Hamburger †Fast food Essay

Market and environmental analysis is an essential part of an organization’s External Analysis. The main objectives of a market analysis are; a)To determine how attractive a market is. b)To understand the dynamics of the market and amend strategies accordingly. Here we apply the dimensions of a Market Analysis to McDonalds corp. 1)Emerging submarkets; McDonalds failed to recognize the changing trend in customer’s preferences to better tasting, fresher food. This trend led to new sub markets emerging for tastier, fresher and fast food perceived as healthier. A few of the smaller/privately owned competitors (Cosi and Quizno’s) were able to operate in niche markets selling gourmet sandwiches and salads. The emergence of smaller restaurants offering easy access to exotic foods such as sushi and burritos created a more specialized niche market. 2)Size and Growth; With the emergence of these sub-markets and niche markets, McDonalds started losing market share. It now had to share its fast-food mass market with these newly created markets. Even though these restaurant chains were small in size, their growth opportunities presented a potential threat to McDonalds. They operated on service that was better than McDonalds at the same time providing better tasting food, which led to an increase in its sales. This sector was in the early stages of growth where as McDonalds was past the maturity stage. 3)Profitability; McDonalds profitability can be gauged by using Porters 5 factor model. a)Intensity of competition among existing customers was relatively high. Direct competitors like Wendy’s and Chik-Fil-A were able to out perform McDonalds based on service quality by providing quicker service. In comparison McDonalds had a large number of franchises, but will falling service time. b)Threat of new entrants: Other market niches like quizo’s, cosi and small restaurants offering exotic foods also provided a high degree of competition to McDonalds by offering food that appealed to changing customer preferences. The only barrier to entry that McDonalds used was to open a large number of franchises and offer an inexpensive menu; this is however changing as franchisees are leaving McDonalds, lowering the barriers to entry. c)Substitute products would include fast food options available in leading supermarkets, and cafe’s offering exotic foods like sushi. d)Bargaining power of customers. Customers are the main source of income for McDonalds. Customers were not happy with the menu offered at McDonalds and hence took their custom to other restaurants, leading to a drop in sales. e)Bargaining power of suppliers: McDonalds aimed to keep their menu prices low (source more details about suppliers) 4)Cost structure McDonalds strategic focus was on cost and service. In order to raise service quality new kitchens were installed. However, this installation was done for some franchises that did not need it and where the new additions did not help improve business. In order to keep the price of its burgers low, it asked the franchises to sell at a loss. Example: Promoting a $1 burger when the cost to make it was $1. 07. This lack in foresight resulted in rising costs to franchise owners who responded by leaving McDonalds and going over to competitors. This snowballed into falling investor confidence resulting in falling equity. Another cost issue was investing in too many takeovers which it couldn’t handle at the same time as improving service quality and revamping the menu. 5)Distribution Systems McDonalds distribution system was the large and growing number of franchises. However not many of the franchises were posting profits and as per Exhibit 1, more than 500 would have to be closed. One of McDonalds strengths is its distribution system, where in customers come in and have the same experience that they have at any other store. However, this can also be a weakness as providing a consistent experience soon becomes ordinary. 6)Market Trends The fast food casual market was quickly breaking up into fragments. With the rising immigrant population customers now had a choice of items. McDonalds realize this too late and try to counter this effect by introducing new burgers. However, the testing of the new menu does not gauge strongly enough the changing customer preferences and this poor planning led to its failure. Internally changing trends were also blindsided. Franchisees who were the closest to customers were not included in decision making and were thus disgruntled. Here was the need to change the management style from top-down to bottom-up. This would have solved some of the issues plaguing McDonalds, by providing data on what customers want and what products would have a greater chance of success. 7)Key success Factors McDonalds did have some strengths or key success factors; a)Large number of franchises that led to economies of scale. This however contrasted to the ‘small is beautiful’ concept of the niche markets. b)Complete training for franchisees to begin and run their own McDonalds proved to be a good team building exercise. c)Cost of food was low due to economies of scale and economies of size. Moreover, McDonalds was able to negotiate a reasonable price for high quality food products. McDonalds failed to realize the changing trends in the casual fast food markets, as a result of which, a large part of the market share was taken over by existing brands like Wendy’s and new players like Panera bread co. The company also failed to acknowledge competition from the niche markets serving gourmet and exotic foods. This lack in analysis led to lowering of entry barriers for new entrants, loss of market share to competitors (Wendy’s, Chick-Fil-A. ), disgruntled franchisees, and a drop in sales leading to a fall in equity value. Environmental Analysis 1)Political. 2)Economic: 3)Socio-Cultural: There are three cultural forces that influence marketers: a) persistence of cultural values, b) subcultures and c) shifts in secondary cultural values. Of the three, secondary cultural values carry the largest influence on the fast-food market. When the market is interested in convenience, they are more likely to buy fast food; if the market’s secondary values shift and become interested in fitness and health, they will be less likely to buy fast food. (Monash university, 2006) The case shows this shift to gourmet and healthier foods. 4)Technological: McDonalds had begun to notice the importance of technology. The organization was looking at new technological solutions like ERP to improve their supply chain (Newman, 2002) 5)Environmental: 6)Legal. References: Monash university, 2006, Briohny’s Report, Language and Learning Online, Retrieved on 06 May 2008. http://www. monash. edu. au/lls/llonline/writing/business-economics/marketing/3. 3. 2. xml Newman, K, 2002. McDonalds seeks closer electronic relations, iStart. com:Technology in business, www. istart. co. nz, retrieved on 06 May 2008. http://www. istart. co. nz/index/HM20/PC0/PVC197/EX245/AR22537.

Identify What Is Happening in the External Environment in Terms

There are three external factors that affect business: Political, Legal and Social. Political factors involve political stability, government support, taxation and direct support. Legal factor involves things such as employment laws, consumer laws, it also influence attitudes such as healthy eating. Social factor involves education, age, ethics, attitudes etc. Political factors An activity related to government policy and its administrative practices that can have an effect on something.Most business operators will keep a watchful eye on any political factor, such as new legislation or regulatory shifts, which could have a substantial impact on how their company operates and its bottom line. Political decisions involve making choices that affect large number of people and business. Government support for different types of organization- government supports different organizations in different ways. There are three types of organizations- private, public and nonprofit/voluntary.In pri vate sector, government tries to create an environment where business can compete. In the nonprofit/voluntary sector, government support business by giving various grants and tax reliefs. In the public sector the government covers the losses made by government owned organizations. Governments use taxation to encourage or discourage certain economic decisions. For example, reduction in taxable personal (or household) income by the amount paid as interest on home mortgage loans results in greater construction activity, and generates more jobs.Government also puts high taxes, for example they put high taxes on cigarettes and alcohol to discourage smoking and drinking, and high taxes on fuel to reduce pollution by discouraging people of driving cars so much. Government also tries enhancing the skills of the population. They enhance education and training help to increase skills of working population. They provide a range of training and creates the educational framework including differ ent types of qualifications, such as Apprenticeships and NVQs. Legal factors Business must operate within the framework of the law.There are three laws that affect business: Company law- how business set up and run, Contract law- contracts that business make with suppliers, employees and etc, and Competition law- how business are allowed to compare with each other. The Contract Law is a set of rules governing the relationship, content and validity of an agreement between two or more persons regarding the sale of goods, provision of services or exchange of interests or ownership. The reason for this is due to the big number of examples in which contracts can arise in everyday life.Contract law is law that governs oral and written agreements associated with exchange of goods and services, money, and properties. It includes consumer protection and employment law. Consumer protection involves: †¢Sales of Goods Act, this act means that the retailers have to sell goods as they are de scribed and satisfactory quality. It means that marketing should describe the product accurately. These laws are aimed at safeguarding consumers by ensuring that goods offered for sale are reasonably safe, and meet certain standards of quality to make them fit for their intended use. The consumer credit act this applies to business who sells goods on credit, or companies that lend money. Business need to be licensed by the Office of Fair Trading. This act wants business to give their customers updates on their account regularly. If the customer falls behind the repayments the FOS may extend the time for the customer to repay their debt. †¢Employment law means that employees are also protected at work. The contract of employment should include names of both parties, job title and description, hours of work, wages etc. Social factorsAre factors that influence individuals' personality, attitudes and lifestyle. Demographic issues, when a population of a country is growing, there is an increase in goods and services and people available to work. Changes in structure means aging population. When the number of older people increase fast the demand for some goods increase, for example wheel chairs, anti-aging creams, world cruises etc. Household and families, there are increasing number of single-person households in the uk. The average marriage age is increasing aswell and many people now live alone.Education- the level of education is very important nowadays. In almost all industries employers are expecting employees to have a good information about technology, and have good skills at the job they’re doing. Attitudes to work influence relationships between employers and employees. Britain has developed a long working hour’s culture compared to France and Italy. How external factors affect McDonalds in the UK and Lithuania McDonald’s is the world largest chain of fast food restaurants with more than 30000 restaurants serving 52 million custo mers in more than 100 countries each day.McDonald’s primarily sells hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken products, french-fries, breakfast items, soft drinks, milkshakes and desserts. More recently, it has begun to offer salads, wraps and fruit. Each McDonald’s restaurant is operated by franchise, an affiliate, or the corporation itself. The corporation revenues come from the rent, royalties and fees paid by the franchisees, as well as sales in company-operated restaurants. McDonald’s revenues grew 27% over the three years ending in 2007 to $22. 8 billion, and 9% growth in operating income to $ 3. billion. Within the UK there are approximately 1200 restaurants employing over 85,000 people. In Lithuania there are just 9 restaurants employing less than 200 people. Political factors In the UK McDonald's main competitors are Chippy Shops, Subway and KFC. McDonalds always needed to treat competitors carefully. That's way the factor related with competitor like competit ors product quality, service, price competition, market, sales, growth everything impacting McDonalds. In Lithuania the only competitor for McDonalds is Hesburger.There are not many fast food restaurants so there is not much competition going on. In both countries employees are impacting McDonalds because company is recruiting, training staff for company. It is not uncommon for McDonalds to be the employer of first resort for young people just entering the workforce, older workers desiring extra income, or for those planning on transferring from one corporation to another. So, employee is impacting McDonalds in this way. Legal factors In both counties McDonalds producing their product and they are serving those directly to customers.That's way the factor of product and service is impacting McDonalds. Product quality, product variety, quick and friendly service, every things are important for company. Those got an important impact on McDonalds. Employment law also affects McDonalds i n the UK and Lithuania. In the UK minim wage is: Apprentice- ? 2. 65, under 18- ? 3. 68, 18 to 20- ? 4. 98 , and over 21- ? 6. 19. In Lithuania, there are not hourly wages, but the minimum salary for everyone in Lithuania is 232 euro a month.People in England has more money to spend on fast food restaurants than Lithuanians due to a larger income, therefore McDonald restaurants make much bigger profits in the UK than in Lithuania. Social factors In the UK there are many more McDonald’s restaurants than in Lithuania, mainly because of people’s Lithuanian people are more keen on healthy eating than British people. Most of Lithuanian people grow their own vegetables and fruit; they also like to buy organic foods from the market, and stays away from fast food restaurants. McDonalds are not so popular in Lithuania as it is in the UK because of different coulture.

