Financial Industry Analysis on MCU Sustainable Banking

Background of the Australian Financial Sector Australia is one of those stable economies which have faced the Global Economic Crisis quite successfully. The banking sector of Australia has earned a worldwide due to sound supervision and regulatory framework for the financial market.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Financial Industry Analysis on MCU Sustainable Banking specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to the Global Competitiveness Report 2011 – 2012, issued by the World Economic Forum, the ranking of the Australian economy out of 142 selected economies of the world is 20. The financial market of Australia has a ranking of 6 out of 142 financial markets of the selected countries in the report (Schwab, 2011; Invest Victoria, 2009). These rankings depict the stability and progress of the Australian financial sector. The corporate and domestic customers enjoy the flexibility with which they are able to avail the financial services in the country. There has been a consistent increase in the volume of assets of the financial service providers in Australia; in fact the growth rate of the financial sector has leaped forward than the overall economic growth of the country. The banking sector of the country comprises of half of the financial sector of the country. Apart from banks, other institutions, such as â€Å"Authorized Deposit taking Institutions (ADI)†, also provide financial services (MCU, 2011). The total assets of the financial institutions in December 2010 stood at $ 2,524 billion, out of which $ 1,887 billion were attributable to the major banks and $ 76 billion to the credit unions and building societies operating in Australia (Donovan Gorajek, 2011; ABA, 2011). These figures were approximately half way down five years back, i.e. in December 2005; the major banks had a total assets figure of $ 918 billion and the credit unions and building societies had $ 52 bil lion worth of total assets (Donovan Gorajek, 2011). These figures show how much the sector has grown over a span of five years.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More MCU Sustainable Banking Maleny Credit Union Limited (MCU Ltd) is a licensed financial service provider in Australia and is also authorized in inviting public deposits as an independent institution â€Å"Authorized Deposit Taking Institution (ADI)†. Beginning its operations back in the year 1984, MCU has successfully carried out its operations which are mostly community based. With 5,500 members (approx) the institution has managed to increase its total assets to above 60 million dollars (MCU, 2011). There is a wide range of services available to the customers of MCU. These services include on-call savings accounts, term deposits, lending services, insurance, financial planning service, free car search service and non-cash payment facilities which includes VISA debit cards, e-banking, electronic funds transfer, BPAY and other cheque facilities which are similar to those provided by the conventional banks. The area of operations of MCU includes Maleny and Sunshine Coast Hinterland (MCU, 2011). There are other financial institutions also where MCU operates, but the operations of MCU are distinguished from others as the institute invests back the amounts or deposits raised from the local community in light of the policies which are designed locally. This strategy helps MCU in making sure that the capital of the community is not moving out of the area of its operations. The operations and investment of MCU are comprised of: Giving loans at the community level with the objective of bringing sustainability in the environment; Donating or sponsoring public welfare projects through devoting up to 10 percent of the profit before taxation; Helping micro finance groups (MCU, 2011). Apart from the fact that MCU is a relatively small organization, it has a proactive approach towards working for sustainability in the environment through collaborating with other organizations. In honor of its services, the Sunshine Coast Environmental Council (SCEC) awarded MCU with the â€Å"Air Quality Award† in the year 2003 (MCU, 2011). The objective of this report is to present an analysis of the Maleny Credit Union Limited (MCU Ltd) which discusses the significance and effects of different internal and external factors. The analysis is carried out while using the strategic tools like SWOT Analysis, PESTLE Analysis and Porter’s Five Forces Model.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Financial Industry Analysis on MCU Sustainable Banking specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More SWOT Analysis Strengths Due to lower interest rates charged by MCU as compared to the rates charged by the banks on the loans given and becaus e of the higher rate of returns offered to those who invest their money with MCU, the company holds a better position in the market in terms of attracting further investment (CSR Credit Unions, 2011). Due to the deep penetration of MCU in the community where it operates, the union enjoys a stable progress. The fact that MCU hires majority of its staff members from the local community also gives an advantage to the union which banks are unable to grasp (MCU, 2011). MCU is famous for its service quality among the community. This customer satisfaction is a huge advantage for the company which further ensures the future progress of the union. The members or the depositors of MCU feel like being part of the organization as they are able to control the activities of the union and have right to vote during the election of the directors for the union. These rights strengthen the relationship between the company and its customers further (CSR Credit Unions, 2011). The offering of green loans and green products financing allows MCU to enjoy supremacy over its competitors (MCU, 2011). Weaknesses Although the existence of credit unions is based upon the very fact that they are to serve communities at large, but due to this limited operational base, MCU’s customers are not able to avail normal banking facilities out of their community areas. As for example, people feel inconvenience while maintain their accounts with union due to the non-availability of ATM Machines and Branches of MCU in other parts of the country (CSR Credit Unions, 2011).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More MCU’s offered products are not very diversified as they are in the case of a banking company. The limited product options for the customers and potential customers may leave them unsatisfied. As for instance, the company does not offer long term commercial mortgage loans (MCU, 2011). A majority of the credit unions operating within the country lack the necessary resources with which they may offer a wide range of products and services to their customers. MCU also faces a shortage of resources due to the limited area of its operations (CSR Credit Unions, 2011). Opportunities Keeping in view the lower interest rates at which the credit unions offer loans as compared to those rates which are generally offered by the banking sector, MCU has an opportunity to expand its operations. Moreover, the profit rates offered by MCU are much higher than the conventional banks which also offer an opportunity for the MCU to invite more investors or depositors. Due to the community based opera tions of MCU, the institution can penetrate further within the community in which it operates and keeping in view the needs and preferences of the local people, it can diversify its services and the financial solutions offered. Threats The global economic crisis is the biggest threat to every business concern all over the world. Although Australian financial sector held up better than the financial sectors of other major economies, but still there are fears that the trails left by the economic crisis may affect the financial sector of the country (Hillier, 2010). The ever increasing intensity of the competition in the Australian financial system generally and in the credit unions particularly, is likely to affect the overall profitability of MCU. PEST Analysis Following is the PEST Analysis of the Australian Banking Sector: Political The political conditions are stable in Australia and are supportive for the financial sector. The positive role of the Government can be justified by considering the announcement of the Australian Government to remove the â€Å"Guarantee Scheme for Large Deposits and Wholesale Funding† from March 2010 which signified the government’s support for the financial sector (CSR Credit Unions, 2011). Economic Australian economy is a developed and modern economy. According to the estimates made in the year 2010, the GDP growth of the country is 2.7 percent. The rate of inflation recorded in the third quarter of the fiscal year 2010 was 2.8 percent. The unemployment rate in the country is 5.5 percent only. All these figures suggest vibrant economic conditions for the investors and the financial sector (CSR Credit Unions, 2011). Social Following good economic conditions of the country as a whole, the people living in Australia are financially stable and have higher purchasing power parity which is good and motivating for new investors. Moreover, people living in Australia are well educated and therefore it is suggested th at the companies operating in the financial sector shall make sure the provision of information related to their products and services being offered (CSR Credit Unions, 2011). Technological In terms of the quality of research institutions in the country, Australia ranks as the tenth highest country out of 133 countries. The ability of people living in Australia to adapt new technologies is fourth highest among 57 countries observed in this respect (Australian Government, 2010). These facts signify that the technological development in the country is not only promoted but also accepted by the people of Australia. Porter’s Five Forces Model Following is the analysis of the Australian Financial and Banking sector on the basis of Porter’s Five Forces Model: Threat of New Entrants Keeping in view the sound economic conditions in Australia and the opportunities in the banking sector, there is huge attraction for potential investors. As can be seen in case of credit union s, there are many opportunities for new entrants and along with these opportunities the new entrants have further options to start their businesses, i.e. to start as a conventional banking organization or opt for a non-banking organization startup (Australian Trade Commission, 2011; Argent, 2002). Bargaining Power of Buyers The bargaining power of buyers is however increasing and has a significant influence on the operations of the banks. Although costs for switching have decreased due to the efficient ways of doing business, but the fact that customers’ loyalties are difficult to be maintained have increased the bargaining power of buyers. Bargaining Power of Suppliers The bargaining power of suppliers is theoretically expected to be high in the Australian banking sector due to a finite number of market participants (Unnithan Swatma, 2001). However, the limitations enforced upon banks by the perceived bargaining powers of suppliers are overcome by the ability of the ban king organizations to operate through other means, such as internet banking and through financial intermediaries (Cronin, 1998; Kotler Armstrong, 1997). Substitutes The substitutes in the banking sector are readily available due to the diversity brought into the banking sector after inclusion of non-banking entities. Nowadays there are certain activities related to the banking sector which is carried out by non-banking entities, such as the issuance of credit cards and the sanctioning of loans and other facilities (Kent Debelle, 1999; Donovan Gorajek, 2011). Competition There are certain factors which have created a relatively new competitive environment for the banking sector. As for instance, the shift in consumers’ preferences over time, the effects of globalization, innovations and developments due to technological advancements and the inclusion of non-banking organizations in the financial sector are deemed to be the major causes for increasing competition in the industry (Australian Government, 2010). Conclusion Analyzing the Australian financial and banking sector by applying three major strategic tools, it is concluded that the economic conditions prevailing in the country are sound and supportive for the existing and potential investors and businessmen. The role of credit unions in the Australian communities has also been discussed while considering MCU Sustainable Banking, which shows that the potential for credit unions in Australia is huge apart from the lack of diversity in their services and limited areas of operation. Furthermore, the financial sector of the country is growing and remained stable during the global financial crisis. There is a healthy competitive environment prevailing in the banking sector and the Australian government is dedicated to promote it. Limitations The availability of information related to the subject of this report has been the foremost limitation faced by the author. Moreover, there are instances where data pertaining to latest financial year was not available and the author had to make use of the figures pertaining to previous periods. References ABA. (2011). Financial Services Sector. Retrieved from Australian Bankers’ Association Inc.: http://www.bankers.asn.au/Default.aspx?ArticleID=618 Argent, N. (2002). A global model or a scaled-down version?: geographies of convergence and divergence in the Australian retail banking sector. Geoforum , 33 (3), 315-334. Australian Government. (2010). Australia: Economic Strength and Resilience. Australian Government. Australian Trade Commission. (2011). FINANCIAL SERVICES: INVESTMENT BANKING. Retrieved from Australian Trade Commission: http://www.austrade.gov.au/Invest/Opportunities-by-Sector/Financial-Services/Investment-Banking/default.aspx Cronin, M. J. (1998). Defining Net Impact: The Realignment of Banking and Finance on the Web, Banking and Finance on the Internet. New York: John Wiley and Sons. CSR Credit Unions. (2011). Advan tages and Disadvantages of Credit Unions. Retrieved from CSR Credit Unions: http://www.csrcreditunion.com.au/advantages-disadvantages-credit-unions.htm Donovan, B., Gorajek, A. (2011, June). Developments in the Structure of the Australian Financial System. Retrieved from Reserve Bank of Australia: http://www.rba.gov.au/publications/bulletin/2011/jun/5.html Donovan, B., Gorajek, A. (2011, June). Developments in the Structure of the Australian Financial System. Retrieved from Reserve Bank of Australia: http://www.rba.gov.au/publications/bulletin/2011/jun/5.html Hillier, B. (2010). Australia’s resilience during the global crisis, 2007-2009. Marxist interventions , 59-77. Invest Victoria. (2009). Australia’s Banking System. Melbourne: Invest Victoria. Kent, C., Debelle, G. (1999). Trends In The Australian Banking System: Implications For Financial System Stability And Monetary Policy. Reserve Bank of Australia. Kotler, P., Armstrong, G. (1997). Principles of marketing. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall. MCU. (2011). About Us. Retrieved from MCU – Sustainable Banking: http://www.mcusb.com.au/about-mcu/ MCU. (2011). Services. Retrieved from MCU Sustainable Banking: http://www.mcusb.com.au/services/ Schwab, K. (2011). The Global Competitiveness Report. Geneva: World Economic Forum. Unnithan, C. R., Swatma, P. (2001). eBanking on the internet – A preliminary research comparison of Australian and Indian experiences in the banking sector. School of Business Information Technology. This report on Financial Industry Analysis on MCU Sustainable Banking was written and submitted by user Duncan Mccall to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Essay about Asim Partial Assignment

