Ron Kirshner vs.Flash Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Ron Kirshner vs.Flash - Essay Example of the Bozapalooza but he told Kirshner that an SnS reunion concert was out of the question due to differences between Flash and fellow SnS member Axl. Flash made it clear that because of past arguments he would not perform on stage with Axl. These negotiations occurred in September. Flash also indicated that he would go to Thailand and therefore could not be reached for the time being. Flash informed Kirshner that he would be gone from Sept 23 to October 22; during that period he would be incommunicado. Kirshner sent a letter on September 21, via regular mail, stipulating their agreements. It arrived September 24 or after Flash had already left for his overseas trip. When Flash returned from his trip he was surprised to learn that he would be performing with Axl at the Bozapalooza against his express wishes. Kirshner informed him that because Flash could not be reached, he went ahead and booked the concert with Axl. Hence Flash wants to know if he is legally obligated to perform at the concert. A contract requires a meeting of minds between the parties involved. There must be an offer from one party and an acceptance of that offer on the part of the other party. In the present case, there appears to be a reciprocal obligation between Kirshner and Flash. There was an offer by Kirshner for Flash to perform at the Bozapalooza in exchange for a sum certain in money. Kirshner, as promissor, showed a willingness to be legally bound by the terms he specified in a way that would lead a reasonable person in the position of Flash to understand that an acceptance is being sought and, if made, would result in an enforceable contract. Now, an important matter to consider is what the stipulation of the contract was. On September 1, Ron made an initial offer involving an SnS reunion concert at Bozapalooza. The response of Flash was a counter-offer stating that while he was willing to perform at Bozapalooza, he would not perform with Axl. Negotiations resumed on September

Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 73

Reflection - Essay Example I have taken this concept of leadership from the leader of Starbucks where he consults and engages the low level staff before making a decision. Thirdly, and lastly, I have learnt the concept of objectivity and subjectivity in relation to financial management and asset acquisition. This is from the considerations that the Starbucks Company has to consider some aspects accepting offers. All these concepts that I have learnt apply both to my professional and personal life in terms of being an effective resources manager pertaining to corporate resources and making personal budgets to avoid spendthrift activities (CheckMate, 2009). Leadership also applies to both professional and personal life in that I will engage the junior employees in a company once employed and even in my personal life I will be an effective leader. Lastly, the concept of critical analysis and subjectivity and objectivity applies in my professional life in terms of assessing all aspects before making decisions on taking or dropping offers or venture g into a certain activity. This applies in my personal life as well since it can help me in making a decision with first assessing the different