A Study On A Structural Necessity Architecture Essay

The necessity of construction is barely a simple topic. Discussions on the subject have ranged from Levi-Strauss ‘ accounts of infrastructures which exist beyond our ability to straight grok, to unite world-systems such as Wallerstein proposed, and of class the counter statements against such a incorporate system much like Mintz ‘ offered. Indeed depending on our definition of ‘necessity ‘ and ‘structure ‘ the form and range of such statement can go radically different. Within the societal scientific disciplines the term construction besides seems have different options. At possibly the most cardinal degree, within the field, the societal scientific disciplines themselves are broken into separate subjects in an attempt to decently analyze, analyse, and categorise different types of information, therefore supplying a sense of order or construction. Yet even these divisions are inconsistent across the field. At one institute sociology and anthropology may be joined in a individual plan of survey yet at others they are wholly separate and possibly assorted with another, such as linguistics. Beyond specifying itself the societal scientific disciplines have a singular ability for classifying, reclassifying, and re-reclassifying things ( including but barely limited to race, civilization, historical periods, theoretical models, methodological analysiss, and gender ) on a regular footing. In 1978, Edward Said, in his book Orientalism, identified a really controversial division between Europe and the Orient. Since so there have been important arguments on the ground for such a division, and even if such a division genuinely existed. Janet Abu-Lughod, in 1989 wrote â€Å" Analyzing a System in Formation † , in which she agreed that there is a recognizable division between the Europe and the remainder of the universe. Indeed she suggests that there is a incorporate universe construction and it is based on a Eurocentric theoretical account which developed around the 14th century. Within societal scientific disciplines this of course raises the inquiry, is the strong accent we give to construction an unconscious affect of the Eurocentric beginning of our theoretical account? Or is construction a more permeant thought? This essay contends that while a big part of the authorship in societal scientific discipline literature is Eurocentric in beginning, the construction, and more specifically the thought of construction is non limited to European idea. Levi-Strauss ‘ thoughts of infrastructure offers a strong statement that construction, as Abu-Lughod describes it, is simply the superstructure representation of an implicit in infrastructure common throughout all human civilizations. Then before turn toing the signifier of construction in the superstructure of our modern universe system, we must inquire whether determine whether construction is needed, or instead can we gestate of a universe, or societal scientific disciplines, without construction? Finally, manners of communicating will be used to demo how construction is exhaustively embedded in our universe even when it is non perceived. InAnalyzing a System in Formation, Janet Abu-Lughod really indicates her beliefs that the current construction of societal scientific disciplines is dominated by its European beginnings. Indeed while citing others, she gives provinces that the current universe system is wholly Eurocentric. For illustration, she recognizes Immanuel Wallerstein for coining the term â€Å" modern world-system † and that Europe lead development of this system, which has lasted more than 500 old ages. ( Abu-Lughod, 4 ) She supports this contention with the plants of Fernand Braudel and Eric Wolff who describe how a euro-centered universe was established in the 14th century and was the footing for the current universe system. ( Abu-Lughod, 9 ) Indeed, she accuses Braudel of doing an â€Å" unconscious Eurocentric faux pas. † ( Abu-Lughod, 11 ) In these illustrations the thought of Eurocentrism is difficult to lose. As Abu-Lughod points out, â€Å" Before Europe becameoneof the world-economies in the twelfth and 13th centuries†¦ there were legion pre-existent world-economies. † ( 12 ) Looking at the modern system it is possibly excessively easy to see the strength of the European influence upon the system, whether in currency rates, human rights issues, or a assortment of other countries. But to state that the modern system is purely based on this influence suggests that all other systems have either been discarded or go subservient to the Euro-centric theoretical account. Yet we have merely to come in a non-European state to recognize merely how diverse the differences elsewhere remain. Surely the strong grades of European influences are felt in South Africa or India, where English is widely spoken. And similarly in Algeria and Egypt where Arabic is still the national linguistic communication but a turning per centum of the population speak French and English, severally. Yet in each instance, although they have adopted parts of the Euro-centric theoretical account, they have each molded their ain signifier. Rather than being consumed Europe they have been influenced by it. But the influence is non unidimensional, instead influences flow back and Forth between parts. The ongoing argument in France sing hijab and other spiritual symbols in public schools is declarative of the concern felt by many in France of the turning Muslim population. Likewise, the alterations in corporate leading methods over the past decennary, from individualistic to more group-oriented, reflect an inflow of new thoughts from Japan and other states in Southeast Asia. In the terminal, Abu-Lughod was at least partly right ; Europe has influenced the construction of the world-system. But the world-system, and including Europe, has been influenced by the remainder of the universe. In a similar mode, while the construction of societal scientific disciplines found its beginnings in Europe it has, particularly in recent decennaries, been strongly influenced by the remainder of the universe. The construction that remains is non a massive creative activity but instead an merger which is invariably in flux. Leading possibly to the inevitable inquiry, are we utilizing the right, or the best system? Or do we even need to make this construction? When composingThe Ritual Processin 1969 Victor Turner gave us the term ‘anti-structure ‘ . His term was non meant to connote a deficiency of construction. In â€Å" Metaphors of Anti-Structure in Religious Culture † he clarified his term stating, â€Å" †¦ the ‘anti ‘ is here merely used strategically and does non connote a extremist negativeness. † ( 272 ) He farther explains, â€Å" I do non seek the obliteration of affair by signifier. † ( 273 ) Rather than proposing non-structure, the term anti-structure is conceived as yet another portion of the whole non to the full accounted for within the bing construction ; they are two-sides of the same coin. Within societal scientific disciplines as a whole at that place ever seems to be a construction. Disciplines are broken down by topics or methods. Subjects are broken down by location or clip period. Information is so pigeon-holed into a peculiar subject within a topic under a subject. Sometimes these topics and subjects are realigned, and sometimes information is referenced in multiple topographic points, but there is consistent effort to happen a topographic point everything ; or as the expression goes, â€Å" A topographic point for everything and everything in its topographic point. † But why must everything be put in its topographic point? And is there truly a topographic point for everything? Historically, our classification systems last until something does n't suit. After seeking legion unsuccessful ways to accommodate our theoretical account and our information we acknowledge the job and expression for a new construction ; what sociology of cognition would cal cubic decimeter a revolution of cognition. But is a construction necessary? Can we gestate of our societal scientific discipline information outside the restraints of construction? If it is possible, we do we invariably seek to develop a more accurate and/or effectual construction? One might reason that early ethnographers, such as Marco Polo and Sir Richard Francis Burton worked outside the restraints of construction. They successfully documented important information without being purely attached to a peculiar subject. Indeed such plants frequently contain a wealth of information because they include a great assortment of different types of information. In a similar mode Clifford Geertz ‘ experience as described inDeep Play: Notes on the Balinese Cockfightcan be viewed as working outside the constituted construction. His intended survey was, no uncertainty, sanctioned and developed along certain guidelines. However, when he allowed himself to be caught up in rabble outlook brought on by the sudden reaching of the constabulary he was non moving within the restraints of any guidelines. Indeed Geertz ‘ description of the police officer ‘s action on page 415 suggest that he was movingagainstthe established construction. When we read about the Balinese cockfight and implicit in construction is easy to individuality. Peopless are identified by originals and specific subjects are ethical motives are indicated. The analysis itself is really structured, and that is where the construction seems to fall within much of the societal scientific disciplines, particularly anthropology. In order to pass on the information to others we construction it in such as manner that it becomes relevant to our audience. Yet the existent assemblage of information, though possibly limited by a pre-defined field site and research inquiries, can be a non-structured action. In my research of the effects of nomadic communicating engineerings, I frequently find it hard to non see a construction. Due to my experience working on the mechanical side of the engineering, I frequently construction the engineerings, and thereby the people, without detecting. A adult male in a suit utilizing a Blackberry phone seems is deemed a concern adult male, while a similar adult male have oning denims and utilizing an iPhone is deemed a college pupil. Likewise, person utilizing Linux is considered more technologically savvy than person utilizing Windows or an Apple OS, irrespective of their existent competency. From a proficient position, nomadic phones require a physical web to enable communicating. Unlike a land line phone which offers interaction between to fixed points in infinite, a nomadic phone offers an tantamount interaction at two random points. Furthermore, the cellular engineerings allow for non-stationary points, significance communicators are no longer tied to a fixed location. Enabling this nomadic communicating is an substructure web kindred to Levi-Strauss ‘ infrastructure of society. This is the unseeable, underlying system which ties everything together. With nomadic phones, a cellular web must be developed and maintained. This web must let easy connexion and must be linked to other cellular webs to enable transferring of one communicator to different locations with disrupting the manner of communicating. Finally, for this method to be genuinely effectual the web must be built around the communicators and their venues ; a cellular web in an empty desert serves no intent. Developing an effectual web therefore requires consciousness of bing locations of communicators and a method of mapping that information into a cellular web. Thus a construction develops based on the demands of a community. Of class, the communicators are by and large incognizant of this web. A adult male simply dials a figure on his Mobile phone, irrespective of where he is, and his married woman replies at some other unknown and apparently unrelated location. There is no demand for the users of this system to be cognizant of its nature, however the system does be. It is really easy to look around and see merely pandemonium. We are non required to see constructions in our day-to-day life. We take the construction itself for granted, yet that does non intend it does non be. We may gestate of cases where persons move outside the construction, or in a non-structured signifier. Yet when we seek communicate these actions we do so in a structured mode. The analysis, the manner we present the information, even the really linguistic communication itself contains an in agreement upon construction which allows us to pass on. But the construction is non massive and unchanging. A changeless duologue between different influences forms and reshapes the construction. We influence others even while we are influenced. At times a certain type of construction, such as the European theoretical account may look to rule but in clip even it is seen to be influenced by others. In the terminal thought of construction is in an built-in thought throughout the universe, a nd it is merely the peculiar signifier, what Levi-Strauss called the superstructure, that is distinguishable.BibliographyAbu-Lughod, J. ( 1989 ) . â€Å" Analyzing a System in Formation. † InBefore European Hegemony: The World System A.D. 1250-1350. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Pp 3-40. Althusser, L. ( 1970 ) .Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses.Retrieved on 28 Feb 10, From The Louis Althusser Internet Archive: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.marxists.org/reference/archive/althusser/1970/ideology.htm. DiTornaso, N. ( 1982 ) . â€Å" ‘Sociological Reductionism ‘ from Parsons to Althusser: Associating Action and Structure in Social Theory. †American Sociological Review, 47 ( 1 ) : 14-28. Geertz, C. ( 1973 ) . â€Å" Deep Play: Notes on a Balinese Cockfight. † InThe Interpretation of Cultures. London, UK: Hutchinson, Pp 412-454. Geertz, C. ( 1973 ) . â€Å" Thick Description: Toward an Interpretive Theory of Culture. † InThe Interpretation of Cultures. London, UK: Hutchinson, Pp 3-30. Goffman, E. ( 1963 ) . â€Å" Stigma and Social Identity. † InStigma: Notes on the Management of a Spoiled Identity. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. Pp. 1-40. Levi-Strauss, C. ( 1958 ) . â€Å" Structural Analysis in Linguistics and in Anthropology. † Retrieved on 13 Feb 10, From The Marxist Internet Archivess: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/fr/levistra.htm. Mintz, S. ( 1977 ) . â€Å" The Alleged World System: Local Initiative and Local Response. †Dialectical Anthropology, 2 ( 4 ) : 253-270. Nugent, D. ( 2009 ) . â€Å" Knowledge and Empire: The Social Sciences and United States Imperial Expansion. †Identities:Global Studies in Culture and Power, 17 ( 1 ) : 2-44. Trouillot, M-R. ( 1991 ) . â€Å" Anthropology and the Savage Slot: The Poeticss and Politicss of Otherness. † InRecapturing Anthropology: Working in the Present. Richard Fox ( erectile dysfunction ) . Pp. 17-44. Turner, V. ( 1975 ) . â€Å" Metaphors of Anti-Structure in Religious Culture. † InDramas, Fields and Metaphors: Symbolic Action in Human Society. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. Pp. 272-300.

