Prostate Cancer Annotated Bibliography Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Prostate Cancer - Annotated Bibliography Example The article goes further to suggest that physical activities are crucial at this point because they improve one’s psychological and physical well being. In addition, a physical activity intervened lifestyle slows or reverses a declined quality of life. This study suggests that no research so far has ever attempted to evaluate an improvement multiple QOL domain intervention in prostate cancer patients under androgen ablation therapy. The study used a randomized control trial design for active life after cancer to evaluate the efficiency of physical activities interventions in the improvement of QOL of patients under this therapy. In addition, a group of lifestyle program of a 6 month behavioral skill training group was compared to a standard care and educational support program. The objective of this study was to present baseline information that would exemplify the QOL of the chosen sample. The findings indicated that married participants were less psychologically distressed a s compared to those who were unmarried. The limitation to the study was that the researchers experienced challenges in recruiting the participants. This study is relevant to the case study presented because Massri needs to perform more physical activities in addition to his golf to improve his health status. He is lucky to be married to Aziza, hence; he is likely to be less psychologically and physically distressed. Hoyt, M.A., Stanton, A.L., Bower, J.E., KaMala S. T., Litwin, M.S., Breen, E.C. & Irwin, M.R. (2013). Inflammatory biomarkers and emotional approach coping in men with prostate cancer. Brain, Behavior and Immunity, 32, 173-179. doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2013.04.008 The objective of the above article was to establish whether emotion coping is connected with psychological and physical health outcome improvement. The study was specific to prostate cancer related stressors in comparison with previous research, which was characterized

Art in south afric Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Art in south afric - Research Paper Example The art show will be followed by a briefing regarding South African art and the country. Objectives The proposed art show is directed to create awareness and learning in regards to other cultures and perspectives from around the globe. The art show is also expected to enhance the understanding of students taking Africa-related classes as well as students who are researching African art and culture. The audience will also be provided a chance to compare contemporary North American art with art from Africa, bringing out the nuances in culture and belief between both societies. Moreover, the briefing regarding South Africa, its art and culture following the art show is expected to enhance the understanding of the audience in regards to how African art has evolved over the ages. Active feedback will be sought from the audience using comment cards that will be provided to each visitor. Changes deemed necessary by the audience will be incorporated to the proposed art show and will be kept in note for future art shows. It is hoped that a successful art show will convince other universities to follow suit. Context The proposed art show is expected to draw in a varied audience composed of students, teachers and members of staff at Indiana State University. Learning about other cultures, their values and norms is increasingly necessary, given the multi-racial outlook of modern society. The art show presents students with a chance to peer beyond their own cultural traditions so that they may breed tolerance for other cultures. Audiences will be handed out small brochures as guides to the art show. These brochures will include information regarding South Africa and regarding the art pieces on display. Community Connections Volunteers from the community will be required to watch over the show to ensure that the art pieces are not vandalized in any form. In addition, volunteers will be required in order to usher the incoming audiences and to manage the entire art gallery dur ing exhibition time. The volunteers will be expected to open up the gallery and shut it down each day that the exhibition proceeds. Before the start of the art show, volunteers will be needed to set up the pieces of art in the art gallery while making sure that no piece gets damaged. In addition, custodians will clean up once the show is over for one day so that the art gallery is in great condition for the next day’s show. Budget The proposed art show will require funding in order to procure South African art from the parent country and from around the globe. The funding will be spent for two major causes – buying the artwork and then transporting the artwork to Indiana State University. The funding could be derived by holding a fund raiser that could appeal to the students as well as other bodies’ faculty and staff and the community. Moreover, the departments for art and history will be requested to release some funds in order to sponsor the art exhibition. Ou treach and Promotion Proper marketing effort needs to be made to drive people to attend the art show. In order to market the cause, posters will be exhibited all across the campus including the cafeterias and common rooms. Moreover, posters will be placed on notice boards around the campus as well as the entrances of all major buildings. In order to take advantage of social networks, a marketing campaign will target various social networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter, My Space etc. The university’

