Client's Brief Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Client's Brief - Assignment Example In the recent times, the number of civilian arrests that has been made on the lines of substance abuse is increasing. As of the year 2011, the first 6 months of the year witnessed an increase of drug abusers arrest by 20% as compared to that of the previous year. Also, the number of first time drug users has also gone up over the years on a steady basis since the year 2008 (Kirkland, 2011). The charity based organization, The Turning Point, which has its financial funding and support from the local government, provides the female victims of substance abuse the opportunity to recover by making them stay and participate in its indoor program for a period of 6 months. The last 3 months of the abuse removal program enables the respondents to participate in working and studying outdoors. The service offering of the charity comprises of residential rehabilitation programs as well as counselling services to the affected victims. Internal environment – TOWS analysis The TOWS analysis is often used to analyse the competitive position and advantage of the company. It is of considerable importance to mention that the TOWS matrix is a conceptualized framework that helps in a great way in matching the external opportunities and threats with the factors of company or organization specific strengths and weaknesses. Threats Old residents might contact new outdoor residents for selling of drugs. Competition with other organizations in regards to staff availability and volunteers Donor organizations moving to fund other non profit organizations. Opportunities Expanding the charity based organization in to new locations. Increasing awareness among schools and universities in regards to the problems of drug abuse Create union ship with other non profits organization for fund raising activities. Weakness Re-entering of completely healed patients in the world of drug abuse Problem of arranging education and sustainable lifestyle for the cured residents Difficulty in arranging for shelter for the resident females after their exit from Turning Point. Strengths Highly empowered staff and large number of volunteers. Stringent laws to take care and prevent the possibility of running away of residents. Exemption of tax by the corporate of around 2.5 times to the amount donated to Turning Point External environment The external environment comprises of stakeholders, competitors as well as macro and micro based factors of political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal. Stakeholders Talking about the stakeholders associated with the charity based organization, it can be said that in general lines the entire society is the stakeholder. The reason behind making that statement is the fact that The Turning Point is non profit government funded charity and hence the entire society of Singapore is bound to benefit from a drug addict free environment developed by

Autobiography Example Essay Example for Free

Autobiography Example Essay My name is Gelliza Z. Quiambao, and I am currently in college studying education. I was born on 12th of September year 1996, four o’clock in the afternoon, in Jose Payumo Memorial Hospital. My parents are Gilbert and Josephine and I have two brothers who are Gil Joseph and Gianni. I started studying when I was three. My grandparents are the ones who served as my babysitter since my parents weren’t home for work, so my granddad enrolled me in a Daycare Center. You may not believe this but my grandma told me that I always sleep and cry in school. After that, my parents enrolled me in Kindergarten then to Elementary. I was only five years old when I was on the first grade. Had to say, I was the youngest but I’m subsequent. Â  My elementary days are incredibly awesome. I gained many friends; I achieved honors and awards, academic and sports, specifically chess. It’s been quite jaded studying six years on the same school but it’s totally fine with me because I have friends to laugh with, have fun with, and learn with. In 2008, I graduated from elementary and became a high school freshman in Bataan Peninsula State University. It’s great that I found true friends that same year, and it’s quite funny how I always wanted a sister and God gave me nine super cool and amazing friends that actually treated me like a sister. I had so much fun with them. We went hiking on a mountain. It’s really unforgettable because we took a ride on a horse. It’s my sophomore year in 2009, and the best moment that I remembered back there is when we ditched class. Yeah, I know it’s not a really good thing to do but, best moments come from worst ideas, right? We cleaned the faculty room as our punishment. We did it for three months. In 2010, I fell in love with music. It’s like, my world revolves around music. There’s something about the songs that I can somehow relate myself into the lyrics. I learned so much from it. Also this year is when I fell in love with a boy. Honestly, it wasn’t a pretty story. I fell deeply in love with him then when we broke up; it’s like my worst nightmare ever. But I learned that maybe we’re not really meant to be together. Then, I realized that the fact between ‘boy love’ and ‘boy hate’ is the belief that whatever happens, I’ll be fine. Good friends, competitive teachers and one wonderful family are the ones who mold me for who I am today. Everything good I have inside of me, I get from them. Â  I experienced lots of challenges that test my skills and personality. All those challenges and problems that I’ve been through leaves a wonderful lesson. Good days gave me happiness, bad days gave me experiences, which are both essential to life. Success keeps me growing and failures make me humble. Right now, I’m studying very well so if I finished college, I can have a good job in order for me to help my family and raise the style of living that we have now with Gods grace and guidance. Just always remember that, life is like a roller coaster. It has ups and downs. But it’s your choice to scream or just enjoy the ride.

Carlo Ginzburgs Night Battles vs. Keith Tomas Religion and the Declin

Carlo Ginzburg's Night Battles vs. Keith Thomas' Religion and the Decline of Magic Carlo Ginzburg’s Night Battles depicts the relationships that existed concerning magic and the use of witchcraft as they where believed by both the popular and the elite concerning the benandanti in the Italian area of Friuli. Keith Thomas’ Religion and the Decline of Magic does a similar thing except his subject area is in the whole of England and includes more information and examples of the beliefs and practices of the English. Both the English account and the account of the Friuli benandanti have several similarities that exist between the two as well as some distinct differences. The differences between the two groups are shown by the way the common and elite treat the situation and the way that the two separate situations changed over time both sharing some characteristics while having other characteristics being different the same in the two areas. In England the role of magic was not one that encompassed the devil or evil in the mind of the popular belief. Magic, on the other contrary, is used properly and for positive purposes could be a good thing. People would tell that they had or wanted to visit a cunning man, someone that uses magic to find lost objects, in order to find out certain information or to reveal who had stolen from them. This practice was not frowned upon by popular opinion. This acceptance of the proclamation of the use of a cunning man shows the public acceptance of magic if used in the right form; as well as the popular opinion that a cunning man was not someone to be feared or despised.1 On the contrary, the cunning man was someone who could help you through magical means in order that you might... ...he desire of the elite to hunt witches and the court system set up that will benefit witch-hunting. These two separate places have two different kinds of magic that are treated in two separate ways by the elite and popular people of the area. 1. Keith Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic (New York: Oxford University Press, 1971), 221. 2. Thomas, 505. 3. Thomas, 516. 4. Thomas, 437. 5. Carlo Ginzburg, The Night Battles (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1966), 1. 6. Ginzburg, 69-70. 7. Thomas, 226. 8. Thomas, 200. 9. Ginzburg, 71. 10. Ginzburg, 72. 11. Thomas, 453. 12. Ginzburg, 100-101. 13. Ginzburg, 81. Bibliography Ginzburg, Carlo. The Night Battles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1966. Thomas, Keith. Religion and the Decline of Magic. New York: Oxford University Press, 1971.

Relationship Between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth Essay

All through the play of â€Å"Macbeth† there is a continuing relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The relationship has a significant role that creates most of the actions, reactions, moods, feelings and attitudes in the play. That relationship changes throughout the play, at first there is a lot of respect between them, however in time Lady Macbeth takes the part of the more dominant character of their relationship. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth they respect each other and are on exactly the same wavelength, so close they can almost read each other’s thoughts when they are apart. â€Å"†¦ I feel now / The future in the instant. † (I, v) Having decided to murder Duncan, their relationship becomes even more intense, it’s a passionate, obsessive, almost sexual excitement. As well there’s fear and terror involved in the relationship. â€Å"What cannot you and I perform upon / Th’ unguarded Duncan? † (I, vii) After Duncan’s murder, Lady Macbeth appears stunned by Macbeth’s killing of the guards. Suddenly she feels that the situation is getting out of control and Macbeth is becoming more vicious. This is the first time we feel they are growing apart. â€Å"O, yet I do repent me of my fury, / That I did kill them. During the time between the coronation and the banquet the relationship becomes very distressed. Neither of them are sleeping. Guilt is overcoming the couple. Macbeth begins to plan and think alone and shuts out Lady Macbeth from his thoughts. â€Å"How now my lord! why do you keep alone†¦? † (III, ii) By the banquet scene, Lady Macbeth realises she can’t do anything to help her husband. At the end, she and her husband, have grown apart, so they are no in a relationship anymore. He is determined to go back to the witches; we feel that Macbeth is no longer trusting his wife but instead in â€Å"You lack the season of all natures, sleep. (III, iv) After the banquet there is a long period when all Lady Macbeth can do is watch as Macbeth continues killing. By the last Act, a combination of isolation and guilt has driven Lady Macbeth mad. †I tell you yet again, Banquo’s buried, he / Cannot come out on’s grave. ‘ (V, i) †Shortly before the end, Macbeth too realises that his life no longer has any meaning and calmly faces his own death at the hands of Macduff. In this play the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth had a significant role of creating most of the actions, moods, feelings, and attitudes. The relationship changed throughout the play.

