Were agency problems responsible for the bankruptcy of Lehman brothers Dissertation

Were agency problems responsible for the bankruptcy of Lehman brothers in 2008 - Dissertation Example However, such event took place even after repeated assurances made by the chief executives of the company mentioning their claim that Lehman Brothers was financially sound, had high liquidity levels and the leverage was present at manageable levels. The fallout of this Wall Street financial institution resulted in shattering of the consumer confidence during a fragile time in the financial market. Soon after the collapse of Lehman Brothers, a lot of decisions taken by it were found to be questionable. This study entails with finding the reasons behind the fallout of Lehman Brothers. This research study would try to find out the possible causes behind such a historic event that took place in United States which had a significant impact not only in the country but worldwide. Lehman Brothers was founded in the year 1850 and was headquartered at New York, United States. Lehman Brothers was considered to be one of the most prominent investment banks in the world and was engaged in the business of providing financial services to governments, municipalities and corporations worldwide. It became one of the largest underwriters of United States mortgage bonds (Onaran, 2008). Apart from offering services related to investment banking, Lehman Brothers was also involved in business activities corresponding to selling and buying of US treasuries and they were the primary dealers. It has been believed that the abolition of Glass-Steagall Act marked the beginning of Lehman Brothers’ demise. This landmark legislative act which was institutional since the Great Depression helped in separating the interests of commercial and investment banks and thus prevented it to have competition between them (Fox, 2009). It also helped to protect the balance sheets of the com mercial and investment banks to by allowing them to focus on the business transactions that they used to manage in the best possible way. The investment banks were typically meant to maintain highly liquid assets in their portfolios. On the other hand commercial banks were meant to handle the portfolios that were highly capital intensive in nature including corporate or real estate investments. In addition to this, the Glass-Steagall Act helped insulating the company from collapsing in case of the failure of one of the sectors by preventing similar

The Peloponnesian War Essay Example for Free

The Peloponnesian War Essay The Greek empire did not comprise of any center for power ruling over the states, instead it consisted of numerous city-states each having independence and being governed in a manner separate from the rest. Where Athens had a democratic style of government, with everyone from the populace having the right to participate in the government (except for women and slaves), Sparta had a totalitarian form of governance. The populace was divided into 3 distinct classes which included Spartan men (who were all raised to be warriors), Spartan women (who were patriotic, proud, and exhibited more independence then women from other states) and finally Helots, or slaves (Adams). Aside from the political difference between the states, even their culture was vastly different. The lifestyles of Athenian citizens encouraged them to seek artistic and intellectual pursuits whereas Spartan men were trained to be soldiers from birth and led a life by the sword. Athens was the most powerful state amongst the other states in the Greek Empire. After the expulsion of the Persian from the continent by the Greek allies led by Athens, the state became the central power by increasing their forces and converting the ally states into tribute paying states with the money earned going into improving Athens infrastructure and help strengthen its naval fleet. It did not make matters any better when in a Helot uprising in Sparta, when Sparta called for aid from all the other Greek allies, it dismissed the contingent from Athens as they feared the troops would change sides and support the Helots instead, since Athens was a democratic state and Sparta was not. . The Peloponnesian War, which lasted from 431 – 404 BC provided the states a chance to enter into direct confrontation with each other to resolve their issues once and for all. In my opinion, the Peloponnesian War was an outlet for the states to finally destroy the others as each saw the others existence as an affront. The superiority of Athens and their cultural background clashed with the ferocity and dominant attitude of the Spartans and eventually an altercation would have taken place. This paper will identify the strengths of the two city-states, determine which factors gave them an edge over the other and will analyze whether the states where able to maximize the potential of those benefits. Military Background Athens Athens was the most prosperous state on the continent. It had wealth and a large population, being the centre for business and politics. After the Persian invasion, Athens took on the leading role and used its position to build its own state far surpassing the others. When the Persians had been defeated, the allies of Athens were reduced to subservient tribute paying states that were supposed to aid Athens prosper even more. The policies adopted by Athens towards the other states exhibit the superior attitude with which Athens looked upon the other states. Athens had a defensive wall built around its city which made land attacks impractical and futile. Since the Persians had left and Athens had begun work to strengthen the walls, Sparta had seriously been against the measure as they recognize the tactical benefit Athens would obtain as Sparta would have difficulty in defeating Athens with the presence of the wall. Athens also had a strong naval fleet. Its fleets were much superior to the other states’ and it was able to maximize upon its advantage by using said fleets to ravage the Peloponnesus (Hooker, 1999). Sparta Sparta, as mentioned earlier, was a state which trained every one of its inhabitants to become warriors. From birth onwards, Spartan men lived a life of training and fighting to become the ultimate soldiers. Therefore the Spartan army relied on its brute strength and its training superiority. The Spartan infantry was more numerous than the Athenian and in size; the Spartan army far surpassed the other states’. Throughout the course of the Peloponnese War, Sparta used its numbers to ravage the territory around Athens (Attica in general). Historical Events Exhibiting Military Strategies The first war between Sparta and Athens was the Archidamian War, named after the Spartan king, was initiated by the Spartans. The Spartan troops invaded the lands surrounding Athens and were meant to deprive the city-state of its food source and access to its productive land. The strategy employed by the Spartans was a strategy any land based army would adopt. To cut off supplies and eventually force the opponent to surrender is probably the most successful way to gain victory without shedding much blood on the attacker’s side. Spartan troops however were unable to succeed by this strategy as Athens was able to acquire food and material via its ports which it still had access to. The Spartan army itself was unable to stay over long periods of time due to the harvesting of their own crops and the inability to leave the helots unsupervised in the home state. The success of sieges work only if they are meant to last over longer durations, but the Spartans were able to stay at most for 40 days. From the start of the War we can see that the strengths of both the armies were conflicting with each other and an outright battle to rule was out of the question as both sides wished to play by their strengths. Athens adopted the strategy to avoid any land battles with its far more superior opponent due to its numbers and experience in land battles. But in 430 BC an outbreak of plague hit the city and roughly one third of the Athens population died. But the plague had the effect that the Spartan armies did not want to catch the sickness and decided to put the ravaging expeditions on a hold as it would bring them in proximity to the Athenians (B. Strassler, 1996). After recovering from the plague, Athens launched an offensive by sending out its naval troops to ravage the port cities of the Peloponnesus. Athens began stretching its military activities to further reaches and began setting up posts in the Peloponnesus bringing the war closer to the Spartans. Instead of engaging in direct confrontations, the Athenian forces began drawing the Spartan helots to them which crippled Sparta as most of the domestic work was tended to by these slaves. Sparta led an expedition to the Athenian colony of Amphipolis, which was controlled nearby silver mines which basically funded the Athenian troops. A war was fought in Brasidas which eventually led to the two states signing a truce which lasted 6 years (ThinkQuest). The truce was an excuse for both sides to build up their strengths as both had faced economic losses. During the era of peace, the Athenians were able to gather support from the states of Argos, Mantinea and Arcadia. The allied coalition appeared to get early victories but was eventually crushed by the Spartan forces. It can clearly be seen that Sparta had the major advantage in land battles and that Athens was initially wise in avoiding direct clashes as in the battle of Mantinea, which was the largest land battle fought in the Peloponnesian War, Sparta was able to crush its opponents brutally. The deciding battle in the war could probably be the Sicilian expedition. Syracuse (which shared the same race as the Spartans) were attacking Sicily (which shared the race with Athenians). Since Sicily was the second largest state and would have provided much needed resource to Athens, Athens decided to help them. Troops sent for aiding Sicily proved incapable of defeating the Syracusan forces. While the Athenian forces waited to gather more allies in the surrounding vicinity, Syracuse was able to get the support from Sparta which tipped the scale in Sparta’s favor. Around this time Athens was facing harsh times as Spartan forces had made access to their lands difficult and food and other necessities had to be shipped in which cost a lot to the Athens government. The main source of funding for the Athenian forces was the silver mines which had now been taken over by the Spartans. To accommodate for the decrease in capital, Athens began demanding more tribute from its allies. This created friction amongst the coalition and would eventually lead to dissatisfaction in the allies. (Hanson, 2005) Realizing the tactical advantage Athens possessed due to its navy, Sparta contacted the Persians and took their aid in building its own navy. The navy would prove to be the decisive factor as in 405 the critical blow hit Athens when the Spartan commander Lysander took his navy northward to Hellespont and destroyed the Athenian forces existing there. This blow seemed too big to bear and Athens eventually conceded defeat and had to succumb to the humiliating terms laid down by the Spartans (Thucydides Lattimore, 1998). Personal Observations Pertaining to the Peloponnesian War The war was not won due to the number of forces or the number of allies that any side had but it relied on the ability of the army to change to meet the situation. Both sides possessed benefits in separate areas, with Spartans having superiority on land and Athens having the superiority on the seas. But Sparta was constantly reevaluating its approaches and battle plans and would accommodate for the situation at hand. Rather than relying strictly on sieges and confronting on the mainland, Sparta developed its own naval strength and reduced the competitive advantage that the Athens forces had over it. Even though from the beginning Sparta would have been deemed as the military superior, Athens had a number of opportunities to tip the war in their favor. Such as during the Sicilian expedition, it was mismanagement and lethargy which cost the Athens forces defeat. Conclusion The strengths of the two states were clearly exhibited in this research paper but no amount of strength is affective if it does not keep training and does not keep advancing. The Athens forces made this mistake by simply relying on one’s strength and believing it would win them the war where in truth Sparta proved to be the wiser of the two and used the opponent’s strength, incorporated into its own arsenal and eventually won the war. The Spartans were able to not only maximize on their own strength during the war (land based warfare) but created advancements in their weakness as well and had they not done so, the war would have lasted for numerous more years due to an intermittent deadlock as both sides initially had opposing tactical advantages. References Adams, P. (n. d. ). Comparing Athens and Sparta. Retrieved February 22, 2009, from Discovery Education: http://school. discoveryeducation. com/lessonplans/programs/spartans/ B. Strassler, R. (1996). In R. B. Strassler, The Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War. New York: The Free Press. Hanson, V. D. (2005). In V. D. Hanson, A War Like No Other: How the Athenians and Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War. New York: Random House. Hooker, R. (1999, June 6). Ancient Greece. Retrieved February 22, 2009, from Ancient Greece: The Peloponnesian War: http://wsu. edu/~dee/GREECE/PELOWARS. HTM ThinkQuest. (n. d. ). Peleponnesian War. Retrieved February 22, 2009, from ThinkQuest. com: http://library. thinkquest. org/17709/wars/peloponn. htm Thucydides, Lattimore, S. (1998). In S. Lattimore, The Peloponnesian War. Hackett Publishing.

