"Modeling Money" Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

"Modeling Money" - Coursework Example Also, it is unlike liquidity preference model that assumes all economic factors are constant hence the consumer’s decision to hold cash is dependent on supply and demand. Second quantitative easing (QE2) was a strategic government policy aimed at reducing the mortgage rate and Treasury yields, as well as increase economic stimulus through the large-scale purchase of assets. It led to the decline of yields on longer-maturity Treasuries and other securities following the Federal announcement of its intention to increase its holding of longer-term securities (Christensen & Gillan, 2014). This may have been caused by expectations of a decline in risk premiums for longer-term debt securities. Also, the strategy may have had temporary effects of increasing market liquidity and lowering liquidity premiums for long-term investments. QE2 conforms to the liquidity preference theory that presume investors have a preference for premium for securities with longer maturity bearing the greater risk while they have a preference for holding cash since it involves minimal risk. Christensen, J. H. E. & Gillan, J. M. (July 2014). FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF SAN FRANCISCO WORKING PAPER SERIES: Does Quantitative Easing Affect Market Liquidity? Retrieved on 11th 2015 from

Reponses to Attachment. Two different positions Essay Example for Free

Reponses to Attachment. Two different positions Essay My chosen topic involves the use of food stamps for fast food which raises the main question, should you be able to go for food stamps for fast food. Food stamps simply refers to an assistance food program by the federal government in the United States to offer food to the low income earners and those who do not have any income whereby they are issued with coupons or paper and currently cards are used. The food stamps are issued for free by the government to allow poor people and low income earners to access food regardless of the nutritional value from any outlets such as supermarkets which accepts the cards or the stamps. The government issues the food stamps free of charge to all people and families who are in need. I came across this topic on food stamps on the internet, when I was conducting a research on the use of adverts on fast foods by various companies. Being an individual who values charity and helping others and considering my interest in fast food business, it got me wondering what would happen if food stamps could be allowed for fast foods. This generated my interest in this topic and how it will affect fast food business. I hope to gain more understanding on the impacts of the food stamps on fast food business and to ascertain whether it could be allowed for fast food. Provide a brief summary of the topic. Explain the current issues surrounding the topic and share at least two different positions on the topic             The main aim of the government in providing food stamps to families and people who are poor, elderly and even disabled and those who are homeless was to enable them to have something to eat. However, there are certain issue which surrounds the issue of food stamps whereby it is thought to be a contributing factor towards some disorders such as obesity. According to Aldhous (2013), the food stamps could be the option which can be applied in the fight against obesity epidemic which has become rampant in the United States. The author of the article says that obesity can be controlled through the food stamps which could be issued for the purchase of nutritious foods. The author observes that restriction on the choice of foods people could access through the food stamps will be of great help ion handling the obesity situation in the US (Aldhous, 2013). This indicates the author’s support for the food stamps program which could generate health improvement among t he beneficiaries of the food stamps. It is the suggestion of the author that the use of food stamps could be the way towards a healthier nation in the coming future (Aldhous, 2013). However, in another article by Whitmore (2013) the restrictions which are to placed on the use of food stamps with regard to sugary foods may not work. The author of the article observes that putting ban or restrictions on the use of food stamps in the purchase of sugary foods may have negative impacts which will even result in the ineffectiveness of the food stamps (Whitmore, 2013). Whitmore explains that the bans or restrictions on the use food stamps will result in extra expenses for the government in terms of administration costs (Whitmore, 2013). Furthermore, the author observes that placing restrictions on the use of food stamps on sugary foods would cause stigma on the people who are supposed to benefit from the program. What specific issue will you write about within the larger topic, and what unique angle will you provide?             The specific issue that I will write about is the impacts of food stamps on fast food business and health of consumers. This is based on the observation that fast food businesses have become quite popular and therefore, it would be wonderful to know how the food stamps can impact on the business as well as health matters. Define your audience. Who are they, and what are their needs, motivations, and influences? In what ways will you need to structure your writing to appeal to them?             It is important to know the kind of audience who will make use of the information provided here. In this case, the targeted audience will include fast food business investors and also the customers who have been issued with the food stamps. The investor have the need to know how the business will be affected if the food stamps are allowed for fast foods. The motivation for this audience is the positive benefits they will receive in terms of revenue and the customer base. Furthermore, the investors are influenced by the consumer behaviour that is displayed when purchasing products. To appeal to the audience which is comprised of investors may be a challenge but in this case, this work will be structured in form of an argumentative essay. This will is due to the reason that it will easier to weigh and outline all the available options with supporting evidence which can influence the decisions of the investors. The structure of an argumentative essay will create a chance for the investors to associate more with the writing depending on which side of the argument they feel outweighs the other. References Aldhous, P. (2013). Food stamps could help US trim obesity epidemic. New Scientist, 219(2928), 10.Whitmore, D. (2013). Proposals to ban purchase of sugary drink with food stamps wont work. Inside Tucson Business, 22(43), 22. Source document

