Case for Christ Essay

Dr. Jeffry McDonald was an ex-marine standing trial for killing his family. He did not think the jury would find him at fault because he had an alibi. However, his alibi did not stand up to scientific evidence. Dr. McDonald was sentenced based on blood and trace evidence that did not back up his alibi. In this case scientific evidence is introduced to prove or disprove the consistency of the gospels based on the discipline of archeology. Strobel turns to an archeological professional who has personal experience working digs in the Middle East. His name is John McRay. As Strobel seeks to stay independent in gathering the evidence he proposes a question to help him determine if McRay will exaggerate the role of archeology when it comes to determining the reliability of the gospels. McCray points out that archeology can bring forth evidence is presented to either explain or disprove evidence presented. In this chapter the search for opinions contrary to those already collected, which includes the opinions of Jesus Seminar, a self-selected group representing a small portion of New Testament scholars who believe Jesus did not say most of what is credited to him in the gospels. They also published The Five Gospels which include the traditional four plus a manuscript titled the Gospel of Thomas which was written in the second century. The author examines their claims to see if he can find reliable evidence to disprove these confusing opinions. To find answers he visits Dr. Gregory Boyd to gather evidence to the Jesus Seminar’s widely publicized views. Most skeptics take pride in their intellectual ability. Some people like to think that they have no beliefs. However, modern science has shown us that everyone has beliefs. Although people would like to think that everything we believe is based upon evidence and logic this cannot be. We become emotionally bound to our worldview, so much so that worldview changes occur rarely. Observational evidence became apparent that the universe was expanding. Inferring back in time revealed that the universe was merely billions of years old. The data eventually led to the â€Å"Big Bang† theory which is virtually universally accepted by modern day cosmologist. The idea that the universe could have gone through an infinite number of birth and deaths was shown to be false on the basis of the lack of amount of matter within the universe. So we have come to realize that the universe first began to exist 13 billion years ago. Atheists are left with a problem because their worldview requires all things have a cause to exist So logic says that the universe had a cause. Virtually all atheists say that this cause was some natural phenomenon. It is also possible that the cause of the universe was a supernatural intelligence, God. The problem gets worse for the atheist. The physical laws of the universe fall within very small ranges in order for life or matter to exist contradicting strong atheism. The prospect of finding a naturalistic cause for the origin of the universe is dreary since the laws of physics indicate that we will never be able escape the bounds of our universe to even look for the cause of the universe.

Deborah tannens the argument culture Essay

In Deborah Tannen’s article â€Å"The Argument Culture,† she states that argument and debate â€Å"urge us to approach the world, and the people in it, in an adversarial frame of mine.† She calls this new norm of society â€Å"The argument culture†. The argument culture â€Å"rests on the assumption that opposition is the best way to get anything done†. Tannen uses the metaphor of an arguing spouse to convey the idea that society needs act more like a married couple to find a more constructive way to settle conflict rather than having a quarrel about every little disagreement it stumbles upon. Tannen believes that while sometimes it is necessary to defend yourself against offensive ideas, it is not morally correct to approach any issue or person in a hostile manner without reason. In the argument culture, society has only been taught to observe two sides of a story, which automatically sets up a debate where one side is pitted against the other. Tannen continues to declare how more and more communication is not face to face due to the Internet, which gives people a screen to protect their identity after saying whatever they please. She believes that the argument culture has a major impact on our lives and on our culture. Tannen states that the argument culture â€Å"makes us distort facts, waste valuable time, limits our thinking, and encourages us to lie.† Tannen asserts that â€Å"smashing heads does not open minds,† and that while conflict is not something we can avoid, it is something our culture needs to get under control. To avoid the automatic use of adversarial formats – the assumption that the best way to address a conflict is to fight about it – Tannen concludes that we as a culture should become more open to observing all sides of the argument (rather than just two), and to expand the world of debate in a more creative way rather than pervading it with negativity.

Literature of the african diaspora Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Literature of the african diaspora - Essay Example The story is narrated in the form of dialogues between the husband Ocol and his wife Lawino. The poem is categorized in different sections. Each section offers details of the social problem faced by the husband and wife, in the marriage hood along with their values and differences. Whereas the novel God’s Bits Of Woods by the author offers a strong description of the railway strike. That happened in the year of 1947-1948 in the region of French West Africa. It includes disputes of emotional, political and moral nature. Eventually, this novel by Sembene is one of entitlement. It fetches to illumination the anxiety between Africa community and colonial officials. It also shows the struggle of railway men and the efforts of the African community to set themselves free from the power of colonial authority. The God’s Bit of Woods of Ousmane brings to light the scenario in which these adversities advance the workers with their families till the strike is eventually resolute. Debatably the most momentous conversion that takes place is in the function of women inside these societies. There are problems in all the families of the world. These problems cannot be controlled by an individual. These problems may be related to the issues of health, death, job instability. The place of living or the some closer person can contribute to these problems. In the novel Brother, I’m Dying, which is written by the author Edwidge Danticat all these issues are highlighted. Throughout the novel, the factual time story of Edwidge Danticat is narrated and provides an insight at the efforts done by her family. In this the author has successfully his own experiences of life. The sufferings of her family and their efforts to overcome the issues of being. Beside these issues the family also suffered from the multiple deaths in their home, the major illness of the guardian and uncle. In this story Edwidge is shown struggling in the absence of her parents

From Failure to Promise Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

From Failure to Promise - Essay Example This book is also a story of faith i.e. the author believes and therefore highlights how God transformed him from being his â€Å"ordinary self† to his â€Å"ideal self† and in the process directed him from failure to promise. This book has had a huge impact on me. It has made me see beyond my failures. I see hope and feel motivated after going through Dr. C. Moorer’s journey. This story tells us never to give up, i.e. do not be quitters. Life is full of opportunities and by keeping faith and following God’s guidance, anyone can reach unfathomable heights. Dr. Moorer belonged to a Christian family where, from the very beginning he had been taught the significance of education and trust in God in a person’s life. He was born of very hard working parents who had implanted in him strong work ethics. His father had always encouraged him to never give up in any situation and always fight back if you fail the first time around. It must have been the resul t of this that even after failing a semester in GMI Engineering and Management Institute, Dr. Moorer did not give up and came back with more determination to achieve his dream, i.e. being an engineer. He had to face many difficulties in the way leading to his dream job but again he proved himself to be a fighter and not a mere quitter. The result of his endurance was such that he landed up with a great job in a very reputed telecom company. Dr. Moorer did not stop at that. He left his job and completed his doctorate in business administration to earn for himself the title of a doctor, a huge honor. Throughout his journey, he followed the voices of the learned who taught him the significance of understanding God and making him a part of his plans. He believed and followed the teachings and claims of the Holy Scriptures. Cleamon realized that God was not just a story that he had learned during his childhood at the church, but he was for real. He felt His presence at every important po int in his life and that motivated and guided him to unconceivable heights. This story has made me look for my inner voice, try to connect to His voice and silently trust and obey it, in order to discover my real potential. I have learned the skill of endurance and I never give up on my dreams now. I believe and have included God in my plans and I now work honestly and diligently towards my dream of becoming a civil rights attorney one day. Another realization that I had while going through this book was that in this life we all live for our own selves, keep running and fighting for our unfulfilled dreams but, life is much more than that. If God has made us capable, then it is our duty to show Him some gratitude and we can do it by being His ideal son and for that we need to do something in order to improve the lives of at least some people of the society. At the moment I am a student but I try to do my bit by helping out in non-profit organizations, donate money or some possessions to the less fortunate etc. But, once I reach my desired level of professional success, I have certain plans which will at least help a section of the society. I have planned to start my mission by funding the education of at least one orphan. I then want to convey this thought to all my fellow colleagues, friends, relatives etc. and urge them to fund the education of

BP ENERGY CRISIS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

BP ENERGY CRISIS - Essay Example The company operates in many countries internationally, however its performance is not stabilized. In fact, it seems that severe gaps exist in existing organizational strategies; reference can be made to the last year’s accident in the firm’s operational unit in the Gulf of Mexico. The above event proved the actual aspects of crisis in the energy sector: firms operating in this industry focus on the increase of their production rather than on the effects of their activities on the environment. In the case of BP it is noted that ‘total industry production from the Gulf of Mexico provided the biggest single increase in world oil supplies last year -- of nearly 400,0000 barrels per day’ (Pagnamenta, 2010). Of course, the efforts for the increase of production in this sector are related to the energy crisis – the need for continuously higher amount of energy, as a result of the increase of the relevant human needs. ... The Competing Values Framework (see Figure 1, Appendix) is based on the principle that organizational strategies need to be based on three different values – which compete each other: ‘the control versus flexibility, an internal versus the external focus and an emphasis on means versus end’ (Amos et al. 2009, 266). The concept of value on which the above framework is based is related to certain process. More specifically, Cameron (2006) notes that within modern organizations ‘value can be created whenever an organization develops competencies in Control, Compete, Create and Collaborate that collectively generate output that exceeds what individuals could do on their own’ (Cameron 2006, 29). Moreover, O’Connor et al. (2009) suggest that the use of the Competing Values Framework for the development of organizational strategies can help to the resolution of a common organizational problem: when organizational plans have to be designed and executed a series of conflicts is likely to appear mostly because within organizations there are different perceptions on priorities and ethics, i.e. there are different values (O’Connor et al. 2009, 57). In other words, O’Connor et al. (2009) note that conflicts in regard to the form and the content of organizational plans are inevitable in organizations of all sizes. However, through using appropriate strategic management tools, like the Competing Values Framework helps towards the identification of these values and their simultaneous promotion these conflicts can be minimized (O’Connor et al. 2009, 57). On the other hand, Amos et al (2009) make clear that the successful implementation of the Competing

