Amway Essay 9

Amway summary Introduction Amway is one of the world’s largest direct sales companies. It was founded in 1959 and is still owned by the families that founded it. It employs 14,000 people worldwide and markets over 450 product lines. A key part of its success is its three million ABOs (Amway Business Owners) spread round 80 countries. Amway enables these people to have a business of their own. Amway recognises that it has other responsibilities, for example, to the communities in which it works. Its global vision is to help people lead better lives. Stakeholders Stakeholders are groups or individuals who have an interest in the decisions of the company and its business. Stakeholders can be external, like suppliers, customers or the public or internal, such as employees, or shareholders. Different types of stakeholders may have different priorities or interests. Amway has to balance out the different priorities. The families that own Amway are its only shareholders. Amway communicates regularly with stakeholders through websites, email, events, publications and membership of trade bodies. How stakeholders affect Amway Amway is a direct selling company, cutting out retail outlets and selling straight to consumers. It has its own supply chain through ABOs. Amway needs feedback from ABOs and customers to know how well it is doing and to improve service. ABOs are independent small businesses, but rely on Amway suppliers to produce quality goods. How Amway affects stakeholders Amway’s vision to ‘help people lead better lives’ explains how it works with communities. It promotes corporate social responsibility (CSR) around the globe. This means that it meets its wider duties to the communities in which it works. This involves supporting good causes and acting in an ethical way. Amway supports its stakeholders in a number of ways. These include making good products and giving support to social programmes. It has a partnership with the children’s charity UNICEF. It helps provide vaccinations to combat the world’s six most deadly diseases. It has chosen this charity because its ABOs were most concerned about families. Ethical business Ethical businesses act to improve the communities where they work. Amway’s business ethics give it a clear framework in which to work. Acting in an ethical way, however, also gives it a positive business advantage. Its ‘One by One’ programme is good for the environment and also good for business. This programme supports organic farming, aims to reduce waste and packaging and aims to switch to renewable energy sources. These actions carry a cost, but this can be balanced against the benefits to both the business and the community. Conclusion Amway has to balance the needs of its many different stakeholders. It sets high standards of ethical behaviour and codes of conduct to make sure these are upheld. Its CSR programme helps the environment, its own employees and disadvantaged children all around the world.

