Supply and Demand and Cell Phones

Damita Nix 1/15/2012 CTU Online ECON202-1201B Phase 1 Individual Project1 Instructor Olanrewaju Abstract This paper will explore the world of two particular types of cell phones that are identical with minor features. I will be demonstrating skills in using the tools of economics for decision making for the firm operating in the market economy to include supply and demand, elasticity of demand, consumer behavior and utility maximization, and the costs of production both short-run and long-run. I will also be demonstrating the ability to clearly present views in written and/or oral expression. On the web, I will research additional information about the A-Phone and the Pomegranate. The task below also requires me to draw graphs of supply and demands increases and decreases. When the task is complete you will have learned about the demand curve of an A phone, a clear understanding on what happens to the price and quantity supplied, equilibrium, and effects on government interventions with cell phones. Title: Cell Phones Part I Draw the demand curve for the A-Phone. Explain how the graph, price, and quantity demanded  will change if the following occurs: * There is an overall increase in income. There is an overall increase in income and people believe that the Pomegranate is now better than the A-Phone. * The price of the A-Phone goes up  when a flaw is found in the Pomegranate. * A new type of walkie-talkie has an unlimited range and is basically free. * It is discovered that there are health concerns when using cell phones. * There is a baby boom. * The price of the A -Phone and the Pomegranate both go up. Price P1 P2 P3 Demand Q1 Q2 Q3 Quantity What happens to the supply of cell phones if the market price goes up? Part II Explain what happens to the price and quantity supplied and how it reflects on a graph if the following occurs: * It becomes more expensive to produce cell phones. * More cell phones are being produced with the same amount of inputs. * Walkie talkies are popular because of the new technological change mentioned above. * Another company starts producing cell phones, and now there are  3 producers in the market. * People think the price of cell phones will go up in the future. PriceSupply P1 Q1 Quantity Part III Draw a graph which shows the equilibrium price of cell phones. Explain what the graph is showing. When the new manufacturer introduces the Robo cell phone to the market, how does that effect the equilibrium price if the Robo is basically the same as the other cell phones? ————- Part IV As the public’s dependence on cell phones continues to grow, the cost of the phones may be decreasing, but the stronghold that  telecommunication companies have on the public in regards to contracts and climbing fees is alarming. Additionally, all cell phone companies charge about the same prices, and the consumers do not have much choice in substituting providers. Consumers appear to need some controls in this regard, and the government decides to step in. * What is the effect of government intervention in the cell phone market? Make sure that you use graphs to illustrate your point. * Is this a good thing for consumers? On the other hand, the government sees the increase in cell phone use as an opportunity to make some additional revenue, and it decides to tax  service  providers. * Who is really paying the tax? * Illustrate your conclusion on a graph. * Do you think that there is a free market for cell phone users? Why or why not? References

Negotiating at the table

There are many models that describe a three step method discussion, proposals, conclusion despite which school of thought one prescribes to, the process of preparation, discussion, proposal bargaining, and conclusion apply. Part I Background and Settings The situation described in the following is very much like the last one, where we discussed the purchase of a vehicle. However, in this example the professional car salesman lost customers sue to his lack of following a process to ensure that there was a win-win meet in the end. My wife and I were going to purchase our flirt new vehicle together.We had purchased a used car In the past however the customer/dealer relationship was completely different than the one we encountered. Part II How was it Negotiated Being a first time car buyer carries with it tremendous pressure since you are going tee-a- tee with a person who sells vehicles and negotiates for a living. Being a young couple, we had done some homework on the car we wanted to purchase color, make, and model. We did some shopping around visiting several local dealers to see the price range for the vehicle we wished to purchase (this was before you could Google everything).Therefore, we had prepared ourselves to enter negotiations with the dealer that we felt comfortable in dealing with. On our negotiation team were myself, my wife, and my father (l said we were young). On the team for the dealership was Tony a veteran car salesman and a fairly new salesman, AY, who one could tell was starting a second career. We arrived at the dealership with our research done and our interests and options that we desired for our new car. We also, came with some determination and the attitude that we were going to leave with what we anted and In the range that we desired.After arriving at the dealership, we quickly found the Explorer with the options positions. AY entered the picture and we did the obligatory test drive. Upon returning, the negotiation process began. The first phase introduced by Sahara (2011) is the discussion during this phase, the exchange of ideas, information, offers and counter-offers should be communicated between the two parties. He also goes onto say that the pieces of the discussion that construct a positive and constructive discussion can be undone by negative or imaging behaviors or comments.This second part is the attitude that was brought on by Tony. To begin with, he pushed AY off to the side and began trying to sell the car to my father. His response was, you are selling to the wrong guy, as he pointed to my wife and l. As he continued to sell us his line he continually asked my wife if this or that was her hot button. This was due to the fact that when he began to discuss the price of the car vice the value of our trade-in, my wife became visually We found AY, told him that we would have much rather have dealt with him, but with Tony on the scene the hard work that he had done was quickly undone.PROPOSALS The bargai ning phase proposal involves narrowing the gap between the two initial positions and persuading the other person that your case is so strong that they must accept less than they had planned. (Toolbox, n. D. ) In our situation we never had the opportunity to enter the proposal phase with our salesman. However, about twenty minutes after our departure, our salesman AY called us and asked us to explain the events that drove us away once again so that he could convey them to his director of ales and hoped that he would see the error of the situation and try to bring us back.As AY had hoped the director called us and apologized for the way in which Tony had conducted himself and asked if we were willing to come back and give them another try. This is the point in which we entered our first proposal we come back but the point that we enter at before any rebates and our trade-in was the price they said was their sale price. With some hesitation, he accepted our first proposal and we return ed to the dealership. The mistake of poor attitudes and misspoken words cost he dealership one of their big trading cards.CLOSING THE DEAL This phase formally seals and binds the parties into the outcomes of the agreement. (Karri, 2013) After returning to the dealership, we were met by AY and the general manager. The proposal of the price that we discussed on the phone was represented and we continued form that point. There were some finer details that were worked through form this point however as Sahara (2011) this is permissible when working through the finer details. They offered us an agreeable amount for our trade and with a people of extra to sweeten the deal we were able to come to a final price.The entire process when we returned took less than 30 minutes, though in that time we were able to make final proposals and come to a conclusion on price to seal the deal. CONCLUSION Negotiating through the phases that were introduced can be done in a short period of time or can be l ong and drawn our. Both sides may go back and forth between the phases. (Sahara, 2011) However, with open communication, the avoidance of angering or belittling your opponent and understanding a conclusion an be reached that is amicable to both parties.

Balancing Power

In today’s economic condition, work life equilibrium is considered one of the most imperative workplace issues. Work life balance refers to a satisfactory niche between many different roles in an individual’s life. But how to manage this balance to avoid conflict; this topic is discussed through many different aspects enlightened through personal experience. Work Life Balance Before taking any step towards knowing how to achieve work life balance, first we must gain an understanding about what work life balance actually refers to.It is about maintaining equilibrium between work and personal life, facing the multifarious demands in one’s life. The best equilibrium is different for each person because we all have different priorities in life. A young entrepreneur faces different challenges than a family man at the apex of his career. Work life balance involves two factors; Achievement and Enjoyment. Our life will be valuable and balanced when, in all the aspects of life, we are daily achieving success with all the joys of living! My Side of StoryBeing a young student struggling to manage good grades, working part time to support my education during this era of recession as well trying to give my family sufficient of my time as required, at many times I felt the misbalance in my life that is called work-life conflict. I felt unable to manage my time and was highly dissatisfied with my work and progress. Failing health and self esteem and disrupted routine was then a common state of affairs. I was new, hence obsessed with working hard to carve a niche for my career.In order to secure my grades I became overcommitted to my studies as well. I ended up drained every day, spending most of the time on the run†¦ from study to work, work to home and spending rest of the time sitting on computer. All I had once read and heard about work life complications was coming true in my life without my realizing it. It was not until when my parents had to h ave a ‘serious talk’ with me, that I realized where this chaos was leading me to. That instantly snapped me back; I set off to work on improving my standards. The informationIn order to balance one’s work life situation, you may need to look into four quadrants of your life- Friends, Family, Work and Self. Any disturbance in one of them because of the interference of another quadrant may cause work life conflict. Work life conflict must be removed in order to solve the problem and acquire balance. This information regarding the causes can be obtained by observation of daily life experiences and authentic researches conducted. According to the Business Week reports, Individuals who consider their work life balance better than others are likely to work 21% better than those who don’t.Moreover, a study shows people encounter work life conflict have 40% more chances of mood and anxiety disorders, (Kane, 2006); While employees having lower level of this conflic t experience increased job satisfaction. The Evaluation After gathering basic information, now I knew what I was missing and what I got to do. I loved my job, but without my natural energy boosters, I was unhappy and even feeling a bit guilty. My whole time revolved around my work and career, but I couldn’t make up for the very essential part of my life, that is my friends and family.From my newly gained knowledge, I deduced that a balanced approach at my level will be spending quality time with my friends and family that will have a positive physical and psychological impact on me. Moreover, I’ll be free of piled up responsibilities, procrastinated duties, and burden on my mental self, which will eventually also improve my progress in other quadrants of my life. I had to use it to devise such solutions that cancel out where I overdo, and give more space to those I neglected so a balance can be created. The SolutionAs I was already a student I opted for the greatest fa cility available today for work life balance concerned employees- Flexible timings, so that I can have more sense of control over my work. Dinner and meals would at no cost be skipped- they provide a quality time for whole family to be together. Also, sleeping schedules must be maintained, so there remain no health problems. Being present is the key word. No drifting away and being in two places at a time. On weekend there would be no computer, no emails, and no emergency calls from work!I could spend quality time with my family. I could contact my friends, go out and have some fun. Lastly, to spend some of my time on myself; a time to relax or do what pleases me. It’s a kind of meditation, hence keeps your mind calm and alert. Giving my study ample time and not burdening myself with more work than I could manage, was also essential. Conclusion The set of habits I formed as a solution for my work life problem, not only supports but emphasizes a sound balance between work and life activities.Back then I couldn’t see past my work; it still plays a principle part in my life, though it’s not my one and only concern anymore. This equilibrium I discovered open my eyes to worth of other things, that made not only my work, but my life much more gratifying. References Kane, S. (2006). Work Life Balance Strategies. Retrieved July 20, 2009 from http://legalcareers. about. com/od/careertrends/a/worklifebalance. htm Work-Life Balance. (2003). Work-Life Balance Defined- What it really means! Retrieved July 20, 2009 from http://www. worklifebalance. com/worklifebalancedefined. html