Representation of Women in Media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Representation of Women in Media - Essay Example This follows a keen observation of how women and men are portrayed in most movies and music videos. The part that women have been known to play in such movies often portrays them as sexual objects. There has been a widespread debate concerning the kinds of costumes that both men and women play, in most videos and erotic films, their male counterparts, who have been cited as merely taking advantage of those women, usually use them as baits for sexual activities. In most of the music videos and erotic films, women play a very passive role; their male counterparts often dictate them. Women are usually presented as weak characters and have to play their part in order to please men (Akinfeleye & Amobi 2011, p. 5-6). When people watch these movies, it has been discovered that they are largely influenced by the experiences they saw, something that has led to increased cases of sexual violence and other forms of aggression to women by male people. For this films and music videos to make sense to people who make them, women have to be dressed in a manner that is scanty and very revealing. On the other hand, the male has always been seen as being formal and well dressed, something that has raised an issue about the aspect of such passivity and submission. Most of the feminist discussions have criticized this kind of portrayal of women as a sex object rather than important and valuable members of the society just like men. Over time, the role of the mass media as a reliable and essential agent of socialization has attracted several criticisms from different segments of our contemporary society (Baran, & Davis 2012, p. 100). The images that are usually aired in mass media about music videos, erotic films and other kinds of programs have been said to change people’s perceptions about social realities, this is according to the observations from social psychologists. According to these propositions, these images are believed to play an essential role towards stimulating certain kinds of behaviors that are highly undesirable (Marnie et al. 2005, p. 67).

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

Video - Essay Example Five hundred thousand to Seven million people get sick because of the contaminated water in the United States. The belief that the water in your taps and showers is clean is entirely erroneous. Here, the safety of some of the most basic things is contradicted. Where water is, bacteria and germs will also be present. Industrial and agricultural use of water has led to more water being required by plants to grow the same amount that they would have grown with five to ten times less water. Animal remains are dumped by slaughter houses and our toilet water is recycled so that we end up drinking it. If our planet’s water supply continues to be exploited and misused in this way, man will cease to exist. Companies can somehow ‘’buy’’ water. Taking water and selling it at high prices while simultaneously depriving the poor population of this basic necessity of life is simply unethical. Companies deprive the people of water after purchasing it as though it is private property and then selling it to only those who can afford it. And if the image of endless women waiting in line for water wasn’t heart rendering enough, the babies born with birth defects most definitely is. Companies rob, cheat and lie to gain as much profit as they possibly can. If this situation does not get better, then the world will face what Cochabamba did.

Leadership Presentations Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Leadership Presentations - Coursework Example The leader did not deliver his arguments in a comprehensible manner, and he did not use visual aid (images, PowerPoint, and video) to present his ideas. This omission led to a dull presentation with poor audience engagement. In order to develop a fruitful and entertaining presentation, I would embrace elements of proper communication skills as well as presentation considerations as discussed below. Conducting proper research for getting better understanding of my subject matter is a primary consideration. This factor involves carrying out research on the issue at hand to get familiar with facts, as well as limitations. The study builds on confidence and is important in designing presentations (Eggleston, 2015). Drawing knowledge of my audience so as to know how to tailor my presentation and make adjustments where necessary to yield maximum engagement of my audience. This knowledge will help me in delivering a speech that is relevant and concise to the target audience (Eggleston, 2015). Understanding and acting on personal limits. To make a presentation engaging, I will offer all I can rather than trying what is beyond my capacity. It is considered annoying to the audience if inappropriate jokes make part of my presentation. Lastly, it is wise to prepare presentation notes such as speech script with brief and proper introduction to set the stage and engage the audience. An elaborate body and a simple reinstatement summary are essential requirements for an effective leadership presentation (Eggleston,

Any current controversial issue Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Any current controversial issue - Essay Example Criminals will think twice before committing a crime if they know there are other people in their midst with the same weapons as they have. Having a gun in the house reduces the feelings of insecurity. People feel a bit safe when they possess something to use whenever a mishap happens especially when they are alone. It is also effortless to flash out an intruder, when one has a weapon, intruders are kept at bay. In addition, those in possession of a gun at home are less likely to lose their property or get injured during a robbery ordeal. Guns and weapons, if given to the right people, that is, the law abiding citizens, can be of great advantage to a country, but if they land in the wrong hands, it can be disastrous. Some people would argue that having a gun at home is like sitting on a time bomb. The liabilities that come with it are numerous. The owner has to take various measures to avoid hurting themselves and others. It is important to store the weapons in a safe place, probably locked or in a safe place to avoid them getting into unintended hands. Consciousness is a man’s compass, and if one lacks it, they lack direction. Such people, if, in possession of a weapon, one can be sure there have to be bloodshed. Unfortunately, it is not easy to identify them and hence may end up owning guns. An example of this is in the recent case at the Connecticut where a gun man mercilessly killed twenty school children for no apparent reason. The advocators of guns legalization should wake up and smell the coffee. Enough incidences have already happened for people to still burry their heads in the sand as if nothing wrong is happening. It is ironical that the gun that is supposed to protect the owner is the very one that kills him. There have been cases of suicide, whereby the owners of the weapons use the same weapons to end their lives. If weapons were not kept in the house, probably it would not be so simple for a few people to commit suicide. Nobody keeps a gu n hoping that it will kill him one day. Everyone hopes to be protected by it if need arises. Weapons at home have been turned against members of the family. Reportedly, licensed guns have been used in various incidences of domestic violence. Instead of protecting loved ones, these weapons are harming them. various groups have argued that stricter measures should be adopted regarding gun ownership and use, but even with the strict measures it is a no win situation unless, these guns are left in the hands of their rightful owners that is, the police and the military. Human rights activists have done a great job in educating people on the dangers of being in possession of weapons at home, but people have just decided to shoot the messenger. It is unfortunate that most of the times these weapons have ended up hurting innocent people instead of the criminals. However, much people want to turn a blind eye to this situation. It is obvious the harm brought about by guns and weapons in the n ame of self defense outweighs the benefits. Rowdy youths in possession of guns have been seen to cause chaos and crimes in various cities. The possession of a weapon makes them feel like they are on top the world. It is unfortunate that the security officers, who are mandated and qualified to carry guns, have found themselves on the receiving end. The hunters have become the hunted. There have been various cases of police officers being

Psychological Testing Essay Example for Free

Psychological Testing Essay There comes a time when we all come across a specific test such as school tests, driving test, or even as simple as food tasting test. However, there is a difference between regular tests and testing’s when referring to psychological testing. There are several different psychological tests that many psychiatrists, psychologists, and school counselors use to determine certain abilities, however each of the tests are used for a specific purpose. It is vital for the individuals to contain high knowledge of the tests before applying it to others. Defining â€Å"Test† According to the medical dictionary, psychological tests are defined as written, visual and verbal evaluations administered to assess the cognitive and emotional functions of children and adults (Psychological Tests, 2012). The purpose for psychological testing is to determine the mental abilities, personality traits, achievements and abilities, and neurological functioning. Although, we all have a basic idea of what the definition of â€Å"test† is, however according to (Hogan, 2007), they developed six-element to define â€Å"test†: A test is a standardized process or device that yields information about a sample of behavior or cognitive processes in a quantified manner (Hogan, 2007). Major Categories of Tests There are five major categories of tests that are applied by trained professionals in the field of psychology. The five major categories are mental ability tests, achievement tests, personality tests, interests and attitudes tests, and neuropsychological tests (Hogan, 2007). The mental ability test is applied to test the cognitive functions, such as memory, spatial visualization, and creative thinking (Hogan, 2007). Within the category of mental ability tests, it is separated into other categories of tests that may also be applied such as; individual administered intelligence tests, group administered tests, along with several other ability tests. Second, the achievement tests are created to help determine the placements of students in school based on their knowledge and skills. Achievement tests are subdivides in to batteries, single subject, and certification and licensing, government sponsored programs, and individual assessment tests (Hogan, 2007). Third of the major category tests is the personality tests, with this test professionals are able to determine the reasoning of the human personality. Within this category it is also alienated into other subdivisions such as objective tests and projective techniques (Hogan, 2007). Next is the interest and attitudes tests, these tests are put together to help individuals maintain focus on a specific subject of interests either if it is in school or in a job placement. This category is subdivided by vocational interests and attitude scales (Hogan, 2007). Lastly, the neuropsychological tests, the main purpose of this test is to illustrate information of the functioning of the central nervous system, mainly focusing on the information coming from the human brain (Hogan, 2007). Uses and Users Just as all psychological tests are categorized, not all tests are applied for the same use and the same users. Each test is done by a trained or professional to determine what is the situation based on the results and to see what treatment is best for the individual. There are four major psychological tests users are clinical, educational, personal and research (Hogan, 2007). Clinical users are professionals in the psychology field of clinical psychology, counseling, school psychology and neuropsychology. Psychologists use several methods of tests to identify the nature and severity of the problem, and perhaps provide some suggestions on how to deal with the problem (Hogan, 2007). The users of educational settings are teachers, educational administrators, parents and the general public. The major use of educational settings is to establish the ability and achievements of an individual. Another reason that users use educational is to predict the success in academic work (Hogan, 2007). Next, the users that use personal tests as there usage are business and military. Psychological test are used by these users to acquire the right individual for the task or to fill a position in job placements (Hogan, 2007). The last test use and users is research, the users in this category are varied and it is used to test the education and other social/behavioral sciences (Hogan, 2007). Reliability and Validity According to research reliability is best defined as, is the test is reliable if it produces the same results over and over again, when measuring the same thing. As to validity, it is defined as, a test is valid if it measures what you think it measures, as determined by some independent way of measuring the same thing (Dewey, 2007). It is important to psychologists to understand not to use the wrong test for a different purpose than what the actual purpose was. Then the validity of the measurements of the test scores is not reliable. Conclusion To summarize, psychological tests are being used by many users to acquire adequate results of an individual either if it is for school, careers, or just a personal socialization. Also, as research continues to advance more tests will continue to be implemented to better help others and to have a better result on the treatment that is to be used by the users.

