Cross cultural management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Cross cultural management - Essay Example Studies of the ancient china are useful in the understanding of the leadership models in modern china. Research on Chinese leadership is accredited to a scholar known as Misumi, who was Japanese. According to his research, he categorized Chinese leadership into two major classifications notably the model of performance and the maintenance. Maintenance factor is the step taken towards improvement of the human labour force. An interesting close examination of the leadership style adopted in China reveals that leadership characteristics are spread along the organizations with close similarity. For example, according to Mobley, Wang and Li, the survey conducted on state owned enterprises and the private owned enterprises shows that the managers are more sensitive to the environment, are less authoritarian, and encourage a lot of moral behaviors. In particular, the traditional cultural values have more often shaped the styles of leadership and mode of management in china. According to Bod en, leadership in china originates from various qualities as compared to other nations; leaders are created on the basis of knowledge and attitude. The advantage that the ruler has is that the Chinese are very loyal to their leaders and are always ready to take up the responsibility whenever a need arises. The current leaders in china are more linked to the olden traditional rulers because they share certain traditional similarities. According to Boden (2008), these values are Confucian approach, legalistic approach, naturalistic approach, as well as the strategic approach. The Confucian approach, which is also known as the humanistic leadership requires a leader to have moral character and proper conduct. He is also expected to be a lifelong learner. The legalistic approach demands that a leader undergoes punishment whenever he goes wrong; it articulates for stricter codes of conduct. This leader is also expected to have the skills of attracting skilled and knowledgeable followers, rather than them having to display their skills. In this case, the leader is expected to be wise, and at all times, avoid getting into trouble. The delegated duties should be accompanied by rewards if a worker performs well. China is a unique nation with a different cultural setup compared to other nations in the West; this has led to its unique ways of leadership styles that do not conform so much to those of the Western countries. The methods of leadership practiced in other nations have to be greatly modified if they are to fit the nation of China and the vice versa. Gallo points out that â€Å"in fact many of them will never work well here† (2011, p. 5), meaning in China. There are cultural differences that exist between China and the countries from the west. There is also difference in which expectations are laid between the workers and the leaders. Another contributing factor to these differences in leadership styles are the societal values that do vary; some of the values from other nations that may be seen as good can be perceived differently in China. Challenges of leadership are complicated and harder especially when members of an organization come from different cultural setups from that of their leader. The naturalistic appr

Referring to both pharmaceutical Essay Example for Free

Referring to both pharmaceutical Essay Referring to both pharmaceutical and tobacco companies, explain how transnational corporations can influence the health of people in countries at different stages of development (15) Both pharmaceutical and tobacco companies can be transnational corporations and some wield enormous international power and influence covering over one hundred countries with billions of pounds worth of profit; in 2009, GlaxoSmithKline had a net income of approximately. 6 billion! Some corporations have, for example, used their profits to help fight widespread diseases in less economically developed countries (LEDCs), such as GlaxoSmithKlines help in the fight against Lymphatic Filariasis in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Some have set up health programmes in more economically developed countries (MEDCs) to reduce common health problems in these areas, such as different types of cancer. However, some corporations only supply people with the means to deteriorate their health, such as some tobacco companies like British American Tobacco, especially in LEDCs, but both pharmaceutical tobacco companies play an important role in the health of the worlds people. A pharmaceutical company is a company, which develops, produces and markets drugs licenced for use as medications, so obviously these companies play a huge role in the health of people worldwide as they provide medication against diseases that would harm health. In LEDCs, medicines can be very expensive and in some countries in the world, in sub-Saharan Africa for example, peoples incomes may be so minuscule that they may not even be able to afford food let alone medicine. Pharmaceutical companies make two types of drug: branded and generic. Branded drugs are three to thirty times more expensive than generic drugs and so in LEDCs they are out of the majoritys reach, but they are patented and their chemical composition cannot be copied for twenty years; this means that should another company wish to reproduce the specific drug so it can be made available at a cheaper price for the market in LEDCs, it is not possible due to the patent. Therefore this has negatively affected peoples health in LEDCs, as the majority of deaths from disease in LEDCs (excluding HIV/AIDS) are curable with modern-day medication but it is how the medication is sold by pharmaceutical companies that prevents medication getting to these countries. Cheaper drugs to combat these common diseases cannot be produced as some pharmaceutical companies patented their branded drugs to increase their profits and eliminate competition from rival pharmaceutical companies. Although pharmaceutical companies may be harming the health of populations in LEDCs by patenting their drugs for twenty years, many of their drugs are manufactured in factories that are located within LEDCs as they are often far cheaper than producing drugs in MEDCs as wage regulations are much stricter and land is much more expensive. Pharmaceutical companies want to manufacture as much product as they can to maximise profit and so, for example, Bayer HealthCare, whose headquarters is in Germany, manufacture drugs in Morocco, Indonesia, Columbia, Guatemala and El Salvador all of which are LEDCs. The fact that vast quantities of drugs are produced in these countries means that the pharmaceutical companies will need a large, low-skilled workforce to do menial jobs in the factory. In comparison to salaries in MEDCs, the workers in LEDCs are paid far less, but it is much more than many people would have been able to earn before their jobs in the factories, as many of these LEDCs rely heavily on agriculture which is often a very low-paid form of employment. With this higher salary, people may be able to afford healthcare and the more expensive branded drugs that they are helping to manufacture. Some workers healthcare may even be partly paid for by their employer, therefore helping better the health of the population in LEDCs. Pharmaceutical companies, such as GlaxoSmithKline and Bayer HealthCare, are thought to have a social and moral responsibility to help in the fight against diseases if they find a cure for them during their drug research and development. Diseases such as Malaria, Yellow Fever, Tuberculosis and African Sleeping Sickness are all curable with drugs produced by pharmaceutical companies. However, these companies are in a widely capitalist industry that wants to maximise profits wherever possible and providing free medical care for people in LEDCs is often not done, but GlaxoSmithKline and Bayer HealthCare have started a revolution in this field by showing that by using only a small fraction of their vast profits they can help improve the health of millions of people worldwide. GlaxoSmithKline, for example, discovered albendazole in 1972 and was found to be effective against roundworms and tapeworms which caused Lymphatic Filariasis (LF), a disease that causes permanent disability and currently 120 million people are infected with the disease in Asia, Africa and South America. Since 2008, GlaxoSmithKline donated over 1. 4 billion albendazole treatments to 48 LEDCs. Their aim is to donate as much albendazole as required to treat the 1 billion people in 83 countries at risk from LF. They also joined the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GAELF) in 2000 as a founding member and work together with governments as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to eliminate LF. This is just one example of the work that pharmaceutical companies have done in LEDCs to improve the health of the inhabitants by providing free medication at the cost of a small proportion of their multi-billion pound annual profit. Pharmaceutical companies have had a large presence in LEDCs in recent history and so have many tobacco companies, traced back to trade and colonial links in the latter part of the millennium. Tobacco companies feel much less of an obligation to help eradicate disease than pharmaceutical companies do and for that reason few tobacco companies have invested, at the expense of their profit, in health schemes to aid the disease-stricken in LEDCs. They are much more interested in securing a long-term community of consumers demanding their product. British American Tobacco (BAT) in Africa is a prime example of this capitalist, profit-driven attitude in LEDCs. In Malawi, BAT advocated the sale of single cigarette sticks, which were very popular with children as they were so cheap; a single cigarette costs one fifth of the price of a single biscuit, which at least has some nutritional value. BAT used a single-stick campaign to try and encourage as many young people as possible to start smoking as they knew that once they had tried a few they would eventually become addicted to their product, which is wondrous news for their profit, as their body tells them that they need a cigarette and so they buy more of their product and for this reason, 80 000 to 100 000 children start smoking worldwide every day. Advertising to children in this way ensured that BAT maintained a constant group of consumers to replace the smokers that either, more likely, died from smoking-related diseases or stopped smoking. Smoking causes many types of cancer, such as lung, throat, kidney and liver cancers, and emphysema is also a common problem and every eight seconds someone dies from tobacco use. Although, like pharmaceutical companies, they provide employment for local people, they are often only few tobacco plant farmers and are paid very little and do not receive the healthcare that pharmaceutical companies provide. So, in LEDCs tobacco companies are having a very bad effect as they cause many life-threatening diseases and their advertising campaigns show little sign of wanting to help eradicate the problem. As well as having a presence in LEDCs, pharmaceutical and tobacco corporations have presence in MEDCs as well. Pharmaceutical corporations headquarters are often based in MEDCs, such as the headquarters of Bayer HealthCare in Germany and GlaxoSmithKline in the UK. They often do most of their research and development in MEDCs, as they have easier access to highly-developed facilities and laboratories to conduct experiments. Much like in LEDCs, pharmaceutical companies provide employment in MEDCs, but this is often much more skilled work in research and lab work and is highly paid unlike in LEDCs where are less strict wage restrictions. The majority of people in MEDCs have a high income in comparison with those in LEDCs and so can therefore afford the branded drugs that pharmaceutical companies produce and cleverly market. The sale of these branded drugs in MEDCs to consumers is where most profits of pharmaceutical companies are made. They are not inaccessible as they were in MEDCs and for that reason the health of the population in MEDCs is often much better and the generic drugs provided to health services in MEDCs are often quite cheap and are easily accessible reducing the level of disease in MEDCs. Even though branded drugs might make cheaper, generic copies of these drugs impossible, because of peoples higher disposable income, people can afford the branded drugs and are willing to pay extra money for the knowledge that is produced by a genuine pharmaceutical company and not a supermarket spin-off. Much like the social and moral responsibility pharmaceutical companies felt in LEDCs, they are also feel obligated to do something about the common diseases in MEDCs as well, despite the lower level of disease. A huge health problem in MEDCs are STIs and STDs among youths and costs healthcare services lots of money to treat these diseases. In the UK in 2008 there were 123,018 new diagnoses of chlamydia in clinics: a record number. Additionally from 1999 to 2008 there were 11 times the number of primary and secondary diagnoses of syphilis. The Bayer HealthCare pharmaceutical company started a family planning initiative in 1961 and now has had family-planning clinics in 130 countries for 50 years. They also created World Contraception Day, which is a day every year to accentuate the importance of contraception. On this day there are fund-raising events, radio talk shows, competitions and events in nightclubs and discos. Tobacco companies are also present in MEDCs as would be expected and have a large market. Currently around 20% of adults in the USA are smokers and there are large markets in many countries. Many of the same health effects as in LEDCs are found in smokers in MEDCs, such as cancer and emphysema, although treatment of these diseases may be better in MEDCs it still costs the health services many millions of pounds to treat these diseases, which could be classified as diseases of affluence as they are brought upon yourself. In the UK smoking costs. 13. 74 billion to the government overall! Cigarettes contain many carcinogens and these will obviously adversely harm health of smokers, but although advertising of cigarettes is banned in many MEDCs the already implemented addiction to cigarettes does not need advertising to continue. Fewer people start smoking in MEDCs than LEDCs as advertising is banned and fewer children start smoking as they are well aware of the health effects smoking has as many MEDCs make it compulsory to learn about the effects it has to reduce the cost to the government. Much like with pharmaceutical companies, tobacco companies provide employment in MEDCs, but it is mostly administrative work in offices as production occurs mainly in LEDCs where there are favourable growing conditions for the tobacco plant. Due to MEDCs laws, tobacco companies must provide some level of healthcare and so in that instance they help better the health of their employees, but again they do little to help with international health problems as they are more concerned with their profit. In conclusion, both tobacco and pharmaceutical companies have great influence on the health of people in countries at different stages of development, whether they be an MEDC or an LEDC. Producing drugs and medicines and health aid provided by pharmaceutical companies are probably the largest positive influences either of these types of companies have on the health of populations. Pharmaceutical companies are generally positively influencing the health of people in countries at different stages of development, but in different ways either by providing aid or employment or through the capitalist nature of the industry they are in. Whereas tobacco companies are trying to maintain a large consumer pool for their product, whilst adversely affecting peoples health due to the carcinogenic nature of tobacco and cigarette products and are therefore negatively influencing the health of people in almost exactly the same way in countries of all stages of development. As tobacco companies have less social and moral responsibility they are not motivated to help in the fight against widespread diseases, like the pharmaceutical companies are.