Responses to Readings and ID Craft Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Responses to Readings and ID Craft - Essay Example The authors candidly and sympathetically narrate the story of carol using simple but touching words that often makes the readers to long for more while sympathizing with carol. Thought provoking questions are used to intellectually and psychologically engage the readers and make them dig deeper into the story. For instance, â€Å"what do you think carol did next?† (pg. 265). Through the narration, the effects and benefits of sleep candidly stand out. The manner in which the story is presented is interesting and appealing due to the use of simple vocabularies that still convey a heavy and/or significant meaning. Due to environmental degradation and the consequential global warming, hurricanes have been prevalent causing loss of millions of innocent lives and undue suffering such as that witnessed in Indonesia during Katrina the deadliest and most disparaging hurricane. Philip Gerard steadily and merrily presents startling facts. He takes a scientific viewpoint to add flavor to the story while leaving no stone unturned. He uses a scientific register to indicate the many things that people do not know about hurricanes. He however manages maintain a calm mood throughout the story while using comic to deconstruct any seemingly provocative statements unlike Matt Thompson who engages the reader by means of mindboggling questions. The author has the society’s interests at heart and condemns governments’ failure to protect innocent civilians. Judith Ortiz indicates that she grew up in a strange place between two distinct cultures and languages. She narrates her fairy tale that she acquired from listening to stories. Her macho is evidently a result of her decision to stand by herself and defy all social norms. The contemporary society perceives women who commit deadly crimes as an outcast. On the other hand, women believe that they can perform better than men in any field as indicated by Maria Sabida who defies

CT #2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

CT #2 - Essay Example Then consider taking your products to markets that requires them (Zhao & Thomson, 2006). Another possibility that can help take your business to a next step is amalgamation, a combination of firms (two or more) to one new firm. One of the combined firms runs that new firm. Amalgamations and mergers are perfect decision that leads to maximizing the growth of the company (Zhao & Thomson, 2006). This will help reduce the production costs and thus products will be offered at prices that are more competitive hence, capturing large market shares. Having many traffic and web pages on internet that doubles every time, there is a need to make your web site to be more visible. It is also important to program and design your web site in a very excellent since your web page contents are the ones that will attract or draw visitors to your site and make them permanent to your site (Zhao & Thomson, 2006). Expanding globally is more than just growing in terms of customers and sales. This will enable integrate the best technologies for more successful business (Zhao & Thomson, 2006). There will also be increased market shares that will enable realize sustained

Criticizing Augustine's Account of Natural and Moral Evil Essay

Criticizing Augustine's Account of Natural and Moral Evil - Essay Example A number of mortals will be saved by the love and compassion of God, and others will be denounced to endless suffering. Ultimately, the justice and goodness of God are expressed. After reading the City of God, particularly Books XI-XIV, I came to oppose Augustine’s explanation of the roots and of the ultimate nature of moral evil. It is argued that the concept of temporarily faultless entities intentionally giving in to sin is meaningless and paradoxical. A genuinely faultless entity, albeit free to commit transgressions, would ideally or, in truth, never commit even one sin. To point the root of evil to the intentional wrongdoing of a faultless entity is hence to claim the ultimate irony that evil has shaped itself out of nothing. Moreover, there seems to be a dissonance between this theological account and the canon of predestination of Augustine, which effectively creates the root of moral evil within the liability and intention of God. The canon of Augustine talks about th e descending of angels. Augustine introduced the notion of Natural and Moral evil. The former are the occurrences that resemble evil, like war, flood, earthquakes, etc. They resemble evil because human beings are ruled by selfishness, have an imperfect consciousness and understanding and are not capable of discerning the ‘grand purpose’ of the unraveling play of God. Hence, when seen in the point of view of God’s grand purpose, natural evils cease to appear evil in any way. In contrast, moral evil is the outcome of human action and will. These are the blameworthy outcomes of a resolve that has become tied to mundane or inferior principles and activities, viewing them as though they were greater. Basically, moral evil is the deviation of the will from God and relating itself to lower principles as though they were greater. My purpose in this paper is to argue against Augustine’s account of the Natural evil and Moral evil or, more particularly, the problem o f evil. The Flaws of Augustine’s Natural Evil and Moral Evil I mostly disagree to the notion that God granted good being the liberty to commit sin. If a creature is faultless in its righteousness it would in no way commit any transgression even though it is free to do so. Evil would therefore have to form itself out of nothing, which is absurd. Nevertheless, it is not logical that moral faultlessness essentially involves indisputability. Moreover, Augustine’s dispute of the Manichean’s notion of the human soul as Light’s divided component would eradicate the vital difference between the maker and the created (Jones 1969). In addition, it would weaken the responsibility of human beings for the perpetration of sin. The argument of Augustine, by eliminating the essence of Satan as a contributory factor, makes all the arguments of the Manicheans illogical (Jones 1969). Similar to all excellent critiques Augustine prevails by eliminating the core principle tha t the argument of the Manicheans is rooted in: â€Å"God, being supremely real, is supremely good. God’s creatures, being in varying degrees less real than God, are in corresponding degrees less good. Their so-called evil is simply the absence of goodness and reality; it is the inevitable consequence of their status as creature† (Jones 1969, 95). Moreover, Natural evil is the outcome of human weaknesses, more particularly, human beings’

HR Strategic Linkages Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

HR Strategic Linkages - Assignment Example HR  department allows the business and the employees to be on the same page and it is the medium between them. It supports the business strategy by encouraging employees to work harder and more efficiently. HR works closely with the employees which in turn benefits the organization as a whole.   An important factor for continuous competitive success is how a company manages its human capital. Investments in human capital can result in better organizational performance and increased productivity which can further improve its financial position. Without it, an organization can lose its efficient production capabilities. Secondly, HR can also help an organization to achieve its goals associated with growth and development. It can help by recruiting employees and determining training needs. It can also help by attracting capable employees and by modifying job requirements. Internally, HR can help by analyzing those parts of a organization which need improvement and introduce ways to improve the performance feedback procedures. It can help as a strategic partner by reorganizing the management structure to make efficient use of its resources. Including HR as a strategic business partner enables better decision making. What benefits do you think the employees derive from this arrangement? As a result of this arrangement, employees receive a lot of benefits. To build human capital, HR develops strategies for finding the best talent, enhancing their knowledge and skills through training programs. Employees will begin to have a deeper understanding of how the organization works. The employees will benefit because HR will initially recruit internally so the employees will get the first opportunity to develop new skills and tasks. Task and skill analyses will further highlight the needs of employees. HR will also introduce more recruiting tools and will give all the employees opportunities for professional and personal development. Employees will also benefit as HR wil l provide compensation and bonuses in order to reward people for their hard work and contribution. Improved performance feedback process with also help the employees as managers will get specific training for it. HR will reorganize the management plan and rotate the employees which will further increase their motivation and improve their skills. It will also retain exceptional employees for the company. The HR has the skills and ability to solve employee related issues. The motivation level of all the employees will increase through these measures as they will see that their hard work and contribution is being recognized and rewarded. Employees can also easily take help from HR as they are now strategic partners to their organization. Motivation of all employees can be further increased by giving them health care coverage, daycare, vacation time, bonuses etc. All these rewards together can boost employee performance and hence create a better working environment for all the workers. What do you think are the risks involved (to HR and the organization as a whole) if HR does not make this a priority and instead remains a purely task-oriented? The organization will have to face a lot of negative consequences if HR does not make this a priority and remains task-oriented. HR will only be involved and interested in the day-to-day responsibilities and tasks. They will not be helping the organization in achieving their