Film Comparative Analysis

Film Comparative Analysis â€Å"The general response following the screening was a distinct realization that nobody is above the law, and that the stereotypes associated with the â€Å"cono† nearly left Larranaga guilty as mistakenly charged. † (Syjuco, 2012) There is no justice, when innocent men are in jail; this is the main idea that the two films have in common. With this, let us ask ourselves, â€Å"Is there really something wrong with the Philippine and Texas justice system? Are we to admit that it is a corrupt system that we have? These two films will leave our eyes wide opened to the truth or if not, to the flaws and corruptions in the justice system, not only of our own country, but also that of the others. I. Background Give Up Tomorrow The documentary film is about a Filipino-Spanish student named Paco Larranaga, who was sentenced to death in 2004 for the double murder and rape of Chiong sisters (Marijoy and Jacqueline) in 1997. This is the story of what we now know as the Chiong Murder Case, a cebu scandal of the century.Two Chiong sisters go missing on July 16, 1997. Larranaga was one, along with six other suspects who was pinpointed by the state witness, David Rusia. David Rusia is a convicted felon and was sentenced to prison twice in the United States for other crimes. As claimed by Rusia, he was with Larranaga in Ayala Center, Cebu early in the evening of July 16, that evening Larranaga says that he was at R&R Restaurant in Quezon City with his friends; such fact was proven by photographs and the testimonies of his friends.The defense presented thirty-five witnesses, including Larranaga’s teachers and classmates at the Center for Culinary Arts (CCA) in Quezon City, who all testified under oath that Larranaga was in Quezon City, when the crime is said to have taken place in Cebu. The trial court considered these testimonies irrelevant, rejecting these as coming from â€Å"friends of the accused,† and were not admitte d. The following are also evidences presented by the defense during trial — a)Larranaga, at that time was at a party at the R&R Restaurant along Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City, and stayed there until early morning the following day. )After the party, the logbook of the security guard at Larranaga's condominium indicates that Larranaga returned to his Quezon City condominium at 2:45 a. m. c)Rowena Bautista, an instructor and chef at the culinary center, said Larranaga was in school from 8 a. m. to 11:30 a. m. and saw him again at about 6:30 p. m on July 16. d)The school’s registrar, Caroline Calleja, said she proctored a two-hour exam where Larranaga was present from 1:30 p. m. Larranaga attended his second round of midterm exams on July 17 commencing at 8 a. m. Only then did Larranaga leave for Cebu in the late afternoon of July 17, 1997. )Airline and airport personnel also came to court with their flight records, indicating that Larranaga did not take any flight on Jul y 16, 1997, nor was he on board any chartered aircraft that landed in or departed from Cebu during the relevant dates, except the 5 p. m. PAL flight on July 17, 1997 from Manila to Cebu The aforementioned evidences did not prevent the conviction of Larranaga along with his six co-accused. The trial court judge, after rendering judgment against them, was found dead in a hotel in Cebu, and allegedly committed suicide.This unexpected event during the Chiong murder case was proven in the film to be part of the whole scheme of putting the blame on Larranaga, and concealing the truth of the facts with regard to the murder and rape of the Chion sisters. Larranaga, along with the other co-accused were sentenced to death, and appealed later on, but all of them were denied. Considering the Filipino-Spanish nationality of Larranaga, his family asked for help from the Spanish government. In September 2009, the Department of Justice approved Larranaga's transfer to a Spanish prison.Thelma Chiong , the mother of the victims, expressed shock over the decision, saying that, despite Larranaga's Spanish citizenship, â€Å"If you committed a crime in the Philippines, you are jailed in the Philippines,† despite the fact that this would constitute a breach of the treaty and thus of international law. Larranaga, escorted by two Spanish Interpol agents, left for Spain on October 6, 2009. His good behavior at the New Bilibid Prison was taken into consideration, and he will serve the rest of his sentence at the Madrid Central Penitentiary at Soto del Real. The Thin Blue LineThe film is an investigation into the 1976 murder of Dallas police officer Robert Wood. Harris testified that Adams had shot and killed Wood after their car had been pulled over on their way home from a movie. Adams claimed to know nothing of the murder, insisting that Harris had dropped him at his home two hours before it occurred. Local authorities believed Harris, and witnesses corroborated his story, lead ing to Adams’ conviction and a death sentence, (which was later on changed). Randall Adams recalls the events in detail: after running out of gas, he had been picked up by Harris in a stolen car.The two had gone to a movie where they drank beer and smoked marijuana, and this was the extent of their relationship. David Harris, on the other hand, also recalls the events of the evening in detail, but creates a much different impression. Adam’s defense attorneys thought that Harris was the killer, pointing to his past criminal record and other crimes committed the night of the murder. The film presents a series of interviews about the investigation and reenactments of the shooting, based on the testimony and recollections of Adams, Harris, and various witnesses and detectives. Two attorneys who epresented Adams at the trial where he was convicted of capital murder also appear: they suggest that Adams was charged with the crime despite the better evidence against Harris bec ause, as Harris was a juvenile, Adams alone of the two could be sentenced to death under Texas law. II. Similarities and Differences The two films both dealt on the fact that there is a corrupt justice system. That even an innocent man can be put into jail all for the sake of concealing the truth. This idea is very obvious in the films presented, that even a man of little knowledge with the law will doubt the guilt of both, Larranaga and Adams.The idea brought up by the filmmakers of both was a frame up or cover up which lead to the conviction of innocent people. The very controlling authorities in both were the police officers, the judge, and other executive officers of the government and to add, the media, influencing the course of the trial and the impression of the masses on the suspects. In both, police authorities were overwhelmed with the idea of having someone to put the blame for the murder of the victims. They were like heroes of the public for having solved the case and f ound a suspect. In which, it is very obvious that it was politically motivated.As one of the differences between the case of Larranaga and Adams, is that of having exhausted all administrative remedies. Larranaga, after being convicted in the trial court, appealed to the Supreme Court, but was not able to attain a favourable judgment. After such, taking into consideration of the dual citizenship of Larranaga, they asked for the help of Spanish government so that the death penalty be withdrawn and let him be transferred in Spain where he will serve his sentence. This however paved the way for the abolishment of death penalty by former Pres.Gloria Arroyo and the approval of Larranaga’s transfer. The cases of Larranaga and Adams both involved rights which were violated. As declared under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the following are those evidently violated in the course of the whole trial of the case, (a) Article 11, par. 1, (b) Article 9 and (c) Article 1 0. †¢Article 11, par. 1 Everyone charged with a penal offense has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defense.In light of this article which pertains to the right of an accused to be presumed innocent, Larranaga was outrightly charged as a criminal in the minds of the people, especially those of the Cebuanos, even before a trial was held. Aggravating this situation was the participation of the media from the start up to the end of the case, tagged as the â€Å"trial of the decade†. The impressions that were made by the police authorities and the media, contributed to the image of Larranaga as guilty of the crime charged.His identity was corroborated as a rich bad boy/gangster from a prominent family, in which the people presumed that they will make use of their resources to pay for witnesses and manipulate the whole case and avoid prosecution. As to the case of A dams, he was made fit to the image of a cop-killer as compared to Harris. The prosecution relied on the testimony of Harris that it was Adams who killed Wood, even before the start of the case, they knew already who to convict. The fact that Harris was a juvenile that time, made it more likely for Adams to commit the crime thus moving away from the presumption of his innocence. Article 9 No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile. The course of Larranaga’s arrest came swift and unexpected and appeared to him as kidnapping. The people who arrested him were all in civilian clothes, though they looked like policemen. They did not identify themselves when they arrested Larranaga, until they were asked by Larranaga’s sister. They unlawfully arrested Larranaga due to absence of warrant of arrest, in defense, they said that he committed a continuing crime.As to Adams’ case, he was taken into the custody of the police few days after the commission of the crime. He was forced to sign a document containing an admission that he was the one who murdered Wood. The policeman even threatened him with a pistol if he will not sign it. There is no sufficient cause for his guilt. †¢Article 10 Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.The right to a fair and speedy trial was not accorded to Larranaga, first, the media had participated a lot in drawing the image of Larranaga as the criminal. The judge also showed his impartiality which was really unexplainable. After having refused to accept the testimonies of witnesses of Larranaga, preventing him to take the witness stand and rendered a judgment of double life imprisonment, the judge was found in a hotel dead. Through the series of events that had transpired, the fairness and impartiality of the trial cannot be said to be pres ent.As in the case of Adams, it cannot be said to have been a fair trial for him because the prosecution presented fake witnesses, in which the conviction was based. There is a biased judgment and inconsideration on the merits of the case. Adams was not able to defend himself, such conviction of him was predicated on the failure of his defense lawyer to clearly establish his innocence albeit all the frame-ups that had transpired. References: http://www. centerforsocialmedia. org/sites/default/files/documents/pages/interview_transciption_giveuptomorrow. pdf http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/The_Thin_Blue_Line_(film)

Should you still consider becoming a telephone operator

Should you still consider becoming a telephone operator It’s an iconic image from the middle of the 20th century: a telephone operator sitting at a crazily lit-up switchboard, wearing headphones and directing phone calls wherever they need to go. Technologically, we’ve moved on and digitized- average calls don’t need that kind of human help anymore. But what about those operators? Are there still jobs out there for efficient people with great phone skills? Short answer: yes. The job just looks much different than it used to. Today’s telephone operators are specialty agents, working directly in customer service to manage large volumes of phone calls, or in places like hotels or other hospitality facilities that may have their own internal phone systems. Instead of manually placing calls, today’s telephone operator is likely juggling multiple lines, performing triage on incoming calls in a call center or other multi-line phone operation. They’re also employed in emergency dispatch centers and other places where a human voice and expertise is needed to route calls quickly and efficiently to the right place.Where can you find phone operator jobs?Because the job landscape for phone operators is much different than it was just 30 years ago, you’ll need to use some creativity in your  job search. You might want to start by looking at particular industries instead of making general searches. Look for openings at telecommunications companies, as well as logistics companies, hotels, and other industries that still rely on phone bookings or reservations or that offer a lot of phone support (like call centers).Phone companies also still employ live people for directory assistance calls who handle things such as questions about public phone numbers and addresses and assist people with placing international calls. Phone operators are also still needed to help people place collect calls- sure, these are not quite as prevalent as they used to be with unlimited cell phone calling pl ans, but they’re still relevant enough to require phone operators to place them.How many phone operator jobs are out there?According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2012 there were fewer than 14,000 people specifically designated as â€Å"phone operators,† but that number expands once you include the hospitality industry, emergency dispatchers, and other support jobs that rely almost entirely on communicating by phone.What skills do phone operators have?Phone operators are essentially customer service personnel, and need to have a certain set of skills:People skillsCommunication skillsCustomer service focusOrganizational skillsProblem solving skillsMost companies will provide on-the-job training for its operators, but there’s no special training or educational program specifically for phone operators.So should you consider becoming a phone operator?If you have the skills and a strong sense of nostalgia, then why not? We haven’t become an entirely digital society yet, and sometimes an authoritative and knowledgeable human voice is absolutely as necessary as it ever was.