Essay about Asim Partial Assignment Essay about Asim Partial Assignment Memo Date: December 29, 2014 To: David Brown, President From: Asim Mehboob, VP Information Technology Subject: Advisory Committee – System Development I am writing this memo regarding the discussion we had that number of legacy system still in place which cause issues when data from different sources need to be combined. As a result, a new integrated system should be developed, in order for the company to contribute in operations, improve financial reporting and increase productivity. As VP of Information Technology have formed an advisory committee which will support the planning and development of the new system and will also act as the liaison between the development team and the rest of the organization. The committee will be structured so that the needs and asks of all areas in the business will be brought to the discussion and planning phase of the system. I would like to present advisory committee members which have been selected based on their potential skill and knowledge of the business in the organization and I am sure they will focus that the planning, development, implementation of the new system is achieved with the required level of effectiveness and efficiency. The members of advisory committee are as follows, VP of Information Technology The VP of IT role at Spa works is important because the effectiveness of the system development will require appropriate technical and business knowledge of the current system in order to plan and develop the new system and transition from the old one without a substantial and material disruption in the operations. As VP of IT I have the required skill and background about business to provide the requirements and support in planning, organizing, assigning and controlling the setup of the new integrated systems. Director of Operation One of key post is director of operation that lead the business from the front, the person I selected for monitoring day to day operation of all spas and has been with our organization for thirteen years. He has thorough knowledge of the everyday activities of the spas and is also accountable for keeping all the managers informed on all operational modifications. His knowledge and expertise will help us in the planning and implementation of the new system. Director of Finance/Accounts The director of finance/accounts will perform a prime role in budgeting and cost control on this project. He also has a comprehensive and required knowledge of the current financial reporting system and requirements. He was selected for prompt financial reporting and sound analyses for all financial decision. He will assure that this project is completed in the most cost effective manner also provide major input in the development of the new system. HR Manager HR manager chooses â€Å"right man for right place in right time† .Also the latest expansion will mean hiring additional employees, need training and development, incorporate the payroll and the record keeping for employees. HR will also help in making sure the right skill set is hired for the roles required. The person I decided is jack of all and will also play an important role in planning the new system and requirements. Marketing Manager The marketing manager is a well-trained person who has substantial experience in understanding Spa Works, customers and also its competition. The most important roles of the marketing manager are market research, development of marketing strategy and wide range plan, marketing mix and CRM. The accomplishment of the system development depends on the involvement of each member of the Advisory Committee. I am confident that you will agree with the selection of the members of the committee. I will arrange a meeting with the committee members upon your approval on this proposal and for further discussion .They all will be able to respond to any questions or concerns you might have .I hope this project would drive Spa Works towards better reporting, better