New Zealand Sustainable Dairy Farm

New Zealand Sustainable Dairy Farm EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Dairy farmers are profoundly energetic to strengthen their own organizations furthermore, help manufacture a superior future for New Zealand. Worldwide dairy markets offer significant development and esteem creation opportunities throughout the following decades. Individual agriculturist activity furthermore, industry activities are as of now doing some of what should be done to catch these open doors, be that as it may, more should be possible especially in working for the advantage of all New Zealanders. The strategic vision is dairy farming working for everyone. To accomplish this vision, dairy farming must be focused and mindful. Protecting furthermore, improving New Zealand dairy farmings upper hand is a proceeded with exertion, expanding on past systems and focussing on the key territories that have any kind of effect to the monetary performance of dairy farming. Dairy farming must likewise address its duties inside and outside the cultivate door. A dependable dairy cultivating industry is one which illustrates great stewardship of assets, recognizes its obligation of care to individuals whats more, creatures, and which assembles a superior New Zealand through the commitments agriculturists and the more extensive industry to New Zealand society. This document outlines key destinations adjusted to being competitive and responsible. Meeting these objectives will make a more sustainable future for dairy farming in New Zealand. ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES According to Business Dictionary Analysis of how scarce resources (factors of production) are distributed among producers, and how scarce goods and services are apportioned among consumers. This analysis takes into consideration the accounting cost, economic cost, opportunity cost, and other costs of resources and goods and services. Allocation of resources is a central theme in economics (which is essentially a study of how resources are allocated) and is associated with economic efficiency and maximization of utility. Definition of Resource Allocation Resource allocation is a process and strategy including an organization choosing where scare resources ought to be utilized as a part of the production of goods or services. A resource can be considered as any factor of production, which is something used to deliver products or services. Resources include such things as labour, land, machinery, tools and equipment, technology, and natural resources, and monetary assets, for example, money. Resource allocation is the process toward assigning and managing assets in a way that supports an associations strategic objectives. Resource allocation includes managing tangible assets, for example, equipment to make the best utilization of softer assets, for example, human capital. Resource allocation includes adjusting competing necessities and priorities and deciding the best strategy keeping in mind the end goal to maximize the successful utilization of limited resources and gain the best rate of return. OVERVIEW About the NZ Dairy Industry Fast Facts New Zealand represents 3% of aggregate world production New Zealand exports around 95% of its dairy production In the year to June 2016, dairy was New Zealands biggest export segment (18% of aggregate products and service exports) New Zealand exported NZ$ 12.4 billion worth of dairy products in the year ending June 2016 The main five markets for New Zealand dairy exports are: China, United States, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Japan New Zealands main four dairy export products are: whole milk powder (37%), cheese (12%), skim milk powder (10%), and butter (9%) Protein products, UHT drain, and new-born child recipe represented 21% of New Zealand dairy exports in 2015, up from 16% in 2013 Dairy is a part of New Zealand Heritage New Zealands first dairy processing plant was built up around 1875 and the principal export shipment of refrigerated butter left Dunedin in 1882. Since this time, the industry has taken after a way of development and combination, culminating in the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act 2001, which sets up the current regulatory framework for the industry. New Zealands delivers an extensive variety of dairy products. Milk powders are a substantial part of the product mix, mirroring the sharp regularity of New Zealand milk production, distance from market, market access and demand flow, and New Zealands skill in milk powder producing. New Zealand dairy organizations are trusted providers of a full scope of dairy products, including of high esteem dairy nutritional products, specific dairy ingredients for food service, and new-born child recipes. ALLOCATION OF BUDGET Budget allocation is a critical part of all business and not-for-profit financial plans. Budgets are ordinarily set every year and include allocating anticipated income and resources between various divisions and business interests. The amount of funding allocated to every area forces limitations on the extent of the departments development. For instance, if there is a reduction in financing, then some staff must be made excess. DairyNZ has developed straightforward budget formats and guides. A cash flow outlines your month to month financial circumstance. It estimates; on a month-by-month basis, what salary you expect and what you anticipate spending. Effectively utilizing a financial plan during the season gives you a chance to monitor progress and make restorative move where essential. Annual Cash Budget An annual cash budget point of cash received and cash costs going out. It indicates if the business is sustainable and estimates any cash surplus or deficiency for the season. Monthly Cash flow Budget A cash flow budget traces your month to month finance related circumstance. It estimates; on a month-by-month basis, what income you expect and what you anticipate spending. Personal Cash Budget A personal cash budget is for any individual who needs to know where their cash is going. Finishing a personal budget gives more prominent control over personal expenditure and gives you a chance to figure out where reserve funds could be made for large items, for example, abroad occasions, or to develop an aggregate of cash for future investment or retirement. It is especially valuable for agriculturists on a wage or pay. Partial Budget Partial budgeting is a basic planning tool used to estimate the monetary benefit or loss by changing some part of the business or making a partial change to the farm system. RESOURCE MONITORING Water Meters and Monitoring Water meters are the best approach to monitor water utilize. They can detect little breaks and losses and are a successful approach to track occasional and annual consumption. A basic water meter (costing about $350) will help detect where water can be saved and recognize water proficiency choices on-farm. They are a profitable element of any farm taking a stab at sustainable water utilizes. Monitoring Water Meters Read meters in the meantime and day on a general timetable to guarantee readings are predictable. Readings can be recorded on DairyNZs. At any rate once every month, read the meter late at night and again early the following morning, to check for little or unnoticed breaks. Assigning meter-reading obligation to one individual makes it a player in a routine and diminishes the chance of it being overlooked. Tracking Trends Record meter readings consistently to track regular and yearly homestead water utilize. The business assesses that average water use for draining bovines is around 140 liters/day (70L for drinking and 70L in the homestead dairy). Climate conditions and encourage will influence stock water consumption. On the off chance that general water use on the ranch consistently surpasses 140L/day, it merits having a more critical search for conceivable water misfortunes or wasteful aspects in operation. Selecting a Water Meter Introducing a water meter permits you to record genuine water utilize and distinguish regions where water can be utilized all the more proficiently. Water system New Zealands Water Measurement Blue Tick licensed administrators are suggested for establishment of water meters and can give exhortation on the most appropriate alternative. Types of Water Meters There are two fundamental sorts of water meter accessible to monitor shed water utilize; mechanical and electromagnetic. The cost and varies shifts between these meters. When all is said in done mechanical water meters are the least expensive in advance however require prior substitution and have poorer exactness than the electromagnetic. Mechanical Water Meter Most mechanical meters have an impeller that is pivoted by water going through the meter. The measure of turns is meant a volumetric perusing. The meters are accessible in different sizes and the funnels either side of them, must be brimming with water amid measuring to guarantee they are precise. Advantages Reliable and accurate estimation giving the meter is accurately installed. Moderately low introductory cost contrasted with electromagnetic In-line support with basic productive component. Replacement for parts (e.g. impellers) promptly accessible. Disadvantages Hard to recognize breakdown or human impedance to meter while working if worked with an information lumberjack. Inclined to wear in salty water, conceivably bringing about loss of exactness. Some head loss qualities. Electromagnetic Water Meter An electromagnetic meter comprises of a segment of pipe with an attractive field around it and cathodes which decide stream in view of how the electrical voltage is changed by the water stream. This sort of meter is delivered in a scope of standard sizes and flow capacities. Advantages High level of exactness (+/ 0.15-2%) and steady over full stream go. Wide flow extend and no obstacles to stream. Vigorous with insignificant routine upkeep required. No moving parts. Disadvantages Control supply required. Electronic parts powerless against lightning harm. Installing a Water Meter Water Meter Placement For the most part, water meters ought to be fitted: After a water channel, to keep away from coarseness in the water which causes wear on the meter Prior to any compound infusion, for example, fertigation. Prior to any outlets so that the whole water yield is measured. Most meters should be fitted in a long straight length of pipe. Meters wont record the water stream precisely if stream is influenced by turbulence or discharge brought about by twists or intersections. The length of straight pipe before the meter ought to be 10 times the pipe measurement. The length of straight pipe after the meter ought to be five circumstances the pipe breadth (see chart underneath). Not all meters require this straight length of pipe to capacity, check the makers particulars of the meter. TIME MANAGEMENT Inside your crowd there will be an expansive scope of draining lengths; a few bovines with short draining terms to some with long. The most well-known is around 6 minutes. In the event that the turn time was set at around 10 minutes, then, contingent upon the season of year, around 7% of the slowest draining bovines would go around. Speeding up the Rotation Time Traditionally, agriculturists have gone for under 10% of cows going around. In the event that over 10% required a moment turn, the stage speed would be decreased to give the dairy animals longer to drain. In fact, go around dairy animals dont adversely influence the quantity of bovines drained every hour and going for fewer than 10% will regularly confine the stage throughput. Try not to stress over releasing dairy animals around. Set the turn time in light of the capacity of the mugs on administrator. Its ideal to continue measuring at a sensible rate all through draining, as opposed to put undue exertion or strain on the body attempting to keep up a debilitating pace. Numerous revolving administrators utilize the quantity of going around cows as the criteria for setting pivot time yet this can regularly confine proficiency. How is Speeding up more efficient? The condition underneath shows which is more productive. Normal bunch sit out of equipment time for 10 min revolution; (3.6 minutes + 0.7 minutes) = 4.3 minutes. Normal bunch sit out of gear time for 8 min revolution; (1.8 minutes + 1.5 minutes) =3.3 minutes. Lessening bunch sit out of gear time or over-draining will enhance draining productivity. For the 10 minute turn in this case, there is less group sit without moving time utilizing a shorter revolution time with more go-around bovines than a more drawn out pivot time permitting less go around cows. In a 50 safeguard turning utilizing this 10 minute pivot, each group would be sit without moving for 3.6 minutes because of cows that have completed the process of draining holding up to exit and 7% of safeguards would be utilized for go around dairy animals a likeness an additional 0.7 minutes of sit out of gear bunch time. Shortening the turn to 8 minutes would diminish bunch sit out of gear time to 1.8 minutes in light of the fact that for most cows they are completing the process of draining nearer to the exit, yet now 19% of safeguards would be involved by a go around dairy animals so this sit time would increment to 1.5 minutes. Administrators ordinarily utilize a similar turn time paying little mind to revolving size. A greater rotating will mean less administrator time for each safeguard. As the speed builds, so does the rate of go around dairy animals. At the point when the revolving achieves the point where 20% of cows are going around it is for the most part not more productive to accelerate the stage and abbreviate the turn time (yet it not less effective either). COST METHODS The cost method commands that the investor account for the investment at its historical cost (i.e., the price tag). This data shows up as a benefit on the accounting report of the investor. Once the financial specialist records the underlying exchange, there is no compelling reason to change it, unless there is proof that the honest estimation of the speculation has declined to underneath the recorded authentic cost. Provided that this is true, the financial specialist records the recorded cost of the venture to its new honest esteem. 1. Average Salary Taken truly, the average salary of a specific position is the scientific signify of the pay rates surprisingly utilized in that position. This number is figured by including every one of the pay rates of individuals working in the position and after that isolating that total by the quantity of individuals working in the position. The number got is the normal salary. Most associations that track vocation pay rates, for example, Pay scale, ascertain this number through a testing of individuals. 2. Productivity Costs A financial estimation used to anticipate future examples of expansion in the United States economy. The profitability estimation tracks the productivity of merchandise and ventures creation, and the cost estimation shows the work cost joined to each yield unit in the economy. 3. Training Costs Educational planning for playing out a vocation that is ordinarily given to staff by the business that has as of late enlisted them before they get to be distinctly dynamic in support of the organization. Worker preparing is progressively required to help the work constrain in utilizing current systems, apparatuses, procedures and materials in their occupations. 4. Recruitment Costs The Society for Human Resource Management offers an exhaustive record specifying the Cost-per-Hire Standard, an American National Standard for human asset administration. This Standard is composed as an apparatus to permit an association to decide precise and similar expenses to staff position utilizing standard information and equations to compute the enlisting expenses to be joined into cost-per-contract. IDENTIFICATION OF RESOURCE GAP The drought can be viewed as broken just when there has been sufficient rain to take the dirt to inside around 15% of field limit. That by and large means more than 50mm. Until then arrangement to get past in the most ideal shape. Have a plan in place Planning is critical to dealing with a dry summer. A good plan will decrease stress and guarantee that the dry summer wont effect on the accompanying seasons creation. A Summer Management Plan will amplify benefit and lessen worry in a dry summer. Â   Â   It may not be anything but difficult to foresee when it will rain, however an arrangement gives the system to what choices should be made and when. The arrangement should be explored as conditions change. Take Action Early Dry-off Poor Performers It is better to put scarce feed or costly supplements into bovines that are creating great. The others will eat significantly less when dry, and you may have the capacity to graze them off. Use Supplements Wisely Most importantly reserve 10-14 days of supplement for the period after rain (approx. 100kg/DM/bovine); progressively if extreme dry season, less if C4 grasses will develop after rain. There will be a great deal of field rot as of now and you require something to keep your dairy animals going and to keep the turn ease back to develop encourage supplies. Nourishing supplements keeps creatures underway longer than would somehow or another is conceivable. However supplements can expand stock water rates. Consider giving water in the yards lessen the requests to diminish the request on troughs in the enclosure subsequent to draining. Abstain from utilizing harvest time/winter supplements if at all conceivable. Utilize them just if all else fails in the wake of getting dry the whole group. The productivity of sustain supplements relies on upon the persist reaction of having bovines in drain when it rains (the more drawn out the dry season, the lower the reaction) and the cost of supplement with respect to drain cost. When bolstering supplements guarantee that stock have enough water as the request may increment. Consider giving water in the yards to decrease the request on troughs in the enclosure in the wake of draining. Consider Milking Once-a-Day (OAD) Milking OAD or once at regular intervals are great alternatives to take the weight off dairy animals when bolster supply is constrained. OAD reduces the weight on bovines strolling to the shed, and can expand the time accessible for sustaining out. The effect on drain generation will be subject to the creation of the cows, their genetic merit and the feed available. Review the Plan Monitor Farm and Rainfall Review the arrangement consistently to 10 days (precipitation, nourish cover, supplement, generation). Check dairy animals condition routinely (every 3-4 weeks), especially the 2 and 3 year olds, and get them dry in light of their condition score and days from calving, sustain accessible, winter field development rates and expected calving date. Set up Next Season Dry-off a greater amount of the crowd if required Would it be gainful to continue draining an extent of your best makers and touch the rest off? Or, then again would it be ideal to get dry the entire group and oversee them all alone property? In what capacity will you keep up or enhance their condition so that next seasons creation is not influenced? DECISION AND CONTINGENCY PLANNING Planning for Success Most activities which enhance the effectiveness of changing over farm contributions to milk are certain for the farm business financially and naturally. Go for a win outcome- embracing great practice enhances the productivity of your cultivating business and has enhanced natural outcomes. The accompanying planning objectives are fundamentally focused around the ecological parts of a dairy change. Here are four focuses to consider: Allow Plenty of time for due diligence Permit time to talk with the greater part of the associations recorded in the Information Gathering stage, different agriculturists who have effectively finished a dairy transformation, and in addition proficient experts. Be set up to put resources into data gathering e.g. soil mapping by experts data which will empower you to completely evaluate the lands potential reasonableness for dairy cultivating and gushing water system. Putting it in writing The old adage, neglect to plan- plan to come up short may seem to be accurate. Expressly stating plans (or drawing/schematic) permits you a chance to think about your thoughts, perhaps distinguish any contentions or shortages, and make it a great deal less demanding to impart your thoughts to staff and others you are working with. Having a detailed timeline is an imperative piece of accomplishing the objectives of the transformation. Inability to do this, could bring about overwhelms in capital and time, and missing due dates, i.e. the begin of the season. Connecting with contractual workers and tradesmen with a composed contract with concurred results, costs and time spans, in view of your arrangement is beneficial. Unified Farmers can give a scope of format contracts. Have a dedicated project manager A devoted project manager is fundamental for executing a change plan, whether this is the farm proprietor or director, or a procured proficient project supervisor. Their part is basic to keep the project inside time and spending limitations, to ground-truth what is going on the ranch, and keep temporary workers on timetable amid the transformation. Correspondence is principal, the venture director needs to stay in touch with everybody who has been appointed obligations, and also keeping different partners, for example, staff, speculators or invested individuals educated. Utilize the help, advice and tool of experts There is the wealth of learning and innovation officially accessible for agriculturists wishing to change over to dairy. Cases incorporate proficient homestead mapping and ranch architects. Pro specialists, who have worked with other ranch changes, might have the capacity to do a considerable measure of your arranging and proposition for you. In any case, getting the correct proficient and administration is essential, the quality is recalled, long after the cost is overlooked. The time that a qualified and legitimate proficient can spare you, and the esteem they can include, in contrast with the cost of their administrations can make them a decent speculation. PRIORITIZATION AND RESOURCE LEVELING The Five Production Systems are an approach to group farm production frameworks by allocation of imported feed. As New Zealand peaceful farming is about profitably balancing feed supply and demand, five production frameworks have been depicted by DairyNZ basically on the basis of when imported feed is encouraged to dry or lactating cows during the season and furthermore by the measure of imported feed as well as off homestead grazing. The definitions do exclude touching or feed for youthful stock. Framework 1 All grass independent, all stock on the dairy platform No feed is imported. No supplement fed to the crowd with the exception of supplement gathered off the compelling milking area and get cows are not nibbled dry the successful milking region. Framework 2 Feed imported, either supplement or grazing off, fed to dry dairy cows Approx. 4 14% of aggregate feed is imported. Substantial variety in % as in high rainfall areas and cold atmospheres, for example, Southland, a large portion of the dairy cows are wintered off. Framework 3 Feed imported to extend lactation (regularly autumn feed) and for dry cows Approx. 10-20% of aggregate nourish is imported. Westland feed to extend lactation might be foreign made in spring as opposed to autumn. Framework 4 Feed imported and utilized at both ends of lactation and for dry dairy cows Approx. 20 30% of aggregate feed is imported onto the farm. Framework 5 Imported feed utilized all year, all through lactation and for dry dairy cows Approx. 25 40% (yet can be up to 55%) of aggregate feed is imported. *Note: Farms feeding 1-2kg of meal or grain per cow every day for the majority of the season will best fit in System 3. IMPACT OF RESOURCE ALLOCATION ON STRATEGY Wise use of Natural Resources New Zealand dairy agriculturists have contributed greatly to the preservation and utilization of New Zealands common habitat. Numerous beautiful parks, saves and recreational trails all through the nation have been created with dairy agriculturists help and as a result of their energy for preservation. Numerous dairy ranches have widely planted less profitable parts of their homesteads in local vegetation or potentially improved planting to ensure delicate conduits and wetlands. Like most New Zealanders, dairy ranchers are turning out to be progressively mindful of the total impacts of changes in arrive utilize. The obligation of person farmers and land-proprietors is to work proficiently and mindfully, in this way having the ideal ecological impression. Innovative Technologies NZ dairy farming is to a great extent in light of very effective broad peaceful brushing frameworks. This is an aggressive advantage, additionally a potential risk seeing that New Zealand is little on a worldwide scale. The considerably bigger dairy businesses of the northern half of the globe, which are normally based around housed frameworks, order far more prominent interest in regions, for example, hereditarily designed encourage products and dairy computerization to suit those frameworks. There is potential for troublesome advances in these advances to essentially change the playing field, and challenge New Zealand dairy cultivatings aggressiveness. This goal is gone for creating or catching new information to push out the limits of what is in fact achievable on homesteads, and making these advancements available to dairy ranchers. CONCLUSION The result recommend that great feed management of field, when contrasted and poor, can increment operating profit by $176/ha at a milk price of $3.65. As a general rule, most administrators will fall between these two classifications great and poor management- and field monitoring exercises will perpetually be affected via seasonal workload. Additionally, the quality of field mass evaluations will shift contingent upon how these are directed as well as the ability of the assessor. In any case, this review indicates that the expenses related with time and effort required for touching administration are little in examination with potential gains in operating profit. REFERENCES https://www.dairynz.co.nz/news/latest-news/the-financial-benefits-of-better-feed-allocation/ http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/allocation-of-resources.html www.dcanz.com/about-the-nz-dairy-industry/ http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/efficiency and-costs.html

