Managing Activities To Achieve Results Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Managing Activities To Achieve Results - Essay Example They focus on demand from all over the world, to supply customers with products of a good price. Since it is an innovation based company that focuses on lower and competitive prices and food for all, its structure is a matrix structure. That is, it is divided into departments called functional departments. These include sales and marketing, global supply, research and development and global support functions. Even though these are independent functions, they function together as well, as teams are made to bridge the different departments. This helps bring diverse talent together and benefit the organization as a whole. It also has a culture of being forward looking, passionate and creative, where employees are made to think of new ideas while at the same time understanding that they need to meet deadlines. Employees are also appreciate and rewarded for the work that they do. LO1.2. Process management is when the company increases the effectiveness of the entire processes in Syngenta by applying the knowledge base to all the activities in the organization rather than a specific project so that optimal customer satisfaction can be achieved. The entire business process is included in this process and all the aspects of the organization are made according to the customer’s demand. ... The next step is to model the theories and test out their practicality and workability with a number of variables as situations in the world are dynamic. Execution is the next step and it is used to apply the theoretical concepts in the workplace such as the software or computer applications that allow the workplace to function. Service quality is defined as a comparison of what people are expecting to be delivered or offered and what they actually get offered or what actually is offered to them. If a business is eyeing to remain competitive and as well as a strong customer base, it is vital for them to offer the kind of service quality that is higher than the industry average. The business is able to establish itself as a successful enterprise only when they actually cater to the customers that they are looking for. A customer is always willing to pay as much as demanded when they are offered the equal price in return. The price in return that the customer is looking for is a good r eception of their demands and the fulfillment of their request to the maximum limit. Service quality has two aspects to it, one of them is objective and the other is subjective. The objective part of the service quality relates to the tangible factors, things that are visible while subjective part are the intangibles, things that are only felt or experienced. It is important for the business to be able to distinguish them and hence appear more appealing to their customers. To keep a constant check on the Service Quality that is being provided by them, the Sygentas should design a measurement scale, or predefined criteria that will actually help them judge their own service quality. Every business process also

Benefit of Technology Transfer to Developing Countries

Benefit of Technology Transfer to Developing Countries WHY IS THE TECHNOLOGY CONTRIBUTION OF MULTINATIONALS POTENTIALLY SO IMPORTANT FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES? WHAT FACTORS WILL DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE TRANSFERED TECHNOLOGY ACTUALLY PROVIDES NET BENEFITS FOR THE HOST DEVELOPING COUNTRY? Todays world is divided no longer by ideology but by technology 15% of the earths population, provides nearly all of the worlds technology innovationshalf of the worlds population, is able to adopt these technologies in production and consumption. The remaining part, covering around a third of the worlds population, is technologically disconnected, neither innovating at home nor adopting foreign technologies. Sachs (2000) According to the new Growth theory of the 1990s, Innovation is the prime source of technological advancementwhich in turn drives economic growth. One of the prime motives of host developing countries for widely accepting and encouraging various channels of FDI is to absorb the technological spillover from the foreign country firms. The Hard Technologies (industrial processes, equipment and plant) or Soft Technologies (technical know-how, management ideas, marketing skills etc) (Dunning and Lundan 2008) contributed by Multi-national Enterprises (MNEs) are considered the main source of economic development and growth. When a multinational firm vertically integrates with the developing country firms, host firms they are forced to abide by the MNEs strict guidance and standards to ensure quality goods or services in the form of raw materials or upstream services. The foreign firms would guide and assist, both managerially and technically which would lead to improvement both in quality and quantity of service by the local affiliates. Also domestic rival firms enhance their offerings to keep in pace with the foreign affiliated firms in the market thus enhancing the host country firms productivity. The biggest US based retailer, Wal-Marts entry and rapid expansion in China has helped the logistics industry in Chinese market to climb higher level Zhu (2010). For developing countries to carve their niche in the global economy, they need to be technologically advanced. There is a possibility of importing new technology from foreign developed market, but this will cause a setback as the procedure would be expensive. Also countries will find themselves alienated from the advancement of technologies if they cant develop export markets Sachs (2008). This can be minimised to a considerable extent by MNEs trickle down effect wherein transfer of technological skills from developed countries to developing countries occurs through FDI. The transfer of Panasonics microwave manufacturing base from United States to China has led to the presence of 2800 Chinese enterprises to provide components for it, which has not only contributed new technology, but also advanced operations management techniques to Chinese market (Sinani and Meyer 2004). The risk factor due to uncertainty of new technologys results and heavy investment thwarts the developing countries from introducing any new technology from scratch. The argument in support of MNEs is that technology  is the quintessential component of economic development and demands a lot of investment in research and development (RD). Developing countries, however, lack both in skills and funds essential for RD, which has led to the deficient level of RD in  developing  economies. The host countries innovation can be stimulated because of the presence of MNEs, which would command resources necessary for RD. Hence host firms can save on cost by using the technologies which are already implemented and used by MNEs using Demonstration (by MNEs) and Imitation (by host firms) (Das 1987; Wang Blomstrom 1992, cited in Crespo and Fontoura 2007). However the patent regulation and challenge of absorbing the technological skills in the short term collaborative contracts makes the process very challenging for the firms in the emerging markets. The human resources mobility from MNEs to local firms also act as a channel of technology transfer and extension since the systematic training provided to these high-skilled employees is dissipated to domestic firms in the form of innovative managerial ability thus enhancing the domestic enterprises which would otherwise be impossible (Crespo and Fontoura 2007). Table 1: Summary of Spillover Channels of FDI (Blomstorm and Kokko (1998); Gorg and Greenaway (2001); Gorg and Strobl (2002)) The technology transfer usually occurs in a market which is imperfectly competitive and possesses no particular market structure. Since different developing countries would have different market structure, it becomes very complicated to have a generalized theory and model to find the determinant factors of technological spillover benefits to local firms (Mondal and Pant 2010). The results of empirical study by various researchers act as an alternative to analyse the net benefits of technology spillover for the host developing countries. The firms Total Factor Productivity (Factors like the level of RD, foreign presence, the firm size) can be used as a proxy to gauge technology transfer (Haddad and Harrison 1992, cited in Crespo and Fontoura 2007).According to Seck (2011) A 10% increase in a developing countrys foreign RD capital stock leads to more than a 2% percent increase in its total factor productivity. The economic development level (measured by per capita GDP) impacts strongly on RD activity (Cheung and Lin 2003). The growth in host countrys RD activities reduces the technological gap and increases the absorptive capacity of the host firm thereby benefitting the host developing country. According to Schmid (2010), A one percent increase in the Research and development (RD) expenditure is associated with a five percent increase in the likelihood of a technology transfer. He also states that the technology transfer is positively correlated to the trade flows and RD expenditure of a developing country. RD resulting in new processes and products either amplifies firms revenues or saves firms costs and is considered as the vital proxy for endogenous growth and technological advancement, Zhu (2010). In 2004, 23.7 % of industrial RD within China was performed by affiliates as compared to 21.7% in 2004 (UNCTAD 2005, cited in Dunning and Lundan 2008, p.359) which exemplifies increasing trend and possibly positive effect on host developing countries. Here the main challenge lies in finding the exact proportion of beneficial RD activities. If the relative costs of technology adoption are large to the economic value of the underlying technology (to the host country firms), there will be little adoption relatively and FDI spillover realized will also be relatively limited (Blomstrà ¶m. et.al 1999). Thus cost of technology adoption plays a major role for the technology transfer to be beneficial to the host country firms. The factors contributing to the distribution of technological capacity (which includes Higher educational institutions, Scientists and Engineers, RD laboratories and other physical and human assets) which are aided by foreign affiliates reflects the net beneficial effect on host countries due to export or FDI (Dunning and Lundan 2008). Alongside the direct effects of technological capacity of host countries, the indirect consequences can be measured through knowledge, technology and RD spillovers to host economys local firms which can be measured in terms of the raise in productivity of local firms as a result of the MNEs presence or entry into host economy. However realising the exact proportion of productivity increase solely due to MNEs contribution is a big challenge for many other factors would have aided the process. A study by Xu (2000), cited in Dunning and Lundan (2008), suggests that the spending on royalties and licence fees approximately indicates the impact of productivity enhancement caused due to technology transfer of FDI in the host countries. The absorptive capacity of the developing countries varies and accordingly the positive or negative effects based on it. The study by Feinberg and Majumdar (2001), cited in Dunning and Lundan (2008) reveals that the pharmaceutical affiliates in India experienced no spillover to local firms through locally conducted RD whereas the foreign affiliates had benefited. On the contrary, a study conducted by (Mondal and Pant 2010) shows the presence of foreign affiliates and high absorptive capacity for developing countries to impact positively on technology spillover which is elevated by a highly competitive environment. The policies of host governments towards FDI such as technology policy and Intellectual Property Protection are also plausible determinants which impacts the magnitude of the efficiency spillovers captured by host country firms. For example government policies which would encourage the RD performance like effective IP protection would alleviate the chances of FDI and intensify the technological capability of local firms which in turn would aid to exploit appropriate foreign technology (Blomstrà ¶m et al. 1999). On the other hand patents filed by developed countries would result in limited transfer of technological capabilities due to the protection of technology from imitation for 20 years. China became the largest recipient of FDI among the developing countries during 1990s due to the market for technology policy and enforcement of patent law in line with TRIPs (Trade-Related Intellectual Properties) (Cheung and Lin, 2003). Due to contradicting research data and the dependence of technology transfer benefits on the kind of industry and the level of alliance between foreign and emerging market country firms, it becomes very complicated to generalise the factors contributing to the net benefits of the developing countries. CONCLUSION According to (Dunning and Lundan 2008) The ability to create, acquire, learn, use and effectively deploy technological capacity is one of the key ingredients of economic success in virtually all societies. The exact realisation of net benefit of technology transfer to developing countries is measured using TFP as a proxy and can be enhanced by strengthening their local economy and capabilities to attract FDI inflow with the aid of strict and stringent government regulations.