Science and the Epidemiology of AIDS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Science and the Epidemiology of AIDS - Essay Example To date low income nations are using the effects of the disease as strategies for intervention from industrialized nations and access to funds from donor agencies working hard to try and save millions of lives, leaving the questions open, "how far should aid go Is it true that donor agencies are using the situation for control of nations by manipulating the flow of aid" In 1983, prompted by the number of Africans living in Europe with clinical cases of AIDS, investigations began in Africa to determine the extent of the clinical problem of AIDS and transmission patterns in the region. What was of note to researchers was the nearly equal ratio of male to female cases of the disease with 90% having no high risk factors (Quinn 1986). In contrast, the industrial world exhibited higher cases in homosexual males and injection drug users. Over the proceeding two years, results from a studies done by Van der Perre P et , Vandepitte J et al and Serwadda D et al in Zaire (as cited in Quinn 2001), showed the presence of Aids in several urban areas in equatorial Africa. "Slim disease" was often the documented outward sign of the disease mainly prevalent in sex workers and their clients. This raised several discussions on the mode of transmission of the disease. It was not until the introduction of the test for HIV-1 was there greater understanding leading to be tter epidemiological study of the modes of transmission of the disease. The disease, considered endemic then, reached epidemic proportions in the 1970's and '80's with statistics for the year 1986 almost trebling the figures predicted by early researchers. Quinn's retrospective report (2001) shows just how far and fast the disease had ravaged the continent. Today one has only to get on the internet, watch the news or read a local paper to get a glimpse of the effects of the disease in Africa. It was evident as early as the 1980's that unless drastic measures were taken; Africa was losing her most productive age group to the effects of the aids epidemic. By 1987 statics listed by Sabatier in the article on Aids in the Developing World showed the highest number of new cases of HIV and AIDs were from central and eastern Africa with most of the cases being young sexually active adults both male and female in the age groups of between 15 and 40 years (1987 p 99 -103). In the same year the World Health Organization Aids Surveillance Report (as cited in Sabatier 1987) had statistics for over 40 countries, 36 reporting to WHO. It is difficult to get accurate statistics, as some countries are wary of the industrialized world especially after reports of scientific findings linking the origins of the disease to Africa. Over and above this, poor health delivery systems as well as lack of accurate demographic figures make it impossible to get accurate statistics. The modes of transmission are well documented and known to all, for Africa and the earliest recorded document being that of Quinn T.C, Mann J.M, Curran J.W and Piot P (1986). The main modes of transmission in African countries are mainly by heterosexual, blood transfusions as well as mother-to-child transmissions at birth or through wrong breast feeding practices (Sabatier 1987). This however does not discount the presence of gay communities on the continent. Gender, sexuality age and socioeconomic status play an important role in structuring vulnerability of a person to HIV infection. Ruganga A.O and Aggletoon P

Does the balance of power maintain international order rather than Essay

Does the balance of power maintain international order rather than peace - Essay Example Thus, the alliance of countries that shifts the balance of power is usually motivated by self interests rather than peace (Claude, 1989). Balance of power ensures that each country maximizes its security and thus effectively leading to international order. The other motivation for balance of power is the prevention of hegemony. No state desires to see another power exercising complete influence on it or others. Thus, nations may form alliances so as to neutralize the emergency of hegemony. The result is that the alliances countercheck each other and as a result there is international order. It should be noted that peace is attained on condition that the creation of hegemony is averted (Freedman, 1989). In some instances, balance of power is a core component of peace. This is evident in situations where the defeat of a Great Power results in a power vacuum. In order to prevent any other country from gaining extreme influence, the defeated power may be shown leniency so as to preserve peace. In conclusion, it is evident that the main motivating factor for balance of power is to maintain order. Countries form alliances in order to guarantee their own survival. Introduction Balance of power is a concept that forms a core part of international relationships. ... Theories have been fronted to explain the concept of balance of power and its origins. According to Bass, a state may respond to a threat in its national security by joining forces with other threatened states. This leads to formation of alliances that cause a shift in the dynamics of power. Although it is difficult to measure â€Å"power† in absolute terms, shifting of political alliances usually play a critical role the amount of influence that a nation or nations exercise internationally (Claude, pp. 80-81). As such, the countries are engaged in theatrics to continually counter check each other in terms of the power that they wield against each other. On the other hand, balance of power may be taken as a system or guide to policy making in international relationships. Butterfield (1966) suggests that balance of power is an organic and natural response of individual states to the dynamics of politics on the international scale. In essence, balance of power is a methodology f or self preservation which may not be necessary be motivated by a current threat (Henrikson, 1981 p. 157). This essay aims to discuss the role of balance of power in international relationships among countries. It evaluates critically how balance of power relates to international order and peace in the globe. Various historical scenes are evaluated to give a clear illustration of how balance of power shaped the political landscapes world. Balance of power for international order and peace The international political landscape is inevitably dynamic and prone to various rapid changes. Therefore, countries continually seek to find ways of strengthening themselves so as to be a good position to attain their interests of prosperity. In the process of strengthening themselves

