Crafting an Innovative Culture and Organisation - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2290 Downloads: 7 Date added: 2017/09/12 Category Advertising Essay Did you like this example? It is vital for a business to be innovative especially in this modern era where the market is highly competitive all over the globe. Crafting an innovative culture and organization has become one of the challenging issues that 21st century managers will have to face and tackle it. To be innovative is to introduce new ideas successfully whereas culture carries the meaning of certain ways of life like beliefs, values and behaviors that are shared among a particular social group (Jennex, 2008, p. 107). Innovate or die. It is this serious for organisations if they are lack of innovation as it is seen as the engine of an organisation for growth (Bryant, 2007). Innovation is the key to success and survival for a corporate. Successful leaders and companies recognize innovation as a force that drives growth. Furthermore, innovation is achieved by sharing a continuously intense growth attitude, passion for solving problem and also turning thoughts into realities. Being innovative will only lead to more growth as new markets, services and products are introduced and re-invent. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Crafting an Innovative Culture and Organisation" essay for you Create order This depends solely on an organization’s capability to recognize market opportunities, its internal abilities to respond to situation innovatively and also its knowledge base (Kotelnikov, n. d. ). The characteristics of a typical innovative organisation are that the company’s management tolerates failure when individuals take on risks to be innovative. Next, bureaucratic policies are kept at a minimum level in order to keep the job description easily comprehensible and allow flexibility for the employees to have an opportunity to improvise it. An innovative organisation also does not analyse risk continuously whereas it measures both potential benefit and risks involved before making any decisions. There are also two groupings of employees in an organisation where the first would be the one who are applying others’ ideas and the other type would be the risk-taker. However, these groupings are still given equal rewards for their dedication, loyalty and willingness to take risks. Besides that, the management is open to ideas from any employee as it realises the importance of it that can actually bring success and longevity to the organisation. Furthermore, the organisation encourages suggestion for improvement and would appreciate and pay attention to ideas regardless of their sources. Subsequently, informal communication is strongly encouraged even if individuals are from different department background and also interpersonal skills. The reason for this is it can build trust and loyalty towards the organisation as a whole (Mintzer, 2004). It is necessary to study the characteristics of an innovative organisation and how it functions in order to create one. Innovation is a mindset where it is influenced by a person’s thoughts and acts. Therefore, having the right corporate culture can aid in crafting a successful innovative organisation. There are many organisations have attempted to implement systems to create an innovative culture but this is only a way to commence the process. In order to craft an innovative culture, top managers in the corporate will have to first be aware of their own actions, words, and decisions in detail as it can inspire the others to innovate actively (Bryant, 2007). There are two methods to change a culture in a corporate; the engineering approach and mindful approach. The engineering approach has three levels that are relatively easy to put in practice to shape the right culture. Firstly, it is the slogan level where the purpose is to create a culture. Although in reality, the company’s slogan does not always match with the management in it, slogan can still serve as a starting point. Second, the incubation level can assist the process of creating an innovative culture by developing groups or appointing someone that is responsible for innovation. Next is the compliance level which refers to implementing systems to encourage creativity. For example, the suggestion schemes, reward and recognition schemes are systems that can promote creativity and may even change a corporate culture. Undeniably, the engineering approach is a good start but it is very limited and is not sufficient to form an innovative culture, hence this is where the mindful approach comes in place. This approach is based on employees observing and taking signals from top-level leaders meaning that every action is vital. In order to achieve this approach, managers will have to change behaviors and habits that are often unconscious and traditional values. There are also three levels for this approach. First of all, the attention level describes that top-level managers have to give more attention to actions and employees to encourage innovation. Managers should be open to ideas and broaden their view where it focuses on creativity, knowledge, and context rather than risk, status and content. The next level is disruption level. This states that although conformity is needed at an essential level for corporate to function smoothly, disruption should not be suppressed as this will hinder innovation. Therefore, the senior managers must possess a skill that juggles the tension of these two identities for creativity to happen. They should also lead others to get out of the comfort zone and show direction to truly change the culture of the corporate. Lastly, the interaction level would be the most difficult to attain as it require the leaders to be constantly aware of himself, the way of interaction with others. This is due to the fact that leaders can convey distinct information through voice tone and body language in just a split second. For example, leaders inspiring fear or challenge and pessimism or optimism can be very critical as this usually happens unconsciously (Bryant, 2007). For innovation to sustain, imitating best practices of other’s in a robotic manner is not the way. The true catalysing agent for continuous flow of innovation actually comes from culture. The same issues are always discuss in books about innovation but all those cannot be apply without the presence of the basic element, that is the culture created deliberately for innovation. Companies are actually living organisms, not machines. We keep bringing in mechanics, when what we need are gardeners. claimed Peter Senge. This statement is contradicting with the classical perspective where it states that to make organisation into an efficient operating machine. The metaphor of â€Å"creating a garden† closely illustrates what an organisation should do. Creating a culture is not an easy task because most of the corporate have uncult ivated ground and need clearing. Gardening requires constant hard work and systematic effort to get a yield. On the other hand, for an organisation to create the culture for innovation involves plenty of time to carry out each step methodically just like the gardeners (Ditkoff, 2010). First of all, the gardener of innovation must desire for results. The final product of employees is what that motivates the gardener. He must be committed in order to harvest the result, whetting the appetite of the workforce as well as awaken them to feel the urge to move in the same direction. Secondly is to stake and prepare a ground for innovation where a corporate focuses in fields that it wants and start the preparation for planting. This involves removing obstacles to create a strong foundation. After that is to find diverse seeds, meaning ideas to increase the chances of having an interesting yield. Next is to plant the seeds in a more effective way so that it will have the opportunity to grow into seedlings. The following step is to fence the garden, meaning building a territory to protect it from naysayers and external environment. Conceiving a garden denotes conceiving new ideas is easy than to transform ideas into life. Majority of the company’s are not aware of the process for developing the growth of new ideas and had caused many new ideas turned down. Besides that, inexperienced gardeners are often influenced by their drive for large harvest that leads them to plant more seeds making it too crowded within the same space of ground. This has created a converse result where the plants are stunted due to the fact that the plants compete for limited resources for growth. This goes the same for the gardeners of innovation where if too many ideas exist at the same time, it will only lead to great competition for the limited resources and the ideas will also be stunted. Therefore, organisation will have to select the most appropriate ideas and create a favorable environment. Last but not least is to celebrate the harvest. There are cultures having ritual or ceremony to show appreciation of harvest and organisation should also do the same by acknowledging employees’ hard work. This can even motivate the whole workforce and create a culture of innovation that can sustain. Hence, culture should be cultivated and not to be managed (Ditkoff, 2010). A real-life example of an innovative organisation would be the Honda Motor, a deeply innovative company culture that ranks second in the list of most admired companies in the motor vehicles industries after BMW (CNNmoney, 2010 [b]). The Honda Motor is worth to be admired as being innovative is one of its priorities. Honda had created many innovative products like the robot that connects to the brain that analyses thoughts pattern and transmit them s wireless command for Asimo, the human-shaped robot (Kageyama, 2009). Besides that, it also has created innovative leading cars like the hybrid car that won Toyota Prius by a month, the full-size SUV Honda and an upcoming hydrogen fuel cell hybrid car that is fuel-efficient (Morgan, n. d. ). Soichiro Honda, the founder of Honda motor once said â€Å"do not imitate† that had reflected in the hearts of Honda’s employees and now they are persistently challenging themselves to keep being innovative (Honda, 2010). Honda Motor had excellence performance where the revenue had increased nearly 40% from the year 2002 to 2008. Honda could achieve excellence is due to its willingness of letting their engineers experiment and explore. Furthermore, it also produces affordable innovative products that the society wants. Honda is the opposite of Toyota where Toyota tend to be more bureaucratic whereas Honda is towards entrepreneurial, sometimes may even be quirky. Honda’s organisation structure is relatively flat that had made job advancement rather limited and does not pay their employees as much as the competitors do. Nevertheless, their satisfaction and loyalty towards the company had made the company to be a success. Takeo Fukui who holds the current position of president and CEO confessed that he only meets with the research and development’s management once or twice a year so that engineers can work freely (Taylor, 2008). Honda’s philosophy has created the innovative culture today as it was stated to have respect for individuals. Everyone is given an opportunity and honors their contributions. Respecting others means by giving equal treatment regardless of background, to give freedom for initiative to take place and build mutual trust relationship among associates. Honda has 5 management policies that are aimed to encourage innovation. It is to stay ambition and youthfulness which means having a dream that can give them the positive energy to constantly motivate them and to always be open-minded with new ideas. Next is to have the flexibility to accept new ideas and to use the time efficiently. Furthermore, enjoy and lighten the working atmosphere and achieving harmonious flow of work are also their management policies. Lastly, it is to be mindful of the value of research and strive is its management policies (University of Milan, n. d. ). The culture in Honda encourages innovation and the leadership also wants it. Besides that, Honda’s official website even has a section that dedicates to their focus on innovation and results of it. Honda has this innovative culture deeply rooted in its organisation ever since it commenced. Honda also demonstrates an example of cultivating its culture since it is established. It desires for result, creates an environment that encourages their employees to innovate freely, take risks, prepares platform for the engineers to strive, selects appropriate ideas, uses the time efficiently and acknowledges their contribution. To create an innovative culture and organisation, the corporate will have to first overcome certain issues like lacked of shared vision, short-term thinking, reluctant to acknowledge and learning from the past mistakes, risk aversion and many more (Ideachampions, 2010). In order to change an organisation into an innovative one, the culture of it will have to be transformed first. An innovative culture of an organisation should be cultivated and not to be managed in order to be successful and sustainable. REFERENCES Bryant, B. (2007) Shaping an Innovative Culture: Are Your Actions Shaping or Breaking Innovation?. ttp://www. imd. ch/research/challenges/TC067-07. cfm [accessed 10 May 2010]. CNNmoney (2010 [a]) World’s Most Admired Companies 2010: Apples Snapshot. https://money. cnn. com/magazines/fortune/mostadmired/2010/snapshots/670. html [accessed 10 May 2010]. CNNmoney (2010 [b]) World’s Most Admired Companies 2010: Industries – Motor Vehicles. https://money. cn n. com/magazines/fortune/mostadmired/2010/industries/39. html [accessed 10 May 2010]. Ditkoff, M. (2010) Create a Garden Of Innovation!. https://www. ideachampions. com/weblogs/archives/2010/01/post. shtml [accessed 19 April 2010]. Honda (2010) Honda: Innovation. https://corporate. honda. com/innovation/ [accessed 10 May 2010]. Kageyama, Y. (2009) Honda connects brain with robotics. https://www. msnbc. msn. com/id/29972476 [accessed 14 May 2010]. Jennex, M. E. (2008) Current Issues In Knowledge Management, Information Science Reference, New York. Kotelnikov, V. (n. d. ) Key Features of an Innovation-Friendly Organization. https://www. 1000advices. com/guru/innovation_organization_vk. html [accessed 19 April 2010]. Mintzer, B. (2004) Newsletter by Barbara Mintzer: Characteristics of an Innovative Organization. ttp://www. barbaramintzer. com/newsletters/july2004. html [accessed 18 April 2010]. Morgan,H. (n. d. ) History of Honda Cars. https://www. ehow. com/about_5332242_history-honda-cars. html [accessed 14 May 2010]. Taylor, A. (2008) Inside Honda’s Brain. https://money. cnn. com/2008/03/03/news/companies/taylor_honda. fortune/index. htm? postversion=2008030705 [accessed 9 May 2010]. University of Milan (n. d. ) Corporate culture and global competition: The Honda philosophy. https://wwwold. unimib. it/symphonya/artfurlaningl. pdf [accessed 10 May 2010].

