The Importance of Transformational Leadership During a Company Crisis Research Paper

The Importance of Transformational Leadership During a Company Crisis - Research Paper Example The Importance of Transformational Leadership during a Company Crisis: The Case of Wal-Mart Background of the Study A lot of research on administration has been done as such idea has been related with a wide scope of elements including the procedure of dynamic, pioneer supporter cooperation, and objective foundation and achievement, to give some examples (Steane, Hua, and Teo, 2003). The idea that the idea of administration can make critical commitment for innovative work has been generally recognized by academicians and authoritative pioneers the same. Because of the quick changes in globalization and mechanical patterns, there has likewise been an expansion in the need and endeavor of organizations to put more endeavors in holding a solid workforce while tending to the perplexing requests and inclinations of their clients (Nielsen, Randall, Yarker, and Brenner, 2008). Due to these worries, associations have distinguished the need to adequately execute administration, particularly a s it has been regularly connected to ideal results, for example, an expansion in execution, viability, and duty just as improved hierarchical achievement. Thus, successful administration turns into a critical need for any organization. Advancement and imagination alone may not be sufficiently adequate to address both inside and outer weights while the usage of different strategies and practices don't in every case fundamentally produce results except if viable pioneers are made. Pioneers must have the qualities and goals that are important to actuate any required change while holding an enabled workforce to help make progress (Jung and Sosik, 2002). The vision that they set up and the qualities that they live out and show to their devotees assumes an applicable job when such pioneers settle on choices that will affect the whole association. Dominant part of authority considers have demonstrated that transformational initiative can be the best type of administration to realize change in any gathering of people by emphatically moving these individuals to make the important change for their prosperity (Conger, 1999). Pioneers who adopt the transformational strategy are commonly fit for inspiring their adherents to grasp such changes, improve their exhibition, and be set up to open up to new practices, just for the better of the association (Avolio, Zhu, Kho, and Bhatia, 2004). Organization Background and Description of the Crisis Sam Walton established Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in 1962, with its first base camp situated in Bentonville, Arkansas. It was first referred to over the United States as the â€Å"largest staple retailer† and has really extended to remember a sum of 8,500 for 15 nations, with the stores taking an alternate name. For example, in the United Kingdom, the stores are known as Asda, while in Mexico, a few stores are known as Walmex, while India has taken to the name Best Price (Buerkle, 1999). Among the emergencies tormenting Wal-Mart incorpo rate a negative picture with respect to how it pays its laborers. As indicated by an article distributed in Bloomberg Businessweek, Wal-Mart has been attempting to improve its notoriety due to the low wages it has been known to

Free Essays on Comparing Oedipus And Death Of A Salesman

Arthur Miller’s â€Å"Death of a Salesman† and Sophocles’s â€Å"Oedipus Rex† correspond in that the two of them are catastrophes, the previous being an advanced disaster, explicitly set in twentieth-century America; in the interim, the last is a lot more established, of antiquated Greek inception. Regardless of the broad time allotment between the two plays, in creation and in setting, just as the various social orders to which they relate, the two works stay consistent with the class of disaster; in this way, the two pieces can reasonably be set one next to the other and contrasted with each other. Willy Loman is the focal character in â€Å"Death of a Salesman,† and Oedipus is his partner in â€Å"Oedipus Rex.† Both Willy Loman and Oedipus share attributes for all intents and purpose, similar to the way that they are both incognizant in regards to the real world; yet both stay unmistakable in their own particular manners, and it is accurat ely these distinctions, for example, their respect, what adheres to a meaningful boundary of qualification between Oedipus being a legend and Willy Loman being a wannabe. Both Willy Loman and Oedipus experience the ill effects of a significant imperfection in their character, which is the essential factor in drawing the course of their particular destinies. This defect is visual deficiency to the real world. Willy Loman is unequipped for perceiving what is genuine based on what isn't. His principal fixation on the American dream, which he has not accomplished at his 60 years old and will never accomplish, makes him look for comfort in past recollections while embracing the here and now. This gets apparent by his flashbacks, similar to the one he encounters when Willy and Charley are playing a card game and Willy starts to stand up uproarious alluding to Charley as Ben, Willy’s sibling: WILLY. I’m getting terribly worn out, Ben. CHARLEY. Great, continue playing; you’ll rest better. Did you call me Ben? WILLY. That’s entertaining. For a second there you helped me to remember my sibling Ben. (Mill operator 1718) Willy can't see the brutality that encompasses his circumstance, much the same as Oedipus, who is blindfolded by t... Free Essays on Comparing Oedipus And Death Of A Salesman Free Essays on Comparing Oedipus And Death Of A Salesman Arthur Miller’s â€Å"Death of a Salesman† and Sophocles’s â€Å"Oedipus Rex† concur in that the two of them are catastrophes, the previous being a cutting edge disaster, explicitly set in twentieth-century America; in the interim, the last is a lot more seasoned, of old Greek cause. Regardless of the broad time period between the two plays, in creation and in setting, just as the various social orders to which they relate, the two works stay consistent with the class of disaster; along these lines, the two pieces can appropriately be set one next to the other and contrasted with each other. Willy Loman is the focal character in â€Å"Death of a Salesman,† and Oedipus is his partner in â€Å"Oedipus Rex.† Both Willy Loman and Oedipus share attributes for all intents and purpose, similar to the way that they are both ignorant concerning reality; yet both stay particular in their own specific manners, and it is accurately these distinctions, fo r example, their respect, what adheres to a meaningful boundary of qualification between Oedipus being a saint and Willy Loman being a screw-up. Both Willy Loman and Oedipus experience the ill effects of a significant blemish in their character, which is the essential factor in drawing the course of their separate destinies. This imperfection is visual impairment to the real world. Willy Loman is unequipped for recognizing what is genuine based on what isn't. His principal fixation on the American dream, which he has not accomplished at his 60 years old and will never accomplish, makes him look for comfort in past recollections while embracing the here and now. This gets apparent by his flashbacks, similar to the one he encounters when Willy and Charley are playing a game of cards and Willy starts to stand up noisy alluding to Charley as Ben, Willy’s sibling: WILLY. I’m getting horrendously worn out, Ben. CHARLEY. Great, continue playing; you’ll rest better. Did you call me Ben? WILLY. That’s clever. For a second there you helped me to remember my sibling Ben. (Mill operator 1718) Willy can't see the brutality that encompasses his circumstance, much the same as Oedipus, who is blindfolded by t...

Can napping help you concentrate

Can napping help you concentrate Can napping help you concentrate? Can napping help you concentrate? Students are well known to be sleep deprived, constantly pulling all-nighters to finish papers last minute or study for back-to-back exams. On campus, it’s not unusual to spot sleepy students catching a few minutes of sleep between classes or before they head to work. But does napping actually help students stay alert and focused during school? A study from Australia suggests the answer is no. The study of 280 university students in Australia found that more than half, 54%, of students napped at least once per week. About 17% of the students were regular nappers, lying down during the day more than three times every week. And of the students who took naps, most slept for more than 30 minutes when they did. But what are the effects of naps? Do they wake you back up or make you groggier? This research actually found that napping made students feel worse and function more poorly at school. Specifically, students who took naps reported more trouble organizing their thoughts and concentrating than students who didn’t take naps. What’s more, napping students also felt less motivation and had more problems finishing tasks. The students who napped also said they felt more depressed during the day than students who stayed up and only went to sleep at night. Maybe napping isn’t such a good idea after all! Most of these students said they took naps due to excessive sleepiness during daytime. Interestingly though, the amount of sleep students got at nighttime did not differ between napping and non-napping students. It seems the student who napped simply had a higher need for sleep than those who did not. Poor them! Judging by this study, it seems like the best thing to do is to know your own body and how much sleep you need. Get as much as possible at nighttime, and power through your day rather than take a sleeping break! You’ll feel better, work harder, and accomplish more. If it’s not humanly possible to get all that work done and get enough sleep at night, let Homework Help Canada to take a load off (or two or three). We offer high-quality, custom essays for a wide variety of subjects and almost any grade level, even up to Master’s and Ph.D. coursework. Our team of professional writers has years of experience crafting custom assignments for tons of subjects, so you can rest well at night. Didn’t realize you weren’t going to finish that paper until a day or two before? No problem. We’re well equipped to get your work done even on 24 hours’ notice. References: Lovato, N., Lack, L., Wright, H. (2014). The Napping Behaviour of Australian University Students. PLoS ONE. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0113666 Can napping help you concentrate Can napping help you concentrate? Can napping help you concentrate? Students are well known to be sleep deprived, constantly pulling all-nighters to finish papers last minute or study for back-to-back exams. On campus, it’s not unusual to spot sleepy students catching a few minutes of sleep between classes or before they head to work. But does napping actually help students stay alert and focused during school? A study from Australia suggests the answer is no. The study of 280 university students in Australia found that more than half, 54%, of students napped at least once per week. About 17% of the students were regular nappers, lying down during the day more than three times every week. And of the students who took naps, most slept for more than 30 minutes when they did. But what are the effects of naps? Do they wake you back up or make you groggier? This research actually found that napping made students feel worse and function more poorly at school. Specifically, students who took naps reported more trouble organizing their thoughts and concentrating than students who didn’t take naps. What’s more, napping students also felt less motivation and had more problems finishing tasks. The students who napped also said they felt more depressed during the day than students who stayed up and only went to sleep at night. Maybe napping isn’t such a good idea after all! Most of these students said they took naps due to excessive sleepiness during daytime. Interestingly though, the amount of sleep students got at nighttime did not differ between napping and non-napping students. It seems the student who napped simply had a higher need for sleep than those who did not. Poor them! Judging by this study, it seems like the best thing to do is to know your own body and how much sleep you need. Get as much as possible at nighttime, and power through your day rather than take a sleeping break! You’ll feel better, work harder, and accomplish more. If it’s not humanly possible to get all that work done and get enough sleep at night, let Homework Help USA to take a load off (or two or three). We offer high-quality, custom essays for a wide variety of subjects and almost any grade level, even up to Master’s and Ph.D. coursework. Our team of professional writers has years of experience crafting custom assignments for tons of subjects, so you can rest well at night. Didn’t realize you weren’t going to finish that paper until a day or two before? No problem. We’re well equipped to get your work done even on 24 hours’ notice. References: Lovato, N., Lack, L., Wright, H. (2014). The Napping Behaviour of Australian University Students. PLoS ONE. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0113666