Service Quality in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry Essay example -

There are so many research studies that have been conducted relating to service quality and customer satisfaction as this topic has been the centre of attraction in the service industries. Both these words play an important role in determining the competitiveness and the survival of an organisation in the tourism or the hospitality industry. The following chapter commences with a brief look at the tourism industry, followed by the definition and explanation of service quality. This chapter also tries to provide the link between customer perceptions, expectations and satisfaction. Gaps evolving between the management of an organisation and the perceptions of the customers are evaluated in detail. The latter part of the chapter focuses on SERVQUAL which is used as a tool for measuring service quality. Five basic dimensions of service quality have been evaluated in detail from the perspective of different authors which is followed by the criticism of SERVQUAL. The determinants of servic e quality have been identified in terms of airline industry and the relation between delivery of service quality and customer satisfaction has been highlighted at the end. Furthermore, this paper will try to demonstrate how an airline could manage its service quality by using the ‘SERVQUAL’ as a diagnostic tool to measure the expectations of number of different passengers. The Tourism Industry Tourism has become a vital tool for major revenue in many countries and regarded as an important catalyst in improving the global economy. Air travel has made the world smaller and accessible in many ways. Many state of the art airlines and airports across the world have catered to the ever growing demands of the customers who wish to travel by air. Those who... ....59-74. Supernanent, C. and Churchill, N. G., (1982) An investigation into the determinants of customer satisfaction. Journal of marketing research, 19 (4), p.491-504. Surveymonkey (2012) Introduction. [online] Available at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/ [Accessed: 24th February 2012]. Veal,A.J. 2006. Research methods for Leisure and Tourism: A practical guide. Third edition. Pearson Publication, London. Walle, A. (1997) Quantitative versus Qualitative Tourism Research. Annals of Tourism Research, 24 (3), p.524-536. Wong, K. and Musa, G. (2011) Branding satisfaction in the airline industry: A comparative study of Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia. African Journal of Business Management, 5 (8), p.3410-3423. 123helpme (2011) Components of customer services. [online] Available at: https://www.123helpme.com/view.asp?id=148474 [Accessed: 12th february 2012].