Short-Term Memory The Second Stage in Memory Processing

Short-Term Memory Diana Nunez Nicholas Salter, Ph.D. Introduction to Psychology Psychology 101, Section 8 October 26, 2010 Short-Term Memory The short-term memory is the lead to our long lasting remembers. Short-term memory is the second stage in the memory processing (Huffman). The short-term memory is the part of the memory that temporarily stores and processes information from the sensory memory and holds it until it decides if the information will be sent to the third stage or long-term memory (Huffman). The short-term memory stores a mixture of perceptual analyses information (Huffman). The short-term memory works in different ways to increase its small capacity; it uses rehearsal and chunking to be able to remember more†¦show more content†¦But the case is that counting task requires short-term memory retention, which is the main memory task (Berman, Jonides, and Lewis). Another problem in assessing the role of decay on short-term memory is the habitual tendency of rehearse materials that are to retain (Berman, Jonides, and Lewis). An example that Berman, Jonides, Lewis give is when we look up a phone number in the directory and then walk to the phone, we rehearse the number in our head until it is dialed. They are trying to come up with different techniques to prevent rehearsal, to get an accurate gauge of whether decay has an effect on memory (Berman, Jonides, and Lewis). Working Memory Theory based research has revealed that working memory is a system that allows a person to maintain task goals, update memory to meet current demands, and to separate memory to form relationships (Shelton, Matthews, Hill, and Gouvier). The working memory is also referred to a general purpose system that is responsible for the active task or goal relevant information while simultaneously processing other information (Unsworth, Spillers, and Brewer). The general purpose system includes: problem solving, reading, coordination and planning, and the basic intellectual functions, which leads to research on the capacity of the working memory (Unsworth, Spillers, and Brewer). â€Å"Beginning with Daneman and Carpenter (1980), mostShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Control Processes of Short and Long Term Memory958 Words   |  4 PagesOn a day-to-day basis humans are processing different information constantly. Have you ever wondered how this is possible? Have you ever wondered why you are able to obtain new information, store it, and then recall it for later usage? For example, how is it possible that we can study for a test one day, and then the next day we are able to retrieve that very information to use to take and pass a test? 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Prologue why does the play keep its audience enthralled to the end Essay Example For Students