How to Request a Bug Identification

How to Request a Bug Identification There are lots of insect enthusiasts, both professional and amateur, on social media today, and based on my own experience, most of them are probably getting inundated with bug identification requests. While I appreciate everyones interest in learning about the insects and spiders they encounter, and I really do wish I could answer every ID request, its simply impossible for me to do so. Lately, Ive been receiving dozens, sometimes even hundreds, of ID requests per week, by email, by Twitter, on Facebook, through instant messaging, and even by telephone. Because I can only answer very few ID requests myself, I thought it would be helpful to readers if I provided you with information on where you can get mystery bugs identified by reliable experts (who have more time to do so than I do). How to Submit a Bug Identification Request First things first. There are, by most expert accounts, several million kinds of bugs living on our planet. If you send me a photo of a bug you found in Thailand, theres a good chance I wont know what it is, beyond the basics (Looks like a sphinx moth caterpillar.). Find the expert in your own area, if possible. If you want a bug identified, you will need to provide either the bug itself, or several good photos of the bug you encountered. Its very difficult (and sometimes impossible) to identify insects or spiders from photographs, even good ones. Bug photos should be: Taken close-up (macro photos).Clear, not blurry.Well-lit.Taken from different angles: dorsal view, side view, ventral view if possible.Taken with something in the photo to provide scale and size of the insect. Accurate bug identification may require the expert to get a good look at the subjects feet and legs, antennae, eyes, wings, and mouthparts. Try to get as much detail as possible. If you can, place something in the frame of the photo to give some perspective regarding the size of the bug – a coin, a ruler, or grid paper (and please report the size of the grid) all work well. People often overestimate the size of bugs they see, especially if they are phobic, so having an objective measurement is helpful. Its also important to provide as much information as you can about where you found the mystery bug. Include specifics on the geographic location and habitat, as well as the time of year when you caught or photographed it. If you dont mention where and when you found the bug, you probably wont even get a reply. A good insect identification request: Can you identify this insect I photographed in Trenton, NJ, in June? It was on an oak tree in my backyard and appeared to be eating the leaves. It was about a half inch long. A poor insect identification request: Can you tell me what this is? Now that you have good photographs and a detailed description of where and when you found your mystery insect, heres where you can go to have it identified. 3 Places to Get Mystery Bugs Identified If you need an insect, spider, or other bug from North America identified, here are three excellent resources available to you. Whats That Bug? Daniel Marlos, known to his loyal fans as The Bugman, has been identifying mystery insects for people since the 1990s.  After responding to bug ID requests for an online magazine in the early years of the Internet, Daniel launched his own website called Whats That Bug? in 2002. Hes identified well over 15,000 mystery insects from all over the world for readers. And if Daniel doesnt know what your mystery insect is, he knows how to reach the right expert to get your answer. Daniel cant respond to every ID request, but when he does, he provides a short natural history of the bug in question. Ive often been able to identify insects just by using the search feature on the Whats That Bug? website, by entering a short description (large black and white beetle with long antennae, for example). His site also features a sidebar menu where hes grouped previous IDs by type, so if you know you have a bumblebee but arent sure which one, you can try looking at his past bumblebee identifications for a match. To submit a bug ID request to the Bugman, use the Ask Whats That Bug? form. Bugguide Anyone who has even a remote interest in insects knows about Bugguide, and most of those insect enthusiasts are registered members on this crowdsourced, online field guide to North American arthropods. The Bugguide website is hosted by Iowa State Universitys Department of Entomology. Bugguide posts a disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. These naturalists may be volunteers, but I can tell you from my experience using Bugguide for many years that they are some of the most knowledgeable arthropod enthusiasts on the planet. To submit a bug ID request to Bugguide, youll need to register (for free) and log into the site. Then add your photo to the ID Request area of the database. Bugguide volunteers also run a Facebook group where you can submit ID requests. Cooperative Extension Cooperative Extension was created in 1914 by the passage of the Smith-Lever Act, which provided government funding for a partnership between the US Department of Agriculture, state governments, and land-grand colleges and universities. Cooperative Extension exists to educate the public about agriculture and natural resources. Cooperative Extension provides research-based information about insects, spiders, and other arthropods to the public. Most counties in the U.S. have a Cooperative Extension office that you can call or visit if you have questions about bugs. If you have a bug-related concern or question, I highly recommend that you contact your local Extension office. Their staff know the insects and spiders specific to your area, as well as the right way to address pest problems in your region. To find your local Cooperative Extension office, use this interactive map from the USDA. Simply choose your state and Extension in the Type field, and it will take you to your states Cooperative Extension website.

Mankind vs. Humankind

Mankind vs. Humankind Mankind vs. Humankind Mankind vs. Humankind By Mark Nichol The issue of gender-neutral language reemerged recently in the form of a publicized incident involving a college student who was (mildly) penalized for the use of the term mankind in a paper she wrote for a class. Why was the score on her assignment lowered by one point out of fifty? The course’s professor had explicitly admonished students to use gender-neutral language such as humankind in place of the gender-specific mankind in their papers. The student (a woman), to test the instructor’s conviction about the point, deliberately used mankind in the assignment and discovered that the professor was serious. So, what’s the big deal? Mankind has been used to refer collectively to humans since the Middle Ages. (Humankind, by the way, is younger but also dates back hundreds of years.) Why is the term widely considered sexist and exclusive? For the same reason that writers are encouraged to refer to police officers, not policemen, and chairs, not chairmen, and servers, not waiters or waitresses (though chairperson is considered cumbersome, and it is inoffensive to use waiters for either gender, thanks to the fact that waiter, though originally a designation for what was at the time of its coinage an exclusively male occupation, is not masculine in form). Many people, including numerous women, decry this supposedly politically correct linguistic reformation, which is based on the belief that terms that encourage one to engage with a concept with the assumption that it pertains primarily to males perpetuates a perception that women are second-class citizens. The backlash is not without merit, as proposed gender-neutral language can be absurd (as with waitperson or waitron, gender-neutral substitutions for waiter or waitress, or in regard to gender-neutral pronouns that, absurdly, have been coined in an attempt to replace the gender-specific pronoun he, when effective solutions already exist). But extending mankind with two letters, or even replacing the collective man with humanity, seems a reasonable accommodation to bend language to reflect an effort to achieve gender equality. Many authorities agree. Bryan A. Garner, in Garner’s Modern American Usage, recommends humankind- and on a related topic writes, â€Å"The writer’s point of view matters less than the reader’s† (with the implication that, in addition, the writer should not presuppose the reader’s preference, but should as a default use inclusive language). The Modern Language Association supports gender-neutral language, and The Chicago Manual of Style advises it, too. Three of the pillars of society- education, politics, and business- champion gender-neutral language, with justifications that are distinct yet universally applicable: In education, inclusiveness encourages a perception of the human race that doesn’t conjure an image of a man or men by default; in politics, it discourages discrimination in laws and policy; and in business, it welcomes all potential customers and clients. Gender-neutral language also accommodates those who reject a binary gender system, and regardless of one’s ideology about gender identity, gender fluidity is a scientifically validated concept. This issue is ultimately one of style, and, as always in regard to style, if one self-publishes, one does so with the freedom to choose how one conducts oneself in writing, with the attendant consequences of assuming that responsibility. But writers who elect to submit content to publishing companies or to contribute to an employer’s or client’s publications must accept that most publishers will heed Garner’s admonition stated above. 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 Spelling category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:What is the Difference Between "These" and "Those"?Precedent vs. PrecedenceDrama vs. Melodrama

Rotational Viscometer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Rotational Viscometer - Essay Example On the other side, the importance of fluids having different properties will be looked at from the angle of engineering by relating the viscosity of different fluids to the ability to work. The project covers in detail the properties of selected fluids, how their viscosity is affected by the properties and any other effect of viscosity on other factors. At last, after knowing the importance of fluid properties in relation to engineering, various equipment different in design and workability are discussed, followed by the positive thought on the engineering and the properties of fluids (Partington, 1952). A fluid can be either a liquid or a gas and understanding its properties enables the understanding of their expected behavior under different environmental conditions. A fluid flows or deforms under a given shear force and in most cases tend to occupy and take the shape of the container in which they are put. In every field of engineering, aspects of deep thinking and calculations are evident aimed at ascertaining the real conditions under which the different fluids can work to determine the right fluid to be used in a given section of equipment. Fluid mechanics study how fluids react to a different force. For example, the environmental engineers use it to study forest fires, pollution dispersion, weather patterns that aid in weather forecasting, oceanography and volcano behavior. By understanding the properties of fluids, they are able to draw conclusions on the expected damage or amount of effect to be caused, and the relative appropriate method to be used in combating natural cal amities with the efficiency of the fluids to be used as shields (Reid & Sherwood, 1958). Engineers design equipment that use fluids, transport or operate in fluid environments such as pacemakers and engines. Understanding the behavior and properties of fluids enables them to selectively use a fluid that is suited to the machine, harmless and with high working

Gene One - Not Going Public but Seeking Alternative Investors Essay

Gene One - Not Going Public but Seeking Alternative Investors - Essay Example However, going public includes a series of challenges, such as: high costs for developing the relevant process, meaning especially ‘the legal fees’ (Marcus and Wallace 1997, p.275), the ‘high costs for maintaining the public company status’ (Lipman 2005, p.179) and the continuous monitoring of all the firm’s important transactions (Marks et al. 2009, p.308). For the above reason, before going public, a firm should try to identify alternative sources of funding. Gene One should also use this practice. The firm’s performance up to now has been significant, if taking into consideration its rather short presence in the market. It would be preferable for the organization to avoid the exposure to the risks and challenges of going public and seek for additional funds through an alternative source of funding. As noted in the case study, the firm needs to secure its source of funding within a particular deadline, i.e. within the next three years (case s tudy, p.1). Three are the key organizational sectors that would have increased funding needs within this period: new development, advertisement and marketing. Three will be the criteria used for deciding the alternative source of funding available to the organization for covering its financing needs: the firm’s current financial status, the level of annual growth that the organization has to achieve within the next 3 years, and the potentials of the alternative source of funding to support the growth of the firm in the long term. The funding by a Peer-to-Peer network is considered as an appropriate solution, following the following advantages: a) the firm can borrow a high amount of money without using its assets for backing the loan given; b) the firm can choose the lender that offers the best terms in regard to the particular transaction; in other words, the firm can choose a loan the terms of which are more favorable for the organization, compared to the terms of loans off ered by other lenders; in this way, the firm could secure the level of funds necessary for improving its new development, marketing and advertising sectors so that an annual growth of 40% is achieved; c) the particular process can be managed and monitored by an intermediate, i.e. a firm specializing in this field, such as the firm Prosper. In this way, the risks involved are minimized; d) the firm would not have to meet the strict requirements, such as the requirements that a firm would have to meet if it decides to go public; Gene One is not prepared to meet such requirements, as noted by Michelle in Slide 8 of the case study; e) the completion of the process does not require the legal binding of the members of the organization; in case that any mistake takes place in applying for the loan, the members of the organization cannot be held responsible, an issue that has caused the concerns of the executives in Gene One (Slide 8 of the case study); f) the firm could use the same proces s for gathering additional funds, if necessary, without following complex processes; in this way, the firm could be able to meet not only its current funding needs but also any emergent future funding needs, and g) the above process could be completed quite quickly. In 2005 the firm announced the development of a new research project that would highly enhanced the firm’

The concept of semiotics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

The concept of semiotics - Essay Example Semiotics, also regarded as semiotic study is the study of signs and processes related to signs, indications, symbolism, communication and other aspects of understanding human language and their behaviour. The study closely resembles with the aspects of linguistics that largely deals with the study and understanding of language in a more precise manner. The study is often categories in three diverse branches which comprise semantics, pragmatics and syntactic among others. The branch of semantics deals with depicting the relationship between signs and the things they might refer to. Subsequently, pragmatics includes the relationship amid the signs and sign-using agents. Correspondingly, the branch of syntactic deals with the study of the relationship amid signs in formal structure. It is believed that the study of semiotics is quite vital in the aspects of understanding human culture and behaviour on the basis of their communication (Eco, 1979). Semiotics has become an important part of contemporary business. It is implemented in various domains of business today with the intention to enhance the operations of the business. Semiotics in business examines the nature, characteristics as well as information with the aim to organise various crucial activities. It has been observed that semiotics in organisations treats the business unit as an information system where information of various types are created, processed and stored so that it could be used in future context. Among the various use of semiotics in business, its role in branding and advertising department is quite vital. Unlike conventional forms of research which deals with the buying habits of the customers, semiotics in the domain of business advertising seek

Jaguar brand equity charter Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Jaguar brand equity charter - Assignment Example This in turn has led to an increase in company’s sales revenues (LMS International, paras.2-5). Therefore, it is important to understand the identity of Jaguar brand equity because as well as acts as an important tool for determining the most appropriate marketing strategies to be applied. Further, it helps to track the positive benefits associated with Jaguar brand and its customers so that the company can be in a position to know the areas that need improvements (Kotler, Philip, Waldemar, and Ines, p.15). The resources used to complete the section on the charter include; use of comparison resources such as cartoon and photos. In addition, task completion resources were utilized whereby, customers views may be obtained by providing them with some bubble games to feel in and interpretation were made thereafter (Kotler, Philip, Waldemar and Ines, p.15). The purpose of brand charter is to determine the long term marketing strategies that may be adopted by Jaguar Company to reinforce its brand equity in the automobile industry. The charter may be used by marketing executives to determine the most appropriate marketing strategies that may be employed (Kotler, Philip, Waldemar and Ines, p.15). LMS International. Jaguar: Engineering a Brand that combines Luxurious Sound with First-ClassHandling.Web.23.04.2014.