Improving the General Health of People with Learning Disabilities Essay

Improving the General Health of People with Learning Disabilities - Essay Example The mental health, consequences of behavior on health and epilepsy management of these patients is focused mostly by psychiatrics who addresses the discrepancy in clinical health and practices. Introduction Inequalities in health status The achievement of better health is an apposite goal for all, including those with learning disabilities. Characters with learning disabilities are heterogeneous in nature and exhibits needs that vary. The impact of environmental and social factors on health matters is definitely bigger in these groups. Gates (2009) Improved health is likely to improve the quality of lives of the families and individuals of the affected population, thus the need to remove great differences between those learning with disabilities and the public population will be strong. I will in this article discuss the areas that need to be improved for the learning-disabled which are high in disparities among healthy care related matters. Some of these include: A distinction in he alth as a result of increased mortality, morbidity, rise in negative decider of health such as increased poverty and a variation in health care as a result of unequal and inequality of health services to the learning-disabled.(Fraser 1998:293) I will focus on the issues and details that must be considered in order to make the necessary improvements in health matters. I consider tackling five areas in particular, which include: health needs the disparity in health, barriers to better health, health provision in primary care and fully addressing the disparity in the health care for the learning-disabled. Disparity in health The issue of indifference of health care Gates (2009) must be addressed in order to reach an appropriate development in health to the same level of health care that the public population enjoys. Inequalities in health care and access were an issue of health disparity in the past, as minor ethnic groups were the most affected between the population and the groups in health care facilities. Recently, Surgeon (2002) has focused their interest on disparity for those with learning disabilities. This concept adds a spotlight to the appropriate planning of services. However some difficulties are present particularly when intending to allow for the effects of etiology of the recipients disability on any obvious disparity. For instance, Gates (2009) relentless advances in accident prevention measures, in treatment induced abnormalities and cases of epilepsy may cause a reduction in disparity in various groups among the population. Health needs Welsh (1996) suggest that citizens with learning disabilities have mutual specific and general health needs. This should be provided within the primary health care environment. Common morbidities occur at greater frequencies that arise from professional health needs that are related with definite medical conditions. The conditions are not one of their kinds to individuals with learning disabilities as they have a high prevalence in the population resulting in an important part of health assessment. This has brought to the table that a consensus can be of; sensory deficit, epilepsy and disturbance in the behavior and psychology among the learning-disa

HES Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

HES - Coursework Example Drilling fluids are used in offshore oil and gas exploration for a number of reasons, including lubricating the drill bit, cleaning and conditioning the hole, maintaining the pressure of the borehole, as well as washing out rock cuttings out of the borehole to the surface. The drilling fluids is not normally used in its original state, instead, the fluids are mixed with some chemicals in order to maintain their properties. However, there has been an increased concern of the impacts of the drilling fluids and solid cuttings on the environment. GESAMP (1993:18) reported that these solid cuttings and drilling fluids contain hazardous chemical mixture that pose a danger to the environment, particularly to the marine life. As such, there is increased need for solid and gas drilling companies to ensure proper disposal of solid cuttings and drilling fluids as a means of conserving the environment. The main environmental issue linked to the drilling fluids concerns its negative impact on the performance and the continuous accumulation of solid cuttings (AUMS 1989:1). The aim of this paper is to examine some of the environmental issues related to drilling fluid management in light of the various types of drilling fluids. The paper will also explore the negative environmental impacts of improper disposal of drilling waste. Finally, the paper will conclude by discussing measures that oil companies need to take to mitigate the environmental impacts of the drilling fluids. The exploration of offshore oil and gas has intensified in the recent past. This is attributable to the increased need for energy independent. Even though the use of fossil fuel energy has been blamed for the increased production of greenhouse gases that cause global warming, its exploration is not about to end anytime soon. The world will still experience increased exploration of oil and gas (Reis 1996:6). However, the rate at which offshore exploration has increased in the recent past has caused many co ncerns, especially to environmentalists (Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association Ltd 1998:51). This is attributable to the magnitude of pollutants generated by the drilling activities. Normally, when exploring offshore oil and gas, engineers normally use the drilling fluid (mud) to lubricate the drill bit, wash out the solid cuttings, condition the hole, as well as to maintain the pressure of the borehole. This is very important for effective exploration of offshore oil and gas, according to Armsworthy, ? Cranford, ?and Lee (2005:8). The drilling fluids used in the exploration of offshore oil and gas are normally not pure. They often contain additives and chemicals meant to enhance the operational property of the final mixture (Cordah Environmental Management Consultants 2000:5). The operational properties enhance using chemicals and additives include density, reactivity, viscosity, ion-exchange parameters, salinity, and fluid loss. Obtaining the right property of the fluid is important for ensuring effective drilling operation. The main types of drilling fluids in use include water-based fluids and non-aqueous fluids. Water-based fluid is a drilling fluid which comprising of a mixture of water,

Adolescent Student Attitudes Towards Mathematics Essay

Adolescent Student Attitudes Towards Mathematics - Essay Example Mathematics not only helps one individual in building his skills but also teaches one individual how to use them in his practical life. Keeping the importance of mathematics in mind this subject is compulsory in almost all sorts of education systems. As this subject is compulsory for everyone some students face difficulties while studying it while some do not. However the subject of Mathematics is considered the most difficult one by the students too. The pace of learning of a student depends on many factors. A student's attention should be focused on the topic he is learning. The attitude of learner and the environment in which he is studying are the major factors of his learning process. In this article, I would further discuss the attitude of students and their environment and background in detail to find out the reasons of changing attitudes of students towards mathematics. Students' background means the situations and conditions of their daily routine and their relation to their home. In contrast, the attitude of the students talks about their awareness, approach and feelings about mathematics. It is observed that the situations in the home make the base of the students' future formal learning either strong or weak. A student always needs his mother, who is known to be the first teacher of a child, to help and guide him in solving complex mathematics topics and questions. The understanding, feeling and concerns of students' also play a magnificent role in their progress of learning a particular subject. The pace of learning and level of understanding of a particular subject can be determined and assessed properly if these factors are kept in mind. Many researches have evaluated the result that students' personal and family background contribute to a great extent in the accomplishment of their goals including their success in mathematics. The changing attitudes of students towards mathematics and other studies also depend on their social life. Certain questions must be answered to understand why their attitude changes. Q1: Are their any resources available for the students at their home If so what are they and if not what would be the effect How does it affect their attitudes Home has been verified to be the greatest support for the students to carry good marks along with the willingness to study further and more efficiently. The environment provided to the student greatly influences the student to focus on his studies. Mathematics, being a complex subject for the students, requires attention and time. A student having an educational environment at home is observed to be more competent in his studies than the student having a less-educated environment around him. The learning opportunities, physical and mental relaxation and the peaceful environment of home play a great role in the success of a learner. A number of researches have already shown the positive relationship of learning accomplishments and home issues. The availability of books makes the first impression and acts as the first motivation for the student to work hard in his studies. The students follow the path of their parents and elders. Although books are believed to be the fundamental learni ng resources, other support stuff are thought as supplements which provide ease in the learning particularly that of mathematics. Such materials are calculators, computers, laptops, dictionaries, guidebooks and study tables. The educational qualification of parents also affects the students' academic life. If the parents are well educated and know the importance of education they would always emphasize on the students' learning. Mathematics needs a lot of attention and

