Book discussion Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Book discussion - Coursework Example Another one was the theme of accountability. This theme has been able to express itself in different parts of the book. In the Bulls Eye organization, there were a number of managers, including John and Barb, who head different departments. Their boss, Nancy had some occasional meetings with them so as to review on their departments’ performances. Every manager was made accountable for the results his or her department was yielding to the organization. During some weekends, John has to report to his office so as to correct the bad job that was done by his team. All this is because he is the one made accountable for the results. There is the theme of togetherness that has clearly come out in the book. In the book, the author has nearly mentioned Ubuntu on a number of pages. Simon says, â€Å"It doesn’t make any difference if it was my work or someone else work. We are all into this as a department. I want to help, it is Ubuntu† (pg. 19). This is after the department lead by John, Simon is a member, had failed in meeting their levels of expected results of the organization. The theme has shown that indeed to have success in a group, then you must have collaboration and team work. Most of the story took place in the USA, particularly in Chicago. This is evident in the book when the author says, â€Å"Twenty miles outside of Chicago, at a small†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (pg. 12). In this particular text, the author was describing the coffee shop where Alexandra and Steve went to take some coffee. Major part of the story in this book, especially chapter one takes place at the premises or offices of BullsEye organization. The majority of the characters in this story is having their origins in the USA, in fact, they are all citizens of The United States. We only have Simon, who was born in South Africa during the Apartheid system though he is an

Nestle Essay Example for Free

Nestle Essay Nestle, one of the largest packaged food company has been unanimously declared a leader in its field. Founded and located in Vevey, Switzerland, it was established in 1905 and from then on it started its journey of delivering quality food products to consumers worldwide (About Nestle, 2008). Any firm, regardless of its size, national or multinational relies heavily on its purchasing department and supply management to add value to the firms operations. f a firm compromises on its purchasing standards it will suffer losses in its manufacturing process and ultimately in sales. For any manufacturing firm, purchasing and supply management are the first step which are directly linked to all consequent stages of the manufacturing process ,thereby it is extremely important to start of the entire process with an efficient and effective purchasing procedure so that it is reflected in the final product (Stilson Bachman, Sep. 2009). The globalization of Nestle as well as the accelerating competition in the food sector emphasizes on the need for regular assessments of their purchasing strategies and supply management system. The purchasing system at Nestle functions as part of the supply chain management rather than an independent function and aims to achieve cost minimization and profit optimization (Swerdlick, Summer 2008). At Nestle there are a few basic purchasing objectives: †¢ Efficient and timely delivery of goods, materials and services. †¢ Continuous assessment of the performance and reliability of suppliers. †¢ Adding value to the company functions and contributing to the growth and profitability of the company. †¢ Availing benefits offered by suppliers and encouraging competition among suppliers which tends to create a healthy working environment (Swerdlick, Summer 2008). At Nestle there are two basic purchasing roles which take into consideration the strategic and operational activities taking place within the company: †¢ Strategic buyers along with the expert opinions of other professionals are responsible for performing market analysis, screening suppliers and selecting the most appropriate ones, negotiations and contract management. Amongst the many responsibilities the most important ones that strategic buyers are faced with is the safeguarding of quality standards, adding to product development and channelling supplier technology to add value to the company products. †¢ Operational buyers, on the other hand are responsible for the operational part of the purchasing process i.e. sending purchase orders, receiving delivery for them etc. these functions can be performed by any department in the organization which requires any goods or services (Czerwonka, Summer 2008). Planning and strategy determination are extremely crucial factors involved in the purchasing process, since they are the basic steps towards the achievement of growth and profitability objectives of the company. although the basic aim that is kept in mind while determining the strategy is cost minimization but at the same time equal importance is given to the issue of supplier commitment to work with Nestle. At the same time ,strategy determination also takes into account factors of business sector objectives and value addition opportunities. These objectives eventually form the basis of a sustainable and unique market advantage (Stilson Bachman, Sep. 2008). The next step is then to come to an agreement with suppliers to impose few standardized specifications which would not only result in an efficient supply chain management but also lead to lower costs and greater price leverage (Weiss, Summer 2008). At Nestle it is strongly emphasized that purchasing is not just restricted to just one specific department rather it’s a cross functional team effort where everyone has a say in the operational activities of the purchasing process (The Keys to Success, Summer 2008). A good supplier selection is extremely important since in the long run it is the supplier who adds value to the company’s operations and contributes to its growth and success relative to its competitors. And it is for this reason that Nestle strongly believes in maintaining amiable relations with suppliers based on mutual trust and understanding. It believes that suppliers are a vital part of the company’s development process where they have a big role in identifying niche opportunities in the market, providing new product ideas and adding their innovativeness and creativity to the overall business operations. Therefore, Nestle has set a standard criteria based on which it selects the most ideal suppliers who will prove to be beneficial to both the companies (The Keys to Success (AN 32186182), Summer 2008). The criterion is: †¢ Level of innovativeness that the supplier believes in implementing in his company. †¢ Financial position and reputation in the market. †¢ Organizational structure and mode of operations in the company. †¢ Ability and willingness to adapt to the working practices and ethics followed by Nestle (About Nestle, 2008). Since Nestle is involved in food manufacturing, quality management is a crucial issue because lack of quality in food products is not only a risk to consumer health but is also a serious criminal offense in certain countries. To maintain quality standards, Nestle is highly dependent on its suppliers to assure Nestle of the delivery of top quality products and services. For this it is absolutely necessary for the suppliers to be aware of Nestlà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s quality policy as well as its safety and quality control standards (Czerwonka, Summer 2008). To further ensure that quality standards are maintained, suppliers of raw materials and packaging materials undergo an audit process where the quality of goods and services provided by any given supplier are properly assessed and inspected (Margarella, Aug. 2003). Nestle requires from its supplier that defective and faulty goods are replaced or rectified within a reasonable time period. Each supplier that gets a chance to work with Nestle undergoes intense scrutiny before it gets an approval because Nestle cannot afford to compromise on its years of excellence in delivering hygienic, nutritional, safe and high quality food products to its consumers. To ensure that the competitive advantage of quality is maintained, Nestle evaluates the ethics and business conduct, competence, sustainable environmental practices and process controls before giving its final approval to any supplier. Purchasing is not just a one-time process rather it’s an on-going process for a huge company like Nestle which is generating revenue in millions (Principles of Purchasing, 2008). For this reason it has employed a computerized information system that maintains inventory management, list of suppliers, quality issues pertaining to certain goods or suppliers, variation in prices in the market, forecasted prices etc.This system allows for timely and better decision making since real time data comprehensive data is available at all times and also the management can be immediately informed of any discrepancies in the purchasing procedure or any unexpected problems that may arise (Stilson Bachman, Sep. 2009). Nestle uses an internal web based tool (Purchasing intranet) which is extremely effective in communicating with the internal purchasing community about quantities being supplied, price variations or any such matters (Principles of Purchasing, 2008). In this age of information technology, Nestle has realized the importance of integrating technology into their day to day operations for better efficiency, cost benefits and enhancement in services to customers and it is for this reason that Nestle is also currently involved in e-procurement which has seemed to cut down on considerable costs for the company. Nestle is a strict disciplinary when it comes to following legal obligations and requirements. Purchasing is a business process which involves the entering into an agreement with a third party to purchase and facilitate the delivery of goods and services. For this reason it is extremely important to have written agreements where the terms are clearly defined and are precise thereby eliminating any chances of potential misunderstanding between both the parties   (Principles of Purchasing, 2008). Nestle feels that there is a strong link between efficient purchasing and supply management and the quality of personnel employed in the company (Principles of Purchasing, 2008). The professionalism, competence entrepreneurial qualities and pro-activeness are factors that need be there in the human resources to avail maximum benefits while procuring goods and services from suppliers (The Keys to Success (AN 32186182), Summer 2008). A motivated and dedicated purchasing team will provide and effective function and may represent a competitive advantage for the company. To avail this advantage the human resources at Nestle are trained, motivated and encouraged to create new challenges and expand knowledge while keeping in view the company objectives and policies.

