Discuss how job redesign can improve organisational performance Essay

Discuss how job redesign can improve organisational performance - Essay Example This paper sheds light on how job-redesign improves the overall organizational performance, by enlisting a myriad of advantages that are linked with job redesign. 2. Job Redesign and Organizational Performance 2.1. Employee Motivation The basic objective behind job redesign is to motivate the employee so that he is willing to perform better and produce greater results than before (Zhang & Bartol 2010). Employee motivation brings about increased worker productivity because it guarantees high quality worker job experience. Smith (1994) discusses the reason why employee motivation is at all necessary, and comes up with the answer that organizations need to implement motivational strategies through job redesign to ensure their survival in the market, because when employees are motivated, they perform better. Lindner (1998), in his research about what motivates employees, found that job redesign includes motivating factors such as interesting work, good wages, appreciation, encouragement, job security, healthy workplace environment, promotions, participation in decision-making, and sympathy shown from the supervisors on personal problems. 2.2. Employee Empowerment Job redesign empowers employees, which leads to a boost in employees’ morale, job persistence, productivity, and organizational performance; and, the absence of these factors can destroy the whole organization (Kuo et al. 2010). Gitman and McDaniel (2007:323) have called this â€Å"investing in people† which includes four trends called employee â€Å"education and training, employee ownership, work-life benefits, and nurturing knowledge workers†. Bilton (2007:71) suggests that job redesign must empower the first-line entrepreneurs instead of controlling them, and that it should give â€Å"greater autonomy and flexibility† to the employee, as there are commercial reasons for it like achievement of business goals. 2.3. Job Satisfaction Tella, Ayeni and Popoola (2007, par.15) defin e job satisfaction as a comfortable feeling that results from â€Å"employees’ perception of how well their job provides those things that are viewed as important†. The most precious asset that a company may cherish is its employees, and it needs to be seriously concerned with all issues that may dissatisfy, frustrate or depress them. Without happy employees, no strategy is going to work, and no progress will be seen in the long run. After job redesigning, employees work harder because they have enough motivation to learn and excel (Tims & Bakker 2010). They help their employers to increase productivity and achieve customer satisfaction. Tietjen and Myers (1998) state that organizational support through job redesign guarantees improved turnover behavior among employees, because they want to stick to their jobs when they find that their employers are there to value their strengths and eliminate their weaknesses through proper training. This creates a trustworthy relatio nship between employees and employers, which also results in reduced workplace conflicts and enhanced organizational performance. Today, employers are spending thousands of compensation dollars to devise and implement benefit plans,

Social Networking Essay Example for Free

Social Networking Essay A social networking site can be defined as an online service that is based around the building and reflecting of social relations among individuals with common interests or social ties. Social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter are all different, yet the one main feature they have is that they enable users to create a profile within the website to represent themselves and allows users to interact through email, instant messaging and other communication channels within the site. The popularity and growth of social networking sites over the past years has been massive, as many people from all over the world join the social phenomenon for varied reasons. Today, there are more than 500 million active users on Facebook. As the technology advances, social networking sites have an even bigger impact on society and human relationships, both positive and negative. This paper argues that social networking sites have a negative influence on people of all ages, increase cyber bullying, personal insecurities and weaken strong personal ties as well as increase identity theft and other privacy issues and a decrease in our face to face social skills. This demonstrates that social networks do in fact cause more harm than good. Identity theft is a huge problem in today’s society and has come about as a result of the rapid expansion and availability of internet technology and the increase in personal data found on social networking sites. MySpace, Facebook and Twitter cause identity theft in two mains ways. The first being is that they encourage you to ‘edit your profile’ which includes adding your interests, full name, where you live, your email address and even personal details like your phone number an relationship status. The more information you have on your profile about you, the easier it is for identity thieves to claim they are you. The second main issue is the privacy settings on these social networking sites also help relieve personal fraud. Although there are built in features that allow users to change their privacy settings and not allow other users to view such personal details, these settings are never default, so that users are usually unaware how much information they are sharing not only with their friends, but with the rest of the world. This is why it is important for users of social networks to be aware of the stuff they are making available online and of the ways that is can potentially be used. Furthermore another privacy issue that social networking sites face is that  they encourage users to over share very private information that can easily be used against them. For example Facebook has a new thing where you can ‘check-in’ at wherever it is you may be and notifies users which gives thieves and strangers the advantage of robbing someone’s house while they are out. There is now a website called â€Å"Please rob me† that was set up to raise awareness about over-sharing and highlights these kinds of privacy issues that social networks create. In this respect social networks like these pose serious privacy concerns. Cyber bullying refers to bullying through emails, mobile phone text messages, phone calls, internet chat rooms, instant messaging and most importantly social networking websites such as MySpace and Facebook. Although cyber bullying is not physical, it’s emotional and psychological effects are devastating for the victim and can often lead to suicide and depression. Cyber bulling in terms of social networks is a huge issue because more than 50% of American teens use social networking sites. Online bullying is often seen as the easy way out. Social Networking sites are a place where bullies can say things they wouldn’t usually say to someone in person, but are still just as hurtful. Bullies feel more confident online because they can contact their victims at anytime and they have no one there defending them. There have been many teens on the news in recent years because they have committed suicide due to cyber bullying. It is clear that social networking aids in the prominence of cyber bulling which is just one of the negative impacts that social working sites has on society today. The way we communicate with our peers and with strangers over the internet is changing. Another negative impact that social networks have on our relationships is the fact that while we strengthen the ties we have with people we hardly ever get to see, we are weakening our ties to the people who are close to us which brings about physical social isolation. This idea of constantly being connected is awful in the way that personal interactions between friends are more superficial than they were before Facebook and other social networking sites. Users also let more time pass between face to face encounters because they feel like they are connected because they can see what a friend is doing from their Facebook pag e. A college student found that nearly 70% of users report reading posts from someone close to them that seemed upset and even though students would offer support in some way, they wouldn’t make a personal visit. It is clear  that the rise of social networks has increased social and emotional isolation and diluted the strength our human relationships. As social networking sites become more popular by the day, the rise of negative social effects within our society also greaten. We have and will keep seeing people being cyber bullied; more cases of identity theft and additional privacy problems. We will also see our strong relationships turn into amore superficial and convenient type of relationship. Social networking sites have had a huge negative impact on our mental and social health and will continue to do so into the future, if we let it. It is also now evident that social networking sites cause all these problems, and without them they wouldn’t exist. Therefore it is true that all these social networking do cause more harm than good.

Bowling for Columbine :: essays research papers fc

Bowling for Columbine, directed by Michael Moore, has been given numerous awards for the best documentary. For many, such as Jim Ferguson of KMSB-TV, he says, â€Å"Moore has done it again, the year’s most powerful documentary. An eye opener" (Bowling for Columbine). Yes, a real eye opener to how Moore will rely on fictitious facts and his audience’s sympathy towards certain events to get his message across. Documentaries have many different modes of presenting their material. Mockumentaries define itself as â€Å"fictional films which parody the forms and conventions of documentary, often for humorous effect† (Bowling for Columbine). While Bowling for Columbine does not exactly classify as a mockumentary, it does ridicule many of the events or people portrayed throughout the film. However, Moore shapes the viewers’ thoughts about guns during this film by appealing to their emotions with events such as the Columbine shooting, Kayla Rolland†™s murder and the issue of how the United States has the most deaths by guns. Documentaries remain neutral and only present information for the audience’s benefit or to tell history. Bowling for Columbine reflects a bias documentary because all â€Å"facts† presented are told only as Moore views it. However, these â€Å"facts†, false in nature, do not show both sides to the story. Many like Ferguson believe Bowling for Columbine to be an eye opener and true, it does open eyes to the harsh reality of the United States and how people kill each other because of they live in a â€Å"culture of fear†; however, it fails to give the complete truth to many of the events given. Works Cited Bowling for Columbine. Dir. Michael Moore.

Br and Haagendaz

BaskinI) Target Market 1) Haagen-Dazs Haagen-Dazs is taking the â€Å"excellent ice cream† line; the aim target consumers are the youngers who are fashionable and in the income pyramid peak. (yc2000, 2008) 2) Baskin-Robbins The primary target market of Baskin Robbins is comprised of higher middle (Rs. 150 000 to 200 000) and higher upper (Rs. 200 000 above) income professionals and families with toddlers. The secondary segment of Baskin Robbins target market is composed of teenagers, young adults and students (School and university). II) Point-of-difference ) Haagen-Dazs Haagen-Dazs wins in the segments and grasp of the aim market. Each time to entered in new market, Haagen-Dazs will make careful analysis of the domestic consumer’s mind, this provides great assistance for marketing and branding.Meanwhile, Haagen-Dazs cooperate with many upscale restaurants, to let Haagen-Dazs ice cream printed on smooth these advanced restaurant menu. In terms of competition, for the re ason why Haagen-Dazs maintain excellent results in the fierce competition is because it not only represents a product, it also stands for a lifestyle. ) Baskin-Robbins Baskin-Robbins is the flavor champion of the world. Each month, the Baskin-Robbins team has produces a new ice cream flavor. And it focuses on customer choice. And Baskin-Robbins has the best ice cream cakes. They have a thick layer of cake and a layer of ice cream. The texture of the icing as it melts, the slight crunch of the cake and the way the ice cream melts into the cake where they meet. Plus they have those figurines on top.Baskin-Robbins has popularized the practice of offering free tastes on miniature pink spoons to customers dazzled by its selection of flavors. Its pink spoon has become a veritable cultural icon. (wejdani, 2011) III) Point-of-Parity 5) Haagen-Dazs All the fruit for Haagen-Dazs’s product is pasteurized, which kills all of the bad bacteria. And all of the Haagen-Dazs sorbet products ar e nonfat, with the exception of chocolate sorbet. Haagen-Dazs products cannot be refrozen after they've thawed, because Haagen-Dazs products were made in the most natural way possible.Also Haagen-Dazs products should not be refrozen if thawed. Thawing and refreezing can create large ice crystals and cause undesirable gritty textures or diminished quality. 6) Baskin-Robbins Most of Baskin-Robbins products are low fat and contain vitamins. They are passionate about offering their guests delicious products they will enjoy, giving them plenty of menu options, and providing accurate nutrition information so they can make the best choices for themselves.From the materials Baskin-Robbins use, to the way they construct and operate their stores, they are committed to adopting better, more sustainable approaches whenever possible. (CSR Report, 2010) References: (2008, 11) Haagen-Daz. Marketing Analysis. Retrieved from http://www. studymode. com/essays/Haagen-Daz-Marketing-Analysis-183072. htm l (2011, 03) Baskin Robbins. Retrieved from http://www. studymode. com/essays/Baskin-Robbins-638496. html