Supplier Relationship Management

Many customer-supplier relationships were weakened or damaged during the economic downturn. To rescue them, both sides need to acknowledge past mistakes, identify the causes of those problems, take corrective action, and monitor the results. As of this writing, all signs are pointing toward recovery, and economic indicators (take your pick) are suggesting a better ending to 2010 than we experienced in 2009. Optimistic whispers in the first few months of this year became clearly audible announcements when Quarter 1 earnings were released.Demand is on the rise, lashed capacity is beginning to fill up, and at many companies, earnings will exceed expectations. Despite the fact that business is improving in most industries, companies will continue to struggle for some time to overcome the effects of the recession on their supply chains. This is especially true for those that made drastic decisions and acted in ways that altered their supply chain capacity and supplier services. Customer-s upplier relationships have been caught up in this turmoil and have often suffered as a result.The economic upheaval of the past 18 months has left many relationships weakened, damaged, or even severed. With demand increasing, now is the time for buyers and suppliers to assess the current state of their relationships and then address or resolve any concerns. This can be accomplished through a four-step process that includes acknowledging what has happened, identifying the causes of any problems, agreeing on and implementing corrective actions, and following up and maintaining the improved relationship. These steps should be carried out within your company's supplier relationship management (SRAM) program.SRAM is a formalized process through which companies build strong, collaborative relationships with their vital suppliers to make improvements and achieve their mutual supply chain goals. If you do not already have a formal SRAM program, then following these steps can serve as the fo undation for this type of initiative. Customers and suppliers that adopt this process and commit to continuing it in the future will not only reaffirm and strengthen their partnerships but will also ensure that they create an effective, flexible supply chain.Step 1: Acknowledge past mistakes Start out by evaluating your current relationship with your most critical suppliers. This assumes that you have already segmented your supply base and identified your most important suppliers. You can follow this process for all suppliers, of course, but to maximize the value of your efforts, it's a good idea to address the most essential suppliers first. Once the top suppliers have been singled out, you can assess the current state of your relationship with each of them individually.The most important part of this first step is to identify and acknowledge the mistakes that were made on both sides. Ask the following questions and examine your answers carefully: Is this relationship in turmoil? I f so, what were the actions that created this tension, and position are you or your suppliers in now as a result? How does the supplier feel toward you, and how do you feel toward the supplier? Do you deem the relationship to be weakened, damaged, or severed? Is the relationship meaningful for your company, and will improving that relationship bring value to both parties?By answering these questions, you will define the roadman toward reconciliation and improved effectiveness?or to accepting a separation, if that proves necessary. Once you have determined that the relationship is worth repairing or saving, it is time to pursue open and honest communication with that supplier. Integrity and trust are he basis for any relationship, and addressing difficult topics in a frank and objective manner will be appreciated by everyone involved. Coming to the table in an open manner is Just the beginning, however.The magnitude of the strife in the relationship will dictate the level of effort r equired to address it. Weakened relationships, while still requiring direct and concerted effort, can be more easily repaired than those with damaged elements or those that have been severed. A special note on severed relationships: If you are not sincere about reconciliation, then do not waste your time or your supplier's time. The amount of time and audience required to rebuild a previously severed relationship can be substantial, and if either party lacks commitment, true reconciliation becomes doubtful.Step 2: Find the real source of the problem The most delicate part of this process involves identifying the root cause of the problems. Bringing in a neutral third party to help both sides review the current relationship and past experiences is one way to maintain objectivity during these discussions. In this type of conversation, emotions and personal involvement tend to rise to the surface, and the â€Å"effect† part of â€Å"cause and effect† often becomes the foc al mint. This is a situation you should strive to avoid.If participants fail to consider the root of a problem, only the symptom will be treated, and another one that may be even more harmful to the relationship will inevitably appear. In reviewing the events of the last 18 months, many customers and suppliers may point to the economy and decreased demand as the cause of relationship strife and discontent. There's no denying that the economy was an underlying factor. As orders plummeted, original equipment manufacturers (Moms) reduced capacities to attempt to match output and expenses to very weak demand.Many suppliers were unaware of the dramatic steps taken by Moms and were left with buildup in their inventories of up to 50 percent? with no buyers for that stock in sight. These high inventory levels caused a variety of problems for suppliers and, in the worst cases, resulted in bankruptcy. While the economy and declining demand clearly play a role here, poor customer-supplier rela tionships and the lack of strong communication channels appear to be a major cause of the devastating inventory buildup.This might have been avoided by improving forecasting tools or enhancing operational capabilities to more quickly spend to downward shifts in demand. Both are sound actions to pursue at any time, but neither will resolve the lack of customer- supplier communication that will continue to cause problems in the future. An important question to ask here is: â€Å"Were there warning signs before the problem occurred? † As both customer and supplier consider this question, they should reflect upon quantitative (on-time measurements that may have signaled trouble ahead.Discussing these measurements or signals as well as the customer's and supplier's responses to those developments will help to establish where specific problems originated. Step 3: Identify and implement corrective actions Now that the root causes of relationship strife and their leading indicators h ave been identified, the next step is to define and implement corrective actions. These actions can include procedural changes, changes in safety stocks, increased communication requirements, or even changes in personnel.Observe the impact of these corrective actions on the original symptoms (the â€Å"effect†) and ensure that the resulting improvements can be objectively measured and quantified. For example, a procedural change could reduce the amount of time required to process a orientation, therefore the number of transactions per hour will increase. Moreover, increasing safety stock and boosting communication requirements (such as sending status updates more frequently) may yield higher service levels, which can also be measured.It's wise to avoid subjective measurements, which may invite interpretations that lead to more disagreements and conflicts. Be sure to incorporate these measurements into an existing customer-supplier scorecard process, or if none exists, take th e opportunity to create one that can be reviewed periodically. The solutions you develop can and should vary based on the type of relationship you eave with your supplier: A strictly transaction-based relationship that focuses on only one or two activities is likely to be rekindled by focusing attention solely on improving those specific activities. ?Tactical relationships may benefit from solutions that span both upstream and downstream from the basic operational transactions. These relationships may have multiple touch points, and resolving each relationship conflict at each touch point may be an extensive, time-consuming process. Strategic partnerships call for the most complex activities and coordination to revive a distressed relationship. Moreover, strategic partnerships frequently span multiple organizations at all levels. So, although most efforts may start at the top of the organizational chart, it is important to address all levels when rebuilding trust and good will.Carry ing out the solutions you agree on most likely will involve increased sharing of operational and business information, such as supply inventory levels, point-of-sales data, and market trends that are beneficial for both customer and supplier. Frequently, an investment in information technology software can facilitate and enhance this kind of extensive data sharing. Step 4: Monitor and maintain the allegations After implementing corrective actions, you'll need to conduct management reviews in which progress is discussed, milestones are recognized, and changes to planned milestones are decided upon when necessary.It almost goes without saying that these reviews should be carried out in a timely fashion. The definition of â€Å"timeliness,† however, depends upon what activities are being measured and on their inherent cycle times. The review should occur within a time frame that allows sufficient data points identifying change to be generated. A premature review will show lack o f progress and can lower confidence levels. At the same time, a late review or prolonged periods between reviews can Jeopardize momentum or even introduce been introduced since the previous review.Matching management reviews to meaningful data generation will help avoid these pitfalls and keep the momentum toward positive relationship change. The successful repair of a customer-supplier relationship will heavily depend on the involvement of the leadership teams and the commitment of both sides to the process. If continuing the relationship will bring value to both parties, then their commitment to achieving success (and to maintaining the relationship) should be explicit.In other words, leadership's involvement in supplier relationship management demonstrates the importance of this activity to the organization. Nevertheless, sustaining the relationship can be difficult even when there is great support from the leadership of both customer and supplier. It makes sense, therefore, to c onsider turning the relationship management activities that have been developed to address specific problems into a formalized program supporting continued improvement. Leverage the scheduled reviews, progress metrics, and milestones to shape the content of a formal customer- supplier management process.Expand team and individual involvement to other levels of the organization as appropriate. Remember that a customer-supplier relationship is a two-way street? throughout the â€Å"monitor and maintain† phase, both sides should be openhanded and go out of their way to learn from each other. For example, the customer can teach the supplier that it needs to provide more than Just the right product at the right price, and the supplier can teach the customer that it requires more information than a basic forecast if it is to support the customer's supply chain success.Relationships: The foundation of success Now is the time to assess your customer-supplier relationships, as your co mpany recovers from the Great Recession and prepares for an upturn in business. If those relationships are weakened, damaged, or severed, consider taking the following steps: Objectively acknowledge the past and open a clear communication channel with the sincere intent of building a mutually beneficial relationship. Discuss and discover the sources (the â€Å"cause†) of the problems and develop corrective actions.Be careful not to fall into the trap of addressing symptoms (the â€Å"effects†). Follow through tit corrective actions and continue to monitor and maintain the relationship. To improve the likelihood of success, ensure that there is leadership support from both customer and supplier. Remember, solid, healthy customer-supplier relationships form the foundation of an enterprise's success. Companies that continue to suffer because of weakened, damaged, or severed relationships will surely lose to their competition. Justine Brown is principal at the consulting f irm Tompkins Associates.An organization spends substantial portion of every dollar on the purchase of raw materials, components, and services. In fact, 60% of cost goods sold are consisted of purchased goods. Therefore, supplier quality can substantially affect the overall cost of a product or service. One of the keys to obtaining high-quality products and services is for the customer to work with suppliers in a partnering atmosphere to achieve the same quality level as attained within the organization. Customers and suppliers have the same goal?to satisfy end user.The better the supplier quality, the better the supplier's long-term position, because the customer will have better work together as partners to maximize their return on investment. There have been number of forces that have changed supplier relations. Prior to the sass, procurement decisions were typically based on price, thereby awarding contracts to lowest bidder. As a result, quality and timely delivery were sacrific ed. One force, Deeming fourth point, addressed this problem. He stated that customers must stop awarding business based on the low bidder because price has no basis without quality.In addition, he advocated single suppliers for each items to help develop a long-term relationship of loyalty and trust. These actions will lead to improved products and services. Another force changing supplier relations was the introduction of the Just-in-time TIT) concept. It calls for raw materials and components to reach the production operations in small quantities when they are needed and not before. The benefits of SIT is that inventory-related costs are kept to minimum. Procurement lots are small and delivery is frequent.As a result, the supplier have many more process setups, thus becoming a SIT organization itself. The supplier must drastically reduce setup time or its cost will increase. Before there is little or no inventory, the quality incoming material must be very good or the reduction li ne will be shut down. To be successful, SIT requires exceptional quality and reduced setup time. The practice of continuous process improvement has also caused many suppliers develop partnership with their customers. A final force is ISO 9000, which is mandated by the major automotive assembly firms.Specifically, first tier and tiers subsequent to the Moms must maintain supply chain development through three key factors: zero defects, 100% on-time delivery, and a process for continuous improvement. These forces have changed adversarial customer-supplier relationship into mutually beneficial partnerships. Joint efforts improve quality, reduce costs, and increase market share for both parties. Dry. Koru Chickasaws has suggested 10 principles to ensure quality products and services and eliminate unsatisfactory conditions between the customer and the supplier: 1 .Both customers and the suppliers are fully responsible for the control of quality. 2. Both the customer and supplier should b e independent of each other and respect each other's independence. 3. The customer is responsible for providing the supplier with clear sufficient requirements so that supplier can know precisely what to produce. 4. Both the customer and the supplier should enter into a non adversarial contract with respect to quality, quantity, price, delivery method, and terms payments. 5.The supplier is responsible for providing the quality that will satisfy the customer and submitting necessary data upon customer's request. 6. Both the customer and the supplier should decide the method to evaluate the quality of the product or service to the satisfaction of both parties. 7. Both the customer and the supplier should establish in the contract the method by which they can reach an amicable settlement of any disputes that may arise. 8. Both the customer and the applier should continually exchange information, sometimes using multifunctional teams, in order to improve the product or service quality. . Both the customer and the supplier should perform business activities such as procurement, production, and inventory planning, clerical work, and systems so that an amicable and satisfactory relationship is maintained. 10. When dealing with business the end user in mind. Although most of the principles are common sense, a close scrutiny shows that a true partnering relationship exists with long-term relationship, where each party preserves their identity and independence. Supplier Relationship Management Many customer-supplier relationships were weakened or damaged during the economic downturn. To rescue them, both sides need to acknowledge past mistakes, identify the causes of those problems, take corrective action, and monitor the results. As of this writing, all signs are pointing toward recovery, and economic indicators (take your pick) are suggesting a better ending to 2010 than we experienced in 2009. Optimistic whispers in the first few months of this year became clearly audible announcements when Quarter 1 earnings were released.Demand is on the rise, lashed capacity is beginning to fill up, and at many companies, earnings will exceed expectations. Despite the fact that business is improving in most industries, companies will continue to struggle for some time to overcome the effects of the recession on their supply chains. This is especially true for those that made drastic decisions and acted in ways that altered their supply chain capacity and supplier services. Customer-s upplier relationships have been caught up in this turmoil and have often suffered as a result.The economic upheaval of the past 18 months has left many relationships weakened, damaged, or even severed. With demand increasing, now is the time for buyers and suppliers to assess the current state of their relationships and then address or resolve any concerns. This can be accomplished through a four-step process that includes acknowledging what has happened, identifying the causes of any problems, agreeing on and implementing corrective actions, and following up and maintaining the improved relationship. These steps should be carried out within your company's supplier relationship management (SRAM) program.SRAM is a formalized process through which companies build strong, collaborative relationships with their vital suppliers to make improvements and achieve their mutual supply chain goals. If you do not already have a formal SRAM program, then following these steps can serve as the fo undation for this type of initiative. Customers and suppliers that adopt this process and commit to continuing it in the future will not only reaffirm and strengthen their partnerships but will also ensure that they create an effective, flexible supply chain.Step 1: Acknowledge past mistakes Start out by evaluating your current relationship with your most critical suppliers. This assumes that you have already segmented your supply base and identified your most important suppliers. You can follow this process for all suppliers, of course, but to maximize the value of your efforts, it's a good idea to address the most essential suppliers first. Once the top suppliers have been singled out, you can assess the current state of your relationship with each of them individually.The most important part of this first step is to identify and acknowledge the mistakes that were made on both sides. Ask the following questions and examine your answers carefully: Is this relationship in turmoil? I f so, what were the actions that created this tension, and position are you or your suppliers in now as a result? How does the supplier feel toward you, and how do you feel toward the supplier? Do you deem the relationship to be weakened, damaged, or severed? Is the relationship meaningful for your company, and will improving that relationship bring value to both parties?By answering these questions, you will define the roadman toward reconciliation and improved effectiveness?or to accepting a separation, if that proves necessary. Once you have determined that the relationship is worth repairing or saving, it is time to pursue open and honest communication with that supplier. Integrity and trust are he basis for any relationship, and addressing difficult topics in a frank and objective manner will be appreciated by everyone involved. Coming to the table in an open manner is Just the beginning, however.The magnitude of the strife in the relationship will dictate the level of effort r equired to address it. Weakened relationships, while still requiring direct and concerted effort, can be more easily repaired than those with damaged elements or those that have been severed. A special note on severed relationships: If you are not sincere about reconciliation, then do not waste your time or your supplier's time. The amount of time and audience required to rebuild a previously severed relationship can be substantial, and if either party lacks commitment, true reconciliation becomes doubtful.Step 2: Find the real source of the problem The most delicate part of this process involves identifying the root cause of the problems. Bringing in a neutral third party to help both sides review the current relationship and past experiences is one way to maintain objectivity during these discussions. In this type of conversation, emotions and personal involvement tend to rise to the surface, and the â€Å"effect† part of â€Å"cause and effect† often becomes the foc al mint. This is a situation you should strive to avoid.If participants fail to consider the root of a problem, only the symptom will be treated, and another one that may be even more harmful to the relationship will inevitably appear. In reviewing the events of the last 18 months, many customers and suppliers may point to the economy and decreased demand as the cause of relationship strife and discontent. There's no denying that the economy was an underlying factor. As orders plummeted, original equipment manufacturers (Moms) reduced capacities to attempt to match output and expenses to very weak demand.Many suppliers were unaware of the dramatic steps taken by Moms and were left with buildup in their inventories of up to 50 percent? with no buyers for that stock in sight. These high inventory levels caused a variety of problems for suppliers and, in the worst cases, resulted in bankruptcy. While the economy and declining demand clearly play a role here, poor customer-supplier rela tionships and the lack of strong communication channels appear to be a major cause of the devastating inventory buildup.This might have been avoided by improving forecasting tools or enhancing operational capabilities to more quickly spend to downward shifts in demand. Both are sound actions to pursue at any time, but neither will resolve the lack of customer- supplier communication that will continue to cause problems in the future. An important question to ask here is: â€Å"Were there warning signs before the problem occurred? † As both customer and supplier consider this question, they should reflect upon quantitative (on-time measurements that may have signaled trouble ahead.Discussing these measurements or signals as well as the customer's and supplier's responses to those developments will help to establish where specific problems originated. Step 3: Identify and implement corrective actions Now that the root causes of relationship strife and their leading indicators h ave been identified, the next step is to define and implement corrective actions. These actions can include procedural changes, changes in safety stocks, increased communication requirements, or even changes in personnel.Observe the impact of these corrective actions on the original symptoms (the â€Å"effect†) and ensure that the resulting improvements can be objectively measured and quantified. For example, a procedural change could reduce the amount of time required to process a orientation, therefore the number of transactions per hour will increase. Moreover, increasing safety stock and boosting communication requirements (such as sending status updates more frequently) may yield higher service levels, which can also be measured.It's wise to avoid subjective measurements, which may invite interpretations that lead to more disagreements and conflicts. Be sure to incorporate these measurements into an existing customer-supplier scorecard process, or if none exists, take th e opportunity to create one that can be reviewed periodically. The solutions you develop can and should vary based on the type of relationship you eave with your supplier: A strictly transaction-based relationship that focuses on only one or two activities is likely to be rekindled by focusing attention solely on improving those specific activities. ?Tactical relationships may benefit from solutions that span both upstream and downstream from the basic operational transactions. These relationships may have multiple touch points, and resolving each relationship conflict at each touch point may be an extensive, time-consuming process. Strategic partnerships call for the most complex activities and coordination to revive a distressed relationship. Moreover, strategic partnerships frequently span multiple organizations at all levels. So, although most efforts may start at the top of the organizational chart, it is important to address all levels when rebuilding trust and good will.Carry ing out the solutions you agree on most likely will involve increased sharing of operational and business information, such as supply inventory levels, point-of-sales data, and market trends that are beneficial for both customer and supplier. Frequently, an investment in information technology software can facilitate and enhance this kind of extensive data sharing. Step 4: Monitor and maintain the allegations After implementing corrective actions, you'll need to conduct management reviews in which progress is discussed, milestones are recognized, and changes to planned milestones are decided upon when necessary.It almost goes without saying that these reviews should be carried out in a timely fashion. The definition of â€Å"timeliness,† however, depends upon what activities are being measured and on their inherent cycle times. The review should occur within a time frame that allows sufficient data points identifying change to be generated. A premature review will show lack o f progress and can lower confidence levels. At the same time, a late review or prolonged periods between reviews can Jeopardize momentum or even introduce been introduced since the previous review.Matching management reviews to meaningful data generation will help avoid these pitfalls and keep the momentum toward positive relationship change. The successful repair of a customer-supplier relationship will heavily depend on the involvement of the leadership teams and the commitment of both sides to the process. If continuing the relationship will bring value to both parties, then their commitment to achieving success (and to maintaining the relationship) should be explicit.In other words, leadership's involvement in supplier relationship management demonstrates the importance of this activity to the organization. Nevertheless, sustaining the relationship can be difficult even when there is great support from the leadership of both customer and supplier. It makes sense, therefore, to c onsider turning the relationship management activities that have been developed to address specific problems into a formalized program supporting continued improvement. Leverage the scheduled reviews, progress metrics, and milestones to shape the content of a formal customer- supplier management process.Expand team and individual involvement to other levels of the organization as appropriate. Remember that a customer-supplier relationship is a two-way street? throughout the â€Å"monitor and maintain† phase, both sides should be openhanded and go out of their way to learn from each other. For example, the customer can teach the supplier that it needs to provide more than Just the right product at the right price, and the supplier can teach the customer that it requires more information than a basic forecast if it is to support the customer's supply chain success.Relationships: The foundation of success Now is the time to assess your customer-supplier relationships, as your co mpany recovers from the Great Recession and prepares for an upturn in business. If those relationships are weakened, damaged, or severed, consider taking the following steps: Objectively acknowledge the past and open a clear communication channel with the sincere intent of building a mutually beneficial relationship. Discuss and discover the sources (the â€Å"cause†) of the problems and develop corrective actions.Be careful not to fall into the trap of addressing symptoms (the â€Å"effects†). Follow through tit corrective actions and continue to monitor and maintain the relationship. To improve the likelihood of success, ensure that there is leadership support from both customer and supplier. Remember, solid, healthy customer-supplier relationships form the foundation of an enterprise's success. Companies that continue to suffer because of weakened, damaged, or severed relationships will surely lose to their competition. Justine Brown is principal at the consulting f irm Tompkins Associates.An organization spends substantial portion of every dollar on the purchase of raw materials, components, and services. In fact, 60% of cost goods sold are consisted of purchased goods. Therefore, supplier quality can substantially affect the overall cost of a product or service. One of the keys to obtaining high-quality products and services is for the customer to work with suppliers in a partnering atmosphere to achieve the same quality level as attained within the organization. Customers and suppliers have the same goal?to satisfy end user.The better the supplier quality, the better the supplier's long-term position, because the customer will have better work together as partners to maximize their return on investment. There have been number of forces that have changed supplier relations. Prior to the sass, procurement decisions were typically based on price, thereby awarding contracts to lowest bidder. As a result, quality and timely delivery were sacrific ed. One force, Deeming fourth point, addressed this problem. He stated that customers must stop awarding business based on the low bidder because price has no basis without quality.In addition, he advocated single suppliers for each items to help develop a long-term relationship of loyalty and trust. These actions will lead to improved products and services. Another force changing supplier relations was the introduction of the Just-in-time TIT) concept. It calls for raw materials and components to reach the production operations in small quantities when they are needed and not before. The benefits of SIT is that inventory-related costs are kept to minimum. Procurement lots are small and delivery is frequent.As a result, the supplier have many more process setups, thus becoming a SIT organization itself. The supplier must drastically reduce setup time or its cost will increase. Before there is little or no inventory, the quality incoming material must be very good or the reduction li ne will be shut down. To be successful, SIT requires exceptional quality and reduced setup time. The practice of continuous process improvement has also caused many suppliers develop partnership with their customers. A final force is ISO 9000, which is mandated by the major automotive assembly firms.Specifically, first tier and tiers subsequent to the Moms must maintain supply chain development through three key factors: zero defects, 100% on-time delivery, and a process for continuous improvement. These forces have changed adversarial customer-supplier relationship into mutually beneficial partnerships. Joint efforts improve quality, reduce costs, and increase market share for both parties. Dry. Koru Chickasaws has suggested 10 principles to ensure quality products and services and eliminate unsatisfactory conditions between the customer and the supplier: 1 .Both customers and the suppliers are fully responsible for the control of quality. 2. Both the customer and supplier should b e independent of each other and respect each other's independence. 3. The customer is responsible for providing the supplier with clear sufficient requirements so that supplier can know precisely what to produce. 4. Both the customer and the supplier should enter into a non adversarial contract with respect to quality, quantity, price, delivery method, and terms payments. 5.The supplier is responsible for providing the quality that will satisfy the customer and submitting necessary data upon customer's request. 6. Both the customer and the supplier should decide the method to evaluate the quality of the product or service to the satisfaction of both parties. 7. Both the customer and the supplier should establish in the contract the method by which they can reach an amicable settlement of any disputes that may arise. 8. Both the customer and the applier should continually exchange information, sometimes using multifunctional teams, in order to improve the product or service quality. . Both the customer and the supplier should perform business activities such as procurement, production, and inventory planning, clerical work, and systems so that an amicable and satisfactory relationship is maintained. 10. When dealing with business the end user in mind. Although most of the principles are common sense, a close scrutiny shows that a true partnering relationship exists with long-term relationship, where each party preserves their identity and independence.