The Differences Between Reward and Recognition

The Differences Between Reward and Recognition Whilst these terms are often used interchangeably, reward and recognition systems should be conceived individually. Employee reward systems pertain to programs arrange by a organization to reward performance and motivate employees on separate and/or team levels. Theyre generally conceived individual from pay but possibly pecuniary in nature or differently have a monetary value to the organization. Although antecedently believed the area of big companies, small business sector have also commenced hiring them as a instrument to entice top employees in a competitive job market as well as to increase employee performance. As observed, while employee acknowledgment programs are frequently aggregated with reward programs they hold a different aim altogether. Recognition programs are normally not pecuniary in nature although they may have a cost to the organiozation. What is Merit Pay? In contrast to bonuses and incentives, merit pay requires giving employees a permanent pay rise established on his/her past performance. Often the companys performance appraisal system (PAS) is used to check performance levels and the employees are granted a salary increase, such as a 10% increment in pay. One likely problem with merit pay is that employees come to expect pay increments. In companies that give yearly merit raises without a different raise for increments in cost of living, merit pay finishes up serving as a cost-of-living allowance and creates a feel of entitlement on the part of employees, with even low performers anticipating them. Therefore, making merit pay more effectual depends upon making it genuinely dependent on performance and designing a comparatively objective appraisal system. What are Compensation Factors that Management Should Consider? When management is setting salaries for thier employees there are numerous factors to consider. Their compensation should be decided by more than just whether they can do work for you or not? Management need to be sure that theyre looking at what compensation factors will impact those that work for them. Theyve to remember that employees are going to go where it will be of more benefit to them. That means that management require to be able to make a good offer if they want employees to work for them. listed below are few thoughts for compensation factors that management should consider. For each business sector there will be different applications, so not all of them are right for your choice of business. What type of business sector you own. If you are a sales outlet then commission will work great, but if you are a production company then sales will not impact many of your workers. The different sections and divisions within the business enterprise will also make a difference. The waitresses will be able to accumulate tips but the cooks arent out with the customers to be tipped. The list of duties and responsibilities that are anticipated of the employee. At the lowest of the food chain there will be less obligation, if the person that just got employed is making as is as the supervisor over them, but the duties are different, you may find youve few disturbed supervisors. As their job requisites increase there should be more compensation given. The time and exertion that has put into the job. Youll find that some employees have a driving force to do everything they can to give it their best. Other people will be more prepared to take the minimal workload and be through with work the moment the clock assures them its alright. For those employees that volunteer to do more and that give a distinguished effort, there should be more compensation for them. If youre anticipating committee members to set up a presentation, give them additional pay for the time they put into it. On that same note, youll find that some people are collecting the abate from those that are just there to do the lowest they can. For those that are accepting additional and doing all they can to compensate for those that do not care, there should be a reward. They should be acknowledged for their efforts and compensated in addition to their normal salaries. When an employee is employed, look at their education. If theyve an accounting degree and youre seeking a financial consultant or an accountant, then you should be conformable pay a little more for their knowledge. Youll have applicants that come in below and over qualified, be sure that youve adequate compensation budgeted that you are able to hire the person with the right knowledge for your company. Consider their work history. If theyve years of experience, they should be compensated. Those years help you to have that much more of an advantage, adding their education to their experience you may have someone that can make a big difference in your company. Also, if you are employing even for the least job, then you need to know that theyre going to be with you for at least a good amount of time. Its expensive to train, so if you are able to reward them for being at their preceding jobs for an extensive amount of time then you may find a patriotic employee. Remember that happy employees are the only way to keep a business running in the right direction. How to Motivate Employees at Workplace? By Updating the Employee of the Month program: Besides placing their picture and alloting them a terrific parking zone, give them something they could actually enjoy, Something that will motivate your staff to be the best they can be. Commence by determining a goal for your staff: Getting them recognise what youd like do and allowing them help come up with a plan of action to accomplish that goal. And after that, inform them what their reward will be for finishing the task. Motivate employees with a free day: You can motivate employees by giving them a day off from work and a free pass to watch some movie or enjoy hi-tea etc. A day off with salary is something every employee wish to savor! It will surely motivate employees to work for those day offs with free passes. Family Day: How about planning a family day for the employees where they are invited along with their immediate familes to enjoy a fun-filled day. There could be various activities invloved for children and others to enjoy. Donuts Treat: Sometimes actions like as simple as buying donuts and coffee for your employees once a week and discussing something other than work for an hour or so will motivate employees also. You need to show your care to employees. Annual and Individual Bonuses: Annual Bonuses are basically one-time rewards that might be in result of some specific achievements of employees. For instance, an employee who accomplishes the quarterly goals set for his/her may be rewarded with a lump sum bonus. Employee motivation consequent from a bonus is normally related to the degree of advanced knowledge considering bonus particulars. Team Bonuses: There are certain situations in which employees should collaborate with one another and setting apart employee performance is harder, companies are progressively recurring to binding employee pay to team performance. E.g., in 2007, Wal-Mart gave incentives to around 80% of their associates based on overall store performance. If employees have a reasonable power to enhance their overall teams performance level, these programs can be handy. Organizational Examples: Following rewards and compensation benefits are seen in different renowned organizations around the globe. Wal-Mart Stores: Out of many factors that have resulted in the success of Wal-Mart is its happy employees. Wal-Mart has successfully managed to rtain happy bunch of employees through effective motivation. Motivation at Wal-Mart can be seen at all levels of positions and departments at Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart have various motivational techniques in order to prove that they not only care about profit they attain through their workforce, but employees personal b eing as well. Here are some other ways of motivation in palce at Wal-Mart Stores: Calling employess as associates onstead of employee Calling eachother by their first name from top management to hourly associates. Giving respect to each associate irrespective of their .position in the company. Health insurance for each associate and their immediate family members. By hiring a psycologist to give counseling to associates facing some problems. Mobilink GSM Pakistan Mobilink runs its business enterprise on the basis of its slogan that Our people are our greatest assets. We take great pride in admitting the contribution each one of us makes. Mobilink use the following motivational techniques to motivate their employees: Management by objectives Employee acknowledgment programs Employee engagement programs Variable salary programs Skill-based salary plans Compromising benefits. Nestle Pakistan Ltd. Specified contribution program: The Company engages a accredited provident fund for all its regular employees. Equal monthly shares are constituted to the fund both by the Company and the employees at the rate of 12% of the basic pay and cost of living allowance in addition to it. Nestle has clear plans for betterment of its employees, thus leaving employees with clear knowledge of how the organization is caring about its employees by providing sustainable resources in terms of health, insurance and incentives etc. Suggestions and ideas towards the betterment of any organizational processes are encourged. Other main facilities which Nestle grants to its employees to keep them motivated at workpalce are: Incremented salary Job Security and Integrity Annual Gratuity Annual Bonuses Old age benefits Residence facilities and Allownces Transportation Health and safety Telenor Pakistan Ltd. Below are different ways in which employees are motivated at Telenor Pakistan are: Solving everyday residence issues of employees including remodeling, repairs, house-sitting, etc. Supporting in any legal issues. Supporting in financial issues. Education plans for childrens. Health care. Tesco UK Staff training and devlopment programs Discount for staff purchases Club points system Flexibility Bonuses Free uniform Holidays/holiday vouchers Free Passes Open opportunities Unilever India Motivational techniques in place at Unilever India, includes Provident fund, off days. Pick and drop facility, training camps, health care, meternity care and pesion schemes. Flex Industries Limited   At Flex Industries Ltd, they have a generous incentive scheme, which has assisted them in increasing productiveness by 30-40% as well as minimizing wastage by 2-3 %. Bonuses are extended to all levels of employees. Ford Workplace safety Diversitification Professional Growth and devlopment Achievement rewards Trainings Remuneration and benefits Volvo A Learning and competitive Environment A Fair Wage Policy Regular Medical Examination of all employees Openness and Respect amongst co-workers Measuring Progress with effective performance appraisal system Rewards Diversity Volkswagen Attractive employment plans Job security Good working climate through leadership and cooperation payment in line with performance Personal development opportunities Coca Cola By furnishing competitive compensation and benefits, coca cola endeavor to motivate its employees though bounding employee turnover. Besides compensation and benefits, coca cola also extend several other programs for its employees that broaden beyond the workplace. For example, as part of its loyalty to youth development, Coca cola offer college scholarship opportunities to the children of its employees. coca cola also provide opportunities for employees to improve their educational standing.

beer :: essays research papers

Imagine that you are sitting on your front porch on a sunny summer afternoon and you ask for a nice cold beer. Then out of the blue your friend rifles a nice big keg of beer at you, which in turn knocks you backward off of the porch. Here’s another image to contemplate. A man tries to force a refrigerator door shut. When he finally thinks he has it shut, the door busts off the hinges and a beer keg rolls out. These two ads for Heineken beer in the new keg cans. These ads end with the catchy phrase the keg can can go where regular kegs cannot.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When you first see an ad like this many questions come to mind : first, where are they going with a campaign like this; second, why would Heineken make cans in a shape of a keg, and why would an ad like this entice me to drink Heineken? To most people this add stirs the mind to wonder why Heineken would make keg cans and these amusing commercials to promote them. The commercials carry the humor for the pure fact to catch the attention of the viewer and make them wonder, â€Å"What if a beer out of a keg can tastes like beer out of a keg?† This is one of the fifteen appeals of advertising, the need to satisfy curiosity. Since this is a new type of container for beer its is an unknown commodity to the viewer. Heineken is also an imported beer which is not consumed by most average Americans, which also adds to the curiosity of the ad.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another of these appeals which the ad goes to is the need for prominence. Since Heineken is an expensive imported beer. The manufacturers of Heineken most likely think an ad which shows people drinking or around Heineken shows that they hold a higher social stature. Companies make you think if you spend the money you will have the fame and fun. Also these commercials have another of the appeals. The need for affiliation. Now this may not jump out in the ad. It just seems as if it is an idea used by the company very discreetly. Heineken seems to say that if you buy the keg cans you wont be one of the people who try to take kegs with them everywhere. You will be one of the people who have the portable kegs , the ones in a can , and fit in with the â€Å"Heineken† crowd.

Philippine National Hero, Jose Rizal Essay

This film pictures events and unknown facts about the life of the Philippine National Hero, Jose Rizal. When I am watching the film I understand the story clearer than reading it, the scenes played in the film made my mind and vision clearer. They’ve explain the life of Rizal clearly even though some information is not that important but still they are saying it for the student’s or the viewer can understand more the life of Rizal. In watching the films I’ve realize the things that a man can do. The film started from Rizal telling what had been his life as a young boy was. Unlike any boy, Rizal came from a rich family which can be considered as principalia. His parents were considered to be a good example in their own ways. He had a big family with 10 siblings, nine sisters and one brother named Ponciano. Rizal was describe as a young boy whose eagerness to learn was of undeniable. At his young age of nine, he was asked to live in manila to study. He took entrance examinations and finally schooled at prestigious campuses in Manila by that time. He studied first at Ateneo de Manila University then continue it at University of Sto. Thomas. Rizal also continued his studies abroad and he was able to visit many countries. Rizal demonstrated great talent in literature, philosophy and also in arts. He received awards in some contests that he joined and successfully won the major ones at times. As a student, I can say that Rizal was very hard working and dedicated. He was an engineer, sculptor, painter, ophthalmologist and a writer. I can’t believe that a man can be that good, a man can do many things, and a man can defend his own country. He will not achieve all of that without his friends, of course.

