How The Justice System Is Run Essay - 1211 Words

Technology and entertainment today have given people a sense of confidence in their understanding of criminal justice. They sit at home on their couch and watch an endless stream of crime dramas and believe they have a solid understanding of how the justice system is run. Television shows do not have to operate in reality, the audience has access to all the necessary information to solve the crime and the show ends with a feeling that justice has been served. In reality, investigations hit road blocks, complications and dead ends. Investigators must sort through honest and dishonest witnesses, determine factual evidence from planted or tampered evidence, and they must ensure that they complete all of their duties, investigations, and documentation completely, accurately and maintain the integrity of the case. Investigations are often susceptible to mistakes, human error and an array of outside factors they have little to no control over. The varying factors in each investigation can sometimes create a situation that ultimately leads to a wrongful conviction. There are also people in the justice system that deliberately fabricate information or evidence, manipulate a situation or witness, or influence the case in some way to achieve the outcome they desire. The prevalence, causes and cases of wrongful convictions play an important role in understanding and preventing wrongful convictions for the innocent and ensuring justice is served to the guilty. The prevalence ofShow MoreRelatedCrime in the United States1052 Words   |  5 Pagesthe entire world by far. For most of my life I have always believed that the American justice system worked. When people do wrong they need to be punished and pay for their crimes. That is what our justice system is here for so how could is possibly go wrong? Unfortunetly it is not as simple as it sounds and all it takes is a little research to discover why. Before researching the U.S. criminal justice system, I would never have considered the fact that the U.S. has the worst prison populationRead MoreGender Differences and the Criminal Justice System683 Words   |  3 PagesGender and the Criminal Justice System It would be foolish to assert that gender plays no role in the criminal justice system, just as it would be equally foolish to say that race plays no role in this system either. Covington and Bloom cite the work of Kivel (1992) in reminding all that Where sexism is prevalent, one of the gender dynamics frequently found is that something declared genderless or gender neutral is, in fact, male oriented. The same phenomenon occurs in terms of race in a racistRead MoreJohn Grisham s The Pelican Brief850 Words   |  4 Pagescorrectly identifies how the criminal justice system works and shows how it can be corrupted for favorable outcomes. The criminal justice system is the set of agencies and processes established by the government to control crime and impose penalties on those who violate the law (TCJS). â€Å"The ideal result is making offenders pay for, and repent, their criminal acts while delivering recompense to the victims† (USCJS). John Grisham had a career within the criminal justice system, so most of his booksRead MoreThe Consensus, Crime Control, and Due Process Models Essay1630 Words   |  7 PagesThe criminal justice system consists of models and theories that often contradict one another. Of these models are the crime control model, the due process, model, the consensus model and the conflict model. In this paper these models are evaluated and defined, as well as each entity in the criminal justice systems role within each model. Policing, corrections and the court system all subscribe to each model in some way and in a hurried manner in cases that dictate such a response. As describedRead MoreJuvenile Delinquency And The Juvenile Justice System1299 Words   |  6 Pagesbelieve that the kids who are labeled â€Å"good† are children who know how to solve their problems and manage their behavior and social life, and the kids who are labeled â€Å"bad† are kids who don’t know how to solve those problems.† Eve ry day, kids are committing illegal acts of varying severity. Some are involved in petty robberies, others involved in murders and rape. These juveniles become the responsibility of the juvenile justice system which is tasked with the duty of properly helping and punishingRead MoreThe Worldwide Criminal Justice System1468 Words   |  6 PagesI will describe what worldwide criminal justice systems are doing to address the criminal issues I identified. I will talk about the terrorist group ISIS about the crimes they have committed. Then I will discuss how the worldwide criminal justice system handled the crime. The last thing I will discuss is the effectiveness of the systems response and include suggestions for future responses to combat or prevent these crimes. The Criminal justice system have begun to monitor the Arab communityRead MoreThe Theory Of The Criminal Justice System1292 Words   |  6 Pagesseek the make sure the criminal justice system fails because they benefit from that failure. Conspiracy theories are hard to be proven and for it to succeed, it has to be kept a secret. There’s no credibility in the sources due to the degree of secrecy. Conspiracy theories are invalid because it doesn’t correspond with how people behave most of the time. The Pyrrhic defeat theory isn’t a conspiracy theory because the theory bases itself on why the criminal justice system fails and that’s due to our ownRead MoreAnalysis of a Very Short Story by Ernest Hemingway1260 Words   |  6 PagesPOLITICAL SYSTEM Short introduction The United States of America is the most powerful nation on earth, politically, economically and militarily, but its political system is in many important respects unlike any other in the world. Americans are proud of their democratic electoral system. Yet, truth be told, few Americans and even fewer observers from other nations understand the American electoral process. The foundation of the American political system wereRead MorePublic Policy : The United States1453 Words   |  6 Pagesgovernment process such as the legislative branch. In order to address these issues the legislative branch enacts laws and regulations. Law is a major aspect of public policy because it can dictate how someone is treated following a certain sequence of events. In the criminal justice world laws can regulate how an interrogation is done and whether or not a stop is legitimate or not. The United States constitution can be seen as public policy because it is a set of laws that must be followed or rightsRead MoreThe United States Criminal Justice System1670 Words   |  7 PagesCriminal Justice System is an extremely complex, but yet extremely important part of the United States. The criminal justice system is defined as â€Å"the set of agencies and processes established by governments to control crime and impose penalties on those who violate laws). Although there are many different groups of people that make up the criminal justice system, the two main and most discussed the state division or the federal division. The state division of the criminal justice system deals with

Gandhi and Comparative Religion Essay - 3170 Words

Gandhi and Comparative Religion Mahatma Gandhi was deeply interested in the comparative study of religions since the days of his youth. His interest in religious matters was due to the background of India, which was saturated with religious ideas and spirituality. Religion, to Gandhi, was not a matter of individual experience: Gandhi found God within creation. The meaning of the word Dharma is religion in India. This is a comprehensive term which embraces all of humanity. Gandhi referred to God as Truth, which has great significance. His mission was not only to humanize religion, but also to moralize it. Gandhis interpretation of Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity made his religion a federation of different religious faiths. His†¦show more content†¦To others, Religion is one condition among so many other countries, but to the Indian people it is one great sustaining force, pertaining to all the spheres of their lives. Mahatma Gandhi who was born and brought up in India could not escape this strong influenc e of religion in all his activities. In ancient times it was a common belief that religion is a matter of individual experience. But modern psychology has shown that there is no such thing as a merely individual experience, which is absolutely cut off from the society. There is an important element of truth in the views of Durkheim and other members of the French Sociological school, who maintain that religion, is essentially a social phenomenon. The views of Jesus: Render to Caesar the things that are Caesars and to God the things that are Gods did not find much favour in Gandhi. Rather his view was more in accordance with the writings of H.G. Wells, according to whom the doctrine of the kingdom of heaven as Jesus preached it, it was no less than a bold and uncompromising demand for a complete change and cleansing of the life of our struggling races an utter cleansing without and within. (2) . Gandhis religion was spiritual humanism because he declared that the service of the poor whom he called Daridranarayana is a tr ue service of God. In other words, Gandhi found God amidst his creation; this creationShow MoreRelatedGandhi : The World Of Mahatma Gandhi1320 Words   |  6 PagesEvan Zuniga Professor Krupnik Comparative World Religions May 6, 2016 Research Paper: Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Ghandi, better known to the world as Mahatma Gandhi is one of the world’s main faces when we think or talk of the Indian independence movements, women’s rights and all around freedom for humanity. This individual used strategies and tactics of his own to achieve justice for the Indian culture while he was alive. Gandhi also worked to reform traditional Indian society inRead MoreOn Religion and Hindu Mithology1517 Words   |  7 Pages Namaste (nah mahs day) is used for both hello and goodbye and means, â€Å"the god in me greets the god in you.† I am as firm in my faith today as in my younger years growing up, but I could at least have opened my mind to research other religions or their faith. So I think that made me have a narrow mind of my surroundings. Just because I did not get out of my comfort zone to learn about other’s faith it did not mean they didn’t exist. It should not have taken me over twenty yearsRead MoreA Government System Is A Resolute And Dicey Act1625 Words   |  7 PagesEssay April 17, 2017 UHON Questioning Authority Questioning a government system is a resolute and dicey act. Mahatma Gandhi and George Orwell’s ideals have influenced society to challenge higher power. As they shed light onto the corruption in politics in different manners, both similarly depict the evil of class injustices and that they inevitably result in violence. Mahatma Gandhi was born on October 2nd, 1869 into the Bania caste, a Hindu merchant caste family residing in Porbandar, India. Gandhi’sRead More Comparative analysis of the rise of religious extremism in Arab and Indian Politics871 Words   |  4 PagesComparative analysis of the rise of religious extremism in Arab and Indian Politics The cases being discussed by the authors here are more significant than the discussion of any other Muslim or Hindu nation because of the fact that these cases discuss the role of these religions in their respective birthplaces. We can realize the importance of this point by considering, for example that the Islamic countries worldwide look towards the Arabic ulemas for validation of their Islamic policies andRead MoreThe Positive Influence Of Christianity883 Words   |  4 PagesWhat? The results of the Religion IAT Test indicated that I have the most positive association with Christianity, closely followed by Hinduism and Islam, and the most negative association with Judaism. Some of the results surprised me, but others I would have predicted because of my religious background. I was raised Catholic and although I have questioned certain beliefs of Catholicism, I have never had extreme negative feelings toward by religion. Therefore, I would assume that I would haveRead MoreWha t Builds The Wall Between Us?2511 Words   |  11 Pagesthe effort to realize peace and human security. In addition, he has also made proposals touching on issues such as education reform, the environment, the United Nations and nuclear abolition. He has also mentioned many famous freedom fighters like Gandhi, authors like Wole Soyinka and so on. Basic motive of Dr. Ikeda was to discuss three priority themes for promoting the achievement of these goals and, on a broader scale accelerating efforts to eliminate the word â€Å"Misery† from the face of planetRead MoreEssay on The Life Of Mahatma Ghandi3308 Words   |  14 Pages Mahatma Gandhi Introduction Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the preeminent leader of Indian nationalism and the prophet of nonviolence in the 20th century, was born, the youngest child of his fathers fourth wife, on Oct. 2, 1869, at Porbandar, the capital of a small principality in Gujarat in western India under British suzerainty. His father, Karamchand Gandhi, who was the dewan (chief minister) of Porbandar, did not have much in the way of a formal education but was an able administrator who knewRead MoreHistory and Experience of the Sikh Diaspora in the United States3245 Words   |  13 Pagessometimes heavy Indian accents. An understanding of Sikh history and beliefs is necessary to develop an understanding about the experience and history of the Sikh diaspora in the United States. Sikhism is the worlds youngest and fifth most popular religion. It is a monotheistic faith centered on divine unity and uniqueness. Sikhs believe in human, gender, and social equality and that human life is the pinnacle of Gods creation. Followers of Sikhism number over 23 million worldwide with 17 millionRead MoreComparative Religions : Native Americans And The Africans2269 Words   |  10 Pages Craft Week 2 Comparative Religions W01 Dr. Tim Davis Question 1: While the Native Americans and the Africans inhabited two different continents, their belief system has a plethora of similarities pertaining to their core values. The basis of their religion also, in some ways, epitomizes modern day religion such as rites of passage. Their differences are shallow in context when it comes to what they view as sacred and holy and including religious rituals that are performed for a specific reasonRead MoreEssay on Microcultures in Canada7105 Words   |  29 PagesMicrocultures in Canada A Comparative Approach Introduction Every society contains both a mainstream culture and many different subcultures. The mainstream culture is how one is identified as. However, microcultures consist of how we identify ourselves within the global mainstream culture. There are multitudes of ways to participate in a microculture. It could be along ethnic, religious lines, or even lifestyle. All these factors come into play with regards to the different aspects of microcultures

