Thursday, October 31, 2019

What Is the Real Objective of Case Management Quality of Care vs Essay

What Is the Real Objective of Case Management Quality of Care vs. Reduced Costs - Essay Example However, it is questionable whether these systems can offer both quality and low costs. By coordinating the healthcare needs of a patient requiring multiple services from multiple providers, studies of disease management programs have shown that these programs do improve quality by offering interventions such as pre-recorded telephone reminders or home visits by medical professionals (Rand Corporation Study). According to the Rand study, conditions such as diabetes and congestive heart failure (CHF) benefited from case management and reduced costs by decreasing hospital admissions, while patients suffering from depression were more apt to use outpatient services and prescription drugs, increasing costs. Six chronic conditions were analyzed in the study: CHF, coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes, asthma, depression, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Improved quality was found in four of the six illnesses, with inconclusive results for asthma and COPD. Long-term health outcomes have not been determined, however, because the study covered only one year. In a one-year study by Michael Long, professor at Wichita State University, geriatric patients who were at least 75 and functionally impaired were randomly assigned to a regular-care group or a case-managed group. The goal was to eliminate the fragmented care that often exists for these patients. Both benefits and costs must be taken into consideration before determining success or failure in such a patient advocacy program (Long). The goal should be set by a team and success determined by whether the goal is met. In Long's study, the case-managed group benefited more than the regular-care group, and improved quality was the result. Cost and quality are sometimes considered opposing factors, but Long considers this too simple an explanation. He recommends a formula: Quality=Benefits - (Risk and Cost), which takes into consideration all the factors involved in case management programs. Limitations of Case Management Programs In a more expanded study, consisting of 46 states examining HMOs and primary care case management (PCCM) programs, the reporting states tended to emphasize utilization results over quality-measure results. In states where many commercial health plans have recently abandoned Medicaid contracts and some rural areas of the United States have been unable to attract health plans, PCCM programs are distinct from capitated managed care plans in that the Medicaid agency purchases health care services as if it were a health plan (Schneider et al). A comparison of quality oversight PCCM programs and health plans serving Medicaid beneficiaries indicates that states with both have fewer expectations for PCCM programs and do not seem to have a distinct goal. At present, the study found that PCCM programs have not as a rule collected performance data, thereby lacking the means to improve quality care. Strengths of Case Management Programs One area in which healthcare costs are accelerated is with the high number of diabetics needing treatment, and case management is highly recommended for glycemic control in these patients. As noted by The Guide to Community Preventive Services online, "Diabetes management is complex and difficult for both patient and healthcare provider, and traditional healthcare delivery methods have not adequately met their needs" (Case Management Interventions). The Guide goes on to say that a systematic review shows case management delivered as part of disease management to be effective in adults with Type 2 diabetes. Managed care strategies for Medicaid populations in Florida, North Carolina, and

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Two restaurant you've attended Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Two restaurant you've attended - Essay Example However, a select few rise to the top of everyone’s lists, and in my opinion, two of the greatest are called Blackbird and Tru. These two restaurants give their patrons an exceptional dining experience both in terms of the environment that one eats in and the actual food that one eats. These two aspects of the total dining experience become one as the patron sits down to enjoy his or her meal with family, friends, or associates. As just as Blackbird differs from Tru in terms of the environment, so too do they differ in terms of the food they offer. I argue that both aspects are equally important in the total experience of the meal. Both beautifully match the environment they offer with the food, creating a kind of synesthetic experience where a sense of taste seems to become a sense of what the place looks and feels like. With this in mind, I argue that Tru gives its visitor a sense of lavishness in style, in contrast to the more minimalist approach taken by the creators of Bl ackbird, who adorn their restaurant and food with nothing in excess. The Blackbird restaurant is spare in style. It is chic and very urban which seems to separate it from the distinct culture of the city of Chicago. The dining room is narrow and packed with tables close together, which tends to make it hard to hear someone sitting across the table. It is definitely a place for modish people looking for a fun time out on the town and a very tasty meal. The restaurant sits on a quiet end of a series of restaurants. It serves mainly American dishes, but without frills. The restaurant characteristically serves guests meals that carry nothing in excess. Mirroring the minimalist appearance of the food, the exterior of the building is stark and yet magical in its glow. Inside, the dà ©cor is sleek and modern in appearance. The room itself is rather plain and cold, with abstract paintings and white walls, wooden floors and metal chairs. The Tru

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Child Malnutrition In Somalia Health And Social Care Essay

Child Malnutrition In Somalia Health And Social Care Essay Fifty three percent of children in Somalia have the risk of malnutrition (UN). With the increasing drought and violence rate, thousands of Somalis have fled in search for work in countries that border Somalia. The information assembled for this project includes behavioral, environmental dynamics of Malnutrition in children, and an explicit point of convergence of the general history of nutritional diseases in the country suffered by children. A large proportion of malnutrition mortality is contributed by infections that are largely preventable cause. A large scale of these deaths happen at home and because the child is given no medical attention. There are majority of alternatives and programs that can be implemented in order to help reduce and solve the problem of malnutrition, this policy brief has therefore provided some recommendations to address to this growing health issue. As of 2009 (2005 statistics), the World Bank has estimated that, the population of Somali children under 5 ranged from 1637 17000. Among that population 42% of children under 5 suffered firm shunting (WHO) while 36 % of the total population of children suffered from underweight (NCHS/WHO) accompanied by severe malnutrition. Recurring famines has been of a huge problem in the horn of Africa, particularly Somalia. Although famines do not necessarily result from lack of food production alone, it could be triggered by natural disasters that manifests in drought of crops but the major factor that is responsible behind recurring famines is due to a Nations economic collapse and the loss of authority of the government on the the mass of population. Somalia Severe crisis in food availability increased the mortality rate of different age groups but, children were mostly affected by it. Many people either leave to another town in search for work or leave the country altogether in search for a better quality of life. Somalia has suffered from consecutive droughts years that has caused a loss of livestock, population displacement and malnutrition being the major issue leaving 10 million people at risk for starvation. Children, particularly those who ranged less than 5 years of age usually have a higher death rate in such conditions. Based on data from - , the search for malnutrition in chidren of Somalia, reported that approximately 53% of the total child population age ranged 5 years and below were malnutrition prevalent, while 180 per 1000 children lives under the age of 5 resulted in death, triggering an increase in child mortality rates. Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia experiences constant wars, poverty and diseases. Children who live admits this war crisis have no option but to depend on elders for basic necessities for survival. In Somalia children experience difficulties like, poverty, violence which is caused by civil unrest contribute less or no nutritional facilities to children. Children have no choice but to do menial jobs only as a source for survival. (Jamal Osmaan). According to the Food Analysis Unit for Somalia (FAO/FSAU), more than 600,000 people, out of which 43% of children, in Shabelle and Somalias capital Mogadishu, are in a keen need for humatirarian emergency, due to the high inflation of starvation rates. Infectious diseases like diarrhea, pneumonia, kwashiorkor, edema and marusmus are the most acquired diseases that are manifested as a result of malnutrition in Somalia. Insufficient amont of nutritients like, proteint, iodine, calcium along with several other causes play a part in such occurrences of infections which result in mortality. In addition, malnutrition also causes an increased case-fatality ratio (CFR) in the most common childhood communicable diseases (i.e., measles, diarrheal disease, malaria, and acute respiratory infections (ARIs). Even when the coutry is not at a risk of drought or famines, majority of the age groups that still at are mortality risk comprise of young children. Environmental factors that encourage malnutrition rates can be because of; growth in population, overcrowding, people living in unsanitary conditions, forced migration and last but not the least, dependency on the government to provide nutritional campaignes for both mothers and children affecte d with severe malnutrition. Somalia does not have the railway transportation facilities although buses and trucks are made available in certain regions, the roads are seriously deteriorated enough to help patients in need for medical attention. Even if families decide to take these children to hospitals, transportation, funds and the bad image of public health establishments delay the underprivileged child from obtaining the care they need. With reference to this specific population, the UNICEF and the WHO implemented three nutritional statuses that determine quantitative analysis of children suffering from malnutrition: Weight for age: measures both acute and chronic malnutrition. Height for age: measure the height of the child with respect to age. This method determines the characteristics of a child who is severely shunted. Stunting is a reflection of chronic malnutrition which occurs if a child does not receive adequate nutrition over a long period and is exposed to recurring chronic illnesses. Based on, Somalia MICS 2006 Report, 53% of Somali children under the age of 5 are Malnutrition prevalent and 36% of the total child population are moderately underweight(Appendix.1). In addition, thirty eight percent of children are stunted or too short for their age and 11 percent are wasted or too thin for their height. With regard to these data, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the World Fit for Children (WFFC) have set goals to reduce infant and child mortality caused as a result of malnutrition. Childrens nutritional status is the key determinant for a childs overall health. If a child receives a good supply of food and not exposed to repeated illnesses and are well taken care of they satisfy the term of nourishment. http://www.childinfo.org/files/MICS3_Somalia_FinalReport_2006_eng.pdf Poor food security is a basic cause of malnutrition, that causes major compulsion to adequate household food security and also feeding practice. At this time, in addition to poor food security,there was an increase in child and mother health deterioration. This proves that emergency consideration should given to health issues that are formed as a result of food crisis. Community based tactics are being evaluated to provide precautionary and aid services through national as well as international organizations like UNICEF, the World Health Organization, United Nations and World Fit for Children (WFFC). To broaden this flourishing program to a bigger population, UNICEF admits the worsening drought conditions, soaring food prices and mass displacement of people have formulated programs by supplying supplementary feeding for 44,000 children under five years of age across the Mogadishu-Afgoye province in Central and Southern Somalia. UNICEF with partnership with National Somali NGO Jumdo Peace and development has aimed to reach out and help 90% of the total malnutrited children. () There is an ongoing requirement for progress and support of basic diagnostic methods, in addition to the progress of fact-based healing guidelines, to permit minimally qualified health care workers to effectively and efficiently take care of children inflected with diseases that arise as a result of malnutrition. There is an utmost necessity to investigate the health system challenges and limitations for implementation of national awareness programs, examination of antibiotic treatment to specific illnesses like pneumonia that is associated with child malnutrition. Poverty is usually considered to be the main causes of malnutrition. The quality of life initiatives should be taken into consideration and any laws developed on women should not reduce time for the care of children. Other drawback that influence the growth rate of malnutrition in parts of Somalia are : Vaccination coverage provided by the government doesnt satisfy the demand of the children in need. Long distances have to be covered to reach medical facilities and children are not able to to make it through the long journey to receive medical attention. Hygiene and sanitation conditions are poor and clean water is rarely available. Malnourished chidren already prone to be being susceptible to secondary illnesse, factors like exposure to poor hygienic conditions and most women are being uneducated and illiterate limits their knowledge to good caring practices and prevention of diseases. Since, child and maternal morbidity were important determinants of malnutrition in Somalia, the population that are inflicted with high rates of child mortality should receive access to health services, particularly maternal and child health, immunizations to emerging diseases and availability of Vitamin A supplements. Diseases like Edema, Kwashiorkor and Marasmus are often linked as a result of child malnutrition. Hence in order to achieve an improved statistical number of mortality rate in children it is necessary to take proper initiatives to improve dietary diversity. This could be encouraged by lowering the cost of food supply and provided informal education to improve knowledge in nutrition and health. The subject on nutrition should involve breast feeding information, how to prepare weaning foods and increase diversity using local foods. Simple instructions like teaching mothers to be involved in the treatment and recovery of their children, feeding assistance based on calorie consumption, helps prevent the downfall of children population. Another significant aspect in decreasing malnutrition mortality is by providing sufficient nutrients which supplies children with adequate antibodies and the sustenance to fight infectious diseases. Infants and children who are well nourished get sick less and for short period of time, love longer and work more years than adults who are not well nourished(Skolnik, 2008) This helps make contribution to the nations economy.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Islam Essay -- Religion Religious Islam Essays