Evaluation and Case Study of Factors and Implementation of Organization

Evaluation and Case Study of Factors and Implementation of Organization INTRODUCTION Organizational change is a very common idea found among successful companies. In making the business productive it plays a significant role. In the early 1990s due to increased competition in global economy, new technologies, expanding markets results in more rapid change. As a result the management practices had been revived. Normally most people have negative opinion towards change. This is because of their doubts of loosing something. They have the incomplete knowledge of change process and this will affect their job personal life and workload. To overcome these negativity Oliver Recklies gave the idea that management need to keep in mind those negative side-effects of change in order to achieve the expected positive results. All the employees of the organization should participate for the success of project. The process of change is the nonstop implementation of policies and structures to changing external conditions. Change is not the exception but a steady ongoing process. As J ohn Naisbett said that a society in which we are living have been moving from old to the new. And we are still in motion experiencing disorder. The environment of the organization, even socially and politically is always changing. We are always looking for newer and better ways. The globalization and inter-cultural exchange had made us more vulnerable to change than ever before. The organizations need to adopt new technologies and management ideas for betterment. The strategic importance on cost cutting and competitive makes it even more important to be open to change rather to resist it. It is very important to accept the change in any form like functional, structural, operational, or strategic. It is very difficult to define change because every organization has different criteria. Each organization has different challenges. Also each organization has different policies, resources, and culture. The leader of each organization has different aim and objectives. In order to survive in the period of crises each organization should adopt the change without any fear.(Supreet Ahluwalia and Vivek Joshi ,2006) Factors influences change There are different factors which influence organizations change. These factors can be external (technology, Government policies, social pressure, cost of raw material etc) or internal (change leadership, decline in profit, union action etc).in this era of globalization the most commonly seen organizational changes are implementation of new technologies, mergers and downsizing. In todays business environment and within its competitive landscape, change management is managing to ensure the business right across the organization and within each of it individual departments is continually embracing change and reviewing and adjusting within itself to do the best it possibly can, to get to the top, to stay on top. Change Management is a firms capability to implement and maintain changes to its strategy, structure and its people that will result in the firm achieving the business results it seeks. Change management is a method of business improvement for organizations. Figure 1: Phases of change If organization is not in a constant phase of change management and continually assessing and adjusting then business may be at best average within its industry. For some organizations this means they may be going backwards and eventually bankrupt. Only those companies can survive which can adapt to changes. This change management model follows all other change management models and theories. Every organization can be summed up to be a combination of these three elements which includes the structure, the people and the strategy. Any change in any area of an organization will affect at least one or all of these elements. Figure 2: Three elements for change The structure is the systems are process with physical resources that support the strategic objectives of the organization. Change management specialists will review complete and properly structured management operating system (MOS). The people involved in this process are stakeholders, resourced people, and management team. All people involved n this process should be well informed and focused on the right things. They should communicate with each other. Figure 3: people involve in change management The strategy is the method for achieving the target of the organizations existence. Change management strategy provides the road map used for directing organization from where it is now to where you want it to go. The Skill of Change Management Managing change in the workplace while ensuring the operations strategy is on the right path. This can be achieved by the support of people and structure elements towards achieving the organizations corporate strategy. Phases of Change Organizational change involves the fear of loss inherent in this process, and this loss is mostly felt by employees. The Kubler Ross Grief Model addresses the emotional issues associated with change. The four emotional states experienced throughout the change process may be expressed by employees in behaviors that are obstacles to the process of change. This model consists of four stages given below: Denial The first emotional state during change is denial. This is the stage in which employees dont believe this is happening to them. They have certain fears and these fears should be addressed during this phase. This fear can be reduced by taking them in confidence. Fear and mistrust need to be replaced by acceptance. Resistances to change The second emotional state is resistance to the change process. Resistance is natural reaction to change. Eric B. Dent and Susan Galloway Goldberg (1999) discuss their research on the origins of this concept and the prevalent idea that managers must overcome this resistance or are doomed to failure. Kurt Lewin, the mid-twentieth-century social psychologist, introduced the term resistance to change as a systems concept affecting managers and employees equally. As we know that people of any organization are generally resistant to change. According to Scott Jaffe resistance is a stage that ends as individuals begin to separate from the past become more confident of their capability. They play their role by their participation to reduce resistance to change. For example, competition might force a business to organize work around processes to improve operating efficiencies. Functional departments involved in these processes would be combined. Employees might not see a need for this chan ge. The reasons for change must be fully explained so that employees understand why it is necessary to embrace the change. Chew (1990) studied the case of Machinists Mutiny. In his study he revealed that due to poor planning and implementation the change is stopped due to employee resistance. This article also includes expert opinions that organization should adopt so they have better implementation of change Once people are convinced that change is necessary, its time to move forward with implementation and consolidation of change. The response to resistance is very important. Forcing compliance may increase resistance. Those affected by the change probably know a lot about what is required to implement something new, and their input is important to the change process. The degree to which employees will support your new initiatives depends on how many of their recommendations are used. Explorations The third emotional state encountered is exploration. employees will search new roles if they are incapable to stop the changes. In this stage both individual role as well as the group role are defined. it is important that unresolved issues that continue to surface be addressed during this stage. One should be ready for the negative reaction of the employee. Those individuals should be warned at the first sign of falling back to old behaviors. This negative reaction can be changed to the positive if trust can be created among groups. Commitments The final emotional state is commitment to the change initiative. Mutual commitment is established for the change effort. Obstacles have been removed and the focus is on successful implementation of the changes. Models of the change process After years of failed change efforts, researchers are saying that knowledge of the change process is critical. To thrive we need to know successful change during and before the change process. There are five most popular models of the change process(Lewins three-step change model, Kotters eight-step plan, Harriss five-phase model, Fullans change themes set, and Greiners six-phase process).But in this report we will discuss only two of them. Lewins Three-Step Change Model Change involves a sequence of organizational processes that occurs over time. Lewin (1951) suggests this three step process. These steps mostly involve reducing the forces acting to keep the organization in its current condition. Unfreezing Moving Refreezing Figure 4: Three step model Unfreezing: This is the first step which is accomplished by introducing new information that points out failure in the current state. Crises often arouse unfreezing. This crisis can be due to increase in employee, demographic shifts, and an unexpected strike. This is not necessary that during unfreezing crisis always occur. For determining problem creating zones in organizations financial data, climate analysis and enrollment projections can be used. Moving: Once the organization is unfrozen, it can be changed by moving. This step generally involves the change in structure, development of new standards, attitudes, and behaviors. Some changes may be minor and involve a few members. Refreezing The final step is refreezing which involves stabilizing the change. In this step mostly the changes in organizations policy, organizational culture, or modification in organizational structure often accomplishes. Kotters Eight-Step Model John Kotter (1996) of Harvard University developed a more detailed approach for managing change which was based on Lewins three-step change model.the steps involved in this model are given below. Establish a sense of urgency: Unfreeze the organization by creating a convincing reason for change Create the guiding coalition: Create a cross-functional, cross-level group of people with enough power to lead the change. Develop a vision and strategy: Create a vision and strategic plan to guide the change process Communicate the change vision: Create and implement a communication strategy that consistently communicates the new vision and strategic plan Empower broad-based action: Eliminate barriers to change, and use target elements of change to transform the organization. Encourage risk taking and creative problem solving. Generate short-term wins: Plan for and create short-term wins or improvements. Recognize and reward people who contribute to the wins Consolidate gains and produce: The guiding coalition uses credibility from short-term wins to create more change. Additional people are brought into the change process as change cascades throughout the organization. Attempts are made to reinvigorate the change process. Anchor new approaches in the culture: Reinforce the changes by highlighting connections between new behaviors and processes and organizational success. Develop methods to ensure leadership development and succession. Types of Change Change can be categorized into four categories, structural change, cost change, process change, and cultural change. Structural change occurs when there is an alteration to the companys organizational structure. This reorganization may occur due to a merger. For instance, an organization that is intent on increasing its innovation may reorganize its traditional functional structure into a more flexible matrix structure that uses small, self-managed teams. Or, an organization that is expanding into new markets may adopt a divisional structure in which different geographic locations operate nearly independently of one another. Cost changes are those that occur when an organization attempts to reduce costs in order to improve efficiency or performance. Major adjustments may be made to departments to cut costs; reducing budgets, laying off employees in redundant positions, and eliminating nonessential activities may all be a result of cost change. Process changes are implemented to improve efficiency or effectiveness of organizational procedures. This may occur in production settings; there may be changes to how a product is created, assembled, packaged, or shipped. Or, in a service organization, there may be changes to the procedures used to accomplish work; new computer systems may create the need to change how paperwork is completed, or a new manager may modify the process used to handle customer complaints. Cultural changes are the least tangible of all the types of change, but they can be the most difficult. An organizations culture is its shared set of assumptions, values, and beliefs. A prototypical culture is the very bureaucratic, top-down style in which stability and standard processes are valued. When such an organization tries to adopt a more participative, involved style, this requires a shift in many organizational activities. Primarily, manager-employee relations are altered with a change in culture. IMPLEMENTING CHANGE Management must take a number of steps for the proper implementation of change. The first step in implementing change involves people of higher management and executives. For instance, in an organization new computer system is to be installed in all its areas. Then they major personal are not only top management but also lower-level managers who supervise the employees for the use of the new technology. A different set of key people would be involved in a cost-cutting change. If the company is reducing its operating budget in a specific division, the managers of that division and also human resources personnel should be involved. The human resource department is involved if there is change to personnel policies or in which demotions, transfers. After key personnel have been identified and properly involved, the second step in implementing change is to develop a plan for effective transformation. The plan should help to define the responsibilities of the key people involved. Also set short-term and long-term objectives for the changes. Because change can be unpredictable, the plan should also be flexible enough to accommodate new occurrences. The third step in implementing change is to support the plan. This involves the management. This key step involves facilitating employees to accept the change. The organization should provide the basic support to the employees like training, reward system etc. if organization does not provide this kind of support there are chance for the failure of the plan Change process is the final step of booming change implementation. Communicating with the employee about the change and its importance will be very helpful through out the process. As we know that change can create fear in employees and to relax them increased communication can help a lot. Managers should carefully listen to all their question and their advises to overcome their fear. Creating opportunities for employee feedback, such as holding meetings or having an open-door management policy may facilitate change more successfully. (Wendy H. Mason ,2003) Abrahamson (2000) gave the view of Change without Pain. The main theme in this article was change must take place, but change does not always have to be disturbing to the organization. The author believes companies should intersperse major change initiatives among carefully paced periods of smaller, organic change, using processes. The author calls this tinkering and kludging. By placing small changes between large changes, companies can manage change through dynamic stability. Dynamic stability is a process of continual but relatively small change efforts that involve the reconfiguration of existing practices and business models rather than create new ones The goal of dynamic stability is to create a change which can be sustained long term, not just in the short term. To achieve dynamic stability the big and small changes must be done at the right time, at the right pace and the organization must tinker and kludge. Tinkering is taking a current process and making small changes to it . This is done at a low cost to the company and the results are often very quick. Kludging, on the other hand, is tinkering but on a larger scale. Kludging looks at outside resources for improved parts or processes and looks at the unused resources within the company. Many companies do not realize they have resources not being used because the processes using the resources are to slow to fully utilize the capacity of the resource. CASE STUDY This case study was based on a company called Trail Manufacturing which produces cable crane components. This study was done by Chew(1990).The company was a mid-sized company set up to run high volume jobs on manual equipment. But with todays economy and competition, Trail determined the best money was in low volume jobs. The President of Trail decided to bring in new technology to replace the old machines. He researched the new machines and decided to bring in eight flexible manufacturing cells which would replace twenty-eight old six-spindle screw machines. Since this was new technology and training would be needed a plan was laid out to set up teams, one for each cell, and the company would phase in the new machines. Each team would be trained and then they would construct and run their own cell. Once one cell was on-line a new cell team would start up until all eight cells were on-line. The first five teams went through the process fine, but at team six the company had a problem. Team six consisted of men who had been at the company many years. The team went to the president and told him they refused to switch over to the new machines. They felt the old machines were running fine and the new machines did not show the expected improvements, so they wanted to continue working on three six-spindle screw machines. At this point the president had to determine if he wanted to keep going with the project or alter it to keep some of the old machines. Some management personnel felt that if the new cells were going to work, a clean break had to be made from the old machines. Others felt that since the productivity gains were not being seen yet by the new cells, the possibility of keeping the old machines for a short time might be a good idea. The case ends without a decision being made by the company. Four experts in operations management give their opinions on the situation. Only one out of the four said the company should continue on with the original plan and if t he members of team six leave the company then it is the price to be paid for progress. The other three are quick to point out the president made a wrong assumption in the planning. He assumed that by bringing in new technology productivity would improve. This is a wrong assumption because technology is only as good as the company and how the company works. One of the experts points out truly understanding how the whole system plays together, and not just implementing the latest technique, means bridging the gap between the emotional and the technical. The president did not see that by bringing in new technology it would change the culture of the shop floor. Men who had years of experience on the old machines and were in seniority would be at the same level or lower than the younger more computer literate employees. This would be a big culture change for the employees. Most of the experts suggested slowing down the remainder of the cell startups and specifically addressing the concer ns of the men on team six. If team sixs concerns are not addressed there could be more problems with the rest of the teams. This article showed a good picture of how a company has to go about major changes, especially ones affecting the culture of the company. The expert opinions enhanced the article and I would highly recommend this article because it is an example of a case that is played out in companies all over. CONCLUSION Today change is the necessary of survival and a way of carrying out your business. Every Organization or firms should under go change with the passage of time otherwise will survive. This change along its success also brings fear of employees to come out of their comfort zones to uncomfortable zone.this leads to resistance to change. How effectively and efficiently the top management and leadership within the organization address these issues and how well are they prepare to handle the resistance will decide the faith of the organization and its success in implementing change. The importance of good communication system and the role it plays in make change process smooth and less painful can not be undermined. RECOMMENDATIONS Following are some recommendations. Managers should improve their interpersonal and communication skills so that they could help their staff overcome the pains associated with change. Tell people the truth and give as much information as you can. Keep giving information as soon as possible. Give them time to digest the news. Give them time to vent there might be anger because this is normal reaction. Listen to staff and their concerns dont interrupt them so they can reduce their fear. REFRENCES Abrahamson, E. (2000). Change Without Pain. Harvard Business Review, 75-79. Chew, W. (1990). The Case of the Machinists Mutiny. Harvard Business Review, 4-8.) Dent, Eric B., and Susan Galloway Goldberg. Challenging Resistance to Change.' Journal of Applied Behavioral Science (March 1999): 25. Kotter, J. P. (1996). Leading change. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Business School Press Lewin, K. (1951). Field theory in social science. New York, NY: Harper Row. Oliver Recklies Managing Change Definition und Phases in Change Processes www.themanager.org/strategy/change_phases.htm. (accessed on 12 of November) Supreet Ahluwalia and Vivek Joshi (2008)managing Change in an Organization. http://www.indianmba.com/Faculty_Column/FC707/fc707.html (accessed on 13 of November) Wendy H. Mason (2003) ManagingChangewww.referenceforbusiness.com (accessed on 12 of November)

Privatization of Electricity in Tanzania :: essays research papers fc

Privatization of Electricity in Tanzania The story of Tanzania, from pre-colonialist period to present Tanzania, located in East Africa, is one of the least developed countries in the world. According to the UNDP Human Development Index, Tanzania ranked 162 out of 177 countries in the 2004 survey (UNDP:2004, HDI), with one being the most developed. According to the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) prepared by Tanzanian officials for the World Bank, half of Tanzanians 36.6 million people are characterized as â€Å"poor† and one-third live in â€Å"abject poverty†(WB: PRSP p.1). Tanzanians have a life expectancy of 43.5 years, a fertility rate of 5.1 births per woman, an HIV prevalence of 8.8%, and a population growth rate of 1.95% (UNDP: 2004). Agriculture makes up half of the country’s GDP, 85% of the exports, and 80% of the labor force (CIA: 2004). Culturally, Tanzanians are made up of 130 different tribes, each speaking their own mother tongue. The official languages of Tanzania are Kiswahili and English, with English being the main language in commerce, administration, and higher education (CIA: 2004). Kiswahili is a mix of Bantu languages, English, and Arabic, and is indicative of the millennia old history of trade with the outside world. Records of trade routes with the Middle East date back to the 1st century AD (govt web: early history). Zanzibar and the coastal town of Bagamoya were the hubs of the East African slave trade, active for well over a thousand years (pilot). While the early slave trade with the Middle East existed only on a small scale, transporting around 100 slaves at a time, the appearance of Europeans in the 17th century ratcheted up the trade to a much larger scale and level of organization, at its height moving 15,000 slaves a year out of East Africa (pilot). Serious efforts to end the slave trade began in the 19th century, though the trade continued through the German occupation of then German East Africa in the latter part of the century. In 1919 after World War I, Britain took over German East Africa, renaming it Tanganyika, and permanently put an end to the slave trade (govt web: colonial period ). Tanganyika attained independence from British rule in 1961 and Zanzibar followed soon after in 1963, ending the existence of the British mandated territory. Tanzania was formed in 1964 by uniting the mainland, Tanganyika, and the islands of Zanzibar. An excerpt from the Tanzanian National Website displays an interesting official interpretation of the lingering effects of centuries of occupation by foreigners (my emphasis):