According to Aristotle Free Essays

According to Aristotle, Oedipus is an archetypal tragic hero. Plot plays an integral role in developing Oedipus’s character throughout the play which thus impacts the play’s storyline. Aristotle states that â€Å"The plot is the imitation of the action:-for by plot I here mean the arrangement of the incidents† (Aristotle 01). We will write a custom essay sample on According to Aristotle or any similar topic only for you Order Now In this quote Aristotle emphasizes the importance of plot development. He explains how each event has a specific role in the playing out of the tragedy. In the beginning of Odedipus Rex, the audience assumes that Odepois is a sympathetic king who cares about his people. However, as one reads further on Odepoi’s true character is revealed. Subsequently â€Å"the most powerful elements of emotional interest in Tragedy-Peripeteia or Reversal of the Situation, and Recognition scenes-are parts of the plot† (Aristotle 01). These are the most prominent characteristics of the tragic genre. Furthermore they play a key role in drawing the reader’s attention. Significant emotional upheaval occurs when it is revealed that Odepois himself fulfils the prophecy and has killed the prior king. Without the emotional aspect of the play, the reader would not relate to the character or understand the plot. A person’s character remains less important than a person’s actions as Artistrole argues, â€Å"Now character determines men’s qualities, but it is by their actions that they are happy or the reverse† (Aristotle 01). The character supports the plot due to the personal motivation that precisely connected part of the cause-and-effect chain of actions thus producing pity and fear in the audience. Odepois’s determination to finding the murdered of laius, the original king, even though many warned him from discovering the truth is the play’s main story-line. The prophecy that Odepois had fulfilled, played a major role in his character development throughout the play. As Aristotle states, â€Å"Now any speech or action that manifests moral purpose of any kind will be expressive of character: the character will be good if the purpose is good† (Aristotle 06). Aristotle explains the importance of the actions of the character and the impact his or her actions will make on the audience, that the actions of the character defines their characteristics. Odepois’s blaming of individuals, when in search for the true murderer of Laius whilst remaining unaware of the facts, shows how over dramatic and hasty he is. This foreshadows the future due to the actions that were going to occur because of Odepois’s characteristics. Lastly, he states that the consistency (true to them) is a quality a character should have in a tragedy. Once a character’s personality and motivations are established, these should continue throughout the play as he defends, â€Å"For though the subject of the imitation, who suggested the type, be inconsistent, still he must be consistently inconsistent† (Aristotle 06). Aristotle suggests that a character should stay in role throughout the play in order to maintain a personal connection from the audience. â€Å"But, of all recognition, the best is that which arises from the incidents themselves, where the startling discovery is made by natural means† (Aristotle 07). In Odepois, when Odepois discovers that the prophecy was fulfilled after all, he realizes it was not due to another individual but by fate or nature. This explains how the characteristics of the character play out in creating the plot. Therefore, Odepois would be an example of a tragic hero according to Artistotle’s standards. How to cite According to Aristotle, Papers

Leadership for Journal of Pharmaceutical Education-myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theLeadership for Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. Answer: The ability of organizational leaders to identify the challenges which impact their firms and how to address such challenges in a more flexible and quick manner determines the performance of the organization (Chethana, 2014).Therefore, leaders ought to undertake self-assessments to identify if their personalities and behaviors can give them commendable viewpoints while leading the other staff members. From the self-assessment results, I realized that there are various weaknesses as well as strengths which can influence me as a leader, employees and the organization. As a good leader, it is important not to let your weaknesses prevent you from directing an organization in a manner which can assist it to perform better. One of the strengths identified from the self-assessment was strong interpersonal skills which could aid in working in teams, sharing ideas and having a common vision for the organization. Strong interpersonal skills will assist me to get along with others while getting the job done. Relating well with staff members is fundamental for leaders because it makes one to know different views which people have concerning what can make the company perform better, or any other information which can contribute to proper management. Being a good decision maker was also part of the results from the self-assessment. As a leader, one should make decisions which can make an organization to proceed (Monika, 2010). The ability to make good decisions varies from one person to the other because it depends on ones ability to analyze various aspects which affect the decision. For example, the success of a particular decision may be influenced by ones ability to analyze the available information or align it with the short or long term goals of the organization. From the self-assessment, I was able to realize that I am able to show high levels of energy, initiative, and integrity. For organizations to succeed, managers must be able to show the other members of staff that they have the energy and plans to direct the organization in a manner which can make it to attain its goals (Susan, 2015). A good leader should also show the ability of adherence to moral and ethical principles. Integrity can assist me to portray honesty and truthfulness in my actions. Operating a company that requires continuous improvement needs to be led by people who can do what is right, and also by people who can be responsible for their actions. I also realized that I have good problem-solving skills which can enable me to address various issues which are likely to arise in my organization. While undertaking the leadership role, problems which can affect employees or the success of an organization arises (Deana, 2012). These problems require one to have proper skills of addressing them because if not addressed they can lead to adverse effect on the organization. The reason why the ability to solve problems varies among leaders is that people have different approaches to things which challenge their success (Jamie, 2014). Self-assessment assisted me to realize that I am able to tackle problems head-on and come up with strategies for avoiding obstacles. From the relevant self-assessments, I noticed that I am able to handle difficult employees and transform them into productive members of high performing teams. In organizations, employees have different behavioral attributes which make them behave differently (Boyle, 2013). Handling the difficult ones requires a leader to use various strategies in order to them perform to their best. One of the weaknesses identified from the self-assessment was lack of good verbal communication skills. This can impact the success of the company because communication plays a significant role in letting employees know what they should do, understand what is going on in the organization, among other factors (Chethana, 2014). Being hot-tempered was also another weakness identified in the self-assessment. Being unable to control tempers may impact good leadership because it makes employees to develop fear when working with you. Generally, from the self-assessment, I realized there are various aspects which can influence positively or negatively my leadership. Some of the aspects which can make me deliver good leadership are good interpersonal skills, being good at solving problems, being able to handle difficult employees among others. The one I realized can negatively impact the quality of my leadership is lack of good verbal communication skills. References Boyle, R. E. (2013). Leadership Is Not a Soft Skill. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 77(10), 32-45. Chethana, K. (2014). Self-Assessment: A Tool to Boost Career Prospects. IUP Journal of Soft Skills, 8(1), 64-78. Deana, R. (2012). Blogging as a Reflective Tool for Leadership Development: An Exploratory Study of a Leadership Practicum Grounded in the Relational Leadership Model. The Journal of Research in Business Education, 544(2), 65-69. Jamie, W. (2014). Be a Leader by Knowing Yourself. Young Adult Library Services, 12(2), 90-121. Monika, C. (2010). Self-Assessment of the Positive Potential of Organisation by Managers of Polish Companies - Research Results. Journal of Positive Management, 1(1), 132-145. Susan, E. (2015). The Leadership Lab: Immersive Learning in Upper-Level Management Courses. SAM Advanced Management Journal, 80(2), 87-90.

