WorkBrain Corp- A case in exit stratgy Research Paper

WorkBrain Corp- A case in exit stratgy - Research Paper Example The company is doing fairly well being a private entity. The company has cash in abundance, over $10 million and can easily operate within its realm. Moreover the current investors of the company are happy with the position of the firm in the market and are willing to even invest more if need arises. No investor of the company has expressed any desire to withdraw its investment. These are positive signs for the company and if it wishes to expand then the best alternate is to use cash from current investors who trusted in the vision of the company before it came into existence. Going public may mean new investors with a different vision that might not be in compliance with the current investors. Saying all this now is the perfect time to go public. Going public would mean more customers for the company. At the moment WorkBrain has to convince its clients that it is financially solvent and in a good position to provide services to them. As the customers cannot see the financial positio n of a private company they hesitate to get the work done from them. If WorkBrain goes public then all the financial details will be present for the customers to see and approach the company for their services. The company will benefit tremendously as it would be able to make clients and customers in much larger numbers. Keeping in mind how solvent the company is, it is the best time for WorkBrain to go public and make more customers (Bilimoria, 2007). The best option for the company would be to go with TSX listing. The reason for this is that TSX in future would be more viable. Compared to NASDAQ, TSX has a small-cap market with more some to medium term service providers and financial institutions. WorkBrain perfectly fits in their category. NASDAQ is more prestigious and has a larger clientele in terms of revenues. It would be fair to say that if WorkBrain needs to go with NASDAQ it would have to come up with a revenue margin of around $75 million. The reason for the company to go public is that it makes it financial statement visible in the market so that potential customers would know how solvent the company is. Going public gives them a chance to come out in the open and make more customers. Acquisition is a completely different proposition. It deals with selling a part of the company or rather a share of profit with someone who is ready in buying a part of business. Normally the rate at which an acquirer buys part of the business is a much bigger rate because of the goodwill attached with the firm. As WorkBrain has done tremendously well showing consistent profit since it emergence, the takeover would have to pay a lot of money for the acquisition. But there is no need of selling part or whole of the business when the firm is making sufficient profits and it is predicted that the company will only look to grow more in the coming years (Arnold, 2008). There might be other alternates that the company might look at. Bank loan is one of them but it comes wit h a cost. A high interest rate has to be paid whenever a company takes a loan from the bank. The biggest advantage of a loan is that the current owners will get to keep the possession of the firm without selling any part of the business to an investor or by going public in the stock exchange. The current owners will get to make the decisions just the way they now do as they will have the control of the firm. Lack of ability to pay in time may get the business into trouble and if

Functions, Trends and Nature of Ownership and Control in the British Mass Media Essay Example for Free

Functions, Trends and Nature of Ownership and Control in the British Mass Media Essay In this piece of writing I will attempt to explain the functions, trends and nature of ownership and control in the British Mass Media. At the end I will describe the features of a Mass Media conglomerate. The Mass media is basically any style of text or image that is viewed by a lot of people. For example T.V, radio, newspapers, books, magazines, billboards, etc are all forms of mass media. Some of these can reach millions of people like T. V, where as newspapers usually reach hundreds of thousands and so on. The media gives us things like, news, entertainment, advertising etc. TELEVISION: Television is the biggest form of media in the UK and in most countries in the world. There are two main types of T.V in the UK, public funded and independent. The BBC is publicly funded by T.V licence fees of around à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½100 that cover all BBC related audio visual broadcasting. The government does not have any direct influence over what is shown on T.V although there are regulators who decide what is acceptable and what is not. The BBC is controlled by their board of governors of which there are twelve who are appointed by the Crown to ensure that the BBC fulfils its obligations. Among them are National Governors for Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland. One Governor has special responsibility for the English Regions. All are part time non-executives. They meet monthly and hold the BBCs managers to account for their performance against the agreed strategy and objectives. The BBC is led by the director-general, who is both chief executive and editor-in-chief. The Governors appoint the Director-General and (with the Director-General) the most senior management. BBC operations are run by the directors of nine programming and broadcasting divisions and six professional services, and by the Chief executives of the BBCs two commercial businesses. They report to the director-general and together make up the Executive Committee. A less formal Leadership Group meets to discuss and develop a clear vision for the BBC. The independents are controlled by themselves. However thy may be part of a bigger conglomerate. The ITV is a federation of television companies holding licences from the Independent Television Commission (ITC) to broadcast in 14 regions covering the whole of the United Kingdom. Each licence is awarded for a minimum of ten years. The ITV network has 15 independent regional television licences in 14 regional areas (there are 2 licences for London, a weekday and a weekend licence). All programmes are designed for local audiences in each region. The ITV is controlled by the ITV Council, comprising the Chief Executives of each licensee. Each ITV licensee has rights over the programme schedule, and is responsible for the production and broadcasting of its own local programme and news services. The ITV and its independent companies are regulated and licensed by the ITC. The ITC is independent of the Government and of the broadcasters. They are funded from fees that the licensees have to pay. The ITC makes sure that the independent and commercial licensees provide quality programs and a high standard of competition among other things. They also set certain standards for the time allocated to certain styles of programmes. There are five categories of channel 3 programmes for which the ITC sets minimum requirements. These are, * National and International news Three programmes each day of 20 minutes (lunch), 15 minutes (early evening) and half an hour in peak time. * Current affairs One and a half hours weekly average * Children Ten hours weekly average * Religion Two hours weekly average * Regional Varies from franchise to franchise Although the ITC is involved in licensing and regulating all forms of digital television, the Broadcasting Act 1996 makes it specifically responsible for establishing Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) in the UK. DTT is especially important because it carries existing free-to-air services provided by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 (S4C in Wales) and Channel 5. At present, T.V broadcasting is mainly analogue, however within the next five years it will all be digital. Digital T.V will bring a bigger choice of programmes to watch, as it will have on average 200 stations. You can already do shopping and go on the internet with digital T.V, but by the time it takes over analogue completely it will have many more options and facilities. NEWSPAPERS: There are many distinguishing features in the British Press. Some of these are things like the differences between tabloid and broadsheet papers or the differences between national, local and regional papers. There are ten morning daily papers and ten Sunday papers which make up the national press. Fleet Street in London used to be the centre of the newspaper industry, but all the national papers have moved their editorial and printing facilities to other parts of London or away from the capital all together. National papers are often described as quality,mid-market or popularpapers because of their differences in style and content. Five dailies and four Sundays are usualy described as qualitie papers. These papers are directed at people who want full information on a wide range of public maters. Popular newspapers are for the more light hearted reader. Mid-market publications cover the intermediate market. Quality papers are normally broadsheet (large-sheet) in format and mid-market and popular papers are tabloid (small-sheet) in size. Scottish editions of national papers usually only change things like the sports page and the T.V listings. Most places in the UK have their own regional or local newspaper. These can be anything from daily papers to evening ones, Sundays or weeklies. These papers concentrate mainly on local or regional stories although the dailies do print national and international news from a local viewpoint. Newspapers from the Irish Republic and the British national press are widely read in Northern Ireland. Several hundred free distribution papers, mostly weekly and financed by advertising, are published in the UK. They have enjoyed rapid growth in recent years. Ownership of the national, London and many regional daily newspapers lies in the hands of large corporations, most of which are involved in the whole field of publishing and communications (media conglomerates). Local papers however are owned by different companies altogether. Newspapers are also controlled by their boards of management. It is possible for two national papers to be owned by the same company and they can even be owned by broadcasting companies as a separate division, however influence between the two types of media is not recommended. There are local weekly papers for every district in Greater London; these are often different local editions of one centrally published paper. This does not just happen in London. A prime example of this in our area would be the Press and Journal. It covers the North of Scotland as well as some southern areas as far down as Perth and Stirling, but it produces different editions for every area of which there are eleven. These editions are classed as local editions. All newspapers are answerable to the press complaints commission, which responds to public complaints about printed items. RADIO: There are basically two types of radio in the UK. There is Commercial Radio and The BBC Radio. The Radio Authority governs commercial radio stations such as Moray Firth radio and XFM. The radio authority is basically the ITC of the radio. Like the ITC it also has no powers over the BBC. The BBC is fully independent. Although there are far more Commercial radio stations than BBC ones, the BBC is still ahead in ratings. The gap between BBC Radio and its commercial rivals has widened recently to show BBC Radio to have a share of 51.4% compared with 46.79% for Commercial Radio. In the neck-and-neck race for reach, the BBC edged ahead with 31.2 million listeners compared with their rivals 31.1 million. The figures released by RAJAR (Radio Joint Audience Research Limited) cover the period from June 26 to September 17 2000. Radio can change on a daily basis because the control of its output is not restricted. The format usually stays the same although major changes in presentation can happen from time to time. Independent radio station change depending on their income and audience. The better the audience the better the sponsorships and advertisers. Things like audience talk shows on radio where members of the audience can phone in and participate are very successful. The BBC and large independent radio companies are controlled in the same way as they are on T.V. Although the majority are part of larger groups, local radio is controlled by local management. These groups use their own style in the local stations but adapt it to suit the area of broadcast. VOLENTARY IN-VOLENTARY CODES OF PRACTICE: Independent T.V and radio are quite strictly controlled by the ITC and Radio Authority, but magazines and newspapers have more freedom. These, along with the BBC, ITV, Press Complaints Commission and the Broadcasting Standards all enforce their own codes of practice throughout the media. However, the law has the final say in control of the media in the following areas: Defamation: A statement which damages the reputation of an individual or company, i.e. false accusations, libel, innuendos, etc. Obscenity: The publication or broadcasting of material which will tend to deprave or corrupt. Incitement of racial hatred: 1986 public order act forbids material which is likely to incite racial hatred. Blasphemy: To pass the limits of decency and controversy and outrage Christian feelings. Only applies to Christians. Sedation: Forbids the publication of material that incites hatred towards parliament or the monarch. Official secrets act: Forbids the publication of official secrets. Contempt of court: Forbids you from pre judging a court case or to assume someone is guilty. MASS MEDIA CONGLOERATE: Carlton Media Group: The Carlton Media Group runs the following sixteen companies: Carlton London Region The London Region is one of three areas for which Carlton TV is the ITV broadcaster. Visit the site for regional company news. Carlton Central Region The Central Region is one of three areas for which Carlton TV is the ITV broadcaster. Visit the site for regional company news. Carlton International Carlton International is the largest distributor of classic British films and the biggest sales house for British TV outside the BBC. ITN ITN is one of the most respected independent news organisations in the world catering for news, sport, business and entertainments. Carlton West Country Region The West Country Region is one of three areas for which Carlton TV is the ITV broadcaster. Visit the site for regional company news. ITV Carries information about programmes on the ITV network. Action Time Television production company Action Time is a leading distributor of entertainments formats, including an extensive home video clip library. London News Network LNN is a TV and production company working for joint shareholders Carlton and LWT. Carlton Cinema Carlton cinema is a film channel available exclusively on On digital. Visit the website for comprehensive movie listings. Media Sales For information on rates, screen advertising, pitch time, sponsorship and career opportunities at Carlton. Carlton Communications Plc Carlton Communications Plc is the publicly quoted parent company of Carlton Media and other related media companies. Click here for the share price, financial and other investor information. ONdigital ONdigital was the first company in the world to launch a digital terrestrial television service delivering multi-channel TV and interactive services into homes through an ordinary TV aerial. Visit the website for listings. Simply Food SimplyFood.co.uk is the UKs No.1 food and drink website and home to the Carlton Food Network. It has a searchable UK restaurant guide and a database of thousands of recipes, plus features and reviews. Carlton Video On the Carlton Video website you can buy videos and DVDs of many of Carltons programmes and films, including classics like Inspector Morse, Soldier Soldier, and Britain at War. PeopleBank PeopleBank is the UKs leading provider of internet recruitment services, bringing together quality candidates and employers. Online since 1995, PeopleBank has extensive experience in providing cost-effective e-recruitment solutions. HTV HTV, the ITV broadcaster for Wales, was recently bought by Carlton TV. Visit the site of the most popular channel in Wales. They also have Carlton Books. This shows that Carlton cover broadcasting, publishing, the internet, advertising, and marketing. This means that if Carlton have a successful income level from one of there companies it can benefit all of them and in turn make them more desirable to the public. Because of this they can use control there revenue a lot better without having to pay other companies to do things like marketing. They sell advertising space to make the initial money to fund projects such as a new drama series. They can then market and publish their own material and because they own all the copyright they can expand by using the internet. Although there is a national guideline concerning who owns what and the amount of fields you can spread into to prevent companies from becoming all powerful and swallowing up smaller companies, Carlton still has its eye on Direct. This is a group who run insurance and holiday companies. At present, Carlton are biding for the Scottish Media Group who have two radio stations, a newspaper group, Scottish and Grampian television. If they are successful in their bid, they will be able to grow to new heights and spread into both radio and print forms of media quite successfully in Scotland. Functions of the Mass Media: There are five main functions in the mass media. Entertainment functions: This provides healthy amusement and helps to divert the attention of the audience from serious social issues and inequalities. Information functions: This helps to structure a particular view of the world and to look at it in geographical, political and social terms. Cultural functions: This helps to develop mass culture at the expense of more diverse subcultures. That helps to maintain the status quo in cultural terms, but may also discourage change and growth. Social functions: These socialize us into beliefs and relationships which help us operate successfully in society. This naturalizes one view of society and stops us thinking, obtaining and acting on alternative views. Political functions: This helps us to understand the operation of politics in our society. However, it gives us the illusion of participating in the political process, but actually endorses the authority of those who continue to run our lives unquestioned. The media are also capable of shaping opinions about political events and issues. Current Trends in the Mass Media: When you think of current trends in the media at the moment two things come to mind, digital and conglomerates. A lot of companies are trying to branch out into other fields of the media at the moment. The Scottish media group for one are trying to expand their interests in radio although this could cause problems with its T.V. franchises. There are regulations set up to prevent certain big companies from taking over the media by branching ever wider into it. However there are discussions about these regulations which could result in big firms having huge ownership or control over certain areas of the mass media. The main trend of the moment has to be the evolution from analogue to digital. T.V. and radio are all a part of the growing trend and it doesnt look like its going to stop there. Already you can tune in to the radio through digital T.V. as well as go on the internet, shop, play games, the opportunities are endless. The future however lies with a fully digital T.V. without the aid of ugly dishes on the side of your house or cumbersome boxes on top of you tele. With this you will be able to access anything you want. There will be no set programs, no times, just you, your T.V. and the whole media world at your fingertips. You will be able to pick anything to watch, read, here, play, buy, or do from your tele. This astonishing development is proving very expensive to produce, run, and buy if it is ever released. If it is released it will be the main media related technological break through in history.