History and overview of mass customization

History and overview of mass customization Mass Customization is an idea of bring mass production economics to further more value in customers satisfactory than before with just deliver one unit which is unique. David J. Gardners declare that he been helping manufactures implement mass customization since the early 1980s before Stanly Davis bestselling book in 1987 written about mass customization more in high-level business strategy for implementing mass customization to a manufacturing company.[1] Mass Customization have become standard now in the 21st century. Lets have some quick view for the evolution of the different business paradigms over the time: In above diagram, we can see that in the 19th -20th century many manufacture are inventing their business with the method of craft production, mass production and engineer-to-order technology by producing end product in profit and speed. When nearly the end of 20th century most manufacture try to revolute their businesses to mass customization paradigms which is more to distinct business paradigms by producing an product on demand and more in customers preference fit.[2] 1.2 Introduction to Mass Customization Mass Customization term was become well-known since Joseph Pine published his book Market of One- Creating Customer Unique Value through Mass Customization. In this book he defined Mass Customization as producing, developing, marketing and delivering affordable low cost and high quality of goods and services that give customer nearly what they want. In other words, the goal is provide end product that meet exactly what they want. [1][2] In Mass Customization business paradigms it must be dynamic or flexible enough to provide customer to design needed products themselves. Thus, it must be quick responsiveness to what customer needs, quantity supply, time of deliver and etcà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ In order to provide customer satisfaction the pricing cost and quality of products are important to be improved. [1] In this 21st century the most popular industry that success implements the Mass Customization and made a great benefit providing economic price to customer is Dell. Dell has become the world leader for PC markets in direct sales via Internet. In the way Dell site sell its computer is simply using the concept build-to-order which other words are for mass customization. They provide an arrangement of products and explain clearly to their customer what options the customer can select by their individual needs. The excellent job that Dell has done is build the on demand customize end product after customer proceed the order at their site and ship to customer less than 24hour. This is how Dell success in their business strategy by organized easy customized product across the enterprise and become the extended enterprise that the whole world known. Even though there are many companies in different kind of industry was success implementing the Mass Customization but there is also many of them fail. In the case study of business and economic research team with the title Failure of the Automobile Industry in Mass Customization Practices they mention that Mass Customization is not feasible for all companies or industries. Thus, in order for a company to success in implement Mass Customization strategy they need some key success factor require of strategy. [1] This will further discuss later chapter in the subject Key Success Factor. 1.3 Mass Customization (MC) toolkit Many companies in different kind of industries started to offer customer opportunity to customize their own products online. The companies provided a web-based mass customization (MC) toolkit that allow customer who prefer to have individualized products just like PCs and Laptops (Dell.com), T-Shirt (CustomInk.com), Sneakers (Nike.com), Kitchens (IKEA.com), Skis (Edelwiser.com) or Cars (Mini) to their specific preferences. MC toolkits defined as a set of user-friendly design tool which allow user to trial and experience of the design process and it deliver simulated immediate feedback on the outcome of design idea. Once a satisfactory design are made and paid, the products specification will be transferred to manufacture production system to be produced and delivered to the customer. Below have some of the existing web-based MC toolkit examples from different kind of industries: Figure 1.0 An Overview of MC toolkit examples from (www.mass-customization.de/mc07/) Mass Production Vs Mass Customization 2.1 Characteristics of Mass Production Mass production development process in to produce large amounts of standardized products in the arrangement of assembly lines.[4] Typically use large-scale production lines moving tracks or conveyor belts moving down the object of various workers.[4] Usually mass production is suitable for large and semi-homogeneous consumer groups. [4] Mass production is a large-scale capital-intensive production process: Although low labor costs and production efficiency, but through large-scale production machinery itself requires a lot of money and skilled labor to install equipment in large quantities.[4] Advantages Reduce the possibility of human error, improve product quality, reduce labor costs and reduce non-productive work. [4] Disadvantages Assembly line products are difficult to change once implemented and hard time of establishment. [4] Figure 2.0 Ford factory, first moving assembly line, 1913. 2.2 Characteristic of Mass Customization According www.madeforone.com, declare that mass customization enable customers to determine the exact product or service specification, and have the product or the price available to them closer to a general public for such services have replaced. [4] Mass customization often rely on production output, is customized for each user the use of flexible computer-aided manufacturing system. [4] Mass customized products in minimizing the cost of using the build-to-order method, in which a project is not constructed until the receipt of the order, is an important factor. [4] The product is built to meet the needs of individual customers. [4] It is a software-based product configuration that allows it to add / change a core product features. [4] In many cases, if a company offers individual products, the products are not made separately, but the emergence of mass production and variants or become personalized. [4] The interface or configure the system, is one of the important part that mediates between consumers and manufacturers as a key success of mass customization without a friendly-user interface and ease of use, the company will be difficult to be successful. [4] 3.0 Benefits and Drawbacks of Mass Customization (MC) 3.1 Benefits of MC Since the increase in number and variety of custom device by increasing the efficiency of reducing low-profit. Mass customization is a way to improve profits and reduce costs strategy of species. Whether your company is looking for incremental improvements or take your business next level, your company can not thrive as a custom, if the number and / or types are increasing. Mass customization is an enterprise-wide business model to improve efficiency across the enterprise, increase efficiency, expand your sales channels. Accelerate collaborative mass customization, the correct implementation of, and created a real excitement. 3.1.1 Benefit in the perspective of manufacture May help to gain a competitive advantage Lower costs (storage costs, costs related to Product is not for sale) Higher income the amount of profit agency manufacturers are likely to fall into account, and customers willing to pay customized products at higher prices. Build customer loyalty Better needs analysis customers through design their own products to provide a number of information about their preferences. Manufacturers and less endangered by demand changes in preferences (market turmoil) 3.1.2 Benefit in the perspective of customer Products more suited to customer preferences Greater opportunity to evaluate alternatives Whether it is possible to buy at any time and any place (In the case of purchase through the Internet) Convenience of customers 3.2 Drawbacks of MC 3.2.1 Drawbacks in the perspective of manufacture As for the management of high demand and production systems. Sometimes costly investment in IT, a flexible manufacturing system and the necessary training. The risk of failure in addition to mass customization success stories, there are some cases of failure are too many. 3.2.1 Drawbacks in the perspective of customer Takes longer deliver period Cannot experience the final product Before buying More complex buying process Usually anonymous purchase 4.0 From Mass Production to Mass Customization In according to the journal Cracking the Code of Mass Customization the researcher has come out with the factors that needed in order to emerge from Mass Production to Mass Customization. The factors are Three Fundamental Capabilities (solution space development, robust process design and choice navigation) and also with several approaches and tool to help companies to develop those capability.[2] 4.1 Three Capabilities Required (Fundamental Capabilities) 4.1.1 Solution Space Development Identify the product attribute differences along these customers. [2] Innovation Toolkit: This software enabling customers to the large pool into a unique product change their preferences, so that each customer stressed that the demand may not be happy. Virtual Concept Testing: An effective through the creation of virtual prototyping and evaluation of submitted scores differentiated products approach the concept of potential customers. Customer Experience Intelligence: A tool for continuous collection of customer data transactions, behavior or experience and analyze information to determine customer preferences. 4.1.2 Robust Process Design Reuse or reorganization and value chain of existing resources to meet the different demands of customers streaming [2] Flexible automation: Automation is not fixed or rigid, and can handle custom tangible or intangible goods Process modularity: Split into reusable or re-performance of the module differentiated customer value chain of existing organizations and resources. Adaptive human capital: Developing the management and staff who can handle the new and ambiguous tasks. 4.1.3 Choice Navigation Support customers in defining their own solutions, while minimizing the burden of complexity and choice [2] Assortment matching: Software solution to match an existing space charactenstics (is a set of options) with the customer demand model, and then make product recommendations Fast-cycle, trial-and-error learning: Is a way to enable customers to build their demand model and test the interaction between the model and the available solutions to match Embedded configuration: Products that understand how they should adapt to the customers and then reconfigure itself accordingly 4.2 The Mass Production-Mass Customization Continuum In order for a business from mass production to mass customization they must go through the process of building the organizational capabilities (solution space development, robust process design and choice navigation). During the process company might need to improve all three capabilities at the same time. Dell, has done developed their personal organizational capability toward mass customization that suitable for them and bring ford great result of sales and customer satisfactions. [2] Figure 3.0 Dell define it solution space and build a very robust processes, choice navigation still improving. 5.0 Key Success Factors Mass customization is that manufacturers able to produce customize product on demand, large-scale and lower costs.  But how can we do this?  Most experts believe that mass customization will success depends on the following factors: [1] 5.1 Modular Product Design Each module retains its specific processes (or work) business authority.  Without this, personalized products will be very difficult, time consuming, the terms of the slow and very expensive.  In modular product design, product designs are under some module or process so that able to produce any type of customization. [1] Requirements When necessary preparatory work (which requires an effective supply network), skilled and qualified staff of highly educated investment. High standardization of components For organizational structure, improve the coordination between modules Benefits Standard components maximize in number of forms used in all products. Shorten production time: because all the modules can be done simultaneously (and not in a sequence) to complete, and therefore greatly reduce the time needed for the production. Easy to diagnose production problems (quality, defective products and etc.), resulting in a special isolation control potential quality issues 5.2 Flexible Manufacturing Process Mass Customization produces a variety of different products.  This requires a high degree of flexibility in manufacturing systems.  This factor reflects the capacity to adapt to the differences in the products as a result of the lead time, cost in changing the system and small sum of ordered products. Usually if a company is to effectively organize its modular product design, flexible manufacturing system, so it provides the type and characteristics of time reducing costs. [1] 5.3 Sophisticated Order Management Mass customization is based on deep understanding of customer needs.  Because individual needs are very different, order management system is critical to enhance the manufacturer and customer relationships.  It (the system) to provide such a database, each client works open a wide range of profiles, and manage the large number of orders for many customers and clients the breadth, and through tracking, and allows easy access to the status of each order in anytime. [1] Requirements Close the relationship with customers High system capacity to handle large amounts of information (databases, transactions, etc.) Along the value chain (through the order management system) is highly integrated: a high degree of customer participation in the means of product configuration, marketing, sales, manufacturing, distribution, customer requirements also need to know accurate information. An order management system, a typical example is Dell Computer.  The site (www.dell.com) allows customers to interact directly with the companies presented their demands.  Customers from a number of options, select with the products, just click on the screen to order these products.  As the inventory and manufacturing, integrating all the departments Dell sales, marketing, finance, billing, logistics, such as through the website, order processing, all of these sectors at the same time, the result is that customers can immediately know, in a very fast and accurately all  conditions of purchase. 5.4 Integrated information system Information systems role in mass customization is the key to success.  The main features of mass customization the uncertainty of the requirements plus the requirements of flexible manufacturing, short delivery times, flexibility and rapid response capacity accurately, for an efficient information system to ensure that the information mobile phone is smooth and accurate  between customers and manufacturers, has become the companys segments.  In order to manage this small to minute, and more to multiple decision-making, decision support systems, integration of all participants in the organization of information, as well as with customers and manufacturers is essential. [1] 5.5 Postponement of assembly The uncertainty of demand for mass customization is a production operating costs are a major obstacle.  The system run-time requirements than low production capacity point of view is a fear of sleep, because the manufacturers have closed down days operating on fixed assets, inventory management costs, salaries of maintenance work, heavy, etc., but these costs can be eliminated if the company solutions to lower demand for delay operations.  However, it can still ensure that the operation will restart quickly, if demand suddenly rose.   A solution to address this challenge is generated by externalities.  For example, Nike does not produce itself and its partners in Asia, responsible for the production through the contract.  Nikes investment in assembly, material inventory of machines, workers, and factory management is essentially zero.  So, when demand falls, Nike just to adjust the contract delivery schedule.  In this way, the burden of fixed costs is no longer Nike.  For some products, its packaging division is the foundation, the company can outsource packaging steps to reduce the uncertainty of demand fluctuations. [1] 6.0 The Evolution to Mass Customization Mass Production Craft Production Mass Customization Engineer-to-Order Craftsmanship Time 18th century 21st century 6.1 Craftsmanship Craftsmanship is the oldest thousands of years the only methods of production.  It is based on a few handmade commodities and delivery of services in a small workshop manual production.  At the end of 18th century and in the beginning of 19th century there was a breakthrough and started move in to craft production. 6.2 Craft Production Craft production or (One-off production- individual article or a large-scale production prototype) is the process of manufacturing by hand with or without aid of tools. [5] Therefore, hand tools begin to display by machine and the craftsmanship productions goods and services important reduce from time pass though process in moving to craft production. In term of craft production it refers to parts of the handmade production is automated, but through human factors (skills, experiences and traditions) remains is significant. Craft production was move in at 19th century. 6.3 Mass Production Mass production  (also called  flow production,  repetitive flow production,  series production, or  serial production)  is production of large number of standardized products, including in particular on the assembly line.[6] In different way of production goods and delivery services simultaneously with manufacturing machine is mass production. In craft production one shop craftsmen busy get parts and assembly together, but in mass production one or more duplicate each worker using the same tools to perform the same consistent product flow or near the action-related tasks.[6] In the starting of 20th century Mass Production was being a standards for many companies. So, what is the improvement from craft production to mass production then? See below advantages and disadvantages of mass production. Advantages Shorter time to production (exact tool or parts always on hand cut short assembling time) [6] Human error are reduce cause mostly process carry by machinery. [6] Reduction labour cost and increase production speed per unit carry out by machinery in large-scale. [6] Disadvantages Inflexible or difficult to change the production line and takes long time to implement it. [6] Difficult to satisfy individual taste by the similar production.[6] 6.4 Engineer-to-Order Engineer to order (ETO) is a manufacturing concept, the finished product built to unique customer specifications. General Assembly and the raw materials inventory, but may not go to the product assembly, until the receipt of customer orders and part of the design.  ETO products may require a project number, a unique set of materials, as well as routes, and usually a very long time and complexity.  Active participation and engineers throughout the design process of ordering products. [7] ETO same time may refers to Build-to-Order (BTO) which is also a production approach of waiting the order confirm and build it. BTO and ETO are the approach that is most nearer to Mass Customization approach because it waited customer to confirm their order that they choose and produce it. In the middle of 20th century ETO was being implemented. 6.5 Mass Customization Mass Customization is an approach that combination with mass production, but is delivering customize product to individual. According to Frank Piller et al said in the business of consumer-focused line of creative strategy, mass customization can be seen as first elaborated the concept, with more than twenty years (the term was created in 1987, Stan Davis) history.  [8] Mass customization, it seems becoming the 21st-century standards.  It offering customize product that meet individual demands and still remain the efficiency of mass production. To achieve these efficiency requirements, mass customization system is defined by a fixed solution space in order to stabilize but still flexible, the characteristics of the reaction process.  [8] Therefore, the costs associated with mass customization should allow for a price level that does not mean the market as a switch.  The solution is the use of space, who is in the process of the manufacturers comprehensive definition of value creation, configuration or modify the options in a given choice of their respective solutions.  If you do not deeply involve in the customer, the manufacturer will not be able to fully fill the needs of each individual product.  Special tools package should enable customers to perform their tasks in this configuration. [8] From the evolution from craftsmanship to mass customization, we can see how business flow comes through started focus on individual, then to many consumers and lastly come back again to focus back on individual needs to gain competitive advantages. Mass customization can be categories into three type (Sung Park) said: Digital Front End/Digital Back End: Described it as like the Amazon based on your interest in a fully digital fashion unique pages. [8] Digital Front End/Physical Customization and Assembly: Most businesses will fall into this bucket of mass customization.  You design Web-based CAD interface stuff, and some of its factories for the production of improved traditional manufacturing process.  E.g. NikeID, fashion Playtes, or Paragon Lake. [8] Sensor based Front End/CAD-CAM Back End: This is a relatively passive experience, the best description of the Bronte sisters.  In their case the sensor, so that your mouth model, and automated equipment (three-dimensional printer) produces a scanned copy of the physical.  There is little human intervention or interference. [8] 7.0 The Effects in Mass Customization Through the research of Mass Customization (MC), I found a very good journal that support MC effects that generate value to customer which title The I Design It Myself Effect in Mass Customization. Many companies has offer their website that enable customer to customize their own individual customize product which manufacture can produce once confirm order. To this matter, MC toolkits was the significant and roles to gain competitive advantages to generate economic value to customer. There were four factors for MC toolkits needed to achieve: [3] Preference fits: achieved by self design products (should be as high as possible) [3] Design effort: which is refers to cost (should be as low as possible) [3] The awareness of being the creator of the product design: a feeling of accomplishment from the process of self designing in subject value of the product. [3] Willingness to pay: when the feeling of accomplishment of the self-design are high then the WTP will be high also and generate value to the creator. [3] Above factors are important for companies to develop MC toolkits generate values to the consumer. Therefore, the user-friendly interface, innovative and design of MC toolkits should be good enough to gain customer satisfaction in term of the effects that mention above. 8.0 Critical Evaluations 8.1 Why I choose Mass Customization for FYP project? For explain question above, first we need to know now normally most people can sell things online within just 15min or less than 30min, then they can create a website and start their businesses from (ebay, blog and free siteà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦etc). So, what is my purpose to implement Mass Customization approach in my FYP project? It is to gain competitive advantages and innovative of web design to attract people come to my site. As now ecommerce have been commonly heard and become a traditional way for businesses online. So, what will makes it different? Lets see the answer below: Picture 1: This is the traditional way of T-shirt selling online from (www.t-shirts.com) Picture 2: This is the site that implemented mass customization method that selling T-shirt by customer own design from (www.rainbowsports.com) Now, we can clearly see the answer of implementation of mass customization in online business is important and some strategies and factors to success in mass customization as I have discussed above at Chapter 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 7.0. 8.2 What is the way to create Mass Customization Site? Well, there is no fix way or range of making a mass customization site as long as we can develop the MC toolkits. As we study in IT in TARC College we learn a lot of technology, software tools and programming languages that can help us to design and come out with our own toolkits by the range our knowledge and effort we put in. I have decide some several ways to create a T-shirt Customization tools with using Asp.net (visual basic code) for the Web pages, Oracle database (Oracle Express 10g free version), Silverlight or Adobe Flash CS3 Professional (Flash which use to create the MC toolkits for T-shirt customization). 8.3 Does MC make your FYP project applicable to real business? Yes, it will be possible if my project been successfully meeting those requirements in the key success factors and achieved the effects that mention above chapter 7.0 and 5.0. Thus, also include with the advanced of programming code and tools being used to develop a standard website that can probably compete against other companies website. MC website can be in three type of categories that mentions at the 6.5 mass customization to make our site in specific area focus on customer. Thus, to create a uniqueness MC website we need to refer to 4.1 Three Fundamental Capability that needs to be continuously improved for goods and services provided using MC toolkits. 8.4 Will your complete your FYP with what you have planned? For this matter, it will be possible done but in term of time given maybe is a bit rush and hard to complete fully with myself alone. So, this is where the challenge I should face and to wisely spending the time in researching coding and designing user-interface. Therefore, I may look forward to my friend in other courses to help in different area such as flash in action script 3.0 and designing. Lastly, I hope this project would be successful completed in time and in future work it may possible for me to look forward 3D customization in web design. Harvard Reference [1] Pollard, D. and Shirley, C. and Brian, L. 2008. Journal of Business Economics Research: Strategies For Mass Customization. Vol. 6, No.7, pp.77-86 [2] Salvador, F. and Holan, P.M. and Piller, F. 2009. Cracking the Code of Mass Customization. MIT SLOAN Management Review. Vol.50, No.3, pp.71-78 [3] Franke, N. and Schreier, M. and Kaiser, U. 2010. The I Designed It Myself Effect in Mass Customization. Management Science. Vol. 56, No. 1, pp.125-140 Online/ Others Resources [4] Seaman, K. 2007. Mass Production versus Mass Customization. Viewed on 24 October 2010. Available from: [5] Wikipedia, 2010. Craft Production. Viewed on 30 October 2010. Available from: [6] Wikipedia, 2010. Mass Production. Viewed on 30 October 2010. Available from: [7] BigMachines, 2010. Engineer-to-Order (ETO). Viewed on 30 October 2010. Available from: [8] P2P Foundation Wiki, 2009. Mass Customization. Viewed on 30 October 2010. Available from: [9] David J. Gardner. 2009. Some Benefits of Mass Customization. Viewed on 30 October 2010. Available from:

The Good Old Days of the Internet :: Personal Narrative Essay Example

I read an essay about how the web has changed since the good old days. It talked about the beginning of weblogs (aka- blogs), how they used to represent something essential about the web... and now (of course) they've become so common (thanks to programs like Blogger), that their original purpose had been lost. Â   The essay talked about how people who discovered the web recently (like me I suppose), were missing out on the original spirit of the web because commercial sites had overrun everything, and we didn't have true web logs to point us towards the small, personal sites behind the billboards. And on and on... I had a hard time grasping the underlying point of the essay, besides the fact that it sounded like someone talking about how they heard That Band live, back when they were Cool, before they 'Sold Out'. But the idea that somehow the true spirit of the web was now compromised because of big commercial sites seemed a bit strange. Like somehow Nike.com was stealing the soul of geocities.com/my_neighborhood/my_weblog.html. That struck me as BS. Us poor newcomers are apparently being deprived of the 'true' web experience because of commercial sites. Â   I'd almost suggest just the opposite... the peculiar shifts that retail sales have had to undergo in order to do business on the internet have contributed as much to web culture as sites of cool underground links, or tributes to beloved deceased pets. Even the gawd-awful get-rich-quick auto-generated MLM sites and the horrid Free for All links pages are part of the culture of the web. And us newcomers, if we really take interest in this strange alternate universe, can find the odd, underground personal sites if we look. Â   To say that slick corporate sites are ruining the culture of the web would be like saying department stores like Macy's or Bloomingdale's ruined the culture of New York City. By god, NYC should have no commercial enterprise bigger than those those kitschy little kosher delis, family-owned New York pizza shops and Asian groceries. Anything bigger and slicker than that is an outrage. And NYC really has too many poeple now... all these newcomers just don't get it. Their clueless antics are ruining our city's culture. Those obnoxious street performers, and pushy three-card-monte scam artists! To say nothing of the homeless! How uncool are they? Â  

Michael Jackson Biography

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson was born on 29 August 1958 in Gary, Indiana, USA. His father was Joe Jackson. His mother was Katherine Jackson. His siblings are Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael, Rebbie, La Toya, Randy, and Janet Jackson. American superstar Michael Jackson has entertained audiences his entire life. In the early 1960s, the older boys Jackie, Tito and Jermaine had begun performing around the city; by 1964, Michael and Marlon had joined in. Michael's singing and dancing talents were amazingly mature, and he soon became the dominant voice and focus of The Jackson 5.In 1969, the boys were producing back-to-back chart-busting hits as Motown artists (â€Å"I Want You Back,† â€Å"ABC,† â€Å"Never Can Say Goodbye,† â€Å"Got to Be There,† etc. ). Behind the scenes, Joseph Jackson pushed his sons to succeed. He was also reportedly known to become violent with them. Michael and his brothers spent endless hours rehearsing and polish ing up their act. At first, the Jackson 5 played local gigs and built a strong following. They recorded one single on their own, â€Å"Big Boy† with the B-side â€Å"You've Changed,† but it failed to generate much interest.The Jackson 5 moved on to working an opening act for such R artists as Gladys Knight and the Pips, James Brown, and Sam and Dave. Many of these performers were signed to the legendary Motown record label, and it has been reported that Gladys Knight may have been the one to tell Motown founder Berry Gordy about the Jackson 5. Impressed by the group, Gordy signed them to his label in 1968. At the age of 13, Jackson launched a solo career in addition to his work with the Jackson 5. He made the charts in 1971 with â€Å"Got to Be There† from the album of the same name.His 1972 album, Ben, featured the eponymous ballad about a rat. The song became Jackson's first solo No. 1 single. In August 1994, Jackson announced that he had married Lisa Marie Pr esley, daughter of rock icon Elvis Presley. The couple gave a joint television interview with Diane Sawyer, but the union proved to be short-lived. They divorced in 1996. Some thought that the marriage was a publicity ploy to restore Jackson's image after the molestation allegations. Later that same year, Jackson wed Nurse Debbie Rowe. The couple had two children through artificial insemination.Son Prince Michael Jackson was born in 1997 and daughter Paris Michael Jackson was born in 1998. Rowe and Jackson divorced in 1999 with Jackson receiving full custody of their two children. He would go on to have a third child, Prince Michael Jackson II, with an unknown surrogate. In 2002, Jackson made headlines when he seemed confused and disoriented on stage at an MTV awards show. Soon after, he received enormous criticism for dangling his son, Prince Michael II, over a balcony while greeting fans in Berlin, Germany.In a later interview, Jackson explained that â€Å"We were waiting for tho usands of fans down below, and they were chanting they wanted to see my child, so I was kind enough to let them see. I was doing something out of innocence. † But many were unforgiving of the star's behaviour, with former fans and media outlets clamouring to have Child Protective Services take Jackson's children from him. That is some information of the big list of accomplishments of Michael Jackson. By Doron Cassell