The Role of E

Following the introduction of the healthy snacks in the market from the company, I hereby request you to consider employing E-marketing. As a marketing representative in the firm, my department has relentlessly worked and employed various marketing modes, in an attempt to find the best approach in the marketing of these products. As a result, my team has proposed e-marketing for marketing various products, including the introduced snacks.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Role of E-marketing in the Business specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More E-marketing versus Traditional Marketing Marketing is extremely pertinent in every business, since it creates the awareness of products and services that a firm offers. E-marketing is an effective marketing plan, since it serves as an exceedingly cheaper option, compared to other traditional media such as radio and television. For instance, a business blog is considerably che ap (Groves, 2009). Additionally, various types of social networking give the firm’s products to have more acceptation, as opposed to other forms of direct mails. In fact, some forms of online marketing are free. In addition, E-marketing is cost-effective, since the labor employed reduces drastically. As a result, expenses reduce, and hence this boosts annual revenue. Since e-marketing is an international approach, it will ultimately reach many prospective consumers, as opposed to various forms of traditional media that are mostly regional. As a result, the firm is able to receive large sales of the new healthy snacks through E-marketing, and hence increase the firm’s revenues (Groves, 2009). Besides, E-marketing is fast easily reachable by numerous potential customers in comparison to the traditional marketing process. Moreover, E-marketing is constant as long as there is internet availability (Boone Kurtz, 2011). E-marketing also lacks geographical limits, making it a key marketing means in comparison to traditional marketing that has regional limitations. Additionally, various economists deem online buyers as having a better purchasing power that their traditional buying counterparts. As such, Kudler Company is bound to have an increase in the number of customers, and hence translate to increased sales (Boone Kurtz, 2011). Besides, a huge number of prospective consumers mean that there is available market for the firm’s products. As a result, this enhances the ultimate growth of the firm (Boone Kurtz, 2011). E-marketing and Increased marketing ROI E-marketing has a significant impact on the firm’s Return of investment (ROI). Kudler Company is bound to receive an increase in profits in various ways. Firstly, e-marketing will boost the figure of loyal customers. This will lead to the ultimate increases in the marketing ROI of the firm (Finora, 2009).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can he lp you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Additionally, elimination of geographic boundaries will make trade with these remote customers simple, and thereby assist the company in manufacturing more of the supposed product. This will in turn result in increased profits. It is also easy to calculate a firm’s ROI while employing e-marketing, since application programs are available for that purpose (Finora, 2009). Product Information Before setting a product for advertisement through internet means, it is imperative to decide the message to convey about the snacks. This will make the product more appealing to the public and hence draw prospective consumers. The message to convey will be the product’s name and its ingredients. Additionally, the information will incorporate the product’s price. The message will also comprise of the merits of the snacks over other competing products. Besides, the message ought to be clear and legible. References Bo one, M., Kurtz, D. (2011). Contemporary marketing. Florence, KY: Cengage Learning. Finora, J. (2009). Recession marketing. Bloomington, IN: Universe Publishers. Groves, E. (2009). The constant contact guide to email marketing. Hoboken, NJ: John-Wiley and Sons Publishers. This essay on The Role of E-marketing in the Business was written and submitted by user Brayan Kirk to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here. The Role of E Teacher professional development is an integral part of teaching practice, and teacher reflection is one of the methods to develop teachers’ skills, knowledge, and techniques. Teacher reflection shows the way of how teachers may interrogate their practices, pose questions concerning the effectiveness of their work, and meet students’ needs and expectations (Lyons, 1998: 115).Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on The Role of E-Portfolio to Promote Teacher Reflection specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Valli (1992: 140) introduces reflection as a deliberative process within the frames of which the ethical implications of teachers’ work are considered alongside with the students’ observations, and the alternative practices are offered. The purpose of teacher reflection is not only to change the style of teacher’s work but also to promote the evolution in work and understanding o f what can be done to help students benefit with the chosen teaching practices. Though teacher reflection is directed to improve the work of teachers, this practice remains to be student-centered as well because the opinions and attitudes of students are considered. There are many ways on how to promote teacher reflective practice, and e-portfolio is one of the tools that help to engage students in evaluating tutors’ readiness to cooperate (Lyons, 1998: 115). The study developed by Jenson (2011: 49) explains electronic portfolio from four main principles according to which students should take responsibility for managing information they give about their teachers, select important pieces of information and share them properly, promote the creation of lifelong records about their learning processes, and develop the opportunities to reflect on their tutors’ work consistently. The success of this study is explained by the possibility to use self-regulation as a powerful c hance to reflect on teachers’ work using personal experience and opinions. The work by Alwraikat (2012: 154) aims at describing e-portfolio as a new study formula that can be used in all developed countries on the basis of graduate students’ attitudes. The author underlines that the level of academic degree is more important than such factors as gender or specialization. Effective portfolios can also serve as the measurements of reflective practice and a kind of pedagogical space where learning and teaching practices can be properly explained (Parkers, Dredger, Hicks, 2013: 99).Advertising Looking for critical writing on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Portfolios offered to students for whom English is a foreign language are characterized by a number of benefits. For example, the process of e-portfolio creation helps to enhance the professional develop and self-confidence among teachers and promote au tonomous learning among students (Cimermanova, 2015: 58). Portfolios help to identify the main qualities of teachers and compare them with those expected by students and developed in reality. Finally, the study developed by Landis, Scott, and Kahn (2015: 119) generate the overall effects of e-portfolio on teacher reflection and identify the purposes and the best practices that can be used by teachers for personal growth and professional rewards. Each study is an opportunity to evaluate the worth of e-portfolios in teacher practice from a variety of perspectives: gender, academic degrees, specializations, personal interests, and educative methods. All researchers admit the importance of e-portfolios in teaching practice and define it as one of the best tools to understand the level of the effectiveness of teachers’ work that is identified by students regarding their achievements, intentions, and expectations. Teacher reflection through e-portfolios is a good chance to promote self-confidence and motivate students and teachers to work hard in order to achieve the best results in learning, teaching, and developing communicative skills. References Alwraikat, M. (2012). Graduate students’ attitudes towards the use of electronic-portfolios in the college of educational sciences at the University of Jordan. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 2(12), 154-163. Cimermanova, I. (2015). Digital portfolio in building teaching efficacy of pre-service teachers. Journal of Language and Cultural Education, 3(1), 57-68.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on The Role of E-Portfolio to Promote Teacher Reflection specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Jenson, J.D. (2011). Promoting self-regulation and critical reflection through writing students’ use of electronic portfolio. International Journal of ePortfolio, 1(1), 49-60. Landis, C.M., Scott, S.B., Kahn, S. (2015). Exa mining the role of reflection in ePortfolios: A case study. International Journal of ePortfolio, 5(2), 107-121. Lyons, N. (1998). Reflection in teaching: Can it be developmental? A portfolio perspective. Teacher Education Quarterly, 25(1), 115-127. Parkes, K.A., Dredger, K.S., Hicks, D. (2013). ePortfolio as a measure of reflective practice. International Journal of ePortfolio, 3(2), 99-115. Valli, L. (1992). Reflective teacher education: Cases and critiques. Albany, NY: SUNY Press. This critical writing on The Role of E-Portfolio to Promote Teacher Reflection was written and submitted by user Lilly Cunningham to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Cord vs. Chord

Cord vs. Chord Cord vs. Chord Cord vs. Chord By Maeve Maddox Latin chorda referred to catgut used to make the strings of a musical instrument. Chorda entered French with the spelling corde and the meaning â€Å"string for a musical instrument.† English took the word from French, but eventually dropped the e and spelled it cord. In English, cord came to mean different kinds of string or rope. The earliest illustration in the OED (1305) shows that â€Å"a cord† could be used to bind a person hand and foot; by 1330, cord could refer to the hangman’s rope. In modern usage, cord is string composed of several strands twisted or woven together. By cord, modern speakers usually mean a light rope–the kind used for a clothesline–or a thick string–the sort used to wrap a parcel for mailing. In earlier usage, cord could refer to the ropes of a ship. The OED shows that cord was used as a medical term for a body part that resembles a string, for example, a ligament. The homophones cord and chord are often confused–with good reason. As most of the readers of DWT know by now, some of our oddest spellings were born in the 16th century thanks to helpful grammarians who wanted to â€Å"restore† Latin spellings that weren’t missing. My favorite example is the alteration of the perfectly practical English spelling dette (â€Å"something owed†) to debt, to make it â€Å"accord† with Latin debitum. The 16th century tinkerers decided that the spelling chord should replace cord because that was closer to Latin chorda. For a time, medical writers wrote about â€Å"spermatic chords,† â€Å"spinal chords,† and â€Å"umbilical chords,† but modern medical usage prefers the spelling cord. For a time, the spelling cord was also applied to the musical term that meant â€Å"agreement of musical sounds,† or â€Å"a combination of three or more simultaneous notes according the rules of musical harmony.† The musical term was spelled cord for a very good reason: it was a clipping of the word accord, a verb meaning â€Å"to bring into agreement.† Musical â€Å"cords† were sounds that agreed. As it turns out, having different spellings for each term is quite useful. The current usage is: cord: string chord: agreement of musical sounds Unfortunately, some speakers get mixed up when it comes to the anatomical term â€Å"vocal cords†: Do you want to strengthen your weak vocal chords, so you can become an amazing singer? How to Keep Your Vocal Chords in Good Condition Although used to sing, vocal cords are not spelled â€Å"vocal chords.† I’ve two more factoids to share before leaving the fascinating subject of cord: The smokeless explosive called cordite got its name from its â€Å"curiously string-like appearance.† A quantity of wood is called a cord because it was originally measured with a string. 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 Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How Many Tenses in English?Confusing "Passed" with "Past"How Many Sentences in a Paragraph?

Apocalypse Now, by Francis Ford Coppola (War in Vietnam) Movie Review

Apocalypse Now, by Francis Ford Coppola (War in Vietnam) - Movie Review Example ion concerning the realities, which the members of the American armed forces had to undergo during the Vietnam War and the actions which they took to ensure that they survived it and returned home. Throughout the film, one will find that all of the actors have become absorbed into their roles and because of this absorption; they are able to depict the events of the war in a manner which is as close to reality as possible. There are instances in the film when the scenes become extremely emotional, as some of the characters have to deal with diverse issues that affect their lives during the war. It is during these moments that the audience gets a picture of how the soldiers who were involved directly in Vietnam were forced to undergo psychological torment over the various actions which they had to carry out, however futile, in order to ensure that the war was won. One of the themes that one finds in the film is that of depression and war weariness and some of the characters in various scenes depict this during the course of the film. In the film, the American soldiers are depicted as having to live lives in a manner which is not relaxed and that they have to constantly be on the look out to ensure that they do not fall victim to enemy attacks. For the most part, the film shows these individuals as having to live their lives on edge, not knowing whether they will be attacked in the next minute or not and having to either fight off or run away from the constant dangers that they encounter in the jungles of Vietnam. The result of living such lives is that it begins to take a toll on the way that they associate with each other and how they perceive the world around them. The result is that some of the characters, such as Chef and Lance undergo such mental strain that they are more often than not shown being under the influence of drugs. A scene i s depicted where due to Chef’s craving for mangoes; he and Willard go to the jungle where they encounter a tiger that

Police ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Police ethics - Essay Example The enormous powers enjoyed by these detectives must be tamed through some strict checks on their ethical conduct in exercising these powers at right spot and the correct manner. While having such powers in most cases is a legal necessity but justified and dignified application of these powers is often an ethical issue. In United States there are several documents at national level like Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, its Bill of Rights and the Federalist Papers which are meant to enforce these ethical guidelines. However there is a lack of education and implementation in this connection. The tools and trick that are used in an investigation also provides a ground for ethical arguments and concerns. For example the use of sex and friendship in undercover investigations are very common tools for the police detectives but their ethical issues are lease bothered at higher level in the department. However, police ethical misconduct in using these undercover investigat ion tools is highly probable.