Charles Darwins Theory of Evolution :: Natural Selection, Evolution Essays

In The Origin of Species, Charles Darwin poetically entailed, "There is grandeur in this view of life . . .." Personifying Nature as the ultimate breeder, Darwin infers and hypothesizes what is arguably the most fundamental and profound scientific manifesto that governs what we now know about modern science and the science of discovering our past. His two theories of Natural Selection and Sexual Selection effectively bridge the gap that his predecessors could not. These concepts are imperative as their implications paved the way for Darwin's explanation of Evolution. The term "Survival of the Fittest" has been made synonymous with Darwinian ideology, yet to fully understand this idea we need to know what it truly means to be "fit." As discussed in class, being fit does not necessarily imply fitness on a physical or mental level. Rather, the principle entails how well-suited one is for its environment or a readiness for a species to adapt, whether to a new habitat or possibly changes in food, shelter, climate, etc. Through small, almost unnoticable change, over large periods of time, organisms develop physiological and/or anatomical features that invariably help the organism live or live easier. It is important to note that this does not infer that the process of adaptation takes place for the mere purpose of only "bettering" a species or self-improvement, rather modifications are a supplemental benefit. Darwin stated that, "if they be in any degree profitable to the individuals of a species, in their indefinitely complex relations to the organic beings and to their physical conditions of life, will tend to the preservation of such individuals . . .." In some cases this modification can be a detriment to a species. Take for example a species of like-moths in England preceding and during the Industrial Revolution. Before the manufacture of goods in large quantities, two types of moths, white and gray would rest on the bark of trees where birds would prey upon the m. The barks of trees were mainly white, which helped the white moths immensely in that they were camouflaged from their predators. Conversely, the gray moths were clearly noticeable and were thus preyed upon heavily. With the advent of machinery, dust and smoke turned the barks of trees from white to gray, which shifted the predatorial tendencies from gray moths to white. Thus we are able to infer that while the adaptation of color was beneficial to a group of species for a certain extent of time, it does not guarantee that Mother Nature will not shift her favor at some other point in time.

Stupidity Definition Paper

Emily Thompson Mrs. Clem Advanced Composition October 25, 2012 What An Idiot! Of the 14 million people on the planet, not one of them was born stupid. Everyone possesses some level of intelligence at birth. Yet, as some grow older, they transform from great beings of high intellect to creatures that seem to have little to no aptitude. During the years that they grow up, most of these stupid people do not lose knowledge; they gain it. What is the reason for their degeneration into stupidity? Perhaps stupidity is not a lack of intelligence, as many believe. Maybe, it is the refusal to utilize one’s intelligence to the highest possible degree.Unwillingness to learn is unmistakably present in the life of a stupid person. Last week, I was discussing schoolwork with a friend of mine when he said that he recently failed a paper on the usage of commas. I was aghast that a sixteen-year-old student could fall short in the simple arena of comma usage, but this happens every day. My frien d and others like him have sat through countless classes that have taught them how to use commas. However, they cannot determine the correct site of a comma because they have deliberately decided that neither self-improvement nor the acquisition of knowledge is an important objective in their lives.For whatever reason, they have chosen to be ignorant, and thus, they are stupid. In addition, laziness consumes the life of a stupid person. Stupid people will not apply themselves in anything that is not pleasurable. Stupid teenagers sit in their rooms all weekend playing Black Ops because it takes less effort and brainpower to play  a  game  than it does to write an English paper. In the same manner, stupid adults engross their minds in college football all weekend rather than cleaning out their garage. To make matters worse, both stupid adults and  stupid  teenagers complain about their unfinished papers and filthy garages.Furthermore, stupid people do nothing to get themselv es out of their undesirable situations. Unless motivated  to change their surroundings, these stupid people continue to sit in their laziness and incessantly grumble about their unfavorable, yet repairable, conditions. Stupid people constantly refuse to use common sense in their words. When a thought enters the mind of a stupid person, it immediately converts into words. The stupid person does not censor what they say, so they will question obviously true statements and declare completely unintelligent babble.Since they are stupid, they do not contain their senseless questions and statements. If they would only think through their thoughts before transforming them into words, stupid people would appear to be much less stupid. In addition to not using common sense before speaking, stupid people do not use common sense before performing their actions either. Recently at volleyball practice, I was standing still when a fellow player of mine launched a ball at my head. I looked at my teammate and scowled. She obviously did not mean to send the ball at my face. In fact, she did not mean to kick it at anything in particular.However, she also did not consider that if she kicked this ball, it might travel in an undesired direction and injure someone. Stupid people do not consider the effects of their actions. Consequently, they travel through life recklessly while immediately turning their impulsive ideas into actions. Although stupid people can reform themselves into intelligent, productive members of society, these conversions are infrequent. It seems that there is no hope to entirely eradicate the existence of stupid people. However, if we remove all the warning labels, the problem may sort itself out.

Market analysis wood pellets in Germany

To give a clear overview of the possibilities in the wood pellet market is a SWOT-Analysis used. This analysis presents the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of the wood pellet market in general (not for a specific company!).Confrontation-matrixIn this matrix are the benefits and the issues around the wood pellet market displayed against each other. This gives a clear overview and a good summery as well about the `Wood Pellets ´ market! Strengths1) Sustainable 2) Renewable 3) Worldwide available 4 ) New and higher employment 5 ) Accessibility. Germany is located in the center of Europe, which is a strength point and offers good possibilities for trading. Germany is very good accessible by water, via seas and channels due to the Netherlands as well.Weaknesses1) High competition against other energy resources. 2) The technology around the production of bioenergy needs more and new inputs to win more energy and make it more favorable and get higher outputs. 3) High inve stment costs in the beginning, to install a combustion furnace at home or in the industry.OpportunitiesA)Wood fuels provides opportunities for new companies to develop B) Producing and the using of wood fuels locally will minimize transport costs C) Wood fuels releases lower quantities of atmospheric pollutants D) It is possible to offset the carbon emissions from burning against the carbon uptake of the trees during the growth of the wood. E) According to the EU ´s policy and the Kyoto-protocol, wood fuels fits very well with the targets3,4,5 -> A The wood pellet industry offers a great opportunity to develop new companies,  and for new and more extensive employment. This counts for all places in the world because wood pellets can produce almost everywhere. For Europe(Germany) it is an great opportunity in special because of the current economic recession and a lack of jobs. 1,2 -> B,C,D,EThe sustainability and renewability of wood pellets fits well with all the European target s due to the Kyoto-protocol. Wood fuels releases lower quantities of atmospheric pollutants compared to fossil fuels. And wood resources are almost all over the world accessible.1,2 -> A,E New technologies are necessary to make wood pellets more profitable compared to other energy resources. But it is a challange for companies to develop in new technologies, which is good for the energy market, employment, and most important the environment!3 -> EBecause of the high investment costs in the beginning for installing a heating system, many people and/or companies choose for other (cheaper) opportunities. But according to the increasing environment issues, it is for the European Union an option to subsidy and promote wood pellet energy.ThreatsA) Extensive market with lots of competition, there are many different energy resources available. B) To create bioenergy/wood pellets, lots of energy is necessary for the production. 1,2 -> A, BSustainability and renewability are increasingly more important because of the global warming and environment issues. This offers a good opportunity for bioenergy. The use of wood pellets could be more and more interesting instead of fossil fuels.1,2,3 -> A,B According to the disadvantages of bioenergy, there are new technologies needed in energy market to make bioenergy more profitable compared to fossil fuels.

The advantages and disadvantag essays

The advantages and disadvantag essays The advantages and disadvantages of cellphone People need to commune with eachother they are afraid of being alone. One of the way how to be in touch with the world is to own a mobile phone. First of all a mobil phone is easy to use. You do not need any special knowledge reading the manual is enough. Little children to grandparents everybody are able to use it. Secondly the network area is far and wide so you can use the mobile phone almost eveywhere. For example if you are far away from the civilisation and involve in an accident, you can call help using your cellphone. Thirdly it is comfortable. It fits easely into your pocket, so you can carry it on everywhere. Naturally you must switch it off in some places, for example in the movies. You can also send e-mails, visit you bank account or even pay your bills using the cellphone. But there are some disadvantages of using cellphone. For example in the end of the month you recive bill, which always is bigger then you planned. Some of the scientists say that using the mobile phone causes cancer or is bad for your health in some other way. For example there are some cases of exploding batterys. Cellphones cost quite lot. So you must be careful because you might loose it and buying a new one is expensive. Finnaly, inspite of the bad sides of using cellphone, it is a good invention and is helpful and gives you opportunity to be in touch with your friends and family. ...

Teetotaller - Definition and Origin

Teetotaller - Definition and Origin Definition: A teetotaller is someone who totally abstains from liquor. In the 19th century, the Preston Temperance Society in England and, later, the American Temperance Union encouraged a pledge of abstinence from intoxicating liquor, as part of the temperance movement. Those who had signed the pledge were asked to use a T with their signature to mean total abstinence. The T plus the total led to those whod signed the pledge being called T-totallers or teetotallers. The term was in use as early as 1836 when an explanation of it as meaning total abstainer appeared in print. From there, the term came to be used more generally, for anyone who voluntarily committed to abstinence, or simply for a nondrinker. The Pledge The pledge of temperance from the Preston Temperance Society (in Preston, England) read: We agree to abstain from all liquors of an intoxicating quality whether ale, porter, wine or ardent spirits, except as medicine. Also Known As: Abstainer, dry, nondrinker, prohibitionist Other words for teetotalism:  Abstinence, temperance,  abstemiousness, on the wagon, dry, sober. Alternate Spellings: t-totaller, teetotaler Examples: First Lady Lucy Hayes, wife of President Rutherford B. Hayes, was known as Lemonade Lucy because, as a teetotaller, she did not serve liquor in the White House. Henry Ford required a teetotaller pledge for those he hired in his new auto production industry, to promote better productivity and workplace safety. Learn more about how teetotallism fit into the more general movement to limit or ban the use of alcoholic beverages: Temperance Movement and Prohibition Timeline Image: the image included is an example of the Victorian era pledge, complete with very Victorian floral embellishment. Religious groups that require or encourage abstinence from the use of alcoholic beverages: Assembly of God,  Bahai, Christian Science,  Islam, Jainism, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS. also known as the Mormon Church), Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Church of Christ, Sikhism, Salvation Army.   Also, some Hindu and Buddhist sects, and some Mennonite and Pentecostal groups. Methodists in English and American history often taught abstinence but rarely do that currently. In the Victorian era, many in both the Evangelical and Unitarian movements taught at least restraint, if not temperance and teetotalling. Most of those religions that prohibit alcohol do so on the grounds that it is harmful, that it inhibits mindfulness, or can easily lead to unethical behavior. Some famous women teetotallers: In history, women becoming teetotallers was often an expression of religious values, or was based on general social reform principles.   In the modern world, some women become teetotallers for such reasons, and others because of a past history of alcoholism or alcohol abuse. Tyra Banks: a model and actress.Susan Boyle: singer.Pearl S. Buck: writer, won Nobel Prize for Literature, 1938.Faye Dunaway: actress.Janeane Garofalo: actress.Kathy Griffin: comedian.Elisabeth Hasselbeck: television personality.Jennifer Hudson: singer.Carrie Nation: temperance activist.Kelly Osbourne: actress.Marie Osmond: singer.Natalie Portman: actress.Anna Quindlen: writer.Christina Ricci: actress.Anne Rice: writer.Linda Rondstadt: singer.Sarah Silverman: comedian, actress and writer.Jada Pinkett Smith: actress.Lucy Stone: womens rights activist.Mae West: actress.  Frances Willard: temperance reformer.