What Is a Wavefunction Physics Definition

A wave function is defined to be a function describing the probability of a particles quantum state as a function of position, momentum, time, and/or spin. Wave functions are commonly denoted by the variable ÃŽ ¨. A wave function may be used to describe the probability of finding an electron within a matter wave. To do this, the wave function, which may include an imaginary number, is squared to yield a real number solution. Then, the probability of an electron being within a certain area can be assessed. The famous Schrodinger equation introduced the wave function concept in 1925.

SocratesApology And The Hebrew Bible - 1493 Words

In all religions, there are different structures of authority. It can be the way the system works; people live their lives, or how they view their world. The people in Socrates’ Apology and the Hebrew Bible have different ways of life. The Greek gods and the Hebrew God shape these people’s views, and they live the way their Gods want them to. Socrates’ gods and the Jews’ God give them a sense of authority in how they live and view their world. It evidently shows in Socrates’ Apology while Socrates defends himself in court, and in the books of the Bible when the Jews follow God and how they judge before and after Jesus comes down. Although the Athenians’ and Jews’ lives contrast sharply, the ways they devote themselves to their Gods†¦show more content†¦Socrates never makes people change their beliefs in their gods; he believes he is merely telling the truth to everyone he meets. However, the Athenians think it is unforg ivable that Socrates does not believe in the same gods and speaks his mind. On the other hand, the Hebrew God is the only God in charge of everything. God has a son named Jesus, who came down to Earth to save the people on it. Jesus gives people more chances and forgives them. God does not need humans to continue being powerful. In fact, God wants to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because â€Å"The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Genesis 18:20). The Hebrew God does not put up with sinful people. He does not need a bunch of individuals on Earth if they do not believe and obey him. Unlike the judges in court with Socrates, Jesus is merciful. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees bring a woman who committed adultery to Jesus. They ask him if they should stone her to death since Moses commands it in his Law for women like her. Jesus says that if they are without sin, they may throw a stone at her. As a r esult, they all leave her alone with Jesus, and he tells her that he does not condemn her, and now she should go and leave her life of sin (John

Challenges being faced as a beginning teacher Free Essays

National Education ( NE ) was introduced to Singapore Schools in 1997 to develop national coherence, cultivate the inherent aptitude for endurance as a state and instil in our pupils, assurance in our state ‘s hereafter. It besides emphasises on cultivating a sense of belonging and emotional rootedness to Singapore. Many programmes such as Community Involvement Programme ( CIP ) and Learning Journeys were designed to assist schools accomplish such aims and the duty of put to deathing these programmes falls on the instructors. We will write a custom essay sample on Challenges being faced as a beginning teacher or any similar topic only for you Order Now As a beginning instructor, freshly introduced into the profession, challenges are faced in the effort to implement such enterprises. In my sentiment, one major challenge that I would meet is planing activities that infuses a sense of relevance in our pupils – allowing them understand that national coherence is a consequence of the uninterrupted attempts of every Singaporean, and they are a portion of the equation. These pupils were born in the epoch of political and economical stableness, where bulk grew up in environments run intoing their demands and carry throughing most of their wants. Hence, they have the inclination to take their security and wellbeing for granted, doing them unable to grok the battles faced by Singapore in keeping the current success and stableness and the demand for NE. For illustration, most schools in Singapore commemorate nucleus event, Racial Harmony Day through the showcasing of the diversified cultural costumes and playing of cultural games to enable their pupils ‘ in-depth cultural cognition of their equals. Yet, a bulk of them treat the recollection of the twenty-four hours as an chance for an interesting concert and a half-day school, and few genuinely understanding the implicit in principle behind the activities, allow entirely instil a sense of relevance. Amidst the current racial harmonious atmosphere between different racial groups, pupils are unable to gestate the thought of racial public violences, its ‘ impact on Singapore and the importance of racial harmoniousness in a society. They view information relayed through these events as irrelevant and doubt the possibility of the return of such incidents in the current Singapore. It is of a common apprehension that the six NE messages would ever stay as words on paper unless instructors inculcate them into pupils in an piquant mode. Therefore, as a get downing instructor with no anterior experience in the ingraining of NE messages, I feel that the undertaking of planing engaging, merriment and relevant activities would be enormous, with myself holding unequal cognition of the activity thoughts that pupils are receptive to. Instilling a sense of relevance in pupils would be a immense challenge as it is non an easy undertaking to alter pupils ‘ deeply-rooted thought from â€Å" the duty of keeping national coherence autumn merely on the grownups and authorities † to the thought that â€Å" national coherence is the duty of everyone, including pupils † . Students should be taught that societal coherence occurs because each and everyone put in attempt and play our portion in lending to the wellbeing of the state. The issue is relevant to both grownups and pupils. From my personal observation, about all Singapore Schools repeat the same NE programmes for their pupils every twelvemonth, differing merely at the activities to be completed at single degrees. As such, pupils were bored of it, and older pupils particularly, expressed cynicism, and were unresponsive to the programmes. Hence, I feel that the 2nd challenge that I would confront as a get downing instructor in the effort to put to death the enterprises is eliciting pupils ‘ involvement in the engagement of NE-related activities. Unlike the traditional topics that we were taught to learn in the instruction institute, NE is non merely another topic where pupils learn by conventional instruction methods. In fact, pupils understand the constructs in NE better when the activities are prosecuting, merriment and capture their attending. Although pupils reflected that programmes designed by the school ‘s NE commission were everyday, get downing instructors, including myself, are unable to plan and implement new thoughts in topographic point of old 1s, with bing NE models in schools. On the contrary, I would be expected to follow the guidelines and present a similar NE lesson. As a get downing instructor with limited learning experience and teaching methods accomplishments, I would miss the ability in transform these guidelines into prosecuting and interesting lessons on par as that of the experient instructors. Most experient instructors are able to present interesting NE lessons, transforming the repetitive, dull lesson into prosecuting sharing lessons while staying by the guidelines. They reflected on their past instruction experiences, gathered feedback from old batches of pupils, and modified their instruction teaching method consequently to appeal to pupils ‘ involvement. Therefore, pupils ‘ involvements in NE activities are aroused and they participate actively in it. On the other manus, get downing instructors enter schoolrooms today with high outlooks of ourselves and of our pupils. Our learning method would be influenced by single background and assorted learning theories. However, the deficiency of experience in the instruction field would impact the quality of the lesson bringing as I would be unable to accommodate to pupils ‘ demands. In add-on, I would be given to avoid diverting from the model to plan newer, more exciting lessons as I fear for botching the ba lance between merriment and content. After all, the intent of the NE lesson would be defeated if there is more merriment than content. To reason, the aims of NE could be attained through appropriate programmes and it is therefore highly of import to instill a sense of relevance in our pupils and to elicit their involvement in NE activities. When faced with challenges in the effort to implement the policies, get downing instructors should detect, persevere and seek for aid to get the better of them. Through these challenges, we would turn to go better pedagogues and in bend, supply the greatest benefits to the pupils. How to cite Challenges being faced as a beginning teacher, Essay examples