Course syllabus1. Albert Essay

Course information 1 2.1 Teaching times and Locations Lecture: 8.00 – 11.00 a.m. Venue: 1 2 2.2 Units of Credit This course is worth 3 credits. 2.3 Parallel teaching in the course There is no parallel teaching involved in this course. 2.4 Relationship of this course to others BA023IU–Project Management concentrates on how to manage a project beside discussing issues of project management. The course provides hands-on experience in various stage of the process of project management. The course is independent requiring no prerequisite course. However, the students may find techniques and knowledge from the course of BA164BA–Production and Operations Management useful. Students majoring in International Business, Marketing and Business Management may later take BA171IU–Risk Management and BA149IU–New Product Planning in the following semester, which will complement and foster the skills learned from this course and employ the project management knowledge the students have accumulated here. 2.5 Approach to learning and teaching Employing the interactive learning and problem-based teaching approach, this course emphasizes the interaction between lecturers and students. The lecture materials will be uploaded in Blackboard to help the students to preview the materials and to facilitate discussion during the lecture. This will help students to interact with the lecturer on other matters related to the subject before and after the lecture. The sessions for presentations and discussions comprise company case studies as well as answering some theoretical and conceptual questions, which help the students to see how the concepts are applied in reality. 3. COURSE AIMS AND OUTCOMES 3.1 Course Aims The aim of this course is to provide the students with insights into human behavior, knowledge of organizational issues and skills with quantitative methods for successful project management. Specifically, the course is to provide students with: Understanding on the concepts of project planning and organization, project control and project communications. Decision-making techniques in project selection. Analytical skills for successful project management. Insights into human behavior and people skills for project management. Project scheduling techniques including WBS, PERT, Gantt Charts. Use of Project Management Software Ms Project and Crystal Ball Software. 3.2 Student Learning Outcomes Students completing this course are likely to achieve the following attributes: Systems approach. See a bigger picture when managing a project, holistic perspective regarding all parties involved in the project, and all components that would deliver to make a project completed satisfactorily. People management. Appreciate individual strengths and weaknesses, direct people to achieve project targets. Team player and team leader. Constructively contribute to projects as a team player or leader, having versatility in both human and technical sides, negotiate to get to win-win solutions. Disciplinary and multidisciplinary perspective. Bring disciplinary and multi-disciplinary perspectives in straightening out situations and projecting possible outcomes. Planning, scheduling, logistics literate. Perform satisfactorily the basic tasks of project management. 3.3 Teaching Strategies The learning system in this course consists of lectures and scheduled presentations/discussions. Lectures elaborate the appropriate theoretical content in the textbook and readings. Classes provide a more detailed and refined analysis of both concepts and applied materials. Classes are strongly oriented towards interactive discussion of the text and cases and reading assignments. In order to gain the most from the lectures and class activities, the assigned text/reading should be read before the lecture to participate in the discussions. 4. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONDUCT 4.1 Workload It is expected that the students will spend at least six hours per week studying this course (three hours in class and three at home). This time at home should be made up of reading, research, working on exercises and problems, and attending classes. In periods where they need to complete assignments or prepare for examinations, the workload may be greater. Over-commitment has been a cause of failure for many students. They should take the required workload into account when planning how to balance study  with part-time jobs and recreation and/or other activities. 4.2 Attendance Regular and punctual attendance at lectures is expected in this course. University regulations indicate that if students attend less than eighty per cent of scheduled classes, they may not be considered for final assessment. Exemptions may only be made on medical grounds. It means that if you miss more than two classes, you may fail the class. For any class where you miss, you are obliged to submit your answers to the questions. 4.3 General Conduct and Behaviour The students are expected to conduct themselves with consideration and respect for the needs of the fellow students and teaching staff. Conduct which unduly disrupts or interferes with a class, such as ringing or talking on mobile phones, is not acceptable and students will be asked to leave the class. More information on student conduct is available at the university webpage. 4.4 Keeping informed The students should take note of all announcements made in lectures or on the course’s Blackboard. From time to time, the university will send important announcements to their university e-mail addresses registered with the school without providing a paper copy. The students will be deemed to have received this information. 5. LEARNING ASSESSMENT 5.1 Formal Requirements In order to pass this course, the students must: achieve a composite mark of at least 50; and make a satisfactory attempt at all assessment tasks (see below). 5.2 Assessment Details 5.2. 1 Attendance (5%): In order to get 5% of attendance score, a student must attend all sessions. If a student is absent for more than two sessions, she or he will lose 5% of total course grade and may be prohibited from the  final exam except for cases with medical reasons. 5.2.2 Homework (15%): Each student must submit a project proposal form, with enclosed budget and Ms Project schedule, before Session 8. Details will be announced. 5.2.3 Teamwork(10%): On Session 1, groups of maximum 5 students are formed and they will work on their group project throughout the course. Each team must present their analysis to a textbook case by answering the case questions (see the course calendar). Team members should read all the cases before class for discussion in class. Each class I will choose any team for case presentation which will be marked. 5.2.3 Mid-term Exam (30%): The midterm exam will be one and half hours in length and will be in the form of multiple choices and open questions/problems. This is open book test. Content of the Course Contents for Assessment Level of Cognitive Domain Understanding and Analytical Applying Multiple-choice Questions (MCQ) Written Questions (Problems) Introduction to Project Management Characteristics of a project, roles of project manager, project organization forms, Conflicts and Negotiation 10 MCQ 1 problem Project Selection/Planning Project Selection, Project Cost Estimation and Budgeting 10 MCQ 3 problems SCORE 40 60 5.2.4 Final Exam (40%): The final exam will be 2 hours in length during Final Exam Period and will be in the form of multiple choices and open questions/problems. This is open book test. Content of the Course Contents for Assessment Level of Cognitive Domain Understanding and Analytical Applying Multiple-choice Questions (MCQ) Written Questions (Problems) Project Planning Scheduling , CPM/PERT, Gantt Chart, Issues in Planning 10 MCQ 2 problems Project Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Project Crashing, Resources Allocation, Information Systems, Tools for Project Control, Project Evaluation/Audit 15 MCQ 2 problems SCORE 30 70 5.5 Special Consideration: Request for special consideration (for final examination only) must be made to the Office of Academic Affairs within one week after the examination. General policy and information on special consideration can be found at the Office of Academic Affairs. 6. ACADEMIC HONESTY AND PLAGIARISM Plagiarism is the presentation of the thoughts or work of another as one’s own (definition proposed by the University of Newcastle). Students are also reminded that careful time management is an important part of study and one of the identified causes of plagiarism is poor time management. Students should allow sufficient time for research, drafting, and the proper referencing of sources in preparing all assessment items. The university regards plagiarism as a form of academic misconduct, and has very strict rules regarding plagiarism.1 7. STUDENT RESOURCES 7.1 Course Resources Please note that it is very important to gain familiarity with the subject matter in the readings and cases prior to attendance in classes. Textbook: Meredith, J. and Mantel Jr, S. (2012), Project Management: A Managerial Approach, 8th Edition, Wiley. Reference Books: A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, 3rd Edition (PMBOK Guide), Project Management Institute, November 2004. Additional materials provided in Blackboard The lecturer will attempt to make lecture notes and additional reading available on Blackboard. However this is not an automatic entitlement for students doing this subject. Note that this is not a distance learning course, and you are expected to attend lectures and take notes. This way, you will get the additional benefit of class interaction and demonstration. Recommended Internet sites PMI (Project Management Institute) IPMA (International Project Management Association) APM (Association for Project Management) The Project Management Podcast Visitask Startwright Recommended Journals The Achiever Newsletter Project Management Books ePMTutor International Journal of Project Management PROJECT Magazine Project Manager Today Project Management Publications Project Times Project Management World Today PROJECTMagazine 7.2 Other Resources, Support and Information 1 2 Additional learning assistance is available for students in this course and will be made available in Blackboard. Academic journal articles are available through connections via the VNU – Central Library. Recommended articles will be duly informed to the students. 8. COURSE SCHEDULE Session Topic Learning materials and activities 1 Introduction – Basics of Project Management Context Definition of ‘project’ and other terminologies Rationale of project management approach Project life cycle Project objectives Risk associated with projects Textbook, Chapter 1 Forming Study groups Allocation of Group Tasks How to prepare for case study presentation Discussion: Bloomfield Transport, Inc. Reading: Lessons for an accidental profession 2 The Project Manager Introduction to Project Manager The roles of project managers The responsibilities of project managers Requirements of project managers Project manager’s qualifications Environmental and cultural issues Textbook, Chapter 3 Case: The National Jazz Hall of Fame Reading: What it takes to be a good project manager? 3 Project in the Organizational Structure Project and other superior organizations Project in its purest form Matrix Mixed Selecting the right project organization Project teams and other functions Textbook, Chapter 5 Case: Dizplaze Reading: The virtual project – Managing tomorrow’s team today 4 Conflict and Negotiation Categories of conflicts Conflicts and project life cycle Uncertainty and conflicts Negotiation defined Methods of negotiation Quiz (30 min) Textbook, Chapter 4 Case: Pelican landing –Bender Corporation. Reading: Methods of resolving interpersonal conflict 5 Project Selection and Planning Project selection models Qualitative and quantitative approaches Risk considered Project coordination plan Project action plan Work breakdown structure Integration management Textbook, Chapters 2 &6 Case: Pan Europa Food S.A. Reading: Planning for crises in project management 6 Budgeting Project budget estimation Methods of project estimation Issues in estimation Techniques for improving estimation Case discussion Textbook, Chapter 7 Case: Gujarat Auto Reading: Three perceptions of project costs MID-TERM 7 Project Scheduling PERT and CPM Gantt charts Risk analysis Extensions of tasks and project Practice of scheduling Textbook, Chapter 8 Case: Topline Arena Tutorial: Ms Project Software and Crystall Ball Software 8 Allocation of Resources CPM and crash Problems with resource allocation Loading and leveling Allocation under constraints Multi-project scheduling and allocation Practice of allocation of resources Textbook, Chapter 9 Case: D.U. Singer Hospital Product Corp. 9 Monitoring and Control Cycle of planning-monitoring-control Report process The concept of earned value Purposes and types of control Practice of project control Textbook, Chapters 10&11 Discussion: Earned value at CERN Case: Kroon Chemische Febriek Reading: Survey of project management tools 10 Project Control Designing control systems Control as a management function Balance in control Control of creative projects Control of change and creep Textbook, Chapter 11 Case: Peerless Laser Processors Reading: Controlling projects according to plan 11 Project Audit and Termination Purposes of evaluation Project audit Audit and project life cycle Design and use of audit report Issues of Measurement Termination basics Types of termination Process of termination Report of termination Textbook, Chapters 12&13 Case: Theatre High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD): Five Failures and Counting Team Project Presentations 12 Course Review Basic concepts Basic process The human side in project management Calculations, techniques and maths Q&A Drills Team Project Presentations

