Necessary Leadership Alberto Fujimori Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Necessary Leadership Alberto Fujimori - Essay Example When Alberto Fujimori was elected President of Peru in 1990, the country was suffering from massive external debt which could not be paid, uncontrolled hyperinflation, non-existent international reserves, and food shortages (The World Bank, 1997). Basic government services like education, health, and basic infrastructure had been neglected and were eroding away. The government was perceived as weak, and two terrorists groups, Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) and the MRTA (Movimiento Revolucionario Tupac Amaru), were competing for control of the country. Both of these groups had formed alliances with Peruvian drug dealers. Violence and intimidation were common, and law-biding Peruvians were very afraid of what the future might hold for their country and their lives. As one commentator noted, "The intense violence of the 1980s created a content in which many Peruvians were willing to cede citizenship and other rights to an extremely personalistic, authoritarian regime in exchange for or der and stability" (Jo-Marie, 2006 p32). Alberto Fujimori was the "extremely personalistic" and politically unknown candidate that was elected president in 1990. After his election, Fujimori vigorously attacked Peru's economic and crime problems. Even Fujimori's critics conceded that Fujimori's policies brought Peru's hyperinflation under control and got the nation's legal economy moving again (Jo-Marie, 2006).Critics also admit that it was under Fujimori that the leaders of Shining Path and MRTA were captured and the guerilla warfare that had characterized terrorist activity in Peru was virtually eliminated (Jo-Marie, 2006). At the same time, the Fujimori administration increased spending on social programs, built schools, repaired or created new infrastructure, and provided funds for community-based economic development (Jo-Marie, 2006). These were all necessary steps in correcting Peru's economic problems and making it safe from terrorists.Fujimori's actions, however, were severely criticized as an abuse of power by his political opponents and by those who saw his policies as violations of human rights. After being reelected to a third term in 2000 under questionable circumstances, Fujimori went into exile in Japan and eventually resigned as President (Peru's Fujimori Resigns, 2000). Since his resignation, additional charges of corruption, death squads, and other abuses of power have surfaced, leading the current Peruvian government to call for Fujimori's extradition from Japan so he may be tried on criminal charges in Peru (Judge Blocks Fujimori Extradition , 2007). AnalysisLeadership in Challenging Times Any reasonably competent elected official can lead during times of peace and economic prosperity, when the only real duty of government is simply not to do anything that would interfere with economic growth or destabilize the peace. Effective leaders can make the most of these opportunities; ineffective leaders allow circumstances to erode and lose the gains that were made during prosperous times. As noted above, Fujimori came into power at a time when Peru was enjoying neither peace nor economic success. Data from public opinion polls

Marketing Simulation Essay Example for Free

Marketing Simulation Essay The rest of the sales force time would be equally divided between the segments B, C and D. Change in Strategy: During simulation, we studied the effects of percentage increase of sales force time for each market segment individually along with decrease in list price. As we proceeded with the simulation, we found that * A decrease in list price and an increase in percentage sales force time for segment D would be more fruitful in the short run as it will increase the overall sales volume and overall profit much more than in the case where sales force concentrates more on segment A. This is because the overall market share of highly price sensitive customers in segment D and â€Å"small volume customers† is almost three times of segment A’s market share. * So, even though the profit margin in segment D and â€Å"small volume customers† is lesser than that for segment A, the overall profit was greater because of the scope of much higher sales volume. * Hence, we decided to increase the sales force percentage time for segment D to 40% and for segment A to 30%. We decreased the sales force time percentage for segments B and C to 15% each. Also, we reduced the list price from $142 to $136. Challenges during simulation: During simulation, the primary challenge we faced was to decide on the key parameters that should be changed and the level of change in each of these parameters to get optimum profit and higher market share. Key decisions: Since our initial strategy was to increase the sales volume of segment A, we decided to concentrate on sales force time percentage parameter for each segment and the list price of the motors. We studied the effects of percentage increase of sales force time for each market segment individually along with decrease in list price on the overall profit of the company. Solution Analysis Decrease in list price from $142 to $136 and increase in sales force time percentage to 40% for segment D and to 30% for segment A. As we proceeded with the simulation, we found that * A decrease in list price and an increase in percentage sales force time for segment D would be more fruitful in the short run as it will increase the overall sales volume and overall profit much more than in the case where sales force concentrates more on segment A. This is because the overall market share of highly price sensitive customers in segment D and â€Å"small volume customers† is almost three times of segment A’s market share. * So, even though the profit margin in segment D and â€Å"small volume customers† is lesser than that for segment A, the overall profit was greater because of the scope of much higher sales volume. * Segments B and C sales force time was reduced because of the high competition that MM faces in these categories on the basis of the rmal resistance parameter. Hence, in the long run, MM can target for higher profit margins than for higher sales volume if it concentrates the sales and market research resources to segments A, B and C. The main challenge with this approach is that it would difficult to attract customers from these segments who are already loyal to competitors and would require much more effort from the sales team and the product development team to come up with a product that caters the needs of these segments especially segments B and C where MM has yet to prove its overall competitiveness. Learning and experience This simulation exercise helped us to validate whether our suggested solution was an optimal one and also helped us to arrive at new solutions through experimentation which finally led to change in our overall decisions and strategy. It also showed us how varying a single parameter can change the overall market share and overall profits of the company. Finally, it reinforced the theory behind segmentation of customers according to their buying behavior to achieve optimal marketing strategies.

English Literature Antigone Characters Ismene

English Literature Antigone Characters Ismene Antigone Characters Ismene Antigone Antigone by Sophocles is theatrical work that reflects upon Greek mythology and culture. Antigone has several themes and circumstantial settings that can be indirectly referred or related to in modern society. Sophocles uses various and strategically placed characters to present his play as well as his themes. The play mainly revolves around Antigone who acts alongside her elder sister, Ismene. Both are daughters of Oedipus and Jocasta. From the start, the audience is given a vague idea of both Antigone’s and Ismene’s characters. Both sisters have suffered the anguish of having lost their brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices. It is at the beginning of the play that we see Antigone’s braveness. She notifies Ismene of her intentions to bury Polyneices despite the fact that such an act is punishable by death, for Creon considers Polyneices to be a traitor and that by not having his body buried, Polyneices suffers a posthumous punishment. She makes this declaration whil e being fully aware of the penalties involved and this brings to light several other things about her character. The audience is able to see that she is confident in her actions and will justify anything that she does. Meanwhile Ismene can be viewed as being afraid and uneager to agree to an action. She confronts her sister’s statements by saying, â€Å" But think of the danger ! Think what Creon will do ! † (34, Prologue). This statement by Ismene create a vague feeling in the audience that Ismene is a pessimist. This view is further reinforced when she says, â€Å" And do what he has forbidden ! We are women / We cannot fight with men, Antigone ! † (46-47, Prologue). Hence Ismene is seen seeking a way out by giving excuses that are in a sense linked to negative stereotypes and this makes a reflection of her pessimistic nature. Antigone’s actions at the beginning of the play reflect her impulsivness and rash manner in handling situations. Rather than try to confront Creon regarding the burial of her brother she goes ahead to bury him. Her impulsive manner is also seen when she doubts Ismene’s promise that she will not divulge any information to anybody else regarding Antigone’s plans to bury her brother. She does this despite the reasonable consideration that Ismene is her only sister and family member left. Her actions at this point also reflect on her indifference in carry ing out actions that reflect on others. She does not seem to care about the fact that burying her brother may have unfavorable consequences on Ismene who would lose her sister and at the same time be in a dilemma. Ismene would have to risk telling the authorities and get her sister prosecuted so as to be a true patriot and to save her own life or keep mum and be prosecuted for aiding and abetting an offense alongside her sister whom she will eventually loose, regardless of what she decides to do . This scenario presents a strong argument that Ismene is considerate and rational as she eventually decides to keep Antigone’s plans secret and continues to do so even when Antigone attacks her. She responds by saying, â€Å" But a loyal friend indeed to those who love.† (85, Prologue). This demonstrates Ismene’s passive and unvengeful nature. Antigone bears responsibility well and can therefore be seen to be responsible. When brought before Creon, she admits her actions in burying Polyneices without much ado, she audaciously confesses, â€Å" I do. I deny nothing † (52, ODE I, Scene II). She goes ahead and justifies her action, and calmly makes it clear that she is not afraid of the punishment due to be imposed on her.. In contrast Ismene bears a sense of responsibility just like her sister. When brought before Creon, she admits her role in Antigone’s ‘crime’ without hesitation, she says, â€Å" Yes, if she will let me say so. I am guilty. † This and the ensuing exchange that follows between the sisters also brings to light other aspects of the sisters personalities. One of the aspects that is brought out by this exchange is that of loyalty. Both Ismene and Antigone are loyal to each other even in a situation where it is at the expense of death. Ismene is ready to die alongside her sister. At the same time Antigone cares too deeply for Ismene and does not want Ismene to suffer the punishment of death. The idea that loyalty exists between the two sisters is reinforced by the fact that Ismene, while in the face of death, defends her sister. When Antigone is declared as having lost her mind by Creon, she says, â€Å" Grief teaches the steadiest minds to waver, King.† (153, ODE I, Scene II). Other events that had occurred earlier in the play portray this feeling of loyalty and the sisterly love that exists between Ismene and Antigone. Both sisters place family duty above everything else. Ismene’s earlier caution at the beginning of the play can now be interpreted as an act of sisterly love and concern. Eurydice who is Creon’s wife cum queen and Antigone are emotionally impulsive. Antigone commits suicide when she is sentenced to death and confined to a vault of stone. Eurydice in turn commits suicide when she hears about the death of her son, Haemon. Hence both characters can be seen as compulsive and quick to act rather than face the harsh reality of suffering. All in all it can be said that Sophocles primarily uses the various characteristics presented by Antigone, Ismene and Eurydice to develop his play. Although of these characters are the same gender their characteristics differ greatly and this lies in with the underlying themes of the play.