Future of Public Sector Bargaining

The public sector workers unions in Canada play a very important role in the industrial workforce. The roles of these unions us to protect and enhance the members interests by making the government aware of the things that affect their work and policies that need to be lightened so that they can be motivated to work and help in improving the country's economy. Since the early 1980s, Canada has been evaluating its role in the nation's economic and social affairs.The Public sector responsibilities include: the provision of vital social services, preserving the nation’s identity and promoting economic development (Swimmer & Thompson). All these factors have been affected in one way or another by the reduction of government funding in support of the ventures thus affecting the public sector industrial relations. Progress in the public sector In Canada matured in 1965 when the government was expanding its activities and increased its funding such that labor and management performed well.The legal framework of collective bargaining was established in the 1940s as a way of increasing the functions and the positive relationships among labor, capital and the state. Various reforms were made in the labor unions in the 1960s with the aim of enhancing the workers rights and improving the employer employee relationship. Changes in the Canadian public sector started to take place in 1982 when controls were placed in the way the government made compensation.In early 1990s, people were tired with the restrictions and for this reason, in 1991 when the federal budget was made; it was followed by the largest federal employee union strike (Swimmer & Thompson). Examples of control programs that have been in place include the Social Credit Administration in British Columbia (1982) and the Mulroney government (1991). The willingness of the government to impose such policies raised the issue of the role of industrial relations to determine the terms and conditions of employment in Canada (Panitch & Swartz).Free collective bargaining began during the expansion of the post war capitalism in the 1960s and continued to deteriorate in the after years as restrictions on the government side created led to resistance on the union’s sides affecting organizational, political and ideological factors (Swimmer & Thompson). The Private sector responded to changes affected laborers by adopting new industrial relations practices and structures that never addressed the problem as it ought to. â€Å"The sectionalism was a result of years of neglect of the political and ideological mobilizing aspects of trade unionism (Panitch& Swartz, 152).† This is because the Canadian government never made any significant effort to restructure the economy evidenced by the few labor legislation reforms and laws (Swimmer & Thompson). There were an increasing number of women who joined the labor unions at this time and this enhanced the bargaining position of the labor unions. Wage negotiations never bore the fruits that the workers wanted and economic changes led to the reduction on unemployment as more people were employed in private firms on part-time basis. For this reason, private businesses failed.The public sector on the other hand, never reduced employment in any sector at high rates such that there was significant increase in employment in the government administrative services. This is because the government still provides vital services in the economy so they cannot change their operations as easily as the private sector. Moreover, it is difficult to substitute capital for labor. For the government to be able to support all these activities, they had to cut down on expenses across all the sectors. Measures of ChangeCoverage is an important indicator of change as it enables the union management to know the employees they support. Strikes and work stoppages are other change indicators. Therefore it is necessary that the right to strike and other financial restraint packages are founded in the law. There are also various changes in collective bargaining involving the bargaining and negotiation structures. All these indicators are vital in both the private and private sectors for developing accessing and making decisions on how several changes will be developed.This seemed to work in the 1970s when the public sector compensation was more than the private sector compensation levels. Role of strikes The rate of union strikes had reduced in Canada between the years 1984-1994. There are no valid explanations for the strikes but they are said to be triggered most in the presence of inflation and increase in unemployment. â€Å"An example is the 1976 Canadian Labor Congress (CLC) against the anti-inflation program (Panitch& Swartz). † The government has thus created regulations to deal with strikes.The right to strike by the public service was mandated by the government in 1994 but this was removed from British Columbia ind ustrial policies. Despite the regulations on bargaining outcomes, public sector strikes rose and they were even more than those related to the private sector. The back to work legislation and cabinet orders also led to the strikes such that there were about 39 restrictions between the years 1975-1986; 14 in Quebec and 11 in Ontario (Swimmer & Thompson).This led to the allegations that the laws were minimizing the bargaining rights of public employees. Coverage of the industrial Relations system in Canada Collective bargaining has always been there in the public sector to enhance the workers rights. Educations, government and health sector unions were among the most active in the 1980s and early 1990s even with the involvement of the private sector. â€Å"This is also the period when free trade and free capital flows enhanced work flexibility (Panitch & Swartz, 226).† Changes in public service delivery have created several challenges in the industrial relations system and will continue to do so. â€Å"For example, decentralizing the health care systems leads to the transfer of resources; all forms of capital including human capital, from large facilities to smaller health institutions in remote parts of the country. For the health care union to continue maintaining their strength, they will need to consider organizing smaller unions that have not yet been practiced. From the 1980s experiences, these unions will be successful (Swimmer & Thompson).† Despite the government's efforts to restrict the bargaining powers of the public sector unions, the government introduced employee involvement programs in the workplace in order to undermine the capabilities of the unions. This can be seen in 2000 when the government reorganized management practices in government run institutions but Swimmer says that such initiates will not necessarily affect the work of labor unions (Swimmer &Thompson, 433). Moreover, their role is not to weaken public employeesâ€℠¢ attachment to their unions.The public and private sector were not getting along especially in 1994 between employees in unions and those who were not. This is because the employees in unions wanted a lot of changes to be made and they needed to be in unison with their un-unionized counterparts who never had a spokesperson to facilitate the negotiation. This was made worse by the minimum legal standards and economic changes. Even in professional occupations in the public sector workers were reluctant to join collective labor agreements (Panitch & Swartz). Conduct of public sector bargainingLegislations somehow gave public sector workers in provinces like Ontario and British Columbia the striking right there was very minimal legislative changes. Most of these restrictions have reduced the importance of bargaining or eliminated it completely. However, Unions can use the Charter and rights freedom to delay the implementation of such restrictions and these means that they have a better chance of increasing their bargaining power. Efforts have been made to create central bargaining structures for example in British Columbia, the teachers union is being introduced to a provincial bargaining structure.Moreover, laws are enabling the formation of the sectoral bargaining in most public sectors. The state and large public sectors; especially education and health, are forming master bargaining structures. This is because the government sees centralizing the bargaining structures as a method of controlling its expenses. Centralizing bargaining structures takes place when the government employer undertakes the action and such arrangements with the government are not necessarily permanent.The government’s ability to control such bargaining agreements means that there is a likelihood of rise in political struggles when both sides do not agree especially given the fact that the public sector unions are likely to resist any government’s efforts to reduce their s alaries. The bargaining process will therefore entail the increment in the salaries for the top personnel who are likely to be limited by the accountability restrictions under the budgetary restrictions which will make hiring and retaining the top public personnel difficult.Pay and employment equity also affect compensation. Pay equity is likely to contribute to better female compensation but this will has the possibility of contributing to the internal problems within the organization. The Government will be looking for ways to reduce their tax expenditures and this will result in reductions in unemployment so that it can minimize the compensation rates. Nothing much can be done by the unions since there are no structures in place to address job security issues.Most of the public sector workers will therefore find it difficult to secure employment in the private sector. Issues of job security will therefore be at the forefront as a political matter and also at the bargaining table. Compensation for the municipal employees will also need to be looked at seriously especially since civic unions like that in British Columbia have been actively engaged in the local politics. Their continued involvement in such issues will lead to restrictions being made by the senior public officials. Future of public sector bargainingAfter the Second World War, labor unions in Canada used the old strategies that were associated with social democratic gradualism. Moreover, the unions focused on what their members needed in bargaining the terms and conditions for employment with their employers. Therefore, more emphasis was placed on negotiating skills rather over educating and mobilizing members (Panitch & Swartz, 226). The future if public sector bargaining can be enhanced by adapting various strategies and models as outlined below: Panitch and Swartz approaches ? Progressive competitivenessInvestment needs to be made by employers in increasing their employee’s skills thro ugh continuous education; training and research so that they are able to support the industry, promote new technologies and a high value-added economy that will enable them to be paid higher wages. Labor is therefore used as a means of supporting and enhancing the other forms of capital so as to increase productivity (Panitch & Swartz). The disadvantage of this strategy is that it only helps the elite hence those who are not skilled enough will miss out on a lot of job opportunities hence the least developed regions will remain underdeveloped.? Partnership internationalism This strategy was developed in the 1990s which involved labor unions being restructured so that they could be able to adopt certain conditions set by international trade organizations like the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This makes the labor leaders more responsible as they have to represent the interests of other member workers. Moreover, it ensures that unf air labor conditions and certain state regulations are addressed according to international standards and regulations.This therefore means that the public sector industrial institutions will have to develop an export-oriented model that may not be necessarily what the government was hoping for. This will mean that the country's employment will depend on low cost exports. This will mean that salaries will be limited as the employment rates are likely to decrease if the economy is doing badly. In addition, making the public sector bargaining more internationalized does not really support militant workers struggles hence making it harmful to the economy.Other strategies The new strategy as proposed by Panitch and Swartz (p. 236) should be more of a condition so that it is able to enhance its success as well as transform labor. The political leaders should therefore control investments and make reforms with the aim of reducing working hours and other limits that are found within the lab or movements. There also needs to be a strategy for reorganizing the public sector unions by creating new capabilities for the workers and the changing the union’s organizational structures for the better.The unions also need to open themselves up to the broader community so that they assist in the growth of the economy and developing their capacity and confidence to be a positive influence on others. Leadership and openness bring about significant changes that enhance the union's collective bargaining power. It is also necessary to develop ways that will be used to deal with new workers who are not part of the group could be included in the union so as to increase the labor union's bargaining power(237). Educational initiatives need to be created as this will help in including non-union members.Effort will need to be made in strengthening the social movement within the organization and also the community level. The Unions in Canada have not been able to achieve much in the s ense of fighting for their rights because their leaders assert too much power in the control of the unions such that they are not able to effectively communicate with their members. Canadians shifted from the American international unions in the 1980s and merged with the Canadian unions where they were faced with internal problems within the union structures.â€Å"Leadership in the unions needs to be restructured. This will entail educating leaders especially those who cannot see that the labor unions are lagging behind and are not fighting for the rights of the workers like they ought to (Panitch & Swartz). † Moreover, well developed democratic structures will enhance more involved and committed membership which is likened to the politicization of the union as seen today. According to Swimmer and Thompson, five scenarios/models will influence future public sector bargaining. They include: 1. Back to the pastThis scenario entails looking into the various features of the assoc iation-consultation model in public sector industrial relations. Employees will be more aware of their rights in terms of the pay they are supposed to get, length of working hours and other employee related organizational rules. This means that the employers will have to listen to their suggestions and pass the decisions that they see fit. Public employees however, have not shown signs of breaking away from the collective agreements. In addition, there is a lot of support for collective bargaining despite the restrictions in place.Workers can therefore engage in strikes if they feel that their grievances are not being addressed in a proper manner. Loyalty to the unions is brought about by the poor wages and they need to stick together for wage increases. This loyalty is however seen to fade away if their issues are not addressed in the long run. However, the success of strikes such as the 1991 federal government workers is enough to gather support and the government has not suggeste d any other form of consultation other than collective bargaining.In this model, job security for the public workers will be enhanced because they will be pressured to perform like their private counterparts. Though the program is not specifically designed to reduce unemployment, the adoption of the private sector organizational and operational systems will at least help in improving the status of the economy thus enhancing job security. 2. A sullen Truce Sullen truce occurs when the government hinders compensation and any form of public sector bargaining for a certain period of time such that employees cannot force any policies.Since the government cannot abolish the workers unions, they will simply ignore their existence. This model considers work stoppages as illegal. Public sector workers can decide not to communicate with their employers so that they can see that they are not motivated to perform their work well. This model did prevail in the 1990s where the government still re -enforced their restrictive policies. It can work in regions where the economy is declining and unemployment rates are high so that they are forced to bare with the poor status of the economy.If the private sector does well such that their wage rates have increased, then this model will not work. The government may refuse to engage in the bargaining process so that they can gain from the booming economy at the expense of the workers who will in turn demonstrate for their rights. The workers bargaining power will therefore depend on the society's economic situation. The public sector union can look for support from the private union workers as well as rights activists. Since they will be supported by influential members of the society, the government will be forced to lighten its rules.3. A new golden Age When government’s revenue is increasing, it means that the public services will also increase. Collective bargaining will be easier as the government is able to pay for the i ncreasing costs hence the negotiations are easier. But this is not always the case as the economy is not always stable and the political environment should always be stable. This will in turn mean that competent political leaders will be needed at the state and provincial level so that they make proper laws.On the other hand if the economy was booming, the workers unions will want their salaries increased constantly. 4. Struggle in the Streets This model involves incorporating the government's centralized bargaining structure in the bargaining strategies used by the public sector unions. It is further likened to the public sector industrial reforms between 1972 and 1982 in Quebec. The government to initiate change in the public sector industrial relations, it must be willing to maintain centralized bargaining structures as well as coordination as seen in the 1990s.The public sector may limit such efforts by their unwillingness to cooperate but the government will face pressure from striking and work stoppages by the employees. For public employees to get what they need, they will need to strike on a large scale from time to time if their issues are to be addressed. The government on the other hand can be able to gain support from the private sector union members and by using various legislative actions. 5. Power sharingIn this model, governments need to cut on spending and they will have to communicate the decisions they make with the public sector unions. Through such meetings, they are able to come to a consensus by agreeing on terms so that spending is controlled. Job security for some workers can be negotiated. This model therefore ensures that public sector employee rights enhanced through the commitment of both parties. The government needs to pass legislations that are less restrictive and the public sector workers need to accept some conditions which are necessary.Such conditions are not easily achieved because the government addresses changes often an d organizations have different operational structures and for this reason it is important for both parties to be willing to bend their rules. This model is similar to the productivity bargaining model that is used by private firms where costs must be minimized so that more money can be saved and paid as wage increases. Conclusion The Canadian public sector bargaining strategies have been limited over the years by strict government regulations and poor union structures among other factors.If these issues neither are nor addressed in a proper manner and fast. Labor unrest will continue to be a significant part of public sector bargaining. However, this can change with a decline in militancy in both the private and public sector hence, the reduction of public strikes will in turn reduce the overall strike rates in the country. The Unions need to restructure themselves as well as get support from the government so that they are in a position to ensure that its members have the necessary resources and are included in making decisions in the union hence reinforcing their solidarity to the union.Reforms in the public sector bargaining are very necessary as they ensure that freedom of expression of the workers is enhanced in a proper thus improving the future of the Canadian working class. References Panitch, L. & Swartz, D. From Consent to Coercion: The Assault on Trade Union Freedoms. 3rd Ed. Ch. 7 & 10, pp. 143-241 Swimmer, G. &Thompson, M. Public Sector Collective Bargaining in Canada: the future of public sector Industrial Relations. Ch. 16, pp. 430-445