Accomplishments Essay Example

Accomplishments Essay Example Accomplishments Essay Accomplishments Essay Streetcar On-the-Job training is probably the most effective method of training. You have to do task on your own without the help of others. This is the time to develop your self- confidence, colonization and the working environment of the company to be able for you to ready for your next step in life. L, your name, a Information Technology student from Vulcan State University taking her JOT in Concentric Shyness Corporation located at Manila 5th floor, Techno Plaza One Building, Orchard Road Oakwood Alibis 1 1 10, Guenon City Philippines. I started at 5th of July until 4th of October 2013. I have my classmate who also assigned in MIS department . On the first day of my internship, I felt so nervous to commit mistakes because I was a newbie at that time and I also felt afraid mostly when I was having a conversation with the superiors. But in that moment I realized, I need to prove that I am firm, flexible and versatile in any kind of circumstances. During my training days, I often recited myself to wake-up early in the morning Just to be on-time but sadly sometimes Im late because of that traffic.. And in that time, I always brought bundles of maturity and energy to face different circumstances I often encountered whenever I was on my duty The following day makes us busy , we get the extension numbers of the Tap(Techno Plaza One) for our department record. I can think that were lucky enough to have such a kind, funny, smart boss/sirs during my period of trainee , my day dont get be boring. They dont treat me like others, that why its not difficult for me to interact with them same on the other department. Our are part of our group, once Sir Art told us. This word boost me to work harder and learn more. I learned the BASIC Cisco COMMANDS IN SWITCH,that at first its a arrant but then enjoy it because we learn, and it something that I can boast about. Troubleshooting for me is one of my achievement I can say because honestly, I dont know how to fixed PC problems but now I can be proud to myself . I also learned how to radioman PC/laptop , tit useful thing in the company to meet on e each other. Thanks to our boss/sirs who spend their time with us to teach despite of their busy schedule. I enjoyed every moment working with them, their funny Jokes thats make us laugh is the thing that I will surely miss. My training was grueling yet enjoyable. Enjoyable because I knew I learned and I met people who helps me build who I am. Learning is not about what you learned from school, its about how you will apply and improve it.

God father essays

God father essays Managing any organization is a complex issue. That complexity increases when this organization is involved in illegal activities. Vito and Michael Corleone were leaders of their organization in two distinct times, environments and culture. Analysis of their methods of planning, organizing, leading and controlling increases the understanding of how these two men led their organization with distinct managing styles as depicted in the motion picture The Godfather Part II. Planning is the management function concerned with defining goals for future organizational performance. Once these goals and objectives are determined, management can decide which tasks and resources will be needed to attain them. Vito Corleone started his organization from scratch. In doing so, his planning style was very centralized and in many ways, very traditional. He, along with his closest associates, such as his consiglieri, made all the planning for the organization. Although Michael started using the same me thod of planning, further into his tenure as the leader, he slowly changed the paradigm of planning for his organization. As an illustration of this, let us examine his venture in the gaming business. First, he started with a strong mission. Critics agree that in The Godfather, the protagonist, Michael Corleone (Mikey) changes from a person with moral principles and a legitimate role in society to a cold-blooded mobster. In the beginning of the movie, Mikey shows his reluctance to involve himself in the Mafia when he tells his girlfriend, Kaye, about his fathers (Vito Corleone) business methods of coercion and says he will never be like his family. However, as Mikeys involvement with the family business increases his violent tende Francis Ford Coppolas edition of The Godfather is the most highly acclaimed American film this side of Citizen Kane by Orson Welles. Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), as a descendant from an Ital ...

Which Year of High School Is Most Important for College Applications

Which Year of High School Is Most Important for College Applications SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips To figure out which year of high school academics is the most important, it helps to think of high school as a marathon. In order to win a marathon, of course you have to run the whole time – if you stop running, then lots of other people will pass you. But because you’re human, when you’re running a marathon, you can’t really run at the same speed the whole timed. Instead, you learn to pace yourself early on, and then really bust out your best sprint when it counts – at the finish line. So which part of high school is that all-out sprinting finish line? Read on for our answer. All Years Are Important Before I tell you which is the most important year of high school, let's be real: you can't really snooze your way through any of these four important years.High school is designed so that every year is a building block for the next. In other words, the classes you can take junior and senior years depend in large part on what you’ve been doing the previous years. This means that 9th and 10th grades are the setup years: this iswhen you take the prerequisite classes you need to take high level classes later, and also when you join the activities that you will hopefully rise to a leadership position in. On top of that, freshman year can be a reallyhard adjustment year. You suddenly have high school-level demands, much more academic and social pressure, not to mention the wild ride of adolescent development and the surge of hormones that comes with it. Actually, 9th grade is so hard that research shows that itis the make it or break it year – the year that determines whether kids stay to finish high school or drop out altogether. That awkward moment when your hormone surge turns you rabid. 12th grade is also not the best time to start slouching. Even though the GPA colleges will see is made up mostly of grades from the first three full years of high school,first-semester senior year grades are sometimes sent in with your transcript. This means that 12th gradealso needs to be stacked with impressive classes that build on what you accomplished junior year. What's more, if you really slack off senior year, your acceptance could even be rescinded Finally, if you’re taking AP classes, good grades on AP exams can get you college credit or at least place you out of intro college classes. Every AP class in every year matters - and you will most likely take the most number of AP classes in 11th and 12th grade. Junior Year Is the MostImportant If you were paying careful attention, you might have noticed that the last section kind of gave short shrift to 11th grade. That's because junior year is so important that we need to talk about it separately. Show off your academic chops The main reason that junior is the most important year for your college applications is because it’s the last full year of high school that colleges see. It also represents you atyour most mature -since teens grow a lot year by year, junior year is the best way forcolleges to extrapolate what you'll be like as an adult. Because you want to demonstrate your full capabilities, 11th grade should be the hardest course load year on your transcript.It should most closely approximate a college course load, so that colleges can get a sense of how you would handle that level of work. So, my advice is to take the highest level courses that you can reasonably handle (meaning get a B or higher in). Remember, this is the time to really push yourself, especially in classes that are your strengths, that you are passionate about, or that you can see yourself pursuing in college. Since you will be doing such intense and impressive work in your challenging classes, your 11th grade teachers are probably going to be the teachers that will write your college recommendations. Definitely come to class ready to impress. (Get a more detailed scoop on letters of recommendation in our guide.) Artglass: raising the bar onbringing your teacher an apple. Make up for past mistakes Another key reason that junior year is socrucial is that it can be the time when you redeem a lackluster freshman or sophomore year. Colleges like to see one of two things from your academic career: either a strong performance that is maintained throughout, or an upward trend of doing better and better each year.If you got reallygood gradesin 9th and 10th grade, then nice job! And, 11th grade needs to be more of the same - great grades in even harder classes. But if you had a tough time in 9th or 10th grade, then 11th grade is the year when you can show colleges the full range of your abilities by pulling off a banner year of good grades. Imagine an admissions officer seeing at a transcript with mediocre grades in 9th grade, followed by a junior year of challenging classes and good grades. This officer will see a student who rises to the challenge and has the perseverance to keep going even in the face of a setback. Time to erase those early bad grades from the admission officer's mind. On the other hand, a bad junior year canmake a good freshman or sophomore year look like a fluke. Now picture that same admissions officer seeing a transcript with a bunch of 10th grade A's, followed by 11th grade B's and C's. This time, the officer is likely to conclude that the strong sophomore year performance is not really an indicator of the student's ability. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Crush upcoming key tests At the same time, 11th grade is the year of important testing. Of course, you will take lots of tests every year of high school, but your junior year will most likely be full of statewide and nationwide tests that will matter a lot on your college application. AP exams that will end up on your college applications (check out ourfull list of available AP exams). If your state has a required exit exam, you will likely take it at the end of junior year. The PSAT – a test that is called â€Å"practice† but that you have to take very seriously because it couldqualify you for the National Merit Scholarship program and givea sense of howyou will likely score on the SAT (learn moreabout the PSAT here). SAT subject tests that will end up on your college applications (here's a breakdown of everything you need to know about SAT subject tests). And, of course, the SAT itself, which you will most likely take for the first time in late winter or early spring of your junior year.Learn why a high SAT/ACT score is the best single way to improve your chance of admission to a competitive school. You will be weighed. You will be measured. Hopefully you won't be found wanting. Be a leader Because junior year is also the last full year of extracurriculars that colleges will see, this might be the perfect time to prove your ability to lead and manage others. So run for that student council election, audition for that starring role, or work your way up to first singles on the tennis team! Can you be elected an officer of your club or student organization? Can you become captain of your sports team? Can you headline a performance, stage an exhibition, or get a lead role? Can you assumelarger responsibility for a volunteer project, like orienteering others or organizing donations? Is it Rumplestiltskin? Plan your future Finally, junior year is the year of the college search! This is when you will decide on where and how you will spend the next fouryears of your life. If you're curious how that process works, read our explainer. What If I Screwed Up My Junior Year? If you've been reading this and panicking because your junior year didn't go according to plan, don't worry. You still have some good options. You can explain what happened on your college applications, try to make up the grades through some hard work, or even just chalk it up to experience and move on to do better in the future. Did something happen in your personal life to derail you? Anything like your parents divorcing or losing a job, a serious illness or injury, or any other tremendous life upheaval is a completely understandable reason for grades to fall.If this happened to you, the key thing is to explain to colleges exactly what you were going through. Use either your personal essay or the â€Å"tell us anything else† space on your application to let schools know your circumstances. Additionally, for extra impact, ask your counselor or the teacherswriting your recommendations to also narrate these adverse events in their letters Are you still in the middle of your junior year? If you are still in the middle of 11th grade and have just noticed that your grades are slipping, there is probably still time in the year to undo the damage. Remember, your mid-year grades aren’t going to be seen by colleges, so you still have time to mitigate the situation. This is the time to ask the teachers whose classes you are struggling with for help, for extra credit assignments, or anything else that can help boost both your grade and their opinion of your work ethic. Also, if you've been taking it easy, this is the time to hit the books. Without overwhelming yourself, and without depriving yourself of sleep (7-8 hours a night is what the doctor ordered) or your sanity, spend some extra time assessing your study habits and improving them. Think about letting your social life take a bit of a backseat for now while you study – trust me, your future is worth a little hermitbehavior. Is hermit behavior anything like hobbit behavior? Because I think I could really get used to elevensies and second breakfast. Another way to make the case that you haven’t actually performed up to your potential is to really do your very best on the SAT or ACT test. A high score will show that you have untapped potential. We havedetailed advice on raising your GPA fastand on getting a full 2400 SAT score. Are you planning to recommit to academics in the future? Sometimes what happened in high school should just stay in high school. If you let your work slip,butnow have come to you to a sudden realization that you need to refocus on academics, then what you really need issome more time to show what you can really do. Then this might be the time to rethink your target schools, and then try to transfer midway through your college career. For example, you could first go to community college for one or two years, and then apply to a state or private university as a transfer student. Another great option is to seek out a university system and first enroll at aless selective campus, eventually transferring to one of the more selective ones.Explore your options in our guide to applying to college with a low GPA and our roundup of the best collegeswith low GPArequirements. What’s Next? Thinking about planning your high school curriculum? Then check out our discussion of the classes you should take in high school. If you’d like to see what a rigorous course load would look like, read our article on planning a challenging curriculum in high school. To learn more about how your GPA is calculated, read about how your GPA works and the difference between a weighted and unweighted GPA. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