A Servant Leadership Analysis Leadership Essay

A Servant Leadership Analysis Leadership Essay In many situations we are able to draw associations or determine one situation resembles another. Â  When individuals in leadership roles give of themselves so that others may have it is often associated with a negative connotation. Â  Although giving and serving is not viewed in the political or religious aspect, leaders tend to develop their own views and formulate ideas that have been tampered with by politician or religious leaders. Â  Many of the political and religious leaders have a major influence of the day-to-day operation and views of society. We first have to know what leadership is. Leadership is the ability to get other to follow you willingly. A leader must have a vision and know exactly where to go. They also have to take the vision and act upon it and not sit back and let the followers do all the work. Within the vision, they have to communicate with their followers to the point that they are with the vision as well. It also takes dedication to be a leader. They have to do whatever it takes to make sure that they can get to the next step of the vision. There are more qualities but this is some of what take to be a leader. Now, what is servant leadership? Robert K. Greenleaf describes servant leadership as a type of leader that serves others, rather than the followers serving the leader. Doing so will have the followers achieve and improve. As any leader, they are responsible for the followers and those that are not on the same level as others. The people served grow as individuals, becoming healthier, wiser, more autonomous and more likely themselves to become servants (Greenleaf, 1977). There are 10 characteristics that will be briefly discussed: Listening being able to hear what your follower have to say about how they feel in certain situations is very important. Empathy being able to show empathy for your followers, even when some will not accept some views from their co-workers. This will help take more difficult situations Healing healing means a process when something or someone takes time to repair themselves. As a leader, you have to acknowledge the good and the bad situations in life while being able to do well (spiritual). Awareness the leader have to be aware (or in other words, constant communication) of the surroundings of themselves and others that follow them. Persuasion being able to convince and inspire your followers that the vision that you have for the group will benefit not just for the internal (the group), but the external as well (the company to the clients). Conceptualization with the vision at hand, the leader have to think beyond the current goal. They have to see the big picture. They have to have ideas and plans to figure out any problems that may occur. Foresight in order to develop this characteristic effectively, the leader have to be able to analyze any situation and have a great amount of discernment when it comes to decision making. There would be times that the powers that be will expect the leader to complete some tasks that may not suit too well with the leader. Foresight will help the leader to come to a sensible conclusion that will satisfy both their bosses and their followers. Stewardship leaders are stewards first. To become a great leader, they have to be a great follower. Although leading the people, their goal is to serve others. This trait is used continuously with pastors that lead the church. Commitment to the growth of people in order for the world to recognize the changes, the leader must first change themselves. If you are not able to change for the better, whatever changes that are made may not be accepted. Building community the community is not completely healed. Leaders have to take proper actions to help make the community better and not just healed, but to be made whole. One way to do this is by simply being active in the community and show an example that teamwork is very effective when you work together. Servant leadership is heavily influenced by the Christian faith. All Christians are called to be servants, even when you are called to be a leader. In order to be a leader, you had to be a good and obedient servant in order for God to call you higher in ministry. Jesus showed a great example of servant leadership when he washed the feet of the disciples. He also showed us that we need to put aside our personal gain and makes sacrifices to fulfill the needs of others. You have other that will would climb up the ladder and only motivate themselves and not help others. This is something that Jesus did not demonstrate throughout his ministry. The Hinduism religion exemplified servant leadership. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was the political and spiritual leader of India. He used the ahimsa philosophy which means total nonviolence. He was known to tell the truth and encourage those who followed him to do the same. Martin Luther King, Jr. believed that Gandhi was indeed an example of a person that showed servant leadership because Gandhi was not all about him and trying to control the people of India, but to serve them so they can recognize their dignity and power. Even through the process of gaining independence from Great Britain, Gandhi gave India hope that this vision can come true. He never claimed himself as a leader but became a catalyst to many Hindu leaders after him. The Islam religion also exemplified servant leadership. The prophet Mohammad said this about servant leadership: A ruler who has been entrusted with the affairs of the Muslims, but makes no endeavor for their material and moral upliftment and is not sincerely concerned for their welfare will not enter Paradise along with them. (Al-Bukhari, 1997, p.166) Mohammad wanted to show the people that the servant is the leader of the nation, not the leader. Islams concept of servant leadership is serving the workers and the community as their main priority. Like Christians, Islam want to provide services to others, to be an integral part of the community and to further understand their spiritual side of their organizations. A couple of years ago, the past moderator from the Eastern Shore Virginia/Maryland Baptist Association wanted to do something that will help families that could not afford anything (food, toys, clothes) for Christmas. He called it Christmas Without Walls. As an example of the characteristic stewardship, he took it upon himself to buy turkeys, toys and clothes to help these families in his area in order for them to have a better Christmas then they had years before. This led the church to follow his example and they too started to donate items to the less fortunate. In the last couple of years, they were able to bless more than 300 families and looking to do more this year now that other churches are joining to do the same in their own communities. He also showed another characteristic of building communities as becoming an example to show that once you put out, others will follow and together we all can do anything. To model yourself as a leader from a servant leadership approach, self awareness is important. You have to know your own strengths and weaknesses, what inspires you, what motivates you, and how you relate to others. This will allow you to give more of yourself to others when it comes to relationships as this will build up your self esteem and confidence. Emotional intelligence allows you to evaluate others emotions as well as your own. As a result, you understand yourself, your goals, intentions, responses, and behavior. This also led to understanding others and their feelings. Being able to understand other peoples feelings mean that you care about their values and beliefs, even when some of theirs do not agree with your own (this is an empathy characteristic of servant leadership). It do not matter on the religion but no how we treat others in general. Our beliefs may be from a religion but we are given free will on how we treat others. If you are able to put self aside and help ot hers, you will be showing an example to others and will follow you and even inherit your ways.

Marketing :: essays research papers

American companies take many things into consideration when marketing products in other countries. The article â€Å"Tough Cookies† by Oliver Libaw, and the article â€Å"Not so fast† by Jean-Marc Lehu discuss marketing American Products in other countries. â€Å"Tough Cookies† discussed Nabisco and their success of selling Oreos and Chips Ahoy in Mexico. â€Å"Not so fast† discussed the triumph of the store Crazy George, which is like American Rent-A-Center, in the United Kingdom and their failure in France. North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which was established in 1994, made it possible for Nabisco to sell their products in Mexico. NAFTA produced almost free trade between the United States and Mexico. The European Union (EU) did basically the same thing as NAFTA in Europe. EU produced many marketing advantages because it made it possible not to have to market items by one nation at a time. NAFTA and EU make marketing products in other countries easier.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nabisco took a big chance by marketing their cookies in Mexico. Nabisco succeeded in establishing their products even though Mexico was in a recession. The company realized that there was an open opportunity for their products. In Mexico there was not a cookie exactly like theirs. Oreo and Chips Ahoy are the best selling cookies in the United States so they thought that the products might do the same in Mexico. They did not have an expansive advertising campaign. Instead they relied on in-store promotions. On reason for their success is that they have a strong distribution and name recognition. Many people did not think that the product would sell, even though they have great presence. There are two main events that might have helped Nabisco. One event is that snack foods are cheaper, so instead of eating more expensive, healthy foods, people switched to a substitute. Another event is that the people who were buying the cookies are the wealthier individuals, which price would not effect them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There is research that proved to Nabisco that they would be successful in Mexico. There are generalizations that have been discovered for many cultures, each culture respond to products and marketing differently. Hispanic culture as a whole are very name brand oriented, they especially American products. They are willing to pay a little extra for quality that goes along with a name of a product. This would make sense for the success of Nabisco. Their cookies are slightly more expensive then other cookies but they were still successful in the Mexican market. Nabisco also did not spend much on advertising, they relied on word of mouth to get their name around. The buying pattern of the Hispanic culture suggests that they listen