The Lion as Symbol in Art

The lion has been a symbol in art since the origins of artistic representation have been documented (in pre-historic cave drawings to the later representation of the lion on city walls, coins, and household items such as vases and plates).   The lion in present day art realms is a symbol of strength and power[1].   The lion in more distant times was concurrent with these themes.   In order for a clear representation of the lion to be presented a look into its past dealing with art must be expounded.   Since artist draw the world around them, it must be inferred that in ancient Iran the lion was a prevalent animal and the artists of the time saw its powerful capabilities and associated that power with their own kings.   However, the lion is not a solitarily presented animal; it has other animal counter-parts such as the bull[2], the snake, the camel, the deer, etc.   In order for a precise discussion of the lion to be represented, these counterparts must also be included.T hese animals are the prey for the lion.   The lion show dominance over the above-mentioned animals, and in artistic representations of this battle, the viewer may infer the artist’s intention by how the lion is depicted, but first, some history about the lion in art,A study of the iconographies on vaes, seals, etc., from the earliest settlements of the Persian, Elamite and Mesopotamien area throughout the ages down to the Assyrian, Achaemenian and Seleucid periods, reeals a perfectly astrounding continuity of tradition in regard to a considerable part of the contellations, such as they were eventually transmitted to the Greeks.   That those uncounted reprentations of bulls, lions, scorpions and other figures, such ast he seven-headed hydra under the lion or the god with streams floating from his shoulders, are meant to be constellations, is in most cases clearly indicated by star symbols or by typical combinations and confrontations of two or more such astronomical elemen ts, or else by other typical concomitant motifs.  Ã‚   (Hartner The Conquering Lion 1964, 162).Thus, the lion was attributed to natural scenes found around the artist.   Since stars were such a dramatic and essential part of agrarian culture, it is not so far-fetched to believe that these artistic peoples placed the lion (a dominant figure in their own society both feared and revered) in the sky as a symbol, along with other animals (bull, bird, deer, etc.).   The calendar was instrumental in the daily lives of these people because it told them when certain seasons would arrive, when to plant crops, etc. and so, they continuously looked toward the skies for knowledge and inspiration:   In order to fully understand what they saw they gave common day items constellations by which to know the sky and by extension the season.   The Greeks or the Hellenistic calendar[3] as well as the Hispano-Islamic calendar[4] the solar year was understood and remembered.   Therefore, const ellations that are known today referred to as Leo, Taurus, etc, had their roots in ancient times.There was a symbolic and veritable battle taking place in the heavens for each of these cultures with their constellations.   As such, the two prominent constellations were Leo and Taurus.   They were in opposition to each other even in 4000 B.C.In the first half of February (counting according to the Gregorian Calendar), the constellations called later the â€Å"Hired Laborer† and the ‘plow’ had their heliacal rising and thereby indicated the time for Spring plowing, harrowing and sowing.   Just during this period, on February 10, the Pleiades, i.e. the leading star group of the Bull, Taurus, had their heliacal setting, i.e. were seen for the last time in the course of the year, to remain invisible (because in conjunction with the Sun) until, after 20 days, they rose again (heliacal rising), to indicate Spring equinox.   Now at the very moment of the Pleiades ’ heliacal setting (February 10, 4000 B.C.), the constellation of   Leo, standing 90 degrees apart, at the Persepolis or Ur occupies exactly the zenith, the â€Å"Royal Star†, Regulus-sarru, culminating at ca. 8 degrees distance from the zenith point.   (Hartner, 163).The significance in ancient culture of the above event was that it was interpreted as the victory of the lion over the bull.   The constellation Leo is at its apex during this time and is directly above the observer’s head and in its full spectrum of power.   It then is symbolic in this position has having killed the bull who has been escaping its equinox below the horizon to ‘hide behind the sun’s rays’.   After the lapsed time of 40 days will the constellation Taurus reappear and gain strength will the constellation Leo diminishes and set[5].   This is the classic Lion-Bull combat and can be seen in a plethora of paintings from this time to present art.   (Hartne r (163).As the Lion-Bull combat is dominant in Iranian art, especially with the lion as the victor is it imperative to juxtapose the lion with regality.   As such, one artistically representation piece that incorporates the beast is found on the cloak of Roger the second.   This cloak was created in Palermo around 528 H./A.D.   The cloak has an Arabic inscription that reads that the intention of the cloak is made for precise use for the treasury of the ‘Sicilian capital’ (Hartner 164).   Thus, the symbolic language of the cloak highlights the significance of the lion as representation of power , as Hartner states, â€Å"Indeed, the recent conquest of and rule over an Arab land, as well as Roger’s concern for the conversion of the ‘Saracens’, could not be better expressed than by the age-old motif of the lion slaying a big but weaker animal.   In this case, the latter was appropriately given in the shape of a camel† (164).The expressi on of the cloak is that of triumph over conquests and glory in those triumphs.   Not only is the lion in representation of royalty but also of military prowess.   In battle with different animals (snake, gazelle, bird, as the lion has often been represented slaying) the lion is victorious.   In cultural context, the lion’s symbols remain constant.   In Islam, for instance, the Great Mosque of Amid there is an archway that is framed on either side by the Lion-Bull motif.   These figures are excellently sculpted and juxtapose each other in a mirror image.   These figures were aesthetic by design but they also had political undertonesThe double scenes of the lion overcoming a bull would, according to van Berchem’s ingenious hypothesis, signify the tyrannical power exercised by the Nisanid over the Inalids; this assumption—and in particular the identification of the Inalid amir with a bull—is supported by another symbolic representation close to a n inscription on the city’s Aleepo Gate of 579 †¦Here the conqueror of the Inalids and of Diyarbakr, the Artuqid Muhammad, represents his victory by means of the emblem of a bird of prey over a bull’s head, which would again represent the same dynasty†¦(but the lion)should be regarded as a symbol of secular power. (Hartner, 166).In the early sixth and seventh centuries the lion stands out as a central motif.   The lion is a political symbol representing the power of one kingdom over another.   The lion essentially is a symbol of great power.   This is represented in the enameled dish of the Artuqid Dawud b. Sukman b. Artuq of Hisn-Kaifa[6] which has a classic lion motif.   The lion is pictured in the dish with a deer in the upper right.   There are other animals pictured on the dish as well, all quadrupeds or birds.   These animals are dominant over weaker animals (the birds of prey are more powerful that is) just as the lion overtakes the deer, s o do the birds reflect this predator/prey balance.   The central figure on the dish is Alexander the Great, ‘that is the apotheosis of the archetype of world ruler† (Hartner 166), so, the dish adequately represents the power symbol in the animal kingdom with the figure of one of the greatest rulers.The lion and the bull are prevalent in a power struggle throughout out, and the lion remains the victor of this battle.   Another prime example of this symbol can be witnessed on the gate of the citadel of Diyarbakr.   This symbol is associated with ancient Islam, as it existed in abundance in the art found in Umayyad near Jericho.   Here, there is mosaic dà ©cor that emphasizes the lion.   In the bathhouse in the palace, there is a mosaic room that is nonrepresentational and is mainly filled with geometric shapes, which was the aesthetic of the times, however, on the raised apse, where most likely the lord of the palace resided while in attendance is the mosaic sce ne of a lion and gazelles.This is a very naturalistic representation and more than likely the artist rendered it in accordance to true scenes found outside the palace.   The way in which this scene is compiled is reminiscent of Byzantine or Roman art.   The lion being incorporated onto the apse was not the only representation of power, but in the placement of the lion on the chair of the power figure of the palace is where strength could also be symbolized, as Hartner states, â€Å"This is underlined by the fact that the stucco figure of a ruler on the ceremonial gateway to the bath house complex is standing on two lions so that in this milieu the ion obviously had a royal connotation.   On the other hand, there has been found at Antioch a sixth-century mosaic frieze in which, on either side of trees, a wild beast is always juxtaposed to a tame animal†¦renders the older concept of uncompromising rule by the paramount power† (167).The lion as a symbol carried into o ther art forms as well such as the textile print based on the concepts of the lion permeated by the Sasanian era.   The silk depicts two hunters on horses with wings while in the foreground is a field of lions.   The lions are roaring in a berserk fashion.   Each rider is simultaneously holding up a lion cub.   The unique factor on the silk textile is that neither hunter holds a solitary weapon.   The figures then are representational of kings since they are surrounded with regal animals (not only the lions and cubs but also an eagle in the background) and their power can be seen in the fact that they do not have any weapons but rely on inner strength to hold the cubs.The Sasanian era is a plethora of lions being represented in art.   Assyrians were great supporters of the idea of lions as the king of the jungle and related this fact in artistic forms of their own kings or in art pieces were they wished to connote power,Assyrians regarded lions much like human enemies an d were thus eager to have their triumphs over them faithfully rendered; the image of the royal beast was then transformed into the conqueror himself, which meant that the kings identified themselves with the lion, be it in the metaphorical language of the historical accounts or visually, in the form or a royal emblem.   In this manner, the lion was shown in the act of triumph over the mighty bull, as we see it on the Boston disc[7].   Here the symbolic character appears quite evident from the fact that the ferocious lion looms so much larger than the less vitally rendered bovine animal, as it represented the point of view of patron and artist.   Such usage explains also why this motif occurs, for instance, as a design on the embroidered tunic of the ninth-century King Assurnasirpal (Hartner 168).The lion bull combat then is depicted as a regal power struggle with the lion being the victor.   This can be seen not only in the fact that the lion is, and has been the symbol of p ower but also in the way in which the battle is placed in relation to other objects (as was demonstrated on the apse and the picture of the owner atop two other lions, which showed dominance) as can be demonstrated by the great Apadana staircases.   Although the symbolism of royalty is not directed connoted with the lion, the juxtaposition of the relief can be found next to   an inscription by Xerxes which states, â€Å"of this wide, far-stretching earth† which is in reference to his celestial appointment.   (Hartner 169).The lion was also once on the flag representing Iran with the lion in front of the sun[8] and a sword in its grip.   The Iranians then have a prominent history involving the lion which seems to be a source unto itself as a symbol of kingly strength, as Hartner infers,At this point it is appropriate to indicate that a comparison of the Achaemenid reliefs with the earlier Assyrian version reveals that the Iranians had made great progress in perfecting the design.   While originally the symbolic situation necessitated the sharp contrast between a large, dynamic, and realistically rendered lion and a smaller, more inert and stylized bull, the actual relationship between the two animals is vague and remains artistically unresolved (169).The lion then becomes allegory in Iranian art, not only as it has been depicted in the past but as it is being represented in modern Iran as well.   Albeit, the lion has become more realistically draw in scale with the bull, so that the dominance of this beast over the lesser and inadequately equipped for battle quadruped, is exerted as an even more astounding display of heroics, dominance and strength.   Since the smaller lion is capable of defeating the more enormous bull, the association of a king with such allegory is representation of the king, though with lesser forces, can defeat his enemy who has many.Work CitedAdams, Liliana Osses.   (2003).   Sumerian Harps from Ur.   (Online).à ‚   Available:http://www.zwoje-scrolls.com/zwoje35/text11p.htm.Dorfles, Gillo.   (March 1957).   Communication and Symbol in the Work of Art.   TheJournal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism.   Vol. 15, No. 3.   pp.   289-297.Hartner, Willy.   (December 31, 1964).   The Conquering Lion, the Life Cycle of a Symbol.Oriens, Vol. 17.   pp.   161-171.Janson, H.W. & Anthony F. Janson.   (1997).   History of Art.   Fifth Edition Revised.   PrenticeHall, Inc., and Harry Abrams, Inc., Publishers.   New York.[1] The epic of Gilgamesh derives from Mesopotamian culture (Adams 2003) involving a super-human man, two-thirds god and one-third human.   Thus, the theme of the lion with human qualities or humans with super-human qualities likened to animals is not strictly found in Iran.   In the translated stone tablets that exist of the story Gilgamesh is king of Uruk in Babylonia, which is located today in modern Iraq.   The story, historically, takes place approxima tely 2700 B.C. however; the story itself was only orally passed between audiences until being written in cuneiform in 2000 B.C..[2] The bull did not reside in the culture of Iran alone but throughout the Middle East.   As Gilgamesh was given as an example prior, the bull is found in this story as well with Gilgamesh conquering the bull as depicted on the Lyre found in the British museum of London. This Lyre stresses the importance of music in Uruk as well as in Mesopotamia.   The pictorial representations of Gilgamesh on the lyre are very elaborate and innovative.   The image of the bull is greatly utilized in Mesopotamian art and on the Harp or Lyre of Ur at the British Museum the animalistic traits and images is no different.   The significance of the bull on the harp is that Gilgamesh slew the sacred bull at the walls of the Ishtar Temple.   The harp was then reputedly clothes in garments of gold and adorned with horns and thenGilgamesh dedicated it to his father [3] Fr om 200 B.C. but Ptolemy is attributed with making a calendar as early as 150 A.D. [4] from the 10th century. [5] Not only is the Lion-Bull combat well-known and represented in art, but there is also the Lion-Deer combat that also has its settings with the stars, and will discussed later in the thesis.[6] This period is between 508 and 538, and the dish being discussed is thought to have been created by a Persian-speaking craftsman who may have leaved around Iran or in Central Asia in general. [7] The Boston disc being referenced is that found in Khorsabad which is supposedly the shield that had belonged to the Assyrian King Sargon the second. [8] The sun is a symbol of eternal life, as is the lion.   The sun represents fertility since in agrarian culture it made plants grow.   The sun is a duality just as much as the lion is one because while the sun is impressive in its scope of aiding in growth it can also be deadly as in times of draught.

