Tuesday, December 31, 2019

The Bombing Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki - 1165 Words

The Manhattan Project originally began as part of the nuclear arms race at the beginning of World War II, despite the fact that the United States had not entered the war at the time. It wasn’t until after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 that the U.S. had officially declared war on Germany and Japan. After Germany had agreed to an unconditional surrender, therefore ending the war in Europe, the U.S. was still at war with Japan and the U.S, hesitant to risk more American lives, made the difficult decision to drop the atomic bomb over Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Both bombings resulted in the instant deaths of about 135,000 people and affecting thousands more in ways that could not have been predicted. The bombing of Hiroshima was necessary to save American lives and in bringing an end to the war, however, the second bombing of Nagasaki was unnecessary though there are many arguments to counter otherwise. President Truman made the unimaginable decision to drop the firs t ever atomic bomb over Hiroshima in an attempt to prevent the loss of many more American lives. Had the President chose not to use the atom bomb, the U.S. would have most likely launched a full invasion on Japan’s main island and would have killed a great deal more people than the bombings did. A scholar who studied Operation Downfall, which was an invasion plan that the U.S. had formed as an alternative from the bombing, said â€Å"depending on the degree to which Japanese civilians resisted theShow MoreRelatedThe Bombing Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki1720 Words   |  7 PagesPart A: Plan of Investigation To what extent did the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan justified? The Manhattan project was the reason the bomb, ‘Little Boy’ and ‘Fat Man’ were dropped in Japan. The Manhattan project was created because America was frightened, that Germany was already creating nuclear bombs. (http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki) So, America started the project in 1949. The reason Japan became the target was because, JapanRead MoreHiroshima And Nagasaki Bombing Of Hiroshima1206 Words   |  5 PagesWar Two Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombing The Bombing In 1945, the US dropped 2 atomic bombs on the cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, causing hundreds of thousands civilian deaths. Some people say that this act helped to end the world war and save more lives, but others think that it was not needed and wasn t the cause of the Japanese surrender. Sequence of Events 5th August 1945 President gives approval to use bombs 6th August 1945 Bombing of Hiroshima 9th August 1945 Bombing of Nagasaki 15th AugustRead MoreThe Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki700 Words   |  3 PagesThe Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki The United States was completely unjustified in dropping the atomic bomb because it was used so we could have a sense of â€Å"power† over the rest of the world. President Harry Truman had paid no heed to his prior statements as to the intended use of the bomb; and not only had it violated the Hague Convention, but it also caused lifelong repercussions for Japan’s land and people. The United States, nearly 70 years later, has yet to apologize to the victims orRead MoreThe Bombing Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki1902 Words   |  8 Pages Hiroshima and Nagasaki altered the course of world events by starting the Cold War, ushering advancements in technology, and by influencing cultures worldwide. Occurring on August 6 and August 9 in 1945, the bombing of the cities set of a series of events that would forever change history. The United States and the Soviet Union emerged from the war as superpowers with seemingly limitless power. Their ideologies, however, contrasted greatly, and the once allied nations would turn against each otherRead MoreThe Bombing Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki1474 Words   |  6 PagesNuclear Paper: The Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki World War Two is arguably the most famous war in world history. It is remembered as a very tragic and influential historical event across the globe. Many countries joined the war at different times, but the general start date has been narrowed to the period of time between 1931 and 1939. The war was primarily between two main powers; the Axis nations, consisting of Nazi Germany, Italy, and Japan, and the Allied nations, led by Britain and CommonwealthRead MoreThe Bombing Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki1593 Words   |  7 Pages Bombing of Hiroshima On August 8th 1945 the first atomic weapon, a fission bomb, was dropped on the city of Hiroshima in an attempt to force the Japanese to surrender in World War II (Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 2009). This event exposed the danger of nuclear energy. This massive explosion demolished 90 percent of the city and immediately killed 80,000 people. This was only the beginning though, tens of thousands of innocent people died due to the aftermath of radiation exposure for anotherRead MoreThe Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki888 Words   |  4 PagesThe Bombing of Hiroshima Nagasaki Would you kill a thousand to save millions? Well the drastic actions taken by the United States did save millions. There were two actions that had to occur to save the millions and end the war, the dropping of the two atomic bombs being the first of their kind were to be the most powerful bomb ever invented using atomic and nuclear forces so create it and packed over 20,000 tons of TNT and was about ten feet long. The bomber that transported and dropped themRead MoreThe Bombing Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki1051 Words   |  5 PagesThe bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is one of the most talked about events in human history. It was the first and last time an atomic bomb was used in the history of the world. The bombing did not only mark the end of a battle with the Japanese but provided humanity a first-hand preview into the effects of the man-made device. Since the bombing there have been many discussions such as: who should possess such power, will mankind be the reason for its own d emise, and why did America decide to useRead MoreThe Bombing Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki1559 Words   |  7 Pagesalready been devastated by airstrikes. It was hoped that the bombing of Hiroshima with an atomic weapon would cause Japan to finally surrender unconditionally. That did not happen. Three days later on Aug 9, 1945 Nagasaki was bombed with the second atomic bomb. Japan surrendered unconditionally Aug 14, 1945. The United States had already been bombing Japan for years with a net effect worse than the outcome of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but Japan did not show any signs of surrendering. Why did theRead MoreThe Bombing Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki1174 Words   |  5 PagesMorality of The Bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki There have been various arguments regarding the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that continually surface as to whether it was necessary or morally right to drop the atomic bomb on Japan. Depending upon whose side of the argument you have heard causes one to question whether this was a morally right or wrong decision that was made. Serious reconciliation is needed due to this event, and both sides of the argument need to be strongly considered

Monday, December 23, 2019

Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility Of The Armed...

Executive Summary: In response to the earlier task where all Senior Stakeholder Relationship Representatives were required to settle on a strategic Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partner for BusComm Enterprises, Armed Services YMCA of San Diego is hereby presented as the final choice. The charitable organization offers numerous support services such as assistance to rehabilitate wounded soldiers, free medical and psychological counseling, and programs to aid soldiers and their families. This choice is also based on the known deficit of support to military men and women who frequently suffer from life altering physical and emotional injuries. The Armed Services YMCA is a well-organized and highly rated association, with a rich history of serving since the civil war. It is thus a suitable strategic partner that fits our organizational goals and desire to integrate precedent setting CSR practices. This charity also fits our budget and presents a unique opportunity to serve in a barely exploited are a, which will appeal to our shareholders. Conversely, my analysis indicated that Invisible Children would require higher scaling of resources and commitment in order to make an impact while their thematic area may be hard to resonate with our audience. Elsewhere, Community HousingWorks appeared capable of self-funding and represented a fairly common CSR partner who wouldn’t present BusComm Enterprises as any different among peers. It was also my opinion that the San Diego BrainShow MoreRelatedMonsanto: Better Living Through Genetic Engineering96204 Words   |  385 PagesDaimlerChrysler: Corporate governance dynamics in a global company C A S E T H R E E Gunns and the greens: Governance issues in Tasmania C A S E F O U R Succeeding in the Sydney indie music industry C A S E F I V E Nucor in 2005 C A S E S I X News Corp in 2005: Consolidating the DirecTV acquisition C A S E S E V E N Shanghai Volkswagen: Implementing project management in the electrical engineering division C A S E E I G H T Television New Zealand: Balancing between commercial and social objectives C

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Schlafly’s Opinion on School to Work Programs Free Essays