Appearance versus Reality in Bertrand Russells The Problems of Philoso

Appearance versus Reality in Bertrand Russell's The Problems of Philosophy Bertrand Russell's method of approaching his subject in Problems of Philosophy embraces the Cartesian technique of radical doubt, in which the author revokes any former assumptions about certain reality and existence. In the first chapters, Russell's enquiry into the nature of reality in comparison to appearance begins with the observation of his immediate surroundings. By examining a table, for example, he determines that the table's colour, texture, and shape are sufficient to prompt doubt as to whether or not the table exists. The sensations of these qualities are not fixed by a reality; they are apparent possibilities and each depends on the conditions of observation, and thus an individual loses confidence in the senses. These observations lead to Russell's first distinction between appearance and reality: "The real table, if there is one, is not immediately known to us at all, but must be an inference from what is immediately known." (11) The reality of the table, he explains, depends on a proces... Appearance versus Reality in Bertrand Russell's The Problems of Philoso Appearance versus Reality in Bertrand Russell's The Problems of Philosophy Bertrand Russell's method of approaching his subject in Problems of Philosophy embraces the Cartesian technique of radical doubt, in which the author revokes any former assumptions about certain reality and existence. In the first chapters, Russell's enquiry into the nature of reality in comparison to appearance begins with the observation of his immediate surroundings. By examining a table, for example, he determines that the table's colour, texture, and shape are sufficient to prompt doubt as to whether or not the table exists. The sensations of these qualities are not fixed by a reality; they are apparent possibilities and each depends on the conditions of observation, and thus an individual loses confidence in the senses. These observations lead to Russell's first distinction between appearance and reality: "The real table, if there is one, is not immediately known to us at all, but must be an inference from what is immediately known." (11) The reality of the table, he explains, depends on a proces...

Frenemies Script

Cast Bella Thorne – Rose Zendaya – Selena Stefanie Scott – Chloe Mary Mouser- Kimberly/ Brooke Nick Robinson- Jake Murray- Lucky Everyone is at school. Kimberly and Brooke are in Social Studies. Kimberly: â€Å"Don’t you think this class is boring? † Brooke: â€Å"No, I like learning about different countries! † Kimberly: â€Å"Whatever. † Brittney and her boyfriend are talking and trying to figure out how she’s going to go to a party on Saturday after her mom said no. Brittney: â€Å"Babe, can’t we just sneak out? †Boyfriend: â€Å"Alright, pick you up at 8. † Brittney: â€Å" Yay, see you later. Rose and Selena are talking about ways they can improve their fashion blog. Rose: â€Å"How about †¦ adding pink on everything? † Selena: â€Å"No, that’ll be too much. Oh, how about adding a little bit of geeky flavor? † Rose: *Talking sarcastic* â€Å"Great idea and we can call it smar ty pants! † Selena: â€Å"Okay, how about we finish tomorrow? † Rose: â€Å"Alright. See You Later. † School is over and Jake and his friend Lucky are at home relaxing. Jake: â€Å"Hey boy!How was your day? † Lucky: â€Å"Woof, Woof! † Jake: â€Å"Yes, I did have a good day. Thank you for asking! † Kimberly and Brooke are at home studying. Brooke: â€Å"Don’t you just love Math? † Kimberly: â€Å"Not really, I don’t like it, I hate it! † Brooke: â€Å"Cheer up, it’s only twenty questions. † Kimberly: â€Å"Ugh! I’m bored, let’s call Rose and Selena. † Brooke: â€Å"Alright† The phone rings and Rose and Selena answer. Rose and Selena in unison: â€Å"Hello? † Kimberly: â€Å"Hey Rose. † Brooke: â€Å"Hey Selena. † Rose and Selena in unison: â€Å"Hey. †Kimberly: â€Å"So did you guys figure something out for your blog? † Rose: â€Å"Not re ally, we can’t think of anything. † Brooke: â€Å"Do you want me to help? † Selena: â€Å"Umm, no thank you! † The next day, all 7 friends are at school. They are sitting at the lunch table eating. Kimberly: â€Å"So Brittney, what are you and your boyfriend going to do since you can’t go to that party? † Brittney: â€Å"We’re going to sneak out and come back before she comes home. † Brooke: â€Å"What if she comes back early? † Brittney: â€Å"Don’t worry, she never comes home early.So Rose and Selena, are you guys still working on your blog? † Rose: â€Å"Yes, we can’t figure out what to do! † Selena: â€Å"Exactly! † The bell rings. That means lunch is over. Brittney: â€Å"There goes my boyfriend, later guys! † Rose: â€Å"We have to run too! † Selena: â€Å"Yeah. † Jake: â€Å"See you guys later! † Kimberly: â€Å"Bye! Come on Brooke, or we’ll be late. † Brooke: â€Å"Not if we run! † Kimberly: â€Å"Ugh! † Brooke: â€Å"Oh how I love school! † Rose and Selena are at Rose’s house for their sleepover they have every weekend.Rose: â€Å"We have never been stuck on a situation before. † Selena: â€Å"Yeah! We got to get it together! † Rose: â€Å"Right after this beauty sleep. † Selena: â€Å"Absolutely. † They both lay down to take their beauty rest until Selena pops up from hers. Selena: â€Å"I got it! Rose wake up! I figured it out! † Rose: *Speaking tiredly* â€Å"Figured what out? † Selena: â€Å"Our blog! † Rose: *Still speaking tiredly* â€Å"Yay. †*Goes back to sleep, then quickly wakes back up and starts talking excitedly* â€Å"Wait you Did? † Selena: â€Å"Yeah! † To Be Continued.