International Business Case Study Essay

Q. 1 (Chapter 2) Describe Ugandan cultural attributes that might affect the operations of a foreign company doing business there. Uganda is a country of 25 million people. The official language is English. A significant portion of the population spoke the indigenous language. Two-thirds of Ugandans are Christians (Roman Catholics and Anglicans). Muslim and animist communities are found in urban areas. Uganda has a history of violence and corruption. The dictatorship of General Idi Amin had left thousands dead in the countryside. A large number of Ugandan refugees fled to neighboring countries of Rwanda, Zaire, and Sudan. Nepotism may also be considered a norm in government. Indeed, the Ugandan government is considered to be the most corrupt in the world. For HG to complete its power plant project, it must consider the following facts: 1) government transactions are usually impersonal and familial in nature, 2) any foreign company which plan to invest in the country must observe its traditionalist stance on financial issues, 3) hiring is usually conducted by word of mouth, and 4) some business practices in Uganda are unethical in the United States, and 5) the Ugandan government is prone to bribery and violence (a foreign company operating in Uganda must face the prospect of bribery and extra-government negotiations). Q. 2 Who was right, Green or Martin, about Martin’s more controversial actions in facilitating the project? How might things have turned out if Martin had not been a member of the project team? Green is right about two things. First, it would be irresponsible on the part of Martin to isolate himself from his colleagues. For example, Martin could certainly afford to live in one of the upscale neighborhoods that were home to most foreign managers working in the country’s capital. Martin, defying corporate ‘rule of thumb’ preferred a middle-class Ugandan neighborhood and declined to frequent the places where fellow expatriates typically gathered. Martin’s actions may lead to a conflict in the coordination process, as far as the project is concerned. Second, much of the problem lies with Martin’s hiring practices. Martin had developed the practice of personally mentioning job openings to local people. The practice is beneficial in some respects. For example, ‘hiring the niece of a high-ranking customs officer couldn’t hurt when it came to getting import clearances’ (case, 4). The problem with this practice is that, if word reached ‘the higher echelons of the Ugandan government, HG would find itself dealing with people in a position to demand large payments for such services as, say, not finding the excuse to delay the project’ (case, 4). If the international business community found that HG is engaging in unethical business behavior, then it will damage the image of the company. In retrospect, Martin’s ‘adaptation’ strategy seems to be ‘out of bounds’ and excessive. Indeed, it will be beneficial for the company to replace Martin with a more pragmatic successor to complete the project. Note that the time lag between project completion and phasing is the same whether or not Martin is in the position of project director. Indeed, if Martin is retained as project director, he will still face the difficulty of completing the project on time due to cultural and political constraints (opposition from tribes and the prospect of politicking). Q. 1 (Chapter 11) What is eBay’s core competency? How does it relate to its chosen strategy?  The company’s core competency depends on its long-term objectives: supporting interaction in the eBay community by providing an online framework to valued buyers and clients, upholding the principles of trust and safety, insuring low fraud losses and protection to community members, and focusing on market efficiency in the delivery of products. The company’s distribution system demands little supervision. Most sellers pay eBay for the design, production, restructuring, and monitoring of products and auction prices. In practical terms, eBay has been the primary source of income for many sellers. Indeed, this is part of the company’s competency program – to extend its market niche and ensure financial continuity within a broad consumer base. Q. 5 What are the implications to the challenges identified in the case regarding eBay’s strategy – today and in the future? The company claims that it can transform the international business marketplace in ways that will create more jobs and opportunities for exporters and importers. It also claims that it can help impoverished nations and improve efficiency in the global market. The point of the company’s claims is: the virtual market is the future of economic development. The claims are not only absurd but totally out of view. At present, it is the manufacturing and service sectors which comprise the core of the global economy. If the company’s framework is the future of economic development, then it must be restructured to suit these conditions. Indeed, it is irresponsible on the part of the company to assume that its developmental framework is the ‘rule of thumb’ of the global corporate world (a fallacy indeed).

Harriet Tubman on the Twenty Dollar Bill

Harriet Tubman on the Twenty Dollar Bill Harriet Tubman was an amazing woman - she escaped slavery, freed hundreds of others, and even worked as a spy during the Civil War. Now she’s going to grace the front of the twenty dollar bill. But is this move progress or pandering? The Current State of Currency The faces of United States currency have a few things in common. They feature prominent figures in American history. Figures such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Benjamin Franklin have been pictured on our paper money, and some of our coins, for decades. These individuals were prominent in the founding and/or leadership of the nation. Not surprising, money is sometimes referred to colloquially as â€Å"dead presidents,† despite the fact that some figures on the money, such as Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin, were never presidents. In some ways, that fact does not matter much to the public. Hamilton, Franklin, and the others are larger than life figures in the history of the founding of the nation. It makes sense that the currency would feature them. However, what Washington, Lincoln, Hamilton, and Franklin also have in common is that they are prominent white men. Indeed, very few women, and fewer people of color more generally, have been featured on U.S. currency. For example, prominent women’s suffragist Susan B. Anthony was featured on a United States dollar coin minted from 1979 to 1981; however, the series was halted due to poor public reception, only to be reissued again for a short period in 1999. The following year another dollar coin, this time featuring the Native American guide and interpreter from the Shoshone nation, Sacagewa, who led Lewis and Clark on their expedition. Like the Susan B. Anthony coin, the golden dollar coin featuring Sacagewa was unpopular with the public and is of primary interest to collectors. But it looks like things are about to change. Now several women, including Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Marian Anderson, and Alice Paul will be gracing other denominations of paper money in the next upcoming years. How Did It Happen? A group called Women on 20s has been advocating to replace former president Andrew Jackson on the twenty dollar bill. The non-profit, grassroots organization had one major goal: to convince President Obama that now is the time to put a woman’s face on America’s paper currency. Women on 20s used an online election format with two rounds of voting that let the public choose a nominee from an original slate of 15 inspiring women from American history, women such as Wilma Mankiller, Rosa Parks, Eleanor Roosevelt, Margaret Sanger, Harriet Tubman and others. Over the course of 10 weeks, more than half a million people cast votes, with Harriet Tubman ultimately emerging as the winner. On May 12, 2015, Women On 20s presented a petition to President Obama with the election results. The group also encouraged him to instruct Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Lew to use his authority to make this currency change in time to have a new bill in circulation before the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage in 2020. And, after a year of public polls, discussion, and agitation, Harriet Tubman was chosen to be the face of the new twenty dollar bill. Why the $20 Bill? It’s all about the centennial of the 19th amendment, which granted (most but not all) women the right to vote. 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment and Women on 20s sees having women on the currency as the most appropriate way commemorate that milestone, arguing that â€Å"Let’s make the names of female ‘disrupters’- the ones who led the way and dared to think differently as well-known as their male counterparts. In the process, maybe it will get a little easier to see the way to full political, social and economic equality for women. And hopefully, it wont take another century to realize the motto inscribed on our money: E pluribus unum, or ‘Out of many, one.’† The move to replace Jackson makes sense. While he has been hailed throughout history because of his lowly beginnings and rise to the White House and his conservative views on spending, he was also an unabashed racist who engineered the removal of indigenous people from the southeast - also known as the infamous Trail of Tears  - to make way for white settlers and the expansion of slavery because of his belief in Manifest Destiny. He is responsible for some of the darkest chapters in American history. The group’s focus on putting women on paper money is a key one. Women had been featured on coins and not the frequently used ones such as the quarter yet those coins have been unpopular and have gone out of circulation quickly. Putting women on more frequently used paper money means that millions will use this currency. It means that women’s faces will be staring back at us while we buy groceries or tip servers or make it rain at the strip club. And instead of it being â€Å"all about the Benjamins,† it may be all about the Tubmans. Who Is Harriet Tubman? Harriet Tubman  was a slave, a conductor on the Underground Railroad, a nurse, a spy, and a suffragist. She was born into slavery in the 1820s in Dorchester, Maryland and named Araminta by her family. Tubman’s family was fractured by slavery and her own life was marred by violence and pain. For example, when she was 13, she received a blow to her from her master that resulted in a lifetime of illness, including headaches, narcolepsy, and seizures. In her 20s, she decided to take the ultimate risk: fleeing slavery. To call Tubman brave is an understatement. She not only made the perilous escape from slavery herself, she also returned South dozens of times to free hundreds of others. She used disguises to evade and outwit slave catchers and never lost a single person on the flight to freedom. During the Civil War, Tubman worked as a nurse, cook, scout, and spy. In fact, in 1863, she led an armed raid that freed 700 slaves in South Carolina on the Combahee River. Harriet Tubman has the great distinction of being the first woman ever to lead a military expedition in American history. After the civil war, Tubman was an avid suffragist who worked with high profile women’s rights advocates such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, lecturing on the right to vote. Later in life, after retiring to a farm outside of Auburn, New York, and after a long and arduous process of appeals, she secured a pension for herself of $20 per month for her Civil War efforts which makes it all the more ironic that she will now grace the front of the $20.   Is This Progress or Pandering? Harriet Tubman is undoubtedly a great American hero. She fought for the oppressed and put her own life and body on the line numerous times for others. As a Black woman freedom fighter, her life is a primary example of what it means to fight intersectionally  - taking into account various intersecting oppressions. She represents some of the most marginalized in our history and her name and memory should be on the lips of schoolchildren everywhere. But should she be on the $20? Many have hailed the decision to replace Andrew Jackson with Harriet Tubman, citing the move as evidence of the great progress our nation has made. Indeed, during part of her life Tubman was legally recognized as chattel - that is, movable property like a candlestick, or a chair, or cattle. She could have been legally bought or sold with U.S. currency. Therefore, goes the argument, the fact that she will now be the face of money shows how far we have come. Others have remarked that this same irony is why Tubman should not be on the $20. The argument is that a woman who risked her life countless times in order to free others, and who spent her years advocating for social change should not be associated with something as debased as money. Also, some argue that the fact that she was considered property for much of her life makes her inclusion on the twenty dollar bill hypocritical and distasteful. Still more insist that Tubman on the $20 simply pays lip service to issues of racism and inequality. In a moment where activists are trying to make the claim that Black Lives Matter and when systemic oppression has still left Blacks on the bottom of the social totem pole, some wonder about how useful it is to have Harriet Tubman on the $20. Others have argued that paper currency should only be reserved for government officials and presidents.   This is a particularly interesting moment to place Harriet Tubman on the $20. On the one hand, the U.S. has seen an amazing amount of social change in the past few decades. From having a Black president to the passage of gay marriage to the rapidly shifting racial demographics of the country, the U.S. is transforming to a new nation. However, some of the nation’s old guard is not going down with a fight. The increasing popularity of ultra-right wing conservatism, white supremacy groups, and even the troubling rise of Donald Trump speaks to much of the uneasiness a substantial part of the country has with the social sea of change going on. Some of the vitriolic reactions to the news of Tubman on the twenty dollar bill underscore that racism and sexism are far from obsolete. Interestingly, while Women on 20s did gain a victory for their campaign by getting Harriet Tubman on the $20, Andrew Jackson is not really going anywhere: he will still be on the back of the note. Perhaps in the case of women gracing U.S. paper currency, it is a situation where the more things change, the more things stay the same.

