip searches will win the war on terror or that an inability to do so will lose us the war on terror. 3) All of the affirmative arguments premised on the relative size of the conflict, but a military conflict does not assume a small or large proximity. Most conflicts such as the Persian Gulf are entirely within the United States ability as a superpower to control through alternative methods than violation individual rights. So this argument does not determine the fundamentality of prioritizing national security above individual rights.

The Context of Social, Cultural and Consumer Behaviour – Article Review

Gordon A. Haaland Summary People often behave differently. And since these behaviours are not identical, they are construed to parallel constructs such as learning, attitudes, influence and reference groups. The author has presented certain levels of analysis that provide for the source for interpreting and recognising the theory of social, cultural and consumer behaviour. Social behaviour can be appropriately conceptualized through these varying levels of analysis, which at different points of time, have been suggested by several social theorists. The problems encountered at various levels of analysis, has been illustrated by taking the example of the author’s experience of living in Norway for a year. In addition, the experience of being considered a ‘cultural stereotype’ has also been illustrated through the same example. To investigate the causes of such cross-cultural behavioural patters existing in a society that is moving towards rapid industralisation such as Norway and to conduct a research on the changes in the patterns of the interpersonal behaviour, the author has offered 11 propositions in order to address these issues. These propositions are centered on the varying levels of analysis that was put forth to study the different constructs of social, cultural and consumer behaviour. And the propositions do present a context for the analysis with a special concern for the type of culture that is being taken into consideration. Review The article suggests the context for studying the theory and the rationale of social and consumer behaviour. In doing so, the author has identified certain constructs that are perceived to govern social and consumer behaviour. He further suggests levels of analysis that would provide for an understanding into the inter-disciplinary factors of cross-culture and culture-specific behaviour. When the author cites the reference made by Kuhn (1962) regarding ‘paradigm’, i. e. social sciences needs a paradigm like that of natural science, it holds true when all of social behaviour is abridged to a set of related phenomenon. In that context, the author’s contention that when social behaviour is assumed a unitary phenomenon, then any of the given disciplines (disciplines often followed by social and behavioural scientists) can be paradigmatic also holds good. Various concepts suggested by various theorists, for the levels of analysis have been given importance for the insinuations provided for understanding social behaviour. Triandis, Malpass and Davidson (1973) argument that behaviour is a function of a person’s abilities, subjective culture, personal dispositions, physical environment, social structure and so on, most of the variables as pointed out by the author are prevalent in a contemporary set up. Hansen (1972)* says that an individual is also driven by ‘perceived individuality and value importance’ which also help affect decision making. More often than not, the effect depends on the degree of positive and negative reward that was previously associated with the value. It can therefore, be assumed that these two variables can also be considered as behavioural constructs. The issue of ‘culture stereotyping’ has been brilliantly explained by the author, by taking the example of no other that his own. The cross-cultural references had been drawn from his own experiences of his stay in Norway for nearly one year. But considering the social, economic, cultural and demographic arrangement in Norway, the example of being treated as a culture stereotype limits the study of interpersonal behaviour and crossculture between the Norwegians and the Americans. Similar constructs for analysis in different geographic locations may not hold significance, as the behavioural patterns and culture-specific stereotypes may be different. The propositions set out by the author have been arrived at after the research that was carried out by him during his stay in Norway. Though hypothetical, these propositions are meant to cut down the levels of analysis into ‘singular set of statements’ that would present a view on the concept from a broader perspective. Most of the propositions mentioned by the author, concentrate on the idea of social and consumer behaviour within the confines of a set up. A set up such as a workplace, a group of people sharing similar attributes (by interlocking normative behaviour of people within an organisation) or people who belong to a culture that has evolved for centuries with little or less change. The author also talks about the existence of ‘meaningful boundaries’, wherein he assumes cohesiveness in a group as a system. Group cohesiveness, by and large, is determined by the attributes of persons forming that group and the interests they share among one another. Boundaries as the author has pointed out refers to the units measured being naturally related and not the place or structure. Taking into account Berrien’s (1968) inferences about boundaries, it should be considered that boundaries transcend beyond natural levels. Certain other propositions that pertain to ‘time and place’ define the necessity of studying culture across various generational as well as geographic differences. Studies which are limited to only one time and place would also result in a single time and place analysis. The idea to study multiple levels of analysis across cultures by remaining within the constructs of a particular level of analysis is apt. Cross-cultural phenomenon that explain similarities in cultures as ‘etic’ and dissimilarities as ‘emic’ proves the importance of digressing from various levels of time and place and study social behaviour by delineating conditions of interaction with time and place. The other propositions that deal with selection of methodology and design questions for the level of analysis and the use of multivariate analysis and preparation of theoretical statements for a particular level follow suit. Propositions seven, eight, nine and ten provide with the details at each level, thereby giving a meaningful insight into the levels of analysis. The author talks about there being no ‘apriori’ basis for selecting a level for social analysis centered on consumer behaviour. This can be considered a valid statement since consumer problems are diverse and assume proportions of complexities when encountered in different scenarios and culture set ups. The propositions as put forth by the author do provide an insight into the varying levels of complexities in social, cultural and consumer behaviour, but these propositions could fall vulnerable to deeper investigation into the context of social behaviour. All the views and opinions expressed by the author may pertain to a particular generation, but the relevance of these propositions remain to be the same. It is all a matter of time, so to say, when cross-cultural insinuations and study of social behavioural patterns across different cultures could indeed present revealing analysis of consumer behaviour.