Pronouncing the Spanish C and Z

Pronouncing the Spanish C and Z The letter c of Spanish has three sounds that are very different from each other - and one of those three sounds, which is also the z sound of Spanish, varies with the region. Fortunately, the distinction as to which sound is used follows a rule much like that used in determining the pronunciation of c in English. 3 Pronunciations of C The sound of the c depends on the letter that follows: When the c is followed by h, the two letters together form the ch sound, which is very similar to the the ch sound of English in words such as church and cheap. It is never pronounced like the ch in architecture (the Spanish equivalent is arquitectura).When the c is followed by any other consonant or by the vowel  o, or u, it has sound of the English k but is slightly less explosive. Note that the English c has approximately the same sound when followed by the same letters. Thus casa (house) is pronounced much like CAH-sah, and clase (class) is pronounced much like CLAH-seh.The third sound is the one that varies by region. For most Spanish speakers, including nearly all in Latin America, the c is pronounced much like the English s when it comes before an e or i. Note that the same is true in English. So cielo (sky) is pronounced much like SYEH-loh for most Spanish speakers, and cena (dinner) is pronounced much like SEH-nah. However, in most of Spain, especially outside the areas wh ere Catalan is also spoken, the c before e or i is pronounced much like that th in thin - but not the th in that. In most of Spain, then, cielo is pronounced like THYEH-low and cena like THEH-nah. (To avoid confusion between the two th sounds, linguists sometimes represent the unvoiced th with ÃŽ ¸, the Greek letter theta. So the pronunciations of the two words might be represented as ÃŽ ¸YEH-loh and ÃŽ ¸EH-nah.) Contrary to a common urban legend, the third sound of c in Spain is not a lisp. It is simply the way the letter is pronounced. Pronouncing the Z The third c sound represents the z sound as well. The z sound doesnt vary with the letters that follow. You can hear the letter, including regional variations, pronounced here. Note that the z sound doesnt have the buzz that it does in English. So while you may be tempted to prononce zumbar (to hum) as someing like zoom-BAHR, its correct pronunciation is either soom-BAHR or thoom-BAHR, depending on whether youre in Spain or Latin America. In the word pizza, however, the double-z is generally pronounced in imitation of Italian, giving the word a pronunciation similar to what it has in English. Spelling With the C and Z With few exceptions, the z isnt followed by an e or i; a c is used before those letters instead. Thus the equivalent of zero is cero, zinc is cinc, and zebra is cebra. Among the few exceptions are words of foreign origin such as zigzaguear (to zigzag) and zepelà ­n (zeppelin). When a noun or adjective ends in z and is made plural, the z changes to c. Thus the plural of faz (face) is faces, and the plural of pez (fish) is peces. More examples: una actriz feliz, dos actrices felices (one happy actress, two happy actresses)una nariz, tres narices (one nose, three noses)la luz, las luces (the light, the lights)el juez voraz, los juezes voraces (the greedy judge, the greedy judges) The c and z can also change in conjugated verb forms. The z changes to c if it becomes followed by an e, so one of the forms of empezar (to begin) is empecà ©. Also, the c changes to qu when followed by an e or i, so the forms of tocar (to touch or play) include toquà © and toquemos. Some other examples of verb  conjugations affected by these spelling rules: comenzar, comencà ©, que comiences, que comiencen (to begin, I began, that you begin, that they begin)trozar, trocà ©, que troces, que troccen (to break, I break, that you break, that they break)cocer, que yo cueza. que cozamos (to cook, that I cook, that we cook)

Fun Ideas for Last Day of School Activities

Fun Ideas for Last Day of School Activities On the last day of school, the kids have mentally checked out, the teachers arent far behind, and theres no more time for long-term projects. But, we still need to fill the day with something productive in order to keep the natives from getting ridiculously restless and out of line. If youre wondering how to organize the last day of the school year so that its as fun and memorable as possible, consider these ideas. Write a Letter to Next Years Students Ask your students to write a letter to the students you will teach next year. The kids can offer tips for success in your classroom, favorite memories, inside jokes, anything that a new student in your room might need or want to know. Youll get a kick out of seeing what the kids remember and how they perceive you and your classroom. And you have a ready-made activity for the first day of school next year. Make a Memory Book   Design a simple little book for the kids to fill out on the last day(s) of school. Include sections for my favorite memory, a self-portrait, autographs, what I learned, a drawing of the classroom, etc. Get creative and your students will appreciate a memory book of their year in your room. Clean, Clean, Clean Use the power of youthful energy and elbow grease to lessen the  load you face in closing down and cleaning up your classroom. Kids will love to scrub desks, take down posters, straighten up books, whatever you ask them to do. Write all of the tasks on index cards, pass them out, turn up the music, and supervise. A cute idea is to play The Coasters Yakety Yak while they clean. It sings, Take out the papers and the trash, or you dont get no spending cash! Dare them to finish their jobs before the song is over. Assign Impromptu Speeches Think of 20 quick speech topics and have the kids choose them from a jar. Give them just a few minutes to prepare mentally and then call them up for spur-of-the-moment speeches. Fun topics include Convince us to buy the shirt you are wearing now or How would the school be different if you were principal? Click here for a complete list of topics. The audience loves to watch and the speakers will love getting creative in front of the class. Play Outdoor Games Dust off that outdoor games book that you never had time to use this year and pick a few activities for the last day of school. A great choice is Guy Baileys The Ultimate Playground and Recess Game Book. The kids will be antsy anyways so you might as well put their energy and excitement to good use. Organize Learning Game Centers   The children wont even realize theyre learning. Pool together all of the educational games in your classroom. Split the class into small groups and designate centers in the room for each game. Set the timer and give each group a certain amount of time with each game. Give the signal and then the groups rotate around the room so everyone gets a chance to play all of the games. Focus on Next Year Give the kids time to write, draw, or discuss how things will be different in the next grade level. For example, third graders will love to imagine what they will learn, look like, act like, and feel like when they are finally in the world of fourth grade. Its only a year but to them, it seems a universe away. Hold a Spelling Bee Hold a traditional Spelling Bee using all of the spelling words from the whole school year. This one can take quite a while, but its certainly educational. Go Back to Back Use a safety pin to attach a large index card or thicker piece of paper to each childs back. Then, the kids go around and write nice comments and memories on each others backs. When youre all done, each child gets to keep his or her note with compliments and fun times written on it. Teachers, you can jump in, too. You just might have to bend down so that they can reach your back. Write Thank You Notes Teach your children to recognize and appreciate those individuals who helped make them successful this school year - the principal, secretary, food service workers, librarian, parent volunteers, even the teacher next door. This may be a good project to start a few days before the last day of school so that you can really do it right. Edited By: Janelle Cox.