Asian Crisis Essay -- essays research papers fc

The beginning of the Asian financial crisis can be traced back to 2 July 1997. That was the day the Thai Government announced a managed float of the Baht and called on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for 'technical assistance'. That day the Baht fell around 20 per cent against the $US. This became the trigger for the Asian currency crisis. Within the week the Philippines and Malaysian Governments were heavily intervening to defend their currencies. While Indonesia intervened and also allowed the currency to move in a widened trading range a sort of a float but with a floor below which the monetary authority acts to defend the currency against further falls. By the end of the month there was a 'currency meltdown' during which the Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir attacked 'rogue speculators' and named the notorious speculator and hedge fund manager, George Soros, as being personally responsible for the fall in value of the ringgit. Soon other East Asian economies became involved , Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and others to varying degrees. Stock and property markets were also feeling the pressure though the declines in stock prices tended to show a less volatile but nevertheless downward trend over most of 1997. By 27 October the crisis had had a world wide impact, on that day provoking a massive response on Wall Street with the Dow Jones industrial average falling by 554.26 or 7.18 per cent, its biggest point fall in history, causing stock exchange officials to suspend trading. Countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines have embraced an unusual policy combination of liberalisation of controls on flows of financial capital on the one hand, and quasi-fixed/ heavily managed exchange rate systems on the other. These exchange rate systems have been operated largely through linkages with the United States (US) dollar as their anchor. (1) Such external policy mixes are only sustainable in the longer term if there is close harmonisation of economic/ financial policies and conditions with those of the anchor country (in this case, the United States). Otherwise, establishing capital flows will inevitably undermine the exchange rate. Rather than harmonisation, there seems to have actually been increased economic and financial divergence with the US, especially in terms of current account deficits, inflation and interest rates. The... ..., 'Crisis into Catastrophe?' Financial Times (London), 31 October 1997, p. 15. 8.Max Walsh, 'Aid Parcels to Japanese Banks', The New Zealand Herald, 18 November 1998, pp. 25-26; Max Walsh, 'Time for Japan to Save the World', The New Zealand Herald, 21 November 1998, pp. 29-30. 9.John McBeth, 'Big is Best: Indonesia's Rescue Package Draws on the Thai Experience', Far Eastern Economic Review, 13 November 1997, pp. 68-69; Greg Sheridan, 'The Asian Malaise is Curable', 28 November 1997, p. 13. National Business Review 10.Charles Lee, 'The Next Domino?' Far Eastern Economic Review, 20 November 1997, pp. 14-16. 11.Eric Ellis, 'Kim Inspects Mouth of IMF Gift Horse', Australian Financial Review, 24 November 1997, p. 12. 12.Teresa Wyszomierski and Christopher Lingle, "Fortress Japan Under Siege', Australian Financial Review, 19 November 1997, p. 20. 13.Ian MacFarlane, Forbes Magazine Business 1998, pp24-27. 14. Forecasts Lowered', The New Zealand Herald, 20 November 1998, pp. 29-30. 15.Reserve Bank of New Zealand, semi-annual Statement on Monetary Policy, November 1997, pp. 2-13. 16 A New Revolution by Peter Smith As published in NZBUSINESS, August 1998, PP

Analysis “On Being Human” Essay

C.S. Lewis gets straight to the point in his first lines, particularly with the first two words ‘angelic minds.’ Readers will discern immediately that Lewis is going to discuss the concept of experience from the viewpoint of supernatural non-human beings such as angels. Readers may also guess, by comparing this idea to the poems title ‘On Being Human,’ that he intends to go on to compare this idea with our experience of the world from the implied lowliness of mankind’s perspective. Students may wonder where the latter implication comes from, and in this, at the beginning of the poem at least, C.S. Lewis is no help at all in referring to a mysterious ‘they’ who apparently hold that angels use intelligence alone to comprehend the forms of nature, not needing the added senses enjoyed by more sensate humankind. Some readers may be reminded here of the fierce battles between the angels and demons of Milton or the ‘arrows of desire’ of Blake. Indeed the nature of love and its forms was thoroughly explored and analysed elsewhere in the Four Loves by C.S. Lewis himself. As he outlines his argument in the next few lines, readers are left wondering which way Lewis is going to go with this. They may wonder which dimension of experience the poet will say is best – intelligence or sensory experience? Here, the idea of an enigma or puzzle gives the poem drive and suspense as students read on to find out what happens next. Initially C.S. Lewis presents, and continues to develop, the theory that those with purely spiritual, non sensual minds can unerringly discern crucial timeless truths, ‘the verities’, through intelligence alone, without recourse to the five senses. Humans either lack knowledge of these truths or have come to learn them indirectly through the implied less satisfactory means of sensual experience. Truths of nature seem to be given particular weight by Lewis here as he tells readers of ‘earthness’ and ‘stoneness’ that can be perceived by angels from their clear uncluttered viewpoint – uncluttered by the supposed inferior extraneous baggage of mortal sensate feelings and experiences. Both in Lewis’s use of the word ‘unvarying’ and in his use of the word ‘unerringly’ in the opening lines, some readers may pick up echoes of the Roman Catholic belief in the infallibility of the Pope and the unwavering adherence to doctrine of the Roman Catholic church – even in the face of calls for relaxation and modernisation by common popular dissent. This serves to reinforce the notion of the fundamental nature of ancient truths. Being human, Lewis seems to ponder, may result in a clouding of the vision of fundamental principles by a veil or a muddled fog of distracting sensual experiences. It is at this point that the reader may perceive a divergence in Lewis’s view with that of the poets, theologians and philosophers of the ‘they’ in his initial lines. In his list of the understanding of the notion of ‘being,’ of existence, ‘being human’ is left out! The angels appear to understand the scientific principles of the beauty of nature, the properties of a tree for example, or the evaporatory properties of the sea, but their achievements in the field of understanding human existence are not mentioned. C.S. Lewis then sketches, with exquisite delicacy, the human experience of the blissful coolness of shade as relief from the blistering unrelenting glare of the sun and, next, the severance of sun from shadow where the trees begin. This use of the word ‘severance’ also serves to mark the point where Lewis breaks faith temporarily with the ‘they’ of the first lines as he introduces humor, remarking that an angel has no skin and therefore (presumably) no conduit for the sense of touch. Then follows a series of ravishing images, deftly painted by Lewis, of the ‘drinking-in’ of experiences of nature’s loveliness – such as the sweetness of a peach basking in the warmth of a sunlit wall or the delightfully natural fragrances of the countryside. Here Lewis picks up again the comical atmosphere that underlies the conversational narrative style of the poem, adding that angels are unable to appreciate the delights of the fragrance of the field, new mown hay, the sea smells and the therapeutic incense of wood smoke. With humor he bluntly posits that an angel has no nose! The poet then appears to struggle between two possibilities – firstly that angels get the best deal as they are not burdened with the five confusing senses. Conversely, he wonders whether humans are the better off of the two beings. After all, they are guarded from the shock of perceiving the whole of existence ‘the heavens’ at once, because mankind’s distracting senses obscure the truth of it. Crucially, in terms of understanding Lewis’s own opinion on the subject, the poet draws attention to the way in which God himself may want us to have one small area of our personalities devoted to appreciating the environment through our senses. Perhaps in so doing we are the better able to comprehend the sheer scale of the wonders of nature and sense that He has provided for our happiness. The angels with their cold intelligence may be unable to profoundly appreciate, thank and love God to the full. Indeed, some lines from the Roman Catholic church service, ‘The Mass’, may spring to mind when reflecting upon the benefits this ‘being human’ has in our relationship with God – the lines refer to a Christ ‘who humbled himself to share in our humanity.’ As Lewis puts it, we ‘share a privacy that is forever ours, not theirs.’