Albert Camus’ The Stranger Essay

Color and weather as elements used to explore thought and emotion in Albert Camus’ The Stranger Literary techniques have long been an effective tool that authors use in order to convey deeper meaning within their text, particularly for novels that have a seemingly simple purpose. The Stranger by Albert Camus, translated by Matthew Ward is a perfect example of this, on the surface it is about a murder committed by a heartless man, beneath it traces the development of this man, his thoughts, his principles and finally the acceptance of his fate. Color and weather are two elements that Camus uses in order to develop this deeper meaning, and to explore his protagonist’s thoughts and emotions. This technique explores the wider concept of existentialism as well, essentially classifying The Stranger as an existentialist novel. Color and weather are used in conjunction at times, but when employed separately; their influence materializes in different ways within the novel. Weather as used by Camus directly influences the actions of his protagonist Meursault. The most prominent instance would be when he commits the murder of the Arab, because of the intense heat. This is evident in the line â€Å"The Sea carried up a thick, fiery breath. It seemed to me as if the sky split open from one end to the other to rain down fire. My whole being tensed and I squeezed my hand around the revolver.†1 Here, the sun and the heat are used to create vivid imagery that characterizes the weather as a force by itself, an irrefutable force that has control over Meursault, something that dictates his physical actions at times. Meursault feels the physical attributes of the world around him in a much greater capacity than others, which is an indication of his existentialist nature. The physical world is all that matters to him, nothing beyond it. The sun is used as a recurring symbol to trace the progression of Meursault’s character through the novel. His attitude towards it, they way he views the effect of the sun on himself is an indicator of his transgression as he is convicted and then as he develops his realization of the world, and accepts his fate. In the first part of the novel, the sun seems to cause him solely discomfort, he feels suffocated and weary under the constant battering of its repressive force. This is indicated when Meursault says, on the day of his mothers funeral â€Å"But today, with the sun bearing down, making the whole landscape shimmer with heat, it was inhuman and oppressive.†2 The death of his mother did not cause him grief, but the force of the sun did. Here, he is entirely focused on the physical aspects of his being; he does not function on a level deeper than that. However, this is contrasted to his view towards the end of the novel, when he says â€Å"†¦.all night long, waited patiently for the first light to show on the pane of sky.†3 He values the earth and what it has to give, in the view of his approaching death he looks to the sun as a symbol of hope. Thus what the sun represents to Meursault has changed, once it symbolized aggression and violence, now it indicates hope, and acceptance in his life. While weather was used to influence Meursault’s actions, color is employed by Camus to reflect Meursault’s thought process and his emotions. Meursault observes color intently as he is completely immersed in the physical world in the first part of the novel. Red features prominently as an indicator of violence, death and aggression. At his mother’s funeral, Meursault describes his mother’s burial as â€Å"†¦ the blood – red earth spilling over Maman’s casket, the white flesh of the roots mixed with it†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 4 The red earth reflects the death of his mother, the white represents the empty feeling he associates with it. The line could be seen as an allusion to his ambivalent feelings towards his mother’s death, guilt at not being able to conform to society’s expectations, represented by red, and awareness that his mother’s death has not caused him to feel anything; therefore he is empty, represented by white. Yellow and green appear occasionally in the course of the novel as well, to reflect certain aspects of Meursault’s thinking, and emotions. After an enjoyable dinner at Celeste’s, Meursault says â€Å"The sky was green; I felt good.