Muscle Strength Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Muscle Strength Assessment - Essay Example Consider that the minute diameter afferent impacts efferents, hence, sensitivity of the muscle spindle and likely resulting to proprioceptive acuity that may not be attributed to the exhausted muscle. This could take place in different areas in the exercise region and likewise, contra laterally (Pedersen, 1999). Though, it is claimant that the clinicians must delay the process of the joint position sense evaluation because of the fatigue state, unless the assessment of the proprioceptive effects of fatigue is deliberate, it shows that there were no report about the presumptive effects of exercise that are non-exhausting. Even so, extreme non-exhausting exercises, like the strengthening and muscle evaluation, are likely to produce the said metabolic results that keeps the possibility of acute effects on the micro trauma in the spindle muscles, spindles of the muscle and changed in the neurone excitability of the spinal neurone. The chance to evaluate the effe... sults that keeps the possibility of acute effects on the micro trauma in the spindle muscles, spindles of the muscle and changed in the neurone excitability of the spinal neurone. The chance to evaluate the effects of the strength of the thigh muscle on the joint sense, most especially during sports activities, directs to the collaboration of research study with other groups who also wants to study the same subject. The joint position sense evaluation result on both knees was already published in by Stillman in 1998. Justification for Proprioceptive Treatments In 1996 Sports Medicine and Musculoskeletal Surgery, Joerosch & Prymka specified that: "In conservative therapy more focus should be put on exercising the proprioceptive capability. In surgical therapy we should identify procedures which not only restore the anatomy but also reconstruct the neurophysiological feedback mechanism. In preventive programmes, proprioceptive training should be included as well"(177). The similar observations were brought about by Safran and others, in 1994. In aid for the proceeding discussion, proprioceptive treatment pertain to any therapeutic operations that is assumed to rejuvenate, enhance or maintain proprioception. At present, however, it is still unknown if it yields. Moreover, surgeons have some grounds in the attempt of retaining much of the proprioceptively stimulated structures likely in the anterior cruciate ligament restoration and in the surgical replacement of the osteoarthritic joints ( Safran et al 1994, Insall et al 1981). Histological experimental studies in animals resulted in reconstituted mechanoreceptor in the reconstructed cruciate ligaments in the 6 to 12 months post operative ( Barrack et al 1997, Denti et al 1994, Tsujimoto et al 1993, Goertzen

Managing Human Resource Issues Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Managing Human Resource Issues - Assignment Example Hard HR focuses on business needs of HR and takes action accordingly i.e. hiring, firing and moving. 2. Soft HR Soft HR treats employees as their most important assets and resource. Many business, make their employees their competitive advantage. Special care is taken for planning and fulfilling the needs of employees and under soft HR, employees are treated as individuals. Soft HR focuses on the needs of employees that include motivation, rewards and roles. 3. Tight and Loose Dimensions of HRM Tight and loose dimensions of HRM depicts that some organizations prefer to provide a loose (informal) environment to their employees so that they can work in a more pleasant and easy environment whereas tight dimension of HRM refers to the more formally organized workforce where the main objective is to accomplish goals by any means. Review the differences between Storey’s definitions of HRM and personnel and IR practices Storey’s Definition of HRM According to Storey, human com mitment and capability is essential for every organization. He argues that human resource, capability and commitment are what differentiate an organization. Therefore, importance of human capital needs to be integrated at the highest level of management in organization. Human capital must be integrated in all the functions of an organization so as to enable the organization to achieve its goals. IR Practices Storey’s IR practices incorporate that employees needs to follow certain rules, regulations, policies, norms and customers within the workplace. It creates division of labor among workforce because the pays of workers are made on standard rules. Analyze HRM from a strategic perspective and its implications for the role of the line manager and employees Strategic Perspective of HRM Strategically, HRM is a fundamental tool that provides the organization a framework to hire the best possible human resources in the organization. Human resource is the only asset of the organiz ation which cannot be imitated by the other organizations. Due to this, the organizations focus on developing such an effective team of workers who can provide the organization an edge over its competitors. The role of line managers and employees is also quite influential for the HRM practices such that these are actually the line managers to whom the HR department provides the best available employees so that those employees can achieve the overall organizational goals by facilitating their line managers. Section 2 2. Review ways of developing flexibility within the workplace: Review and explain a model of flexibility and show how this might be applied in practice Flexibility is a key area that has emerged vastly across the world in relation to human resource practices. The model of flexibility reflects such workplace environment where the employees are allowed to enjoy flexibilities with respect to different sorts of their job related issues. For instance, they might be provided f lexible time opportunity to decide their own timings for their job, allowing them to work at their homes, allowing them the flexibility to choose a reward package as per their own needs etc. These sorts of flexibilities provide the employees more ease and they perform their best when they are at their ease and thus adding more productivity to the organization.

Qualitative Approaches To Researching Management And Organisation Research Proposal - 1

Qualitative Approaches To Researching Management And Organisation - Research Proposal Example Many European countries host carnivals in the cities and other festivals which are times when the local population indulge in local cultural activities and events that the students may indulge in willingly. On the other hand, accommodation for students entering universities for their first time are often offered and managed by universities, but not all. At times the universities may not have enough university accommodation for all the students they enrol and this brings up a sense of disparity among the students. This means that some of the students who have secured places at the various universities will need to be quiet proactive in getting accommodation definitely from the private sector and other avenues. Other circumstances that may lead to the students look for alternative or private accommodation may be due to the provision of shared rooms by the university that may make some uncomfortable. Other hostels may not be up to the desired standards while some of the students may wish to take university accommodation as they prepare to make their way out to private accommodations that is more to their taste. Whereas this may be the will of the students to get private accommodation, some of the universities are more willing to give the students the options of going ahead with this without any penalties. This research will serve as a basis for university management and organisers to give an overview of the challenges that the students face during their entry period to the universities. There are numerous challenges encountered by students especially foreigners who have no idea of the way things roll in new environments. This research will give an overview to enhancing the accommodation procedures as well as ease the hustle that first years undergo in trying to settle into new environments. There is evidence in some of the universities especially in the United Kingdom of strategic

Legal Risk and Opportunity in Employment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Legal Risk and Opportunity in Employment - Essay Example (Morris, 2008). If Paul had been fired for being black, he would definitely have a case against Newcorp. However, if he was fired for his voiced opinion at the school board meeting, this would not be protected. While the First Amendment protects freedom of speech, it makes no note that employers have to â€Å"put up with it.† (Morris, 2008). Pat is wrong in his belief that his employee manual’s described process of the corrective action plan means that he cannot be fired without warning. In the case of Toussaint v. Blue Cross & Blue Shield, the employee handbook stated that employees could only be fired after warning, notice, and hearing; Toussaint had been fired without warning. The court ruled in favor of Toussaint, and declared that an employee handbook creates contract. (Samuelson, 2007). However, since then, employers have been very careful in taking steps to protect themselves from this sort of liability. (Morris, 2008). Newcorp having Pat sign the statement of at-will employment was a proper way to prevent liability. And if Pat had looked carefully at his handbook, he probably would have discovered some sort of language within it expressing that it was not to be relied upon as a contract. (Morris, 2008). Paula is correct in believing that it is illegal for her not to be transferred to wire-coating based on her sex. Sex discrimination in the workplace involves the different treatment of an employee based on sex that negatively affects things like pay, employment, and advancement or training opportunities. Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibits sex discrimination in the workplace and applies to â€Å"private employers, state and local government employers, labor organizations, employment agencies, and joint employer-union apprenticeship programs with 15 or more employees.† (Equal Rights Advocates, 2008). Although Paula is young and could