On September 4, 1997, Phyllis Schlafly wrote an article titled â€Å"School-to-Work Will Train, Not Educate. † The article discusses the cons of the school-to-work program and that states that it is portrayed as a â€Å"cradle to the grave. † The article says that the school-to-work program will train and not educate. We will write a custom essay sample on Schlafly’s Opinion on School to Work Programs or any similar topic only for you Order Now Schlafly is the president of the Eagle Forum, a organization that stands for the fundamental right of parents to guide the education of their own children, thinks that â€Å"school-to-work is a direct threat to the individual student, his or her privacy, his or her goals and his or her acquisition of an education that can help him reach them. Schlafly†s opinion wrong and will not pass in today†s society. In Schlafly†s criticism, she states that the school-to-work program â€Å"deemphasizes or eliminates academic work and substitutes mandated vocational training to better serve the workforce. † She also says that â€Å"instead of the focus being on developing the child, the focus is on developing a labor force. † Schlafly thinks that school-to-work is training rather then education. In contrast to Schlafly, Olson says that school-to-work give students â€Å"motivation† which will help students because students in today†s society are not motivated enough. Surveys prove that students describe education as â€Å"boring. † Schlafly believes that the STW law stating that vocational training starts â€Å"at the earliest possible age†¦ † is wrong. The reason is that she believes that elementary or middle school children do not know what career they want to fulfill. The last point in Schlafly†s article is she states that â€Å"big businesses support school-to-work because they think that vocational courses in high school for illiterate or semi-illiterate students will train young Americans to compete in the global economy with people in the third world willing to work for 25 and 50 cents an hour. She is basically saying that big businesses are supporting school-to-work because they want some cheap labor. In conclusion to her article, Schlafly says that â€Å"all those who value freedom must defeat and defund school-to-work. † She thinks that school-to-work is oppressing the students from their freedom to learn and receive a good education. Schlafly†s article says that Marc Tucker†s plan for school-to-work is to â€Å"train children in specific jobs to serve the workforce and the global economy instead of educate them so they can make their own life choices. She also says that it is designed on the â€Å"German system. † Where did she get the idea that school-to-work is based on the â€Å"German system? † She does not know what she is talking about and the information she is spreading is invalid. She also states that the program is to â€Å"train† children but she also does not give the option of training and educating together. Olson shows how training and education goes together by showing kids why they have to learn and by creating a desire to learn. Schlafly is absolutely wrong about â€Å"training children. † Beginning school-to-work at the earliest age possible does not mean that elementary and middle school students are going to choose their lifetime career. Giving the children vocational training will give them an option in what they want to do in the future. Children will see if they like the field of training and study and decide whether or not they want to pursue that vocation in the future. In comparison to what Olson says, â€Å"school-to-work activities can provide choices and opportunities for young people, many of whom are not now well served y our education system. Schlafly says that â€Å"big businesses support school-to-work† because it will provide them with cheap labor. Where did Schlafly get this information? Throughout the whole article there is no proof of justifying this idea. She also mentions that governors support the program because â€Å"it gives them control of a pot of money for which they don†t have to account to the state legislature. † This statement also lacks evidence and cannot be used to prove that the program is a failure. School-to-work is not for businesses or governors, but rather for the children themselves and their goals for their future. Like Olson says, â€Å"school-to-work can encourage young people to pursue education and training beyond high school. † Is Schlafly criticism valid at all? Absolutely not, she bases her information on nothing, such as the â€Å"German system. † Schlafly proved that school-to-work is training for a lifetime career but this argument is wrong because training can also be compatible with education. Big businesses and governors may support school-to-work for cheap labor and for the money but there is no proof and even if there was any proof not all businesses and governors would think that way. Until Schlafly gives some proof to her information and can prove that training and education are not compatible, she is not to be taken seriously. School-to-work is a very good idea and to agreement with Olson, â€Å"done right school-to-work can be a powerful tool in the effort to achieve higher academic standards and a more educated citizenry. How to cite Schlafly’s Opinion on School to Work Programs, Papers

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Spin Master Case free essay sample