Cause of Homelessness

Homelessness is a devastating experience for families. It disrupts virtually every aspect of family life, damaging the physical and emotional health of family members, interfering with children†s education and development, and frequently resulting in the separation of family members. The leading cause of homelessness is the inability of poor people to afford housing. Housing costs have risen significantly over the last decate, white the incomes of poor and middle-class have stagnated. In addition, who are unemployed or work in low-paying jobs are among the most vulnerable to becoming homeless. Homelessness and poverty are inextricably linked. Poor people are frequently unable to pay for housing, food, child care, health care, and education. Being poor means being an illness, an accident, or a paycheck away from living on the streets. Homelessness frequently breaks up families. Families may be separated as a result of shelter policies which deny access to older boys or fathers. Separations may also be caused by placement of children into foster care when their parents become homeless. In addition, parents may leave their children with relatives and friends in order to save them from the ordeal of homelessness or to permit them to continue attending their regular school. According to youth homelessness are family stress or breakdown, physical or emotional abuse, sexual assault, incest, poverty, schooling difficulties, institutionalisation, or mental illness, all cause youth homelessness. In these young people being depressed, angry, and emotional. They have low self-esteem, and drug and alcohol abuse is common. There are some strategies to control with youth homelessness or effective communication with them, the development of rapport and engagement with youth people on their level interest, the showing of respect including a respect for their choices The homeless people usually die in hospital and the dying homeless often appear to be dying alone. The dying person†s mind is filled with a myriad of emotions, encompassing shock, depression, anger, regret, sadness, and the ambivalence of acceptance and denial. Beside that, the homeless person†s death with no food, no clothing, no house, loss jobs, no money. So, how can to help homeless people to get out of poverty. They have to volunteer group to help homeless people with serve food, looking for the job, cloths. Finally, that homelessness is often the result of a complex set of circumstances which push people into force impossible choices between food, shelter, and other basic needs. Only a concerted effort to ensure jobs that pay a living wage, adequate benefits for those who cannot work, affordable housing, and access to health care will bring an end to homelessness.

Anthrax Threat to America essays

Anthrax Threat to America essays It is August 1 at the A.I.M. building in Palm Beach, Florida. 1000 people are in line to receive protective antibiotics, to be tested for exposure to anthrax - all this after a man, who would later die, was admitted to a local hospital for possible anthrax exposure. Anthrax is a disease caused by bacteria found in livestock. A breakout in Iraq once killed a million sheep. Today at least 17 nations are believed to have biological weapons programs that include weapons grade Anthrax. Research on anthrax use as a biological weapon began 80 years ago. (Thomas) Despite the large possibility of anthrax, there has not been a confirmed case of inhalation anthrax in the United States since 1978. This is why the cases of anthrax that have shown up in recent weeks have come as such a shock and have been met with paranoia. Despite the long-standing history of Anthrax, for a period it had been forgotten about. Since the beginning of anthrax use as a biological weapon in 1920s, the United States has lost track of which nations have weaponized anthrax. This is one of the major causes for concern. It is known that Iraq one of the United States enemies has produced and weaponized anthrax, (Thomas) but their could be countless other nations and terrorist groups that could obtain it. Another problem involving anthrax is its deadliness. In 1979, the accidental release of anthrax in the former Soviet Union resulted in 79 cases of the anthrax and 68 deaths, demonstrating the lethal potential of anthrax. Anthrax also puts a strain on the economy. At an average cost of $262 per person infected an the fact that if there is a major release of anthrax 88 out of every 100 people would not survive the ensuing sickness despite antibiotics. (Thomas) Some scientists say that a solution to the anthrax threat would be vac cination, but the total vaccination of all of America would be costly and ineffective. The vaccinations only last f ...

Universal Basic Income - Definition and History

Universal Basic Income - Definition and History Universal basic income is a controversial proposal under which the government provides regular, permanent cash payments to each citizen with the intent of lifting everyone out of poverty, encouraging their participation in the economy and covering the costs of their most fundamental needs including food, housing and clothing. Everyone, in other words, gets a paycheck - whether they work or not. The idea of setting a universal basic income has been around for centuries but remains largely experimental. Canada, Germany, Switzerland and Finland have launched trials of universal basic income variations. It gained some momentum among some economists, sociologists and tech industry leaders with the advent of technology that allowed factories and businesses to automate the manufacturing of goods and to reduce the size of their human workforces. How the Universal Basic Income Works There are many variations of the universal basic income. The most basic of these proposals would merely replace Social Security, unemployment compensation and public-assistance programs with a basic income for every citizen. The U.S. Basic Income Guarantee Network supports such a plan, stating that the system of trying to force Americans into the workforce as a way of eliminating poverty has not proven successful. Some estimates show that approximately 10 percent of people who work full time all year around live in poverty. Hard work and a booming economy have not comes close to eliminating poverty. A universal program like the basic income guarantee could eliminate poverty, the group states. Its plan would provide a  level of income necessary to meet their most basic needs to every American, regardless of whether they worked, in a system is describes as an efficient, effective, and equitable solution to poverty that promotes individual freedom and leaves the beneficial aspects of a market economy in place. A more complicated version of the universal basic income would provide about the same monthly payment to every American adult, but it would also require that about a quarter of the money be spent on health care insurance. It would also impose graduated taxes on the universal basic income for any other earnings over $30,000. The program would be paid for by eliminating public-assistance programs and entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare.   Cost of Providing a Universal Basic Income One universal basic income proposal would provide $1,000 a month to all 234 million adults in the United States. A household with two adults and two children, for example, would receive $24,000 a year, barely hitting the poverty line. Such a program would cost the federal government $2.7 trillion a year, according to economist Andy Stern, who writes about the universal basic income in a 2016 book, Raising the Floor. Stern has said the program could be funded by eliminating about $1 trillion in antipoverty programs and reducing spending on defense, among other methods. Why Universal Basic Income Is a Good Idea Charles Murray, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and the author of In Our Hands: A Plan to Replace the Welfare State,† has written that a universal basic income is the best way to maintain a civil society amid what he described as a coming labor market unlike any in human history. It will need to be possible, within a few decades, for a life well lived in the U.S. not to involve a job as traditionally defined. ... The good news is that a well-designed UBI can do much more than help us to cope with disaster. It also could provide an invaluable benefit: injecting new resources and new energy into an American civic culture that has historically been one of our greatest assets but that has deteriorated alarmingly in recent decades. Why Universal Basic Income Is a Bad Idea Critics of a universal basic income say that it creates a disincentive for people to work and it rewards non-productive activities. States the Mises Institution, named for the Austrian economic Ludwig von Mises: The struggling entrepreneurs and artists ... are struggling for a reason. For whatever reason, the market has deemed the goods they are providing to be insufficiently valuable. Their work simply isn’t productive according to those who would potentially consume the goods or services in question. In a functioning  marketplace, producers of goods the consumers dont want  would quickly have to abandon such endeavors and focus their efforts into productive areas of the economy. The universal basic income, however, allows them to continue their less-valued  endeavors  with the money of those who have actually produced value, which gets to the ultimate problem of all government welfare programs. Critics also describe the universal basic income as a wealth-distribution scheme that punishes those who work harder and earn more by directing more of their earnings to the program. Those who earn the least benefit the most, creating the disincentive to work, they believe. History of Universal Basic Income The humanist philosopher Thomas More, writing in his seminal 1516 work  Utopia, argued for a universal basic income. The Nobel Prize winning activist  Bertrand Russell  proposed in 1918 that a universal basic income, sufficient for necessities, should be secured for all, whether they work or not, and that a larger income should be given to those who are willing to engage in some work which the community recognizes as useful. On this basis we may build further. Bertrands view was that providing the basic needs of every citizen would free them up to work on more important societal goals and live more harmoniously with their fellow man. After World War II, economist Milton Friedman  floated the idea of a guaranteed income. Friedman wrote: We should replace the ragbag of specific welfare programs with a single comprehensive program of income supplements in cash - a negative income tax. It would provide an assured minimum to all persons in need, regardless of the reasons for their need†¦A negative income tax provides comprehensive reform which would do more efficiently and humanely what our present welfare system does so inefficiently and inhumanely. In the modern era, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has forward the idea, telling Harvard University graduates that we should explore ideas like universal basic income to make sure that everyone has a cushion to try new ideas.