Questions and Applications Essay Example for Free

Questions and Applications Essay The current financial crisis has many parallels with what happened to Enron in the early part of the decade. Although the hazards associated with overpaid executives, unethical practices and lack of accountability were clearly illustrated by the Enron Crisis; little was done to prevent the repetition of such behaviors. As a result, similar malfeasance, hubris and incompetence, coupled with the lack of political will for regulation has resulted in yet another financial crisis. The U. S. and overseas stock markets were still adjusting to the psychological and economic impact of the terrorist attacks in New York City in the two months prior to the announcement of the bankruptcy of Enron. (Weller, Miller, Zhang, 2001) The markets had just stabilized, and reassumed their moderate growth owing, in large part, to the assurances by Federal Reserve Chairman, Alan Greenspan that the underpinnings of the economy were strong, and large economic entities, such as Enron, were economically stable and fundamentally secure. (Weller, Miller, Zhang, 2001) These assurances came despite the consistent deregulation of trade practices in both federal financial markets, and California energy markets. (Weller, Miller, Zhang, 2001) Such deregulation was the bailiwick of not only Greenspan, but the Republican congress and White House. (Weller, Miller, Zhang, 2001) The assumption on the part of those who supported deregulation and limited scrutiny of practices, was that enlightened self-interest of the heads of corporations would prevent destabilizing acts of stock manipulation and other actions that would serve to destroy the underlying equity in the corporation. (Weller, Miller, Zhang, 2001) Clearly, this was not the case, as a small number of executives pillaged the assets of Enron without regard to the economic fallout of their actions. These people reaped their individual fortunes, largely by dumping corporate stock, valued in billions of dollars, just prior to affecting the economic ruin of the company. (Weller, Miller, Zhang, 2001) Had this episode had a salutatory effect on the perceived need for closer oversight and regulation of economic practices, it may have been worth the cost, but the lessons of Enron went unlearned, and the same behavior of corporate executives derailed the economy once again by destabilizing financial institutions and undermining economic development. Congressional hearings regarding the current collapses of financial institution are ongoing at the time of this writing, but it is unclear at this point whether any laws were actually broken. As the lengthy prison sentences handed out to Enron executives illustrate, the actions of this group outpaced ethical considerations and proceeded to securities fraud, concealing evidence and other illegal acts. As of now, none of the executives involved in the collapse of the financial institutions are yet facing criminal charges. This fact illustrates a key point regarding these activities. If executives can run decades-old financial institutions into the ground, bankrupt them, destroy their lending capabilities (which paralyzes corporate growth) and leave with multi-million dollar compensation packages without having broke the law, then clearly the law as it stands is inadequate. In the case of Enron, the executives knowingly engaged in fraudulent activities to the detriment to the company and its shareholders. The drive to maximize profits cannot outstrip ethical obligations of full and correct disclosure and fair trade practices. These standards are not only ethical in nature, but legal as well. The law sets reasonable guidelines for practices that compel executives to act in the interest of their shareholders to the best of their ability, and in the case of Enron, they did not do so. The fact that these executives were knowingly breaking the law was illustrated clearly by their destruction of relevant records. This clearly illustrated the mindset of guilt that the people responsible had, and proved the likelihood of a significant cover-up effort. It is unclear at this point whether the same holds true for the authors of the current financial debacle. However, there are some key differences in the situations. For one, unlike the Enron executives, the bank executives were inflating values of securities in a manner that benefitted their shareholders and borrowers as well as themselves. The second key difference is that these banks gained SEC exemptions that made what they were doing technically legal, if not particularly smart. The regulations governing energy sale in California contributed significantly in Enron’s ability to commits fraud and force a false energy crisis upon the state. (Griffin, 2006) Once prices were deregulated for energy in 1996, Enron determined a market plan that was predicated on short-term contract bidding for energy. (Griffin, 2006) Essentially, Enron was maximizing profits by selling their commodity to the highest bidder. (Griffin, 2006) The problem with this system is it is not regulated, and executives at Enron decided to take advantage of the lack. (Griffin, 2006) Enron took advantage of the rules in three significant ways. (Griffin, 2006) First, they would shut down plants in certain areas forcing energy to come from marginal plants located nearby, and charged premium prices, that were additionally padded so that executives could skim off of the income. (Griffin, 2006) Enron also conducted â€Å"wash trades†. (Griffin, 2006) These recorded sales and purchases of energy that never occurred. These trades are revenue-neutral for both parties, but the activity drives up index prices by creating a false demand for the energy. (Griffin, 2006) Finally, Enron itself place bids to occupy energy on the grid, creating artificial shortages, which they, in turn, would alleviate at premium prices. (Griffin, 2006) These practices, combined with an increase in demand coupled with a stable, but not increasing reserve volume of natural gas, helped cause the California Energy Crisis. (Griffin, 2006) Then-Governor Grey Davis absorbed a significant amount of blame for the perceived energy crunch in California that followed from these practices, but he was in no way to blame. (Griffin, 2006) The policies that were manipulated were enacted by the legislature, not the Governor. (Griffin, 2006) Davis was also fighting the public perception that not only was he complicit in the crisis, but he was in contact with Kenneth Lay of Enron over the issue. (Griffin, 2006) Davis never denied this, but claimed it was a prerequisite to asking the federal government for aid. When the Bush administration declined to offer aid, Davis, a Democrat, was recalled and replaced by Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger. (Griffin, 2006) The Stanly Milgrim experiments were invoked in the film, â€Å"The Smartest Guys in the Room† to explain why energy traders for Enron, who were aware of the damage caused by their activities, continued to act in the manner that they did. Milgram set up an experimental circumstance where subjects believed that they were causing bodily harm to another participant (actually, a confederate of the experimentor). The variable being measured was how much pain (measured by voltage of electrical shock) would a subject be willing to administer under no compulsion other than being told by a person in a lab coat that they â€Å"must continue†. It was demonstrated through this experiment that up to 50% of subjects would give what they believed would be fatal shocks to others under virtually no duress, and with no promise of reward. It was suggested that Milgrim’s experiments proved that individuals would do things (such as shock a person to death) with nothing more than a verbal instruction from a perceived authority figure to prompt them. From this, Milgrim concluded that unquestioned obedience to authority is a reaction that is very strong in most individuals. It should be noted that this argument had earlier failed to sway judges of the Nazis at Nuremburg, and later those who judged Callay guilty for the Mi Lay massacre. While this experiment does illustrate some insights regarding human nature and obedience, it does not explain, or really relate significantly to the situation regarding the energy traders at Enron. For one thing, the Energy Traders, as evinced by their own recorded conversations, stood to gain significantly from their activity themselves. Their motivations clearly went well beyond â€Å"following orders† as they expected to be â€Å"able to retire at 30. † The common element between the two circumstances (Milgrim’s Experiment and the Enron Traders) appears to be a perceived locus of responsibility. That is, the subjects/traders felt that whatever the consequences of their actions, blame and responsibility would fall solely upon the persons who issued the orders.In the case of the Enron Traders, this turned out to be true to a great extent. ? References Griffin, L. (2006) â€Å"California Energy Crisis Meets Enrons Ethical Catastrophe†. Retrieved December 8th, 2008 from McCombs School of Business Website: http://www. mccombs. utexas. edu/news/pressreleases/spence06. asp Weller, M. Miller, P. Zhang L. (2001) â€Å"Moral Hazard and the US Stock Market: Analysing the ‘Greenspan put’† The Center for the Study of Globalization and Regionalization Working paper No. 83/01, November, 2001.