War is not Beneficial to the World Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

War is not Beneficial to the World - Term Paper Example Contrary to beliefs that human beings should not fight each other, there are individuals who have vested interests and used war as a scapegoat to achieve their personal gains. These interests might take the form of resources owned by certain nations. Due to greed, some nations have invaded other nations through war in a bid to embezzle resources from the said countries. Further, it argues that human beings fight each other for revenge purposes, that is, to avenge perceived insults or defeat. The fact that human beings would always want to feel superior over others and thus through war, they are able to prove their superiority. Human beings do fight when they perceive threats from others or chances of losing. It is also argued that war is a natural population control, however, unpleasant, it acts to ease competition for resources, and reduce population. In light of war being a natural control for unhealthy large population, there are other ways to curb the growth. War is inevitable, this is evident from the fact that, over the years, the number of wars has reduced gradually, with regard to first war and the second;   also the casualties of war or violence have reduced with time (Tomsen 532). There has been a significant drop in the number of deaths resulting from wars. This may be attributed to a surge in the number of democracies, 20 to nearly all the countries since the Second World War. Since democracies, rarely wage war against each other, a continuing decline in the magnitude of armed conflicts may as well be seen. Decline of war may as well be credited to the creation of stable states having effective legal systems, and police forces, which eliminates the endless feuding that plagued tribal societies. Increased life expectancy makes people less willing to risk their lives by engaging in violence. Also as a result of globalization and communication, people have ended up being interdependent on each other.   On the other hand, war may not be inevitable this is because human beings have always fought in wars and always will due to the fact that human beings are innately aggressive.

Major Incident Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Major Incident Management - Essay Example Those who are categorized as serious have a deathly consequence in their circumstances; those categorized as major may suffer from a major permanent loss of function; next comes those who may suffer with a permanent reduction in bodily functions; those categorized as minor require increased level of care; and finally those classified as minimum are patients with no injury or increased level of care (New South Wales Government, 2005). Based on corporate consequence, impact on staff, visitors, services, finances, and the environment shall also be assessed by the first responder. The likelihood of the incident happening again shall also be assessed by the first responder. He shall classify the likelihood from the rating ‘frequent’ (the highest possible rating) to ‘rare’ (the lowest possible rating) (New South Wales Government, 2005). The risk or the magnitude of the incident also needs to be assessed by the first responder. The incident is rated at 1 if the ris k is extreme; 2 if the risk is high; 3, if there is medium risk; and 4 if the risk is low (New South Wales Government, 2005). The initial triage of the first responder is to assess the patients with life threatening conditions. The first responder has to deliver immediate treatment to these patients first by delivering CPR after airway clearance. For those classified as urgent or are unable to walk with RRs at 10 bpm-29 bpm and CRT at 2 seconds or less, urgent treatment has to be delivered by the crew. For those with minor injuries, but are walking, their treatment may be delayed; and for those who are dead, no treatment can be delivered. The crew then has to render appropriate emergency care and then transport the patients to the nearest hospital the soonest time possible, starting with those needing immediate care. In case of possible contagion, the emergency ambulance crew also has the duty of decontaminating the patients and themselves

MGMT402 U4 IP Labor Laws Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

MGMT402 U4 IP Labor Laws - Research Paper Example This was a law formulated and passed in 1926 but later amended in 1936 that provides a legal framework for resolution of disputes through conflict resolution, mediation and bargaining instead of striking for the workers of railway and airlines. It also further extends to issues such as representation of employees and administration of contracts in places where the employees have representation by labor union (Twomey, 2012). The act has definitely improved the losses the railway and airlines organizations incur when the workers go on strike in protesting their work conditions or any other aspect of the work ethics and organizational culture. The mediation curbs the strike and ensures workers continue with their normal duties as negotiations and mediation continues. The relationship between the union and management has improved because of the National Mediation Board that is part of the labor law and which tries to maintain civility between the two parties for the sake of the workers. In short, the union puts its demands and the management retaliates by negotiating the terms and finally coming up with an agreement but in the end the workers benefit. This was an act passed in 1932 that ensured removal of legal barriers against the trade unions. The act other than barring the federal courts from issuing injunctions on unions following labor disputes, it also ensured that employers did not interfere with the rights of their workers to join trade unions. Prior to the act being enforced, employees upon employment were forced to sign contracts (yellow-dog contracts) that prohibited them from joining labor unions but this was prohibited by the courts (Cihon and Castagnera, 2013). The relationship between the union and management was sour as the management saw the union as an obstacle while the union viewed the management as out to

Summary and Analysis Papers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Summary and Analysis Papers - Essay Example Six of the world’s 10 fastest economies are located in Africa. An interesting demographic fact about Africa is that half its population is under the age of 20. By the year 2043 Africa will surpass China as the world’s largest workforce. A problem with the African economy is that it lacks savings and capital. South Africa despite being Africa’s largest economy has a slower growth rate than most of its neighbors. The sub-Saharan region is referred to as the â€Å"frontier markets.† Investors are looking to invest in mutual funds connected to an index of frontier market stocks. Investors should research companies in the region carefully since a lot of them lack liquidity. The beer industry is going very well in Africa. A way for investors to get around the liquidity issue of African stocks is by purchasing companies that have most of their assets in Africa, but are listed elsewhere such as in the London Stock Exchange (LSE). The equity markets in Africa might not be able to keep up with the expectations of investors. There are a lot of family owned businesses that do not want to lose control to investors by selling the equity of their firms. The industries that tend to list companies the most in Africa are banks, telecoms, and breweries followed by consumer businesses. â€Å"In Africa returns come from revenue growth and efficiency gains† (Harare & Johannesburg, 2013). ... The nation suffers from a variety of problems that are hindering the economic growth of the region. The educational system and business infrastructure of Africa are very poor. A lot of towns in Africa lack running water and electricity. The governments of the different countries in Africa have to form an alliance in order to help resolve the economic problems of the region. It was interesting to know that a lot of the economies of Africa are growing, but since these economies are so underdeveloped the growth in the economies is not helping improve the standard of living of the people of the region. The unemployment rate of Africa is very high. A way to bring more jobs into Africa is through foreign investment. The business community of Africa has to be more open towards forming alliances with foreign corporations. The use of joint ventures and strategic alliances can help persuade a lot of companies to enter the African marketplace. The potential of Africa of becoming the future manu facturing hub of the world exist due to the fact that Africa is going to have the largest workforce in the world within three decades. The African economy has to evolve by placing emphasis on the educational system of the continent. A more educated workforce is needed to attract industries to Africa that rely on skilled laborers. The governments of the different countries of Africa have to develop economic incentive packages to attract business to come to Africa. Creating free trade zones is a great way to spur economic activity. Africa should also look to improve its infrastructure to enhance the business environment of the nation. Another way for the economy to create jobs is by attracting labor intensive industries that are

Q7 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Q7 - Essay Example Some of the processing can also be offloaded to UNIX platforms so that the cost of processing is cheaper.(The, 2008). The basic thrust will thus be to integrate the batch processing as a part of the larger applications, and carry out two to three processes in smaller batches. If batch and real time processing are integrated with the processing pushed down as close to the system as possible, on a JAVA platform, efficiency can be improved. Performance would also improve if the data for the batch processing is cached and placed in the same subsystem as the other major online processing activities that are going on concurrently. The Company could opt to use IBM’s batch processing model (www.publib.boulder.ibm.com), which are JAVA applications for which a patch has to be built so that a batch application can be run. Another option for the Company is to consider using database servers to run these applications. While the HP Integrity r X8640 database can process 76,726 payroll checks with 3000 concurrent users, the IBM power6 based p570 DB server can process 74, 257.(www.h71028.www7.hp.com). In terms of order to cash lines however, the hour batch output is much higher with the IBM system – 94,757 as compared to HP’s 81,477. The HP system costs less, because it is only 3/4th of the IBM price, hence the Company can assess which application better suits their needs. 2. Improvements in mobile applications have led to a change in workplace paradigms. For instance, technology that integrates mobile computing and workflow management technologies enables the creation of a mobile workforce that can perform streamline work activities on the field. One example of such a mobile application is the rise in mobile printing, which enables automated data collection at the site of the transaction itself.(Albright, 2004). This is especially useful in the field of sales and postal applications as well as transportation and logistics.