†5 Green here represents contentment, and a certain tranquil calm that enables him to live in the moment, with his simple concerns and thoughts. Yellow is used when he describes his dead mother and the mirror on his wall. Thus, it represents dilapidation and aging, something that does not appeal to Meursault. Blue and black are significant colours as when they are contrasted with each other, they represent Meursault’s struggle between an obligation to conform to society, and a desire to be freed from all responsibility. It can be inferred from the line â€Å"I felt a little lost between the blue and white of the sky and the monotony of the colors around me – the sticky black of the tar, the dull black of all the clothes, and the shiny black of the hearse†6 that his ambivalence troubles him. Black as a symbol of mourning represents what Meursault should be feeling, despair and loneliness, while blue and white represent his desire to be liberated, to live in the world without having to feel guilty for his lack of feeling at his mother’s death. Meursault’s keen observation of color and the fact that the weather affects him in profound ways all allude to something deeper. There is a perceptible change in Camus’ writing style when he describes nature, and when he describes emotion or a social situation. The sentences flow freely when he writes of nature, describing the sun or the weather or the lap of water against his skin. This is starkly different from the language used to depict social situations, or emotion. The sentences are short and clipped, suggesting Meursault’s unease with conforming to society and its regulations. His connection with nature hints at his existentialist tendencies revealed later on in the novel, as he finds pleasure in the physical world; instances such as good weather please him. The usage of these elements as literary techniques in the novel contributes to a deeper understanding of the nature of existentialism itself. Existentialism is a predominant theme in The Stranger, one that Camus has chosen to explore in a compelling way. His focus on the physical, weather and color are both aspects of the world that are visible on the surface. They symbolize the very essence of existentialism, a focus on the absolute, what is tangible and present rather than something unidentifiable and abstract. Existentialists focus on concrete human existence, Camus has alluded to this by employing weather and color as techniques in the novel to illustrate his protagonist’s thoughts. The development of these symbols, the Sun in particular and what it means to Meursault is indicative of Camus’ own thoughts towards existentialism. His character Meursault is resolved of his struggle in the end; he reaches a stage where he accepts his impending death. By doing this, Camus encourages the reader to persevere in spite of absurdity. He cites it as an obstacle to overcome rather than a reason for ending ones life, which is the common outcome of an existentialist’s thinking. Thus, Albert Camus makes use of color and weather to convey certain deeper connotations of the novel, as well as to indicate his protagonist’s existentialist tendencies, and his own thoughts on this philosophy. He uses symbols, vivid imagery and contrast to highlight the conflict within Meursault, which is an important facet of the novel. His symbolic presentation of the sun traces Meursault’s character development, from a man removed from most of the world, to a man who accepts his fate and truly appreciates the world around him. These are the elements that contribute to the depth of a novel, give it many layers that provoke thought within the reader. Bibliography Camus, Albert (1942) The Stranger, Alfred. A. Knopf, Inc (1998) 1 The Stranger by Albert Camus, translated by Matthew Ward, page 59 2 The Stranger by Albert Camus, translated by Matthew Ward, page 15 3 The Stranger by Albert Camus, translated by Matthew Ward, page 113 4 The Stranger by Albert Camus, translated by Matthew Ward, page 18 5 The Stranger by Albert Camus, translated by Matthew Ward, page26 6 The Stranger by Albert Camus, translated by Matthew Ward, page 17