Lean Manufacturing and Supply Chain

1. 0 INTRODUCTION: From humble beginnings, Tesco has grown to become the UK's largest supermarket chain. Over ten years ago, Tesco set its sights on becoming the Toyota of the grocery business. Since then the company has become renowned for its best practices in supply chain management (SCM), which included lean management and the use of RFID technology. The company has got an advantage over its competitors by incorporating innovation in its supply chain like point of the sale data, continued replenishment triggered by customer demand, primary distribution, cross dock distribution centre and use of single vehicle to serve several stores. . 0. Background Tesco was founded in 1910 by Jack Cohen, who invested his serviceman's gratuity of ? 30 in a grocery stall. The first private label product introduced by Cohen was Tesco Tea. The name Tesco was a combination of the initials of the tea supplier – TE Stock well and the first two letters of Cohen's name. Tesco opened its first sto re in 1929. Cohen was influenced by the supermarket culture in America and tried to introduce the concept in the UK. The company's driving force was the idea: ‘Pile it high and sell it cheap. In 1947, Tesco went public and a year later, Tesco self-service stores were started. In 1956, the first Tesco self-service supermarket was opened. In the 1960s, Tesco went on an expansion spree and acquired several store chains. The Retail Price Maintenance (RPM) Act8  in Britain prohibited large retailers from pricing goods below a price agreed upon by the suppliers. To overcome this obstacle to price reduction, Tesco introduced trading stamps which were given to customers when they purchased products; they could be traded for cash or other gifts.RPM was abolished in 1964, and from then on, Tesco was able to offer competitively priced products to its customers. The first Tesco superstore, with an area of 90,000 square feet, was opened in 1967. By the 1970s, Tesco's ‘Pile it high, sell it cheap' philosophy no longer appealed to shoppers. As people got richer, they started demanding expensive and luxury items. The poor performance of Tesco even led to the saying ‘doing a Tesco,' which meant snatching defeat from victory.  Control Key and Word – Text and Graphics.Tesco's image took a further beating when Imperial Tobacco Company which had considered acquiring Tesco as a part of its diversification strategy, did not go ahead with the deal as it felt that Tesco might damage its corporate image. To arrest the downslide in its fortunes, Tesco's management went in for an overhaul of its stores during the decade. Several stores were closed down to concentrate on the superstores. The smaller stores that still remained were refurbished to make them more customer-friendly.Tesco diversified into operating petrol pumps in 1974. In 1975, Tesco offered price discounts through a scheme called ‘Checkout at Tesco. ‘ By 1979, the company's turnover h ad reached ? 1 billion. In 1985, lan MacLaurin become Tesco's first CEO from outside the Cohen family. MacLaurin streamlined Tesco's operations, closing most of the smaller stores and opening large 30,000 square foot stores in the suburbs. Tesco also introduces a centralized distribution system, added fresh food and its own label for food products. These were successful moves.In the 1990s, the UK supermarket industry faced of 16. 7 per cent, behind Sainsbury's at 19 per cent. The other major competitors were Asda and Safeway. Several warehouse stores like Costco and discount stores like Aldi, Lidl and Netto also entered the UK. In 1997, Tesco's marketing director, Terry Leahy, become the new CEO. He had introduced new pricing policy of lowering prices to match those of Asda, which resulted in Tesco's prices begin 4-5 per cent lower than those at Sainsbury's and Safeway. 3. 0 DEFINING ISSUES 3. SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGMENT Supply chain management is a business administration strategy that aims at the improvement in efficiency of cash flow through information sharing and Business Process Reengineering (BPR) in the supply chain as a whole. The emphasis is put on maximizing a consumer’s worth by conflating products, services, information, and the cash flow into one seamless stream. What was formerly a â€Å"push system†, in which the product was sent downstream and sold, has become a â€Å"pull system† that produces only the quantity sold.However, since the order cycle is different, the quantity of orders from retailers to wholesalers becomes the smaller wave compared with the wave of actual sales because of subjectivity. Subjectivity goes also into the wholesaler’s decision; thus, manufacturing quantities fluctuate significantly. Such a phenomenon is called the â€Å"bull whip† effect or Forester effect. The phenomenon may be avoided if retailers, wholesalers, and manufactures share information. A large number of bottlenecks exist on a supply chain. The entire supply chain must be improved in balance.It is important to construct a system that creates unity throughout the supply chain. In order to optimize the system as whole, information sharing is required. It begins by sharing such information as the transition of sales trends showing consumer interests as well as real-time inventory data on a supply chain. Figure 1. Supply chain management In such a situation, RFID attracts attention as a new data career that uses the Internet. Wal-Mart stores will have RFID on pallets or corrugated boxes of products from their top 100 suppliers beginning January 1, 2005.Tesco of Britain, Metro of Germany, and the U. S. Department of Defense also decided to use RFID similarly. Promotion of RFID has been incorporated in E-Japan strategy as well. 3. 2 LEAN SYSTEM The core idea is to maximize customer value while minimizing waste. Simply, lean means creating more value for customers with fewer resources. A lean organization unde rstands customer value and focuses its key processes to continuously increase it. The ultimate goal is to provide perfect value to the customer through a perfect value creation process that has zero waste.To accomplish this, lean thinking changes the focus of management from optimizing separate technologies, assets, and vertical departments to optimizing the flow of products and services through entire value streams that flow horizontally across technologies, assets, and departments to customers. Eliminating waste along entire value streams, instead of at isolated points, creates processes that need less human effort, less space, less capital, and less time to make products and services at far less costs and with much fewer defects, compared with traditional business systems.Companies are able to respond to changing customer desires with high variety, high quality, low cost, and with very fast throughput times. Also, information management becomes much simpler and more accurate. 4. 0 PROBLEM STATEMENT Tesco’s supply chain improvements described indicate that supply chain management has the potential to improve a firm's competitiveness. Tesco’s supply chain capability is as important to a company's overall strategy as overall product strategy. Firm’s supply chain management encourage management of processes across departments. . 0. QUESTIONS AND THEIR SOLUTION: 5. 1. QUESTIONS 1: To what extent can Tesco's supply chain practices be said to follow lean principles? Tesco is an extremely successful company and a major part of its success has been due to its distribution network, Tesco has successfully applied lean distribution and just in time strategy into their distribution network. Using just in time within their distribution network gives Tesco a competitive advantage over its competitors by reducing inventory costs and improves scheduling.It also insures proper protective maintenance and stress quality in all phases of production from qua lity by suppliers to quality within Tesco. However, it is not enough. The original seven muda are: * Transport (moving products that are not actually required to perform the processing) * Inventory (all components, work in process and finished product not being processed) * Motion (people or equipment moving or walking more than is required to perform the processing) * Waiting (waiting for the next production step) * Overproduction (production ahead of demand) Over Processing (resulting from poor tool or product design creating activity) * Defects (the effort involved in inspecting for and fixing defects) According to the original seven muda, Tesco can improve its suppliers more by teach them the lean technique. They did it before but they must do it for their new suppliers around the world. 5. 2. QUESTIONS 2: How can lean practices give benefits to Tesco operation? Lean operation is an alternative to traditional operation that an increasing number of organizations are adopting. The ultimate goal of a lean system is to achieve a balanced, smooth flow of operations.Sup- porting goals include eliminating disruptions to the system, making the system flexible, and eliminating waste. The building blocks of a lean production system are product design, process design, personnel and organization, and manufacturing planning and control. Key benefits of lean systems are reduced inventory levels, high quality, and flexibility, reduced lead times, increased productivity and equipment utilization, reduced amounts of scrap and rework, and reduced space requirements. The risks stem from the absence of buffers, such as extra personnel and inventory stockpiles to fall back on if something goes wrong.The possible results of risks include lost sales and lost customers. Lean can make more profit in Tesco’s supply chain management by: †¢ Point-of-sale data in the store directly to a shipping decision in Tesco’s RDC. †¢ â€Å"customers as pacemaker† r egulating the provision stream †¢ increased the frequency of deliveries to the retail stores †¢ shipping dollies directly up to POS. †¢ Contingency plan: buffer stock of full dollies is still held aside †¢ supplier’s distribution center for the items has disappeared. †¢ Converting RDC as cross-docks, reducing costs their also. Increase in loyalty of customer leading to increase in sales and more certainty in demand too. †¢ Reduced costs, operating costs were offset by overall profits in a long run †¢ increasing its share in every format †¢ Better forecasting ability, i. e. better knowledge of consumption of each type of consumables at store. †¢ Reduced inventory case as RDC was converted into Cross-docks. †¢ Reduced Transportation costs due to milk runs. †¢ Reduction in stock points too. †¢ The no. Of logistical activities for a pallet to reach the final storing point reduce to 200%. 5. 3.QUESTIONS 3: What are the ma in differences between operating lean practices in retiling and in manufacturing operations? Lean Manufacturing is a systematic methodology that identifies and eliminates all types of waste or non-value-added activities; not only in production or manufacturing operations, but in the service industry as well. Whether you are manufacturing a product or providing a service, there are components that are considered â€Å"waste†. Lean concepts are purely about creating more value for customers by eliminating activities that are considered waste.Any activity or process that consumes resources, adds cost or time without creating value becomes the target for elimination. Lean focuses on the â€Å"big picture† or improvements in the entire business process as opposed to incremental improvements. It is the business process system that can significantly improve a company's profitability. Lean concepts improve operating performance by focusing on the continuous flow of products, m aterials or services through the value stream. To achieve this, the various forms of waste must be identified and eliminated. Waste can include any activity, step or process that does not add value for the customer.Lean Manufacturing, sometimes also referred to as the Toyota Production System (TPS), is about the systematic elimination of waste. There are a number of waste types which are: 1. Waste from Overproduction — producing more than is required by the customer or marketplace which generates unnecessary inventory. 2. Waste from Transportation — multiple handling or movement of products does not add any value to the product. 3. Waste of Motion — of the workers, machines, and handling. Searching for tools or parts due to the inappropriate location of these items is considered waste of motion. 