Tranquil post Essay Example

Tranquil post Essay I would like to open a African restaurant, food from all over the continent Africa. My aim is to have different races come and try what real African food and try food from that side of the world .I believe that a restaurant is a place of relaxation and comfort ability both environmentally and in the catering. I want the restaurant to be a home away from home. I want there to be a tropical feeling and where it feels like the world has been condensed into one place.Restaurants generally provide a service. The provide food. All restaurants all different, it may be Chinese, Indian, English or ItalianRestaurant patrons want to be delighted, but not necessarily surprised. If theyre anticipating a family-style steakhouse but find themselves in a more formal environment with a bewildering gourmet menu, the surprise alone may keep them from enjoying the restaurant. Concepts give restaurateurs a way to let patrons know what to expect and also provide some structure for operation. Some of the m ore popular restaurant concepts include: Casual-dining restaurants, Family-style restaurants, Ethnic restaurants, Seafood and SteakhousesFamily- style establishments offer speedy service and menus appealing to a broad range of customers, from children to seniors. Family-style restaurants have prices slightly higher than those at fast-food restaurants, yet still provide table service.Quick-service seafood restaurants generally offer a `limited range of choices, often restricted to fried fish and shrimp. Miscalled and upscale restaurants offer a wider selection of seafood items, prepared in ways other than fried, including baked, broiled and grilled. Seafood can be risky, as seafood prices are always changing and many kinds of seafood are seasonal. Beware: Quality can vary tremendously.Steakhouses are part of the miscalled and upscale markets. Miscalled steakhouses are typically family-oriented, offering a casual environment with meals perceived as good values. Comfort is emphasized, and Western themes are popular. Upscale steakhouses offer a more formal atmosphere and may serve larger cuts of meat of better quality than those served in miscalled restaurants. Upscale establishments offer guests more privacy and focus more on adult patrons than on families.I want to create a casual dining restaurant serving Ghanaian food. Casual-dining restaurants appeal to a wide audience, ranging from baby boomers to kids to Gen Hers to seniors, and they provide a variety of food items. Many successful casual-dining restaurants centre on a theme thats incorporated into their menus and dà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½cor.Step 2: Set Up Your FacilityLayout and design are major factors in your restaurants success. Ill need to take into account the size and layout of the dining room, kitchen space, storage space and office. Typically, restaurants allot 40 to 60 percent of their space to the dining area, approximately 30 percent to the kitchen and prep area and the remainder to storage and office spac e.Dining areaThis is where Ill be making the bulk of your money, so I dont cut corners when designing your dining room. I will visit restaurants in your area and analyze the dà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½cor, watch the diners whether they react positively to the dà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½cor or not.Are it comfortable, or are people shifting in their seats throughout their meals.I will note what works well and what doesnt. The space required per seat varies. For a small, casual-dining restaurant, youll need about 15 to 18 square feet per seat to assure comfortable seating and enough aisle space so servers have room to move between the tables.Production area: Too often, the production area in a restaurant is inefficiently designed, and the result is a poorly organized kitchen and less than top-notch service. Keep your menu in mind as you determine each element in the production area. Ill need to include space for receiving, storage, food preparation, cooking, baking, dishwashing, production aisles, trash storage, employee facilities and an area for a small office where I can perform daily management duties. I will arrange my food production area so that everything is just a few steps away from the cook. My design should also allow two or more cooks to work side by side during my busiest hours.Step 3: Plan Your InventoryBefore I open my restaurant, you need to make sure it will be adequately stocked. To calculate basic stock accurately, review actual sales during an appropriate time period, such as a full year of business. Of course, during my start-up, I wont have previous sales and stocking figures to guide me, so Ill project my first years stock requirements based on my business plan.Depending on the size and type of my restaurant, during my first year I can expect to spend anywhere from à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½4000 to à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½30000 on food, à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½1000 to à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½9000 on beverages, and à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½200 to à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½500 on paper products.My employees will help define my restaurants reput ation. There are several categories of personnel in the restaurant business: manager, cooks, servers, busboys, dishwashers, hosts and bartenders. When my restaurant is still new, some of the duties may cross over from one category to another. For example, I the manager may double as the host, and servers may also bus tables. I will be sure to hire people who are willing to be flexible in their duties. My payroll costs, including my salary and that of your co- managers, should be about 24 to 35 percent of your total gross sales.Step 4: Hire Your StaffFor the Manager the most important employee in most restaurants is the manager. My best candidate will have already managed a restaurant in your area and will be familiar with local buying sources, suppliers and methods. My also want a manager with leadership skills and the ability to supervise personnel while reflecting the style and character of your restaurant.To get the quality of manager I want, youll have to pay well. Depending on your location, expect to pay a seasoned manager à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½20,000 to à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½30,000 a year, plus a percentage of sales. An entry-level manager will earn à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½12,000 to à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½20,000 but wont have the skills of a more experienced candidate. If I cant offer a high salary, work out a profit-sharing arrangementits an excellent way to hire good people and motivate them to build a successful restaurant. Hire a manager a month before you open so he or she can help me set up my restaurant. Once the business is running, the manager can anticipate slower times of the day or week to schedule his or her off-hours.Marketing StrategyA marketing strategy identifies customer groups which a particular business can better serve than its target competitors, and tailors product offerings, prices, distribution, promotional efforts, and services toward those market segments. Ideally, the strategy should address unmet customer needs that offer adequate potential profitability. A good stra tegy helps a business focus on the target markets it can serve best.Target MarketingOwners of small businesses usually have limited resources to spend on marketing. Concentrating their efforts on one or a few key market segments target marketing gets the most return from small investments. There are two methods used to segment a market:Geographical segmentation Specializing in serving the needs of customers in a particular geographical area. For example, a neighbourhood convenience store may send advertisements only to people living within one-half mile of the store.Customer segmentation Identifying those people most likely to buy the product or service and targeting those groups.Managing the Market MixEvery marketing program contains four key components:Products and ServicesPromotionDistributionPricingThese are combined into an overall marketing program.Products and ServicesProduct strategies may include concentrating on a narrow product line, developing a highly specialized pr oduct or service, or providing a product-service package containing unusually high-quality service.PromotionPromotion strategies include advertising and direct customer interaction. Good salesmanship is essential for small businesses because of their limited ability to spend on advertising. Good telephone book advertising is also important. Direct mail is an effective, low-cost medium available to small business.PriceThe right price is crucial for maximizing total revenue. Generally, higher prices mean lower volume and vice-versa; however, small businesses can often command higher prices because of their personalized service.DistributionThe manufacturer and wholesaler must decide how to distribute their products. Working through established distributors or manufacturers agents generally is easiest for small manufacturers. Small retailers should consider cost and traffic flow in site selection, especially since advertising and rent can be reciprocal: A low-cost, low-traffic location means spending more on advertising to build traffic.The nature of the product or service is also important in sitting decisions. If purchases are based largely on impulse, then high traffic and visibility are critical. On the other hand, location is less a concern for products or services that customers are willing to go out of their way to find. The recent availability of highly segmented mailing lists, purchased from list brokers, magazines, or other companies, has enabled certain small businesses to operate from any location yet serve national or international markets.Marketing PerformanceAfter implementing a marketing program, entrepreneurs must evaluate its performance. Every program should have performance standards to compare with actual results. Researching industry norms and past performance will help to develop appropriate standards.Entrepreneurs should audit their companys performance at least quarterly. The key questions are:Is the company doing all it can to be customer -oriented?Do employees ensure the customers are satisfied and leave wanting to come back?Is it easy for the customer to find what he or she wants at a competitive price?Some Marketing IdeasMarketing is all about satisfying customer needs. The following represents a comprehensive list of marketing ideas. Use the list of marketing ideas to help better understand customer needs and ways to satisfy those needs.A business plan precisely defines your business, identifies your goals, and serves as your firms resume. The basic components include a current and pro forma balance sheet, an income statement, and a cash flow analysis. It helps you allocate resources properly, handle unforeseen complications, and make good business decisions. Because it provides specific and organized information about your company and how you will repay borrowed money, a good business plan is a crucial part of any loan application. Additionally, it informs sales personnel, suppliers, and others about your operat ions and goals.Using the PlanA business plan is a tool with three basic purposes: communication, management, and planning.As a communication tool, it is used to attract investment capital, secure loans, convince workers to hire on, and assist in attracting strategic business partners. The development of a comprehensive business plan shows whether or not a business has the potential to make a profit. It requires a realistic look at almost every phase of business and allows you to show that you have worked out all the problems and decided on potential alternatives before actually launching your business.As a management tool, the business plan helps you track, monitor and evaluate your progress. The business plan is a living document that you will modify as you gain knowledge and experience. By using your business plan to establish timelines and milestones, you can gauge your progress and compare your projections to actual accomplishments.As a planning tool, the business plan guides yo u through the various phases of your business. A thoughtful plan will help identify roadblocks and obstacles so that you can avoid them and establish alternatives. Many business owners share their business plans with their employees to foster a broader understanding of where the business is going.These are a few ways to promote a restaurantPublicity stunts Stunt is a word with negative connotations for restaurant owners, but I wanted to use a word that conjured up images that are different than traditional press relations efforts. Sending a standard press release about a new menu may result in a small write-up. To cut