Prologue why does the play keep its audience enthralled to the end? Essay Romeo and Juliet is a play written by William Shakespeare. It is a very tragic play mixed with comedy and romance. The Prologue tells us a brief outline of the story. Some would say it ruins it. In this essay Im going to attempt to explain why the play never fails to keep its audience on the edge of its seat. From ancient grudge break to new mutiny. This part of the prologue tells us that there is an argument that has gone back generations but has recently been caused to flare up again. It doesnt tell us why there is the fall out nor tell us when it started or flared up again. Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. This tells us that they are dragging the local citizens into the fights. As innocent people are being involved, everybody is involved either directly, emotionally, by marriage or by blood. And that many people are being killed there is that many funerals it is becoming unclean From forth the fatal loins of these two foes, A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life. This is probably the most important part of the prologue as this is where the play builds up to. It tells us that each family bore a child, one male, one female. The two have been destined to be together and fate causes them to fall in love. It does not tell us yet which belongs to which family. It goes on to say they kill themselves. It does not, as of yet, give any information as to why they do so but it gets the desired effect. The shocked emotion flows from us aside the saddened and angered ones intriguing us as to find out why this has happened. Whose misadventured piteous overthrows, Doth with their death bury their parents strife. This is telling the audience that they had been trying to be together but couldnt. Even though they had tried with their entire power put together to be with each other, their parents were just too powerful causing their attempts to look pathetic in comparison. They are misadventured because the family is just trying to kill each other but all Romeo and Juliet want to do is know the other is safe. This is quite ironic when you consider how they do die. They think the other is dead so kill themselves which is just a deception of their bodies as they are not, so after all they were safe except from themselves. They are deeply in love but their families are so hateful they do not notice or do not care how much they are hurting their children. After the death of the two young lovers, the parents realize how stupid and petty they have been. So they call a truce and become friends sealing the grudge as ancient. As we later find out at the same time they make friar Lawrences hopes when marrying the couple come to fruition. He marries them because he believes it may stop the fighting, and although Romeo and Juliet end up dead the quarrel stops. So evil occurs for the better. There is also a play on words. The prologue says bury the strife, but Romeo and Juliet were buried at the same time. So there is terrible irony written into the prologue. The fearful passage of their death marked love, And the continuance of their parents rage, The lovers created themselves a fearful passage as their emotions took them into dangerous situations. For example, on the balcony scene if the lovers had been caught Romeo would have been killed. Another example is the secret wedding. If the two were found out they would probably have been disowned if not murdered. Although it was all in the name of love, they were constantly living in fear. So although the lovers didnt get to be together long before their unfortunate end, they gave a fearful passage. The death marked love could have a deeper meaning than first meets the eye. The obvious is that they died. This would give death marked love but as they would have been killed if they had been found out and narrowly escaped on frequent occasions, it also gives another perspective to the situation. Throughout the entire play, the parents dont stop arguing and feuding, so that is the co-starring subject of the film. Their parents are too wrapped up in the fight they dont realize how petty the argument is. Until the dramatic and tragic death of their children, they dont care. The quarrelers dont know how much they are hurting their children. Dont know or dont care. When being performed the director can portray them differently but this is how Shakespeare does it as a director. The prologue then goes on to say that this all happens in the next two hours and if we will be patient the actors will try to show us how it really happened. When the audience considers that all this will happen in a matter of hours, they think it must be a pretty intense play. Another reason that after the prologue tells you the story the play keeps you enthralled is the use of extremely powerful and emotion evoking words and phrases. These words capture the imagination and makes you wonder how? Or why? The most evocative words are: Dignity, mutiny, foes, life, misadventured, piteous, overthrows, death, bury, strife, love and continuance. Some emotive phrases are: ancient grudge, civil blood, fatal loins, star-crossed lovers, fearful passage, and parents rage. Romeo and Juliet just on its own is a very complex plot, but upon closer examination the lovers are also trapped in sub-plots. Shakespeare uses this device to keep up suspense in the audience because even though the main plot is intense, he decided to create more tension by having other storylines. The main plot of Romeo and Juliet tells of two youths meeting by chance at a masked ball, fall in love immediately. The twist is that the youths are children of two enemies. They meet again secretly, get married with Romeos servant and Juliets Nurse present. Due to a fight between the famillies they get seperated, they manage, taking phenomenal risks, to see each other again. Alas the time comes when they must leave each other, and due to a very unlucky and untimely mix-up they both commit suicide. Other than Romeo and Juliet only 3 other people know about their love, Frair Laurence, Balthazar, and Nurse Capulet. Then when everything gets out in the open the parents reconcilliate and thats more or less the lot. Romeos subplot starts with the fact he is lusting over Capulets niece. He thinks he is in love with her but shes not interested in males. Romeo secretly thinks the reason the families think they hate each other is because they love each other but are confused by the emotions. His best friend Mercutio invites him to a ball. Next at the ball, he meets Juliet, and falls in love. He meets up with her later and arrange to get married the next day. After the wedding, he goes to his friends to find Mercutio and Tybalt arguing. As he is now married and wishes to cause no trouble with the Capulets he declines the offer of a fight. Mercutio dies in Romeos place. As an act of insane revenge he kills Tybalt. Romeo thus gets banished and cant see his wife anymore. Due to the mix-up Balthazar tells Romeo that Juliet is dead. Romeo buys a very powerful poison and lies next to Juliets comatose body and consumes it. Juliet , on the other hand, has a very different story to tell. Her mother and father wish her to get married to Count Paris. She meets Romeo and the story is the same as Romeos. Then after he is banished her parents try to arrange the marriage. In desperation, she goes to the friar who gives her a sleeping potion, which will make her appear to be dead. She drinks it and wakes to find Romeo dead next to her. She uses his weapon to commit suicide. The novel Things Fall Apart EssayThere is another battle at the end before Romeo sees the apparently dead Juliet. It is between Romeo and Count Paris. Paris goes to lay flowers across Juliets grave but is interrupted by Romeo. As Romeo is a Montague he thinks he has gone to trash the tomb. He hasnt of course but Romeo fights in self defense and Paris dies. There are a lot of misunderstandings in the play which lead to fights that shouldnt occur. This is what life is like in a lot of cases. The feuds would be exiting because they get to see real fight before their eyes which they otherwise wouldnt see. This wold be a major thing because unlike us, they cant turn on the television and watch a fight better than those. Prince Escalus has a lot to say about their fights. He was getting tired of all the fighting and after the fight in act 1 scene 1 says whoever starts the next fight shall die. Alas, when Romeo slays Tybalt, the Prince understands that Romeo did as the law would have done but as he took it into his own hands he must be punished. Banishment. At the end when Romeo and Juliet die it is very touching and gives the audience something to think about. This means although the play has comedy the end is as Shakespeare had planned the entire play very tragic. As Romeo and Juliet are children of two enemies, they must keep their relationship secret. This would create suspense in the audience as they are waiting for them to be caught. This would keep them enthralled. There are lots of things that show this. There is irony with the meeting. They meet at a masked ball, when they meet and fall in love they know they must keep their love masked. Also, Romeo must keep his masked his mask on during the party so concealing his true identity as they must conceal their love. In the famous balcony scene, Romeo and Juliet meet secretly. Even at the beginning of this scene, Romeo is hidden from Juliet. The only person Juliet can trust about their relationship is her nurse who brought her up instead of her mother. The only person Romeo trusts is his servant, Balthasar, who later is his best man at their wedding. So when Juliet needs to find out details of the illicit wedding she sends the nurse. They have to keep the wedding night secret too so the nurs e warns the lovers when lady Capulet is ascending up the stairs to her chamber. The idea of all the secrecy builds tension within the audience. It also constructs fear because if Romeo and Juliet get caught they will be killed because of their association with each other. This is ironic as although they are not found out they die because of the relationship. The fact alone, that Shakespeare explores the theme of love at all would interest the audience. Romeo and Juliet fall in love even though it is against a background of hate. This could be because when they first meet they do not know they are enemies, but a main moral in Romeo and Juliet is you cant help who you fall in the love with. But, one thing a lot of people mistake is the difference between love and hate. They are both extremes of opposite emotions. Romeo realises this from an early age and thinks the feuders love each other but do not know how to handle it. He is right. Love and hate often get confused because the feelings are so strong. They normally form through one another. If you love someone its easy to hate them and vice versa, but love does strange things. For example Juliet is an obedient girl. She shows this when her mother asks her if she could love Paris. She replies, Juliet: Ill look to like if looking liking move But Ill no longer endart mine eye, Than your consent to make it fly. So she is doing the proper thing but when Romeo comes along she doesnt care what her parents say so this shows that love changes your perspective on everything. They say that kids see things as they are without the complications adults would see and thats how the lovers see it they love each other, thats all that matters. Neither Romeo nor Juliet agree with the fighting and then they do the opposite of hating each other. This shows irony. In this play lots of types of love are displayed. Paris loves Juliet courtly. He asks her fathers permission before marrying her and brings her flowers e.t.c. At the beginning Juliet loves Paris dutifully. She excepts his wooing because her mother and father want her to. Both Romeo and Juliet display true love for each other. They want to be married because they love each other not because anybody else wants them to. Mercutio gives lots of references to sexual love especially between Romeo and Rosaline. Mercutio only makes these references to be humerous. It is quite ironic he should talk about Rosaline sexually because she has decided to stay chaste. Lots of Linguistic devices are used throughout the play. Shakespeare shows this by using lots of oxymoron throughout Romeo and Juliet. In act 1 scene 1, Romeo chides Benvolio because of the fray. He says: Romeo: Why then O brawling love O loving hate O anything of nothing first create. It is showing how naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve he is, as this is his impression of love. Others Romeo uses are: Heavy lightness, serious vanity, feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health, still-waking sleep. Juliet also uses some: Beautiful tyrant, fiend angelical, dove-feathered raven, wolfish-ravening lamb, damned saint and honourable villain. Similes are used often by all characters. Benvolio uses one saying they go like the lightening thats a simile because it contains LIKE in a comparing context. When Benvolio sys things like Steel Points and Fatal Points he is using these as a metaphor for swords. There is a lot of pathos in Romeo and Juliet. For Example, when Capulet tries to force Juliet into marrying Paris, you can feel Juliets frustration. Also you can feel Romeos distress when he finds that Juliet is dead. Shakespeare used sonnets in Romeo and Juliet. A sonnet is a 14 line poem, rhyming every other line for the first 12 then comes a rhyming couplet. Each line contains 10 syllables. Examples of sonnets are the prologue and the end of act one, Romeo and Juliets first meeting, and lady Capulets talk of Paris. There is more poetry throughout the play for example when Romeo and Juliet kiss, their lines finish Purged/Urged and Took/Book. At the end poetry is used too, like this Hand/Demand, Set/Juliet, Brings/Things, Head/Punished and Woe/Romeo. There are more devices used but these are the main ones. All of these devices, would keep the audience enthralled as it is showing how clever Shakespeare is. The Elizabethans probably figured, if he was good with words, he would probably have a good imagination.