Islam   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Islam is comprised of three essential beliefs: The belief in God, obeying his moral laws, and believing in the after-life. Submission to God is directly followed by obeying the moral standards of everyday life. The Qur'an makes morality reign supreme and ensures that the affairs of life, instead of dominated by selfish desires, be regulated by norms of morality. These laws are the standard by which God determines the life of the believers, and the disbelievers on the Day of Judgement.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The belief in life after death not only guarantees success in the Hereafter but also makes this world full of peace and happiness by making individuals responsible and dutiful in their activities. The Qur'an lays down a moral system which is the standard by which conduct a particular mode of conduct is judged and classified as good or bad. "It is not righteous that you turn your faces East or West; but it is righteous to believe in God and the Last Day and the Angels, and the Book, and the messengers; to spend the rest of your substance, out of love for Him, for you kin, for orphans for the needy, for the steadfast in prayers, and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which you made; to be firm and patient in pain or suffering and adversity and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God-conscious." (2:177) To elaborate further, our faith should be true and sincere, we must be prepared to show it in deeds of charity to our fellow-men, we must be good citizens, supporting social organizations, and our own individual soul must be firm and unshaken in al circumstances. Along with these standards, there is also the five pillars of Islam that is essential to ensure a rewarding after life. These pillars include: The belief that Allah is the one and only God, and Mohammad is his prophet; Salat five times a day; Zakat; Pilgrimage to Meccah; Observe fasting ritual during the month of Ramadan. These standards provides a sanction to morality in the love and fear of God, which will impel man to obey the moral law even without external pressures. Through belief in God and the Day of Judgement it furnishes a force which enables a person to adapt the moral conduct with sincerity and devotion straight form the heart and the soul.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Qur'an explains the Day of Judgement as the day when the whole universe will be destr... ... glum therein." (23:99-104) The scales that this passage refers to is the scales of moral conduct on earth. If one does good deeds on earth, the weight of those deeds are heavier on the Day of Judgement. Evil deeds constitutes less wieght on the scale of judgement. In essence, life on earth is a test for all humans. The more good deeds one accumulates, the better the chances are of eternal bliss in the afterlife.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The explanation that the Qur'an gives about the necessity of life after death is what the moral consciousness of man demands. If there is no life after death, the very belief in God becomes irrelevant, or even if one believes in God, that would be an unjust and indifferent God: having once created man and not concerned with his fate. This is not so in Islam. We know through the Qur'an that God is Just and Merciful. The day of resurrection will be the day when God's attributes of Justice and Mercy will be in full manifestation. God will show his Mercy on those who suffered for his sake, and punish those who cared nothing about God and the after-life. Believing in God, obeying His laws, and believing in the after-life is what determines ones fate in the Hereafter.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Kentucky Fried Chicken – Management Mission and Values of the Cupola Group