Ken Mark prepared this case under the supervision of Professor John Haywood-Farmer solely to provide material for class discussion. The authors do not intend to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of a managerial situation. The authors may have disguised certain names and other identifying information to protect confidentiality. Ivey Management Services prohibits any form of reproduction, storage or transmittal without its written permission. Reproduction of this material is not covered under authorization by any reproduction rights organization. To order copies or request permission to reproduce materials, contact Ivey Publishing, Ivey Management Services, c/o Richard Ivey School of Business, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 3K7; phone (519) 661-3208; fax (519) 661-3882; e-mail [emailprotected] uwo. ca. Copyright  © 2001, Ivey Management Services Version: (A) 2009-12-17 In mid-July 1999, Alex Perez, operations manager of Spin Master Toys of Toronto, Ontario, was trying to decide from which supplier to purchase the design and production of the company’s latest toy, an electrically powered airplane named E-Chargers. He had investigated a number of potential suppliers in southern China and had settled on two finalists, Wah Shing Electronics Co. Ltd. (Wah Shing) and Wai Lung Plastics Mfy. Ltd. (Wai Lung). With the anticipated date for the launch of this product just a few short months away, Perez had to make his choice quickly. SPIN MASTER TOYS In April 1994, Anton Rabie, Ronnen Harary and Ben Varadi graduated from The University of Western Ontario, Rabie and Varadi from the Ivey Business School and Harary from political science. The three decided to forgo opportunities in the corporate world and strike out on their own. They were soon making Earth Buddy, a nylon stocking filled with sawdust and grass seed moulded into a head. After immersion in water, the grass seed would sprout to give the head a crop of grass — hair. Although Earth Buddy was clearly a fad item, the company managed to sell 1. 5 million of them in just six months, making it one of the most popular gift items that year. In February 1995, the company followed this success with the launch of Spin Master Devil Sticks, which consisted of two hand-held sticks used to manipulate a third. This product also became a resounding success. Eventually the company incorporated Spin Master into its name. The company’s principals believed they had achieved their success through avant-garde, grassroots marketing savvy and a two-tier distribution network, which covered both the major and independent retail segments in North America. In the following three years, Spin Master Toys produced an array of relatively low-technology, highmargin toys for the Canadian market. The product list included: †¢ Spin-A-Blo spinning toys This document is authorized for use only in Strategic Supply Chain Management by B. K. Banwet at Indian Institute of Management Shillong from March 2014 to September 2014. Page 2 †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ 9B01D001 Radical Reptiles foam reptiles attached to a metal leash Top-No-Sis spinning board My First Kite a starter kite for children Grow-Things water-absorbent play animals Although Spin Master Toys achieved notable success with these fad items, none reached the unit sales that Earth Buddy had produced. Following its success with Spin Master Devil Sticks, Spin Master Toys spent six months moving from being project-focused to building relationships with retailers, investors and creating a research and development department. At a major 1996 toy show, two inventors approached Rabie and Harary, and many other toy companies with the concept for a compressed-air-powered toy plane. Their initial design was a plastic soft drink bottle with wings attached. Rabie and Harary and the major toy companies rejected the idea as being too ambitious. However, the inventors were persistent, and after the original prototype had been revised several times, Spin Master Toys decided to purchase the rights to the concept. After a frustrating two years and $500,000 in development, Spin Master Toys rolled out its Air Hogs line of compressed-air-powered planes, and, with outside engineering expertise, proceeded to manufacture them in China. The company used an innovative marketing campaign to generate a groundswell of excitement. Air Hogs became a topselling toy for the 1998 North American Christmas season and was hailed by Popular Science as one of the 100 greatest inventions of the year, creating, as it did, a new category — compressed-air-powered planes. Spin Master Toys had to double production of Air Hogs just to keep up with demand, which was increased by the product shortage in the first few months after the initial shipments. Following the success of Air Hogs, Spin Master Toys decided to develop a line of toys driven by compressed air. It subsequently launched a compressed-air-powered water rocket called the Vector, a car named the Road Ripper, and two new compressed-air-powered product-flanking planes, the V-Wing Avenger and the Renegade. With over 50 people working in its Toronto head office, and a recently opened office in Hong Kong staffed by two project managers, Spin Master Toys was enjoying rapid expansion through its combination of speed to market and innovative marketing. Revenue had grown from nearly $525,000 in 1994 to a projected $45. 8 million in 1999, earning it the 10th spot on the Profit 100 Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies list. THE TOY INDUSTRY The toy market included both hard and soft goods, as well as combinations. Hard goods included plastic and metal toys ?  water guns, construction toys, action figures, etc. Soft goods included plush toys, fabrics and dolls. Either hard or soft toys increasingly used embedded electronic components as differentiators. Southern China in and near Hong Kong accounted for a large percentage of the world’s toy manufacturing industry; many manufacturers there had over 50 years of toy-making experience. Beginning with lowtechnology plastic and metal to ys in the early years, toy makers in the area had developed sophisticated design, engineering and manufacturing skills. Such factors could be important. Perez, who used to work for a large toy company, remembered a competitor that sourced from Thailand because production costs were slightly lower. Despite this advantage, the project was a dismal failure, in part because of the lack of toy-making expertise in that country. This document is authorized for use only in Strategic Supply Chain Management by B. K. Banwet at Indian Institute of Management Shillong from March 2014 to September 2014. Page 3 9B01D001 Aside from experience, the Hong Kong market had English-speaking workers, a western-style banking system, easy access to low-cost production facilities and workers in China, an entrepreneurial spirit and major port facilities. Deciding to source toys from this region was relatively easy. E-CHARGERS E-Chargers were Spin Master Toy’s next foray into the powered toy airplane market. Unlike the traditional toy airplane powered by a stretched rubber band, gasoline engine, or compressed air, EChargers were driven by electricity. The product came in two parts: a battery pack holding four AA dry cell batteries, and a plastic foam airplane containing a small capacitor1 connected to an electric motor. By inserting the battery pack into a special port on the airplane, the user both started the electric motor driving the plane’s propeller and charged the capacitor. The user then disconnected the plane from the battery pack and launched it into the air. Spin Master Toys touted E-Chargers as being capable of flights of up to 90 metres and as â€Å"high performing, easy-to-use rechargeable planes that come with their own chargers ?  kids just have to let them charge for 10 seconds and then let them fly. † In the company’s view, the product line allowed it to extend the magic of real flight to children as young as five ? younger than the user of Air Hogs. To encourage users to collect E-Chargers, the company planned to produce six different styles and promised high performance at a low price. Sp in Master Toys had sold the E-Chargers concept to retailers who subsequently placed endcap2 orders for a December 7, 1999, delivery date to meet the spring planogram3 shelving period. This was the first time that Spin Master Toys would ship products for a planogram. In the past, the company had been able to obtain special shelf space only because of its products’ uniqueness. The main advantage in shipping to a set deadline was the guarantee of shelf space. Spin Master Toys now had to design and make the EChargers in time to meet the order date. PRELIMINARY E-CHARGER PRODUCTION ESTIMATES Working back from December 7, 1999, Perez developed a somewhat accelerated schedule that would allow delivery of the E-Chargers plane. Exhibit 1 shows the development schedule, delay in any step of which would make the project late. Rough Engineering Model This stage involved the engineering work needed to craft a design to meet the desired specifications provided by the manufacturer. These specifications included, for example, that the toy would be capable of high-speed production while maintaining acceptable finished-product quality, that it was within the weight and size required, and that any electronic components involved would function within tolerances provided. 1A capacitor is an electronic device used to store charge ? in essence it is like a rechargeable battery. It consists of an arrangement of conductors, separated by an insulator. Endcaps are the attractive, highly visible end spaces on shopping aisles. Executives of Spin Master Toys expected that an E-Chargers endcap order from a large retail customer would result in sales of about 150,000 units. 3 Retailers took three weeks after Christmas to clear out old stock and put in new toys for the spring period. The layout of toys by aisle and shelf, known as a planogram, was determined in advance. This document is authorized for use only in Strategic Supply Chain Management by B. K. Banwet at Indian Institute of Management Shillong from March 2014 to September 2014. Page 4 9B01D001 Although design work normally took about eight weeks, Spin Master Toys allowed less than three weeks for E-Chargers; the design work would have to be completed no later than the middle of June. On June 22, K-Development of Erie, Pennsylvania, the company to which Spin Master Toys had contracted the development engineering, transferred the completed engineering designs to Reh Kemper, a prototype designer based in Chicago, Illinois. Reh Kemper completed its work on July 2. According to Perez’s timeline, the project was already a week behind schedule for the start of production. Engineering Models After one week of examination, study and discussion of the prototype, Perez and his team approved it and issued a ‘Final Design Release. ’ Spin Master Toys then returned it to K-Development, which had five days to improve the rough engineering model and produce three initial prototypes to ensure that the design was engineered correctly to the specified tolerances. This preliminary work showed that the weight of the plane would be of great concern. Initial tests showed that to achieve the expected flight times, E-Chargers had to weigh 17 grams. Once the third engineering model was ready, Perez released it to vendors, requesting preliminary quotes within five days. Tooling From this stage on, all work would be performed at the factory, with regular updates sent to Perez by phone or fax. The tool start involved creating the moulds and other tooling required to produce the toy in mass quantity. Plastic parts such as those used in E-Chargers were normally made by injection moulding in which a molten plastic was injected into the carefully machined cavity inside a two-piece block of metal (the mould). After applying pressure and cooling, the mould was opened to remove the part. In practice, moulders might use large moulds capable of making several parts simultaneously. This crucial step usually took four weeks; the time required was usually factored into the design component. Perez estimated that Spin Master Toys would need the first test samples by September 8. Engineering Pilots The next step was testing the moulds and other tools, ideally with two engineering pilots. At least one engineering pilot had to be performed before the next stage, as it was almost inevitable that the moulds would need some adjustments. A factory would count on three weeks to run both engineering pilots. The first and second engineering pilots and the shots from them had to be completed by October 8. Final Engineering Pilot In this two-week process, the final moulds and other tools were finished. To have the product ready for the production pilot date of October 21, this step had to be completed in one week. This document is authorized for use only in Strategic Supply Chain Management by B. K. Banwet at Indian Institute of Management Shillong from March 2014 to September 2014. Page 5 9B01D001 Production Pilot This step tested whether the moulds and other tools would withstand high-speed production while delivering product within the required tolerances. The production pilot tests and the final quote had to be approved by November 22. Production Start In the case of E-Chargers, Perez estimated that production would have to start at least two weeks before the shipping date to allow production of enough units to meet retailer demand. Thus, production would have to start on November 22 to just make the December 7 ship date. SPIN MASTER TOYS’ CONTRACT MANUFACTURERS In the past, Spin Master Toys had obtained its products from various Chinese manufacturers. Because of the large differences between its previous toys, the company had treated each product separately. Consequently, Spin Master Toys had gained considerable experience with several suppliers, as each toy had been manufactured by a different factory. Spin Master Toys believed that its product closest in design to E-Chargers was Air Hogs. In May 1999, while working on Water Rocket, one of its second generation compressed-air-powered toys, Spin Master Toys had visited Kin Seng Ltd. , the Air Hogs manufacturer. During a factory tour, Spin Master Toys discovered that the Kin-Seng factory was at capacity. Because of the tightness of its E-Chargers schedule, Spin Master Toys decided not to consider Kin Seng as a potential supplier. Spin Master Toys thus searched for an alternative manufacturer, eventually creating a short list of two, Wai Lung and Wah Shing. WAI LUNG In early 1999, Harary had been introduced to the owner of privately owned Wai Lung Manufacturing Co. Harary believed that Spin Master Toys would receive more attention from an owner-operated factory than from a subsidiary of a public corporation. Reassuring Harary that he would provide personal attention to this project, Eric Lee, Wai Lung’s owner seemed eager to strike a deal with Spin Master Toys. Harary subsequently initiated a toy project, Flick Trix Finger Bikes, with Wai Lung. Finger Bikes were miniature die-cast replicas of brand-name BMX bikes with fully functional parts. Already in a rushed situation, Harary had asked Wai Lung if it could engineer the Finger Bikes, produce and ship them in six weeks ? it normally took other manufacturers six to 10 weeks to perform these tasks. With Finger Bikes already engineered by Reh Kemper, Spin Master Toys would rely on Wai Lung’s staff to beat a competitor to the market. Working at a break-neck pace, Wai Lung had been able not only to build the tools in the allotted time, but also to increase production very quickly with little lead time. Although Wai Lung had initially built tools to support a production rate of 10,000 bikes a day, once it was evident that demand was strong, the company was able to build additional tools in four weeks versus the previous six weeks, boosting Finger Bikes production to 40,000 bikes a day. Not only had Wai Lung come through for Spin Master Toys, but it went on to produce a high quality toy and increased production more steeply than Harary had thought possible. Perez expressed his thoughts: This document is authorized for use only in Strategic Supply Chain Management by B. K. Banwet at Indian Institute of Management Shillong from March 2014 to September 2014. Page 6 9B01D001 Wai Lung is highly committed and has put us at the top of its priority list. During our early experience with Finger Bikes, they returned calls promptly and answered all questions during the critical production period. Wai Lung’s performance with Finger Bikes allowed us to beat a major competitor to the market. This prompted our competitor to drop the project in mid-design. We should look at Wai Lung as a supplier for E-Chargers because of our positive experience with them. However, their engineering workforce is fairly small and they haven’t produced toys with electronic components. They have focused on die-casting and plastic action figures. EChargers have to be designed and produced to much more stringent tolerances than diecast or plastic toys. To put it bluntly, flying toys would take a paradigm shift in Wai Lung’s engineering expertise. We did plan to use a vendor survey report, but we don’t have any engineering expertise at our Hong Kong office. And, in Canada, our manufacturing team includes me and Ronnen ? with this in mind, I wonder if we can gather this information for Wai Lung and Wah Shing in time. We are already behind schedule as it stands. Harary returned to visit Wai Lung in May 1999 and, while walking through the factory, estimated by observation that Wai Lung was at 40 per cent of capacity. He also found out that Wai Lung had excess capacity to utilize because it had just lost a significant portion of its business during a  Spin Master Casedisagreement with a large toy company. Harary was impressed by its size: it had 2,000 workers in its 100,000 square-foot factory in Shenzhen, about a one-hour journey by train and car from Hong Kong. Typical toy factories in this area averaged about 600 workers. He casually asked the owner of Wai Lung for a quick overview of the projects currently in progress . Wai Lung was working on plastic play sets and action figures for Hasbro. Another company with which Wai Lung had a contract had gone bankrupt. Pressing further on a different subject, Harary got the sense that Wai Lung would not begin many projects in the near future. Lee, 48, had always been very accommodating to Harary and considered himself to be a self-made man, building up a successful factory. Still hungry to grow his business, he had recently hired three engineers. He was willing to extend favorable credit terms to Spin Master Toys, allowing for Finger Bikes production to commence with a simple wire transfer of funds versus a more formal letter of credit. Otherwise, a letter of credit from the bank, along with the requisite documentation, meant that up to 30 per cent of the total invoice amount needed to be securely transferred before the start of production. Once production was started, payments would immediately be taken out of cash flow. With a wire transfer, however, funds would be wired to the supplier’s bank account 21 days after the goods were shipped. WAH SHING Wah Shing was a subsidiary of a Hong Kong public toy manufacturer. It was a company with annual revenues of US$40 million (the average Hong Kong toy company with product line similar to Wah Shing’s earned about US$30 million in revenues per year). While at his previous employer, Perez had worked with Wah Shing. Wah Shing had been one of the suppliers of choice for major toy companies such as Tiger and Hasbro which needed electronic toys. These companies wanted to maintain their track record of successful electronic toy engineering development and manufacture in the electronic hand-held, feature electronic plush, radio control and IR interactive categories, including toys such as â€Å"Shotgun and Skidzo,† â€Å"Furby,† â€Å"Laser Light Tennis† and â€Å"Galactic Battle. †