Protectionism in International Trade

Introduction In the growing debate over globalisation and free trade, it is difficult to focus on real policies under discussion. There are varied issues that focus on environmental destruction, markets, and exploitation among others, but one must relate globalisation to free trade in order to understand global trade policies.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Protectionism in International Trade specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Globalisation reflects the adoption of free trade policies for international markets by liberalisation of policies (Bhagwati, 2004). On this regard, countries liberalise their trade policies with other countries through elimination of policies that could deter trade or act as trade barriers. Some elements of trade barriers include â€Å"tariffs (high taxes on imported goods, which make them expensive) and subsidies from governments to domestic firms† (Spruiell, 2006). Both policies i nhibit foreign firms from selling their products and services in local markets because of high prices (Friedman, 2000). The concept of trade policy is easy to grasp. That is, it reflects subsidies or tariffs, which governments adopt to protect foreign firms from selling in their countries. There are also other approaches to trade barriers, such as expensive trade license for foreigners, quotas, and a total ban on foreign goods among others. Protectionism refers to policy agendas, which aim to increase the number of tariffs and subsidies that governments use to prevent or minimise trades or exploitation that result from free trade in the international market. This essay focuses on protectionist measures, major arguments used by countries to justify protectionist measures, and challenges and opportunities protectionism presents to companies that wish to expand to foreign markets. Major arguments used by countries to justify protectionist measures Governments use several arguments to j ustify their protectionist policies. First, infant industries require government subsidies and strong protectionist laws to protect them from fierce competition from well-established firms in the global market (Bhagwati, 1988). Such budding firms may not be strong enough to endure challenges posed by competitors. Therefore, by protecting such domestic firms from external competition, the government allows them to thrive in the domestic market. Second, dumping also has facilitated the increment in protectionist laws. Dumping takes place when imported goods have significantly lower prices in foreign markets than the normal price in the country of origin.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Antidumping policies protect domestic market prices by ensuring that imports do not have ‘too low’ prices below the cost of production or have fair market prices. The US has used an tidumping policies to protect domestic markets from cheap imports from China. Free trade could facilitate dumping, particularly in non-industrialised countries. Third, in some instances, governments have introduced protectionist laws because of national security issues. Such governments aim to reduce reliance on other countries to supply critical resources and services, which may not be available in periods of dispute. Although it is difficult to identify all industries that are vital for national security of a country, some governments aim to protect their IT and energy firms from foreign ownership. Fourth, some countries have relative cheap labour. Consequently, they produce goods at low costs, which result in lower prices in the international market. Such countries may create unfair competition in the market. However, countries with cheap labour like China have attracted investments than those with high costs of labour. Consumers want cheap products. Thus, if a country has expens ive products because of labour cost, the domestic firms will lose market share to foreign firms. Fifth, some governments argue that protectionist laws enhance equality in income through protection of local jobs. These are the essence of high tariffs and subsidies for the domestic firms. From this argument, one can deduce that the US, which has an expensive steel industry, may not compete against the steel industry of Brazil, which is relative cheap. In such situations, the US steel industry may lay off workers in order to cut costs and remain competitive. Consequently, workers who depend on the industry will slip into poverty. From such competition, the steel industry in the US may collapse altogether after several years. Consequently, the US will rely on foreign suppliers of steel. If the US engages in diplomatic disputes or wars with Brazil or other countries with steel firms, it may not be able to get that vital resource for its domestic operation. Thus, the result could be devas tating to the US economy. Another different reason for protectionism bears no economic advantages to any country. In this argument, countries note that their protectionist laws should reciprocate laws of their peers. That is, trade barriers should be high to reflect practices by other countries. China has applied this theory against the US in which it uses subsidies and tariffs as bargaining chip when negotiating international contracts. The bargaining chip theory does not support or oppose trade, but it considers protectionist law as a two-way approach. For instance, the US may lower steel tariffs for Brazil only if the latter agrees to lower its tariffs on other exports from the US.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Protectionism in International Trade specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Countries that use the bargaining chip approach focus on enhancing trade opportunities, but strive to protect their domestic mark ets as much as possible. Hence, they maximise exports and reduce harmful imports (Spruiell, 2006). Challenges and opportunities protectionism presents to companies that wish to expand to international markets Although the arguments for protectionism are compelling, trade protection could hurt economies of countries, which impose them too. Some countries are fond of retaliation. For instance, some reports had indicated that there were many discriminatory trade policies than liberalising ones (Miller, 2009). Miller notes â€Å"governments are applying protectionist measures at the rate of 60 per quarter, and more than 90% of goods traded in the world have been affected by some kind of protectionist measures† (Miller, 2009). Trade policies could result into few goods and high prices, which hurt economies and consumers. This may not be suitable for any firm that intends to expand in countries, which tend to retaliate against trade policies. Foreign firms may not be able to compet e against inefficient protected domestic firms. Governments that impose tariffs in order to protect their emerging firms create unfair competition in free trade. However, consumers will face higher prices and poor quality of services and products. In other words, firms with quality products may not expand to countries with high tariffs and subsidies because of possible unfair competition or expensive trade licence. Protectionist policies lower efficiency. Some economists claim that free trade may lead to loss of jobs in the importing country. However, economists have argued that competition created by foreign firms could enhance efficiency of local industries, quality of goods, and lead to sales growth and employment. Arguments for protectionist laws are compelling, particularly in saving domestic jobs. A government may be right in protecting local jobs in a local steel industry, preventing the industry from bankruptcy and mismanagement by imposing relatively higher tariffs on impor ts (Griswold, 2001). On the other hand, a government may fail to account for individuals who work in other firms supported by steel products. Other foreign factories can buy steel at world prices and manufacture steel products lower costs. Consumers will buy such products from other foreign countries with lower prices.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This implies that American firms, which manufacture steel products, will experience declines in sales and may lay off a significant number of employees. They may also go out of business or seek for additional capital from investors. This was the case when President Bush enacted high tariffs on steel in the year 2002. On this note, one must ask whether it is important to save some jobs at the expense of others or government should leave economic forces and efficiency to control markets. This point illustrates that protectionist policies have costs to the imposing country. In most cases, one may fail to notice such costs associated with protectionist measures. This happens because one can observe any changes in a given industry, but fail to notice the overall impacts because such impacts are widely distributed, affect many industries and customers. Countries argue in favour of protectionist measures to protect domestic firms and avoid relying on foreign industries. Thus, if a country leaves its industries unprotected from global forces, they may collapse and cause reliance on foreign products. However, this situation may not be bad because free trade does not operate in that manner for both developed and emerging economies. For developed economies, competition from foreign firms should allow domestic firms to re-examine and re-engineer their processes and enact the needed reforms so that they can become stronger and compete effectively with foreign firms. Moreover, it is also unlikely that domestic firms can lose all capacity to manufacture products for the local market. It is also imperative to understand whether industries in emerging economies require protection. Many emerging economies believe that they require protection from well-established multinational firms. However, this is a folly argument. Since some countries gained their independence from former colonial masters, they considered any imports as â€Å"other forms of colonialism and dependence on fo rmer masters† (Spruiell, 2006). Consequently, many countries adopted import substitution policies. Under the import substitution policy, governments controlled how their countries utilised available resources in attempts to manufacture all products they previously imported. This strategy did not lead to any economic growth. Instead, a number of emerging economies fell into deep debt crises while struggling to manufacture all products. On the contrary, East Asia has shown that developing countries can â€Å"export all products they can easily and cheaply manufacture and import products they cannot produce locally without high economic costs† (Spruiell, 2006). Globalisation has improved because many countries have noted that it is sound to maximise the production and export of products and services they can produce cheaply and easily. On the other hand, such countries also maximise importation of products they cannot manufacture. This results into a rapid economic growth. In this manner, countries rely on their comparative advantages and strategies to create value in the global market. According to Spruiell, â€Å"the principle of comparative advantage means that every nation, no matter how undeveloped or poor, has a comparative advantage in producing some goods† (Spruiell, 2006). However, many countries may not adopt open market policies because protectionism is a ‘bargaining chip’. Hence, the argument for protectionism under this theory still holds because nations may only reduce their trade barriers and tariffs if they can get some values from other countries. Otherwise, they claim that domestic firms will have to compete in the global market against other firms, which have protection and government subsidies. Proponents of protectionist measures and bargaining chip strategy question why a domestic industry should face competition from other industries, which get subsidies from their governments. Government subsidies allow ind ustries to produce and sell products at lower costs than costs of production. Thus, proponents of protectionism justify their position as attempts to eliminate unfair competition. However, when one focuses on comparative advantages, they must recognise that the concept requires countries to open their domestic markets and focus on exports to boost their economies. Protectionist laws deny consumers to buy cheap products. Moreover, such laws only protect a few selected business interests to the detriment of the entire economy. Foreign firms may find it difficult to establish their operations in countries, which protect their domestic industries from competition. Generally, countries experience economic growth when they are free to trade with other countries without many trade barriers. Countries with open borders are likely to facilitate foreign investments and trade as investors will find few trade barriers while consumers will buy products at lower prices. Thus, even subsidies may o nly favour open market countries because producers are likely to export their products to such countries. In addition, countries with open markets are likely to import products at low costs (Schiff and Schiff, 2010). Consequently, they will focus on developing their productive industries and enhancing their economic strength. Therefore, protectionism presents challenges to foreign firms that seek to expand in international markets in terms of several trade barriers, unfair competition with protected domestic firms, and expensive trade licences among other challenges. Such firms should seek for investment opportunities in open market countries with liberalised trade policies. This would lead to economic success through high volumes of trade because open markets facilitate trade. It is also important to understand the major beneficiaries of protectionism. Generally, when governments introduce protectionist policies, they aim to protect some industries but not others. On this note, gov ernments would consider industries, which could have significant influences on domestic politics (Hazlitt, 1988). For instance, in the US, governments have selected their influential steel, agribusiness, textile, and lately IT industries for protection against any foreign competition or acquisition. However, other unprotected industries have faced fierce competition from foreign firms, as well as higher prices of products from the protected domestic industries. One may focus on the protected industries and note that they are highly important for the government. However, industries have deep relations when viewed from economic principles. One must acknowledge that arguments for protectionist laws have some merits. For instance, governments save jobs, avoid financial ruins through subsidies, and could be critical in seeking for trade partnership in the global market. However, for every benefit of protectionist laws, governments must make subjective decisions on industry protection and identify industries that will incur costs of domestic protection (Lindsey, 2001). Governments should not select industries for protection based on their political influences, and they should apply economic principles and treat all industries in the same way. Protectionism comes with economic costs, which are not easy to ignore. Thus, fundamental issues should not be about potential costs. Instead, the focus should be on industries, which will bear such costs. While governments can provide responses to such questions, people also have economic freedom to choose their products. Recent trends The most common trade barriers exist between the US and China. These two countries show how protectionist laws work in a global market. However, apart from the US and China trade wars, other countries have trade barriers too. Miller noted that the World Trade Organisation (WTO) released a report, which indicated that many countries were yet to refrain from protectionism (Miller, 2009). The WTO me mber countries had â€Å"130 protectionist measures to implement† (Miller, 2009). Some of these protectionist measures included â€Å"state aid funds, higher tariffs, immigration restrictions and export subsidies† (Miller, 2009). For instance, in 2009, Russia focused on a comprehensive increment of all tariffs, Japan concentrated on reviewing its sanitation laws to restrict food imports while South Africa embarked on reviewing its spending patterns to favour firms owned by the blacks at the expense of white-owned firms. From the above figure, â€Å"China has been the main target for most governments’ protectionist laws† (Miller, 2009). China faces trade barriers from 55 countries, which have enacted measures to restrict Chinese exports (Miller, 2009). The US and Japan have 49 and 46 protectionist measures respectively. On the other hand, the growing economy of Brazil has attracted Chinese imports. Consequently, Brazilian government has introduced some â €Å"non-tariff trade barriers and protectionist measures, particularly in the automotive and light manufacturing sectors† (Deloitte, 2012) to protect domestic industries. Impacts of protectionist measures First domestic firms, which depend on government protection and subsidies, may not be able to compete well in the export global market. Import barriers are responsible for high prices due to high costs for intermediate needs. Consequently, export products become highly priced than the global market prices. This may force such domestic industries to lose market share to foreign firms. Moreover, there are also possibilities of retaliation from other countries. Second, protectionism affects the entire economy of a country as any rise in the cost of product leads to a drop in the gross domestic product (GDP). Third, protectionist measures also affect the global economy negatively as world exports and incomes drop. Finally, protectionist laws slow down economic growth for all nat ions. In other words, the global market requires complete liberalisation to improve actual incomes for emerging economies. Therefore, for any foreign firm seeking to expand its operation in the international market, it should choose countries without several trade barriers, protected industries, and government interference. Conclusion The concept of protectionism emanated to control trade issues that resulted from international trade. However, not all market issues require protectionist laws like some economists had believed. Today, some economists have argued and demonstrated that protectionist laws are ineffective and inappropriate ways of fixing market failures. One major challenge is that protectionist laws protect few individuals and leave majorities to bear the ultimate costs. Not even the poor masses who work in such industries should bear the costs. However, in most cases, protectionist measures place huge responsibilities on individuals who least deserve them. That is, only few individuals benefit from protectionist laws. Overall, protectionist laws are major obstacles to economic growth as this essay has shown. Thus, an open economic strategy can facilitate economic growth and eliminate trade barriers. Reference List Bhagwati, J 1988, Protectionism, MIT Press, Cambridge. Bhagwati, J 2004, In Defense of Globalization, Oxford University Press, New York. Deloitte 2012, Competitive Brazil: Challenges and strategies for the manufacturing industry, Intergraf Ind. Grà ¡fica Ltda, Brazil. Friedman, T 2000, The Lexus and the Olive Tree: Understanding Globalization, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York. Griswold, D 2001, Walls of Steel, Carlton Press Corporation, New York, NY. Hazlitt, H 1988, Economics in One Lesson: The Shortest and Surest Way to Understand Basic Economics, Three Rivers Press, New York. Lindsey, B 2001, Against the Dead Hand: The Uncertain Struggle for Global Capitalism, Wiley, New York. Miller, J W 2009, Protectionist Measures Expected to R ise, Report Warns. Web. Schiff, P and Schiff, A 2010, How an Economy Grows and Why It Crashes, Wiley, New York. Spruiell, S 2006, Protectionism – Tariffs, Subsidies, and Trade Policy. Web. This essay on Protectionism in International Trade was written and submitted by user Maginty to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Pride in Ancient Greek