Comm paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Comm paper - Essay Example New York Times has been following the events surrounding the Israeli and the Hamas war that has caught the attention of the media, humanitarian groups, international organizations, and the world at large. On July 23rd the New York Times recorded that the Hamas were gambling on the war while they were suffering from the casualties at Gaza. The author Anna Barnard stated that when the Hamas attacked the Israeli by sending the barrage of rockets into Israel, they attracted hostility from the Israeli thus leading to the back and forth attacks between the two fighting groups. This statement sought to provide information on the developments that have taken place since the eruption of the war. The developments engulfing the war are well highlighted in the newspaper with the author exploring on the new war tactics. However, the author fails to connect us with the information on the past events leading to the current state. The statement concerning the counter attacks has also received critic ism with critics arguing that the information is not true, but rather based on war propaganda. This argument brings the sources of the article into question. The sources used by the editor have no factual basis, which narrows the validity of the author’s arguments. New York Times newspaper recorded on July 18, 2014 that the Hamas rockets in Israel are the Hamas’ response to Israeli soldiers’ extensive attacks and operations on the Gaza strip. The author further writes that Israeli and the rest of the international community have put prohibitive obstacles to Palestinian government thus making the Hamas more violent. The author provides a clear connection of events surrounding the war. The author provides background information that makes it interesting even to his casual readers. A reader reading the story for the first time can easily link the events taking place by looking at the cause factors. Additionally, the author

Cloud computing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cloud computing - Assignment Example Without a doubt, the worldwide economic downturn forced the business organizations to reevaluate their business strategies and models from start till end. In this scenario, the business organizations spent a lot of time and resources in assessing their IT infrastructures and they considered cloud computing as a conceivable substitute to the traditional IT infrastructures. One of the most important advantages of cloud computing is that it allows the business organizations to convert fixed price mode (such as cost of ownership, servers, employee salaries , servers and additional expenses) to flexible price mode. On the other hand, with traditional IT models the organizations had to pay heavy charges all the time, whether they make extensive use of information technology or not. In fact, they had to pay higher prices for the time when IT was not used such as holidays. So there was always a fixed cost associated with traditional IT models. On the other hand, cloud computing is both scala ble and flex ­ible. In addition, it allows business organizations to buy only what they need, and pay for only those services which are used (Cooke, 2010). At the present, the majority of business organizations are adopting cloud computing technology for the effective management of their business activities. In fact, the implementations of cloud computing can be seen in all the fields such as business, finance, education, defense and so on. I have chosen a case study where an Oil and Gas industry shifted its IT systems from an internal data center to Amazon EC2. The basic objective for the selection of cloud computing technology was to reduce IT costs up to 37%in the next five years, and eliminating more than 21% support calls regarding their IT system. The company is basically a UK based firm that is currently operating in the Middle East. The results of this case study demonstrated that cloud computing can be an

Kiki Smith research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Kiki Smith - Research Paper Example It is unfortunate, hence, to find that craft materials and craft techniques are traditionally for the most part forbidden in the world of art. They are dismissed as merely utilitarian objects and have no aesthetic significance. Famed American born contemporary feminist artist Kiki Smith, however, has rewritten the rulebook. Smith’s steady rise as a star in the contemporary art scene is marvelous if not entirely surprising. Her critical success was achieved while employing the use of unconventional craft-oriented materials. Through the use of these materials, she is able to successfully depict the intimate, physical, and psychological perspectives of the human body for her audience. This break from tradition in the use of craft materials is only an aspect of the deviations of Smith’s arts. ... Both of Smith parents are creative people. Her father, Tony Smith was an artist, the celebrated postwar abstract, minimalist sculptor and architect. Her mother, on the other hand, was an opera singer. Smith, hence, was exposed to a highly creative and artistic environment, considering the fact that both of her parents were artists. Particularly, she experienced steady exposure to the creative process from her father. His work has influenced the young Kiki in her artistic style. Tony Smith also maintained a vibrant household who played host to notable contemporary artists such as Jackson Pollack, Mark Rothko, and other gifted artists at the time.3 As a child, Smith would help her father make cardboard three-dimensional representations of what would later be known by the world as his geometrical sculptures. In 1967, his works in this area landed him in the cover of Times magazine. Smith’s father would always try his best to encourage her interest in art. For example, he would se t up a box of cylinders and cones to practice her drawing skills. Another important aspect in Smith’s family that would leave an indelible mark on her as an artist is her religious upbringing. Her family was devoutly Catholic and she herself acknowledges her affinity with her religious denomination later in her adult life. Certainly, this variable would manifest in many of Smith’s artwork later on. In an interview with a magazine, she explained: Some people get free. Some people say that you don’t have to be, but I’m stuck with it. I’ve always been spiritual. That’s always been the most important part of my life, thinking about God or Gods.4 In her childhood, Smith already new that she was not interested in drawing what she saw but, rather, she was more interested in drawing

Book review on the jungle Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Book review on the jungle - Essay Example Moreover, one must have The Jungle in mind when listening to the conservative arguments for a better America. In their view, if businesses would be deregulated and if â€Å"superfluous† agencies, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or the Environmental Protection Agency, or perhaps the Food and Drug Administration, could be defunded or eliminated, businesses would go gangbusters. They are also against unions. In other words, in the Conservative view, the United States should return to a time that is similar to the era surrounding The Jungle. However, as The Jungle shows, if there are no constraints on businesses and the only motive is profit, then workers and society in general, are the losers. There is no better argument for â€Å"excessive† regulations and labor unions than this book. Summary The novel The Jungle centers around the trials and tribulations of a Lithuanian immigrant named Jurgis Rudkus. Jurgis comes to America in the hope of having a better life and more opportunity than what he had in his home country. Instead, he finds an America where corruption runs rampant and there are few regulations on unscrupulous individuals and companies. Therefore there is little incentive to behave judiciously. For instance, Jurgis is taken advantage of by his boss in his meatpacking job and the conditions at the meatpacking factory are extremely poor. There was little inspection of what was going on in the slaughterhouses therefore there was a great chance that the meat would be contaminated by microbes. Moreover, the animals were treated extremely poorly. The book also describes a predatory lending scheme to which Jurgis and his bride, Ona, succumb, which drains their savings and leads to their eviction. Jurgis’ job alone is not enough to support the family, so Ona also has to take a job. However, Ona gets raped by her boss and, when Jurgis goes to defend her honor by attacking her boss, Phil Connor, Jurgis is imprisoned . There are other mishaps that befall Jurgis as well. Ona dies in childbirth, partially because of an incompetent midwife, Madame Haupt and Jurgis’ first child drowns in the muddy street. After this, Jurgis despairs and tries the life of an itinerant. However, he finds that he can only find temporary farm work, as he is turned out after the harvest. Eventually, Jurgis finds solace in socialism, as he gets involved in the socialist movement and a fellow socialist employs him. The book ends with Jurgis’ attendance at a socialist rally. Context Sinclair’s purpose for writing this book was to essentially wake up the American people to working conditions for the poor and expose corruption of those in power. It was an attempted contrast to the ideal of America, which is that America is the land of the free, home of the brave and stands up for liberty and justice, with the reality of America at that time. This reality was that America was a land of oppression and injus tice and the capitalists got rich on the backs of the workers. This was a time before the Food and Drug Administration, before there were regulations, before the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was formed. In this way, the novel is definitely a polemic, as it attacks the establishment directly, as well as the hierarchy of power in the country, by showing the microcosm of slaughterhouses in Chicago and the overall life of one immigrant. The novel is put into