Jun Assignment Mpa for 2012-13

IGNOU M. A in Public Administration Solved Assignment Dec 2012 Presented by http://www. IGNOU4Ublog. com TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT (TMA) Course Code: MPA-011 Assignment Code: Asst/TMA/2012-2013 Marks: 100 This assignment consists of Sections I & II. There are five questions in each section. You have to answer a total of five questions in about 400 words each. It is necessary to attempt at least two questions from each section. Each question carries 20 marks. Section-1 consists of questions from Units 1 to 10 and Section-II consists of questions from Units 11 to 21. Section – I . Examine the views of F. W Riggs on Society-Administration relationship. Solution: Coming soon†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. ———————————————————————————————– 2. ‘State’s role needs to be examined in the context of its Liberal and Marxist perspectives’. Discuss. Solution: The liberal conception of the state is of a limited organization that represents popular will. The state plays a minimal role in the directing of society and economic affairs, but can play a significant supporting role in modern liberal (social liberal) theories.Classical Liberals favor a minimal state that only provides for basic services such as defense, enforcing contracts and protecting property rights. Social liberals accept more roles for the state, primarily in the economic sphere, such as regulation of capitalism in order to protect consumers and workers, welfare programs to help the poor and disadvantaged in society and public services that benefit everyone. To liberals, the state plays a supporting role in society, and is usually left to operate in the political and social spheres.Marxists conceive of the state as an institution of capitalism that can be transformed to benefit the working class, as the state is the only institution that is capable of organizing and managing the economy on a large scale. The state would be radicalized in that the workers and people would control it through direct democracy or council democracy. The state becomes an integral part of the economy in that it owns the means of production in the phase of socialism.Marxists see the state as becoming unnecessary when the productive forces develop and authority on the state level is no longer required, leading to the disappearance of the state and social class. This society is called communism, where the means of production is owned communally but operated and managed by cooperatives. Socialism is an economic system whereby either the state or worker cooperatives own and control the means of production, strategic resources and major industry.The principle of socialism is to organize the economy in a rational manner that avoids the pitfalls of capitalism and the free market through plan ned or state directed economic systems. Socialism can also utilize the market mechanism to distribute goods and services in the form of market socialism, while the state or public retains ownership of major economic institutions. The revenue generated by the state economy would be used to finance government programs, potentially eliminating the need for taxation.A private sector for non-heavy industry can exist in a socialist system, but the state, public or cooperative sector would play the dominant role in the economy. To socialists, the state is a part of the economy and the state plays a dominant role in structuring economic and political affairs. ———————————————————————————————– 3. Explain the Neo-liberal Perspective of State. Solution: Neoliberalism is a co ntemporary political movement advocating economic liberalizations, free trade and open markets. Neoliberalism supports the privatization of nationalized industries, eregulation, and enhancing the role of the private sector in modern society. It is commonly informed by neoclassical or Austrian economics. The term neoliberal today is often used as a general condemnation of economic liberalization policies and advocates. Neoliberalism shares many concepts with mainstream schools of economic thought. The term â€Å"neoliberalism† was coined in 1938 by the German scholar Alexander Rustow at the Colloque Walter Lippmann. The colloquium defined the concept of neoliberalism as â€Å"the priority of the price mechanism, the free enterprise, the system of competition and a strong and impartial state. To be â€Å"neoliberal† meant that â€Å"laissez-faire† liberalism is not enough and that – in the name of liberalism – a modern economic policy is required. A fter the colloquium â€Å"neoliberalism† became a label for several academical approaches such as the Freiburg school, the Austrian School or the Chicago school of economics. During the military rule under Augusto Pinochet in Chile opposition scholars took up the expression again without a specific reference to any theoretical revision of liberalism.Rather, it described a set of political and economic reforms being implemented in Chile and imbued the term with pejorative connotations. In the last two decades, according to the Boas and Gans-Morse study of 148 journal articles, neoliberalism is almost never defined but used in several senses to describe ideology, economic theory, development theory, or economic reform policy. It has largely become a term of condemnation employed by critics of liberalizing economic tendencies. And it now suggests a â€Å"market fundamentalism† closer to the â€Å"paleoliberals† as opposed to the primary meaning.This leaves some con troversy as to the precise meaning of the term and its usefulness as a descriptor in the social sciences, especially as the number of different kinds of market economies have proliferated in recent years ———————————————————————————————– 4. ‘The nature of social participation is ever changing’.Elucidate Solution: Whether we live in the crowded bustle of an inner city or in a quieter, less populated rural area, most of us are part of the community in which we live. Social participation refers to people's social involvement and interaction with others. Activities such as volunteering, making donations, participating in sports, and recreational activities are all forms of social participation. While Canadians may differ in why, how, and how much they ge t involved, most would agree that social participation improves their own and the community's well-being[1].Measures of social participation include participation in political activities and participation in social activities. Measures of factors that influence social participation include social networks, sense of belonging, and level of trust. Highlights 54. 6% of Canadians – 58. 3% of men and 51. 7% of women – reported being involved in at least one political activity in 2002. Involvement in at least one social activity group, such as professional associations, or cultural, educational, and hobby organizations, was reported by 61% of Canadians in 2003. In 2003, the great majority of Canadians (93. %) reported having some close friends or family members. However, 6. 3% of Canadians reported having no close friend or family member. In 2003, the vast majority of Canadians had a â€Å"somewhat or very strong† sense of belonging to Canada (88%), to their province (81%), and to their community (70%). A little more than half of Canadians (56%) in 2003 believed that others could be trusted. The level of trust was highest among individuals aged 45 to 64 years old (59%) compared with other age categories. Footnotes There is no agreement on how to best define ‘community. For example, and the 2003 General Social Survey on Social Engagement (Statistics Canada, cat. no. 89-598-XIE) leaves the definition open. Generally, the term ‘community' refers to the people and institutions that are in proximity to our place of residence. However, it can also include a more global sense of community, where charitable donations to an international charity can benefit people of other countries. ———————————————————————————————– 5. Ans wer the following questions in 200 words each: ) Concept of ‘Hind Swaraj’ Solution:The concept of swaraj, or self-rule, was developed during the Indian freedom struggle. In his book Hind Swaraj (1909), Gandhi sought to clarify that the meaning behind swaraj was much more than simply â€Å"wanting [systems of] English rule without the Englishman; the tiger's nature but not the tiger. † The crux of his argument centered on the belief that the socio-spiritual underpinnings of British political, economic, bureaucratic, legal, military, and educational institutions were inherently unjust, exploitative and alienating.As Pinto explicates, â€Å"The principal theme of Hind Swaraj is the moral inadequacy of western civilization, especially its industrialism, as the model for free India. † Gandhi was particularly critical of the deeply embedded principles of ‘might is right' and ‘survival of the fittest'. On another level, the call for swaraj represents a genuine attempt to regain control of the ‘self' – our self-respect, self-responsibility, and capacities for self-realization – from institutions of dehumanization.As Gandhi states, â€Å"It is swaraj when we learn to rule ourselves. † The real goal of the freedom struggle was not only to secure political azadi (independence) from Britain, but rather to gain true swaraj (liberation and self-rule). Gandhi wanted all those who believed in swaraj: (1) to reject and wholly uproot the British raj (rule) from within themselves and their communities; and, (2) to regenerate new reference points, systems, and structures that enable individual and collective self-development.This regeneration was to grow from the strengths, perspectives, wisdom and experiences of people living in village India, rather than from cities in Britain, America, and even in India for that matter. Understanding the real ‘Self', and its relation to communities and society, is critical to the project of attaining swaraj. How is this relevant for us today? We feel that South Asia (along with the rest of the world) is experiencing a tremendous crisis, one overwhelming in its scale and pace of growth.While it is easy to get caught up in the symptoms of this crisis (the brutal violence, the enormous inequities, the extinction of cultures and languages, the degradation of the environment), it is equally, if not more, important to understand its roots. We must creatively analyze the content and the consequences of our current economic, political, social, and educational systems, without reverting to a romanticized past of so-called untouched or pristine traditions.From these critical reflections, we must generate new spaces, systems, and processes – based on moral and holistic visions of human potential and human progress – which can lead us out of the global self-destruction which engulfs us. Throughout it all, we must consider and negotiate our own role s, while asking ourselves how we are either working for solutions or contributing to making the crisis worse. Thus, today, we recognize Gandhi's concept of swaraj integral to three parallel action-reflection agendas for the 21st century: ———————————————————————————————– ) Citizen’s Charter Solution: Citizen’s Charter is a document which represents a systematic effort to focus on the commitment of the Organization towards its Citizens in respects of Standard of Services, Information, Choice and Consultation, Non-discrimination and Accessibility, Grievance Redressal, courtesy and value for money. This also includes expectations of the Organization from the Citizen for fulfilling the commitment of the Organization.The Citizen's Charter was a British p olitical initiative launched by the then Prime Minister, John Major, on 22 July 1991, less than a year into his premiership. [1] It aimed to improve public services in the UK by: Making administration accountable and citizen friendly. Ensuring transparency and the right to information. Taking measures to cleanse and motivate civil service. Adopting a stakeholder approach. Saving time of both executant and the clientele One part of the initiative was the granting of â€Å"Charter Marks† to those public bodies meeting defined standards. ———————————————————————————————- Section – II 6. Examine the role of Bureaucracy in policy monitoring and analysis. Solution: Bureaucrats put government policy into practice, and therefore the federal bureaucracy has a large impact on policymaking. In order to get their policies passed, the president and Congress must work with the bureaucracy. Controlling the bureaucracy can be difficult for the following reasons:Size: The president cannot monitor everyone or even every group within the bureaucracy, so much of what bureaucrats do goes unmonitored. Expertise of bureaucrats: The people who administer policy often know much more about those issues than the president or members of Congress. This expertise gives the bureaucrats power. Civil service laws: Firing bureaucrats, even for incompetence, is very difficult. Clientele groups: Many federal agencies provide services to thousands of people, and those people sometimes rally to defend the agency.Policy implementation: When Congress creates a new program, it does not establish all the details on how the policy will be implemented. Instead, Congress passes enabling legislation, which grants power to an agency to work out the specifics. Although the agency must stay within some bounds, it has a great deal of latitude in determining how to carry out the wishes of Congress. Power of Persuasion Presidential scholar Richard Neustadt has argued that the president’s primary power is that of persuasion.The president must lobby or persuade bureaucrats. But trying to convince members of the bureaucracy that their goals fit with the president’s goals is a time-consuming and often frustrating process. For this reason, many presidents have seen the bureaucracy as an obstacle to getting their agendas approved. Rule-making The federal bureaucracy makes rules that affect how programs operate, and these rules must be obeyed, just as if they were laws. The rule-making process for government agencies occurs in stages.After Congress passes new regulatory laws, the agency charged with implementing the law proposes a series of rules, which are published in the Federal Register. Interested parties can comment on the rules, either at public he arings or by submitting documents to the agency. After the agency publishes the final regulations, it must wait sixty days before enforcing those rules. During that time, Congress can review and change the rules if it desires. If Congress makes no changes, the rules go into effect at the end of sixty days. Federal regulations affect many groups of people, who have often challenged those regulations in court.Because litigation is a slow and expensive way to change regulations, Congress passed the Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1990 to limit the need for litigation by opening the rulemaking process to those affected by it. The act encouraged federal agencies to engage in negotiated rule-making. If an agency agrees to the proposed regulations, for example, it publishes the proposals in the Federal Register and then participates in a negotiating committee overseen by a third party. Agreements reached by the committee are then open to the normal public review process.Parties to negotiated rule-making agree not to sue over the rules. ———————————————————————————————– 7. Write a note on the nature and characteristics of good governance. Solution: Good governance has 8 major characteristics. It is participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive and follows the rule of law. It assures that corruption is minimized, the views of minorities are taken into account and that the voices of the most vulnerable in society are heard in decision-making.It is also responsive to the present and future needs of society. Participation Participation by both men and women is a key cornerstone of good governance. Participation could be either direct or through legitimate intermediate institutions or representatives. It is important to point out that representative democracy does not necessarily mean that the concerns of the most vulnerable in society would be taken into consideration in decision making. Participation needs to be informed and organized. This means freedom of association and expression on the one hand and an organized civil society on the other hand.Rule of law Good governance requires fair legal frameworks that are enforced impartially. It also requires full protection of human rights, particularly those of minorities. Impartial enforcement of laws requires an independent judiciary and an impartial and incorruptible police force. Transparency Transparency means that decisions taken and their enforcement are done in a manner that follows rules and regulations. It also means that information is freely available and directly accessible to those who will be affected by such decisions and their enforcement.It also means that enough information is provided and that it is provided in easily understandable forms and media. Responsiveness Good governance requires that institutions and processes try to serve all stakeholders within a reasonable timeframe. Consensus oriented There are several actors and as many view points in a given society. Good governance requires mediation of the different interests in society to reach a broad consensus in society on what is in the best interest of the whole community and how this can be achieved.It also requires a broad and long-term perspective on what is needed for sustainable human development and how to achieve the goals of such development. This can only result from an understanding of the historical, cultural and social contexts of a given society or community. ——————————————————————————————â€⠀Ã¢â‚¬â€œ 8. Explain the meaning of Ethics, underlying its ‘foci’ and ‘loci’. Solution: Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior.Major areas of study in ethics may be divided into 3 operational areas: Meta-ethics came to the fore with G. E. Moore's Principia Ethica from 1903. In it he first wrote about what he called the naturalistic fallacy. Moore was seen to reject naturalism in ethics, in his Open Question Argument. This made thinkers look again at second order questions about ethics. Earlier, the Scottish philosopher David Hume had put forward a similar view on the difference between facts and values.Studies of how we know in ethics divide into cognitivism and non-cognitivism; this is similar to the contrast between descriptivists and non-descriptivists. Non-cognitivism is the claim that when we judge something as right or wrong, this is neither true nor false. We may for example be only expressing our emotional feelings about these things. [2] Cognitivism can then be seen as the claim that when we talk about right and wrong, we are talking about matters of fact. Normative ethics Traditionally, normative ethics (also known as moral theory) was the study of what makes actions right and wrong.These theories offered an overarching moral principle one could appeal to in resolving difficult moral decisions. At the turn of the 20th century, moral theories became more complex and are no longer concerned solely with rightness and wrongness, but are interested in many different kinds of moral status. During the middle of the century, the study of normative ethics declined as meta-ethics grew in prominence. This focus on meta-ethics was in part caused by an intense linguistic focus in analytic philosophy and by the popularity of logical positivism.Virtue ethics Virtue ethics describes the character of a moral agent as a dr iving force for ethical behavior, and is used to describe the ethics of Socrates, Aristotle, and other early Greek philosophers. Socrates (469 BC – 399 BC) was one of the first Greek philosophers to encourage both scholars and the common citizen to turn their attention from the outside world to the condition of humankind. In this view, knowledge having a bearing on human life was placed highest, all other knowledge being secondary.Self-knowledge was considered necessary for success and inherently an essential good. A self-aware person will act completely within his capabilities to his pinnacle, while an ignorant person will flounder and encounter difficulty. ———————————————————————————————– 9. ‘The solution to governance challenges lies in civil soci ety movements’. Discuss. Solution: Until recently, the study of development process until recently has centered largely on the triangle of states-markets-international institutions.For the last decade, mainstream development discourse has adopted the notion of ‘civil society' as simultaneously the site of ‘citizens' collective action' as well as a set of actors to be incorporated in the planning, implementation and evaluation of development projects. This notion of ‘civil society' has tended to focus exclusively on NGOs. This course provides a more political understanding of ‘civil society' by examining social movements in relation to civil society and to the development project itself. It begins by current theories of ‘civil society' and ‘new social movements'.It then assesses the impact of nationalist and socialist movements on shaping the development agenda of nineteenth-century European and late-colonial states, and how social movements from the 1950s-1980s interacted with national governments in blocking, changing or advancing the development agendas of states (e. g. , Gandhian movements in India, the housing rights movements in urban Latin America, and the movements against minority rule in Southern Africa). The course focuses on contexts (e. g. democratisation, globalisation, etc. ), sectors (e. g. environment, agriculture), spaces (e. g. ural, urban) and agents (e. g. women). Subsequently, the course addresses the issue of ‘global civil society': issues of ‘globalisation' and transnational networks of solidarity created in response to it, for example, the movements against ‘sweatshop labour', the Zapatista movement in Mexico, and movements against transnational companies and institutions of global governance (WTO, World Bank, IMF etc. ). ———————————————————†”———————————– 10. Answer the following questions in 200 words each: a) Concept of New Public ManagementSolution: New public management (NPM) denotes broadly the government policies, since the 1980s, that aimed to modernise and render more effective the public sector. The basic hypothesis holds that market oriented management of the public sector will lead to greater cost-efficiency for governments, without having negative side-effects on other objectives and considerationsSome modern authors define NPM as a combination of splitting large bureaucracies into smaller, more fragmented ones, competition between different public agencies, and between public agencies and private firms and incentivization on more economic lines. 2] Defined in this way, NPM has been a significant driver in public management policy around the world, from the early 1980s to at least the early 2000s. NPM, compared to other pub lic management theories, is oriented towards outcomes and efficiency, through better management of public budget. [3] It is considered to be achieved by applying competition, as it is known in the private sector, to organizations in the public sector, emphasizing economic and leadership principles.New public management addresses beneficiaries of public services much like customers, and conversely citizens as shareholders. In 2007, the European Commission produced a white book on governance issues whose objective was to propose a new kind of â€Å"relationship between the state and the citizens,† reform governance, improve public management and render decision-making â€Å"more flexibleSome authors say NPM has peaked and is now in decline ——————————————————————————————à ¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€œ ) Business Process Engineering Solution: Business process re-engineering is a business management strategy, originally pioneered in the early 1990s, focusing on the analysis and design of workflows and processes within an organization. BPR aimed to help organizations fundamentally rethink how they do their work in order to dramatically improve customer service, cut operational costs, and become world-class competitors. 1] In the mid-1990s, as many as 60% of the Fortune 500 companies claimed to either have initiated reengineering efforts, or to have plans to do so. BPR seeks to help companies radically restructure their organizations by focusing on the ground-up design of their business processes. According to Davenport (1990) a business process is a set of logically related tasks performed to achieve a defined business outcome. Re-engineering emphasized a holistic focus on business objectives and how processes related to them, encouraging full-scale recreation of pr ocesses rather than iterative optimization of subprocesses.