through the clutter and generate extensive exposure, you need a newsworthy angle. Something likes a celebrity chef cook-off, really unique contest or other major event. Think beyond typical events like golf tournaments and simple fundraisers. Challenge your staff or marketing firm to think what youd have to do to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records. Challe nge them to think much bigger and come up with ideas that tie in to what your club stands for but also have potential for national exposure. If you create events that have only local appeal, youll be limited with your media exposure potential and may not even make the local paper. If you think much larger, you wont have to worry about getting coverage. A well-constructed publicity stunt can be worth its weight in gold in terms of positive exposure for your restaurant.Public relations Public relations has been called advertising that you dont have to pay for. If you have a successful public and media relations program, youll get increased exposure and prestige without spending a fortune. For this to work; though, youll need to create and publicize newsworthy stories. Hiring a new chef isnt always enough to garner the kind of attention you deserve. Create other angles that are unique and make your restaurant stand out. Also, review your restaurants marketing and advertising expenses over the last three years. Then determine the percentage that was spent on traditional advertising compared to public relations. Its worthwhile to spend 15-30 percent of your budget on a solid public relations program. Find a firm that has creativity and excitement about your restaurant. If that firm doesnt seem genuinely curious and interested in your restaurant and what it has to offer, itll have a hard time creating interest with the media.Bounce backs This is an underutilized tool that bounces guests from peak times to off-peak times and can also work to encourage frequency in your food and beverage operations. While simple in theory and execution, this tactic can produce far more in revenues per dollar invested than traditional advertising. All you do is offer incentives at the point of purchase on popular services to encourage the guest to try your restaurant another time. For instance, if youre busy for lunch and need to drive sales for dinner, offer bounces back certificate s that can only be redeemed during dinner hours.Stop discounting Discounting tells your customers and prospective customers, We dont deserve full price, so well be happy to lower our rates to make up for the difference. This point was driven home to me during my tenure with The Breakers of Palm Beach, a lavish resort whose guests spend a small fortune to walk the halls. Discounting the price would be to discount the 105 years spent building a brand. Instead of discounting, consider no strings offers that do not rely on percentages. Examples include value-added perks such as free valet parking, complimentary services, merchandise, etc. And, in a related topic, never offer coupons, only offer certificates.Business socials some restaurant owners are unreceptive or apathetic to hosting business socials with outside organizations at their establishment. However, if they select the right group to partner with, you can leverage their resources to promote your restaurant, and you can also target your core audience. Host socials where the food is centre stage. Arrange photo opportunities that include your displays in the background and submit to local media. Partnering with a business or charitable organization works on many levels and can help you stretch your marketing budget while still delivering higher returns on investment than can be achieved with traditional advertising.Sampling Tasting believes and if you would grade your food a B minus or above, you need to get it in potential customers mouths. Thats the best way to build recognition and it is more effective and less expensive than advertising. Every public event that draws your core audience is an opportunity to offer samples of your product. Pick the best 2-3 items on your menu that can be easily transported and get some solid representatives of your restaurant out to meet and greet at these off-property functionsHost food events Hosting food events such as the Taste of Caribbean is a great way to posit ion your restaurant as a centre of the food scene in your market. It allows you to leverage the reputation, profile and credibility of all of the other participants, and it can also help you share the expense of holding the event. Hosting an event also provides your restaurant with the opportunity to recruit additional manpower and resources for promoting the event and gives that added edge with garnering local publicity.Toss up days Promote this program through your next newsletter and other internal marketing vehicles to your existing customer base. Pick a day which is the slowest food day and flip for the food tab. Guests will have a 50 percent chance of getting their food bill paid by the restaurant. This attracts your guests attention much more than a buy one get one free restaurant promotion. Guests are also more likely to have higher check averages than normal because there is a chance they wont have to pay. It creates a tremendous attention among your core guest base.Menu B ingo This is a great tactic for encouraging frequency and getting members to try different items on the menu. You simply create bingo cards that have different menu items in boxes. Have the cards designed with five columns and five rows. You can also promote other non-food items such as merchandise, cookbooks, and gift certificates. Guests have an allotted period of time 60 days for example to complete a connection just as they would with a bingo card. Once they try five items in any direction, they receive a free gift basket or other incentives that are roughly equal to one of the items purchased.Birthday program Research shows that 40 percent of all Ghanaian eat out on their birthday. This presents an opportunity for establishments with solid birthday programs. So restaurants should take more advantage of this. It does offer a chance for you to swoop in and capture your increased share of the market. A birthday program can be executed through new automated tools like those tha t are available through e-mail marketing service providers. You simply plug in the birthday and e-mail address of your members, and a secure and nicely designed e-mail is sent to them at a time you determine in advance. The system knows who and when to send the e-mail to and also tracks view rates for reporting that allows you to know how well your program is working. You can also have the e-mail include a redemption code that will allow you to track what percentages of the e-mails are bringing in guests and calculate a return on investment. Recent research has shown that retention based e-mail marketing is 300 to 400 percent higher than traditional vehicles such as direct mail and faxes. Its a great way to communicate and manage your clubs birthday program.Market researchMarket research aims to helps an organisation make effective marketing decisions by providing information that can inform the decision making process. Its is concerned with the data in order help the producer bette r understand their costumer. I will be carrying out a market research, I will do this because it can help an organisation to achieve it overall objective because it can identify market opportunities for example move from sitting on wooding chairs to cushioned chairs. It can be used to asses and improve marketing activity for example improves the service offered in a restaurant. It helps improve the quality of marketing being undertaken by revealing important costumer information such as, what the costumer wants, what they prefer, how often they eat out or what type of food they prefer. I will use primary research because primary research obtains new information and helps you keep on top pf competition. It helps to know the costumer that uses their products it also helps organisation to know what improve on. It is cheap and brings a lot of information.Secondary research makes use of research already carried out by someone else for another project. I will also use secondary research b ecause it helps me have a broader view of the were restaurants are positioned in the market. Secondary information comes from the television, magazines, internet, news and current affairs. Access to secondary information can be easy and cheap to accessDun Bradstreet- this research publishes a number of directories such as comprehensive financial reports on companies and on the trading prospects in a particular industry this is often used by suppliers and other creditor to determine companys credit worthiness.Mintel standing for market intelligence is one of the leading sources of secondary marketing information. Every month mintel analyses the consumers, producers, advertising and distribution within a range of market.Company report is a legal requirement for a public limited is to publish data about it activities in the previous.Observation is watching and recording the activities of a business or individual to identify actions.Back data is existing company information which can u sed to make a decision of forecast future trends.Annual abstract of statistics are data collected by the government on all areas of public and business life.Trial air when a product is used and opinions and views are recorded on the experiencePilots- a preliminary stage in market research in which a small number of interview are conducted to see whether the questionnaire, advert or product achieves the research objectivesField trials- testing a new or improved product on costumers within you target market.Consumer panel-a group of consumers within a firms target market used on a regular basis for market research exercises.Test marketing- the launch of a new or improved product within a tightly defined area, older to measure actual sales potential.Concept testing- to test the accepting of a concept by target consumersDemand is a desire to own or a service. It is affected by consumer taste, price, incomes, advertising and the popularity of other products.P3Form the market research vid eo I watched, I found out that before a research is done, the company has to find out from their clients, what the aims and objectives of what they want for example, their buying habits, information about their competition in order to keep on top of competition.The market research survey is good and is an advantage to the company because is save money. The market research identifies the costumer needs and wants. The company needs to understand its competitors and I identify the aims and objectives.The system that the company does when they enter their questions is coded. Their questionnaires are pre-tested before they go out to costumers. Some questionnaires are open ended other are closed ended questions.The advantages of closed questions are that it is easier and quicker for respondents to answer, the answers of different respondents are easier to compare, answers are easier to code and statistically analyse, the response choices can clarify question meaning for respondents, respo ndents are more likely to answer about sensitive topics, there are fewer irrelevant or confused answers to questions, less articulate or less literate respondents are not at a disadvantage and replication is easier.The disadvantages are that they can suggest ideas that the respondent would not otherwise have, respondents with no opinion or no knowledge can answer anyway, respondents can be frustrated because their desired answer is not a choice, it is confusing if many response choices are offered, misinterpretation of a question can go unnoticed, distinctions between respondent answers may be blurred, clerical mistakes or marking the wrong response is possible, they force respondents to give simplistic responses to complex issues and they force people to make choices they would not make in the real world.However open ended questions can be useful because they permit an unlimited number of possible answers, respondents can answer in detail and can qualify and clarify responses, unan ticipated findings can be discovered, they permit adequate answers to complex issues, they permit creativity, self-expression, and richness of detail and they reveal a respondents logic, thinking process, and frame of reference, yet it also has some disadvantages, open ended questions could be different respondents give different degrees of detail in answers, responses may be irrelevant or buried in useless detail, comparisons and statistical analysis become difficult, coding responses is difficultà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ articulate and highly literate respondents have an advantage, questions may be too general for respondents who lose direction, a greater amount of respondent time, thought, and effort is necessary, respondents can be intimidated by questions and answers take up a lot of space in the questionnaire.