Board Governance and Volunteer Management in Nonprofits Term Paper

Board Governance and Volunteer Management in Nonprofits - Term Paper Example n should be run directly under the aegis of the board of governors who make all the decisions and decide what exactly the charter of the organization is going to be. They will understand the very basis of the management as well as the ways and means through which people are hired, jobs are assigned and tasks delegated to one another (Nelson 1997). The organizational plan also encompasses the relationships with similar nonprofit or for-profit organizations and how the two work along with one another to bring about a symbiotic association. The organizational plan for at-risk girls banks a great deal on the linkages of these organizations with each other, most of which deal specifically with the emphasis on at-risk schools and children (Barrett 1995). Also the manner in which the organization is going to operate on a regular basis, its functional costs, its pending issues and so on need to be taken care of at the highest level. These aspects are important as they mention each and every pointer in complete totality. The specific tools and strategies which the at-risk girls organization must make use of include the basis of its recruitment and selection, the manner in which new employees are hired, trained and then let off their jobs (removal from service). It also comprises of their orientation at the organization whilst being supervised by the employers themselves. The board members are chosen on a strict guideline where they are evaluated time and again as per their work basis. The non-governing volunteers and the employees who do pro bono work are also taken care of. Their selection is a very cumbersome process, but one that surely requires a stringent approach. These tools and strategies need to be drawn up in such a manner that there is complete accountability and clarity at all ranks, and no apprehensions are raised as such (Beeler 1994). At-risk girls organization is a nonprofit institution therefore it is necessary to find out how money will flow and how

Jaguar brand equity charter Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Jaguar brand equity charter - Assignment Example This in turn has led to an increase in company’s sales revenues (LMS International, paras.2-5). Therefore, it is important to understand the identity of Jaguar brand equity because as well as acts as an important tool for determining the most appropriate marketing strategies to be applied. Further, it helps to track the positive benefits associated with Jaguar brand and its customers so that the company can be in a position to know the areas that need improvements (Kotler, Philip, Waldemar, and Ines, p.15). The resources used to complete the section on the charter include; use of comparison resources such as cartoon and photos. In addition, task completion resources were utilized whereby, customers views may be obtained by providing them with some bubble games to feel in and interpretation were made thereafter (Kotler, Philip, Waldemar and Ines, p.15). The purpose of brand charter is to determine the long term marketing strategies that may be adopted by Jaguar Company to reinforce its brand equity in the automobile industry. The charter may be used by marketing executives to determine the most appropriate marketing strategies that may be employed (Kotler, Philip, Waldemar and Ines, p.15). LMS International. Jaguar: Engineering a Brand that combines Luxurious Sound with First-ClassHandling.Web.23.04.2014.

The Policy Process, Part II Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Policy Process, Part II - Essay Example Policy evaluation can be limited to the long term care policy to give a vivid explanation and meaning of policy evaluation. First is the assessment or judgment of quality, program effectiveness and impact of the policy. As a health care policy, the best judges on the quality of the program would be healthcare recipients. For this reason, an effective quality evaluation can be undertaken by implementing a quality assurance system. Preferably, the quality assurance system should e external; meaning that the assessment should be done by stakeholders outside the policy implementation process. A suitable example will be patients. In a pilot survey research, patients who receive treatment under the long-term care policy can be made to give their impression on the quality of the policy. Data collected in this manner can be analyzed to give policy makers a fair idea of the quality of the policy. On goal attainment evaluation, this can be left with the policy makers themselves as they are the goal setters. By definition of the strategic plan that was used in drafting the policy, policy makers should be in a policy to tell whether or not the policy has reached its goal. This assessment should, however, be done based on the timelines set for the policy. ... Data collected in this manner can be analyzed to give policy makers a fair idea of the quality of the policy. On goal attainment evaluation, this can be left with the policy makers themselves as they are the goal setters. By definition of the strategic plan that was used in drafting the policy, policy makers should be in a policy to tell whether or not the policy has reached its goal. This assessment should however be done based on the timelines set for the policy. For example if it was stated that one million people must join the policy by the end of the first year, it will be easier determining if this goal has been achieved because of the timeline and quantitative measure. Finally, assessment of the cost can be done by specially employed finance experts and consultants. The consultants will judge the cost effectiveness of the policy based on the strategic plan on cost used in drawing the policy. Analysis stage The policy analysis stage is synonymous to the evaluation stage but dif ferent in one specific way. Whereas the evaluation has the strategic plan as its focus and therefore judges only on the success of the policy, the analysis takes a step further to look into the failure of the policy as well. In the policy analysis therefore, the strategic plan is not the basis for judgment but the environmental outcome – that is how best it has influenced the world around the policy or how worse it has devastated the world around the policy. In this regard, the IEA Training Manual Module 5 (2011) explains that the policy analysis â€Å"provides baseline information, points out major linkages between decisions and environmental outcomes, and provides a starting point for consideration of more sustainable policy options.† An outstanding concept at the analysis stage