An Essay on Tahitians and Europeans in the Voyage of Bougainville

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Service and Operational Excellence Essays - Mobile Phone, New Media

Service and Operational Excellence Essays - Mobile Phone, New Media BPP Coursework Cover Sheet Please use the table below as your cover sheet for the 1st page of the submission. The sheet should be before the cover/title page of your submission. ProgrammeBSc Business Management Module nameService and Operational Excellence QAA Level Schedule TermSummer term 2015 Student Reference Number (SRN)1045555 Report/Assignment TitleBusiness Operations (Mobile shop) Date of Submission (Please attach the confirmation of any extension received)18/08/2015 Declaration of Original Work: I hereby declare that I have read and understood BPPs regulations on plagiarism and that this is my original work, researched, undertaken, completed and submitted in accordance with the requirements of BPP Business School. The word count, excluding contents table, bibliography and appendices, is 2542 words. Student Reference Number:1045555Date: 18/08/2015 By submitting this coursework you agree to all rules and regulations of BPP regarding assessments and awards for programmes. Please note, submission is your declaration you are fit to sit. BPP University reserves the right to use all submitted work for educational purposes and may request that work be published for a wider audience. BPP Business School Table of Contents Operational Challenges3 4 Vs Model3 The 5 performance objectives4 Processes & Layout5 Improvements in Service Delivery6 Bibliography7 Is a small independent mobile shop located in the hub of Ilford high street, a 4 minutes walk away from Ilford station, surrounded by all types of different and businesses of the same sector. The high street is visited by all types of customers local and tourists, day to day customers and long term customers too. The business timings are 11:00- 21:00 Monday to Sunday. (the business) is visited by regular customers and even walk by customers which is certain due to the nature of the business itself. (the business) offers a wide range of services and products related to mobile phones. They buy and sell used and new phones (mainly smart phones), they provide mobile phone accessories such as headphones, chargers, portable rechargeable chargers, screen protectors, phone covers, selfie sticks and all that you can think of related to mobile phones. (the business) also repairs damaged mobile phones with instant repairing service and even provide unblocking services. The shop is divided into three sections, mobile accessories, mobile repair/unblocking and mobile purchasing and selling. The retail shop is mainly supervised by the manager who tends to be flexible in terms of his job, however they have three more salesmen that work according to their rotating shifts. Operational Challenges 4 Vs Model In every operational process of a sector, the input is transformed into outputs (products and services.) This could be done in various ways, however the main one known is the 4 Vs mode which compiles with, Volume, Variety, Variation and Visibility. Volume could be defined as the degree of how many products or services are made by the operation in terms of quantity. Variety in simple words could be explained as the range of different products or services made by the operation. Variation is basically change in demand over time, and visibility can be understood as the extent to which the operations internal working are exposed in front of the customers. Since, (The business) is a retail mobile shop which delivers finished products and also provides aftersales services, in terms of volume, if the business is divided in to three parts which are buying and selling phones, accessories and repairs, each operation has a different level of contribution to the volume. For instance, buying and selling phones, the volume is low, not every customer decides to buy or sell a phone randomly on a high street, besides mobile phones could be bought easily elsewhere due to competitors. The demand is relatively low which causes a result of high cost as the business has mobile phones on display to be sold however sale is not guaranteed. Since its a small mobile shop located on the high street it cannot offer a wide range of mobile phones, variety on mobile phones is very low, the business would not be able to afford providing a range of different brand phones with different specifications and features, it would be almost impossible to fulfil anyones de mand, unless they can order and it for the customer making it more of a bespoke facility. Speaking of variation, since its technology the business is dealing with which gets updated every three month at least, it will be hard