Calculus

Calculus Calculus Calculus By Maeve Maddox A reader writes, The other day I heard a radio commentator constantly using the phrase in that calculus, something Id never heard before. [The] commentator was using it in a political context, pretty much as a fancy way of saying in that situation; Id be grateful if you could look into it and cover it some time! Calculus is one of those words like parameter and paradigm that have been yanked from their habitual scientific contexts into the general vocabulary by non-scientists to make their utterances sound more profound. In the context of mathematics, the word calculus is usually preceded by differential or integral: integral calculus: a branch of mathematics concerned with the theory and applications (as in the determination of lengths, areas, and volumes and in the solution of differential equations) of integrals and integration. differential calculus: a branch of mathematics concerned chiefly with the study of the rate of change of functions with respect to their variables especially through the use of derivatives and differentials. Calculus is the diminutive of Latin calx, â€Å"stone.† A calculus was a little stone or pebble. The plural, calculi gives us the word calculation because pebbles were used for counting. Calculi were also used as game pieces and for voting. In the context of medicine, calculus is a hard deposit that builds up in the body to produce kidney stones, plaque, and such. The word calculus is now to be found in a variety of contexts: Competition along routes is just one variable in that calculus. (The context is a discussion of the process of airline pricing.) They are casting Ellsworth as an unwilling enabler who will further an agenda even though he might not fully support it. And, in that calculus, his vote for Speaker of the House comes first and foremost. No medical intervention is 100% safe. However vaccines are remarkably  safeIt is risk versus benefit and in that calculus vaccines win. J. C. Watts Endorsing Newt Gingrich is Awful Political Calculus In New Calculus on Smoking, It’s Health Gained vs. Pleasure Lost The political calculus on immigration reform changes day by day, but the moral calculus has not. It seems to me that in each of these examples, situation, calculation, or thinking would serve the context. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Is She a "Lady" or a "Woman"?What is Dative Case?How Many Sentences in a Paragraph?

Definition and Examples of Isocolons in Rhetoric

Definition and Examples of Isocolons in Rhetoric Isocolon  is a  rhetorical term  for a succession of  phrases,  clauses, or  sentences  of approximately equal length and corresponding structure. Plural:  isocolons  or  isocola. An isocolon with three parallel members is known as a  tricolon. A four-part isocolon is a  tetracolon climax. Isocolon is particularly of interest, notes T.V.F. Brogan, because Aristotle mentions it in the  Rhetoric  as the  figure  that produces symmetry and balance in  speech  and, thus, creates  rhythmical  prose  or even measures in verse (Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics, 2012). Pronunciation   ai-so-CO-lon Etymology From the Greek, of equal members or clauses Examples and Observations Climate is what we expect; weather is what we get.​It takes a licking, but it keeps on ticking!(advertising slogan of Timex watches)Im a Pepper, hes a Pepper, shes a Pepper, were a PepperWouldnt you like to be a Pepper, too? Dr. Pepper!(advertising jingle for Dr. Pepper soft drink)Come then: let us to the task, to the battle, to the toileach to our part, each to our station. Fill the armies, rule the air, pour out the munitions, strangle the U-boats, sweep the mines, plow the land, build the ships, guard the streets, succor the wounded, uplift the downcast, and honor the brave.(Winston Churchill, speech given in Manchester, England, on January 29, 1940)Nothing thats beautiful hides its face. Nothing thats honest hides its name.(Orual in  Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold  by C.S. Lewis. Geoffrey Bles, 1956)Pity is the feeling which arrests the mind in the presence of whatsoever is grave and constant in human sufferings and unites it with the sufferer. Terror is the feeling which arrests the mind in the presence of whatsoever is grave and constant in human sufferings and unites it with the secret cause.(James Joyce,  A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, 1917) An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered; an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered.(G.K. Chesterton) Effects Created by Isocolon Isocolon... one of the most common and important rhetorical  figures, is the use of successive sentences, clauses, or phrases similar in length and parallel in structure. . . . In some cases of isocolon the structural match may be so complete that the number of  syllables  in each phrase is the same; in the more common case, the parallel clauses just use the same  parts of speech  in the same order. The device can produce pleasing  rhythyms, and the parallel structures it creates may helpfully reinforce a parallel substance in the speakers  claims... An excessive or clumsy use of the device can create too glaring a finish and too strong a sense of calculation.(Ward Farnsworth,  Farnsworths Classical English Rhetoric. David R. Godine, 2011) The Isocolon Habit Historians of  rhetoric  continually puzzle over why the  isocolon  habit so thrilled the Greeks when they first encountered it, why  antithesis  became, for a while, an  oratorical  obsession. Perhaps it allowed them, for the first time, to see their two-sided  arguments.(Richard A. Lanham,  Analyzing Prose, 2nd ed. Continuum, 2003) The Difference Between Isocolon and Parison - Isocolon  is a sequence of  sentences  of equal length, as in Popes Equal your merits! equal is your din! (Dunciad  II, 244), where each sentence is assigned five syllables, iconizing the concept of equal distribution... Parison, also called  membrum, is a sequence of  clauses or phrases  of equal length.(Earl R. Anderson,  A Grammar of Iconism. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ. Press, 1998) - The Tudor  rhetoricians  do not make the distinction between  isocolon  and  parison...The definitions of  parison  by Puttenham and Day make it identical with isocolon. The figure was in great favor among the Elizabethans as is seen from its schematic use not only in  Euphues  but in the work of Lylys imitators.(Sister Miriam Joseph,  Shakespeares Use of the Arts of Language. Columbia Univ. Press, 1947)

Sixth Amendment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sixth Amendment - Essay Example The right to a speedy trial is calculated to ensure that the accused is not unduly remanded in custody while awaiting trial. It safeguards against the possibility that an innocent person should have a criminal charge hanging over his head for an unreasonable period of time. (Head) The requirement for a public trial ensures that the judicial process is accountable and that under public scrutiny a public record of the trial will aid in judicial review of the process via the appellate system. The right to an impartial jury is calculated to further ensure that the criminal trial process is free of prejudices and unfairness. Jury selection as practiced reflects the intent of the Sixth Amendment by providing a vetting process that safeguard against jurors serving who might be predisposed to prejudices against the accused person, the victims or the criminal process in general. (Head) It also attempts to aid in the selection of a jurors who have not been or will not be influenced by media re ports so that the accused will only be judged by the facts presented in evidence at his or her trial. The right to confront witnesses is crucial to the element of fairness within the ambit of the Sixth Amendment. It lays the groundwork by which the prosecution is required to meet the burden of proof. At a trial the witnesses are required to provide sworn testimony of the criminal claim with the accused present. The right to confront those witnesses gives way to the practice in which the accused if he decides may either by himself or through his legal council cross-examine those witnesses. The idea is to test the veracity of the evidence and to ensure that the witnesses are credible. By the same measure the accused is entitled to call his own witnesses if he deems necessary. For instance he might be able to present alibi evidence capable of proving that he could not have committed the crime since he was not in the vicinity of the

Organizational Policy and Strategy Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Organizational Policy and Strategy - Case Study Example The industry rivalry amongst the producer businesses is important criteria for introducing cutting edge differentiating element in the products to gain leverage. This is one of the major motivating factors for Samsung Inc to be highly innovative in its products and development processes. The quality and creative input within the product gives huge advantage to the suppliers and puts him in a bargaining position. Samsung producing high quality memory chips at relatively low cost has been able to bargain with its customers. The bargaining power of buyers is reduced when there is short supply of quality goods which have great demand. In the case of Samsung, the buyers increasingly prefer them because of their quality products and their credibility of supplying goods timely. The technological advancements have brought forth an explosion of information that is easily accessible to public through the internet and other media like television, radio, mobile phones etc. The competition from substitute become highly likely and the company needs to adopt innovative approach to its marketing. Samsung has successfully met this aspect by evolving flexible strategies like innovative product like and introducing elements of surprise within the products as well within the marketing of the products and services. Last but not the least is the threat from new entrants of the business. The globalization has provided facilitating grounds for new entrants and therefore, the existing firms must ensure that speed and flexibility become intrinsic part of their strategy as they become extremely important ingredients for the products so that the organizations can timely and efficiently meet the fast changing preferences of the customers. Under the dynamic leadership of Kun Hee Lee, the company enjoyed competitive advantage over their rivals in the world market primarily because of the sharp business

