Monday, September 30, 2019

Progress and Technology Essay

The technology is such an important part of people lives that truly could not live without it, and it’s really has an influence to many people today in the whole world! How danger is this for the society depending on how they communicate, and progress their own lives with this technology? First of all Technologies play a very important role for most of adults, and especially teenagers because it makes life easier to live on and faster to do something. It is really helps people to communicate faster and easier than do hard labor from time to time whenever he/she want to talk to love ones, friends, and also family. Smartphones in our daily life today can capture sharp images with deeper colors compared to the cameras in competing smartphones. It can record high-definition video, and has two front-facing stereo speakers that could use for better documentary if having a filming or something. Individuals marketing businesses that could finish their presentation to work or something for a rushing day as a result of this really make jobs of people made easier than the old source to obtain source about something a person needs. Due to the cases of using technology like cellphones on texting while driving is very dangerous for young teenagers this is one of the most problem of the society today . As a matter of fact these incidents of accidental everyday always happen because of this problem about texting while driving. Those most of the teenagers exceedingly cannot live without cellphones and computer even in just twenty-four hours. It just depends on how people use it like they see a scandal scene in some place or about their friends or family then captured it, and send to a friend who knows the person. People have to had discipline on how using time in a manageable way about technology and daily life it is people duty to be discontented, but do not set aside other importan t things in daily life living.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Tqm Syllabus