Nursing informatics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Nursing informatics - Essay Example The key aspect of integrated clinical systems is that they help health service providers gather and store health care related data as a part of the general workflow. In this scenario, an electronic health record system facilitates the health care service providers to get data for billing, the doctor to perceive developments in the efficiency of treatments, a medical researcher to examine the effectiveness of medicine in patients with co-morbidities and a nurse to report an unfavorable reaction. Additionally, an EHR system puts together data to deal with different requirements. The basic goal is to gather data once, then utilize it numerous times. The majority of commercial electronic health records join together data from the large subsidiary services or departments, such as laboratory, pharmacy and radiology, through a wide variety of health care actions (i.e. medication administration records [MAR], nursing plans and medical physician orders). In other words, the use of an EHR system is the next step in the continuous development of healthcare sector that can reinforce the link between healthcare service providers and patients, because the data, and the appropriate and timely accessibility of it, allow health service providers to provide better care and make better decisions ... personal information that is stored in EHRs can be: (TechTarget, 2011; Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2012; National Institutes of Health, 2006) Family history Contact information Allergies Insurance information Information regarding visits to health care specialists Immunization position Information regarding some conditions or diseases A list of medications Records of hospitalization Information regarding some surgeries or procedures performed What are Advantages of EMRs? Healthcare firms can save space by reducing paper work desired for hospitals, medical offices or insurance businesses. One more benefit of electronic health records is that they enable health care groups to organize health care services. In addition, the use of electronic health record systems can save a lot of time. Although faxing and email helps one doctor to obtain data and information from another laboratory or doctor, but for this they had to wait for a long time. But with EHRs, healthcare profess ionals can have immediate access to a patient’s details and data, such as lab tests, x-rays and details of recommendations or allergies, in this way they will be authorized to act right away, as a result saving a lot of precious time (Ellis-Christensen, 2012; Ausmed Education Pty Ltd. , 2012; Outlook Associates, 2010). Given below are some of major advantages of EHRs: (Ausmed Education Pty Ltd. , 2012) Improve communication among healthcare professionals Reduce repetition of information Information is accessible to healthcare professionals remotely All healthcare professionals can access same latest information Improve loyalty and reliability of healthcare Information less likely to be lost or destroyed (as it can happen in case of paperwork) Can more correctly store financial data

Mergers And Acquisitions Of Daimler And Chrysler Management Essay

Mergers And Acquisitions Of Daimler And Chrysler Management Essay Mergers and acquisitions can be value creators or value destroyers, According to Mirvis and Marks (1997), most companies executing MAs perform a perfect job arranging the relative economical and financial traits, providing the fact that they do a remarkable job in managing the upcoming change thereafter. Before conducting an MA analysis, it is important to understand what is meant by the word change. Although there is no universal definition change, as Hughes (2006) says it has been explained in terms of guises, transformation, metamorphosis, evolution, regeneration and transition. The generic definition of change as defined by Hughes (2006) is any alteration in the status quo. The leadership and direction of the process of organizational transformation especially with regard to human aspects and overcoming resistance to change According to Hughes definition and Lwins change model (1951) (Figure 1), the change process will be explored by specifically analysing a famous car industry MA case: Daimler-Chrysler (DCX)  [i]  merger, one brand, two cultures. Figure 1: Lwins change stages [Source: Higgs Rowland, 2005] DaimlerBenz AG of Stuttgart, Germany, and the Chrysler Corporation of Auburn Hills, Michigan, surprised the business world at a press conference in London on May 7, 1998, when they announced their merger of equals made in heaven. This major cross-border transaction, with an equity value of $36 billion, was the largest merger of its kind to date.  [ii]  Robert Eaton and Jà ¼rgen E. Schrempp, co-chairmen of DCX, announced their expectation that this deal would be not only the best strategic merger or the best prepared merger, but also the best executed merger.Whether or not this statement came to be true, is yet to be analyzed in this paper. THE BIG TWO The Mercedes famous three-pointed star that represents its domination of the land, the sea, and the air is now one of the worlds most recognized brands that symbolizes class, style and personality. On the other side, stands Giant yank, Chrysler, carrying the fame of being among the big three in U.S., famously known for producing muscle cars. Pre-merger situation: Daimler In 1926 was founded in Stuttgart, Germany Daimler-Benz, a manufacturer of automobiles, motor vehicles, and engines. Unknown to many, it is already the result of a merger between Benz Cie(founded by Karl Benz) and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft(founded by Gottleib Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach). The new entity rapidly made its name in motor sports as its cars were regarded as high end race automobiles.  [iii]  [Appendix A] Pre-merger situation: Chrysler The roots of Chrysler Corporations go back to 1925, when the American car manufacturer, Maxwell Motor Company is recognized into Chrysler Corporation by Walter P. Chrysler  [iv]  . Along with GM and Ford, Chrysler made the powerful triangle of the biggest car manufacturers in U.S. The Corporations was- back in mid 1990s- nothing less than the most profitable car producer in the world.  [v]  In 1997, the company even reached a peak in terms of market shares in the U.S., at an impressive figure of 23%. [Appendix A] Chrysler had always known itself to be a blue collar, bold Yank. It was able to survive a bankruptcy during the Second World War, and this state was stabilized by its boom- bust cash flows. THE RATIONALE FOR A MERGE OF EQUALS In order to maintain with the speed of an external change, the easiest way that an organization should adopt is to take advantage of internal change accordingly. It must increase its intercommunication by putting out as many feelers as possible to bring a collective view of the constantly shifting situation into the organization. Getting ready for a change, Unfreezing the present situation is the first step recognized by Lewin, it is described as the state of preparation for change and preventing any possible resistance  [vi]  . Taking into account the push factors for change, Chrysler CEO, Eaton, convinced his empire that they need a partner to blow the caution in this dog-eat-dog market, by telling a story. Yet, his mental cognitions in making sense of his environment and ending up in merge decision, was one of its own kind, owning one fourth of the whole American market share, Chrysler was among the big three is U.S., and the position was royal enough for Eaton not to buy more troubles for the company, however, international reach was his goal in this story, this is how he made sense of the merger: Bob Eaton, Chrysler CEO, gave the speech of his life at company headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan on July the 17th. 1997  [vii]  . Instead of revelling in four years of rapid growth, he warned of trouble brewing on the horizon. His urgent oratory, adapted from the nonfiction bestseller The Perfect Storm  [viii]  , a tale of three fishermen caught at the confluence of three potent storms off the Canadian coast, warned that a triad of identical elements posing a threat to demolish Chrysler.  [ix]   Daimler-Benz, meanwhile, standing on the reverse position, was looking for a soul-mate. Despite a booming U.S. economy, its luxury vehicles had captured less than 1% of the American market.  [x]  Its vehicle production method was particularly labor intensive requiring nearly twice as many workers per unit produced over Toyotas Lexus division. It recognized that it could benefit from an economy of scale in this capital-intensive industry. With $2.8 billion in annual profits, remarkable efficiency, low design costs, and an extensive American dealership network, Chrysler appeared to be the perfect match. Having Chrysler, looking for his share from the European market pie, on one hand, and Daimler, seeking for attractive U.S. market on the other hand, the merger between two giants made sense. On May 7th. 1998, Eaton announced that Chrysler would merge with Daimler-Benz. Daimler-Benz CEO Jà ¼rgen Schrempp hailed the merge as a merger of equals, a merger of growth, and a merger of unprecedented strength.  [xi]   When he rang the bell at the New York Stock Exchange to inaugurate trading of the new stock, Daimler-Chrysler (DCX), Eaton predicted, Within five years, well be among the Big Three automotive companies in the world.  [xii]   Only three years later DCXs market capitalization stands at $44 billion, roughly equal to the value of Daimler-Benz before the merger  [xiii]  and Chrysler Groups share value has been descending by one-third, compared to the pre-merger situation. Chrysler was bleeding cash unlike the Mercedes.  [xiv]   CHANGE ANALYSIS (Post-merger issues-The rationale for the failure) A SPECTACULAR FAILURE MAs in this scale are inherently complicated, Kiefer (2004) asserts changes of greater complexity are likely to generate more negative and more intense emotions and more resistance (George and Jones, 2001), and therefore require more careful management. Seemingly, DCX underestimated this matter. Only 2 years before Daimler-Chrysler divorce a journalist declared: One of the greatest unions in history burst inward soon after the merge.  [xv]   Why? Unlike what has been communicated to both parties staff, it has not been the merger of equals from the start, the kick start negotiations best proved this fact. Eaton, settled huge agreements and compromises all the way of negotiations. The residency, brand, he even agreed to be a co-chairman which led to a massive crisis in the history of American leadership. German won more bonuses and their dominance were clear which was opposing the virtue of a merger, making it more sound like an acquisition. They were not negotiation the compromises, Chrysler have been compromised only. [Appendix B] Later, Schrempp did not hesitate to state in the German Press: What happened to the dynamic, can-do cowboy culture that I bought?  [xvi]   CULTURAL CLASH On paper, Daimler-Chrysler was the perfect match: German engineering with American marketing, but German culture and American culture dilemma took over the success scenario. [Appendix C]. Burnes (1996) reconfirms Schwartz and Davis cultural risk approach design in attempting to warn the managers and the change leaders that if risk is underestimated it could become dangerous. If one is aware of American pride and German authoritarian, he would know the worse can be expected. Daimler had systemically decision making process, whereas Americans were inspiring creativity. The Stress on effectiveness, fair staff treatment, and empowerment made Chrysler famous for adoptability and flexibility; whereas Daimler seemed more autocratic and bureaucratic. All these cultural variations soon became visible in both companies daily activities. As an example, Daimler managers were concerned a lot about daily trivial cases which disappointed Chrysler executives, cases such as the shape of a pamphlets and etc. Meanwhile, Daimler leaders were frustrated by Eatons emotional actions during the speech. In a nutshell, Daimler-Benz had been the symbol of German power whereas Chrysler has been entitled as the most economical and nimblest car manufactories worldwide. [Appendix D] http://www.managementparadise.com/forums/miscellaneous-projects/73392-organisation-culture.html STRUCTURAL MISMATCHES Another key issue at DCX was the differences in par structures between the two pre-merger entities. Germans disliked huge pay disparities and were unlikely to accept any steep revision of top management salaries. But American CEOs were rewarded handsomely. Chrysler could cut pay only at the risk of losing its talented managers. Germans and Americans also had different working styles. The Germans were used to lengthy reports and extended discussions. On the other hand, the Americans performed little paperwork and liked to keep their meetings short. Americans favored fast-paced trial-and-error experimentation, whereas Germans drew up painstakingly detailed plans and implemented them precisely. In general, the Germans perceived the Americans as chaotic while the Americans felt that the Germans were stubborn militarists. Post merger, Americans were trapped in the German style of planning, constantly being told what to do, gradually damping their creativity and autonomy. James Holden, Chrysler president from September 1999 through November 2000, explained that Mercedes is famous for being a high end luxury brand, whereas Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth and Jeep were serving a lower market, it was a marrying up, marrying down event .  [xvii]  This fueled an undercurrent of tension, which was amplified by the fact that American workers earned appreciably more than their German counterparts, sometimes four times as much. DAIMLERS HEGEMONY German over-representation is also apparent in the board structure, [Appendix E] they approve all major company decisions, including the firing of executive management .In 2000, two successive Chrysler presidents, Holden and Stallkamp, both American, were fired. The Daimler-Benz management presence permeated every important function at Chrysler USA. By the end of 2000, there were only 128,000 Chrysler employees still working in the US operations, all anxious and demoralized. Ex-Chrysler managers felt that Daimler-Benz was steadily leading Chrysler into a state of chaos. Schrempp openly said that he never intended the merger be one of equals, and when he began replacing several American executives with German ones, Chrysler must have felt a little humiliated. Even though honesty and directness are welcomed and encouraged in Germany, several Americans do not appreciate such boldness. Consequently, reputations have certainly been damaged during the process. With Chrysler being taken over by Daimler, with regard to that, mostly Americans were feeling betrayed How could you let Daimler make you a mere subsidiary? http://marisyksti.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?orderby=updated The managers who had built Chryslers cowboy bravado were no more there. Some remained on staff, feeling withdrawn, ineffective and eclipsed by the Germans in Stuttgart. Others left for a more promising future at G.M. or Ford. The American dynamism faded under subtle German pressure. According to a Daimler-Benz executive, Eaton went weeks without speaking with Schrempp. Schrempp, meanwhile, was afraid of being labeled a takeover artist. He left Chrysler alone for too long. After the merger, many people observed that Bob Eaton seemed cold-eyed, withdrawn, and uninterested. According to then-president Peter Stallkamp, Eaton had really checked-out about a year before he left  [xviii]  . The managers feared for their careers, and in the absence of assurance, they assumed the worst. The dislike and distrust ran deep, with some Daimler-Benz executives publicly declaring that they would never drive a Chrysler. My mother drove a Plymouth, and it barely lasted two-and-a-half years, commented Mercedes-Benz division Chief Jà ¼rgen Hubbert to the  [xix]  Suddeutsche Zeitung. Irate Chrysler managers responded with jabs of their own. Bob Lutz, then Chrysler vice-chairman, pointed out to the Detroit Free Press that The Jeep Grand Cherokee earned a greater rate of customer satisfaction in comparison with M-Class.  [xx]   The culture clash has been obvious. Much of this clash was intrinsic to a union between two companies. Their corporate structure, culture and wage systems were thoroughly different. In depth, this union was seemingly the source of trouble: Daimler-Benz and Chryslers brand images were founded upon diametrically opposite premises. From holding language classes to cutting idioms in conversations, from dinner parties to Post Merger teams, DCX put in ample effort to bridge the chasm, but due to deep uncertainty, and lack of trust, they failed to accomplish the remedy. CONCLUSION RECOMMENDATIONS (Lewins refreezing stage that never happened) CONCLUSION What seemed to be a perfect match, the largest trans-Atlantic merger ever, sank unexpectedly. What was supposed to be the leading car manufactory in the world became the chief failure in the MA industry. The disruptive change was inevitable, however, by assuring the staff about the stability of condition, they would loosen their faith and trust on the managers, they know change is coming but they are eager to know what would be the consequences for them. Nadler (1993) ascertains that changes threaten an individuals sense of stability and can present anxieties while reducing the sense of autonomy. Resisting change may function as a survival mechanism where change is perceived as a threat creating a type of organisational autopoiesis, exhibiting a strong resistance when something valuable is under threat (Goldstein, 1988). As it has been seen in every stage of the story, talented managers and engineers left due to the fact that they were feeling withdrawn and flooded. Consequently, the expected synergies never happened and on May, 2007, Chrysler has been sold to Cerebrus Capital Management  [xxi]  , and they failed to accomplish the last phase of lewins change model (Refreezing stage). In summary, the Germans and the Americans were not in sync since the beginning. Different management teams with heavy prides, resisting from compromise and unaware of change would never create a team. DCX have combined nothing beyond some administrative departments, such as finance and public relations. http://www.icmrindia.org/casestudies/catalogue/Business%20Strategy1/Daimler-Chrysler%20Merger%20Cultural%20Mismatch%20Business%20Strategy.htm Learning from analyzing the case, a number of recommendations are outlined further on. RECOMMENDATIONS Firstly, there would never be a partnership of equals happening in any international extents. There would always be a stronger part in terms of finance or market share, thus the resulting arrogance on either side of the merges would imperil the business joint. The Daimler-Chrysler merger should have begun with a strategy, to decide if they wanted to combine the two different cultures, or start off with one brand new one. To do this they should have analyzed the existing cultures, to establish the similarities and the differences. Culture must be blended rather than changed. Moreover, balancing the need for change with the motivation to preserve existing identity, determine the elements that contribute to the development of change capacity. Meanwhile, building a series of interventions such as creating an understanding, building skills, gaining commitment enhances peoples motivation and consequently a favourable and sustainable change. A further important factor is communicating the urgency for change in depth, as is in maintaining momentum, following Kotters (Ch1) words stating that successful large scale change involves momentum. Considering the uncertainty and negative emotions that accompany change, the ability to discern the emotional reactions to change of employees and board members enhances influence levels and provides the necessary support to the change process (Kiefer, 2004). Displaying an autocratic fashion behaviour by failing to address the concerns of people in the organisation and not devoting ample time and energy in building commitment, inhibits effective change implementation. That it is not about which approaches and best practices are chosen by the manager. The main thing that should be kept in view by the managers is that what is to be changed, what is the circumstance and what is the choice of adopted approach. Was this the failure of planning and executing productive change? Absolutely! People dont resist change. They resist being changed! (Peter Senge)