Classroom Community in Distance Education Classrooms

Classroom Community in Distance Education Classrooms Study of a Sense of Classroom Community in Distance Education Classrooms of Dental Hygiene Schools in the US by I. Smilyanski, RDH, MS Sense of classroom community as a critical aspect of students’ academic success and overall satisfaction with their learning process The literature review presented some very important points regarding distance learning process in higher education in general, healthcare education, and dental hygiene education in particular. It is apparent that DE is one of the fastest growing fields in higher education, dental hygiene including.(reference from previous lit synth) This method of delivery is cost effective, efficient, and doesn’t appear to affect students’ academic performance to any significant extent.(reference from previous lit synth) However, there is a common thread that emerges in literature regarding students‘ negative perception of their learning experience and their overall lower satisfaction associated with DE.(reference from previous lit synth) Ever since the modern communication technology was introduced in a classroom, the debate is taking place about how important is the community spirit for students’ progress in their learning.1 At the turn of the 21st century, multiple seminal research papers presented the idea of a â€Å"spiritual learning community†1, a college classroom where community spirit is the main contributing factor for students’ graduation success1. A group of scientists attempted to look deeper into phenomenon of a sense of community in a college classroom. McKinney et al1 in their 2006 research made an effort to measure a sense of classroom community to see how it affects students’ satisfaction level. They also examined how the changes in students’ performance in a classroom can be correlated to the changes in their sense of classroom community.1 In their controlled study of 40 psychology students the authors used both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. 1 Sense of Classroom Community (SCC) was measured with the â€Å"Sense of Community Questionnaire† adopted from J. Schweitzer’s â€Å"the Sense of Community in Neighborhoods† assessment instrument.1 The authors made significant effort to eliminate potential bias, the data was made fully anonymous through the coding process.1 The results proved to be quite impressive. The Pearson correlation statistical analysis showed highly positive (p1 Another important observation made during this study: the higher examination grades were also correlated (p = .029) to the increase in the SCC.1 Unfortunately, the experiment was limited to psychology students. It is important to see if similar conclusions can be made from a study of a different course or a program so the findings can be fully generalized. The next study looked into the importance of a sense of classroom community in increasing learners’ satisfaction and decreasing their feeling of isolation.4 The study was performed on the group of 412 medical students located in multiple remote campuses in Arizona.4 The researchers used Rovai’s Classroom Community Scale as a measuring instrument.4 The results showed that the longer time students spent in their remote locations, the higher their feeling of isolation became.4 Their sense of classroom community and academic satisfaction has been decreased over that time as well.4 ANOVA data analysis showed that there is statistically significant (p4 It is important to point out that this research was done in the medical field, with the use of distance education modality in remote campuses, and it had large sample size and anonymous data collection. This makes the study’s findings even more valuable.4 To further this literature review into the area of distance education, it is essential to look into the Rovai and Lucking’s3 research of a â€Å"Sense of Community in a Higher Education Television-Based Distance Education Program† published in 2003.3 This important controlled study used a convenience sample of 120 adult learners. The research objective was to measure the sense of classroom community (SCC) in conventional and distance- interactive television based courses to see if there are any variations depending on which route is used.3 The study employed the Sense of Classroom Community Index (SCCI) which is a previous version of the Rovai’s Classroom Community Scale (CCS) described above.3 Reliability analysis of this scale was also performed with N = 511 and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of .96.3 The data from the pre-test and the post-test administered to the students was analyzed using the ANOVA and ANCOVA techniques. The results proved that the se nse of classroom community was significantly lower among television based course students at the end of intervention (one college semester) than it was at the time of the pre-test.3 The control group, students from conventional classroom, didn’t show similar trend.3 All the studies described above show similarities in their evaluations of the community spirit in higher education classrooms.1,3,4 They prove that the sense of classroom community (SCC) is the critical component when evaluating outcome of a higher education, whether it is conventional or DE method of delivery. 1,3,4 All the studies correlate a lower SCC to a lower students’ satisfaction, and potentially lower academic outcomes. 1,3,4 They also use various scales to measure the SCC with different levels of reliability. 1,3,4 The final study that is presented here developed the device to be used as a measurement tool for the SCC and determined how reliable this tool is.2 In his 2002 study Rovai2 assessed data collected through the post-test from a random sample of 375 students enrolled in 28 various college courses to analyze validity and reliability of the scale that is based on the 20-questions survey.2 With the extensive use of inferential statistical analysis the author pro ved with the high degree of consistency that the Classroom Community Scale (CCS) can be fully relied on when measuring a SCC in higher education classroom.2 A. Rovai concluded that his 20-item questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument to be used in research.2 To conclude this literature review, there are very important questions that need to be answered about DE modality in dental hygiene education. Research is very limited in this specific field, however other areas show the trend of a lower sense of classroom community, lesser feeling of belonging, and lack of feeling of connectdeness.1-4 These are very important parameters to consider because they have large influence on how students perceive their learning experience and because they can potentially affect students’ outcomes.(references to be added) Rovai’s Classroom Community Scale appears to be a reliable tool that can be used when studying these factors.2 Although research in dental hygiene education and other fields didn’t establish that the DL is directly related to lower academic performance, some authors found a sense of community to be very important for overall learning experience.1 The following research will attempt to measure the SCC among remote campu s based students of multiple dental hygiene programs in the US and compare with control groups of students located within the host campuses. References 1. McKinney JP, McKinney KG, Franiuk R, Schweitzer J. The college classroom as a community: Impact on student attitudes and learning. College Teaching. 2006;54(3):281-284. 2. Rovai AP. Development of an instrument to measure classroom community. The Internet and Higher Education. 2002;5(3):197-211. 3. Rovai AP, Lucking R. Sense of community in a higher education television-based distance education program. Educational Technology Research and Development. 2003;51(2):5-16. 4. Vora RS, Kinney MN. Connectedness, sense of community, and academic satisfaction in a novel community campus medical education model. Acad Med. 2013.