The Many Forms of the Verb TO BE

The Many Forms of the Verb TO BE The Many Forms of the Verb TO BE The Many Forms of the Verb TO BE By Maeve Maddox After reading O Second Person Where Art Thou reader Bill G asks: How can I explain to my students why the singular â€Å"you† takes the plural verb â€Å"are?† Is there something obvious I am missing? Even â€Å"thou† took â€Å"art.† What is the history of this shift? The answer to the first part of this question is that are is the form of the verb that goes with you. If you can be either singular or plural, so can are: You are the one person I love. (singular) You are the best friends in the world. (plural) The only other word for are that ever went with you was sind (or sindon). Clearly, that one hasnt survived into Modern English. Of all Modern English verbs, to be has the most forms: am, are, is, was, were, be, being, been. In addition, the helping verb will is used to form a future tense with be (e.g. I will be with you in a minute.) The forms are so different in appearance that they dont seem to belong to the same verb. The fact is, they dont. Oh, they do now, but they came from three different roots and merged in the Old English verbs beon and wesan. (NOTE: Since I dont know how to import the special OE symbols, Ill use th for the /th/ sound and y for the yot.) In a conjugation of the Old English (West Saxon dialect) verb beon/wesan, todays English speaker will recognize the modern forms in: ic eom =I am thu eart =thou art ic waes =I was ye waere =you were You are, however, was written in West Saxon as ye sind. Although ye earun or ye aron did exist in a northern dialect of Old English, sind is the word for are in most of the Old English literature that survives. But for a fluke of history, we could just as easily be saying you sind as you are. An interesting footnote is that English once had three grammatical numbers and not just two. Modern English has two numbers: singular and plural. Old English had three: singular, dual, and plural. Each number had its own set of pronouns: First person: ic=I wit =two-person we we =more-than-two-persons we Second person: thu = thou yit =you two ye =yall Third person: he =he hit =it heo =she hie =they (For a complete explanation, see the relevant sections in Sweets Anglo-Saxon Primer or Wardales An Old English Grammar.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Yours faithfully or Yours sincerely?3 Cases of Complicated HyphenationThe Uses of â€Å"The†

Hospitality Technology Applied to Hospitals Essay

Hospitality Technology Applied to Hospitals - Essay Example To this end, the hospitality industry, including the airlines and the hotels, are in a constant struggle to introduce new ways to achieve the mentioned goal. This paper purports to discuss some of the new advancements in technology that the airlines have incorporated worldwide to provide for an improved customer experience through improved hospitality and operational management. The airlines have, of late, put an end to paper tickets by encouraging their customers to book tickets online and by checking their bookings through online softwares and databases (3 Big Tech Changes). The latest advancement in this category is an attempt to replace the boarding passes with electronic system of bar codes, so that passenger check-ins can be expedited, and there is less traffic at the airport terminals (3 Big Tech Changes). For this purpose, the major airlines all over the world have started the practice of recording the passenger’s cell phone numbers when they make reservations (3 Big Tech Changes). The airlines then send a bar code to the cell phones via text message, and also to the email address (3 Big Tech Changes). The customers have the option of either printing the emails, or brining their cell phones with them when boarding the planes. The company then checks the bar codes that the passengers have on their cell phones or email print outs(3 Big Tech Cha nges), which therefore, serve as the boarding passes. On 15 January, 2003, Saudi Arabian Airlines opened their first ever option of online booking to the public (MacAllister). This is a major step in the advancement of a key international as well as Middle Eastern flight company, falling currently at number fifteen on the list of the International Air

Health promotion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Health promotion - Essay Example For instance, the organization sets standards which helps to safeguard public safety in terms of nutrition or quality preventative medicine. Thirdly, the WHO role is to articulate on the ethical plus evidence-based health promotion strategy options, through provision of technical support, promoting change, and constructing sustainable institutional capabilities. Thus, the organization eases technical support to nations even as it monitors and disseminates progress on public health needs, while assisting in political mobilization and financial support. The other role of WHO in health promotion is to scan and report on any international outbreak alerts even as it institutes response networks in preparation for any form of outbreaks. Accordingly, the organization helps national authorities together with local communities in strengthening their overall capability to manage all forms of crises. This is more so through guaranteeing effective and well-timed action when it comes to tackling public health concerns. The organization ensures local health structures are operating effectively and efficiently, and if not to mitigate against the outcomes of a particular public health crisis. Therefore, the WHO is involved in monitoring global health situation while assessing the changing health trends (World Health Organization, 2013, para 3). Educational Authorities The role of national Education Authority in the delivery of health promotion is based on the 1998 strategy framework referred to as ‘Saving lives – Our Healthier Nation’ (National Health Service, 2013, para 3). Thus, the roles of educational authorities does not just involve highlighting public health through personal behaviour change or lifestyle change, but also through health improvement with a strong emphasis on the wider social, monetary and environmental determinant of wellbeing. Their main responsibility is to research and broadcast facts and information regarding health improvement. Se condly, education authorities are involved in providing advice on creating and implementing of health standards while developing the capability and competence of personnel working on health enhancement. Thirdly, they are responsible for fostering skills and programs required for effective team healthcare, such as interdisciplinary team education for learners in nursing, and social work. Therefore, their job is to place a duty on educational institutions to ensure that they promote children and learners mental, emotional, and social as well as their physical health. This is not just through the creation of curriculums which have a holistic view to health and wellbeing, but also through the promotion of NHS nutrition, public health awareness and expertise in planning and deliverance of good lifestyle behaviors in schools (Ewles, 2006, p.29) Social workers Social workers also play a huge role in the delivery of health promotion. Firstly, they are involved in defining evidence?pedestal interventions that do not just focus on individual level care, but also community level care (Payne, 2005, p. 217). For instance, applying teaching and counselling in addressing lifestyle diseases like obesity or chronic illnesses. Secondly, social workers are mandated to Increase communities and individuals protective health

Text analysis , written text , English linguistic and literature Essay - 1

Text analysis , written text , English linguistic and literature - Essay Example Instead, it addresses an issue that concerns survival of the humankind as a whole or ‘citizens of the world and not of this or that sect or nation’. From the words ‘To take an even more spectacular example, which is in everybody’s mind at the present time’, it may inferred that the essay was written at a time when the world, after having witnessed two world wars, lived in the grip of constant fear. For later generations, it can serve as an important source of indicative information on apprehensions of intellectuals that emanated from the scientific and political developments in the mid-20th century. However, on account of its highly academic nature of the content and the subtle style, the essay warrants a lot of effort from the reader to be able to fully comprehend precisely what is on the author’s mind. It is too hard to be understood in a single reading. Once understood, it may be said that the essay has the capacity to radically reorganize one’s paradigms in understanding the world, right from an insight into the precautions required to be taken by men of science engaged in research to a revi sed blueprint of religious and moral instruction. Though the essay offers the scope to learn wisdom by reflection and imitation rather than by experience, the fact remains that the ideals proposed by the author in the essay are so lofty that they could turn the world into a heaven if only the inhabitants of the planet imbibed the substance of such ideas. But it can only be a utopian dream for it is easier said than done to overcome the egoism of surroundings, senses and emotions. The first paragraph of the essay introduces the two questions the author intends to deal with, the first being ‘What is wisdom?’ and the second being ‘What can be done to teach it?’ The second, third, fourth and fifth paragraphs address the first question and provide a definition of wisdom as a combination of five factors namely comprehensive vision, awareness of the ends

The Role Of The Catholic Religious Education Specialist Teacher Article

The Role Of The Catholic Religious Education Specialist Teacher - Article Example Religious education encompasses various areas such as evangelisation, catechesis, giving witness, introduction to church, prayer, experience of faith, and knowledge of other faiths. At the same time, the Religious Education specialist teacher’s duties need to be performed on the basis of what the Catholic church teaches; what the government states: the curriculum for excellence; and what schools expect from them in the context of any extracurricular duties which are not expected of other teachers in the school. Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of the Catholic Religious Education (RE) specialist teacher, the various areas of religious education, and the influence on the RE’s role by the Church, the government and the school. Religious teaching can be understood as a ministry with a professional dimension (Cook & Hudson, 2006). Catholic educators need to think and act sentire cum ecclesia which refers to the ideal form of thinking and feeling with the church on the basis of individuals’ identity as Catholics. ... ng to Cook & Hudson (2006: 399), assessment of religious teaching as a profession can be based on a framework composed of the following characteristics: "essential service to society, motivation by a call to serve, special knowledge and skills, specialized and advanced university training, public trust and status, code of ethics and performance standards, and professional organization".Religious Education helps in students' development of the self, socially, morally and spiritually (SCAA, 1994). Research conducted by Sikes & Everington (2001) indicates that a religious education teacher's life history plays a vital part in determining their teaching skills and approach to work. Further, "the quality, range and flexibility of teachers' classroom work are closely tied up with their professional growth - with the way they develop as people and as professionals" (Hargreaves, 1994: xi). This evidence would be useful in screening potential candidates for training as RE specialist teachers, by addressing negative identities unsuitable to carry out the important work. Evangelisation and Catechesis Ecumenism is the essential task of the whole Church to bring the Gospel to the entire world. Ecumenism and mission, evangelisation and Church community converge in a common witness to the same God (Houtepen, 1998). The Church's evangelistic mission is expected to be carried forward by the RE instructor by imparting the Faith to all students in the classroom, including those students who do not share the Christian faith, in the interests of sharing the wisdom and benefits of the Catholic religion (Francis et al, 1996). Teachings of the Catholic Church are mainly through catechesis. Bishop O' Donoghue (2008) believes that the key element or essence of the aims of a