Masafi Was Established In 1976 Commerce Essay

Masafi Was Established In 1976 Commerce Essay The assurance of quality is an essential aspect for any organization wherein stringent measures are implemented for the processes as well as the products of the company. The quality standards for the respective industry are constantly being updated in keeping with environmental changes and the availability of the latest facilities on a global scenario. TQM provides the means for analyzing the effectiveness of the current quality control measures implemented by an organization. Subsequently it also enables the identification of the best possible alternatives for achieving the desired quality standards. Consumer satisfaction is one of the main aspects which is given due emphasis while managing quality at the various levels in the organization. This adherence to the preferences of the consumers is termed as consumer defined quality and this plays a crucial role in the establishment of the quality standards as the needs of the consumers have to be incorporated into the quality modules ( Total Quality Management). Moreover, the consumers have their own perspective of quality which may depend on their income levels or other relevant factors. Organizations are faced with the challenge of identifying and analyzing these changes so as to be able to comply with the current trends in quality perception. Another significant component of quality perception is the presence of consumer services and after-sales services which determine the extent to which the quality of the product or service is retained post sales. This also reflects the efforts of the organization to ensure that the consumers are duly communicated about any queries which they may present. Hence it may be deduced that TQM is a highly significant aspect of any organization by means of which it is provided with the means of managing the highly competitive scenario existing today (Total Quality Management). Company Background: Masafi is one of the leading brands in the UAEs FMCG sector and has been identified with being a leader in the growing range of its innovative product offerings. With respect to bottled mineral water, Masafi has been the most sought after brand in the Gulf and the Middle East for more than 35 years. Even since its establishment, Masafi has always maintained strict emphasis on innovation and business excellence while determining its growth strategy. The adherence to high quality global standards has been the primary reason behind the immense success of the organization. This has also enabled the organization to retain its existing consumer groups while generating new consumers in keeping with its wide range of product offerings (Masafi: The Place). Company History: Masafi was established in 1976 with initial investments being made by a paid up capital of $ 5.5 Million. Further investments made by the company have been in line with the communitys benefit with adequate importance being made on the maintenance of relationship with all the stakeholders of the company, including partners and associates. Over the years, the company has been able to establish a highly effective distribution network by means of which it has been able to ensure adequate supply of its products in keeping with the demands generated in the market. It has also strived to keep its equipments and technological infrastructure updated as per current standards and this has enabled the company to always meet the current expectations of the target consumer segments (Masafi). Vision: The vision of Masafi reflects its adherence to offering premium products for the achievement of better living standards (Masafi). Mission: Masafi strives to provide premium utility products by means of continuous innovation and continual product development, and in turn strengthening its leadership in the FMCG sector (Masafi). Strategic Objectives of the Company: Masafi has defined the following strategic objectives with respect to its performance in the FMCG sector: Becoming a leader in the FMCG industry both domestically as well as globally. Generating adequate awareness about the quality of Masafis products and its CSR initiatives. Emphasizing on the expansion of the product range and being a completely FMCG oriented organization. Gaining access into new markets both domestically as well as globally. Maintaining adequate focus on the communication of the product innovations undertaken by the organization (Masafi). SWOT Analysis: The following is the SWOT analysis of Masafi which presents the strength of its internal and external environment: Strengths: The company has a well established brand in the UAE as well as in the GCC region. The current export of Masafis products stand at 30% to 40% of the companys overall trade. Masafi has gained a massive share of 42% in UAEs bottled water sector which has made it a major player in this region. The company has innovated flavored mineral water which provides a completely new product offering to the consumers (Masafi). Weaknesses: The company has not been able to generate preferences towards the brand in the regions of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. The product offering is limited in terms of food items. The Masafi brand has a greater degree of association with being a mineral water brand rather than being a comprehensive FMCG company (Masafi). Opportunities: There is a huge scope for the expansion of the companys product offerings in keeping with the immense potential in the global FMCG industry. The company could also enter into strategic alliances with other organizations that are in compliance with the business strategy of the company. There is also a scope for obtaining sponsorships for the companys products which would be helpful in creating greater awareness and exposure of the Masafi brand. The stable and viable economic conditions in the target regions provide the company with significant growth possibilities (Masafi). Threats: The FMCG sector is characterized by the presence of various levels of organizations and this has resulted in the increase in the already high competition in the market. The fixed prices of product lines in the FMCG sector prevents any possible attempts from being undertaken to gain leverage in the market with respect to the pricing strategies of the firms. There is a significant possibility of the company being subjected to negative publicity owing to poor output levels. The presence of substitutes has also provided a significant risk to the performance of Masafis products in the market (Masafi). Competitors of the Company: The competitors of Masafi span though the domestic as well as the global scenario with respect to the FMCG products, especially the bottled water segment. Main Local Competitors (Bottled Water Segment): Al Ain Water Company Arwa Oasis Main Global Competitors (Bottled Water Segment): Nestle Volvic Acqua Panna Aquafina Evian Competitors in Other Product Lines: Frito Lays Lacnor Fine Competitive Strategy: The primary competitive strategy of Masafi is to build strong relationships with the consumers as well as the stakeholders to the company. By ensuring the acquisition of feedback from the consumers, the organization strives to develop and maintain a consumer friendly environment in the company. In this regard, Masafi assures the provision of prompt service to the consumers with the presence of a dedicated staff of sales executives (Masafi). Masafi also makes use of the promotional strategy for the consumers of the companys products so as to maximize the scope of awareness in the market. However the companys decision to diversify into flavored mineral water has been the most effective competitive strategy undertaken by the company in order to introduce innovative products in the market (Masafi). Competitive Advantage: Masafis competitive edge has been defined with the introduction of the flavored mineral water products by the company which has broadened this product line to include a wide variety of flavors including jasmine, strawberry, lemon and peach. Also the adherence to high quality standards, latest equipment and effective consumer relations has been beneficial for Masafi with respect to the definition of its competitive advantage (Masafi). Overview of Current TQM Systems: Masafi has been known to adhere to high quality standards and it implements strict quality controls to ensure that only the best products reach the consumers. The TQM currently being practices at Masafi is as follows: Masafi follows a best practice approach in its quality management efforts. It emphasizes on the identification of potential mistakes before they occur in the process and this is highly beneficial in reducing as well as preventing the presence of errors. As part of these measures, the company emphasizes the use of proper documentation of all the processes along with revision control to maintain the accuracy of the data associated with the processes. Such measures are quintessential in cost savings and implementing overall quality control. For this, the company was awarded the ISO 9001:2008 quality certification on 22nd July, 2008 (Quality). The company strives to ensure that the identification, prioritization and management of environmental risks so as to comply with the global standards for environmental good practice. For this, the company was awarded the 14001:2004 quality certifications (Masafi honored with Environmental Performance Certificate 2011, 2012). Masafi has implemented adequate controls for controlling food safety hazards by ensuring that the levels identified are maintained within the acceptable risk limits. Due to this measure, Masafi has been quality certified with HACCP since 15ht February, 2001 (Quality). With respect to the beverage product lines, the company has assured quality in its products by complying with the NSF beverage quality certification programs. This certification is an international accreditation which is recognized by NSF International (Quality). Masafi is a certified member of the Asia Middle East Bottled Water Association (ABWA) which conducts routine tests on the quality of the products, services and systems in accordance with its own model code, FDA, WHO, Codex Alimentarius Standards, and other applicable national norms (Quality). TQM Principles and Quality Philosophies Adopted: Masafi has exhibited a stark adherence to the philosophies of the three gurus of TQM and this is reflected in the high quality levels that have been achieved by the company. The influence of Deeming is seen in the Companys Quality Philosophies pertaining to its products which bear a significant degree of correlation to the needs and preferences of the consumers. Another area where this influence is seen is in the management of relationships with the shareholders which the company maintains at highly effective levels. The evidence of the adoption of Deemings quality philosophies is the provision of prompt service to the consumers with the presence of a dedicated staff of sales executives. This dedication to the consumers and the importance given to their feedback forms an integral component of the practices adopted by Masafi (Quality Gurus). Source: The above diagram depicts the chain reaction process as propounded by Deeming and this reflects fundamental structure behind the processes being undertaken by Masafi (Quality Gurus). Jurans quality philosophy highlights the inception of the Juran Trilogy which comprises of quality planning, quality control and quality improvements. Masafi has been known to effectively adapt to the environmental changes by integrating its technical as well as non technical framework in keeping with the current developments being made in the environment. Moreover the company focuses largely on the utilization of innovation in the processes as well as its products which is a direct outcome of quality control and planning efforts. An apt example of this is the identification, prioritization and management of environmental risks which is done by Masafi to comply with the global standards for environmental good practice. The introduction of the flavored mineral water products by the company has helped the company to broaden its product offerings and has also enabled the company to reach new consumer segments (U.). Crosby highlighted the nonconformance nature of quality measurement where the assurance of quality in the products and / or services should be maintained at zero. There is no scope for minimal defects in Crosbys philosophy. The company strives to achieve this ambitious quality target but it has not been able to achieve zero defects in its processes (Quality Gurus). Masafi has benefited immensely by the adoption of the philosophies and this can be seen in the fact that it had been acknowledged as the top most brands in the beverage segment and the second most popular brand in the non food FMCG category. This accreditation was received in 2010 which further exemplifies the efforts of the organization to maintain high degree of relevancy with the current best practices and standards. It is the adherence to high quality standards and continual innovation which has enabled the company to become a leader in the FMCG sector in the region (Quality Gurus). The barriers faced by Masafi while implementing TQM was the determination of the quality perception of the consumers which is very difficult to comply with on a frequent basis. Moreover the green initiatives undertaken by the Emirati government requires that the products are made in compliance with environmental protection standards. The companys products make use of plastic for their packaging and the minimization of plastic usage was a significant challenge for the implementation of TQM standards. In order to resolve this challenge, Masafi had to establish new standards for environmental sustainability by initiating recycling campaigns and ensuring minimal wastage of packaging material used for its products (Masafi; Quality Gurus). Leadership Status: Masafis leaders have their own leadership style for leading employees and organization towards the growth of enterprise. The company implemented transformational leadership style wherein the leadership was able to influence its employees for the attainment of goals and nurture them by encouraging positive behaviors by the means of sharing organizational vision. The vision and mission of the company has been effectively communicated to all the stakeholders of the company as well as the employees which has enabled them to maintain the required drive for innovating processes and product developments. By inculcating innovative thinking and aligning the processes in keeping with ecological preservation efforts, Masafi has been able to achieve the desired levels of corporate social responsibility and adoption of sustainable business practices. Then impact of the leadership can also be seen in the continual product developments and incorporation of the change elements of the environment whi ch are undertaken in the company. This is not only beneficial for assuring the maintenance and achievement of high performance levels by the organization in the respective market. The leadership has also enabled the company to manage the stiff competition in the market which is a common occurrence in the hugely populated FMCG sector (Masafi). Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair is the chairman of Masafi and he emphasis on the development of the human resources along with the processes of the organization by means of which high levels of excellence may be achieved by the organization. The product mix is also continually updated in keeping with the changes in consumer preferences and the dynamics of the respective target market. The leadership principles of driving change through innovation and sustainable business practices is in line with the principles defined by quality leadership principles. By adhering to strict control measures and quality levels, Masafi has been able to maintain effective relationships with the consumers and this has enabled them to accurately identify the needs of the consumers which in turn has been beneficial in the identification of the current market trends. Hence the efforts of the leadership undertaken by Masafi are reflective of the principles established by quality leaders (Chairmans Message). Masafis leadership is indicative of the following aspects: There is adequate level of awareness with respect to the roles and professional obligations of the employees and this helps the management to devise better strategies. New trends are identified for enabling the organization to achieve new heights in business excellence. A sense of ownership, accountability and ownership is inculcated in the workforce. Adequate training and development measures are provided to the employees by means of which they are enabled to comply with the constantly changing external as well as internal environment of the organization (Chairmans Message). Employee Involvement Status: Masafi exhibits a high level of employee involvement which has enabled the reduction in long term costs being achieved over environmental cost mechanisms. The involvement has also been beneficial in facilitating consistent, effective and efficient internal operations in the company. This adherence to the environmental standards has also enabled the company to sustain favorable working environment which is quintessential in assuring the presence of the required drive in its human resource. This is reflective of the concepts adopted by Masafi for ensuring a highly motivated workforce. The needs of the employees are duly addressed and the policies as well as the changes are duly communicated to the employees, by means of which the employees are able to dedicate their efforts in alignment with the objectives and vision of the company (Masafi). Masafi has employee strength of 1000 employees who are dedicated completely towards the achievement of the desired levels of achievement. The company continuously conducts an evaluation of the needs of the employees by obtaining feedback from the employees by conducting discussions with the employees. The discussions also enable the employees to express their needs in a better manner and this is highly beneficial in designing training and development modules at the organization (Masafi). Based on the findings obtained in the discussion rounds, the company ensures that the employees are provided with adequate opportunities for undertaking training and development with respect to their roles and responsibilities in the organization. The most appropriate evidence of this measure is the adaptation of the company to environmental changes with enhanced performance levels being achieved after every adaptation. Moreover the involvement of the employees in the green campaigns and initiatives is a direct outcome of the companys consideration for the needs of the employees pertaining to empowerment and involvement in the activities of the organization (Masafi). The companys focus on the needs of the employees has a direct impact on the decision process wherein the employees are encouraged to provide their contribution by means of which a comprehensive outcome may be achieved in an effective manner. Given the short time duration for incorporating the environmental changes into the processes of the company, Masafi ensures that these implementations are done in a highly effective manner so as to prevent the loss of leverage in the highly competitive FMCG market (Masafi: The Place). Customer Satisfaction Status: Being an FMCG company, Masafis consumers comprise of all population levels with specific segments being target separately with the companys consumer oriented offerings. The main emphasis made by the company is in the bottled water segment wherein it has differentiated its target segments on the basis of their requirements. For example, people associated with sports and intense physical activity requires more than just plain water to be provided to them. In keeping with this need, the company has devised vitamin enriched water products so as to provide this consumer segment with the require characteristics that are expected from them from a water product (Masafi). For obtaining consumer feedback, Masafi has implemented various communication mechanisms. By ensuring the acquisition of feedback from the consumers, the organization strives to develop and maintain a consumer friendly environment in the company. In this regard, Masafi assures the provision of prompt service to the consumers with the presence of a dedicated staff of sales executives. Apart from this, the company has also provided a toll free number which can be accessed by consumers 24 x 7 for any enquiries or correspondence which they desire to communicate to the company. This number is displayed on the companys website as well. In keeping with the growing ICT infrastructure and capabilities in the region, the company has established a feedback gateway in the form of an email id which can be used by consumers to communicate with the organization. The customers feedback is obtained with different techniques such as On-Line Survey, Social Media and Feedback Forms. (The copy of the fee dback medium is provided in Appendix A) These feedbacks are highly beneficial in implementing changes in the products so that they may be aligned with the needs and preferences of the consumers. It would also enable the company to eliminate possible bottlenecks in the process which would be beneficial in reducing delivery times and ensuring higher quality levels to be maintained in the companys processes (Masafi). Masafi ensures the acquisition of consumer trends by conducting market analyses and evaluating the feedback obtained from the consumers for ensuring that they are in compliance with current standards and practices. Moreover they evaluate new technologies which can be used in the companys infrastructure (Masafi). ISO Certification: ISO ensures the state of art specification for goods practices, services and products which facilitates effective and efficient working environment to industries. Masafi has been provided with ISO certification in keeping with its processes and products. It has been accredited with the following ISO certifications: ISO 9001:2008 quality certifications awarded on 22nd July, 2008. 14001:2004 quality certifications The steps for obtaining and ISO certification are as follows: Establish Implementation Team Start ISO awareness Programs Provide Training Conduct Initial Status Survey Create a Documented Implementation Plan Develop Quality Management System Documentation Document Control Implementation Internal Quality Audit Management Review Continual Improvement Certification and Registration Pre-Assessment Audit Source: (14 Steps to Implementing ISO 9001 Quality Management System) The following are the benefits gained from ISO 9001 certification: The needs of the consumers are met effectively and in keeping with current standards. Adequate opportunities are provided for increasing revenue generation. Quality of the products / services is enhanced. Customer satisfaction levels with products are increased. It offers adequate possibilities to understand, document and communicate company process. It enhances the development and maintenance of professional culture in the organization and also develops employees morale. The uniformity of organizational operations is enhanced substantially. Emphasis is maintained on the recognition of quality at international level and the achievement of business excellence. It enables cost savings due to minimization of waste, optimization of the resources and increase in the efficiency of the overall processes (Top 10 Reasons Why You Need ISO 9001 Certification). Continuous Process Involvement: Continual process improvement is the key to ensuring the survival of an organization in the competitive market. Products and services change with time in order to successfully meet the needs of the consumers and to be in compliance with the market dynamics. Masafi applies three tools of quality management tools: Six Sigma: The six sigma tool provides the means to minimize errors in the production process by ensuring the existence of 1 defect per million units produced by the company. By using this tool, the company has been able achieve greater market share and has been able to achieve higher quality standards in the products. It is this aspect that has enabled the company to achieve the top most position among the organizations in the FMCG sector. This tool also enabled the introduction and maintenance of green concepts in the production process (Lean Six Sigma: An Overview). The following diagram represents the six sigma process adopted by Masafi: http://csqa.info/files/six-sigma-dmaic.gif Source: http://csqa.info/files/six-sigma-dmaic.gif Statistical Process Control: Statistical Process Control is the quality control method which uses a statistical method for the monitoring and controlling process. These ensure that minimal wastage is incurred in the process. The benefit obtained by the company from this tool can be seen in the recycling efforts of the company by means of which the packaging material of its products are retrieved from the market and reused to prepare new packaging utilities. This has enabled continuous process improvement in keeping with the quality specifications required to be adhered (Introduction to Statistical Process Control Techniques). The following is a representation of the SPC process followed by Masafi: http://www.moresteam.com/toolbox/pics/28.gif Source: http://www.moresteam.com/toolbox/pics/28.gif Total Quality Management Guide: Total Quality Management is a set of practices put in place throughout a company that are geared to ensure the organization consistently meets or exceeds customer requirements. It enables the company to implement quality measures not only in the processes but it are also applied to the management of productivity in the workplace. The benefit of this tool can be seen in the manner in which the human resources are provided with adequate involvement opportunities which not only serve as a viable motivation tool but it also enables better quality to be maintained (Total Quality Management). The following is a representation of the TQM followed by Masafi: http://www.transtutors.com/Uploadfile/CMS_Images/24944_Quality%20Improvement%20Flowchart%20in%20TQM.JPG Source: http://www.transtutors.com/Uploadfile/CMS_Images/24944_Quality%20Improvement%20Flowchart%20in%20TQM.JPG Masafi uses SPC as the quality measurement tool to reduce the wastage of packaging materials and for ensuring optimal utilization of the available resources, and in turn contributing to ecological preservation. It uses statistical methods for the monitoring and controlling process (Introduction to Statistical Process Control Techniques). The barriers faced with respect to the implementation of this tool are: The lack of availability of adequate information on quality is one of the main barriers to the implementation of the tool. The tracking of the packaging material and the extent of recycling of the materials is an exhaustive process marked by the possibility of errors in the data obtained (Introduction to Statistical Process Control Techniques). Conclusion: Masafis adherence to high quality global standards has been the primary reason behind the immense success of the organization. This has also enabled the organization to retain its existing consumer groups while generating new consumers in keeping with its wide range of product offerings. The efforts of the company to continually develop and improve its processes is one of the most significant undertakings of the company to ensure the maintenance of high levels of quality not only in its products but also in its services. Recommendations: Masafi should adopt new programs for the improvement of quality with utilization of existing tools, system, terms and conditions. There should be a provision for the sustenance of an improvement framework for the sustainability of which would inculcate the continuous processes and encourage new ideas. Data collection should be done by an exclusive team developed by the management of the company for ensuring that the quality measures are monitored in an effective manner. Employee participation should be encouraged in order to assure that the productivity levels are maintained relatively high as this would enable high quality standards to be implemented. The quality should also be implemented in the supply chain network so as to ensure faster delivery times of the products to the market. The company should devise new standards when introducing innovative products in the market in keeping with the exact specifications of the product. The company should ensure the maintenance of an unbiased feedback mechanism as these feedbacks are crucial for the improvement process undertaken Masafi. The data collection, evaluation and monitoring system should be automated in order to minimize the incurrence of human errors in the quality verification process. The strategies pertaining to the quality implementations should be revised in such a manner so that the current policies are not drastically affected by it. The company should ensure that the quality inspections are conducted by third part accreditation units as it would reveal a clearer perspective of the scenario.