Graduation essays

Graduation essays Key Terms and what have you for Ch. 15 State and Local Gov. Democratic Rationale for public ed. Being universal free and compulsory If people are going to have universal suffrage then they must be educated to do so Two Ex. of early of USA commitment public ed. Northwest Ordinance of 1787 gave land grants to for public schools in new territories. 1647 Massachusetts colony required public ed. out of public funds Ex. of what we expect now Schools are expected to resolve racial conflict, build an integrated society, improve image of minorities, inspire patriotism and school pride, and provide recreational activities. Short run effect of public expenditures (including those for ed.) on economic growth rates among states funding of ed. has been known to stimulate the economy (ed. and infrastructure are the top stimuli of economy) Inputs- measure of resources expended on ed. Outputs - measure of what pupils are learning Grad. Rates Top- New Hampshire Low- LA Texas- below avg Best Educated state- Colorado Worst - W. Virginia Texas- avg Many believe performance testing is culturally biased and not relevant SAT scores were on the decline, however the amount of people who take the test is rising. Scores have risen again since 1982 attributed to teaching more basic verbal and math skills Conclusion of Coleman student performance isnt better with more spending, rather is quality home and school environment, disciplined classrooms, monitoring student progress etc. Performance Testing causes teacher to coach students on how to pass these tests rather than teach skills that are necessary to have after graduation; minority groups believe the tests are racially biased and minorities have scored much lower than whites and h ...

A Study on Religious Believes of Anglo-Saxon Society based on The Seafarer, The Wanderer, and The Wifes Lament

A Study on Religious Believes of Anglo-Saxon Society based on The Seafarer, The Wanderer, and The Wife's Lament Synthesis Essay on the Anglo-Saxons The Anglo-Saxons were a religious group of people as other generations of people were. Religion played a role in the Anglo-Saxon people’s lives and as a result it reflected in their writings. Poems written by the Anglo-Saxons have shown significant signs of religious influence including â€Å"The Seafarer,† â€Å"The Wanderer,† and â€Å"The Wife’s Lament.† Each writer of each poem gives their own testament regarding God’s influence on their situation. The Anglo-Saxon practiced their belief beyond religious establishments by writing of them within their poems. The Anglo-Saxons seemed to have correlated their everyday lives to their religious beliefs as shown in â€Å"The Seafarer.† The poem is written by a man fond of the sea and mentally drained by dwelling on the land. He understands the hardships of travelling by sea but simply cannot stay away. â€Å"Grown so brave, or so graced by God, That he feels no fear as the sails unfurl†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The writer is fearless of what the sea offers and correlates his bravery to being graced by God. Religion may have motivated many actions amongst the Anglo-Saxons as they believed to be protected and thus fearless. The Anglo-Saxon people being religious had no conflicting ideals of evolution instead pointing to God for it all. The writer goes on to talk about how God essentially created the Earth and life itself. â€Å"We all fear God. He turns the Earth, He set it swinging firmly in space, Gave life to the world and light to the sky. Death leaps at the fools who forget their God.† Scientific beliefs such as evolution may have been non-existent to the Anglo-Saxons as the writer of â€Å"The Seafarer† notes on how everyone fears God and how He gave life to the world. Religion played a key role to everything the Anglo-Saxons believed in from their everyday activities to basis of life itself. The Anglo-Saxon’s often looked to religion and God in times of distress to mediate the best of a bad situation. As shown in â€Å"The Wanderer,† the writer finds himself alone following the slaughter of many people he had once knew. With nowhere else to turn, the speaker turns to his religion for comfort. â€Å"This lonely traveller longs for grace, For the mercy of God†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The speaker falls to God in his lonesome travels to remedy the hardships he had just experienced. The Anglo-Saxons believed and stood by God’s impact on their lives despite what they’ve been through. The Anglo-Saxon people went to God and religion as a reason behind everything they do. â€Å"It’s good to find your grace In God, the heavenly rock where rests our every hope.† The speaker goes on to state how giving your life despite hardships to God is good as religion holds all the hope in the world. â€Å"The Wanderer† gives example of one dweller of many who may have found themselves in a lonesome situation who in turn, turned to God. The Anglo-Saxon people believed in religion greatly as their only source of hope through hardships such as war. As supported by â€Å"The Wanderer† speaker, the Anglo-Saxon’s sought after religion during times of distress. â€Å"The Wife’s Lament† is a poem written by the ‘wife’ of a man who seemingly is exiled himself and the speaker seeks him. The speaker in the poem however is exiled herself and forced by her husband’s kinsman to remain in the woods â€Å"in the den of the earth.† â€Å"Blithe was our bearing often we vowed that but death alone would part us two naught else.† The speaker motions towards her marital vows towards her husband to counteract his decision to hold her in the woods against her will. Marriage often seen as a lifelong relationship established by God, the speaker feels her Lord betrayed both her and God by abandoning her and their commitments. As with all religions, the Anglo-Saxons consisted of individuals who had went against their beliefs. â€Å"May on himself depend all his world’s joy.† The speaker wishes upon the â€Å"curse† that her husband depend on everything given to him on Earth rather than what awaits him later in the afterlife. The speaker in â€Å"The Seafarer† notions at how the wealth of the world does not reach the Heavens nor does it remain important when you die and thus the wife wishes her husband depends heavily on the joys he experiences now. Religion to the Anglo-Saxon’s explained every aspect to their life including marriage and those who opposed it were seen as deserters as noted in â€Å"The Wife’s Lament.† Religion explained many aspects within the Anglo-Saxon’s lives through the three poems, â€Å"The Seafarer,† â€Å"The Wanderer† and â€Å"The Wife’s Lament.† The three speakers of the poems noted God’s ability to guide them through times of distress and as a result gave their life to their faith. The three poems reflected the impact of religion to Anglo-Saxon people’s lives and thus this was reflected in their writings.

Integration of Faith and Learning I Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Integration of Faith and Learning I - Essay Example To begin with, one might point out that in spite of the fact that the above mentioned verse does not define what â€Å"a good name† is, it clearly states the supremacy of character over temporal values such as money. In other words, this verse urges a person to put emphasis on personal spiritual development and have a sound, well developed character instead of a bank account full of money. This means that working on oneself is more preferable than spending time on earning additional money. The logic behind this is quite simple: while money is a resource that can be destroyed easily (spend or inflate), good character as well as a good name that comes with it will never spoil. Secondly, the same verse might also be applied to a firm. In this case, a good name should be understood as reputation and riches – financial funds. Indeed, the above mentioned abstract of the Bible teaches firms to pay attention toward building a good reputation in stead of accumulating financial resources. The logic that this guideline features is similar to the one that was discussed previously: a firm should not consider money to be basis of its prosperity, but rather a good reputation that can last for many years, while money can be arrested or blocked, leaving a firm helpless. Finally, one would make no mistake suggesting that the above mentioned verse might be interpreted in terms of marketing and management. Thus, the Bible argues that it is highly beneficial for a company to contribute to its reputation in different ways. For example, it is important to avoid involvement in scandals and make sure that every employee is working on strengthening firm’s positive image which will later be used as a competitive advantage when it comes to positioning on the market. Having examined all the points mentioned in the paragraphs above, in spite of the fact that the Bible is largely considered to be a sacred book of a particular religion, the ideas that it embraces may not

Eaarth by Bill McKibben - A New Devastated Planet Essay

Eaarth by Bill McKibben - A New Devastated Planet - Essay Example It should be noted that the author has a particular reason for adding another ‘a’ in the spelling, i.e. he considers that humans are not living on the planet Earth. Humans have over-populated the planet with increased global warming and testing nuclear bombs on earth. It is the pollution and industrial sweep that have actually made the frozen tips of mountains to melt down, causing increased sea levels leading to floods. There are many other reasons behind the global warming that have actually led the author to think of a title which has an additional ‘a’. (McKibben). The philosophy behind the entitlement of the book is not an illusion. The need of the hour is to address the climate change that is taking place with fast pace. It should be noted that Bill McKibben has also noted the fact in his work that it is already too late to make change, because the greatest damage that is likely to place is already underway. Humans have avoided the consequences a great deal, which is resulted in the present situation (McKibben). Bill McKibben has already been writing for many newspapers including The New York Times and Mother Jones etc. The subject matter of his writing has always been environment and nature. His first book was published in 1989 which remarkably educated people about climate change and its basics. His first book about climate change was more like an encyclopedia that was translated in many languages and published throughout the world. Despite the renounce of his book, the attitude towards climate change by major countries of the world remains avoidable. In other words it could be said that the book written on the subject of environment has been a part of encyclopedia but none actually tried to act on it (McKibben). It seems that Bill McKibben blames the bigger industries for the oil spills and ruining the marine life. There are many instances of his writing pieces that show anguish concern against the multinational organizations. According to his book Eaarth, it was noted that there are many oil companies that have marked increased profits within the time period of three years. This shows that companies are more interested to make maximum profits without having any considerations of the environment (McKibben). The philosophy of Bill McKibben is not any different than that of other environmentalists, such as John Muir and Edward Abby, but the approach is far effective than others. If we compare the written pieces of John Muir and Bill McKibben, it comes to understanding that John has rather discussed the beautiful scenarios of the planet E,arth whereas Bill McKibben shows the changing aspects of the environment that will not let the beautiful scenarios to remain seeable for the future generations (Muir). Readers of the essays by John Muir would surely understand the beauty of different parts of the world. The book takes the readers to the adventurous and beautiful ride to the world. But it should be noted tha t the climate change taking place in the world is deadly and can cause a number of fatalities such as volcanoes, tsunami, hurricanes and spread of deadly diseases which have already increased its toll (Muir). The philosophy of Bill McKibben is not just based upon writing implications but also practical intervening. Bill