Theodore Roosevelt Essay -- Presidents History Essays

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt was fond of quoting an old African proverb that admonished people to "speak softly and carry a big stick." Ironically, it was his thunderous voice that made him president, earned him enemies and brought him friends. That voice also made him the bulwark of the Progressive Movement. On October 27, 1858, Roosevelt was born on East Twentieth Street in New York City to Martha Bulloch, who he described as a "sweet gracious, beautiful Southern Woman" and Theodore Roosevelt Sr., who he wrote was "the best man I ever knew." Roosevelt was born into wealth, with his father a henchman of the family firm, Roosevelt & Son. Roosevelt’s grandfather, Cornelius Van Schaack Roosevelt, had earlier redesigned the business so it focused on selling plate glass instead of retail hardware. When the financial Panic of 1837 struck New York, Roosevelt’s grandfather bought up land. The plate glass business was sold to a British firm in 1876 and it changed its focus again – this time moving into the private banking and investment business. As Roosevelt grew up, his uncle, James A. ran the business, but his father received a portion of the enormous profits. (Renehan, 16) Roosevelt was a frail and asthmatic child who was teased and bullied. He gradually overcame his ailments be becoming physically active, learning to box and ride horseback. He looked forward to the long vacations his family spent in the country, where he could revel in the countryside and its wildlife. While he was still a young boy, he became interested in natural history and zoology. His interest in hunting and nature were a lifetime passion for Roosevelt. In the fall of 1876, Roosevelt entered Harvard, where he graduated in 1880. "I thoro... ...cted, it became clear that the United States would probably become involved in Europe’s war whether it wanted to or not. Roosevelt began lobbying Washington so he could raise a division of infantry and cavalry to serve in Europe. He did not receive favorable responses and journeyed to Washington D.C. to personally speak with Secretary of War Newton D. Baker and President Wilson. His wish to create a division was refused. Roosevelt would later write a friend that Wilson’s soul was "rotten through and through." In 1918, Roosevelt was once again consorting with Republican conservatives such as Taft and Elihu Root, who were opposed to Wilson and his League of Nations. Roosevelt was overjoyed in 1918 when republicans won a Senate majority. Early in 1919 he was boasting that he would be given the Republican nomination for president in 1920. But he died on January 6, 1919.

Leper Lepelliers Functions As A Minor Character :: essays research papers

Upon returning to his school fifteen years after graduating, Gene Forrester, recalled his days at the Devon School in a surreal sense. In his own words, â€Å"In the deep, tacit way in which feeling becomes stronger than thought, I had always felt that the Devon School came into existence the day I entered it, was vibrantly real while I was a student there, and then blinked out like a candle the day I left.† Helping embellish this reality were his friends, including Leper Lepellier, who appeared in only five scenes in A Separate Peace. Elwin â€Å"Leper† Lepellier’s role as a minor character was vital to the story, although not nearly as visible as Gene’s or Finny’s. His appearances stole the attention of the reader, altered each character’s own perceptions of the war, and forced the main character to act and think in ways he would not have otherwise. Chapter Ten’s journey to Leper’s Christmas location is a trip away from Devon both physically and emotionally. Leper steals the scene by inviting Gene to his home, proceeding to unsettle the reader to the extent that he cannot concentrate on the other characters. Quiet and subdued, Leper spent much of his time outdoors, sketching snails and trees, photographing beaver dams. He was what Brinker so scornfully called a naturalist. This gentle hobby extracted virtually no interest from the reader, besides a knowledge of Leper’s eccentric and lonely personality. Because he predictably behaved this way, reading the few tortured pages of his hallucinations in the army elicits strong emotion and reader interest; Finny and the Devon group of friends were insignificant compared to the horrific images Leper conjured in the reader’s mind. Gene felt the same emotions as the reader: â€Å"Don’t tell me who’s got me and who hasn’t got me. Who do you think you’re talking to? Stick to your snails, Lepellier.† Shocked at what his friend has become, Gene mentions his naturalistic manner, hoping to straighten him out. At this point, the reader is as helpless as Gene, wondering why Leper has changed, what the hallucinations mean, and most importantly, what will happen to between them in the pages to come. Leper also directs the reader back to Finny’s accident, pointing a guilty finger at Gene when he says he and everyone he knew were all â€Å"savages underneath.† When Gene finally runs out of Vermont and away from Leper’s insanity, the reader now has another view on Finny’s accident.