Managing Human Relations Essay example -- essays research papers fc

Management is a broad subject and time has been spent to analyse it. The study of organisations and their management, therefore, has to proceed on a broad front. No single approach provides all answers. It is the comparative study of the different approaches, which will yield benefits to the manager. A central part of the study of the organisation and management is the development of management thinking and what may be termed management theory. The application of theory brings about change in actual behaviour. Managers reading the work of leading writers on the subject might see in their ideas a message about how they should behave. There are different ways of categorising the various approaches elaborated by school of management theory (Figure 1). The following two theories will be looked at in order to spot the problems caused by the management at Aussieco. 1. Classical theory 2. Human relations theory Classical Theory According to the classical writers’ thought the main emphasis goes on the planning of the work, the technical requirements of the organisation, principles of management and the assumption of rational and logical behaviour. A clear understanding of the purpose of an organisation is seen as essential to recognise how the company works and how its methods of working can be improved. Identification of general objectives would lead to the clarification of responsibilities and purposes at all levels of the organisation. Many of the classical writers were concerned with the improvement of management structure as a mean of increasing productivity. Comparing the Classical writers thought with the actual management structure at Aussieco will prove the unstable and badly structured company’s position. Aussieco is an Australian company established in1962. The owner has been able to retain full control and ownership, acting as chairman and chief executive officer since the foundation of the business. Although he makes most final decisions, he is not involved with the daily running of the company. The executive managing director is the owner’s nephew. He is a neo-graduate with no industrial experience, completely unsuitable to cover this position. The key person of the organisation is the general manager. His role consists of organising and supervising five subordinate sectors: administration, programming, production, design and development an... ...ce a whole. If these requirements are not met, managers are misdirected and their efforts are wasted. The unequal nature of organisational life of Aussieco and Intech could cause difficulties. It may be expected that Aussieco will affect the healthy organisational environment at Intech; spoil the harmony in working relationship, loyalty and commitment to the goals and objectives of the organisation. Conflicts could emerge as a consequence of poor communication or personality clashes. Divergences among competing groups may be seen as inevitable. Conflict is a feature of the unequal nature of organisational life and a means of bringing about change . Bibliography Mullins J. (1996) Management and Organisational Behaviour, Pitman Publishing Morgan G. (1997) Images of Organisation, SEGA Publications Hollinshead G., Nicholls P., Taibly S. (1999) Employee Relations, Pitman Publishing Robbins S. (1998) Organisational Behaviour, Prentice-Hall Mabey C., Salaman G., Storey J. (1998) Human Resources Management, Blackwell Cascio W. (1998) Managing Human Resources, McGraw Hill Rollinson D. (1993) Understanding Employee Relations, Addison- Wesley

Product positioning Essay

What do you do? Keep in mind that the question has to be answered from the customer’s point of view and clearly state what the product does for the customer. Customers develop opinions about companies and products, and the positioning of each in the mind of the customer always occurs in relation to the competition or the customer’s other alternatives (which may include doing nothing). While marketing communications play a part in developing the desired position, it’s worth noting that in reality customers make up their minds based on a wider range f factors, including packaging, pricing, product performance, references and media recommendations. Positioning fundamentals: Positioning is the single greatest influence on a customer’s buying decision. Each customer evaluates products in the market according to their mental map of the market. Positioning exists in customers’ minds, not in positioning statements. People do not easily or willingly change their minds about a product’s positioning. Positioning must first demonstrate a product’s relevance, using supportable, credible, nd factual terms. Making the product easier to buy through effective positioning makes the product easier to sell. Mapping the market Mapping the market involves identifying and staking out the most relevant customer segments. It enables you to establish and potentially control how your product is viewed in terms of benefit and differentiation. Benefit: The advantage conveyed by the product to the target customer based on his compelling reason to buy. makes you unique in the marketplace, at the same time bearing relevance to the Positioning template The positioning template can help you to express the fundamental value proposition that your product provides to a target customer and the market. It must identify the: target customer or market compelling reason to buy product’s placement within a new or existing category key benefit that directly addresses the compelling reason to buy primary alternative source (i. e. , competitor) of the same benefit key difference or point of differentiation Positioning statement The positioning template enables you to create a positioning statement, which xplains who you are, what you offer, whom it is for, and why it is important and compelling. The positioning statement should meet several key criteria: It effectively identifies the target customer or segment, and makes the situation clear and understandable. It makes your claim (and related benefit) concise, singular and compelling, and supports it by credible evidence. It makes the differentiation statement concise, singular, compelling, and supportable, and it reflects the target customer’s attributes and environment. It passes the â€Å"elevator test† (i. . , it can be explained in a few words). Using the template, a positioning statement can be structured like this: For (target customer or market)†¦ Who (have a compelling reason to buy)†¦ Our product is a (product’s placement within a new or existing category)†¦. That provides (key benefit that directly addresses the compelling reason to buy) Unlike (primary alternative source (i. e. , competitor) of the same benefit) Our product (key difference or point of differentiation in relation to the specific target customer) Positioning and market type In a new market, you must define the market and your company’s place within it. This involves positioning your company to visionary buyers as a thought leader within an emerging, highly promising market category. You must also demonstrate your product’s benefit or competitive advantage against existing products and the status quo. In an existing market, the positioning changes. Here, it must demonstrate to credible and comprehensive option for the customers’ needs. In order to achieve the desired positioning, your communication must clearly articulate your unique points of differentiation.