The Strategic marketing applied by Orange

The Strategic marketing applied by Orange The Orange brand is central to companys vision and success A brand is a promise delivered It was developed with flexibility to cross the borders and to challenge the conventions of mobile telephony. In the year 1996 it entered into FTSE-100 becoming the youngest company ever to enter. It is the Fifth largest customer in the world, with over 189 millions of customers as on December 2009. Orange group serves more than 175 million customers in 5 continents. Today Orange is one of the most powerful brand in the word. It is number 3 in Europe in respect of Tele communication and Number 1 in respect of Broad band services. On 1st of July 2010, Orange in UK and T Mobile in UK became the UKs largest communications company. Key Person: Richard Stephen (CEO) 1.1 Impact of Organization strategy on the Marketing Plan: Organizational strategy represents the complete set of activities that an organization chooses to perform to meet its mission, goals, and objectives. Successful implementation of organizational strategies requires a crucial understanding of the linkages between resources, activities, and the desired outcomes. Organizational strategy has two key dimensions: Conformance and Performance. The conformance dimension is intended to ensure that an organization meets its compliance on accountability and assurance requirements, while the performance dimension is to ensure that value is created and resources are utilized appropriately. Oversight committees have been established for decades that monitor the conformance requirements. However, it is important to recognize that there have been no explicit strategic oversight bodies until recently. Organizations are starting to realize that these two dimensions need to be balanced appropriately. In the following paragraph we will examine that we will examine how marketing plan affects and contribute to both dimensions of its organizational strategy. On the other hand, Marketing Plan is a document describing a firms potential customers and a comprehensive strategy to sell them goods and services. It is a written document that details the necessary actions to achieve one or more marketing objectives. The impact of organizational strategy is very foundation. Marketing plan is always made in the light of organizational main strategy. It is a part of overall organizational strategy and works under the umbrella of overall organizational strategy which will lead to achievements of the main objectives of the organization. As mentioned above that organizational strategy has two dimensions conformance and performance, both dimension are need to be consider at every strategic level. Orange is a public limited company and has to maintain the discipline of cooperate governance and procedures of regularity body like Ofcom and Financial service authority FSA therefore it has to make such marketing plan which ensure that it product and service compliance with mentioned regularity bodies that covers the conformance dimension of organizational strategy. Secondly, performance dimension of organizational strategy focuses a business plan that is increasing value through great marketing mix, marketing strategy and product positioning which covers the performance dimension of organizational strategy. 1.2 Components of Marketing Plan: There are following components of marketing plan. Executive Summary Introduction / State of Business SWOT Analysis Objectives and Marketing Strategy Implementation: (4Ps/ 7Ps) Financial Implications Control and Evaluation 1.3 Risks issues within a Marketing Plan: Risks are likely events that will significantly lower the volume base, raise the required spending rate, or have some other adverse effect on margins or market share. An effective market plan should consider the key risks to the business and organizational overall strategy and presents contingency plans to be followed to minimize the negative impact of these risks. Most key risks involve competitive actions not directly addressed in the marketing plan, possible internal operating problems or the failure of the marketing programs to deliver what is expected. The impact on the volume base or spending rate is then estimated and a specific contingency plan to overcome the situation is proposed. It also includes an explanation of what performance measures and levels will trigger implementation of each contingency plan. Close monitoring of these measures is consequently an important control function. 2.1 Level of Importance of each component of a plan First will be the SWOT analysis SWOT analysis : SWOT analysis is one of the major components of a plan It is the Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Treats of the Organisation; It is the strategic planning method which helps the marketers to focus on key issues. Marketing Strategy of Orange: The marketing strategy of Orange will be explained at the later stage of this work by using Ansoff growth matrix strategy model. It is also regarded as one of the important component of the plan, because it states what Orange is doing in terms of its business nature. 4 ps of Orange : 4 ps which are Product, Price, Place and Promotion also forms an important basis of the plan, It will help orange to position itself in the market. These 4 ps are an important parameters in the hands of Directors and Marketing manager to control it but subject to the internal and external environment constraints. Financial Implications: Any activity undertaken or performed in the business is related financially or in other words, all the activities performed within the business has financial implications. The marketing plan should also show how the marketing strategy had changed the organisation financially in terms of planning and development. 2.2 Mitigation Strategies for High risk component of the plan. The risky components which are mainly Product, Price, Orange Strength, Competitors Threats etc, Orange had developed various plans and strategies in order to mitigate these threats which is explained below. Different product lines for different customers Introducing different product lines in order to meet customer needs. Orange has further divided its three main products which are Pay as you go talk plan, Pay monthly talk plan and broadband service into various different types of sub-product to cater the needs of the customer. For e.g. Panther pay monthly plan provides unlimited texts, Unlimited Internet for text and Internet lover whereas Racoon pay monthly provides unlimited landline calls. Orange had designed and altered its product as per requirement of each and every customers. This is made in order to mitigate the choice and preference of customers which differs from person to person. Different price plan to cater different range of customers Orange also had different price plans for every customers, in order to meet the budget of an individual it has low price plan from  £15 a month to highest  £75 to its business customers. Allowing Minutes bundles for International calls for UK customers Orange should identify the composition of UK customers as most of the customers are immigrant, and most of them mean to be from different countries and are often making International calls, Orange should introduced an Access number by which one can make International calls by using the monthly available bundles of minutes from the plan. This will help orange to increase its customer base. Product Diversification Orange should also diversify its business current other business of Orange can be explained as follows. Orange has diversified its business recently from Telecommunication to different sector in order to earn extra revenue to the group. Such as: Orange Credit Card (In Association with Marble Cards). Orange World Orange Credit Cards. In association with marble cards (HFC) group Orange is offering now credit cards, With an (a.p.r) of 14.9% Orange should also look into the Advertising business, because it has millions of customers which is a key point and its strength. Orange should look this business seriously as it will help to generate additional revenue. Orange world Orange world is the internet portal giving the best of internet service on your mobile phone. Its gives the access to the web as if you are using your computer and internet at your home You can now download your favorite music, videos, play online games, download games, access to the latest news, do shopping, book your favorite holiday etc. 2.3 Marketing Plan 2010 Orange Marketing Plan Marketing plan can be explained in the following way. Executive Summary Introduction/State of Business Analyses Market/Industry/Competitors/ Companies (SWOT for each) Objectives and strategy Implementation (4/7Ps) Financial Implications Control and Evaluation Executive Summary Customer base increased by 6% in the year 2009 with nearly 200 million customers all over the world, In Europe there are about 20.7 million mobile telephone customers. In October 2009 Luxembourg became the 31st country which uses Orange services. To sustain its long-term growth, the Group needs to be present in every key link in the value chain. This will enable Orange to defend its positions against other major market competitors. Orange is now operating in 32 countries compared with 19 countries in 5 year ago time. Environmental Commitment 20% reduction in CO2 emissions between 2006 and 2020. 15% reduction in energy consumption between 2006 and 2020. 25% renewable energies for new mobile stations by 2015 (notably in Africa). 80% of Group scope engaged in Environmental Management System (EMS) process by 2015. State of Business The level and quality of business and financial performance were impressive, given the very difficult environment the France telecom faced from both a macroeconomic standpoint and in terms of regulatory pressures. The Group maintained its revenues, excluding the impact of regulatory measures, and generated cash flow that exceeded its announced objective. Orange launched service in Armenia and Uganda last year. With operations in Jordan since 2000, it was awarded the countrys first 3G licence and will begin marketing attractive solutions in the first a quarter of 2010. Around 3,500 researchers, marketing specialist works in Orange labs. Analysis Market Analysis SWOT Strength Strong customer base Good network strength Strong Marketing and promotion techniques Market Penetration Product Innovation Environmental Commitment Iphone 4 (Only available with O2,Vodaphoe and Orange) Weaknesses Poor Broadband services in UK. Major customers only in France and UK Opportunities Improvements in Broadband service. Orange can concentrate on its broad band service and improve in major parts of UK. Threats Stiff completion in the telecommunication industry (Competitors) all around the world. III) Orange Marketing Strategy The marketing strategy of orange can be explained in taking into example of Ansoff growth matrix strategy model. The model has four main objectives where the company does it business or operates Market Penetration Product Development. Market Development Diversification. (Figure 1.1 shows the example of Ansoff growth Matrix model) Existing Products New Products Market Penetration Product Development Market Development Diversification Existing Market New Market Figure 1.1 Ansoff growth Matrix Model Objectives of Orange The two main objectives of Orange is Profit Improvement Increase in Customer base. IV) Market Penetration. Market Penetration is a growth strategy where the company does the business where the market for that particular product is already in exists. Orange sells its Mobile and Broadband services in the market where there the competition is very high, currently in U.K market Orange faces tough competition from the following companies. Implementation 4 Ps of Orange Marketing http://jumpdigitalmedia.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/4ps.png I) Key Products Pay as you go products: These are the sim cards which are offered to customer, it need to top up every time with a minimum of  £5 pounds in order to make phone calls each cost costs up to 20p per minute and 10p on texts. Orange offers various pay as you go products each products has its own specialty all its pay as you go products in UK can be explained as follows. Monkey (for free text and music lovers) Dolphin (for free text and internet lovers) Canary (for free evening and weekend minutes) Racoon (15p per minute calls) Camel. (Good for International call users, calls to more than 50 countries from just 5p per minute.) Pay monthly products Orange offers pay monthly mobile contracts ranging from 18 months to 24 months. And again the above animals are used for the pay monthly mobile contracts with a different specialty each of them. Panther (Unlimited text, Unlimited Internet, Satellite navigation with Orange maps, 50 picture messages.) Dolphin (Unlimited Text, 250mb of mobile internet usage.) Canary (Unlimited Text) Racoon (Unlimited landline calls, 300 texts.) Broadband services Orange has categorized its broadband services into home broad band and mobile broad band. Home broad band is usually purchased by families for Internet browsing, Following are the packages available for Home broadband. Home Ultra (from  £10.5 per month plus  £10.50 Orange Line rentals) Home Max (Unlimited superfast broadband from  £6.50 per month plus  £10.50 Orange line rentals inclusive evenings and weekend calls) Home Select (Your own existing line rentals from  £9.00 per month) Home starter ( £7.00 per month) Mobile Broad band It is a broad band service which you can use take anywhere with you i.e. mobility They provide a dongal which is a kind of a memory stick and can be easily plugged in the laptop for Internet use. Again it uses the animals to identify its packages in broadband, each animal has different specialty. Following are the broadband packages which are made available to the customers Racoon (Usage of data from 500 MB to 1.5 GB) An 18 months contract from  £5 pounds to  £10 a month Dolphin (3 GB from  £35 pounds a month, 18 months contract) Panther (Unlimited usage of broad band from  £35 pounds a month) Price Orange has decided its price according to mobile or broad band service it provides, varieties of prices ranging from product to product. Its pay monthly product starts from  £15 a month to  £75 a month, this pricing is totally depends upon the usage and selection plan by the customer. Same thing applied to Home and Mobile broad band. Place Orange is making is service available in many parts of the world with the network reach to more than 21 countries, including all Europe, some parts of Asia, Middle East and Africa. Promotion Orange UK uses various techniques to promote its products and benefits to its customers One of its important and long running promotion activity is Orange Wednesday cinema tickets, which are buy one and get one free for all Orange customers in UK. Orange also does it advertisement with Yahoo and Hotmail users, whenever a user is logged in the system using yahoo mail or hotmail an advertisement pop up runs which informs the users about the current offers available and forthcoming mobile phone. In 2009 the Orange Foundation supported programmes in 31 of the Groups host countries in Europe, Africa and Asia. These initiatives promote schooling of girls and provide scholarships. Most of this work is part of broader projects aimed at economic integration for women, including the Feminine Promotion programme in Vietnam. Orange still continues its long running advertisement in UKs Cinema hall in almost all parts of the country. Financial Implications Orange has adjusted its Capital Expenditure with relation to the economic condition in the year 2009 while also taking care of the strategic area such as 3g mobile network and acquisition of new licenses in the emerging countries. The launch of a quadruple play will strength Oranges position It is an offering that combines fixed, Internet, mobile and TV services. Their another priority is optimising investments in marketing and sales, a key differentiating factor, coupled with the introduction of value-added Orange Care services for mobile customers. In addition, the Group will embark on the first phase of investments in its fibre-optic network in France 3.1 Understanding how to promote the marketing plan in support of strategic objectives As mentioned earlier the main strategic objectives of Orange is Market Penetration which can be known in Ansoff Growth Matrix and other one is achieving Higher Revenues. The Marketing plan discussed above will help Orange to achieve its above objectives in following ways Different varieties of product lines will help to focus different types of customers demand and requirement with regards to market segmentation which will increase number of customers. The Unique facilities to customers like Free Cinema tickets (Orange Wednesdays), International Access number for free International calls will attract new customers who are making International calls frequently and one who are movie lovers. The Collaboration with Apple company for iphone4 will also give competitive advantage as it currently only available with O2, Vodafone and Orange. The product Diversification also helps the orange to generate additional revenue, And can also attract customers from subsidiary business of orange to its main business for e.g. Introducing Orange Credit card in the market. 3.2 Approach to reach the agreement for the Marketing Plan, The approach will be based on the current analysis of Orange and its Marketing and Business Environment and also suggestions are made in plan which will help the Board of Directors and Management committee to go through the plan and arrange resources to implement the plan As plan concludes that it will be very helpful to Orange to increase its customer base and revenues which are the main objectives. Therefore it will be agreeable on the basis of its strong formation and projection. 3.3 Evaluation and Review Measures to agreed plan: This marketing plan uses one or more business building tests. These are tests of single marketing variables designed to find more effective or efficient ways of spending marketing resources. They involve monitoring and comparing the results of different spending levels, types of promotions, pricing, advertising, sales approaches, Of Orange. The effectiveness of Marketing plan can be reviewed by conducting Customers survey by phone, emails, texts, market surveys etc. Review can also be carried out by measuring Oranges performance before and after implementation of Marketing plan. Also by monitoring the telephone conversation between customer service department and customers of Oranges related with queries in order to identify the number of response of the customers regarding their satisfaction or dis-satisfaction with Orange products and to identify potential opportunities and weaknesses in all line of Oranges product .