Pride in Ancient Greek This paper discusses the character and behavior of two Heroes in the Iliad with the aim of explaining the Geeks concept of pride. Considering the lives of Achilles and Patroclus, as presented in the Iliad, it is clear that for ancient Greek heroes, honor meant everything. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Pride in Ancient Greek specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In actual sense, a Greek warrior or man would rather choose to die than be ashamed or embarrassed by someone else. Honor meant so much to them that they did everything to attain it. Honor was the lifetime goal of every ancient Greek man and people sought it at all costs. Unfortunately, their concept of honor could be interpreted as foolhardy pride in our days. As will be shown through focus on Achilles and Patroclus, had they not been driven by their pride, they would not have met with their downfall; the way they did. Achilles was a great Greek warrior who had helped the Greek with his might and skills. Like all Greek men, he wanted to do his people proud and the people were proud of him. However, his desire for honor leads to his downfall when he confronts the king over a woman. He had been given the woman as a prize for his valor in war against the Trojans. When the king takes away the woman (prize he had given to Achilles), Achilles out of pride challenges the king and refuses to go to war. His decision not to go to war against the Trojans is what prompted Patroclus to pick up his armor to face Hector. Moreover, apart from refusing to fight for the Greek, Achilles out of pride chooses to argue or disobey the gods. Priam, his mother intervenes, and again out of pride, Achilles chooses glory over a long life. In the life of Achilles, one can see pride or honor being prioritized over every other important thing. For instance, it is out of pride that Achilles refuses to go to battle prompting his friend Patroclus to stand in to lead the Greek armies against the Trojans. Patroclus, just like Achilles, was a great warrior. He was one of the great warriors from the Greek side and would have been instrumental in defeating Hectors on behalf of the Achaeans. Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, desire for honor and pride got the better of him. Hectors was more skilled and the only person who could match him from the Greek side was Achilles. Patroclus had been warned against engaging or fighting Hector because he was not his match. However, as it would have been expected of any Greek hero, Patroclus goes against every warning that he should not engage Hectors in a battle. Having won a number of battles, he is so full of himself that he thinks not engaging or fighting Hectors is a cowardly act. Secondly, he also stands up to Hectors to save himself the shame of having failed his people in a battl e. Consequently, this willfulness leads him into dying at the hands of Hectors. In conclusion, from the two examples given, it is clear that the Greek priced pride over all other values such as safety. It can also be noted that desire for honor and pride, among Greek heroes, was what propelled them to great heights but also what led to their downfall. In search for honor, the heroes did their people proud but out of pride they often became willful and untactful leading to their downfall.