Europes Domination on Africa DBQ Essays

Europes Domination on Africa DBQ Essays Europes Domination on Africa DBQ Paper Europes Domination on Africa DBQ Paper King Leopard expressed his desire for a slice of African cake. Leopard compared Africa with a piece of cake because he believed Africa to be a very delightful continent as a cake would be, so he becomes hungry to establish his own colony In a country of Africa. Between the 1 sass and 19005, Africa faced European Imperialist aggression, diplomatic pressures, military Invasions, and eventual conquest and colonization. The driving forces behind European domination in Africa included political power, economic and industrial reasons, and national pride. However, the cost important cause of imperialism was Rupees economic and industrial reasons. A driving force behind European imperialism in Africa is political power. In document A, a map is shown, showing the number of African colonies dominated by European countries. This shows Rupees lust desire for power in Africans government because, the amount of land back then, meant the amount of political power one had of the African government. Another reason that Europe dominated Africa was because of their national pride. Short excerpts from Document B show that Europe had a lot of national pride by explaining that European countries need to rule a lot of colonies so that each county pride doesnt die. Document F shows a poem Introducing the idea of a white mans burden of civilizing other people. This shows national pride because it is explaining that white men are an example to other people, resulting for it to be the white mans job to civilize other human beings. An important cause of imperialism in Africa was Rupees economic and industrial reasons. Document D shows the resources exported from an African colony to Europe. This shows that a European country colonized an African country for its resources. Also, in Document F, it shows the number of imports and exports between Africa and Europe. The number of imports and exports both increased, but the exports to Africa Increased greatly, surpassing the number of imports from Africa. The two documents show that Europe colonized African countries for Its resources to better their Industries and economy. For Rupees benefit, Europe exported things to Africa to make money in both places: Africa and Europe. Although other forces were behind European imperialism in Africa, in the 19th century, like, technology, resources, and Rupees cultural pride, the three most important were political power, national pride, and economic reasons. These three driving forces caused Europe to dominate Africa for the benefit of Rupees countries. Rupees Domination on Africa DB By join_lee continent as a cake would be, so he becomes hungry to establish his own colony in a country of Africa. Between the sass and sass, Africa faced European imperialist aggression, diplomatic pressures, military invasions, and eventual conquest and explaining that European countries need to rule a lot of colonies so that each county pride doesnt die. Document F shows a poem introducing the idea of a white mans exports to Africa increased greatly, surpassing the number of imports from Africa. The two documents show that Europe colonized African countries for its resources to better their industries and economy. For Rupees benefit, Europe exported things to Africa to make money in both places; Africa and Europe.

Why Pay Contest Entry Fees

Why Pay Contest Entry Fees I received this email from a reader this week: I see an entry that might work for me, but then the publication requests $10, $20, and sometimes more to enter the contest. Â  Many times I just pass. Why should we pay to present our work? To date, I have paid a few, but generally I balk at anything over $10. My immediate response is this: Would you fund a contest out of your pocket and would you work for free? Some contests do not charge a fee, but they are a tiny minority of the contests out there. Why? Because they have the financial means or the sponsorship to avoid having to ask for fees. However, most contests do not have that luxury. Contests are not cheap to run. I ran a contest for nine years and offered a no entry fee category and an entry fee category. To make a point, I gave the winner of the non-entry fee category a big $50 first prize, then I gave the winner of the entry fee category a big $500 first prize. When considering contests, and wondering why you have to pay an entry fee, consider the costs of the contest provider: 1) The prize money. No entity has bottomless pockets. The money has to come from somewhere, and why not entry fees? 2) The judges. If the contest wants a reputable judge (or two or three), then they have to cough up the money to pay said judge(s). No writer should work for free, to include the writers who serve as contest judges. 3) The advertising. Youve never head about a contest if it was not advertised. FundsforWriters accepted money from contests that want to repeatedly promote their competition. That money has to come from somewhere. 4) The publishing. Many of the contests provide publication. Whether online or in print (especially in print), there are expenses. In my contest experience, the contests that command entry fees usually acquire the best work. The contest I ran was an experiment with the results being as I expected. The quality of writing improved in the entry fee category. When writers had nothing to risk and paid no entry fee, the writing quality sank horrendously. It wasnt even close. That fact alone can justify a contest charging an entry fee. Frankly, if I see a contest that charges no entry fee, I dig into them more, hunting how they afford to fund the competition. And I even wonder why they are not using the income stream provided Pay the entry fee. The contest provider seriously has the right and need to charge. Plus, youll submit a better quality product.

Is playtime valuable in the primary school Essay - 2

Is playtime valuable in the primary school - Essay Example s the most important part of school for us and we all have observed the regular noisy and slightly chaotic school playground, we know for sure that children do not utilize that time to improve their physical strength. But the fact of the matter is that by regularly exercising their bodies they are indeed doing the very same thing. Research has suggested that overweight and obese children are often socially withdrawn and display aggressive–disruptive behavior (PPSG, 2005). And it has also been shown that children who have little or no physical activity during preschool up till primary schooling are prone to obesity and hence carry a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. Children who tend to be more active during their early years usually go on to have a higher proportion of muscle mass as compared to reclusive children who do not indulge in physical activity during playtime. One point to be noted here is that restricted movement in playtime also reduces the positive effect that playtime has in this aspect. Playtimes should therefore offer children an important opportunity to increase their daily physical activity through â€Å"unstructured physical activity during playtimes† (WHO 2007) The benefits of playtime are not only restricted to physical well being. Various studies have shown that playtime has positive effect on building the social skills of children. Children are mostly free from prejudices and hence they do not usually judge the other person based on their background and ethnicity if it has not been instilled in them by their elders. Hence children from different backgrounds mingle in the playground. Their â€Å"play† is seen as a social act much the same as people going out for dinner or grabbing a drink together (Smith, 2010). Children from ethnic backgrounds and children with disabilities benefit from free play at playtime in terms of social development and inclusion. It has also been seen that children benefit from physical playtime activity in