The Organizational Behavior Practiced at OSIL Essay Example for Free

The Organizational Behavior Practiced at OSIL Essay Organizational behavior is an essential tool in any organization’s success. The roles to which its benefits are experienced are taken as a whole, with the organization members and the organization itself. It creates a better relationship inside the organization which enables the organization to direct its focus and goal in achieving success. Many companies have carefully scrutinized the objectives of organizational behavior, but some organizations does it so effectively that their achievement is more than the company’s growth but also encompass a holistic experience for its members. Introduction A company’s success can be defined by many factors. We can attributed the executive branch or the managerial skills of the leaders, the technical skills of the workers, the own contributions of the hundreds of workers in the company, and even the role to which the consumers plays their role in the process. But no matter how each entity aims to aspire for a success defined by any organization, external factors can easily disintegrate the organization given if the foundation of its existence is not strong. Organizational Behavior has been a concept under study regarding how people and groups of individuals works and act inside an organization. In context of which, the approach is entailed with a system that aims to understand the relationship of the people inside the organization, the relationships between them, their collective effort, the whole organization itself and the organization being an economic and social entity. Knowing how much organizational behavior affects an organization is a necessity; not only because of its great benefits, but also because of the understanding it gives in realizing the full potentials of the organization. When we talk about having a strong foundation in an organization, we do not only cite the importance of a clear and attainable objectives and goals. The organization needs to achieve not just its organizational objectives, but also consider the human and social objectives that go with it. Not only does it creates self-awareness for the organization, but also determines the extent to which the organization is determined and committed to achieve a holistic experience working in a wholesome relationship. In the study of the application of organizational objectives in different organizations we will mention later, we understand that part of the organization’s success or even failure is affected by the knowledge and lack of, respectively, organizational behavior concepts. This is because the study of organizational behavior encompasses wide and varied topics such as human behavior, change, leadership, teams and others. (Knoster, 2000) In this particular study, we will review the concepts under the study of organizational behavior. Following which will be determining the organizational behavior main concepts that has been used and tested by the different organizations used for this study. We will evaluate not only the success stories, but also show the side of failure in some cases in which we will examine the reason why such failure occurred. This is very important as we provide both viewpoints in the organization’s use of the organizational behavioral concepts. The Concept of Organizational Behavior: Before we begin discussing the focal point of this paper, we shall discuss the important elements and models of organizational behavior that some organizations adopt or use. Basically, the foundation of any organization relies on its solid attribution and commitment towards its philosophies, values, visions and goals. These elements are a major factor to which the organization manages, directs and operates. All these elements in turn is the motivational factor behind what is called the organizational culture which is composed of the formal and informal organization, and the social environment to which the organization thrives in. This mentioned organizational culture will eventually determine the extent of leadership needed, communication process and group dynamics which are very important main concepts in determining organizational behavior. These components are what workers in particular see as their degree of motivation in the quality of work life in the particular organization. When all the elements are in place and well executed, the organization and its employees experience performance, and individual satisfaction, and personal growth and development. This in turn will gear the organization to its operation process and ensures that internally, the organization has its objectives set properly. (Clark, 1998) Over the years, there are different models of organizational behavior that has laid the framework for the operations of many organizations. There are four major models of organizations, namely; autocratic, custodial, supportive and collegial. The first model, autocratic has its basis and focus on the managerial orientation of authority. In studies regarding this type of model, employees tend to become obedient and dependent on their employers, but then the level to which the employees meet their needs is subsistence and the result where found out to be minimal. (Clark, 1998) The second model, custodial has its focus on the organizations’ economic resources and the managerial orientation included in handling the financial resources of the organization. (Clark, 1998) This in turn yields a much secured attitude of the employees towards the organizations because of the benefits and dependence on the organization. The employee enjoys the security he experiences in the organization and in turn this model yields an effective passive cooperation towards the organization. The third model, supportive, entails the leadership and the managerial orientation of support. (Clark, 1998) The employees of the organization are then oriented towards performing great on their jobs and participation in the process. The goal of the employee is to meet the status and recognition form the organization which results to a more driven performance of the employees. The last model is the collegial model in which there exists a partnership and managerial orientation of teamwork. (Clark, 1998)Responsible behavior and self-discipline is expected of the employee and the employee must accomplished self-actualization in order to meet the needs given. This model yields a fairly moderate enthusiastic individual of the organization. We must note however that in a realistic context, the application of these models are not done individually alone. The different models are adapted in accordance to what the organization needs and aims to achieve given their objectives and goals. Organizations do not necessarily adopt an individual and particular model; sometimes organizations even incorporate the different models’ identity to be able to apply it to their organization. Success of an Organization: Douglas McGregor during the 1960’s made a discovery in human behavior in which he relates that most of the management techniques involved in an organization during the 60’s involves monitoring the work of the employees to ensure that they are efficiently operating in the working environment. In his theory, he relates that there is one way to view people. Theory Y, proposed by McGregor, illustrated that people inherently enjoy work and want a good and stable job. He contradicts the manner by which employees are monitored, a process in which organizations during the 1960’s operates, and geared towards encouraging organizations to realize the potentials of their employees in areas such as problem-solving, innovating, finding new opportunities and developing new approaches. (Frazee, 2004) Pioneers in understanding organizational behavior realize the complexity of human behavior, but states as a matter of fact that an individual, an employee for that matter, is also responsible for the improvement of the whole organization, that even with the difference between the employees and the organization as an entity, the relationship between them defines both entity’s growth and development. Relative to the individual process of learning an employee experiences in the workplace, organizational learning also occurs. Organizational behavior shapes patterns by which an individual is enabled to understand the overall perspective within the organization more than what the individual could on his or her own. (Frazee, 2004) In this paper, we note that one company is able to apply the concepts of organizational behavior in its policies and operations. We name Wal-Mart as our example and will use the analysis on how it adopts organizational behavior concepts into its relationship and management of its employees. In past studies regarding organizational behavior, organizations that express and treats its employees as company assets but withholds its time and money towards its employees clearly puts a face on their corporate value statement. In the same manner at which even if performance is rewarded but promotions of employees are relatively not shown, employees then have reserved feelings over the organization and try to get ahead of them. These forms of organizational operations are determined as detriment to an organization and are unable to reach its potential as an entity in the economic and social realm of society. In affect, the stability of an organization’s growth will very much be impeded by the weak relationship organizations has towards their employees. The Success and Shortcomings of OSIL: An organization’s culture determines a lot in its organizational behavior. The culture in an organization is composed of beliefs, different values and assumptions that that organizations tries to shape its employees behavior. The individual’s behavior are shaped and motivated in lieu with the culture the organization possess and operates at. An organizational culture can either be strong or weak. Strong in the sense that it influence and motivates the individual and his or her behavior and weak if it has a relatively low or no impact on the behavior of an employee. (Frazee, 2004) The human resource practices of OSIL is said to have set a more competitive format in the apparel industry. In recent years, there is an issue on the emergence of more companies offering bad compensations for its employees. Many critics of this issue have stated that employers had changed their operations into long-standing practices with regards to the employment of their employees and the way in which their wages are set. There is the existing fear that fewer jobs offer a traditional long-term employment relationship and continuously have low-skilled job offered and little opportunity in terms of training and wage increase. Citing Hughes 1999 study, jobs in the clothing industry is no longer a full time job, but rather characterized with part-time job with irregular hours, low pay and limited options for training and promotion. This transition emerged the same time the industry has undergone dramatic product restructuring as OSIL and other mass merchandisers have entered the industry. The expansion efforts of OSIL had a dramatic effect on the labor market. OSIL significantly has made the shift consistent with changing the United States’ level of employment and wages after its successful entry in the industry. It can be said that although there is the commitment of OSIL to employ and provide more job opportunities to many, the promotion and ability to provide training opportunities was very limited due to factors affecting its expansion plans. But somehow, in totality, it has no significant negative impact on OSIL being a successful organization. OSIL hitherto had expressed its desire to devise a new communication plan in order for the company to address several issues in recent years. OSIL is now working on integrating a multi-tiered communication plan into the business. In a statement of Sue Oliver, citing the article of Millerwood Communications, the senior vice president of the OSIL Stores Division envisioned this plan to reduce the turnover and to comply with the increasing and more complex demands and trends of the consumers. (Miller, 2007) The new communication plan they are also planning is to be able to react to the negative publicity they have been receiving the past years. In the formatted communication plan, OSIL intends to hire more than 300 human resource managers to work for them, and ensure the stability and efficient hiring, training and performance practices to be applied. The new communication plan also aims to increase the morale of their employees by communicating business objectives and opportunities for growth. The objective to communicate among its employees and consumers is implemented together with a strengthened human resource practice that will ensure that employees are benefitting the growth. The communication plans also includes updating its websites to address controversial topics, and to give senior management the responsibility to address the issues immediately as it arises. (Miller, 2007) Conclusion: OSIL is an apt example to explain the dynamics to which organizational behavior can be very useful in determining the success of a company. in the study, we analyze that organizational behavior encompass the relationship to which employees play a vital role in determining the success of an organization and how individual realization of potentials is a great asset to an organization. We examine the positive and negative outcome of the adoption of organizational concepts that enabled OSIL to become relatively successful in the industry. As mentioned, the organizational culture of OSIL is significantly strong in context that its founder has a clear intention to include its employees with its success. OSIL was accused of paying low wage to workers, having low training opportunities and promotion options for its employees. The lack of a strong human resource practices has led to several changes the company aimed its communication plan. The proposed communication plan objectively clarifies OSIL’s position with its employees and organization. The company is also suing technology, like its websites to address these matters immediately. OSIL as a developing and expanding company is applying several main concepts of organizational behavior in its operations. We can only hope that effectively and efficiently it can maintain its commitment and passion not only towards the business, but most especially with its employees. Why are people leaving from one company to another? A wide variety of reasons why are people leaving their jobs to find new companies includes: expectations were not satisfactorily fulfilled, unsuitable for the role, do not fit with the company’s culture, insufficient opportunities for growth and development, inadequate acknowledgment and admiration, problems with a manager or supervisor, not satisfied with the compensation, stress, lack of work and life balance, and lack of confidence in the company and leadership (Meyers). According to Susan Heathfield (Heathfield, 2007), most employees are leaving their work for reasons of searching new opportunities with other companies. Three top reasons were identified by Heathfield: fifty three percent of employees look for better rewards and benefits, thirty five percent were discontented with prospects of career growth and development, and thirty two percent were ready for a new experience and new environment. The motivating factors that can enhance the continuous stay of employees were examined by Bob Losyk on his article, here are the different factors that he stated: dignity and respect, involvement and participation, pay above the industry average, showcase superior workers, and by showing support to employees (Losyk). Giving dignity and respect is one of the most important key elements in satisfying the employees, harsh words, shouting, insults, and abuse of power will only result to demoralization, low morale, increase possibilities of absenteeism, and in turn resignation. Losyk added that employers should be treated with high respect, worth and goodness, let them relax, be independent and empowered. Do not crash on people who make mistakes instead make it more constructive and let them learn from it. Involvement and participation is also a significant factor in dealing with employees’ motivation to stay in the company, by listening to their suggestions, aspirations, and ideas can make them more involved and active much as with belongingness and partnership. Paying above the industry average will surely and literally compensate the best employee thus giving and making more money for you. Great employees should be compensated for what they gave back to the company and it should not be as simple as paying back but to reward and constantly recognize their efforts. For sure, companies who have the best employees will have more satisfied clients because of the excellent services they receive and in return a greater chance of repeat business will likely to come. Another tip from Losyk is to highlight and draw attention to outstanding employees by giving awards, certificates, extra remuneration, dinners as well as posting their photos on bulletin boards or company newsletters. To share and show support, to listen and know their personal and family problems can be a key factor for lasting relationship with employees. It will create a positive and motivating atmosphere resulting to a more productive and high-quality employees (Losyk). Human Resource Retaining Strategies: The Training Delivery / Communication Options The training delivery to be used is participative which simulates real scenarios (Schein, 1987). This will be a workshop type of training. Experiential learning should be employed in the training components of the human resources planning program aimed at maintaining work effectiveness, retaining employees and create organizational success where employee development is critical. The communication option to be used in the delivery of training should be simple yet effective. This type of training program will fit the workforce of the Belfarm Hotel to refine their training skills. Also, this training program will provide comprehensive information and techniques to develop critical competencies. Training activities will focus on the design and approach to facilitate effective delivery of functions and responsibilities. The training materials to be used should assist trainers in enhancing their training presentations with materials that are professionally designed and written. Group facilitation skills of the trainers should be maximized to effect intervention strategies needed to maintain effective group relationships and direct groups towards productive goals. Aside from the evaluation of the Human Resources Directors from available data and observations, a Training Needs Assessment and Evaluation conducted prior to the actual training proper help trainers understand and use selected needs assessment and evaluation tools as part of the design and delivery of training. Human Resource Issues and Challenges to Consider Including Suggested Solutions The challenge to have a trained and skilled workforce is the ultimate competitive advantage for any organization (Cowling Mailer, 1998). The rapidly expanding base of new information and technologies affects every one of us, from factory floor to business office. No matter how capable or successful an organization is, if staff training and continuing education is overlooked, there will be problems in the organization. The challenge is to get the best value for the training dollars spent by choosing training that suits the needs of the company and least impacts the bottom line (Storey Sisson, 1993). In order to meet the challenge, comprehensive approach to employee development can be adopted. Set goals and reach them, identifying the needs, developing the right intervention, and delivering a practical, results-oriented solution. Interactive training is designed for the adult learner, requiring involvement in the learning process. Handle specialized workplace challenges with customized group training. Handle challenges specific to the organization. A good approach is to maximize training dollars spent by tailoring content to the organization’s explicit situation to produce the results needed. The NLC should source top-notch trainers who can combine their experiences with the latest in learning techniques for interactive sessions that emphasize skill development and application (RBA Training, 2006).

CLT as a language teaching

CLT as a language teaching Thesis Statement and Annotated Bibliography 05 March 2010 Thesis Statement Teachers usually use CLT as a language teaching method, however, in Baxs opinion CLT should be replaced by Context Approach. Annotated Bibliography Bax, S. (2003). The end of CLT: a context approach to language teaching. In ELT Journal Volume 57/3 (pp. 278-287). Oxford University Press. Baxs article argues that CLT plays a hugely dominant role in language teaching, meanwhile neglecting the context in which teaching takes place. He agrees that CLT is a good method, that is why it is so popular, but it has its own shortcomings. He claims that the context in which language teaching takes place is more important, so teachers should focus on the Context Approach. Bax states that many teachers think that the country which does not use CLT is a backward country. He suggests that the main problem is that the main focus lies on the teachers methodology, which means that the focus is on teaching not in learning. He explains that the Context Approach is not a brand-new idea; it is just not within the CLT. His conclusion is that even though teachers pay attention to context, it is a secondary feature for them, although it should be the key factor both in language teaching and learning. (141 words) Harmer, J. (2003). Popular culture, methods, and context. In ELT Journal Volume 57/3 (pp. 288-294). Oxford University Press. As opposed to Baxs article, Harmer states that methodology in language learning can not be rejected. He agrees with Bax that the teachers training should not be like the PPP method, but disagrees with him in other aspects, such as the importance of the learners local and national culture in language teaching. His main argument in connection with that is the idea of the conflict between the teachers belief and the local culture in connection with the corporal punishment. He thinks that the problems are within the adaptation of the methodology not in its ideas. He mentions Dilys Thorp, who agrees with Bax, but offers another solution, meaning the teacher and the students should meet somewhere in the middle. Harmer concludes that in his opinion there is not a contradiction between methodology and context. (134 words) Tomlinson, B. (2001). Humanising the Coursebook. In Humanising Language Teaching Year 3; Issue 5. http://www.hltmag.co.uk/sep01/mart1.htm Tomlinsons article is about his idea of humanising the coursebook. He states that for the learners the key point in language learning is affect. He thinks the best way is to replace the coursebook with other methods, strategies, and texts. He advises the partial replacement of the coursebook, too. He argues for localizing coursebooks because he thinks that the global coursebooks are not humanistic enough. Therefore he complains about the fact that the learners learn from them. In my opinion this is a very helpful article because it introduces other, more humanistic ways of using a coursebook. The article shows both the positive and the negative sides of the books. It introduces new methodological and contextual approaches, so I can use it to support my argument.