Halfway Houses/Hawthorn Heights Essays -- Criminal Justice

As the need for increasingly punitive community-based sanctions grew, the demand for a greater variety of programs and services became apparent, as did the importance of a more seamless transition from total incapacitation to total freedom of prisoners re-entering society. A variety of community corrections methods have developed over the years, one being the institution of halfway houses. To adequately understand residential community corrections, one must consider the origins, components, and effectiveness of halfway houses. Initially halfway houses in the United States were operated by nonprofit organizations as a means for recently released prisoners to find their footing upon re-entry. Between 1816 and 1930, the function of the halfway house was to provide interim food and shelter while the offender looked for work and became financially stable enough to support themself. Participation was strictly voluntary as state support was lacking, primarily due to the fact that it was and is strongly believed ex-offenders should minimize their contact with one another. (Alarid and Del Carmen 182) A transition to treatment and correctional supervision via halfway house in the 1950’s garnered great support as concern regarding parole revocation and crime increased. In a matter of years halfway houses began to receive government assistance and financial support. Funding sources were dramatically increased through the 1968 Safe Streets Act and a focus on community corrections was prevalent. By the time funding began to decrease in the 1980’s, halfway houses had found their place in corrections as an alternative to incarceration and a safe place for offenders to transition out of prison, reducing potential problems due to overcrowding. (A... ...do V. Del Carmen.Community-Based Corrections. Eigth. Belmont: Wadsworth, 2011. 179-206. Print. Klein-Saffran, Jody. "Electronic Monitoring vs. Halfway Houses: A Study of Federal Offenders."Alternatives to Incarceration. Fall 1995: 24-28. Web. 29 Mar. 2012. . Lagos, David. NC Courts. NC Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission . Compendium of Community Corrections Programs in North Carolina . Raleigh: , 2010. Web. . Shilton, Mary K. U.S. Department of Justice. Bureau of Justice Assistance. Increasing Public Safety Through Halfway Houses. 2003. Web. content/3-halfway-houses-pub-safety.pdf>. Halfway Houses/Hawthorn Heights Essays -- Criminal Justice As the need for increasingly punitive community-based sanctions grew, the demand for a greater variety of programs and services became apparent, as did the importance of a more seamless transition from total incapacitation to total freedom of prisoners re-entering society. A variety of community corrections methods have developed over the years, one being the institution of halfway houses. To adequately understand residential community corrections, one must consider the origins, components, and effectiveness of halfway houses. Initially halfway houses in the United States were operated by nonprofit organizations as a means for recently released prisoners to find their footing upon re-entry. Between 1816 and 1930, the function of the halfway house was to provide interim food and shelter while the offender looked for work and became financially stable enough to support themself. Participation was strictly voluntary as state support was lacking, primarily due to the fact that it was and is strongly believed ex-offenders should minimize their contact with one another. (Alarid and Del Carmen 182) A transition to treatment and correctional supervision via halfway house in the 1950’s garnered great support as concern regarding parole revocation and crime increased. In a matter of years halfway houses began to receive government assistance and financial support. Funding sources were dramatically increased through the 1968 Safe Streets Act and a focus on community corrections was prevalent. By the time funding began to decrease in the 1980’s, halfway houses had found their place in corrections as an alternative to incarceration and a safe place for offenders to transition out of prison, reducing potential problems due to overcrowding. (A... ...do V. Del Carmen.Community-Based Corrections. Eigth. Belmont: Wadsworth, 2011. 179-206. Print. Klein-Saffran, Jody. "Electronic Monitoring vs. Halfway Houses: A Study of Federal Offenders."Alternatives to Incarceration. Fall 1995: 24-28. Web. 29 Mar. 2012. . Lagos, David. NC Courts. NC Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission . Compendium of Community Corrections Programs in North Carolina . Raleigh: , 2010. Web. . Shilton, Mary K. U.S. Department of Justice. Bureau of Justice Assistance. Increasing Public Safety Through Halfway Houses. 2003. Web. content/3-halfway-houses-pub-safety.pdf>.