Toumai - Type site of Sahelanthropus tchadensis

Toumai - Type site of Sahelanthropus tchadensis Toumaà ¯ is the name of a late Miocene hominoid who lived in what is today the Djurab desert of Chad some seven million years ago (mya). The fossil currently classified as Sahelanthropus tchadensis is represented by a nearly complete, amazingly well-preserved cranium, collected from the Toros-Menalla locality of Chad by the Mission Palà ©oanthropologique Franco-Tchadienne (MPFT) team led by Michel Brunet. Its status as an ancient hominid ancestor is somewhat in debate; but Toumaà ¯s significance as the oldest and best preserved of any Miocene age ape is undeniable. Location and Features The Toros-Menalla fossil region is located in the Chad basin, a region that has fluctuated from semi-arid to wet conditions over and over again. The fossil-bearing outcrops are in the center of the northern sub-basin and consist of terrigenous sands and sandstones interbedded with argillaceous pebbles and diatomites. Toros-Menalla is some 150 kilometers (about 90 miles) east of the Koro-Toro locality where Australopithecus bahrelghazali was discovered by the MPFT team. Toumaà ¯s skull is small, with features suggesting it had an upright stance and used bipedal locomotion. Its age at death was approximately 11 years old, if comparisons to wear on the teeth of modern chimpanzees are valid: 11 years is an adult chimpanzee and it is assumed that so was Toumaà ¯. Toumaà ¯ has been dated to approximately 7 million years of age using the Beryllium isotope 10Be/9BE ratio, developed for the region and also used on the Koro-Toro fossil beds. Other examples of S. tchandensis were recovered from Toros-Menalla localities TM247 and TM292, but were limited to two lower jaws, the crown of a right premolar (p3), and one partial mandible fragment. All hominoid fossil materials were recovered from an anthracotheriid unitso called because it also contained a large anthracotheriid, Libycosaurus petrochii, an ancient hippopotamus-like creature. Toumaà ¯s Cranium The complete cranium recovered from Toumaà ¯ had suffered fracturing, displacement and plastic deformation over the past millennia, and in 2005, researchers Zollikofer et al. published a detailed virtual reconstruction of the skull. This reconstruction illustrated in the photo above used high-resolution computed tomography to create a digital representation of the pieces, and the digital pieces were cleaned of adhering matrix and reconstructed. The cranial volume of the reconstructed skull is between 360-370 milliliters (12-12.5 fluid ounces), similar to modern chimpanzees, and the smallest known for an adult hominid. The skull has a nuchal crest that is within the range of Australopithecus and Homo, but not chimpanzees. The skulls shape and line suggests Toumaà ¯ stood upright, but without additional postcranial artifacts, thats a hypothesis waiting to be tested. Faunal Assemblage Vertebrate fauna from TM266 include 10 taxa of freshwater fish, turtles, lizards, snakes and crocodiles, all representatives of ancient Lake Chad. Carnivores include three species of extinct hyenas and a saber toothed cat (Machairodus cf. M giganteus). Primates other than S. tchadensis are represented only by a single maxilla belonging to a colobine monkey. Rodents include mouse and squirrel; extinct forms of aardvarks, horses, pigs, cows, hippos and elephants were found in the same locality. Based on the collection of animals, the TM266 locality is likely to be Upper Miocene in age, between 6 and 7 million years ago. Clearly aquatic environments were available; some of the fish are from deep and well-oxygenated habitats, and other fish are from swampy, well-vegetated and turbid waters. Together with the mammals and vertebrates, that collection implies that the Toros-Menalla region included a large lake bordered by a gallery forest. This type of environment is typical for the most ancient of hominoids, such as Ororrin and Ardipithecus; in contrast, Australopithecus lived in a wider range of environments including everything from savannah to forested woodlands. Sources Brunet M, Guy F, Pilbeam D, Lieberman DE, Likius A, Mackaye HT, Ponce de Leà ³n MS, Zollikofer CPE, and Vignaud P. 2005. New material of the earliest hominid from the Upper Miocene of Chad. Nature 434:752-755.Brunet M. 2010. Short note: The track of a new cradle of mankind in Sahelo-Saharan Africa (Chad, Libya, Egypt, Cameroon). Journal of African Earth Sciences 58(4):680-683.Emonet E-G, Andossa L, Taà ¯sso Mackaye H, and Brunet M. 2014. Subocclusal dental morphology of sahelanthropus tchadensis and the evolution of teeth in hominins. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 153(1):116-123.Lebatard A-E, Bourlà ¨s DL, Duringer P, Jolivet M, Braucher R, Carcaillet J, Schuster M, Arnaud N, Monià © P, Lihoreau F et al. 2008. Cosmogenic nuclide dating of Sahelanthropus tchadensis and Australopithecus bahrelghazali: Mio-Pliocene hominids from Chad. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 105(9):3226-3231.Vignaud P, Duringer P, Mackaye HT, Likius A, Blondel C, Boisserie J-R, de Bonis L, Eisenmann V, Etienne M-E, Geraads D et al. 2002. Geology and palaeontology of the Upper Miocene Toros-Menalla hominid locality, Chad. Nature 418:152-155. Wolpoff MH, Hawks J, Senut B, Pickford M, and Ahern JCM. 2006. An ape or the ape: is the Toumaà ¯ cranium TM 266 a hominid? PaleoAnthropology 2006:36-50.Zollikofer CPE, Ponce de Leà ³n MS, Lieberman DE, Guy F, Pilbeam D, Likius A, Mackaye HT, Vignaud P, and Brunet M. 2005. Virtual cranial reconstruction of Sahelanthropos tchadensis. Nature 434:755-759.

The South Korean Chaebol System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The South Korean Chaebol System - Essay Example The chaebol is the leading type of business group in South Korea. It can be defined as a business group which is owned and controlled by a person and that person’s family – a definition that coincides for the most part with Morikawa’s definition of zaibatsu, which is that the business group exclusively owned and controlled by the family’, and probably also fits the rest of the definition, ‘diversified industrial firms’, since it is a business group. (Shiba and Shimotani, p. 31) The chaebol concept encouraged the formation of conglomerates under a single holding company, usually controlled by a family. It was fashioned after the Japanese keiretsu. However, unlike the latter, chaebol’s do not have their own financial institutions and that they require the government’s approval of financial backing since South Korea’s banks are nationalized. (Dubois, p. 42) From the late 1950s, it has emerged due to favorable import license concessions, access to scarce foreign exchange and governmental properties seized from the Japanese formed part of the Korean state policy. Samsung, Korea’s oldest chaebol, and the four other biggest conglomerates were established during this period. It was in the 1960s when the chaebols forged its strong partnership with the government. The Korean government identified talented entrepreneurs and systematically sponsored them by credit, trading licenses, tax advantages, and other measures. (Richter, p. 73)Â   The nature of this alliance between the state and the chaebols is fundamental in the Korean impressive economic performance seen from thereon. The government support, encouragement, and intervention resulted to what was called as the guided economic development wherein the government involvement enabled chaebols to monopolize spheres of activity and accumulate capital in order to finance diversification of production. According to Kong, democratization and economic liberalization policies did not break the interdependence of state and chaebols and that it even had the effect of strengthening the chaebols and generating new forms of collusion.

Investigate a given organisation to analyse its current position, Essay

Investigate a given organisation to analyse its current position, evaluate the strategic options available, and recommend the strategic route - Essay Example Besides the technology advancement, competition is rapidly increasing in almost every industry, and this could send some businesses into oblivion. In line with that, this paper seeks to analyse the current position, evaluate the strategic options and recommend the most appropriate strategic route for the Dyson Company. Founded in 1993 by James Dyson, Dyson Company is a UK-based firm, which specialises in the designing and subsequent manufacturing of heaters, bladeless fans, dryers and vacuum cleaners. Though based in the UK, the company extends it services to 80 other countries around the globe, and as of December 2013 the firm’s profit stood at a staggering  £800,000,000. It currently provides employment to over 5,000 people around the world 1.Innovation has been the key driver of this company as evidenced by the creation of Ballbarrow, an alternative wheel for wheelbarrows that James Dyson invented after finding it hard to use the then ordinary wheelbarrow. A business current position is judged through its various parameters including its values, unique selling point (USP) and market share. A business has to remain distinct among other competitors in order to remain not just afloat, but also ensure it achieves its goals. By offering a unique product, a firm sets itself above others; with values that correspond to the needs of people a firm attracts a list of clientele 2. Identifying the market where a firm belongs helps it in focusing on the same to ensure the clients are served properly. In the case of Dyson, the current position is that it is well positioned despite the presence of other players in the market. The above assertions are informed by the recent statistics, which show the firm’s growth increasing each year. For instance, in 2011 the firm’s profits increased by 8% followed by 30% in 2012 and there has no announcement of loss in the last two years either 1. Besides the profits increasing annually, the firm’s market share

Literacy Essay Essay Example for Free

Literacy Essay Essay For as long as I can remember literature has always played an important role in my life. As a young child, I can remember how excited I’d be at story time each night before bed. My interest in literature carried on throughout my school years from kindergarten when I was placed in the red bird group, which was the group of strongest readers†¦. to high school†¦when I had the benefit of being taught by one of the best English teachers ever, Ms. Irena King. Now as an adult and professional, I am very appreciative of the literary foundation that was laid for me by my family and my teachers. I understand how important literacy is in everyday life. First, as a young child, literacy played a very important role in my life even before I could read. I was always fond of books of all kinds. Coloring books, magazines, and picture books†¦I loved them all. I remember each trip to the grocery store; I would always get a new Little Golden Book. I absolutely had to have the entire collection and would want them read to me each night before bed. My favorite of this collection was The Gingerbread Man. I would sit for hours and look at the pictures. My mother would often encourage me to keep an interest in books. She always kept a subscription of Highlights Magazine for me and I would watch the mail each day in hopes that a new issue had arrived. As I grew older, my love for books did not change, but the type of books I wanted did. I had the largest collection of Sweet Valley High books and was a faithful subscriber to Fresh Magazine. I think that these are some of my fondest memories from my childhood, and I am so appreciative of my familys support of my passion for reading. Next, my interest for literature carried on from my early years to my school years. This was very evident when I started kindergarten. I vividly remember there were different groups within our kindergarten class.

Essay --

Joseph Winkelmann Mr. Sargent English 250 16 December 2013 Stem Cells Although stem cell research is a hot topic in politics and the scientific field as of late, it dates back to the 1950s. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can become any cell, such as but not limited to skin cells or brain cells. These cells are some of the first cells in the human body. Not only do they divide and form new cells rapidly in the embryonic stage, they can form any specialized cell in the human body, a process called differentiation. They can also form new stem cells, a process called self-renewal (Staff). Although the fear of unethical human cloning is present, the study of stem cells is necessary because it can improve society by testing new medications for safety and effectiveness, and by finding the cure of potentially fatal diseases, such as cancer. Stem cells can only be acquired from a few places. Embryonic stem cells are formed in the embryo just a few days after fertilization. By this point, there are about one hundred cells; this is called a blastocyst. Of those one hundred cells, ten to twenty are unspecialized stem cells (â€Å"Embryonic Stem Cells...†). These stem cells, known as pluripotent cells, can make every type of cell in the human body. The blastocyst is the only place that pluripotent cells can be found in the body. The long term goal of true embryonic pluripotent cells is to be used to repair diseased tissue; however; at this point in stem cell research, embryonic stem cells are being used for research purposes, specifically to determine how diseases originate and progress in the human body (Staff). Another type of stem cells is adult stem cells. Found in small quantities, these cells are located in the bone... ...and cost over $6 million,† (â€Å"Product Development...†). Cutting out even one fourth or one third of drug and toxicity testing on animals would lead to multi-million dollar savings. There would also be savings in terms of energy and resources dedicated to studying experiments that result potentially irrelevant and dangerous results. Stem cell research is ethical and requires deeper experimentation. From increasing the safety of medicine to developing treatments that cure diseases, stem cells are the key to success. Stem cells can also be used to determine how diseases and injuries progress and affect certain cells within the body. Furthermore, using stem cells for research purposes will save money by cutting out some if not all animal testing, provide safer and better medications, as well as allow the allocation of saved resources to other research endeavors.