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT ST JOSEPH’S PG COLLEGE UNIT PLANNER NAME OF THE LECTURER: K. Srivani CLASS: MBA II YEAR I SEMESTER SUBJECT: TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT UNIT I:TQM HISTORY & EVOLUTION TOPIC |CONTENT |BOOK CHAPTER & PAGE NUMBERS |NO OF HOURS |TEACHING METHODOLOGIES/AIDS | |Connotations of Quality|Definitions |Total Quality Management: Dale Besterfield –Pages |2 |Lecture Method; Brainstorming/Quiz | | |Awareness |13-20 | |Teaching Aid –PPT-Intro | | |Quality Framework | | | | | |Quality Equation Q=P/E | | | | |Dimensions of Quality |Product-Garvin’s Nine Dimensions Features; Conformance |Total Quality Management: Dale Besterfield –Pages |1 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | | |etc. |21-27 | | | | |Services: The P-C-P Model | | | | | |Peripheral-Core-Pivotal Characteristics Model. |TQM in the Service Sector: R P Mohanty Pages 59-60 | | | | | |and 82-84 | | |The Concept of TQM and |Brief History |Total Quality Management: Dale Besterfiel d –Pages |1 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | |Evolution of TQM |Old and New Cultures |15-17 and 21-22 | | | | |The Story of Gurus from Shehwart,- Deming to Ishikawa | | | | | |Modern Systems/Six sigma | | | | | |TQM Fundamentals | | | | |Inspection, SQC, QA & |The inspection Era |Total Quality Management: Dale Besterfield –Pages 21|2 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | |TQM Conventional QM |The Statistical QC –Techniques |expanded to 2nd and 3rd chapters –summary; | |Cases and Examples with citations of TQM | |/TQM |Reactive Approach |General Quality references, Industry Practices | |exemplary Organisations | | |Prevention of Defects | | | | | |Proactive Approach | | | | | |Quality Assurance & TQM | | | | | |QM and TQM | | | | |Customer Supplier focus|Customer Definition |Total Quality Management: Dale Besterfield –expanded|2 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | |in QM Internal external Customer |to 2nd , 3rd & 4th chapters –summary; | |Cases and Examples with citations of TQM | |Benefits and Costs –TQM|Supplier partnership |General Quality references, Industry Practices | |exemplary Organisations | |Historical Perspectives|Vendor Management |Ch 7 for Costs Chapter 1 for Benefits and Obstacles | | | | |Benefits | | | | | |Costs | | | | | |Inspection Era | | | | | |QC Era to Q A Era | | | | | |Modern Dimensions | | | | |Quality System Awards &|System Concepts |Total Quality Management: Dale Besterfield –expanded|3 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | |Guidelines |Quality systems |to 7th chapter Pages 203-218; | |Cases and Examples with citations of TQM | |MBNQA- ISO – EFQM |QMSISO 9000-14000-EMS |10th Chapter Summary | |exemplary Organisations | | |Malcolm Balridge-Criteria |EFQM-Downloads | | | | |EFQM Model |General Quality references, Industry Practices | | | | |ISO Audit | | | | UNIT II: TOOLS OF TQM TOPIC |CONTENT |BOOK CHAPTER & PAGE NUMBERS |NO OF HOURS |TEACHING METHODOLOGIES/AIDS | |Measurem ent Tools |Check Sheets |Implementing Quality: Ron Basu Chapter 5 pages-64-73 |2 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | | |Histograms |All are covered against Purpose, When to Use, How to | |Cases and Examples | | |Run Charts |Use, Basic Steps-Final thoughts- Pitfalls if any | |PracticalIndustry examples are also taken for| | |Scatter Diagrams | | |class room demo/display | | |Cause & Effect Diagram | | | | |Measurement Tools |Pareto Analysis |Implementing Quality: Ron Basu Chapter 5 pages-76-84 |1 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | |continued |Process Capability Measurement. | |Cases and Examples | | | | | | | |Analytical Tools |Process Mapping |Implementing Quality: Ron Basu Chapter 6- pages-88-103|2 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | | |Regression Analysis | | |Cases and Examples | | |RU/CS Analysis Five Whys | | | | |OEE | | | | |Improvement Tools |Kaizen |100 Methods for TQM :Gopal Kanji and Asher |2 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | | |JIT- Quality Circles |various-respective pag es for the listed method | |Cases and Examples | | |Force Field Analysis | | |Student presentation | | |Five ‘y†s | | | | |Control Tools |Gantt Chart |Implementing Quality: Ron Basu Chapter 8- |2 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | | |Network Diagram |pages-136-141 | |Cases and Examples | | |Radar Chart; PDCA | | | | | |Milestone Tracker | | | | | |Earned value management | | | | UNIT III: TECHNIQUES OF TQM |TOPIC |CONTENT |BOOK CHAPTER & PAGE NUMBERS |NO OF HOURS |TEACHING METHODOLOGIES/AIDS | |QuantitativeTechniques|Failure Mode Effect Analysis |Implementing Quality: Ron Basu Chapter 9- |1 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | | |Definition; probability of failure estimation; |pages-148-151 | |Cases and Examples | | |Reliability Index; |TQM Besterfield Ch 14 summary | |All are covered against Purpose, When to Use,| | |Formula –example | | |How to Use, Basic Steps-Final thoughts- | | | | | |Pitfalls if any | |Quantitative Techniques|Statistical Process Control |Imp lementing Quality: Ron Basu Chapter 9- |1 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | | |SPC Category, Mean, Standard Deviation, |pages-152-156 | |Cases and Examples | | |USL;LSL-Controls | | | | |Quantitative Techniques|Quality Function Deployment -QFD |Implementing Quality: Ron Basu Chapter 9- |1 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | | |Capturing Customer Expectations; House of Quality |pages-157-162 | |Cases and Examples | | |Matrix |TQM Besterfield- Ch 12 – summary | | | |Quantitative Techniques|Design of Experiments |Implementing Quality: Ron Basu Chapter 9- |1 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | | |DOE – Interrogating the Process, Fisher and Taguchi |pages-162-168 | |Cases and Examples | | approach |TQM Besterfield –Ch 19 | | | |Quantitative Techniques|Monte Carlo Technique |Implementing Quality: Ron Basu Chapter 9- |1 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | | |MCT – Random Walk |pages-179-185 | |Cases and Examples | | |Random Number Generation | | | | |Qualitative T echniques |Benchmarking |Implementing Quality: Ron Basu Chapter 10- |1 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | | |Internal, competitive, Functional, setting standards- |pages-179-185 | |Cases and Examples | | |world class |TQM-Besterfield-Ch 8 | | | |Qualitative Techniques |Balanced Score Card |Implementing Quality: Ron Basu Chapter 10- |1 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | | |Kaplan Norton model |pages-190-196 | |Cases and Examples | | |Framework-strategic Objectives to KPI | | | | |Qualitative Techniques |Sales & Operations Planning |Implementing Quality: Ron Basu Chapter 10- |1 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | | |MRP II concepts Master Prod schedule |pages-203-207 | |Cases and Examples | |Qualitative Techniques |Kanban and Activity Based Costing |Implementing Quality: Ron Basu Chapter 10- |1 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | | | pages-203-207 | |Cases and Examples | |Taguchi’s Methods |Quality Loss Function |Total Quality Management: Dale Besterfield – Chapter|2 |Lect ure /Discussion –PPt | | |Orthogonal Arrays |20 page 573- 629 | |Cases and Examples | | |Signal to Noise Ratio | | | | | |Nominal, Target, smaller Larger the Best, | | | | | |Parameter Design, Tolerance Design | | | | | | | | | | UNIT IV: SIX SIGMA TOPIC |CONTENT |BOOK CHAPTER & PAGE NUMBERS |NO OF HOURS |TEACHING METHODOLOGIES/AIDS | |The Concept of Six Sigma |Six Sigma statistical Significance |Greg Brue: Six Sigma for Managers |1 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | | |Focussed methodology | | |Cases and Examples | |Objectives of Six Sigma; |Defect Free; Lean SS |Greg Brue: Six Sigma for Managers |2 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | |framework of Six Sigma |Across all Functions | | |Cases and Examples | |Performance Based | | | | |Six Sigma Organisation |Model of Organisation |Greg Brue: Six Sigma for Managers |2 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | |Roles & Responsibilities |Role Clarity- types | | |Cases and Examples | |Cost/Benefits |Cost, Benefits Optimisation | | | | | | Effective Methodology | | | | |Six Sigma Problem Solving |Methodology |Greg Brue: Six Sigma for Managers |1 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | |Approach |Example Problems | | |Cases and Examples | | |Cases | | | | |DMAIC Model |Define |Implementing Quality: Ron Basu Chapter 9- |1 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | |Six Sigma Metrics |Measure; analyse |pages-168-173 | |Cases and Examples | | |Improve, Control | | | | |Cost of Poor Quality(COPC)|Costs |Greg Brue: Six Sigma for Managers |1 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | | |Preventive | | |Cases and Examples | | |Maintenance | | | | |DPMO-first pass yield |3. 4 DPMO |Greg Brue: Six Sigma for Managers |1 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | | |Interpretations | | |Cases and Examples | UNIT V: TQM IN SERVICE SECTORS TOPIC |CONTENT |BOOK CHAPTER & PAGE NUMBERS |NO OF HOURS |TEACHING METHODOLOGIES/AIDS | |Implementation of TQM in |Service Quality measure |TQM in the Service Sector |2 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | |service Organisati ons |Proposal |R P Mohanty – Chapter VII Pages- 246-268 | |Cases and Examples | | |Proposed System | | | | | |Checklist | | | | |Framework for improving |Gronross; servQual model, Moores model, Service |TQM in the Service Sector |1 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | |Service Quality |Journey model, PCP quality Model etc |R P Mohanty – Chapter III Pages- 63-84-Summary | |Cases and Examples | |Model to Measure Service |Parameters |TQM in the Service Sector |2 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | |Quality |Analogy |R P Mohanty – Chapter VI Pages- 205-214-Summary | |Cases and Examples | | measurement | | | | |TQM in Health Care Services|Case Study |TQM in the Service Sector |1 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | | |Model construction |R P Mohanty – Chapter IX Pages- 340-369-Summary | |Cases and Examples | |TQM in Hotels |Case study |TQM in the Service Sector |1 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | | |Model Construction |R P Mohanty – Chapter VI Pages- 2 15-233-Summary | |Cases and Examples | |TQM in Financial Services |Banks |TQM in the Service Sector |3 |Lecture /Discussion –PPt | | |Investment company |R P Mohanty – Chapter X Pages- 371-400-Summary | |Cases and Examples | | |Mutual Funds | | | | |QP Discussion |Discussion | |1 | | |TOTAL HOURS FOR COMPLETION OF SYLLABUS 12+9+11+9+12 |53 | | †¢ Assignment Questions as part of Internal marks from all the units . †¢ Previous year question paper Discussion in class room †¢ Presentations of students of companies following six sigma quality standards. †¢ Presentation of students on ISO certification and the companies involved in quality analysis and certification. K. SRIVANI DIRECTORPRINCIPAL