Rhetorical Devices and Literary Techniques Essay Example for Free

Rhetorical Devices and Literary Techniques Essay Rhetorical devices and literary techniques are closely related to tone and style. In fact, an author’s style partly consists of selecting and using certain devices; an author’s tone is partially determined by the type of techniques an author uses. Many SAT books will list lots of Greek terms you don’t need to know, such as synecdoche and anaphora. But the Critical Reading section won’t require that you know the names of rhetorical devices or literary techniques. Rather than bombard you with dozens of unfamiliar terms, we’ll categorize and clump the most common types of devices and techniques below and provide some examples and commentary. As we said, you won’t be specifically tested on these concepts, but they do lurk beneath the surface in the passages. Having a solid understanding of these devices and techniques will improve your ability to handle RPs. Focus on absorbing the similarities and differences between and among them. As you read through the list, note the one key feature all of these techniques and devices share: they allow words and sentences to carry more than only their literal meaning. Here is a list of the most important devices and techniques. We’ve included examples along with commentary on each one: Hyperbole I’m as hungry as a starving lion. Hyperbole is a synonym for exaggeration. Clearly, the speaker is not really as hungry as a starving lion. A hyperbole is just a figure of speech we use to emphasize a point. The opposite device is understatement: I’m a little tired is a purposeful understatement if the speaker has been up for 48 hours. Repetition Duty does not trump honesty. Duty does not trump common sense. And duty, my friends, does not trump morality. Repetition is the conscious and purposeful replication of words or phrases in order to make a point. In this example, it’s clear that the limits of duty are being sketched out. The speaker is trying to show that duty is not the only or even the most important virtue. Imagery and Figurative Language Simile Her eyes were like stars. Her eyes are literally human eyes. Figuratively, they are being compared to stars, meaning, most likely, that they are bright and shiny and cause wonderment. This is an example of a simile. Similes use like and as to make explicit comparisons between unlike things, such as eyes and stars. Metaphor Her eyes were pools of liquid light. Again, her eyes are literally human eyes. Figuratively, they are being compared to pools of liquid light. However, the comparison is implied, not stated. This is an example of a metaphor. Unlike similes, metaphors compare unlike things without explicitly stating the comparison with â€Å"like† or â€Å"as. † Personification Her eyes followed me up the stairs. Can eyes follow someone up the stairs? Not literally, but in this case an eye—which is not a person—is given a person’s abilities, namely, following someone else up the stairs. This is an example of personification. Symbolism Her eyes looked but did not see. All was dark. Literally speaking, eyes either see (healthy eyes) or they don’t see (blind eyes). An eye that looks but does not see is blind in a figurative sense. Very often, vision and light are symbols for understanding and enlightenment. In this example, the woman is most likely unaware of—or â€Å"in the dark†Ã¢â‚¬â€about something. This is an example of symbolism. Sound Patterns Her eyes were rippling pools of liquid light in which I splashed playfully. This metaphor also uses sound patterns to underscore its meaning. Note that the letters l and p repeat: rippling pools of liquid light†¦splashed playfully. The author may have repeated â€Å"l† and â€Å"p† sounds to evoke the sound of water (like in the word splash itself) or simply to link together the words that make up the metaphor—or both. There are many types of sound-pattern devices, each with its own difficult Greek name that you certainly won’t need to know. Rhetorical Questions Can poverty ever be eradicated? Rhetorical questions are not meant to be answered. A rhetorical question is used to present what’s taken to be an unanswerable question, such as these questions: Can a repeat offender ever be trusted not to commit another crime? Can a person ever have too much love? A rhetorical question can also be one in which the author’s answer is clearly intended to be â€Å"no† or â€Å"yes. † In these two examples, the author’s answer is clearly intended to be â€Å"no† (whether you agree with those answers or not). Idioms and Cliches That’ll cost you an arm and a leg. Idioms are inherited quirks of language that native speakers understand without question but which cause nonnative speakers endless trouble. Only a native speaker knows that if something costs an arm and a leg that means it’s expensive, not that you actually need to lose your limbs to purchase it. Many overused idioms and symbols are cliches, and cliches themselves can be used ironically (see irony below). Irony [Said to a mean boss]: â€Å"You’ve been so kind to me. † The SAT loves irony. A statement is ironic if it expresses something different from or opposite to the literal meaning of the words. This example is called verbal irony or sarcasm, which can be thought of as â€Å"heavy-handed irony†: The overuse of antibiotics has led to the rise of resistant strains of many diseases. A statement or situation can be ironic or paradoxical when the words accurately report events that seem to be contradictory but which have actually occurred, as in this example: A soldier has returned from a war. He crashes his motorcycle and dies. His war experiences are told in flashback. Whenever he thinks about death, a motorcycle drives by. A specific literary use of irony is called dramatic irony. In the example above, the audience knows that the soldier will die in a motorcycle crash. The soldier himself, of course, doesn’t know how he will die. (A flashback, by the way, is another literary device made popular by the movies. Flashbacks jump back in the story’s chronology to give background information. For example, the opening scene of the film Lord of the Rings: Return of the King shows Gollum before he found the ring. ) Foreshadowing A soldier goes to war. He survives many brutal battles, just barely missing being killed several times. The soldier becomes obsessed with his â€Å"good luck†Ã¢â‚¬â€why does he survive when so many others die? Every time the soldier has a brush with death, the author makes some subtle mention of a black motorcycle. Eventually, the soldier’s best friend is killed in a motorcycle crash the day after the war has ended. The soldier himself comes home and not too long afterward, he dies by crashing his motorcycle. In this example, the audience and character are equally ignorant about the outcome of the story. However, by using foreshadowing, the author begins to clue in his audience. The character’s fate is slowly revealed to the audience but not necessarily to the character himself. Note that the ending to this story is doubly ironic—was the soldier â€Å"meant† to die in a motorcycle crash or did he bring it about through his own guilt about surviving while others perished? The theme of free will versus predetermination underlies this little story. Motif The motorcycle in the last two examples. A motif is a symbol that is carried through an entire work of fiction. The motorcycle symbolized death throughout both stories. In the Lord of the Rings, the One Ring is a motif for the corrupting nature of power. Now that you have all these concepts under your belt, it’s time to learn the most efficient way to use your knowledge on testlike items and sets.