The Resumption of Killing Whales

The following paper is about the resumption of whaling by Norway with a focus on the American attitude towards whaling in general. Whaling is a very sensitive issue for many people, including myself. There are many people who feel that whales are highly intelligent mammals, akin to humanity in many ways. They cite the fact that whales mate for life, the size of the average whales brain, and the proof that whales communicate with one another ; all of these traits they share with us. The anti-whaling people feel that to kill whales for their meat or oil, would be like killing people for their meat or oil. The pro whaling people don't buy any of their reasoning. The pro whaling people feel that it is their right to use their resources any way that they want, and no one can tell them what to do. These people don't feel that whales are intelligent or that the size of their brains has any thing to do with it. The people of Norway don't see a problem with whaling because they were raised w ith it. The anti-whali An international study by Milton Freeman and Stephen Kellert, published in 1992, surveyed people in 6 major countries including Australia, Germany, Japan, Norway, The United Kingdom and The United States about their attitudes towards whales and whaling. 57% of the US respondents confirmed that they â€Å"opposed the hunting of whales under any circumstances† and 55% felt that â€Å"even regulated whaling must be abandoned† (Skare 1994). Although none of the respondent groups showed a high level of knowledge on the subject, all seemed to agree on the following points. 1. The protection of whale habitats from pollution and disturbance. 2. Maintaining an â€Å"ecosystem† perspective in whale management. 3. Basing harvest levels on the most sound scientific advice available. In Norway where whale hunting was once a big industry the proponents of whaling scoff at the prospect of a world without whaling. Norway claims that whaling in their country dates back more than ten thousand years (Skare 1994) and that history, they claim, gives them the right to exploit the resources that they have available to them; what they don't say is that those â€Å"resources† aren't really their own to exploit. Eric Doyle, a member of Greenpeace, an environmental watchdog group, explained to me (over the telephone) that the boundaries that countries draw up don't mean anything to whales or even to whaling boats in some instances. Doyle, explained that because Norway is one of the very few countries that have resumed whaling ,their boats aren't closely watched, and are often overlooked because there aren't many of them out there (Doyle 1995). Norwegians who are involved in whaling, hunt Minke whales in the northeast Atlantic, where the whale stock is estimated to consist of approximately eighty-six thousand seven hundred minke whales (Donovan 1994). In the late eighties Norway imposed a ban on itself that ended whaling, commercially, whaling for the purpose of scientific research, however continued with no end in sight. The History of The Regulated Whaling Industry†¦ Whaling has always been a source of income and, whales an endless source of useful products. The meat for our diets, the oil to lubricate our cars and bicycles, the blubber to make shampoo, soap, and many other products too numerous to mention (Skare 1994). However with the invention of synthetic oils and the notion of healthy living on our minds; the average American has little interaction with whale products. This fact has constituted the main body of the anti-whaling argument, as if to say, if the Americans can live without whaling then everyone else can too. In nineteen-twenty six, the League of Nations created a subcommittee to oversee and regulate the growing whaling industry; but it was not until nineteen forty-six that a working regulatory committee was established. At the initiative of the United States, the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW) was adopted by the League of Nations. The ICRW called for such a working committee, and thus the International Whaling Commission (IWC) was created. ICRW was intended to safeguard and regulate whale stocks for future generations, and also to ensure the orderly development of the growing whaling industry. The only catch (pardon the pun) is that the ICWR made it possible for any country to exempt itself from the IWC's rules by simply filing a formal protest and abstaining from voting on referendums brought up at the yearly meetings of the IWC. To no ones surprise, after approving the ICRW, Norway immediately filed a formal complaint and abstained from every vote the IWC held; thereby exempti â€Å"But the matter of substance is, what is the point of having a scientific committee if it's unanimous recommendations on a matter of primary importance are treated with such contempt? † Hammond was expressing his frustration and anger with Norway for exempting themselves from the ICRW, and with the IWC for being powerless to enforce any of it's own rulings. Norway went ahead with its plan to whale that year and took 226 whales and an additional 69 for research. In 1993 the catch totaled 369 animals with an unknown number (either additional or included) taken for research, and the 94†² season saw 411 animals with an additional 178 for ,you guessed it, research. Norway continues to whale against the recommendations of the IWC, Greenpeace and every other organization that tracks Cetacean population levels. At the time this paper was created there were no totals for the 1995 season, but if the numbers follow the trend of the past three seasons, the catch is guaranteed to be higher than that of the 1994 season. That could mean the deaths of over 600 minke whales. Regardless of the side one takes, it is becoming evident that some thing must be done before this problem becomes too large to handle. Possible Solutions This debate has gone on for many years and in all likelihood will go on for many more, with no end in sight some solutions must be found in order to reach some kind of settlement or compromise. Some of these solutions might include.

Womens Place in Our Society Essay Example

Womens Place in Our Society Essay Example Womens Place in Our Society Essay Womens Place in Our Society Essay Today women are enjoying high place in our society because Islam has given them great respect. In the near past women were considered inferior to men. They were debarred from taking part in social life. Their sphere of activities was limited to domestic work. Up to the 19th century it was believed that women were the servants of the homes of their husbands. In those days women were not allowed to take part in political and social life and administration. Rousseau the French philosopher who never married once said The dignity of woman consists in being unknown to the world her glory is the esteem of her husband her pleasure the happiness of her family. Quite recently women have come to take more and more prominent part in many spheres of life In some respects they have excelled men. In sports intellectual and artist pursuits in office and industry they have set a new record of honesty and efficiency. They have succeeded marvelously as teachers and nurses goldsmith the famous poet and writer made a complaint two centuries ago Women famed of their valour their skill in politics or their learning have left the duties of their own sex in order to invade the privilege of ours. This is what the women are doing today. Now women are enjoying that place in society. Which they could never think of it past. There is particularly no field where women are not competing with men. In professions outdoor life and law they claim equality with men. In business trade industry in the learned professions in politics administration, scientific research literary and artistic activities. Eve is making herself felt everywhere. They are police and military officers. They are working as sale girls as air hostesses and as clerks and steno typists. They are turning out men from the posts of personal secretaries. As the days pass we have to get more and more used to the idea of seeing women working side by side of men riding driving, flying, playing even fighting. Even in Pakistan we have women athletes writers, leaders, administrators. They are fast discarding purdah and taking to active outdoor life. Law has given a woman a status equal to that of man. In nearly every democratic country women have the right to vote. Not only this now women got a chance to become the head of he state. The selection of Benazir Bhutto as Prime Minister twice in a great example of womens place in society. Many other women are also serving at key posts. Many thinkers including most of the Muslims do not like their idea of woman liking an active part in public life and in the professions. They argue that biologically womans function is different from mans she has to be a mother. Women are not suitable for every job. They are too delicate to perform arduous duties of life. The real greatness of a woman lies in her role as mother. It is rightly said the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. The mother who can bring up the right sort of children is really a great benefactor of society. Islamic society gives a very respectable position to woman. The Holy Prophet has said Verily the paradise lies under the feet of your mother.

Leadership Term Paper Writing Guide Learn How to Write a Leadership Term Paper with Ease