Advance Directives

What are advance directives? Advance directives are extremely important. It is essential that everyone make some sort of arrangement before an unfortunate situation happens to them where these decisions will need to be made. An advance directive is basically a living will or a written statement in which people state the type and amount of care they wish to receive during a terminal illness and as death approaches.Medical Law and Ethics stated that â€Å"Advance directives limit the type and amount of medical care and treatment that patients will receive if they should become incompetent and have a poor prognosis. It is important that directives are placed in writing; it is not sufficient for a person to just tell someone what his or her wishes for treatment are. The courts typically enforce written advance directives. † (pg 313) There are four types of advance directives.They are a living will, durable power of attorney for healthcare, uniform anatomical gift act, and a do not resuscitate order. The living will is a â€Å"document that a person drafts before becoming incompetent or unable to make healthcare decisions. † The durable power of attorney for healthcare is â€Å"A legal document that empowers another person (proxy) to make healthcare decisions for healthcare for an incompetent patient.It goes into effect after the person becomes incompetent and only pertains to healthcare decisions. † The uniform anatomical gift act is a â€Å"law that allows persons 18 years or older and of sound mind to make a gift of any part of their body for purposes of medical research or transplantation. † The do not resuscitate order is â€Å"an order placed into a person’s medical chart or medical record. It indicates that the person does not wish to be resuscitated if breathing stops. † (pg 103)

Critical Lens Essay

Critical Lens Essay A critical lens essay is a type of essay where students ability to think critically and express their ideas in the written form is estimated. Generally, it requires three major skills: reading, critical thinking, and writing. Critical Lens essay generally follows a fixed essay format: introduction, three body paragraphs, and conclusion. What Is a Critical Lens Essay A critical lens essay is a type of essay where students ability to think critically and express their ideas in the written form is estimated. Generally, it requires three major skills: reading, critical thinking, and writing. Careful preparation for essay writing is no less important than writing itself. ESSAY WRITING TIPS AND TRICKS This type of essay (see all types of essay) is often used during written examinations when the assignment is given in the form of a statement or a phrase, and students are asked to relate it to one or two pieces of literature. Critical Lens Essay Structure Critical Lens essay generally follows a fixed essay format. In the essay, a student has to discuss two literature pieces and 3 literary terms. In addition, a student needs to know capitalization rules and write them correctly. All titles are capitalized. Book titles are underlined and short stories are put in quotes. Generally, an essay consists of the following elements: Introduction The first sentence introduces the quote itself. Next sentence one should give the students interpretation of the quote to show how the student understands its meaning. Next, outline whether you agree or disagree with this quote, mention the books you are going to talk about in your essay and explain how your quote relates to them. Remember to spell, capitalize and punctuate all titles correctly. It is advisable not to use personal pronouns like: â€Å"I, you, we, me, my†; in contrast, it is better to substitute them with third person pronouns or alternative words like ‘they’, ‘readers’, ‘people’ etc. Three Body Paragraphs Paragraph  1. In the first body paragraph,  restate the quote in your interpretation. Paragraph 2. In the second body paragraph, mention the titles of the first literature piece you are going to analyze and briefly mention how it relates to the selected quote. Paragraph 3.  In the third body paragraph, speak about the second literary piece and explain how you think it relates to the quote you have selected. In order to back up your quote, you will need to use specific examples from each novel. Another thing: dont forget to connect the book back to the interpretation of your quote. Conclusion Your conclusion sums up the main thoughts of the essay. It is strongly recommended not to repeat your introduction verbatim. Don’t forget to end your essay with the quote that opened it. CRITICAL ESSAY FROM A TO Z Steps on How to Write a Critical Lens Essay STEP 1. Read the quote attentively. STEP 2. Try to rewrite the quote in your own words. STEP 3. Analyze the quote. STEP 4. Decide whether you agree or disagree. STEP 5. Name the two literary pieces that support your position. STEP 6. Think of a short summary of the two texts and express how they support/don’t support the quote. STEP 7. Try to use literary elements into your argument, but dont overdo it. Use it in the introduction and the first body paragraph. STEP 8. In the  first paragraph, focus on the book you have read and explain how the text supports your understanding of the quote. STEP 9. If one paragraph appears to be too long, you may break it up into two smaller ones. STEP 10. In the second paragraph, you should use the same order but now write about the other text. STEP 11. Make a short summary of what youve written – that’s your conclusion. STEP 12. Restate your thesis and explain how the texts you selected  to support it. CRITICAL ANALYSIS Necessary Literary Elements Keeping the structure in mind, you should not forget to use the following literary elements: Figurative Language: use the simile, metaphor, alliteration, personification and hyperbole correctly. Flashback: be able to describe the past event at present. Foreshadowing: use name hints or clues that suggest some events that may happen next. Plot: follow the correct sequence of events which took place in the literary piece. The point of view: give your own point of view. Setting: show your knowledge of the time and place of the action in literary work. Theme: show your understanding of the central idea of the literary work. Tone: use your specific attitude towards the audience or subject. Be able to add to your interpretation of the quote the details from the books you read.  If you follow all the tips you will create an intelligent critical lens essay and will easily convince the reader that you are aware of your topic to the smallest detail. The main thing you need to keep in mind while creating your critical lens essay is to persuade readers to accept your viewpoint. Place an order and our professional academic writers will help you find the right reasoning to do that!