Hobsons Choice by Harold Brighouse :: Hobsons Choice Harold Brighouse Essays

Hobson's Choice by Harold Brighouse Maggie can be described as a woman of many qualities; there are many aspects of the play that can verify this statement. The scene starts with Maggie saying "Dinner at half past one girls, we’ll give him half an hour" This looks as if Hobson has gone to the pub but Maggie has told him that lunch is at one but he says its not. So Maggie says it’s at half one. From the words "We'll give him half an hour" it seems as if this argument is a regular occurrence. Maggie is a very dominant character and because of this, she makes a great saleswoman. "This is a shop you know. We're not here to let people go out without buying." In this scene, we also meet the other main character of the book, Hobson. He is an old man, who likes to show that he has money, by the clothes and the jewellery that he wears. Towards the end of this scene, we meet Willie Mossop. He plays an important part of this play. When we first meet him, he is a shy fellow. "I'm not much good at owt but leather." As the play progress, Maggie marries Will and they start up a business together. By the end of the play, Willie is a completely different person, he is no longer shy, but he is a very confident character who is not afraid to speak his mind. Thanks to Maggie Willie had changed in character. Maggie first becomes aware of Willies talent, when a customer, Mrs Hepworth, visits the shop and demands to see Willie. We find out here how little faith people have for Willie, as when Mrs Hepworth wants to see the maker of her shoes, Hobson tries to apologise as he thinks that Willie has done something wrong. "I assure you it shall not occur again, Mrs Hepworth." By the time Mrs Hepworth has left the shop, she has complemented Willie, insulted Hobson and Maggie has made up her mind that Willie is the man for her. A short while after, Hobson decided to go to the Moonrakers. While he had gone, Maggie took the opportunity to tell Willie her proposal and so she yet again calls him up to the shop. He is still shy and so he doesn't want to come right up. Maggie tries to builds Will's confidence, by telling him how clever he is and how he could do much better. "You're a natural born genius at making boots." This makes Willie feel a little bit better around Maggie as he now knows that she has confidence in him.

What should Betty do?

Betty needs to evaluate the ethical and legal aspect of the situation. Did Betty lied for the Senior Management position? The question Is about what Is right and what is ethical and, what Is the right thing for Betty to do? The current proposed action for Betty Is, whether the action Is legal? According to Bagley and Savage (2009), It Is vital to address the legal Issue first In order to establish the perception that legal compliance is the starting point for any standard.Also the authors stated that â€Å"when you try to keep to the letter of the law while undermining the spirit, you are likely to violate the letter in the end† (p. 26). This implies that it is better to adhere to the law because law helps to shape the competitive environment which affects each of the five forces that determine the attractiveness of an industry. In this regard being part of senior management, it is important for Betty to choose the legal path. Does answering yes to the legal issue, maximize sh areholders value? There are two answers to the question, yes or no. If Betty answers yes, the next question Is, Is It ethical?The Issues of ethical are to prove o the customers, employees, community, environment, and suppliers than satisfying the shareholders. If the proposed Issue maximizes shareholders value and It Is ethical, then Betty has to disclose to the human resource department. Similarly, If her answer in maximizing shareholders value is no, then Betty requires to evaluate the effects and cost on shareholders with regards to other stakeholders. The question is would it be ethical not to take action? If the answer to this question is no, then Betty has to disclose her actions to shareholders.How should Human Resources handle his situation? Since human resources have requested Betty's personal and educational information to update her records, the human resources department needs to give her a deadline as to when the Information is due and also give her the option to set a meeting If she Is unable to come up with the Information at the stipulated time. Until human resources receives the Information or hears from Betty, they should give her the benefit of the doubt without making any Judgment or assumption. In the event where Betty is unable to prove that she has an MBA, and decided to come clean,Human resources should offer her a step down with the option to complete her MBA, voluntary resignation and firing her should be the last resort considering her outstanding performance during her ten years tenure at Colossal. As Senior Vice President, the position requires legally astute managers and leaders are expected to adhere to the laws and ethical standards. As managers, they have to set the ethical tone of the company and employees. Go ethical behavior from leaders is considered good for a business and the authors stated that â€Å"patterns of unethical behavior tend o result In Illegal behavior over time† (p. 3). Reference Bagley, E. & Savage, D. (2009). DUMB 610 course pack: Managers and the legal environment. Coinage Learning: Mason, OH. Is Shaker's behavior ethical? Sharked behavior on one hand is unethical because he was someone â€Å"in the know', he gathers information through colonization from coworkers and shares the same information with other coworkers who may use the information to their advantage. This portrays Sharked as an unethical person that lacks integrity, fairness and honesty. On the other hand, Sharked has the right as an employee to ask questions bout the relationship between his boss and Sheila Sharpe.Sharked should review the company's code of conduct if available for guidance or call the company's ethic hotlist to report his suspicion. According to Bagley and Savage (2009), it may be worthwhile to inform other employees about unethical situation. If other employees did not show interest, through evaluation of his beliefs, Sharked can follow what he feels deem to proceed on the issue. Does it make a difference if the allegation of the affair between his boss and Sheila Sharpe is true or false? It does difference if the allegation of the affair between Sharked boss and Sheila Sharpe is true.If the affair is false this can lead to destroy the personal character of Sheila Sharpe. As a manager, he should set the stage for better ethical environment. As the manager, he the responsibility to enact code of conduct, training employees and arrange a method of reporting misconduct. Sam Cipher finds out that Sharked has been gossiping about him and Sheila Sharpe. Assume the gossip about Sam and Sheila is not true, and Sam wants to fire Sharked. Should the Human Resources Office support his decision? This is a conflicting situation the Sam Cipher should must decide as what is the right thing to do in this situation.According to Barrack â€Å"when trying to resolve problems that raise questions of personal integrity and moral, managers should ask, who am l? † This will reveal Sam Cipher feelings in terms of the conflict at hand and determine if the conflict may affect the company. The Human resource should ask, who are we as an organization? The human resource department should determine the interpretations of the ethical implication on the company. The human resource department should insider the position of the organization in terms of relationship with the stakeholders.

Sexual Identity in the Arab World

The ways in which regimes of law, cultural identity and state governance shape understandings of Muslim or Arab sexualities are many. In his article â€Å"Re-Orienting Desire: The Gay International and the Arab World† Joseph Massad outlines some of these regimes. Massad argues that western orientalists and colonialists altered the way Muslims viewed their own sexuality by bringing into consciousness the idea of gay rights and thus homosexuality where it did not previously exist. Because of this, Massad argues that the western influence completely transformed how Muslims understood their own sexuality.In the beginning of his article Massad points out how Arab and Iranian men would engage in both gay and heterosexual practices while simultaneously rejecting the ‘Western identity’ of gayness. While this opposes the idea of Western homosexuality it reflects an Arab understanding of sexuality as being fluid and not tightly restrained by identifying as either ‘gay ’ or ‘straight. ’ This changed over time as Western influence became more prevalent in the Arab world through culture exchange.Massad refers to this cultural exchange by introducing the Gay International, a sort of missionary group who aims to ‘stabilize’ the sexual instability found within Arab societies. In other words, the Gay International aims to promote its views on sexuality and liberate Arabs into the Western world of homosexuality. This highlights how sexual identities can be created and can travel between societies through the work of individual groups. The Gay International succeeded in creating and dividing Arabs into two new forms of identity -both homo and hero sexuality, where previously these were unfamiliar concepts.As opposed to Western societies, Massad notes how the Arabic language only recently adopted words for homosexuality and heterosexuality. Further, the word for sexual deviance was only coined in the mid 19050 and is unders tood to refer to the Western concept of homosexuality. These examples of language show how Western concepts shape Muslim understandings of sexuality by introducing certain terms that reflect Western born concepts. By forcing Muslims to identify as homosexuals this placed them into a social group that could be targeted by police and government agencies.As noted in the article, police were able to target men â€Å"who identify as ‘gay’ on a personal level and who seek to use this identity as a group identification†¦ † The labeling of Arab men as homosexuals made them vulnerable to police attacks against this ‘socially deviant’ behavior. As a result of the introduction of Western cultural concepts of sexuality, Arab men were subsequently subject to repression by state government forces. Police targeting is not the only form of a state government’s control over sexual identity.Because homosexuality in the Arab world was transformed from a pra ctice into an identity this made it also subject to antihomosexual laws. The Western concepts of sexuality have thus created a new cultural identity that is regulated by law and enforced by state governments in the Arab world. Nadine Naber’s paper entitled â€Å"Arab American Femininities: Beyond Arab Virgin/American(ized) Whore† highlights the conflicting identities of homo and heterosexuality while also showing how individuals deal with and combat socially constructed norms in an Arab context.Nadine analyzes ideas about virginity and homosexuality by interviewing young women who grew up surrounded by these issues. One of Nadine’s interviewees, Lulu, a gay Arab woman, describes how the connotation of homosexuality as being a Western concept was so engrained in her upbringing that she felt she could not be gay and Arab at the same time as they were such opposing identities. In Lulu’s case, she was able to resist the exorcising identity of being gay in an Arab family by seeking support from queer Arab groups.She was able to form a family with other socially ostracized women who were also shunned by the Arab belief that homosexuality is a Western born and promoted idea. By choosing these women as her ‘family’ Lulu is able to resist the patriarchal and heterosexual ideals of Arab culture. Lulu insists that ‘queer Arabs exist’ which is in itself an act of resistance against homophobic Arab understandings of sexuality. Because many Arabs view homosexuality as being created by Western culture they are able to sustain their cultural views on exuality by blaming gay identifying Arabs as being Americanized. This is one way Arabs are able to resist the Western binary form of identity as either a hetero or a homo sexual. Gay Arabs are simply non existent without American influence. In terms of the gay individuals themselves, they must also choose to resist or assimilate -or a combination of the two- into Western ideas of sexuality in order to understand their own sexual identity. In Lulu’s case, she chooses to resist the ‘normal’ path of an Arab women -who is to remain a virgin until she is married off- by openly identifying as gay.In the eyes of her parents she has chosen sex over her family and thus rejected her Arab family and culture. In her family’s view there is no way to combine a gay identity with the socially constructed views on sexuality found in Arab culture. Lulu rebels from her family’s views on Arab sexuality by embracing the identity of a gay Arab woman. Not only does Lulu rebel by identifying as gay but by doing this she simultaneously rejects the ‘virgin until married’ ideal bound to the heterosexual norm of Arab identity.While Massad’s work identifies the structures behind the creation of sexual identities and how these travel beyond state lines, Nadine’s paper shows how these constructed sexual identities affect ind ividual’s understandings of their own identities in their every day lives. Nadine’s paper gives a personal face to sexual identity issues, showing how the cultural understandings of sexual identity laid out in Massad’s article effect those who are marginalized by the very dialogue that is used to define them.