Quality Management within Toyota Motor Company Essay

Abstract This paper explores multiple published articles discussing Toyota Motor Company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. A review of Toyota’s decisions to hide important information prior to recalls leads us to a discussion of where Toyota can go from here. The paper includes recommendations for Toyota Motor Company in order to move forward after their 2010 recalls. In addition, organizational changes will assist Toyota Motor Company in overcoming their recall problems. Quality Management within Toyota Motor Company After a number of discouraging recalls at Toyota Motor Company in 2010, a number of quality management techniques were implemented. Toyota Motor Company’s SWOT Analysis played into the newly implemented quality management techniques. Toyota’s strengths allowed them to fight back quickly against these recalls that could have ultimately led to Toyota’s fall from one of the top motor company’s. Toyota Motor Company’s strengths include dominant position in the marketplace, strong brand recognition, strong focus on research and development, and broad production and distribution network. In addition to Toyota’s strengths, their weaknesses were reviewed in order to find opportunities to capitalize upon. The recalls were obviously a large weakness at Toyota. Opportunities were reviewed which included the growth of the global automotive industry. Last, Toyota’s threats were reviewed. Here it was found that powerful competition is a worry for To yota Motor Company. After the review of Toyota Motor Company’s SWOT Analysis, the issue of the recalls was assessed. Analysis shows the issue within Toyota Motor Company did not appear overnight. However, secretive management styles let the company astray. A diagram was created by functional area to summarize how Toyota has responded to these recall problems. The functional areas reviewed include management, production design and safety, quality, and manufacturing. Last, the analysis of Toyota Motor Company’s recall and quality management issues are discussed from a point of solving the problem. Recommendations are discussed that will help Toyota Motor Company to turn their weaknesses into strengths. Method Discussion SWOT Analysis Internal Factors Strengths Weaknesses Product †¢ Dominant position in the marketplace †¢ Strong brand recognition †¢ Strong focus on Research & Development †¢ Broad production and distribution network †¢ Product recalls have the ability to negatively affect brand image †¢ Declining sales in crucial geographic areas External Factors Opportunities Threats Competition †¢ Growth of the global automotive industry †¢ Potential benefit from partnering with BMW †¢The outlook for the new global car market is strong †¢ Powerful competition †¢ Appreciation of the Japanese Yen †¢ Environmental regulations †¢Natural disasters Strengths. Toyota has a number of internal product strengths as noted in the SWOT Analysis table above. Toyota’s market share in 2011 was 16.5 percent,  its highest market share in 4 years. This strong market share allowed Toyota to hold a competitive advantage against their competition. In addition to holding a dominant position in the marketplace, Toyota possesses strong brand recognition through a number of brands. These brands include Toyota, Lexus, Prius, Corolla, Yaris, Camry, Sequoia, 4Runner, Scion tC, Highlander, Land Cruiser, and a number of other brand names. These brands are some of the most desired premium brands in the world according to the Company Profile report for Toyota Motor Company documented by MarketLine. Another strength of Toyota is their strong attention to research and development. According to the Company Profile report, Toyota’s focus on research and development is pointed towards the creation of new and improved products. Research and development operations are conducted at 14 facilities located around the world. This strength has allowed Toyota to increase the technology included in existing products. One of these products, a Pre-collision System (PCS) helps drivers avoid collisions. Overall, the strong focus on research and development has been a big strength for Toyota. Last, Toyota’s production and distribution network has been a big strength for the company. Toyota produces automobiles, related parts, and other components through more than 50 manufacturing companies throughout 27 countries and regions, not including Japan. As mentioned on the Toyota Motor Company website, major locations include Japan, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Turkey, Thailand, China, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, South Africa, Australia, Argentina, and Brazil. As reported by Toyota Motor Company, during fiscal year 2013 the company had consolidated vehicle sales totals of 8.871 million units (TCM, 2013). As reported by Toyota Motor Company, this was an increase of 1.519 million units compared to the previous fiscal year. In addition to the widespread production of Toyota products, the company has a large distribution network. Toyota’s distribution network is one of the largest in Japan encompassing four sales channels (Toyota, Toyopet, Corolla, and Netz). In 2012 the distribution network of these channels was comprised of 283 dealers. In addition to this network, Toyota operates over 170 Lexus sales channels in Japan. As reported by Toyota Motor Company, in fiscal year 2013 these networks accounted for the following vehicle sales: Japan sales totaled 2.279 million units In North America vehicle sales totaled 2.469 million units In Europe vehicle sales totaled 799,085 units Asia came in at total vehicle sales of 1.684 million units Central and South America, Oceania and Africa came in at 1.640 million units As you can see, Toyota’s distribution network is widespread allowing for diversification and a wide reach of clientele, ultimately boosting revenues and sales. Weaknesses. A large focus of the case study focuses on the weakness of Toyota’s product recalls. As many are aware, Toyota has encountered a number of recalls in the recent past. It is a concern that these recalls could negatively affect Toyota’s brand imagine ultimately leading to decreased sales for the company. When searching for Toyota recalls it was easy to find a few recent recalls. The most recent is a recall of 700,000 Toyota Prius models which were recalled over electronic issues in the United States (csmonitor.com, 2014). Another very recent recall includes certain versions of the Lexus RX crossover. In this case, more than 261,000 vehicles are being recalled due to a brake issue (csmonitor.com, 2014). In addition to the many recalls, Toyota has been involved in a number of lawsuits. In December 2012, Toyota settled a suit by paying $17.4 million to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to settle claims related to the June 2012 recall of potential accelerator pedal entrapment issues. This bad press will ultimately result in a negative effect on consumer’s confidence in Toyota’s brand. In addition, the settlement of suits ultimately decreases Toyota’s profits. As a result of this bad press Toyota saw a decline in 2012 sales in important geographic areas. Declining sales in fiscal year 2012 were seen across North America, Asia, and Europe. Opportunities. As reported by the article, Global automotive industry to experience modest growth in 2012, a number of opportunities exist in the global automotive industry (2012). The Japanese auto industry responded from natural disasters which had caused reduced inventories and production. It is forecasted that the industry will continue to grow increasing Toyota revenues. In June of 2012, BMW and Toyota signed a long-term partnership. The two companies are partnering on the developments that will help to increase market share and sales. This relationship is expected to increase technology between the two companies as  well as result in new product development. In addition to these opportunities, the new car market is experiencing moderate growth which will assist in increased sales and profits. Threats. Intense competition in the worldwide car market has become very competitive. This competition will likely increase in the upcoming years as competitors add more technology and increase developments. In addition to the intense competition, the appreciating Japanese Yen has become a big concern for Toyota. Last, environment regulations have the potential to increase production costs. Emissions regulations that are updated periodically could cause issues in new car production. Evolvement of Quality Management Issues At first glance, it seems that Toyota’s gas pedal issue appeared overnight. However, upon further research, evidence was found to prove the opposite. As reported in the article Secretive Culture Let Toyota Astray, evidence that Toyota cars could suddenly speed up had been piling up for years (2010). At the time of the recalls, Toyota had known about this gas pedal problem for more than a year. The problem was stated to be Toyota’s secretive corporate culture in Japan which ultimately conflicted with United States requirements that auto makers disclose safety threats. New initiatives brought to the table by Toyota have attempted to correct the previous secretive culture of Toyota. Total quality management initiatives have been put in place to assist in better customer service and safety and repair issues. According to Jacobs and Chase, total quality management can be defined as managing the entire organization so that it excels on all dimensions of products and services that are important to the customer (Chase and Jacobs, 2014, p. 296). The table following this discussion addresses the steps Toyota has taken in response to its recent quality recall problems. Functional Area Quality Management Steps Management †¢ Managing Director names to oversee any safety-related issues †¢ Top down management approach Product Design & Safety †¢ Troubleshooting teams known as Swift Market Analysis Response Teams work to  find any safety issues that need to be reported Quality †¢ TAQIC – Toyota Advanced Quality Information Center staffed by a group of employees who compile repair reports from dealerships worldwide †¢ 1000 engineers hired to spot-check quality Manufacturing †¢ No drastic changes to assembly lines Results/Discussion Problem Solution As discussed in the diagram above, there were many opportunities for Toyota after their encounter with the recall situation. Akio Toyoda, the head of the company, acted quickly by implementing a top down management approach instead of the more popular Japanese â€Å"bottom up† approach that slows down the decision making. In addition, Akio cut board of directors by fifty percent and cut out management layers. Akio also began meeting with his top five advisers on a weekly basis. In these meetings decisions were made quickly. Akio pushed his team to make â€Å"always better cars.† This change in the way the organization is managed helped Toyota to stay on top even through the recalls. Recommendations Many recommendations have been made to assist Toyota Motor Company in improving the recall situation they encountered in 2011. Some recommendations Toyota should follow include as recommended by the North American Quality Advisory Panel include the following: Give North American operations more independence in making recall decisions Strengthen quality control processes Extend development time of new products to include more safety tests Create a role of Chief Safety Technology Officer Create and launch a Safety Research Center focused on protecting the most important clientele (children, teens, and seniors) These ideas follow the concept of total quality management which focuses on two fundamental goals: Careful design of the product (in the case of Toyota Motor Company, the vehicle) Ensure that Toyota Motor Company systems can produce this design  in a consistent manner Quality at the source seems to be a great way for Toyota Motor Company to proceed. Quality at the source means that the person who is doing the work is taking the responsibility for making sure the work meets specifications. As previously discussed, safety control will be a huge initiative for Toyota Motor Company going forward. If implemented, these recommendations can do a lot to help Toyota Motor Company increase their organizational effectiveness. As previously discussed, many organizational steps were taken by Akio Toyoda after these recalls. It seems that Toyota could greatly benefit from organizational learning. As stated by Operations and Supply Chain Management, â€Å"it has been argued that organizational learning is critical to sustaining a competitive advantage† (Chase and Jacobs, 2014, p. 138). Organizational realignment was important to Toyota Motor Company after the 2010 and 2011 recalls. According to a Toyota news release in December of 2008 organizational changes include the establishment of the below: A Government and Public Affairs Group which was focused on quick response to inquiries from around the world while also unifying public affairs functions. An Accounting Group aimed at strengthening the business management and financial management system of Toyota Motor Company. A Europe and Africa Operations Group intended to assist with business planning in African and Central Asia. The group was also established to conduct business promotion events in both Europe and Africa. A Production Engineering Group aimed at increasing the strength of the quality control system for semiconductors for hybrid vehicles. The recommendations made are important to Toyota’s future. Reorganization and creation of new groups within the organization will help Toyota to overcome these recalls. References Ingram, A. (2014, Feb 12). Toyota recall: 1.9 million Prius vehicles recalled to fix software glitch. Retrieved from http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/In-Gear/2014/0212/Toyota-recall-1.9-million-Prius-vehicles-recalled-to-fix-software-glitch Jacobs, F. R., & Chase, R. (2014). Operations and supply chain management. (14 ed.). New York, NY:

Review An Internship in the Marketing and Sales...