Active Listening Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Active Listening Paper - Essay Example Active Listening is the most superior listening in which listener strives to pay maximum attention to what is being said and conveyed. Active listening is characterized by a prompt feedback to the speaker on what is perceived or understood of his vocals and actions. Gordon (2002, p.81) states, â€Å"Situations requiring the use of emphatic listening are almost limitless in groups and organizations.† The empathy to the speaker is the basic requirement for active listening. The active listening is a very significant contributor towards a better team work in organizations where communications are a major concern to achieve business objectives. In order to highlight the importance and interplay of various active listening aspects, a fictitious organizational communication scenario is sketched in the following lines. The scenario depicts, evaluates and analyzes a conversational session between the writer, who is a Marketing Manager in a network consultancy firm and listening to Mr. John who is a customer support supervisor. Mr. John is required to brief me on the issues pertaining to some major clients and seeks to have some advice on applicable solution. I have got some previous reservations on Mr. John’s approach and working towards achieving organizational objectives in the field of customer support. The first obstacle to my active listening objective was to overcome my general perception about the speaker and to concentrate objectively on the currents issues being discussed by Mr. John. It was necessary for me to avoid any preoccupations to ensure empathic comprehension of the issues and formulation of workable solutions. In order to make Mr. John comfortable I welcomed him warmly to show my concern and interest in the issues and spared enough time to listen in detail. Secondly, I appreciated Mr. John’s efforts that he

English as Only US Official Language Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

English as Only US Official Language - Essay Example Other like-minded movements followed but none has so far prospered because of the chief argument that an attitude of intolerance towards languages other than English is undemocratic and impinges on individual liberties. The policy has nonetheless gained headway in at least 27 states, where pro-English laws or resolutions have already been enacted. On the federal level, two opposing lobbies have been organized represented by the English Plus movement that pushes for bilingualism, and the English Only group that clamors for monolingualism and for English to be declared as the only official national language. This paper dissects the pros and cons of the issue and evaluates which side makes more sense and a stronger case. Topic Sentence 2 - Spanish is perceived to be the biggest threat to English since Hispanics comprise the largest number of immigrants in the US, such that more and more public utilities and documents are inscribed in Spanish especially in areas where there are large immigrant communities. There are over 300 languages spoken in the US by people whose primary language is not English, but Hispanic immigrants easily qualify as the largest group of non-English speakers because of the proximity of the US to Latin America. According to the US Bureau of Census, in a tone that suggests warning, 100 million people of Hispanic origins will be all over the 50 states of the Union by 2050 (Lynch 11). Because of this large-scale immigration of Hispanics, Spanish has become the unofficial second language of the US (Rodriguez 3). This bothers Americans with native roots that perceive the growth of Spanish-speaking communities as a threat to English. Why is this predominantly used immigrant language in America considered a threat to English Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colorado) explains that Spanish is making inroads into the predominant position that should be occupied by English among Americans. This is duality that must be avoided at all costs because "it would weaken American identity an d sow the seeds of disunity and conflict." The possible weakening of the American identity and the potential of bilingualism to breed disunity is the battle slogan of such organizations as the English Only movement, Official English and the US English Inc., the latter a political lobby group founded by the late Senator from Alaska Samuel Hayakawa and Dr. John Tanton in 1983. These groups feel that English is losing out to Spanish and call for federal legislation to declare English as the official language, specifying that no other state law or policy shall be enforced that requires the use of any language other than English. English Only advocates point to Hartford in Connecticut to show that English is retreating in favor of Spanish and that the threat is real (Mujica 5). Hispanics comprise 40 percent of the population of this typical American city, where half of its Spanish-speaking people do not speak English at all so Spanish is the

HR contributes at SYSCO Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

HR contributes at SYSCO - Case Study Example The same human resource initiative play a key role in improving work place safety, as well as save on the amounts of compensation that employees ask for. The market driven approach also has administrative roles in the preservation of entrepreneurial independence. This is concerning the issue of maintaining freedom in regional operation offices where practices can be â€Å"sold† to the offices. This can be done by convincing the managers and members of staff to adopt the said practices by evaluating the usefulness and suitability, as well as conflicts with standard operational standard in a region. Factors in human resource management influencing employee compensation include the use of survey data. This cuts back compensation claims by up to 30%. This is through interventions by human resource strategists to increase safety. In terms of employee turnover, it can be increased by applying programs and services based on data collected from managers and employees through surveys. This way output increases and cuts costs use in employee recruitment and training. In addition, the use of incentives and employee retention increased employee turnover, which in turn, translates to customer satisfaction. This works together with the experienced employees with better knowledge of operations and products of SYSCO thus improved employee

Active Listening Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Active Listening Paper - Essay Example Active Listening is the most superior listening in which listener strives to pay maximum attention to what is being said and conveyed. Active listening is characterized by a prompt feedback to the speaker on what is perceived or understood of his vocals and actions. Gordon (2002, p.81) states, â€Å"Situations requiring the use of emphatic listening are almost limitless in groups and organizations.† The empathy to the speaker is the basic requirement for active listening. The active listening is a very significant contributor towards a better team work in organizations where communications are a major concern to achieve business objectives. In order to highlight the importance and interplay of various active listening aspects, a fictitious organizational communication scenario is sketched in the following lines. The scenario depicts, evaluates and analyzes a conversational session between the writer, who is a Marketing Manager in a network consultancy firm and listening to Mr. John who is a customer support supervisor. Mr. John is required to brief me on the issues pertaining to some major clients and seeks to have some advice on applicable solution. I have got some previous reservations on Mr. John’s approach and working towards achieving organizational objectives in the field of customer support. The first obstacle to my active listening objective was to overcome my general perception about the speaker and to concentrate objectively on the currents issues being discussed by Mr. John. It was necessary for me to avoid any preoccupations to ensure empathic comprehension of the issues and formulation of workable solutions. In order to make Mr. John comfortable I welcomed him warmly to show my concern and interest in the issues and spared enough time to listen in detail. Secondly, I appreciated Mr. John’s efforts that he

HR contributes at SYSCO Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

HR contributes at SYSCO - Case Study Example The same human resource initiative play a key role in improving work place safety, as well as save on the amounts of compensation that employees ask for. The market driven approach also has administrative roles in the preservation of entrepreneurial independence. This is concerning the issue of maintaining freedom in regional operation offices where practices can be â€Å"sold† to the offices. This can be done by convincing the managers and members of staff to adopt the said practices by evaluating the usefulness and suitability, as well as conflicts with standard operational standard in a region. Factors in human resource management influencing employee compensation include the use of survey data. This cuts back compensation claims by up to 30%. This is through interventions by human resource strategists to increase safety. In terms of employee turnover, it can be increased by applying programs and services based on data collected from managers and employees through surveys. This way output increases and cuts costs use in employee recruitment and training. In addition, the use of incentives and employee retention increased employee turnover, which in turn, translates to customer satisfaction. This works together with the experienced employees with better knowledge of operations and products of SYSCO thus improved employee

Railway Station Essay Example for Free

Railway Station Essay The stench of boiling coffee wafted around the deserted railway station, there were flutters of pigeons scuffling around, scrounging all the left over nibbles that had been left on the floor by the commuters from the evening before. It was dawn and as the sun was rising, so was a brisk wind that every now and then swarmed through the dark station whisking away severely crumpled newspapers that on their round, the cleaners had missed with the dust pan and brush earlier that morning. The hustle and bustle of the ordinary public hurled its way into the calm, collected station. Information boards began to rustle and the sounds of trains departed from what was now like another world, the smelly crammed station that had lost all its sense of dignity was now ready and waiting for what the day had in store. When people boarded the train that was due to take them to their destination it was like they had no concept of what was going on around them, completely oblivious to all the other passengers. Newspapers went up in the hot and clustered train compartment and people tucked themselves away in them for the duration of their journey even if they had already read it all, they would do anything to avoid the eye of a fellow commuter. The old escalators whined as they continually roamed up, and then back down again, as they carry frustrated, dizzy passengers who are always having to hurry around, never having anytime to stop on there busy, rushed route to work. Along one of the hard, cold walls a man sat there still, with his dog as a companion, eagerly anticipating the kind passer by, who frequently would be able to spare a moment of their time to drop in a few valuable Pennines. A warm, soft smell filled the right hand side of the station. The shoe polish from the repair stand that made everyone tilt there heads towards as the brushed by. Every now and then a well groomed business man popped in and had his shoes polished, before returning to his recurring hassle of his job. Throughout the chilled station a repeated yell took place every so often, coming from the four newspaper stalls, which echoed all around the station, Standard, come and get ya standard. The friendly face that occurred in the same place, at the same time, every day of the working year. Desperate to sell the days loads of papers to the commuters passing through the station. The stench of boiling coffee wafted around the deserted railway station, there were flutters of pigeons scuffling around, scrounging all the left over nibbles that had been left on the floor by the commuters from the evening before. It was dawn and as the sun was rising, so was a brisk wind that every now and then swarmed through the dark station whisking away severely crumpled newspapers that on their round, the cleaners had missed with the dust pan and brush earlier that morning.