A Room With A View and Its Relevance to the Edwardian Era

Paper proposal on the view and the room with relevance to that Edwardian era The Edwardian era in the UK is a period of sexual politics, unconscious obviousness, tension between social security and individual freedom, and against God and religion It was an era of shaking. Uncertain belief Edwardian era has sometimes called golden age, and high-class parties and high fashion are also concerns of everyone. First impressions and procedures are very important, they are more important than freedom of speech and expression. The first decade of the twentieth century was ten years of the reign of Edward VII. This era is known as the World Book Encyclopedia (59). This is the era of King King Edward named after him. The Edward era was the beginning of the 20th century and caused various predictions about how this century celebrated the beginning of the true golden era, Richard Washington said. This era is known as the hottest era in our world history (www.geocites.com). Edward VII and other Ed ward VII have also helped to achieve this goal. When Queen Victoria died in 1901, it meant the end of the Victorian era. The next era was called the Edwardian era and was named after King Edward who took over her mother. King Edward died in 1910, but the Edwardian era often extended to the beginning of the First World War of 1914, and in some cases even extended until the end of the war in 1918. This era is often called the modern era and in the UK it was named the then modern era. This modernization is the continuation of the Victorian era, many of which began. For London, the modern era seems to be more calm than the chaotic Victorian era. The invention and change of the 19th century seems to have settled in the first 20 years of the 20th century. In British history, the Victorian era was the reign of Queen Victoria, she died from June 20, 1837 to January 22, 1901. This era was the first part of the beautiful era of the continent of Europe, after the Georgian era and before the Ed wardian era. Regarding moral sensitivity and political reform, this period began with the adoption of Reform Act in 1832. There is a strong religious motivation for the ethical standards of churches that are outrageous, such as Methodist and leaders of evangelical churches in established churches. In addition to the England Crimean War, Britain has established a relatively peaceful relationship with other major powers, and Pax Britannica is maintained by the naval supremacy and industrial hegemony of that country. The UK has started to expand the world empire, especially in Asia and Africa. This made the British Empire the greatest empire in history. Nationwide confidence peaks

Concept analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Concept analysis - Essay Example However, the concept of ‘caring’ nowadays is confounded by its many uses and descriptions. The objective of this paper is to analyze the concept of ‘caring’ as it relates to the profession of nursing. The concept of ‘caring’ is chosen for the concept analysis because of the current questions about the actual definition and characteristics of ‘caring’. While not everyone is caring, roughly all people would like to be cared about, and when necessary, be cared for. The main concern of ‘caring’ should be revisited. A short time ago, caretakers were horticulturists or gardeners for large manors. Nowadays, the concept is related to care providers, and a great deal of the workforce more and more moving in this path (Phillips & Benner, 1994). The question then is what has been the outcome? On one hand, a lot of women have given up domestic responsibilities, such as sustaining a home for the family or providing care for their children, transferring these special responsibilities to others. The argument is that these women have to find a source of income. In several instances, this is true, but in some cases, employment outside the home is sought for in order to escape domestic obligations (Phillips & Benner, 1994). The information and empirical studies gathered for the literature review were obtained mostly from Questia.com, ProQuest.com, and Medscape. The content of this section was narrowed down to those relevant to the helping professions, such as counseling, teaching, and most importantly, nursing. The concept of ‘caring’ is indefinite and debatable. Part of the dilemma is that the concept has been applied in varied ways that its core meaning is by now endangered. According to some scholars, conceptualizing ‘caring’ entails an effort to encompass the political and social economy within which it is implanted (Halstead & Wagner, 2002). If the concept will be used as a general form of analysis with

Aviation Maintenance Programs Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Aviation Maintenance Programs - Research Paper Example To address the safety concerns the Federal Administration Aviation and the military services often take similar or divergent maintenance programs to address the aircraft safety issues. The paper will look at the similarities and differences of how the Federal Administration and the military service run their aircraft maintenance programs. The paper will also make a comparison of aviation maintenance programs of the United States and those of other countries in the world. Similarities Similar Internal Mechanism used to Communicate Safety Related Information In running the aircraft maintenance programs, both the military service and the Federal Administration Aviation have established a formal and informal internal means to realize their aircraft safety issues. In both cases, there are established formal internal mechanisms that are used to convey any official information that is of concern such as those of giving orders and directives in the aviation industry and the military service. In cases where the Federal Administration aviation predicts any unsafe condition for the aircraft, they issue a formal airworthiness directive of the unsafe condition to the primary owners and the operators of the aircraft so that they can take precautionary measure to avoid areas that are considered unsafe for the aircraft to pass through (United States General Accounting Office, 2000). In case of large civil commercial airplanes, the airworthiness directive is first written by the agency based in Renton, Washington, and then sends to the Federal Administration Aviatio

Liberal Stuides Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Liberal Stuides - Essay Example The travelers, from who all people a million years into the future descend, are made up of a captain, a Japanese woman with her daughter, an American widow, a young visually impaired girl and 6 Kanka-Bono lasses inhabitant of South America, every one of them with a strange or humorous back story. The book traces their expedition from Ecuador to an isolated island in the Galapagos, whereas the rest of civilization plunges into disaster. In Kurt Vonnegut’s Galapagos, the concept of natural selection reveals a world full of mystery and awe and we are able to examine this wonder, when we study the chance component in natural selection. According to the lessons learnt from Galapagos, the chance component in natural selection divides up distinctiveness with the secrecy constituent of God, and consequently is a probable substitute for that mystery. Nevertheless, the protagonists are not as active in participation in that strange â€Å"dimension of the universe† other than sufferers of the deterministic force which underlies the chance mechanism that is natural selection. When this malicious force is examined, a conclusion is arrived at, that it too bears a resemblance to the mechanistic viewpoint of the world put forward by evolutionary discipline. Vonnegut’s readers get to feel the power or fear in Darwin’s idea of natural selection that takes place in Galapagos. At the onset of Galapagos, Vonnegut depicts the â€Å"big rains† devastate humanity and the earth, even though later, via the material mechanisms of natural selection, the big brains later evolve into â€Å"smaller skulls† and accordingly the earth and humanity are able to be saved from devastation. There are those that put forth the argument that Mary acts out a crucial role in the latest creation, since her engineering in genetics produces a new family that is able to survive the

Social Ideals of Motherhood, Parenting, and Reproduction (responses) Essay

Social Ideals of Motherhood, Parenting, and Reproduction (responses) - Essay Example Dubois birth control assertion is in fact a state policy now to provide reproductive health to protect women from childbirth mortality. Society has already recognized the injustices of incorrect perspective about women, motherhood and parenting. Racism as Dubois had fought before is no longer tolerated in the workplace nor does it make a coloured woman unfit for motherhood. Davis complaint of women’s unfair treatment at work is slowly being eradicated albeit it has to be admitted that it still exist today. Conscious efforts however are already been made to make to end this discrimination at work. For example, US military has removed the ban on women for combat positions. The economic reality also compels both wife and husband to work together to sustain the household. To those couples who have the opportunity to work together, the option of two breadwinners has become the favourable option rather than merely having the wife stay at home. The social and economic reality makes the assertions of these thinkers either a given or being accepted as fact that it is no longer being

Enhancing Security in System Administration Assignment

Enhancing Security in System Administration - Assignment Example Contextually, it can be affirmed that an operating system is usually viewed to be one of the major fundamental aspects concerning improving the security of every computing system by a considerable level. It can be argued in this similar regard that secured programs require safe operating system and ignorance of this may lead to failure. In other words, operating systems must be capable of ensuring effective execution of various programs as well as mechanisms effectively and most vitally enabling high performance use of various computer resources. Ensuring secure performance of all operational processes largely relies on accurate implementation of different hardware resources and scheduling mechanisms (Jaeger, 2008). Specially mentioning, the security threats associated with various system administrators are recently receiving increasing attention driven by series of events resulting in significant damage due to security threats. The primary challenges related with system administrato r can be attributed by taking into concern certain significant aspects like security and manageability. In practice, operating systems require various tasks that need to be executed in order to make sure that the system operations impose extensive impact on sensitive user data and process. For instance, adding and removing various software systems and drivers may result in causing the user data to be at risk through corruption, leakages and losses (Scarfone, Janseen & Tracy, 2012).) With this concern, the primary purpose of this paper is to develop, document and assess best practices for server deployment and administration that would eventually support and enhance the security of Megacorp towards upgrading its new operating system. 1. Enhancing Security a. Before Server Deployments Deployment of servers in any organization is costly and daunting. The servers provide broad array of services to internal as well as external users and stores along with delivers different sensitive info rmation to the organizations. Moreover, servers are frequently introduced by the intruders in order to gain unauthorized access of valuable data and other services. There exist certain few common threats to servers that have been represented below: Malicious objects may use software bugs in the server or its operating system in order to gain unofficial access to the server Denial of service (DoS) might also be directed to secondary network infrastructure, deterring the valid users to execute the server services Sensitive information stored in the main server may get access by the intruders or may change in an unauthorized manner Sensitive data or information that are transferred or encrypted amid the servers and thus the client may get interrupted by unauthorized users. Correspondingly, it can be admitted that it is often more difficult to address the security of servers after the deployment or the implementation of effective operation systems. Thus, security should be prudently mea sured from the preliminary stage of planning. It is essential to make effective decisions about determining the configurations of various information systems appropriately and consistently in order to ensure effective outcome of the deployment plan. It has been ascertained that organizations often fail to address dissimilar human resource associated