_ {draw:rect} __ {draw:frame} {draw:rect} {draw:g} _ _ {draw:frame} {draw:rect} {draw:g} _ Table of Contents {text:toc-mark-end} Acknowledgement†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 3 {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} Executive Summary†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦. 3 {text:toc-mark-end} Mission Statement {text:toc-mark-end} †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 6 Vision†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} Company Overview {text:toc-mark-end } †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} KFC In Pakistan {text:toc-mark-end} †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦8 {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} Cupola Pakistan {text:toc-mark-end} †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 8 {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} KFC Facts {text:toc-mark-end} †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦8 {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} Performance Overview {text:toc-mark-end} †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦9 {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} Organization {text:toc-mark-end} Structure†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦11 {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} Advertisement†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 11 Organizational Culture†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 12 Food, Fun & Festivity, this is what KFC is all about. Leading the market since its inception, KFC provides the ultimate chicken meals for the Chicken Loving Nation. Be it Colonel Sanders secret Original Recipe Chicken or the Hot & Spicy version, every bite brings a YUM on the face. At KFC we proudly say: _ KFC has more than 11,000 restau rants in more than 80 countries and territories around the World__. In 1971, Heublein, Inc. acquired KFC, soon after, conflicts erupted between the Colonel (which was working as a public relations and goodwill ambassador) and Heublein management over quality control issues and restaurant_ _ {draw:frame} _ _ {draw:frame} _ _ {draw:frame} _ _ {draw:frame} _ _ {draw:frame} _ _ {draw:frame} _ _ {draw:frame} _ _ {draw:frame} _ Mission statement: KFC is an internationally renowned fast food industry in the world. They have the main ambition to increase & maintain the quality in fast food industry. Their aim is to capture the fast food market. Basically they want to provide their products to anyone that is why they expending their branches in all over the world. They want to increase their profit through giving maximum satisfaction VISION â€Å"Our passion, as a restaurant company, is to put a YUM on people's faces around the world, satisfying customers every time they eat our food and doing it better than any other restaurant company†. still used today. â€Å"We Do Chicken Right† Perfecting its secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices in 1939, KFC has come a long way, with over 10,000 outlets in the world; KFC has maintained its title, for the last 60 years, of being â€Å"The Chicken Experts†. Kentucky Fried Chicken has become KFC. Does anybody know why? We thought the real reason was because of the â€Å"FRIED† food issue. It's not. The reason why they call it KFC is because they can not use the word chicken anymore. Why? KFC does not use real chickens. They actually use genetically manipulated organisms. These so called â€Å"chickens† are kept alive by tubes inserted into their bodies to pump blood and nutrients throughout their structure. They have no beaks, no feathers, and no feet. _ Their bone structure is dramatically shrunk to get more meat out of them. This is great for KFC because they do not have to pay so much for their production costs. There is no more plucking of the feathers or the removal of the beaks and feet. _ KFC In Pakistan Presently KFC is branched out in nine major cities of Pakistan (Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, Sialkot, Hyderabad, and Islamabad) with 45 outlets nation-wide. Opening the first KFC outlet in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi in 1997, and KFC wore the title of being the market leader in its industry. Serving delicious and hygienic food in a relaxing environment made KFC everyone’s favorite. Since then, KFC has been constantly introducing new products and opening new restaurants for its customers. About Cupola Cupola is a Dubai based multinational company involved in several business including, oil gas exploration, plastic cards, retail markets and food franchising. Cupola Pakistan Cupola holds the master franchise rights to operate KFC in Pa_kistan since 1999. That was a major difference that when Cupola takes complete Operate in Pakistan that was only 05 Outlets in all over Pakistan, and then now the major difference that Cupola takes 45 Outlets in Pakistan. _ Apart from fulfilling the commitment of serving delicious, fresh and hygienic food and at the same time providing the customers with the ultimate entertainment; KFC also plays part in the economic development of our country. KFC Facts Presently KFC has provided employment to over 1200 Pakistanis, which adds up to 6000 individuals directly dependent on KFC Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan receives over Rs. 10 to 11 million per month from KFC Pakistan as direct taxes. 95% of all food and packaging material used in KFC Pakistan is procured locally, which sums up to a purchase of over Rs. 35 million per month. Each new outlet developed by KFC Pakistan costs approximately Rs. 40 million, which is a huge amount for our construction industry. Annual turn over in Pakistan_ 2. 5 billion. _ KFC doesn’t buy its supplies from Pakistan â€Å"KFC and Pakistan†¦Growing Together† Performance Overview: Organizational Structure: Competition: KFC does not consider Mc Donald’s are its direct competitors. As Mc Donald’s has a limited menu and cater to different segments of society e. g. Mc Donald is catering to lower middle society of Pakistan. Though KFC has faced a little competition from local restaurants but their breakeven in terms of revenue has been done and they are planning to expand further to other cities like Islamabad and Peshawar. Yum! Brands, Inc. International Presence & Competition: The International Portfolio of 5 leading U. S. Brands give Yum! a distinctive advantage over the single-brand competitors. {draw:frame} Customers KFC’s customer market consists solely of the consumer market (Kotler et al 2003). KFC’s products are bought by individuals (males, females, singles, and families). Therefore, the product range KFC offer should appeal to as many people within this consumer market as possible, to ensure that the maximum amount of products can be sold. The characteristics of these individuals and a segmentation of them are discussed later in this report. Company KFC is a multinational fast food chain company that has successfully established itself in the Pakistan market. It has a long history, going back to where Colonel Harland Sanders created its distinct recipes. The KFC brand is well known in Pakistan, which makes it a powerful marketing tool to use against competitors. _ {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} Advertising {text:toc-mark-end} {text: toc-mark-end} One of KFC's_ advertisements is a commercial advertising its â€Å"wicked crunch box meal†. The commercial features a fictional black metal band called â€Å"Hellvetica† performing live, the lead singer then swallows fire. The commercial then shows the lead singer at a KFC eating the â€Å"wicked crunch box meal† and saying â€Å"Oh man that is hot†. _ _In 2007, the original, non-acronymic Kentucky Fried Chicken name was resurrected and began to reappear on company marketing literature and food packaging, as well as some restaurant signage. _ Organizational Structure: The KFC adopted traditional structure for their outlets that other food chains are following. There is one General Manager for Pakistan. The outlet is leaded by the Manager, assisted by two assistant managers, and one shift in-charge for each shift, that supervises the performance of counter workers and kitchen workers. Organizational Chart {draw:frame} ORGANISATION CULTURE _ {draw:frame} _ Big on diversity in the workplace _- Promotes differences in background, ethnic cultures, and values_ – Team-oriented environment – Focuses on teaching everybody something new – Promotes unity in the workplace – Focuses on building relationships and creating diversity and commitment within the company and amongst employees and customers FOUNDING TRUTHS Satisfied customers and profitability follow. _ Respond To The Voice Of The Customer†¦Not just listen. _ _ The Restaurant General Manager Is Our #1 Leader†¦Not senior management. _ _ Run Each Restaurant As If It’s Our Only One†¦Avoid the trap of the averages. _ _ Recognition Shows You Care†¦People leave when you don’t. _ _ Quality In Everything We Do†¦Especially the food. _ Refocused international strategies _ Competitive marketing strategy_ _ Distribution strategy_ WEAKNESS: Management Shift text:list-item} {text:list-item} THREATS: Consumer health food trend {text:list-item} BRINGING ABOUT EFFICIENCY Lesser production costs Building healthy customer relationships Efficient hierarchical structure within the company starting from area_ manager till the food service team members_ _Every single chicken goes through Quality Assurance Lab. _ Porters Five Force Analysis {draw:frame} Entry _For the current Pakistanmarket for fast food, it is not diffi cult for a fast food restaurant to enter the market. However, it would be extremely difficult to take over already running major fast food chains' dominancy in Pakistanor even make a significant amount of profit. While there are enough people in urban Pakistanfor any restaurant to survive, KFC holds the first-mover advantage into the ‘non-veg food specialty food segment' that gives them free reputation. Customers, especially children who are used to going to KFC as a treat or reward from their parents or grandparents, are not going to want to go to other restaurants they’ve never heard of. The brand name is already established. Also, there is already a large variety in the numerous western-style dining places in Pakistan, such as _ McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Domino's and Subway, and any new fast-food entrants would just be presenting something very similar to what’s already there. While small _Neighborhood restaurants generally have low barriers to entry, these are the _barriers to entry for similar restaurant businesses to enter the fast-food chain market. The customers of KFC, especially as individual buyers, have almost no bargaining power because if only one customer threatens to no longer eat at KFC, the store is not going to lower its price because the cost of losing one customer is not very great. The suppliers, like the buyers, have very little bargaining power. _In terms of food, KFC, upon its move into Pakistan, urged many of its U. S. suppliers to also extend branches into Pakistan. KFC also began helping local suppliers by giving them technological support to improve their products. This is a brilliant strategy because the supplies that KFC would otherwise need to import from the _ U. S. can now be obtained domestically, and if the U. S. suppliers decide to raise their prices, KFC can easily switch to the local suppliers. This gives us a brilliant strategy. With this strategy, KFC created competition among its suppliers, lowering the supplier bargaining power. In terms of human resources, labor cost is extremely low because the supply of non-skilled workers great exceeds the demand for them. With so