Kraft Foods Entrance Into China Marketing Essay

Kraft Foods Entrance Into China Marketing Essay The paper that we write is about Kraft Foods which entered the Chinese market. At present, Kraft Foods is the worlds second largest food company, as far as we know, the worlds largest food company is Nestle company. However, we do believe that Kraft Foods Company has its particular advantages, for example, it has outstanding achievements in its operating management, personnel training and so on. In the near future, we think it will go beyond itself, realize new breakthrough, so we chose Kraft Foods at last. About this paper, we mainly focus on Kraft Foods history, the reason why it entered Chinese market, and the condition of organization and management in Chinese market. At beginning, the paper was made up of six parts: they are executive summary, conclusion and section one to four. Then, we divided every Section into several parts; everyone has her or his own duties. Now, the allocation of every members task is as followings. Firstly, Veras task are the second question of section 3, the forth and eighth questions of section 4. Secondly, Janes tasks are the first and third question of section 3, the sixth question of section 4, and she is responsible for the summary and clearing up as well. Thirdly, Naomis tasks are the three questions of section 2, and the fifth question of section 4, catalogue and conclusion. Fourthly, Shelias tasks are the three questions of section 2, the seventh question of section 4, catalogue and conclusion as well. At last, Alfreds tasks are section 1 and the first three questions of section 4. We distributed equally according to the difficulty of the problems and the field who is good at. We have ordered the question accordi ng to the catalogue. In the paper, we introduce the history of the company firstly, because the history is the procedure of the development of the company. we can understand the companys culture and history that in turn will help us understand why they decided to expand internationally, and specifically into China so that we can judge the wisdom of that decision. This judgment will be an important part of the Conclusion. In addition, we write the reason why Kraft Foods entered the Chinese market; we take the Chinese market as example, specifically represent the model of their operating management and achievements. Besides, the form and organizational structure Kraft Foods Company came into China. Combine our learning with them to analyze the management of Kraft Foods. Finally, we put forward some reasonable suggestions. As all the efforts we have devoted to, we have further understanding of Krafts business and management. At the same time, with Kraft Foods as an example, we got the more practical comprehension. Section I: History of the Kraft Foods Company James Kraft is the founder of Kraft. He founded the company in 1903,Ms Irene Rosenfeld headed the Kraft Foods for more than 20 years .she help Kraft foods successfully listed in 2001.Altria announced the promotion of two executive Beth Howden and Dailuomeidi served as Co-chief CEO, she became Chief Executive Officer since June 2006,in March 2007,she became the chairman of Kraft Foods. (Kraft Foods Corporate Home http://www.kraftfoodscompany.com/cn/zh/home/index.aspx Oct 29, 2012) With the development of company, especially initiating the reforms and open policy, according to GDP, China is the second largest in the world. China cached up with Japan. According to figures released by the World Bank, in accordance with the PPP (purchasing power parity), China is the worlds second-evaluation of purchasing power. The world is about $ 55 trillion. China is probably more than one trillion U.S. dollars, accounted for about 9% of the worlds, and greatly increased the proportion of Chinas international economic. Chinas foreign exchange reserves have reached more than 14,000 billion, has accounted for one in the world. The rapid development of the economy, as the most populous nation of the world ¼Ã…’Kraft Foods will not pass the big market. (Kraft Foods Corporate Home http://www.kraftfoodscompany.com/cn/zh/home/index.aspx Oct 29, 2012) Since 1924, Kraft Foods to be listed on the stock market, from time to time during the acquisition of other companies, and extended to the food business. Kraft in 1982 and 1984 respectively into Taiwan and mainland China market, in 1988, and Altria group predecessor Philip Morris acquisition Kraft Foods, in 1989, Philip Morris will its General food and Kraft merge for Kraft General Foods. In 2000, Philip Morris acquired Nano Beth and then merge it into Kraft. In July 2007 by acquiring rival Danone, Kraft starts its biscuit business. Kraft encourage the expansion into china. Before the worlds second-largest food group Kraft Global Board concluded in Beijing. Despite the growing number of multinational global board of directors moved to China, for Kraft, this is the first time. Since 2002, the global business restructuring Kraft yogurt sold to milk ternary .the name of Kraft in China is not so loud, it makes Kraft some grievances. in fact, Krafts biscuit business sit tight the first. T ANG- the Guozhen solid instant drinks and Maxwell House coffee were also occupy the first, second market share in their respective fields. Kraft was on the rise in the global downsizing while on the high-speed development of the investment in developing countries, China has become one of the five countries of the Kraft focused investment, and the Chinese people to re-recognize Kraft become increasingly important (Kraft Foods Corporate Home http://www.kraftfoodscompany.com/cn/zh/home/index.aspx Oct 29, 2012) In 1982, General Foods and Unity to set up a joint venture company in Taiwan, Kraft Foods locate in china in Beijing in 1984, in 1996, and Nabisco biscuit completed the factory in Beijing and Suzhou. So far, Krafts investment in China is more than $ 200 million. In early 2006, Kraft Australia factory production migrated to Suzhou, in 2000, Nabisco acquisition of United Biscuits biscuit business in the Greater China region, in the same year Kraft acquired Nabisco. In 2001, Kraft sold Beijing Kraft dairy business. In 2005, Kraft began building a new biscuit factory in Beijing. In 2006, Kraft will integrate all the entities in China to Kraft Foods. (Kraft Foods Corporate Home http://www.kraftfoodscompany.com/cn/zh/home/index.aspx Oct 29, 2012) Section II: Why Kraft Foods Company came to China? Kraft Foods came to China in 1984. Now, the company has 4,000 employees in China approximately, and its products cover 4 consumer goods sectors: biscuits, coffee, powdered beverages and confectionary. The company has set up offices in 250 cities across China and 8 manufacturing facilities in Beijing, Suzhou, Shanghai, Guangzhou and so on. Kraft Foods Corporate Management (Shanghai) Co., Ltd is the headquarters of Kraft Foods in China. (Expanding Market in China: Kraft Foods Commissions New Production Line in Suzhou http://www.kraftfoodscompany.com/cn/en/mediacenter/kraftfoodschinanews/2011/20110704.aspx 10-30-2012) Obviously, Kraft Foods Company expanded elsewhere. October 1, 2012, MondelÄâ€Å"z international launched the worlds top snack food brand of former Kraft food with 10 million people around the world. Kraft Foods is the worlds second largest food company, doing business in 145 countries around the world, one of the subsidiaries of MondelÄâ€Å"z International Company. It is one of the most outstanding makers of coffee, chocolate, gum, biscuits and candy in the world. The company has its main branches in North America, China and Canada. The company already has around 100,000 MondelÄâ€Å"z International employees across more than 80 countries and areas. Kraft has become the giants of the food industry, and its affiliates are around the world. Though MondelÄâ€Å"z International is new, the companys brands are as diversified and rich with heritage as the 170 countries in which its products appear on the market (Kraft foods Company http://www.mondelezinternational.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/pdf/mondelez_intl_fact_sheet.pdf 28 October 2012 ) The Kraft focuses on improving its growth to expand the Companys global scale, the Company is expanding its marketing now, also they growing markets and making infrastructure investments larger, such as the markets like China, Brazil, Mexico, Russia and so on. (United States Securities and Exchange Commission http://www.mondelezinternational.com/assets/pdf/KraftAR04_10K.pdf 10-30-2012) In addition, they consider differences in governments. The U.S. government has an open attitude and policy about export. The company is no longer a simple export the brand of the United States around the world, but expects them to automatically do well. Kraft priority to China as the most important countries in its developing markets division. They have taken into account the differences in the Chinese government and the Chinese market and will use the advantage of the Chinese market. It has invested distribution, research and development, marketing Oreo, Tang orange drink, its best-selling item, and its dozens of brands of disproportionate resources. Their company official said that they believe that the Chinese market is to teach us how to focus and how to distinguish and how innovation. The official also said that they will continue to do their utmost to provide safe, delicious, high-quality products for Chinese consumers with a variety of methods, expanding the scale of productio n, increased R D investment intensity, open up new markets, and so on. (Kraft food Company http://www.kraftfoodscompany.com/cn/en/mediacenter/kraftfoodschinanews/2011/20110704.aspx 28 October 2012) At the same time, they consider differences in business practices and customs. China is one of the top 10 markets in terms of development priority for Kraft Food. Many famous brands of Kraft Foods, such as Oreo, Chips Ahoy, and Uguan, have become the favorites of Chinese customers. said Lorna Davis, and she told us that they will continue to make their best efforts to provide safe, delicious and high quality products to Chinese consumers with a variety of approaches, their goal is expands production scale and develops new markets, because China is a big market. When Kraft firstly came to China, their products sold not very well. Because that it different between Chinese and foreigners tastes. The Chinese people can not stand the sweetness of the products. Then Kraft changed the sales strategy. (Expanding Market in China: Kraft Foods Commissions New Production Line in Suzhou http://www.kraftfoodscompany.com/cn/en/mediacenter/kraftfoodschinanews/2011/20110704.aspx 10-29-2012) At last, there are same personal differences within the company in deciding that China was a good market for them. Shawn Warren is the president of Kraft Foods China. Due to the sale trouble in 2005, he proposed to launch a combination of local tastes Oreo cookies. Shawn Warren said, Consumers in China said they hope to get a little taste of the stimulus as well. Therefore, that is what we want to hear. He advocates should seize the opportunity, improved the taste of the food, according to the tastes of Chinese consumers to take full advantage of the Chinese market. By clicking on Krafts distribution network in Chinas cities, the number of Cadbury candy sales will rise to about 40. Lorna Davis, president and chairman of the board of Krafts business in China in an interview with reporters, Reuters reporters said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum. Chinas economic situation has been changing annually, the real challenge is how to choose the right opportunity Davis said. If I had unlimited resources and unlimited people, I will take with Kraft, but now the focus is in the integration of Cadbury biscuits and expanding our product line. She advocated a long-term view point, and not just confined to the Chinese market. (Kraft Foods China pushes for local flavors in Oreos http://www.china.org.cn/learning_english/2012-06/08/content_25597524.htm October 28, 2012) Section III: The Form Kraft Foods Company Came into China Kraft Foods chooses the form of expanding to come into China. Kraft Foods expand a brand in China, and up to now, it has several brands not only in china but also some Asian countries. Traces back to its history, Kraft Foods started to sell the products in China in 1984. At present, there has been have 4 consumer goods sectors in the field of foods; they are confectionary, biscuits, coffee, and powdered beverages, each of them is popular in China. The headquarters of Kraft Foods in China is Kraft Foods Corporate Management (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. The company has set up 250 offices and 8 manufacturing facilities across China, the main brands are distributed in Beijing, Suzhou, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Jiangmen. This measure makes people in china enjoy the nice snacks from America. (Expanding Market in China_ Kraft Foods Commissions New Production Line in Suzhou http://www.kraftfoodscompany.com/cn/en/mediacenter/kraftfoodschinanews/2011/20110704.aspx 10-30-2012) As the words said above, it is not the only option for Kraft to enter Chinese market. And it has other options. For example, they came into china by the form of acquisition. As Danone was in Chinese market, and when Kraft acquired Danone, the market in China which Danone had was belong to Kraft. (Expanding Market in China_ Kraft Foods Commissions New Production Line in Suzhouhttp://www.kraftfoodscompany.com/cn/en/mediacenter/kraftfoodschinanews/2011/20110704.aspx 10-29-2012) You must have a doubt that why did they make the decision? China is one of the top 10 markets in Kraft Food in terms of development priority. There are many famous kinds of Kraft Foods, these products attract almost every Chinese. Such as Oreo, Chips Ahoy, and Uguan, many people think these are their favorite foods. Nowadays, Suzhou Industrial Park is preparing to welcome the Kraft foods coming. Because Kraft foods bring us energy and talents, promote employment and economic development. The most important is that they intend to take root germination in China and based on their sustainable development, they want to make use of their business philosophy to create win-win