Leadership Term Paper Writing Guide Learn How to Write a Leadership Term Paper with Ease A leadership term paper is a joint assignment for students at the end of the semester. It implies a practice of a research paper having a central question, argument, and hypothesis. A leadership term paper is often aimed at applying leadership theories to examine their effectivity on the actual setting. The concept of leadership often gets mistaken for the notion of management. However, the direction is the ability to apply the managerial roles and tasks efficiently as stated in Investopedia. It embodies the ability of an individual to lead by example, provide positive associations and define the quality of interactions. Leadership term paper writing explores such notions as granting attention to the identification of the most suitable means of exercising effective leadership. There are several steps necessary in regards to writing a successful leadership term paper. Jump all over this guide to succeed in each of these effective steps. Choosing a Topic The first step refers to the choice of a topic for the term paper. It is the most significant primary point to understand and decide because it defines the purpose of research, its tangibility, methodology, and other. Therefore, selecting a topic that you find exciting and relatable will simplify and direct the research and writing processes. These are some of the suitable subjects for a leadership term paper: Leadership in Organizational Behavior; Self-Identity of the Followers in a Leadership Process; 10 Paths to Leadership Growth and Success; Mediating Organizational Commitment through Leadership; Emotional Intelligence in the Future of Leadership Theories; The Identification of Gender Differences in Leadership; Personal Attributes in Successful Leading. The choice of a topic often depends on the given assignment. Do not hesitate to clarify the matter with your instructor to identify its suitability to the course. The Pre-Writing Stage Is Worth to Stay at Before you start writing a leadership term paper, consider the steps necessary to succeed in the writing process. The essential stage is research one. Once you decide on the topic, research all the literature, websites, and all available sources of information to understand and learn about the subject. For instance, when researching the topic of emotional intelligence in leadership examine thoroughly such resources: EmeraldInsight, namely the article under the title Transformational Leadership and Organizational Citizenship Behavior: The Moderating Role of Emotional Intelligence; SpringerLink, namely the series of article named Leadership Today; Harvard Business Review on Leadership That Gets Results. Each of the suggested sources is scholarly identified in the platform of Google Scholar. However, do not limit your research to solemnly online sources. Visit your school or university library to get printed journal articles and books relating to the topic of your choice. A leadership term paper requires a careful research process with the application to varying settings. Therefore, before you start writing the term paper, identify the key terms, theories, styles, and other helpful ideas for the further convenience of the writing process. A Word of Warning About Pre-Writing There are several common mistakes that most students do when starting a leadership term paper. It is essential to identify such to minimize the fallacies and get a better grade. Familiarize with the following errors to avoid in your term paper: Don’t neglect research. Devote time to reading and learning about the selected topic to come up with the strong ideas or arguments. A proper term paper is based only on credible resources. Avoid any sign of the subjectivity. Do your best to avoid using personal pronouns, opinionated arguments, and unproven ideas. An objective term paper will reflect the topic better and improve the validity of your research. Get rid of a rambling structure. A thoughtful outline reflects the quality of the term paper. By neglecting to work on the structure of the paper, you put it as the risk of being overwhelming or chaotic. Don’t omit a response to research question. A term paper must answer a research question that you will insert at the beginning of writing. If the planned content of the text does not match the idea presented at the beginning of the writing, the term paper will not be successful. Don’t use poor grammar and word choice. The focus on the clarity of writing is as important as the clarity of thought. If your grammar and language style is complicated to understand, then you need to reevaluate your writing. You can turn to grammar rules and guidelines to simplify the writing process. The mistakes above represent the overall limitations of term papers. However, they are not limited to these. Keep attention on the subject and mind the term paper instructions given by the professor to comply well with. Moreover, there are several helpful recommendations to turn into strategies that will contribute to your understanding of the term paper writing process. 5 Useful Recommendations from Our Leading Writers The strategies for effective leadership term paper writing include the understanding of the process. As you start with the research part, you will need to identify suitable sources and utilize the found information for your text. A successful term paper will provide an objective overview of the topic while researching the set of questions and finding connections between different concepts. Below you will see recommendations to create a successful leadership term paper. Find credible sources. The selection of credible sources can be simple if you choose them from acknowledged databases. There are scholarly journals and libraries with books. Take notes. Once you settle with several sources, take notes about the critical pieces of information presented. Write out the arguments and discussion presented in the resource. Such step will simplify the construction of the outline at the further stages. Create rough drafts. Writing is a creative process that demands corrections. A leadership term paper will provide a foundation for new ideas to integrate along the script. Therefore, do not hesitate writing several drafts before finalizing the work. Take enough time. Writing a leadership term paper can be overwhelming. The range of literature and interconnection of the concepts can prove to be a significant challenge for many students. Therefore, make breaks while researching and writing. Return to the text in several days to read it over and provide necessary improvements. Get feedback. When you turn in the leadership term paper, your instructor will provide feedback based on the grading rubric. However, feel encouraged to give your term paper to family or friends to read it in advance. They will be able to assess the clarity of your thought and organization. Feedback is the best incentive to advance the writing. Adhering to such guidelines will ensure your focus on the quality of the text and the resources used for its completion. A leadership term paper requires immersion into the topic to provide an in-depth analysis and its application to practice. An Outline of 7 Steps to Take in Term Paper Writing An outline for a leadership term paper will depend on the selected topic. For instance, leadership in business often refers to the qualities of the managerial staff and the CEO. Therefore, it provides an incentive for structuring the term paper based on the research of the leadership styles, executive successes and overlapping incidents that highlight the topic. A proper outline consists of an introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion. However, it is essential to adapt based on the complexity of the leading term paper. Title The selection of a title is one of the most challenging aspects of the term paper. It should define the idea of the text without having too many details. A successful title will hold the central argument of the topic. The choice of the title refers directly to the problem. Mind that making up the claim should not be the first stage of your writing process. You can leave it till the finalizing stage to make sure that it complies with the text and presented ideas. Abstract Once you begin the writing process, you will need to gather all information into an abstract. It implies a short paragraph of text that identifies the central ideas of the leadership research paper. If your writing relates to the business industry, you can highlight the methods used to determine the claims. For instance, hand-on founders prove to be the most successful heads for startups. The abstract of your paper will include information about the purpose for researching such hypothesis, methods for studying it and the result of the findings. Introduction The introduction paragraph reflects the reason for the choice of the topic of the term paper. It is one of the most critical parts of the text because it sets the tone for reading the leadership term paper. It is essential to focus on the hooking sentences to make the readers excited about the following body paragraphs. Therefore, when writing an introduction, provide the relevance of the topic to the current state of the industry, highlight its significance and reveal the leading hypothesis to be explored during the term paper. Thesis Statement A thesis statement refers to the identification of the central ideas in your term paper. It sets the foundation for the structure of the document and critical arguments. A thesis statement will not answer your research question. However, it will provide an overview of the central points used to give a thorough reply. The following thesis statement relates directly to a leadership term paper, representing examples of proper writing. A border-less business reality demands the development of transnational leadership to provide safety, ensure the mutual understanding and cooperate for the provision of a better future. Global economy disregards the diversity of political leadership styles as a result of interest in the unification of managerial approaches through the liberal concepts and ideas. The modern American workplace highlights the feeling of community and spirituality tiring both in leading through responsibility and motivation. However, if a student neglects the objectivity and does not proceed with extensive research, it is possible to find a text with the following examples of a wrong thesis statement: You define your leadership style; Organizational behavior is driven by leadership; Servant leadership has no good results; Development of leadership skills is hard; Social capital does not correlate with emotional intelligence. Therefore, pay extra time to write the thesis statement. Check several times its compliance with the topic and relevance to the text. Literature Overview One of the first body paragraphs following your instructions will refer to the literature overview. It is a tentative identification of the relevant literature that pertains to the topic. You will discuss the main findings from the books, research articles and websites found during the research stage. However, a successful literature review will focus directly on the topic. Each source should contribute to the overall understanding of the research questions and the identification of limitations that motivate you to proceed with the research. Methods The methodology of the term paper is one of the most critical parts of the text. It identifies the means of gathering information for each claim. In the methods, paragraph writes about the key results of the literature review and its applicability to your topic. Your term paper should not base explicitly on the theoretical overview. Do not hesitate to incorporate empirical findings from the journal article and compare them to those made by you. You could be quantitative, qualitative, or a mixture of both. However, consider adding the surveys or interview questions to the appendix section of the term paper. For example, if you interview an executive, describe in the methods section the process of setting it up. Provide a discussion of the ways you analyze each response. If you explain in detail, it will better to realize the survey results obtained from people. Overall, the methods section where you describe the means of handling the data proves your credibility as a potential good re searcher. Results and Discussion The results and discussion sections are not obligatory to all leadership term papers. However, if you advance your writing to include such paragraphs, consider the organization of these sections through the use of credible sources. The results section refers to the identification of the main conclusion made from the research. It serves as an assertion of each claim presented in the term paper. The discussion section identifies the limitations of the study. You should consider further ways of enhancing the research. Editing and Proofreading Finalizing a leadership paper refers to the editing and proofreading stage. It is one of the crucial steps to ensure the clarity of through and compliance with the guidelines. The editing part refers to the analysis of each body paragraphs and their logical sequence. The proofreading is necessary for identification of grammar and stylistic mistakes. A leadership term paper should have a smooth flow. Therefore, to ensure such notion, read the entire text several times before turning it into the teacher. Referencing The final part of the writing relates to the construction of the reference page or bibliography. Each source that you used during the research stage holds information with the name of the author, publisher, title, and other valuable information. It is essential to give credits to the sources ideas of that you used in the text. There are several ways of citing the resources. The most common ones include MLA, APA, Chicago, and Harvard. However, mind the grading rubric distributed by the teacher to ensure compliance with the style. Below is a proper citation of a book in an APA style. Owings, W. A., Kaplan, L. S. (2011). Leadership and Organizational Behavior in Education: Theory Into Practice (1st ed.). New York: Pearson. Moreover, consider inserting in-text citation at placed along the text, where you used information from the sources. An in-text citation in an APA style would include the last names of the authors and the date of publication. When writing a leadership term paper, consider all of the leadership term paper prompts mentioned above and enjoy the process!

The Effectiveness of the Blackboard Learning System as an Online Research Paper

The Effectiveness of the Blackboard Learning System as an Online Education Tool - Research Paper Example Objectives The objectives of this study are: To conduct a literature review of Blackboard and its position in virtual learning environments. To conduct a survey among students at UNSW in order to measure the overall effectiveness of current Blackboard’s features. To determine the best and worst features of Blackboard. To make recommendations based on the research findings on improvements that can be made to enhance the effectiveness of Blackboard as an online education tool. Literature review Blackboard is one of the interfaces used in provision of online education or distance learning, usually referred to as virtual learning environment. The basic features of all virtual learning environment models are that they are based on the web and use certain tools to ensure two-way interaction is possible. They also feature a content management system. Besides these, they simulate traditional classroom delivery concepts of education in terms of instruction, assessment, discussions and homework assignments among other features. The basic goal of all virtual learning environment models is to make the learning experience in online education as interactive as possible. Some of the tools used to achieve this are aimed at enhancing communication, uploading and downloading course content and supportive material, class administration, instructor assessment, self evaluation assessment tools through automatic scoring and online questionnaires among other profound tools like three-dimensional environments and use of emoticons to promote interaction (Iskander, 2007). Blackboard has a suite of applications that are supported by Blackboard Global Solutions to enable efficient and integrated planning and implementation of the desired system for... The intention of this study is blackboard as one of the interfaces used in provision of online education or distance learning, usually referred to as virtual learning environment. The basic features of all virtual learning environment models are that they are based on the web and use certain tools to ensure two-way interaction is possible. They also feature a content management system. Besides these, they simulate traditional classroom delivery concepts of education in terms of instruction, assessment, discussions and homework assignments among other features. The basic goal of all virtual learning environment models is to make the learning experience in online education as interactive as possible. Some of the tools used to achieve this are aimed at enhancing communication, uploading and downloading course content and supportive material, class administration, instructor assessment, self evaluation assessment tools through automatic scoring and online questionnaires among other profo und tools like three-dimensional environments and use of emoticons to promote interaction. Blackboard has a suite of applications that are supported by Blackboard Global Solutions to enable efficient and integrated planning and implementation of the desired system for clients. The applications by Blackboard include Blackboard learning system, Blackboard content system, Blackboard portal system and Blackboard transaction system. The Blackboard learning system is utilized by organizations in the use of the internet as an effective instructional system.

Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 8

Economics - Essay Example As a way of influencing the demand and supply of money in the economy, the Federal Reserve use either contractionary or expansionary money policy. Because, the interest rates are low there is a high availability of money supply in the economy as a result, there is moderate inflation occurrence that is currently at two percent. As the Fed chairperson, the use of restrictive monetary policy measures ensure s there is a steady flow of money in the economy during the period (Bartolotti, 2006). This is because restrictive monetary policy ensures that there is a higher level of depository interest rate for commercial banksas it borrows money from the Federal Reserve banks as they keep their reserves at the authorized level. In addition, it is critical to increase the open market operations by ensuring the citizens with extra money to save can invest in it because of the highly expected returns leading to money being drained out of the economy. As a result, the banking institutions will cha nge a higher rate as it lends less money with increased reserve requirement thus, individuals will seek alternatives for seeking funds rather than borrowing money. In addition, the government can make investments with the funds collected from open market operations leading to increased gross domestic product (GDP) growth. With an unemployment rate that is quite high, there is a need to carry out measures that will influence the growth of employment levels in the economy. Concerning, the new classical economists notion on unemployment and inflation, they highly advocate for a stable inflation-unemployment trade-off that is achievable through the Phillips curve. Based on the Philips curve the trade off is achievable on the assumption of changes in the price level in the private sector freely. This is because the Philips curve enhances the relationship between inflation and unemployment because of fiscal and monetary policy changes (Knoop, 2004). Nonetheless, the classical economics ar gue based on the conceptualization that the expectations-augmented in the Phillips curve emphasizes that the unemployment rate should not extend further than the natural level as it could lead to increased inflation rates. More significantly, it is critical to implement fiscal and monetary policies to influence employment levels (Knoop, 2004). This is because the economy is recovering from a recession period and the economy tends to grow with the aggregate demand (AD) increasing therefore, the levels of employment will increase. Even though, there is an increased pressure for a raise in wages after rescission, the rate at which the economy grows is faster, and the wages begin to rises slowly. Based on the Philips curve an outward shift of the aggregate demand AD curve because of increased consumer spending causes the equilibrium level of national output to shift to the point Y2 beyond potential gross domestic product (GDP). As a result, this creates a positive output gap, and it is more preferably attributed to cause a rise in inflationary pressure