One Time I Helped Someone Essays

One Time I Helped Someone Essays One Time I Helped Someone Essay One Time I Helped Someone Essay It was back in first grade, we had a big house, my parents were doctors and Im studying In a good school. I was rich back then. When I first met this half Chinese person named William 1. Mm, I TLD care at all. My dad hired him for the reason to work for our family. For one thing, he drives me and my siblings to school. I guess he was a driver. I always see him cleaning off the leaves from the roof, washing the cars, and watering the garden. I didnt talk to him; I Just know he is getting paid for what he does. After school, he came to pick us up and I suddenly heard, Your name Ingrain, right? I nodded and gave him a smile. I made a friend with a 30-year old man, It was unbelievable but I TLD think that way. He was someone I could talk to, I could play with, and hes the kind of person you can get along so easily. One time, I saw him by the window watering the orchids and plants. I went downstairs to look how he does the watering. He saw me and said Hi there! I smiled and went closer to him. Whats that? I asked. Its a fertilizer. He replied. Why do you put that? I asked again. Its for the plants to grow healthy. I keep on asking questions but he never gets tired of answering. So basically, I was a kid who needs answers. He was like a teacher and hes a good artist too, Whenever I have projects, he would give me his time to do it. When he picks me up at school, and by the time I finished my homework, I would go to him and spend time asking and learning new things from him. He was a good man after all. William was a poor guy. He has a wife and four children to feed. My dad let him move and build a simple house on a lot we owned. With that, he wont have to pay any rent. I grew up and still he was there, still working for our family, still a driver. My dad find him very loyal and I do too. I have a lot more thinking than before but Im still a kid to him and our friendship grew even more. At school, we were waiting for my sister in the car, and all we do is to debate. We would talk about certain things and before you know it, the subject changes. That time I knew I was killing the time and having fun. He didnt finish school but he knows a lot of things. Why do you know these things? I asked him one time when he was at the garden. All he said was, Its all about experience. And I was wondering to myself, Whats that mean? It was confusing at first but I finally get the message. Just Like me, I learn new things from asking especially with him. I never thought It would be that fun. I help him bathe the dogs; I would join him to buy something my mom asked. He was Just hired as a driver but he still gave time and effort to do the things hes not supposed to. He was truly amazing. I know a guy like him has some troubles too. He once told me, hes son got sick and cant afford medicine. I said, now that my parents are doctors, they would be glad to help you. Sunday night, I was watching TV at my parents room and we suddenly heard a doorbell. Ingrain, get It. My dad ordered. I stood up, walking down the stairs thinking, Its 10:30 in the evening, who could it be. I picked up the door and saw William by the gate. He looks alone and I wonder why hes here in the middle of the night. I open the gate and he wasnt alone, I saw him carrying his child. Whats wrong? I asked. Is your dad there? Fee He looks very troubled. My son is sick so can you ask your dad If you could check him up? Okay, you better come Inside. I said. I hurried up to my parents room Ana tell teem Williams nerve. My ciao chicken Nils son Ana sake me to get ten medicine from the box. I know my dad would help because he was the kind of doctor who helps the person in need. I gave him the medicine we have at home and the good thing is he doesnt h ave to pay. I was happy for him and hoped for his son to get well. Unfortunately, the next morning, it was Monday; its time for him to drive us to school. I asked him about his son, its not looking good. Oh. I said sadly. Can I borrow some money? I know I heard him right but I asked myself why. Mimi see, my son badly sick and I cant afford money. He added. I know I get allowances from my parents and I barely use it, but I didnt expect those words to be hearing from him. My brother and sister were coming and I said, Ill give you later after school. Definitely it was hesitation I felt. My day starts, thinking about Williams problem. Out of the blue, he Just asked a kid like me for money. I came home and look by the window and saw him wiping the car, and I made a decision. I came downstairs and gave him an envelope. Thank you very much; Ill pay you back little by little. He really looks happy but still troubled. Sure, but dont think about it that much, I can wait you know. I replied and he smiled. I was kind of happy that day. I dont know why but I was happy I did something good. At school, the teacher always teaches us about helping people and I never thought I would be doing that. I never told my parents about this nor did William. It was a secret between us. The reason I didnt tell my parents was there was no need for them to know, its what I thought. It was time for me to act on my own, I need to make decision. He needs the money more than I do, even though Im Just a kid, he needed my help. Its been nine years now, I grew and grew. William was there, watching me grow up. I still help him, even though its from own things, I still would find a good way to help him. I didnt regret the first time I helped him. Im Just happy I was helping someone and giving smiles to him and to his Emily. I still didnt tell my parents, I know what I did, what I decided was right. When Christmas comes, I would give away my old stuff, my old clothes to him. Besides, I will not use it anymore, and his children need it. Hes still a driver and I would still ask him questions, still learning new things from him and still be helping him. That one day I helped William taught me something, something William said, Its all about experience. I finally know the answer. There may be new challenges to come but things here always go back the way it should be.