4.Waiting — a worker waiting for a machine to finish a cycle, waiting for a supervisor to answer a question, or waiting for information or materials reflects an i nterruption to flow and need to be eliminated. 5. Processing — unnecessary processing steps should be eliminated. Combine steps where possible. 6. Inventory — or Work In Process (WIP) is material between operations as a result of large lot production or processes with long cycle times. This reflects system problems. 7. Defects — producing defective products is pure waste. Prevent the occurrence of defects instead of scrapping or repairing.Like lean manufacturing, lean retailing is an approach to re-inventing a long established business practice by using new information technologies to cut out waste and make operations more profitable. Pioneered by Wal-Mart – but subsequently taken up by most large retailers – lean retailing relies on the use of Barcodes to manage every step of the product value chain, from raw material sourcing through manufacturing through final delivery to the shop floor. Major attention is given to â€Å"just in time† del ivery to cut inventory costs, and to investments in IT infrastructures to allow stores to share sales data in Real Time with their suppliers.In many cases, Lean Retailing software systems will automatically place new orders for a given product from the manufacturer as soon as an item is scanned at the checkout counter, and in some cases, even the invoicing for that automatic order is automatized as well. Lean retailing aims to â€Å"cut out the fat† (waste) from the retail sourcing process to maximize profits for the retailer. Lean Manufacturing combines the advantages of craft and mass production systems, whilst avoiding the disadvantages of each.Lean manufacturing is ‘lean' because it produces products using fewer resources than traditional ‘job shop’ and ‘mass production' methods. Lean Manufacturing involves removal of all unnecessary costs (i. e. ‘waste'). Waste elimination is translated into customer satisfaction (i. e. improved performance , quality, cost, delivery etc). In this regard, it is the same as Just-in-Time (JIT) Manufacturing; the difference being that Lean Manufacturing encompasses the whole business rather than just manufacturing. It includes product development, production, supply chains, distribution and customer service. . 4. QUESTIONS 4: What challenges does the increased internationalization of both its suppliers and its markets present for supply chain management in Tesco? Tesco's real strategic store internationalization began in 1994 with entry into Hungary but soon expanded into other central European countries. First steps were then made into the Asian market, both as a reaction to the Asian economic crisis of the 1990s, which meant assets were cheap, but also due to a more positive sense of the scale of the market opportunities in China and Japan, for example.Over time the countries in which Teseo operates have changed slightly. Withdrawals from some markets have been made (Palmer, 2004, 5), re cognizing the lack of scope to become the market leader and/or the desire to invest elsewhere. In some cases, these withdrawals have been made as part of asset-swaps with other leading global retailers, each recognizing their own strengths in particular markets. During this time Teseo also re-entered Ireland through a major acquisition, though it is still not represented in continental western Europe .The strategic approach to store internationalization has seen Teseo develop different solutions for diverse markets, using distinct formats and tailoring the product and service offer to the local market. In many countries it operates as a multi-format and even multi-channel retailer (home shopping is available in Ireland and Korea) and focuses on the core values and brands of the business. Behind the scenes people, processes and systems have been enhanced and rolled out initially as ‘Teseo in a Box' and more recently as the Teseo Operating Model.As can be readily understood, the internationalization of Teseo at store level brings supply chain issues as well. At the same time, Teseo buys products on a global basis and this also has to be ‘fitted in' to the ever changing pattern of supply and demand. With formats and products varying by country and with time, the need is for a supply system that can be adaptable. In some cases, eg Ireland and Hungary, the composite model has been effectively exported to thesecountries, often with the same logistics service partners.Ln other situations there is an attempt to rethink the supply system and the technology needed and use this as the platform moving forward. For example, in 2003/4, based on the UK composite model, Teseo opened the largest distribution centre in Asia at Mokchon, Korea. It also opened major centers in Poland and the Czech Republic, extended a centre in Hungary (and added another fresh food distribution centre) and developed a new composite site in Ireland. As internationalization continues, so the infrastructure and the processes in the supply chain need to keep pace with or even lead the developments.The processes are now embedded in the Teseo Operating Model, but new faculties to meet expansion needs are required. In November 2007, Teseo finally opened its much heralded Fresh and Easy stores in California and Nevada. Years in the planning, this US entry is intended to achieve 200 stores by February 2009 and to eventually develop into a major chain. Based on extensive consumer research with US families and a trial store built secretly, Fresh and Easy stores average about 10,000 sq ft and hold around 3,500 product lines.They focus on providing faster, easier neighborhood retailing with an emphasis on fresh food and fresh prepared meals at affordable prices. Environmental, neighborhood, employment and organic credentials are stressed. Fifty stores had opened by the end of February 2008, with expansion into Arizona, although a ‘pause' in development was announced in April 2008 to reflect on the learning from these early developments. It is too early to judge the success or otherwise of this US venture, but it has attracted considerable attention. The store format is different to Teseo stores elsewhere.Whilst the Teseo name is not used, its operations are based on the Teseo Operating Model, but with reduced complexity. The in-store processes are simplified, including extensive display-ready packaging, self-checkout and automated replenishment. The systems are advanced, linking processes to the service centre in India. This simplification has reduced payroll and other costs. In supply terms, the Fresh and Easy operation is a little different to other Teseo operations, partly because the model of practices and processes has been built up from scratch, though it does rely on core processes from the Teseo Operating Model.For example, there has been a degree of co-location of production with distribution. UK suppliers with particular expertise have c o-located production facilities at the head office and distribution hub (Riverside, CA), so as to react quickly to demand. Whilst this is not unknown in, for example, Japan, the attempt here is to move towards a low-touch, lean operation and to rethink traditional approaches. There is extensive recycling of packaging, use of returnable crates and retail-ready merchandizing and packaging. The emphasis is on fully automated, one-touch replenishment supported by deep shelves.At Riverside, pick-by-line has been introduced and various environmental initiatives, eg solar power, developed (Stites, 2007, 4). Store stock levels and availability were initially poor, however (Uwins, 2007, 55) and the distribution systems performance has had to improve as the store development programme has moved on. The sizes of the stores are 10,000sq ft selling around 3,500 items (Telegraph). The stores are much smaller than supermarkets such as Wal-mart, which shows Tesco are not prepared to go in direct co mpetition with them. Furthermore, Tesco have nvented a new format in America; convenience retailing as we know it in the UK – a small shop selling a wide range of fresh, top-up groceries – does not exist in the US, where a convenience store means a petrol station selling cigarettes, doughnuts and little else (Telegraph). Tesco predicts Americans will prefer the convenience of a smaller store providing it caters for their needs. By Tesco being the first major competitor in the ‘convenience’ market, they can have ‘first picks’ on store locations, suppliers, employees and partners. This concept is known as first mover advantage.However, perhaps the reason no other company has broken into the market before is because it is not profitable or not in demand. A strategic alliance can be defined as cooperative agreements between potential or actual competitors. Tesco announced that they would form an alliance with Safeway, an American supermarket, and share profits. The strategic alliance will facilitate Tesco’s entry into the foreign market by renting stores from Safeway in prime locations. If Tesco purchased the buildings and the project was unsuccessful, losses would be much higher than if they rented them.Therefore, a strategic alliance allows companies to share the fixed costs and reduces the risks involved in entering new markets. Furthermore, the USA has different property laws to the UK and so can be confusing to follow the law-with an American company in alliance their knowledge can be transferred to Tesco and vice-versa. However, strategic alliances can be risky too. If Safeway go bankrupt and have to sell its stores, terminating the contract, it puts Tesco in a vulnerable position of either purchasing the stores it rents or move elsewhere.Either way, it will cost the company money. 6. 0 CONCLUSION Overall, Tesco's Supply Chain Management Strategy is its long-term goal. It is important for Tesco to have an operat ional strategy because it establishes the types of goods and services the company will offer its target market, and how Tesco are going to get advantages over its competitors. Tesco made good planning and control in its capacity, supply chain and quality. Besides, in order to make improvements in operation, Tesco measures quality, speed, dependability, flexibility and cost.Although they have made some improvements, there are still some disadvantages in its operation. The future retains numerous distinct scenarios for Tesco. The business has currently developed into a worldwide business. One of their likely future strategies could be dedicated to gathering a spectacular clientele service, as they have currently developed enough. As cited previous, Tesco is the market foremost in the UK. To sustain this location it is significant to advance its services all the time. Tesco will require advancing its product variety by proposing more non-food items. . 0 REFERENCE Book 1. (2013). In D. A. Rahman, Operation Management. McGraw-Hill Create p. Journals 1. James P. Womack and Daniel T. Jones, â€Å"Teaching the Big Box New Tricks,† Fortune, November 14, 2005. 2. Tsutomu Araki Sophia University â€Å"A SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM BASED ON RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION† (2006) 3. Womack, J. P. and Jones, D. T, Lean Thinking, Simon & Schuster, New York, USA, 1996 (ISBN 0-684-81035-2) The Evolution of Supply Chain Management in Retail Sector of Tesco and Analytical Study for the Period of 2005-2011† 4.Shah, J. (2009). Supply chain management: text and cases. 1st Ed. India: Pearson Education Inc 5. Bicheno, J. , Cause and Effect JIT: The Essentials of Lean Manufacturing, 2nd Edition, PICSIE Books, Buckingham, England, 1994 (ISBN 0 9513829 5 0) 9-The European Handbook of Management Consultancy, Oak Tree Press, Dublin, Ireland, 1995 (ISBN 1-86076-010-4) 6. http://siibblog. blogspot. com/2009/07/case-studylean-supply-chain. html 7. Wang, L. (2010). Ente rprise networks and logistics for agile manufacturing. 1st 8. Humby, C. Hunt, T. nd Phillips, T. (2007). Scoring points: how Tesco continues to win customer loyalty. 2nd 9. Pryke, S. (2009). Construction supply chain management: concepts and case studies. 1st 10. Humby, C. Hunt, T. and Phillips, T. (2007). Scoring points: how Tesco continues to win customer loyalty. 2nd Online: 1. (n. d. ). Retrieved 04 2, 2013, from Industrial time study: http://www. industrialtimestudy. com/lean. html 2. (n. d. ). Retrieved 4 2, 2013, from blogspot: http://siibblog. blogspot. com/2009/07/case-studylean-supply-chain. html