Golden Slumbers Essay is about Vargas Llosas book Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter. Essay incorporates historical information as well as biographical.

Golden Slumbers Essay is about Vargas Llosas book Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter. Essay incorporates historical information as well as biographical. Peru is broken down into different classes of people and Indians are not very high on the social hierarchy. They live mostly in the highlands of Peru and are employed by the Mestizo people as servants and laborers. The Indians are hard working and are far from dumb. They often learn Spanish and adopt different cultural ways. However, many people mistake the Indians for being stupid because of their low social rank. But how many of the Mestizo people could probably raise livestock successfully: not too many. Often times, people are labeled according to their station. If they be poor, they are treated accordingly, such as the rich are richly. And if a poor Indian is standing before a wealthy Mestizo, the wealthy man would be oblivious to the horrible situations that the Indian is forced to endure on a daily basis. In Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter, Vargas Llosa uses his characters to show that the upper class of Peru remains oblivious to the problems that the lower class suffers.1st S panish editionEvery other chapter of Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter deals with a soap opera that is written by Camacho, a famous writer of Peru, in which upper class people are oblivious to the disturbing situations involving poor people. In the first soap opera, a woman gets married. It is discovered however that she is pregnant and the father to the baby was not the man whom she was getting married. In a strict Catholic country, such as Peru, this would come as quite a shock. However, the doctor who knew of the pregnant woman announces to the husband that his wife is pregnant. This man knew what would happen upon telling the groom that his wife was pregnant, however he went on and relayed the information anyway out...

buy custom Disaster Management essay

buy custom Disaster Management essay Disaster usually occurs at an unexpected time making it hard for the affected people, country, or region to continue with normal operations (Coppola, 2011). There are various ways of countering the effect of disasters. Some prevent the happening of such events, while some either reduce the impact caused by disasters or help in ensuring that the affected achieve the initial state of their life prior to the disaster (Diane Meyers, 2006). The methods used in disaster management include mitigation, prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery (Gibbons, 2007). Disaster management program encompass combination of different disaster management methods (Hakkinen, Gilbert, Mohapatra, 2009). However, these methods differ in usefulness of fighting the impacts of disaster. This makes it hard to decide the priority method. The success of disaster management program depends on the method utilized. This is because the methods of disaster management yield different results in addressing occurrence of uncertain events. For example, prevention of disaster by not committing things that will possibly lead to its occurrence, yields different results when compared to other methods such as preparedness (Krishna, 2006). This is because, disaster management methods have different times in which, each one of them is applicable. In the United States, the Department of Homeland Security and Disaster Management has the responsibility of handling and managing disasters properly. In the event of a natural disaster, a terrorist attack, or other major tragedy, the Department of Homeland Security provides coordinated, effective, and comprehensive response and recovery assistance (Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, 2011). The department has a responsibility of ensuring that emergency response professionals are always ready for any kind of situation (Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, 2011). The Department of Homeland Security and Disaster Management employs different methods of managing disasters. For instance, in achieving preparedness, the department offers online disaster preparedness seminars to families, and provides online preparedness videos for citizens to watch. In addition, the department has citizen corps located in towns and cities to ensure quick response in case of a disaster. The department also has several emergency call centers, which offer rapid response in cases of emergencies (Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, 2011). Due to presence of different methods of disaster management, it becomes hard to decide on the most efficient method of managing this challenge, and the appropriate time where one of the methods should be preferred over the other. Therefore, this research seeks to analyze the suitability of different methods utilized in disaster management and the suitable application time in disaster management. The suitability of a disaster management method used in preparations for an emergency, responding to an emergency, and recovering from a disaster, depends on the time taken to implement the method, and the efficiency of the resources used. The Research Hypothesis The expectations of this research are; to assist in improving efficiency in homeland security, achieve enhanced speed in the recovery process, and ensure enough resources for dealing with tragedies are provided. Efficiency in the security department relates to the activities done to protect the country from disasters. In the management of disasters, identification of a suitable method is paramount in handling the matter at hand. This entails all activities and programs from different disaster management programs, which are useful in choosing only activities that, improve operation efficiency. Resources needed in combating the occurrence of a disaster could be made available, if the Homeland Security department learns the importance of being prepared to counter a disaster. Preparedness is a useful method, which helps in increasing the recovery speed in case of the occurrence of an emergency. Enhanced preparedness strategy can help build trust between the community and the department ( Penuel, Statler, Golson, 2010). Moreover, an act of rejuvenating the expectations of life of the affected is vital to hopes for life. Recovery process entails transformation of life from an old one to a new one. As a wise strategy, homeland security needs to be in a position to reflect the humanity in them to reality, which will see many have hopes after the disaster. Based on these expectations, the hypothesis of the study will be, the Department of Homeland Security and Disaster Management can achieve efficiency through providing enough resources for dealing with tragedies, and increasing the recovery speed after a disaster. Therefore, the null and alternate hypothesis will be indicated as shown below: Research Variables Three research variables have been identified, which will assist in testing the hypothesis outlined above. They include, time taken to implement a given disaster management method, resources used when dealing with tragedies, and the efficiency of the disaster management method used by Homeland Security department. According Rahman (2001), the efficiency and effectiveness of a disaster management method depends on the availability of resources necessary for preparation, response, and recovery from a disaster. The local government and other stakeholders, who are concerned with the security of citizens,have the responsibility of providing disaster preparedness systems. Such systems include information and communication systems, expert analysis systems, and space technologies. The functions of these systems are; to make observations, monitor, make analysis, disseminate warnings, collect data, network, and communicate information about possible occurrence of disasters. Information is a very important resource in disaster preparation. Effective disaster management depends on the informed participation of all stakeholders (Rahman, 2001). Widespread of information concerning disaster preparedness can play a vital role in reducing the magnitude of a disaster. Therefore, information about disaster preparedness should be availed to all stakeholders in a consistent manner. The role of disaster managers is to conduct research about potential disasters, make national plans on how to prepare for such disasters, monitor the potential hazards, assess the likelihood of occurrence of the disaster, and assess the risk levels of different disasters. These measures would ensure that all stakeholders have all the information necessary for disaster preparation. The role of space technology as an information resource for disaster preparedness is to back-up the information and communication systems (Rahman, 2001). During disasters, systems located on the ground infrastructures are likely to be affected, hence cutting off communication between the stakeholders, a situation that can cause risk levels of a disaster to increase. Space technology is usually unaffected by such disasters. Therefore, it ensures undisrupted communication after occurrence of a disaster. When a disaster occurs, it is important that the necessary resources used in responding to disaster are made available. These resources should always be there to enhance disaster response. The main goal of having these resources is to ensure speedier search and rescue of victims, speedier access to trapped victims, speedier stabilization of the emergency and speedier transportation of injured victims to safety (Rahman, 2001). Such resources include emergency rescuers, medical personnel, ambulances, aircrafts and helicopters, non-human search and rescue systems such as robots, airlift bags, and heavy equipments such as concrete saw, jackhammers, and hydraulic rescue tools such as spreader cutters, among others. Resources important in recovery from disaster include emergency power supply, medical supplies, food and clean water supplies, and sanitation and waste management resources. These resources are core in restoring the lives of the victims back to normal; if not to the way they were before the occurrence of a disaster. The aforementioned resources should be in a position to provide preparedness, response, or recovery assistance in an efficient manner. Stakeholders can ensure efficiency of the resources used in disaster management by ensuring that they are available at all times, and they are functional. For instance, equipment and fuel-powered machineries used in disaster response should be serviced on regular basis. This would ensure that they are always ready to function whenever a disaster occurs. The states department of security should have stand-by ambulances, aircrafts, and medical personnel who can provide emergency relief services, while others continue with routine services. Time is also of essence in ensuring efficiency of disaster management methods. Stakeholders involved in implementing one or more methods of disaster management should ensure that time taken to implement a given method is kept at minimum (Disaster Management: Strategy and Coordination, 2010). For instance, information concerning disaster preparedness should be disseminated to the stakeholders as soon as such information becomes available. This can be achieved by employing effective methods of communication. Currently, mobile devices and the internet can be used to pass information on disaster preparedness very quickly. A research study conducted by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in 2009/10 concluded that, post-emergency effects of catastrophes depend on the time taken to respond to disasters and in the recovery process (Disaster Management: Strategy and Coordination, 2010). Quick response to a disaster assists in providing quick rescue operations to victims hence reducing the number of casualties. Many researches on disaster management indicate that many casualties, which occur immediately after a disaster are because of lack of rapid responses to the situation. Lack of immediate commencement of recovery efforts after a disaster can also contribute to more casualties because of hunger, poor sanitation, lack of water, or lack of access to medical services. Therefore, to ensure efficiency of any disaster management method, disaster management experts should observe time discipline. Research Findings The research findings indicate that the Department Homeland Security and Disaster Management have put in place a number of control measures to ensure efficiency of its activities. The department has an established disaster act: the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, which was enacted in 1988 and later amended in 2000 (Moss, Schellhamer, Berman, 2009). The Department of Homeland security carries out the provisions of the act through it agency known as FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). The act provides that the federal government should provide 75% fundingg for acquisition of disaster management resources, while the local government should provide 25% funding for the same (Moss, Schellhamer, Berman, 2009). The Stafford Act also provides that victims of natural disasters and terrorist acts should be provided with immediate assistance. This include; immediate removal of debris from the disaster site to aid in rescuing trapped victims, provision of medical assistance to injured victims in public healthcare facilities (unless where an individual chooses otherwise), use of federal and state governments funds in repair and restoration of infrastructures and personal properties such as houses destroyed by the disaster. In addition, the act provides that mitigation funds should be provided to disaster prone areas to aid in implementing disaster control measures (Moss, Schellhamer, Berman, 2009). A research study conducted by Garnett and Moore (2010) reveals that employment of sound strategies for restoring health and livelihoods of victims of catastrophes ensures efficiency in disaster management methods. Garnett and Moore evaluated the approaches used in providing recovery efforts in six different disasters in United States. They found out that, where victims of those disasters were provided with immediate relief, in terms of medical care, food, clean water, and sanitation systems, the number of post-emergency casualties was minimal (Garnett Moore, 2010). In such areas, victims of disasters were found to recovery quickly from the effects of the disasters, and they were able to reconstruct their lives with ease, as compared to victims of disaster areas who were not provided with immediate recovery assistance after occurrence of a disaster. From their research, Garnett and Moore suggested three approaches to efficient disaster recovery: incorporation of recovery goals while preparing for a disaster, expanding the knowledge base of the stakeholders on disaster recovery strategies, and developing measurable outcomes in disaster recovery plan (Garnett Moore, 2010). Inclusion of the three strategies would ensure efficiency of disaster management methods used in disaster recovery process. A research study conducted in 2008 by Goodwill reveals that the department of Homeland Security has improved its disaster response capacity since 1992: after occurrence of Hurricane Andrew, one of the largest natural disasters in records. These improvements include; increased capacity of local governments and NGOs to respond to disasters, inclusion of other twenty six agencies, apart from FEMA, in-coordinating disaster response, provision of direct assistance to America citizens in disaster-hit areas, and increased financial assistance to affected areas (Goodwill, 2008). Goodwill points out that these improvements have assisted in achievement of efficiency in disaster response to affected citizens in the United States and in other parts of the world. In terms of preparedness, Homeland Security has continuously provided resources used in monitoring disasters, disseminating information concerning likelihood of occurrence of disasters, and maintaining disaster prone-areas to reduce the likelihood of disaster occurrence. For instance, FEMA operates an Incident Command System, which allows flexible communication of information concerning disasters among the stakeholders (Birkland, 2008). FEMA has also developed an international response system: TOPOFF, to enable United States interact with first responders, federal agencies, non-governmental organizations and its international partners while preparing for perceived terrorist attacks (Goodwill, 2008). Development of TOPOFF started in 2000, with the first version of the system: TOPOFF being developed in 2000 and the current version of the system: TOPOFF IV being developed in 2007. FEMA ensures that its disaster management systems are up to date with technological advancements, for them to remain efficient (Birkland, 2008). Conclusion From the research findings, it is clear that the Department of Homeland Security is determined to achieve efficiency in disaster management. Through its security agency: FEMA, Homeland Security ensures that all the necessary resources for disaster preparedness are availed to local governments and other stakeholders. Availability of these resources allows the stakeholders to prepare adequately for emergencies. The department has put in place technologically advanced methods of communicating disaster related information to all the stakeholders. In addition, the Homeland Security department ensures speedy response to disasters and immediate commencement of recovery efforts in disaster-hit areas. The department has provided the necessary resources, which ensures that victims of emergencies are rescued quickly, and recovery assistance is provided to survivors of catastrophes as soon as a disaster occurs. Through the Stafford Act, Homeland Security has managed to ensure availability of fun ds, which are utilized to acquire the necessary resources for disaster preparation, response, and recovery. Based on the research findings, it is clear that the efficiency of disaster management method depends on the availability of resources, the efficiency of the resources, and the time taken to implement a disaster management method. Therefore, we fail to accept the alternative hypothesis, and accept the null hypothesis, which states that, providing enough disaster management resources and enhancing disaster recovery time will help the Department of Homeland Security and Disaster Management to achieve efficiency. Buy custom Disaster Management essay