Cross Cultural Communication and Business Management Term Paper

Cross Cultural Communication and Business Management - Term Paper Example When manages successfully, it brings economic benefits. For organizations that send managers on foreign assignments. The cost can be high, as those managers need to adjust to their new environment. Cross-cultural effective communication is useful and worthy which can deal with conflicts that arise within multicultural. What would the ideal manager of international operations look like The ideal manager would have a "very good command of several languages and knowledge of and sympathy for several cultures" ( Hedlund 1986: 31 ). Some authors argue that these managers must become cosmopolitans, to grow beyond cultural limitations ( Harris and Moran 2000). To be "cosmopolitan", according to Webster's Third New International Dictionary, a manager must "be marked by interest in, familiarity with, or knowledge and appreciation of many parts of the world: not provincial, local, limited, or restricted by the attitudes, interests, or loyalties of a single region, section, or sphere of activity: worldwide rather than regional, parochial, or narrow." As if this were not asking enough of an international manager, Harris and Moran also distinguish between cosmopolitans and global managers. Global managers are cosmopolitans who have an additional facility for making appropriate business decisions anywhere that they operate. Given the near impossibility of either finding or developing such a manager, is it any wonder that we encounter firms of all types and classes making costly blunders in their foreign operations Business people today face an increasing range of culturally diverse situations. To ensure success in business, many organizations are using cross-cultural communication to improve their manager's cross-cultural effectiveness and enhance their communication skills. In a diverse workplace, there are many cultures collide. Many culture norms influence a manager's behavior and subsequent reactions (Gardenswartz L. and Rowe A., 2001).  

Summary and Analysis Papers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Summary and Analysis Papers - Essay Example Six of the world’s 10 fastest economies are located in Africa. An interesting demographic fact about Africa is that half its population is under the age of 20. By the year 2043 Africa will surpass China as the world’s largest workforce. A problem with the African economy is that it lacks savings and capital. South Africa despite being Africa’s largest economy has a slower growth rate than most of its neighbors. The sub-Saharan region is referred to as the â€Å"frontier markets.† Investors are looking to invest in mutual funds connected to an index of frontier market stocks. Investors should research companies in the region carefully since a lot of them lack liquidity. The beer industry is going very well in Africa. A way for investors to get around the liquidity issue of African stocks is by purchasing companies that have most of their assets in Africa, but are listed elsewhere such as in the London Stock Exchange (LSE). The equity markets in Africa might not be able to keep up with the expectations of investors. There are a lot of family owned businesses that do not want to lose control to investors by selling the equity of their firms. The industries that tend to list companies the most in Africa are banks, telecoms, and breweries followed by consumer businesses. â€Å"In Africa returns come from revenue growth and efficiency gains† (Harare & Johannesburg, 2013). ... The nation suffers from a variety of problems that are hindering the economic growth of the region. The educational system and business infrastructure of Africa are very poor. A lot of towns in Africa lack running water and electricity. The governments of the different countries in Africa have to form an alliance in order to help resolve the economic problems of the region. It was interesting to know that a lot of the economies of Africa are growing, but since these economies are so underdeveloped the growth in the economies is not helping improve the standard of living of the people of the region. The unemployment rate of Africa is very high. A way to bring more jobs into Africa is through foreign investment. The business community of Africa has to be more open towards forming alliances with foreign corporations. The use of joint ventures and strategic alliances can help persuade a lot of companies to enter the African marketplace. The potential of Africa of becoming the future manu facturing hub of the world exist due to the fact that Africa is going to have the largest workforce in the world within three decades. The African economy has to evolve by placing emphasis on the educational system of the continent. A more educated workforce is needed to attract industries to Africa that rely on skilled laborers. The governments of the different countries of Africa have to develop economic incentive packages to attract business to come to Africa. Creating free trade zones is a great way to spur economic activity. Africa should also look to improve its infrastructure to enhance the business environment of the nation. Another way for the economy to create jobs is by attracting labor intensive industries that are

Cross Cultural Communication and Business Management Term Paper

Cross Cultural Communication and Business Management - Term Paper Example When manages successfully, it brings economic benefits. For organizations that send managers on foreign assignments. The cost can be high, as those managers need to adjust to their new environment. Cross-cultural effective communication is useful and worthy which can deal with conflicts that arise within multicultural. What would the ideal manager of international operations look like The ideal manager would have a "very good command of several languages and knowledge of and sympathy for several cultures" ( Hedlund 1986: 31 ). Some authors argue that these managers must become cosmopolitans, to grow beyond cultural limitations ( Harris and Moran 2000). To be "cosmopolitan", according to Webster's Third New International Dictionary, a manager must "be marked by interest in, familiarity with, or knowledge and appreciation of many parts of the world: not provincial, local, limited, or restricted by the attitudes, interests, or loyalties of a single region, section, or sphere of activity: worldwide rather than regional, parochial, or narrow." As if this were not asking enough of an international manager, Harris and Moran also distinguish between cosmopolitans and global managers. Global managers are cosmopolitans who have an additional facility for making appropriate business decisions anywhere that they operate. Given the near impossibility of either finding or developing such a manager, is it any wonder that we encounter firms of all types and classes making costly blunders in their foreign operations Business people today face an increasing range of culturally diverse situations. To ensure success in business, many organizations are using cross-cultural communication to improve their manager's cross-cultural effectiveness and enhance their communication skills. In a diverse workplace, there are many cultures collide. Many culture norms influence a manager's behavior and subsequent reactions (Gardenswartz L. and Rowe A., 2001).  

Intro to Security Final Project Essay Example for Free

Intro to Security Final Project Essay Due in Week Nine: Write 3 to 4 paragraphs giving a bottom-line summary of the specific measureable goals and objectives of the security plan, which can be implemented to define optimal security architecture for the selected business scenario. The objective of the Security Policy is to provide the basis of a secure information system within the Bloom Design Group. This policy will protect the information system from threats that exist in nature as well as disasters that exist from humans. The policy will also give consideration to the privacy, reputation, intellectual property and productivity of Bloom Design Group. The efficient operation of this company is dependent on being able to access and use resources within the building and being able to remote access with security. Each employees responsibility must be considered and appropriate access will be given to ensure that information is shared only with those who have the authority to have it. This policy will ensure the adherence to the Bloom Design Group policies but also with any government regulations. By limiting the access to certain groups of users, the security policy will guard against misuse of data and information. All processes that are within the system will be aligned with the policy and executed automatically to ensure that the policy is effectively protecting the information and resources in a continuous manner. Any disruptions or security risks will be dealt with immediately and automatically by means of the system software that has been established and configured for these purposes. 3. Introduction Due in Week One: Give an overview of the company and the security goals to be achieved. 3. 1. Company overview As relates to your selected scenario, give a brief 100- to 200-word overview of the company. The Bloom Design Group is an interior design business that offers services to clients globally. There is a corporate office in New York and a secondary office located in Los Angeles. The group’s website allows clients a virtual decorating tool, where they are able to get an idea of the design and color scheme they would like to see and how it may look after the design is completed. This is a great tool to aid the client in making decisions, backed up by consultation by experienced interior designers as well. The designers are able to access their client files and style guides utilized by the company. The designers will also be able to process orders for materials and furniture when accessing the website. Access is gained by a secure login and password. The employees and designers of this company conduct most of their business remotely and access the network via a secure VPN. 3. 2. Security policy overview Of the different types of security policies—program-level, program-framework, issue-specific, and system-specific—briefly cover which type is appropriate to your selected business scenario and why. For The Bloom Design Group, a program-framework policy would be appropriate. The corporate office would set the security policy as it pertains to network usage. The program-framework policy would cover the WAN, the entire organization would be covered by it and all decisions related to how data is accessed by the workforce. This would require an acceptable use policy, which pertains to all areas of access including remote access, authorized data retrieval and retention, and connections within the WAN. 3. 3. Security policy goals As applies to your selected scenario, explain how the confidentiality, integrity, and availability principles of information security will be addressed by the information security policy. 3. 3. 1. Confidentiality Briefly explain how the policy will protect information. Using the program-framework policy will help in making it possible that only those with authorized access to the company’s data will be the ones doing so. VPN technology will be utilized for these individuals and devices only. These will continue their privileges as long as the policy is complied with. The VPN will be maintained so as to minimize risk of unauthorized access, keep user and data confidentiality as much as possible over the internet, ensure the reliability of the company’s system as well as those systems of the authorized users of the network. 3. 3. 2. Integrity Give a brief overview of how the policy will provide rules for authentication and verification. Include a description of formal methods and system transactions. The program-framework policy will maintain the data and keep it secure, reliable, and free from corruption. The policy will keep unauthorized users from gaining, retaining, modifying, or deleting data of the company by means of firewalls, encryptions, and anti-spyware or anti malware tools. The VPN will be secured with using a tool that provides encryption and user authentication. Intrusion detection tools will also help protect the VPN. 3. 3. 3. Availability Briefly describe how the policy will address system back-up and recovery, access control, and quality of service. The program framework policy will maintain that authorized individuals, users, and systems will have access to information in its original format and at all times. The IT department will keep the business continuity plan up to date and and secure it in such case that there is a need for it due to emergencies. The company will create a business impact analysis which will evaluate risks to the company’s data and systems will be ready to be used for recovery of data if needed. A disaster recovery plan will also be created with step by step implementation to ensure recovery and continuation of business operations in the event recovery is needed due to loss. A risk analysis will be created to further identify and take steps to secure the company’s data. Full cooperation from each department and the administration of the company is needed for these plans to be effective. Training will be conducted in order to ensure that all are compliant to the plan. (Merkow Breithaupt, 2006). 4. Disaster Recovery Plan Due in Week Three: For your selected scenario, describe the key elements of the Disaster Recovery Plan to be used in case of a disaster and the plan for testing the DRP. 4. 1. Risk Assessment 4. 1. 1. Critical business processes List the mission-critical business systems and services that must be protected by the DRP. The Bloom Design Group has the need of protecting their general support systems. These are the mission-critical systems and services to be concerned with. They are related to network connectivity, access to the internet and various resources through applications that will rest on the network that will aid in the daily productivity of the company. The following list of systems is includes the assets that must be protected by this plan.