Implementation of Health for all Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Implementation of Health for all - Essay Example This makes the staff responsible and accountable. The administration can ensure the retaining of efficient workers by offering them a promising career in health services. The health for all children has taken a new shape with implementation of Hall 4 recommendations. In pre Hall 4 period the implementation was limited to enquiring the families about the child health and submitting the details to the concerned department, which use that data in policy making. But the report of Hall which is termed as Hall 4 concentrates on complete health for all children and extends the scope of health visitors from survey persons to a complete health care activist. The targets of the scheme had increased manifold. The process was not limited to health surveillance and it was extended to screening, diagnosis, timely intervention, extending the needed help and frequent visits to implement the advice. This type of policy was framed keeping in view that the health is the right of every child and by following a holistic approach. The prevention of physical and mental health disorders was also made the part of the health care activities. It stresses on giving support to f amilies to cope up with health needs of their children. Generally the deprived families approach health care when the damage was done. The Hall 4 implementation specially targets this type of parents and families and developed a frame work to contact them, advice them and make them enable to get assistance and the needed help from the agencies implementing health for all children: Hall 4. The implementation's target is to enable every child to start life in healthy condition; both physically and mentally. Previously the deprived children used to be disabled either physically or mentally by the time they come into contact with health services. The Hall 4 implementations include recommendations for this type of deprived families also. They are contacted at regular intervals to monitor their child health and motivate them mentally and for helping economically if needed. (Economical help here is to assist them to get income and making them to spend on the health improvement). Aim of the report The pre Hall 4 implementation of health for all services was limited to health surveillance. The implementation of Hall 4 recommendations is to attain health for all in both letter and spirit. In some PCT s the health care situation and the performance of health visitors are not satisfactory. The analysis of the present situation and the need of any changes in management and organisation should be discussed and evaluated. The intervals between visits of health visitors to the families having children are also a point of content. Till now the babies were checked at 8 months and 18 months age. But now it was being recommended that the babies were to be checked at birth, six weeks, six months, 1 year and 2 years age. But there are some perceptions that the gap between the intervals of visiting may result in disability either physically and mentally for children of deprived families. These different perceptions about the intervals in health visits were to be discussed keeping in view org anisational and managerial issues. In some cases it was felt even by the staff that the gap betw

Enhancing Security in System Administration Assignment

Enhancing Security in System Administration - Assignment Example Contextually, it can be affirmed that an operating system is usually viewed to be one of the major fundamental aspects concerning improving the security of every computing system by a considerable level. It can be argued in this similar regard that secured programs require safe operating system and ignorance of this may lead to failure. In other words, operating systems must be capable of ensuring effective execution of various programs as well as mechanisms effectively and most vitally enabling high performance use of various computer resources. Ensuring secure performance of all operational processes largely relies on accurate implementation of different hardware resources and scheduling mechanisms (Jaeger, 2008). Specially mentioning, the security threats associated with various system administrators are recently receiving increasing attention driven by series of events resulting in significant damage due to security threats. The primary challenges related with system administrato r can be attributed by taking into concern certain significant aspects like security and manageability. In practice, operating systems require various tasks that need to be executed in order to make sure that the system operations impose extensive impact on sensitive user data and process. For instance, adding and removing various software systems and drivers may result in causing the user data to be at risk through corruption, leakages and losses (Scarfone, Janseen & Tracy, 2012).) With this concern, the primary purpose of this paper is to develop, document and assess best practices for server deployment and administration that would eventually support and enhance the security of Megacorp towards upgrading its new operating system. 1. Enhancing Security a. Before Server Deployments Deployment of servers in any organization is costly and daunting. The servers provide broad array of services to internal as well as external users and stores along with delivers different sensitive info rmation to the organizations. Moreover, servers are frequently introduced by the intruders in order to gain unauthorized access of valuable data and other services. There exist certain few common threats to servers that have been represented below: Malicious objects may use software bugs in the server or its operating system in order to gain unofficial access to the server Denial of service (DoS) might also be directed to secondary network infrastructure, deterring the valid users to execute the server services Sensitive information stored in the main server may get access by the intruders or may change in an unauthorized manner Sensitive data or information that are transferred or encrypted amid the servers and thus the client may get interrupted by unauthorized users. Correspondingly, it can be admitted that it is often more difficult to address the security of servers after the deployment or the implementation of effective operation systems. Thus, security should be prudently mea sured from the preliminary stage of planning. It is essential to make effective decisions about determining the configurations of various information systems appropriately and consistently in order to ensure effective outcome of the deployment plan. It has been ascertained that organizations often fail to address dissimilar human resource associated

The most basic structure for an essay Essay Example for Free

The most basic structure for an essay Essay If you feel confident about writing essays and usually do well at it, you may be able to skip this. There are other good ways to write an essay that will work just as well and be more interesting to read. But if you have any doubts about your ability to write a good essay and get a good mark, learn this pattern and follow it to the letter. It is the fool-proof, fail-proof method that you can use right up through English 3201 and possibly beyond (though university profs often require a more complex approach to essay writing than this basic outline). First, you have to understand what a paragraph is: three to five sentences that develop a single, clear idea. When youve finished with one main idea, you move on and start another paragraph. A good paragraph often begins with a topic sentence that sums up your main idea. The most basic structure for an essay includes just five paragraphs. Paragraph One The introduction. Here you state the main idea of your entire essay the point you are trying to make or prove. This paragraph should include your thesis statement a one-sentence summary of the main idea plus three reasons why you believe this statement to be true. Paragraphs Two, Three and Four. These are the body of your essay. Remember back in Paragraph One, you gave three reasons for your opinion? Three reasons, three body paragraph. Each of the body paragraphs should take one of your reasons and explain it in more detail, giving an example or illustration to back it up. Paragraph Five The conclusion. Former Newfoundland premier Joey Smallwood once said about giving speeches: First I tell them what Im going to tell them, then I tell them, then I tell them what I told them. Thats how you write an essay. In the conclusion, tell them what you told them. Sum up your argument by restating your thesis statement and reminding the reader what your three reasons were. In an argumentative essay, you can finish with a call to action tell the reader what you would like them to do as a result.