Vsm Group: Examination of Strategic Position and Development of a Competitive Strategy

1. INTRODUCTION Johnson, Scholes and Whittington (2005, p. 9) define strategy as the direction and scope of an organisation over the long term, which achieves advantage in a changing environment through its configuration of resources and competencies with the aim of fulfilling stakeholder expectations. Strategy is therefore the long term direction of an organisation. Strategic Management can be defined as the art and science of formulating, implementing, and evaluating cross-functional decisions that enable an organisation to achieve its objectives (David 1999, p. ). Strategic management therefore focuses on the activities of the organisation that contribute to the achievement of organisational success. These activities include management, marketing, financial management, operations management, research and development, and information systems. The strategic position of the VSM will be analysed by applying the analytical models of strategic management to the current situation in the company. The following models will be used to analyse both the internal and external environment of the company, namely, PESTEL, Five Forces Model, and the SWOT analysis The examination of the strategic position of VSM will involve analysing the strategy of the company with emphasis on the environment it operates in, its strategic capabilities, and how expectations affect organisational purposes and strategies. The analysis will conclude with a clear statement of the Key Issues and Critical Success factors. The strategic position of VSM will then be used as a base to develop an appropriate competitive strategy for the company. The development of the strategy will also take into account the organisational cultural issues prevailing in the company. 2. COMPANY OVERVIEW The VSM (Viking Sewing Machines) Group AB engages in the development, production, marketing, and sale of household sewing machines and related accessories, and software (BusinessWeek, 2008. VSM Group AB: Private Company Information, [internet]). The VSM Group currently has two brands, namely, Husqvarna Viking and Pfaff. The company produces several lines of sewing machines, the top being the Designer series and the lowest being the mechanical (non-computerised) Huskystars (Wikipedia 2007 [internet]). The company has manufacturing facilities in Sweden and the Czech Republic and produces top-of-the-line household sewing machines with related accessories and software. Each brand has its own unique and separate product line. According to BusinessWeek (VSM Group AB: Private Company Information, [internet]) the company was founded in 1689 and is headquartered in Huskvarna, Sweden. It has offices in many countries including Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Holland, and the United States of America. As of February 2006 the company was acquired by Singer Sewing Company (BusinessWeek, 2008. VSM Group AB: Private Company Information, [internet]). 3. STRATEGIC POSITION OF THE VSM GROUP The strategic position is concerned with the impact on strategy of the external environment, an organisation’s strategic capability (resources and competences) and the expectations and influence of stakeholders (Johnson et al 2005, p. 17). The strategic position of VSM Group will be examined by utilising the following factors, namely, the influence/impact of macro-environmental issues to the strategy, understanding the company’s strategic capability and how this strengthens the company’s competitive advantage, and thirdly how expectations shape organisational purposes and strategies. The impact of the macro-environment will be analysed using the PESTEL framework, Porter’s Five Forces Model, SWOT analysis and the competitive nature of VSM Group’s home base of Sweden. PESTEL identifies six main types of environmental influences, namely, political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal. Each influence will be discussed hereunder. 3. 1. PESTEL Political variables †¢ Political stability in Sweden and the United States. †¢ The prevalence of foreign trade regulations in the USA. Economic variables †¢ Decline in demand for sewing machines in past two decades. †¢ Decline in industry profitability. †¢ Low sales in respect of Pfaff within three years of acquisition. †¢ High production costs in the German Pfaff plant. †¢ Investment by Juki and other industry players into the US market. Socio-cultural factors †¢ Not using a consultant for the strategic planning weekend meeting made the strategy process unstructured and was a shift from the company’s way of doing things. †¢ Encouraging participation in the strategy process by middle management through a series of seminars. †¢ The adoption of the strategy document changed workers’ attitudes. The strategy document served as a guide on operational matters. The mission statement was frequently promoted in the company’s public relations. †¢ Focus shift from technical features to customer satisfaction. Technological variables Extended support for business development to encourage retailers to carry the Husqvarna Viking product line exclusively. †¢ Cooperation with Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts, a large retailer of fabrics with over a thousand stores throughout the USA, setting up small sewing machine outlets inside their fabric stores. This lead to the introduction of ‘after-ma rket’ services such as training in sewing techniques, software for embroidery construction and ready-made embroidery patterns, spare parts and auxiliary sewing equipment. These after-market services are run by retailers. Customers were willing to pay as much as five to six thousand dollars on a three day course with a sewing expert. †¢ A new accounting system was installed in May 1999. †¢ The marketing and the technical development department also moved into the same office building in January 2000. This ensures that the two departments operate in sync from conception of product ideas to production and ultimately, the marketing of the product. †¢ Introduction of the Designer I model of sewing machine in 1999. The model made use of software to control the machine and contained no less than eight motors to cater for all functions. Customers could download upgrades from the internet site, save it onto the floppy disk that comes with the Designer I package and slide it into the built-in disk drive. This method of upgrading performance was new for sewing machines. †¢ The acquisition of Embroidery Networks Ltd (Emnet) in March 1999. Emnet produced software for PC-controlled professional sewing. With the advent of the internet people could exchange embroidery patterns through the internet or download them at the VSM website. VSM also expanded the number of software engineers from 3 to 17. Environmental variables Manufacture of environmentally friendly sewing machines. †¢ Manufacture of machines which do not consume much electricity. Legal variables †¢ Quality machines which are safe to use. †¢ Flexible labour legislation in Sweden and the USA. †¢ The mission statement pronouncement on the provision of growth opportunities for employees. 3. 2. Five Forces Model Porter identifies five basic f orces that can act on the organisation, namely, (1) the bargaining power of suppliers, (2) the bargaining power of buyers, (3) the threat of potential new entrants, (4) the threat of substitutes, and (5) the extent of competitive rivalry. The objective of the analysis is to investigate how VSM Group needs to form its strategy in order to develop opportunities in its environment and protect itself against competition and other threats. The bargaining power of suppliers The VSM Group restructured its operations when Pfaff in Germany and the Zetina plant in Czech Republic were taken over. Parts were now obtained from local suppliers and those from the Far East. This resulted in the reduction of costs by 50 per cent on key machine components concurrent with large improvements in quality and rejection rates. In this respect the suppliers’ bargaining power can be said to low. The bargaining power of buyers Buyers of VSM Group sewing machines have low bargaining power because the buyers are not concentrated in one geographical area. VSM is an international company and has a wide customer base. The products from VSM are greatly differentiated and therefore cannot be regarded as the same as those from other industry players. The threat of VSM Group buyers switching to other manufacturers is low. The threat of potential new entrants The ease with which new companies can enter the sewing and embroidery industries will increase the intensity of competitiveness among industry companies. High unit costs of production may present barriers to entry because they mean that any new entrant has to come in on a large scale in order to achieve the low cost levels of those already present in the industry. The current high technological advancements and innovation levels in VSM Group, strong customer loyalty to VSM Group, strong brand name, large initial capital requirements, government regulatory frameworks in Sweden and the USA, and superior products create barriers to entry for potential new entrants. The threat of substitutes The threat posed by substitute products by other manufacturers can be countered by continuous investment in technology and ‘after-market’ services by the VSM Group. The extent of competitive rivalry The sewing machine and embroidery industries are more competitive than other industries. The intensity of rivalry in the industry has increased with the coming into the industry of major manufacturing companies from the Far East. The decline in the demand for sewing machines and price cutting by VSM Group also increased rivalry among industry players. The differences in company strategies, origins (Europe and Far East) and culture (European and Japanese) increases rivalry as well. As rivalry among competing firms intensifies, industry profits decline, in some cases to the point where an industry becomes inherently unattractive (David 1999, p. 128). This statement manifests itself in the number of major manufacturers (Singer and Pfaff) who are going bankrupt. 3. 3. Identification of Key Issues: SWOT ANALYSIS A SWOT analysis summarises the key issues from the business environment and the strategic capability of an organisation that are most likely to impact on strategy development (Johnson et al 2005). It analyses the internal strengths and weaknesses, and external opportunities and threats. The following is a SWOT analysis of the VSM Group AB. SWOT analysis of VSM Group AB |Internal Strengths |Internal Weaknesses | |Market dominance in Europe. |Dependence on few product ranges. | |Leadership and management skills. |High production costs. | |Financial and cash resources. |Reliance on retailers for distribution. | |Manufacturing ability. |Lack of industry information. |Innovation processes and results. |Possession of two brands that compete in the same market. | |Reputation. | | |Product and service quality. | | |Differentiated brands. | | |One European currency – Euro. | | |External Opportunities |External Threats | |New markets and segments. |New market entrants. | |Free market economies arising in Asia. |Increased competition. | |Diversification opportunities. |Increased pressure from customers and suppliers. | |New takeover opportunities. |Substitutes. | |International growth. |Low market growth. | |Increased demand for sewing machines. |Economic cycle downturn. | |Competitor weakness. |Technological threat. | |Demographic and social change. |Change in political or economic environment. | |New international barriers to trade. | 3. 4The competitive nature of VSM’s home country What has become known as Porter’s Diamond suggests that there are inherent reasons why some nations are more competitive than others, and why some industries within nations are more competitive than others (Johnson 2005, p. 71). The model will be used to examine how the home base of VSM i. e. Sweden plays an important role in creating competitive advantage on a global scale for VSM. The following four decisive elements are identified: †¢ Availability of strengths in certain fields especially the automation and technological fields. The technological advancements made by the VSM Group in its Swedish operation since the beginning of the millennium gives it a competitive advantage over its rivals and enable it to compete internationally. †¢ High demand in the Sweden for VSM Group sewing machines provides the basis upon which the characteristics of the advantage of the company are shaped and leads to global dominance of the industry by VSM. †¢ Related and supporting industries in the Swedish economy, . e. , the presence of Bernina Fritz Gegauf AG means that the two companies benefit from each other. Bernina enjoyed a solid reputation and their product range resembled that of VSM with their top model accepting embroidery files developed for other brands including VSM. All these factors made Bernina an important quality benchmark for VSM. †¢ Domest ic rivalry with Bernina and the need by both companies to search for competitive advantage helped to provide the two companies with bases for achieving such advantage on a global scale. 3. 5. Foundations of strategic capability According to Johnson et al (2005, p. 17) strategic capability can be defined as the adequacy and suitability of the resources and competences of an organisation for it to survive and prosper. The strategic capability of a company refers to the resources that the organisation has and the way in which these resources are used. Resources and competences VSM’s resources can be considered under the following four broad categories: †¢ Physical resources – manufacturing plants in Sweden, USA and the Czech Republic. †¢ Financial resources – operating cash, budgets. †¢ Human resources – average number of employees (1,689). The intangible resources will refer to the skills and knowledge that the employees possess. †¢ Intellectual capital – the brand name VSM Group AB, business systems and customer databases. Threshold capabilities Threshold capabilities are those essential for the organisation to be able to compete in a given market (Johnson et al 2005). VSM’s threshold resources refer to: internet based developments, the acquired software company Emnet, increased number of engineers, and Pfaff. Unique resources and core competences The design of the VSM sewing machines make them unique resources in hat they give the company competitive advantage and other manufacturers find it difficult to imitate or copy the designs. VSM’s core competences refer to: the ‘Dealer-Partners’ programme, the cooperation with Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts, and the accompanying introduction of the ‘after-market’ services. All these strategies give VSM a competitive advantage. 3. 