Free Printable Holiday Worksheets and Projects

Free Printable Holiday Worksheets and Projects Printables by Subject: Language Arts Math Science History Geography P.E., Health, Safety Nutrition Homeschool Forms Free holiday worksheets and activities for your students. Add these free printable holiday worksheets, activity pages and coloring pages to your homeschool day. Back to School Printables Black History Month - Famous Firsts Christmas:~ Christmas Symbols Printables~ Twelve Days of Christmas Printables~ Santa and Other Traditions Printables~ Christmas - Nativity Printables Cinco de MayoColumbus Day Printables Earth Day Easter:~ Easter~ Easter - religious Fathers Day Coupon Book and PrintablesFlag Day PrintablesFourth of JulyGroundhog Day Printables Halloween Printables Hanukkah Kwanzaa Labor Day Printables Mardi Gras Printables Martin Luther King, Jr Printables Memorial Day Printables Mothers Day Coupon Book and Printables New Years Printables Passover Presidents Day:~ George Washington~ Abraham Lincoln St. Patricks Day Thanksgiving Printables Valentines Day~ Valentines Day~ Valentines Day Cards~ Valentines Day Coupon Book for Kids Veterans Day Printables Womens History Month - Famous Firsts Seasons: SpringSummerFallWinter

General Braxton Bragg in the Civil War

General Braxton Bragg in the Civil War Braxton Bragg - Early Life: Born March 22, 1817, Braxton Bragg was the son of a carpenter in Warrenton, NC. Educated locally, Bragg yearned to be accepted by the higher elements of antebellum society. Often rejected as a young man, he developed an abrasive personality that became one of his trademarks. Leaving North Carolina, Bragg enrolled at West Point. A gifted student, he graduated in 1837, ranked fifth in a class of fifty, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 3rd US Artillery. Sent south, he played an active role in the Second Seminole War (1835-1842) and later traveled to Texas following the American annexation. Braxton Bragg - Mexican-American War: With tensions heightening along the Texas-Mexico border, Bragg played a key role in the defense of Fort Texas (May 3-9, 1846). Effectively working his guns, Bragg was brevetted to captain for his performance. With the relief of the fort and the opening of the Mexican-American War, Bragg became part of Major General Zachary Taylors Army of Occupation. Promoted to captain in the regular army in June 1846, he took part in the victories at the Battles of Monterrey and Buena Vista, earning brevet promotions to major and lieutenant colonel. During the Buena Vista campaign, Bragg befriended the commander of the Mississippi Rifles, Colonel Jefferson Davis. Returning to frontier duty, Bragg earned a reputation as a strict disciplinarian and an obsessive follower of military procedure. This reputedly led to two attempts on his life by his men in 1847. In January 1856, Bragg resigned his commission and retired to the life of a sugar planter in Thibodaux, LA. Known for his military record, Bragg became active with the state militia with the rank of colonel. Braxton Bragg - Civil War: Following Louisianas secession from the Union on January 26, 1861, Bragg was promoted to major general in the militia and given command of forces around New Orleans. The following month, with the Civil War about to begin, he was transferred to the Confederate Army with the rank of brigadier general. Ordered to lead Southern troops around Pensacola, FL, he oversaw the Department of West Florida and was promoted to major general on September 12. The following spring, Bragg was directed to bring his men north to Corinth, MS to join General Albert Sidney Johnstons new Army of Mississippi. Leading a corps, Bragg took part in the Battle of Shiloh on April 6-7, 1862. In the fighting, Johnston was killed and command devolved to General P.G.T. Beauregard. After the defeat, Bragg was promoted to general and, on May 6, given command of the army. Shifting his base to Chattanooga, Bragg began planning a campaign into Kentucky with the goal of bringing the state into the Confederacy. Capturing Lexington and Frankfort, his forces began moving against Louisville. Learning of the approach of superior forces under Major General Don Carlos Buell, Braggs army fell back to Perryville. On October 8, the two armies fought to a draw at the Battle of Perryville. Though his men had gotten the better of the fighting, Braggs position was precarious and he elected to fall back through the Cumberland Gap into Tennessee. On November 20, Bragg renamed his force the Army of Tennessee. Assuming a position near Murfreesboro, he fought Major General William S. Rosecranss Army of the Cumberland on December 31, 1862-January 3, 1863. After two days of heavy fighting near Stones River, which saw Union troops repel two major Confederate attacks, Bragg disengaged and fell back to Tullahoma, TN. In the wake of the battle, several of his subordinates lobbied to have him replaced citing the failures at Perryville and Stones River. Unwilling to relieve his friend, Davis, now the Confederate president, instructed the General Joseph Johnston, commander of Confederate forces in the West, to relieve Bragg if he though it necessary. Visiting the army, Johnston found morale to be high and retained the unpopular commander. On June 24, 1863, Rosecrans initiated a brilliant campaign of maneuver which forced Bragg out of his position at Tullahoma. Falling back to Chattanooga, insubordination from his subordinates worsened and Bragg began to find orders being ignored. Crossing the Tennessee River, Rosecrans began pushing into northern Georgia. Reinforced by Lieutenant General James Longstreets corps, Bragg moved south to intercept the Union troops. Engaging Rosecrans at the Battle of Chickamauga on September 18-20, Bragg won a bloody victory and forced Rosecrans to retreat to Chattanooga. Following, Braggs army penned the Army of the Cumberland in the city and laid siege. While the victory allowed Bragg to transfer out many of his enemies, dissent continued to foment and Davis was forced to visit the army to assess the situation. Electing to side with his former comrade, he decided to leave Bragg in place and denounced those generals who opposed him. To save Rosecrans army, Major General Ulysse S. Grant was dispatched with reinforcements. Opening a supply line to the city, he prepared to attack Braggs lines atop heights that surrounded Chattanooga. With Union strength growing, Bragg elected to detach Longstreets corps to capture Knoxville. On November 23, Grant opened the Battle of Chattanooga. In the fighting, Union troops succeeded in driving Braggs men off of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. The Union attack on the latter shattered the Army of Tennessee and sent it retreating towards Dalton, GA. On December 2, 1863, Bragg resigned from command of the Army of Tennessee and traveled to Richmond the following February to serve as Davis military advisor. In this capacity he successfully worked to make the Confederacys conscription and logistical systems function more efficiently. Returned to the field, he was given command of the Department of North Carolina on November 27, 1864. Moving through several coastal commands, he was at Wilmington in January 1865, when Union forces won the Second Battle of Fort Fisher. During the fighting, he was unwilling to move his men from the city to aid the fort. With Confederate armies crumbling, he briefly served in Johnstons Army of Tennessee at the Battle of Bentonville and ultimately surrendered to Union forces near Durham Station. Braxton Bragg - Later Life: Returning to Louisiana, Bragg oversaw the New Orleans Waterworks and later became chief engineer for the state of Alabama. In this role he oversaw numerous harbor improvements at Mobile. Moving to Texas, Bragg worked as a railroad inspector until his sudden death on September 27, 1876. Though a brave officer, Braggs legacy was tarnished by his severe disposition, lack of imagination on the battlefield, and unwillingness to follow-up successful operations. Selected Sources Civil War: Braxton BraggCivil War Trust: General Braxton BraggGeneral Braxton Bragg