Friday, November 29, 2019

Transport Policy in the UK

Introduction The transport sector plays a critical role in the development of a sustainable economy of the United Kingdom.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Transport Policy in the UK specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Policy stakeholders have argued that while it is critical for the sector to draw significant benefits to the growth of the economy, sector policy reforms must address the overall frameworks for total reduction in emissions of carbon (Department of Transport 9-11). In addition, policy formulators have suggested that a well-functioning transport sector must assure the country of a sustainable environment and quality life that complements the growth of the economy. This paper explores the recent policy framework that seeks to reengineer the road transport mode in the United Kingdom using The Future of Transport: a network for 2030†³ White Paper as the core of the policy. Discussion Research indicates that carbon emissions in the UK have been on increase with the road segment accounting for over 60% of the total emissions. A survey of the United Kingdom’s transport sector reforms indicates that policy frameworks have shifted from demand responsive approach toward a managerial approach that meets the current road capacity (Department of Transport 9-11). The introduction of these new policy directions have altered measures underpinning the implementation of emission-free environmental condition (Transport Issues n. p).Advertising Looking for essay on transportation? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Analyses suggest that these measures have included support for vehicle fuel economy, cleaner fuels, and efforts to cut down traffic on roads, encouraging public transport, and cycling. While the primary objection has targeted a reduction of the congestion, improved accessibility, reduction of negative impacts, and social inc lusion, evidence indicates that these policy measures have a cumulative influence on UK’s future economic growth. These intentions were first advanced by the Conservative administration provisions of 1995. These changes were later succeeded by the labor administration policies pursued in 1998 Transport white Paper (Transport Issues n. p). Although policy adjustments have attempted to reduce pollution due to car emissions, the reduction of high car use remains unabated. According to Professor Sir Nick Stern, a policy formulation cannot be an either or choice, but rather must remain succinct and clear to address the key issues underlying the nation’s problems. Studies show that these recent policy adjustments have been linked with the skyrocketing fuel and oil prices since the early 2000 (Department of Transport 9-11). The UK’s transport department argues that UK needs to get the pricing policies right to cover the degradation of the environment and congestion cos ts, to encourage technological innovation, and facilitate behavior change among citizens.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Transport Policy in the UK specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The goal of the recent frameworks has been to address the overwhelming need for a reduced emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. According to this policy, the UK identifies three basic elements for minimization of costs of advancing toward a low-carbon economy and maintaining achievable levels of emissions (Potter and Parkhurst 171-178). These elements include investment in low-carbon technology, reducing barriers to action, and establishing a carbon-priced tax system that seeks to scale down carbon emissions through reduced usage. The policy approaches spell out the social costs that people must pay or forego on their actions. This will make individuals to make substantive decisions on the how to use the available en ergy sources. The development of innovative carbon-free technologies has, and continues to be an essential and urgent component, which is why the private sector has stepped up its efforts to boost research and development and technology. However, government regulations through policies and controls will be necessary tools to force the pace of a shift toward the right direction (Transport Issues n. p). The trend of rapid growth in the road transport sub-sector between 1950’s and the mid 1990’s was characterized by a rapid growth in the overall demand that saw a decline in the demand and use of alternative better options, including bus, cycle, and rail (Department of Transport 9-11).Advertising Looking for essay on transportation? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, many observers contend that since late 1990 are eminent changes have taken place to attain potentially helpful levels of managing carbon emissions. Although it is notable that road transport continues to grow, evidence shows that this inherent growth has since slowed down after the adoption of the said policy frameworks. The growth in the transport sector has been slow relative to the gross domestic product (Transport Issues n. p). The efficient transport systems representing the shift as a result o policy changes has had a considerable effect on the GDP (Potter and Parkhurst 171-178). Research shows that marginal improvement in the movement of goods and services has had a positive influence on UK’s gross domestic product. Changes in these policies indicate a rapid shift in the future of transport sector in UK. For instance, after the introduction of a white paper on â€Å"The Road to Prosperity,† the rail transport has grown substantially compared to road tra nsport since the mid-1990s. Though rail transport is a minority mode of transport, analysts forecast that the future of UK’s economy driven by a carbon-free transport lies in the rail transport (Transport Issues n. p). There is an anticipated shift in the mode of common usage by the public by the end of 2015. While UK envisages a low-carbon technology that will see the country achieve its millennium environmental conservation goals, it is expected that a dramatic shift in the technology will amount to an overhaul of the UK’s economy. These improvements will expand the labor market catchments, facilitate job matching and support business to business interactions (B2B interactions). An efficient and cost effective transport system hosts such benefits as reduced business timings that seek to fill the gap created by congestions and traffic problems (Noland 15). The recent literature finds a strong correlation between new road capacity and stimulation of travels. The respon se of policy changes is an indication of the economic signals generated from the part of travelers to try and avoid increased cost of movement brought about by costly road transportation mode. The policy directive to maintain the current road capacity other than expanding the capacity to respond to the increased demand causes a shift in the frequency of usage of an individual mode relative to the other (Potter and Parkhurst 171-178). This indicator points at the irreversible trend that will make rail mode as the sustainable solution (Noland 15). Conclusion The future of transport and subsequent change in patterns depend on the manner and scope of current provisions of the transport policies. The changes that have introduced tradable tax and carbon taxes to achieve a reduced carbon economy spell a lot of economic implication than it is expected. The assessment of the policy suggests that the while the policy promotes road pricing where taxes are levied on the length of travel has a s ignificant role on reducing the overall carbon emissions, the policy has far-reaching effect on the economy (Potter and Parkhurst 171-178). A shift toward a carbon-free transport economy that supports pedestrian transport and cycling may see the government lose on the huge tax returns emanating from increased taxation (Potter and Parkhurst 171-178). Contrary to the general feeling that the shift in transport modes from the road sector will help minimize the environmental and congestion costs, considerable evidence suggest that the opportunity cost of using alternative transport modes on roads is less compared to when the status qou is maintained (Noland 20). That is, the marginal tax returns on additional carbon usage are significant to the economy compared to the cost avoided in an fuel-alternative mode of transport. Works Cited Department of Transport. â€Å"Towards a Sustainable Transport System: Supporting Economic Growth in a Low Carbon World.† (2007). Print. Noland, Rob ert B. â€Å"Transport Policy and Assessment Procedures in the United Kingdom: Lessons for the Federal District of Mexico City.† (2004). Print. Potter, Stephen and Parkhurst, Graham. Transport policy and transport tax reform. Money and Management, 25.3 (2005): 171–178. Print. Transport Issues. History of UK Transport Policy, 21Dec. 2007. Web. https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/ This essay on Transport Policy in the UK was written and submitted by user Marco Avila 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.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Deinotherium - Facts and Figures