ARTICLE ONE AND ARTICLE TWO Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ARTICLE ONE AND ARTICLE TWO - Assignment Example The intriguing fact in the article is how the author presents the information about panda and penguin abandoning the new born in an effort to sustain itself. This sure does indicate that nature mysterious in its own ways. The article has many scientific facts which normal people fail to encounter or got less chance to read. They are many facts which people are unheard of. The article also details the reason why these creature abandon their offspring which might not make sense to the social animal albeit humans. The article itself seems to have a sole purpose of providing information to people that what we might think sensible can be absurd for nature and vice versa. This subject is of interest because it explores the unique nature of animal and bird’s and indicates the survival is the key right of the fittest.In total, the article is rich in information and subject and is equally good in the theme as it is a glimpse of the mystery of nature. The article is all about cancer and how it can dangerous to sound and experience. This subject can be both interesting as well as repelling to people as nobody want to be acquainted with cancer at any point of their life time. The author is health and fitness expert and hence can be more relied upon on the subject of cancer as it is a health issue. From the article, we can understand how a distortive cell engineer itself and progress to the destroy the whole group of cells in less matter of time. Sometime the nature can be a killer as well as saviour. This article makes us think whether cancer is a play of God or ignorance of human being. The author with her writing makes us wonder that when all the cells do its job well, why a certain cell should go out of direction and attack healthy cells. They have been many scientific reasoning and research in case of cancer but the real cause of cancer still remains a mystery. The cell division and

Analyzing Jobs at Custom Carpet Cleaning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Analyzing Jobs at Custom Carpet Cleaning - Essay Example The four aspects that the Job analysis should cover are: a) what job the employee does. b) The process followed by the employee to accomplish the task. c) The area of operation handled by the employee. d) The qualification of the employee, which involves the skills, knowledge and abilities requisite (Franklin, p.2). In the case given the approach applied by Bob to conduct a Job analysis is very pragmatic yet not very complete. Bob has decided to conduct a survey in all the outlets of the Custom Carpet Cleaning to get clarity regarding the jobs carried out by all the outlets. Bob is conducting this survey to understand the reason behind the discrepancies in the salary structure amongst the different outlets of the company. The company has two kind of services one specifically for the residential clients and the other specifically for industrial clients. The survey conducted by Bob will have one respondent from each outlet. This will help Bob to understand the variation in the tasks carried out in different outlets. This survey will give Bob a schematic overview regarding the difference in the operations carried out by the various outlets. Bob will understand the difference in the approach, skills and responsibility of all the employees posted for the same post but at different outlets. The posts available at various outlets require employees with different set of skills and approach. The machinery used and the methodology applied by the employees to complete their task also depends on the kind of job assigned to them. A job analysis will let Bob segregate the jobs which though have similar designation yet vary in the terms of the responsibility carried out by the employees. Bob will be able to sketch out the different job descriptions depending on the specific requirements. He will be able to allocate the salary structure depending on the job description and skills required. However the method applied by Bob is not complete as he will be surveying only one employee from each outlet. Within the same outlet the approach and the responsibilities may differ and Bob should consider surveying a larger sample from each outlet. 2. What can be done to improve this job analysis process? Ans 2. The method applied by Bob to conduct the job analysis can be improved by increasing the num ber of respondents surveyed by Bob. Bob must first utilize the online research done by him and divide the various jobs carried out by the employees. From each outlet at least 10% of the employees should be selected as respondents for the purpose of the survey. Bob should also select the employees who are being given more than the usual salary slab. The employees who are being given less than usual pay should also be included in the survey. To make the survey more accurate the supervisors should also be handed out a questionnaire. The questionnaire given to all the supervisors should have questions regarding the various job profiles in their respective branches. The supervisors should be asked to fill information regarding the various job profiles in their outlet along with the skills and knowledge required for each profile. The questionnaire formulated for the supervisors should also have questions regarding the various techniques applied in the various job profiles. By including mo re employees and supervisors in the survey Bob will be able to get a more accurate picture regarding the different job profiles present in different outlets. Since the purpose of Bob’

Business analysis assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Business analysis assignment - Essay Example as the social aspects of CSR strategy and how PPR can streamline its operations in order to operate sustainably without causing much damage to the environment while remaining viable in manufacturing its luxury brands. It is undoubtedly true that every organisation operates in a physical environment with people from diverse cultural backgrounds and are likely to be affected directly or indirectly by the operations of such organisations. It has been noted that there is need to establish goodwill with the values and norms of any given society the organisation would be operating in as a way of promoting mutual understanding. Thus, CSR entails doing good things to the society in which it would be operating in. It has also been noted that CSR strategy driven by leadership development is very effective in that it will stimulate positive employee performance while at the same time cultivating a sense of trust among the members of the community it will be operating in. It has been recommended that Pinault’s PPR should streamline the operations of the organisation in such a way that the products retain their value and luster while at the same time striving to minimise the impacts of environmental degradation through its activities. This must be done in such a way that does not compromise on quality since luxury brands are meant for prestige. The concept of corporate social responsibility has become topical during the current period but there is no one agreed definition about the whole concept (Knights and Willmott (eds.) 2007). CSR has been defined as a function that transcends but includes making profits, creating jobs and producing goods and services (Oketch 2005 as cited in Smith 2003). On the other hand, (Strydom 2004 p.11) concurs that â€Å"Social responsibility is the concept that maintains that businesses are part of the larger society in which they exist and are accountable to the society for their operations.† In other words, there is need for the

BSc Engineering Managment - Change Management Essay

BSc Engineering Managment - Change Management - Essay Example Efficient organizations are aware of the importance of change and when they have to bring about such a change within their organizations. More importantly these organizations are aware of how this change is going to be brought about. Bringing change to an organization is by no means an easy task there are various factors that need to be taken into consideration before change can be implemented. To efficiently implement change within their organization leaders tend to make use of an approach known as change management. Change management is defined as a process that helps management of an organization to guide its employees, teams and affiliated groups towards a desired direction (Kotter, 2011). The process of change management is usually helps organizations to implement change within their organizations as smoothly as possible. The process of change management affects almost all departments of an organization it is therefore important to inform employees within these departments and m entally prepare them regarding the implementation of change. The selection of change strategy depends upon an organization’s goals, objectives of implementing the change and process that are observed within the organization (Mayle, 2006). Underlying principles of organizations: 1. The most basic principle of an organization is its goals. ... Any contradiction between these goals would only lead to confusion and difficulty in the achievement of the overall goals of the organization (Child, 2005). 2. The second basic principle that is considered vital to an organization is communication and coordination. Communication is basically the manner in which information is efficiently transferred from one entity to another. Here the term entity refers to an organization, department or a person. Communication is the part of an organization that requires one party to listen, understand and inform others of an opinion or facts. Through proper communication an organization is able to efficiently coordinate activities amongst its employees and departments (Child, 2005). 3. Another principle that organizations have to adhere to is the principle of specialization. Here the term specialization is used in terms of the set of skills that employees of an organization possess. With the help of employees that have specialized in certain areas of business management. With the help of such employees an organization is able to obtain information regarding a particular field and using that information organizations are able to gain competitive advantage over their rivals. The competitive advantage in turn helps the organization in generating greater profits (Child, 2005). 4. Employees working at a lower level of the hierarchical structure must be handled with proper respect and care. At any given time these employees must receive their orders from a single authoritative figure and must report to that single figure only. By placing more than one authoritative figure in charge of subordinates the organization runs a risk of confusion, which in turn could delay the operations and hinder the daily activities of the

Analyzing Jobs at Custom Carpet Cleaning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Analyzing Jobs at Custom Carpet Cleaning - Essay Example The four aspects that the Job analysis should cover are: a) what job the employee does. b) The process followed by the employee to accomplish the task. c) The area of operation handled by the employee. d) The qualification of the employee, which involves the skills, knowledge and abilities requisite (Franklin, p.2). In the case given the approach applied by Bob to conduct a Job analysis is very pragmatic yet not very complete. Bob has decided to conduct a survey in all the outlets of the Custom Carpet Cleaning to get clarity regarding the jobs carried out by all the outlets. Bob is conducting this survey to understand the reason behind the discrepancies in the salary structure amongst the different outlets of the company. The company has two kind of services one specifically for the residential clients and the other specifically for industrial clients. The survey conducted by Bob will have one respondent from each outlet. This will help Bob to understand the variation in the tasks carried out in different outlets. This survey will give Bob a schematic overview regarding the difference in the operations carried out by the various outlets. Bob will understand the difference in the approach, skills and responsibility of all the employees posted for the same post but at different outlets. The posts available at various outlets require employees with different set of skills and approach. The machinery used and the methodology applied by the employees to complete their task also depends on the kind of job assigned to them. A job analysis will let Bob segregate the jobs which though have similar designation yet vary in the terms of the responsibility carried out by the employees. Bob will be able to sketch out the different job descriptions depending on the specific requirements. He will be able to allocate the salary structure depending on the job description and skills required. However the method applied by Bob is not complete as he will be surveying only one employee from each outlet. Within the same outlet the approach and the responsibilities may differ and Bob should consider surveying a larger sample from each outlet. 2. What can be done to improve this job analysis process? Ans 2. The method applied by Bob to conduct the job analysis can be improved by increasing the num ber of respondents surveyed by Bob. Bob must first utilize the online research done by him and divide the various jobs carried out by the employees. From each outlet at least 10% of the employees should be selected as respondents for the purpose of the survey. Bob should also select the employees who are being given more than the usual salary slab. The employees who are being given less than usual pay should also be included in the survey. To make the survey more accurate the supervisors should also be handed out a questionnaire. The questionnaire given to all the supervisors should have questions regarding the various job profiles in their respective branches. The supervisors should be asked to fill information regarding the various job profiles in their outlet along with the skills and knowledge required for each profile. The questionnaire formulated for the supervisors should also have questions regarding the various techniques applied in the various job profiles. By including mo re employees and supervisors in the survey Bob will be able to get a more accurate picture regarding the different job profiles present in different outlets. Since the purpose of Bob’