Company Review Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Company Review - Research Paper Example A brief analysis of the history of Apple Inc would suggest that the firm has gone through significant challenges due to the competitive nature of the industry. Since Apple produced hardware which can run its own operating system therefore it restricted its marketability. It was mostly because of this reason that Microsoft was successful in gaining almost whole market share when it rolled out its own operating system which can run on any hardware platform. However, Apple made a turn around and expanded itself into different other markets thus gaining widespread success. Its real success came with the introduction of Apple Ipod- an MP3 music player which can play songs and videos besides being handy in storing and viewing pictures. Apple Iphone – the smartphone from Apple is one of the leading smartphones in the world and is even overtaking Nokia- a long time market leader in mobile phones besides giving tough challenge to other firms. It has also recently launched tablet comput er with the name of Apple IPAD which has also proved one of the most innovative and successful products in the industry. This paper will discuss the history of Apple, its products, mission and vision statements besides discussing some of the trends in the industry. History of Apple Apple Inc is one of the leading multinational organizations in the world engaged in the business of consumer electronics, personal computers as well as software. Established in 1976, Apple was started by three individuals however, later on it was managed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Apple Inc was incorporated as Apple Computers and rolled out its first model of computers during 1976. The earliest device manufactured by Apple Computers therefore was a handmade motherboard with a built-in CPU and other accessories considered as basic requirements to perform functions as a computer. (Linzmayer, 1999) The early phase of the firm i.e. its first few decades were dominated by the manufacturing of the compute rs and Apple did not involved itself into the manufacturing of other consumer electronics items. With the change in the personal computer industry and the introduction of DOS and Windows operating systems by Microsoft, Apple started to lose its charm and lost market to Microsoft in operating systems business. Since Microsoft’s operating system could be run on any personal computer therefore it was easy for the firms like IBM to manufacture PCs which could be run through Windows operating system. A closer look at the history of Apple would suggest that it has rolled out different models of its earlier version of Apple 1 and continued to produce new models. During 1977, Apple Computers was able to roll out its second version i.e. Apple 2 overcoming many of the previous technical weaknesses of the first model. During 1980s, due to increasing competition mainly from IBM, Apple rolled out third model of its computer and improving on the previous models by further improving differe nt technical aspects of its earlier computer models. (Coventry, 2006) Apple’s real success came with the introduction of its Apple Mac model during 1984 with extensive marketing efforts by Apple to make it a commercial success. It is also important to note that it was during 1980s that Steve Jobs was forced to leave the company due to its internal power struggle. However, Jobs rejoined the firm as CEO during 1997 and thus Apple’s real stride towards success begun. (MARKOFF, 1997)