Jarok As A Traitor :: Star Trek Defector Essays Papers

Jarok As A Traitor Betrayer. Renegade. Mutineer. Defector. No matter how you say it, it all means the same thing: a traitor. I believe that Admiral Jarok from the episode "The Defector" from the third season of Star Trek the Next Generation is indeed a traitor. He betrayed his country and his family, disclosed secret information, and I intend to prove that he fits the definition of a traitor. The definition of a traitor according to Webster's New World Dictionary from 1994 is: a person who betrays his or her country, cause, or friends (1418). This definition is pretty vague, so to understand the concept of a traitor one must know the definition of betray. To betray is: to help the enemy of one's country or cause; to break faith with; fail to meet the hopes of; to disclose secret information or confidential plans (133). In the following paragraphs, I will analyze this definition and show how Admiral Jarok is a traitor. Jarok is a traitor in the political sense, regardless of his motives (to stop a war). By political I mean having to do with the Romulan government or empire. To betray one's country is to be a traitor, and Jarok betrayed the Romulan government by giving away top secret information. According to the storyline of Star Trek the Next Generation, the Romulans and the Federation are enemies. Picard and his crew are members of the Federation, and Jarok is a Romulan; therefore, Jarok and Picard are enemies. Jarok claims that he has discovered a plot for a new Romulan offensive, and he wants to help the Federation stop a possible war. By coming to the Federation to help them, he betrays the Romulans and is a traitor by "helping the enemy of one's country or cause." Jarok elaborates by telling Picard that the Romulans are building a base on Nelvana III, a planet in the Neutral Zone, and there are 21 Warbirds in orbit around her, just waiting to make a first strike. (Lynch 1995) Jarok announces that the Romulans will shortly launch a major offensive against the Federation. (Kernick 1993) At first he wouldn't give Picard the coordinates of the base, but Picard demanded proof. Jarok, beaten, gives all the information he can, including the location of the Romulan fleet and information about cloaking technology. (Tong 1994) Jarok betrays the Romulans by disclosing secret information or confidential plans. Jarok also breaks the faith with and fails to meet the hopes of the Romulans.

Game Rental Shop :: Video Games Consumerism Spreadsheets Essays

Game Rental Shop Spreadsheet Rent it!!!!!! Games rental Identification To start my project I have chosen that I would do a spreadsheet for a games rental shop. This shop would be renting out games for people to borrow over a period of 3 nights. If the games are brought back later than the due in date then there will be a fine of  £1 every night. I think choosing to do a games rental shop is quite a good choice because it would involve lots of calculations. I think that excel would be very suitable software to use for this games shop as it would give me all the calculations and results. I am going to have a stock sheet on excel and another sheet which involves the sales and late charges. I will be calculating things such as adding up sales and late charges and adding up. Excel is the best program to calculate because I would be using its features to calculate. Using formulas you can calculate the whole database in a second. These are the sorts of calculations that we can get from excel:  · Average sales per week  · Most rented game  · Adding up the number of rentals in a week  · Working out the profit  · Fine charges etc. I can use excel to get results such as the most rentals in the week of a single game using a bar chart. Get results for the fine charges of the week again using bar charts and I can also use a pie chart to see the best renting title. Excel also has a function called sort. If there is almost 200 games on my database and next to them it tells you how many times this title has been rented out then all you have to do is click sort and it would tell you in order of what the best renting title is. Rather than an ordinary database program people prefer spreadsheets because it’s good for storing and retrieving. It can do calculations very fast and efficient. Excel also with the use of formulas is better than word processor or a database program. My end user would use the spreadsheet that I will design. My end user would be the shop owner who is using this as a super calculator and would help them get good outcomes from the spreadsheet. The end user requirements should be: * Fast data search * Accurate calculations * Easy to use (user friendly) * Everything sorted out by using the Sort function * Get good results and easy to understand them To get from one sheet to another sheet I will be using macro buttons.