6 . Organisational culture analysis Johnson et al (2005, p. 47) define culture as the basic assumptions and beliefs that are shared by members of an organisation, that operate unconsciously and define in a basic taken-for-granted fashion an organisation’s view of itself and its environment. Every organisation has a culture and it includes values, beliefs, rites, language, metaphors, symbols and rituals. Culture derives from VSM’s past, present, current people, technology and physical resources, aims, objectives and values of those who work in the organisation. These cultural products can be used by strategists at VSM to influence and direct strategy formulation, implementation, and evaluation activities. The following cultural factors specific to VSM have been identified: †¢ The strategy process was changed to include, for the first time, both top and middle management. The involvement of middle managers had a positive effect on operations in that the strategy document was referred to as a guide on operational matters and the mission statement was frequently promoted in VSM’s public relations exercises. The strategy document was also regarded as an ongoing process which could be changed in response to changing situations in the company. †¢ Retailers were transformed into ‘Dealer-Partners’ which included extended business support to retailers to encourage them to deal only with the Husqvarna Viking product line. In the USA, VSM entered into a cooperation agreement with Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts to set up small sewing machine outlets inside their fabric stores. This lead to the introduction of ‘after-market’ services such as training in sewing techniques, software for embroidery construction and ready-made embroidery patterns, spare parts and auxiliary sewing equipment. These after-market services are run by retaile rs. Customers were willing to pay as much as five to six thousand dollars on a three day course with a sewing expert. In support of the company’s strategy the top management of the company was changed to accommodate the managers of the national sales companies as well as the marketing vice president. †¢ The operating systems also underwent major changes. A new accounting system was installed in May 1999 to assess accounting information in new ways to keep track of the various activities in the value chain. †¢ The acquisition of Pfaff upset some employees and pleased others. The company now had two brands which were competing for the same market. Former competitors were now brought to the same stable and the company faced a challenge of how to keep them apart on other dimensions than price and quality. †¢ The relocation of the German Karlsruhe operation to the Swedish Huskvarna plant resulted in only a handful of research and development engineers staying on. The company had to re-orientate the German engineers into the Swedish way of doing things since the engineering principles of the two countries were fundamentally different. 4. FORMULATION OF COMPETITIVE STRATEGY Long-term objectives represent the results expected from pursuing certain strategies (David 1999, p. 76). Strategies represent the actions to be taken to accomplish long-term objectives (David 1999, p. 176). Objectives take the generalities of the mission statement and turn them into more specific commitments: usually this will cover what is to be done and when the objective is to be completed (Lynch 2003, p. 440). Objectives will therefore possess the foll owing characteristics, namely, they should be measurable, realistic, understandable to all, hierarchical, achievable, and should contain time frames. Clearly communicated objectives, according to David (1999, p. 77), are vital to the success of the company as they provide a basis for consistent decision making by company managers and help stakeholders understand their role in the company. Formulating the competitive strategy for the VSM Group will consist of aligning the internal resources and skills and the external opportunities and risks. The alignment will make use of the Threats-Opportunities-Weaknesses-Strengths (TOWS) Matrix. The TOWS matrix will be developed based on the information obtained in the SWOT analysis of the VSM Group and will identify options that address different combination of the internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) and the external factors (opportunities and threats). 4. 1. Critical Success Factors: TOWS MATRIX Johnson et al (2005, p. 96) define criti cal success factors (CSFs) as the product features that are particularly valued by a group of customers and, therefore, where the organisation must excel to outperform competition. Critical success factors relate to the aspects of the competitive strategy in which a company must excel. The TOWS Matrix identifies four types of strategies, namely, SO Strategies, WO Strategies, ST Strategies, and WT Strategies. SO Strategies make use of the company’s internal strengths to take advantage of the external opportunities. WO Strategies take advantage of external opportunities to improve internal weaknesses. ST Strategies make use of the company’s strengths to avoid or reduce the impact of external threats. WT Strategies are defensive tactics directed at reducing internal weaknesses and avoiding environmental threats (David 1999, p. 81). The VSM Group TOWS Matrix | |Strengths (S) |Weaknesses (W) | |INTERNAL |Market dominance in Europe. |Dependence on few product ranges. | |FACTORS |Leadership and management skills. |High production costs. | |(IFAS) |Financial and cash resources. |Reliance on retailers. |EXTERNAL FACTORS |Manufacturing ability. |Lack of industry information. | |(EFAS) |Innovation processes and results. | | |Opportunities (O) |SO Strategies |WO Strategies | |New markets and segments. |Continued investment in Europe and the USA. |Explore new products and ranges. | |Free market economies arising in Asia. Penetrate high-end embroidery segment further. |Exploit mergers and takeovers. | |Diversification opportunities. | |Abandon high cost operations. | |New takeover opportunities. | |Diversify into new markets in Europe and Asia. | |International growth. | |Enhance retailer network which focuses on hobby | |One European currency – Euro | |segment. |Threats (T) |ST Strategies |WT Strategies | |New market entrants. |Emphasise after-market sales of accessories and |Withdraw from declining markets, etc. Germany. | |Increased competition. |software. |Increase brand awareness in current markets. | |Increased pressure from customers and suppliers. |Continued investment in Europe and the USA. |Reduce reliance on retailers. | |Substitutes. |Build on current management capacity. Where possible, develop barriers for new | |Low mar ket growth. | |entrants. | 2. Strategic options at VSM Group AB Development directions are the strategic options available to an organisation, in terms of products and market coverage, taking into account the strategic capability of the organisation and the expectations of stakeholders (Johnson et al 2005, p. 340). The following strategic options are proposed for the VSM Group: 1. Protect and build on current position Consolidation Consolidation is where organisations protect and strengthen their position in their current markets with current products (Johnson et al 2005, p. 342). The sewing market situation is forever changing and requires industry players to continuously innovate to improve the value of the products. The threat of new competitors or new entrants into the sewing industry means that VSM has to pay particular attention to how the company’s resources and skills should be adapted and developed to maintain its competitive advantage. Withdrawal by VSM from the German market should be regarded as consolidation. Market penetration A market penetration strategy seeks to increase market share for present products or services in present markets through greater marketing efforts (David 1999, p. 50). VSM should therefore strive to penetrate the high-end embroidery market further by utilising aggressive marketing efforts. These efforts should be focused on existing markets in the countries mentioned in the company overview. 2. Product development Product development refers to significant new product developments and not minor variations on an existing product. According to David (1999, p. 51) product development is a strategy that seeks to increase sales by improving or modifying present products or services. Continued development and innovation on the Designer series will counter new entrants into the market, will maintain the company’s reputation as an innovator, and will protect the company’s overall market share. 3. Market development Market development is where existing products are offered in new markets (Johnson et al 2005, p. 46). This may involve seeking new market segments, new geographical areas, or new uses for its products that will bring in new customers. Expansion to bring in new customers to the company for its existing company could involve some slight repackaging and then promotion to a new market segment. It will often involve selling the same product in new international markets, especially i n China and Asia. 4. Diversification: related markets Diversification is defined as a strategy that takes an organisation away from both its current markets and products (Johnson et al 2005, p. 46). When an organisation diversifies, it moves out of its current markets and products into new areas. Diversification carries with it an element of risk as it involves a step into the unknown. Moving into related markets however minimises the risk. VSM can diversify into related markets by becoming involved in the activities of its outputs such as distribution, transport, and logistics. 3. Methods of strategy development at VSM Group AB (Action Plan) A development method is the means by which any strategic direction will be pursued (Johnson et al 2005, p. 348). For an international company, VSM can use the following means of pursuing its strategic direction: acquisition and mergers, joint ventures and alliances, franchising, licensing, overseas offices, and overseas manufacture. 1. Acquisition and mergers Acquisition is where strategies are developed by taking over ownership of another organisation (Johnson et al 2005, p. 349). According to David (1999, p. 59), an acquisition occurs when a large organisation purchases a smaller one and vice versa. Mergers occur when two organisations of similar size unite to form one enterprise. The acquisition of Pfaff by the VSM Group represented a coup for VSM. The VSM Group had in its stable two strong brands that competed for the same market space. Acquisitions of manufacturing companies in the Far East would also assist VSM to break into new markets (market development), new technologies, and low cost raw materials. 2. Joint ventures and alliances A strategic alliance is where two or more organisations share resources and activities to pursue a strategy (Johnson et al 2005, p. 353). It is a form of weaker contractual agreement between two parent companies. A joint venture is the formation of a company whose shares are owned jointly by two parent companies (Lynch 2003, p. 483). In order to diversify into related markets and to access new markets like those in the Far East it will be crucial for VSM to form joint ventures and strategic alliances with current manufacturers namely, Brother, Janome or Juki. These types of agreements lock out other competitors, utilises joint expertise and commitment, and allows potential partners to learn about each other. 3. Franchise A franchise is a form of licensing agreement in the contractor provides the licensee with a pre-formed package of activity (Lynch 2003, p. 484). The package may include offers of the VSM Group brand name to retailers, technical service expertise and advertising assistance. This can be an attractive proposition to retailers willing to take up a franchise licence as it possesses lower risk and provides exclusive territory to the franchisee. This will also enhance dealer network which focuses on the hobby segment of the market 4. Licensing According to David (2003, p. 84) licensing refers to a situation where technology or other assets are provided under licence from the home country. Payment for such services is usually in the form of royalty or some form of arrangement. 5. Overseas offices The VSM Group has sales companies and representative offices in Europe, Russia, North America and Australia. The VSM Group could gain competitive advantage by expanding their operations into the Far East and Africa. These additional offices would provide a permanent presence for the VSM Group in those new markets. 6. Overseas manufacture The VSM Group currently has two manufacturing plants in Sweden and the Czech Republic. The establishment of new manufacturing plants in overseas countries like the USA carries risks for the company. However the risks may be offset through the savings that could be derived from no longer having to export to those overseas countries. 4. CONCLUSION Strategy was defined as the direction and scope of an organisation over the long term, which achieves advantage in a changing environment through its configuration of resources and competencies with the aim of fulfilling stakeholder expectations. Strategic Management was also defined as the art and science of formulating, implementing, and evaluating cross-functional decisions that enable an organisation to achieve its objectives. The strategic position of the VSM Group AB was analysed by applying the analytical models of strategic management to the current situation in the company. The following models were utilised to analyse both the internal and external environment of the company, namely, PESTEL, Five Forces Model, and the SWOT analysis. The examination of the strategic position of VSM Group involved analysing the strategy of the company with emphasis on the environment it operates in, its strategic capabilities, and how expectations affect organisational purposes and strategies. The analysis of the environment concluded with a clear statement of the Key Issues (SWOT Analysis) and Critical Success factors (TOWS Matrix). The strategic position of VSM Group was used as a base in the development of an appropriate competitive strategy for the company. The development of the strategy took into account the organisational cultural issues prevailing in the company. 5. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. David, F. R. , 1999. Strategic Management. 7th ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. 2. http://investing. businessweek. com [accessed 08 May 2008] 3. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/VSM_Group_AB [accessed 08 May 2008] 4. Johnson, G. Scholes, K. & Whittington, R. , 2005. Exploring Corporate Strategy. 7th ed. Financial Times Prentice Hall. 5. Lynch, R. , 2003. Corporate Strategy. 3rd ed. Financial Times Prentice Hall.