Management of Information Technology and Its Impact on Organizational Term Paper

Management of Information Technology and Its Impact on Organizational Goals - Term Paper Example The junction of computing, telecommunications, and software is not simply enabling new forms of competition and organization to develop, but the digital junction of various states of information data, text, voice, graphics, audio, and video is as well spawning new business opportunities and new customs of communicating. Simply the most reclusive Audited could argue that business and economic motion today is untouched by information technology. Certainly, it is just probably to assert that every business is an information business. Managers constantly spent much of their time on information processing, generally defined, according to Mintzberg ( 1983) now often do so interceded by technology in the figure of executive information systems, groupware, video-conferencing, and the like. Organizations have been seen in the past as types of information processing (Galbraith, 1973) and now have gathered technocratic descriptors like 'networked', 'knowledge-based', and 'virtual' as telecommunications, in particular, have been deployed to synchronize remote workers or share information transversely enterprises (Wendy Currie, Bob Galliers, 1999). Business processes gradually more are information-systems dependent and are being 're-engineered' ( Davenport and Short, 1990; Hammer, 1990), partly by asking, what can IT permit us to do which was not probable before in terms of time compression, co-ordination, integration, mechanization, and communication And entrepreneurs are getting to the information and information service sectors as their probable grounds for profit-making. According to Earl (1996), this new strain might be called 'intrapreneurs'.   Information management can yield strategic gains and signifying where opportunities can be found. Classically they offer frameworks for investigation. Kantrow argued this in a relatively crusading abstract way in the eighties and it was slanted by the early eighties articles on IT and competitive advantage.  

Globalisation in China Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Globalisation in China - Assignment Example From this study it is clear that the developing countries are said to be beneficial from the international trade as they undertake technological innovation in the process of competing with the developed countries. The trade driven globalization process has created new opportunities for many countries due to poverty reduction and increase in economic growth. However, despite all the advantages of globalization there are certain disadvantages of globalization such as the domestic firms lose their power in the local market with the emergence of foreign competition. There has been integration among the nations that is both qualitative as well as quantitative integration in the international trading system. However, globalisation has offered a lot of opportunities in China. As the paper outlines the globalisation in China has led to an increase in FDI and foreign trade that has further raised the opportunity of FDI inflow and outflow in China. The country’s dependence on foreign tr ade has increased rapidly and China started participating in international trade due to the exchange of goods and services. As a result of globalisation, China has received a lot of fund for carrying out the production activities and there has been technological development as well as establishing new industries. The study suggests that China has become the third largest trading nation after the United States and Germany.  

Schizophrenia Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Schizophrenia - Article Example Positive Symptoms include delusions and hallucinations because the patient has lost touch with reality in certain important ways. Delusions cause the patient to believe that people are reading their thoughts or plotting against them, that others are secretly monitoring and threatening them, or that they can control other peoples minds. Hallucinations cause people to hear or see things that are not there. Disorganized Symptoms include confused thinking and speech, and behavior that do not make sense. For instance, people with schizophrenia sometimes have trouble communicating in coherent sentences or carrying on conversations with others; move more slowly, repeat rhythmic gestures or make movements such as walking in circles or pacing; and have difficulty making sense of everyday sights, sounds and feelings. Negative Symptoms include emotional flatness or lack of expression, an inability to start and follow through with activities, speech that is brief and lacks content, and a lack of pleasure or interest in life (NAMI, 2006). The older standard (‘Typical’) anti-psychotic drugs, though effective, are associated with a range of distressing side-effects which can result in constant twitching/fidgeting, writhing and disjointed movements. However, newer (‘Atypical’) anti-psychotic drugs are designed to offer control of symptoms and less of these disabling side-effects. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), , Schizophrenia (2006) 4 December 2006.

How has the global political environment changed over 2010 Research Paper

How has the global political environment changed over 2010 - Research Paper Example The military rulers in Egypt planned to hold transparent democratic elections in a period of six months and thus reached, a series of desired constitutional amendments including the limiting the presidential term in the US style. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces resolved to enact free democratic system after the demise of Hosni Mubarak. In order to achieve this, the Supreme Council established a panel that would look after the constitutional changes and also resolved to hold free and fair parliamentary and presidential elections following the period of transition. The atmosphere of change originates in the conflict between the militants and protestors that played a fundamental role in ousting Hosni Mubarak. In February, 2011, Moussa was considered by the public as the best candidate to replace Hosni Mubarak after 30 years of his rule because of the immense fame and popularity of Moussa among the public. Army personnel and protestors in Egypt clashed with each other in the vici nity of the Tahrir Square few hours before the announcement of prosposed constitutional changes, Tahrir Square being the location of a successful revolt made by the protesters. Amr Moussa is among the first public figures in the Arab world that favored the Tunisian protestors and has served as a foreign minister in the past. â€Å"I intend to run in the next presidential election, and an [official] announcement will be made at the right time,† (Moussa cited in GlobalPost). The political scenario in Libya has been no less hilarious than Egypt and a series of public protests have also surfaced in Libya in the year 2010. There has been a conflict between the pro-regime and anti-regime forces in Libya each of which has strived to acquire control over Libya. â€Å"Libya’s political dynamics have been characterized by competition among interest groups seeking to influence policy within the confines of the

Justification for an Internal Control System Essay - 1

Justification for an Internal Control System - Essay Example have become crucial risks factors that have resulted in huge economic loss for its shareholders as well adversely affecting its credibility in the market. Another factor is that the increasing dynamic business environment and the volatility in the market have greatly increased the risks to the interests of the stakeholders. Risks have been defined as ‘the possibility of loss as a result of the combination of uncertainty and exposure flowing from an investment decision or a commitment’ (Boritz, 1990). All the factors and element of governance, that adversely affect and dilute the rights of the shareholders and other stakeholders of the organization, are risks that need to be addressed urgently. Hence, effective internal control system has become the need of the hour. The current approach is valid because the insurance and portfolio approach is partially equity linked and relies on the dynamic allocation of portfolio such that the stakeholders are protected by guarantee of minimum wealth at a specified time period (Basak, 2002). Though the current approach helps safeguard assets, the highly competitive nature of emerging new models of global business has increased the risks and responsibilities of the organizations. The existing system also lacks transparency that not only corrodes the trust of the investors but it also has long term repercussion on market credibility and performance outcome. The global financial crisis and recessive trends require more control mechanisms to meet the challenges of the changing paradigms of the global business that have considerable impact on the confidence building processes of the capital market. The new system of internal control is designed to boost the confidence of the investors and improve market credibility and performance outcome. The internal controls of the company are various inter-related processes within its different departments which facilitate smooth operation, conforming to the

Argumentative Essays (MEDIA) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Role and Authenticity of Wikipedia - Essay Example As the paper outlines, the example of Wikipedia, an online information source, can be deemed as vital to understand the importance of media, especially in the field of research. It has been observed that Wikipedia is an internet-based encyclopedia that works on the principle of collaborative editing. The source provides information to internet users all over the world in different languages. Furthermore, analyses suggest that since its inception, this internet-based encyclopedia has been providing more than 30 million articles in over 200 distinct languages to its users all around the world. However, the authenticity, as well as the reliability of this source, has been under the scanner, especially on the grounds of authenticity (Clark, â€Å"Wikipedia: What Is It Good For?†). This thesis will, therefore, present an argumentative essay which will adopt both supportive as well as criticizing stand on the authenticity and the role of Wikipedia in supporting the modern day resear ch needs. The presence of online published sources is enhancing with every passing day in various fields including research; may be academic or business oriented. The ability of these sources to provide information about every topic and in distinct languages has gathered popularity from millions of users all around the globe. Concerning these features, the position of Wikipedia can be considered as exemplary which further places it among the successful internet sites used to gather adequate information regarding a vivid range of topics and aspects. However, the biggest threat for the source in its successful operation has been the increasing criticism it faces on the basis of authenticity and reliability of the information published in comparison to other academic and peer-reviewed sources. This is owing to the fact that this internet source renders due significance to collaborative editing by engaging its users which is again not restricted on the basis of any particular eligibilit y criteria. In simple words, anyone who has the desire to share their knowledge regarding any topic can use Wikipedia as a platform; not only to publish new information but also to edit the previously published data. Thus, the high possibility exists for the data, published in Wikipedia in an editable form, to be exaggerated. The source does not demand any sort of expertise from the editors or neither has it set any sort of criteria for the users to express their knowledge through the source. Owing to its principle of being open for editing, the information provided by the source is often considered to be unreliable and unauthentic. Besides, the source can also be criticized on the basis of the fact that some of the information edited or provided by the users involves maximum plagiarism, i.e. the information published by unauthorized editors are often copied and pasted from other sources which again increases the risks of infringement of intellectual rights held by the publishers of that information. Consequentially, the information cannot be considered authentic as well as a quality work to support a research process, especially in an academic field. The source is also criticized due to the fact that much false information is being embedded in most of the articles published through Wikipedia and similar sources in the absence of any rules.  