little buyer and supplier bargaining powers, KFC is able to have a very tight control over its prices and expenditures. As mentioned above, there are a few major competitors in the fast-food industry _in Pakistanfor KFC, namely McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Domino's and Subway. The substitute products, in this case, would be burgers, pizza, and sandwiches. Though they are competitors, their primary products differ greatly from each other, in that they sell, chicken, burgers and fries, pizzas, and sandwiches, respectively. Traditional _ Pakistandining, home-cooked meals, and grocery stores with ready-to-eat foods are also substitutes, as families could choose any one of these over fast food for a meal. These substitutes are definitely considered healthy as compared to the fast food chains. Even foods from street vendors count as substitute goods. Unlike what one would expect, KFC has little rivalry with similar fast-food chains in _Pakistan. The primary reason is that their core products are different, as in they sell different kinds of fast foods with very different tastes and styles. For example, if KFC raised its price for chicken by a small amount, Pakistan chicken lovers who may not be as accepting to pizzas (many Pakistanpeople strongly dislike the taste of cheese) are not going to switch to Pizza Hut just because the price for KFC increased. In addition to that, these restaurants have such different target customers that the fluctuation of price for one restaurant is not going to affect the others. For example, a full meal at KFC ranges about Rs. 100, whereas a full meal at Pizza Hut can cost over Rs. 300. The drastic difference in price assures no price competition between these restaurants. _ {draw:frame} _ {draw:frame} _ {draw:frame} _ {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} Boston Consultancy Group (BCG) Matrix {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} { text:toc-mark-start} Question Mark: {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} _Currently KFC have launched a new product in the market. They have also tried to come into the beverages market by launching its new brand of shakes called KRUSHERS. As it is a fairly new product it comes in the category of the Question Mark in the BCG Matrix. It has a low market share thus brings low revenue. KFC is advertising a lot to popularize this product so there is a lot of expenditure on it. This product is individually not bringing any profits and is a cash drain for the company. Company may decide to completely remove this product from the market if it does not do well soon and start bringing in revenue. _ {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} DOG: {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} KFC’s Veg Thali comes under this category. Although company had launched this product much earlier, it has still failed to become a success. As KFC is known more for its non-veg food, this also results in low demand for this item. It has a low market share and although low on expenditure (as company does not spend on its promotion), it does not bring in much revenue as demand is low. The product is mostly CASH NEUTRAL. {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} CASH COW: {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} KFC’s Chicken Bucket is the most successful product of the company. It has the highest market share amongst all the other products. It has good demand in the market and brings in huge sales revenue. The development and other expenses are also low and thus this product is a CASH SIRPLUS for the company. {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} STAR: {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} KFC Business Strategy KFC fast-food chains are currently under the restaurant division of PepsiCo Incorporated. Some major threats include the changing attitudes of society toward healthier eating habits, KFC has more than 9,800 outlets located in 77 countries. In marketing, KFC restaurants are not restricted from locating within close proximity of other KFC restaurants. There are two alternative strategies for KFC. The first strategy involves keeping PepsiCo beverage division and snack foods division together, and a divestiture of PepsiCo restaurant division; selling Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC. Market Strategies: KFC Target Market: KFC targets the young generation, as here in this country the young generation is more towards eating out and is more energetic. It targets the early single segment that is the upper class. Aggregation Strategy: KFC does not need aggressive marketing or advertising because Brand is strong enough. Market Segmentation: Previously they were focusing on single segment that was through Niche Marketing by offering â€Å"Combo Deals†. Now they are focusing more on other classes as well. They are dealing in masses by introducing value deals; most recently introduced â€Å"Zinger Junior†. Benefits: Colonel’s value combo meals introduced previously were expensive and so there were less sales but through their recent offers, they have increased the sales by offering low prices. Purpose: Inflation highly affects the purchasing power of the customers. And here the purchasing power of many customers is low. To cover this major segment, they have introduced affordable meals, so that it is in reach of the masses. Want Specification: The people here need a friendly and family restaurant, which must be affordable for them. Consumer Market Segmentation: Region: Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, Sialkot, Hyderabad and Islamabad Geographic: Gulberg: The main Gulberg branch is situated on M. M Alam Road, which covers a wide area and serves a large number of customers. This restaurant faces competition with many top Fast Food restaurants located on the same road. Defence: Their Defence Branch in H-Block focuses the potential customers of Defence. Barket Market: This branch covers the area of Model Town, Johar Town, Muslim Town, Garden Town and Faisal Town. It is situated among many offices and banks. Cavalry Ground: Shadman: The Shadman branch is located on Jail Road and serves potential customers. Thokar Niaz Baig: This restaurant branch serves latent customers. Mall Road: Fortress Stadium: Marketing Mix: Marketing mix consists of 4P’s. It contains everything a firm can do to influence the demand for its product. The 4P’s are: PRODUCT PRICE PLACE PROMOTION Their product is classified as consumer product as it has no intermediates. KFC offers specialty goods. The stock turn over of KFC is high. Price and quality of the product is always compared. Their product includes {text:list-item} _ written with it. _ comes in mind. KFC Brand: {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} Brands Equity Branding Strategies KFC is marketing the entire output under products own brand. Complementary Branding Packaging Strategies They use paper material for packaging to avoid health hazards and environmental pollution. Labeling Pricing In introduction stage KFC entered the market using market-skimming strategy. Their products were high price and targeted only upper class. Gradually they trickle down focusing on the middle class to penetrate the market. Also KFC follows one price strategy. Price is determined according to the rates of the raw materials and policies of the Govt. The political and legal forces often affect the policies of KFC and eventually results in change of prices that is due to imposing of taxes. KFC has only one channel of distribution i. e. direct where the goods are transferred to the consumer directly. KFC has no middlemen. KFC does distribution of consumer goods directly to the consumer. KFC also does distribution of services to the consumer like parking, sitting, home delivery, etc. KFC gets Wheels! KFC launched its first mobile unit, which took the streets of Karachi by storm. The mobile unit has been designed to cater to the needs of those who are on the go, and have little time to stop by at a restaurant. It also provides a unique convenience of enjoying the delicious KFC offering anytime, anywhere, thus making fast food truly fast and convenient. KFC intends to further develop its mobile network nationwide through more such units KFC does intensive distribution on its outlets. (All and everything on every outlet). The logo features Colonel Harland Sanders that is one of the best logo in the world has created its name as a standard in the market. Today the Colonel’s Spirit and heritage are reflected in KFC’s brand identity. KFC by its advertisements derives the d esire in the customer to come and enjoy healthy food in their favorite restaurant. They spend 2% of its profits on advertisement. They use print media and most recently doing televised marketing to promote it products. Their advertising media involve: Newspapers, Pamphlets, Billboards and Television. KFC does both the primary demand advertising (â€Å"Become a Chicken Fanatic†) and the selective demand advertising (e. g. â€Å"Zinger Meal†). In its advertising it give informative messages like â€Å"Faryad: Keep the city Clean†. KFC does institutional advertising to stimulate demand. When KFC offers new products then it does product advertising. KFC’s ad’s act as counteracts which means to drive the customer to KFC i. e. it uses pull advertising strategy. _ {draw:frame} _ Unlike McDonald’s, KFC’s promotion is highly decentralized. It adopts cultural values for their advertisements PSO had made a scheme in which PSO had given the coupons of KFC having 10% off. (1 coupon was given after each purchase of 10 liters of petrol) KFC in its advertisements says; â€Å"Nobody does chicken like KFC† â€Å"We do chicken right† The message conveyed in the ads is recognition for the brand. KFC does competitive advertisement with its head on competition with McDonalds. Regarding this KFC uses Pricing below competition strategy. KFC sponsor’s many NGO’s and other social welfare organizations like Regular sponsorship to SOS village. Sponsorships to FARYAD_ a plant and life association. FARYAD: Keep The City Clean†. They also offer different deals according to the season and occasions. _ Quality Assurance: Food Safety: Chicken & its Products: Locally produced and processed chicken. Supplied in frozen form Marketing Research and methods to collect information: Marketing research was done before launching the product through different mediums. It was conducted after the survey that mostly students prefer to go to KFC than other people. The second in majority were people who are in services. That covers the majority of this country. {draw:frame} _ {draw:frame} {draw:frame} {draw:frame} {draw:frame} Strategic management: Market Development Product Development Concentric Diversification Implementations: {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} Recent Achievement of KFC The Stevie International Business Awards KFC Pakistan was honored to receive the awa rd among 100 countries and 800 participants. The award was presented to Mr. Rangoonwala by Mr. Graham Allan, President, YUM Restaurants International at a recent conference in Prague, Czech Republic. KFC is a very strong chain of fast food restaurants with more than 10,000 restaurants all over the world. Being in â€Å"Maturity Stage† it has high opportunities of introducing its new products and deals. In Future it will be expanding its chain by introducing more outlets in Pakistan as well as in other countries. Believe in value creation. Provide ultimate choice of quick service restaurants for consumers. Won the hearts of millions of Pakistanis _ {draw:frame} _ References: Yum! Brands, Inc. http://www. yum. com KFC http://www. kfc. com KFC Barkat Market Mr. Shabir (Marketing Manager)