The Interconnection of Social Problems essayEssay Writing Service

The Interconnection of Social Problems essayEssay Writing Service The Interconnection of Social Problems essay The Interconnection of Social Problems essayThe interconnection of social problems influences the quality of life. The link between poverty and crime is obvious because socioeconomic status of individuals affects their motivation and behaviors. At the same time, racial stratification is closely connected with a number of social problems, including poverty and crime. The article â€Å"Race, poverty and punishment: The impact of criminal sanctions on racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic inequality† by Darren Wheelock and Christopher Uggen discusses the impact of criminal sanctions on racial and gender inequality. As Wheelock and Uggen (2006) point out, â€Å"the association between crime, punishment, and poverty has long been the subject of sociological and criminological investigation†(p. 1). In fact, this issue is of great importance for all members of society because social problems affect the quality of life, social development and individual identity. The major goal of this paper is to illustrate the interconnection of social problems which are caused by crime, punishment, and poverty.In order to discuss the interconnection of social problems, it is necessary to give explanation to five core arguments made by the authors of the article. These arguments help the reader to find the link between crime, punishment and poverty.First, criminal sanctions and victimization work to form a system of disadvantage that perpetuates stratification and poverty. According to Wheelock Uggen (2006), â€Å"recent patterns of criminal justice policy marked by dramatic increases in all forms of criminal justice sanctions, however, have shifted attention to the role of punishment in contributing to racial and ethnic inequality† (p. 1). Racial stratification is influenced by victimization and punishment. The rate of incarceration of racial minorities is higher than that of whites. As a result, victimization affects family ties and fosters poverty. Criminal sanct ions can be viewed as â€Å"both legal and informal barriers to becoming productive citizens at work, responsible citizens in family life, and active citizens in their communities† (Uggen Thompson, 2006, p. 281).Second, punishment impacts individuals convicted of felonies, as well as their families, peer groups, neighborhoods, and racial group. According to state and federal laws, individuals convicted of felonies have no right to fully participate in everyday activities, which refer to â€Å"labor markets, politics, family life, and educational institutions† (Wheelock Uggen, 2006, p. 3). Therefore, it is necessary to have an understanding of the limited rights, which involve a wide range of civil disabilities. Punishment may perpetuate not only racial stratification, but also stratification along class and gender lines.Third, after controlling for population differences, African Americans are incarcerated approximately seven times as often as Whites. The high rate o f incarceration can be explained by continual racial inequalities in the U.S. criminal justice system. According to researchers, â€Å"the era of mass incarceration can be understood as a new stage in the history of American racial inequality†(Western Wildeman, 2009, p. 221). Undoubtedly, the social impact of mass incarceration is negative because it poses serious risk for the younger generations of African Americans.Fourth, variation in criminal punishment is linked to economic deprivation. As a rule, criminal sanctions and other types of criminal punishment fall on poor people, the so-called impoverished elements of society who have no any privileges. In other words, the product of economic deprivation is criminal activity (Western Wildeman, 2009). Actually, economic inequality affects minority groups exacerbating the consequences of the practices of the U.S. penal system. Criminal punishment linked to economic deprivation has a strong impact on black families.Fifth, as t he number of felons and former felons rises, collateral sanctions play an ever-larger role in racial and ethnic stratification, operating as an interconnected system of disadvantage. The increased rate of crime has become a real problem for the local authorities as it involves the increase in building new prisons. Collateral sanctions influence racial and ethnic stratification because collateral consequences demonstrate negative effects on people living in high incarceration neighborhoods.   The status of people who live in these communities can be defined as â€Å"socially dangerous†. In other words, collateral sanctions work as the elements of an interconnected system of disadvantage, which fosters racial and ethnic stratification. Without a doubt, collateral sanctions exacerbate racial injustice in the American society. The huge number of African Americans behind the bars can be viewed as a method to promote racial stratification. Black children are raised in families, w hich have direct relation to the U.S. criminal justice system (Wheelock, Uggen, 2006; Western, Wildeman, 2009).Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thus, it is necessary to conclude that public perception of crime, punishment and poverty is associated with continuing concerns. The high rate of criminal activity is caused by poverty and correlated with poverty. The results of recent studies point out to the fact that the interconnection of social problems requires thorough investigation. It has been found that criminal sanctions and victimization contribute to the growth of the so-called system of disadvantage that fosters racial and ethnic stratification and poverty.