Abstract This paper is a personal review of an internship in the marketing and sales department of B.Z. Berlin (a tabloid newspaper based in Berlin). The paper reviews how my capacities in those department help satisfy the 4Ps (promotion, price, placement, and product) of marketing. Different components of the marketing mix exhibited in my duties included creating a balance of salacious with genuinely positive and heart-warming news; creating cash giveaways to generate regular readership; diffusing criticism of the tabloid industry through balanced reporting of positive news; and encouraging advertisers to buy space in both the online and the print version of the tabloid. The paper also uses the The Paradigm of Survival, to analyze the tabloids marketing mix. This theory stresses the need for all products to be marketed based upon their ability to satisfy basic human needs, such as sexual desire, fear, or security. As well as personal reflections the paper contains analysis of the cu rrent state of the news industry and the challenges of coping with a world in which papers must compete for readers and advertising revenue both online and in print. KEYWORDS: tabloid, 4Ps, Paradigm of Survival; Marketing Mix; Newspaper Industry Internship review: The marketing and sales department of B.Z. Berlin While interning at the marketing and sales department at B.Z. Berlin (a tabloid newspaper in Berlin), I was able to gain an insiders view of how both print and digitalShow MoreRelatedInternship Review: The Marketing and Sales Department of B. Z. Newspaper, Berlin1757 Words   |  7 Pages Internship review: The marketing and sales department of B.Z. Berlin While interning at the marketing and sales department at B.Z. Berlin (a tabloid newspaper in Berlin), I was able to gain an insiders view of how both print and digital publications must position themselves in the competitive, ever-changing news marketplace. Marketing within the communications industry is extremely cutthroat and even relatively popular tabloids with an established readership like B.Z. Berlin must fight for marketRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesSingapore Taipei Tokyo Editorial Director: Sally Yagan Director of Editorial Services: Ashley Santora Acquisitions Editor: Brian Mickelson Editorial Project Manager: Sarah Holle Editorial Assistant: Ashlee Bradbury VP Director of Marketing: Patrice Lumumba Jones Senior Marketing Manager: Nikki Ayana Jones Senior Managing Editor: Judy Leale Production Project Manager: Becca Groves Senior Operations Supervisor: Arnold Vila Operations Specialist: Cathleen Petersen Senior Art Director: Janet Slowik ArtRead MoreMarketing Mistakes and Successes175322 Words   |  702 PagesELEVENTH EDITION MARKETING MISTAKES AND SUCCESSES 30TH ANNIVERSARY Robert F. Hartley Cleveland State University JOHN WILEY SONS, INC. VICE PRESIDENT PUBLISHER EXECUTIVE EDITOR ASSISTANT EDITOR PRODUCTION MANAGER PRODUCTION ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE MARKETING MANAGER ASSISTANT MARKETING MANAGER MARKETING ASSISTANT DESIGN DIRECTOR SENIOR DESIGNER SENIOR MEDIA EDITOR George Hoffman Lise Johnson Carissa Doshi Dorothy Sinclair Matt Winslow Amy Scholz Carly DeCandia

Religion in Germany

For good reason, the intersection of the huge topics â€Å"religion† and â€Å"Germany† is understandably Martin Luther. Luther was born in Eisleben, Germany, in 1483, and his family soon moved to Mansfeld, Germany. Luther received a superb basic education in Latin and German, entered the University of Erfurt in 1501, where he received his baccalaureate degree in 1502 and his master’s degree in 1505. Urged by his father, Luther undertook graduate work in law, but switched to theology within six weeks, owing, he said, to a violent thunderstorm that so terrified him (â€Å"besieged by the terror and agony of sudden death†) he promised God to become a monk if he survived. Luther began his so-called priestly formation at the University of Erfurt, became a priest in 1507, transferred to the University of Wittenberg in 1508, and completed his doctorate in 1512, which the University of Erfurt granted based on his studies at Wittenberg. Five years later, the rift with Catholicism that became the Protestant Reformation began and the ripple effect of Luther’s Ninety-five Theses in 1517 changed the world forever. Today, Germany is still a Christian nation, although, in keeping with religious freedom, there is no official religion. â€Å"Religionen Weltanschauungsgemeinschaften in Deutschland: Mitgliederzahlen† analyzed results of the 2011 census and found that ca. 67% of the population identified themselves as Christian, i.e., Protestant or Catholic, while Islam comprised ca. 4.9%. There are very, very small Jewish and Buddhist groups that are barely measurable, so the remaining population, i.e., ca 28%, either belong to unidentified religious groups or do not belong to any formal religious group. The German constitution (Grundgesetz fà ¼r die Bundesrepublik Deutschland), which opens with these stirring words: â€Å"Human dignity is inviolable,† guarantees freedom of religion for everyone. The core of this guarantee of religious freedom is based on â€Å". . . the freedom of religion, conscience and the freedom of confessing one’s religious or philosophical beliefs are inviolable. Uninfringed religious practice is guaranteed.† But the guarantee does not stop there. The very nature and form of the government reà ¯nforce and bolster that guarantee with many safeguards that strengthen one another synergistically, e.g., a democratic society, popular sovereignty, a strong emphasis on social responsibility, and binding federalism among the sixteen German states (Deutsche Bundeslà ¤nder). There is an excellent, in-depth discussion of religious freedom in Germany in Wikipedia  which provides many details and examples for those who wish to know specifics. It is certainly worth one’s time. The overall distribution of religious affiliations can be outlined roughly as follows: you’re more likely to encounter Protestants in the North and Northeast and Catholics in the South and Southwest; however, â€Å"Germany Unity†Ã¢â‚¬â€the joining of the German Democratic Republic (the â€Å"DDR†) and the Federal Republic of Germany (the â€Å"BRD†) on 03 October 1990—skewed this rule of thumb. After 45 years of communist rule in East Germany, many, many families had drifted away from religion altogether. So, in the former German Democratic Republic, you’re more likely to encounter individuals and families who don’t identify themselves with any church affiliation. Despite the rough geographic distribution of various religious adherents, many of the holidays that began as religious holy days centuries ago are still part of German culture, regardless of location. â€Å"Fasching†Ã¢â‚¬â€also known as Karneval, Fastnacht, Fasnacht, Fastelabend—begins either a 11:11 on 11 November or on 07 January, the day after the Feast of the Three Kings, depending on your locale, and runs until Ash Wednesday (der Aschermittwoch), the beginning of Lent—the fortyday period of fasting and abstinence immediately preceding Easter. Knowing that they will have to set their frivolity aside during Lent, people party extensively; perhaps to â€Å"get it out of their system† (verrà ¼ckt spielen). The celebrations are mostly local and vary from village to town to city, but inevitably culminate in the week leading up to Ash Wednesday. Participants dress in outlandish costumes, prank one another, and generally try to have a frivolous time. It’s mostly harmless, playful, and inconsequential silliness. For example, Weiberfastnacht is the Thursday before Ash Wednesday, usually in the Rhineland, but there are pockets of Weiberfastnacht all over. Women kiss any man who catches their fancy, snip off their ties with scissors, and end up in bars to laugh, drink, and recount the day’s exploits. There are parades of various sorts and sizes over the weekend before Easter weekend. Costumes abound, groups strut their stuff (â€Å"stolzieren ungeniert†), as they say, with lots of good-humored hooting and hollering. Rosenmontag, the Monday before Ash Wednesday, has the most extravagant carnival parade in Cologne, but very respectable rival parades also take place throughout the Rhineland, all of which the German television network broadcasts, not merely nationwide, but to other Germanspeaking areas, particularly in Austria Switzerland. The next day, Fastnachtdienstag, additional parades take place, but the focal point of this day is the so-called burning of the â€Å"Nubbel†. The Nubbel is a straw-filled figure—a scapegoat—that the merrymakers fill with all the sins they committed during the carnival. When they burn the Nubbel, they burn their sins away, leaving them with nothing to regret during Lent. After sacrificing the Nubbel and not wanting to waste a good Lent at their disposal, the revelers once more start partying into the wee hours of the night just before Ash Wednesday, in hopes of having something about which they can be a bit contrite, even remorseful. This attitude is in keeping with a very human exchange Luther had with Philip Melanchthon, one of Luther’s companions and an early Protestant theologian. Melanchthon was a rather circumspect man whose unwavering mien annoyed Luther from time to time. â€Å"For goodness’ sake, why don’t you go and sin a little?† urged Luther in exasperation. â€Å"Doesn’t God deserve to have something to forgive you for!† For the record, Martin Luther was a rather lusty, earthy monk who, after the Catholic Church excommunicated him, married and commented several times about how delightful it was to awake to find â€Å"braids on the pillow† next to his. Luther would have loved and sanctioned the very ethos of Fasching, for he said â€Å"Wer nicht liebt Wein, Weib, und Gesang, Der bleibt ein Narr sein Leben lang.† (â€Å"Who loves not women, wine, and song, Remains a fool his whole life long.†)