Deinotherium - Facts and Figures Name: Deinotherium (Greek for terrible mammal); pronounced DIE-no-THEE-ree-um Habitat: Woodlands of Africa and Eurasia Historical Epoch: Middle Miocene-Modern (10 million to 10,000 years ago) Size and Weight: About 16 feet long and 4-5 tons Diet: Plants Distinguishing Characteristics: Large size; downward-curving tusks on lower jaw    About Deinotherium The deino in Deinotherium derives from the same Greek root as the dino in dinosaurthis terrible mammal (actually a genus of prehistoric elephant) was one of the largest non-dinosaur animals ever to roam the earth, rivaled only by contemporary thunder beasts like Brontotherium and Chalicotherium. Apart from its sizable (four to five ton) weight, the most notable feature of Deinotherium was its short, downward-curving tusks, so different from the usual elephant appendages that puzzled 19th-century paleontologists managed to reassemble them upside down.   Deinotherium wasnt directly ancestral to modern-day elephants, instead inhabiting an evolutionary side branch along with close relatives like Amebeledon and Anancus. The type species of this megafauna mammal, D. giganteum, was discovered in Europe in the early 19th century, but subsequent excavations show the course of its peregrinations over the next few million years: from its home base in Europe, Deinotherium radiated eastward, into Asia, but by the start of the Pleistocene epoch it was restricted to Africa. (The other two generally accepted species of Deinotherium are D. indicum, named in 1845, and D. bozasi, named in 1934.) Amazingly, isolated populations of Deinotherium persisted into historical times, until they either succumbed to changing climatic conditions (shortly after the end of the last Ice Age, about 12,000 years ago) or were hunted to extinction by early Homo sapiens. Some scholars speculate that these giant beasts inspired ancient tales of, well, giants, which would make Deinotherium yet another plus-sized megafauna mammal to have fired the imaginations of our distant ancestors (for example, the single-horned Elasmotherium may well have inspired the legend of the unicorn).

Friday, November 22, 2019

Gender Criticism and Frankenstein Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Gender Criticism and Frankenstein - Essay Example other words, the work of Mary Shelley, specifically in context to Frankenstein, can be critiqued for being male dominating and critically chauvinist in its character. The protagonist and the antagonist, both the main characters of the novel around which the story revolves, are male characters, which suggest the biased sense of character in the book. The women mentioned in the book solely perform a supportive, yet a subservient role to the picture. Moving past the characters, the themes of the text also portray gender anxieties. The obsession with nine months, for instance, which Victor takes to create the monster, clearly reflects an issue with gender complexities, more of which would further be expanded on in the paper.This implies that Shelley was of the view that though women is the weaker gender, yet her role can`t be ignored in entirety to smoothly run the system. The other supportive roles, comparatively stronger in nature have been naturally attributed to men in the story. Thi s biasness attributed to gender roles can be related in context to Shelley`s personal life, which was dominated by two male figures, her father and her husband. Victor Frankenstein is inspired after having met Walton who takes nine month to explore the North Pole. Owing to his experiments, Victor ends up creating a monster, which is the underlying theme of the novel and creates the angle of fear and anxiety in the text. The two main characters in the novel, Walton and Victor are extremely ambitious and egotistical in nature, preferring a bond with another man instead of a woman. These traits have also been found characteristic to her husband in particular, reflecting the individual impacts of men on her life. More so, a huge contrast is seen when she characterizes the women in the novel representing them as ‘proper’ women in compliance tothe expectations of the mainstream society. In this scenario, it may be concluded that Shelley had a strong impact of the trend during the time

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

International Adoptions Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

International Adoptions - Research Paper Example Interracial adoptions have helped to adopt minority children, but have raised issues for adopted children to cope with being different and for adoptive parents to help them form healthy identities. The likelihood of being in foster care is more in the Black children as compared to the white children. Black children usually stay longer in the foster care and frequently experience multiple placements. Since long-term stay in the foster care brings along with it numerous developmental risks, certain strategies have been practiced in the past to reduce children’s stay in the foster care. Transracial adoption is one of these strategies but has acquired a lot of controversy because of its perceived effects on children’s healthy adjustment and psychological development in the long run. This is the main reason why transracial adoptions constituted only 1 per cent of all cases of adoptions in the year 1987 (McManus). Percentage of transracial adoption cases in the subsequent yea rs is also comparable. One of the earliest studies carried out on the subject of African-American children’s transracial adoption was by (Grow and Shapiro). In this research, a total of 125 cases of transracial adoptions were investigated. In these cases, the children had been, at least for three years, in their adopted homes. The research led to the conclusion that 77 per cent of the adoption cases were successful while the rest were unsuccessful. Cases in which the family and the child were found to be having problems were classified as unsuccessful. In 16 cases, racial identity was found to contribute to the problems of adjustment of the child in the family. In nine cases, the child was found to be experiencing conflicts regarding the racial identity and the parents were also found to be experiencing difficulty coping with the differences of racial identity. In five cases, the researchers found a strong tendency in the parents to deny the racial background of the child eit her through passive ignorance toward it or through minimization of its importance (Grow and Shapiro 102). This is even more dangerous for the children because the African-American child â€Å"must be prepared for being perceived often as a minority member first, an individual second and for being judged on the basis of prejudice and stereotype† (Crumbley). In the research by (Grow and Shapiro), most of the data was retrieved from the parents and teachers through interviews and questionnaires. Had significant part of the data been retrieved from the children, the researchers would probably have found even more unsuccessful cases and attributed them to conflicts of racial differences between children and parents. The dramatic decrease in the transracial adoption of the African-American children was observed over the last four decades because of its strong opposition by the National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW) since the year 1972. Their concern was that interraci al adoptions makes the adopted children ill-equipped to deal with the racist society’s realities wherein they grow up. In 1985, the then NABSW president talked about the severe problems of identity in the African-American children that have been raised by white families. He said that these children have neither been completely accepted by their parents, nor have they been allowed to maintain the required contact with the people of their race because of which,

Monday, November 18, 2019

Econ ON OLIGOPOLY & SOME GAME THEORY IDEAS WITH OLIGOPOLY Assignment

Econ ON OLIGOPOLY & SOME GAME THEORY IDEAS WITH OLIGOPOLY - Assignment Example In the contestable market the evaluation of dealings among current firms and prospective entrants is investigated more critically. The market incumbents maintain an oligopoly through the determination of price levels in the market in their favor. Again the oligopoly is maintained by the government favor and creates a barrier for other firms from venturing in the market. 2) Suppose there are two firms operating in an oligopoly (termed a â€Å"duopoly†), where the firm 1 cost function is given by C1 = 18Q1, for C1 = total cost, and Q1 = firm 1 output. The cost function for firm 2 is given by C2 = 21Q2, and C2 = total cost of firm 2, and Q2 = output of firm 2. The inverse demand for the product, Q, being sold by the oligopolist firms is given by P = 127 – 3Q, where Q = Q1+ Q2, and Q1 and Q2 are the same product (vats of toxic solution for breaking down chemical components to be used in downstream plastic manufacture). Taking into the consideration the Cournot model in regard to the duopoly that is two firms where both firms concurrently decide a quantity to produce. Designating the quantity q1 as the amount produced by firm 1 and q2 as the corresponding amount produced by firm 2. Therefore the total quantity The firm production choices are strategic substitutes. That is, an increase in the amount produced by firm1 (holding fixed the underlying amount produced by the corresponding firm 2) will considerably lower the market price and thus resulting in lesser profits for firm 2. Thus, every firm ought to take into consideration the prevailing the production decisions of the other supplementary firm in the process of undertaking its individual production decision Firm 1 possess a marginal cost of production equivalent to c1 accompanied by firm 2 which possess a marginal cost of production equivalent to c2. The corresponding Nash equilibrium is computed through the employment tow

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Porters Five Forces Analysis In Companies Business Essay