Approaches to Visual Communication Example

Approaches to Visual Communication Example Approaches to Visual Communication – Research Paper Example Approaches to Visual Communication Visual communication is one way in which many organizations use to communicate some of their operations and dealings. It has become an age old practice to reach a wider group of people with the use of this technique. It has grown over time and has become appreciated by members of organizations around the world (Williams & Hickerson, 2007). Information in any business organization can be communicated in the form of illustrations, cartoons, and information graphics that aid in improving an organization’s statistics. There is also the use of images in the organization. They can also come in handy when trying to communicate the intended message to people in the organization. With the aid of such visual communication tactics, it is very easy for organizations or individuals to identify their targets (Williams & Hickerson, 2007). Through such identification, organizations can create chances to achieve these targets. This paper will review some of the methods that are used to communicate messages, and how they achieve this purpose. In the above examples of visual communication, there has been the communication of a certain message. They attempt to address the issue of teamwork. They are appropriate in showing the organization that the set targets can only be achieved through teamwork (Williams & Hickerson, 2007). In the first visual picture, there is a mockery of a certain kind that involves a new form of management. There are people who are keen to note the change that is made in the organization. They are rather quick to comment about the poster on the door. This cartoon or illustration can show an audience about the treatment the subordinates of the organization face, or go through each day. The comments are voiced by two individuals who can be members of the organization. They make it clear that they are sometimes not involved in the organization’s decision making process. They, however, find solace in confiding their feelings to each other, and manage to push through each working day. The cartoon illustration can be of help to managers around the world. They may get to thinking about some of the things their employees say, or think. They might change the manner in which they run things, and start to involve their employees more in the organization’s projects (Smith, 2005). In the second visual approach to communication, the image represents the acronym of the word team. Here, such a representation could indicate that an organization can achieve more with the involvement of everyone in the organization. If left to one individual, no organization can achieve its full potential. The greatness of any organization can only be measured by the support it has from all those who make it happen (Smith, 2005). This includes everyone, from the top manager, to even the janitor. Without their input, an organization would cease to function as it should normally. It would fail to achieve the success it would normally have achieved. As organizations continue to grow around the world, it has become a common thing for their managers to distribute the amount of work needed to be done. It becomes, however, a problem when the individuals chosen to lead certain duties become over-competitive. If there is a little competition, it can be considered healthy for the organization (Smith, 2005). However, for the sake of the organization, it is vital they all work together. They might get to see good progress done in the organization. In the third image, there is the illustration of a cycle that exists in an organization. It starts from the manager, that is, the leader, who incorporates teamwork in the organization. The leader starts by setting an example in the manner in which they structure their organization. They do this with the intention of ensuring that individuals get along, and eventually, help bring the organization to attain its full potential (Smith, 2005). In the spirit of teamwork, the organization is likely to achieve success in all its endeavours. All these approaches are effective in communicating the message of teamwork. Teamwork in any organization brings more success. It can also be responsible for bringing people together. This is true as many organizations have grown over the years due to trust created among employees and employers (Lester, 2006). According to many organizations, signs and symbols are a more effective manner to communicate with individuals. They appeal to a wider group of people. The easiness in which individuals can identify and understand the meaning of most of the signs and symbols makes this the most effective of all visual communication approaches. In conclusion, the importance of visual communication approaches has been already been identified. It is important for organizations to communicate in this manner. This is because they reach and appeal to a wider variety of people. These methods need to be improved so that people can understand them better (Lester, 2006). They also need to be implemented on a much broader scale in organizations. They can be of abundant advantages to those that need their use. They are seen to achieve their purpose better and thus, aiding the growth of many organizations around the world. They can also lead to improved relationships in the workplace. References Lester, P. M. (2006). Visual communication: Images and messages. New York: Free Press. Smith, K. L. (2005). Handbook of visual communication: Theory, methods, and media. London: Macmillan. Williams, R., & Hickerson, J. L. (2007). Visual communication: Integrating media, art, and science. New York: PULP.

Philosophy in Coaching, comparing coaches Essay

Philosophy in Coaching, comparing coaches - Essay Example Philosophy in Coaching, Comparing Coaches Coaches are regarded as the teachers who are entitled with the task of teaching athletes and team members possessing different skill sets. Coaches will impart knowledge and training to athletes, which will make them to perform different activities effectively with greater teamwork. Additionally, coaches will make the athletes aware of the characteristics along with the values that are essential to develop as a successful athlete and individual. In this regard, there are different aspects of coaching philosophy on the basis of which coaches impart their knowledge along with skills to athletes. Coaches should possess different skills, competencies and self-esteem in this respect. Respectively, coaches with different skill sets will be facilitated with the opportunity of imparting athletes with tactical, technical along with life skills. Coaches are also required to possess effective leadership skills. Specially mentioning, there are other certa in traits that include self-awareness, self-belief and self-disclosure, assisting coaches to become successful in performing their respective task efficiently (Martens, 1981). In this regard, the essay tends to describe the different aspects of Coach Phil Jackson and experiences along with traits required for the development of his competencies. Additionally, it emphasizes determining the knowledge and the skills imparted to athletes for maximizing their performances along with addressing the similarities and the distinctions between two coaches named Coach Wooden and Phil Jackson. Discussion Phil Jackson is recognized as one of the best coaches in the history of ‘National Basketball Association’ (NBA). He was born in the year 1945 and was engaged with different games such as football, basketball along with baseball in the days of his high school. During his graduation, he was selected to play basketball for the team North Dakota. In that game, he assisted his team to a cquire third and fourth place in NCAA Division II Championship. After that, he played for several years as a substitute player in the team New York Knicks. He was an all-round player with intelligence and hardworking capabilities. He was not identified as a star basketball player in his career. In the year 1980, he retired and started his career as a basketball coach in lower-level leagues. It can be viewed that his career as a basketball coach took great heights and assisted Chicago Bulls in winning NBA titles for six times. Additionally, as a coach of Los Angeles Lakers, he assisted the team to win NBA titles for three consecutive years (A+E Television Networks, LLC, 2013). Phil Jackson has acquired adequate knowledge and traits from his parents, which eventually assisted him to face different uprising challenges in an effective way. Moreover, from his school days, he developed his spiritual aspects in order to develop confidence towards performing his diverse activities with bett er zeal and success. Furthermore, it has been apparently observed that in his career life as a basketball player, he developed team-oriented style at large. Additionally, he possessed certain in-built capabilities that include confidence, focused and self-possessed along with consistent attitude. In

Marketing assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Marketing assignment - Essay Example which is concerned with partitioning or dividing the market into one or more segments which can be targeted by the organization for selling and marketing their products / services by developing marketing mixes which are specific to such market segments. Dividing a market into various parts / segments helps in configuration of a company’s value chain and gives a competitive edge to the organization as compared to its competitors1. Segmentation helps organizations in developing a market mix which caters to the specific needs and concerns of the customers belonging to a particular market segment and helps in offering higher value to their target customers. In economic terms, the process of segmentation can be viewed as creation of monopolistic or oligopolistic market conditions whereby organizations seek to realize the highest price that their target customers in the particular market segment are willing to pay. Targeting refers to targeting a product to a specified market segment which comprises of customers who are most likely to consume the company’s products. Targeting helps the organizations in achieving best return on their investments, reach their core customers, gain a wider market share and achieve strategic positioning in the industry. The targeting strategies available to the marketers include2: This involves selling a single product to the entire (mass) market and is based on the assumption that the needs and demands of the consumers to whom the product is marketed are more or less identical. For instance, products such as Colas, Burger King, K – mart etc market and sell a unique product to a mass market. It involves selling different products to different market segments in a way which is appealing to every set of customer according to their respective market segments i.e., the marketers try to match the product with the needs of the customers in each of the identified market segment. For example, airline companies offering different services to