Symbolism in Fahrenheit 451 :: Essays Papers

Symbolism in Fahrenheit 451 Light, especially fire, and darkness are significantly reoccurring themes in Fahrenheit 451. Guy Montag, the main character, is a fireman, but in this futuristic world the job description of a fireman is to start fires wherever books are found; instead of putting them out. Montag takes a journey from a literary darkness to a knowledgeable light. This journey can be compared to the short story Allegory of the Cave by Plato, in which a prisoner experiences a similar journey. An example of light, in reference to knowledge, occurs just after Montag meets Clarisse for the first time. "When they reached her house all its lights were blazing" (9). Since Montag had rarely seen that many house lights on, I interpreted those lines as saying "that house is full of knowledge and enlightenment; not like the rest of the houses around here which are always dark." Clarisse went on to explain to Montag that her mother, father, and uncle were just sitting around and talking. This was also something th at wasn't very commonplace in the city. Fire is an important element of symbolism in Fahrenheit 451. Fire consumes minds, spirits, men, ideas, and books. Fire plays two very different roles in this book. The role of a destructive, devouring, and life ending force, and the role of a nourishing flame. The first role that fire plays in Fahrenheit 451 is apparent from the very beginning of Bradbury's novel. "IT WAS A PLEASURE TO BURN. It was a pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed" (3). In these first two sentences, Bradbury creates a sense of curiosity and irony because in the story, change is something controlled and unwanted by the government and society, so it is very unlikely that anything in Guy Montag's society could be changed. The burning described at this point represents the constructive energy that later leads to catastrophe. A clear picture of firemen is first seen when the narrator says, "With his symbolic helmet numbered 451 on his stolid head, and his eyes all orange flame with the thought of what came next, he flicked the igniter and the house jumped up in a gorging fire that burned the evening sky red and yellow and black" (3). Fahrenheit 451 is the temperature at which books burn and is symbolically written on the firemen’s helme ts, tanks, and in the firestation.

Management and Employment Relations

The history of management is being traced with difficulties and it is only seen as a modern conceptualization. This difficulty contributes to its ideally possiveness nature. In premodern past context it is traceable back to Sumerian traders and builders of the pyramids of ancient Egypt. Full exploitation and motivation of slaves faced problems. Many pre-industrial enterprises in their small-scale nature were never compelled to face issues of management. With increased scale of commercial operations devoid of mechanized record keeping and recording, management functions were unavailable. Management as an act involves the process of directing and controlling a group of people for purposes of achieving coordination and harmony of the group towards attaining a goal, which is far beyond the scope of individual efforts. Potential human resources, financial resources, technological resources and natural resources are deployed and manipulated through management[1]. The possibility of personifying the act of management also exists whereby the person or a team of persons performing this act is or are referred to as management and has to do with power by its nature and position. Functionally, management entails the art of getting things done through people: action of weighing a quantity on regular basis and adjusting the initial plan and the action taken to reach the overall intended goal. The functions and roles of management therefore entail planning, organizing, leading or motivating and controlling or coordinating all resources in the working place[2]. Management falls under the following categories: human resource management, operations or production management, strategic management, financial management and information technology management.   Human resource management carries the grater weight in employment relations. Its importance is seen in understanding and developing its context concept, to assess and explain its impact on organizational performance and employment well being and to contribute to the dissemination of good practice. The role of management in employment relations can be explained by the context of communication in the work place. Employees must be treated with applicable laws and regulations of the countries and regions in which it operates. Communications between management and employees is essential in conveying management policies to employees and encouraging employees to voice their options[3]. This impacts the active rather than passive agency role of the management being the representative of the employer. These concepts are of vital importance in employment cycle. Employment in this context refers to the contract between two parties one being the employer and the other one the employee. The employee refers to a person in the service of another. Under any contract of hirer express or applied, oral or written where the employer has the power or right to control and direct the employee in the material details of how the work is to be performed[4]. In a profit oriented setting the aim of the employer is creation of valued produces at reasonable cost, and providing rewarding employment opportunities for employees. In unprofit setting the ultimate goal is to keep faith of the donors. Other areas of employment include the public and household sectors. It is in view of this harmony that the active role of the management should be felt in any working environment. Communication between management as the employers’ representative and employees should show shared responsibilities called co-determinations. There are specific areas of concern and address during the discussion between the two parties they include; pay of wages, bonuses, the work environment, disputes, work schedules, grievances, health and safety, working hours and production targets. The aim of these discussions is an achievement of a more harmonious working relationship sometimes-major employment relations dispute may arise. Whenever problems start to arise in a company a successful management-employment relations involve striking a balance in nearly all situations. The employer has the right to manage that is the ability to plan for the future so that the company can continue moving to make profits and to keep employees motivated. Form the employees’ viewpoint best possible conditions must be secured and good living standards made not a dream. High labour turnover, bad time keeping, high levels of absenteeism, slackness of individuals, poor working, deliberate time working in similar practices are evident in situations where employees are unhappy with the working conditions[5]. Other evidences of discontent will be revealed in complain, friction, ignoring rules and apathy for unappropriate management system to gain the intended meaning must strive to attain the following qualifications: attraction of the most qualified employees and matching them to the jobs for which there are best suited since this is significant for the success of any organization[6]. However, there arises some technical problems in many large enterprises due to their size this aspect of too large size of an enterprise deter possible close contact between top management and employees this connection is otherwise provided for by human resource managers training managers and labour relations managers. In an effort to enhance immorality and productivity while limiting job turnover, helping organization increase performance and improve business results they are of vital help to the organization they also help the firms effectively in using employees skills, provide training and development opportunities, improve those skills and improve employees satisfaction with their jobs and working conditions. Dealing with people through physical interaction is an important part of the job although some jobs in the human resources field require only limited contact between the people outside the office. The importance of management in employment relations on an active capacity is further highlighted through creation of labour unions and its incorporation in the constitution in the name of labour laws. This has been evident in all regions countries and states all over the world for the purpose of improving the quality of working life for individuals and creates condition for business success. Employers, employees and unions must deal with one another in an honest and open atmosphere. This in essence bears results such as follows: promotion of good employment relation and cultivations of mutual respect and confidence between employers, employees and unions. It also sets the environment for individual and collective employment relationships. It also sets out requirements for the negotiation and content of collective and individual employment agreements. It also provides prompt and flexible options for resolving problems in employment relations. There are a number of undiresable trade union action such as withdrawal of good will, go slow, working strictly to the rules set out in work rule books and sticking rigidly to only doing tasks set out clearly in a job description, refusing to work overtime, going on a strike and many others[7]. All this actions reduce companies’ profitability and its ability and fulfill orders, they harm employment prospects, reduce wages of employees they lead to festering discontent and cause problems for customers and economy as a whole. This is a practical scenario in the current working places and it reflects negative picture of interaction in the working places. It is therefore, very important to create a harmonious working environment for the benefit all the concerned. Good practices and models of a harmonious working practice should be exhibited in a true structure of employment relation. In an effort in building trust as a manager it is paramount to display the following characteristics: keeping promises, have ethics, telling people the truth, being fair and honest, treating employees as adults while showing appreciation for their ideas and for the work they do, involve employees in planning and problems solving, give employees important work and support them to implement. In an effort to achieve a successful structure of management – employment relations’ labour or employment laws have been enacted. Labour laws Labors laws also known as employment laws refers elaborately to a body of administrative ruling and prescient which focuses to address the legal rights and restriction on the working people and their organizations and as such it mediates may aspects of the relationships between trade unions, employers and employees. They are in some countries restricted to ununionized work places, as is the case in Canada. But in most other countries no such restrictions is made. Two broad categories of labour laws exist; collective labour law which relates to tripartite relationship between employee employer and union. Individual labour law concerns employees’ rights at work and through the contract for work[8]. Employment laws include all areas of the employer employee relationship except the negotiation process covered by labour law and collective bargaining. It consists thousands of federal and state statues, administration regulation and judicial decision.   Most of these laws such as minimum wage regulation were enacted as protective labour legislation. The functioning and origins of labour laws is oriented towards strikes, pickets, boycotts, unofficial industrial action Labour laws in Australia The federal parliament in Australia is empowered by the constitution to make laws concerning conciliation and arbitration for the settlement and prevention of industrial disputes extending beyond the limit of any one state. The laws made with respect to trading and financial corporations fall within the limits of the commonwealth and foreign corporations. Industrial relations systems and wages setting have been enhanced by this system also known as work choice, which came into operation in 2006[9]. Work choices legislation act in Australia The most comprehensive shakeups of industrial relations since federation were the results of the successful introduction and passing of work choices legislation in Australia in December 2005[10]. The industrial and employment circulars underwent permanent and long-term changes. These changes are explained in the following dimension: federal systems of industrial relations were successful and completely replaced with the unitary system of industrial relations: an emphasis on Australian economy away from the wages and conditions; transitional arrangement and changes to Awards and Agreements; awards were reduced drastically, Australia Fair Pay Commission was set up with the main aim of determination of minimum wages and conditions of employees, the powers of Australian Industrial Relation Commission were greatly reduced to an extent of being rendered redundant, flexible work practices were introduced and the ability to cash out some benefits such as annual leave[11]. The consequences were some problems with work place health and safety application; new dismissal provision which were less straightforward as they may have been trumpeted. New transmission of business rules that is buying and selling business plus all the people incorporated in the business. Union restriction and the scrapping the no disadvantage test. All these changes brought about complexity and consequently bearing some effects on businesses along the following orientations. Small business holders were subjected to the understanding of the broader concepts of employer obligations to the employees applicable to their unique business situation.   The employers take great care before taking a step towards termination of an employee’s service. Great care, advice and consultation became a prerequisite since the work place legislations empowered the employees to claim compensation against unlawful dismissal and discrimination. These laws applied to the especially small business with as less as a hundred employees and therefore constitute the retail in Australia. The workforce legislation in Australia further favoured these minority employees in the retail industry in a sense that the cost of defending discrimination and dismissal claim by the employer is dramatically higher than the unfair dismissal itself. In conclusion; the changing of the awards and agreements provided for by the work choice legislation added a layer of complexity to the businesses which extended upto the end of the transitional face which extended up to five years. An investor intending to buy a business was supposed to be ready for the transmission of business changes and the business owner had to grapple to the new layer of complexity. References Catanzariti, J. & Baragwanath, M. 1997. Workplace Relations Act: A User-friendly Guide. Manly, NSW, Newsletter Information Services. Cranny, C., Smith, P. & Stone, E. 1992. Job Satisfaction. New York: Lexington. Creighton, B. & Stewart, A. 1994. Labour Law – An Introduction. 2nd Ed. Leichhardt, NSW. Federation Press. Guite, T. 1999. Strategic Human Resource Management. 3rd Ed. McMillan Publishers. London. Lee, M. & Sheldon, P. (eds.). 1997. Workplace Relations, Workplace Law & Employment Relations. Sidney. Botterworths. Mullins, L. 2005. Management and Organizational Behaviour. 7th Ed. Harlow. Prentice-Hall. Nilson, C. 2003. How to Manage Training: A Guide to Design and Delivery for High Performance. 3rd Ed. New York. Amacom. Pocock, Barbara & Masterman-Smith, Helen. 2005. Work Choices and Women Workers. Journal of Australian Political Economy No.56. Teicher, J., Lambert, R. & O’Rourke, A. (eds.). 2006. Work Choices: The New Industrial Relations Agenda. Sidney, NSW: Pearson Education Australia. Walter, J. 2006. Strategic Management. Theory: An Integrated Approach. McMillan Publishing Ltd.          [1] Walter, J. 2006. Strategic Management. Theory: An Integrated Approach. McMillan Publishing Ltd. PP.70-73. [2] Nilson, C. 2003. How to Manage Training: A Guide to Design and Delivery for High Performance. 3rd Ed. New York. Amacom. PP.103. [3] Mullins, L. 2005. Management and Organizational Behaviour. 7th Ed. Harlow. Prentice-Hall. PP.51-58. [4] Catanzariti, J. & Baragwanath, M. 1997. Workplace Relations Act: A User-friendly Guide. Manly, NSW, Newsletter Information Services. PP.17. [5] Guite, T. 1999. Strategic Human Resource Management. 3rd Ed. McMillan Publishers. London. PP.41-43. [6] Cranny, C., Smith, P. & Stone, E. 1992. Job Satisfaction. New York: Lexington. PP.31-34. [7] Lee, M. & Sheldon, P. (eds.). 1997. Workplace Relations, Workplace Law & Employment Relations. Sidney. Botterworths. PP.27-37. [8] Creighton, B. & Stewart, A. 1994. Labour Law – An Introduction. 2nd Ed. Leichhardt, NSW. Federation Press. PP.9-16. [9] Teicher, J., Lambert, R. & O’Rourke, A. (e ds.). 2006. Work Choices: The New Industrial Relations Agenda. Sidney, NSW: Pearson Education Australia. PP.103-125. [10] Pocock, Barbara & Masterman-Smith, Helen. 2005. Work Choices and Women Workers. Journal of Australian Political Economy No.56. PP.124-143. [11] Teicher, J., Lambert, R. & O’Rourke, A. (eds.). 2006. Work Choices: The New Industrial Relations Agenda. Sidney, NSW: Pearson Education Australia. PP.103-125.   