Human Resources Management Pay for Performance at Dee's Personalized Case Study

Human Resources Management Pay for Performance at Dee's Personalized Baskets - Case Study Example The company needs to analyze following determinants before designing any PFP model. Employees value outcome of their effort in terms of monetary benefit and other recognition Monetary outcome is more valued than any other kind of recognition Performance level expected by the company must be measurable Performance measurement must synchronize with strategic goal of the company Reward must be tempting enough to motivate workers It is evident from the case study size of the organization is not big hence measuring performance of each employee is possible hence the company should adopt individual level PFP system. Merit pay plan and incentive system will complement individual level PFP program. In merit pay plan payment is done as certain percentage of base salary and distributed in top down approach. Research report shows that workers prefer merit pay plan over straight fixed salary. Merit pay plan helps the employee to assume that employer has recognized his/her performance. The company should adopt the system for all employees. Incentive schemes can be applied to all employees of the company. The company can use incentive scheme rigorously to improve performance of sales team. Key Performance Indicator (KPI) model can be used to design PFP system for the company (Parmenter, 2011, p. 3-15). KPI will help the company to identify key performers responsible to increase sales and based on appraisal the company can decide salary structure for key performers. Dee’s Personalized Baskets should introduce performance based incentives for all the employees to motivate them to perform well. The company needs two types of additional information to build effective PFP model (Bernardin & Russell, 2013, p. 753). It is evident from the case that the company is lacking in creating sustainable performance standard and appraisal system. The company should try to design a consistent incentives system to fulfill expectancy of employees (Kreitner & Kinick, 2013, p. 222). Externa l information (industry average for incentives and salary structure and how much competitors are paying to their staffs). Internal data (annual performance report for employees). PFP system of the company needs to address following issues. Annual bonus system not tied with base salary. Bonus pay level should be adjusted to 0% to 20% for non supervisory personnel and 20% to 40% to supervisory personnel. Forced distribution should be used for performance appraisal. Proper alignment between job designation and performance measurement. Designing annual merit pay program for major achievement Key performance indicator should be integrated in the system to monitor performance of employees and KPI should be used improve performance on monthly basis. Answer 2 Gain sharing is the process of sharing financial benefits of increased productivity or cost reduction with employees. Gain sharing plans aim to reduce level of human resource pool required to produce certain output or increase producti vity from existing human resource pool. Research suggests that maximum effectiveness of gain sharing can be achieved by 1- cooperative union, 2- utmost faith between employee and employer, 3- participation of worker and management to achieve common organizational goal. Research scholars believe measuring gain sharing is difficult because involvement of complex financial

Quality improvement scenario Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Quality improvement scenario - Essay Example However, if my improvement plan works there are several outcomes for patients with CHF patients in my floor. First, there will be a drastic reduction of readmissions of CHF patients. Secondly, CHF patients in my floor will not even be going to the ER or will not stay there for long once the improvement plan is in motion. Finally, this improvement plan will have the ability of preventing CHF to old age patients through teaching them on how to prevent it by living healthier lifestyles. This problem of readmission of CHF patients to the ER was uncovered by the quality improvement department. However, this problem is not unique to my hospital or my unit; it is a broader problem affecting almost every hospital or units (Desai & Stevenson, 2015). Furthermore, this problem is linked to a national quality and safety indicator for healthy people 2010 (Sullivan, 2012). Conversely, the problem of readmission of CHF patients to the ER is not linked to a national nurse-sensitive quality indicator. Data will be analyzed by the volunteering team which consists of the nurse manager for the cardiovascular unit, patient focused care assistant, a pharmacist, the staff nurse, the ER nurse and a physician (Stewart, Blue & Ebrary, 2001). After in depth assessment by all the volunteering staff, data will be compared to the data collected on the last quarters statistics. This will be able to give a clue as to whether the implementation plan is working or not. After comparisons of previous and present data, the volunteering team takes the assessed data to the director of CQI. The director will then asses the data and give a go ahead with the implementation or come up with a new directive on the plan. Data will be presented in a table form. The data will be used to improve performance in that the data collected was found to be impacting on the patient care. There are several ways in which the data can be used to improve performance. First,

ICT E-commerce business analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

ICT E-commerce business analysis - Essay Example Swift flow of information allows organizations to excel in their respective businesses and gain a competitive edge over the competitors. In today’s age, there are seldom any organizations that can avoid the use of technology in their business. It has become an integral part of every activity and the point of differentiation is now determined by the efficiency of the system involved. The more efficient the system, the better the operations and this reflects in the overall success of the business and its standing in the market. An appropriate and successful e-business plan can not only assist and compliment the business but also create growth opportunities in the long run. The availability of reliable and low-cost communications through the use of technology is providing new challenges and opportunities to every industry, especially the airline industry (Jiang, 2014). Relevance of technology to a business determines the effectiveness of its existence on the web. Airline industries over the world have accepted technology as an integral and unavoidable aspect of their business. Travelers require convenience and service along with information and timeliness. Use of the internet to obtain travel packages, flight information, itineraries, ticket booking and boarding details have revolutionized travelling and the airline industry greatly. Whether it’s advertising, being more mobile friendly, having an efficient response system at hand or merely being ranked above all as a result of search engine, the competitive e-business environment has had its due effect on the airlines industry too. With the shift in power from the companies to the customers, now they are at the liberty to research several options and opt for the one they find feasible for themselves (Lankes, 2008, pp. 667--686). For air travel, several website offers services like comparing rates and getting the best deal. In these circumstances, an airline company has to focus on