Description and Evaluation of the St. Andrew Parish Church Care Centre Essay Example for Free

Description and Evaluation of the St. Andrew Parish Church Care Centre Essay Statistics have shown that in 2002 there was 16% of the Jamaican population living below the poverty line (RJR News cast). Additionally, because of restructuring of the economy and downsizing of the private sector many breadwinners have lost their jobs. This state of affairs has led to a growing number of children on the streets fending for themselves. Unemployment and poverty have led to persons reneging from their parental responsibilities of providing adequate food, shelter, clothing and supervision for their children. As a consequence of the harsh economic situation and the deteriorating social conditions, more and more children in urban centres such as Halfway Tree, have decided to congregate at the traffic lights where they can beg or earn money by wiping the windscreens of motor vehicles. Over the last twenty years this untenable phenomenon has developed. At almost every traffic light or major intersection e. g. the junctions of Trafalgar Road and Hope Road, Oxford Street and Old Hope Road, and Maxfield Avenue and Hagley Park Road, boys gather from as early as 6:00 a. m. to solicit alms from generous motorists. This development thought profitable for the boys, often caused other social problems for Jamaica. For example, many of the street boys become a nuisance as they harass motorists. Sometimes the boys would steal from motorists or even abused those who refused to give them money. Many of the boys actually live on the streets where it is reported that they become involved in pushing and taking illegal drugs. It has been reported that some are molested by homosexuals and often they are beaten up. The most unfortunate situation which has befallen the street boys is the lack of education. Very few if any of these boys who beg at the nations traffic lights can ever hope to become useful and productive adults without formal education and training. It is out of this need for strong guidance and help that the St. Andrew Parish Church established the Care Centre. Review of Literature The problem of street children has been a perpetual one that shows no signs of abatement. There have been several attempts by governments and NGOs to find ways of eliminating the problem. One needs to look at what created this phenomenon in the first place before one can determine how to solve it. It is therefore necessary to define the term street children. According to Christina Blank, in Urban Children in Distress, the term may be broadly defined as children who earn money, by legal and illegal activities on urban streets (174). She goes on to state that real street children are the roofless and rootless who live alone or with other children like themselves on the streets (324). Because these children are mobile it is extremely difficult to ascertain their numbers. It has been found that the response of those in a position to help the powerless in society, for street children may be seen as powerless, has been ad hoc or insufficient. Blank sets out various strategies and government policies that may be implemented to deal with the increasing problem of children living on the streets.