BSc Engineering Managment - Change Management Essay

BSc Engineering Managment - Change Management - Essay Example Efficient organizations are aware of the importance of change and when they have to bring about such a change within their organizations. More importantly these organizations are aware of how this change is going to be brought about. Bringing change to an organization is by no means an easy task there are various factors that need to be taken into consideration before change can be implemented. To efficiently implement change within their organization leaders tend to make use of an approach known as change management. Change management is defined as a process that helps management of an organization to guide its employees, teams and affiliated groups towards a desired direction (Kotter, 2011). The process of change management is usually helps organizations to implement change within their organizations as smoothly as possible. The process of change management affects almost all departments of an organization it is therefore important to inform employees within these departments and m entally prepare them regarding the implementation of change. The selection of change strategy depends upon an organization’s goals, objectives of implementing the change and process that are observed within the organization (Mayle, 2006). Underlying principles of organizations: 1. The most basic principle of an organization is its goals. ... Any contradiction between these goals would only lead to confusion and difficulty in the achievement of the overall goals of the organization (Child, 2005). 2. The second basic principle that is considered vital to an organization is communication and coordination. Communication is basically the manner in which information is efficiently transferred from one entity to another. Here the term entity refers to an organization, department or a person. Communication is the part of an organization that requires one party to listen, understand and inform others of an opinion or facts. Through proper communication an organization is able to efficiently coordinate activities amongst its employees and departments (Child, 2005). 3. Another principle that organizations have to adhere to is the principle of specialization. Here the term specialization is used in terms of the set of skills that employees of an organization possess. With the help of employees that have specialized in certain areas of business management. With the help of such employees an organization is able to obtain information regarding a particular field and using that information organizations are able to gain competitive advantage over their rivals. The competitive advantage in turn helps the organization in generating greater profits (Child, 2005). 4. Employees working at a lower level of the hierarchical structure must be handled with proper respect and care. At any given time these employees must receive their orders from a single authoritative figure and must report to that single figure only. By placing more than one authoritative figure in charge of subordinates the organization runs a risk of confusion, which in turn could delay the operations and hinder the daily activities of the

Physician And Managed Care Contracts Essay Example for Free

Physician And Managed Care Contracts Essay A contract is a legal binding agreement between two parties that is aimed to execute a certain objective. It is a kind of arrangement wherein a certain action is pledged in exchange for a specific proposition or offer. In order for a contract to be valid, four essential elements must be present in a contract. Firstly, two parties should exist in the contract. One party is presenting an offer while the other party is accepting the offer as a form of return for whatever specifications are requested in the contract. Secondly, the contract should indicate that both parties give their consent or are willing to enter into such an arrangement. Such intention should show that the person giving the offer is capable of providing the offer, while the party accepting the offer should be able to clearly show his/her acceptance of the offer. In addition, both parties must be willing to enter an agreement without any other hidden conditions. Thirdly, a purpose or objective should be indicated in a contract. The purpose should be detailed enough to clearly show what is requested or expected in exchange for the specific offer. And lastly, adequate consideration or an adequate value must be indicated as offer in the contract, in the form of money or in kind. The consideration or compensation can not be given to the accepting party prior to the acceptance of the offer. The act of accepting an offer constitutes a deal. Certain offers have a limited time of availability, wherein an expiration date is indicated and the offer can not be accepted after the said date, unless the offer is renewed or stands indefinitely. In addition, the party presenting the offer has the right to withdraw its offer, but only before an acceptance is received. Once an offer is accepted, the contract may not be modified or revised. Changes in the offer may only be incorporated during the negotiation stage of the agreement, which then makes a contract some kind of a bargain. Similarly, physicians enter contracts with managed care organizations (MCOs) or health management organizations (HMOs) in order to promote their services. The four essential elements of a contract should be carefully studied before accepting any offer or signing any contract. For example, as for the element of willingness and capability to enter a contract, a physician should initially must find out the MCO/HMO’s length of operation and financial stability, because this will give the physician an idea whether the company is capable to pay him at a regular schedule. In addition, it would be good to contact some colleagues who have signed contracts with the same company, in order to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the organization and to unearth any unwritten conditions or policies. The physician should also investigate the identity of the MCO/HMO, and any other parties in the contract, should there be more than two parties indicated in the contract. The most overlooked element of a contract between a physician and an MCO/HMO is the purpose or objective of the contract, which describes a several definitions of services and people that will be covered by the health plan, both during emergency and out-patient consultation events. A comprehensive study of the contract may possibly prevent misunderstandings between the two parties and therefore provide a clear-cut description of the services that the physician is expected to deliver. Another important element of a physician-MCO/HMO contract is the obligations of each party. It is usually indicated in the contract that the physician will actively maintain his/her medical practice documents such as licenses, certifications, registrations and permits in order to provide his/her services to patients. The physician should also inform the MCO/HMO of any modifications on his/her status as a practicing physician. In turn, the MCO/HMO presents its rules and regulations to the potential physician or health care provider working under their company. All policies, guidelines, reviews and appeals should be revealed in order to have its physicians working at the standardized efficiency and competency. The physician’s compensation should be indicated in a physician-MCO/HMO contract. Details including the amount and schedule of payment should be clearly stated in the contract. Payment modes may be in form of per diem, per case, per service or a certain percentage of the premiums. The physician, in turn, should understand the protocol for filing claims and any other arrangements or coordination with the MCO/HMO, including the limited time when these documents may be filed. The MCO/HMO should also indicate in the contract that the physician will receive his/her salary on a regular basis. A physician-MCO/HMO contract may be terminated by either mutual agreement of both parties, or with sufficient cause or reason from the physician, or without cause or reason from the physician. However, a 30-day notice is usually required before any termination takes effect, to provide ample time for the physician to finalize any current patients, cases, services and/or referrals. Contracts are legally binding documents which must be carefully studied and considered before pursuing an agreement and letting the contract take full effect. Every contract has its specific details and all sections of the contract should be well understood and explained.