Water resources Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Water resources - Essay Example The ever-growing population also plays a significant role in promoting the problem whereby, groundwater is sometimes polluted from sources on the surface (Franks, 2003). Human actions remain the biggest problem to water resources in three different ways: misuse, population growth and inequitable access. A more integrated and wider approach to water issues and policies remains important since water is a necessary resource. Lakes, rainwater, groundwater and even polluted water all come from a similar source. This means that global, national and the local actions towards solving the problem will be necessary and interdependent. Use of water in one system tends to alter water resources base or affect its users in different parts. In this case, fragmented bureaucracies must come up with coordinated decisions that reflect on individual agencies and responsibilities that are interpedently work together towards solving the problem (Franks, 2003). To help in resolving issues related to water resources, policy-makers must always be ready to review and explain problems and conditions related to the water sector. In this integrated approach, water managers must always understand the water cycle including ecosystem interactions, rainfall distribution and the natural environment (Franks, 2003). They must also be familiar with the diverse inter sectorial needs for water resources development. Franks, S. (2003). Water availability and global change. International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, General assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) & International symposium. Wallingford: IAHS

WOTS UP Analysis and Company Capability Profile for Roche Essay

WOTS UP Analysis and Company Capability Profile for Roche - Essay Example The paper tells that throughout the years, Roche has followed a policy of making strategic acquisitions and divestures to position the company for growth and ensure it remains at the forefront of the health industry. It is important to provide a safe, quality, and cost efficient products in order to open up new avenues for growth. However, in order to build on these the company needs to overcome the strengths and weaknesses to have a strong stage for future growth. The Company Capability Profile, which examines a company's Strengths and Weaknesses by assess the degree of its Managerial, Competitive, Financial, and Technical Strength and Weakness. In order for this to happen, the establishment must perform a company capability profile to assess its internal environment for particular strengths and weaknesses that must be addressed. Finally, a strategic position and action evaluation takes into account the firm’s financial strengths and competitive advantages with respect to the strength of its industry and the overall environmental stability. WOTS-UP Analysis, short for as Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats, and Strength, is a highly effective method used for information gathered via a funnel process. This will help the Planning Committee highlight major issues and then narrow them to the few that are most vital. These decisions will help create a mission statement, select priority roles, and identify goals and objectives. WOTS-UP Analysis captures the strengths and weakness within Roche and the opportunities and threats that exist in their surroundings. ... also be done to takes into account the firm's financial strengths and competitive advantages with respect to the strength of its industry and the overall environmental stability. WOTS-UPp Analysis By: Michelle Wong WOTS-UPp Analysis, short for as Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats, and Strength, is a highly effective method used for synthesizing information gathered on aspects that may be internal or external to the company via a funnel process. This will helps the companyPlanning Committee highlight major issues and then narrow them to the few that are most vital. These decisions will help create a mission statement, select priority roles, and identify goals and objectives. WOTS-UPp Analysis captures the Sstrengths and Wweaknesses within Roche and the Oopportunities and Tthreats that exist outside in theirits surroundings. These analyses emphasize areas to be leveraged and stress areas for improvement within the firm and within their industry and market. iv Company Capability Profile: Roche Central Nervous System Segment Company Capability Profile: Central Nervous System By: Michelle Wong Managerial Factors By: Michelle Wong The key to reviving Roche's own drug development is new to emphasize value-based management, more consistent with the systematic "Winning For The Future" manifesto. Especially Wwithin the past decades especially, Roche played a much less significant role in the Central Nervous System segment of the pharmaceuticals market, which accounted for which accounted for .16% of the market share globally. Although, Rocheit is managesing to exceed its limitsobjectives in its Oncology and Diagnostic segments, but if Roche does not stand uptake action and start to learn how to balance in all segments then Roche's corporate image will be

Teaching Methods Mathematics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Teaching Methods Mathematics - Essay Example In this principle of one to one correspondence it is a necessary for a full understanding of numbers and emphasized by counting with the child's actions like counting her fingers or counting her crayons. They also learn this principle when they count while playing like jumping and swinging. They can participate in this activity while counting out loud. A rule can make like counting 1 to 20, then another person's turn. At an early age they are now able to detect that counting was wrong if counting of numbers is reversed in order or skipping two numbers it is a violation to stable order principle. They may said that there's a counting mistake. If counting violated the cardinality principle with the use of the same medium - a toy, states that the number was one more or less than had been counted, They usually said that the answer is wrong. Therefore, toddlers are learning the counting principles, even though they may continue to make counting mistakes when counting larger numbers. Larger number like counting 1 to 15 have a difficult time to understanding. The teacher can help them and learn about numbers providing a concrete demonstration of number.