The Changing Nature Of The Employment Relationship Business Essay

The Changing Nature Of The Employment Relationship Business Essay Problems faced by mangers. Business environment is changing drastically in todays corporate world. In early years of current management era manager were suppose to work exclusively with equipments, data and systems; performing traditional tasks. But scenario of management responsibilities has been changed significantly and todays manger faces issues like cross training, personnel management , interdepartmental communication and widening job scope. Globalization is shaping and re-shaping business environment, resulting in increase of competitors, demand of new sourcing strategies and facing new markets with new demands. Irregular flow of information often subject to quantitatively strong fluctuations, controlling the flow of information is necessary otherwise these fluctuations can become detrimental. Information controlling is the analysis, evaluation and importance attached to the data that collected and provided with the data under various criteria. Because day by day managerial job is becoming more and more hectic manager needs to continuously look for new ways to improve speed and quality along with reduction in rising cost. Rising costs is another problem for the managers. Rising in the cost of services and wages is becoming more and more troublesome for managers. In current environment there is no guarantee of the employees being loyal to company, then in that case, to get more money employees ask for higher wages. Also there is requirement to keep the cost of services, provided by company under constant watch. If company starts loosing because of rising service cost then mangers put attention to solve this issue. As complexity of electronic data processing increases, security often decreases. Not only does this pose problems in the form of breaches, it also has legal ramifications with regard to license. This problem especially faced in IT industries. IT companies buy very expensive software and after some months or years new version comes up, then again managers need to change their strategy along with change in technology. Customers may want to change or upgrade to new technology, then managers has to negotiate for the money and services, this may lead to unsatisfactory customer service. Mainly following are the main challenges faced by todays managers Responding to Globalization: Various forces of globalization are reshaping the business environment generating new competitors and demanding new sourcing strategies and market. In dynamic market situations its very hard for managers to predict any concrete goal and strategy for the business development. Short term strategy may work very well but for long term, goal setting is the problem. Again dynamic market conditions of global economy make the profit prediction shaky. No one is able to predict the variations in the profit and losses, business can make. Responding to globalization is becoming more and more important; this result in redefining business model. Today change is happening at a rate that does not afford organizations the luxury of managing one major change at a time. Today managers are facing two questions because of globalization, how does relentless change redefine the nature of management and the structure of an enterprise? And what role should management play in re-s haping the enterprise? Managing work force diversity: Because of globalization and open market system for business, management has to face diversity in work force. Now a days businesses are spread over different cities in various countries. Thus many times not only gender and age diversity, but cultural diversity becomes essential to manage work force. Basically heterogeneity of people becomes challenge for the managers because of variations in the ethics, motives and working culture. Improving quality and Productivity: Main problem for the management is to decide, what is to produce, how much is to produce and where is to be produce. Management has to decide either to produce different products or to emphasis on one product. Once deciding this, managers have to make sure that the quality of the product is good. It takes long time for the organization to create a market about the product; but if there is any lacuna in quality and productivity then because of high competition its become hard for the product to sustain in market. Improving customer service: Improving customer service is sometimes managers think they will get around to in time. But that time rarely comes. Changes in the requirements or changes in the taste of customers become hurdle in the improvement of customer service. To solve this issue many times managers try to set up scenarios that challenge employees and cover the full range of customer requests. At times management also keep two scenarios running parallel and asks employee to maintain balance. Along with above problems managing labor force is again a challenge for managers. Now days there is no unwritten contract of being loyal to an organization, because of this many employees seems to be fired from the organization or they leave the organization for getting good salary job. In the absence of contract between employee and organization, employee may decide to leave an organization in the middle of project work. This is very challenging situations for managers to deal with. To overcome these challenges managers have to modify the working culture. Managers need to be aware of the skills of their subordinates and people under them. Empowering of employees is the best way to get maximum output from them. People get bore because of routine work, then to get more output managers can make changes or innovations in the working style. Along with the challenges discussed above, managers have to make efforts to understand their employees. If managers are able to gel with their employees then only employee will be happy to work with the manager, and he/she will be ready to face or tackle the challenges faced by managers. By knowing employee managers will be in a position to understand the working capacity of employees and allocate the work accordingly. This will also help for the performance appraisal and to know liking of an employee about the job and the work allocated to him/her. Conclusion: Considering many changes in the working environment and globalization todays managers are facing many new challenges comparing to previous years. Todays managers are coming up with new ideas and theories about the challenges faced by them. Inflation and changing rates of foreign exchanges are also creating challenges to managements, to handle this managers have to come up with new innovative ideas. Introduction The shift from a manufacturing economy to a services economy from production of goods to production of ideas, and from the machine age to the information age has been accompanied by many transformations. Rather than producing goods, the service firms produce ideas. Organizations in the services era, such as software, financial services, and biotechnology firms, depend on intellectual capital. People create intellectual capital and are therefore, the most valuable asset of a firm. Even the environment within which firms conduct business today is very different and much more complex and dynamic when compared to the environment fifteen years ago. Firms no longer compete or operate nationally only. Organizations are no longer governed by the business, legal and political environment of their own nations only. As the world becomes one global playing field, the environmental changes in countries other than the home country of a firm affect business decision and the performance of firms. Se veral societal and global phenomena have challenged the management of human resources. Thus, changes in the economic, business, social and cultural environments have brought about a transformation in the HR function and the roles and responsibilities of HR professionals. Some of the significant environmental trends and changes faced by HR managers that pose major challenges are as follows: Trends in the business environment The changing nature of work Demographic, societal and work-force trends The changing nature of the employment relationship. Globalization of Business A major environmental change that has taken place in the last fifteen years is the globalization of business. The world has become a global village and business has become global in character. Organizations are venturing beyond national boundaries in the pursuit of business opportunities. Toyota Motor Corporation makes cars in USA and India, Mc Donalds sells burgers in India and hamburgers in China, and Marks and Spencers sells products in India. Every other product sold by Wal-Mart stores Inc. is made in India. This is the time when buildings are conceptualized in the US designed in India and built in China. Very recently, Ford Motor Co. (Ford) announced its plans to invest $ 1 billion in products and plants in the Asia-Pacific region in the next few years to maintain its presence in the fast-growing markets. Outsourcing has made India a Manufacturing hub, especially for the automobile sector; with cheap labour providing one of the competitive advantages. Government policy reforms and growth against an appreciating rupee have also facilitated this trend. Large numbers of manufacturing assembly jobs that require low skills have moved from the US and Western Europe to developing countries like China, Thailand, Malaysia, and India. Indias manufacturing and services companies invested $10 billion overseas in 2004. The top 15 Indian IT, software and related companies have invested mostly in developed countries. Like the IT and automobile industries, domestic hospital chains from India, such as Apollo Hospitals Group, Fortis Healthcare and Max Healthcare Institute Private Limited, also have ambitious expansion plans in markets as far away as the US, UK, Mauritius, and South-East Asia. Multinational corporations require employees who can adapt to different cultures, customs, social practices, values, economic and political systems and management approaches, who can work with other employees from differing backgrounds. This has caused new challenges for HR managers. The HRM function of a company must develop systems that will help individuals from different cultural backgrounds to work together. Human resource managers must ensure that employees with the requisite knowledge, skills, abilities, and cultural adaptability are available so that they may be successful in global assignments. Foreign investment is no longer something that flows only from a developed country to a developing one. Indian companies are on an expansion drive. Indian business houses, like the Tata Group and firms like Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (Ranbaxy), Wipro Limited (Wipro), Sun pharmaceutical Industries Limited, Crompton Greaves Limited, Asian Paints, and Cognizant Technology Solutions, have struck merger and acquisition deals world wide to become global players. Acquisitions by Indian companies have now become strategic in nature, by which they have been able to take leadership positions in Asia. The table 1.1 depicts major Human Resource Challenges faced by modern businesses in the present scenario. Table 1.1 Environmental Trends and Human Resource Challenges Sr. No. Environmental Trends Human Resource Challenges 1. Business Environment Globalization and increased competition Managing a global workforce. Ensuring availability of employees who have the skills for global assignments. Focusing increasingly on employee productivity to ensure competitiveness. Ensuring legal compliance when conducting business abroad. Mergers and Acquisitions Managing employee insecurity. Ensuring continued employee productivity. Developing HR initiatives to manage employee morale. Downsizing Managing organizational relationship with survivors Managing morale and commitment of survivors Providing outplacement services or relocation for employees who lose jobs. Providing personal and family counseling to employees who lose their jobs. 2. Changing Nature of Work Industry and Occupational shifts Managing workforce with flexible working patterns. Focusing on competencies during hiring process. Designing incentive based compensation. Developing proactive employee development programmes. Technological Advancements Managing a virtual workforce. Managing employee alienation. Developing training modules and conducting programmes to provide employees with required skills. Retraining current employees to mange obsolescence. Providing work-life balance initiatives. Outsourcing Manage employee concerns about losing jobs due to outsourcing. Managing employee morale and productivity. Flexible Work Arrangements Managing the loss of organizational control over work. Developing programmes for motivating the flexible workforce. Developing ways of ensuring commitment of the flexible workforce to the firm. 3. Demographic, Societal, and Workforce Trends Workforce Diversity Workforce Composition Devising customized HR strategies for hiring, retaining, and motivating employees belonging to different generations. Developing life-style driven perks for the new generation employees. Developing work-life balance programmes. Workforce Availability Ensuring the availability of skilled talent to fulfill organizational needs. Ageing population and workforce Finding replacement for retirees. Managing the demand-supply gap for qualified managerial talent due to a large retiring workforce. Developing mentoring programmes to ensure the skills of experienced mangers are passed on to new managers. Obsolescence training and retaining of older employees. Managing retirement policies. Conducting programmes to retain experienced employees. Educated and knowledge workforce Ensuring the continued supply of trained manpower. Training new hires. Partnering with universities and developing academic initiatives to meet projected shortage of skilled manpower. Training employees in computer skills, communication skills, and customer handling skills. Emphasizing re-training and development activities. Women in workforce Strategizing to attract and retain educated and skilled women workers. Conducting programmes for women who opt for career breaks. Providing facilities such as crà ¨ches, flexible working hours, etc. Changing family structures Developing work-life balance programmes. Global Workforce Developing diversity training programmes. Developing HR initiatives directed to workforce diversity. Identifying and training expatriate managers for overseas assignments. Developing equitable pay plans for individuals working in different