Richard Trevithick, Locomotive Pioneer

Richard Trevithick, Locomotive Pioneer Richard Trevithick was a pioneer in early steam engine technology who successfully tested the first steam-powered locomotive, but he ended his life in obscurity. Early Life Trevithick was born in Illogan, Cornwall, in 1771, the son of a Cornish mining family. Dubbed â€Å"The Cornish Giant† for his height- he stood 6’2†, remarkably tall for the time- and for his athletic build, Trevithick was an accomplished wrestler and sportsman, but an unaccomplished scholar. He did, however, have an aptitude for math. And when he was old enough to join his father in the mining business, it was clear that this aptitude extended to the blossoming field of mine engineering, and especially in the use of steam engines. Industrial Revolution Pioneer Trevithick grew up in the crucible of the Industrial Revolution, surrounded by emerging mining technology. His neighbor, William Murdoch, was pioneering new advances in steam-carriage technology.   Steam engines were also used to pump water out of the mines.  Because James Watt already held a number of important steam-engine patents, Trevithick attempted to pioneer steam technology that didn’t rely on Watt’s condenser model.   He succeeded, but not well enough to escape Watt’s lawsuits and personal enmity. And while his use of high-pressure steam represented a new breakthrough, it also drew concerns about its safety. Despite setbacks which gave credibility to those concerns- one accident killed four men- Trevithick continued his work on developing a steam engine that could reliably haul cargo and passengers. He first developed an engine called The Puffing Devil, that traveled not on rails, but on roads. Its limited ability to retain steam prevented its commercial success, however. In 1804, Trevithick successfully tested the first steam-powered locomotive to ride on rails. At seven tons, however, the locomotive- called The Pennydarren- was so heavy it would break its own rails. Drawn to Peru by opportunities there, Trevithick made a fortune in mining- and lost it when he fled that country’s civil war. He returned to his native England, where his early inventions had helped lay the foundation for vast advances in rail locomotive technology. Trevithicks Death and Burial I have been branded with folly and madness for attempting what the world calls impossibilities, and even from the great engineer, the late Mr. James Watt, who said to an eminent scientific character still living, that I deserved hanging for bringing into use the high-pressure engine. This so far has been my reward from the public; but should this be all, I shall be satisfied by the great secret pleasure and laudable pride that I feel in my own breast from having been the instrument of bringing forward and maturing new principles and new arrangements of boundless value to my country. However much I may be straitened in pecunary circumstances, the great honour of being a useful subject can never be taken from me, which to me far exceeds riches.- Richard Trevithick in a letter to Davies Gilbert Denied his pension by the government, Trevithick caromed from one failed financial endeavor to another. Struck by pneumonia, he died penniless and alone in bed. Only at the last minute did some of his colleagues manage to prevent Trevithick’s burial in a pauper’s grave. Instead, he was interred in an unmarked grave at a burial ground in Dartford. The cemetery closed not long after. Years later, a plaque was installed near what is believed to be the site of his grave.

FOUNDATIONS OF OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

FOUNDATIONS OF OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT - Coursework Example The devaluation of Taka against our currency would make the purchases cheaper for us at every point. In a business model that has just started over a period of time; the organizational structure tends to look like a bicycle wheel with the business owner or owners at the center acting as the hub of the wheel. When the flow of information is from the center to different departments or members of a team, a wheel network is formed. This allows other members of the group to work independently without having to interact or communicate with each other and still give good results. The wheel structure cannot be incorporated in a team when it is formed since a team requires interaction and coordination between all the members in order to give significant results. This sort of structure is mainly incorporated in the fields of distribution and procurement. Giving the example of a company that receives the raw material at its center and then this raw material from this centralized depot is distributed to the sub offices of the company throughout the region. Similarly after the production of a p roduct, the company’s factory of production unit acts as the hub of the wheel and then this finished product is distributed all over the region to different sub divisions of the company acting as the spokes of the wheel.. When there are different divisions dedicated to produce or sell a product and they work under a centralized command, it is known as traditional division structure. Each of the divisions is a dedicated to a specific business and they perform their function as well as report to the central command. These divisions are then further divided into sub divisions making their own proper functional structure making the division another command center reporting to the central command. Thus a group of divisional command systems report to a central

Naming rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Naming rights - Essay Example Different Business enterprises like those concerned with the manufacturing of sports goods, sports wear, watches and soft drinks might be potential sponsors. Sports brands offer a lucrative market as according to sources: ‘Marketing professionals around the world recognize the power of sports brands and content as a consumer draw. As Associate General Manager I would select companies like Nike, Reebok and a firm like Uni Lever as sponsors. These are firms which are promoting products that are environmental friendly and promote health.I would then explain the respective co operates firm the advantages of investing in our project-To build a new stadium. In addition to the core benefits, media exposure, signage, and customer respect there are other benefits as well. In Greene’s opinion naming rights play two important roles: ’First, in supporting larger finance packages with other revenue streams and second, as a single source of finance’. Our Mission statemen t is to boost sport oriented activities. Sports not only encourage healthy bodies but healthy minds as well. The creation of sports man spirit encourages healthy competition. Negative feelings like jealousy and sorrow would be eliminated from society.In order to ensure that the stakeholder brand maintains our image, we shall audit the brand owner’s strategies ...

Arab and Israel Conflict Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 3

Arab and Israel Conflict - Essay Example al and nationalist clash over competing territorial ambitions after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and it involves the foundation of the Zionist movement and the ensuing formation of the modern State of Israel. The first conflict between the two nations, known as the first Arab-Israeli War, started on May 15, 1948, when five Arab armies invaded the one-day- old Jewish state. This war is generally divided into two phases: the first began on November 30, 1947 and ended on May 14, 1948, with the termination of the British Mandate and the second phase started on May 15, 1948 and ended on July 20, 1949, with the signing of the last of the Armistice Agreements between Israel and its Arab neighbours. Significantly, the War of Independence in 1948 was the most destructive wars that the two nations ever fought and it only marked the beginning of the Arab-Israeli conflict. â€Å"By the time the fighting was over, Israel, albeit at the exorbitant human cost of 1 percent of its population, had survived the Arab attempt to destroy it at birth and had asserted its control over wider territories than those assigned to it by the UN Partition Resolution.† (Karsh 2008, P. 6). It is essential to realise that the 1948 war was more than a war about national self-determination in the light of concept of the formation of a Jewish homeland and the displacement of the Palestinians. This chapter makes a reflective exploration of the War of Independence in 1948, outlining the balance of forces which shaped the British Mandate of Palestine between Palestinians, Arabs, and the increasing number of immigrant Jews, in order to comprehend the various aspects of the conflict such as the two-state solution provided by the United Nation. The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, which was fought between the newly declared State of Israel and its Arab neighbours, has been known in different names, and the Israelis call it as the War of Independence or War of Liberation while the Arabs name it as the

Life-Changing Experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Life-Changing Experience - Essay Example Consequently, the event was of extreme significance to my life as it offered a platform for a sound future (Ariely 34). Having grown up in China, I did not envision completing my advanced studies overseas. In my home country, a citizen’s freedoms were virtually controlled by the state. Therefore, my sole duty was to be of service to the state. Although the constitution guaranteed human rights on paper, its implementation in the rule of law was poor. The set freedoms and regulations offered little protection in the actual practice of the rule of law. For instance, property rights were not effectively protected, and the poor would end up being treated in a discriminatory manner, as opposed to the wealthy in the society. In addition, the internet was closely monitored by government agencies. This was in an effort to control public criticism of the Communist Party. Therefore, the internet was not easily available or accessible. The fear of being impeached by government officials p revented me from interacting with the rest of the world through the internet. I was afraid of being found in violation of the set regulations. Consequently, I never had ambitions for overseas studies. My mind was focused on how I would be of service to my country. Moreover, I did not even have the courage to explore foreign tertiary study opportunities. The fear of being an obstacle to social stability prevented me from pursuing this overseas exploration. In addition, my country offered various acknowledged world class institutions for advanced studies. Therefore, I harbored no intentions of leaving my country for overseas tertiary studies. However, during my high school education process, I discovered the numerous opportunities that overseas education had to offer. This was owed to my interactions with other students with foreign education experiences. In addition, my fear of the federal governments prying eye on the internet had also diminished. Consequently, I started exploring o verseas education opportunities. First, I had to decide on the course I wanted to pursue. Consequently, I decided to pursue a degree in jewelry appreciation. This had been my dream course since my childhood life. As a toddler, my mother informed me that I was always attracted to anything that glittered. Consequently, this attraction had gradually developed into a passion. Eventually, I became obsessed with jewelry and worked hard to acquire different sets of jewelry. Coming from a culturally diverse background was crucial to my endeavors with regard to jewelry appreciation. In addition, my country also offered a variety of jewelry works of art that were essential to the development of my passion for jewelry. For instance, my community was extremely religious. These religions differed from Buddhism to Taoism. However, both dialects employed various forms of jewelry and works of art in their forms of worship. Consequently, this provided a platform for interaction with various forms of this art and jewelry. This, in return, further fuelled my passion for jewelry appreciation. However, I discovered that there was a need for increased appreciation for jewelry as a work of art. In most cases, this field was usually treated with disrespect. Consequently, jewelry appreciation was not accorded the respect it deserved. For instance, the art in jewelry was not noticed or praised as opposed to other forms of art. Many people tend to appreciate jewelry based on the price as opposed to the work of art employed in the designing process of the jewelry. Therefore, appreciation of jewelry had only been reduced to the price tag attached to it, its size and few other tangible attributes. Consequently, based on my passion for jewelry appraisal, I felt the urge to promote a system that appraises jewelry