Construction Case Study Essay

Resistance to organisational change is a natural reaction to those who want to protect their self-interests in the organisation. However, it is clear from the case study that the employees of XYZ Construction showed little resistance to the change implemented by the incoming managing director. The primary reason that change was welcomed was due to the former Managing Director’s management style which was not widely accepted in the organisation. Employees feared him and it was not acceptable to speak openly and honestly. Employees were aware that this behaviour was often counterproductive, and created a negative impression with the former Managing Director. As the newly appointed Managing Director had previously worked at the organisation, he was aware of certain of the issues and concerns of the employees. The experience gained from working at other companies, and the reputation he built from his career prior to returning to XYZ Construction ensured that the employees had faith in his leadership ability. The new Managing Director’s first step in developing relationships with managers and employees was to incorporate key employees into Senior Management Team activities. His actions made it clear that he was willing to retain the current workforce and promote from within the organisation. This created a positive environment which encouraged employees to work harder and produce results Employees and managers did not fear loss of employment with the new Managing Director, but rather felt included in the decision making process. The new Managing Director’s attitude and actions were clear and concise which addressed the problems within the organisation. His actions were collectively moving in the same direction, to achieve a clear goal of improving internal and external relations and improving the organisations performance. He correctly identified problem areas such as relationships, communication and the structure of the organisation. An incorrect diagnosis of the problems within an organisation may result in incorrect changes being implemented, which can lead the organisation into complete disarray. The new Managing Director identified two crucial activities to be performed in conjunction with each other to enable the transformation of the  organisation. The two activities identified were: To introduce new practices and techniques to improve service to customers and thus improve the organisation’s performance. To change the attitudes and behaviour of employees By identifying the two activities above, the new Managing Director identified crucial steps to improve its performance. Only through improving services to customers can the overall organisation’s performance improve. A satisfied customer is likely to return and recommend the organisation to others. This is directly linked to the growth of the organisation. The new Managing Director is aware that to provide better service to customers, the employees will have to develop and learn new practices and techniques to ensure superior service quality is provided to customers. The implementation of the second activity is critical to the success of the overall goal of improved customer relationships. The employees and managers attitudes and behaviours are to be transformed to ensure the best results are achieved. Employees and managers who were unhappy under the former Managing Director are more willing to adhere to the recommended changes. The willingness to adhere also stems from the approaches presented being feasible and there is no fear for loss of employment. The changes bring new opportunities for employees and managers to develop in their current roles and possibly grow into new roles. The potential positive outcomes as a result of these changes are a contributing factor in the lack of resistance experienced by the Managing Director. The cost effectiveness of the changes implemented also contributed to the lack of resistance from employees. The new Managing Director introduced a small-scale Kaizen programme. The programme was introduced with the four goals namely (Burnes, 2009, p. 162); ï‚ · Improvements could be achieved on a quick low cost/no cost basis Promote teamwork Build manager’s confidence such that they can delegate work Empower staff The goals above are all positive resulting in the support of employees and minimises resistance to change. An additional contributing factor was the Managing Directors’ communication regarding his commitment to this initiative. This eradicates any confusion regarding the implementation of this change, and strengthens the â€Å"buy-in† of employees and manager. 3 Introducing a new management style This section will discuss the following statement and to what extent I agree or disagree with the statement; â€Å"the new Managing Director has not changed the culture of XYZ Construction but has merely introduced a new management style†. 3.1 Organisational Culture To understand the statement clearly, the term organisational culture needs to be defined and understood. Organisational culture is defined as â€Å"the  collection of basic assumptions, values, norms and artefacts that are shared by and influence the behaviour of an organisation’s members† (Burnes, 2009, p. 600). Organisation culture is also commonly defined as â€Å"how organisations do things† (Watkins, 2013). 3.2 Management Style The management style of XYZ Construction changed from an autocratic management style to a participative style when the new Managing Director was appointed. The former Managing Director was feared by his colleagues, where open and honest relationships did not exist. Autocratic leadership is an extreme form of transactional leadership, characterised by a manager who makes decisions on his own without input from colleagues. This type of management style has the advantage that decisions can be made quickly and efficiently, however this approach is not suitable in all organisations and is limited in its application. The disadvantage of this approach is that it leads to high employee turnover, demotivated employees and poor performance (Unknown, 2013). The autocratic management style of the former Managing Director was not suitable for XYZ Construction and was identified by the parent company. The parent company’s view was that the company was underperforming due to the poor management and lack of cooperation within the organisation. Once the former Managing Director retired he was replaced by a new Managing Director with the primary objective to improve the overall managerial competency and improve the performance of the organisation. The new Managing Director displayed a Participative management style, which was required for the necessary operation, culture and structure changes in the organisation. A Participative management style is characterised by managers that â€Å"use various decision procedures that allow other people some influence over the leader’s decision† (Yukl, 2013, p. 115). This is clearly displayed in the New Managing Directors action of inclusion of key employees who were not directors to p articipate in Senior Management Team. This action has a significant impact on relationship building within the organisation and an impact on the structure. The organisation under former management was hierarchical conscious which hinders the development  of relationship and the sharing of information and ideas. The new approach in management style results in a culture change in the organisation. 3.3 Discussion I agree with the statement, with the effect that a culture change has taken place in XYZ Construction under the new Managing Director, however this was achieved by the change in the managerial style rather by changing the culture. The new Managing Director’s participative managing style, has allowed for a culture change. Employees and managers are able to speak openly and honestly changing the norms within the organisation. The transformation is a long-term change with initiatives rolled-out in intervals. This allows for employees and managers to acquire and develop the necessary skills and characteristics at each level before moving to the next step of the transformation. The new Managing Director’s management style requires that the attitude and behaviours to be changed of both employees and managers to meet the demands of the initiatives aimed at increasing the organisation’s performance. My agreement with the statement is not significant, as the new Managing Director has brought upon a new management style however the initiatives that he proposed require a change in culture. A culture change of the employees and managers supports that new Managing Director’s management style. 4 South African context South Africa as a country has been transforming during the post-apartheid regime. The most significant transformation that is currently taking place in organisations is the implementation of various BBBEE initiatives, one of which is to increase in females in the workplace. The BBBEE initiative focusses on reconciling indiscretions of the past and allowing for the workplace to be balanced based on race, gender and disabilities. There are many examples of organisations in South Africa where this transformation has taken place. An example of this transformation is in PPC Ltd. which  appointed Ketso Gordhan as the new CEO effective 1 January 2013 (Allix, 2012). Ketso Gordhan’s extensive experience in multiple industries such as his role as director-general in the Ministry of transport, serving in the Presidency and head of private equity in FirstRand makes him extremely capable and suitable for the position. His experience in the multiple he roles he has fulfilled has provided him with knowledge as to how to bring change to an organisation. The cement industry had faced a major fall in sales during the financial recession coupled with competitive forces. These factors had started to be addressed by the former CEO with the goal of growing the business and earning a significant portion of profits through operations in Africa (Allix, 2012). It was at this point that Ketso Gordhan was appointed with the crucial task of growing operations into Africa. The approach that was taken by Ketso Gordhan to achieve this goal is based on two key strategies of expanding business into Africa and to keep current operations in South Africa to operate efficiently (â€Å"keep the home fires burning†) (Allix, 2013). Ketso Gordhan made the goals and the direction taken very clear to ensure a collective drive from employees. His actions are the same actions taken by the newly appointed Managing Director of XYZ Construction. Ketso Gordhan made he’s commitment to PPC Ltd. clear through his actions as well as through the acquisition of PPC Ltd. shares summing a total of R30 million (Shevel, 2014). This action indicated internally and externally he’s commitment and faith in the organisation to achieve a significant improvement in the organisation’s performance (Hasenfuss, 2013). Ketso Gordhan’s management style has brought a culture change in the organisation. The culture change has included a more hands-on approach from the CEO with constant  interaction with employees and managers. This once again reinforces his ideas and motivation in the workplace. Earlier in 2014, Ketso Gordhan reduced his salary by R1m in an effort to  support the reduction of salary gap between the highest and the lowest paid employee in the organisation. He took grievances from the lowest paid employees and acted to resolve the items. He approached the top 60 managers, asking whether they would volunteer their increases to be distributed to the lowest paid employees. This approach enabled the organisation to increase 1 200 of the lowest paid employees salary by R10 000 per year and an interest related increase later in the year (Shevel, 2014). This initiative received great response from employees, which was primarily attributed to the feeling that grievances were heard and action was taken. The initiative allowed the CEO salary to reduce from 120 times the lowest paid employee to 48 times with the clear goal to reach 40 times in future. This was achieved through the decrease in the highest paid salary and the increase in the lowest paid salaries (Shevel, 2014). The initiative has an impact external to the organisation. In South Africa which currently is facing numerous problems, one clear problem in the large economic gaps that exists. The actions of Ketso Gordhan are an encouragement to fellow JSE-listed organisation’s CEO to follow suit and attempt to reduce the large salary gaps that exist in many organisations. Collective actions will enable the country to reach goals of social development at a faster rate. Ketso Gordhan is a participative leader which is clear through his engagement with the organisationâ€⠄¢s employees and through the initiative he has developed. He has initiated the â€Å"I Care, PPC Cares† programme coupled with the Kambuku philosophy in the organisation (PPC Ltd, 2014). This philosophy and initiative is aimed at addressing the following (PPC Ltd, 2014): Disparity between the cost of living and salaries of lower-level employees Substandard housing and access to housing for some employees Effectiveness of first-line managers and team members Individual development plans and organisational climate initiatives Improving the perception of employees in terms of job satisfaction The philosophy is aimed at not only improving the internal environment but also the external environment of the organisation, such as the assistance in providing housing for employees. The approach is very fitting in the South African context. References Allix, M., 2012. Ketso Gordhan to replace Paul Stuiver at PPC. [Online] Available at: http://www.bdlive.co.za/business/industrials/2012/10/11/ketso-gordhan-toreplace-paul-stuiver-at-ppc [Accessed 3 May 2014]. Allix, M., 2013. Safika deal to help PPC ‘keep the home fires burning’. [Online] Available at: http://www.bdlive.co.za/business/industrials/2013/08/08/safika-deal-to-helpppc-keep-the-home-fires-burning [Accessed 3 May 2014]. Burnes, B., 2009. Managing Change. 5th ed. Essex: Pearson Education Limited. Hasenfuss, M., 2013. PPC chief Ketso Gordhan splashes out on cement firm’s stock. [Online] Available at: http://www.bdlive.co.za/business/industrials/2013/09/12/ppc-chief-ketsogordha n-splashes-out-on-cement-firms-stock [Accessed 3 May 2014]. Investopedia, 2014. Definition of ‘Kaizen’. [Online] Available at: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/k/kaizen.asp [Accessed 16 April 2014]. PPC Ltd, 2014. Our People. [Online] Available at: http://www.ppc.co.za/about-us/our-people.aspx [Accessed 3 May 2013]. Shevel, A., 2014. Ketso Gordhan: Laying the foundations for a fairer workplace. [Online] Available at: http://www.bdlive.co.za/business/management/2014/03/23/ketso-gordhanlaying-the-foundations-for-a-fairer-workplace [Accessed 3 May 2013]. Stroh, U., 2005. Chapter 3: Approaches to Change Management, Pretoria: University of Pretoria etd. Unknown, 2013. Leadership Styles. [Online] Available at: http://ofd.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Leadership-Styles-1_11_13.pdf [Accessed 30 April 2014]. Watkins, M., 2013. What Is Organizational Culture? And Why Should We Care?. [Online] Available at: http://blogs.hbr.org/2013/05/what-is-organizational-culture/ [Accessed 30 April 2014]. Yukl, G., 2013. Leadership on Organizations. 8th ed. Essex: Pearson Education Limited.

Mayan Civilization Advantages and Effect on America

Amayrani Mateo May 30,2012 KIPP-2016-NEUSocial Study Mayan Research Paper Did you know that Mayan civilization left back beautiful landmarks they made with their advanced technology? The Mayan spread throughout Mexico, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. They Mayans had really advanced technology to look at the sky and be able to make calendars. They were able to observe the sky and make inferences. The Mayan civilization was different from any other civilization.Mayan civilizations should be taught in schools because of their influence on today’s citizens, advanced technology and students should learn about another civilization that is really known but not taught in schools and so that people studying Mayans learn about the heritage. Today, the astronomical and technological advances came from the Mayan civilization. Astronomers from the Mayan civilization created calendars that are more accurate then those of modern society. They have about eighteen different calend ars that was created on the movement of the moon, the planets and the sun.In order to make this happen, they also created mathematical theories. With these theories, they were able to trace the path of the planets. Mayan civilizations have thousands of archeological sites across Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, and Southern Mexico. (www. authenticmaya. com) There is a connection between the Latino/ Hispanics student in Massachusetts and in the Mayan civilization. There is 15. 4% of people in the state of Massachusetts who identify themselves as Latinos/ Hispanic. â€Å"Mayan civilization reached its height between 300 and 900 A. D†¦During this time, Mayan culture spread over much of Mesoamerica, including part of present-day Sothern Mexico, Belize, most of Guatemala, and parts of Honduras and El Salvador. † (Bower and Lobdell) There are things that we eat here that started in Mayan civilization. We eat things like maize, maize cobs and corn cob and other veggies. (www. foodt imeline. org) With those things we made things like Tamales or Tortilla, which were very famous in Mayan civilization. There are a couple Mexican and Central American restaurants around and they all started from the influence they had on Lynn. What happened to the Mayan Civilization?Why did they disappear? Mayan civilization is a mystery because no one knows how did they disappear or what happened to them. Learning about Mayan civilization will help with school things because your knowledge will grow. With these questions students can investigate further and find out more information o the civilization. All these questions keep people wondering and it can start very engaging discussions among other people. Having the skill to participate in a discussion is a great skill, also if you are wondering all these questions you will probably do some research on the civilization and you will know you more than other.Mayan civilization must be taught in schools in Massachusetts. Modern societ y can learn more about technological and astronomical advances because the Mayan civilization has influenced us already with some advances. About 15% of students in Massachusetts are Hispanic/Latinos. They have many similarities with people from the Mayan civilizations. Mayan civilizations taught us a lot of things and they helped give us ideas to do things certain ways. Ideas like calendars came from them.