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

“Kindred” by Octavia Butler -Analysis Essay

There are various connections that can be made between the characters within the novel â€Å"Kindred† written by Octavia Butler. The majority of these connections relate to four of the course themes we’ve visited in past few weeks: double consciousness, collective trauma, diaspora, and power relationships. The protagonist, Dana Franklin, traveled between the past and present and in her travels she met a variety of different people, including the enslaved African Americans and their White owners of the 19th century, as well as her ancestors, one in particular is the cause of her time travel. Alice Greenwood and Rufus Weylin both had a peculiar relationship with Dana, as well as with each other. The ties that Dana shared with Alice exemplified the themes of double consciousness and collective trauma, and the ties shared between Dana and Rufus demonstrated the themes of diaspora and power relationships. Alice and Dana had a sisterly relationship, as some of the other characters had commented, Sarah once told Dana after Alice’s passing, â€Å"You and her was like sisters†¦ You sure fought like sisters, always fussin’ at each other, stompin’ away from each other, comin’ back.† Although a brief description, this is a very accurate summary of their relationship. Their double consciousness was first realized when Rufus had pointed out that they were both â€Å"one and the same†, this meaning that they were two halves of the same person. Not only did they look alike, but the line between their roles in the Weylin household were heavily blurred. Alice was the â€Å"love† interest of Rufus while she was alive, although her only use to him was to either sexually abuse her or use her as his personal punching bag. She had once told Dana that whenever she’s around, the mental and physical abuse isn’t as bad as it regularly is. On the other hand, Dana has an immense amount of freedom in comparison to Alice, even to the other slaves. Due to the unspoken set of rules that Dana and Rufus share, he doesn’t try to pursue any sexual relationship with her until the end of the book. As Dana had once said, â€Å"I could accept him as my ancestor, younger brother, friend, but not as my master, and not as my lover.† Alice is openly  spiteful towards Dana because of this, but it is also obvious that the reason why she always comes back to Dana is because, like a sibling, she is used as an outlet for her pain, fear, and hate, and knowing that she could have done more to lesson Alice’s suffering, Dana allows puts her feelings aside and accepts the onslaught of abuse. Both of their relationships with Rufus also lead to their collective trauma as they are both abused by him, and, in different ways, he takes something from them that leave them unwhole. For Alice, he not only rips her freedom from out under her, but he also â€Å"sells† their children, which were the only reasons that she had stayed on the plantation for so long. For Dana, he too took her freedom and the power that she once held over him had vanished completely, but it’s possible that he is also the reason that she there was a short stump in the place of her arm. The relationship that was shared between Dana and Rufus was the most complex relationship of them all. A list of unspoken rules shared between the two had been the foundation of their relationship, as they had both known that one could not live without the other, that if either one of them died, the other is just as good as dead as well. Ever since Dana had first saved Rufus from drowning in the river, she had attempted to instill some morals into the young boy in hopes that he wouldn’t be as corrupt as his father or the other slave owners, as she knew that that was what he would soon become. Although, with each time that she returns to save the boy’s life, he grows older, and he becomes more mature as well as stubborn, not as easily goaded into doing nice things for the slaves, like setting most of them free, or not selling any of them as his father does. Eventually, the reigns of power are no longer held by Dana, and the influence of the 19th century has finally rubbe d off on Rufus for the worse. No longer small and feeble, Rufus has Dana sent to work in the fields, has her whipped, hits her multiple times, and eventually held the barrel of a rifle to her head, though the line is completely crossed when Rufus tries to have sex with Dana, which she responds to with the thrust of a sharp blade in his side. Twice. The scale of power begins tipped towards Dana, then towards Rufus, then for another brief moment back to Dana. Their relationship is also, in a way, diasporic, as Dana is constantly out of  place in the 19th century throughout the entire book. She brings back with her the knowledge of the future, though sparse, as well as new medicines, devices, and ideas, though because of her skin color she is seen as no more than either a â€Å"smart nigger† to the white folks and a â€Å"white nigger† to the blacks; nothing more than a nigger. Even though she wasn’t accepted by most of the other slaves and the whites who held power over her, Rufus, still needed her in many different ways and was very clingy at times, even as he gave his last long and shuddering sigh, he simply could not let go of Dana, both literally and physically, as his hand still grasped her arm in the afterlife. When Dana arrives from the past for the last time, she discovers -excruciatingly painfully- that her arm had somehow meshed and conjoined with the wall of her living room. The exact spot where Rufus had held her in his final moments marked the loss of her arm, â€Å"from the elbow to the ends of the fingers,† It is unknown whether or not Dana’s arm is left in the past, still held between the cold fingers of the dead, as Rufus’ body was believed to be burned to ashes and never found, along with the Weylin estate. Dana’s graphic physical loss shows what slavery truly is outside of popular novels, history books, and dramatized television where the actors practice the pain and suffering that their ancestors dealt with. The loss of her arm shows many different things, like how even though African Americans today have been removed from slavery over time, who they are today was planted and rooted in the past. Also, slaves had constantly suffered from both emotion al and physical abuse at the hands of their owners, yet they were extremely dependent of their owners. Dana is subjected to horrific pain at the hand of Rufus, yet she still feels pity for him when he comes crawling back to her, as he is both her master and her kin-dred, so she alternates between despising him and feeling empathetic towards him. Lastly, Dana’s severed arm is a horrible loss, and it is meant to capture the horror of slavery. It is also significant that she suffers her injury because Rufus hangs on to her. Like Rufus holding onto Dana, the past has a â€Å"hold† on the present, the sacrifices of the past shape the present today. Dana loses an arm which is an important body part, especially for a writer, although she escapes with her life. The slaves of the past had sacrificed skin, bone, and sanity, yet  a lot of them escaped, albeit scarred. Dana’s horrific injury makes all of the sacrifices slaves made painfully real in order to make lives better for generations to come. Part of her lies in the past, and so does part of todays’ generation. In conclusion, the strange relationships that Dana had formed with her ancestors, Alice and Rufus, had in some ways, led to the loss of her arm. Her entire existence was dependent on the two of them having her great grandmother Hagar, and although Alice may have survived without Dana’s influence, Rufus was definitely dependent on Dana as well. Octavia Butler had wanted readers to take with them the reality of how we ar e still deeply rooted within slavery and it still has an affect on us today, even though it had ended over 140 years ago. As Dana had witnessed first hand, slavery has never been a free occurrence, anyone who was apart of it in any way never came out of it as they once were before; they never escaped slavery whole again, but as less of the person than they were before.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