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Role of the Non-Commissioned Officer Assignment

Role of the Non-Commissioned Officer - Assignment Example One of such indispensable figures in the implementation of military structures is the non-commissioned officer. The non-commissioned officer, however, does not work untamed: for the non-commissioned officer to succeed in his role as a leader, he needs to be guided by basic military principles. This is to say that the non-commissioned officer cannot rule within his own discretion but needs to be guided by principles such as the application of the FM 6-22, counseling and the seven Army Values. A non-commissioned officer is a military officer who is given authority through a commissioned officer, but he or she is not technically considered to be in command. Non-commissioned officers rise up through the enlisted ranks, generally with several years of experience to their names before they reach positions of nominal power. The rank an officer has to reach to be accorded the position of a non-commissioned officer varies from country to country and from military force to military force. Also among the ranks, there divisions such as Junior NCOs and Senior NCOs depending on which nation is in question and which military force, be it the Navy, Army or Air Force. In the United States, for instance, all ranks of Sergeant in the United States Army, United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps are termed Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) as are Corporals in the Army and Marine Corps. However, the rank of Corporal in the US Army is known to be a junior NCOs whereas Corporal s in the grades are referred to as senior noncommissioned officers. The non-commissioned officer can, however, be generalized to be ‘an enlisted member of the armed forces, such as a corporal, sergeant, or petty officer, appointed to a rank conferring leadership over other enlisted personnel’.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Development Theory and Impasse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Development Theory and Impasse - Essay Example The development theories at that time were based on metanarratives mainly because of the popularity which was contained by Marxists and neo Marxists. The beginning of impasse in development theory occurred when the capitalist system caused the Western development which was considered to be exploitative by nature (Schuurman, 1993). The development impasse is a significant feature of the world economy and global development. This paper is focused on describing the development theories and the impasse in development theories in a detailed manner. It also aims to evaluate the causes of this impasse in development theories. Development Theory Development theory is an aggregate of multiple theories, which aims to propose methods by which a society can be congealed into a developed and progressed form. The development study deals with the ways by which the desirable changes in the society can deliberately be delivered on a social level. There are many theories, which come under the umbrella term of development theory. Some of these theories are: 1. Dependency Theory 2. Modernization Theory Dependency Theory Dependency theory is a set of multiple theories relating to the scope of social sciences. It aims to describe the reasons for the failure of developing countries to develop on the economic field.... ntrols the global economy which creates inequality in power and resources by which the non industrialized countries becomes unable to progress and match to the global economy in spite of the investments by industrialized countries. This is the main argument of dependency theory for the global development (Munck & O'hearn, 1999). Modernization Theory Modernization theory is a development theory which explicates the process by which the industrialized countries become developed. It aims to describe the process of modernization by which societies became developed and industrialized. It emphasizes on advancements in technology and industrialization in order to actualize the development in society. It also incorporates many political and social changes in a society to become a developed society. One of the social changes is the emphasis on the advancement in the institution of education. It actually describes the process by which the industrialized North American societies and the industr ialized societies of Western Europe were developed. It proposes that if a developing country adopts this process of modernization, by which the developed countries were modernized, only then that developing country can be converted into a developed and industrialized society (Munck & O'hearn, 1999). Impasse in Development Theory The impasse in the development theory is largely contributed to the Marxist influence on development sociology. To understand the impasse of development theory, it is important to neutrally attain the core understanding of each theory including dependency theory and Marxist influence on development theory (Booth, 1985). Marxism and Neo Marxism The time period of 1970s and 80s were significantly influenced by Marxist theory and Neo Marxism regarding the development