In what way does the Phaedo represent the completion of the Apology Term Paper

In what way does the Phaedo represent the completion of the Apology and Crito Discuss in relation to the problem of immortality, death, human freedom and knowledge - Term Paper Example Of all the reasons for completion, Socrates’ arguments about the immortality of the soul best condenses Phaedo. If Crito is the dialogue between an elderly Athenian friend named Crito and Socrates, Phaedo abstracts a scene of narration by Socrates’ cherished disciple, Phaedo. He was a spectator during Socrates’ final hour and death together with Simmias, Cebes, Crito, and Apollodorus. Even at his last moment, Socrates managed to provide reasons about conception and immortality of the soul after death, its relation to the body, and evidential existence of soul. Phaedo is the completion of Apology and Crito because it discusses something beyond death. One might argue that one’s life end when he faced death; Socrates argue that there is something more after the death of the physical body. He expounds this idea through arguments and discussion with his disciples. Upon reading Phaedo, one would be estranged why Socrates does not fear death and even exultant about it. This is because of his arguments about life, death, and soul. Socrates gives the strongest argument about full acceptance of death even if it’s due to execution or illness. Knowing that you’ll be facing death soon, one should not be reluctant to accept or deny it. We also do not have the right to commit suicide because we are God’s possessions. It is only God who have the right to His possession and it is only Him who could get the life He has given to us upon certain circumstances. Spending your life in Earth up until your last breath completes Apology and Crito as unleashing the soul is the superior of all. Upon analysis of Socrates’ arguments, the emergence of death signals the separation of the body and soul. It also embraces the reason that life and death cannot co-exist as life has the physical body while death unleashes the soul being trapped in the physical body. The onset of death is the key to separation

The Role Of The Catholic Religious Education Specialist Teacher Article

The Role Of The Catholic Religious Education Specialist Teacher - Article Example Religious education encompasses various areas such as evangelisation, catechesis, giving witness, introduction to church, prayer, experience of faith, and knowledge of other faiths. At the same time, the Religious Education specialist teacher’s duties need to be performed on the basis of what the Catholic church teaches; what the government states: the curriculum for excellence; and what schools expect from them in the context of any extracurricular duties which are not expected of other teachers in the school. Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of the Catholic Religious Education (RE) specialist teacher, the various areas of religious education, and the influence on the RE’s role by the Church, the government and the school. Religious teaching can be understood as a ministry with a professional dimension (Cook & Hudson, 2006). Catholic educators need to think and act sentire cum ecclesia which refers to the ideal form of thinking and feeling with the church on the basis of individuals’ identity as Catholics. ... ng to Cook & Hudson (2006: 399), assessment of religious teaching as a profession can be based on a framework composed of the following characteristics: "essential service to society, motivation by a call to serve, special knowledge and skills, specialized and advanced university training, public trust and status, code of ethics and performance standards, and professional organization".Religious Education helps in students' development of the self, socially, morally and spiritually (SCAA, 1994). Research conducted by Sikes & Everington (2001) indicates that a religious education teacher's life history plays a vital part in determining their teaching skills and approach to work. Further, "the quality, range and flexibility of teachers' classroom work are closely tied up with their professional growth - with the way they develop as people and as professionals" (Hargreaves, 1994: xi). This evidence would be useful in screening potential candidates for training as RE specialist teachers, by addressing negative identities unsuitable to carry out the important work. Evangelisation and Catechesis Ecumenism is the essential task of the whole Church to bring the Gospel to the entire world. Ecumenism and mission, evangelisation and Church community converge in a common witness to the same God (Houtepen, 1998). The Church's evangelistic mission is expected to be carried forward by the RE instructor by imparting the Faith to all students in the classroom, including those students who do not share the Christian faith, in the interests of sharing the wisdom and benefits of the Catholic religion (Francis et al, 1996). Teachings of the Catholic Church are mainly through catechesis. Bishop O' Donoghue (2008) believes that the key element or essence of the aims of a

ECONOMICS Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

ECONOMICS - Assignment Example an observe presently, the two main providers for the area of Michigan are AT&T and Comcast; they may be creating conditions that make other entries into this market difficult. Governor Granholm of Michigan signed the legislation document called Public Act-480 on Dec 21, 2006, which aimed at providing healthy competition for getting video services in the state of Michigan. While Michigan Public Service Commission is responsible to implement the act, to oversee that the franchisee agreement is uniform for all the entrants, the agency has no authority to regulate any service provider under this act, as a public utility provider. However, even with the limited powers of the agency, it has authority to review all disputes between consumers and service providers, between two providers, between the franchisee and its provider entity...................(Video/Cable) Although AT&T as well as Comcast may be happy with the legislation, they admit that the prices offered to consumers, for either bundled packages or individual packages, have shown an increase, after the legislation. Hence, it is essential for the following action, which should be taken by the regulatory authority, MPSC, to monitor and suggest effective ways for bringing in healthy competition. MPSC should compile the data with regard to the households that get services from AT&T as well as Comcast, to know whether they have followed the requirement of the ACT-480, which warrants that they provide cable service to at least 30% of the their telephone subscribers.. MPSC should prepare a list of new entrants who are desirous of making the services available in the area, so that the opportunity of uniform franchisee policy agreement is available to them as well, which will increase the competition in the area. The agency responsible for overlooking and monitoring of the act should take their action seriously to help making the act achieve its goal, as the legislators intended. However, the implementing agency

Serious failure to protect individuals Essay Example for Free

Serious failure to protect individuals Essay Serious failure to protect individuals from abuse occurred in care homes across Britain. This is an account of the shocking state of an elderly care home in Essex. It has shown the residents being abused, bullied and also physical violence being used toward these vulnerable adults. They had been left in their own excrement for hours not taken to bathroom when they needed too. In a Hampshire hospital it had shown through the use of hidden cameras had shown vulnerable adults with learning disabilities being assaulted. A third of care homes did not meet the basic standards (CQC) this means that 406 care homes housing up to 15,533 vulnerable adults are failing. Panorama investigated they send in a reporter named Alex Lee to work 36 undercover shifts with a hidden camera. What she caught on film was shocking she filmed care workers slapping a woman with dementia who was partially paralysed also caught others bullying, mocking the same patient. see more:serious failures to protect individuals from abuse Other residents had their pleas for help ignored many were left in their own excrement for hours and care workers had turned off the call bells. An elderly resident in his late 80s was mockingly called a â€Å"bitch† for hours after he called her it after he became annoyed about how she was cleaning his private parts. The head of care quality commission (CQC) stated the care shown in the programme was unacceptable. Since 2011 158 homes have been shut down due to action taken by the CQC. A spokesman for the care home said they ‘apologise unreservedly for what was covered in the programme. Immediate action was taken those involved were suspended straight away and are not to return to work until after a full inquiry has taken place. In another situation a girl named Vanessa Evans used a hidden camera to uncover the care of her grandmother. In December 2012 it was shown that her grandmother had called for a nurse 321 times pleading for the toilet 45 times in just over an hour. They had tried to make her walk even though she was immobile for two years. She was taken to the toilet two and a half hour later she still did not go was put back to bed. Vanessa’s Grandmother told her ‘they’re really nice when your here as soon as your gone they are horrible. She was completely ignored by staff. She was bleeding from pressure sores that needed a dressing which the staff had noticed. However  five hours later the nurse hadn’t put a dressing on the wounds. A spokeswoman who owns the care home apologised she said they do not tolerate this kind of behaviour that it was ‘shocking and ‘distressing. They acted immediately to notify care quality commission and the police. Staff involved we re suspended and later dismissed. Serious failure to protect individuals from abuse occurred at childrens homes in Britain author Alex Weatle writes of how he was sexually abused by a doctor at a childrens home thought to be linked to paedophiles involving an MP in Tony Blair’s government. He was awarded an MBE in 2008 he spoke up after seeing an investigation by the Daily mirror about abuse covered up after the MP was named suspect. Alex was targeted in the 1980s by a group of abusers who were working in the same care homes the MP was visiting. He would make visits alone to childrens homes run by a convicted paedophile. Boys would have been taken out of south vale childrens home this is a unit which has filtered out abusers from outside the care system. Alex sickening account of abuse suffered by children at Shirley oaks care home he states that strange nameless me had entry to the home and he believes that abusers were allowed in and the staff had known he was convince there was a paedophile ring operating a t both care homes. Shirley oaks looked like a nice place to raise children with its hills streams and oaks trees. However in 1995 it was shut down. Outside the building now is a plague that reminds people of the children that once lived there. A friend of Alex took her life not far from there tortured by memories of abuse. Another friend took his life by asphyxiation hanging themselves from a toilet chain. He first arrived there in 1966 he remembers filling coal buckets and getting beat up with hard brushes, belts and shoes. He suffered violence daily described it as part of his day like eating toast. As he got older he heard stories of abuse from friends who started off in south vale and came to Shirley oaks for longer care. ‘bummed’ was a phrase he heard often. Strange men would be around the premises one stayed and we were told his name is mark he taught swimming lessons in pool within grounds as well as private clients he was only adult present each time. Decades later he was jailed for his crimes. Alex did his best to get through  this time he was labelled ‘maladjusted and referred to a doctor. When he seen the doctor the first thing doctor asked him to do was to remove all of his clothing until he was naked. He stood there in horror unable to speak as the doctor sexually assaulted him. He wanted to share it with his friends to see if they have suffered the same but he could not do it. In secondary education there were still strange men on the grounds at night sometimes during the day. One said he was a football coach he would arrive at a game and take the younger boys away to a hidden part of the premises where it was thought he was giving them extra training, no one would report to social worker for fear of being put somewhere worse.. One of his house mates did object what was taking place she was removed she came back traumatised would not speak. They had heard a staff member had raped a defenceless girl. If you had family that wanted to visit they could apply for a section 2 to even deny any relatives from visiting you. They had complete control and many were miserable and isolated. There were only 3 convicted jail terms there are 19 paedophiles who were not identified or charged and the police said the investigation was a great success. How did these people gain access to these childrens homes there were hundreds of children and social workers visited them everyday they must have been aware of the ‘swimming instructor or the ‘football coach because they were visible. They and other paedophiles had somehow had gotten inside these places and to got to abuse these defenceless children. He was convinced there was a paedophile ring running in both south vale and Shirley oaks childrens homes that the authorities knew and did nothing to stop it. Alex urges that the inquires made include a complete investigation of the social services safeguarding children and protection policies it should examine all aspects of child abuse including violent, neglect and emotional abuse victims often take their lives because of abuse. After the Shirley Oaks was shut down someone set fire to the primary school he wonders if it was a victim who felt it would be justice for her who for years had went unheard and ignored. He really hopes his account will help others who have suffered this abuse to come forward and talk about this horrific crimes toward them those strange men must be uncovered and brought to justice no matter if they are alive or dead.