A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings Research Paper

A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings - Research Paper Example Although this novel and story are different in the content that they analyze and the overall message that is brought to bear upon the reader, the exemplification of the magical realism that typifies Marquez method of conveyance helps the reader to more completely and fully understand the term as a function of what it means to literature and the understanding thereof. As a means to understand the literary contrast and comparisons that exist between these two stories, this analysis will consider the mechanisms by which the author relates the subtext that each story necessarily engenders. The first of these works, Marquez’s Hundred Years of Solitude tells the story of a local town leader who finds his life forever changed by the presence of traders who bring the marvels of modern science to his otherwise simple and somewhat backwards world. As a function of his fascination with these marvels, the protagonist immerses himself in pseudo-scientific study and alchemy in the hopes tha t he can use the marvels that these traders have brought to greatly enhance his own life, the life of his family and that of his people (Ahmad et al 47). However, the result of his experiments does not lead in the direction that he hoped as he merely becomes more and more ostracized from his own family and people; continuously seeking for borderline supernatural approaches to better himself and those around him. The story further evolves as a type of allegory with regards to how the protagonist represents the culture that comes into contact with the marvels of the Western world yet at the same time must suffer the destructive nature that such a contact necessarily brings with it. As a function of creating this comparison, the author invokes the magical understandings of what had previously defined the culture as compared to the rigid scientific methods that the protagonist attempts to force to coincide with a much simpler albeit more mysterious way of life that his people had experi enced prior to the arrival of the gypsy traders. However, what is unique in the mechanics of the story is the scope of action that it encompasses. As compared to the second story which will be considered, the subject matter is spread over a long time period that â€Å"magically† encompasses the life of a single individual (Mills 114). As a means to engage the reader on the range of intercultural issues that arise as a result of Europe meeting the Western Hemisphere, the author has a wealth of information and parallels that can be drawn that work to help the story to cover a much longer time span than would have been available had a different medium other than magical realism been utilized. With regards to the second story in question, â€Å"A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings†, the author takes a different approach to imparting the magical realism that defines the story. Rather than analyzing the action that takes place over an indefinitely long period of time, the auth or instead chooses to focus on the juxtaposition of human emotion as a function of the way that the individuals within the story engage practical versus non-practical as well as the feeling of sympathy and selfishness. As the â€Å"fallen angel† of the story is uniquely different from human interpretations of what an angel should be, the villagers do not know what to make of it (Corso 44). In this way, the protagonist of the story feels compunction to care for the creature. However, rather than representing the action

History of Occupational and Health Safety Essay - 1

History of Occupational and Health Safety - Essay Example Steel industry workers demand for more comprehensive occupational health and safety laws. Accordingly, industries start introducing protective clothing, meals, rest breaks, improved conditions in mines and protection against asbestos Committee inquires on the impact of technological change in Australia such as screen-based equipments like computers, and associated hazards like repetitive movement injuries, fatigue and impact on eyesight (Johnstone & Tooma, 2012). Occupational health and safety (Commonwealth employees) Act 1991 is enacted in order to protect the employees of the commonwealth authority from risks arising from employment. The employer must identify risks, control the risks or reduce the potential risks. Industry Commission issues the Work health and Safety proposals that offers greater incentives for employers to introduce better safer work environments and allow for flexibility through use of few legislations The commonwealth, Sate and territory governments and Australian Council of Trade Unions abide to commit to the 2002-2012 National OHS strategy that aims at attaining an harmonised regulatory framework (Johnstone & Tooma, 2012). Amendments of the Occupational health and safety Act 1991 is amended by the Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Amendment Act 2004 to alter the procedure of workplace investigations and improvement notices (Johnstone & Tooma, 2012). Federal workplace minister canvasses the possibility of harmonised national systems of employee compensation. Employee groups also make submissions on concerns and support for the possible harmonisation of OHS. The Work, health and safety Act 2011 covers incident identification, WHS consultations, workplace entry provisions, regulations and legal proceedings (Johnstone & Tooma,

A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings Research Paper

A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings - Research Paper Example Although this novel and story are different in the content that they analyze and the overall message that is brought to bear upon the reader, the exemplification of the magical realism that typifies Marquez method of conveyance helps the reader to more completely and fully understand the term as a function of what it means to literature and the understanding thereof. As a means to understand the literary contrast and comparisons that exist between these two stories, this analysis will consider the mechanisms by which the author relates the subtext that each story necessarily engenders. The first of these works, Marquez’s Hundred Years of Solitude tells the story of a local town leader who finds his life forever changed by the presence of traders who bring the marvels of modern science to his otherwise simple and somewhat backwards world. As a function of his fascination with these marvels, the protagonist immerses himself in pseudo-scientific study and alchemy in the hopes tha t he can use the marvels that these traders have brought to greatly enhance his own life, the life of his family and that of his people (Ahmad et al 47). However, the result of his experiments does not lead in the direction that he hoped as he merely becomes more and more ostracized from his own family and people; continuously seeking for borderline supernatural approaches to better himself and those around him. The story further evolves as a type of allegory with regards to how the protagonist represents the culture that comes into contact with the marvels of the Western world yet at the same time must suffer the destructive nature that such a contact necessarily brings with it. As a function of creating this comparison, the author invokes the magical understandings of what had previously defined the culture as compared to the rigid scientific methods that the protagonist attempts to force to coincide with a much simpler albeit more mysterious way of life that his people had experi enced prior to the arrival of the gypsy traders. However, what is unique in the mechanics of the story is the scope of action that it encompasses. As compared to the second story which will be considered, the subject matter is spread over a long time period that â€Å"magically† encompasses the life of a single individual (Mills 114). As a means to engage the reader on the range of intercultural issues that arise as a result of Europe meeting the Western Hemisphere, the author has a wealth of information and parallels that can be drawn that work to help the story to cover a much longer time span than would have been available had a different medium other than magical realism been utilized. With regards to the second story in question, â€Å"A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings†, the author takes a different approach to imparting the magical realism that defines the story. Rather than analyzing the action that takes place over an indefinitely long period of time, the auth or instead chooses to focus on the juxtaposition of human emotion as a function of the way that the individuals within the story engage practical versus non-practical as well as the feeling of sympathy and selfishness. As the â€Å"fallen angel† of the story is uniquely different from human interpretations of what an angel should be, the villagers do not know what to make of it (Corso 44). In this way, the protagonist of the story feels compunction to care for the creature. However, rather than representing the action

Reputation Managment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Reputation Managment - Essay Example Reputation increases the actual worth of the company and increases its market value , but most organization does not understand the real value of reputation. Companies need to measure, monitor and manage their reputation to be successful on a long term basis. Most organization does not take initiative to manage reputation because they consider it as an intangible asset. Like any other asset of the company, reputation has its liability side. So the reputation management implemented by a company has to evaluate both the reputation assets and the liabilities. According to Doorley (2007,pg.11)â€Å"The very act of having to list their reputational assets and liabilities helps the various units focus on reputation management†. It is extremely important for an organization to have a plan regarding the reputation management. A comprehensive reputation management plan is to be applied to all areas of an organization like finance, human resources, manufacturing, marketing, investor relations and public affairs. Definition of Reputation Reputation is the main identity of an organization on international business platform and to maintain it, a company need to have an ideal reputation management system. A reputation can be defined as the opinion or view of other’s about something. According to Changâ€Å"Abdul Rahman and Hailes defined reputation as an expectation about an agent’s behavior based on information about or its past behavior†.... Reputation has a profound value in business world as it enables business partners and consumers to trust the company without concerns. Reputation allows the business partners and customers to carry on business with a company on moral and ethical grounds. Trust and reputation go hand in hand and a company with a good reputation in the business world is deemed to be honest, transparent and reliable in their business dealings. Reputation of a company shows to the outside world the credibility it has in the market and between customers and clients. A company’s reputation depends upon its past performance and the opinion its customer’s and customer’s has based on it. Reputation gives an idea to the outside world about the future behavior of an organization. Reputation is of contagious in nature and word of mouth can enhance or destroy goodwill of the firm. Reputation spread in the market like fire and hence a company should be cautious and calculative in maintaining i ts prestige and reputation. Development Stages of Corporate Reputation The corporate reputation has evolved through different stages which involves corporate image corporate identity and corporate reputation. The corporate image is the stage where consumer perceives the company through its brand, logo and uniform and theme of office building. Corporate image is not only in the hand of the company but is contributed by media and other external agents. Corporate image can be established by creating graphical theme to the products and also by providing apt products according to the customer needs. Corporate image is the initial stage of reputation development as the quality of product enhances the image of an organization. The second stage is