Orient overseas container line (oocl) Essay Example

Orient overseas container line (oocl) Essay Example Orient overseas container line (oocl) Paper Orient overseas container line (oocl) Paper ORIENT OVERSEAS CONTAINER LINE ( OOCL ) 01.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF OOCL. Container transportation is most popular types of merchandiser transportation over the universe. Due to size, usage, and handiness, it is celebrated and convenient for transporting from one topographic point to another topographic point to all clients from little bargainer to large bargainer. OOCL is the taking container chief line operator in transporting industry holding ain information engineering installations. OOCL is a wholly-owned subordinate company of OOIL ( Orient Overseas International Limited ) group which listed on Hong Kong Stock exchange as a populace limited company. OOCL is one of the universe s largest integrated international container transit, logistics and terminal companies holding planetary trade name images in container transportation ( OOCL, 2010a ) The laminitis of OOCL is CY Tung who dreamed to make Chinese merchandiser fleet in international transportation. In 1947, he succeeded when first ship with all Chinese crew reached in USA and Europe under the name of his company Orient Overseas Line ( OOL ) . Due to the demand of container vas and age of containerisation in transportation, OOL renamed to OOCL in 1962. Today, it has more than 230offices in 58 states around the universe and the present Chairman is CC Tung. OOCL Mission Statementis â€Å"To be the best and most advanced international container conveyance and logistics service supplier ; supplying a Critical Link to universe trade and making value for our clients, employees, stockholders and partners† ( OOCL,2010b ) . The nucleus values of OOCL for people or employee of the company, clients and wants to keep high criterion of services through community duties. OCCL is a renewed container bearer who has own female parent and feeder vas, rail path, containers, dawdlers and terminuss. In December 2008, OOCL awarded â€Å"Best of the Best† ocean career by World Trade Magazine of USA ( Shister, 2008 ) .All vass of OOCL achieved the quality certification of QUALSHIP 21 issued by US Coast Guard. However, recent universe recession covered OOCL besides and it s container traffic fell 17.2 per cent compared with the first half of 2008, while gross fell 37.2 per cent to $ 2.05bn and runing loss for the half of $ 197m, against a $ 216m net income in the first half of 2008 ( Lau and Wright,2009 ) . United Nations Conference on Trade and development- UNCTAD positioned OOCL within the taking container conveyance operators of 20 MLO ( Main Line Operators ) . Year Position Number Of Vessels TEU Capacity ( TEU-Twenty pess Equivalent ) 2008 11 90 364384 2007 09 84 351542 2006 12 71 275057 2005 11 68 236018 2004 11 63 216527 Figure 1 ( Table ) Performance of OOCL in universe container trade 2004-2008 ( UNCTAD,2010 ) The place of the OOCL is universe container industry is fluctuating extremely twelvemonth by twelvemonth. There is no changeless improving that means growing in public presentation index by UNCTAD. However, they are increasing the figure of vas and container capacity ( TEU capacity ) in every twelvemonth. Within 5 old ages they increased the figure of vass approx 50 % and capacity over 68 % . As a entire logistics service supplier, OOCL s international cargo consolidation and logistics service unit, OOCL Logistics, provides its clients with advanced cargo direction services and leading-edge IT solutions. OOCL China Domestic Ltd. offers extended domestic distribution services and supply-chain direction to clients in China, the turning market which OOCL has been functioning for over 50 old ages ( OOIL,2010 ) OOCL is renowned for its pioneering attack to developing intermodal connexions. All agencies of intermodal conveyance are carefully integrated with bole ocean services to offer seamless connexions across continents utilizing feeder services, flatboats, trucks and block trains ( OOCL, 2010c ) 02.STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT Peoples have different positions for apprehension, developing and implementing scheme economically and seasonably to derive particular advantages in concern. Before taking any scheme, need to warrant and measure the administrations present state of affairs particularly internal environment of the administration. After that, external environment will assist to put a preliminary program for traveling frontward. This is really of import to measure the state of affairss by marketing mix and political factors besides. In a survey ( Johnson et wholly, 2005 ) of strategic geographic expedition found that, there are three scheme lenses: design, experience and thoughts which are utile to develop a scheme in a administration. Model of Strategic Management ( Johnson et wholly, 2005 ) The above theoretical account indicates that strategic direction indicates the strategic place of a administration depends on the environment and its capablenesss to accommodate besides its outlooks. The pick of scheme may be in concern degree or corporate-level ; it may be internationally for the development of the administration by following the strategic way or methods. Furthermore, need to organize, enable the scheme into action to acquire competitory advantage. The research and development of the scheme based on the some environment analysis such as SWOT, PESTLE, value concatenation, Porter s Five forces manner and etc. By using these administrations can happen the place where it placed and take effectual step to rectify modify for developing the state of affairs. 03.SWOT ANALYSIS FOR OOCL In a survey Stacey ( 2000 ) stated that â€Å"SWOT analysis is the list of an administration s strengths and failings indicated by an analysis of its resources and capablenesss, plus a list of the chances and menaces that an analysis of its environment individualities. Strategic logic evidently requires that the future form of actions to be taken should fit strengths with chances, ward off menaces, and seek to get the better of weaknesses.† ( P-5 ) . In add-on, Strengths ( Koch, 2000 ) can function as a foundation for constructing a competitory advantage, and failings may impede it. By understanding these four facets of its state of affairs, a house can break leverage its strengths, correct its failings, capitalise on aureate chances, and discourage potentially annihilating menaces Container Shipping is the most complicated globalized industry which has to vie with internal rivals like other container operators besides homogeneous concern like dry majority or oiler operators. Furthermore, it has a large competition with air transit. Customer ever wants to cognize the good and bad affairs of the company before stuffing his lading. By SWOT analysis of a company we can easy happen out the negative and positives of an administration. So, SWOT analysis is really of import for developing company profile by rectifying present failings and aware the menaces internally, externally and environmentally. OCCL has immense competition with other operators nationally and internationally and need to pull off little shipper or large client, furthermore, fluctuation of international trade create the environment to calculate its all sight. Furthermore, it is a client focused administration. SWOT analysis will assist to pull the client for better concern besides develops the administration economically and socially. 04.SWOT Analysis A. STRENGTHS OF OOCL OOCL is a subordinate of a planetary group of company OOIL group, Hong Kong. They can take any organisational or fiscal aid from the group even from the authorities. Offering quality services in Asia, Europe, America and Australasia where container service is extremely demanded as speedy ocean transit and easy entree to shipper or consignee premises. Quick and rapid service, theodolite clip is less, easy connexion, planetary service A ; web Pioneer in IT ( Transporting ) .Very strong in information engineering. Vendor services are executing by specialised package â€Å"Operationsmart† , â€Å"Depotsmart† and â€Å"Schedulesmart† . Vendor can easy log on and contract with OOCL from anyplace by utilizing this installations. Any client can cognize his lading place by this nexus. All vass are managing by utilizing information engineering. Has ain bearers ( Mother and feeder vass ) , rail path ( Owned in China and partnership in America A ; Europe ) Global trade name image A ; designation to bargainer, importer and exporter. Trained and skilled employees who s are truly professional A ; devoted in their occupations. Market leader in refrigerated container trade and temperature -controlled environment over ocean, rail and burden line. Strong intermodal web in Asia, Europe and America. â€Å"DGsmart† which cares the unsafe goods client. OOCL provides preparation for all for managing these types of lading B. WEAKNESSES OF OOCL High competition and market fluctuation. Insignificant market growing of the line. No changeless concern growing in the industry. High cargo A ; costs. Peak season surcharge on service paths. Limited allotment of container in assorted paths and state GSA trade in maximal state. No direct trade for maximising net income and mass customization. Imbalance of equipment. Huge rental container. Africa service is non available. C. OPPORTUNITIES OF OOCL OOCL can increase the figure of vass and container as universe demand is increasing twenty-four hours by twenty-four hours. Introduction of Africa and South American services and intermodal connexion at that place. Addition market portion in Asiatic part by direct concern. Introduction of feeder service in south Asia and investing in terminal concern. More investing in port and terminal concern. D. THREATS OF OOCL World recession which may be incurred immense loss which will impact to the portion market and stockholders view to deviate from their place or sell the portion. Due to surcharge or excess payment, client may deviate to other operators. Heavy competition with national and international bearer. Globalization of the industry. May loose domestic s lading. Limited Feeder Vessel allocation from hub port to talk port in Asiatic market 05.BUSINESS Scheme Business scheme is the cardinal constituent of developing the administration as reputed administration of the universe. In add-on, it will assist to set up the operational guidelines by which company can continue measure by measure. This good program may assist to make the mark point for accomplishing the desired end products. It will assist to do program, alteration, control and execution of the undertaking. In a survey Lasserre ( 2007 ) argued that a company concern scheme is a set of cardinal picks which defines its long-run aims, its value proposition to the market, how it intends to construct and prolong a competitory concern system and how it organises itself. He added that a concern scheme will by and large cover the followerss for acquiring the maximal results: Ambition. This will assist to put a long-run aims of the company by which it is possible to make a mark particularly increasing the size of the organisation economically, nationally and internationally. Positioning. It will add the value proposition to client. Branding the merchandise and service, client cleavage, penchant of client picks will put a criterion of the company and good place on the market. Investing. Business scheme will assist to make the environment of investing for traveling really near of the client. Besides create a system that is able to present value to clients competitively. Organization. The profound beliefs of the organisation will add value to the employee and long-run working installations will develop a good construction of human resources direction. From human resources to the production, everyplace will be a procedure and will steer the organisation in a system. The concern scheme of an administration may be different in different location or part. The company concern scheme may be FDI ( Foreign Direct Investment ) , M A ; A ( Merger and acquisition ) , Diversification, CSR ( Corporate Social Responsibility ) or Global Strategy or any corporate schemes that will rule or bespeak how the company will convey competitory advantages to make concern. 06.DIVERSIFICATION STRATEGY OF OOCL a ) Diversification Diversification ( Johnson et wholly, 2005 ) is a scheme that takes the administration into both new markets and merchandises or services and be undertaken for a assortment of grounds, value making than others. It may derive the economic systems of range by administrations bing installations besides corporate managerial capablenesss. Keeping the merchandise is the chief challenge of variegation. Alternatively of increasing growing, it sometimes is a load for the administration. The growing of the nucleus concern of the administration may make the fiscal or distribution channel strength to spread out the concern in related or unrelated map. Sometimes directors or employee motivates the proprietors to prosecute in new concern. In add-on, the good trade name value may pull to diversify the merchandise or present new merchandise by which company can give extra client service. Furthermore, offer from authorities to make concern in a new country or merchandise for protecting the national in volvement towards a strong place of the company besides fiscal stableness in a state. In a research of variegation, Reed and Luffman ( 1986 ) argued that basic strategic purposes can merely be decided after calculated concentration on the company s present restriction and hereafter demands which helps to last, growing, usage of resources or accommodating to client so variegation is one option in several option available to the company. They besides added that analysis of market ; material supplies, technological development and production procedure are required before traveling to the determination of variegation. Where the chance is available but hazard to develop, administration may non diversify from their nucleus concern. The appraisal to spread out the concern in assorted ways can assist to take a determination in what manner they will look frontward towards bing or new client but offering the qualitative merchandise or service depends on the client s desire and handiness of channel by which they can advance the merchandise or service. Otherwise, hazard will be i ncreased and nucleus concern may be hampered by the new one. Grant ( 2008 ) argued that variegation scheme or determinations by the company involves for two issues: attractive force of the industry and end product by competitory advantages. The economic sciences of range can be tangibles or intangible resources of the company even organizational capablenesss can besides be transferred within the diversified company. OOCL had competitory advantages by its diversified merchandises like information systems and terminal concern. The group concern expanded concern in related and unrelated industry for acquiring the logistics support for its nucleus concern ocean transportation. He prescribed that variegation motivates the administration for turning, cut downing hazard and doing net income to make incompatibility of stockholder position. OOCL diversified in both homocentric and pudding stone to develop their administration economically besides making trade name value. But they extremely focused on homocentric variegation because transportation is the derived demand and extremely globalized concern where client needs all sort of logistics support. Supplying the logistics support they made strong information systems from the beginning of conveyance to the concluding finish which one is the full version of logistics. The OOIL group diversified in container concern by making the OOCL logistics which helps to add value in their nucleus concern ocean transporting. In add-on, they involved in larboard terminus concern in Kaoshiung ( China ) and Long Beach ( North America ) which form an built-in portion of international containerised conveyance concern ( OOIL,2010a ) . The lading smart is the advanced package of OOCL by which they can maintain relation with their clients in 24 hours. Preliminary it is developed for their ain administrations but now utilizing by most of the logistics company of the universe. It ( CargoSmart,2010 ) is a Software as a Service ( SaaS ) planetary transportation and logistics solutions provider that enables companies to take down transit direction costs, streamline operations, and cut down the hazard of late cargos. For acquiring the house servants cargo, they established OOCL China house servants limited for acquiring the house servants lading which besides add value in their concern. Due to heavy industrialisation in China and holding competition with national and international transportation company, OOCL diversified in their merchandise to make a good selling attack to the local bargainer. Kaoshiung larboard terminus is back uping them by giving logistics Centre installations to the shipper and consignee in China. Furthermore, route and rail transit besides help to pull the client as it is the multimodal installations for transporting the lading at bearer s hazard. Enhance, they structured intermodal service in China, Europe and North America In pudding stone variegation, they established belongings concern in two states ( China and USA ) as OODL which helps to increase the stockholder value and hereafter of the company for any crisis or recovery of their nucleus concern. B ) Vertical Integration in OOCL There is a perpendicular integrating in OOCL variegation as they set a list of merchandise and service in forepart of their clients. The nucleus concern of OOCL is ocean transporting that means selling the vas infinite to the client and supplying the installations of instrument container for caring the lading. Along with this concern they integrated the services by backward and forward integrating. The backward installations are the information installations by which client can log on from any topographic point of the universe. In add-on, Logistics Company like OOCL logistics, intermodal systems besides added in backward integrating. The forward installations are larboard and terminal concern which added value to pull the client for uncluttering the lading easy and economically. C ) Performance and Outcomes. Diversification and public presentation are correlated in their possible activities but depends on the credence of the client. Grant ( 2008 ) believes that variegation has the possible to make value for stockholders where it exploits economic sciences of range and where dealing costs in the market for resources make it inefficient to work these economic sciences of range through market contracts. The transporting market depends on its rhythms from the ship edifice to scrapping and mid times utilizing installations. Furthermore, it s perishable service where customization is really of import to utilize its all rhythms. As a container service chief line operator, it is really hard to run the concern by merely its vas public presentation but besides need linking installations to maintain the client. Diversification in OOCl helps to make logistics merchandises or service like Cargo Smart, Intermodal, Port A ; Terminal and catalyst their nucleus concern ocean transportation. The pudding stone variegation of OOCL in belongings concern helped to last in recession. Due ( Reuters,2010 ) to planetary economic downswing and company immense loss in this downswing, OOIL group has sold $ 2.2 billion in Chinese belongings to raise hard currency and concentrate on its nucleus transportation concern. 07. Critical Analysis The variegation scheme of OOCL is partly failure. Due to economic downswing, group is unable to prolong and sold their unrelated belongings concern OODL. It will be impacted to their nucleus concern because stockholder will non be influenced to maintain their portion. In add-on, they had chance for developing their concern in port terminuss but sold two terminuss out of four. Port terminuss are large entree of a transportation company. However, their present terminus is utilizing by their ain and expansive confederation vass. The best option for container transportation in strategic direction may be in planetary scheme because this is the extremely globalised industry. They can take the scheme for increasing their services in all over the universe. Some companies are really successful in M A ; A similar MAERSK. They merged with Sealand foremost and eventually acquired P A ; O Nedlloyd which 1 is the great and extremely capitalized acquisition in transporting industry. OOCL has great chance to unify with some African or South American container line to diversify their concern in these parts. It will convey more clients. In add-on, their core competency of HR policy indicated that CSR may be the best scheme to develop the concern. The Grand Alliance ( Hapag-lloyd,2009 ) formed in 1998 is the taking incorporate pool in planetary container transportation by the taking chief line operator in container transporting Hapag-Lloyd ( Germany ) , MISC Berhad ( Malaysia ) , NYK ( Japan ) and OOCL ( Hong Kong ) . Joi ntly they are presenting transporting paths and new services twenty-four hours by twenty-four hours to widen the container transportation. 08.CONCLUSION Lasserre ( 2007 ) stated that directors, politicians, journalists and faculty members are normally utilizing the construct of globalisation along with planetary industries, competition, or corporation or schemes to globalise or decease. Container transporting industry is extremely globalised as it is the derived demand of universe trade. Furthermore, it has to contend with same line industry like dry majority or oiler transportation. The concern competition among the chief line container operators is really high. In add-on, universe confederation by some companies that doing groups and get down amalgamate concern is the new dimension to minimise the loss or maximising the net income. Strategic confederation between two or more houses like the expansive confederation of OOCL with other operators brought competitory advantages in concern. OOCL is the household concern administration and featured the nucleus competence of human resources. SWOT analysis of the administration and variegat ion scheme may demo the ways to confront the planetary economic downswing and be more strategic in their concern.