Value Creation and Business Success Essay Example for Free

Value Creation and Business Success Essay Copyright  © 1998 Pegasus Communications, Inc. (www. pegasuscom. com). All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, without written permission from Pegasus Communications, Inc. If you wish to distribute copies of this article, please contact our Permissions Department at 781-398-9700 or [emailprotected] com. The most successful organizations understand that the purpose of any business is to create value for customers, employees, and investors, and that the interests of these three groups are inextricably linked. Therefore, sustainable value cannot be created for one group unless it is created for all of them. The first focus should be on creating value for the customer, but this cannot be achieved unless the right employees are selected, developed, and rewarded, and unless investors receive consistently attractive returns. What do we mean by value creation? For the customer, it entails making products and providing services that customers find consistently useful. In todays economy, such value creation is based typically on product and process innovation and on understanding unique customer needs with ever-increasing speed and precision. But companies can innovate and deliver outstanding service only if they tap the commitment, energy, and imagination of their employees. Value must therefore be created for those employees in order to motivate and enable them. Value for employees includes being treated respectfully and being involved in decision-making. Employees also value meaningful work; excellent compensation opportunities; and continued training and development. Creating value for investors means delivering consistently high returns on their capital. This generally requires both strong revenue growth and attractive profit margins. These, in turn, can be achieved only if a company delivers sustained value for customers. If the purpose of business is value creation, it follows that the mission of any company should be defined in terms of its primary value-adding activities. Simply put, Honda should think of itself primarily as a maker and marketer of quality automobiles. McDonalds should think of itself as providing meals of consistent quality throughout the world, in a clean, friendly atmosphere, etc. While this may seem obvious, many managers and strategists behave as though the day-to-day business of a firm is irrelevant. Hence, an oil company might buy a hotel chain, while a national chain of automobile service centers is caught systematically charging customers for unnecessary repairs. What conception of business lies behind these actions? Typically it is a very narrow definition of purpose: to maximize the wealth of the shareholders, or to achieve a set of short-term financial goals. Managers are expected to address shareholder wealth, earnings growth, and return on assets, but the most successful firms understand that those measures should not be the primary targets of strategic management. Achieving attractive financial performance is the reward for having aimed at (and hit) the real target; i. e. , maximizing the value created for the primary constituents of the firm. Paradoxically, it is when an organization thinks of itself as a financial engine whose purpose is to generate attractive financial returns that the company is least likely to maximize those returns in the long run. Often, finance people end up shuffling a portfolio of assets in a self-destructive quest for growth businesses or superior returns, with no real understanding of the value-creation dynamics of the businesses they are acquiring and selling. Or, as with the automotive service chain, attempts to profit without delivering superior value end in lost business, long-term customer alienation, and corporate disgrace. Redefining an Organizations Self-Interest Why do managers so often choose not to focus on value creation and instead ake decisions that systematically decrease the long-term value of their businesses? One reason may be that their training and education lead them to define their organizations interests too narrowly. This narrow view is powerfully reinforced by financial accounting systems that were well adapted to the industrial economy, but are inadequate in the information economy. The accounting and finance conventions of the industrial age are good at valuing tangible assets, but they largely ignore the value of harder-to-quantify assets like employee satisfaction, learning, RD effectiveness, customer loyalty, etc. In the information age, those intangible assets are far more important than the bricks and mortar that traditional accounting systems were designed to measure. If management defines the organizations self-interest (and consequently its goals) too narrowly—for example, to maximize this years or this quarters reported earnings—it will view that interest as being at odds with the interests of customers and employees. Given that perspective, in the short term every dollar spent on employee training is a dollar of lost profit. Every additional dollar squeezed out of a customer, even if it comes at the cost of poor service or price gouging, improves this quarters results. This approach is based on win/lose or zero-sum thinking: The underlying assumption is that there is a fixed pie of value to be divided up among customers, employees, and investors, so the interests of the three groups must be traded off against one another (see Zero-Sum Versus Win/Win Thinking). Companies that act on this myopic conception of self-interest may stumble into a downward spiral of poor decision-making that is difficult to reverse (see When Customers Defect). For example, as reduced employee training and compensation lead to low employee morale and poor performance, and as underfunded RD allows a product line to age, customers can become dissatisfied and begin to defect. In situations where customers are locked-in owing to large investments in proprietary equipment or some other temporary monopoly effect, they may not defect immediately. Instead, they will become increasingly alienated and defect as soon as a technology shift, regulatory change, or competitive offering allows it. When customers inally do defect, profits shrink, tempting management to cut back even further on training, compensation, and RD, thus accelerating the spiral of customer dissatisfaction and defection. Expanding the Pie Alternatively, if managers define their companys interests broadly enough to include the interests of customers and employees, an equally powerful spiral of value creation can occur. Highly motivated, well-trained, properly rewarded employees deliver outstanding service, while effective RD investments lead to products that enjoy a significant value-adding advantage and generate higher margins. Satisfied, loyal customers (and new customers responding to word-of-mouth referrals) drive revenue growth and profitability for investors. Clearly, the undesirable reinforcing processes described in When Customers Defect can work in reverse. This win/win scenario is illustrated in the figure Zero-Sum Versus Win/Win Thinking. An expanding the pie approach to management requires that a company alter its thinking along several dimensions. Time horizons and perceived self-interest. The time horizon within which you evaluate a business decision dramatically influences your notion of self-interest. Considered at an instantaneous moment in time, virtually any transaction is a win/lose or zero-sum game. At the moment you spend a dollar on employee training, that dollar is in fact lost to the shareholder. Conversely, in a well-designed value-creation system, almost any transaction can become a win/win or positive-sum game, if it is managed within the context of an appropriately long time frame. For example, if a companys rate of return on the dollar invested in employee training is 20 percent (in the form of higher productivity, increased sales effectiveness, etc. ), then the shareholder hasnt lost a dollar—he has gained a stream of future cash flows that represents an attractive return on investment. One way to build an understanding of these dynamics is to identify the key capabilities, resources, and relationships that are the basic ingredients of value creation for a particular firm, and to think of those ingredients as assets that either grow or diminish over time, depending upon how they are managed. It is useful to map a companys key assets by building four Strategic Balance Sheets focused on customers, employees, processes, and investors (see Balance Sheet Dynamics). In building the balance sheets, managers must first decide which assets are the most important drivers of the companys value-creation system. For example, employee learning and job satisfaction are two assets that could be tracked on the Employee Balance Sheet. As managers identify the strategic assets that belong on the various balance sheets, they also must articulate the relationships among those assets. By tracing the dynamics through which customer, employee, and process assets accumulate, interact, and ultimately drive profitable growth, a company will be well on its way to managing the fundamentals of value creation and avoiding the pitfalls of managing by a set of narrow financial measures. Expanding the pie between a company and its employees. In a true win/win dynamic, two or more parties aim first to create more total value, then concern themselves with distributional issues (who gets what share). When the parties focus first on dividing the pie, they are diverted from the innovative strategies that could have made everyone better off. One way in which companies and employees can expand the pie is flexible work schedules. If an employee has the freedom to see to personal business (while completing all required work), the employee is better off, and the employer is likely to benefit from higher morale and the ability to attract and hold onto the best people. A key element of win/win scenarios is that they are aimed more at creating opportunity than at minimizing costs. Outback Steakhouse has become a very successful, rapidly growing business by resisting the temptation to view a dollar of additional compensation to employees as a dollar of lost income to the shareholder. Outback has made its restaurant managers partners, attracting the best, most experienced people in the industry with a compensation system that more traditionally managed chains would view as ludicrously extravagant. Outbacks general managers sign a five-year contract and invest $25,000 up front. In return, each manager receives 10 percent of her units cash flow (earnings before interest, taxes, and depreciation) on top of a base salary of $45,000. In 1994, total manager compensation averaged $118,600. In addition, managers receive 4,000 shares of stock, which vest over the five-year contract period. All hourly employees participate in a stock ownership plan as well. Another Outback innovation—not opening for lunch—generates benefits for investors, employees, and customers. Because they dont compete for lunch business, restaurants can be located in less costly suburban locations instead of expensive business centers. The benefit to managers and employees is that they work only one shift per day. Outback also insists that managers work only five days per week to avoid burnout and high turnover. Finally, focusing on dinner allows the restaurants to maintain high levels of food quality. From its 1987 founding, Outback grew to 420 restaurants by the end of 1996 in a very crowded, competitive industry. Over the last five years, revenues have grown at a 55 percent annual rate, while earnings have increased 36. 5 percent per year. For the year ending September 1997, Outbacks 20. percent return on equity placed it in the top 5 percent of restaurants (restaurant industry average ROE was 10. 6 percent). The Outback story illustrates one of the key characteristics of successful win/win thinking: The companys strategy is based on a systemic view of the entire value-creation process, and it seeks to align the key elements of that process. For example, if the restaurants were in higher rent locations, they might be more tempted to open at lunch to cover that cost. If managers worked longer hours, turnover would be higher and the partnership model that motivates those managers would be unworkable. If the quality of the food dropped, the number of meals from repeat customers would decrease, putting pressure on margins and tempting the owners to cut compensation to restore profits, etc. Expanding the pie between a company and its customers. As markets become increasingly competitive and one industry after another is forced to deliver greater value in the form of lower prices, higher quality, or both, companies in those industries respond to the mounting pressure with one of two broad approaches. Many firms focus narrowly on cost-cutting measures, playing an intensified win/lose game with their suppliers (pressuring them for cost concessions) and their employees (squeezing them to work longer hours for the same compensation or to do their own jobs plus the jobs of their laid-off former colleagues). This approach can yield some short-term profit increases, but it is not sustainable. You can only squeeze so hard for so long. A smaller number of forward-thinking firms innovate their way out of this zero-sum dilemma. For example, instead of focusing on individual transactions, such as the cost of a particular product, these firms examine the entire value-creation chain associated with their products (and their customers use of those products) and devise ways to make the entire system more effective. This increase in effectiveness often creates enough new value that the buyers total costs can be significantly reduced while the suppliers margins can be maintained or even increased. One example of this kind of value-chain innovation is the Custom Sterile program of Allegiance, Inc. a leading healthcare cost management and product distribution company. Under the Custom Sterile program, all of the supplies needed for a particular surgical procedure are collected, packaged together, and sterilized in advance at an Allegiance facility. This helps hospitals to standardize and optimize their use of surgical supplies, and creates dramatic savings compared to the traditional process, in which expensive nursing labor locates the supplies from storage facilities within the hospital, collects them, and sterilizes them for each operation. The innovation is also good for Allegiance. Instead of having their margins relentlessly squeezed in a series of transaction-focused, commodity sales, the company has created a relationship-focused, high-value-added offering that justifies higher margins. This is the best kind of win/win outcome: using innovation to create a value (and margin) umbrella from which all parties can benefit. Competition and Customer Value Another fallacy that has cropped up in much of the literature on strategy is that the purpose of business is to beat the competition. There is no question that competition, like profit, is an important dimension that companies must be aware of and manage to successfully create value in the long run. For example, a company typically creates value for customers and superior returns for investors by producing goods or services that are better than their competitors at meeting a set of clearly defined needs for a specific set of customers. So competition is a key variable in determining whether a product or service provides a differentiated benefit to the customer, and one that she is willing to pay a premium for. However, competition should never divert management from the primary task of creating those benefits by understanding and anticipating target customers needs, excelling in product and process innovation, providing outstanding service, etc. Thus, we need to think of competition not as a goal, but as part of the business environment—a key element of the context in which a firm seeks to create value. What then become critical are the alternative responses to competition undertaken by different firms, some of which are more likely to succeed than others, given the nature of the business environment. In the emerging information economy, the most successful responses to competition focus on two areas: (1) innovation that drives down the cost of products and services while increasing their quality and variety, and (2) building a deeper understanding of changing customer needs within increasingly specific market segments. Responses that are rooted in a win/lose framework, such as taking share from existing competitors in a zero-sum game, gaining power over customers (for example, by locking them into a proprietary computer operating system), or seeking to become the low-cost producer without simultaneously driving for world-class quality, are extremely dangerous. Many of them pit the interest of the company against the interest of the customer—a prescription for customer alienation and long-term disaster. The most fundamental weakness of those win/lose responses to competition is that they divert management from the more important engines of value creation in the information economy: innovation, imagination, cooperation, and knowledge. Managements time, creativity, energy, and imagination are among the scarcest organizational resources. At the same time, they are by far the resources that yield the highest returns. So it is important to recognize that all of the time, energy, and imagination expended on win/lose activities entails a high (sometimes fatal) opportunity cost. Managers are more likely to stay focused on the higher return, win/win levers if they aim not to beat the competition, per se, but to create more value than the competition—in other words, if they seek to achieve a value-adding advantage. And by doing so, they are likely to be more successful than their competitors in the long run.