Critically discuss to what extent Porter’s Diamond Essay

Critically discuss to what extent Porter’s Diamond is a useful concept in explaining home and host location strategies of international business? Illustrate your answer with reference to at least two case companies. The main aim of International business is to build and sustain competitiveness for economic value creation in both domestic and overseas markets (Besanko et al. 2007). Internalization business theory however has a variety of models that can identify the environmental analysis of specific countries. These models are used for companies to internationalize and find the right location(s) overseas by taking; institutional, cultural fit and success opportunities into consideration. These models also give in-depth information on locations that the companies have chosen. A very well-known framework is the Porter’s Diamond which was found by Michael Porter in 1990. This report will discuss the advantages and disadvantages to determine a company’s home and host location decision by analyzing two high street retailers – French E.Leclerc and UK’s Sainsbury’s. Porter’s Diamond Model (1990: 73 ) states that nation’s competiveness depends on the capa city of its industry to innovate and upgrade this however depends on the productivity level of the nation. From a company’s point of view a national competitive advantage means that it would have to depend on the nation to implement a home base to improve their existing products and services such as; technology, features, quality as well as being able to compete with international industries. Therefore, the advantage of this model is that it identifies the four factors that develop the essential national environment where companies are born, grow and as mentioned above sustain competitive advantage (Porter, 1990:78). The idea of this model is useful because it allows organizations to carry out the necessary research and identify which countries would be good enough to internationalize. As you can see from the Porters Diamond diagram the first factor is the factor condition, this factor is about production such as land, raw materials, capital infrastructure etc. these are not inherited, but developed and improved by a nation for instance skilled labor (Porter, 1990:79). In order to sustain competitive advantage it will depend on the factor creation ability. For instance, E. Leclerc started as a small rented warehouse â€Å"Leclerc established a chain of outlets across the country, single-handedly changing  the landscape of shopping in France†(www.independent.co.uk) â€Å"Critical evaluation of development and role of Balanced Scorecard in production and service organizations† Excerpts from HBR-1 (1992): â€Å"The Balanced Scorecard – Measures That Drive Performance,† Robert S. Kaplan and David P. Norton, Harvard Business Review, January-February 1992, pg 71-79. Page 76-77: †¦ Analog Devices, a Massachusetts-based manufacturer of specialized semiconductors, expects managers to improve their customer and internal business process performance continuously. The company estimates specific rates of improvement for on-time delivery, cycle time, defect rate, and yield. †¦ †¦Over the three-year period between 1987 and 1990, a NYSE electronics company made an order-of-magnitude improvement in quality and on-time delivery performance. Outgoing defect rate dropped from 500 parts per million to 50, on-time delivery improved from 70% to 96%, and yield jumped from 26% to 51 %. Did these breakthrough improvements in quality, productivity, and customer service provide substantial benefits to the company? Unfortunately not. During the same three-year period, the company’s financial results showed little improvement, and its stock price plummeted to one-third of its July 1987 value. The considerable improvements in manufacturing capabilities had not been translated into increased profitability. Slow releases of new products and a failure to expand marketing to new and perhaps more demanding customers prevented the company from realizing the benefits of its manufacturing achievements. The operational achievements were real, but the company had failed to capitalize on them. †¦ Excerpts from HBR-2 (1993): â€Å"Putting the Balanced Scorecard to Work,† Robert S. Kaplan and David P. Norton, Harvard Business Review, September-October, 1993, pg 134-147. Page 142: †¦ Analog Devices, a semiconductor company, served as the prototype for the balanced scorecard and now uses it each year to update the targets and goals for division managers. Jerry Fishman, president of Analog, said, â€Å"At the  beginning, the scorecard drove significant and considerable change. It still does when we focus attention on particular areas, such as the gross margins on new products. But its main impact today is to help sustain programs that our people have been working on for years.† Recently, the company has been attempting to integrate the scorecard metrics with hoshin planning, a procedure that concentrates an entire company on achieving one or two key objectives each year. Analog’s hoshin objectives have included customer service and new product development, for which measures already exist on the company’s scorecard. †¦ Excerpted from JMAR (1998): Innovation Action Research: Creating New Management Theory and Practice, Robert S. Kaplan, Journal of Management Accounting Research, Vol. 10, 1998, pg. 89-118. Page 99-101 â€Å"†¦For the balanced scorecard, the initial idea also came somewhat serendipitously, but also not completely by accident. The need for improved performance measurement systems had been widely recognized during the 1980s. Many articles, books and conferences documented the limita ­tions of relying solely on financial signals for improving business perform ­ance. The adoption of total quality management, just‑in‑time production systems and synchronous manufacturing all created a demand for im ­proved performance measures that would support companies’ continuous improvement initiatives. Therefore, much work had already occurred by 1990, the time when the balanced scorecard concept initially emerged (Berliner and Brimson 1987; Howell et al. 1987; Kaplan 1990b). Much of the need for improved operational performance measurements had been satisfied by measures such as part‑per‑million defect rates, yields, cost of nonconformance, process cy cle times, manufacturing cycle effectiveness, throughput times, customer satisfaction, customer complaints and em ­ployee satisfaction. What remained missing was a theory for how the myr ­iad of nonfinancial performance measures now being used on the factory floor could be reconciled with and achieve comparable status to the finan ­cial measures that still dominated the agenda of senior company executives. Fortunately (again), a skilled practitioner, Arthur Schneiderman of Analog Devices, contacted me to assist his company with launching an activity-based costing project. In our initial  conversation, I learned that he had developed an innovative approach, the half-life system, to measure the rate of improvement of his company’s TQM program. As part of my research agenda (see step 1 in exhibit 1), I asked for and received approval to visit Analog Devices and write a case about their initiatives. During my visit, I learned that Schneiderman had also developed and implemented a corporate scorecard that senior executives were using to evaluate the company’s overall performance and rate-of-improvement . The corporate scorecard included, in addition to several traditional financial measures, some metrics on customer performance (principally operational measures related to lead times and on time delivery), internal processes (yield, quality and cost) and new product development (innovation). This corporate scorecard, evolved, as we shall see, into what came to be called the balanced scorecard. †¦ †¦ by teaching the Analog Devices case to executives, I learned quickly that Analog’s corporate scorecard was of much more interest to them than the half-life method, the original focus of the case. †¦ †¦ even more initial learning came from testing the ideas directly with a set of companies that participated in a yearlong project on performance measurement with the Nolan, Norton & Co. The project attracted senior financial and planning executives from a dozen companies who met on a bi-monthly basis throughout 1990. Analog’s corporate scorecard captured the interest of the participants. Throughout the year, they experimented with it in their organizations and reported back to us on the results. The concept proved successful in many of the pilot sites and turned out to be the prime output from the year-long research project. In the process, the original corporate scorecard, which focused mostly on operational improvements (on lead times, delivery performance, manufacturing quality and cycle times) had become transformed into a much more strategic organizational performance measurement system, characterized by four identifiable perspectives (financial, customer, internal business process and innovation and growth). †¦ Page 109: †¦ The balanced scorecard implementations being done at the end of 1995, as integrated strategic management systems, were far more advanced than the initial formulation, as a complementary nonfinancial measurement system, at Analog Devices or the companies described in our initial article (Kaplan and  Norton 1992). In six years (1990-1995), Norton and I had made three cycles around the knowledge creation cycle. The half-life of improvement of the balanced scorecard knowledge base was much shorter than for activity-based costing. †¦