Marketing Essentials Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Marketing Essentials - Essay Example ........................................ 3.2 Porter’s Five Forces – relevant concerns.................................................... 4.0 SWOT and competitor analysis............................................................................... 4.1 SWOT analysis............................................................................................. 5.0 New product idea for H&M...................................................................................... 6.0 Marketing objectives and strategy............................................................................ 6.1 Pricing........................................................................................................... 6.2 Product.......................................................................................................... 6.3 Place............................................................................................................... 6.4 Promotion....................... ................................................................................ 7.0 Segmentation, targeting and positioning.................................................................... 8.0 Three year financial forecast and budget................................................................... 9.0 Metrics and implementation controls......................................................................... ... Main competition such as L’Oreal maintains 41 percent of market share with double-digit growth in sales due to the hedonistic and collectivist characteristics of male target markets in China. Financial forecasts indicate a 29.1 percent profit margin in 2014, which is lower than desired due to the high costs of operational development in manufacturing and research and development that is necessary for a business not familiar with product line extensions and new branding strategies in this product category. Over time, however this profit margin increases due to more streamlined internal systems and better logistical strategy development. H&M represents a total market value of (forecasted) over 89 billion USD in China, offering ample opportunity for revenue growth of approximately 15 to 20 percent year-on year through 2016. 2.0 Mission statement H&M strives to understand the importance of male grooming in a contemporary cultural environment, recognising the professional and socia l implications of maintaining a precise and well-tailored appearance. The top quality H&M for men line provides superior value as best-in-class grooming opportunities with the freshness of modish and elegant style. 3.0 Market overview The male grooming products market has experienced significant and explosive growth since 2004. In 2004, approximately seven billion USD were spent on grooming products specifically tailored for male grooming needs, including hairsprays, conditioners, shampoo and even hair colouring treatments (Hairstyles-7.com 2004). In 2010, one of the most prominent beauty companies, L’Oreal, experienced a growth rate in sales of male grooming products of 30 percent (CBS 2011). It is estimated that demand for male grooming products will increase to a

ICT E-commerce business analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

ICT E-commerce business analysis - Essay Example Swift flow of information allows organizations to excel in their respective businesses and gain a competitive edge over the competitors. In today’s age, there are seldom any organizations that can avoid the use of technology in their business. It has become an integral part of every activity and the point of differentiation is now determined by the efficiency of the system involved. The more efficient the system, the better the operations and this reflects in the overall success of the business and its standing in the market. An appropriate and successful e-business plan can not only assist and compliment the business but also create growth opportunities in the long run. The availability of reliable and low-cost communications through the use of technology is providing new challenges and opportunities to every industry, especially the airline industry (Jiang, 2014). Relevance of technology to a business determines the effectiveness of its existence on the web. Airline industries over the world have accepted technology as an integral and unavoidable aspect of their business. Travelers require convenience and service along with information and timeliness. Use of the internet to obtain travel packages, flight information, itineraries, ticket booking and boarding details have revolutionized travelling and the airline industry greatly. Whether it’s advertising, being more mobile friendly, having an efficient response system at hand or merely being ranked above all as a result of search engine, the competitive e-business environment has had its due effect on the airlines industry too. With the shift in power from the companies to the customers, now they are at the liberty to research several options and opt for the one they find feasible for themselves (Lankes, 2008, pp. 667--686). For air travel, several website offers services like comparing rates and getting the best deal. In these circumstances, an airline company has to focus on

Exploring Inferential Statistics and Their Discontents Essay

Exploring Inferential Statistics and Their Discontents - Essay Example fers to a linear model applied in statistical analysis; it is used in testing hypotheses, factor in estimates, known quantities and other sources of errors in statistical experiments. Thus, GLM matters since it is used in quantifying the relationship between a number of predictor variables and a dependent variable. Parametric methods or statistics refer to those methods that assume normality of a population or used after approximation by normal distribution immediately after invoking CLT (central limit theorem). On the other hand, non-parametric methods refer to general statistical techniques that do not make assumptions about normality of a population under study. In addition, these methods do not depend on the population which is being studied. Thus, they can also be referred to as distribution free methods. Compared to parametric methods, non-parametric methods are becoming more popular because statisticians or researchers are not supposed to be constrained to make assumptions on the population under study. Therefore, to compare the two methods, we consider a case of finding confidence interval on the mean. Both methods are required for this type of problem since parametric methods are deemed to be more efficient than non-parametric methods. However, difference in efficiency may not be a bi g issue but we need to decide on a method that is more efficient depending on the problem in question (Sheskin, 2000). It is crucial to pay attention to assumptions of statistical tests since a number of incorrect background assumptions will definitely result to inaccurate conclusions about a population being studied. Thus, such assumptions must be made with a lot of care. For cases of dependent variable scores that are not normally distributed, they can be transformed and use the alternative statistical of non-parametric methods in order to make equal weights on the variables. P=0.05 in statistics means the 5% probability of obtaining appropriate results from a given