Politics of Globalization and Iran Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Politics of Globalization and Iran - Essay Example Most of the enervating problems of the modern day Iran stem from its complicated and atypical political system that aspires to harmonize the elements of an Islamic theocracy with a fledgling democracy (BBC). The anachronistic seeming Iranian polity is a strange mix of elected democratic institutions such as a president, a cabinet, and a parliament being constitutionally and unambiguously superseded by a gamut of unelected power centres such as a guardian council, an expediency council, and the armed forces, which are administered by the highly influential and theocratic Supreme Leader. It is realistically impossible for the foreign policy and the trade policy in Iran to remain uninfluenced by the aforementioned power centres. President Mahmoud Ahamadinejad who came to power in 2005 has been trying hard to refurbish and realign the Iran's economic policies with the contemporary global trends. At the same time, the world community is resorting to a series of measures like active diplom atic engagement and trade sanctions to alter the Iranian state and trade policies. Iran subscribes to a primarily industrial economy that contributes more then 45 % of its GDP and is a profitable mix of oil and gas, textiles, steel, petrochemicals and automotive manufacturing (Ilias 13). The next major stakeholder in the Iranian economy is its services sector that represents another 43 % of its GDP (Ilias 13). Though the contribution of the agriculture sector to the Iranian economy is roughly 11 %, still it happens to be the major employer, absorbing nearly 20 % of Iran's workforce (Ilias 13). Iran boasts of the world's third largest petroleum reserves and the second largest gas reserves. Though the internecine war with Iraq severely jeopardized the Iran's oil production facilities, still they account for a bulk of the Iranian export earnings and are the single most vital source of government revenue. The oil sector in Iran is the primary enticer of the foreign investment and nascent fears are cropping up that such an intense concentration of investment in this se ctor could practically stifle the other emerging sectors in this developing economy (Ilias 13). The behemoth oil and gas sector in Iran solely comes within the ambit of state administration and are managed by the state run National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC). Being a potent and founding member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Iran wields a considerable influence in the world economy, courtesy its ability to stir the world oil supply and prices (Sarkis). The top importers of the Iranian oil are India, China, Italy, South Korea and Japan. Still, the greatest delimiting factor that the Iranian oil industry has to contend with is a constricting lack of access to the new technologies owing to highly constrained investments and the running US sanctions (Ilias 14). Going by the Iran's exclusive dependence on oil reserves for economic sustenance, its economy is pathetically susceptible to any unforeseen changes in the international oil prices (Ilias 14). Desp ite sitting on the mindboggling 15 % of the world gas

Organizational Analysis, FMC Green River and FMC Aberdeen Essay

Organizational Analysis, FMC Green River and FMC Aberdeen - Essay Example I. FMC Aberdeen is a relatively new location for FMC that manufactures missile canisters for the Navy. It is a complex and highly technical component, but it is the only product made at Aberdeen. Aberdeen, with 100 employees, has been managed by a succession of individuals who have empowered the employees and encouraged the company to be a thinking organization. They work in teams of from 3 to 16 members, the employees are flexible, and they seek unique solutions to problems on a continual basis. This approach has worked well for Aberdeen and the present manager Roger Campbell has been very successful (Clawson 2005). The manager of FMC Green River, Kenneth Dailey, would like to incorporate some of Aberdeen's organizational models at the Green River facility. The Green River plant is over ten times the size of Aberdeen. It has been in existence for over 50 years, almost since the beginning of the parent corporation. The plant is unionized and the labor is specialized. There is not a close company social structure associated with work at Green River. Green River is a good place to work, the employees are well paid, and they have no trouble attracting qualified applicants (Clawson 2005). III. The types of jobs at the two facilities are considerably different. At Aberdeen, everyone works toward the production of one product. Though there are several stages to its production, there is a common bond to the end result. At Green River there are several products and numerous customers. There may be a separation between departments that produce the different products. Furthermore, the employees at Green River are geographically isolated within the plant. The plant at FMC Aberdeen is more adept at the management of ability due to its smaller size and limited products. The Aberdeen plant has a history of open management styles. The workforce has been hand picked to operate in this environment. They work well in teams and understand the concept of networking. The employees of Green River are Union workers who have not been exposed to an open team environment. They may not have the organizational ethics that are required for Aberdeen's organizational structure. Green River's workforce has been selected based on their qualifications, but haven't been screened for ability to work in teams or to network. This has given the FMC Aberdeen workforce a great organizational commitment with the necessary ethics, while Green River has developed a culture and an atmosphere of a rigid bureaucracy that expects others to solve the problems that are outside their job description. The Green River plant has taken on its own culture and it has become institutionalized within the organization. The geographical isolation has reduced communications and the Union structure has discouraged free thinking and acting. This has reduced both organizational commitment and job satisfaction. The employees at Green River have certain expectations of management in the way of pay, raises, and safety. In return, management gets dependability and production. Job satisfaction and organizational co