Pieter Brueghel essays

Pieter Brueghel essays If someone were to think of one of the great Flemish painters, Pieter Brueghel might come to mind. Often referred to as Pieter Brueghel the Elder, he was the most important member of his family and a great painter in the 16th century. Pieter was born around 1525 in what is thought to be the town of Breda, which is now in The Netherlands. He went on to later be an apprentice to a leading Antwerp artist named Coecke van Aelst in 1551. Brueghel then traveled to Italy, and later lived in Antwerp for about 10 years before permanently settling down in Brussels. In 1563 he went on to marry Mayken, Coecke van Aelsts daughter. This relationship with the van Aelst family drew him to the peasant and allegorical themes that he painted. The scenes of landscapes and peasant life in Brueghels paintings are full of great detail and convey the stress and absurd kinds of lifestyles during this period of the 1500s. His paintings also portray the many weaknesses found in humans. Brueghel created his own style that holds special meaning. He painted many different subjects such as Biblical scenes, mythological portrayals, and social satires. Although he painted many different themes, it all falls under the school of Flemish Renaissance. Renaissance paintings are very realistic with figures in natural settings using precise detail. The renaissance style is represented in some of Brueghels very famous paintings. These include The Peasant Dance, The Wedding Feast, and The Landscape with the Fall of Iracus. In addition to his paintings Brueghel became known for the engravings that were made from his original paintings. ...

Free Essays on Religious Laws Are Ideal

â€Å"I believe the First Amendment, as it is presently written, permits the American people to do what they need to.† (Clinton, Bill) -President Clinton The battle for religious freedom in public schools has recently been a major topic. Some fight for religious rights to be furthered, arguing that too much of God has been taken from the public school system. Others argue that religious freedoms are much too loose in public schools and that religion should be totally left behind when entering government property. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled for and against both sides of the debate on many issues, but there is truly no longer a problem. The law, as it is, currently supplements all religious needs of all parties within the public school. In 1962, in the case of Engel v. Vatale, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered that all government sponsored religious activities be removed from public schools.(Kussrow) Prior to that ruling there were massive amounts of protest, but the Supreme Court held fast to its decision that government sponsored religious activity was in violation of the Constitution. Despite protests the Supreme Court strengthened its constraint in subsequent years through further restrictions in 1963, 1980, 1985, 1989. (Risinger) In April, 1995, a breakthrough was made in terms of what was and wasn’t Pg.2 HJFL allowed religiously in public schools. Over thirty-five different religious organizations and experts collaborated to for â€Å"A Joint Statement of Current Law†. In this statement, which was approved of by United States Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley, nearly every aspect debatable is discussed and presented with its legalities. (Riley)/(Religion) There are many singularly debatable issues contained under the collected banner of religion in public schools. Each one of these issues has two sides arguing to further or lessen religious integration within that issue. When closely inspected, nearly e... Free Essays on Religious Laws Are Ideal Free Essays on Religious Laws Are Ideal â€Å"I believe the First Amendment, as it is presently written, permits the American people to do what they need to.† (Clinton, Bill) -President Clinton The battle for religious freedom in public schools has recently been a major topic. Some fight for religious rights to be furthered, arguing that too much of God has been taken from the public school system. Others argue that religious freedoms are much too loose in public schools and that religion should be totally left behind when entering government property. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled for and against both sides of the debate on many issues, but there is truly no longer a problem. The law, as it is, currently supplements all religious needs of all parties within the public school. In 1962, in the case of Engel v. Vatale, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered that all government sponsored religious activities be removed from public schools.(Kussrow) Prior to that ruling there were massive amounts of protest, but the Supreme Court held fast to its decision that government sponsored religious activity was in violation of the Constitution. Despite protests the Supreme Court strengthened its constraint in subsequent years through further restrictions in 1963, 1980, 1985, 1989. (Risinger) In April, 1995, a breakthrough was made in terms of what was and wasn’t Pg.2 HJFL allowed religiously in public schools. Over thirty-five different religious organizations and experts collaborated to for â€Å"A Joint Statement of Current Law†. In this statement, which was approved of by United States Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley, nearly every aspect debatable is discussed and presented with its legalities. (Riley)/(Religion) There are many singularly debatable issues contained under the collected banner of religion in public schools. Each one of these issues has two sides arguing to further or lessen religious integration within that issue. When closely inspected, nearly e...

Affirmative Action Affirmative Action Essays

Affirmative Action Affirmative Action Essays The lawsuit sent shockwaves across the nation. Though the case centered on college admission practices, affirmative action plays a role in many everyday matters, especially towards procedures regarding employment. Before delving into discourse and opinions, the background and history of affirmative action should be discussed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  According to writer Stephen Cahn, affirmative action’s origins stem from an executive order that John F. Kennedy wrote in regards to the hiring practices of employers. Cahn writes that the President’s Committee on Equal Opportunity Employment stated federal contractors â€Å"...will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, creed, color, or national origin. The Contractor will take affirmative action, to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin." The principle of this order from President Kennedy was more developed with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which in part stated that "No person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federa l financial assistance." About one year later, President Lyndon B. Johnson defined the concept of affirmative action emphasizing that civil rights laws alone were not enough to resolve discrimination. Just months later, President Johnson issued an order to enforce affirmative action toward prospective minority employees in all aspects of hiring and employment. Employers must take specific measures to ensure equality in hiring and must document these efforts.