Commercial item transport and distribution Essay Example for Free

Commercial item transport and distribution Essay There has been a gradual change in the mode of packaging for last years.For instance, earlier fruits and vegetables were used to be transported in wooden boxes but today cardboard crates are used .This is mainly to reduce the cost. Obviously,a cardboard crate would cost less than wooden crate. Moreover,using cardboard crates is more eco friendly than cutting trees and making wooden boxes and supporting an environmental cause helps firms improve their goodwill and eventually their sales. Similarly,selling of milk,first in glass bottles,then in packets, then tetra packs and vending machines is all to reduce costs or improve their goodwill by innovating the mode of packaging. Tetra pack keeps the milk safe for months and is made of paper and can be recycled. Plastic packets incur lesser costs and vending machines in itself have no packaging cost. So,companies use new and unique mode of packaging to ,one,reduce their costs,two,to promote the product. Packaging refers to the container or wrapper that holds a product or group of products. Most commercial packaging serves two basic functions: protecting the product from damage during shipping, and promoting the product to the ultimate consumer. Some common types of packaging include shipping cartons, containers for industrial goods, and bags, boxes, cans, and other holders for consumer products. Packaging is of great importance to both sellers and buyers of products. It can prevent spoiling, breakage, tampering, or theft; enhance convenience in use or storage; and make products easier to identify. A significant improvement in packaging can even create a new product by expanding the ways in which it can be used, and thus its potential markets. For example, a soup that is packaged in a microwavable bowl might suddenly increase its sales to working people. Prior to World War II, packaging was used primarily to surround and protect products during storage, transportation, and distribution. Some packages were designed with aesthetic appeal and even for ease-of-use by the end consumer, but package design was typically left to technicians. After World War II, however, companies became more interested in marketing and promotion as a means of enticing customers to purchase their products. As a result, more manufacturers began to view packaging as an integral element of overall business marketing strategies to lure buyers. This increased attention to packaging coincided with socioeconomic changes taking place around the world. As consumers became better educated and more affluent, their expectations of products—and their reliance on them—increased as well. Consequently, consumers began to rely much more heavily on manufactured goods and processed food items. New technologies related to production, distribution, and preservatives led to a massive proliferation in the number and type of products and brands available in industrialized nations. Thus, packaging became a vital means of differentiating items and informing inundated consumers. The importance of consumer packaging was elevated in the United States during the late 1970s and 1980s. Rapid post-war economic expansion and market growth waned during that period, forcing companies to focus increasingly on luring consumers to their product or brand at the expense of the competition. Package design became a marketing science. And, as a new corporate cost-consciousness developed in response to increased competition, companies began to alter packaging techniques as a way to cut production, storage, and distribution expenses. Furthermore, marketers began to view packaging as a tool to exploit existing product lines by adding new items and to pump new life into maturing products. Today, good package design is regarded as an essential part of successful business practice. Since many potential customers first notice a new product after it has arrived on the shelves of a store, it is vital that the packaging provide consumers with the information they need and motivate them to make a purchase. But packaging decisions involve a number of tradeoffs. While making a product visible and distinctive may be the top priority, for example, businesses must also comply with a variety of laws regarding product labeling and safety. Protecting products during transport is important, but businesses also need to keep their shipping costs as low as possible. study mode material : Disadvantages of wooden crates- Deterioration * After wooden pallets are used several times, the wood begins to wear. It splinters, cracks and even breaks under the pressure of continued use. The deterioration is natural and occurs eventually, even if the wood is treated to repel moisture and to strengthen it. This disadvantage leads to replacement much sooner than with plastic pallets. Infestation * Wooden pallets are more susceptible to infestation by termites, ants and other insects that make their home inside the wood. Pallets stored outdoors are more likely to succumb to infestation than the ones kept within a warehouse. The insects burrow into the wood, eating away at it and thus weakening what should be a support structure.. Cleanliness * In addition to germs, wooden pallets are collectors of dirt and debris. Cleaning them becomes more and more difficult over time as the pallets age. They must be heat-treated to get rid of the contamination and washed to be rid of dirt and debris. However, the heat accelerates deterioration, and the water, if improperly dried, can feed mold spores that thrive on wood and harm the vegetables and fruits inside it. Advantages of cardboard crates- Protects Items * As packaging, cardboard protects vegetables being shipped or moved. Corrugated cardboard often has multiple pieces of cardboard placed on top of each other to cushion soft vegetables. Cheap Material * Cardboard is cheap to produce, and is usually made from recycled materials and doesnt cost much money if purchased wholesale. Other packaging materials are made from plastic, wood or metal, all expensive materials that are often heavier then cardboard, which adds [continues] Read full essay