Consumer Protection Act Case Study

Consumer Protection Act Case Study This case study concerns the liability of a manufacturer of a product for harm which is suffered by the â€Å"ultimate consumer† of that product. It is important to consider the remedies that would be available in contract and under the doctrine of tortuous liability for defective goods. There is privity of contract in the relationship between Pamela and Cooks Stores and, therefore, in contract a remedy would be available to Pamela only. To invoke such a remedy under contract, Pamela should be able to rely on the terms implied into the contract by the Sale of Goods Act 1979, such as provided under s. 14 (2B) by which goods are not of satisfactory quality if they are unsatisfactory in terms of safety and durability, according to the standards of a reasonable person. The SGA provides recourse to a seller and, therefore, this act should enable Pamela to reclaim the  £175 purchase price of the food processor from Cooks Stores. According to the â€Å"narrow rule† in Donoghue v Stevenson a manufacturer owes a duty to the customer to take reasonable care when he sells goods in the form in which he intends them to reach the ultimate consumer with no reasonable possibility of intermediate examination. This rule is a variety of negligence and creates a regime of fault-based liability on the part of manufacturers, which will include retailers, such as Cooks Stores, alongside Price (UK) Ltd. Both Pamela and Rose are potential claimants since here they are both â€Å"ultimate consumers† and the rule covers those who receive goods as presents and bystanders. To bring an action in tort Rose, as the claimant, would have to show the existence of a duty of care, breach and causation. Rose might have a cause of action against Price (UK) Ltd as manufacturer, if she can show that there has been a failure in the production process, for instance. The doctrine of res ipsa loquitur may be useful here, as developed in Scott v London and St Katherine Docks Co., which, it has been argued, creates a rebuttable presumption of negligence on the part of the defendant. Following Erle CJ Rose would have to show that the accident was of the kind that does not normally occur in the absence of a want of care, that the defendant had exclusive control over the thing which caused harm and that the defendant cannot offer any plausible alternative explanation of what caused the accident. Although these would be evidential questions, they might help Rose to determine whether or not Price (UK) Ltd has breached its duty of care, which is important since experts are unable to identify the precise reason for the incident. It is important to consider the possibility of intermediate examination and whether Rose was using the food processor properly. While it is stated that Rose followed the operating instructions carefully, it should be noted that Pamela has used it previously – if not frequently – without difficulty. This leaves open the possibility that consumer misuse is at the root of the problem. Further, the manufacturer might be exonerated if another person can reasonably be expected to inspect their product. From the facts as presented it is unclear whether the food processor could reasonably be subject to an intermediate investigation, as was argued unsuccessfully by the defendant in Grant v Australian Knitting Mills. If this reasonable expectation arises the tester could be regarded as the cause of the harm, and therefore, Cooks Stores might be found to have contributed to the negligence of Price (UK) Ltd. It is, however, unclear whether a retailer can reasonably be expected to test every appliance that it sells. This defence would be unlikely to allow Price (UK) Ltd. to deflect all the blame on to Cooks Stores. The burden of proving the causal link between any breach of duty by Price (UK) Ltd and/or Cooks Stores and the harm suffered by Rose rests with Rose herself, as confirmed in Foster v Biosil. Should she fail to satisfy the burden of proof in this respect, her action will fail. Should Rose be successful, following Aswan Engineering she would be able to recover â€Å"non-integral† damage caused by the defect in the food processor, such as the vase. She would also have a claim for loss of amenity in respect of the personal injury to her hands and face, with a quantum to be evaluated. The regime introduced by the Part I of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) 1987 would provide Rose with an alternative, since it purports to create a system of strict liability in respect of defective products that cause physical harm to a person or property. The CPA 1987 makes a producer, i.e. Price (UK) Ltd., responsible for the defectiveness of their product, however, according to CPA 1987 s. 3(1) regard may be had to any warnings which had been provided. The status of any such warning remains unclear. The CPA 1987 s. 3(2) allows a court to consider how a product might reasonably be used. It remains to be seen whether Rose was using the food processor for the correct purpose, even if she was attempting to follow the instructions. It is clear from CPA 1987 s. 6(4) that the defence of contributory negligence will apply to a defective product and any damages awarded to Rose may be reduced dependent on her blameworthiness. The CPA can be invoked against anyone involved within the chain of manufacture and distribution and liability is joint and several, so Rose would be best advised to sue whoever has the greatest financial resources. Cooks Stores, as a supplier, is however only liable to name their supplier and, accordingly, Price (UK) Ltd. will be Rose’s target for any damages. The CPA covers personal injury, but no damage to property under  £275 and, therefore, under the guise of this act, Rose would be unable to claim for the damage to her vase and would be advised to rely on tort.

Essay --

The curiosity of what our destiny will be and what our future holds has crossed our minds once or twice. Destiny is the conclusion to many life situations we are faced with in our everyday lives, but no one could figure out what their destiny is until the time is right. Antonio from the novel Bless Me, Ultima written by Rudolfo Anaya and Paikea from Whale Riders run through many conflicts trying to seek their destinies. Antonio, must choose to follow her mother’s footsteps of tending the land or become free and wild like his father and older brothers as well as deciding whether or not to follow and walk alongside Ultima, even if she may be evil. Unlike Antonio, Paikea must prove to herself and her grandfather that she is able to lead her tribe out of depression and laziness, even if she may not physically hold the components of becoming a leader. Both Antonio and Paikea are able to find their destinies, but they each have unique and individual experiences of family pressure, spiritual leaders and becoming a leader. While trying to seek their destinies, both Antonio and Paikea have conflicts with a family member who tries to decide their futures for them. Throughout the novel Bless Me, Ultima, Antonio’s parents, Gabriel and Maria Marez, constantly fight to predict what his future holds. Tony struggles between becoming tied to the land and becoming a priest like his mother wishes or becoming free like the Marez blood that runs in his body. Ultima teaches Tony that his destiny will spontaneously appear by itself without the help of his parents when she states, â€Å"A man’s destiny must unfold itself like a flower with only the sun and earth and water making it blossom, and no one else meddling in† (BMU 223). Compared to Antonio having... ...ip skills. Both Pai and Tony mature into wonderful leaders and role models at a very young age. When all the whales are trapped and dying on the side of the beach, Paikea uses it to her advantage and proves to everyone that she is the new leader. Just like her ancestor who founded her tribe, Pai climbs on top of the largest whale and rides off into the ocean. By using good judgement and making smart choice, she was no longer afraid to make the greatest sacrafice for her tribe: â€Å"I wasn’t scared to die† (WR) As Antonio grows in age and maturity, he becomes the gang’s role model, even though he is the youngest of all of them. When practicing how to confess their sins, Antonio’s group of friends decide to pick him because he knew more about religion and life than anyone else. The group confessed their deepest secrets to him as they chant, â€Å"Hail to our Priest!† (BMU 209).

Genetic Engineering Essay -- Genetics Science Food Agriculture Essays

Genetic Engineering When we envision our future, we usually imagine a future free of disease and physical sickness, but have you ever wondered how a disease-free society will be accomplished? In the twenty-first century our world will be a very different place because of genetic manipulation and engineering. There are many pros and cons to this debate, but it is undeniable that the effects from the new revelations in the field of genetics are far-reaching and deep impacting. Genetic engineering is a radical new technology, one that breaks down fundamental barriers, not only between species, but also between humans, animals, and plants. By combining the genes of dissimilar and unrelated species, permanently altering their genetic codes, novel organisms are created that will pass the genetic changes onto their offspring through heredity. Scientists are now snipping, inserting, recombining, rearranging, editing, and programming genetic material. Animal genes and even human genes are being inserted into plants or animals creating unimagined transgenic life forms. For the first time in history, human beings are becoming the architects of life. Bio-engineers will be creating tens of thousands of novel organisms over the next few years. The prospect is frightening. First we must see that genetic engineering offers many potential benefits to the twenty-first century in the two fields of agriculture and medicine. In agriculture, we can now grow plants and animals faster, stronger, and easier. We can alter plants to have them grow ten times larger than their original size, and we can create animals without parents by cloning (Scott). In medicine, genetic engineering has revolutionized the field into something completely new. We now produce cures that are specifically tailored to diseases, which have lengthened the average life span by almost ten years, detect and eliminate birth defects in babies, and have people that are healthier now than at any time in history (Epstein). But with that almost unlimited power, there is a high price for the twenty-first century to pay. With each bonus we as a society receive from genetics, we also created genetically altered super-diseases. Genes from bacteria, viruses, and insects, which have never been part of the human diet, are being spliced into our food. Genetic engineering is not an exact science. Scientists can... .... They want to charge for products, and a high market share. I feel there are fundamental flaws with the genetic engineering approach, and am highly skeptical of those who would be driving its direction. I affirm our rights as individuals and as a community to make a choice about the direction we take, for if we do not have that, then why put up with all the messy aspects of having free will? So, as we approach the twenty-first century, we go into the realm of the unknown. However, it is assuredly a future that will be blessed and cursed with genetic engineering, and one that will look back at the nineteenth century and remember the development that influenced it the most as genetic engineering. Bibliography: Works Cited Epstein, Dr. Ron. "Why You Should Be Concerned About Genetically Engineered Food." 2 Nov. 1999. Hawaleshka, Danylo. "Unnatural Selection." Maclean's 20 Jan. 1997. 20 Oct. 1999. "Health, Environmental, and Ethical Concerns of Genetically Engineered Foods." 11 July 1999. 26 Oct. 1999. Scott, Mary. "Food Focus: Genetically Engineered Foods - Answers to Frequently Asked Questions." Natural Foods Merchandises Nov.1997. 26 Oct. 1999 .