Management Info System

20/11 In this exercise, you will use spreadsheet software to analyze company financial statements and create graphs important financial data As part of your analysis of the company for the management, you have been asked to analyze data on Dirt Bikes’s financial performance and prepare a report for management . Review Dirt Bikes’s selected financial data in the introduction to Dirt Bikes’s, which can be found at the laudon web site .There you will find Dirt Bikes’s income statement and summary balance sheet data from 2002/2006, and total domestics versus international sales between2002 and 2006 Use your spreadsheet software to create graphs of Dirt Bikes’s sales history from 2002 to 2006 and its domestics versus international sales from 2002 to 2006 select the type of graph that is most appropriate for presenting the data you are analyzing.Use the instruction at the laudon web site and your spreadsheet software to calculate the gross and net margins in Dirt Bikes’s income statements from 2004 to 2006. You can also create graphs showing trends in selected pieces of Dirt Bikes’s income statement and balance sheet data if you wish (You may want to rearrange the historical ordering of the data if you decide to do this) 1. What are dirt Bikes’s best-and worst- performing products? What is the proportion of domestic to international sales?Have international sales grown relative to domestic sales? 2. Are sales (revenues) growing steadily, and, if so, at what rate? What is the cost of goods sold compared to revenues? Is it increasing or decreasing? Are the firm’s gross and net margins increasing or decreasing? Is the firm heavily in debt? Does he have sufficient assets to pay for operational expenses and to finance the development of new products and information systems? 3. Prepare a slide show that summarizes your analysis of dirt Bikes’s performance

Miniver Cheevy Analysis Essay

Miniver Cheevy by Edwin Arlington Robinson is a dramatic lyric poem that acts as self-portrait satire as Robinson ridicules his own life and dreams of a living in a time period where his failures could be seen as triumphs. Through his character Miniver Cheevy, Robinson criticizes not only himself, but 19th and 20th century America using diction. Robinson gave himself away with the first line: â€Å"Miniver Cheevy, child of scorn.† Robinson’s parents were expecting a girl when he was born and did not name him for six months. His name was picked out of a hat by a stranger on while his family was on vacation. Needless to say, he did not feel wanted growing up. â€Å"He wept that he was ever born/ And he had his reasons†. As a lover of the past, Robinson appreciates the art and adventure of the Ancient Greek and Medieval time periods: Miniver loved the days of old When swords were bright and steeds were prancing; The vision of a warrior bold   would set him dancing. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. He dreamed of Thebes and Camelot and Priam’s neighbors. However, Robinson himself comes off more as an anti-modernist instead of a fond observer of Romantic history: he despised the militarism and materialism the age brought about: â€Å"Miniver cursed the commonplace/ And eyed a khaki suit with loathing† and sought to escape it. He, however, recognizes that he himself is crucial to the standard: â€Å"Miniver scorned the gold he sought/ But sore he was without it†. And though he loathes his life, all he does is drink, and drink, and drink, and drink about it and accept his fate: â€Å"Miniver Cheevy thought, and thought, and thought/ And thought about it†¦.. Miniver coughed , and called it fate/ And kept on drinking†. Edwin Arlington Robinson criticized his time period for the pragmatism and power his generation fancied. But he also realized that he couldn’t escape and didn’t succumb to these vices but grudgingly accepted their place in his life.

Events industry The WritePass Journal

Events industry Introduction Events industry ). The industry uses its platform in the public eye to push key agendas such as sustainable development and eco-awareness therefore comprising of a social responsiveness aspect. The events industry is interconnected with certain other economic goals such as exports earning potential with the many of the leading global exhibition organizations are UK-based, therefore leading to profit generation return significant export income. There is significant growth expected in the outdoor and sports events sectors with the upcoming Olympics and Paralympics with a projected 20% additional business visits expenditure predicted for that that period. The implication therefore of being connected to the events industry is substantial as change in this sector has a significant influence over other related economic ventures. Events management is essentially a service based industry that revolves strongly around planning and execution. It involves studying the intricacies of a particular brand, identifying a target audience, devising an event concept, thereafter planning the logistics and coordinating the technical aspects that are required by the event before actually executing the plan for the event. Events are considered a strategic marketing and communication tool for all sized and variety of companies. Management not only includes logistical organization, but also other considerations such as health and safety. The industry there requires good working knowledge of administration relating to this events. In recent years there has been a push towards education of events professionals with an increasing number of institutions offering graduate degrees and diplomas in events management, therefore supporting the aims of professional management by the EIA. There are four broad categories of events: Leisure , cultural, organizational and personal. The Giants of Industry As mentioned, the EIA is the general regulatory body of the events industry. It is an internal body as it is made up of three separate partners: the Association of Event Organizers (AEO), the Association of Event Venues (AEV) and the Event Suppliers and Services Association (ESSA). This alliance represents the three main players in the industry, namely the professionals, venue coordinators and suppliers. The Association of Event Organizers (AEO) represents the â€Å"companies which conceive, create, develop or manage trade and consumer events† (AEO, 2012). They aim to serve the industry by promoting the needs of event organizers and the industry at large (AEO, 2012). These organizers are responsible for the way an event is planned, prepared and produced. An event manager’s job is to oversee and arrange every aspect of an event, including researching, implementing, controlling, planning, organizing, and evaluating an event’s design, activities, and production (Silvers, 2003). The Association of Event Venues (AEV) represents an â€Å"organization serving an established event venue community, focused on creating and driving platforms that service fundamental industry needs† (AEV, 2012). The importance of the appropriate venue goes without saying and therefore to have an organization where one can ensure an industry standard as well as the provision of the correct and suitable event venue is absolutely vital. The broad category into which the event falls will generally dictate the type of venue that is needed and to this extent it is the venue coordinators or administrators that liaise with the event planners with regards to venue specific logistical requirements. The third leg of the tripod is the Events Suppliers and Services Association (ESSA) which represents â€Å"the best interests of contractors and suppliers of goods and services to the exhibitions events industry† (ESSA, 2012). In addition to its sister organizations, the ESSA is committed to creation of an industry standard that is committed to a certain service expectation and guarantee in this time of economic recession. Recently, there is a fourth major role player in the industry in the public government sector, namely the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the UK Events Industry whose mission is to â€Å"represent the UK events industry in Parliament; to highlight the value of the industry, engage with politicians and industry representatives; and to ensure that the UK benefits from the success of events like the 2012 Olympics† (APPG Events Industry, 2012). This has been an important introduction into the industry as it has formed some public sector involvement in the formally private industry. With the projected boom of the industry during the Olympic Games, this presents a unique opportunity for interaction in government tender thereby facilitating growth into the public sector. Trends in the Event Industry Link with Education Despite the recession, the industry continues to grow and therefore there is a greater need for industry professionals. This is turn creates the need for industry standard and therefore a greater need for education information, advice and guidance. More and more, the industry is requiring qualifications for events vacancies and there has been a recent emergence of graduate degrees and diplomas to this extent. The Economic Recession The recession has mainly only affected construction, automotive and finance institutions, however for the majority of business it is business as usual. Most of the businesses therefore have the scheduled events without consequence; however acknowledge that this is to the detriment of the luxury end of the venue scale to the benefit of the midrange venues such as universities and halls. There is however a significant change in the public perception of companies as the whiplash of the recession is that there have been higher redundancy rates and therefore less incentives and rewards as companies do not wants to be perceived as spending on unnecessary expenses whilst making staffing cutbacks. The knock on effect of this has caused greater competition in the industry as there is less market share to go around. This can be advantageous for the industry as it will raise standards for service delivery in trying to win back market share, however it can also lead to the downfall of smaller bo utique companies Non-Profit or Charity Sector Research indicated that the not-for-profit sector accounts for up to 50% of the clientele of the events industry. This sector seems to have grown despite the recession and they tend to bring in stable business as events are often planned well in advance. Shortened Time-Frames More Bang for your Buck Clients are expecting more value for money and therefore have higher service expectations. There is also a new trend of last-minute booking agencies in order to get a better deal.   There is more pressure in the work place as a result of shorter lead times which require high developed coordination skills. This relates back to the earlier trend of educational requirement in the industry. This also involves strong need for skilled account managers. Location, Location, Location! The type of event in demand has evolved into the popular outdoor festivals. The demand for day trips within the UK began to rise in 2009, with people choosing to spend their leisure time locally. This has assisted the growth of tailor-made/DIY holiday packages, one needs to be aware of these trends to assess the potential of any event. Why me? I am exceptionally well coordinated. I believe that the key to successful event planning is to be able to coordinate yourself and an entire team – it’s all about planning and re-planning. Through my professional experience thus far, I have refined this skill. I am also very resourceful. I believe that due to the nature of the business, there is the potential for things to wrong or not according to plan. I would do well in these situations, as I am able to come up with a creative fix, whether moving things around or on the spot rescheduling. I have a passion for this industry that I believe will carry me through difficult situations, and I am able to communicate effectively with all those around me. I have a good working knowledge of the various stakeholders in any events, which I learned through professional experience over the years and as such am versatile. I am level-headed and practical, so I am able to manage plans in an objective and logical way. It is a combinati on of these skills that I believe will make me a strong contender in the industry. I am also very personable and friendly, allowing me to get along well with anybody regardless of position or professional, this helps develop good business relationships and is crutial for successful networking in the industry. Graduate Opportunities Accommodation Manager It is the accommodation managers responsibility to ensure that the venue or establishment is run smoothly and according to standard.   There are employment opportunities in both the public and private sector. Managerial skills are very important in this job as one would often be running an establishment and a team of people. Often these managers would oversee any conference and meeting preparation that is hosted at their venue/establishment, making a background in events highly advantageous. Catering Manager A catering manager organizes and develops the food and beverage services of an organisation. This could vary depending on the size of the company from managing a team of people responsible for different areas of the team, or a day to day running of staff. These managers are responsible for ensuring that the sales runs smoothly, whilst still having a hands-on approach to management. Conference Centre Manager A conference centre manager manages the everyday operations of a conference centre. This includes managing the staff as well as any administration that needs to take place, including catering, staffing, accommodation, marketing and finance, and sales. It is a multi-faceted job that requires a dynamic individual, however should help to generally improve all skills. Event Organizer Event organisors are responsible for the production of events from conception to completion. These events may be exhibitions or markets, fairs, festivals, conferences, promotions and product launches, social and charity events. They can work in public or private sector, in-house or freelance. It is a dynamic industry and allows the most room for unpredictable growth as the amount of work put in generally reflects the output. Public House Manager Public House managers generally work for a pub or bar. They are responsible for all the sales, marketing and management requirements of these pubs. This could range from stock and staff control, however could also include event planning for the pub or for musical events. The ability to market is key in this role as it is the managers responsibility to ensure that the pub remains profitable. GAP Analysis Plan of Action Leadership Competencies These roles require strong leadership qualities, as most functions involve running a team of people and in order to do so effectively, there will need to be strong management skills and also the ability to understand people.   Whilst I have good communication skills and a strong background in customer service, I am well attune to managing good working relationships which will be advantageous to networking, however I can look to improve my experience in managing a team of people. However, because of my experience working in fast paced hospitality environments, I am well coordinated, efficient and adept at time management. The transition therefore to experiencing Functional Competencies It has been stressed through evaluating the various criterian and market trends in the events industry that excellent organization skills are absolutely vital to the success of a person in the events industry. Whilst my organizational skills are well practiced as my professional experience has necessitated the development of these skills in terms of management myself and my work environment. Gaps The gaps that exist in my skill level that I aim to improve is really relating to my management skills. I hope to immediately find a position that will allow me to have responsibilities within my role managing people and therefore improving my leadership ability. I believe that thus far I will be successful and competent in these roles, however at this stage, I am looking for experience managing people to ensure quick career progression. I also hope to get more experience in managing a variety of different things at a time for example: staffing, financial and budget management, catering needs, venue hire. Being able to manage these different things at one time will undoubtedly assist in the development of my coordination skills and also generally give me more experience in a practical working environment. Plan of Action In the time leading up to graduation, I am going to start looking at job opportunities in the industry in events management position. I think to begin with it is important to work in-house to gain experience and begin to network. Inevitably it is my career ambition to have my own events company, branching out initially into freelance and then building it up from there into a small to medium sized company. However, I first need to learn the ropes and the practical aspects of the industry and also find out the sector that I most enjoy and am the most successful in. I believe that I have finished my formal education, however now need to get a practical education and link what I have learned to actual industry work. In the summer, I plan to look for an internship leading up to a permanent position as a junior in-house events planner. I would be most interested in getting involved in festival and cultural events that are based on the idea of a day trip. References Association of Event Organizers, 2012 [online] [cited 19 May 2012] Accessed on aeo.org.uk/ Association of Event Venues, 2012 [online] [cited 19 May 2012] Accessed on aev.org.uk/ Event Suppliers and Services Association, 2012 [online] [cited 19 May 2012] Accessed on essa.uk.com/ Events Industry Alliance, 2012. [online] [cited 19 May 2012) Accessed on: eventsindustryalliance.com/ People 1st Labour Market Review of the Events Industry January 2010 Prospects The UK’s Official Graduate Career Website: Events Management [online] [cited on May 2012) Accessed on prospects.ac.uk/types_of_jobs_hospitality.htm Register Of All-Party Groups [as at 4 May 2012] All-Party Parliamentary Group for the UK Events Industry [online] [e-register] Accessed on publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/events-industry.htm