Models of Crime Prevention: Their application

Models of Crime Prevention: Their application Due to the increasing complexity brought about by modernisation, overpopulation, urbanisation, and globalisation, crime prevention has required a more urgent stance not only from government but also from communities, schools, citizens, families, and non-government institutions. While the prevention of crime has been unanimously agreed upon, the best way to go about it is still under debate. There have been several models of crime prevention which criminologists and law enforcement experts have introduced but until now, there remains no clear best model yet. Some of the major crime prevention programmes are situational or social in nature but so-called hybrid approaches or whole of government approaches have also gained popularity, especially in Australia. In order to develop a clear appreciation for the many-faceted nature of crime prevention as practiced today, it is necessary to define it clearly and analyse the different models used locally and overseas and examine how each model has fared when applied to actual crime prevention programmes. This essay discusses crime prevention, its models, and its application in the real-world setting. Defining Crime Prevention Crime prevention in its simplest definition is the process of deterring crime, criminals, and reducing levels of victimisation. White and Perrone (2005) view crime prevention as the creation and implementation of proactive programmes and strategies which are designed to prevent crime and address the fear of crime (p. 15). A more comprehensive definition is advanced by Van Dijk and De Ward (1991) to treat crime prevention as the total of all private initiatives and state policies, aimed at the reduction of damage caused by acts defined as criminal by the State (p. 415). The common thread of these definitions is the suggestion that crime prevention is not the sole responsibility of law enforcement and police, but rather a collective obligation of different sectors in society in government and in communities. Otherwise stated, crime prevention is a joint effort of various levels of society to work toward strategies that prevent crime occurrence. Rationale Behind Crime Prevention While concepts of crime and justice date back to antiquity, the enormity of concern attributed toward crime prevention emerged circa late 1980s and early 1990s. White and Perrone (2005) enumerated three major reasons why crime prevention has taken an unprecedented turn during this period: economic, operational, and community initiative. Economic. Crime prevention became an important economic concern because crime definitely pays, to use the popular catchphrase in huge amounts of fiscal resources. The cost of crime is increasing, and according to 2008 figures from the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC), crime consumes almost 4 percent of the countrys GDP which is equivalent to $36 billion (Rollings, 2008). Crime-related expenditures include policing, corrections, the security industry, and the criminal justice system as well as hidden costs such as medical costs, compensation, and loss of productivity of victims. To curb this gargantuan cost, crime reduction is considered a feasible alternative. Operational imperatives of policing. Considering the massive cost of crime, it became incumbent upon police and law enforcement agencies to recruit and enlist the assistance of citizens in an effort to arrest the escalating costs of crime. Policing required the collaboration of the law enforcement structure with citizens in the so-called fight against crime (Martin Perrone, 2005). Demands of the community. As crime rates increased with demographic changes attributed to the sprawl of urbanisation and migration, citizens have learned to recognise that a singular campaign by law enforcement to prevent crime would not do; hence, citizens have assembled themselves into crime prevention groups based in their respective communities to assist in crime prevention. As citizens became more vulnerable to crime, so did their resolve to empower themselves to stop victimisation. While one or a combination of all factors may have contributed to the emergence of crime prevention theory and application in the modern world, another theory is the growing concern for human rights and individual freedoms have led to an influence leaning toward non-punishment forms of crime prevention. Sutton and Cherney (2002) emphasised that crime prevention is reflective of societys desire to handle crime by using processes other than those that are eliminative; instead of punitive action, restorative means are advanced in the campaign for crime deterrence. Models of Crime Prevention Throughout its history, differing models of crime prevention have been used by law enforcement and criminologists around the world to curb crime and reduce victimisation. The major conceptual models of crime prevention include: situation, social, and developmental. Crime prevention has also been classified into primary, secondary, and tertiary forms. Situational crime prevention. The situational theory of crime prevention suggests that the best way to stop criminals is to design physical space and environment in a manner that will make the commission of crime harder and increase the likelihood of apprehending criminals. The idea is to change criminals perceptions of the rewards of crime by making the situation harder and much riskier for them. The situational concept of crime prevention was developed initially in the 1980s by criminologist Ronald Clarke. Clarke (1992) suggested that the most effective way to prevent crime is to implement strategies that create conditions which make it harder for criminals to commit crime. Thus, as an intervention model, situational crime prevention requires the proper identification of routines, factors, and patterns associated with criminal activity. Clarke Cornish (2003) presented five types of techniques which criminology practitioners should consider when using the situational model: 1) incr easing effort required to commit crimes; 2) increasing risks of committing crimes; 3) reducing rewards out of crimes; 4) reducing conditions that provoke crime; and 5) removing excuses for committing crimes (as cited in Homel, 2005, p. 132). Social crime prevention. The theory of social crime prevention aims to prevent offending by changing not the physical environment but the social environment. Social prevention intends to create social conditions that will deter potential or actual offenders from doing crimes. Hence, strategies associated with social crime prevention include empowering communities with resources and programmes that create a diversion from criminal behaviour. As an intervention model, social prevention focuses on youth and children, and programmes liked to this model including employment programmes, skills building activities, leisure programmes, youth drop-in centres, and other activities that increase productive behaviour. Developmental crime prevention. Developmental crime prevention as a theory strives to link childhood development with later delinquency. Researchers that have conducted prevention experiments were able to establish that factors surrounding early childhood are significant precursors to delinquent behaviour. These risks to delinquency include poor parenting, socially disruptive behaviour, and cognitive deficits (Sutton Cherney, 2002). Poor parenting could involve factors such as neglect, conflict in the home, deviant behaviour of parents, and early experience of family disruption (Homel, 2005). Among the developmental intervention strategies used courses related to proper parenting and other school-based measures. Crime Prevention Programmes The theoretical concepts of crime prevention discussed earlier have generated various intervention strategies all aimed to preventing crime. Situational prevention. Situational prevention strategies aim at designing the physical environment in order to make it less desirable and riskier for individuals to commit crime. Advocates of situational prevention strategies are more likely than advocates of other models to claim empirical effectiveness in preventing crime. Situational prevention involves among others, identifying cities that are crime hotspots, the use of surveillance cameras or CCTV cameras, screens, reducing cash-handling among banks to curb robbery, the use of boom gates to reduce car theft, and the use of undergrounds inroads to prevent vandalism and graffiti (OMalley, 1997). One of the strongest critiques against situational prevention is that the approach is inherently biases in favour of the rich and against the poor. Moreover, opponents claim that the opportunity reduction strategy gives only cosmetic remedies and that crime involves economic and cultural aspects associated with capitalism and mass consume rist ideology (OMalley, 1997). Social prevention. In lieu of situational prevention techniques, some criminologists have advocated social prevention instead because of the view that crime as a social problem is deeply ingrained within the economic and cultural structures in society. One of the most prominent social prevention strategies implemented was the Bonnemaison programme of Epinay, France, named after the towns mayor, Monsieur Gilbert Bonnemaison, MP (Cornish, 1995). This programme was implemented in France during a period of turmoil characterised by high levels of unemployment, ethnic rioting, and violence. The French central government collaborated with the local governments to develop diversionary programmes for the youth and made it a national priority. Some of these crime prevention programmes inspired by the Bonnemaison strategy include (Cornish, 1995): education of young people; re-training of those who failed to cope in the education system; better housing; employment; adequate health service; aid to victims of crime; better conditions for immigrants and ethnic minority groups; drug abuse treatment; after school activities for the young; provision of youth, cultural, training and recreation centres in each council area. (p. 188) Another overseas example of successful social prevention strategies include the so-called head start projects pioneered in the United States since the 1960s. These programmes focused on social justice as a crime deterrent by empowering poor and disadvantaged families with educational and other family enrichment programmes (Cornish, 1995). To date, several community-based and community development strategies of crime prevention have been modelled after the social prevention concept. Hybrid or whole of government approaches. Instead of focusing solely on just one crime prevention strategy, several programmes have combined several strategies and developed so-called hybrid programmes or whole of government approaches as it is known in Australia (Homel, 2005). An example of this customised approach toward crime prevention is the Safety Action Projects implemented in Surfers Paradise and Queensland during the middle of the 90s. Other projects that were national in scale include Safer Australia and subsequently, the National Campaign Against Violence and Crime (NCAVAC) geared at the promotion of community-based crime prevention through coordination and operational partnerships with local and central government (Homel, 2005). Conclusion Crime impacts overall quality of life because it influences ones actions, where one lives, how one travels, people one associates with, and others. The major conceptual models of crime prevention are the situational, social, and developmental crime prevention strategies. However, there has been increasing acceptance that crime is more complex in nature so that not one single strategy is effective in deterring crime. The emergence of hybrid approaches toward crime addresses both situational and social factors, and is considered to be more appropriate for the complexity of the 21st century. Supply management: A complex function Supply management: A complex function 1. INTRODUCTION Supply management is a complex function thats critical to business success, responsible for delivering efficient costs, high quality, fast delivery and continuous innovation throughout companies entire supply chains. The strategic contribution of supply management is measured not only in savings made, but also in increased shareholder value (Niezen, Weller Deringer, 2007). Nike and Adidas are two global companies try to improve their competitive advantage through strategically managing and utilizing their supply chain. The purpose of this report is to compare and evaluate the supply chain management practices of Nike Adidas. 2. CORPORATE PROFILE 2.1 Nike Corporate Profile Based in Beaverton, Oregon, and employing approximately 29,000 people worldwide, Nike Inc. is the worlds leading designer and marketer of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities (Comtex, 2002; Nikebiz, 2007a). Nike holds a 32 percent worldwide market share, a $20 billion market cap (Koch, 2004), has 40,000 stock-keeping units of goods (Mongelluzzo, 2002) and sells over 120,000 products in four cycles per year (Koch, 2004). 2.2. Adidas Corporate Profile Adidas is a leading producer of sportswear and sports equipment, offering its products primarily through four brands: Adidas, TaylorMade-Adidas Golf, Maxfli and Reebok (Datamonitor, 2007) The Adidas group and its 150+ subsidiaries are directed from the headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany, and employ 26,376 people (Adidas, 2007) The Adidas product line includes more than 20,000 items, with thousands of product variations. To keep up with market demand, the company changes its product range twice a year; more often if new technologies are available and in demand (Webex, 2004). 3. REPORT SCOPE Nike and Adidas are global players across a number of product categories. Supply chain management practices vary as the different products across the portfolios work towards different objectives. Due to the wide scope of product categories, the following report limits itself to analyzing the supply chain management practices of Nike and Adidas within the context of the global footwear market. Key supply chain processes under analysis include; manufacturing flow management supplier relationship management, demand management, order fulfillment customer services and relationship management (Lambert, 2007). 4. MANUFACTURING FLOW MANAGEMENT 4.1 Outsourcing as procurement strategy The international sports shoe industry is typified by the large scale vertical disintegration of functions and high levels of subcontracting activity. Multinationals such as Nike and Adidas no longer manufacture products, relying strongly on outsourcing all production in low-cost overseas labor markets, invariably resulting in the majority being manufactured in Asia. Outsourcing practices allow Nike and Adidas to focus on their core competencies; marketing, design and product innovation, areas in which they can best achieve a competitive advantage (Anderson, 2005). The trade-off to outsourcing to offshore manufacturers is that companies face substantially longer lead-times for delivery typically taking six to eleven weeks to receive products from Asia (Sahling, 2007). Efficiencies gained in terms of reduced wages are countered by the increased difficulty of monitoring the product and the actual working conditions in the factories (Van Dusen, 1998). Also, Nike Adidas production capa bilities are governed by the economic state of emerging markets; as countries prosper, there is a need to find new, low cost opportunities. Conversely, production could also be affected by external factors such as natural disasters or political instability. 4.1.1 Nike Approach Asia provides the majority of Nikes manufacturing and distribution, delivering to more than 80 destinations throughout the world, which now accounts for 65% of U.S. imports (Mongelluzzo, 2002). China now supplies 40% of Nikes U.S. consumption, increasing its reliance on southern Chinese ports (such as the Yantian port) instead of the port of Hong Kong (Field, 2003a). Yantian currently handles about 20% of Nikes volume from China, and approximately 10% is shipped from the port of Qingdao (Field, 2003a). The Yantian port has increased efficiency due to the close proximity to the Nike factory base, and quicker transits to the States (Field, 2003a). Nike places more importance on choosing the right local partners, not just the right ports. Nike doesnt own any of its facilities, and local partners make important logistics decisions (Field, 2003a). To manage relationships, Nike has both a global and regional vendor management team as output volume increases, Nike dont expand the number of suppliers, but increase the volume of business they do with each supplier (Field, 2003a). The Nike production system can be stratified into three classes; developed partners, volume producers and developing sources (Donaghu Barff, 1990). Although Nike has developed different levels of supplier relationships with each class the production network is commonly classified as a virtual enterprise where independent firms work together based on shared values and a common way of doing business to exploit a business opportunity through joint manufacturing (Pfohl Buse, 2000). 4.1.2 Adidas Approach Adidas has also been referred to as a virtual enterprise however, it may be better characterized as a strategic network because its supply chain utilizes three different types of suppliers; The first group have a direct contractual business relationship with Adidas, whilst the second group, subcontractors, are companies that have been subcontracted by their suppliers and do not have a direct business relationship with Adidas; and thee third group includes local sourcing companies, which source and manufacture products for local markets, rather than group-wide distribution (Adidas, 2002). Further, Adidas provides all of their suppliers with detailed technical and design specifications for the production and delivery of products, with strict quality control enforcement and inspections (Pfohl Buse, 2000), rather than adopting co-operation techniques and joint manufacturing ideals. 