Marketing Sustainable Operation and Development

Marketing Sustainable Operation and Development Zhang Xia Field of Research This research will be carried out in the field of marketing, economic, and theme restaurant. Topic of Research The topic of this proposed dissertation is titled: The Marketing Sustainable Operation and development of Theme Restaurant in China Brief Literature Review of the Topic Along with the increasing requirements of customers on dining experiences, theme restaurants have become a trend in F B service industry. Numerous entrepreneurs and investors are attracted by this new concept and want to adventure in this business. It seems that a theme restaurant business will have a bright future. However, with only a short term of popularity at the initial stage, most of them had to close down. Only a few of the theme restaurant manage to sustain in the market, developed their own customer groups and grow rapidly. Based on the previous studies, this thesis attempts to carve out a way of stable operation and sustainable development for theme restaurants from the perspectives of marketing strategic, customer value and corporate life cycle through comparison, illustration and analysis. (Ai, D, S, 1997) With rapid economic growth and high standard of living, food and beverage industry has develop tremendously. Some of the consumers expect to the environment and ambient when they consume the products. Current consumers are interested not only in buying products but also to have feeling enjoyment and fulfilling experiences while dining out. Customers prefer to have a unique and distinctive experience under a certain atmosphere that is different from common restaurant. When experience economy encounter restaurant, theme restaurant is born. However, theme restaurant sustainable development not really optimistic in the marketing. F B industry has been developing for so long but certain restaurant facing big challenge to capture the consumers and to sustain in the market. Compared with others, homogeneity is very serious in dining business. Theme restaurant makes customer active participator instead of passive recipient comes with the tide of fashion. Theme restaurant can be simply defined as a dining place marked with one (usually) or more themes based on which all the structure, decoration, design, product, service etc. are created to produce a particular cultural atmosphere that can be recognized and felt by customers. There are three main idea from researchers of theme restaurants in China. First, the main ideal, this view consider theme as a carrier of operation which is mainly used to attract customers. However the food is still the main concern in the restaurant. Second, the core ideal, the function of theme is created by the need and want of the consumers. They affirm the primary status of theme based on which all the other elements in restaurant will be defined, such as dish, menu, space design, decoration, color, music, service, marketing strategy and so on. Third is the experience that the customers will feel while dining in the restaurant which the ambiance is different from other restaurant. Emphasizes the unique and memorable emotional experience and psychological experience customers can get from different theme environments, service and cooked food. Researchers turn their sights from suppliers to receivers, from restaurateurs to consumers. (Fu, Y, 2012) Theme restaurants are established on niche market. Each theme restaurant is its own given theme, a specific culture, and a unique style, exclusiveness is more or less inevitable. In addition, the average expenditure is relatively high. As a consequence, the customer source of theme restaurant is much more limited than traditional ones. For example, enthusiasm and curiosity of music lovers are easily sparked by Hard Rock Cafe, but when facing a restaurant with football or sea world theme, they may show more calmness and rationality. What they can obtain is not only delicious food and considerate service, but also a taste of exclusiveness and privilege, a perception of emotional and psychology identification. In 1970, Alvin Toffler came up with experience economy in his book Future Shock. From his view, after product economy and service economy, human being will enter an Experience Economy Era. Then Pine, J, B. and Gilmore, J, H confirmed this prediction and further developed Alvin’s idea by publishing their work Experience Economy in 1999. They described an experience occurs when a company intentionally uses services as the stage, and goods as props, to engage individual customers in a way that creates a memorable event. Commodities are fungible, goods tangible, services intangible, and experiences memorable. In answer to consumers’ desire for experience, more and more businesses engage on considering how to design experiences and promote them. The famous Disney Park should be one of the most typical and successful cases of experience economy. Experience is identified as the fourth economic offering that is distinct from service as service is from goods. Like goods and services, experiences have their own distinct qualities and characteristics and present their own design challenges. Five key experiences design principles are summarized by Pine, J, B. and Gilmore, J, H: Theme the like-to-deliver experience Harmonize impression Offer positive cues and eliminate negative cues Mix in memorabilia Engage all five senses Experience is essentially a form of behavior where feeling plays an important part. The state of emotions always affects on how an individual deals with surrounding environment. Experiences are not static like products but variable. Experiences occur in a process where interactions take place under a certain setting both physical and virtue between the individuals. Boswijk, A, Thijssen, T, and Peele, E (2007) describe characteristics from the perspective of individual in A New Perspective on the Experience Economy. Every meaningful experience should satisfy all of these characteristics: There is a heightened concentration and focus, involving all one‘s senses. One‘s sense of time is altered. One is touched emotionally. The process is unique for the individual and has intrinsic value. There is contact with the raw stuff the real thing. One does something and undergoes something. There is a sense of playfulness One has a feeling of having control of the situation. There is a balance between the challenge and one‘s own capacities. There is a clear goal. Objectives of the research Theme restaurant concept meet the current consumer demand. When compared with other normal restaurant, theme restaurant has it own advantages and disadvantage. Theme restaurant is a result of catering reform, a symbol of economy developing into a certain advanced stage. In the development stage in the market, theme restaurant markets in most major western countries has enter the maturity stage. Theme restaurant had not appeared in domestic market until late 20th century. Apart from few amount, small scale, and limited types, kinds of stubborn defects and unceasing problems are also annoying. Due to many constraint in sustaining theme restaurant such as limited kind of food, not so attractive themes and increasing of overhead , business restaurant owner find it very difficult to manage. Many restaurant close down within a year, part of them survive, and only a few of them make a hit. What makes all the differences? (Tong, J, Q, 2008) From economics rules we should understand every product has its life cycle in market. Ron Paul concludes that the life cycle of theme restaurant is even shorter than expected. Does it mean theme restaurant has high risk to be well operated? Of course not, every industry has its risk, just at different levels. Business enjoying low risk cannot be guaranteed safe and profitable all the time. Conversely, business facing high risk also can succeed only if equipped with scientific management and adaptive strategies. The truth is that it is impossible to allow life cycle of one theme restaurant extend infinitely. But it is achievable to make full use of resources, to optimize structure, rationalize operation, and keep vitality to the maximum. Methodology of Research Based on the topic, which is the marketing sustainable operation and development of theme restaurant. I will choose qualitative methodology for the research. Qualitative methodology explanatory paradigm which supports the view that there are many truths and multiple realities. This type of paradigm focuses the integral perspective of the person and environment which is more coincident with the nursing discipline (Weaver and Olson, 2006). Additionally, the explanatory paradigm is associated more with methodological approaches that provide an opportunity for the voice, concerns and practices of research participants to be heard (Cole, 2006; Weaver and Olson). Cole further argues that qualitative researchers are â€Å"more concerned about uncovering knowledge about how people feel and think in the circumstances in which they find themselves, than making judgments about whether those thoughts and feelings are valid†. Since, Theme restaurant sustainable operation development have d ifferent method, depends the specific theme and customer. Literature Research Method By collecting and reading pertinent literature, data and material to develop a comprehensive understanding about related theories and empirical studies including theme restaurant’s definition, characteristics, defects, history, status quot, future prospects and so on. To summarize its strengths and weaknesses, achievements and challenges. To clear the relationship between theme restaurant and experience economy, culture, and consumer psychology. Case Analysis Method By analyzing and interpreting typical successful cases and fail lessons in recent years to find out influencing factors on operating state of theme restaurants in domestic catering market. To extract efficacious and practical suggestions or cautions. To come up with strategies assisting restaurateurs achieve sustainable development and extending life cycle. Interview Survey Method Interview survey is the most important part of this research. Investigating several representative theme restaurants in China to get first-hand data. To provide supplementary information, exam reliability and feasibility of proposed recommendations. I will design the interview questions, according to the theory. That are experiences design principles are summarized by Pine, J, B. and Gilmore, J, H, and Boswijk, A, Thijssen, T, and Peele, E, (2007) describe characteristics from the perspective of individual in A New Perspective on the Experience Economy. According to Creswell (2003; 2007) includes (a) the preparation for the interview, (b) the constructing effective research questions, and (c) the actual implementation of the interview. Preparation for interview: McNamara (2009) applies eight main points to the preparation stage of interviewing which includes the following ingredients: (1) choose a setting with little distraction; (2) explain the objectives of the interview; (3) address terms of confidentiality; (4) explain the format of the interview; (5) indicate how long the interview usually takes; (6) tell them how to get in touch with you later if they want to; (7) ask them if they have any questions before you both get started with the interview; and (8) dont count on your memory to recall their answers (Preparation for Interview section, para. Selecting participants: Creswell (2007) discusses the importance of selecting the appropriate candidates for interviews. In my research I will choose the theme restaurant owners to do interview. At same time, the owners of normal restaurant also important for my research. The research questions designing for the interview process is one of the most crucial elements to interview design. I desiring to conduct such an investigation should be careful that each of the questions will allow the examiner to dig deep into the experiences or knowledge of the participants in order to gain more data from the interviews. There are several recommendations for creating effective research questions for interviews which includes the following elements: Wording should be open-ended, respondents should be able to choose their own terms when answering questions. Questions should be as neutral as possible, avoid wording that might influence answers, e.g., evocative, judgmental wording. Questions should be asked one at a time. Questions should be worded clearly, this includes knowing any terms particular to the program or the respondents culture. And be careful asking why questions. (McNamara, 2009) As with other sections of interview design, some recommendations for the implementation stage of the interview process.It includes the following tips for interview implementation: occasionally verify the tape recorder is working. Ask one question at a time. Attempt to remain as neutral as possible, dont show strong emotional reactions to their responses. Encourage responses with occasional nods of the head, uh huhs, etc.. Be careful about the appearance when note taking (that is, if you jump to take a note, it may appear as if youre surprised or very pleased about an answer, which may influence answers to future questions). Provide transition between major topics, e.g., weve been talking about (some topic) and now Id like to move on to (another topic); Dont lose control of the interview (this can occur when respondents stray to another topic, take so long to answer a question that times begins to run out, or even begin asking questions to the interviewer) (Turner, D, W, 2010) Work Schedule Sample Checklist Month Refine topic with tutors 1, 2 Create a work schedule 2 Review the literature 3, 4, 5 Select analytical method 6 Draft proposal 7,8 Pilot test methodology 9 Schedule data collection, begin collection 10, 11, 12 Data entering into SPSS 13 Analyze and interpret the data 14 Update literature review 15 Write conclusions and implications 16 Submit the research draft to tutors 17 Schedule, prepare for and take oral exam 18 Bibliography Ai, D, S(1997), The Enterprise Life Cycle [M]. China Social Sciences Press Boswijk, A, Thijssen, T, and Peele, E, (2007), A New Prospective on Experience Economy, Pearson Education. Creswell, J. W. (2003). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Creswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry research design: Choosing among five approaches, (2nd ed.), Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Fu, Y. (2012),Theme Restaurants the Problems Existing in the Management and Development Strategy in China , Business Culture Journal, pp04. Hsieh, T, F, (2009), Interactive Quality Control of Service Encounters in Theme Restaurants, Taiwan, The Journal of Global Business Issues – Volume 3 Issue 2 McNamara, C. (2009). General guidelines for conducting interviews. Retrieved January 11, 2010, from http://managementhelp.org/evaluatn/intrview.htm Pine, J, B. and Gilmore, J, H. (1999), The Experience Economy, Harvard Business School Press, Boston Shi, L, Y, Du, X, J Yang, J, J, (2012), Innovative theme restaurant business analysis and development model to explore the advantages and disadvantages , Journal of Business in China (12) Tong, J, Q, (2008). Themed Restaurant Management Situation and Development Trend of the China , Modernization Journal, pp22 Turner, D, W, (2010), Qualitative Interview Design: A Practical Guide for Novice Investigators, The Qualitative Report Volume 15 Number, Florida USA Weaver, K., Olson, J. K. (2006). Understanding paradigms used for nursing research. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 53(4), 459-469 Weiss, R, Feinstein, A, H, Dalbor, M, (2004), Customer Satisfaction of Theme Restaurant Attributes and Their Influence on Return Intent, Journal of Foodservice Business Research, Vol. 7(1), The Haworth Press, Inc. Zhang Xia

The Biological Basis of Language Development Essay -- Health Medicine

The Biological Basis of Language Development "The principles and rules of grammar are the means by which the forms of language are made to correspond with the universal froms of thought....The structures of every sentence is a lesson in logic." BIOLOGICAL BASIS OF LANGUAGE "[H]uman knowledge is organized de facto by linguistic competence through language performance, and our exploration of reality is always mediated by language" (Danchin 29). Most higher vertebrates possess ‘intuitive knowledge’ which occurs as the result of slow evolution of species. However, the ability to create knowledge through language is unique to humans. According to Benjamin Whorf, "language†¦. is not merely a reproducing instrument from voicing ideas but rather is itself the shaper of ideas†¦. We dissect nature along lines laid down by language" (Joseph 249). In addition, the development and acquisition of language seems to be related to "complex sequential processing, and the ability to form concepts and to classify a single stimulus in a multiple manner" (Joseph 178). Antione Danchin suggests that the knowledge we create through language allows us distinguish ourselves from the rest of the world to produce models of reality, which become more and more adequate due to the "self-referent loop" which enables us to understand ourselves as objects under study. This "path from subject to object," which is common to all humans, Danchin claims, suggests the existence of a universal feature of language (29). Biological foundation of language may contribute significantly to such universality. The issue here is not whether language is innate, for, clearly, language must be learned. Nor is the issue whether the aptitude for learning a la... ...guage. Vol 58(2) 265-326, Jun 1997.    Modgil, Sohan and Celia Modgil. Noam Chomsky: Consensus and Controversy. New York: The Falmer Press, 1987. Persson, Inga-Britt. Connectionism, language production and adult aphasia: elaboration of a connectionist framework for lexical processing and a hypothesis of agrammatic aphasia. Helsinki, Finland: Societas Scientiarum Fennica, 1995. Schachter, Jacquelyn. Some semantic prerequisites for a model of language. Brain & Language. Vol 3(2) 292-304, Apr 1976. Schnitzer, Marc L. Toward a neurolinguistic theory of language. Brain & Language. Vol 6(3) 342-361, Nov 1978.    Skinner, B. F. Verbal behavior. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1970. Vocate, Donna R. The Theory of A.R. Luria: Functions of Spoken Language in the Development of Higher Mental Process. Hillsdale[NJ]: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc., 1987.