The Baton Rouge Bus Boycott Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

The Baton Rouge Bus Boycott - Research Paper Example Nevertheless, there had been glaring differences between the South and the Northern American cities4, especially in regard to racial discrimination, hence the degree of residential, school, industrial, and etc., desegregation. On the one hand, the effect of economic changes in the South manifested itself as rapid industrialisation and urbanisation, as well as the migration to the South of a vast number of white-collar employees and their families, who had a very little stake in the support of the rural colour-caste system5. On the other hand, economic changes pushed Afro-Americans off the cotton farms pulled them to the cities which offered much better employment opportunities; thus, bringing about a mass migration – nearly one and a half million Afro-Americans would leave the South during the 1950s – which fundamentally altered the configuration of the racial issue, making it national in scope6. Those African-Americans who migrated from the South and found themselves a mid the lustre of the fast-moving northern cities, like New York, Detroit, Philadelphia, Chicago, etc., soon realised that even though the North was anything but heaven, the new surrounding afforded them â€Å"precious breathing space† and an opportunity to get rid of the most hellish aspects of their life in the South7. Other African-Americans who migrated to the West and settled in cities such as Los Angeles, for example, enjoyed the opportunity to vote as free men and women for the first time in their lives8. Despite the evident advantages of finding better jobs, better educational opportunities and gaining voting rights, many of the newcomers found that there were also many clear penalties9, most notably racism and its concomitants. The African Americans who were most frequently faced with white resistance – a euphemism for a threatening mob and its racist rhetoric – appeared those members of the rising black middle class anxious to buy property in ‘ni ce’ neighbourhoods, with good schools and services10. In the South, however, the situation appeared much worse since no desegregation at all, especially in schools, had taken place until 1957; with the exception of two school districts in Tennessee, five in Arkansas and about one hundred in West and South Texas11. Even though the practice of lynching African Americans had been almost abandoned in the years 1950-1955, and the segregation walls started to crumble in many cities of the border states, the peripheral and even the Deep South12, racial discrimination was still a prominent feature of the American social, economic and political realities. Nevertheless, perhaps due to less-oppressive racial mores in the urban areas, the so-called urban ‘blacks’ found it much easier to co-ordinate social protests13. Historical Background In early 1953, the City Council of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, voted to raise bus fares, which aggravated the local Afro-American community, w hose members constituted more than eighty per cent of the passengers14. The reason for the discontent came from the existing segregation practice in public transportation, according to which African American men and women were allowed to sit or stand only in the back of the city buses, while the front ten seats – as reserved for white passengers – more often than not remained empty15. To add insult to injury, the system required African American

A Risks Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A Risks Analysis - Essay Example Raise the prices by 20% capital costs is significant due to purchase of machinery and losses in production opportunity time due to installation of the system, training of personnel and repairs in the working environment. In effect, payback period may be unsustainable. fluctuations in interest rates of the lending institution can affect business profitability; transportation costs and custom duties may result to higher sales price; competition with local products afforded with tax incentives and "patronize local products" edge can be unsustainable Option #5: Set up a joint venture with an overseas car manufacturer. An engine manufacturer in an unstable country in Southeast Asia has expressed interest in a joint venture to build all the engines for Suprema Cars. If they do this, Suprema would have to send out a team of engineers to the country to supervise production in the early stages. Transportation costs and custom duties may be too high; fluctuations in exchange rates are high in an unstable country; high Occupational Safety concerns for engineers sent to the country for supervision; quality of engines can be compromised significant capital investment for research and development; lost production opportunity time due to new system of production and training of personnel; competition with other cars with the same qualities maybe unsustainable From the details of the benefi

To what extent does HRM differ from past management practices Essay

To what extent does HRM differ from past management practices - Essay Example Bratton & Gold (14) acknowledge that personnel management was a caring activity aimed at satisfying employee’s work-related needs as well as solving their problems. Traditional organizations were highly bureaucratic hence employee involvement was not essential in ensuring organization success. As the environment continued to change, personnel management could not be able to respond quickly hence the emergence of a more responsive approach; human resource management. However, there is a lot of controversy as to whether HRM evolved from personnel management or it is just a broadening of scope of personnel management. HRM is strategic in nature and commitment-oriented and is concerned with human relation issues. Armstrong (2003, p. 1; 2006, p 3) defines HRM as ‘a strategic and coherent approach to the management of the organizations most valued assets: the people who individually and collectively contribute to achievement of its objectives’. For Heathfield (2011), HR M is ‘a strategic and comprehensive approach to managing people, workplace culture and environment’. ... FedEx is a parcel delivery service and among the 100 â€Å"best companies to work for† as indicated by the fortune magazine 2003 (Casestudyinc.com). Blues is a garment factory with 800 employees. The paper will compare the past management practices with HRM in light of the above organizations. Personnel Management and Human Resource Management Though some scholars argue that there is no difference between personnel and HRM and that one is an extension of the other, some differences can be observed in how employee relations are handled, the way modern management is linked to business strategy, emphasis on high employee commitment, employee development, outsourcing, increased role of line managers, increased use of technology in HR systems, use of team work among others. One of the most significant differences is treating employees as an asset rather than a cost that needs to be minimised (Armstrong 2003, 4; Armstrong 2006, 10; Aswathappa, 7). The employees are thus very importa nt in an organization as they ensure organization retains its competitive advantage. As an asset, investments are done on the employees through training and development, talent management and ensuring employee retention. In so doing, the organizations recognize that employees are valuable and essential for an organization to be profitable. At FedEx, the employees are encouraged to be innovative and its people-service-profit philosophy ensures employees’ needs are taken care of. The survey –feedback –Action program is used to get data on employees and then it is used by management to detect any problems such as training needs and address them. They also show how effective HR policies are in ensuring high performance and achievement of goals. It also has

Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 65

Assignment - Essay Example Moreover, in such cases any sort of negative complications of pets relating to death or illness, may distorts the sentimental balance of the attached persons. At that moment, the written descriptions made by such emotionally hurt individuals often termed as lossography. People suffering from such pain and misery often tend towards expressing their emotions for loosening up the excessive level of mental stress to which they are subjected. In this respect, an individual presenting emotion in writing is an effective way of understanding psychological distress. Presenting emotional distress in writing is considered as a form of psychological treatment. Thus, lossography is an effective measure based on which pain and sufferings of an individual can be analyzed at the time of loss (Sheridan 20-50). Considering the above aspects, it can be stated that human beings have different ways of expressing their feelings and emotions. One of such techniques is the lossography that can be considered effective enough under such circumstances. This technique also helps in describing the behavioral and emotional attachment trends of an individual. Sheridan, Thomas. A complete Dictionary of the English Language, Both with Regard to Sound and Meaning; to which is Prefixed a Prosodial Grammar. The 2. Ed. Corr. and Enlarged. - London, Dilly 1789. North America: Dilly, 1789.

Select two topics from the list and critically discuss how they Assignment

Select two topics from the list and critically discuss how they contribute to the effective operation of the Human Resouce Manag - Assignment Example An economic downturn also affects the reward system of the firm where the human resource management has to figure out a way to reduce the costs of rewards and still keep employees motivated (Ere.net. 2013). Economic Downturn: No business operates in isolation and is very sensitive to the outside environment. As an economy goes into a recession there is a significant decline in economic activity, a slowdown in industrial production, a decrease in consumer spending, loss of jobs, and a reduction in real income. For example Sherry FitzGerald a leading Irish residential and commercial estate agent was significantly affected by the recession as the volume of transactions in the residential market fell by 40% and their capital value fell by 50% ( Top of Form Roche, 2011). Bottom of Form . Due to this downturn, the Human Resource Management all of a sudden finds itself in the midst of problems encompassing all of its functions. It needs to reduce workers, ensure it maintains the motivation of the survivors, completely redesign jobs, and also try to gain the few opportunities that recession presents to the various firms. During the downturn of an economy, the human resource management must strive to maintain a balance between the interests of the employees and the organization as a whole. This scenario greatly affects the efficiency of the HR as it is faced with increasing constraints. Due to a decrease in economic activity, the management faces a decline in the HR budget and the main priority of the firm is to reduce production costs. Downsizing becomes the norm as companies critically review the allocation of their resources. Sherry FitzGerald however, did not initiate a redundancy policy right away, but decided that its chief HR policy would be to offer job protection and security. Salary cuts, recruitment embargo, career breaks and flexible working hours were offered to the staff and it was claimed that redundancies would be kept to the minimum. However, the comple x economic situation threatened HR with more problems as all the steps it had taken until now were not very effective in decreasing the cost. Thus, redundancies were seen as unavoidable and 31 employees were laid off. Cuts in salaries and reduction in fringe benefits was implemented once more. Layoffs put up a challenge for the HR departments, as they try to keep the existing employees motivated and appropriately trained. Reduced staffing levels and funds, and psychological problems faced by the employees during this hard time make the work of the HR difficult. All the events faced by the HR department of Sherry FitzGerald challenged its efficiency as many of their policies were not very effective in reducing costs and helping the firm through recession. However, by involving the staff and trying very hard to compensate its workers, it gained the support of its employees and was able to live through the hard times (Dtz Sherry Fitzgerald (Firm), 2010). The economic recession of 2007 created uncertainty for the American businesses and many are still hesitant in investing. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, corporate spending is increasing and GDP is expanding; but companies are still hesitant to hire again (Charles et al 2010). Many companies have also cut spending for the current employees, and won’t increase wages, benefits, and investment in hiring and training

WilaSeldons Leadership at Tides Centre Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

WilaSeldons Leadership at Tides Centre - Essay Example One of the critical aspects of organizational excellence involves effective leadership in an organization. This assumes critical significance considering the fact that leadership provides the long term vision to the organization and also helps formulate a roadmap to success (Yukl, 2007, p.445). In real life there is considerable number of examples of the manner in which effective leadership has been able to generate competitive edge. This includes the likes of individuals like Steve Jobs (founder of Apple), William and Sergy Page (Google), NR Narayana Murthy (Infosys) who have shown how an effective leadership can help bring about a growth momentum for any organization (Maak & Pless, 2006, p.5-8). The aspect of leadership has been a subject matter of great academic research in various areas. There have been many leadership theories including behavioral theories, contingency theories trait as well as power and influence theories that define and classify various kinds of leaders with t heir style of leadership in an organization (Kinicki & Kreitner, 2009, p.348). The case analysis of Tides center reveals a democratic style of leadership of Wila Seldon at Tides center. A democratic leadership style involves a leader making decisions on the basis of consultations with other team members. These types of leaders seek inputs from various quarters of the organization before making a crucial decision. In other words a democratic leader takes into account the views and sentiments of the entire organization while undertaking a major decision in the organization. A democratic leader tries to ensure encourage the entire organization in the decision making process (Daft & Lane, 2007, p.44). The analysis of the leadership qualities of Wila Seldon reveals a significant correlation with the traits of the democratic leader mentioned above. In the case it was quite evident that in all her stints as a leader, where she always tried to involve the entire organization with regards to crucial decision making for the organization. The case study shows that while assuming charge at Tides center Wila Seldon instead of making decisions like an autocratic leader chose to take the employees views into account. The initiation of teams like M team, strategic management team also shows that the CEO tried to ensure that decision making and learning has a bottom up approach. This is quite contra from the perspective of an autocratic or a Laissez faire type of leaders who normally take up decisions without consulting others and do not take an active role in the decision making and leave it to the responsibility of others (Wood, 2011, p.255). Wila Seldon also displays democratic leadership straits even in cases like the introduction of the 360 degree appraisal system for measuring employee performance at the organization as well as to the decision of referring projects as customers. Unlike an autocratic leader who imposes his/her decisions on their subordinates, Wila Seldon acted as a true democratic leader when she even took views of the employees who were opposing the decision. The CEO did not act in a haste and imposed decisions but tried to indulge into a democratic decision making process. This has helped in employees getting greater responsibilities and also to the fact that employees started to think out of the box solutions. This type of leadership skill was extremely important for an organization like Tide that was in the midst of a severe crisis in business whose revamp required comprehensive and extra efforts apart from an inner drive to propel the organization towards growth. The democratic lead