An Analysis of The Clod and the Pebble

Speaker/Tone: â€Å"The Clod and the Pebble† by Sir Francis Blake In the poem â€Å"The Clod and the Pebble† Sire Francis Blake compares selfish and unselfish love through interesting and thought provoking interpretations. These viewpoints are obvious through Blake’s indication of their states of innocence and experience. His first entity, which is a clod, says, â€Å"love seeketh not itself to please†(Blake 3). The second interpretation, which is given in the form of a pebble, reasons, â€Å" Love seeketh only Self to please†(Blake 11). The clod is depicted as a selfless, passionate emotion whereas the pebble is a vain, arrogant and selfish sentiment.We can assume that the author has a lot of experiences when it comes to love, possibly writing this poem in a period of romanticism, but cannot assume he is the speaker. The different perspectives of love in the poem lead the reader to believe that there are two speakers. The Clod may perhaps be of a f eminine viewpoint, which is understandable after reading â€Å"Nor for itself have any care† and â€Å"Trodden with cattle’s feet†, where love is unselfish and sacrificial (Blake 2). The pebble gives off a sense of authority gained from experiences while it mocks the innocence of the clod.The abrupt use of â€Å"But† provides a change to the sweet and harmonious tones of the first stanza, while the phrase â€Å"a pebble of the brook† represents it is a hard and unmovable object, learned from its experiences. Specific words such as â€Å"care† used by the clod and â€Å"bind† used by the pebble are what make the feminine/masculine tones understandable. The beautiful and artful personifications of the content clod and pompous pebble create a clear understanding in contrasting the representation of the selfishness and selflessness of human nature in love.

Mabe Case Essay

Internationalization Strategy MABE has a good internationalization strategy with widely spread manufacturing plants in Mexico and Latin America, such as Venezuela, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. It relies highly on acquisitions and JVs with local brands to lower manufacturing cost and increase its market share by entering different markets. This strategy is valuable as it decreases net costs and increases net revenues. It is rare because one third of all gas, electric ranges and refrigerators sold in the U.S. are manufactured by MABE. It is also hard to imitate as MABE spent many years to develop its plants in Mexico and Latin America, thus, competitors would face a cost disadvantage in developing similar strategy. Its products can be easily substituted as GE is still one of the largest competitors. However, MABE has exploited the full potential of this strategy in the international market. Research & Development In the early stage of development, MABE formed alliance with GE and took advantage of the foreign technology and penetrated new market. Later on, it developed higher and more sophisticated technical skills and decreased reliance on GE and developed its proprietary technology. It has used its R&D capability to exploit opportunities in the electric stoves, refrigerators, dish washing machines and clothing dryers markets. Thus, its R&D skill is valuable. Also, it is rare and non-substitute because very few competitors possess these skills and it will be costly for competitors to duplicate. MABE exploits its R&D by constant adaptation and innovation to ensure success in the growing appliance market. Organizational Culture MABE has a well-established multinational organizational culture. It hired engineering graduates and assigned them with seasoned MABE and GE executives. It used GE’s methodology of â€Å"action learning† so that multidisciplinary teams of executives can work together to recommend ways to enter into new markets. This organizational culture is valuable as it plays an important role in shaping management and employees’ values, expectations, behaviors, and experiences. It is not rare as many multinational firms have good organizational culture. Notwithstanding, it is non-substitutable because organizational structure is set up by many years of business experience and every organization has its own typical organizational  culture, so it is hard to imitate from one to another. MABE is organized to fully exploit its resources and capabilities. Summary: MABE has a sustainable competitive advantage in the international market because it takes advantage of all of its uni que resources and capabilities and continue to expand its market and remain competitive. External Analysis Porter’s five forces Degree of Rivalry — Moderate to High In the Russian appliance industry, majority of the market share is shared among Indesit, Bosch-Siemens and LG. MABE occupies less than 1 percent of market share and falls far behind 9 other major competitors. Due to the market size (i.e. $3 billion) and profitability (i.e. two times the average operating margin), the appliance market is attractive to foreign investors. Thus, the degree of rivalry is moderate to high. Threat of Substitute — Low to Moderate Before entering the appliance industry, initial capital and technologies are required. MABE has existed for a while now and has continuously produced good quality appliances, therefore, no better substitute for stove, freezer and washing machine are available. However, due to weather conditions, living habits and customs, the consumption of canned food may substitute the freezer sales as it is convenient and easy to store. Hence, the threat of substitute is low to moderate. Threat of New Entrants — Moderate to high The threat of new entrants in Russia is moderate to high. On one hand, new entrants need to consider Russia’s culture, low foreign acceptance, trust issues, economic environment and unstable political position before entering Russian market. All these factors may result in potential risks in business. Conversely, the profitability of the appliance market in Russia attracts new entrants to the industry. Bargaining power of Buyers — Moderate to high Customers have many options in the Russia appliance industry. They can select products based on their preferences as there are nearly 9 strong brands to satisfy buyers various needs. Thus, the bargaining power of buyers is  moderate to high. Bargaining power of Supplier — Low to Moderate Suppliers have low to moderate bargaining power. When production is done by the JV, the supplier will have low bargaining power but when production is outsourced, supplier tend to have moderate bargaining power. Conclusion: Based on the analysis, the Russian economy is favorable with growing potential for the JV to exploit. Nevertheless, they have to pay more attention to the intensified rivalry and political and economic status and learn about customers’ needs as well as strive to increase economy of scale in order to achieve competitive advantage and increase profit and market share. PESTEL Analysis Political Russian State has high involvement and enormous influence over business activities and decision making. Moreover, there is political instability, weak legislative and enforcement regimes as well as immense corruption and bribery at all level. Therefore, it is vital that MABE understand the political risk when entering the market as it could have negative impact on their business as well as their reputation. Economic In 2008, the Russian economy was devastated by the recession which affected its monetary system. Among the BRIC countries, Russia has the highest FDI, per capita and discretionary incomes. It is also the world’s largest gas reserve and the second largest oil reserve. However, Russia economy offers low entry to small and medium size companies and its financial system is monopolized by one big bank resulting in a rather small domestic investment by locals and loan difficulty. Notwithstanding, there are still numerous opportunities for development that MABE can take advantage of if they can implement a method to handle these issues. Sociocultural Russia has a collective culture with informal social orientation and considers trust as a prominent factor in doing business especially with foreigners and it takes a considerable amount of time for foreign firms to earn the trust of locals. Therefore, the adaptation of MABE to the Russian cultural cues is essential. Furthermore, Russia is facing comparative  problems of population abatement, human capital deterioration, high mortality, low level of life expectancy, health and knowledge. In spite of the Russia’s vast natural resources, their declining human capital, low level of knowledge and other related issues have limited its social and economic development which will pose a problem for MABE to extract high skilled and competent workers. Technological Technological innovation and improvement is one of the main success factor to achieve competitive advantage in the appliance sector. In a merging market like Russia, with increasing competition, it is imperative that MABE invest more in technology improvement, innovation and development so as to stay abreast with the rapidly changing technological environment and improve their business efficiency, performance and competitiveness. Environmental Russia environment can be quiet hostile for foreign investment with several laws and regulations pertaining to environmental protection. For instance, doing AIDS test to obtain work permit and also, the hiring of several local work force in order for business to successfully operate in Russia. Additionally, there have been energy consumption regulations imposed by most government including Russia. Thus, MABE has to take into consideration these requirements and conditions. Legal Russia has had weak legislative and enforcement regimes with increasing corruption and bribery. Its biased legal and judicial systems, corrupt law enforcement, weak capital market institutions and poor private property right protection has relatively formed and increased the volatility and instability of its economy. This will lead to the loss of interest of existing and potential foreign firms to do business there. C onclusion Russia has an attractive and profitable appliance market with high technical innovation capabilities. However, the poor legislative and judicial system with a corrupt government that highly influences business practices makes it quite challenging and risky for entry into the country. Despite its social impediment and structure, there is still opportunities for successful entry in the market and for the joint venture to achieve its goal, it must adjust  itself to the Russian environment. CAGE Analysis Cultural Distance Administration and Political Distance Geographical Distance Economical Distance Attributes creating distance -Different languages, -Different religions, -Different ethnicity, Different social norms -Absence of colonial ties, -Different monetary system & currencies -Government policies -Different country size -Different climate -Limited sea access -Difference in customer income Cultural distance: Russia and Mexico have very distinct cultures. They have different languages, ethnicity, social norms and religions, hence, there is a huge cultural difference between them. Administration and Political Distance: Both country’s government have high influence on all aspect of business and other operations in the country. Although they suffer from the same poor political and legislative system as well as corruption and bribery, some administration and political differences still exist. Geographical Distance: Due to the large geographic distance between Russia and Mexico, goods can be exchange via transportation and most communication through information system. Economical Distance: Russia and Mexico are developing countries with similar economic situations such as average salary, GDP and population size. In this regards, the economic distance is little. Conclusion Russia and Mexico are somewhat similar in term of their political, economic and administrative situations while very different in term of culture and geography. However, as many factors need to be considered to adjust to the changes, the JV must adapt to the Russia environment. Alternative and Recommendation Decision Criteria Mabe has to make a decision based on its business objectives and these will be discussed below: International expansion Whether or not MABE decides to stop or continue with the JV, it will most likely still seek to go to other markets in the world since the JV was a result of its aim of wanting to explore new regions of the world and expand to other markets. If it decides to stay, it may partner with a local manufacturer in Russia as discussed in our third alternative or if Mabe decides to leave Russia, it may seek to enter into other markets in other regions of the world but these markets will also have their potential threats in addition to their opportunities and benefits. Business growth The major aim of Mabe wanting to expand operations to other regions of the world is to grow its business. In order to ensure that this happens, Mabe will have to tailor its next step on what to do about its JV in Russia to something that not only helps it expand to other countries, but one that also increases the growth of the business. Other factors Whether or not Mabe decides to continue with its present JV, go into another JV in Russia or go to another region of the world, it has to consider the current market situation there and the major market players to see if it can gain adequate market share that will sustain its business there. In addition to this, it also has to consider the business culture in the region and see  if its business can fit into their ways of doing things there. The available opportunities in those regions also matter but this may not be a huge problem in emerging markets unlike under developed regions. Even in the midst of these available opportunities, Mabe has to see if it has the resources that will enable it benefit from these opportunities. Another important factor is the threats in the region since they can serve as a major hindrance to not only taking advantage of opportunities, but also the growth of the business as a whole. The environment in which a business operates in goes a long way in determining how well it will perform. More on the external environment has been discussed in our external business analysis section. Alternatives Pros Cons -Strong customer purchasing power -Low economic and financial risk -Relatively lower cost of manufacturing -Transportation system is well established -Large number of potential business partners and investors -The level of price sensitivity is high. Thus, how to set up proper price becomes critical -Faces intense competition, i.e. Haier, Midea, Mitsubishi -A high level of government regulation and business requirements -Relative a high level of local bribery Recommendation According to the internal and external analysis, MABE should form a new joint venture with a Russian company for growth. Russia have one of the largest appliance market in the world with an impressive profit margin. However, it is relatively difficult and challenging to do business in Russia due to its political structure, sociocultural and economic environment. It’s best for MABE to work with a local Russian partner who knows the system and has extensive line of network in order to reduce the various connected risks. Furthermore, by entering the Russian market, Mabe will fully exploit its  resources and capabilities and will achieve its objectives of international expansion, business growth and increase in market share. Therefore, Alternative 3 is recommended. Implementation In order to resolve the above issue, it is important for MABE’s executives to comprehend and gain extensive knowledge of Russia’s business system and environment in order to be competitive. To implement the recommended alternative, a short and long term plan is discussed below. Short-run implementation Plan (See Exhibit 1) Phase 1 (day 1-7): A board meeting need be held to discuss and form a research team. A professional market analysts and few expatriates of MABE should travel to Russia on an exploratory visit to understand Russia market and find a reliable Russian manufacturer. At the same time, the research team should also hire local employees who are acquainted with the appliances market in Russia. In addition, the expatriates and executives should begin to learn the language and gain more knowledge about Russian culture because it helps to communicate with local manufacturers and employees in order to effectively operate the JV. Phase 2 (day 8-12): The research team should be divided into several groups to collect more information and make sure every aspect is considered. The groups should regularly meet to exchange information and insights to ensure that the current situation in Russia is updated. In this case, the advantage and disadvantage of each potential Russian company could be listed orderly by professional market analysts. Meanwhile, expatriates should keep learning. Phase 3 (day 13-19): Presentation should be well prepared for board members to show the knowledge and analysis about potential Russian partner. Board members will analyze and negotiate with these manufactures based on what is on the list. Phase 4 (day 20-31): With the help of lawyers, a contract will be drafted and negotiated with local partner about the business model, routine, strategy and management structure. Negotiation should not be stopped until the two companies are satisfied with the details. Phase 5 (day 29-38): The final contract should be prepared and signed by MABE and local partner. Then, the new Joint Venture would be set up and operation would begin. Long-run  Implementation Plan MABE should focus on the fastest growing segment, that is, the small and middle end products to increase profit and should show concern for the local employees and society by increasing salary, offering employee benefit and donating to the society. With extensive knowledge of Russia economy, MABE could forecast on the future trend of the Russian market and develop new strategies to compete in future situations There should be vast and continuous investment in R&D, technical innovations and process improvement in order to increase efficiency and competitiveness After fully develop in Russia, MABE could expand their reach in larger international markets like China to take advantage of the numerous growth opportunities. Contingency Plan If the recommended alternative does not work out, we would recommend that JV be dissolved and Mabe should exit the Russian market to another emerging market like South Africa. This is because it is relatively easy to do business there; it will help Mabe gain more presence in Africa as a whole which is politically and macro-economically stable with competitive labor costs. In addition, the country has better patent and copyright laws that will protect its innovations and designs from knockoffs as opposed to some other emerging markets like China.