Project Management (Palm Jumeirah Island) Case Study

Project Management (Palm Jumeirah Island) - Case Study Example We will also provide an in-depth analysis using management theories of the case of Palm Jumeirah Island project, debating on the ways in which the project was implemented and planned, how it was created, the problems it faced that led to its downfall and the upcoming consequences of it. Before going further into the discussion, let us look at Dubai and the importance of Jumeirah Palm being located there. The strategies employed in the creation of this project in Dubai have been embraced to expand the economy, especially the urban economy, striving for international city status and promoting the development of large scale projects. The formation of mega global projects afforded Dubai international status and attention as a country which attracts foreign visitors from different parts around the world (Azzam, 2002). The city in doing this, started to construct huge national real estate companies, embracing mega projects policy focusing on finance from the government, global and GCC investors (Taher & Hajjar, 2013). This led to the development of large transformation in the Dubai economy and population. The Dubai coastline is considered one of the man-made features in the world to be visible from space, making it ‘the eighth wonder of the world’ (Boermeester, 2015). The creation of Jumeirah Palm Island remains one of largest urban operations that have been carried out in the last years in the world. Although the Jumeirah Palm Island has received praise from all over the world, its downfall has been evident with management including planning, designing and implementation theories. According to Malkin (2001), there have been plumbing issues at Jumeirah Palm Island and residents have been forced to visit lavatories in a mall and wash in the sea after a pipe in one of the apartments ruptured. There have been other issues with Jumeirah Palm Island that have caused its downfall ranging from poor

Rural Poverty Alleviation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Rural Poverty Alleviation - Essay Example In a large and diverse country like India, it is not surprising to experience the kind of hardships and obstacles that appear to hinder every attempt at large scale alleviation of poverty in general and rural poverty in particular. India is a vast democracy of myriad tradition and culture. She is also multi-lingual and in the grip of traditional customs and religious beliefs. Influential politicians, religious leaders, film stars and iconic sportsmen don the mantle of role models and guides. The television perfectly and effectively keeps everyone pre-occupied with live performances and programs, leaving the common man and woman, boy and girl with little time for serious issues of life and responsibilities. Lest I am branded as pessimist, let me hasten to add that India has achieved the targets of rural poverty alleviation to an appreciable extent in the six decades after independence. By and large, there is more prosperity in villages now than before. Government schemes like Jawahar Rojgar Yojana, Drought Prone Area Programs (DPAP), Panchayati Raj, land reforms, etc. have been designed with the common man in the rural backyard in mind. The rural folk enjoy a better transport and communication system, they are politically, economically and academically more aware, and successive five-year plans, especially from the sixth five-year plan onwards, have bestowed more privileges and benefits on them. (8th Five Year Plan) Statistics of the National... Government schemes like Jawahar Rojgar Yojana, Drought Prone Area Programs (DPAP), Panchayati Raj, land reforms, etc. have been designed with the common man in the rural backyard in mind. The rural folk enjoy a better transport and communication system, they are politically, economically and academically more aware, and successive five-year plans, especially from the sixth five-year plan onwards, have bestowed more privileges and benefits on them. (8th Five Year Plan) Conversely, however, the sheen in these progressive schemes and undertakings lost their shine with corruption at every level, powerful hold by vested interests, political compulsions and exploitation. Statistics of the National Rural Employment Program and Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Program (RLEGP), showing the extent of finance involved in rural employment programs in the Seventh Five Year Plan, are reproduced below: Performance of NREP in the Seventh Five Year Plan Year Resource availability (Rs. crores) Expenditure: (Rs. crores) Employment Generation (in million mandays) Manday Cost(Rs.) Wage-Non- Wage Ratio 1985-86 593.08 531.95 316.41 16.81 60:40 1986-87 765.13 717.77 395.39 18.15 60-40 1987-88 888.21 788.31 370.77 21.26 59:41 1988-89 845.68 901.84 394.96 22.83 57:43 Performance of RLEGP in the Seventh Plan Year Resource availability (Rs. crores) Expenditure (Rs. crores) Employment Generation (in million mandays) Manday Cost (Rs.) Wage/Non- Wage Ratio 1985-86 580.35 453.17 2.47.58 18.30 57:43 1986-87 649.96 635.91 306.14 20.77 57:43 1987-88 648.41 653.53 304.11 21.49 58:42 1988-89 761.55 669.37 296.56 22.57 58:42 (Source: 8th Five Year Plan) Disillusionment with Rural Life Mass migration of people from hinterland and rural areas into cities and, to a lesser extent, towns and

Nursing - Pain Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Nursing - Pain Management - Essay Example Cyclooxygenases Prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthase (commonly known as Cyclooxygenases) was purified in 1976 and cloned in 1988. This enzyme is the key catalytic protein in the synthesis of prostaglandins from arachidonic acid, resulting in pain and inflammation, and is subject to inhibition by non ­steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). In 1991, several laboratories identified a second gene product with COX activity, now termed COX-2. It is clear now that both isoforms, COX-l and COX-2 are expressed in both peripheral tissues and several areas of the CNS (Prochazkova et al., 2006). Theories of Pain Gatchel, Polatin, and Kinney (1995) state that there are two prominent theories of pain: the traditional specificity theory of pain and the gate control theory of pain. The former, still widely taught, proposes that pain is a specific sensation and that the intensity of pain is proportional to the extent of tissue damage. This theory implies a fixed, straight-through transmission system from somatic pain receptors to a pain center in the brain (p.416). In 1965, Melzack and Wall proposed the gate control theory. This theory suggests that there are physiological and neural mechanisms in the body that can have an effect on the perception of the painful stimulus (Hawthorn & Redmond 2001). The theory postulates that there are two controls that affect the gate. ... This gating mechanism depends on the relative quantity of information being received over the larger fibers versus the smaller fibers. In essence, the two peripheral impulses interfere with each other to alter pain perception. The gate control theory has received the most recognition in the field of pain research (Gatchel, Polatin, and Kinney 416). Anatomy & Physiology The complexities associated with the experience of pain are immense. Hall (1994) addresses those that deal with the physiological aspects by observing that medical science has not fully explained pain mechanisms. The specialization of receptors has been discovered. This refers to receptors being more sensitive to one stimulus than others. Hall (1994) continues with the identification of the receptor that is "incriminated" in the reception of pain, the unmyelinated or thinly myelinated nerve ending, an "unencapsulated" nerve ending. Hall describes the myelin sheath covering that encloses nerve fibers. The thickness of t his sheath varies throughout the body, from none in the periphery, to very thick where nerves enter bones, and other parts of the body. The covering acts as insulation to keep stimuli from entering the nerve from regions other than those served by the nerve (p. 11). Hall (1994) goes on to describe the receptor as a "primitive unorganized nerve ending and often has a weed-like appearance. It has many branches and overlaps with other receptors to totally cover the area which it serves" (p. 11). The area that a particular nerve serves is called a dermatome, which may serve an area of skin, a muscle, or any organ of the body. Hall states, "It is important to realize that the strength of stimulus is a critical factor in the production of pain in this and other

British Petroleum Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

British Petroleum - Essay Example The business model of BP aims to generate value for the hydrocarbon value chain. The process usually starts through exploration and ends with energy supply (BP, 2012). In 2011, the growth in global oil consumption slowed although robust growth continued in China and other non OECD countries. Despite the slowdown average prices of crude oil were however higher as compared to previous years (BP-a, 2012). BP facts and figure indicates a stable growth where its sales and operating revenue stood at 83,400. The core brands of BP are Castrol, Arco, ampm, Aral and Wild bean cafe (BP, 2012). The paper deals with the above mentioned organization, British Petroleum and discusses the organization in much more detail in order to analyze the company structure its work process, the strategy the organization is currently following and future plan along with its competitive advantage which keeps the company ahead of its competitors. Structure of the organization BP organizes the business in a way so that energy products are and services which are required by the people around the globe are served at an appropriate time and as per the needs. The business model of BP aims to create value in the value chain process and as stated above it starts with exploration and ends with supply of energy. The organization of BP consists of marketing and refining, upstream, people of BP and their values and alternative energy. The upstream usually finds, develops then produces and transports natural gas and oil to the market. BP operates in around 26 countries and it employs approximately 84,000 employees. The major markets are Russia, USA, North Africa, UK, Asia, Canada, Middle East and others. The marketing and refining teams are responsible for trading, supplying, transporting, refining, and also for marketing the products. BP has 17 refineries and it markets them in 100 countries the role of R&M plays an important part. BP constitute of approximately 83,400 people, contractors and suppliers in the organizational chart. BP value lies in safety of the people, respect for the world, excellence through disciplined management and systematic operations, courage to face difficulties and the team, where the employees trust each other (BP-b, 2012). The following is the organizational structure of BP headed by Robert Dudley Figure 1: Organizational structure of BP (Source: The Official Board, 2012) Entrepreneurship BP has also encouraged entrepreneurship among women through its commitment towards upliftment and gender equality. BP Southern Africa entered into partnership with the â€Å"Women Development Trust† to provide the women with a stable platform to secure success in the business sector. BP was encouraged by the determination and passion of the women towards their approach for their business and was highly pleased to get associated with WDT who has also contributed towards the transformation process and success among the women entrepreneurs. At the government leve l, BP has taken various steps in order to advance the position of women in the society and thus encourage the women to take part in business and create business environment. In addition to the above discussion, BP had also developed corporate entrepreneurship model after the most troubled period in 1980s and has managed to develop the brand as a global energy company and has added renewable energies in its portfolio. In an attempt to re invent as a supplier for all forms of energy BP has thus adopted a corporate entrepr

The importance of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise in the UK Essay

The importance of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise in the UK - Essay Example That is, this paper will analyze how these traits are visible, and how it had aided them to achieve success and reach top positions in their country. Entrepreneur is the owner who can create honor for the enterprise. That is, entrepreneur, as a ‘founder’ cum ‘builder’ can launch a new Enterprise from scratch by building a team. He/she can build his/her team by associating individuals who came from the same ‘stable’ like friends, work mates, family members etc and by recruiting new individuals with the right talent, knowledge and attitude. With this ‘living’ group, and the material things like capital, machines, infrastructure etc the entrepreneur cum leader embark on an organization. So, an entrepreneur is someone, who with inbuilt and also acquired leadership traits set ups a new startup to offer a new or existing product or service. The above graph shows that in United Kingdom young people are more likely to believe that entrepreneurship represents a good career choice and that it brings status. Also, it shows that younger people are less likely to believe that there is enough media coverage of new businesses. The successful entrepreneur has a range of personal skills, attributes and behaviours that go beyond the purely commercial. It is these attributes, this way of thinking and behaving that needs to be developed in our students if their entrepreneurial capabilities are to be enhanced. (Pg.360). The thing, that will be common to all these entrepreneurs, even though they live and function in different corners, is the good amount of leadership traits. Speaking about good leadership traits, the trait of having a good vision is one of the foremost ones. Actually, the vision that arises in the mind of the entrepreneur only initiates the process of entrepreneurship. And that mental picture or vision will