Market segmentation and marketing mix of LG and SAMSUNG

Market segmentation and marketing mix of LG and SAMSUNG Definitions Market segmentation The dividing of all possible customers into groups based on their needs, age, income, education etc. (Cambridge Business Dictionary, n.d.) Marketing mix The combination of actions a company uses when selling a product or service. These are often described as the four Ps: Product, price, promotion and place. (Cambridge Business Dictionary n.d.) Aims This piece of work aims to analyse and assess the market segmentation and marketing mix characteristics of and potential for Samsung compared with LG. Due to the very broad market sectors and product ranges of both companies, this report will concentrate on the relatively new product sector of fitness monitors when considering both market segmentation and mix. Interest in these products has grown due to the availability of ‘wearable devices’ and the suitability of technology, particularly Smartphone apps, to assist in this pursuit. There has also been increased awareness and concerns about keeping fit and healthy. According to Vecchione (2012) the market for self-monitoring functions such as high blood pressure and blood glucose levels using wireless wearable devices is growing faster than Telehealth (the official NHS version of technology to monitor patients remotely in their own homes). The proportion of wireless devices used to monitor health conditions is predicted to increase from a low level of 5% in 2011 to as high as 80% by 2016 (Ibid), with the resulting readings being stored and analysed on smart phones. Company background An Introduction to Samsung Samsung was founded in Suwon, Korea in 1969. Its vision 2020 is stated as being â€Å"Inspire the world, create the future† (Samsung website, n.d.) Samsung Electronics is a global leader in semiconductors, telecommunications and digital media technologies with sales of 143.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2011 and 221,730 employees spread across 72 countries (Ibid.) Samsung has been the worlds largest television manufacturer since 2006 and is the worlds largest producer of LCD panels. The company also has the greatest share of the global market for memory chips. With the introduction of the Samsung Galaxy S mobile, the company has taken the lead in global sales figures for smart phones as of 2013. Samsung has also established a prominent position in the tablet computer market with the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy Tab offering strong competition against the iPad from Apple. The headquarters of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. are situated in Suwon, South Korea and this is also the flagship company of the Samsung Group. In 2013 the president of Samsung Electronics was Boo Keun Yoon; and the goals of the company encompassed both quantitative ($400billion global sales and number one spot in the global IT industry); and qualitative (design products that enrich people’s lives and contribute to a socially responsible future). This is a real sign of the times as organizations increasingly have to demonstrate corporate responsibility and contribution to social or shared value, i.e. doing well by doing good; an approach which can provide additional competitive advantage (Kramer, 2011). Roy (2013) explains this further as being the next stage of business thinking, embedding contributions to wider society as an integral part of corporate strategy. Samsung operates in Western Europe, the Far East, and the United States; increasing its share of the mobile phone market in Western Europe over the past three years at the expense of companies such as Apple and Nokia. In 2011, for example, Samsung had only a 14% market share in Western Europe (compared with Apple at 21% Nokia at 20%). By 2013, Samsung’s had increased its share of the Western European market to 45%; Apple’s share dropping to 20%, and Nokia’s market share plummeted to just 5%. Other competitors including Blackberry fared even worse, losing practically its 17% market share to Samsung and Apple. HTC’s Android smart phones also struggle to compete with the two market giants, especially Samsung, who managed to generate more income than Apple in 2013 (please see Figure 1 below). Figure 1 – Samsung and Apple profits 2011-2013 ($ billion) Source: Statista Thirteen Samsung products have held the number one spot for market share including televisions, semi-conductors (the first product which the firm originally manufactured) and mobile phones (Samsung, n.d.) Samsung is continuing to research and develop new innovative products such as LCDs and semi-conductors. An introduction to LG There is some resonance in the LG story compared with Samsung: LG is also a Korean company and it too was founded about half a century ago in 1958, originally known as Goldstar. It was founded on the ethos of creating a happier, better life (LG website, n.d.) Since 1958 it has progressed into the digital age through technological development, originally of home appliances such as washing machines and radios. Then in 1995 the company was renamed LG Electronics, acquiring the United States based company Zenith (Ibid.), hence opening up the vast American market. This was followed in 1997 by LG developing the first digital mobile handset and being the first company to be certified for the production of digital television sets. In 1998 the company developed the 60 inch plasma TV followed by a joint venture with Phillips to create LG Phillips LCD (Ibid.) 2002 sees LG export GPRS1 colour mobile phones to Europe and in 2003 achieve monthly export volume of 2.5 million units. By 2005 LG had become the fourth largest supplier of mobile handsets worldwide; plus the firm was the pioneer of notebook computers (LG website, n.d.) 2008 sees the company launch a new global identity: â€Å"stylish design and smart technology, in products that fit our consumers’ lives† (LG website, n.d.). In 2009 LG becomes the third largest supplier of mobile phone handsets worldwide, and 2010 saw the company launch the world’s first 3D LED TV. According to their website LG brand identity focuses on self expression and a promise of satisfaction to its customers; using the phrase â€Å"delightfully smart† as its strapline. The LG logo itself is said by the company to represent a circle around the customer epitomising the corporate value of establishing a lasting relationship with and achieving highest satisfaction for customers. This is the basis of relationship marketing and is key to attracting and retaining customers in a world where consumers are bombarded with sales messages. Market segmentation As Drucker neatly put it, â€Å"the purpose of business is to create customers† (Swaim, 2010, p.14) and to do this requires looking from outside the company from the customer’s point of view and answering questions about market segmentation, including â€Å"what does the customer buy† and â€Å"what is value to the customer†? Samsung and LG market segmentation Information to guide segmentation can be collected through carefully planned market research; and the analysis of questionnaire surveys. Here are some market segments that will be most relevant to the fitness monitor market: Students tend to be the most technology-literate and represent a well defined segment in terms of the early adoption and use of new technologies. They also assist in promoting and recommending products through the social media methods; plus can be helpful in co-production and the development of the product. The importance of the use of social networking sites (SNS) in the consumer buying process must not be underestimated; seeking opinion from other consumers is now a pre-requisite of the purchase decision-making process. Interbrand (2012) suggests this may always have been the case but a feature of the past few years is the increase in the speed with which opinions and consumer influence can be spread. Nielsen (2010) discovered that most internet users seek out reviews and consider the brand recommendations of fellow consumers before finally deciding on a purchase (Figure 2). The graph illustrates that recommendations from friends and family are the main source of information most trusted. A key factor to note here, however, is that official brand websites can be as influential as online consumer opinions but they have to be more than just promotional messages. In comparison, advertising in newspapers and on radio and TV are less trusted by consumers. Figure 2 – Percentage of consumers who have trust in different forms of advertising Source: Nielsen, 2010 Young professionals are another market segment for these types of products; the main difference with the student sector is the considerably higher income and hence greater willingness to spend more on the product. This group is arguably carrying on the great tradition of early adopters too; the UK market has always been at the forefront of adopting new technology, including broadband, digital TV and Smartphone take-up (Ofcom, 2010). Wireless technologies such as these fitness monitors have been no exception with the digital age being fully embraced by the early adopters in the UK as soon as the new products have been released by the major manufacturers including Samsung and LG. There is a third key market segment for fitness monitors revealed by research evidence and that is young women who tend to be more interested in health and using exercise as a way to keep slim as much as keeping fit (Clohessy, 2014). The functionality of the new generation of fitness monitors includes features such as the number of calories being burnt off as exercise progresses, with different consumption rates depending on the type and intensity of activity. These last two market segments also have the advantage of containing a greater proportion of working people who are consequently much less influenced by the absolute price of the product. They are also proactive Twitter and Facebook users and contributors, reading reviews and providing comment as part of the consumer decision-making process. Marketing mix The marketing mix, or four Ps (product, price, promotion and place) is a tool integral to the development of marketing strategy; the specific tactics for the major parameters of the product or service can be defined. In more recent literature, the marketing mix has been expanded to include the seven Ps (Kotler, 2012,) encompassing more elements as shown below in Figure 3. The basic four mix elements remain but are joined by the new criteria of ‘people’, ‘physical evidence’ or ‘environment’, and ‘process’; these are considered by some to better describe the marketplace influences. Kotler (2012.p.31) describes it as: ‘holistic marketing’ which â€Å"recognizes and reconciles the scope and complexities of marketing activities†. Figure 3 – the seven Ps of the Marketing Mix Source: Kotler, 2012 However, this report will be concentrating on the four core marketing mix elements of product, price, promotion and place. Samsung marketing mix In the case of Samsung, the tactics adopted to satisfy some of the marketing mix elements might be considered to be: Product – The Samsung fitness monitor is called ‘Gear Fit’ (Figure 4) and is designed for the wrist; it has a curved display and several apps including a built-in heart rate monitor and work out management system. Promotion – Celebrity endorsement is not a new concept and has a long history dating back to the early 1900s. For example, according to Ketcham (2001), Buffalo Bill Cody was pictured on a trade card and supplied a testimonial for the back of the card, in which he praised the benefits of Kickapoo Indian Oil. Another trade card depicted the image and name of Sarah Bernhardt, connecting her with Carters Liver Bitters (Ibid.) Samsung has already successfully used celebrity endorsement to promote its products, using the sportsmen and women at the Sochi Winter Olympics (Samsung, n.d.) This philosophy can be extended to engage the younger sports-oriented consumer, with the careful selection of sports stars providing a strong enticement for consumers to try the product. It might be a footballer or tennis player, perhaps connected with a major sporting event. Price – If a premium price is to be charged for the product, Samsung needs to provide a strong competitive advantage for the Gear Fit over the competition, particularly LG. A good way of securing willingness to pay a higher price for a product is to add value through additional features or extra services. Samsung is well regarded for its innovative products and is number one in the smart phone market currently. This kudos will most probably rub off onto the fitness monitor too provided the right approach is adopted in terms of engaging the consumer through the social media focusing on Facebook and Twitter. Place – With its domination of the Smartphone and tablet computer markets, Samsung will be able to exploit not only its on-line presence for sales of the Gear Fit monitors but also capitalize on the goodwill and very strong presence in the high street. All the mobile phone network companies will be keen to stock the innovative Samsung products including fitness monitors, as will the supermarkets and electronics stores. Samsung already produces medical monitoring equipment for the hospitals and clinics; this fitness monitor could be added to the product range for healthcare too. LG marketing mix The marketing mix tactics adopted by LG could conceivably include: Product – In terms of the fitness monitor, LG has developed a couple of complementary products; the Lifeband wristband (Figure 5), with a touch screen; and the heart rate earphone monitor. The Lifeband plays music, receives calls and texts, has a three axis accelerometer and altimeter for recording exercise effort, and can track the route of the wearer using a Smartphone app. Promotion – aligning a brand with major events to create and maintain an identifiable profile is central to the promotion strand of the marketing mix. The natural target events for the promotion of the Life band will include the London Marathon and the Great North Run; monitoring the heart rate during a marathon event assists with pacing and avoids straining the heart (Sinha, 2014). Price – maintaining a premium pricing policy would be possible with such an expanding market, but LG needs to ensure the consumer is willing to continue to pay that premium through constant product enhancements such as the music functionality and GPS capability. These enhancements need to be communicated and discussed with consumers through engagement through social media hopefully developing that relationship with the customer central to the LG ethos, as depicted in the encircling logo. Place –Apart from the company website there must be considerable scope for collaborating with franchise/nationwide gyms; and exercise equipment companies to promote the LG Life band. There will also be increasing potential in tendering for Clinical Commissioning Group contracts for Telehealth2 and telecare 3 products; the wearable fitness monitor providing a cost-effective and simple to use way for patients to monitor their own condition and feel more in control of their health. Conclusions * Both Samsung and LG Electronics have identified the fitness monitor market as a potential area for considerable growth over the new few years. * They have both developed attractive products to promote to the particular market segments highlighted in this report, including students, women interested in staying fit through calorie counting as well as exercise, and young professionals. * Pinkse and Slade (2004) remind us that competition is greatest amongst brands that are most similar and it seems that these two large Korean electronics firms need to distinguish themselves from the other in order to create a unique selling proposition (USP) for their product(s) and to generate a desire for the product and organisations. Recommendations 1. It would be beneficial to take a longer term view of demographic trends, particularly in view of the ageing demographic, to predict any change in the potential market for fitness monitors. Such information is supplied by the Office for National Statistics Census 2011 data and population projections (ONS 2011). 2. Exploiting the potential of social media to promote the brand identity through taking advantage of the buzz around the social side of fitness and exercise; which exists particularly amongst younger target market segments. 3. Celebrity endorsement is a really effective way to promote products that are the subject of culture and desire, particularly amongst the youth and young adult market. Samsung used sports men and women at the Sochi Winter Olympics to promote their products (Samsung, n.d.); perhaps they can continue this and maybe LG could find their own set of celebrity endorsers for their products? 4. However, considering the increasing life expectancy combined with the ageing demographic (a greater percentage of the population being aged over 55, 65 and particularly 75 there is a considerable untapped market for promoting fitness monitors to this group of consumers. The lengthier retirement periods experienced by many people nowadays provide considerable potential for promoting a regular exercise regime to be built into their daily routine. The fitness monitor is well suited as an aid to a healthier old age as it is simple to use, portable and wearable, and can be promoted as positively reducing the likelihood of long term illness or disability. This is backed up by the evidence that highlights regular physical activity as the single most important lifestyle behaviour change for keeping healthy (Colberg et al, 2010) preventing type 2 diabetes, reducing high blood pressure and vastly reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and increased mortality. 5. Pursuing the fitness monitor market and expanding it into the Telehealth sector will have considerable potential too as the NHS and healthcare professionals are increasingly encouraging people with long term conditions to be more proactive about self-care and management. The Department of Health (2011) estimates there are around 15 million people in the UK with long term conditions; and that as many as 80% of these people could be supported to manage their own condition including though the use of effective self-monitoring. Not only will this reduce pressure and costs on NHS services, including keeping people out of hospital; but there is evidence that outcomes for patients are improved too with people more confident and experiencing a better quality of life (Challis, 2010). Word count = 3,093 References Colberg, S., Sigal, R., Fernhall, B., Regensteiner, J., Blissmer, B., Rubin, R., Chasan-Taber, L., Albright, A. Braun, B. 2010. Exercise and Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care;Dec. 2010; 33(12) pp.147-167. Cambridge Business Dictionary. N.d. [On-line] Available @ http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/business-english [Accessed 11/10/2014]. Challis, D., Hughes, J., Berzins, K., Reilly, S., Abell, J., Stewart, K. 2010. Self care and case management in long term conditions: the effective management of critical interfaces. London: HMSO. Clohessy, K. 2014. The best heart rate monitor for weight loss. [On-line] Available @ http://www.livestrong.com/article/380969-the-best-heart-rate-monitor-for-weight-loss/ [Accessed 13/10/2014. Department of Health. 2011. Ten things you need to know about long term conditions. London: Department of Health. Fournier, S. Avery, J. (2010) The Uninvited Brand. Boston: Boston University. Interbrand. 2012. Branding in the post-digital world. London: Interbrand. Ketcham, S. (2001) Celebrity Endorsements are a thing of the past (and Present) [on-line]. Available from: theoldtimes.com. [Accessed 11/10/2014]. Kotler P. et al. 2012. Marketing Management (2nd Ed). Harlow: Pearson Education Limited. Kramer, M. 2011. Corporate Social Responsibility vs. Corporate Social Value – what’s the difference? [On-line] Available @ http://www.fsg.org/KnowledgeExchange/Blogs/CreatingSharedValue/PostID/66.aspx [Accessed 12/10/2014]. LG website [On-line] Available @ http://www.lg.com/uk/about-lg [Accessed 11/10/2014] Nielsen. (2009) Global advertising consumers trust real friends and virtual strangers the most. [On-line] Available @ http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/news/2009/global-advertising-consumers-trust-real-friends-and-virtual-strangers-the-most.html [Accessed 11/10/2014]. Ofcom. 2010. UK consumers revealed as early adopters of new technologies. [Online] Available @ http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/news/uk-consumers-revealed-as-early-adopters-of-new-technologies [Accessed 12/10/2014]. Office for National Statistics (ONS). 2011. 2010-based national population projections. [On-line]. Available through ONS website @ http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/npp/national-population-projections/2010-based-projections/rep-2010-based-npp-results-summary.html [Accessed 09/10/2014]. Pinkse, J. Slade, M. (2004). Mergers, brand competition and the price of a pint. European Economic Review: 48 (2004) 617-643. Roy, S. 2013. Corporate shared value – the new competitive advantage. [On-line] Available @ http://www.triplepundit.com/2013/01/corporate-shared-value-new-competitive-advantage [Accessed 12/10/2014]. Royal College of Nursing website. N.d. Telehealth and telecare. [On-line] Available @ http://www.rcn.org.uk/development/practice/e-health/telehealth_and_telecare [Accessed 11/10/2014]. Samsung. 2013. Samsung Electronics Annual Report. Suwon: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Samsung website [On-line] Available @ http://www.samsung.com/us/aboutsamsung/samsung_group/history [Accessed 09/10/2014] Sinha, A. 2014. Heart Monitor Training. [On-line] Available @ http://www.marathonguide.com/training/articles/heartmonitortraining.cfm [Accessed 13/10/2014] Swaim, R. 2010. The Strategic Drucker: Growth Strategies and Marketing Insights from the works of Peter Drucker. Singapore: John Wiley Sons. The King’s Fund. 2013. Transforming our healthcare system: Ten priorities for commissioners. London: The King’s Fund. Vecchione, A. 2012. Health monitoring devices market outpaces Telehealth. Information Week [On-line] Available @ http://www.informationweek.com/mobile/health-monitoring-devices-market-outpaces-telehealth/d/d-id/1104636? [Accessed 11/10/2014]. 1 GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) is a technology enabling phones to transfer data quickly, whilst still allowing telephone calls to be made. 2 Telehealth (or telemedicine) is defined as the remote monitoring of physiological functions including blood pressure, temperature and blood sugar levels, particularly as an aid to the self-management of long term conditions by patients in their own homes (Source: RCN website, n.d.) 3 Telecare covers a number of systems of sensors and alarms which monitor the safety of the living environment enabling people to remain living at home who otherwise would require care in a community hospital or care home. Examples of telecare devices include fall detectors, personal alarms, flood detectors and extreme temperature detectors (Source: RCN website, n.d.)