Thursday, September 26, 2019

What is art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

What is art - Essay Example This is what can be defined as aesthetics. These two dominant roles are meant to complement and balance each other in any artwork. Any artwork is said to have a hidden function that often helps educate people about nature and help them fulfill the emotions and spiritual needs of human beings. Therefore form complements functionality by following emotions and adding aesthetic appeal. However some school of thoughts has claimed that art is predominantly defined by aesthetics. Art is not about understanding a piece of work, therefore if one cannot read the contents in a piece does not mean that they cannot appreciate it. Symbolism or iconography both entails identification and interpretation of the subject matter in any artwork. Appreciating a piece of art requires an open mind thereby leaving it open to interpretation and thus lies the beauty in it.in a piece that is not easily understandable or readable, beauty is derived from the creation of visual experience or basically its aesthetic form. Plato described art as an imitation of nature. This means an artist is influenced and driven by elements of nature. Art according to the definition can be influenced by many factors such as experience, imagination and even imitation. Creativity consist of the ability to combine ideas in a unique way and make a useful association; it comes from human imagination as well as outside forces like nature and experiences and creates originality.Creativity and imitation are mutually exclusive in that creativity can also inspired by other peoples work. Imitation in art is as a result of a connection between the original artist and the imitator; the imitator may try to show a certain side and expression that was not in a piece of work originally. Imitation therefore is influenced by originality thus a form of art in itself. Imitation has been used by many influential artists to restore damaged artefacts like Apollo statuette (Richter 204), imitation is a key to survival of art and it

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Unit 1 - Program Capstone Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Unit 1 - Program Capstone - Research Paper Example This explains why most employees appreciated the managers monitoring the activities of the employees and the overall company performance. In regards to the leading function, Google employs a democratic type of leadership that allows for participation of all members of the team; thus, proper participation in the course of accomplishment of tasks (Google Inc., 2015). Planning, as Daft & Marci (2012) and Daft & Marci (2012) indicate, is a core function for management. Planning is strong points of the managers of Google Inc. as the managers have been on the frontline to come up with processes that ensure they access the appropriate resourcing. The managers are also innovative and mostly focus on implementing their ideas effectively. Lastly, organization is also evident in Google. The company uses a product organizational structure where employees work based on their division and product such as employees on the YouTube and Chrome section (Google Inc., 2015). However, improvement may be needed, in terms of seeking ideas that will provide for diversification; thus, reach newer customers. Additionally, Google my benefit from creating more innovation ideas that would allow for growth of its company (Google Inc.,

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

What Should the Media Do to Respect Right for Privacy Essay

What Should the Media Do to Respect Right for Privacy - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that according to â€Å"Things that are not in the U.S. Constitution†, (n.d.), is it reported that â€Å"The Constitution does not specifically mention a right to privacy. However, Supreme Court decisions over the years have established that the right to privacy is a basic human right, and as such is protected by virtue of the 9th Amendment. The right to privacy has come to the public's attention via several controversial Supreme Court rulings, including several dealing with contraception (the Griswold and Eisenstadt cases), interracial marriage (the Loving case), and abortion (the well-known Roe v Wade case). In addition, it is said that a right to privacy is inherent in many of the amendments in the Bill of Rights, such as the 3rd, the 4th's search and seizure limits, and the 5th's self-incrimination limit".  Although the right to privacy is not specifically stated in the text of the Constitution, the 14th, 1st, 4th, and 5th Ame ndments have provided some privacy protection. The right to privacy protects individuals from information that is gathered, collected, and how the information is used.  Individuals have the freedom to decide whether or not to participate in certain acts or to subject himself/herself to certain situations and experiences. This right of privacy is protected by the 14th Amendment.  Unauthorized use of an individual's name or likeness is protected by the Right of Publicity. For commercial reasons and purposes, this gives an individual the right to license the use of their identity. There are four invasion types of invasion of privacy, according to The Restatement Second of Torts. These include an appropriation of name or likeness, intrusion, unreasonable publicity, and false light.