Select two topics from the list and critically discuss how they Assignment

Select two topics from the list and critically discuss how they contribute to the effective operation of the Human Resouce Manag - Assignment Example An economic downturn also affects the reward system of the firm where the human resource management has to figure out a way to reduce the costs of rewards and still keep employees motivated (Ere.net. 2013). Economic Downturn: No business operates in isolation and is very sensitive to the outside environment. As an economy goes into a recession there is a significant decline in economic activity, a slowdown in industrial production, a decrease in consumer spending, loss of jobs, and a reduction in real income. For example Sherry FitzGerald a leading Irish residential and commercial estate agent was significantly affected by the recession as the volume of transactions in the residential market fell by 40% and their capital value fell by 50% ( Top of Form Roche, 2011). Bottom of Form . Due to this downturn, the Human Resource Management all of a sudden finds itself in the midst of problems encompassing all of its functions. It needs to reduce workers, ensure it maintains the motivation of the survivors, completely redesign jobs, and also try to gain the few opportunities that recession presents to the various firms. During the downturn of an economy, the human resource management must strive to maintain a balance between the interests of the employees and the organization as a whole. This scenario greatly affects the efficiency of the HR as it is faced with increasing constraints. Due to a decrease in economic activity, the management faces a decline in the HR budget and the main priority of the firm is to reduce production costs. Downsizing becomes the norm as companies critically review the allocation of their resources. Sherry FitzGerald however, did not initiate a redundancy policy right away, but decided that its chief HR policy would be to offer job protection and security. Salary cuts, recruitment embargo, career breaks and flexible working hours were offered to the staff and it was claimed that redundancies would be kept to the minimum. However, the comple x economic situation threatened HR with more problems as all the steps it had taken until now were not very effective in decreasing the cost. Thus, redundancies were seen as unavoidable and 31 employees were laid off. Cuts in salaries and reduction in fringe benefits was implemented once more. Layoffs put up a challenge for the HR departments, as they try to keep the existing employees motivated and appropriately trained. Reduced staffing levels and funds, and psychological problems faced by the employees during this hard time make the work of the HR difficult. All the events faced by the HR department of Sherry FitzGerald challenged its efficiency as many of their policies were not very effective in reducing costs and helping the firm through recession. However, by involving the staff and trying very hard to compensate its workers, it gained the support of its employees and was able to live through the hard times (Dtz Sherry Fitzgerald (Firm), 2010). The economic recession of 2007 created uncertainty for the American businesses and many are still hesitant in investing. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, corporate spending is increasing and GDP is expanding; but companies are still hesitant to hire again (Charles et al 2010). Many companies have also cut spending for the current employees, and won’t increase wages, benefits, and investment in hiring and training

Avon's Market Campaigns Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Avon's Market Campaigns - Essay Example The strategy of going global was based on a primary fact that there will be more chances of profitability if you could access more customers. The basic reason of exporting is to increase the profitability of business either to explore new markets or to get rid of local heavy competition. Avon had both. The selling model developed by Avon that is in accordance with the nature of their products is not much suitable for the women in the United States. As a large number of women are engaged in full-time jobs, it will be difficult to access them through direct selling model.Avon has a specific sales model that is line with its business model and the nature of products it is selling. However, in order to make the business profitable, it is necessary to understand the socioeconomic and demographic trends of the country. In the United States, the availability of women is a major issue. Avon needs a part-time sales force to implement its sales model effectively with a low labor cost. The unav ailability of women affects the volume of sales because there will be fewer candidates willing to take the part-time sales representative job and also there will be fewer women to meet those representatives to buy the products. Going global is a risky decision as the economic recession can affect the profitability of a global company more than a local company. Some portion of operating cost of global operations is fixed in nature and can not be avoided like legal formalities of each country. Global recession also affects the purchasing power.

The Advantages of eBooks Versus Traditional Books Essay Example for Free

The Advantages of eBooks Versus Traditional Books Essay The Advantages of eBooks Versus Traditional Books By Jill Harness While you’re browsing the electronic bookshelves of an online bookstore, you may be tempted to buying a lower-priced eBook over a physical copy. Before you buy either version though, it’s important to realize that there are definite advantages and disadvantages of each, you should always evaluate your own needs before deciding. The following are some of the advantages of eBooks over physical titles: Travel.  If you’re on the go a lot, you know how heavy regular titles are, particularly if you intend to finish one book while you are out and need to bring another book with you. eBooks allow you to bring a whole library with you wherever you go. You can switch between titles with ease and the weight is lighter than a standard paperback. Storage. Those who own a lot of books know how much space they can take up, but with a reader, your bookshelf is located on a small handheld device, your computer or on both. This will save you a lot of storage space and also means you have a backup online if something happens to your books. Price. eBooks are often cheaper in the long run because there are no printing fees associated with them. In fact, you can often find free eBooks online, whereas physical books almost always cost you something. You must remember however, that readers are not free, you are going to spend a good amount upfront for a device like this. Speed. When you buy an eBook, your reward is instantaneous. Whereas if you order a book online you have to wait for it to arrive before the fun begins. Font adjustments. With an eBook, you can instantly change the darkness of the lettering or the size of your font. When your eyes feel strained after reading a paper book too long, you have little choice but to stop reading. With an eBook, you can just change the font size and keep going. This is also a great feature for those who need large print books. Night reading. If you read in bed, an eBook may be a good option as many readers come with built-in reading lights. These are easy to use and won’t get in the way like the lights attached to actual books do. Advantages of physical books over electronic titles: Resale value. Like music downloads, you’ll never actually be able to resell electronic books. If you are into collectable books, this is a particularly big problem and you should only use physical titles. Reading ease. This one is only really a benefit for those that would otherwise read eBooks on their computers or phones. If you buy a commercial eReader, it will probably use ink technology that will not hurt your eyes with backlight. Never the less, you don’t need to worry about this problem with a physical book. No devices needed. If you find yourself in a small town without your cell phone or computer, you won’t be able to download a new title for your eBook, but you can always stop by a local bookstore and pick up a new paperback. No batteries. While most readers have a good battery life, there will still be times where you forget to charge it and then can’t read at all. You’ll never have this problem with a standard book. No warranties needed. If your eReader breaks, you will have nothing to read until you receive a new one. Some devices let you read the titles you have saved on your computer, but it’s just something you’ll never have to worry about with a physical book. Best of all, if a book does get damaged to where you cant read it, you can just go to the bookstore and buy another copy, rather than worrying if it is still covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. Tradition. Let’s face it; you’re never going to get that comforting smell of paper or the weight of a good book in your hands when you read an eBook. And while you can flip ahead in an eBook, you can’t do so in a matter of seconds and flip right back to your page. As you can see, both types of books have many advantages; the decision is ultimately up to you. Some people find technology more convenient, while others find the weight and smell of books to be comforting. Whatever you decide, many of our top online bookstore sites, particularly Amazon. com and Borders, offer electronic downloads along with physical books, so you can be certain that all of your favorite titles will still be available.

Video games in teenagers lifes and ergonomics

Video games in teenagers lifes and ergonomics Issues of Video Games in Teenagers lifes and ergonomics The video game sector is the fastest growing entertainment industry. Study in 2008 found that 90% of children play video games every single week. Games for people above 18+ start to be more popular than before, we know very little about the effects that video games may have on childrens development and socialization. Video Games have many positive aspects, but also it can have many negative aspects. The postitive aspects include : Provide a fun and social way of entertainment, cooperation and teamwork while playing with other people, make kids feel comfortable with technology, increase childrens self-confidence and self-esteem as they master games, provide things of common interest and opportunities for socialization, they are also for : develop skills in reading, math, technology and problem-solving encourage participation in related offline activities, such as reading or sports encourage civic participation, improve hand-eye co-ordination and fine motor skills A scientist thinks age appropriate multi-player video games can allow children to learn how other people think a key aspect of empathy. Games can also help a child become more comfortable with new and ever progressing technology. Which is in my opinion true. If computers are used properly by teenagers they will have only positive impact on their education. Parents of teenagers should be aware of : According to a Harris Interactive poll released in January of 2008, 23% of gamers surveyed reported that they felt addicted to video games. â€Å" Some teens are heavy users of online role-playing games (RPGs) such as World of Warcraft and multiplayer games such as Call of Duty in which they interact with other players in real time. Students will often neglect schoolwork and other aspects of their daily lives when they become immersed in these games. While it remains unclear whether this can be termed an addiction, the American Medical Association has identified video game overuse as a behaviour, and may include it in a future edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.† Children who are heavy users of video games may also be getting less exercise and develop eating fast foods. Make sure that your teen is getting outside and not snacking too much on unhealthful food while gaming. According to the book Grand Theft Childhood by Doctors Cheryl Olson and Lawrence Kutner, children who play primarily M-rated games (whether the rating is due to violent or sexual content) are more likely to be involved in fights or bullying If you are concerned about the amount of time your teen is spending on video games, keep in mind that it is normal for young people to throw themselves enthusiastically into hobbies. Consider the effect your teens gaming is having on his or her life: is he or she socializing less with friends? Are his or her grades declining? Is his or her sleep or general health being affected? . Its important to know what the ratings mean on the video games that child plays. rating symbols suggest age appropriateness for the game, content descriptors to indicate elements in a game that may have triggered a particular rating and/or may be of interest or concern. It is important because video games are not all violent, but most of them are, and many of them are pretty gruesome. It has been estimated that up to 89% of games contain some violent content. I am going to cover following topics due to covering issue Violence Living Online Addiction Ergonomics Positive Things about games Violence : People are concerned that violent games might be causing young people to become violent and there is some evidence to support this. Studies have shown that violent games can: increase physiological arousal (the fight or flight response) increase aggressive thoughts and emotions increase aggressive behaviour reduce helping behaviour (where people become less likely to help others). This effects even stronger on people who attend to be already aggressive. Violent games attract young people that tend to be aggressive or are fascionate about being aggressive. There is also some evidence that violent games can change the way people think. One study had two groups playing games, one of them a violent game. After playing the games it was found that the group playing the violent game were more likely to: think it was OK to use alcohol and marijuana be competitive in another task think they were being accused of cheating in another task. Living Online : This type of Games can subtitute real life and can cause young people to addiction. Studies have shown that young people who spend too much time playing computer or video games do not do as well at school. Computer games may also be linked to obesity (being unhealthily overweight) and evidence is emerging to support this. Addiction : People can become addicted to games. People can start to play games for more than 12 hours per day. They might stop doing their homeworks, stop going to school, forget about their job. The most addicting games are online games like GTA, World of Warcraft or Lineage2. They start to compete with each other, form clans and fight with each other, in the beginning it can be 2 hours per day, but than it becomes more. Positive Things about Games : There are also some positive things in cerain issues, and here are also some positive stuff about games. What is it then? People get pleasure for playing games Hand-eye coordination improvement Mental stimulation and require some form of problem solving. Enjoyable social interaction. Educational games is a good way of learning Simulations are good way of training people Ergonomics : Screen should be 70 cm away from the eyes. The top of your monitor should be at eye level. Your desk surface should be at roughly belly button level. When typing, your wrists should be in line with your forearms and not bent up. Go for a walk outside at least once a day.