The Good Earth :: essays research papers

The novel The Good Earth is a story of a man living in Chinese society around the time of the Chinese Revolution. Though the story is a work of fiction, some of the events in the story were actual events that the author, Pearl S. Buck, witnessed or experienced during her life while in China. The area of China that the story takes place in is based after the town Nanhsuchou where Buck lived for a period in her life. The main character in the story is Wang Lung, a hard working, but poor, farmer. At the age of marriage, and being of low class, Wang Lung, and his father decide that it is best that he marry a slave, who would be less expensive than other possibilities. Also, if it were to be a slave than it was less likely to being a pretty wife, and they did not want their woman to be pretty. To have a pretty wife would mean that she would have to be kept beautiful and pretty which was expensive, and they were not rich. Wang Lung needed a wife of low maintenance, who would be willing and able to help work the land. Also, a wife who was pretty would be more likely to be looked at and desired by other men and less likely to be a virgin still. The most important thing in Wang Lung’s life is his land. To him, the land is everything; his work, his food, his standing in society, his sustenance. It is, essentially, his life force. His understanding is that as long as he has land, he has enough, and to live without it would seem impossible. It is said that every seven or eight years the gods feel the need to punish the people, and they do so sometimes by flooding the precious land. This can be a life threatening occurrence depending on how long the flood stays. The floods take over all of the fields, killing most or even all of the crops. Without their crops to harvest, people starve, and many die. One of the first floods that takes place during the novel is not as bad as some. It kills much of the crops, but they are able to survive on what they have stored and what they are able to purchase. Many in the nearby village are not as lucky, and many starved to death.

Changing Role of Women

Since the end of world war two, in 1945, Australian society has witnessed many dramatic changes in the rights and freedoms of women. Women, who had been encouraged to take on men’s jobs during the war were expected to vacate these positions and return to their traditional vocation in â€Å"home making†. Throughout the 1950’s and early 1960’s women were expected to either stay at home or work in underpaid â€Å"women’s jobs†. Women’s wages were significantly less in comparison to the wages awarded to men who performed the same task. The Commonwealth Arbitration Court ruled in 1949, that a women’s basic wage should be set at 75% of the male rate. This was the practice throughout the 1950’s when there was a large growth in the textiles, clothing, footwear and food processing industries depending on the cheap labor that women provided. The view that a woman’s place was in the home was reflected in and shaped by the Australian education system. The emphasis of the limited schooling available to girls was in the home sciences . i. e. cooking and sewing. The lack of educational opportunities for women only reinforced sex role stereotyping and gave women little chance to achieve their potential. The introduction of the oral contraceptive pill in 1961 gave women the chance to achieve their potential. It gave them the freedom to choose when and if to bear a child. It provided women with the opportunity to concentrate on furthering their working careers, where available, thus leaving the domestic housewife image behind. It provided women with power over their bodies for the first time; they were in control of their sexual relationships. Thus, by the end of the 1960’s, women were actively seeking greater rights and freedoms in society and in the workplace. Demonstrations and protests were a feature of this movement, known as the woman’s liberationist movement (today referred to as feminism). The female liberationists aimed to overturn the notions of female inferiority and male dominance in Australian society. Their dream was to free women from the restraints society placed upon them; to challenge the status quo. Zelda D’Aprano was one Australian woman who formed the Woman’s Action Committee in 1969. She chained herself to the doors of the Commonwealth Building in Melbourne demanding equal pay for both sexes. Germaine Greer was also an outspoken liberationist whose book â€Å"The Female Eunuch†, 1970 , challenged the thinking of conservative male dominated society. There was a diverse range of women’s liberationist groups formed to campaign for specific issues revolving around three main areas: equal pay, discrimination in the workplace and equality of opportunity in the workplace and society. Specific issues included: †¢Child Care †¢Equal pay for women †¢Family Planning †¢Divorce †¢Discrimination in the workforce and from lending institutions The causes, clear arguments and outspoken activism of these groups attracted much media attention and faced resistance from traditional and conservative sections of society. For example church leaders were outraged when women’s liberationists called for legalized abortion. Equality in the workplace has been and still is an important issue. In theory, the federal Equal Pay Case of 1969, determined that women receive â€Å"the same wage as men for the same work†; but this principal would not apply where the work was essentially or usually performed by women. By 1972, the Liberal government continued the debate, suggesting in Cabinet that wage rates should take into consideration â€Å"training, skills and other attributes required for the satisfactory performance of the work†. See Source A, which is a copy of a Cabinet document, dated 24 October 1972, demonstrating this stance of the Liberal government in relation to calls for Equal Pay. By December 1972, the Labor Government had come to power and it promised to implement the Equal Pay for Equal Value principle in female dominated industries; though such a principal has proven difficult to implement. Equal opportunity has been and still is another important issue. In 1972, the Women’s Electoral Lobby (WEL) was founded. WEL sought out politicians views on woman’s issues. It has had a major role in lobbying and influencing governments to pass laws friendly to woman in areas such as woman’s health and child care. See Source B, a photograph of a demonstration in Sydney in 1979, in which WEL activists are advocating for Medicare funding for abortions. By the beginning of the 1980’s, the fruits of the labor of the women’s movement could be seen in many of Australia’s legal reforms: †¢The family law act 1975 had established the principle of No Fault Divorce; removing the social stigma associated with woman and divorce. †¢The anti discrimination act 1977(NSW) which made it illegal to discriminate on terms of gender, marital status or pregnancy Sex Discrimination Act 1984 a commonwealth act banning discrimination against woman. †¢The Affirmative action act 1986 that was later replaced in 1999 by the equal opportunity for woman in the workplace act. By the end of the 1990’s most woman believed that their struggles for equal rights and freedoms with men in society had been won, but that is not necessarily the case. While women’s rights may have been enshrined in law, it is women’s freedoms in society that have yet to be fully realized.

Modern Times by Charlie Chaplin Essay

Synopsis: A black and white comedy by Charlie Chaplin, Modern Times takes place in America during the Great Depression. It follows Little Tramp (Chaplin) while he struggles to survive as a factory worker in a modern and industrialized world. Though this movie does not take place during the Industrial Revolution, the problems and challenges faced by Americans during the Great Depression are similar to the ones faced by people in the Britain during the early 1900s. As mentioned, this movie is in black and white. It is also a predominantly silent film, and these two factors take this movie outside of most students’ comfort zones. Students tend to moan in disappointment when they learn what they are about to watch. However, the slap-stick, and physical humour wins high school students over and they seem to always enjoy the film. Activity After the Movie: Research Essay – Students are asked to take their knowledge of the Industrial Revolution and write a research paper comparing it to the Great Depression as depicted in Modern Times. Opinion Essay – Chaplin uses this movie to shed a negative light on Capitalism and modernization. Accordingly, students could write an opinion paper agreeing or disagree with Chaplin’s ideas of industrialization. Below are three examples of relevant scenes from the movie that correlate with both essay topics: The opening scene is of people marching to work and then it switches to a shot of a herd of sheep walking the streets. This is to portray Chaplin’s opinion that people are more like sheep in an industrialized society, losing their individuality. One may argue that this was also the case during Industrial Revolution with the switch from the cottage industry to factory work. After this opening scene the audience sees Chaplin in the factory, where he has a repetitive assembly-line job tightening screws together as products run by on a conveyor belt. Next his boss speeds up the machine, and it gets harder and harder for him to keep up. Eventually, this monotonous regime causes him to have a breakdown and lose his job. This scene is a great one to highlight to students because it is a clear example of an assembly line. Also, the fact that it gets harder and harder for Chaplin’s character to keep up, which then leads to a breakdown and consequent unemployment is a commentary on the quality of life that this assembly-line work creates and the risks and danger involved. There are many references to communism, which is an important ideology to know when learning about the Industrial Revolution. After Little Tramp becomes unemployed he ends up on the street where he finds a red flag and begins to wave it. This causes the police to believe that he is a communist and he is put in jail. There are also scenes where Little Tramp is seen dividing and sharing stolen necessities, such as food, with the working class. This may not be a direct connection to Communism, but is pointing out some of the disadvantages of Capitalism.

Prison Classification

Inmates first experience usually occurs in a classification or reception center, where they are given a battery of psychological and intelligence tests and are evaluated on the basis of their background, offense history, personality, and treatment needs. Some states have instituted rigorous classification instruments designed to maximize the effectiveness of placements, thereby cutting down on the cost of incarceration. Prison classification is a method of assessing inmate risks that balances the security needs of the institution with treatment needs the individual. Effective classification can reduce prison infractions and create a safer environment of both inmates and staff. External classification places an inmate at a custody level that will determine where he or she will be housed, internal classification determines the cell or housing unit, as well as the facility programs to which the prisoner will be assigned. External classification systems are now being used in all Federal and state prison systems in the United States. Internal classification systems focus on those decisions that are made for the incoming prison population. Georgia Department of Corrections has a special prison called Jackson diagnostic center. Georgia Diagnostic and classification prison is a Georgia Department of Corrections prison for men in unincorporated Butts County, Georgia, near Jackson. The prison holds the state execution chamber. The prison, the largest in the state, consists of eight cell blocks containing both double-bunked and single-bunked cells. The prison conducts diagnostic processing for the state correctional system, houses male offenders under death sentence, and carries out state ordered executions by lethal injection. The prison complex also contains a special management unit that houses some of the most aggressive and dangerous prisoners in the correctional system. The Georgia Diagnostic and classification prison serves as a central hub where sentenced felons begin the process of being admitted into the Georgia state correctional system. Many county jails are paid by the state to house the sentenced felons until space becomes available in the prison system. Based on published research statistics by the Georgia Department of Corrections, inmates who are being diagnosed and classified undergo a battery of tests and diagnostic questionnaires. Tests and diagnostic notions include: the culture fair IQtest; Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT) (reading, math and spelling); scope of substance abuse (summary, detailed report); latest mental health treatment; PULHESDWIT medical scale; criminality, alcoholism, and/or drug abuse in immediate family; one or both parents absent during childhood; manipulative or assaultive tendency diagnostics; and criminal report with prior incarcerations and a full account of all previous and current offenses.