Marketing and Information System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Marketing and Information System - Essay Example The marketing information which will be designed for Dell will gather the order information such as customer’s name, address, contact number, age, and the specifications for the computer. It should be noted that the business organization utilizes online distribution for all their products. This means that customers all customers visit the company’s website in order to place and track their orders. All this data will be stored in a database and will be updated real-time. This means that information will be stored as they are given by the customers. In order to make ordering efficient to the customer, the record will be used each time the customer places an order. This will make ordering easier as customers won’t need to retype their personal information. The customers will also be given options if to use the credit card that they have used on their previous purchases. The data gathered from this database will allow Dell to track sales according to geographical loc ations. This will also track trends in aggregates demand and demand according to geographical demands. This will help Dell to where to concentrate aggressive marketing efforts in order to stimulate purchases. The database will also allow Dell to identify the preferred specifications of customers and the add-on features that they want which will the business organization to standardize their inputs. The company can also associate the demographic factors with the specifications of the computers ordered.

Research paper about Pitney Bowes Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

About Pitney Bowes - Research Paper Example As a leader in the provision of software and hardware capabilities relating to information, the organization faces the need to institute new and improved ways of operations in order to realize its objectives. The organizational development plan, therefore, seeks to shed light on some of the most critical areas of action in addition to offering the new strategies that should be adopted by the organization in order to realize these transformations. Introduction and scope of the plan The major purpose of this organizational development plan is to bring about change and transformation at Pitney Bowes and improve the performance of the organization in the various sectors, as spelled in this plan. Specifically, the plan seeks to enable the organization to realize its objectives as spelled out in the strategic plan, achieve its vision and to transform the overall performance of the organization towards the better. In the context of managing mails, the company seeks to revolutionize the indu stry, as it has always done. More importantly, the plan seeks to ensure that the organization lives up to its mission statement of delivering shareholder and customer value through the provision of quality services in the market. Essentially, this is a document geared towards steering the development of the organization taking consideration of the fact that the present business environment has become almost uncertain and, hence, organizations must always strive to achieve and deliver the best in the market (Pederson, 2010). The plan will further monitor the realization of these goals through a systematic process that links up to the very expectations of the clients and other stakeholders of the organization. The plan is anchored on the Pitney Bowes organizational culture which stresses on the empowerment of staff and building the confidence of the organization’s customers scattered across the world (Lusterman, 2001). It s important to realize that any tangible organizational success can only be realized if the strategies and objectives of the organization are spelled out well and understood by all stakeholders. Everybody should be in the capacity to clearly understand their duties and roles towards the overall development of the organization. Background Pitney Bowes has always pursued a range of activities geared towards the development of the organization since its formation (2006). Much of these changes have always revolved around the establishment of a proper organizational structure that can ensure easy management and decision making. In addition, globalization and the new options brought about by technology have compelled the organization to radically transform its operations in order to comply with these demands of time. This is realized in the areas of research, development and technology where huge investments have been made in the recent past in order to improve operations and facilitate global operations. Indeed, the organization development p lan presents a good basis for the organization to effectively coordinate its operations and manage its increasing affairs across the world. The concept of organizational development is no longer a conventional affair in the business world. It requires proper strategies and sufficient resource allocations in order to succeed. Pitney Bowes has always been a leading provider of services and products in communication across