From Mind to Supermind: A Statement of Aurobindonian Approach :: Philosophy Philosophical Papers

From "Mind" to "Supermind": A Statement of Aurobindonian Approach ABSTRACT: In contrast to Western theories of mind, Aurobindo’s theory is comprehensive and holistic. This theory derives from his ontology. With respect to mind, Aurobindo contends that evolution will not stop with homo sapien. Rather, he posits higher levels of consciousness: Higher Mind, Illumined Mind, Intuitive Mind, Overmind, and Supermind. Higher Mind is an intermediary between the Truth-light above and the human mind. Illumined Mind is Spiritual light. Intuitive Mind possesses swift revelatory vision and luminous insight. Overmind acts as an intermediary between Supermind and Intuitive Mind. Supermind contains the self-determining truths of Divine Consciousness; it is the Real-Idea inherent in all cosmic force and existence. The various concepts and theories of mind prevalent today have had their origin and development in the West. They can be classified as : Psycho-analytical (cf., Sigmund Freud, Karl Jung, A. Adler), Behavioural (cf., Gilbert Ryle), Gestalt (cf., Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffka, Wolfgang Kohler), Physiological (cf., J. J. C. Smart, U. T. Place, Feigl), Psycho-physical (cf., Karl Popper), Evolutionary (cf., Henry Bergson, Samuel Alexander, Whitehead), Functional (cf., R. Rorty, Peter Smith, O. R. Jones), and Mental or Homo Sapiens-oriented (cf., Roger Penrose). The outcome of all such discussions is that "mind" is mysterious and beyond all scientific explanation. According to the main contemporary view, in particular, `there is something essential in human understanding that is not possible to simulate by any computational means’. This indicates that the nature of mind continues to remain a source of acute discomfort to the Western thinkers. Even their new empirical findings regardin g the highly complex mental acitivity is dubious. The object of this paper is to submit that in this context of the West’s indecisiveness and perplexity, Aurobindo’s approach to mind comes as a breath of fresh air. Aurobindo’s theory of mind is as much "inclusive" of the essence of the Western schools of thinkers cited above, as it is "contrastive". The pioneers in this area from William James and McDougall through Freud, Jung and Adler etc, established the paradigm of the "iceberg" with reference to the nature of mind. This can be designated as the "infra-structural" theory of the entity. The views of the "evolutionists" (Darwin, Laplace, Bergson, S. Alexander, Whitehead, for instance,) are "different" but not "enriching". All of them fail to recognise that any infra-structure can, and must have, logically speaking, a "supra-structure" as well, in order to be complete and holistic.

Discussion Boards :: Personal Narrative Writing

Discussion Boards I guess I’m just behind the times but to be honest, I have never ventured into an online community. This i s not sn’t because I don’t like computers or the internet, I just have never had any interest with comp ut outer related activities. So, trying to write this paper was very discouraging at first. I had no idea what MOO’s were, except for the sound that a cow made, and MUD’s, well, they just sounded a little dirty. Basically, I had never heard or knew of any online communities in my life! Through my English class I was eventually exposed to the various online communities, such as MOO’s, MUD’s, discussion forums, and e-mail lists. In class one day we were assigned to go to these different web-sites to experience the different online communit ies. So, with my feet slightly wet, I dove further into the world of virtual communication. Not knowing really where to begin I did a search for discussion forums. Through the search I found out that there is a forum for just about anything you can imagine. There were over 5,000 results that came up and I became overwhelmed with the obvious interest that people had in these communities that I had no idea about. I narrowed it down and searched for discussion on the terrorist attacks. The first web-site I stumbled across was MostlyAmphigory.com . There was no particular reason that I chose this one, I just picked it out of the search results. Mostly Amphigory had a general discussion board on which various topics were discussed, some which were about the