The History of the Hand Grenade

The History of the Hand Grenade A grenade is a small explosive, chemical, or gas bomb. It is used at short range, thrown by hand or launched with a grenade launcher. The resulting powerful explosion causes shockwaves and disperses high-speed fragments of the metal, which provoke shrapnel wounds. The word grenade comes from the French word for pomegranate, early grenades looked like pomegranates. Origins Grenades first came into use around the 15th century and the first inventor cannot be named. The first grenades were hollow iron balls filled with gunpowder and ignited by a slow burning wick. During the 17th  century, armies began to form specialized divisions of soldiers trained to throw grenades. These specialists were called grenadiers, and for a time were regarded as elite fighters. By the 19th century, with the increased improvement of firearms, grenades popularity decreased and largely fell out of use. They were first used extensively again during the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05). The hand grenades of World War I can be described as empty cans filled with gunpowder and stones, with a primitive fuse. The Australians used the tin cans from jam and their early grenades were nicknamed Jam Bombs. Mills Bomb The first safe (for the person throwing it) grenade was the Mills bomb, invented by English engineer and designer William Mills in 1915. Mills bomb incorporated some design elements of a Belgian self-igniting grenade, however, he added safety enhancements and upgraded its deadly efficiency. These changes revolutionized trench-war combat. Britain manufactured millions of Mills bombs pins during the course of World War I, popularizing the explosive device that remains one of the most iconic weapons of the 20th  century. Other Types Two other important grenade designs that emerged from the first war are the German stick grenade, a narrow explosive with sometimes troublesome pull chord that was prone to accidental detonation, and the Mk II â€Å"pineapple† grenade, designed for the U.S. military in 1918.

Different Styles of Recent British Prime Ministers Essay

Different Styles of Recent British Prime Ministers - Essay Example Amongst the most renowned prime ministers in Britain are such as Winston Churchill; who led Britain during the second world war, Margaret Thatcher who is commonly referred to as the iron lady, John Major and Lloyd George (Bennister, 2012). This discussion looks into the similarities and differences in leadership approaches of latest British prime ministers. These are john Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and the incumbent David Cameron. Major John rose to the position of prime minister after serving for 11 years in parliament; Blair became the prime minister after serving for fourteen years. Gordon Brown waited for twenty five years before becoming prime minister, and the current Prime Minister Cameron took nine years before becoming prime minister. Prime ministers govern depending on their styles of management. Major John was accommodative and tolerant, allowing a greater variety of opinion. He stressed on consensus and collegiality, giving the department as much autonomy as possible . He rarely interfered with the decision making of departments during tenure (Bennister, 2012). Tony Blair is known for his authoritative style having developed a standing for enforcing strong discipline both in his party and cabinet. Blair assigned discretion to strong ministers prepared to follow the government without question. His autocratic style attracted criticism of assuming presidential powers. Cameron leadership is characterized by several policies, the Majority of which are propelled by the need to trim down the government expenditure. Having secured office in 2010, Cameron came in office at a time when Britain was grappling with economic downtowns. The following valuables will be the basis of evaluation leadership styles and aptitude. These are proficiency and communication skills, political skills, emotional intelligence, organizational capacity and policy vision. Proficiency and communication skills Tony Blair has an outstanding proficiency in public communication, usu ally described as an exciting politician, who is able to interact well with the media. His strong control over the government’s message was highly successful in imposing unity and projecting an image of competence. How Blair managed communications during the 1999 Kosovo war, was an illustration of this skill. On the other hand, Major John and Gordon Brown are not proficient and good communicators (Bennister, 2012). Cameron is also known for his communication skills, which is enhanced by background in television. Organizational capacity Cameron noticeable organization skills are his self confidence and inner motivation. He strives to excel and accomplish objectives. He sets intricate goals and works on how the objectives will be accomplished. His strong communication skills enable him to respond positively to setbacks whenever they occur. He is able to remain calm under strenuous circumstances. Cameron organizational capacity has been put under criticism as a result of his jud gments with regards to key government appointments. Major John had a strong organizational capacity due to his democratic leadership. His reign had few ad hoc cabinet meetings and fewer ad hoc committees to compete for a central position in policy making. Tony Blair and Gordon Brown had less organizational capacities, and usually struggled to find arrangements that suited them.