Susan B. Anthony Essay -- Biography

Susan B. Anthony Susan Brownell Anthony was a magnificent women who devoted most of her life to gain the right for women to vote. She traveled the United States by stage coach, wagon, and train giving many speeches, up to 75 to 100 a year, for 45 years. She went as far as writing a newspaper, the Revolution, and casting a ballot, despite it being illegal. Susan B. Anthony was born on February 15, 1820, in Adams, Massachusetts. She was the second of eight children in her family. In the early 1800's girls were not allowed an education. Susan's father, Daniel, believed in equal treatment for boys and girls and allowed her to receive her education from a private boarding school in Philadelphia. At the age of seven her family moved to Batterville, New York. Later, in 1845 her family made their final move to Rochester, New York. At the early age of fifteen, Susan started her teaching career, thanks to her father's encouragement. She continued to teach until she was thirty. Opposing the use of liquor and wanting an immediate end of slavery, Susan displayed he...

Plastic Cups Industry

{draw:frame} December 8, 2009 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION 2 Industry/Product Category Overview 2 Market Size 2 Growth of Product Category 3 Recent Product Innovations 3 Market Sub-Segments 4 MARKET SECTOR RESEARCH 4 Differentiation 5 Value to Consumers 5 Fit in the Market 5 Pricing Strategies within Market 6 NEW PRODUCT INFORMATION 7 PRICING STRATEGY, TACTICS, AND THEORY 8 CONCLUSIONS 9 BIBLIOGRAPHY 11 Introduction Industry/Product Category Overview The Foodservice Packaging industry deals with plastic products such as plastic bowls, cups, plates and cutlery. The industry encompasses packaging for the home, commercial use and government institutions, such as schools and correctional facilities. Specifically, the product being developed belongs to the reusable cup category, in which the primary national competitor is Solo Cup Company. Although the Foodservice Packaging Industry was impacted by the economic situation, the challenges proved beneficial for the industry as they led to increase in product innovation. More notable, the â€Å"greening† of products, making them less harmful to the environment, has become a signal of the changing times. Additionally, the reason for the resiliency in some product categories in the industry, is the result of consumers downgrading their, spending on dining out and increasing their spending on home cooked meals. As consumers continue to downscale they will be looking for more disposable items to use in their homes. The foodservices packaging industry contains already established firms, such as Solo Cup Company, however, our product will service a niche in the market not effectively reached by other vendors. Market Size Recycled, reusable plastic wear finds its place in the disposable sector of the industry under the segment, â€Å"Cups and Lids. This market accounts for several segments of plastic ware: Cups and Lids, Containers, Dinnerware and others. In addition, the market includes several â€Å"end-use† markets such as restaurants, retail stores, and various institutions. With respect to the â€Å"cup and lid† market the U. S. is predicting increases over the course o f a four-year layout. It has been speculated that between now and 2012, demand for this respective segment will continue to grow by approximately 4. 3 percent to a figure of $7. 8 billion. Looking further ahead, we see predictions that this industry is expected to eventually reach $16. 52 billion by year 2015. This growth has been associated with increasing away-from-home expenditure, and dual-income families with reduced time for making elaborate home cooked meals, finds immense applications in restaurants, institutions, and retail stores among others. Increase in the number of working women and changing trends in ethnicity have also led to greater indulgence in foodservice disposables. While these aren’t figures directed at the cup market in its entirety, research has noticed a close correlation between purchasing plastic dinnerware (i. e. plastic plates and eating utensils) and the significant increase in plastic drink ware. It’s been noted, however, that of the foodservice market, cups and lids are anticipated to produce the quickest growth in profit from now until 2015. This is expected to be fueled by the increasing demand in environmentally friendly cups, such as compostable cups or recycled content cups, will add value gains as these cups tend to be higher in price than conventional cups, thus generating a respectable profit. Growth of Product Category The Solo cup company was founded in 1936. Solo was and still is one of the biggest companies in the plastic disposable cup industry. In 2006, the company posted sales of over 2. billion dollars. Since the founding of the consumer packaging industry, growth has been exponential. The industry is multi-billion dollar commerce and one that most consumers contribute to at one point or another. Plastic cups are now an everyday item in many people’s lives and have literally countless uses. With the modern, fast-paced lifestyle, convenient, disp osable plastic cups are practical. There are also niche products that are still plastic disposable cups but they have a bit of flare to them. Some of these products include insulated plastic cups and cups that have hand grips added to them. The first Solo red, basic cup that most people know was introduced in late 1972. Since then, the popularity has grown exponentially. What used to be just a family consumer product has now morphed into a product that is used by some of the biggest corporations in the world. 80% of Solo’s sales come from these large corporations such as Starbucks and fast food restaurants who use other, smaller containers as condiment holders. What started out as just simple cups has evolved into something much more broad and diverse. The aforementioned condiment containers are an example. Another example would be the lines of complete tableware that some companies now offer. They are entirely plastic and disposable, just like the cups. The industry has grown from just a simple singular product into completely separate lines and product trees. The expansion from the beginning is enormous. Recent Product Innovations In the plastic tableware industry, lines have blurred between â€Å"disposable† and â€Å"reusable. † With many disposable cups now being marketed as dishwasher safe, low-grade dinnerware has become single-use for some market segments, but multiple-use for others. The â€Å"Green† movement has also influenced this industry. Increasingly, consumers are willing to spend more on products made from recycled or biodegradable materials. Several companies have taken advantage of this new market segment by promoting â€Å"green† product lines. MicroGreen Polymers, for example, is a Seattle-based company that manufactures disposable coffee cups produced from recycled pop bottles. The company uses a thermoformed plastic technique that infuses tiny bubbles into the plastic, resulting in a â€Å"more bang for your buck† product. In addition to resisting temperatures up to 400 degrees, the product also costs fifteen to twenty percent less than competing products. Another eco-friendly tableware producer is EcoProducts, which makes plastic-looking cups that are made from compostable corn. The cups require less energy than a traditional plastic cup to produce, resist heat up to 145 degrees, and compost in only 45 days. Solo Cup Company, the market share leader in plastic cup manufacturing, has also come out with a line of â€Å"green† products called â€Å"Bare. † It is the first nationally available full line of food service and consumer products made of recyclable or renewable materials, and because Solo has the brand recognition that emerging companies don’t, it has a unique advantage over the competition. Another recent product innovation is the beveled cup design that allows for a slip-free grip of the beverage. Solo has released products with this feature called â€Å"Grip Cups†, while Hefty released a similar product called the â€Å"Easy Grip Cup. † Advancement in the industry is the development of color-changing plastics which are being used in the production of low-grade cups. The company MoodCups uses this technology to produce customizable cups for large-scale customers that change color in response to contact with cold temperatures. MoodCups is one of a variety of companies which currently utilize this technology, but thus far the products are only available in mass orders of 250 or more rather than in family-size quantities. Market Sub-Segments There are two main market sub-segments for this product: college students and home users. College students (24 and under) are often price sensitive, with less sensitivity to quality. Additionally, this segment already uses this type of cup for playing drinking games, keg parties, and everyday cup use. Kooler cups will be a draw to this segment because of their unique color-changing technology, low price, and versatility. Home users, generally classified as those consumers 25 and older, are interested in value rather than price alone. The ability to use the product we have created, Kooler Cups, at dinner parties or in everyday settings will add value to the product for this segment. As with college students, these cups will draw in home users looking for that little extra bit of flare to throw in at a home party or with the kids. Market Sector Research The presence of myriad â€Å"off-brands† offering substitute products to the classic Solo cup creates a unique challenge in this product category. While Solo remains the number one competitor in this product category, almost identical products are available to consumers at a lower cost that are packaged under generic and store brands. Throughout our in-the-field pricing research, we found that the store brand alternatives to Solo cups were consistently priced much lower than comparable name-brand products. Differentiation Our product will compete with existing products in the market sector through characteristic differentiation rather than low cost. Kooler Cups will be considered somewhat of a novelty item by offering consumers the ability to own a disposable cup that is more fun and different that other items they see by major competitors. Kooler Cups are temperature activated cups that change colors which add excitement and allows for the consumers to see that the beverage is the perfect temperature. This feature is currently not part of the market our product is entering and this is a main reason it will be successful. Additionally, Kooler Cups are made of a harder plastic that is both inexpensive and manufactured of a higher quality material than competing products. By producing Kooler Cups with a higher quality material, we can ensure that the product is dishwasher safe. Value to consumers These unique features bring a whole new set of desirable and valuable traits of disposable cups to the consumer. The higher quality material establishes a large part of the value of the product as consumer will pay less for a reusable cup that is able to be disposed at the consumer’s discretion. This feature allows for a range of uses at an affordable price which leads to a decrease in consumer disappointment with the accidental destruction or loss of the product. Additionally, the products material provides value by being dishwasher safe which will decrease the spread of germs or residue that may occur with hand wash only cups offered by major competitors. The new material will also add to the ease of cleaning the product, saving the consumer time as well as money because they will need to purchase the cups as frequently. The color change features adds value by bringing an element of surprise and excitement to whatever event the product is used at. For the inexpensive nature of the product, this feature will be a major selling point and will lead to a higher perceived value by consumers. Fit in the market Kooler Cups will participate in the disposable food service products market with products manufactured by major companies like Solo Cup Inc. Kooler Cups will be available at a comparable price to other products in the market because they can be considered disposable even though they are not necessarily one-time use cups. We will package and sell Kooler Cups in comparable quantities to its competitors in the market to encourage the selection of this product for gatherings where many cups are required. Pricing Strategies within Market With several outside factors affecting the profitability and bottom line of a firm, pricing plays a crucial role in reaching that yield. Understanding the costs associated with the product (cost of goods sold and operating expense) is the first step before determining an appropriate pricing strategy. The cost of goods sold accounts for the various costs that go into production of the good as well as shipping and handling expenses. In addition, operating expense takes into consideration the costs associated with overhead, marketing, payroll, and office supplies. The pricing