Monday, September 23, 2019

Comparison Of The Health Services In U.S And Brazil Essay

Comparison Of The Health Services In U.S And Brazil - Essay Example Moreover, demographers have been able to prove that over the past few years, trends such as divorce and marriages were diverging according to education. Also, demographic trends indicate an increase in the elderly population, with the trend in the age structure expected to increase from 40 million in 2014 to 80 million over the next 15 years (Nascimento, 2013). This implies that by 2032, the number of people over the age of 65 will be more than those who are below 15 years of age. At the same time, the number of potential workers per retiree will be few, as the social and financial costs of the aging population will be increasing. Without any behavioral and policy changes, the fiscal burden experienced by individual taxpayers and workers will skyrocket. In Brazil, however, there has been a decline in the fertility rates in the past few years. This has had severe consequences on the demographic pattern of its pyramid with information collected indicating an increase in the number of o ld people. However, despite this increase and a decrease in the number of children, the young age group remains to have a higher proportion when compared to the US. As a result, Brazil’s demographic trend shortly will still have an elderly population that is less than 10% and characteristically, it will be composed of the â€Å"young-old† who will be between 60 to 69 years of age. In the US, the infant mortality rate stalled, placing the US among the worst rated nation, in nations that have developed.

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Five Forces Model for Industry Analysis Essay Example for Free