American Airlines (AMR Corporation) Research Paper

American Airlines (AMR Corporation) - Research Paper Example This is because the business of stock trade holds no assurances and one has the potential to either enjoy large amounts of profit from their trades or suffer huge amounts of loss as well if things do go as expected (DePamphilis, 2009). The public companies whose shares are involved in this trade are able to profit as well in terms of stock value, which has the potential to raise the value of their company in general. This is to say that, the higher the price of their stock, the higher the value of the company. Due to this relation, senior management in such companies tends to focus on stock prices and ways that they can be increased on the market in the short term so as to raise the value of the company. This can read to unethical behavior as a result as the management may be tempted to trick individuals into thinking that their stock is worth more than it is in actuality (Sandage, 2006). The increase in the value of stock leads to an increase in demand for the stock which in turn ra ises the value of the stock even higher and it is this co relation that may tempt senior management to tamper with realistic value of their stock so as to cause a rise in demand which will in effect actually raise the value of the stock as a result. ... By postponing this responsibility, the company was able to keep hold of the funds that would have been used for this activity and include it in the earnings reports that they put out. Thus, it would look like the company is doing better than it actually is as those studying the results would not be aware that the funds displayed were partly increased by the postponement of an expense which would have to be dealt with eventually. 2 Deferring the aircraft maintenance was harmful and unethical to both the shareholders of the company6 as well as the customers who used their services. This is because the company dealt in a very sensitive area of transport (air transport) where the good condition of the crafts used was essential in their everyday business. It was unethical to the shareholders as they were made to believe that the stock they owned was doing better than they thought through the manipulation of funds (DePamphilis, 2009). It also put them at risk of suffering losses should any accident have occurred as a result of shunning this maintenance responsibility as the stock value would have dropped drastically as a result. Their actions were even more dangerous to customers who used their services as they put their lives at risk through failing to perform scheduled maintenance on their aircrafts, which could have led to an accident that may have resulted in the loss of lives. This is a more serious offence than tricking those trading in shares into thinking that the company they have invested in is doing well and involved potentially more devastating results than the simple manipulation of earnings through other means. 3 In 2011, American Airlines decided to file for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy that the management saw was

Ethical Question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Ethical Question - Essay Example I will then head straight to the university’s head office to seek assistance. Since, it is prudent for the university’s management to be aware of what has transpired in the institution premises because they are accountable of everything and everyone within its confinements. I would then call the nearest police station and inform them of what has transpired and the location of the accident. This is to prove the accident was not intentional besides showing that I am ready to face the consequences. The management will then try as much as possible to locate the car’s owner with the registration number, which I took with the intention of discussing with owner on how to resolve the issue. Together with him or her, we would discus amicably the best way besides agreeing to cater for any caused damages. The reason for these actions will encompass upholding my dignity and ethics that I normally keep all through my life (Jennings 30). Secondly, I will be adhering to the already set laws that govern the state and dictate diverse restitutions, which any offender ought to observe. This is to maintain good and health interrelationships with the owner of the car despite both of being strangers to each other (Jennings 30). Therefore, my actions will be ensuring the person whom I have backed into his or her car will not feel much wronged. This is especially when he or she emerges and fails to see who was responsible for what has happened to his or her

Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Management - Essay Example Typically low cost leadership and differentiation strategies are implemented independently. The reason this occurs is because the two strategies have a different focus. A low leadership strategy persuades customers by offering the best price. Everyone loves to purchase a bargain. The implementation of a low cost leadership strategy can be used by corporations in order to increase their market share. The differentiation strategy is different because since the firm wants to become different in some aspect this typically implies offering a premium product. Products that are differentiated can be sold at higher prices in the marketplace. Despite the differences between the cost leadership strategy and a differentiation strategy it is possible to implement both simultaneously. Companies that are able to implement a cost leadership with differentiation are using a hybrid strategy. It is difficult to achieve, but under certain circumstances the hybrid strategy can be used. A perfect example of a company that can achieve a cost leadership with differentiation is a firm that operates in a monopoly marketplace. The lack of competition gives the monopolist lead way into the price structure that the firm implements. An important thing to remember about cost leadership is that the lower prices are relative to the market for similar products.

Theories and Research in Global Politics, International Politics Essay

Theories and Research in Global Politics, International Politics - Essay Example In addition to the direct economic costs associated with terrorism and the threat of further terrorism, 9/11 also had important political ramifications. Importantly, political scientists have been wracking their brains trying to make sense the horrific violence undertaken the morning of 9/11 and further violence inspired by global jihadists bent on taking over the world. Psychologists sought to explore the psychological factors leading people to kill in the name of Allah, domestic-level theorists explored the domestic antecedents to terror including extreme poverty, a lack of education and political repression. System-level theorists however were at a loss to explain the attacks of September 11th and the ensuing War on Terror (Bram and Rapaport 55). The War on Terror represents a total American foreign policy shift which advocates the concept of unilateralism and unilateral military action in the face of a global terrorist threat. This is American hegemony par excellence. Seeking to address this dramatic change in US foreign policy, this essay asks the following questions: How has the international order changed in the face of US hegemony and what are the global ramifications of this new foreign policy of unilateralism? Can international relations theory explain the War on Terror and global American hegemony? If so, which explanatory theory best explains American unilateralism and the New World Order? This essay will argue that realism, as an explanatory theory of international relations, is the theory most applicable to the present international order in which a hegemonic United States remains at the helm of the international system. Accordingly, realism provides perhaps the most concise and strongest definition of what consti tutes state interest, behavior and the establishment of the international order with the United States as a hegemonic actor. Realists argue that

Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Management - Essay Example Typically low cost leadership and differentiation strategies are implemented independently. The reason this occurs is because the two strategies have a different focus. A low leadership strategy persuades customers by offering the best price. Everyone loves to purchase a bargain. The implementation of a low cost leadership strategy can be used by corporations in order to increase their market share. The differentiation strategy is different because since the firm wants to become different in some aspect this typically implies offering a premium product. Products that are differentiated can be sold at higher prices in the marketplace. Despite the differences between the cost leadership strategy and a differentiation strategy it is possible to implement both simultaneously. Companies that are able to implement a cost leadership with differentiation are using a hybrid strategy. It is difficult to achieve, but under certain circumstances the hybrid strategy can be used. A perfect example of a company that can achieve a cost leadership with differentiation is a firm that operates in a monopoly marketplace. The lack of competition gives the monopolist lead way into the price structure that the firm implements. An important thing to remember about cost leadership is that the lower prices are relative to the market for similar products.

Two Topics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Two Topics - Research Paper Example Not all light is absorbed by visual pigments in the retina. Some of it penetrates through the visual pigments. When this bouncing occurs with the light that comes into the eyes, the animals effectively intensifies the quantity of light accessible for the eyes to see with. Therefore, increasing the capability to see in the darkness. With human beings, the eyes mirror light, however, does act like a reflector. Human eyes appear red in some flash photographs as a result of the camera flash bouncing off the red blood vessels and red tissue in the retina. This happens when using a photographic flash up close a camera lens, in relatively low light (Richard, 14). The red-eye effect appears in the animal and human eyes that do not have tapetum lucidum. The red-eye effect is as a result of the color of the fundus, a pigment predominantly positioned in the retinal pigment epithelium. The fundus color is a result of melanin pigment. When the light coming from a flash happens too quickly for the pupil to close, plenty of the very bright light from the flash penetrates the eye through the pupil. Due to this, the fundus at the retina is reflected off and out through the pupil. The camera registers the reflected light and emits it as a red-eye effect (Richard, 14). Chromatic Aberration is a typical optical problem that happens when a lens is incapable of conveying all wavelengths of color to the same focal plane. Chromatic aberration can also occur when the wavelengths of colors are concentrated on different locations in the focal plane. Chromatic aberration is initiated by lens scattering with different colors of light drifting at varying speeds while passing through a lens. This causes the image to appear blurred or perceptible colored edges seem around objects, especially in high-contrast conditions (Nave, 2015). An ideal lens would concentrate all wavelengths into a particular focal point, where the

Measuring the acceleration due to gravity in the lab Essay Example for Free

Measuring the acceleration due to gravity in the lab Essay The distance between the ceiling and the floor (h) was measured. A rubber was then dropped from the ceiling and the time taken for it to hit the ground was recorded. Results Attempt Time Taken (sec) 1 0. 47 2 0. 45 3 0. 71 4 0. 55 5 0. 5 6 0. 71 7 0. 4 8 0. 46 9 0. 58 10 0. 56 Average Time = Sum of all times Number of Times = (0. 47+0. 45+0. 71+0. 55+0. 5+0. 71+0. 4+0. 46+0. 58+0. 56) 10 = 5. 85 10 = 0. 59 sec (to 2 dp) H = height of the drop T = time taken Acceleration due to gravity = 2H T2 =2(2. 59) 0. 592 = 5. 18 0. 3481 = 14. 88 m/s2 (to 2 dp) Evaluation The results circled in the table are anomalous. There was a wide range of results, from 0. 4 to 0. 71. This spread of results indicates that the data may be inaccurate. Although the experiment was repeated nine times, different results were found at nearly every attempt. This could be due to the timing methods used. A stop clock held by a person was used to measure the time the rubber took to hit the ground. As a humans reaction times are not perfect, the button could have been pressed long after the rubber had touched the ground. Also, the timekeeper could have pressed the button too early; at the time he expected the rubber to fall in order to try and get a more accurate time. As the area used was not a vacuum, air resistance would have affected the results. The shape of the rubber dropped was a pyramid, so air resistance would be different dependant on the side upon which it was dropped. These reasons explain why some of the results were anomalous. I do not believe that the procedure was accurate enough to measure the acceleration due to gravity in the lab. The timing apparatus was too imprecise and the air resistance due to the lack of a vacuum meant that the data was not as exact as was needed. A more suitable set of timing equipment would have been to replace the stop clock with a light-gate and data-logger. A light gate would be positioned at the top of the drop, with one at the bottom. The computer would then calculate the time taken much more accurately. The air resistance could not be helped, as a vacuum would be highly impractical and unnecessary for our purposes. However, if it were possible, the experiment should have been performed in a complete vacuum. If a perfectly spherical object were used then the air resistance wouldnt be different no matter how it was dropped. The experiment should be repeated in exactly the same fashion as before, but with the changes outlined above implemented. This would give more accurate results. It should then be repeated in the same way as this, but with a denser object of the same dimensions. This would show that the acceleration was due to gravity and not the mass of the object. One more experiment should be undertaken with the same stipulations but an increased dropping height. This would show that the acceleration is the same no matter how high the object is dropped from.