Porters Five Forces Analysis In Companies Business Essay The Environmental analysis can be defined as a study of environment within the organization for the purpose of locating environmental factors that effect on the operations. For the purpose of analysis the business environment we can categorize in to three levels: Internal environment, Operating environment and General environment. This can be shown in figure as below. STEEPLE Analysis By the STEEPLE analysis we can examine that which external factors can be influenced the organizations ability to achieve its vision and mission. FACTOR EVENTS Social Factors The life styles of the peoples is changing due to economic crisis therefore, they change to use energy for sometime People would like to use bio fuel rather than normal fuel due to reduce environmental pollution Technical Factors The International Energy Agency states that alternative energy markets will be underpinned by technological breakthroughs. technology is the key to competitiveness in the alternative energy industry; The government spending for research on bio fuel and other alternatives Environmental Factors BP should highly concern on Environmental Law Responsibility of Oil Spill damage Economic Factors Due to economic crisis there is a declining demand for energy There is a increasing demand for Alternative energy sources Political Factors The global energy market is becoming more unstable because of geopolitical instability. Encouragement of the government towards more sustainable forms of energy due to CO2 emission Legal Factors According to the environmental law, responsible for Payments on oil spill damages Transportation safety Ethical Factors Charitable giving Investment on development programme Table 01. STEEPLE Analysis Source: EU (2004) The European Union Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading Scheme, EUROPA, http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/climat/emission.htm [Accessed 22nd May 2011]. Porters Five Forces Analysis The Analysis of Porters five forces help to assess where the power of BP lies in Market and also helps to analyze the attractiveness of the industry. In addition to that we assess the current strength and future strength needs to plan in the BPs competitive position as shown: (Source: http://notesdesk.com// porters-five-forces-model.jpg -Accessed on 23rd may 2011) Potential Entrance Strict government policies and requirements High technological focus on alternative energy industry Large initial capital is required Threat of Substitutes Alternative energy due to higher cost Competitive Rivalry High exit barriers High fixed costs High stakes for Shell Renewable and low stakes for BP Solar. Bargaining Power of Buyers Low volume of buyer Low information of buyers High availability of substitutes Bargaining Power of Suppliers Low concentration of alternative energy suppliers (principally just BP Solar and Shell Renewable) Strategic Group Analysis Helps identify who the most direct competitors are and on what basis they compete. We can decide that SHELL is the major competitor in the industry for BP in both geographic coverage and service diversification by analyzing SGA as follows: SWOT analysis for BP Strengths World third largest energy company Strong Brand loyalty Financial strength of the company. It has vertical integration operation system. Weaknesses Increase the petrol price in UK Has to paid criminal charges due to spread huge amount of oil in the Alaska Sea in 2006. Reduce in natural gas and crude oil production. Opportunities Has high investment capacity Research to investigate alternative fuel such as Hydrogen, Solar, Wind and natural gas Increase demand for natural gas in USA and Europe countries. Implement more flexible price polices to face their competitors. Treats Unsound policies related to Environment after oil and toxic spill in 2006. Explosion of refinery tunnels in occasionally Has big rivals such as Shell and Chevron Instability in some oil and gas producing countries and regions Task Two Strategic Options and role of corporate parent Strategic Options is an important facet and it helps to craft companys alternatives and provide safe and keep up the competitive situation. The international requirements for energy for the next 20 years are such that hydrocarbons are still going to have a leading part in meeting that energy demand. BP supports emissions trading mechanisms as a means of putting a value on carbon in order to make appropriate investment decisions. Corporate Mission of the BP BP mentioned that there goal for next few years to realize the latent impending of their advantage base by improving the efficiency and effectiveness of everything they do. They will dynamically drive cost and capital efficiency whilst at the same time maintaining the first main concern of safe and reliable operations. Objectives of the BP BP has some objectives for their growth in 2015. And all employees are working as a team to achieve company goals. Average 1-2% p.a. volume growth to 2015 Underpinned by upward resource base and quality through preference Key sources of growth beyond 2015 will come from: Increasing deepwater Leveraging expertise in gas Managing worlds enormous oilfields Enabled by application of technology Source-: http://www.bp.com/sectionbodycopy.do?categoryId=2contentId=7065607 Values and ethics of the BP BP is a compilation of resources and there people working together. To attain business objects they focus on sustaining and encouraging their leaders and staff. And they maintain recruitment stands and developing people skills at every level. BP is a well distinguish organization and wants to do some different in the world. BP is a performance driven company which is competitively booming. Through all this they prefer high ethical stand. Directions and methods of Strategic Options BPs direction is clear and it is the unrelenting pursuit of competitive leadership in respect of cash costs, capital efficiency and margin quality. The Strategy Clock is another suitable way to analyze a companys destructive position in comparison to the contributions of competitors. The Ansoff Growth matrix tool which is helps businesses to decide their product and market growth strategy. Figure 02.Ansoff Market mix (Source-: http://tutor2u.net/business/strategy/ansoff_matrix.htm) Evaluating strategies at BP SOP Matrix is a tool which can use to identify the company relevant strategies through external environmental factors. As an example BP Opportunities and treats as below and by indentifying the external environmental factors can recognize the relevant strategies options. Has high investment capacity Invest in HR development and through that develop the skills of the staff members. A same time invest in market opportunities. RD to investigate alternative fuel such as Hydrogen, Solar, Wind and natural gas By research can find the best alternative and company can give attention to that. Extension of acquisition of North sea area Can develop deep sea oil well. Increasing demand for natural gas in USA and European countries. Efficient and effective resource allocation to maximize profit. Implement more flexible price polices to face their competitors. By price reducing can get more customers on their products Gas and Oil searching Will help to increase their market values and can demand them among the competitors Threats Strategic Option Unsound policies related to Environment after oil and toxic spill in 2006. Understand the policies and work with less effect to environment Explosion of factory tunnels in occasionally By keeping the brand image without harm can face the problem Has big rivals such as Shell and Chevron To make company as No1. And more promotional works Sold corporate owned stations. Buy the stations Pipeline decomposition Should check the pipeline back and do the needful changers Insecurity in some oil and gas producing countries and regions Should find some more producers in case to use. Task Three SMART Objectives of BP BP Objectives are prepared according to SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timed).That means it should be particular about what we are going to achieve and should calculate about the objectives. There are a several types of objectives like process objectives, outcome objectives, personal objective that all can be done in the SMART format. BPs five year plan objectives are, Increase profitability by 20% Increase production Financial gain by serving to the increasing demand Build brand value that was affected by the oil spills BP spends on growing technology budget on potentially most competitively profitable innovations both in open and new power spaces. It is both a strategic option and an opportunity for BP when comparing with the rivals as BP is strategically positioned themselves in a highly innovative RD processes which is unmatchable by the rivals easily. While facing major challenges of dilapidated supplies and defense of supply in oil and gas, global warming and insist for pure energy in major markets, BPs percentage of expend on novel technologies is growing. Five year development plan for BP Business plan is a statement about companys future goals and plans to achieve those goals. This can be externally focus or internally focus. BPs Strategies in development can position as, Upstream growth Downstream turnaround Alternative Energy: alert disciplined Corporate overview In the upstream will hub on cost and capital efficiency to distribute profitable growth. In the downstream will drive additional efficiencies and a focus on quality and incorporation. They will maintain their disciplined approach to substitute energy and will carry on unlock corporate efficiency through a culture of uninterrupted enhancement. Evaluating and implementing the plan In business strategy, Johnson, Scholes and Whittington shows a model in strategic options are evaluated next to three key success criteria such as Suitability, Feasibility, and Acceptability. Recommendations Strategic investments in RD to exploit new market opportunities and to maximize efficient and effective productions. To negotiate with governments and other low and medium sized firms in the industry through a joint profit sharing process to search for new avenues of the market. Recruit experienced and capable sales, marketing and research experts. Re-build the brand value and affinity using new media opportunities like social media to reduce the black mark occurred as a consequence of oil spills. Streamline production and business operations by using just in time (JIT) and creating a agile end at the supplier end of the operations. Conclusion Strategic planning plays a vital role in strategic management and the leadership. Strategic planning can divide in to three stages as strategic Analysis, Strategic Options and Evaluation and Implementation. The British petroleum Corporation is a well established organization in petroleum industry and here it is illustrated through the strategy and competitive advantages of the BP and the technical tools which they could could use to analyze the situations. The porters five forces investigation helped identifying the competitive environment and market situation BP is facing. There are major rivals like Solar, Sharp, Chevron in the market and BP engaged with mass production. By the SWOT analysis company situation and the market position identified which extracts the internal and external environment of the company. BP is focused on customers and they believe in their mass productions over its rivals. Company can use strategy clock, Ansoff growth matrix tools to analysis their position in the market. To develop strategic options first it should identify the external context and priorities and clusters. Then it should develop the strategic options. SOP matrix is one of the best tools to identify the strategies of the company. BP has a decentralized en route for RD units. It also drives the strategic positioning of BP in competition among rivals. Cost advantage exits when company can give same benefits as competitor with lower cost. And differentiation advantage exits when the company can make different benefits or the value to the customer from their products (Broad differentiation strategy). As an Example BP is using combination of Crude oil and natural energy such as solar power to give differentiation to their customers and it is a well successful strategy. STEEPLE analysis also can be used to investigate the external environment in a business operates and concerned with the political, economic, social factors influential industry change and helps to gain a better understanding for external conditions for growth in a market. The porters five forces investigation helps to diversity a competitive environment. For example, BP analyzes the market for Quality oil production. BP entered into solar market in 1973 and produced BP solar in 2000, it was one of main strategy to face current oil crisis and environment issues. BP solar becomes profitable but it is not prominently spread among the public, so government involvement is important to become popular of solar power. BP business plan has advantage in the Research and investigation area. The crude oil plus the solar power combinations was very successful strategy implemented in recently. Products segmentation, explorations and productions, significantly company restructuring, improve cost efficiency, centralized company departments are their current strategies to compete with rivalry and increase company profits. They entered into oil plus solar power combination and they should strategically positioned the product segmentation, improve cost efficiency and enter into new market opportunities through the findings of RD to increase their profits. They have created value through technology innovation and this is a barrier for their competitors. But the opportunity is yet to be scrutinized with more investments to the RD. By a comprehensive situation analysis company can create strategic options to devise organizations external atmosphere and can exploit the potential.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