The company aims and objectives

The company aims and objectives 1 Introduction Strategic management is the way a business will formulate, implement and evaluate its decisions across the departments in order to help the company to achieve its objectives. It means using the company aims and objectives to develop policies and plans, allocate resources in order to implement the plans and then evaluate whether this has been successful. Strategic Planning ensures that an organisation is doing the right things. If a business needs to change the way it runs its business operations then a strategic plan explains what the organisation is changing to. Once it has determined the right things to do, it devolves accountability for doing them right to one or more business plans (Guest 1989). Every organisation has a mission statement setting out its aims and objectives and strategy can be defined as â€Å"The determination of the basic long-term goals and objective of an enterprise and the adoption of courses of action and the allocation of resources necessary for carrying out these goals† (Alfred Chandler, 1963). Johnson and Scholes (2002 p13) suggested that a company needs a mission and mission statements; a vision or strategic intent; goals; objectives; unique resources and core competences, strategies and control. Strategy was ‘the direction and scope of an organisation over the long term: ideally which mat ches its resources to its changing environment, and in particular to its markets, customers or clients, so as to meet stakeholder expectations. To continue in business and be profitable every business needs a strategy and according to McGee et al (2005)strategy is the ability of a company to thrive and survive. The report will outline the stages, steps and procedures that should be implemented to carryout a strategic analysis as part of the strategic management process. The New Vintage Car Company is a specialist organisation which has a small niche in the specialist car market and a mission statement, objectives and strategic intent. 1.1 Aims and Objectives of the report The aim of the report is write a report about a chosen firm within the automotive industry (real or invented) indicating the stages, steps and processes involved in the planning and analysis, formulation and implementation and evaluation of the strategic management process. 1.2 Objectives To understand the importance and characteristics of strategic management to all forms of organisation To investigate a range of strategic management models and their strengths and weaknesses To consider the relevance for strategic management of organisational culture and ethics To analyse and evaluate a range of strategic management models To apply and to tailor models of strategic management as appropriate 2 Stage One Strategic analysis Generally there are two main approaches to strategic management the organisational approach dealing with competitive advantage, resource allocation and economies or scale and the the human approach. According to Arieu (2007), ‘there is strategic consistency when the actions of an organization are consistent with the expectations of management, and these in turn are with the market and the context. Strategic management can be bottom-up, top-down, or collaborative processes which means that in the bottom up approach employees send in proposals to their managers who choose the best ideas which are assessed through capital budgeting processes such as return on investment or cost benefit whilst the top-down approach is where the CEO and the planning team make the decisions. Johnson (1999 p154) advised that strategic planning was the ‘process of drawing up long-term, wide ranging plans in accordance with the organisations main aims and will involve analysing customer expectations, competitive pressures and overall changes in the market. Operational planning on the other hand was the development of plans for a specific operation within the organisation whether it was for a product or a service. He added that although organisations used information from analysis, quantified objectives which became the organisations targets for a planned period of time, could be based on ‘ guesswork. Strategic management is an ongoing process that evaluates and controls the business and the industries in which the company is involved; assesses its competitors and sets goals and strategies to meet all existing and potential competitors; and then reassesses each strategy annually or quarterly [i.e. regularly] to determine how it has been implemented and whether it has succeeded or needs replacement by a new strategy to meet changed circumstances, new technology, new competitors, a new economic environment., or a new social, financial, or political environment. (Lamb, 1984:ix). As the New Vintage Car Company is a small specialist business it is very much a very collaborative style of strategic management with the 10 main employees taking part in management decisions. 2.1 Strategic management theories Strategic management was a concept which was developed in the 1950s and 1960s which theorised that gathering all the functions under one strategy and coordinating the different departments. Chandler (1962) showed that a long-term coordinated strategy was necessary to give a company structure, direction, and focus stating that ‘structure follows strategy. Selznick theorised that an organisations internal functions should be matched to any external environmental circumstances through SWOT analysis which was developed by the Harvard Business School General Management Group. Anscoff developed a strategy grid to compare market penetration strategies, product development strategies, market development strategies, horizontal and vertical integration and diversification strategies and a gap analysis. Druckers (1969) management by objectives (MBO) meant that companies set objectives and then monitored if they had been achieved and suggested the use of team work. Function strategies incl ude marketing strategies such as new product development strategies, human resource strategies, financial strategies, legal strategies, supply-chain strategies, and information technology management strategies dealing with short and medium term plans. However, Mintzberg (1988) thought of strategy as a process or pattern of behaviour which has evolved over time and necessitated fluidity and the realization that there were unpredictable issues which could arise. 2.2 Analysis Part of the planning process for a company would be to analyse the current market place and the companys position in it. This could be done through various analysis techniques such as PEST, SWOT, Gap analysis, Porters generic strategy analysis. 2.2.1 PEST analysis The PEST analysis could be used by the organisation to look into market growth or decline whilst investigating the position of the company, its potential for future growth and the direction the business should take. PEST stands for Political, Economic, Social and Technological factors, and can be used in conjunction with SWOT which are the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats analysis. PEST can be extended to PESTLE by adding Environmental and Legal or even adding any Political and demographic issues as STEEPLED (Grundy 2006). 2.2.2 SWOT analysis In order to see where the company is in the market place, a SWOT analysis will need to be undertaken. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Strengths would be the type of business and whether is has been well established in the area and has a loyal customer base Weaknesses are anything which may hinder the company in achieving its objectives and which may need to be changed such as financial constraints. Opportunities are the things a companies can use to progress Threats are the issues which affect a company and could potentially threaten the companys futuresuch as thecredit crunch with suppliers closing down, transport costs rising and banks not lending money (Armstrong 1982 p198 Hill Westbrook 1997). 2.2.3 Gap analysis The company will need to judge where there is a gap in the market, either a place for their product or where the company is at the moment and where they would like to be and so the difference is the gap. After this analyis the company needs to decide how to bridge the gap either through a strategic approach or a tactical/operational approach. The tactical operational approach would make use of the Marketing Mix Product, Place, Price, Promotion 2.2.4 The value chain Porter (1998) also theorized that a company could be successful if it contributed to the industry it was in via a value chain which meant that everything a company does should be questioned in terms of what value it adds in the eyes of the final customer. In 1993,John Kay stated that ‘adding value is the central purpose of business activity. 2.3 Competitor analysis A company needs to analyse what its competitors are doing, how well they are doing it and whether they are a real threat. 2.3.1 Competitive advantage and Porters 5 Forces theory Porters 5 Forces Model New entrants, Industry competitors, Suppliers, buyers and substitutes is a useful theory can help for an organisation to formulate the appropriate strategies to be successful in their market (Thurlby, 1998). Porters theory takes 5 elements which can influence a business such as New Entrants to the market and Industry competitors are there any new or similar companies setting up in business which could be a threat and which customers will choose instead of the original company; Suppliers who may be powerful enough to put up prices which the company has to pay or even refusing to do business with the company; Buyers how customers can put pressure on the company to lower prices or alter product lines; Substitutes customers changing to alternative products from another company if there is a product price increase; the use of price cutting and aggressive marketing by other similar rival companies; (Porter 1998). 2.4 The Competitive-positioning approach Companies need to be aware of the competitions own strategies at all times. A competitive advantage can be attained by organisations if the current strategy is value-creating, and not currently being used or activated by competitors or future competitors (Barney, 1991, p102). Choosing the correct market level is important as too high will lose customers and too low may see to many competitors. Porter (1995) thought that there were three routes to competitive advantage. A firm either (1) focused on a particular customer group (2) Specialised in skills competitors cannot match or (3) became the lowest cost producer. Having the competitive advantage means that a company must outperform its competitors by delivering superior value to customers and, in doing so, earn an above average financial return for the company and its stakeholders. Doing this successfully over a long period is sustainable competitive advantage which requires that they outperform their competitors for a long period in a way that customers are prepared to purchase at a sufficiently high price. Campbell et al (2007) argued that there were 8 areas which need to be considered for competitive and sustainable competitive advantage to continue for a company. They need to have a strategic intent to stretch the organisation in the future and be willing to work at continuous improvement which includes inputs, processes and outputs of products and services. They would need to work in a different way to their competitors and importantly they need to be perceived to be better by their customers who need to believe that they are the main r eason for the company being in business to serve their customers. The company must build on their core competences by continuous internal review and keep communication channels open both internally and externally. Its core competency is the restoring of classic cars and all the skills which go with this. The management must be aware that the business environment is constantly changing and they must be prepared to change with it especially during the current recession They need to be aware of their competitors but also know when collaboration and co-operation with competitors through strategic alliances is a necessity. 3 Stage Two Strategic formulation The New Vintage Car Company has formulated a strategy through the planning and analysis of companys SWOT and the gap analysis as well as having looked at the competition which is a few other similar small businesses. Strategy formulation is the process of determining appropriate courses of action for achieving organizational objectives and staying a profitable business. Johnson and Scholes (2002 p11) theorised that there were different levels of strategy: (1) corporate dealing with the ‘overall purpose and scope of an organisation and how value can be added to the business areas of the company and when a company has decided on its products and the market it should compete in (2) business unit strategy deals with how a company can achieve an advantage over its competitors and what opportunities can be identified or created and competitive strategy which is when the company sets out the framework for success in the market it has chosen with goal setting, commitment of resources a nd the monitoring or strategies and (3) operational strategy is how the different areas of a company deliver the corporate strategies with reference to resources, people and processes. Once the strategy has been formulated, the company needs a mission statement, set the aims and objectives and conduct the internal and external analyis of the niche in the market. The company would then implement the strategy by undertaking certain steps such as entering into a partnership or expanding distribution outlets. The strategy will then need to be reviewed. The strategy formulated by a company should reflect an environmental analysis as well as the organisaitonal vision, mission statement and organisational objectives. The way to formulate strategic plans is to use three steps which find out where the company is now, determine where the company wants to go, and then determines how to get there. This may require to take certain precautionary measures or even to change the entire strategy. Johnson and Scholes (2002) strategic model looks at three criteria suitability and whether it will work; feasibility and whether it is possible to make it work and acceptability and whether the strategies will be successful. 