Musical History And Societal Influences Music Essay

Musical History And Societal Influences Music Essay The definition of music is defined in many ways; Websters definition is as follows an art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions in significant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, or harmony. There are many theories regarding when and where music formed. Many agree that music began even before man existed. Researchers point out that there are six periods of music and each period has a certain style of music that made what music is today. Here are some resources for you to better understand the history of music. (Estrella 2001) Music is traced back as far as ancient Israel a thousand years before Christ; King David composed and sang hundreds of songs called psalms. A few of them are written in the old testament in the book of Psalms. But music as we know it now, as having structure and form, may have begun in the 10th century with the Gregorian chants. These chants were organized and detailed with soloists and small groups singing distinctive parts. The music we are more in common with began around the year 1200 and soon after, troubadours singing folk music starting to appear in parts of Europe. In the 14th century, sacred music (church music and hymns) was quite common (but secular music had begun to take hold as well). During the renaissance (around the year 1500) one of the most significant events occurred-the birth of the composer. The appearance of composers, of course, spawned instrumental music and the creation of the instruments such as the piano and lute. (Ezine Articles 2005) The years 1750 to 1820 is considered the Classical period with the piano being a composers instrument of choice. During this time, Mozart wrote his first symphony, Bach performed in London, and Beethoven was born. Many of the symphonies we enjoy today were written during this time. Music has truly evolved since this period though. By 1900, a man named Scott Joplin had composed and published the Maple Leaf Rag, an event many see as the beginnings of the music we know today as popular music. Soon after, new musical forms were taking hold. Jazz in the 1930s (Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday), big band music in the 1940s (Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington), and rock-and-roll (Elvis Presley, Chuck Barry) in the 1950s. Other countries (most notably France and Spain) were creating their own popular music during this time. (Ezine 2005) The three time periods I want to focus on is Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary. This is all known to us to day as Opera, RB, Rock, Hip Hop, Soul, etc. Music has been around for years and can be broken down into many stages or cycles. People everywhere all over the world make their own style of music. Ever genre, sound, melody is different in some way. When we look at the medieval music, we are dealing with the longest and most distant period of musical history. Saint Gregory is credited with organizing the huge repertory of chant that developed during the first centuries of the Christian church, hence the term Gregorian chant. He was pope from 590 to 604, and the medieval era continued into the 1400s, so this period consists of almost a millenniums worth of music. One of the principal difficulties in studying medieval music is that a system for notating music developed only gradually. The first examples of musical notation date from around 900. For several centuries, notation only indicated what pitch to sing. The system for notating rhythm started in the 12th or 13th century. Gregorian chant is monophonic, meaning music that consists of only one melodic line without accompaniment. The beauty of chant lies in the serene, undulating shapes of its melody. We do not know who wrote the melodies of Gregorian chant. Like folk melodies, the music probably mutated as it was passed down through generations and eventually reached its notated form. Polyphony, music where two or more melodic lines are heard simultaneously, did not exist (or was not notated) until the 11th century. Unlike chant, polyphony required the participation of a composer to combine the melodic lines in a pleasing manner. Although most medieval polyphonic music is anonymousthe names of the composers were either lost or never written down at allthere are composers whose work was so important that their names were preserved along with their music. (Ezine 2005) Renaissance is reflected by the changing role of the composer in society. Unlike most of their medieval times, the great masters of the Renaissance were created in their own lifetimes. The technique of printing music, while slow to evolve, helped in the preservation and distribution of music and musical ideas. Sacred music was still predominant, though other music became more prevalent and more sophisticated. The repertory of instrumental music also began to expand significantly. New instruments were invented, including the clavichord and virginal and many existing instruments were improved. Masses and motets were the primary forms of sacred vocal polyphony. Other vocal forms included motets, madrigals and songs (generally accompanied by lute or a small instrumental ensemble or consort). Instrumental pieces were usually short polyphonic works or music for dancing. (Ezine 2005) Compared with the medieval style, Renaissance polyphony was lush and sonorous. The era between Josquin Desprez and Palestrina is known as the golden age of polyphony. Imitationwhere one melodic line shares, or imitates the same musical theme as a previous melodic linebecame an important polyphonic technique. Imitation was one method composers used to make complex music more easily comprehensible and give the listener a sense of structure. Imitative polyphony can be heard in the masses and motets of composers from Josquin onward and is featured in instrumental music by Byrd, Gibbons, and the Gabriellis. Baroque music is often highly ornate, colorful and richly textured when compared with its predecessors. Opera was born at what is considered to be the very beginning of the Baroque era, around 1600. This unique form combines poetry, theater, the visual arts and music. It came about because a group of Italian intellectuals wanted to recapture the spirit of ancient Greek drama in which music played a key role. The first great opera was Orfeo, by Claudio Monteverdi, first performed in 1607. Musics ability to express human emotions and depict natural phenomenon was explored throughout the Baroque period. Vivaldis famous set of concertos, The Four Seasons, is a famous example. Although imitative polyphony remained fundamental to musical composition, homophonic writing became increasingly important. Homophonic music features a clear distinction between the melody line and a subsidiary accompaniment part. This style was important in opera and other solo vocal music because it focused the li steners attention on the expressive melody of the singer. The homophonic style gradually became prevalent in instrumental music as well. (Ezine 2005) Many Baroque works include a continuo part in which a keyboard (harpsichord or organ) and bass instrument (cello or bassoon) provide the harmonic underpinning of chords that accompanies the melodic line. New polyphonic forms were developed, and as in the Renaissance, composers considered the art of counterpoint (the crafting of polyphony) to be essential to their art. Canons and fugues, two very strict forms of imitative polyphony, were extremely popular. Composers were even expected to be able to improvise complex fugues on a moments notice to prove their skill. The orchestra evolved during the early Baroque, starting as an accompanist for operatic and vocal music. By the mid-1600s the orchestra had a life of its own. The concerto was a favorite Baroque form that featured a solo instrumentalist (or small ensemble of soloists) playing against the orchestra, creating interesting contrasts of volume and texture. Many Baroque composers were also virtuoso performers. For example, Archang elo Corelli was famous for his violin playing and Johann Sebastian Bach was famous for his keyboard skills. The highly ornamented quality of Baroque melody lent itself perfectly to such displays of musical dexterity. (Grieg 2002) The word Classical has strong meaning, mixed with the art and Philosophy of Ancient Greece and Rome, along with their ideals of disciplined expression. The late Braque was complex and melodically different. The composers of the early Classical period changed direction, writing music that was much simpler to understand. Homophony music, another part of classical music in which melody and charm are distinct, and has dominated the Classical style is another form of classical music. New forms of composition were developed to accommodate the transformation. Santana Form is the most important of these forms, and one that continued to evolve throughout the Classical period. Although Baroque composers also wrote pieces called sonatas, the Classical sonata was different. The essence of the Classical Sonata is difficult to understand. A highly simplified example of such a conflict might be between two themes of contrasting character. (Grieg 2002) This contrast would be found during the course of the sonata, and then resolved. Sonata form allowed composers to give pure instrumental music recognizable dramatic shape. Every major form of the Classical era, including the string quartet, symphony and concerto was molded on the dramatic structure of the sonata. One of the most important developments of the Classical period is the growth of the public concert. Although the aristocracy would continue to play a significant role in musical life, it was now possible for composers to survive without being the employee of one person or family. This also meant that concerts were no longer limited to palace drawing rooms. Composers organized concerts featuring their own music, and attracted large audiences. The increasing popularity of the public concert had a strong impact on the growth of the orchestra. Although chamber music and solo works were played in the home or other intimate settings, orchestral concerts seemed to be naturally designed for big public spaces. As a result, symphonic music composers gradually expanded the size of the orchestra to accommodate this expanded musical vision. (Grieg 2002) Just as the word Classical conjures up certain images, Romantic music also does the same. Whether we think of those romance novels with the Romanticism implies fantasy and sensuality. The Classical period focused on emotional restraint. Classical music was expressive, but not so passionate that it could overwhelm the work Beethoven, who was in some ways responsible for igniting the flame of romanticism, always struggled (sometimes unsuccessfully) to maintain that balance. (Greig 2002) Many composers of the Romantic period followed Beethovens model and found their own balance between emotional intensity and Classical form. Others reveled in the new atmosphere of artistic freedom and created music whose structure was designed to support its emotional surges. Musical story-telling became important, and not just in opera, but in pure instrumental music as well. The tone-poem is a particularly Romantic invention, as it was an orchestral work whose structure was entirely dependent on the scene being depicted or the story being told. Color was another important feature of Romantic music. A large palette of musical colors was necessary to depict the exotic scenes that became so popular. In addition to seeking out the sights and sounds of other places, composers began exploring the music of their native countries. Nationalism became a driving force in the late Romantic period and composers wanted their music to express their cultural identity. This desire was particularly intense in Russia and Eastern Europe, where elements of folk music were incorporated into symphonies, tone-poems and other Classical forms. (Wagner 1999) The Romantic period was the days of the virtuoso. Gifted performers and particularly pianists, violinists, and singers became enormously popular. Liszt, the great Hungarian pianist/composer, reportedly played with such passion and intensity that woman in the audience would faint. Since, like Liszt, most composers were also virtuoso performers, it was inevitable that the music they wrote would be extremely challenging to play. The Romantic period witnessed a glorification of the artist whether musician, poet or painter that has had a powerful impact on our own culture. (Wagner 1999) This style of music became known as being romantic. The evolution of music is at least partly shaped by the influence one composer has on another. These influences are not always positive, however. Sometimes composers react against the music of their recent past (even though they might admire it) and move in what seems to be the opposite direction. For example, the simplified style of the early Classical period was almost certainly a reaction to the extreme intricacies of the late Baroque. The late Romantic period featured its own extremes: sprawling symphonies and tone-poems overflowing with music that seemed to stretch harmony and melody to their limits. It is certainly possible to view some early 20th century music as an extension of the late Romantic style, but a great deal of it can also be interpreted as a reaction against that style. 20th century music is a series of isms and neo-isms. The primal energy of Stravinskys Rite of Spring has been called neo-Primitivism. The intensely emotional tone of Schà ¶nbergs early music has b een labeled Expressionism. The return to clearly structured forms and textures has been dubbed neo-Classicism. (R. Strauss) These terms have been employed in an attempt to organize the diversity of styles running through the 20th century. Nationalism continued to be a strong musical influence in the first half of the century. The study of folk songs enriched the music of numerous composers, such as Ralph Vaughan Williams (England), Bela Bartok (Hungary), Heitor Villa Lobos (Brazil) and Aaron Copland (USA). Jazz and popular musical styles have also been tremendously influential on classical composers from both the United States and Europe. Technology has played a increasingly important role in the development of 20th century music. Composers have used recording tape as a compositional tool (such as Steve Reichs Violin Phase). Electronically generated sounds have been used both on their own and in combination with traditional instruments. More recently, computer technology has been used in a variety of ways, including manipulating the performance of instruments in real time. (R. Strauss) So as you can see, music has been around for centuries. Many people have helped music evolve over the years. The six long periods of music that were discussed above really helped music become what is today. Although each individual listen to various types of music they all started the same, with either a rhythm or beat. Music was originated long before humans even existed and grew from there. Music in general has made the world a better place. It gives people a way to express themselves. Music has been called The International Language; a very simple thought with much meaning behind it. Even if you cant speak the language of a country, you can move, sway, dance and most of all enjoy the music of the country. We may not understand the words of a musical selection but we do understand the beauty. (Ruth 2008) Musics interconnection with society can be seen throughout history. Every known culture on the earth has music. Music seems to be one of the basic actions of humans. However, early music was not handed down from generation to generation or recorded. Hence, there is no official record of prehistoric music. Even so, there is evidence of prehistoric music from the findings of flutes carved from bones. The influence of music on society can be clearly seen from modern history. Music helped Thomas Jefferson write the Declaration of Independence. When he could not figure out the right wording for a certain part, he would play his violin to help him. The music helped him get the words from his brain onto the paper. In general, responses to music are able to be observed. It has been proven that music influences humans both in good and bad ways. These effects are instant and long lasting. Music is thought to link all of the emotional, spiritual, and physical elements of the universe. Music can also be used to change a persons mood, and has been found to cause like physical responses in many people simultaneously. Music also has the ability to strengthen or weaken emotions from a particular event such as a funeral. People perceive and respond to music in different ways. The level of musicianship of the performer and the listener as well as the manner in which a piece is performed affects the experience of music. An experienced and accomplished musician might hear and feel a piece of music in a totally different way than a non-musician or beginner. This is why two accounts of the same piece of music can contradict themselves. (ODonnell 2001) According to The Center for New Discoveries in Learning, learning potential can be increased a minimum of five times by using this 60 beats per minute music. For example, the ancient Greeks sang their dramas because they understood how music could help them remember more easily). A renowned Bulgarian psychologist, Dr. George Lozanov, designed a way to teach foreign languages in a fraction of the normal learning time. Using his system, students could learn up to one half of the vocabulary and phrases for the whole school term (which amounts to almost 1,000 words or phrases) in one day. Along with this, the average retention rate of his students was 92%. Dr. Lozanovs system involved using certain classical music pieces from the baroque period which have around a 60 beats per minute pattern. He has proven that foreign languages can be learned with 85-100% efficiency in only thirty days by using these baroque pieces. His students had a recall accuracy rate of almost 100% even after not r eviewing the material for four years. The article above discusses how the history of music not only helped human beings but impacted their lives greatly to where we learn better and think better. (ODonnell 2001)