The Effects of Technology on the Right of Freedom of Speech

The Effects of Technology on the Right of Freedom of Speech Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of democratic political and social institutions. It is responsible for the free flow of ideas and information to anyone who wishes to listen. Freedom of speech supports freethinking and sharing of thoughts, but along with these good characteristics there are also harmful ones. With the positive aspects such as art, journalism, and the pursuit of truth come negatives aspects such as pornography, gambling, and hate and shock sites. To continue with free speech people, must accept these negative aspects such as The Blackplague shock site, "The Blackplague", http://www.blackplague.org/. The contents of this site are repulsive, disturbing, and offensive to the majority of the population. There are countless pictures, texts, and videos of sex, death, and the most evil human behavior imaginable. No matter what is included in the site though, it is still a reflection of society and paints a picture of reality because of the people who maintain and contribut e to the site. The creators of this site use digital methods to spread their message and raise some questions about free speech and the Internet as a whole. Should the Internet be regulated and more government control take place or should the Internet not be regulated and allow disturbing material such as "The Blackplague" to be accessible to everyone including little children? These are major social questions that are being raised with major implications for the future attached to the answers. Technology has changed the issue of freedom of speech because it has changed the amount of access and overall information people have available to them today. Technology, such as the Internet, ha... ...iterate culture’s root metaphor, for the human mind"(pg. 11). Print-thinking’s boundaries cannot control digital thinking as print technologies regulations cannot control digital information. Hate and shock sites must be left uncensored because they defend a principle. They are one of the ugliest parts of that principle but they are still a very important and vocal part of it. Total freedom of speech is inevitable, as digital thinking will not tolerate boundaries because they are contradictory to its very nature of constant dynamic change. Works Cited Bolter, Jay David. Writing Space. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers. 1991 Gilster, Paul. Digital Literacy. Wiley Computer Publishing Landow, George P. Hypertext 2.0 Lanham, Richard A. The Electronic Word. University of Chicago Press. 1989 "The Blackplague". 12-2-98. http://www.blackplague.org/

Monday, November 11, 2019

Asian Culture, Geography & Politics to understand Asia economies today

Winston Churchill once described India as a mere geographical expression that cannot be taken as a single country than the equator.It seems he was right  Ã‚   since there is no other country in the world that has embraced an extraordinary mixture of ethnic groups with incomprehensible languages living in a variety of topography and climates exhibiting varying cultural and religious practices with ranging levels of economic developments than India (Tharoor, 1997).This is what describes India. It is country with a mixture of ethnic groups which are held together by invisible threads which are like a myth, a dream or a vision held for generations.   India is a country with more than 940 million individuals from different ethnic backgrounds but living together in a land of snow peaks and tropical jungles.The country has more than 51 percent of its population illiterate but at the same time it has the world’s second largest pool in terms of trained scientist and engineers who h ave been the backbone of its economic growth.   India has teaming cities overflowing with people but four out of five Indians earn their living by scratching the soil.The culture religious life of the people is rich. It boasts with an ageless civilization which gave birth to four major world religions with different traditional classical dances which attract millions of tourist. The food and drinks culture cannot be compared to any other in the world with more than three hundred ways of cooking potatoes.We still don’t understand how, but the cultural life of India resisted two hindered years of  Ã‚   British culture imperialism to remain intact as it is today. From colonialism India has risen to become the world’s largest democracy with more than 85 political parties but all competing in one country.It is the combination of al the cultural, geographical, and political life of the people that has led to great economic development. To understand the soaring economy o f India, one has to understand the  Ã‚   contribution of the three spheres of life.Soaring economy of IndiaSince the country gained independent from British, it has been bracing to position itself in the world economy.  Ã‚   It has been improving its pace of economic development. In the last few decades, all the major cities in India have undergone radical infrastructural change which is in preparation for more economic development.The county has diverse economy which encompasses traditional village farming, modern agriculture, modern industries existing along handicrafts, and a highly developed service industry.   The service sector has developed to be an important sector in the economic growth  Ã‚   with more that50% share of India’s output. But with less that a third of the labor force. Agriculture is another important sector which employs more than three fifths of the workforce.The economy has been recording a growth rate of more than 7% since 1997 which has led t o poverty reduction by more than 10%. In 2006 and 2007, the country achieved an economic growth of about 9.6%. From the 2007 estimates, the country has a GDP of about $2.965 trillion measured by the purchasing power parity while it stands at $894.1 billion measured by official exchange rate.   However due to the large population, the GDP per capita still remains low at $2,700.The service sector contributed 55% of the GDP with the industry sector following with 28.4% while the agriculture sector contribute only 16.6% but employing more that 60% of the labor force.   The rate of unemployment remains at 7.2% while 25% of the population lives below the poverty line (CIA world Fact book, 2004).India has the twelfth largest economy in the world and third largest in Asia after Japan and China. This has seen an emergence of a middle class of about 325-250 million people with a large disposable income. The growth of Indian economy has been contributed by enabling growth atmosphere contri buted by the political, geographical and political life of the country (Sankara, 2004).

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Robert Louis Stevensons Treasure Island for Study

Robert Louis Stevensons Treasure Island for Study Not only is Robert Louis Stevensons ​Treasure Island  one of the most popular childrens books in history, its had a major influence on popular culture portrayals of 19th-century pirates. It tells the story of young Jim Hawkins, cabin boy on a ship bound for an island where the treasure is believed buried. He encounters pirates who seek to overthrow the ships officers in a mutiny. Published as a series in the magazine Young Folks between 1881 and 1882, Treasure Island is notable as a childrens book because of the moral ambiguity of many of its main characters; the good guys are sometimes not so good, and its most memorable character, Long John Silver, is a classic anti-hero. The story has captured imaginations for more than a hundred years and has been adapted for film and television more than 50 times.​​ Questions for Study and Discussion Why do you think Jim goes on the journey as a cabin boy?How does Robert Louis Stevenson reveal the characters motivations in Treasure Island?Knowing that this was a serialized story when it was first published, do you have a sense of whether Stevenson plotted out the entire story before writing, or do you think he changed elements of the plot as he wrote each individual section?What are some symbols in Treasure Island?Is Jim Hawkins consistent in his actions? Is he a fully developed character?What about ​Long John Silverare his actions consistent?How easily can you identify with Jims feelings? Do you think this portrayal of a young boy seems dated, or does it stand the test of time?If this novel were written in present day, what details would have to change?Discuss how Long John Silver is or is not a father figure to Jim.Which of the characters surprises you the most?Does the story end the way you expected?How essential is the setting to the story? Could the story have taken p lace anywhere else? Besides Jim Hawkins mother, there are very few women in Treasure Island. Do you think this is important to the plot?What would a sequel to this novel have looked like? Would it be possible to continue the story?

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Chicboy Marketing Plan Essay Essays