3.1 Suitability The strategies for the company need to be suitable for that company and its current and future position in the market. The question to ask is is it economical to pursue the strategies and would there be any cost advantages for the business due expansion (economies of scale) referring to efficiencies associated with supply-side changes, such as increasing or decreasing the scale of production, of a single product type? The company needs to also address the question of economies of scope which means efficiencies primarily associated with demand-side changes, such as increasing or decreasing the scope of marketing or distribution. A company which sells many product lines, sells the same product in many countries, or sells many product lines in many countries will benefit from reduced risk levels as a result of its economies of scope. If one of its product lines falls out of fashion or one country has an economic slowdown, the company will, most likely, be able to continue trading. Thin king of its customers the company needs to look at the experience economy and what their customers will get and how they will feel they receive not only value for money but are getting something extra and feel part of the company experience. This encourages company loyalty. The New Vintage Car Company has a loyal customer base in the UK and has overseas customers in countries where the current financial downturn has not had such as great impact. The company would make use of decision tree analysis and what if analysis. 3.2 Feasibility Feasibility is concerned with the resources required to implement the strategy and whether they are available now or need to be developed or obtained. The resources which would need to be looked at would be (1) finance and funding and whether the company would have enough capital without taking on a loan or issuing more shares; (2) people and whether there would need to be a recruitment drive to employ more skilled craftspeople or even take on apprentices; (3) time and whether the length of time it would take would be prohibitive or whether the time scales involved would be acceptable and (4) information and whether the company has enough expertise and knowledge to expand using the strategies. For this the New Vintage Car Company would need to undertake a cash flow analysis and forecast as well as a break even analysis and a deployment analysis. 3.3 Acceptability Acceptability deals with how the main stakeholders of a company will accept any new strategies. The stakeholders in a company are the shareholders, employees and customers. They will need to know the expected performance outcomes and whether there are risks and what the consequences of a failed strategy would be for the company. The shareholders would want to know that there would be returns on their investments either financial or non financial and the employees would expect improved pay or career prospects and customers would be concerned that they would still get the quality they were used to. An ideal tool for this would be stakeholder mapping. Therefore the formulation of a good workable strategy for the New Vintage Car Company is essential. Strategic formulation allows the company to plan its capital budgeting especially where there are limited funds and capital funds need to be invested where they can be most effective for all the stakeholders. The next stage is implementation. Implementing any strategies will mean a change of some kind. Strategic Planning ensures that an organisation is doing the right things and then doing them right but the strategic plan explains what the organisation is changing to. The Corporate plan would be at the head of the strategic planning with departmental strategic plans and functional strategic plans for other parts of management. What goes into a strategic plan must take into account the needs of the stakeholders, any environmental risks and threats plus the competencies, resources and values that the company has. (http://www.changeperform.com.au/strategic_plan_process.html) 4 Stage Three Strategic implementation and evaluation In order to implement the plans made, there will need to be an allocation of resources including money, people, time and computer support and establishing a chain of command with specific responsibilities given to individuals or groups. This also includes the right training for employees. Strategic management can often be planned or unplanned in that there are unpredictable circumstances as well as those which can be planned for. Once the strategy has been implemented, it will need to be evaluated as to its success or failure once again through SWOT analysis for company strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats both internal and external. The changes that could affect an organisation are any Political Changes such as a change in government, legislation, taxation,; any Economic Changes such as inflation, interest rates, unemployment; Social Changes such as population trends Technological Changes such as breakthroughs, new products and technologies, Implementing any strategies will need time and effort but they should not be imposed. The management of change is an important part of strategic implementation. Change cannot be forced on employees or implemented too quickly or there will be industrial problems. The idea of change is opposed for many reasons including job insecurity; fear of loss of status; pay cuts and job losses; breaks in routine; learning new skills and methods; change of work site and work colleagues. As the New Vintage Car Company is a small business it may be able to weather any of the changes which could affect the business. As the business uses a collaborative approach to management, the employees are part of the decision making process and the strategies which would affect them would be discussed collectively The Paton-Johnson model (2007 p109) can be used, as it suggests sequential stages for the management of change through initial conversations about change; diagnosis of what needs to be changes, how and why; the development of a new vision for the organisation and its employees which is shared and a plan to implement the changes. A useful addition to strategic strategies is Warrs Vitamin Model (1987) which considers the well being of company staff and the changes made in the organisation as vitamins to help the health of the company. Healthy minded employees work well and increase production which benefits the company. Employees need to know they are valued and respected within an organisation and if they do not feel this way they are discontent. 5 Conclusions There are many reasons why strategies fail and companies fail with them. Companies need to understand their market and their competition both now and in the future, know their own strengths and weaknesses and be aware of any opportunities which may come and any threats which are looming. The New Vintage Car Company will need to be confident of their employees competence in handling the new strategy and to introduce the changes gradually and with communication, cooperation and participation. Although strategic management is a complex process it can be handled efficiently although too much constraint may be limiting any future visions for the company. As a collaborative company there are just as many pitfalls as for those with top-down management style ‘too many cooks as well as ‘dictatorships. Strategic management consists of interpreting, and continuously reinterpreting, the possibilities presented by changing circumstances for achieving an organizations objectives. Strategic management processes are essential for an organisations success but they need to be paced and not rushed as this is where mistakes are made. The aim of the report was write a report about a chosen firm within the automotive industry (real or invented) indicating the stages, steps and processes involved in the planning and analysis, formulation and implementation and evaluation of the strategic management process. This was achieved through a brief investigation into the strategic levels associated with the New Vintage Car Company. The objectives of the report were o understand the importance and characteristics of strategic management to all forms of organisation and this was achieved through a review of the levels of the strategic management process and the theories and models with strengths and weaknesses. References Ansoff, I (1965) Corporate Strategy New York: McGraw Hill, Argyle, M. (1972, p.201) The Social Psychology of work, Penguin UK Armstrong J S (1982). The Value of Formal Planning for Strategic Decisions Strategic Management Journal 3: 197-211. Axelrod, R. and Cohen, M. (1999) Harnessing Complexity: Organizational implications of a scientific frontier New York: The Free Press, Chandler A (1962) Strategy and Structure: Chapters in the history of industrial enterprise, New York: Doubleday, Chartered Institute Of Personnel And Development. (2005) Managing change: the role of the psychological contract. Change agenda. London: CIPD. David, F (1989) Strategic Management, Columbus: Merrill Publishing Company, Drucker, Peter (1954) The Practice of Management, New York: Harper and Row, Grundy , T. (2006) Rethinking and reinventing Michael Porters five forces model. Strategic Change. Vol 15, No 5, August. pp213-229 Henry A. (2008) Understanding Strategic Management Oxford University Press Hughes, M. (2006) Change Management: A Critical Perspective. London: Chartered Institute Of Personnel And Development. Johnson B (1999) Introducing Management : a development guide for new managers Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann Johnson A Paton K (2007) Health Promotion and Health Services: Management for Change Oxford: Oxford University Press pp107-128 Johnson G Scholes K (2002) Exploring Corporate Strategy London: Pearson Education Ltd Lamb, R B (1984) Competitive strategic management, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, McGee et al (2005) Strategy: Analysis and Practice UK: McGraw Hill Moncrieff, J. Is strategy making a difference? Long Range Planning Review, vol 32, no2, pp273-276. Michaud C Thoenig J C (2003) Making strategy and organization compatible. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Mink/Esterhuysen/Mink/Owen, (1993) Change at Work Action Science Approach cited in Schumacher W D, (1997) Managing Barriers to Business Reengineering Success (Business Process Management Group) (www.bpmg.org) Pettigrew A. and Whipp R. 1993 p.5 Managing for Competitive Success Oxford: Blackwell Porter, M. (1980a) How Competition Forces Shape Strategy, Harvard Business Review, September-October, pp.137-145. Porter, M. (1980b) Competitive Strategy, New York: Free Press. Porter, M. (1998) Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors, New York: Free Press. Turner S. (2002) Tools for success: a managers guide. London: McGraw Hill. Warr P (1987) Work, Unemployment and Mental Health Oxford: Oxford Unviersity Press http://www.cipd.co.uk/subjects/ corpstrtgy/changemmt/chngmgmt.htm accessed 10 May 09 Harvard Business School (2002) Toward Continuous Change: Staying Competitive Through Change Harvard Business School Press (http://harvardbusinessonline.hbsp.harvard.edu/b01/en/common/item_detail.jhtml?referral=3035id=7188BC) accessed 12 May 09 Appendix A The New Vintage Car Company is a small specialist car making company which restores old classic cars but it looking to branch out into making new build cars based on the classic models of previous decades through a partnership with another small car company which produces self build car building kits for classic cars such as the MG. The company employs a skilled team of classic car body builders, wheelers, panel beaters, wing makers, and fender manufacturers who are skilled in working aluminium, steel, stainless steel, copper, brass and magnesium alloy as well as restoring ash frames from old cars or fabricating new wooden frames. The company has experience as vintage car coachbuilders has helped with classic car projects, from manufacturers including: Alvis; Amilcar; Auto Union; AC; Alfa Romeo; Aston Martin; Allard; Austro Daimler; Bentley; Bugatti; Bristol; BMW; Cadillac; Cisitalia; Cooper; Daimler; Delahaye; Delage; Invicta; Jaguar; Lotus; Lancia; Lagonda; Lamborghini; Maserati; Mercedes; Morgan; Porcshe; Riley; Rolls-Royce; Railton; Sunbeam; Tojeiro; Vauxhall; Veritas. The company has successfully completed a wide range of car commissions, from simple body repairs on existing bodywork to complete restorations and new bodies, sometimes from the most basic of plans. Commissions are from the whole of world motoring history, from fantastic exotica such as the 1938 Alfa Romeo Bimotore and two 1930s Grand Prix Auto-Unions, to a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Gull-Wing Magnesium Coupà ©. (adapted from http://www.rodjolley.com/flash/flashed.html)