Five Forces Model for Industry Analysis Essay New Entrants The online bookstore industry that Amazon.com has pioneered in was, at first, very hard to penetrate. There were different barriers such as distributing capabilities and the variety of the selection offered that are supposed to be hurdled. Amazon successfully solved the tricky parameters as being the first one to get into the whole idea of online retail. With being the first, they had the luxury to set what were the norms for the industry. Factors that may lower these barrier tactics would be a wider selection and the ability to go to an actual bookstore to exchange or return books or other products. This network of actual retail spaces makes it easier for the consumer to return or exchange the products they were not satisfied with. These handicaps of Amazon were the basis for the emergence of book retail giants Barnes and Noble and Borders in the online shopping industry. Industry Competitors The major competitors of Amazon are Barnes and Noble and Borders. Barnes and Noble is a retail giant offering books and CDs both in their outlets all over the country. It opened their online industry in 1997 and has become the fourth largest e-commerce sites today. Focused largely on the sale of books, music, software, magazines, prints, posters, and related products, the company has capitalized on the recognized brand value of the Barnes Noble name to become the second largest, and one of the fastest growing, online distributors of books. Their advantage to Amazon is the brand name and the availability of actual retail outlets in which consumers could go in to exchange or return products easily. They also have an established book selection based in their retail operations. Borders is another multi-media retail store found in major cities around the country. Started out as a small bookshop in the college town of Ann Arbor, Michigan, it has since expanded into one of the finest bookstores. In 1992,  Borders was bought by the Kmart group which further flourished the company into a Multi Media Giant with a wide selection of Audio, Video and Books found throughout the United States. The Online Bookstore industry have become a fierce business which involves discounts, varied selections and fast delivery in which all three companies are challenging each other. Buyers The consumers of this industry can be found in every corner of the population. These are mostly people who have had some form of higher education and have access to the Internet and computers. The segment of online shoppers has increased dramatically in recent years due to the convenience of shopping in the comforts of the home and the accessibility of the Internet. These developments have made it easier for consumers to log on and buy on the Internet. Consumers also tend to compare prices among the retail leaders such that buyers are able to buy products with very big discounts compared to ones bought in actual retail outlets. The bargaining power of the consumer is based on the competitive strategies of each active firm in the industry. Thus, consumers can challenge one firm for charging more than the other one such that the firm will beat the price of the competing firm. Suppliers Amazons suppliers range from the publishing and media houses to electronics manufacturers. Amazon buys all their books, videos and audio CDs from the multi media houses and publishing giants such as Time Warner, Doubleday etc. Amazon also has alliances with other bookstores to cover orders that they cannot serve. Substitutes The substitutes for Amazon and other online bookstores are the actual book  retailers and music stores such as Barnes and Nobles, Virgin Megastore, Tower Records, Sam Goody and other small mom-and-pop outlets. With the rise of online retail, there will be little impact from these substitutes. One impact would be some consumers who would like to hold or listen to their purchases prior to buying and those who are into the whole shopping experience. Barnes and Nobles have jumped into online retail and have succeeded into diversifying into the new e-commerce industry. Industrial Organization Model Degree of Competition Due to the shift of focus for Amazon, it has become the Earths biggest anything store. Its competitors have expanded from just online book retailers Barnes and Nobles and Borders to top audio retailers CDNOW.com and online auction house EBAY.com. Amazon has an overall lead of 40% market share against the other online retail firms. Their international business has more than doubled over the past 2 years and this growth increased Amazons share in the online business market. Life Cycle Amazon, in its first years, had negative income but the rise of e-commerce sites and being the pioneer made the succeeding years led to boom time for them. Their growth period was during 1994 to 1995 when they were the first of its kind in the world. They incurred very high costs in terms of distributions to customers. Still with a negative income, Amazon went public in 1997 and had one of the biggest IPOs of the time. With investors banking on future positive cash flow for this company, Amazons market value soared. Many people caught on with the idea of online shopping, thus, Amazons success. Amazons success as an online retailer prompted bricks-and-mortar rivals Barnes and Noble and Borders to join in. Competition decreased Amazons profitability so in the past couple of years, Amazon has expanded to more than books, audio and video to electronics and other retail concepts. Social Relevance Amazons products are marketed for every consumer possible. Books, audio, video and electronics are appreciated by majority of the population especially those who have access to the Internet. Amazon is active in pursuing literacy programs for young children by collaborating with the makers of the Dr. Seuss books. They have actively participated in the Dr. Seuss shops, story telling sessions and Dr. Seuss days. Degree of Globalization Amazons strength internationally lies within its networks in major ports and cities around the Globe. Amazon first started out in Seattle but as soon as they have established a niche market, they have opened shop all over the nation and in cities such as London, Berlin, The Hague, Paris, Tokyo, Singapore and many more. These branches overseas improves their delivery service to a wide consumer base. Extent of Government Control There has not been many government regulations regarding online retailing. A group of CEOs whose firms that are engaged in such practices have formed an organization called Global Business Dialogue. This GBD group supports the development of a seamless global system that delivers the broadest array of goods and services to the largest number of consumers at the most competitive prices. This work effort will: offer recommendations to the WTO, including making the moratorium on online tariffs permanent; and collaborate with governments to target and eliminate discriminations against, or other non-tariff barriers to global trade in, electronic commerce. This working group will also provide an avenue for the GBDs to consider and promote the growth of the electronic marketplace in an environment unencumbered by detrimental taxation. Degree of Vertical Integration Amazons primary value chain includes purchasing/sourcing, marketing, distribution and after-sales services, which includes returns and exchanges from unsatisfied customers. Their main focus is in the purchasing/sourcing and in the distribution of the products to the consumers. Their investments are therefore, geared towards warehouses in key points of high consumer demand areas and an efficient delivery and distributing system to service all its consumers. Thus, Amazon controls most of its distributing system that spans across borders. Inter Organization of Network Economics Amazon in its efforts to sustain its market leadership in the online retailing industry has tied up with various online organizations. Netscape Navigator and Amazon will offer members of Netscape Netcenter a co-branded storefront where Earths Biggest Bookstore will be easily accessed through Netscape Netcenter (home.netscape.com). In addition, Amazon.com has multi-year exclusive and premier bookseller relationships with 5 of the top 6 sites on the World Wide Web: AOL.com, Yahoo!, Netscape, GeoCities, and Excite. These partnerships widen Amazons presence in the World Wide Web. Sensitivity to Business Cycles The Online retailing business has a very quick cyclical growth. Amazon being one of the firsts to venture in this type of commerce are all ready in what seems to be in their decline stage where market share is declining. Therefore, Amazon is expanding to different industries within online retailing. Amazon and other online retailing firms are very sensitive to business cycles due to the speed of technology involved in the services they offer. Dynamics of New Knowledge Generation Online retailing relies on the work of an excellent distribution system. Amazon has invested their money into expanding their network of distribution centers around the globe. They also have investments in creating better  technology for tracking orders and giving efficient delivery systems for their customers. Amazon.com has remained on top of the online retailing business despite the entrance of giants such as Barnes and Nobles and Borders. Their success is attributed to two factors; timing and continuing to invest heavily into the inventory and distribution systems. Amazon, by being the first of its kind, has a big lead over the nearest competitors due to their experience and its reputation as the first movers. Their thrust remains on improving efficient delivery systems across borders and to build name recognition as the number one retailing firm in the Internet. They have also ventured into different retail options to keep that lead. Marketing, Innovative inventory and distribution systems, and name recall have helped Amazon build a sustainable competitive advantage. In order for any online retail company to remain prosperous and income generating, they must invest a lot of time and money into research and development of more efficient operations and distributions systems. This proved to be key for the Market Leader in online retailing, Amazon.Com.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Of Mice and Men shows how factors beyond the characters control prevent them from leading fulfilling lives Essay Example for Free