International Business Machines Corporation

International Business Machines Corporation Introduction The International Business Machines Corporation is among the largest U.S. technology and consulting corporations. It provides software and hardware and consults other companies with recommendations on improving technological design. The company has a well-developed corporate responsibility philosophy that is confined to several aspects.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on International Business Machines Corporation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To begin with, IMB managers define new options and apply those to a number of societal problems. The company also assesses programs to gain the maximum results. It also pays attention to enhancing employees’ motivation, as well as provides new approaches and techniques to improving their communities. Finally, integrating corporate citizenship and responsibility is another integral part of the company’s philosophy because it allows the company ’s managers to develop a comprehensive method to correspond to the values of global enterprise. Cultural diversity and generational differences are also included into such values. The main purpose of this paper is to define the main demographic characteristics of the company through analysis of reports and related documents. It is also necessary to define the ratio of types of generations, including Traditionalists, Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials. In addition, the paper seeks to highlight the programs and strategies that the company has implemented to manage the challenge of generational differences and introduce alternatives to make diversity an advantage for the company. Main Discussion Historic Background The company’s diversity history dates back at the end of nineteenth century when the Computing Scale Company, one of the company that later became the part of the IBM, hired Richard McGregor, an African American, along with Nettie Moore, Emma Manske, and Li lly Philip. All these employees had been hired long before Lincoln introduced the Emancipation Proclamations, as well as women’s right to vote. In the course of the history, IBM has gradually been introducing the diversity policy – beginning with the creation of the training center for people with physical and mental impairments and ending with the company’s attention to the right equality of sexual minorities.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Thus, cultural acceptance, tolerance, equal opportunities, and diversity are standing at the core of the company’s creation. This company’s explicit commitment provides it with a wider picture of the opportunities it can take advantage of at the global arena. IBM’s employment policies were not confined to meeting the diversity needs of employees. Rather, the company never gave up introducing new training programs for their workers to acquire new skills and enrich their experience. In 1932-33, Watson decided to augment the company’s inventory and expand the manufacturing capacity instead of hiring new personnel and dismissing the old one. By raising wages and introducing the retraining programs, the employees were highly motivated to increase their performance of the organization. Consideration of social and a pension scheme was also on the agenda and by 1945, the company formed a pension system despite deep economic crisis in the country. Therefore, the program introduced in 1930s â€Å"†¦reflected IBM’s commitment to retrain, rather than lay off, workers, and to promote from within the company’s own ranks† (Stebenne, 2005, p. 56). The no-layoff policy for the employees has now been followed over fifty years. Such a system is also called welfare capitalism which involves creation of exclusive benefits systems embodying an d meeting employees’ needs, problems, and concerns. More importantly, the employment policy has given foundation for considering generational differences and facing the challenging of globalization. Diversity, therefore, is the core task that IBM examines to improve organizational structure and performance. It also contributes greatly to a competitive advantage of a firm. Further development of diversity policies lead to the emergence of Equal Opportunity legislation, or Diversity 1.0 that was followed by Diversity 2.0 in 90s of the past century.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on International Business Machines Corporation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The final program – Diversity 3.0, was introduced take advantage of generational differences and build effective teams to achieve the best results and meet customers’ needs (IBM, 2010). Perceiving differences as an advantage has been the first step toward building a successful corporation, as well as predicting the outcomes of the globalization process. Presenting Information on Company’s Attitude to Generational Differences Technological advances constitute the major task of IBM managers. In order to introduce innovation, the company should also pay attention to the aspect of generation difference to motivate, retrain, and improve productivity of the employees. In fact, the company acknowledges that younger generations are technologically savvy in comparison to much more experienced employees working in the companies much longer. Nevertheless, IBM industry innovator Andy McAfee in the interview states, â€Å"I’ve seen plenty of existing managers and executives and older knowledge workers jump on board very easily, but it is also true that people entering the workforce now – the Millennials – are just inherently more comfortable with †¦the tools†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (McAfee, 2011, p. 3). At the same time, the McAfee motivates Generation Y to induce new ideas, options, and opportunities, and contribute to the development of new software and hardware products. In addition, the managers realize the urgent need to face changes. Structural and managerial changes are possible through introducing new collaboration and knowledge models.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Detailed examination of generational differences provides a clear picture on the challenges and strategies that IBM adopts to solve problems. In this respect, the company has conducted research on the Generation Y presented in China marketing sector. Just like American employees encounter change, the Chinese sector should also be concerned with the facing the corresponding shifts (N-Dynamic Market Research, n. d.). Change management, therefore, comes to the forth of the company’s strategic mission and philosophy. The first stage of acknowledging changes is defining the characteristics of this generation. According to the research, this age category, born between 1980 and 1989, feels extremely comfortably utilizing high technology for global connections, social networking, and entertainment (N-Dynamic Market Research, n. d.). They also adjusted to immediate advantages that the technological world introduced to them (N-Dynamic Market Research, n. d.). Because the Generation Y, or Millennials grew up with the development of the Internet and computer, their attitudes to work considerably differ from those of older generations. According to the report, â€Å"Gen Y’s are generally resourceful, creative, flexible, quick, efficient, technologically savvy, and more problem solving and communication oriented than generations before† (N-Dynamic Market Research, n. d., p. 2). Further step of handling the new generation is to acknowledge the fact that Gen Y is a different generation with new features, but not an anomaly. What is more important is that this target audience indicates future trends of next generations’ formation. Therefore, addressing their weaknesses and strengths is crucial for facilitating information exchange and communication. Examining objectives, attitudes, and motivations of Gen Y is vital for enhancing organizational performance of the employees and creating a favorable workforce environment. Increased awareness of connect ion to company’s goals is the main concern of IBM managers should be confident in their employees’ objectives and motivations. Analysis of characteristics, particularly, negative feature, is vital. The research introduced a number of shortcomings of the Generation Y that need to be addressed. Specific emphasis has been made on their immediate change of tastes and making choices, particularly at the expense of personal contributions, extreme demand of constant feedback and collaboration. In addition, the representatives of Gen Y are not accustomed enough to single-mindedness, loyal diligence, and persistence. Finally, Millennials cannot accept criticism easily and are focused on increasing their monetary earnings. Consideration of these characteristics has highlighted a tangible gap between young and old generations, which has created significant challenges for successful work of IBM. However, the company takes this problem seriously and strives to adjust to the emergin g changes by activating the work of human resources and research and development departments. Analysis of the Proposed Programs to Manage Generational Differences Technological innovation requires greater commitment to cultural diversity. Investing into the development of IBM employees is important because it can ensure progressive improvement and approaches to managing new realities and globalized community. The program introduced by the company involves policies oriented on health and wellness, learning and development, and diversity. In the course of the history, IBM has acknowledged the significance of facilitating health reforms, as well as encouraging precaution measures among IBM employees. In particular, the company â€Å"takes an aggressive and comprehensive approach to investing in employee health and wellness, promotes workplace safety, and encourages a healthy integration of life and work† (Corporate Responsibility Report, 2009, n. p.). Within the concept of learn ing and development, over 400.000 employees are quite difficult to manage as far as skills analysis is concerned. In order to face the problem, the company seeks to deepen their relations with employees to enhance their education, development and skills with regard to the generational differences. Focus on human resources as the most powerful instrument of successful integration into the global environment is among the effective strategies implemented in the IBM. The company realizes the challenges of generational differences and, therefore, learning and development initiative fits best to meet the requirements. Finally, diversity consideration is the closest to the employment of policy of handling generational differences. Within this contexts, the company seeks â€Å"†¦to find ways to not only embrace that diversity, but use it to the benefit of the business; to better understand markets and unleash innovative creativity† (Corporate Responsibility Report, 2009, n. p.). Such a strategy allows the company for accomplishment of their goals. More importantly, it meets the objective to focus on customer behavior and satisfaction. The program oriented on handling diversity consists of six steps that have introduced considerable results. The first step involves increasing diversity competence to facilitate cultural adaptability. This measure is confined to introducing various beneficial resources and programs, including podcast and webcasts, a Cultural Adaptability Council, and Integrated Diversity and Cultural Awareness training modules (Corporate Responsibility Report, 2009). The second approach engages local thinking into global network. Enacting geographic and business units is aimed at tailoring programs in accordance with unique needs of employees. The third approach consists in extending from constituency to the company’s community. The concept of diversity should spread beyond the traditionally identified groups in order to facilitate inf ormation sharing across the company. The effort leads to creation of new communities, including Work/Life Zone Teams, Parent Company, and Global Women in Technology (Corporate Responsibility Report, 2009). Integrating programs for gaining the maximum benefit via diversity initiatives in human resources processes is another strategy that allows for effective presentation of programs. Further development of partnership between employees and their managers responds successfully to the needs of the globalized community with generational differences. Finally, employees themselves should actively be involved in defining the main constraints of cultural diversity and generational differences in the twenty-first century. The IBM company counts almost five generations of employees working with them, including silent generation, baby boomers, generation X, and generation Z, which is born in 1990s. The differences among these generations create much more challenges than geographical and cultur al differences. However, reduction of baby boomers and silent generation can lead to a tangible knowledge grain, as well as changes to the workforce. According to the research conducted by IBM Global Technology Services (2011), the largest segment of workers is composed of Millennials. In particular, almost 50 % of employees constitute Generation Y. Disparities in preferences and learning styles are highlighted among various generations and, therefore, learning leaders should not ignore age changes so as to adapt to their capabilities and needs (IBM Global Technology Services, 2011). Both older generations and younger workforce should be taken into consideration to promote collaborative problem-solving, effective social networking, and participatory techniques in achieving organizational goals. On the one hand, the company seeks to approach the generational challenges individual. On the other hand, the firm explores general strategies to meet the needs of various generations. In thi s respect, they define that â€Å"†¦millennials lean decidedly toward the smarter, technology-driven methods of learning: collaborative problem-solving; social network; organic, user-driven, participatory, anytime/anyplace informal experiences†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (IBM Global Technology Services, 2011, p. 3). Therefore, because technological devices constitute the central interest of the generation, it is possible to apply it in online role games to encourage employees to develop their collaborative, competitive, and goal-oriented skills in the workplace. Apart from technological devices, learning modules should also strike the balance between the virtual space exercises and real environment. In other words, virtual space in combination with a traditional learning environment can reach the company’s objectives and provide a powerful foundation for facing external competition. In 2008, the company’s Academy of Technology world summit introduced a practical testing to def ine how new skills in virtual interaction can contribute a favorable learning environment (IBM Global Technology Services, 2011). The experiment involved virtual space sought to encourage the participant to apply interactive and creative techniques and take advantage of the option provided by online space. Since then, numerous meetings have been conducted via online channels. All the meetings were conducted individually to trace possible improvements, challenges, and problems. Further advances in managing generational differences were connected with the analysis of the way technical leaders handle diverse team. By using three-dimensional collaborative tools, they invited participants to brainstorming sessions, which resulted in successful analysis of skills, as well as problems that need to be addressed. Interactive capabilities are further applied within the company to meet the global challenges and foster global cooperation. Shifts from individual learning to collaborative learnin g assist in delivering a more socially connected community and creates highest business results. The chief executive officers of IBM strive to make learning organization smarter as well as develop a technology supported and people-led system of control. Conclusion Long history of IBM development reflects a complicated path toward advancement of employment policies. Specifically, the company’s focus has always been made on enhancing employees’ value, respecting cultural diversity, and managing generational differences. The latter is of especially importance for the company’s executives because it provides significant challenges for the organization to adjust to the global competition and create a favorable image of the international corporation. In particular, IBM is extremely concerned with recent changes, problems, and advances related to managing generational differences effectively. Special attention is given to Generation Y, or Millennials that cover the gre atest segment of the company’s employees. Despite that fact, the company takes efforts to present equal opportunities to other generations working with the organization. In response to the challenges, the company launches a series of programs and learning modules that would engage all generations into the working process. The legislatures initiated at the beginning of the twentieth century resulted in further development of strategies aimed at enhancing cooperative capacities of the personnel and engage older generations into managing technological innovations. Apart from considering Millennials, the company also pays closer attention to Generation Z who are born in the 90s of the past century. The importance of managing this generation and solving problems is enormous because can provide future perspective for developing sophisticated approaches for managing future generations. Overall, the company has managed to face the challenges of generational differences and create the approach to building management strategies. References Corporate Responsibility Report (2009). Investing in the IBMer. Web. Corporate Responsibility Report (2010). Employee Diversity. IBM. Web. IBM (2010). Diversity 3.0. Web. IBM (n. d.). Responsibilities at IBM. Web. IBM Global Technology Services (2011). Innovative Learning Strategies for the Smarter Enterprise: Addressing Generational, Globalization, and Cost and Speed Challenges. pp. 1-10. Web. McAfeee, A. (2011). Conversations with Industry Innovators. IBM Video Transcript. Web. N-Dynamic Market Research. (n. d.). Collaborating with Gen-Y: Leveraging Generational Insight to Build the Best Workplace for Gen-Y in China. Research Institute. 1-42. Web. Stebenne, D. L. (2005). IBMsâ€Å"New Deal†: Employment Policies of the International Business Machines Corporation, 1933–1956. Journal Of The Historical Society, 5(1), 47-77.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Subliminal Messages Essays

Subliminal Messages Essays Subliminal Messages Paper Subliminal Messages Paper After reading the article, what hypothesis do you think the researchers were testing in this study? Looking at the article of Merikle and Skanes, they analyzed the relationship revolving around the actual effects of subliminal tapes on the way it enhances or helps users in their problems pertaining to various health reasons. â€Å"The present study was a direct attempt to evaluate possible placebo effects that may occur following regular listening to subliminal audiotapes† (Merikle and Skanes, 1992, p. 773) In their study though, the two did not mention any hypothesis concerning the relationship of subliminal tapes in achieving a placebo effect among its patrons. Due to this, after reading the article, a probable hypothesis that the researchers used in testing the study revolved around establishing the relationship and actual effect of subliminal tapes and the placebo effect among its users. In addition, the hypothesis may have been geared towards such claim due to the fact that in their analysis and discussion, the two pointed out that subliminal message/s in audiotapes have no relationship whatever to persons achieving a placebo effect and creating improvements in their certain problems. â€Å"The results of the present study provide no evidence whatsoever that subliminal audiotapes are an effective means for modifying behavior† (Merinkle and Skanes, 1992, p. 775) For what reason were researchers interested in testing this hypothesis; what do you think was their purpose in doing so? In the analysis of Merikle and Skanes, the researchers pointed out the importance of conducting this study. There had been various researches that emphasize the positive effects of subliminal tapes in achieving a placebo effect among patients. â€Å"Recent studies in which the efficacy of subliminal and placebo audiotapes has been compared are unanimous in showing no advantage for subliminal tapes relative to comparable placebo tapes† (Merinkle and Skanes, 1992, 772). In their own way of understanding, the authors used such contention to create a standpoint or view that subliminal tapes have no direct relationship in achieving placebo effect contrary to what other researches have been pointing out. Another reason of interest revolves around the notion that the author’s wanted to disprove the notion of many researches conducted by the producers of subliminal tapes towards the aim of achieving a placebo effect among patients. It is through this that they tried and tested their own analysis using data gathering and experimentation techniques. The authors in the study pointed out that there have been no striking differences in weight loss among the volunteer respondents. Seeing this, the purpose of Merinkle and Skankes is to create awareness among patrons to think again of purchasing these subliminal tapes. This is due to the results presented by the authors and several studies concerning the two concepts relationship. With this, the notion of the impact of subliminal tapes shall be lessened and its credibility is addressed and questioned appropriately. Briefly state the results After the respondents were tested using various research instruments, the study reported several findings that second the claim made by previous studies that indeed subliminal messages do not facilitate the creation of a placebo effect. Seeing the results, it revolved around the answers posted on postexperiment questionnaires, the loss of weight gained after using the subliminal device and the differences in the practices of their relative vices and problems. In postexperiment questionnaires, it showed a striking relation between the answers among respondents. It was said that â€Å"the answers that the subjects gave on the postexperiment questionnaires indicated that the three groups were roughly equivalent in terms of listening habits and life-style changes during the course of the study† (Merinkle and Skanes, 1992, 774). With regards to the issue surrounding weight loss and differences in practice, the results showcased little changes that can be characterized to be drastic in the analysis. It was mentioned that â€Å"a similar number of subjects in each group reported an increase in the number of times they participated in weekly exercises, and no more than 1 subject across all three groups reported a decrease in weekly exercise, a cessation in the use of tobacco, or a change in the use of oral contraceptives† (Merinkle and Skanes, 1992, 774). How could you apply the results of this study to helping students improve their marks in this (or any other) course? Applying this paper in the realm of student education, there are lessons that can be exhausted from their analysis. The first important facet that students must learn is to be critical about the information they gain. It is not sufficient for them to absorb information; they must synthesize these issues to create better understanding and personal development. In addition, by thinking critically about issues, students can gain advantage on how properly to address them – through research and testing. On the other hand, the results also point out that improvement must come from the individual. He/she does not need any instruments that will motivate him/her to pursue such actions. Only with the proper willpower can such issue be addressed appropriately and effectively. Can you think of any way this study could have been improved, or extended? A way this study can be extended is by allowing the time frame of the study to be longer than the usual. The objective of this is to actually determine in the long run if such subliminal tapes affect the creation of placebo effect. Also, better gauges, results and measurements can be established that can set a better outcome for the study. Reference Merikle, P. M. and Skanes, H. E. (1992) Subliminal Self-Help Audiotapes: A Search for Placebo Effects in Journal of Applied Psychology. 77 no. 5 Retrieved July 16, 2008. pp. 772-776.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Significant Events of the Delaware Colony