countries. Contingent Workforce/workforce flexibility Developing systems to motivate the temporary workforce and elicit commitment from them Helping the temporary employees to quickly adapt to the organization to reach their full potential 4. Changing Nature of Employment Relationship Offering challenging jobs to employees. Managing rewards for enhancing employee performance. Providing opportunities for enhancing skills through training, development, and educational programmes. Developing programmes for employee commitment. Understanding value differences across different employee groups and customizing HR programmes. Source: Agarwala, Tanuja, Strategic Human Resource Management, Oxford Publication, 2007. Another recent change faced by HRM in the present business scenario is that of Mergers and Acquisitions. Companies today need to be fast growing, efficient, profitable, flexible, adaptable, and future-ready and have a dominant market position. Without these qualities, firms believe that it is virtually impossible to be competitive in todays global economy. In order to gain access to new markets and fresh ideas, companies often choose to grow via Mergers Acquisitions (MA) rather than concentrating their efforts on their own business activities. Such inorganic growth is often viewed as a faster way to achieve growth for the company. Especially in technology driven industries, where growth is often accelerated through increased innovations, and one way for the firms to compete is to align themselves with those companies that are developing the innovative technology. Such alignment is achieved through MA activities. Successful manifestation of such activities involves complex procedures and processes in order to integrate both organizations and align them as per a common unified objective. It has created certain problems for an organization. One of the problems associated with MAs is the retrenchment of staff that becomes surplus due to rationalization of operations. For example, in the financial services sector, MA activity between 1996 and 2006 caused an aggregate employment decline. Due to MA, sector experts predicted a loss of more than 300,000jobs in the banking sector between 1999 and 2002. When negotiations for MA are on, employees of the concerned firms are subject to several rumours that cause insecurity about the future. Thus, HRM is faced with several challenges before, during, and after the MA decision. In the present era, the competitive advantage of organizations is linked to knowledge. There is a lot of emphasis placed upon dissemination of knowledge, and knowledge workers within organizations. Therefore, there is an increased focus on management of the knowledge resource in organization. Thus, in the 21st century, the HRM function has a key role to play in shaping the competitive position of the organization. To compete effectively in the knowledge economy, a firm must have what Ulrich calls organizational capabilities.HRM plays an important role in creating, developing, and managing the organizational capabilities that are necessary for competing in the knowledge economy. Human resource mangers have to create effective teams within a diverse workforce; tap talent throughout the organization by recruiting, retaining, and developing people at all levels; build and integrate cultures as mergers and acquisitions become common; and develop employee commitment toward organizational v ision. Human resource management is confronted with major challenges in the present knowledge economy. Thus, HRM is no longer simply focused on managing people or confined to traditional HR functions rather; it is now responsible for managing the capabilities within the organization. The Table 1.2 given below elaborates upon the challenges facing HRM in the knowledge economy. The four major HRM roles in the Knowledge economy are as:- Human Capital Steward Knowledge Facilitator Relationship Builder Rapid Deployment Specialist Technology has had a tremendous impact upon the global business environment. Communication, transportation and production efficiency are various areas of business which have been enhanced by the development and improvement of technology. As continual enhancements are made, the world continues to grow smaller and businesses have further reach than ever. Computers The most important technological development to impact the global business environment is the world of computers. There are various programs which help maintain records of inventories and shipments. Email allows for instantaneous communication almost anywhere in the world. Besides its speed, email is easily forwarded and retained. The communication in the global business environment is improved with the use of email. The impact of computers on the global business environment is wide-ranging and also includes the Internet, which is a useful tool for international companies. By using the Internet, companies across the world can perform research and learn more about partners and suppliers. Conference Calls and Video Conferencing Conference calls allow people in multiple locations to be involved in the same conversation. Video conferencing provides the same service, but with the added benefit of all parties being able to actually see each other. Both of these forms of communication have a definite impact on the global business environment. With either form of technology, a parent company in Norway can have a conversation with a raw material supplier in Brazil and a manufacturing plant in Taiwan. This improves communication on a global scale and enables all parties to understand specific plans and agreements. Sponsored Links Import export Find quality suppliers on 20-23 Apr Register for free trade admission! www.hktdc.com Transportation The shipment of raw materials and finished products is absolutely vital to any business, but particularly those with an international scope. Transportation technology enables a company on one continent to send its raw materials or products to another company in a different continent. Technological advancements in airplanes, cargo ships and railways allow for quicker, cheaper delivery, which impacts business by making global distribution more feasible. Manufacturing Technology Increased efficiency of manufacturing plants has a certain impact on the global business environment. By having the capacity to produce materials and products more quickly and efficiently, a company is able to produce quantities needed to supply global demand. Robotic technologies and factory lines have enhanced the speed at which materials and products are manufactured. For a company to be a player in the global business field, it must be able to keep up with demand. Shipment Tracking Corporations now have the ability to track shipments virtually anywhere across the world. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) allow accurate tracking. The implication of this technology on the global business environment is the ability to let customers know exactly where their shipments are at any given time. This technology creates secure relationships within the global business field. Competitors fill a need for business owners by keeping them on the cutting edge. Without competitors, a business would have no reason to keep prices in check. It would create a monopoly which is never good in any society. When two competitors compete for business, the market (customers) are the ones who decide who they will patronize with their dollars. Prices are usually the first element people choose when deciding which business or product to go with. Competitors drive innovation and keep new ideas and procedures moving forward. Imagine if McDonalds were the only fast food hamburger restaurant in the world. There would never be a Burger King to compete. All food would taste bland and boring. Everyone is always looking to build a better mousetrap Many consumers and social advocates believe that businesses should not make a profit but also consider the social implications of their activities. We define social responsibility as a businesss obligation to maximize its positive impact minimize its negative impact on society. Although many people use the terms social responsibility and ethics interchangeably, they do not mean the same thing. Business ethics relates to an individuals or a work groups decisions that society evaluates as right or wrong, whereas social responsibility is a broader concept that concerns the impact of the entire businesss activities on society. From an ethical perspective, for example, we may be concerned about a health care organization or practitioner over- charging the provincial government for medical services. From a social responsibility perspective, we might be concerned about the impact that this overcharging will have on the ability of the health care system to provide adequate services for all c itizens. The most basic ethical and social responsibility concerns have been codified as laws and regulations that encourage businesses to conform to societys standards, values, and attitudes. At a minimum, managers are expected to obey these laws and regula- tions. Most legal issues arise as choices that society deems unethical, irresponsible, or otherwise unacceptable. However, all actions deemed unethical by society are not nec- essarily illegal, and both legal and ethical concerns change over time. Business law refers to the laws and regulations that govern the conduct of business. Many problems and conflicts in business can be avoided if owners, managers, and employees know more about business law and the legal system. Business ethics, social responsibility, and laws together act as a compliance system requiring that businesses and employees act responsibly in society. Business ethics are moral principles that guide the way a business behaves. The same principles that determine an individuals actions also apply to business. Acting in an ethical way involves distinguishing between right and wrong and then making the right choice. It is relatively easy to identify unethical business practices. For example, companies should not use child labour. They should not unlawfully use copyrighted materials and processes. They should not engage in bribery. However, it is not always easy to create similar hard-and-fast definitions of good ethical practice. A company must make a competitive return for its shareholders and treat its employees fairly. A company also has wider responsibilities. It should minimise any harm to the environment and work in ways that do not damage the communities in which it operates. This is known as corporate social responsibility. Codes of behaviour The law is the key starting point for any business. Most leading businesses also have their own statement of Business Principles which set out their core values and standards. In Anglo Americans case, this is called Good Citizenship. A business should also follow relevant codes of practice that cover its sector. Many companies have created voluntary codes of practice that regulate practices in their industrial sector. These are often drawn up in consultation with governments, employees, local communities and other stakeholders. Anglo American has played an active part in initiatives such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, the United Nations Global Compact and the Global Reporting Initiative. Anglo American has also contributed to the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights. This code sets out principles and practices for ensuring that a companys need to ensure the security of its employees and operations in volatile countries does not adversely impact upon the local population. Thus the Principles provide guidance on how both private and public security forces assigned to protect a mining operation or an oil and gas facility should be vetted, trained in human rights, monitored and controlled. Anglo American also aims to ensure that it plays a role in protecting the human rights of its employees and local people in countries in which it operates. The company supports the principles set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. All companies need to make a profit. However, Anglo American recognises that this objective must take account of ethics as shown in its statement on corporate responsibility: Though providing strong returns for our shareholders remains our prime objective, we do not believe that these can or should be achieved at the expense of social, environmental and moral considerations. Indeed a long-term business such as ours will only thrive if it also takes into account the needs of other stakeholders such as governments, employees, suppliers, communities and customers. Stakeholders An important process used by Anglo American is that of stakeholder engagement. This enables it better to understand the perspectives and priorities of external groups that are affected by its activities and to factor them into its decision-making processes. To support this work at a local level, Anglo American has developed a Socio-Economic Assessment Toolbox or SEAT process. This toolbox helps managers to measure the impact of activities on the company and communities. It also helps to improve a mines contribution to development through, for example, using its supply chain needs to generate new businesses or to improve the water or electricity infrastructure. They use this toolbox to engage with stakeholders including community representatives. Sometimes communities have to be resettled, with government sanction, in order for important mineral deposits to be accessed. This can cause controversy and divisions in the communities concerned. International best practice sets out a number of key stages in such a process including the need for structured consultation, fair compensation and the importance of restoring and enhancing the livelihoods of people in their new locations. Recently Anglo American has had to undertake two such relocations in South Africa at the villages of Ga Pila and Motlhotlo. These were undertaken with the support of the provincial government and local tribal leadership and after consultation with local people lasting for several years leading to agreement with each householder. New villages have been built with better houses and infrastructure and more land for farming. The relocation programme was voluntary. The relocation programme at Motlhotlo is still under way but at Ga Pila 98% of those living in the old village took up the offer to move to the new village Read more: http://businesscasestudies.co.uk/anglo-american/business-ethics-and-corporate-social-responsibility/what-are-business-ethics.html#ixzz2K6s8ohJR Follow us: @Thetimes100 on Twitter | thetimes100casestudies on Facebook