Ideology of Pakistan

Definition of Ideology: Science of ideas, visionary speculations, and manner of thinking, characteristic of a class or individual, ideas on the basis of some economic, social or political theory or system is called Ideology. It contains those ideals, which a nation strives to accomplish in order to bring stability to its nationhood. Defining ideology, George Lewis say, â€Å"Ideology is a plan or program which is based upon philosophy† Ideology of Pakistan: Pakistan is an ideological state and the ideology of Pakistan is an Islamic ideology. Its basic principle being The only sovereign is Allah: Islam acted as a nation building force before the establishment of Pakistan. Ideology of Pakistan basically means that Pakistan should be a state where the Muslims should have an opportunity to live according to the faith and creed based on the Islamic principles. They should have all the resources at their disposal to enhance Islamic culture and civilization. Quaid-e-Azam said Pakistan was created the day the first Indian national entered the field of Islam. From the above statement, it is clear that Ideology of Pakistan is an Islamic one. Two Nation Concepts: The fundamental concept of Ideology is that Muslims should get a separate identity. They should have a separate state where they could live according to Islamic rules and principles, profess their religion freely and safeguard Islamic tradition. On one occasion Quaid-e-Azam said, The Muslims demand Pakistan where they can rule in accordance with their own system of life, their cultural development, their traditions and Islamic laws. Thus, this fundamental concept of Ideology led to the concept of two nations in the Sub Continent and resulted in the formation of Pakistan. Elements of Ideology of Pakistan: 1. Hindus and Muslims belong to two different religious philosophers, social customs, and literatures. They belong to two different civilizations which are based mainly on conflicting ideas and conceptions. Therefore, Muslim nation demanded a separate homeland where they could have the freedom to practice their religion and live their lives as free individuals of an independent country. There are five principles/elements of the ideological foundation of Pakistan. 1. Islam 2. Two Nation Theory 3. Territorial Land 4. Democratic System 5. Urdu Language 1. Islam, a Nation-Building Force: Pakistan came into being on the basis of Islam. It was only Islam, which galvanized Muslims and lined them up behind Muslim League. Other factors, political and economic ones, also played some part in uniting Muslims to struggle for Pakistan but Islam was the preponderant factor as it serves as a cementing force for Muslim society and is the primary link between Muslims the world over. Everything else follows Islam. The entire struggle of the Muslims of the subcontinent was to have a state where they could freely maintain their Islamic entity. No other factor was so clear and intelligible for Muslim masses. Muslims gradually developed a national consciousness in the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent; they collectively struggled for the right of self-determination and the establishment of an independent homeland to be carved out from those territories where they constituted majorities where Islam could be accepted as the ideal pattern for the individual’s life. They eventually secured what they wanted. Hence, the historical fact which could not be denied is that the formation of the Muslim nation preceded the demand for a homeland. Pakistan itself did not give birth to any nation; on the contrary, the Muslim nation struggled for and brought Pakistan into being. Quaid-e-Azam said, We do not demand Pakistan simply to have a piece of land but we want a laboratory where we could experiment on Islamic principles. Islamic ideology is not merely a matter of belief, dogma and ritual. It is a religion in the wider sense of the word. It is a way of life, a whole complex of social and moral norms entwined with theological metaphysics. The fundamental teachings of Islam are universally accepted. Belief in God, finality of prophet-hood, human rights and social justice, management of affairs through consensus, moral values of charitableness, tolerance and universal brotherhood; these are sonic of the cardinal principles enshrined by the Quran and Sunnah. The only force which keeps Muslim nation united is Islam which is the ideological foundation of Pakistan. 2. Two-Nation Theory: The Two Nation Theory was the basis of struggle for creation of Pakistan. It implies that Muslims of Subcontinent were a nation quite distinct and separate from the Hindus. They in spite of living together for centuries could not forget their individual cultures and civilization. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was the first to give the wake up call and decided to prepare Muslims to fight the advertisity with similar weapons – modern education and knowledge, employed for domination. With him, his Aligarh Movement, his books and magazine Tahzibul Akhlaq, he started an awareness movement. He prepared the ground for uniting and galvanizing Muslim community of the subcontinent. His colleagues including Nawab Mohsinul Mulk and others created conditions which led to the establishment of All-India Muslim League in Dhaka in 1906, a landmark in the history of Pakistan Movement. On March 22, 1940 in his presidential address to the All-India Muslim League Lahore session, the founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah made it plain that, The Hindus and the Muslims belong to two different religious philosophies, social customs and literature. They neither intermarry, nor interline together, and indeed they belong to two different civilizations which are based mainly on conflicting ideas and conceptions. This was not a matter of mere hair-splitting but an everyday fact of life, which one cannot fail to feel in almost every sphere of human activity. This then is the crux and substance of the Two Nation Theory, which formed the basis of British India's partition in two independent Hindu and Muslim States. The Hindu majority areas of India formed India and the Muslims majority regions came together under the unique name of Pakistan. On the same premises Quaid-e-Azam dismissed the wishes of the Hindu and the British colonialists for a joint Hindu Muslim nationhood as a pipe dream. With single-minded devotion be fought against this menace and succeeded in getting the idea of a separate Muslim identity recognized. In the 28th Annual Session of the Muslim League in 1941 in Madras, Quaid-e-Azam formally declared this objective as the ideology of the Muslim League. It is this very ideology which is the second important ingredient of ideology of Pakistan. . Territorial Land: Amongst constitutes of ideology of Pakistan, land is the third important element. A piece of land was necessary for the existence, stabilization and promotion of Islamic ideology as soul requires body. Quaid-e-Azam said in his address to Punjab Muslim Students Federation in March 1941, Nothing would be achieved simply by raising slogans for nation. We are one nation and the nation cannot survive in the air, it requires an independent land to settle where it can rule and our demand is the same. However, All-India Muslim League demanded a separate homeland constituting the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in a majority such as in the North-Western and Eastern zones of India on March 23, 1940. With Jinnah's untiring efforts, indomitable will, and dauntless courage, he united the Indian Muslims under the banner of the Muslim League and carved out a homeland for them within 7 years, despite stiff opposition from the Hindu Congress and the British Government. 4. Democratic System: In an Islamic state, all the affairs are decided on the basis of Shariat (Democracy). In other words, the entire social, economic, political and the cultural affairs are operated on the basis of mutual consensus and Islamic democracy. The same system has also been referred in Surah Al-Imram, Muhammad (P. B. U. H) used to operate all the state affairs after discussing with his Sahabas (companions), when this questions rose that what would be the system of government in Pakistan, it should, no doubt, be Islamic. Islamic system of government is Islamic democracy or system of Shariat. Creation of Pakistan is the glorious example of ijma-e-ummat (national consensus). At the time of establishment of Pakistan, referendum was held in all the Muslim majority provinces to take their consent to the included in Pakistan. Sharai system of state, therefore, is the fifth ingredient of Pakistan. 5. Urdu Language: Language is not a fundamental characteristic of a nation, but still remains one of the features by which a nation may be distinguished or one of the grounds on which nationalism may be founded. In the sub-continent, Urdu was considered to be the language of Muslims and Hindi to the Hindus. During the last days of the Muslim rule, Urdu emerged as the most common language of the northwestern provinces of India. It was declared the official language, and all official records were written in this language. In 1867, some prominent Hindus started a movement in Banaras in which they demanded the replacement of Urdu with Hindi, and the Persian script with the Deva Nagri script, as the court language in the northwestern provinces. The reason for opposing Urdu was that the language was written in Persian script, which was similar to the Arabic Script, and Arabic was the language of the Quran, the Holy Book of the Muslims. The movement grew quickly and within a few months spread throughout the Hindu population of the northwestern provinces of India. This situation provoked the Muslims to come out in order to protect the importance of the Urdu language. The opposition by the Hindus towards the Urdu language made it clear to the Muslims that Hindus were not ready to tolerate the culture and traditions of the Muslims. So Muslims also began to think about establishing a political party of their own for their survival and centralizing their efforts to have their rights. Consequently, All India Muslim League was established in December 30, 1906. The Urdu-Hindi controversy completely altered Sir Syed's point of view. He had been a great advocate of Hindu-Muslim unity but after this event he put forward the Two-Nation Theory, predicting that the differences between the two groups would increase with the passage of time and the two communities would not join together in anything wholeheartedly. Maulvi Abdul Haque aptly said, Urdu is the first brick in the foundation of Pakistan. Importance of Ideology in National Life: Ideology is a motivating force for a nation, which is striving hard to bring stability and homogeneity to its nation hood. It provides the binding force to the scattered groups in a society and brings them close to each other on a common platform. Ideologies impel their adherence to follow a joint linked action for the accomplishment of their goal. Ideologies give shape to the revolutions and create new cultures and civilizations. They stress on their adherents to insist on the realization of their ideal through total transformation of society. Conclusion: The fundamental concept of the ideology of Pakistan is that Muslims are separate nation having their own culture, literature, religion and way of life. They cannot be merged in any other nation. They should be able to develop their culture and religious traditions in an Islamic State and they should be able to create a true Islamic society for themselves. Thus the ideology of Pakistan which developed through the period of Mohammad Bin Qasim and others and followed by political leaders like Quaid-e-Azam was materialized in 1947.