Tesco Nature Scope And Purpose Of Strategic Management

Tesco Nature Scope And Purpose Of Strategic Management INTRODUCTION Tesco started as a one-man business in Londons East End. Tesco was founded by Jack Cohen, son of a Polish Jewish tailor. He sold groceries in the markets of the East End from 1919. The Tesco brand first appeared in 1924. The name derived after Jack Cohen bought a large shipment of tea from T.E. Stockwell (formerly Messrs Torring and Stockwell of Mincing Lane), he made new labels by using the first three letters of the suppliers name and the first two letters of his surname forming the word TESCO. The first Tesco store was opened in 1929 in Burnt Oak, Edgware, and London. The firm was floated on the London Stock Exchange on 23 December 1947. The first Tesco self-service store opened in 1948 in St Albans and is still trading in 2006 as a Tesco Metro store.The first Tesco supermarket was opened in 1956 in a converted cinema in Maldon, Essex. Tescos first superstore was opened in 1968 in Crawley, West Sussex. The group began selling petrol in 1974 and its annual turnover reached one billion pounds in 1979. Also In 1975 Tesco opened one of its first Hypermarkets in Irlam. The first Hypermarket under the Extra name opened in 1997. EXPANSION: In 1994, the company took over the Scottish supermarket chain William Low. Tesco successfully fought off Sainsburys for control of the Dundee-based firm, which operated 57 stores north of the border, paving the way for Tesco to expand its weak presence in Scotland. To the present day, Tesco has based its Scottish headquarters at the former Wm. Low offices in Dundee. From small beginnings in Scotland Inverness was recently branded as Tescotown, since an estimated 50p in every  £1 spent on food is believed to be spent in the three Tesco stores within the city. (Nationally, it is estimated that 1 in every  £8 is the proportion spent) It introduced a loyalty card branded Clubcard in 1995 and later an Internet shopping service. During the 1990s it expanded into Central Europe, Ireland and East Asia. In July 2001 it became involved in internet grocery retailing in the USA when it obtained a 35% stake in GroceryWorks. In October 2003 it launched a UK telecoms division, comprising of mobile and home phone services, to complement its existing internet service provider business. In August 2004, it also launched a broadband service. NATURE, SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT NATURE: Tesco opened its first store in Edgware, North London in 1929.It is founded by John Cohen and T. E. Stockwell. Tesco mainly used strategies to build customer loyalty. It reached the  £billion pound turnover in 1979.It became the first UK business to reach  £2 billion pound and became the largest retailer in UK. STRATEGY: According to Johnson and Scholes strategy is defined as the direction and scope of an organisation over the long term; which achieves advantage for the organisation through it configuration of resources within a changing enviroment,to meet the needs of markets and to fulfil stakeholder expectations. Tescos growth over the last two or three decades has involved a transformation of its strategy and image. Its initial success was based on the Pile it high, sell it cheap approach of the founder Jack Cohen. The disadvantage of this was that the stores had a poor image with middle-class customers. In the late 1970s Tescos brand image was so negative that consultants advised the company to change the name of its stores. It did not accept this advice, yet by early 2005 it was the largest retailer in the United Kingdom, with a 29.0% share of the grocery market according to retail analysts TNS Super Panel, compared to the 16.8% share of ASDA and 15.6% share of third-placed Sainsburys, which had been the market leader until it was overtaken by Tesco in 1995. Key to success: Focus on customers. Focus heavily on value for money. Finest and low price. Core UK business. Non-food business. Retailing services. International Expansion. SCOPE According to Mintzberg and Quinn there are five definitions if strategy Strategy as a plan Strategy as a pattern Strategy as a position Strategy as a perspective Strategy as a ploy Tescos growth over the last two or three decades has involved a transformation of its strategy and image. Its initial success was based on the Pile it high, sell it cheap approach of the founder Jack Cohen. Levels of planning Planning of strategy in any organisation is categorised into three levels: Top level planning: this is done by the top management and is termed as strategic planning. It is a long range planning and is linked to long range goals. Second level planning: This is carried out by senior executives and is termed as tactical planning. The plans are devised to achieve the organisations main objectives. The long-range plans of the organisation are segmented and are oriented to functions and departments. Third level planning: This is the concern of the departmental managers and supervisors and is called activity planning or operational planning. It is confined to short term activities and also individual assignments and establishes performance of the organisation. Corporate strategy: It is concerned with the overall purpose and scope of the business to meet stake holder expectations. It is often expressed as mission statement of the organisation. The companys mission statement reads, Our core purpose is, To create value for customers to earn their lifetime loyalty. We deliver this through our values, No-one tries harder for customers, and Treat people how we like to be treated'. The underlying aim is of course to make higher profits, but there is a clear focus on customer service at the top level of the company. Business strategy: It is concerned with how a business competes successfully in a particular market. Tescos business strategy is to Expand overseas Maintain a strong uk business Expand into non-food merchandise Operational strategy: It is concerned with the operations to deliver the corporate and business strategy of the organisation. Tesco has its every little helps strategy to make both its employees and customers happy while achieving the organisational goals. PURPOSE Tesco adopts its strategy with a core purpose to create value for customers to earn their lifetime loyalty. This is expressed as two key values. No one tries harder for customers Treat people as we like to be treated. Tesco positions all its resources with a purpose to satisfy this strategy while achieving its organisational goals. PROCESS FOR DEVELOPING STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT While the corporate strategy of an organisation sets the objectives for different businesses; business strategy deals with individual sections of the overall business and the operational strategy directs and determines each function of the organisation. The process of business strategy of Tesco can be outlined as: Stating and understanding The Companys vision. Stating and understanding The Companys mission. Analysing the business environment. Crafting and evaluation of strategy. Implementation, monitoring and control. VISION Tescos vision can be clearly understood in the statement of its CEO Terry Leahy we have got only 5% of the non-food market in Britain, we have got only 6% of the convenience market and we have got only 2-3% of the banking market In all these examples we could be much bigger. This statement clearly presents the idea where Tesco wants to be in the future. MISSION A mission statement spells out the central purpose and shared values of a business organisation. Mission of Tesco is To create value for customers to earn their lifetime loyalty which is delivered through two key values no one tries harder for customers and treat people how they like to be treated. ANALYSIS OF THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT For the formulation of strategy, it is necessary to analyse the organisational environment. These would include political, economic, social and technological factors. According to Johnson and Scholes: Managers face difficulties in trying to understand the environment. First, the environment encapsulates many different influences; the difficulty is making sense of this diversity in a way which can contribute to strategic decision making. A simple analysis of the business environment so Tesco involves three aspects: Analysing Internal capabilities and resources(core competencies) Analysing external environment by PEST Analysis Analysing the competitive environment by Porters five forces Core Competencies Core competences relate to those resources and capabilities if the firm which enable to Attain a competitive edge in the market According to Johnson and Scholes core competencies create and sustain the ability to meet the critical success factors of particular customer groups better than other providers in ways that are difficult to imitate. Tesco identifies core competencies by three factors: Creation of new products and services which provides potential access to a wide variety of markets. Skill which makes a significant contribution to the perceived customer benefits of the end product. competitive unique skills which are difficult for competitors to imitate PEST ANALYSIS The external environment of an organisation is analysed by PEST analysis. It helps to identify the key changes that are taking place around the organisation and which influence it in the future. A PEST Analysis looks at Political Factors Economic factors Social factors Technological factors The following is the PEST Analysis for Tesco Political Factors Risks of potential competition commission enquiry GM- Food EU competition Law Economic Factors Intensive price competition between the large supermarkets Cost of products keep falling because of strengthening buying power Socio cultural factors Organic foods and drink Customer concerns about GM food, allergies and additives Animal welfare policies Environmental policies and practices Technological Factors Radio Frequency identity technology in operation of its supply chain Radio barcode technology for tagging cases. Self service check-out system. PORTERS FIVE FORCES Porters five forces are used to analyse the external environment of an organisation and to determine the attractiveness of the market. The five forces are: The bargaining power of customers The bargaining power of suppliers The threat of new entrants The threat of substitute products The intensity of competitive rivalry Bargaining power of customers The buying power of customers may influence Tesco to force prices down. This may lead to competition where the other rivals may also bring down the prices. Tesco should maintain the customer loyalty to stop them from drifting to others. Bargaining power of suppliers Demand of suppliers to pay high prices for their goods. Recently, the agitation by the dairy farmers to get high price for milk is an example. But market giants like Tesco has an overwhelming advantage over their suppliers where they dictate the price they pay their suppliers. Threat of new entrants Supermarket chains like Tesco manage the threat of new entrants by imposing barriers to entry. This is achieved by paying high price to suppliers and buying large volumes of goods. This makes Tesco to supply goods at cheaper prices to its customers where it corners the new entrants. Tesco also has the advantage of economies of scale. Threat of substitute products Tesco faces the threat of cutting down the prices of groceries and goods by other giants like Asda and Sainsbury. This may lead to lowering of prices where the buyer gets an advantage. Intensity of competitive rivalry Retail industry is the one where the profit margins are low and the competition is high. According to classical economics, rivalry between companies should drive profits to zero. All the above mentioned factors impact the intensity of competition for Tesco. Asda, Sainsburys, Morrisons and others with their expansion plans and strategies are making the competition tough. Their disciplined approach towards prices setting is preventing the destruction in profit war. Environmental evaluation of Tesco The environmental audit is reliant on the monitoring activity undertaken by the organisation. It includes Market intelligence Largest supermarket chain with a market capitalisation of  £26.037bn New strategies for mergers and expansion plans to US Effective and low prices Continuous monitoring and direct information on the sales figures in stores Efficient maintenance of customer loyalty. Technical intelligence RFID technology for supply chain management EPOs and Bar-coding technology Extension of RFID technology for tagging the cases through out the supply chain by 2007. Effective implementation of one in front policy at the tills to satisfy the customers. Acquisition intelligence Decision of receding from the bid to takeover Safeway. Expansion plans for US Other issues Convenience stores according to the needs of the people Decisions regarding the environmental issues Crafting a strategy By considering the above factors Tesco clearly crafted a strategy that keeps it in the leading position in all the aspects: The selected strategy of Tesco is To provide all the customers with excellent value and choice in UK business which is its biggest market and where Tesco enjoys top slot. Having a six element approach to be an international retailer while focusing on satisfaction of needs of the different local customers. KEY FACTORS FOR DEVELOPING STRATEGY The key factors for an organisation are those which exist within an environment and may generate a need for change. These are triggers for change in the organisation. The following is a brief description of the key factors which may lead to strategic change in Tesco. EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS Macro environmental analysis increases awareness of the relevant environmental changes at managerial level. This enhances strategic planning. Macro environmental analysis further focuses attention on the primary influences of strategic change and provides anticipation to opportunities and carefully develops responses to change. The following are the external environmental factors which pose challenges to Tesco High energy costs High recovery costs Improving