Significant Events of the Delaware Colony The Delaware colony was founded in 1638 by European colonists from the Netherlands and Sweden. Its history includes occupations by the Dutch, Swedish, British- and the colony of Pennsylvania, which included Delaware until 1703. Fast Facts: Delaware Colony Also Known As: New Netherland, New SwedenNamed After: Then-governor of Virginia, Lord de la WarrFounding Country: Netherlands, SwedenFounding Year: 1638First Known European Landing: Samuel ArgallResidential Native Communities: Lenni Lenape and NanticokeFounders: Peter Minuit and the New Sweden CompanyImportant People: James, Duke of York, William Penn Early Arrivals The first European arrivals in the area occurred in the early 17th century when the Dutch were involved in establishing many trading posts and colonies around the world including in North America. Henry Hudson had been hired by the Dutch to explore the New World in 1609 and he discovered and named the Hudson River. By 1611, the Dutch had established fur trading enterprises with the Native Americans called the Lenni Lenape. In 1614, Fort Nassau, on what is the Hudson River near Gloucester, New Jersey, was the earliest Dutch settlement in the New World. Peter Minuit and the New Sweden Company In 1637, Swedish explorers and stockholders created the New Sweden Company to explore and trade in the New World, under a charter with Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus. Adolphus died in 1632, and his daughter and successor Queen Christina took over the charters administration. Christinas chancellor formed the New Sweden Company in 1637 and hired Peter Minuit. Minuit was a German-born Dutch resident likely of French Huguenot ancestry, who had previously been the governor of New Netherland from 1626 to 1631 and is most well known for the purchase of Manhattan Island. In March of 1638, Minuit and his two ships, Key of Kalmar and the Griffin, landed at the mouth of a river they named Christina, in what is now Wilmington and founded the first permanent colony in Delaware. Annexed to New Netherland While the Dutch and Swedes coexisted for some time, the incursion of the Dutch into New Sweden territory saw its leader, Johan Rising, move against some Dutch settlements. In 1655, Peter Stuyvesant, New Netherlands governor, sent armed ships to New Sweden. The colony surrendered without a fight.  Thus, the area that was once New Sweden then became part of New Netherland.   British Ownership The British and Dutch were direct competitors during the 17th century. England felt they had a claim to the prosperous New Netherland territory due to the explorations by John Cabot made in 1498. In 1660, with the restoration of Charles II to the throne of England, the Dutch feared the British would attack their territory and forged an alliance with the French against the British. In response, Charles II  gave his brother, James, the Duke of York, New Netherland in March 1664. This annexation of New Netherland required a show of force. James sent a fleet of ships to New Netherland to demand its surrender. Peter Stuyvesant agreed. While the northern part of the New Netherland was named New York, the lower part was leased to William Penn as the lower counties on the Delaware. Penn wanted access to the sea from Pennsylvania. Thus, the territory was part of Pennsylvania until 1703. In addition, Delaware continued to share a governor with Pennsylvania until the Revolutionary War, even though it had its own representative assembly.   Beginning the War of Independence In October 1765, Delaware sent two delegates to a congress of the colonies in New York to deliberate on a joint colonial response to recent British measures, in particular, the Sugar Act of 1764 and the Stamp Act of 1765. The two men were landholder Caesar Rodney and attorney Thomas McKean: the two men and assemblyman George Read would continue to play a role in the movement for independence.   Delaware declared its independence from Great Britain on June 15, 1776, and signed the declaration of independence with its fellow colonies on July 4. Sources Delaware Facts. Delaware Historical SocietyMunroe, John A. History of Delaware, 5th ed. Cranbury NJ: University of Delaware Press, 2006.Wiener, Roberta and James R. Arnold. Delaware: The History of Delaware Colony, 1638–1776. Chicago, Raintree, 2005.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Outline for Artist Research and Comparison Essay

Outline for Artist Research and Comparison - Essay Example 36-45). Besides Tomma, Daniel Buren is another painter whose works were successful in inspiring me for this paper. In particular, Daniel is a conceptual artist who represents the art movement of Abstract Minimalism, so he somehow relates with Tomma in some ways. Moreover, regarding his artistic style, he is more into sculptures and integration of art into historical buildings that is a noteworthy characteristic of this artist (Temkin, pp. 216-236). Brice Marden is the third artist that found his place in this paper. He is another painter that represents the Abstract Art movement, and specifically, the Abstract Minimalism (Marden & Keller, pp. 23-49). Despite being an abstract painter, his works relate especially with the landscape and nature that is a unique and unusual attribute about an abstract painter. Lastly, Blinky Palermo was an abstract painter from Germany who dies in the year 1977. One of the major reasons of choosing this painter was his integration of abstract art into fa bric paintings and colorings that put him aside other artists from the Abstract Art movement. Although he was an abstract painter, but experts have related his works with Constructivism, as well as Modernist Art movement (Temkin, pp. 216-236). After analyzing different studies and works of the four painters, the final paper will be including investigation and scrutiny of two painters, Tomma Abts and Brice Marden. It is an observation that both painters enjoy few similarities in their relationship, as well as some differences that distinguish them from each other. For instance, both represent the movement of Abstract Art that brings them under a single umbrella, and it will be easier to analyze their works from a single lens. Detailed study of Tomma Abts (Hoptman & Hainley, pp. 22-27) has indicated that her works seem abstract in an ideal manner; as none of her works seem to represent or deliver any kind of theme

Friday, October 18, 2019

Researced based analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Researced based analysis - Assignment Example Because the company invests substantially in research and development, the management is able to ensure that its manufacturing systems and training programs are able to keep pace with the latest developments in the industry. SWOT analysis The main strength of Filkar Inc. is the organizational capital that is invested in research and development. This investment enables the company to incorporate the latest technological developments into the manufacturing systems. As a result the company is able to manufacture the most competitive products in the industry. This is one of the key success factors because the industry is in a fast pace of change. Filkar Inc. also operates internationally so that it has to pay attention to maintaining the quality level. The investment in research and development enables the company to maintain the required level of quality in its product offerings. The company is able to combine technology with the existing manufacturing systems by using total quality ma nagement (Filkar Web, 2009). The application of this methodology enables the company to create synergies out of incorporating the latest technology in its manufacturing systems. ... The company’s strength in maintaining competitive quality is supported by the periodic training programs that ensure that its employees are among the most skilled in the industry. Because the motivational issues are addressed, the employees are also satisfied in working for the company. Therefore the productivity level is one of the most competitive in the industry. Filkar’s employees are its most important assets and the organizational culture reflects this strategic orientation. As a result employee interests and organizational interests are combined synergistically. This ensures that the strategic focus of the company is strengthened by strong productivity from the employees. The company’s weakness may be inability to respond to any disruptive technologies. The company has already made substantial investment in the existing manufacturing systems. Therefore if a competitor were to launch a new manufacturing system which would reduce the cost of production, then Filkar might not be able to make the change fast enough to remain competitive. Currently it is enjoying a market leadership position in the Turkish market because it has no competition. However it is also competing internationally. Therefore it is more than likely that international companies such as Westinghouse and GE can launch some transformational technology that will change the competitive landscape. In this situation the company might not be able to migrate to the new system. According to its performance management system, the company is doing well as it has the market leadership position in the domestic market. However if a competitor is able to cut costs significantly through the introduction of a new technology,