What Are the Effects of Poor Communication in a Project

Faculty of Business Department of Management and Project Management Baccalaureus Technologiae Project Management Project Research IV Lecturer: L. Jowah RESEARCH METHODOLOGY PROPOSAL TABLE OF CONTENTS Hypothesis – The matrix management structure hinders the project manager when executing a project. 1 Research Question 1 Topic 1 KEY WORDS 1 CONCEPT DEFINITIONS 1 2 CHAPTER ONE BACKGROUND AND PROBLEM ORIENTATION 2 1. 1 INTRODUCTION 2 1. 2 BACKGROUND TO STUDY 3 1. 3 PROBLEM FORMULATION 4 1. 4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 5 1. 4. 1 Primary objective 5 1. 4. 2 Theoretical objectives of the study 5 1. 4. Empirical objectives 5 1. 5 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 6 1. 5. 1 Literature review 6 1. 5. 2 Target population 6 1. 5. 3 Sample selection and method of sampling 6 1. 5. 4 The method of data collection 7 1. 5. 5 Statistical Analysis 7 1. 6 CHAPTER CLASSIFICATION 7 1. 6. 1 Chapter two: Literature review 7 1. 6. 2 Chapter three: Research Design and Methodology 7 1. 6. 3 Chapter four: Res ults and Findings 7 1. 6. 4 Chapter five: Conclusions and Recommendations 8 1. 7 SYNOPSIS 8 REFERENCES 9 Questionnaire 11 Part A – Project Planning†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 1 Part B – Organisational Support†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 12 Part C – Organisational Characteristics †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 13 Hypothesis – The matrix management structure hinders the project manager when executing a project. Research Question – How does the matrix structure affect the project manager's effectiveness? Topic – Organisational structures influence the effectiveness of a projec t manager. KEY WORDS organisational structures management project management CONCEPT DEFINITIONS Project: According to the PMBOK – A temporary endeavor ndertaken to create a unique product or service. Temporary means that every project has a definite beginning and a definite end. Unique means that the product or service is different in some distinguishing way from all similar products or services A project management guide, and an internationally recognized standard, that provides the fundamentals of project management as they apply to a wide range of projects. PMBOK – Project Management Body of Knowledge: Management Organisational structures: 1. Effective use and coordination of resources such as capital, plant materials and labour to achieve defined objectives with maximum efficiency. . People responsible for directing and running and organisation. 1. Arrangement of the work of the organisation into units and management positions between which there are defined relat ionships involving the exercise of authority and the communication of instructions and information. 2. Determination and specification of appropriate operational and functional roles and the resulting relationships. The aim of organisational structuring is to provide for an effective organisation structure which enables the best use to be made of the minds, judgements and energies of the members of the organisation. CHAPTER ONE BACKGROUND AND PROBLEM ORIENTATION 1. 1 INTRODUCTION Project management is the discipline of planning, organising, and managing resources to bring about the successful completion of specific project goals and objectives (Cleland & Gareis, 2006:1-4). According to Burke (2007:28-30), modern day project management started in the early 1900’s with Henry Gantt’s development of the barchart, and project management techniques which were specifically developed for the military and aerospace projects of the 1950’s and 1960’s in America and Britain. Today, companies are encouraged to change their management systems to adapt to the project management environment. A project is defined as a temporary endeavour undertaken to create a unique product or service (PMBOK, 2004:4). According to Sandhu & Gunasekaran (2004:673-690), a project is a set of inter-related tasks that are undertaken by an organisation to meet defined objectives, that has an agreed start and finish time, is constrained by cost, and that has specified performance requirements and resources. Projects are usually led by a project manager who is a professional in the field of project management. Project managers can have the responsibility of the planning, execution, and closing of any project. However the project manager has to interface with the line management, according to Kerzner (2006:7). Projects are performed by people and managed through people, so it is essential to develop an organisation structure which reflects the needs of the project (Burke, 2007:304). Organisations use project management to bring key people together to achieve specific goals (Palmer, 2002:101-105). According to Gido & Clements (2003:336-339), Conflict can arise from poor or organisational issues can cause conflict in a project. mbiguous project communication, lack of information sharing, or failure to make timely decisions. Problems caused by conflict include: confusion; waste of time, money and opportunity; diminished productivity; de-motivation of individuals and teams; internal conflicts and power struggles and ultimately project failure (Box & Platts, 2005:370-387). 2 Due to the numerous working interfaces, complicated networks, and diversified team members of a large project, coordination efficiency among members of the team is vital to the project’s success (Cheng, Su & You, 2003:70-79). One of the simplest, yet most effective things upper management can do is to set out the company’s policy for project management; thus establishing the vision for how the company wants to best utilise project management concepts and gives a clear downwards communication (Eve, 2007:85-90). Successful executives and managers must maintain an appropriate balance between strategic and operational concerns, as they conduct the affairs of their organisation in a project management environment (Czuchry & Yasin, 2003:39-46). The first and most basic lesson learnt regarding project management implementation, is that top management must demonstrate its unequivocal and visible support for a transition to the project management way of goal achievement (Brown & Botha, 2005:1-7). When senior management place the responsibility for project success with the project manager, without providing adequate authority and at times, implemented changes that further undermine the project manager’s authority; it leads to project failure (Kennedy & Marx, 2009:368-373). The starting point for ensuring that matrix structures work effectively is to ensure that there is a genuine need for them (Rees & Porter, 2004:189-193). Matrix structures should not be introduced simply on the basis that they are fashionable. It is also important to note that work teams do not exist in a vacuum, but are part of a larger organisational system with distinct cultural and structural characteristics (Tata, 2000:187-193). 1. 2 BACKGROUND TO STUDY An organisational structure is a mainly hierarchical concept of subordination of entities that collaborate and contribute to serve one common aim. Organisational structure allows the expressed allocation of responsibilities for different functions and processes to different entities such as the branch, department, workgroup and individual. 3 A hierarchical organisation is an organisational structure where every entity in the organisation, except one, is sub-ordinate to a single other entity. This arrangement is a form of a hierarchy. In an organisation, the hierarchy usually consists of a singular/group of power at the top with subsequent levels of power beneath them. This is the dominant mode of organisation among large organisations; most corporations, governments, and organized religions are hierarchical organisations with different levels of management, power or authority. Organisations have recognised that performing organisational projects has increased both organisational efficiency and effectiveness, thus organisational projects are becoming more of a norm than an exception these days. Each type of organisation has advantages and disadvantages pertaining to project implementation. The organisation should establish firm, standardized project management systems. The matrix structure leads to institutionalised conflict which, if properly channelled, should lead to a number of advantages, such as efficiency and flexibility in used of resources, technical excellence of solutions, motivation and development of employees and the freeing of top management from routine decision making (Rowlinson, 2001:669-673). According to Brown (2008:1-9), a seven step organisational process needs to be formally instituted in an organisation through a thoroughly planned strategy to ensure that appropriate project management processes and tools. . 3 PROBLEM FORMULATION In recent years, managers of for-profit private organisations have been under considerable market pressures to re-orient the strategies, operations and business models of their organisations. In a response to these pressures, the organisational structures of these organisations have been steadily re-engineered from mechanistic, rigid and closed system-oriented to a more organic, flexible and open sy stem-oriented (Gomes, Yasin & Lisboa, 2008: 573-585). 4 Most managers focus on how the project methodology can adapt to it’s organisational context, however, in doing so, they sacrifice the flexibility and dynamism of the project approach for the bureaucratic, control-based view of functional organisations (Thiry, 2006:22) The questions to be addressed in this study are as follows: †¢ How does the organisational structure affect the project manager's effectiveness? †¢ To what degree is the effectiveness of the organisational structure sabotaged by the human factor? †¢ Which organisational structures are best suited for project management? 1. 4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY . 4. 1 Primary objective The purpose of this study is to verify whether organisational structures influence the effectiveness of a project manager. 1. 4. 2 Theoretical objectives of the study The following theoretical objectives were established in order to support the primary objective. †¢ Conducting management. †¢ Conducting a literature stud y on factors of influence in project management. †¢ Reviewing organisational structure models commonly employed by companies in the project management environment. †¢ Contrasting the literature studied with observations in the industry in practice. 1. 4. Empirical objectives The following empirical objectives were formulated in support of the primary and theoretical objectives. †¢ Identifying key elements of influence on project management success. a literature study on organisational structures in project 5 †¢ Identifying organisational structures employed by companies to ensure support project management. 1. 5 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 1. 5. 1 Literature review Published material in the form of books, journals, magazines, newspaper articles, government publications and the Internet formed part of establishing a well-informed theoretical background. . 5. 2 Target population The population was restricted to companies in the Western Cape Province, for econom ic reasons; as most companies are within easy reach. The population comprised project management practitioners. For the purpose of this study, project management practitioners are persons practising project management, who are given the responsibility and accountability for implementing projects in an organisation. In industry, the title varies from company to company. The commonly used titles are Project Supervisor and Project Manager. The companies to be included in the study must be practising project The companies must have a formal project management for more than five years. management structure in place. It is anticipated that many companies may not be keen to share information on this subject. Therefore, to increase the probability of reaching the required sample size, organisations in the entire province were chosen. 1. 5. 3 Sample selection and method of sampling A combination of convenience and judgement sampling was used, in light of the geographical dispersion of the organisations. Care was taken to include a broad variety of project management practitioners. The organisations were grouped according to industries. In the absence of previous research, a minimum sample size of one hundred project management practitioners will be chosen for the study. The sample size has been determined on the basis of the cost of the exercise and accessibility to the various companies. 6 1. 5. 4 The method of data collection The survey method will be used. A personal interview using a structured questionnaire will be used to obtain the required information. This method was chosen as it is simple and allows for clarity of questions. 1. 5. 5 Statistical Analysis Descriptive statistics will be used for the initial analysis. The MoonStats package will be used for data analysis. Cross-tabulation and correlation will be used to establish simple relationships between the organisational structure and it’s effects on project management in the business. 1. 6 CHAPTER CLASSIFICATION 1. 6. 1 Chapter two: Literature review An overview is provided of strategies, strategic business levels ad their relationship to each other. This chapter concentrates on organisational structures, competencies and the dynamics of project management. It also explores the need for strategic organisational decisions to further support project management objectives. structures are also highlighted. Different organisational 1. 6. 2 Chapter three: Research Design and Methodology The emphasis of this chapter is on the design of the research, the measuring instruments and population target. employed are outlined. The data analysis procedure and the statistical techniques 1. 6. 3 Chapter four: Results and Findings In this chapter data is analysed, interpreted and evaluated. 1. 6. 4 Chapter five: Conclusions and Recommendations The recommendations emanating from the study are suggested. limitations of the research are highlighted. The benefits and 1. 7 SYNOPSIS This paper is primarily addressed at the decision makers about project management in an organisation. In the arenas of business and management, the principles of project man agement are relatively simple and much of it actually common sense. However, this paper aims to confirm that the implementation and acceptance thereof, in a functionallyonly structured organisation, is quite a complex process. The paper’s prime purpose is herefore to highlight, that after the decision to implement project management is made, a number of not so obvious implications for the organisation, as well as structural, organisational culture and systems changes, have to be thoroughly managed to ensure success. In this chapter the background and scope of research are described. The Research objectives are utilized in an effort to address the research problem. In the next chapter the literature used as background for this study, will be discussed, while the different levels of project management organisational structures and how they are interrelated will be outlined. REFERENCES Cleland, D. , Gareis, R. 2006. Global project management handbook: Planning, McGraw-Hill Organ izing and Controlling International Projects, Second Edition. Professional. Project Management Institute. 2004. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge – 3rd edition. Pennsylvania: PMI Publications. Burke, R. 2007. Project management Techniques college edition. South Africa; Burke Publishing. Gido, J. and Clements, J. P. 2003. Successful Project Management – Second Edition. USA. South-Western. Kerzner, H. 2006. Project Management – Ninth Edition, A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling and Controlling. Hoboken, New Jersey. John Wiley & Sons. Sandhu, M. A. and Gunasekaran, A. 2004. Business process development in projectbased industry. Business Process Management Journal. Vol. 10 No. 6:673-690. Emerald Group Publishing Limited. Box, S. and Platts, K. 2005. Business process management: establishing and maintaining project alignment. Business Process Management Journal. Vol. 11 No. 4:370-387. Emerald Group Publishing Limited. Palmer, M. 2002. How an effective project culture can help to achieve business success: establishing a project culture in Kimberley-Clark Europe. Industrial and Commercial Training. Volume 34. Number 3:101-105. Emerald Group Publishing Limited. Czuchry, A. J. and Yasin, M. M. 2003. Managing the project management process. Industrial Management and Data Systems. 103/1 :39-46. Emerald Group Publishing Limited. 9 Rees, W. D. and Porter, C. 2004. Matrix structures and the training implications. Industrial and Commercial Training. Volume 36. Number 5:189–193. Emerald Group Publishing Limited  · ISSN 0019-:189-193 Gomes, C. F. , Yasin, M. M. and Lisboa, J. V. 2008. Project management in the context of organizational change. International Journal of Public Sector Management. Vol. 21 No. 6:573-585. Tata, J. 2000. Autonomous work teams: an examination of cultural and structural constraints. Work Study. Volume 49. Number 5:187-193. MCB University Press. Rowlinson, S. 2001. Matrix organizational structure, culture and commitment: a Hong Kong public sector case study of change. Construction Management and Economics. 19, 669-673. Spon Press. Brown, C. J. and Botha, M. C. 2005. 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No. 2:85-90. 10 Questionnaire For each planning product written, please mark the most suitable answer referring to the projects you were recently involved in, according to the following scale: 54321ABThe product is always obtained The product is quite frequently obtained The product is frequently obtained The product is seldom obtained The product is hardly ever obtained The product is irrelevant to the projects I am involved in I do not know whether the product is obtained Please choose between 1-5 and A or B. Part A – Project Planning Planning Product Never Always Do not know Irrelevant 1. Project Plan 2. Project Deliverables 3. WBS (Work Breakdown Structure) Chart 4. Project Activities 5. PERT or Gantt Chart 6. Activity Duration Estimate 7. Activity Start and End Dates 8. Activity Required Resources 9. Resource Cost 10. Time-phased Budget 11. Quality Management Plan 12. Role and Responsibility Assignments 13. Project Staff Assignments 14. Communications Management Plan 15. Risk Management Plan 16. Procurement Management Plan 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B 11 Part B – Organisational Support Planning Product Never Always Do not know Irrelevant 17. Project-Based Organisation 18. Extent of Existence of Projects’ Procedures 19. Appropriate Project Manager Assignment 20. Extent of Refreshing Project Procedures 21. Extent of Involvement of the Project Manager during Initiation Stage 22. Extent of Communication between the Project Manager and the Organisation during the Planning Phase 23. Extent of Existence of Project Success Measurement 24. Extent of Supportive Project Organisational Structure 25. Extent of Existence of Interactive InterDepartmental Project Planning Groups 26. Extent of Organisational Projects Resource Planning 27. Extent of Organisational Projects Risk Management 28. Extent of Organisational Projects Quality Management 29. Extent of On Going Project Management Training Programs 30. Extent of Use of Standard Project Management Software (e. . Ms-Project) 31. Extent of Use of New Project Tools and Techniques 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 A A A A A A B B B B B B 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 A A A A A A A A A B B B B B B B B B 12 Part C – Organisational Characteristics a. Organisation type: ? (1) Engineering ? (4) Construction ? (7) Services ? (2) Software ? (5) Communications ? (8) Government ? (3) Production ? (6) Maintenance ? (9) Other: ______ b. Project type: ? (1) Engineering ? (4) Construction ? (7) Services ? 2) Software ? (5) Communications ? (8) Aeronautics ? (3) Electronics ? (6) Mechanics ? (9) Other: _____ c. Evaluate the following indexes in the scale of 1 to 10 (1-low, 10-high): Index Low High Quality of planning of project you are involved in Project performance at the end of the projects Customer satisfaction at the end of the projects Risk level at the beginning of the project 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 d. Your personal involvement in projects: ? Project Manager ? Project Team Member ? Other: _______ 13