The Blah of Blah :: essays papers

The Blah of Blah The 6-pounder field gun was a lightweight, mobile piece that was a favorite of the field artillery in the first half of the nineteenth century. Rapid changes in technology and design had largely superseded it by the beginning of the American Civil War, but when superior weaponry was not available, some 6-pounders saw action. NOTE: While some of the guns illustrated here may have played little or no part in the Civil War, they are included here because photos of them have been published nowhere else. 6-pounder iron field gun, Model of 1819. Total length, 71.6 inches; weight, 742 pounds; total production, approximately 100 by Fort Pitt Foundry; known survivors, 30. Known as a "Walking Stick" for its slimness, this is the first identified model with full rimbases. It pioneered simplicity of design that was not to be fully accepted for another forty years. Its 10-inch diameter reinforce, combined with the unreliable cast iron of that period, proved notoriously fragile. 6-pounder iro n field gun, Pattern of 1827. Total length, 57 inches; weight, 780 pounds; total production, 98 by Fort Pitt Foundry; known survivors, 7. A stubbier version of the Model of 1819. 6-pounder iron field gun, Model of 1834. Total length, 60.5 inches; weight, 835 pounds; total production, 134 by Columbia and Fort Pitt Foundries; known survivors, 16. The guns of this pattern were the last fieldpieces made by either foundry. 6-pounder bronze field gun, Model of 1835. Total length, 65.6 inches; weight, 740 pounds; total production, 57 by Cyrus Alger and N.P. Ames; known survivors, 19. This slimmer version of the later Model of 1841 represents the return to bronze as the preferred material for fieldpieces. 6-pounder iron field gun, Model of 1836. Total length, 65.6 inches; weight, 785 pounds; total production, 13 by Alger; known survivors, 3. Identical in design to the bronze Model of 1835 above. 6-pounder bronze field gun, Model of 1838. Total length, 59.3 inches; weight, 690 pounds; total production, 96 by Cyrus Alger and N.P. Ames; known survivors, 29. A shorter version of the bronze Model of 1835 above with the same Registry Number series continuing from it for both foundries. Markings on bronze Models of 1835 and 1838 fieldpieces. Unlike the markings on earlier and later cannon, the Registry Number, weight and inspectors' initials are located on the upper breech.

Causes and Effects of Cheating Essay

School systems today are so indulgent in their rules, guidelines and consequences; thus causing cheating, copying or forgeries to be regularly used. Students take advantage of copying someone else’s work whenever they are given the chance, because they abhor doing their own work. Other times, students will have someone else do their work and turn it in as their own, not realizing the aftermath this can create. This creates a lack of creativity, no sense of responsibility and the students will never acquire new knowledge. This type of behavior should be discussed academically by the school administration. Thus, the school teachers should try to abolish and try to amend this type of cheating. These practices of cheating, copying and forgery by students are unethical and should be brought to the surface whenever possible. Students that copy other student’s work are hurting themselves in the long run. Their creativity altitude plunges every time they copy or have someone el se do their work. After a while of copying and forging, the student’s ability to think creatively and successfully becomes almost nothing. In order for people to keep their minds as functional as possible, they need to do their own work. Students also accommodate others in school work,and don’t acknowledge what they are doing is amiss. When teachers catch students cheating they shouldn’t grant amnesty to the student and also chasten him/her. It is easy for students to buy a student’s paper that had the same class the year before, modify it a little, and turn it in as their own. Students are no longer able to do their own work like writing essays by themselves because someone else can do it for them. Students also begin to lose the sense of responsibility when they have other people do their work. Some losses of responsibility comprise the following: they feel that they have to do nothing to pass a class, only that as long as they turn in a paper, their thoughts or not, they will receive grades for the assignment. This creates the feeling that life will always be a handed to them easily. Beside with losing their responsibility, the students that copy other’s work never get to feel that sense of accomplishment that comes when the paper you have been working on is finally complete. They don’t get the inspiring feeling when they get their paper back if their grade is good. The feeling isn’t there because the work isn’t their own. They use other people to receive the grade, but they feel nothing, and this is very wrong. If they never have that feeling, there is nothing to motivate these people  to do better the next time around. This is why cheating is catastrophe. Up till now, there may be one thing that is the worst of all when people pass off someone else’s work as their own. That would be that the faker doesn’t gain any knowledge. Teachers should censor the person who did the paper for the student. People can only learn from the things they do, and if someone else is doing their work, they are never going to learn anything. Making mistakes and learning from them may be one of the most effective methods of learning. For instance, if a student performs extremely poorly on a very important assignment, some chances are that student will always remember what they did wrong and what would have been better. If people donâ€⠄¢t do the work themselves, they can never learn from their mistakes. These people that cheat will go through life expecting someone else to always be there to do their work. When the time comes that they will actually have to do the work themselves, they aren’t going to have a clue on what to do or where to start from. They will be so used to simply taking someone else’s work. These people need to be stopped not only for their sake but because it is not fair to the people whose work they are always stealing. People work hard and should receive credit for the things they do, the people that don’t work hard, should not receive any credit. In conclusion, it is very consequential for each student to do their own work without anyone’s help. If a student doesn’t do his own work he won’t gain anything and the he won’t care for the grade because he didn’t do any work. These students that cheat will always think there will be someone to help them. In the future, these students will regret what they used to do because they will come to one point in life and will be stuck and won’t know what to do.