Nursing - Pain Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Nursing - Pain Management - Essay Example Cyclooxygenases Prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthase (commonly known as Cyclooxygenases) was purified in 1976 and cloned in 1988. This enzyme is the key catalytic protein in the synthesis of prostaglandins from arachidonic acid, resulting in pain and inflammation, and is subject to inhibition by non ­steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). In 1991, several laboratories identified a second gene product with COX activity, now termed COX-2. It is clear now that both isoforms, COX-l and COX-2 are expressed in both peripheral tissues and several areas of the CNS (Prochazkova et al., 2006). Theories of Pain Gatchel, Polatin, and Kinney (1995) state that there are two prominent theories of pain: the traditional specificity theory of pain and the gate control theory of pain. The former, still widely taught, proposes that pain is a specific sensation and that the intensity of pain is proportional to the extent of tissue damage. This theory implies a fixed, straight-through transmission system from somatic pain receptors to a pain center in the brain (p.416). In 1965, Melzack and Wall proposed the gate control theory. This theory suggests that there are physiological and neural mechanisms in the body that can have an effect on the perception of the painful stimulus (Hawthorn & Redmond 2001). The theory postulates that there are two controls that affect the gate. ... This gating mechanism depends on the relative quantity of information being received over the larger fibers versus the smaller fibers. In essence, the two peripheral impulses interfere with each other to alter pain perception. The gate control theory has received the most recognition in the field of pain research (Gatchel, Polatin, and Kinney 416). Anatomy & Physiology The complexities associated with the experience of pain are immense. Hall (1994) addresses those that deal with the physiological aspects by observing that medical science has not fully explained pain mechanisms. The specialization of receptors has been discovered. This refers to receptors being more sensitive to one stimulus than others. Hall (1994) continues with the identification of the receptor that is "incriminated" in the reception of pain, the unmyelinated or thinly myelinated nerve ending, an "unencapsulated" nerve ending. Hall describes the myelin sheath covering that encloses nerve fibers. The thickness of t his sheath varies throughout the body, from none in the periphery, to very thick where nerves enter bones, and other parts of the body. The covering acts as insulation to keep stimuli from entering the nerve from regions other than those served by the nerve (p. 11). Hall (1994) goes on to describe the receptor as a "primitive unorganized nerve ending and often has a weed-like appearance. It has many branches and overlaps with other receptors to totally cover the area which it serves" (p. 11). The area that a particular nerve serves is called a dermatome, which may serve an area of skin, a muscle, or any organ of the body. Hall states, "It is important to realize that the strength of stimulus is a critical factor in the production of pain in this and other

The importance of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise in the UK Essay

The importance of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise in the UK - Essay Example That is, this paper will analyze how these traits are visible, and how it had aided them to achieve success and reach top positions in their country. Entrepreneur is the owner who can create honor for the enterprise. That is, entrepreneur, as a ‘founder’ cum ‘builder’ can launch a new Enterprise from scratch by building a team. He/she can build his/her team by associating individuals who came from the same ‘stable’ like friends, work mates, family members etc and by recruiting new individuals with the right talent, knowledge and attitude. With this ‘living’ group, and the material things like capital, machines, infrastructure etc the entrepreneur cum leader embark on an organization. So, an entrepreneur is someone, who with inbuilt and also acquired leadership traits set ups a new startup to offer a new or existing product or service. The above graph shows that in United Kingdom young people are more likely to believe that entrepreneurship represents a good career choice and that it brings status. Also, it shows that younger people are less likely to believe that there is enough media coverage of new businesses. The successful entrepreneur has a range of personal skills, attributes and behaviours that go beyond the purely commercial. It is these attributes, this way of thinking and behaving that needs to be developed in our students if their entrepreneurial capabilities are to be enhanced. (Pg.360). The thing, that will be common to all these entrepreneurs, even though they live and function in different corners, is the good amount of leadership traits. Speaking about good leadership traits, the trait of having a good vision is one of the foremost ones. Actually, the vision that arises in the mind of the entrepreneur only initiates the process of entrepreneurship. And that mental picture or vision will