Performance management

Performance management PART B Process Performance planning Performance monitoring Performance development Performance evaluation Succession planning Ans. 1 Performance planning means the different steps or stages which are used for the organisation success. In which the manager discuss all things like future plan, goals, targets and objectives with their all company members. It play crucial role in organisation because it is used to setting the organisation goals and objectives to achieve its objectives. Moreover, it play significant role to make a good relationship between the employee and their manager and supervisor. The company that I have chosen can create a performance planning for the organisation success. They can create a performance planning by helping the employee and manager and supervisor to understand their jobs and organisation objectives. In addition employee can communicate with their supervisor or manager about their performance and supervisor can make performance planning for goals with the help of employees. Furthermore, supervisor can check that employees have all types of resources that are require for the o rganisation success. Moreover, there goals should be smart which help them for organisation success. Last but not least, supervisor communicate with their management about the company goals and competencies and career development activities about the employees. Ans. 2 Performance monitoring means checking or measuring the performance of the employee and giving them feedback to employees about their work, office support and some guidance on their work performance toward to reach the organisation goals. Moreover, it means the organisation work and project are monitor continually. The company that I have chosen can complete the performance monitoring by assisting the company to measure its progress by taking reviews with the employees whether they are doing good work or not. In addition, they compared their performances against their standard and element they set for the organisation goals. They can do every day monitoring that gives a lot of benefits. We can check how our workers are doing their work whether they meeting the organisation goals or not. Furthermore, we can check problems in the work and we can make some changes in work to reach the organisation objectives and goals. We can also change unrealised and standard problems. Last but not least, Monitoring continually we can identified some unacceptable problems in work. Ans. 3 Performance development means the improving the capacity of work performance of employees by giving training or providing new skills and higher level of responsibilities, it is very important for the company to improve the work process. In addition, company should provide development opportunities to the employees. Moreover, company can identified the development needs of employees. The company that I have chosen can complete the performance development by encouraging the employee’s performance. Furthermore, they can strength the skills which are related to job need employees for the development. In addition, company helps their employees to keep with them. Moreover, they are introducing new technology which are used for the company development and helping the employees for work. Due to performance development, every employees can identify their strength and performance because of resources and capability framework which are provided by the company to them. Ans. 4 Performance evaluation means to review the employee performance after 12 month. It is very important for company because it is used to review or evaluate the company annual performance whether the company making profit or not. It is used to review the job performance. It is used to evaluate the past performance. The company that I have chosen can complete the performance evaluation by discussing expectation and accomplishment of organisation. This can assist the company to improve its retention of staff by HR development strategies, policies and development. In addition, we can improve it by the expertise and experience employed in the organisation. Last but not least, the company can improve it by comparing and rating the employee’s performance. Ans.5 Succession planning means that the process of checking that business is going or running successfully without the people. This is very important because if the business is not reliant on the person and owner knowledge they will get the better sale. These type of planning are complicated and emotionally difficult. The company that I have chosen can complete the succession of planning by developing the chance of business growth and challenging. The company can assist to improve the retention of the staff by asking the right questions and put realistic value on the business. Moreover, they can improve by setting the achievable time framework for employees to make plan. Last but not least, they can do it by providing the best resources to the employees. Progressive warning system Ans.1 Ans.2 The progressive warning system means to assist the employees to understand the problems at workplace for the improvement of the company. For the new employees it means If the employees did mistake the employer ask first why this happened and give verbal warning to employee. If the employees did simple mistake the employer give them written and verbal warning. For the serious mistake employer give suspension order for short term and may be discharge the employees. The employee know that employer consider their small or serious problem by when the company profit goes down and when they did wrong work and when the company work is not improving. Ans.3 Progressive warning system for new manager means to correct the employee performance problems. It means for the new manger first they discuss the problems with the employees and ask them why this problem occurred and how. If the simple mistake is made by employees the manager will discuss problems with the employees which are not good and unsatisfactory. They warn the employees to take action which are lead to further action. If the serious mistake is made by the employees manager warn the employee and take action. Manager will put the copy of warning letter, time and date of its issue to the employee’s personal file. The steps that manager must take when the serious problem occur first they give the verbal warning and second they give the written waning which is reason for the continuing mistake. Moreover, they give the final written warning which is put in employee’s personal file and if they did mistake again the employee will be dismissed. Ans.4 Ans.5 Personal grievance means that employee can complaint to management. Every employees have right to pursue personal grievance. Before the personal grievance employee first tell to representative that there is done within 90 days and then them complaint. If they employee lost money and if there is some discrimination between the employees they can bring personal grievance. Unjustified dismissal means the employee believe that they have unjustifiably dismissed. They can use the personal grievance against the employer and representative. Constructive dismissal means if the employee who feel that they have been facing the employer to resign or leave the job they can use personal grievance. Some example of the constructive dismissal means employer will tell employees to leave the job or u will be terminated. Performance Management Performance Management Other than the above, employers can ride on the performance appraisal event to provide feedback to the employees regarding his or her past performance and to help them to improve their job performance. This exercise also provides opportunity for employees to express their feelings about the job and to increase interpersonal communication. From this it can stimulate interest in self-development for the purpose of greater personal development. Beside, performance appraisal will produce a databank of information can be used for financial and non-financial rewards. Performance management approaches are generally described in the context of Managing by Objective (MBO) framework. MBO programs is an knowledge that evaluation must be secured to act like objective setting, communicate expected result, establish time frame and how to accomplish objective (Nankervis, Compton McCarty, 1999, Pg. 399 400). Within the managing by objectives system the performance management process refers to the management of individuals, starting with the assignment of individual objectives through the final, formal assessment process. Employees today would like to climb the corporate hierarchy as quick they can. To stop employees from job-hopping, companies should provide views for individual and professional development. If people can achieve their development objectives with one employer over a long period of time, they will usually continue the same pace. Employees will certainly seek clearer fields if they distinguish the environment is restrictive. Especially when reviews are not fair, accurate and timely, they fail to compensate star workers, fail to provide support and guidance to average workers and fail to give proper feedback to whose work is imperfect.It is in no doubt that there is convincing plane logic for steps in a performance management system. And, the benefits and purposes cited for such a system are intuitively compelling; there are very few managers who would disagree with any of the functions or results apparently associated with performance management. Keep in mind that while most agree with the concepts, few actually implement them. In todays global economy, the advantage of growth from employees performance is cleared. It is referred as intangible performance. Stock returns are closely correlated with intangible performance. Take for example how Bill Gates built a multibillion-dollar software empire and how McDonald created its fast food kingdom. Many businesses are going through the same kind of internal dialog about their assets, particularly in the global economy, firms with relative little invested in factories and other tangible assets. To improve business performance, therefore, companies need tools that grow and manage their intangible assets. In this assignment we will discuss a few important issues when deciding and implementing an effective performance management system. As mentioned above, performance management is generally descr ibed within the context of MBO. As such the process shall be started with a thorough understanding of an organizations business strategy. Here we refer to a strategy that is not lets make money. Rather, its here how to make money.In the context of strategic corporate planning, Balance Scorecard framework is widely used for goals and objectives setting for the entire organization or department. These goals and objectives are made as team goals. The Balance Scorecard provides a framework to describe and communicate strategy in a consistent and insightful way (Kaplan Norton. 