strategy used should more than cover these expenses to result in a respectable profit. With respect to the Palouse region, it appears that our main competitor, Solo Cups is employing a promotional pricing strategy. This strategy is best used as new products are introduced into the market, or in our case, to stimulate demand for an already-established product. The demand for this well established product comes with respect to seasonal changes, given the â€Å"special events† occurring during those seasons. During the fall and winter months, Solo cups are found on sale because of the influence of the two most common sports in our area, football and basketball. With the multitude of residents who tailgate as well as attend or host pre-game parties, breakeven on sales of cups are surely met and exceeded with the use of effective promotional efforts. Also, it was noticed that during off seasons such as late spring throughout summer, the plastic cup industry aims to target the outdoor enthusiast crowd. This group includes those involved with barbequing, casual camping, outdoor sporting events, as well as general picnicking. With this, Solo can maximize reach of its target audience under various shifts, both seasonally as well as activity-based by providing a recognizable price during these respective months as well as using other products to help promote their cups. Upon visiting local stores such as WinCo, Wal-Mart, Rosauers, and Safeway, we observed that Solo Cup places a significant emphasis on product positioning as they are determined to set an inviting, yet profitable price. In WinCo, Rosauers and Safeway, they take advantage of end-cap displays generally strategically positioned with complementary products such as America’s â€Å"beverage of choice,† Busch Light and Keystone beer. This type of strategy grabs the consumer’s attention through use of effective signage, as they are stocking up on supplies for any given event. Given the availability of wide aisles, such as the bordering aisles at Wal-Mart, Solo can position its cups at conveniently located product islands. These islands are also generally shared with other complimentary items, namely Busch Light and Keystone beer as well as twelve pack cases of soda. This is especially effective because people will pass these islands on their way to satisfy their regular shopping lists, being reminded of their need for cups and beverages, if not already realized. New Product Information Our product is a sixteen ounce plastic cup. The features that distinguish Kooler Cups are that they are reusable, dishwasher safe, and color-changing. We believe that by adding these, our product will have value associated with it that the products we are competing with do not have. These features add extra cost to the production of the cups; however, these will be strong selling points to the consumers and will bring in the volume of sales needed to counter the extra costs. By having Kooler Cups made as reusable and dishwasher safe cups, they are more appealing to a broader market, ranging from the household parent who is purchasing to entertain guests, to the college student who is looking for an affordable option as a party cup, and everyone else in between. If a consumer were to go to the grocery store and purchase a pack of Solo brand cups, they would use them for the evening, and throw them away at the end of the night just like any other trash. However, with Kooler Cups, the consumer is able to use the time after time, making our product a much better value over the life of the cup. Kooler Cups will be the life of the party with the color changing technology. This feature will appeal especially to college students looking something extra to have at their party, as well as being a strong selling feature to mothers who go hopping with their children. It is a feature that is sure to be determining factor in the minds of potential consumers, and will result in Kooler Cups gaining a sizable amount of market share from the product launch. Kooler Cups will be positioned on the shelf where all of the other plastic party supplies are located. They will be at a higher price point than most of the competing products because of the reusability a nd color changing features of the cups. Kooler Cups will be offered in packs of twelve, even though many of the competing plastic cups come in packages of twenty. Our product cost would be too high if we offered packs of twenty, so at packs of twelve, the price will seem closer to the competing cups, even though the price per cup will be much higher. The Kooler Cups will sell in packs of twelve cups, and made so that they are stackable. The design of the cup will have a more modern of a look, with a slight outward curve on the upper half of the cup. It will be constructed out of Polypropylene plastic (No. 5), which is a food safe plastic that is dishwasher safe and more durable than Polystyrene (No. 6) that Solo brand cups are made out of. Polypropylene plastic is also able to be engineered to have thermodynamic qualities. Forecasting the demand of our product has proven to be somewhat of a difficult task. After looking at many different factors, the estimated monthly demand in the first year of Kooler Cups is 155,000 packages of Kooler Cups. This was found by looking at the total amount of college student in the United States which is about 14 million. We estimate that probably about 3/5’s of college students participate in drinking, which would bring the number of college age drinkers to 8,400,000. Assuming that each drinking college student consumes about 3 plastic cups a month that would bring the number of cups used monthly to 25,200,000. We are estimating an initial market share of 5%, which would equal 1,260,000 cups purchased monthly. That is 105,000 packages of cups sold per month, and we added an additional 50,000 cups to be consumed by other markets such as households. This gives us a monthly demand of 155,000 packages of Kooler Cups. Pricing Strategy, Tactics, and Theory Our plan is to implement a price-skimming strategy to establish Kooler Cups as a competitor in the market. By pricing the cups slightly higher than our primary competitor, Solo Cup, we will communicate high product value and capture the price insensitive market first. While the price for a package of thirty sixteen oz. Solo cups ranges from $2. 67 to $5. 49 (depending on the distribution channel), we will package our product in twelve cup packages for approximately $3. 99. Because our production cost per cup is much higher due to the higher-grade plastic used for raw materials and the thermodynamic technology, offering the same package size as Solo would make the price per cup difference obvious. However, packaging the cups in sets of twelve accomplishes two goals: 1) increasing the customers’ propensity to purchase the product because the package price is within an acceptable range of competitors’ prices, and 2) reinforcing the reusable feature of the cups (i. e. , if they’re reusable, why buy thirty of them? ). Once the price insensitive market is saturated, we will lower the price slightly to capture more price sensitive markets. Logistically, this strategy makes sense for a company starting with limited production capacity. As a result of high startup costs and little brand awareness (and, consequently, low initial revenues), we will only have the capital to produce limited quantities of the product in the beginning. Then, as brand awareness increases and we begin to re-coop our startup costs, we will generate enough cash flow to increase production capacity and decrease our cost per cup. With a lower cost per cup, we can lower the price without eroding our margins. Because our product has a differentiating feature (the color changing technology), we won’t be forced to compete on price. Additionally, since there are no comparable substitutes for this product’s differentiating feature, we can be the ones to determine its value. Rather than choosing between a name brand Solo cup and a store brand cup that looks virtually identical, customers are choosing between a commodity (the classic disposable cup) and a whole new product entirely. Firms often times find too much comfort in their pricing strategy, and are too optimistic, that they fail to realize what could go wrong with regards to sales or driven demand. As a business, it’s crucial to analyze these â€Å"what-ifs,† if you will, to determine the next plan of action. It becomes entirely necessary during the initial stages of product development and marketing, to come up with something known as a worst case scenario. So, with this scenario in mind, what if the demand for Kooler Cups plummeted during the first three to six months, creating a significant decrease in our sales figures? Would we just â€Å"call it quits,† and bail before too much of our time, money, and efforts are wasted? Well, the primary strategy behind price-skimming doesn’t say to bail, but instead reduce price if that initial market isn’t purchasing our product. The idea behind this strategy resides in the fact that there are different pricing phases over time to generate profits with respect to various price-sensitive markets. If, in our case, consumers aren’t buying during the initial phase of pricing [first 3-6 months], we will reduce the price to try and capture the next segment, using an effective promotional strategy. For example, we would attach a $. 50 off coupon on the outside of the package, as to not degrade the price or brand of the cups, but increase the value leading to higher sales volume. This will keep broadening the consumer base until, eventually, we have maximum market potential given our product. Looking on the other end, if sales skyrocket given a drastic increase in demand, there are a couple different options to consider: increase capacity while maintaining (or even lowering) price, or implement a slight price-increase to counteract demand. Seeing as the product is rather new into the market and un- established, most would agree that the appropriate strategy to take would be to slightly increase price without coming across to customers as charging an unreasonably high price. A brand new business, such as ours, would not hold the necessary resources needed to expand and increase capacity (i. e. purchasing new equipment or hiring additional people). The next best alternative at hand would be a slight price increase until demand starts to level off again. *Conclusion * The disposable sector of the Foodservice Packaging industry is comprised of single-use products such as plastic bowls, cups, lids and cutlery for the commercial, government and home use sectors. The specific product category that Kooler Cups will be competing in is titled â€Å"Cups & Lids†, and includes disposable beverage products made from various grades of plastic, Styrofoam and molded paper. This category is projected to have the highest revenue growth between now and 2015, due largely to innovations in environmentally friendly products such as compostable cups and cups made from recycled materials. Solo Cup Company, the primary competitor in this product category, has overwhelming market share and posted sales of $2. 4 billion in 2006. Created in 1936, Solo enjoys well-established brand equity and has the advantage of low production costs due to its high volume manufacturing. These factors allow Solo to retail its products at a premium price, resulting in high profit margins. By differentiating our product based on its unique characteristics, we will enter the market as a high-quality alternative to the classic Solo cup. With its color changing technology and durability, Kooler Cups will compete in the market by providing the customer with a uniquely valuable product. Bibliography â€Å"Ammended Annual Report. Solo Cup Co.. N. p. , 1 Jan. 2006. Web. 14 Oct. 2009. . â€Å"Cold Cups & Lids. † EcoProducts. N. p. , n. d. Web. 2 Nov. 2009. . â€Å"Cups & Lids to 2012 – Market Research, Market Share, Market Size, Sales, Demand Forecast, Market Leaders, Company Profiles, Industry Trends and Companies including Solo Cup, Dart Container and Georgia-Pacific. † _ The Freedonia Group – Market Resea rch _. N. p. , n. d. Web. 14 Nov. 2009. http://www. freedoniagroup. com/Cups-And-Lids. html. â€Å"Cups & Lids. † Market Research Reports – Business Market Research Reports & Industry Analysis. N. p. , n. d. Web. 4 Nov. 2009. http://www. marketresearch. com/product/display. asp? productid=2021950. Dunn, Collin. â€Å"MicroGreen: Recycled Plastic Cups Cut Heat and Waste : TreeHugger. † TreeHugger. N. p. , n. d. Web. 2 Nov. 2009. http://www. treehugger. com/files/2006/02/microgreen_recy. php. â€Å"Our Values, Vision and Mission. † Foodservice Packaging Institute. N. p. , n. d. Web. 14 Oct. 2009. http://www. fpi. org/EXPAGES/ourvalues. asp. â€Å"Packaging Industry Related News. † IDS-Packaging – Online Information Resource, Exhibition, Conference, Packaging White Papers, Suppliers, Products, and much more. N. p. , n. d. Web. 16 Sept. 2009. http://www. idspackaging. com/packaging/us/newsrelease. html. â€Å"REVOLVER. † ONESHOT CORPORATION. N. p. , n. d. 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