Training Development Written Project Essay Example for Free

Training Development Written Project Essay This written project will discuss the process involved in the design of training, learning, and evaluation. I will begin by breaking down the need assessment covering the process, analysis, and various methods. I will also cover the process of learning and discuss two theories which will support specific processes of learning. The process will include how age influences learning and retention of knowledge. Finally, I will cover the importance of evaluation of training, the process of choosing an evaluation design, and the value placed on training evaluation by an employee. The content of this paper will be based on information covered in Raymond A. Noe’s (2010) text book Employee Training and Development (5th edition). The process described will use other sources to support Noe’s finding as it pertains to the written project content. Needs Assessment An effective training design begins with a needs assessment. A needs assessment allows the gathering of information which better prepares the modeling of training. The needs assessment provides an analysis of organization, people, and tasks. Each has a distinct influence on the depth of training developed and methods best suited for the organization. The needs assessment allows the trainer to address whether the requirement for training is based on performance, motivation, job design or communication. The defining of training requirements ensures the validity of content developed, course objectives, and training method. The assessment also allows a trainer to determine if the trainee has the basic skills and confidence to learn. Finally, an assessment will determine if the training meets the corporate strategy and expected outcome. According to Noe (2010), pressure points influence training design, â€Å"These pressure points include performance problems, new technology, internal or external customer requests for training, job redesign, new legislation, changes in customer preferences, new products, or employee lack of basic skills. † (pg. 104) Who should participate in the needs assessment? The text suggests that upper mid-level managers, trainers, and employees should participate in the assessment. Upper-level management iews the assessment from a corporate level. They will determine if training meets the corporate strategy. The mid-level management will determine budget, who should be trained, and what jobs will make the largest impact on production. The trainer will determine training delivery, identification of trainees, and basic skills, knowledge and characteristic required. Noe goes on to state that it is important to include job incumbents in the assessment process. These are individuals who perform the task and tend to be the most knowledgeable. (Noe, 2010, pg. 05-106) In an article, written by J. L. Utecht (2005), she states that a needs analysis should reach at least ten percent of the work force. Those participants should be the work staff performing the job, front-line supervisors, upper-level management, and union members and representatives when applicable. She goes on to state that the group should range in age, ethnicities, job types, shifts, and seniority. These statements support and expand on Noe’s idea of assessment participants. (Uteht, 2005) Let’s begin by breaking down the analysis process. Organizational Analysis The Organizational analysis will identify the corporate strategy for training, the support of management and employees, and the availability of internal resources to adopt and train its staff. The first key component of any assessment is to define a budget. Training must present a value which is backed by capital expenditure. This simple question of budgeted resource allows the person conducting the assessment necessary ground work for the amount of time and resource which may be dedicated to training. The second component of an organization analysis is to understand the business strategy behind training. Training increases the value, or skill currency, of its employees. Strategies can consist of a concentration in increased market share and cost reduction, internal growth through research and development, external growth of market share through vendors and suppliers, or disinvestment of corporate divisions. These strategies will assist in the development of training and how that skill and knowledge will be deployed. Once a budget and strategy have been defined the next step is support. While an overall corporate support is required for any successful training endeavor, upper and mid-level management is paramount since they approve allocations of funds. Support should include a positive attitude from management and peers to incite enthusiasm among the targeted trainees. There must be a perceived value to the knowledge which the training supports. Information must be provided on how the training will enhance productivity and success in the trainees given job. The next step is identifying resources and whether the company has the budget, time and expertise for training. Support of training can be readily established if upper management sees the economic value of training output and cost justification. A crucial step of defining a training model is determining the most cost effective approach. If training is an ongoing organizational vision there may be a better return on investment if training is internalized. If it is determined that training is better served by a third party, then a request for proposal will be required. This outlines the requirements of training which include the type of training, the number of trainees, funding, date of completion, evaluation, and follow-up training. The criteria standards will allow for the evaluation, elimination, and awarding of the most competent vendor. (Noe, 2010, pg. 110 113) The impact of the organization analysis is what defines the budget, strategy, and support. These factors are the foundation of a needs assessment and should be the first thing analyzed. Person Analysis In this analysis we identify for whom and why training is required. The person analysis requires that we understand the task the individual performs. This foundation allows us to determine the employee readiness for training. We must determine the personal characteristics required for learning and applying training context. The personal characteristics consist of individual cognitive ability and reading level. Context must be relevant to the persons learning ability. The individual must also believe in their ability to learn. If training is to be successful the context must provide a need, interest, or meet the goal of the trainee. This simple understanding of who the training is directed will motivate individual behavior and the desire to learn. So now that we have discerned the characteristics required for training, we must create a learning environment. A well-conceived training curriculum can be lost if the environment does not afford a focus to learn. Many times individuals are pulled from training tasks to perform job duties. This is both counterproductive and erodes the financial benefits expended on the training. Successful training requires concise and understandable input. Input can be instructions, job-related objectives, training materials and other work aids which support the training program. Input also consists of reinforcement through verbal and written feedback. Encouraging trainee involvement, practice, and feedback are elements to a successful learning experience. A positive training experience is the best endorsement. Those trained will share their experience with their peers and create enthusiasm and interest. For training to be effective an assessment must identify the required output. What is the performance expectation of the trainee and are they aware of those expectations? If a trainee knows the required outcome expected of them, they are more apt to learn. The knowledge and skill achieved can be gauged by task proficiency through performance and knowledge proficiency through the form of testing. Individuals must have the willingness to learn. Clear and positive expectations of training must be delivered. To reinforce this behavior there must be reward and incentive for applying this knowledge and skill in one’s job. The responsibility of knowledge transfer should be fostered by the corporate entity. As we have discussed this should include, but not limited to, positive management and peer support, time given to learning, and a consequence through reward for successful completion of training curriculum. (Noe, 2010, pg. 113 123) Task Analysis This is the most important aspect of developing an effective training course. We must first define the job or task for analysis. To provide a complete assessment we must understand the tasks of the position itself. We can achieve this through interviews and observation of those performing the said task. These can validate the knowledge, ability, and skill requirements needed to perform a task effectively. We may also validate our assessment by involving subject matter experts. To complete the task assessment it must meet the company’s goals and objectives. Another step of task analysis is the incorporation of a competency evaluation. This allows the determination of the skills and abilities which the trainee will require in their job function. I will discuss evaluation in more detail later in the written project. Training can then be modeled to focus on the deficiencies of an individual’s knowledge which lends to the training strategy. Since employee skills are not equal, we must determine the skill set of each and provide training accordingly. This leads us back to the readiness for training and will allow a curriculum to advance the knowledge and skills of all participants. The task assessment is not only a tool for our training model but is also an invaluable tool for coaching and development of the employee. Managers are often overwhelmed with the minutiae of administrative tasks which impede their core responsibility of developing employees. The text refers to creating a â€Å"road map† for identifying opportunities for growth and development. This transcends the task of modeling training and provides an additional value to a company if recognized and applied. (Noe, 2010, pg. 123 127) Methods Used in Needs Assessment There are various methods related to a needs assessment. Because no one method is better than the next it is common to use more than one. Here is a list of methods which show the advantages and disadvantages of each. The observation method allows for real data and minimizes work interruption. Unfortunately, it requires the observer to be skilled in the task which they are observing. It is also likely that those being observed will not behave as they would in a normal setting. The questionnaire method is inexpensive, provides a larger data group, and can easily be summarized. The disadvantage is there are usually low return rates. The questions usually lack detail and only provide data specific to the question. Interviews are effective in uncovering detail that questionnaires lack. The interview process may sometimes uncover details which were not known prior, allowing for modification. The disadvantage is that it requires skilled interviewers, scheduling, time for the interview, and may be threatening to Subject Matter Experts. A focus group can be useful in complex or controversial issues. These groups are usually made up of Subject Matter Experts from the various levels targeted for training. This group interaction allows for modifications by uncovering issues which may be difficult to glean from observations or questionnaires. The disadvantage is the group often gives answers they think you want to hear. Often there is trepidation for lower level employees to voice concerns when management is present. This can contaminate the analysis process by ignoring the needs of the employees performing the task. Technical training materials can also provide a wealth of information in relation to a task. Unfortunately, the information is only as good as its source. Often the information is outdate or difficult to understand. Finally, online technology can be used to define the strengths and weaknesses of an employee. Unfortunately, these are often viewed as threatening and may be perceived as a way to surplus their position. The other threat is that managers may use the content for punitive measures rather than an opportunity for coaching and development. The use of multiple methods allows data to be validated against another. The method used will often depend on the environment which is being analyzed. It becomes the task of the individual performing the assessment to utilize those methods which provide the most relevant data to the task performed. Often a method of benchmarking is used to define the training practices of a competitor. The emphasis on Total Quality Management may require this practice to determine type, level, and frequency of training. Benchmarking coupled with methods discussed above should provide valuable data and aid in the development of a training model which best fits the business strategy of the organization. (Noe, 2010 pg. 07 – 109) The overall benefit of the needs assessment is the process and steps defined above. Each step is important to maximizing the return of investment of training. The importance of the process is that it provides a basis for the assessment to cover the various aspects of organization, person, and task. The methods of interviews, observation, questioners, focus groups, documentation, and online technologies are vehicles to d etermine an effective format with which to train. Without a needs assessment an organization would be ill equipped to determine whether training is necessary. An assessment also eliminates the unknown and identifies who, why, and when training is appropriate. Again, this is an investment in human capital and should be treated as any other company investment. Learning Process Now that we have covered the value of a needs assessment let’s review the learning process. What is learning? The text defines learning as a change in human capabilities which are not a result of the growth process. (Noe, 2010, pg. 140) In chapter two Noe (2010) also refers to learning as the acquisition of knowledge. He defines knowledge into two groups, tacit or xplicit. Tacit knowledge is based on personal experiences which are passed through interaction with others in a society. Explicit knowledge is knowledge which is formalized, codified and communicated in a learning environment. (Noe, 2010, pg. 50 – 51) What is learned? The book refers to five types of learning outcomes which I have listed below. Verbal information consists of names, labels, facts , or bodies of knowledge which are retained. Intellectual skills are concepts and rules which are critical to problem solving, service, and product creation. Motor Skills include the coordination or physical conditioning required for a given task. Attitudes are the combination of beliefs and feelings. Attitude is crucial to the way a person will react in job related settings, their organizational commitment, and job satisfaction and proficiency. Cognitive strategies are related how a person manages their own learning and thinking process. These process elements include attention to information, strategies of learning, and problem solving. (Noe, 2010, pg. 141) Let’s review how people, or trainees, learn. In chapter four Noe (2010) discusses the learning cycle. This dynamic cycle involves four stages of learning: concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experiment. The first process of learning is exposure to a work problem (concrete experience). The next step is analyzing the problem and it affects (reflective observation). Next, the person, or trainee, will devise a way in which to deal with the problem at hand (abstract conceptualization). Finally, a trainee will apply their solution directly to the problem (active experiment). The act of applying the solution allows for positive or negative feedback. The person, or trainee, then improves and applies this learned result over again. Each action should result in development, growth, and improvement in the four stages. Those results are usually shared and possibly adopted by peers and management. (Noe, 2010, 151) David C. McClelland (2003) has proposed that motivation is closely associated to the learning concepts. He contends that when a need is strong, its effect is motivation. That motivation leads the person to use behavior that leads to its satisfaction. Based on research results McClelland developed a description set of factors which reflect the need for achievement. They consist of a motivation to take responsibility for solving problems, set moderate goals, take calculated risks, and a desire for feedback on performance. Since the need is to learn through experience, positive feedback on achievements leads to high frequency of reoccurrence. McClellands Learned Needs Theory supports the desire to solve problems and defines the importance of positive feedback. (McClelland, 2003) This leads me into the theory portion of my written document. Here I will compare and contrast to theories which are defined in the text.