200, Pg. 10). This works best in departments or entire organization where the people are fairly independent and striving to achieve a singular purpose. A strategic scorecard is a process of establishing multi-faceted measures of an organization or unit they typically includes: (a) finance; (b) customer; (c) internal business process and (d) leaning and growth.Having, balance scorecard organizational strategic dire ction is communicated well to the employees who must implement it. Once strategy is clear the process then moves to indemnifying cause-and-effect relationship driving business success. Nankervis, Compton McCarty (1999, Pg 380) stress that performance review must never be taken isolation but, rather, tied directly to the organizations strategic plan and the strategies that make up that plan. Organizational success is base on the result of adding together all the individual outputs. Using a mathematic equation as an example, if person X and person Y and person Z do their jobs correctly, the organizations results are X + Y + Z. manage each individuals result, and organization will succeed. Key Factor in an Effective Performance Management System As mentioned in the introduction, performance appraisal is the process of formal process in assessing someones performance. Performance appraisal is the end of process that goes on all the times. It is a process that is based on good communication between managers and employees (subordinates). In this exercise, not only the manager and employees is the key to success, the human resource department also play an important role because it can create a situation that virtually determine the value from the performance appraisal process.Manager and supervisors traditionally have served as appraisers of their subordinates performance (Nankervis, Compton McCarty, 1999, Pg. 385). Appraisers do appraisal to improve performance, not to find a donkey to pin a tail on or blame. Because blaming process is pointless and doesnt help anyone. If there is to be a point to performance appraisal it should be getting manager and employee working together to have everyone get better. Formal appraisal is normally conducted every six months or one year, however, feedback is not just relevant to annual or semiannual appraisal. Feedback about performance needs to be immediate and continues since it is to influence future behavior. Appraisers should spend more time to prevent problems than evaluating at the end of performance cycle. When appraisers do good things during the performance evaluation period, the appraisal is easy to do and comfortable because there wont be any surprises.Many times, we found appraisers did all sorts of funny and dump things to destroy the process of performance appraisal that is important to everyone. But another important factor in the appraisal process is the employees they themselves herein referred as appraise. Appraisers take their cues from management and human resources. However, when appraise perceive the process in negative ways, they can create or damage even the best appraisal processes. Appraiser tend to take their jobs personally and making it m ore difficult to hear others comments about their works, particularly when they are critical. Even constructive criticism is often hard to hear. When appraise enter into the discussion with an attitude of defending then its almost impossible to create the dialog necessary for performance improvement. Appraisers are advised or should present their own opinions and perceptions in a calm, factual manner rather than a defensive, emotional way. Of course, if appraisers are inept in the appraisal process, it makes it very difficult to avoid this defensiveness. Similar to the appraisers, appraisees need to know how they are doing all year found, not just at appraisal time. Generally it is primarily appraisers responsibility to ensure that there are no surprises at appraisal time. Often, appraiser discusses both positives and negatives of appraiser performance throughout the performance period, but this is unfortunately not a universal practice. Its in the appraiser interests to open up dis cussion about performance during the period, even if the appraiser does not initiate it. The sooner appraisees know where they are at and what they need to change and keep doing, the sooner the problems can be fixed. In fact many problems can be prevented if they are caught early enough. Even if appraisers arent creating that communication, appraiser can and should. It is a shared responsibility. The success and failure of performance appraisal system doesnt just fall on appraisers and appraise only. Human resource department is one of the major contributors to the final results. F then, human resource department tends to focus on and stress the paperwork and forms. We can understand why human resource personnel want some sort of paper trail related to performance appraisal in concerning the formality and the possible legal implications. But when the emphasis on the forms and paperwork overshadows the real purpose of doing appraisal, the huge amounts of resources are wasted. When hu man resource department focus on getting the forms done, thats exactly what they get i.e. forms done.Documentation in performance appraisal is seen as the central of performance appraisal. The issue is that the one size fits all requirements doesnt really work. In many organizations, human resource department uses a standardization approach; this means one form use across the organization. A weakness of many performance programs is that manager and supervisors are not trained adequately for the appraisal task and provide little meaningful feedback to subordinates (Nankervis, Compton McCarty, 1999, Pg. 389). Training for not only the appraisers but also the appraisees in their role in the appraisal process is one the important tasks of human resource department. Both appraiser and appraiser need to hold the same understanding about why they are doing appraisal, how it will be done and what is expected. In this discussion, top management is being seen as on the key factors in perform ance appraisal system. Recognition and commitment from top management towards the performance appraisal system will eventually affect the entire implementation of such system. People who involve in the appraisal process will conduct appraisal so long as they have to do so to justify or withhold certain objectives. Management can influence personnel in a holistic manner to ensure the ultimate goal of performance management system i.e. for improving individuals, teams and organization as a sole base on measures that tie directly to the success drivers of the organization. Performance appraisal isnt about the forms although, often management, appraiser and human resource department treat it as such. The ultimate objective of performance appraisal s to allow employees and managers to improve continuously and to remove barriers to job success and not to get the organizational success as well. The major responsibilities for setting performance assessment tone and climate rest with apprais ers and the human resource department. However, even when managers and human resource department do their job well, workers who come at the process with unenthusiastic or suspicious approach are not likely to aim from the process or to do well over the long term. The constant key for successful performance management is active and self-confident sharing among the key personnel, but keeping a problem-solving mindset, and keeping focus on how things can be improve in the future. No matter how instigates it, performance appraisal is about positive open communication between appraises and appraisers. Implementation of Performance Management System: Problems and Recommendations: Performance appraisals are always sticky for everyone. While organizations make an effort to be as objective as possible, there are always concern about specific performance appraisals and their accuracy. Performance appraisal instruments are considered as test and must be validated against actual job-related requirements. Job requirements or standards should be based on job analysis or competency profiling and resulting job description and job specifications. When performance standards are properly established, they will translate job requirements into levels of acceptable or unacceptable employee performance (Nankervis, Compton McCarty, 1999, P. 390). It is a facto life that the easiest things to measure or evaluate are the least important things with respect to doing a job. Take for example; managers can simply define customer service as answering phone call within three rings or reply e-mails within 24 hours or some such thing. That is easy to measure if it is wanted. What is not easy to measure is the overall quality of service that will get and keep customers. By adding in the clause regarding legitimate customer complaints it becomes event serious. One-sided judgment must be trained and there is room for understanding, and the manager is required to evaluator whether a complaint is legitimate or not. So, the standard is no longer objective. Measuring overall customer service is hard, we could carry the above example to the point where standard resembles war peace, but the point here is that the more quantifiable a standard is, the less relevant it becomes. It is easy to measure a trivial but it is hard to measure what is important in an objective way. Many instruments have been developed to improve employees performance. Written procedures are a better contact between the employees and manager, incentives or punishment and so on. However, even well written standards have an appearance of objectivity but require subjective judgments. Expectation about work output in terms of quality, quantity, errors, waste, etc should be discussed as often as necessary until the employee is self-monitoring and self-correcting. When the subordinate is consulted in setting up standards of performance and he / she is given an opportunity to express his opinions during the post-appraisal interview will give him / her sense of participatio n and probably increase job satisfaction. Moreover, having helped to set the goals himself / herself, he / she will be less disposed to argue later about what is expected of him / her (Heyel, 1958, Pg. 33). Nankervis, Compton McCarty (999, Pg 391) suggested that jobs which involve tasks where qualitative measurement is difficult, this job it may well be that success must be measured in how the work is performed rather than by end numerical result. One cannot ignore in the appraisal system is the role of personal trait because it bear significant when performing current job and considering the potential of an individual for higher position in an organization. Any shortfall, training and development have to come in place to rescue and improve the situation for success. The performance management system conveys to people in an organization how work is to be performed and communicated, often unintentionally the values and organizational culture too. More specifically performance manage ment system can foster a lack of collective responsibility for achievement of organizational goals, encourage competition rather than cooperation and can impede the development of effective teamwork. It is not surprising that we eagerly embrace the idea that each person should be both responsible and accountable for this or her work. I am sure you agree. Performance management is designed to enhance this personal responsibility. It implies that you are not responsible for the work of others that is important to the organization. It focusing on individual responsibility reduces an employees responsibility to the organization and the activities that are not his or her job. To overcome this problem, management should create an environment in which all members of the organization are continuously buzzing about and striving to improve the organizations performance relative to its purpose. Promote team spirit, interest and induce feeling towards the responsibility for almost everything th at goes on. When employees want to be involved, they contribute ideas, they function in a team context because they see achievement of overall organizational objectives as more important than the achievement of their own objectives. Perhaps the mathematics equation illustrated earlier can be used as an example for explanation to all employees. Due to the limitation of, we shall look at the final problem for this assignment i.e. the relationship between performance and rewards system. Many organizations tie employee pay appraisal results, which puts employee and manager on opposite sides. Employees in such system tend to focus too much on the money component, although that focus is certainly understandable. It is also understandable when employees in such systems become hesitant to reveal shortcomings or mistakes. If employees main intention is to gain as much of pay raise out of the company, and the management tries to keep increasing as little as possible, it becomes completely imp ossible to focus on what eventually matters over the long term which is continuous performance improvement and success for the company overall. It may be very important, where possible, to tie remuneration and benefits to performance or at least to ensure that benefits package supports that organizational objectives (Lockett, 1992, Pg 199). Pay is important but it is on the only issue that related to the appraisal focus. Furthermore, pay is just one elements of reward. Promoting people on the basis of performance can divert the focus; however the factors appraised must be highly correlated to the requirements of the new job. Frequent reviews of the relationship between performance and reward system are important to retain high performance. How do we do that? We should start looking at how fairly are rewards distributed base on performance and does every employees understand this or in other words is how transparent is the system to all parties in an organization. Bibliography: Heyel, C., (1958), Appraisal Executive Perfomance, Amacom, New York Ivanchvich, J., (1998), Human Resource Management, 7th Edition, McGraw Hill, New Jersey. Kaplan, R. S. Norton, D. P., (2001), Harvard Business Scholl Publishing Corporation, Boston. Lockett, J., (1992), Effective Performance Management: A Strategic Guide to Getting the Best from People, Kongan Page Limited, London. Nankervis, A., Compton, R. 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