Cuba: History, geography and culture

Cuba: History, geography and culture Is Cuba an ancient and magical country in your mind? Do you think it is very attractive country? Most of you must know the cigar from Cuba are the most famous one in the world. But now I am going to tell you that the women volleyball from Cuba is also very powerful. So I will introduce something of Cuba, including the history, the people there , the food and fun facts as well in my project. Introduction of Cuba Official Name: Republic of Cuba Form of Government: Socialized Republic Capital: Havana Population: 11,382,820 Official Language: Spanish Currency: Peso Area: 110,860km2 Geography The largest island in the Caribbean Sea is Cuba. Cuba and its neighbour countries are the islands which formed by two of Earths tectonic plates collided million years ago. Cuba is a long and narrow island, and the country stretches 1200 kilometers from east to west, but is only 100 kilometers wide in most places. It lies in the west of the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Gulf of Mexico, south of the Straits of Florida, northwest of the Windward Passage, and northeast of the Yucatan Channel. High mountains and rolling hills cover about one-third of Cuba. The other two-thirds of the island is lowland plains which is uesed mainly for farming. It has many different habitats, from mountain forests to jungles, and grasslands. There are even small deserts. These different ecosystem are home to unique plants and animals found only in Cuba. History The Ciboney and Guanahatabey people were Cubas original inhabitants. The Taino people in charged of the island 1000 thousand years ago. Cuban history began at the moment of Columbus arrival in 1492. Later, he sight Cuba, and gave its a name as Juana. Cuba became the major sugar producer in the world, because of the the collapse of another sugar-producer Haiti. Till the end of 19th century, Spaniards kept on governing of the island by increasing the despotism and taxation. Creole people began to against with the government. As as a result, the Ten Years War against Spain(1868-1878) was made but unfortunately, it was failure to win the independence of Cuba. But the continued growth of Cuban nationalism caused the second independence war(1895-1898)) and finally it was suppressed by the Spaniards and the leader Josà © Martà ­ was killed. Then, the Americans invovled into the conflict in 1898. The United States intervened in Cuba in 1906-1909, 1917, and 1921. U.S. economic lock also impacted the growth of Cuba down and made the island more relied on Spain. On August 12, 1933, the cruel dictator of Gerardo Machado was forced to resign because of the dropping-down economic of the world depression. U.S. Backed The dictator Fulgencio Batista who was supported by U.S. led Cuba from 1933-1944 and from 1952-1959, before being overthrown as a result of the Cuban Revolution. On January 1, 1959, Fidel Castro Ruz, who is a charismatic, anti-U.S. revolutionary seized power. As the Castro confiscated U.S. properties and investments and from April 16, 1961, to convert Cuba into a one-party communist system, relationship between the United States and Cuba deteriorated immidiately. A Continuing Cuban-U.S. Cold War began from that time. Economy of Cuba Cuba has a lot of natural resources, including cobalt, nickel, salt, silica and petroleum. The whole island was covered with forests and there are still many cedar and other valuable trees. Large areas were cleared to grow more sugarcane. Sugarcane was the most important part of the economy in Cubas history. Tobacco, used for some of the worlds cigars, is grown especially in the Pinar del Rà ­o Province. The most important Cuban mineral economic resource is nickel. Cuba has the second largest nickel reserves in the world. The economy of Cuba is a largely centrally planned economy controlled by state-own enterprises which are run by the Cuban government as well as the productions. Most of the labor force is employed by the state. Capital investment is restricted and requires approval by the government. The Cuban government sets most prices and rations goods to people. Since the U.S. has locked and economic toward Cuba at the time the communists took power. Cuba has close relationship with Russia until 1991, the time that Soviet Union broke up. This caused an economic crisis in Cuba, which had relied on financial assistant from Russia. Cuba announced in 1995 that GDP dropped by 35% during 1989-1993, because of lost the help of Soviets and domestic inefficiencies. The decreasing in GDP stopped in 1994, at that period Cuba reported 0.7% growth, followed by increases of 2.5% in 1995 and 7.8% in 1996. Growth flat again in 1997 and 1998 to 2.5% and 1.2% . Due to the continued growth of tourism, growth began in 1999. In 2007 the Cuban economy increased by 7.5%, although below the expected of 10%, still higher than other countries in the Latin American. People of Cuba The total population of Cuba is 11,241,161 on December 31, 2010. Ethnically mixed population as white 65.1%, mixed race 24.8%, black 10.1% according to official 2002 census. The mixture of native, African and European influences in Cuba gives this island a lively culture that is know around the world. Government of Cuba à £Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€š ¬Ãƒ £Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€š ¬Cuba is a socialist state run by the Cuban Communist Party. Cubans vote for their leaders, but the communist party is the only legal party. Fidel Castro was president, prime minister and commander of the armed forces until Feb. 2008, when he quit down due to a lengthy illness. Cuba is divided into 14 provinces and 1 special municipality. Each one of these provinces is subdivided into municipalities and zones. Cuban food Cuban cuisine has been influenced by Spanish, French, African, Arabic, Chinese, and Portuguese cultures. People like to saute or slow-cooked the food over a low flame. Only little food is deep-fried with light cream. Most dished mix a few basic spices, such as garlic, cumin, oregano, and bay laurel leaves inside. Meats and poultry are usually put into citrus juices in advance, such as lime or sour orange juices, and then roasted over low heat. Kinds of root vegetables such as yuca, malanga, and boniato are always found in Latin markets. These vegetables are flavored with a marinade, called mojo, which includes hot olive oil, lemon juice, sliced raw onions, garlic, cumin, and little water. A traditional Cuban breakfast have a tostada and cafe con leche. The tostada is a kind of Cuban bread with butter. The cafe con leche is a combination of strong, espresso coffee with warm milk. In a addition, some may eat ham croquets. It is smoky creamed ham with the shape of finger rolls. Lunch consists of empanadas, chicken or meat, or cuban sandwiches. People may also would like to have a side of mariquitas which is thinly sliced plantain chips, accompanying the hearty sandwich. Dinner will usually have a meat, chicken, or fish dish as the entree accompanied by white rice, black beans, and maduros, sweet fried plantains. At times, a small salad of sliced tomatos and onions might be added to the meal. The meal is followed by dessert, such as the typical flan, a Cuban caramel-flavored custard, and another shot of cafe. For holidays or special occasions, the typical Cuban cuisine would be a small pig, flavored with salt, garlic, and sour orange juice, then roasted over an open fire, slowly cooked for several hours. Fun Facts of Cuba Many interesting creatures live in Cubas dense forests. Most notorious is the bee hummingbird, the worlds smallest bird. Adult bee hummingbird grows to only two inches long. The worlds smallest frog also lives in Cuba. Unlike most countries, in Latin America, Cubas favourite sport is not soccer. Its baseball! Baseball came to Cuba from U.S. In the 1860s. Numerous international baseball stars have come from Cuba, and the Cuban national team is one of the best in the world.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge Essay -- Architecture Engineering History Bridge

Tacoma Narrows Bridge One of the most influential engineering discoveries in the past century was the ill-fated Tacoma Narrows Bridge. â€Å"Galloping Gertie† as she was known to local residents, the massive Washington state suspension bridge shook, rattled and rolled its way into the history books. Legendary in its time, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge held many records and drew tourists from around the world in its short life. However, the famous bridge is not known for its creative engineering or speedy construction, unfortunately the bridge was destined to fail. That failure in turn changed the way every building is constructed today as well as further man’s understanding of physics and the forces of nature. In this paper we will examine the history of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge from design to construction, the failure of the bridge, and ultimately the rebuilding project. The bridge was constructed roughly 8 miles west of downtown Tacoma and 40 miles south of Seattle. This area of Washington is a maze of waterways and islands named the Puget Sound where the Pacific Ocean meets the mainland of Washington. The original build location is known as the Tacoma Narrows, due to the proximity of Olympic Peninsula and the mainland. The Olympic Peninsula is home to beaches, the Hoh Rain Forest, the Olympic Mountains and the Victorian Seaport. The span between shores is about a mile wide which is surprisingly the closest in all 20,000 square miles of Puget Sound, hence the name Tacoma Narrows. The Olympic Peninsula rests in the middle of the Puget Sound in Western Washington and is home to wildlife, hunting and fishing, and a few fledgling communities in the 1930’s. State officials had been p... ... due for completion in 2008. Today 90,000 vehicles cross the Tacoma Narrows a day, in the next 5 years the Washington Toll Authority Projects the bridges to transport 120,000 vehicles a day. The Tacoma Narrows Bridge was possibly the luckiest engineering catastrophe if there ever was one. Despite the very real danger, no human life was lost and engineers and the human race alike are better off for it. Bibliography: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacoma_Narrows_Bridge http://euclid.ucc.ie/applmath/projects/bridge/ http://www.brantacan.co.uk/osclinks.htm http://www.civeng.carleton.ca/Exhibits/Tacoma_Narrows/DSmith/photos.html http://www.civl.port.ac.uk/comp_prog/tacoma/design.htm http://www.lib.washington.edu/specialcoll/tnb/ http://www.nwrain.net/~newtsuit/recoveries/narrows/narrows.htm http://www.vibrationdata.com/Tacoma.htm

Ethnicity and Soccer :: essays research papers

Ethnicity and Soccer: The effect of non-English speaking immigrants on the establishment of soccer in Canberra in the 1950s and 1960s. Abstract: Soccer in Canberra as a sport had died prior to the war. The advent of Australia’s new immigration policy after 1945 saw a solid influx, over the next two decades, of non-English speaking Europeans to Australia and through their input they assisted in the re-emergence of soccer as a main sport in the region. From the Baltic states to the Southern Europeans of Greece and Italy, the change to the Canberra landscape was quite dramatic; soccer was one that benefited significantly. In the days prior to the second world war ethnicity evolved around that of Scottish and non-Scottish when dealing with the sport of soccer in the region. In all the records of those who played soccer up until 1933, there was only one non-British player even though a number of Italians and others were working in the district. When Australia opened it’s migration policy, after 1945, to include those from a larger number of non-English speaking backgrounds, many moved to Canberra to help build the Capital during the construction boom of the period. Yet this did not create the harmony that was hoped for. Familiarity was essential to post-war immigrants. Australian culture was alien to new arrivals and Australians were at best indifferent to immigrants and sometimes antagonistic to the newcomers. A long-held Australian distaste for anything not British also helped drive immigrants into self-contained communities, their organisations serving as bulwarks against the British-Australian majority. Soccer clubs in immigrant communities were an instrument through which all elements of life could be sustained. They enabled individuals to interact, establish patronage links, support networks and social contacts. They were institutions which could be used to create tightly-knit communities and they were valued as a way of retaining the support of the youth. There was a continuing fear among older immigrants that their children would abandon their heritage in favour of Australian ways. (1) Following the second world war, soccer in the district did not return until 1948, when a team participated in the Goulburn competition. The sport moved back to Canberra in the following year although competitions were rare, and reporting of these even rarer. In those few years following the recommencement of play, soccer teams comprised of mixed ethnic origins, yet team names were still mainly geographical. In 1951 four teams entered a competition – Turner, Ainslie, Capitol Hill and Olympics.