Chicboy Marketing Plan Essay Essays Chicboy Marketing Plan Essay Paper Chicboy Marketing Plan Essay Paper Chic-Boyâ„ ¢ is a new hallmark and concern theoretical account of Pier One Bar and Grill Holdings Corporation. the company behind the successful Pier One Bar and Grill eating house concatenation in the Philippines. It is a quick-service eating house that is a â€Å"cut above† fast nutrient. with a cult-like followers. Our construct focuses on quality. assortment and service. Chic-boy’s pride is its Cebu Lechon Manok and Cebu Lechon Liempo marinated and stuffed with her set spices and wood coal broiled to juicy and tasty flawlessness. * Aims The chief aim of Chic-Boy is to supply people/ their clients with great nutrients at low-cost monetary values. supply convenience by leting household reunions and acquire together. And last but non the least. one of their aims is to spread out the concern by supplying and leting franchise. * THE FRANCHISOR-FRANCHISEE RELATIONSHIP Franchisor shall supply Franchisee with specifications for trade names and types of any equipment. fixtures and furniture required for the Franchised Facility. The Franchisor will supply supplies such as merchandises. equipment and stuffs antecedently designed and provided by the Franchisor to be used in the Franchised Facilities and â€Å"services† that includes. but is non limited to. consistent invention and redevelopment of merchandises and procedures. in-store audit cheques related to the consistent patterns of hygiene. safety. and proper execution of pre-defined pharmaceutics patterns and methods. besides developing and aid plan will be given. * Duties of the Franchisee The duty of the franchisee will concentrate on the go oning services and royalty fees. accounting and records. criterions of quality and public presentation. * PRODUCTS AND SERVICES The company offers a broad assortment of repasts such as Chiquito Meals. Chibog-Busog Meals. Cebu Lechon. Magandand Umaga Meals. Sphagetamis. Nipponese. Appetizers. Merienda. Desserts. Soup. Sizzling Specials and etc. Most repasts are served with house soup and limitless rice. they besides offerbottomless iced tea. They besides give clients fried garlic for free. * MANAGEMENT. STAFFING. STRATEGIC PARTNERS. ANG PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT * Management TeamThe proprietor is considered as the General Manager of one shop. In every shop the highest place that is managing the day-to-day production is their several Supervisors. . * StaffingThe freshly franchised Chic-Boy mercantile establishment will be engaging 11 staffs dwelling of the cooks. crews. tellers and security guard. * Strategic Partner and Professional SupportAs for strategic spouse. the company will be provided with general contractors will be responsible for the shop equipments. care and physical properties and design of the shop. and as for professional support. an comptroller to head the accounting and fiscal side of the company. * Gantt ChartAs for the agenda of activities of the company. Chic-Boy will hold a one twelvemonth readying before it will officially open. The given month will be from September 2012- September 2013. * OPERATIONS * Hours and Days of OperationThe proposed Chic-Boy mercantile establishment will be runing for seven ( 7 ) times a hebdomad. 16 ( 16 ) hours a twenty-four hours. The shop hours will be from 7:00 am up to 10:00 autopsy * Layout and FacilitiesThe shop will be at least 200sqm. It will hold a 2nd floor to suit the figure of clients. The chairs and tabular arraies will be arranged as to let the clients to still walk in between the them even if ther are a batch of clients. * Licensing. Permitting A ; Other Regulatory IssuesGeting the needed concern licence and licenses for Chic-Boy is a necessary measure to guarantee that the concern is staying the bylaws. It needs some sortof concern licence or license to run the concern lawfully. Chic-boy will acquire first clearance and license before heading to the Securities and Exchange in Commission. * Operating ProceduresThe process will be a simple procedure get downing from the entryway of the client followed by the buying of the nutrient. ingestions of the ordered point and so go forthing of the client one time done and satisfied. Then as a new client arrives. the procedure starts once more. * Inventory ManagementThe merchandises of Chic-Boy will be ordered from the commissary in a day-to-day need footing. It will be stored in the kitchen hair-raisers to continue good quality and freshness and to fulfill customers’ criterions. * Selling * Target LocationThe franchise will be located at Dr. C. A. Aguila St. inside Mendiola. Manila. Its approximative square footage is 200 sqm. . it is a good traversed way taking jeepney’s and vehicles coming from recto heading to Pandacan. Sta. Ana. Makati and Pasay. frailty versa. It is besides surrounded by at least six ( 6 ) schools. * Marketing Targets The mark market of Chic-boy will be pupils. employees and famiies. There are no age bound as to who are their mark market. every bit long as they can still eat the repasts offered by the constitution. * Distribution Since the entity proposed is non in the fabrication industry. the distribution described in the program will be the location where the mercantile establishment will be put up therefore functioning the clients within the locality. * Competitive Environment and Positioning The primary rivals of the Chic-Boy will be the fast nutrient ironss such as Jollibee. McDonald’s and KFC that are within the same locality of the proposed franchise. The other nutrient plaes are considered as secondary rivals because since both offer nutrient. the service and type of nutrient served is different. * Marketing Tactics and Support The selling tactics and support that Chic-Boy are already offering are simple circular giving and poster of tarpaulins and postings. And the Chic-Boy wireless they have in their ain shops and mercantile establishments. * CAPITAL Plan* Beginnings of Fundss The P 6. 069. 000 entire investing will be funded by the 5 investors with the distribution as follows: Phosphorus 3. 069. 000 for the pull offing manager and P 750. 000 for the staying 4 investors. * Use of Fundss The entire investing of P 6. 069. 000 will be used in the payment of rent for the land/property. Working Capital. Furniture. Fixtures. Equipments. Construction and Renovation. A fund shall be allotted for the payment of rent. because the belongings is leased ; for the furniture. fixture and equipments. this includes the aircon units. signage. tabular arraies A ; chairs. grillers. scope goon. deep-freezes A ; hair-raisers. home bases. utensils kitchen and eating house supplies ; another allotment for the building A ; redevelopment which includes civil plants. plumbing. electrical. illuming. mechanical. fumes and fresh air ; and last but non the least. financess to be used as commissary sedimentation. franchise fee and working capital.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Strategic Managemnt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Strategic Managemnt - Essay Example b. Economic factor The effect of the recent financial crisis made consumers skimp on cost particularly on their fashion wear. They are now becoming more sensitive to price and is considering cheaper brands such as those retailed in the supermarkets and discounter stores. c. Social factor The recent financial crisis had a tremendous effect in UK’s consumer behaviour. They begun shopping for clothes in supermarkets and discounter stores to be able to save on cost. Where before quality and brand was a premium among the consumer’s consideration in shopping for clothes, the crisis shifted their preference towards price. d. Technological factor Technology has also contributed to the change in the UK fashion industry. It made retailing cheap through e-commerce that requires very minimal overhead affording retailers to cut their price further to better respond to competition. e. Environmental factor The increasing awareness towards environmental degradation as felt by many and advocated by government and concerned groups has not only made consumers conscious in the kind of materials of the products are made that they buy not only in the fashion industry but also in other industry as well. Furs which used to be fashionable are now considered to be a fashion eye sore and the use of leathers are now regulated. f. Legislative factor The lifting of the lifting of the two trade barriers known as Multifbre Agreement (MFA, 1974 to 1994) and the Agreement on Textile and Clothing (1995 to 2004) also provided an avenue for local retailers to be exempted from from Value Added Tax (VAT) by complying with the four legislative requirement of UK. The four legislative requirement to qualify for VAT exemption are as follows: It must be an article of clothing or footwear; It must not be made of fur; It must be designed for young children, and It must only be suitable for young children† (HM Revenue & Customs 2011). This exemption however is limited because it is only limited to children’s wear and could be a double edged sword because competitors can also avail the same exemption. Government however has also provided incentive to import cheaper textiles provided that the strict regulations on clothing are complied with which are; â€Å"The General Product Safety Regulations 2005. The Children's Clothing (Hood Cords) Regulations 1976. The Nightwear (Safety) Regulations 1985† (The National Archives 2011). II. Porter Five Forces a. s. Threat of rivalry The opening of the UK fashion industry to imports has intensified rivalry among retailers because it now includes foreign competitors as well. In addition, the swelling of cheap textiles from other countries (i.e. China, India) conveniently made it supermarket stores and discounter stores to be an effective cheap retailers of fashion clothings which pose a real threat to traditional modes of retail in the fashion industry. The rivalry posed by supermarkets and discounter stores has sign ificantly depressed the price of fashion clothing that reduced the bottom and middle segments of the market to be intensely competitive (Thame 2010) and making it very difficult for other retailers to compete. b. Threat of substitute products Clothing is a basic necessity and clothing is as basic as food itself. Therefore, clothes cannot be substituted. The threat in the fashion in

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Ethical Issues within Information Technology Essay

Ethical Issues within Information Technology - Essay Example Similarly social networking media is used to connect with friend and relatives and share the events of life (Reynolds, 2014). But if someone’s intention is wrong then he may use the shared data or pictures which is not right at all. Security is another important issue. Hackers can easily hack into any computer by using internet protocol and collect data to fulfill some selfish reasons. In case of online banking hackers can easily get information about the transfer of funds and money can be transferred to their desired account by their interruption. So security should be at high level while using information technology (Azari, 2003). Ownership is such kind of ethical issue which indicates the right of an original creator on his work. Information technology has made it easy to get access about any information at any given point of time. There are so many music and book sharing networks through which people can download those data and can use for their own purpose. In such cases the original creators of those works lose the credibility of their work. Extensive use of networks and internet, easy access to technology and advanced wireless telecommunication system gradually losing the control on the whole process and hacker are getting benefits from their mal practices (Brennan and Johnson, 2004). Sharing own data also hamper the accuracy level of the information. People use these data as an authentic source but sometimes they do not get the proper data for using in their work. According to the importance of these ethical issues, these can be ranked as the following order: Privacy, Security, Control, Ownership and Accuracy. Privacy, security and control are three most important parameters for reducing the practice of hacking (George, 2008). Computer crime, viruses, hacking, piracy, plagiarism these are very serious impact on the field of information technology. Current