Managing in a mixed economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Managing in a mixed economy - Essay Example This study deals with Private-Public Partnership (PPP) agreement between London Underground and Mertronet. The purpose of the PPP agreement was to acquire funds from the private sector. This paper begins with the background of London Underground and Metronet. Historical facts are also provided to understand the reason for selection of PPP as a means of financing. It also contains literature survey of the problems of London Underground and Metronet also the National Audit Office Report is presented. The paper has been concluded with a few causes and reasons for the London Underground failure and liquidation of Metronet and is followed by the recommendation for the improvement of the PPP agreement. London Underground has started its operation in the mid-19th century with the help of private venture capital. The Metropolitan line between Farrington and Paddington was the first construction, built by Sub Surface Line (SSL), which was one of the first construction sectors of London Underg round (Wolmar, 2002). Due to absence of governing body and corporation, the entire sector started working independently. Therefore, the London Passenger Transport Board (LPTB) was formed in 1933 to control the road and underground transport. In 1948, it was undertaken by the British Commission. The five separate corporations including London Transport Board were restructured by British Commission. ... The tubes were disorganised, chaotic and systematically mismanaged since the early days. Hence, it was necessary to form a PPP. During the year 2002, due to inadequate investment and problem in managing public service and maintaining infrastructure, it was decided that maintenance and renewal of London Underground’s infrastructure would be undertaken through PPPs (Kellaway & Shanks, 2007). In PPP agreement, a contract has been signed for 30 years and the main purpose was to obtain funds from private sector. It was a partnership between two functions of business, i.e. finance and operation. Private sector is well-organised than public sector to complete a project in a cost-effective way. The renewal and maintenance of the tubes by public sector operations and private sector infrastructure were an arrangement that ensured the tubes would provide successful service more efficiently. The stations, train operations, signalling and safety was continued by the public sector, through London Underground Limited. The infrastructure companies such as Infraco BCV, Infraco JNP and Infraco SSL were formed for the purpose to manage station, trains, and signal and track infrastructure. Infra JNP was undertaken by Tube Line on 31st December 2002 and on 4th April 2003 other two companies were undertaken by Metronet. Metronet had invested ?17 billion amount for the PPP contract of 30 years (Finn & Et. Al., 2007). Metronet Rail Group is the group of Metronet Rail BCV Limited and Metronet Rail SSL Limited based in London, UK. Metronet Rail BCV Limited is involved in upgradation, replacement and maintenance of sub-surface deep tube lines that operates in the streets of London (Bloomberg

Why do we like violence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Why do we like violence - Essay Example ours of television programming weekly.   Although the negative health affects have been a topic of much recent discussion, the expressed purpose of this research analysis will be to draw a level of inference upon the way in which violence represented in television media affects the minds, outlook, psychology, and world-view interpretation of the adolescent viewing audience.  Ã‚  From such a review, the reader will be able to understand that even though violence within the media has increased within the past several years, it is not doing so divorced from the demand by the viewer. It does not take a great deal of analysis to understand fact that this pervasive level of violence only exists is due to the fact that consumers are actively engaging with this violence and consuming it. It is the understanding of this particular author that the reason and rationale behind this has to do with the fact that violence represents one of the most primitive and basic mechanisms through which h umans have evolved. When one begins to integrate with an understanding of basic human evolution, they come to the analysis of the fact that almost all history has been dictated with respect to power dynamics and the threat and application of violence. In such a way, the exhibition of violence with regards to media, and in a boxing, and a litany of violent video games is a manner through which humans are able to connect with a more bestial and under-evolved aspect of their own evolutionary history. This appeal and violence has is primitive; almost as primitive as the appeal of sexual desire. Accordingly, one does not need to look very far within advertising, media, or any other form of societal representation to understand that the appeals to a more basic levels of humanity are the ones that integrate the most closely with the stakeholder. Violence, as with sex, is something of a vicarious experience. Whereas it is obvious that it is illegal for an individual to venture out on the st reets and engage in an argument with someone that they find offensive – eventually coming to blows and knocking out this individual – this vicarious experience can be had via the litany of different violent video games, television programs, and other representations about that exist within society. In such a manner, the angst and frustration that individuals feel at any given time is able to be vicariously experience through such representations of violence. Even though organized society has come a long way, and individuals are arguably more involved now than at any other point in the past, this basic desire to solve any and all confrontation with violent means is an innate facet of humanity that will not likely disappear anytime in the near future. The impacts of this permeation of violence is of course a society that continues to keep violence front and center within their own minds; sustaining it to a stature that it would otherwise not received. Whereas violence is a determinant aspect of human evolution and provide something of a historical recollection point through which confrontation can be solved, it must also be understood that different societies integrate with violence and different manners. It is arguable that the globalizing influence of Western media has gone a long way in negatively impacting the extent to which violence is represented within

Thursday, October 17, 2019

THE GLOBAL ECONOMY AND ITS IMPACT ON HUMAN HEALTH Essay

THE GLOBAL ECONOMY AND ITS IMPACT ON HUMAN HEALTH - Essay Example Outbreaks of major diseases have been handled appropriately as drug companies and governments are able to transport medical supplies and experts within the shortest time possible due to globalization. In the United States, the relationship between globalization and human health is a very complex one as it has both positive and the negative side. This relationship which is described as an inexorable force, need to be understood and developed for the well-being of all human beings. The increased knowledge and new technologies in the United States has greatly improved the surveillance of infectious diseases and the monitoring of antibiotic resistance. The country has a major influx of both legal and illegal immigrants from different parts of the world due to globalization. It has greatly increased the country’s ability to respond to disease emergency cases in other parts of the world. During the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (S.A.R.S) in China, the United States had to take a stern measures so as to ensure that the deadly disease did not spread into the country. They issued travel advisories and close monitoring of its borders. Health care provision in the United States is mainly offered by many firms and organizations in both private and public sectors. Close to 21% of the health care services is offered by the government while 58% of the of the health care institutions are held by non-profit making community based organizations while the remaining percentage is for profit-making. The expenditure on health care by the United States accounted to 17.2% of the total Gross Domestic Product in the year 2011 (OECD, 2005). The United States per capita national expenditures on health care in the year 2013 amounted to $ 9,255 while the total national health expenditures was $ 2.9 trillion. In Mexico, health

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Hair. William Faulkner Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Hair. William Faulkner - Essay Example His detachment from the events narrated allows him to be a compassionate and sensitive commentator, whose views we feel we can trust, even though Faulkner misleads us at the end. He seems to understand Hawkshaw's attachment to the girl, and even treats her premature sexual adventures with sympathy rather than disgust: "nature don't pay any attention to systems, let alone women paying any attention to them I say she couldn't help herself. It wasn't her fault" (133-4). The story is in three parts, the second explaining the first by retreating in time, and the third bringing about the dnouement. Hawkshaw is presented as an isolated figure in a community, which the critic Joseph Reed identifies as being a key motif in Faulkner stories. "Faulkner without a group is without a point of reference essential for his most effective narrative" (Reed, 20). The group varies from story to story; it can be a family, or a particular social grouping, or, as in Hair, a whole town. Hawkshaw is quietly kind to the girl, and is so self-effacing that when he insists that "I'll tend to her", Maxey tells the narrator "that was the first time he ever heard him speak positive about anything" (132). The girls' growth is captured with fine economy. She walks "fast like little girls do", then makes friends at school and passes "not looking toward the window at all" (132), so that Hawkshaw's devotion to her is already under threat. Soon "she got grown fast" (133) and she is h itching up "the regular simple gingham and such dresses that a thirteen-year-old child ought to wear" (134). Hawkshaw has given her presents, including the doll which he "never told" anyone about (133), but it seems to be clear to everyone that his interest in her is not unhealthy. It is appreciated that there is a genuine love in his attitude, which is respected by the others. When the men talk of how she has gone to the bad, "it was while Hawkshaw was not there" (134), and when Maxey does voice his crude suspicions - "Any old man that will fool with a young girl, he's pretty bad" - Matt's comment is a reprimand: the reason is a moral one, "he thinks she is too young to receive jewelry from anybody that aint kin to her" (136). Part II fills in Hawkshaw's past, and lets us a little way into his true thinking, showing that his interest in the girl must be serious, heartfelt and deeply human. He had married the Starnes daughter, showing a real devotion to her and her welfare, learning barbering and going off to work in Birmingham, "Rode part of the way in wagons and walked the rest, coming back each summer to see the girl" (138). He spent all his savings on her father's funeral, and then started saving again for the marriage. He acted out of mature devotion. The narrator cannot convey Hawkshaw's grief when she dies. We only have the immensely touching detail of the picture and the lock of hair, which "both got lost, the hair and the picture, in the mail somehow" (139). He devotes himself then to serving her memory in the only way he can, by paying off the mortgage on the parents' house and returning every April, as on a pilgrimage, to clean it The April "vacation" is utterly essential to him, like a religious observance. At previous employers' he had given up his job