position of competitors Risks of the potential competition commission enquiry Growing cautiousness among consumers STAKEHOLDERS Stakeholders can be defined as As those individual actors and parties, organisations and professions and institutions that have a bearing on the behaviour of the organisation as revealed in its policies and actions on the environment. Stakeholders can be divided into two categories; Those view the organisation externally Those have an internal interest External stakeholders for Tesco are competitiors, customers, suppliers, shareholders government departments etc.They judge the efficiency and try to influence its activities. So Tesco always determines the outputs required by the stakeholders. Internal stakeholders for Tesco are the owners, managers and employees. In large companies like Tesco there are thousands of shareholders who have a vested interest in the success of the business. MEDIA Media plays a very important role in an organisations strategy. It works in two ways; Interest in the success of the organisation and its subsequent positive feedback Interest in the proposed developments Tesco notifies well that the influence of effective public relations on the opinions of a wide range of groups will enhance the likelihood of success for its strategy. So it always maintains good relations with the media. Tescos media centre contain the latest news releases, images and briefing notes. Their latest TV ad campaign can also be viewed from their video library. The media people can also access to their media centre for easy access to the latest developments. LEGAL Organisations need to anticipate and prepare themselves for changes in legal procedures. The potential competition commission enquiry and other regulations are important legal factors which can influence retail sector now.Tesco has all the legal resources which enables it to respond to such changes well in advance and as a part of its developing strategy. ETHICAL These are the moral principles that should govern human relations and conduct. These are very important considerations in formulating strategy which involve subjective personal feelings about human behaviour. Tesco identifies as one of the key factors in its strategy and accepts this with enthusiasm and commitment. EDUCATIONAL In the present business scenario, the capacity to transmit knowledge through devices as the internet has become formidable. The most important and interesting aspect of the improvement in education and subsequent growth of knowledge has been the increasing professionalism of workforces in an organisation. Tesco understand this well and implements it in the improvement of skills of its human resources. It conducts training programmes a least two times a year. POLITICAL Political factors generally effect the organisation in two ways. One driven by the government pr by the multinational political initiatives and another concerned with the political shifts within the particular business environment. INTERNAL ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS The following are the factors that are instrumental to the internal environment of Tesco. Organisational policy The mission statement of an organisation sets out the purpose of a business The mission statement of an organisation is refined over the time to reflect the developed or enhanced capabilities of the business .The following are the purpose statements for Tesco which gives a clear picture of its policy Scope of an organisations activities is a fundamental element of strategy. Tescos scope relates to the extent of the market into which it sells its products and services. It is already the largest retailer in UK and is planning to expand to US .It has already wide markets in Europe and Asia. A key consideration for a firm is to identify what areas of activity to pursue in its markets. Tesco targets customers of all ages with its products and services ranging from food, household products and retail to insurance and personal finance. An important aspect of strategy is for a company to identify the positions held by their products and services in the market place. Tesco has already built a very strong businesses over the time with very strong market positions. Each and every one of them has huge potential for further growth. Human resources Tesco is the largest private sector employer in UK. Tesco is the largest private sector employer in UK. It employs 250,000 staff alone in the UK and 367,000 staff worldwide. It has 2365 stores all over the world. Tesco employs about 11,000 employees every year. It recruits about 80 to 150 graduates each year to two training schemes one store and one office based. It recruits by in-store advertising, events in local areas. and recommendations From existing employees through an employee referral scheme. These employees are the need for effective communication in the field of management. Financial resources As per the statistics of 2006 Tesco is the fourth largest retailer in the world. Its market capitalisation was  £26.035 billion which was the largest of any retailer based outside the united states. Tesco also has got tremendous property portfolio. It does its own development and owns about 85 of all its assets around the world. And always Tesco invests a lot in its property. According to company authorities over the next five years its property value will be  £5 billion and still be a predominantly freehold property company. All these factors are described as the key factors for Tesco DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF STRATEGIC OPTIONS Strategy whether developed for a whole organisation or for an operating department or a team follows the same building process .Its central concern is to create a long-term vision of where we want to be or what we would like to become .Strategy that an organisation adopts should be feasible and practicable. Its pulling power is extremely important to survive in the tough competitive environment where an organisation operates .The art of strategic development involves a set of sophisticated tools to facilitate the process. The following is a brief context of different strategic options for TESCO and their evaluation. PEST ANALYSIS To develop a strategy for an organisation to assure its long-term effectiveness it should carry an analysis about its future. For this PEST Analysis is the best tool. It carries analysis of four or six major factors which can effect the organisation in future .TESCO which is the largest player in retail sector carries PEST Analysis to analyse the external factors which may affect in the future .The following is the PEST Analysis for TESCO: Political and legal considerations Risks of potential commission enquiry TESCO may face the risk of the potential commission enquiry in future which aims to curb the unhealthy competition in the retail sector. GM-Food With increasing awareness in the consumers all over the world TESCO may face the risk with Green peace workers regarding the labelling of genetically modified foods. . EU Competition Law EU Competition Law constituted to regulate monopoly power may impact TESCO and its expansion in the European Union in the near future. Economic considerations Intensive price competition between the large supermarkets Cost of products keep falling because of strengthening buying power Social Factors Organic foods and drink Consumers growing concerns about the organic food and drinks may influence in near future Customer concerns about GM food, allergies and additives With growing cautiousness and discontent about the GM food and use of allergic causing agents and additives in the manufacture of food may show impact Animal welfare policies Animal welfare policies which oppose the testing of the products on animals Environmental policies and practices Green peace workers and changing concerns about environmental issues. Technological Factors Radio Frequency identity technology in operation of its supply chain Use of RFID technology in its supply chain helps TESCO to efficiently carry its operations and maintain its position. Radio barcode Technology for tagging cases. Use of Radio barcode Technology to tag the cases and extending this technique to the entire chain by the end of 2007 will show an impact on operations in TESCO. Self-service checkout system SWOT Analysis IT is a commonly used tool .Its main purpose is to locate the organisation in its operating environment and try to assess its internal and external capabilities and vulnerabilities. SWOT stand for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Strengths are internal and opportunities are environmental. Similarly weaknesses are internal and threats are environmental. The following is the SWOT analysis for TESCO Strengths These are the strengths of TESCO TESCO s Brand name Loyal customers Largest player in the retail sector Well established supply chain Excellent ware housing capability Largest online grocer Great store locations Skilled work force Club card scheme for enhancing customer loyalty. Weaknesses These are the weaknesses of TESCO Vast usage of fossil fuel in transport chain and super market heating systems Lack of integration between departments at certain times Opportunities These are the opportunities where TESCO can explore in future Improving customer relationships Real growth opportunity for grocery retailing in the newly enlarged European Union. Increasing sales through better integration of high street and internet resources Threats These are the threats that might affect TESCO in the future. High energy costs Increasing taxes on retail items Expansion of low cost supermarkets like LIDL. Recovering competitions like Sainsburys and Morrisons. A weakening economy An increase in unemployment PORTERS GENERIC STRATEGIES After establishing the strengths and weaknesses of the organisation and analysing the competitive environment, we have to establish the generic strategy of the organisation. No set of the strategic tools will be complete without a look at Michael porters generic strategies. Porter advocates, Gaining and maintaining competitive advantage The three generic strategies of Porter are Differentiation This is a strategy where the organisation offers a product or service which is unique compared with those of its competitors .This differentiation must be known to at least a segment of the market. Cost Leadership This is a strategy where the organisation enables itself to provide the products or services at a cost less than any other competitive organisation. It is the ability the organisation has to price below competitors if and when it needs so. Focus This is a strategy where the organisation targets its products or services at a given sector of the market with great accuracy and with a depth of capability and knowledge to support its position in the sector. In the retail sector with a very low profit margin the environment is hypercompetitive .TESCO being the largest player adopts the Cost Leadership strategy to challenge its competitors. TESCO has all the capabilities to adapt to this strategy. It develops its internal resources and its core competencies to support this strategy. In addition to these a number of generic strategies have emerged to define the modern organisation .The following is a list of the strategies. Reducing cost base Improving quality Getting closer to the customer Shorter cycle times Strategic partnerships Ability to change fast Of the above mentioned generic strategies, TESCO adopts the following: Reducing cost base To cut down the expenses and to increase productivity and efficiency, TESCO adopts this strategy to face the challenges of price war with its competitors, high property costs a and to provide value based products to the customers. Improving quality TESCO always concentrates on improving quality to rule the existing markets. It adopts new techniques and softwares both in the logistics and in-store operations to consistently serve the customers. Getting closer to the customer Customers are whimsical, customers are fickle, customers are not loyal. The ability to anticipate this fickleness is a strategic strength.TESCO understands this well and introduced club card schemes which helps TESCO to have millions of loyal customers. THE ANSOFF MATRIX This is a classic model in strategy building .Its main purpose is to analyse the organisations approaches to its products and to its market to ensure that an appropriate marketing strategy is being pursued .The following is the An off matrix for TESCO Current products New products Current markets Market penetration Improving services Improving quality Product development Expand own brands like The Finest and TESCO Value. Expansion into non-food sector Adding new products to the existing product line New markets Market development International expansion and globalisation Home shopping Developing small express stores Diversification New services Using the Ansoff matrix in conjunction with the BCG matrix, TESCO conducts a useful review of its strategy to achieve its vision. EVALUATION The BCG matrix The Boston Consulting Group matrix is a valuable tool .Its purpose is to analyse the organisations product portfolio. The definitions used in the BCG matrix are very precisely expressed in terms of the generation and use of cash. This makes this matrix a sharp-edged tool. the following are the definitions used in BCG matrix Stars These are the products that are performing well .They are generating positive cash and they usually require continuous update to maintain their market share. Problems These are the products which are not performing and not generating sufficient cash to maintain them in their markets. Cash cows These are the products which are performing well in markets which are growing slowly or are static. They are probably generating more money that can be profitably invested in them. Dogs They have low market share in markets which are growing slowly or are static. They may be consuming more resources to maintain their availability. They need quick decisions. The following is the BCG matrix for Tesco Market share High low Star On-line shopping Organic foods Loyalty cards Non-grocery items New services Problems On-line shopping with demographic analysis Home delivery of products Cash cows Cash cows Branded produ