Cross Cultural Issues in Performance Management

Cross Cultural Issues in Performance Management When planning to expand into the global marketplace, the expanding business should set forth a well-planned business process that considers the inherent cultural differences that considers the inherent cultural differences that may exist from country to country. Cultural differences can almost always be identified as one of the primary reasons for the gaps in global internet development. Cultural factors were considered the predictors of the level of acceptance of Internet in a society. Cultural factors also determine the section of a society most likely to use the Internet, the purpose of the use of the Internet, the site visited, purpose of use of the Internet, the site visited, purchase decisions, etc. Hence it is important to consider the cross cultural issues and differences when developing any type of global business strategy The problems that arise in joint ventures become even more salient in the new forms of multicultural organizations that have been called collaborations. When the group working together contains members from three or more cultures and may be operating in yet a fourth different culture, or may not be co-located at all, what kinds of cultural issues are likely to come ? Misunderstanding the rules and norms surrounding the issue of authority is probably the most common problem in newly formed multicultural groups. The high degree of formality that is associated with diplomacy can be understood as a defense against making mistakes in this cultural arena. But formality itself can lead to problems if there nonsufficient understanding In the work situation, if the leader is from a culture in which it is expected that subordinates will speak up if they have a relevant piece of information, but he or she is dealing with group members whose norms dictate that one does not speak up until the boss specially asks, and even then one suppress information that would embarrass the boss, one can foresee that this group will have difficulty being effective. Misunderstandings around authority then have a direct impact on the quality of communication that is possible Another example of going global is seen in personalized service firms such as law and accounting .These professions are focusing on cross-border activities like recruiting the local people who have their own culture, language, legal systems and accounting systems. The need for international expertise and capital is one reason for this trend. Companies of professionals are forming alliances with their foreign counterparts such as the Alliance of European Lawyers. In only 10% of 191 nations are the people ethnically or racially homogenous. Never before in history have so many inhabitants traveled beyond their homelands, either to travel or work abroad, or to flee as refugees. In host countries, the social fabric is being reconfigured and strained by massive waves of immigrants, whether legal or illegal. It is estimated that Chinese now constitute 3% of New York Citys population, with a quarter million of them concentrated in Manhattan Islands Chinatown, which overflows into older ethnic neighborhoods. This is the largest Chinese expatriate group outside Southeast Asia. The Industrial Age has given way to the Information Age, and we can only speculate on its replacement in the next one hundred years. Thus todays leaders are required to develop new models of management systems. They need to be more innovative and recognize the role of each and every employee in the organization in order to achieve the overall organizational goals. These dramatic changes in the workplace are producing some interesting challenges for everyone, from entry-level employees to top management. The management of the organizations should be ready to face these conflicts and challenges that may happen when the people from diverse cultures work together as a team to achieve organizational goals. But management can also enjoy the different opportunities like productivity, expansion, and new levels of growth due to the cross-cultural environment. Our research is about successfully handling these conflicts and takes advantage of these opportunities Globally, cross-cultural research has become increasingly essential. We can see people from diverse cultures in European countries. In this modern age , there is a need for cultural awareness and to understand people beliefs and practices. This, I argue, can be obtained by research, particularly the qualitative approach. I think cross-cultural research is very important that can help organizations to understand and create awareness about issues that may arise when people from different cultures work together as a unit 1.2 Research Questions What Is the Function of Culture? What Are Cultural Differences? Do Cultural Differences Really Have an Impact on Workplace? What are cross-cultural issues and how can we resolve them to improve organizational performance? What Are the Signs and effects of Cross-Cultural Management Issues in organizations and how can we resolve them? What Are the Signs and effects of Cross-Cultural Teamwork Issues in organizations and how can we resolve them? What Are the Signs and effects of Cross-Cultural Communication Issues in organizations and how can we resolve them? What Are the Signs and effects of Cross-Cultural Career Management Issues in organizations and how can we resolve them? 1.3 Research Objectives The purpose of our research is to understand the cross-cultural differences that exist in organizations and their impact on the performance of the organizations. We will also pinpoint how the rewards, leadership and communications get different perspectives in cross-cultural environment. We will also study the importance of training programs and their orientation in cross-cultural environment. The focus of our study will be on Cultural differences and similarities Behaviour in global perspective Cultural shock Managerial responses Decision making across cultures Motivation across cultures Reward across cultures Leadership across cultures Power and conflict across cultures Communications across cultures Environments across cultures Organization structure and technology across cultures Cross-culture training 1.4 Key Literature view Initial Knowledge Management (KM) strategies relied heavily on ICT-based solutions to store and retrieve explicit organizational knowledge. However, these ICT-based strategies often failed to deliver meaningful results (Ambrosio 2000). To date, much of the KM literature has focused on corporate and organizational culture, with relatively little attention paid to the implications of national culture. However KM, which is context embedded, is a particularly culturally dependent process (Glisby and Holden 2003; Nonaka and Toyama 2003). Effective KM practices developed by and for one culture may not necessarily be successfully used by other cultures (Pauleen and Murphy 2005). This is an important point as cross-cultural knowledge sharing has become more prevalent through the forces of globalization, advances in communications technology, and increasingly culturally diverse workforces (Cox 1991; Nemetz and Christensen 1996), as well as through international mergers and acquisitions, Internet based e-commerce, and an increasing trend to global outsourcing. Meanwhile, dominant Western cultural assumptions about knowledge and KM influence KM research and development. Given these factors, an understanding of the influence of national culture is now, arguably, a critical requirement in understanding and implementing successful KM in organizations. 1.5 Methodology We will focuses primarily on secondary cross-cultural comparisons (using other peoples data). Some measurement techniques lend themselves more readily to comparison than others. We will also use participant observations and un-structured interviewing that are usually a necessary first step in any field study. It goes without saying that any measure used across sites needs to be applicable to all the sites. Most comparative field studies deal with general domains of life that are found in all societies-for example, words and classification of colors, kin, animals, and plants, ideas about illness, raising children, and social behaviors. We will Compare Primary Data from Field Studies for Behavior Observations 1.6 Research ethical issues Distinct and conceivably unanticipated ethical issues emanate from the unpredictable nature of qualitative research. Ethical considerations relevant to quantitative research impact qualitative investigations in unique and more fragile ways. The ethical dilemmas Inherent in issues surrounding informed consent, anonymity and confidentiality, data generation, treatment, publications, and participant-researcher relationships are reviewed in light of the unique issues that emerge in the design and conduct of qualitative investigations. Ethical standards for qualitative investigations must evolve from sense that the research is dynamic and that the process, by its application may result in unanticipated ethical concerns. The researcher must remain open to the possibility of new, and, to date, unexamined ethical concerns related to qualitative research. Further, the evolving standards must be grounded in the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, and justice Researcher must observe certain basic principles when conducting any form of research that involves human subjects. First, participants must not be harmed, thereby supporting the principle of beneficence. In any qualitative investigations, if researchers sense that the interview is causing issues to surface that may result in emotional trauma to participants, they must protect the welfare of the participants that confidentiality and anonymity will be upheld and that participants will be treated with dignity and respect. The principles of beneficence and justice are upheld in this regard. The three ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence and justice provide the organizing framework for meaningful dialogue regarding ethical issues that pertain to qualitative investigations

The Running Cycle :: Sport Run Running Athletics

There are two main phases to the running cycle: Support and Forward Recovery Support Phase: This is the phase when the runner is touching the ground, and makes up about 30%-40% of the running cycle. Foot-strike: The foot touches the ground slightly ahead of the center of mass. When the foot contact occurs, several actions take place: the knee flexes, the tibia internally rotates, the ankle plantar flexes, and the subtalar joint pronates (Miliron & Cavanagh, 1990). It is necessary to have a certain amount of pronation to disseminate the energy of the foot-strike. The foot during the foot-strike should be straight and in line with the direction of linear motion. If the feet are turned outward it reduces the distance covered, and puts more stress on the knees and lower extremities (Williams, 1990). Mid-support: The foot transforms from a mobile structure into a rigid lever that supports several times the body weight of the runner. The shape of the bones and the tension on the ligaments, allows for the foot to remain rigid. The supination of the subtalor joint forms a rigid lever for forward propulsion. This occurs through a series of events including the knee joint extending, the lower extremity rotates externally, the calcaneus inverts, the midtarsal joint locks, and the foot becomes a rigid lever. What is Supination? This is the opposite motion of pronation. This occurs when the ankle appears to be 'tipped' to the outside so the weight is on the outside border of the foot. Supination allows the foot to be a more stable, rigid structure for pushing off of. The foot naturally supinates during the toe-off stage (when the heel first lifts off the ground until the end of the step) to provide more leverage and to help ‘roll’ off the toes. Take-Off: The the mid-support period ends with an uprising heel, and is called the take-off period. 100 World Record Holder Florence Griffith Joyner in take-off period Forward Recovery Phase: This is the phase when the runner is airborne and spends most of the time.