Concepts Of The Seduced And Repressed Marketing Essay

Concepts Of The Seduced And Repressed Marketing Essay This essay will introduce the concepts of the seduced and repressed and explain what they mean in Baumans theory of consumer society The main body will consider how Baumans concepts: help us better understand how consumption fits into and affects our modern UK consumer society. fail to help us understand (what are their strengths and weaknesses ? what are their limitations as tools ?) feedback from TMA01: make it shorter (~10%) Main Body  (approx 1000 words) Introduce the concepts, explain what they mean Summarise Baumans theory (consumption replaces class in post-industrial consumer society as a means of classifying members of society). Explain what Bauman means by Seduced and Repressed as concepts within his theory. How the concepts help (try using Circuit of Knowledge) Question: How do the concepts help us better understand consumption in our society ? Claim: They enable us to create a clear, simplified description of a consumer society Evidence: Examples of what Bauman describes from UK society: Hetheringtons description of his street as an example of a typical UK street, show how the concepts help us describe contemporary UK consumer society as exemplified by his street, how they simplify/clarify the description. Claim: They offer an accurate (enough) explanation of why things are this way in a consumer society Evidence: Show how the concepts offer an explanation of why people shop as they do, using the description of Hetheringtons area. Jackson reached the same conclusion for retail park shoppers. How the concepts fail       Question: How do the concepts FAIL TO help us better understand consumption in our society ? Claim: Baumans theory is a bit out-of-date, patterns of consumption and opportunities for consuming have changed. Distinguishing by ability to consume or not is less meaningful if everyone can consume satisfactorily. We might need a new set of concepts to partition the new seduced, or a re-definition of Baumans concepts to address this. Evidence: Money is more freely available on easy credit terms/store cards etc. Online (ebay), high-street stores like Primark allow more people to consume successfully at different levels, not just a choice between consuming luxury or nothing at all. Rising affluence (chapter 3 evidence, spend on essentials as a proportion of all expenditure has dropped since 1986), Greater access to a wider range of cheaper goods (e.g. cheap clothes in supermarkets chapter 2).   Quote from V.Brown about how people in the UK have more stuff than ever before Claim: They over-generalise/over-simplify they dont explain lots of consumer types and how they behave. Choose from these examples of consumers who dont fit the concepts depending on wordcount: Evidence:: People who may not consume luxuries to fit in/portray a lifestyle normally, but who use occasional retail therapy as an escape mechanism from a stressful or boring lifestyle. They KNOW theyre being seduced, and indeed choose to be for relief. People who consume to reward themselves for working hard. People in both categories simultaneously e.g. may be heavily seduced whenever they spend on hobbies or interests, but begrudge every penny spent on other non-essentials;  Ã‚  Ã‚      People who consume goods and services aimed at the seduced, but who understand the manipulation and dont care People who choose not to consume in order to make a point (Chapter 1 Hetheringtons oppositional, and Audio CD1, Helen Rimmer (FoE) re. Tescopoly and other protesters) People who would be classified as repressed but are not, even though they have  a good income  (e.g. have high demands on their means) or they prioritise essentials over luxury Conclusion (approx 150 words) What has the essay discussed ? What conclusions have been reached ? NO NEW MATERIAL ! It has examined the concepts from the perspectives of how they help us better understand how consumption fits into and affects our society and where they fail to help us in this understanding It has concluded that the benefits outweigh the shortcomings, but that other concepts and theories are required to give a complete picture of the modern UK consumer society. So they leave a number of significant gaps, thus need to be augmented/extended to give a good understanding. References Add references at the end dont forget the CD reference David Byrne (PI: B0984954, DD131, TMA02 Task 2, Essay of not more than 1250 words) Discuss the role of the concepts of the seduced and the repressed for understanding the place of consumption in contemporary consumer society. Zygmunt Bauman has created an abstract model of the typical modern consumer society, as a way of describing this type of society and explaining why it might be so. He has invented a number of concepts to help with this explanation, and this essay will consider two of these that are closely related what Bauman calls the Seduced and the Repressed. This discussion will initially introduce these concepts and explain what they mean in Baumans theory. It will then explore their usefulness by considering each from the contrasting perspectives of how they help us better understand where consumption fits into our modern UK consumer society, and conversely ways in which they might fail to help our understanding. As noted by Kevin Hetherington (2009, p25), Bauman suggests that post-industrial capitalist societies are based on consumption, which he believes is a key characteristic of such societies. In a similar fashion to the class-based divisions in industrial society that group people by their positions in relation to the means of production, he proposes that societal divisions within consumer society are based on peoples ability to consume material goods, services and experiences, and offers the concepts of the Seduced and the Repressed to describe those groupings. The Seduced in Baumans model are those able to acquire the material goods that are valued as status symbols by their peers, and to live lifestyles aspired to by the group. As successful consumers, they are valued as members of society with a positive identity. In contrast, the constituents of the Repressed are those who are unable to access this way of life for some reason, for example because they do not have the disposable inc ome to spend on non-essentials, or cannot access the sites of consumption such as retail parks and high streets due to factors such as physical disability, age or lack of transport. These are seen as negatively-valued members of the consumer society, by the seduced and by those with something to sell. Baumans concepts can be used to describe and explain the different patterns of consumer activity in contemporary UK society. They distil all the subtly different attitudes to consumption held by the individuals in society down to just two consumer types, giving a simplified model that is much easier to understand than one incorporating all the individuals means and circumstances. Consider Hetheringtons account (2009, p13) of the businesses in his local area, a typical example of todays UK urban landscape that includes small local shops, bars and restaurants, and out-of-town supermarkets and retail parks. This society can easily be described using Baumans concepts, where the Seduced are likely to be those people Hetherington identifies as the night-time clientele of the bars and restaurants, and those who drive to the large supermarkets and retail park to shop, while the Repressed could include those such as the latest group of migrants to arrive that Hetherington mentions. Baumans co ncepts also offer a simple theoretical way to explain why those who shop in each of the different outlets in the area do so. They suggest that the shoppers in the local retail park are the Seduced, who shop there because they are buying into a lifestyle that emphasises acquisition of goods available in that environment, who have access to it by virtue of being car owners, and who can afford to shop there because they have sufficient disposable income. Those with sufficient disposable income to enjoy the bars and restaurants in the vicinity would also fit this category. In contrast, those local residents forced to settle for the limited range of goods on offer in the somewhat run-down local convenience stores because they cant afford to shop in the large out-of-town stores, or who do not have the appropriate means of transport to shop there, fit into the category of the Repressed. This explanation of current UK society offered by Baumans concepts is supported by practical studies suc h as Peter Jacksons survey of retail park shoppers (1990, cited in Hetherington, 2009, p45). However since Bauman first presented his concepts in 1988, new opportunities for consuming that they do not accommodate have emerged in the UK. Vivienne Brown (2009, p111) presents evidence from the ONS of rising affluence here over the last fifty years, with the most significant rises in disposable income and in real earnings occurring in the mid-eighties and early nineties, trends accompanied by increased access to credit facilities through loan companies, store cards etc. Giant multinational retailers such as Tesco and Primark, with their global supply chains and huge buying power have brought an ever-increasing range of cheaper goods to the UK market, and online stores and auction sites facilitate high volumes of trade in cheaper goods. This combination of increased access to money and wider range of options means that a growing proportion of people are able to access a level of consumption that satisfies them instead of just being able to either consume or not. As Brown observes : People in the UK have more clothing and shoes than ever before, eat a wider range of food than ever before, and increasingly their homes are fitted with appliances and facilities that would have been undreamed of or classed in the luxury bracket in the past (2009, p108). Baumans concepts distinguish people by whether they can consume or not, and are most effective when these distinctions are clear. When a majority of people are consuming satisfactorily, albeit at different levels, the differences between them as consumers narrow and the concepts may really only be useful for distinguishing between extremes. Additionally, without a baseline for comparison the concepts are hard to apply consistently: those considered Seduced from one perspective might equally be considered Repressed by those even better off. These gaps suggest that alternative concepts are needed to partition the contemporary Seduced in order to satisfactorily explain our society. While Baumans concepts simplify and clarify, they over-generalise and over-simplify. Many people in the UK today either dont fit neatly into the categories of the Seduced and Repressed, or move easily between these groups. Examples include those who do not normally follow a consumption-centred lifestyle but who use occasional shopping (retail therapy) to escape from stress or boredom, or as a personal treat or reward. They know they are being seduced, and indeed choose to be for their temporary specific purposes. Similarly, the concepts do not explain those that choose to not consume in order to make a point, who Hetherington (2009, p47) suggests might be termed the oppositional, such as those who select what they buy on the basis of environmental friendliness, trade fairness or other ethical grounds. Helen Rimmer (DD131, CD1) describes communities in a number of UK locations who have rejected new opportunities to consume by actively opposing the introduction of big supermarkets in t heir area because they object to the local economy being disrupted. The people in these examples are not  seduced, but neither are they repressed: their conscious choices of where and how much they consume compared to others do not impact on their status in society or on how others value them.  This again suggests that Baumans concepts may need re-definition to have more meaning in the context of our modern society. Having evaluated the strengths and the limitations of Baumans Seduced and Repressed concepts as tools in advancing our understanding of the role of consumption in contemporary post-industrial UK society, it seems that they offer a useful way of classifying many of the members of that society, and often help to explain their patterns of consumption. However this essay has presented a number of examples where the concepts fail to offer a satisfactory explanation because they are too generalised and/or simplified. The evidence that Baumans concepts leave important gaps in our understanding therefore suggests that while they are most useful in giving a big picture view of the role that consumption plays in modern UK consumer society, additional concepts and theories are required if we wish to understand the detail. (1331 words)

Man Vs. The Environment :: essays research papers

The environment can be something as vast as global weather patterns or as simple as the desert regions. With the advent of many technologies, the delicate balance of the environment has been upset (Elliot, 1961, p. 392). Strip mining, slash and burn farming, damming of rivers, and the extinction of many species of plants and animals have all lead to the permanent changing of the environment. Some say the change is for good, and others say for the change is for worse, but what is good about the ozone hole, rising global temperatures, and over irrigation causing the spread of arid conditions in once fertile locations (Eitzen, 2000, p. 79). Is this interference the fault of the capitalist sys-tem or just the mortal man? In my opinion it is the fault of the man for having, the attitude of use what we need and do not worry about the concencuios. Man started the raping of earth back when the first colonist made the long voyage across the Atlantic to start their new life in America. Uncontrolled burning of the forest was done to make way for the intruders’ villages, towns, and cities. Once estab-lished the settlers needed more room for farms and bigger cities so again they pushed into the forest causing the Na-tive Americans and the wildlife to withdraw further into interior of the continent. Let us move forward a hundred or so years in history the settling of the American Great Plains. One of the big-gest violations of the environment was taking place, the buffalo hunters, and the extermination of the Native Ameri-cans and their culture. The Great Plains, before the arri-val of the buffalo hunter must have been a remarkable sight. The countryside must have looked like it was a mov-ing carpet of bison. With over 60 million buffalo roaming the plains (Pendley, 1995,p. 124) at one time man saw this as a threat to its complete control of the continent, so he sent out his fingers of death, the buffalo hunter. It was these “fingers'; that slain approximately 60 million of these ingenious creatures (Pendley, 1995, p. 125). The re-ward for this was given directly to the man in the form of money, moreover; these men volunteered to shoot these help-less animals. Once done with the slaughtering of the bison man needed more land so that they could strip the earth of additional resources.