Agriculture: Evolution or Devolution? Essay -- Environment Environment

Agriculture: Evolution or Devolution? Considering that the alarming excess and continuing growth of the current world population (of humans) is directly tied to food production and availability, the question of how and why we even developed the technology of agriculture in the first place is becoming more and more relevant to human survival as we collectively continue to destroy the environment in which we live due in part to these very agricultural techniques and strategies that we are continuing to employ today. Current estimations show that at around the same time that agriculture was beginning to develop and thrive, the population of our ancestors started to double at a rate that was far higher than what it had been previously for the more than 2 million years of prior human existence. What does this then mean, and what does it say about humans and their attitude towards the environment? This hinges largely on the viewpoints to which we allow ourselves to be open. The most common view taken is that most (if not all) technologies we create mark an "advance" for humankind. Perhaps because they are prized so much either for their practical or symbolic value, it has become difficult to regard the technologies without a bias towards their immediate effects on human society as opposed to the overall compatibility with the rest of the natural world. Within this mindset, it is very hard to put aside the very "advanced" tools that seem to form the foundation of what a complicated, sophisticated, intelligent human is supposed to be. In this light, a complex process like agriculture cannot be anything but an advance, and any lifestyle that dates prior to the agricultural advent must, by subtle implication, be inferior. This infe... ...e technologies we created, from market economy and weapons of mass destruction to the simpler-scale household appliances. This suggests that many do not really see the frictions such technologies impose on our surroundings as problems, but rather according to their perception of the way things are, the tools they use are only doing exactly what they were supposed to and it cannot be helped. And moreover, this is so ingrained in most modern human cultures that the constituents of said cultures do not even see a problem with that. Sources Ehrlich, Paul R. "Human Natures: Genes Cultures, and the Human Prospect". Island Press, 2000. Cipolla, Carlo M. "The Economic History of World Population". The Harvester Press, 1978 Ponting, Clive. "A Green History of the World: The Environment and the Collapse of Great Civilizations". St. Martin's Press, New York, 1991.

Early Marriage Essay -- marriage of children adolescents

Early marriage is the marriage of children and adolescents below the age of 18. Causes: According to UNICEF's Innocenti Research Centre, the "practice of marrying girls at a young age is most common in Sub-Saharan African and South Asia". There are specific parts of West Africa and East Africa and of South Asia where marriages before puberty are not unusual. However, the Centre also notes that marriage shortly after puberty is common among those living traditional lifestyles in the Middle East, North Africa and other parts of Asia. Marriages of female adolescents between sixteen and eighteen are common in parts of Latin America and Eastern Europe. Some are forced into this union, others are simply too young to make an informed decision. Consent is made by somebody else on the child's behalf. The child does not have the opportunity to exercise her right to choose. For this reason, early marriages are also referred to as forced marriages. In its most extreme form, forced marriages are the result of abductions. In Uganda, young girls are abducted and forced to marry senior leaders in the guerrilla movement known as the Lord's Resistance Army. The marriages are used as a reward and incentive for male soldiers. There are a number of reasons why tradition of child marriages continues. Fear of HIV infection has encouraged men in many countries to seek younger 'partners'. Early marriages is one way to ensure that young girls are 'protected'. Families in rural Albania encourage their daughters to marry early to avoid the threat of kidnapping. In conflict torn Somalia, families married their daughters to militia members in exchange for protection for the girl, as well as for themselves. Where poverty is acute, early marriage is also seen as a strategy for economic survival. In Iraq, early marriages are on the increase in response to poverty inflicted by the economic sanctions that have been imposed on the country. In situations such as this, the risk of exploitation is great. A recent study of five poor villages in Egypt, for example, found that young girls were being married off to much older men from the oil rich Middle Eastern countries via brokers. Many girls are forced to marry early suffer from prolonged domestic violence. Furthermore, early marriage is often linked to wife abandonment. This plungers young girls into extreme poverty and increase... ... cases of domestic violence were committed against wives who were under the age of 18. Improvements: Prevention of the practice comes through education of parents and children--married or not--about the dangers of early marriage. UNICEF has launched two programs to tackle the problem in South Asia and Africa, the two regions with the highest rates of child marriage in the world. In South Asia, UNICEF runs the Meena Initiative, which educates people about the danger of preferring male babies and focuses on the unfair treatment girls receive in the family as well as their lack of access to healthcare and education. The initiative also attempts to raise consciousness about harmful traditional practices such as dowry, sexual harassment and early marriage. In Africa, UNICEF has launched a radio program called the Sara Adolescent Girl Communication Initiative in ten eastern and southern African countries. The program implores its listeners to keep girls in school. It also cover topics such as HIV/AIDS, domestic responsibilities for females, Female Genital Mutilation and early marriage. For more information about UNICEF programs focused on early marriage, visit www.unicef.org

Discrimination Against Gay Adoption Essay -- adoption by same-sex coup

Note: This paper has a very long Annotated Bibliography. In recent years, same-sex relationships have become more encompassing in US society. State legislation is changing such as accepting gay marriages, enforcing anti-discrimination laws, and legal gay adoptions; the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community is becoming public. Gay-headed families, like heterosexuals, are diverse and varying in different forms. Whether a created family is from previous heterosexual relationships, artificial insemination, or adoption, it deserves the same legal rights heterosexual families enjoy. Full adoption rights needs to be legalized in all states to provide a stable family life for children because sexual orientation does not determine parenting skills, children placed with homosexual parents have better well-being than those in foster care, and there are thousands of children waiting for good homes. The argument sexual orientation interferes with ones parenting skills is common belief that Charlotte J. Patterson identifies as myth in her work, Lesbian and Gay Parents and their Children, suggesting the belief that â€Å"lesbians’ and gay men’s relationships with sexual partners leave little time for ongoing parent–child interactions.† In the Who is Mommy tonight? case study, how 18 lesbian adoptive parents, 49 lesbian parents who formed their families biologically, and 44 heterosexual adoptive parents experience and perceive their parenting role, how they respond when their children seek them or their partner for particular nurturing, and how the parents negotiate the cultural expectation of a primary caregiver (Ciano-Boyce & Shelley-Sireci, 2002) is looked at. The empirical data found proposes lesbian parent couples were more equ... ...df This study examined associations among family type (same-sex vs. opposite-sex parents); family and relationship variables; and the psychosocial adjustment, school outcomes, and romantic attractions and behaviors of adolescents. Participants included 44 12- to 18-year-old adolescents parented by same-sex couples and 44 same-aged adolescents parented by opposite-sex couples, matched on demographic characteristics and drawn from a national sample. Normative analyses indicated that, on measures of psychosocial adjustment and school outcomes, adolescents were functioning well, and their adjustment was not generally associated with family type. Assessments of romantic relationships and sexual behavior were not associated with family type. Regardless of family type, adolescents whose parents described closer relationships with them reported better school adjustment.