situations for the whole society. (Expanding Market in China_ Kraft Foods Commissions New Production Line in Suzhou http://www.kraftfoodscompany.com/cn/en/mediacenter/kraftfoodschinanews/2011/20110704.aspx 10-30-2012) Section IV ¼Ã… ¡The Organization Structure Taken by Kraft Foods Company in Coming to China Strong corporate governance is essential, Our Board of Directors believes that effective corporate governance principles and practices, together with the companys Articles of Incorporation , By-laws , Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Directors and Corporate Governance Guidelines , provide a strong framework to assist them in upholding their fiduciary responsibilities to shareholders and promoting the long-term success of the company. (Corporate Governance http://www.mondelezinternational.com/Investor/corporate-governance/index.aspx Oct 30, 2012) When Health staff are working, they are full of enthusiasm, a successful business needs a healthy workforce, which is why we want to encourage our employees to have a healthy lifestyle, and every year our goal is to expand these efforts. Our staffs Lifestyle need to improve, they can do such as stress management, weight management and smoking cessation, and so on. (Wellness http://www.mondelezinternational.com/DeliciousWorld/workplaceandculture/wellness.aspx Oct 30, 2012) We may make it a priority to treat our people well, we can help them develop and give them a rewarding working life, Excel in their performance Develop skills for improvement Move towards their career goals By providing training and development programs, on-the-job learning, coaching and feedback, we could make sure that everyone who works with us has the resources they need to learn more and build their careers. The success depends on motivated and committed employees. We would need them to feel that they play a real part in helping our business meet its goals and have an understanding of what they are. We should have several different ways of measuring our employees level of engagement with the business and satisfaction with their working lives such as through constructive dialogue with our employee representative groups and employee survey. (Wellness http://www.mondelezinternational.com/DeliciousWorld/workplaceandculture/wellness.aspx Oct 30, 2012) The organizational structure of Kraft is matrix structure. Kraft has five global consumer sectors, which are Beverages, Cheese and Dairy, Snacks, Convenient Meals, and Grocery. Then in this structure, organization dimensions are also divided into three parts. First, in order to improve growth and global expansion, a brand new global marketing and category development group is being established. Second, for the sake of better severing local consumers and customers, the geographic-based commercial units is forming to strength the development county by country. Third, within our business system, our key functions will be responsible for promoting cost savings and accelerating effectiveness. (Kraft Foods Announces New Global Organizational Structure http://www.lexdon.com/article/kraft_foods_announces_new_global/56574.html 10-30-2012) There are other structure discussed in the chapter might allow Kraft to operate more effectively. The move to a product team will lead to greater effectiveness and efficiency. The dual reporting relationships that are at the heart of matrix structure have always difficult for managers and employees to deal with. Often, the functional boss and the product boss make conflicting demands on team members, who do not know which boss to satisfy first. The product team structure differs from a matrix structure in two ways. First, it does away with dual reporting relationship and tow-boss managers. Second, functional employees are permanently assigned to a cross-functional team that is empowered to bring a new or redesigned product to market. And it can avoid problems of two-way communication and the conflicting demands of functional and product team bosses. (Kraft Foods Announces New Global Organizational Structure http://www.lexdon.com/article/kraft_foods_announces_new_global/56574.html 10-30-2012) Then, there are three levels in the organizations hierarchy. And it is authority centralized. Irene B. Rosenfeld presides over one of the worlds biggest food companies, she has the supreme authority, so in my mind, it is authority centralized. Then, let me describe the span of control of the top manager and of middle or first-line managers. The CEO in Kraft Foods is Irene B. Rosenfeld. She presides over one of the worlds biggest food companies. Under the CEO, there are some Executive Vice Presidents and Presidents; they are responsible for each region and each field. Then, there are some teams leaders, their work are specific, what they need to do are concentrating on variety kind of production. (Management Team http://www.kraftfoodscompany.com/eu/en/about/management_team/index.aspx Kraft foods Team leader profiles _ LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/title/team-leader/at-kraft-foods) According to all the learning that we got, we think that the distribution of authority appropriate for the organization and its activities. Kraft produces food goods at refrigerated, dry and frozen Kraft plants third party manufacturers located across the country. From the plants to a network of upstream Kraft buffer facilities as storage overflow buffer located near the plant. The physical characteristics of these are similar products, so we can not say that it is very fragile or brittle, these goods should flow through the DSD channels, in order to reduce the losses caused by touch points on the network and product damage. (Direct Store Delivery Versus Centralized Distribution http://www.mwpvl.com/html/dsd__vs_central_distribution.html October 30, 2012) I think it is possible to flatten the hierarchy by decentralizing authority and empowering employees. Roger K. Deromedi is the Chief Executive Officer of  Kraft Foods. He announced a new global organizational structure to achieve a more solid positioning Kraft sustainable growth. Krafts management team is unmatched. Every member has a vision of a world-class leader in professional knowledge and broad perspective to help Kraft to achieve sustainable growth. said Betsy Holden, 48, has been named President, Global Marketing and Category Development, and will continue as a member of the Kraft Foods Board of Directors. Holden, co-CEO of Kraft Foods (Kraft Foods) and Kraft Foods North America President and CEO.Holdens group will fugle Krafts growth agenda by driving category development across countries with global category strategy, new product development platform and superior marketing. This new team will build on the success of Kraft Foods global categories Parliament by creating a g lobal classification team. Krafts business units based on geographic location will be divided into the North American commercial and international business, with directly responsible for the marketing and sales between countries, including profit and loss responsibility. At the local level, these organizations will promote the Kraft business; make full use of the category strategy, development platform development and global marketing cooperation with global marketing and category development group. (Kraft Foods Announces New Global Organizational Structure http://www.lexdon.com/article/kraft_foods_announces_new_global/56574.html 30 October 2012) The principal integrating mechanisms used in Kraft Foods Company and sufficient coordination among individuals and functions that they provide are followings. The Krafts final strategy is to act responsibly. As the Company strives for sustainable growth, it seeks business success in ways that honor ethical and legal standards and that respect people, communities and the natural environment. This strategy includes a commitment to strong compliance and integrity programs and sound corporate governance, as well as a number of health and wellness initiatives, such as enhanced nutrition labeling, the development and funding of community-based programs and voluntary limitations on advertising to younger children. It also includes taking steps to contribute to the sustainability of the Companys agricultural supply base through several programs with respected international and local partners. Through the Krafts years of the development process, we can see that Kraft has been continuously through the acquisition of local enterprises to expand its business in China, and this is Krafts business model in America. At the beginning, Kraft came to China, Kraft also did not think too much about the changes about demand for cross-cultural product development or local marketing decision. Completely copy American model approach also makes Kraft lose the Chinese market narrowly. Until 2005, Kraft realized the problem and began to reform, increase the Chinese capital market and the investment of human resource and so on. Then Kraft earns a success in China. (United States Securities and Exchange Commission http://www.mondelezinternational.com/assets/pdf/KraftAR04_10K.pdf 10-30-2012) Now that we have analyzed the way this organization is organized, we want to give Krafts managers to help them improve the way it operates. Matrix structures have been successfully used for years at high-tech companies where new product development takes place frequently and the need to innovate quickly is vital to the organizations survival. However, the dual reporting relationships of a matrix structure have always been difficult for managers and employees to deal with. So, it is better to improve the organizational structure to product team structure. The product team structure differs from a matrix in that: 1) it does away with dual reporting relationships and two-boss managers, and 2) functional employees are permanently assigned to a cross-functional team. It can help them gain a competitive advantage in fast-changing organizational environments. Conclusion: An Analysis of Kraft Foods Companys Entrance into China To conclude, Kraft Foods is the worlds second largest food company, doing business in 145 countries around the world, one of the subsidiaries of MondelÄâ€Å"z international. It employs more than 60,000 employees worldwide. Krafts core product line is for coffee, confectionery, dairy products and beverages. Krafts business is in more than 70 countries, its products sell in 150 countries worldwide. Kraft North America and Kraft International two units manage the market of the United States and Canada, as well as Europe and developing markets. As the end of December 2007, Warren Buffets Berkshire Hathaway holding 8.6% of Kraft stock, is a float institutional investors. So far, Krafts investment in China is more than $ 200 million. In early 2006, Kraft Australia factory production migrated to the factory in Suzhou. The Suzhou plant is one of the few food factories that Kraft first entered the Chinese investment in the construction. The production of Krafts biscuit brand Oreo, music , Wealthy, Taiping and grimace toot has become the fastest-growing source of income in China. In the North American market, Kraft has a lot of product improvements, and mark calorie content on the packaging, in order to concern about peoples waist. In China, even though most people do not realize this, Kraft has taken the lead in product packaging clear stated calorie content. So that consumers can clearly choose to control the amount of food. As we have researched the situations, we find some interesting problems that they encountered. Kraft Group as the worlds leading food companies, in recent years in China, with good operating performance and a remarkable position in the market, many of its products have been well known to consumers. However, as early as in 2005, Krafts sales in China are not satisfactory. In the beginning, Kraft came to China, Kraft also did not think too much about the changes about demand for cross-cultural product development or local marketing decision. Completely copy American model approach also makes Kraft lose the Chinese market narrowly. Until 2005, Kraft realized the problem and began to reform, increase the Chinese capital market and the investment of human resource and so on. So Kraft actively adjusted its marketing strategies in order to better adapt to the requirements of the competitive environment, Kraft eventually created the success in China market. Then Kraft earns a success in Chin a. I think the way they solve the problem is very scientific. Kraft made à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹some adjustments to the company in accordance with the China market situation and the tastes of Chinese consumers. They seize the opportunities. So they achieved success. Of course, they also have insufficient. I think they can be more active innovation. They can release more flavors and varieties of biscuits to catch the consumers stomach. So Kraft can attract the attention of consumers and increase sales and market share. I believe Kraft do create a better future. Over the years, Kraft has always insists on the principle of related to food quality never concessions, which achieved a sales of over 300 billion U.S. dollars in the global top 500 enterprises. In order to ensure the food quality, Krafts new factory controls of physical, chemical, biological, three major sources of pollution tightly. Physical sources of pollution, the workshop all organic glass windows and stainless steel, metal, glass and hard plastic material to avoid entering the production line, all corner radian design to prevent dust left; plant cleaning are edible grade cleaner agents, equipment lubrication points with the product contact parts, use only food grade lubricants, to do so despite the high cost, but to avoid chemical pollutants entering the food; biological pollution control, Kraft raw flour define the amount of heat-resistant Bacillus, oven temperature curve have a special instrument verification, to ensure that the quality of food.  The Krafts strict quality control is also reflected in many details. Some consumers are allergic to peanuts, and in order to protect the health of these people, Kraft specifically arranged a dedicated production line. Kraft pays attention to product quality in order to open the door to success.