4.2 Lean Manufacturing Principles Lead Time Reduction According to Gernaat (2006), the fashion (footwear) market characterized by short product life cycle, high variety, high demand volatility, low demand predictability, low volumes and high level of impulse purchase. Therefore short lead times are highly important functions of responsive, reactive and flexible supply chains (Gernaat, 2006). Global sourcing creates longer lead times, and more complex supply chains. Nike and Adidas have instituted lean manufacturing principles to rationalize the supply chain processes and decrease costs. However, lean manufacturing approaches leave the companies more vulnerable to potential stock outs and there is increased reliance upon other supply chain elements running in sync and without interruption. 4.2.1 Nike Approach Nike utilizes several subcontracting arrangements that allow the company: a high degree of flexibility in dynamic and fluid markets a flexible demand-driven production system to shift production between factories and countries; opening plants and signing contracts that potentially only last a year and it to utilize capacity subcontracting methods to meet variable market demands (Donaghu Barff, 1990). Nike is upgrading its supply chain to try to drive the manufacturing cycle for a sneaker down from nine months to six to match its lead time to retailers ordering schedule. Nike aims to manufacture its sneakers to order rather than three months in advance (Donaghu Barff, 1990). Nikes new supply chain, using just-in-time management already active in the US and Europe enables shipment of products to customers faster. Select retailers receive delivery within days rather than months; cutting costs and improving profits by freeing up inventory and increasing sales (Herzog, 2003) 4.2.2 Adidas Approach Prior to 2002, Adidas operations were traditional batch and queue, and stored in warehouses until the order was processed. As part of its overhaul of its supply chain, Adidas sought to significantly reduce footwear lead times by introducing lean manufacturing principles across its supplier network. The time-to-market initiative involved a coordinated, global effort on behalf of Adidas and its consultants which included training suppliers, technology improvements in supply chain planning and a focus on internal design processes (Productivity Press, 2006). Efficient implementation of lean manufacturing principles also removed non-value-adding procedures, improved labeling and special handling to reduce lead time (Datamonitor, 2007). The reduction in lead time also lead to a 33% increase in correct product choice, increased accuracy in ordering and in some cases, resulted in larger orders as customers were less risk averse and displayed increased commitment (Productivity Press, 2006). 4.3 Centralisation 3rd Party Logistics Specialisation 4.3.1 Nike Approach The theme of Nikes sneaker supply chain is centralisation. All product design, factory contracting and delivery is planned and co-coordinated from Beaverton, Oregon (Koch, 2004). Nike runs a single instance of SAP R/3 (a single planning engine), and centralised demand management to work with outsourced suppliers (MSI, 2004). Nike is currently pursuing a total information integration strategy integrating ERP (enterprise resource planning), supply chain planning and CRM software onto a single platform shared by Nike operations in North America, as well as Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Initial results are promising; improved financial visibility, cash flow management, revenue forecasting, and taking advantage of shifting exchange rates through the re-allocation of Nikes cash resources (Koch, 2004). Nikes key supply chain strategy is through achieving up-to-date shipment data that can be used to make the supply chain more efficient, with transit time being the deciding factor over other considerations (Mongelluzzo, 2002). Nike has pared its number of logistics providers from five to two. Nikes two third-party logistics providers specialise in data management APL Logistics handles eastbound shipments to the U.S., Canada and Latin America and Maersk Logistics manages U.S. outbound shipments (Mongelluzzo, 2002). Nike requires transportation vendors to provide: Geographic coverage of U.S., Canada and Latin America Carrier specialisation Multiple ports of entry Multiple consortia Expedited air and courier services Cargo security EDI interface Data and documentation management (Mongeluzzo, 2002). For 60 percent of cargo from Asia, Nike controls the transportation move from Asian factories directly to the distribution centres of its U.S. retailer customers. The company moves the rest through its own U.S. distribution centres, where they are stored until a retailer needs them (Field, 2003b). Although the shipper and its logistics partners manage the supply chain, decisions on how much to ship and when to ship it are made in response to customer needs Demand drives the logistics strategy (Mongelluzzo, 2002). 4.3.2 Adidas Approach Traditionally Adidas has operated in a decentralized manner, with separate operating units independently choosing software that suited their internal preferences and geography (Tibco, 2007). Since 2002, Adidas has begun implementing common processes to help establish a global direction and help regain its competitive advantage. Tibco software was implemented to streamline and automate its business operations, improving flexibility, scalability and visibility across the enterprise helping to reduce product delivery times (Tibco, 2007). Similarly, Adidas inadequate paper-based warehouse and distribution systems were replaced with unique WMS and RF software to halve distribution costs, reduce labour costs and improve accuracy and efficiency through automated cross-checking of all orders (CIPA, 2004). John Hamilton, the Development Manager for Supply Chain Applications noted that We use third-party manufacturing so we are involved with a lot of different partners, from people who manufacture our product, to people who manufacture our raw materials, to the distributors that sell our product throughout the world We had a bit of a lag in our ability to see downstream demand Its hard to see the end customers demand because we are working through a lot of different subsidiaries. (i2, 2004) i2 solutions replaced the home-grown planning system, to ensure that Adidas continued to meet the needs of customers, suppliers, and consumers enabling the company to reduce order confirmation times and to get products to market faster through its ability to improve asset utilization, factory fill rates, and to plan at multiple lead times (ibid). Adidas moved further toward a centralization strategy as it implemented logistics software SAP AFS to facilitate process and system standardization worldwide, providing a solution that supported a consolidated global focus. Adidas chose the software because AFS is specific to the apparel and footwear industry with its emphasis on seasonal fluctuation, proliferation of design variations and product characteristics, multiple distribution channels and customer-service requirements, and outsourced manufacturing (SAP, 2002). Adidas consolidated the distribution system into UPS, a single streamlined network, with automated inventory and fulfillment systems that rapidly scaled its services and add enhancements as required (UPS, 2005) 4.4 Supplier Relationship Management 4.4.1 Nike Approach Athletic footwear producers use similar techniques to promote stability and trust in their relationships with subcontractors; Nike develops and produces all high-end products with exclusive partners, while its volume producers manufacture more standardized footwear that experience larger fluctuations in demand (Donaghu Barff, 1990). Nikes strategies for alliance involve: Seeding Nike expatriate technicians into factories producing Nike footwear to function as a liaison between head office and RD to ensure smooth product development processes and maintain product control. Encouraging partners to participate in joint product development activities, sharing responsibility for the development of new footwear Stabilize production and reducing demand variance with key factories partners by placing monthly orders with partners that exclusively produce Nike products (Donaghu Barff, 1990) Nike are establishing longer-term contracts with key suppliers, operating more as partners (ibid), fostering strategic alliances and creating value-add capabilities within the supply chain. 4.4.2 Adidas Approach Adidas current approach to supplier relationship management is consolidation; in 2001 it reduced the manufacturing base by over 25% with a medium term goal of reducing the suppler base by 40% (Adidas, 2002). The aim is to deepen relationships and therefore reliability, also to increase Adidas influence and bargaining power with suppliers. Adidas focus is on building their suppliers own capacity and internal management systems in health and safety and human resource management, seeking to develop sustainable compliance processes and to drive self-enforcement (Anderson, 2005) 5. DEMAND MANAGEMENT 5.1 Forecasting Order Fulfillment Gernaat (2006) argues that accurate forecasting is highly difficult in the fashion industry, as it is characterized by short PLCs, volatile demand and high variety. Wide product lines are challenged by an increasing individualization of demand, which Nike and Adidas combat by creating an increasing number of variants (Berger Piller, 2003). This makes forecasting and planning for the companies increasingly difficult which has the potential to result in high overstocks, increased supply chain complexity and the need to provide significant markdowns to get rid of surplus stock (ibid). Forecast accuracy can be increased through flexible supply chains with shorter lead times. However Gernaat (2006) also points to the use of Point Of Sale data to adjust forecasts and quick response programs to respond accordingly as a way of combating inaccuracies. Nikes forecasting is largely based on its Futures program, where retailers must order up to 80% of their merchandise inventory 6 months in advance in order to get substantial discounts and guaranteed delivery times (Porter, Harris Yeung, 2002). The futures ordering program allows Nike to minimize the amount of inventory held, purchasing costs, the time necessary to fill customer orders, and the risk of non-delivery (Nikebiz, 2007b). Nike gained a significant competitive advantage in the 90s as retailers were eager to secure discounts and guaranteed delivery times. Nike now faces pressure from customers and rivals because retailers are more reluctant to commit to ordering 6 months in advance as consumers tastes are increasingly fickle and smaller, more agile rivals are willing and able to work within shorter order cycles. Nike also is behind its rivals in direct point-of-sale (POS) integration with retailers; supply chain experts believe that actual store data, rather than software algorithms, are the best predictors of demand, but Nikes SAP system cannot yet accept POS data (Koch, 2004). Adidas recently launched World Class Supply Chain initiative appears to be moving away from a forecast-based supply chain to a demand-driven supply chain. The company has re-engineered its supply chain to customize its business to five differentiated and dynamic business models which target consumer needs (Adidas, 2006). The initiative covers the whole concept-to-shelf process and incorporates marketing, sales and operations functions; Brand Model delivers Adidas brand statement products, supported by comprehensive customer service, marketing, retail and supply chain capabilities (launched 2006) Evergreen Model short lead times and never-out-of-stock capabilities for Adidas most commercial and long life cycle product lines (launched 2006). Quick Response model seizes additional market opportunities with a 3-6 month concept-to-shelf process (launched 2007) Global/Regional model creates regional adaptations of global concepts to reflect consumer needs in regional markets (launched 2007) 2008 model aims to reduce the percentage of products turned around with 18 months lead time to only 25%. (Adidas, 2006) 5.2 Customer Service Relationship Management The success of global supply chains is the value they add to their ultimate customers in terms of the cost/price and the related services they provide (Coyle, Bardi Langley, 2003). IT can play a significant role in facilitating customer service that provides the opportunity to remain competitive, improve differential advantage and finally, gain market share (ibid). Advances in IT allow sharing real-time information between supply chain partners, which facilitates better inventory management which increases customer service and value. Sharing data also strengthens relationships between supplier and customer, as there is a development on trust and reliability. However, it is important to note that increased reliance on IT and software can potentially negatively affect positive customer service outcomes. Nike and Adidas have both been exposed to the negative consequences; Nike lost $100million in revenue due to software bugs in its supply planning software in 2001 (Interestingly this is the i2 solutions supply chain planning software that Adidas has taken on board), and Adidas first attempt at implementing WMS software resulted in massive market share losses in 1996 when the system failed to work and could not process orders (Supply Chain Digest, 2006). 5.2.1 Mass Customisation Pillar et al (2004) see information technology, along with flexible manufacturing practices as facilitators of mass customization and its promise to deliver goods and services that meet individual customer needs with near mass production efficiency. Adidas and Nikes approach to mass customization provides a good example of the trade off between the increased complexity of mass customization and supply chain economies of scale. The mi Adidas concept offers a full range of shoe customization options in regard to fit, functionality and aesthetic design. In contrast, Nikes NikeId program, in line with its highly centralized approach, limits customer integration and feedback by only offering the different colour choices of a shoes components (Piller, Moeslein Stotko, 2004). Relative to Nike, the degree of product, process and information complexity is much higher for Adidas thus incurring increased supply chain costs. However the costs are offset by higher premiums charged up to 50% co mpared to the customized shoes of Nike (between 5% and 10%) (ibid). Adidas develops a learning relationship with consumers through the brand interaction, increasing the revenue from each transaction because as well as the actual product benefits, the simplified purchasing decision process entices repeat purchase, thus creating loyalty (Piller, Moeslein Stotko, 2004) and deepening customer relationships. The mass consumption concept can also help generate better customer service and relationship management, as Adidas gains sticky knowledge about its consumers; valuable market research which could help inform more efficient planning for new products for the mass market segment (ibid). 6. KEY FACTOR ANALYSIS Coyle, Bardi Langley (2003) argue that the key factors of successful supply chain management include inventory, cost, information, and customer service and collaboration relationships. Based on the above inventory management, financial measurement and performance measures, Nikes tightly controlled, centralized supply chain management practices appear to have the advantage over Adidas; in fact, Nike was recognized as being one of the top 25 companies that exhibit superior supply chain capabilities and performance (AMR, 2007). Such performance indicators strongly suggest that Adidas has a continued need to improve operating efficiency, inventory management and also seek to deploy assets in more profitable avenues (Datamonitor, 2007). Adidas relatively poor financial performance (compared to industry leader Nike) was recorded across the 2002-2006 period, during which the company began to implement substantial changes across its supply chain management processes. Adidas has significantly centralized and automated elements of its supply chain, boosting efficiency and effectiveness of the processes by reducing errors and increasing productivity. At the same time it seems better equipped to accommodate consumers individualized demands through the more sophisticated mass customization practices, and increased collaborative relationships. Although Nike has strong collaborative relationships across its supply chain, its highly centralized processes seems less flexible in terms of demand management and customization which could affect its future competitive advantage. References Adidas, What We Do (2007) (http://www.adidas-group.com/en/overview/general_information/default.asp) [Accessed 05/09/07] Adidas, 2002 Annual Report (2002) (http://www.adidas-group.com/en/investor/reports/annually/downloads/as_ar_2002.pdf) [Accessed 05/09/07] Anderson, W (2005) Speech http://autoweb.ccpit.org/edit/UploadFile/20051017112649215.doc. [Accessed 05/09/07] Berger, C. Piller, F. (2003) Customers As Co-Designers, IEE Manufacturing Engineer, Aug/Sept 2003, pp.42-45 CIPA (2004) adidas-Salomon Canada Increasing Efficiency Through Wireless Technology (http://www.cipa.com/award_winners/winners_04/adidas-Salomon.html) [Accessed 05/09/07] Comtex. 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