How to Reduce Academic Stress

How to Reduce Academic Stress Amidst all the aspects of college that students deal with on a daily basis finances, friendships, roommates, romantic relationships, family issues, jobs, and countless other things academics always need to take priority. After all, if you dont do well in your classes, the rest of your college experience becomes impossible. So how can you deal with all the academic stress that college can easily and rapidly put into your life? Fortunately, there are ways even the most stressed-out student can cope. Take a Good Look at Your Course Load In high school, you could easily manage 5 or 6 classes plus all of your co-curricular activities. In college, however, the entire system changes. The number of units you take has a direct connection to how busy (and stressed) youll be throughout the semester. The difference between 16 and 18 or 19 units may seem small on paper, but its a big difference in real life (especially when it comes to how much studying you have to do for each class). If youre feeling overwhelmed with your course load, take a look at the number of units youre taking. If you can drop a class without creating even more stress in your life, you might want to consider it. Join a Study Group You may be studying 24/7, but if youre not studying effectively, all that time spent with your nose in your books might actually be causing you more stress. Consider joining a study group. Doing so will help hold you accountable for getting things done on time (after all, procrastination can be a major source of stress, too), help you better understand the material, and help you combine some social time with your homework. And if there isnt a study group you can join for any (or all) of your classes, consider starting one yourself. Learn How to Study More Effectively If you arent sure how to study effectively, it wont matter if you study by yourself, in a study group, or even with a private tutor. Make sure that all of your efforts to study are matching up with what your brain needs to retain and truly understand the material. Get Help from a Peer Tutor Everyone knows those students in class who clearly are mastering the material and not having a problem doing so. Consider asking one of them to tutor you. You can offer to pay them or even deal in some kind of trade (maybe you can help fix their computer, for example, or tutor them in a subject theyre struggling with). If you arent sure whom to ask in your class, check with some of the academic support offices on campus to see if they offer peer tutoring programs, ask your professor if he or she can recommend a peer tutor, or simply look for flyers on campus from other students offering themselves as tutors. Utilize Your Professor as a Resource Your professor can be one of your best assets when it comes to reducing the stress you feel in a particular course. While it may at first be intimidating to try to get to know your professor, he or she can help you figure out what material to focus on (instead of feeling overwhelmed by thinking you have to learn everything in class). He or she can also work with you if youre really struggling with a concept or with how to best prepare for an upcoming exam. After all, what could be better for helping you reduce your academic stress than to know that youre super prepared and ready to ace the upcoming exam? Make Sure You Always  Go to Class   Sure, your professor may just be reviewing the material that was covered in the reading. But you never know what additional snippets he or she might put in, and having someone go over material you may have already read will just help to solidify it in your mind. Additionally, if your professor sees that youve been in class every day but are still having problems, he or she might be more willing to work with you. Reduce Your Non-Academic Commitments It can be easy to lose your focus, but the main reason you are in school is to graduate. If you dont pass your classes, you dont get to stay in school. That simple equation should be motivation enough to help you prioritize your commitments when your stress level begins to get a little out of control. If you dont have enough time to handle your non-academic responsibilities in a way that doesnt leave you stressed all the time, take a moment to figure out what needs to go. Your friends will understand. Get the Rest of Your College Life in Balance   Sometimes, it can be easy to forget that taking care of your physical self can do wonders for reducing your stress. Make sure youre getting enough sleep, eating healthy, and exercising on a regular basis. Think about it: Whens that last time you didnt feel less stressed after a good nights sleep, a healthy breakfast, and a good work out? Ask Upperclassmen for Advice With Difficult Professors If one of your classes or professors is greatly contributing to, or even the main cause of, your academic stress, ask students who have already taken the class how they handled it. Chances are you arent the first student to be struggling. Other students may have already figured out that your literature professor gives better grades when you quote lots of other researchers in your paper, or that your Art History professor always focuses on women artists on exams. Learning from the experiences of those who went before you can help reduce your own academic stress.