Of Mice and Men shows how factors beyond the characters control prevent them from leading fulfilling lives Essay John Steinbecks Of Mice and Men is set, and was written in the time of The Great Depression, 1929. During The Great Depression there were as many as fifteen million people, in the United States of America alone, left unemployed and with no way to feed their families. The Great Depression was caused by the Wall Street crash. The Wall Street Crash, when stocks and shares plummeted, resulted in America as a world trading country loosing gargantuan amounts money due to the many of the large companies of America going bankrupt. Because the companies went bankrupt they could no longer afford to pay any workers, this meant that they lost their jobs. Even the farms in the country could not stay running because of the Dust Bowl effect, this is when there is prolonged drought and the earth becomes like dust, entirely unsuitable to grow anything in. With a vast amount of the nation unemployed, people were desperately searching for work, simply in order to survive. When the idea came about that people could go and work the land in California, people jumped at the chance despite the appalling pay. The cruel thing is that the employers in California had paid their original workers more than they paid the migrant workers, and the migrant workers only worked because they were so desperate. The employers took advantage of their situation for their own benefit. It was very much every man for himself in that time, though in this novel there is an exception, Lennie and George, who for Steinbeck are the stereotypical migrant workers. I believe George to be living a fulfilled life within the dream he shares with Lennie and, later on in the novel Candy: the popular American dream of the period, to own a piece of land and be entirely self-sufficient from that land. The reason I think this is because George is constantly saying things such as well do her, well fix up that little old place an well go live there, this shows that they are living in metaphoric clouds (their dream), a far nicer place than reality, Lennie and George seam to be willing to live through anything just to achieve it. The fact that George lives for a dream, one that he truly didnt believe would happen, Jesus Christ! I bet we could swing her! this also shows that now George actually believes in himself it will happen, George would have no reason to dream if he was content in reality. Whilst living a content life inside the sanction of his dream, it is clear that he is not content in reality otherwise he would have no cause to dream of a better place. Another reason for George not being content could be that he had been burdened with Lennie all of his life and thus not been able to live his own life and be his own person, George says to Lennie in the novel that he could have a much better life without Lennie When I think of the swell time I could have without you, I go nuts. I never get no peace. This shows that even George feels Lennie as burden some of the time, if he felt this all of the time he could just get rid of Lennie, but he doesnt. I believe Lennie feels much the same as George in that he lives for the dream also, whenever Lennie is uncomfortable with his surroundings in any way he will ask George to tell the story of the dream to him so that he can escape reality into his imagination, as if in fact the dream is where he wants to be. Tell about the house George Lennie begs. An the rabbits. George has told Lennie that he can tend to the rabbits in their house, because Lennie is very simple this sense of responsibility and his fetish for soft things (the rabbits) provides the perfect attraction for Lennie to the Dream. Because Lennie also has to dream of a better place shows that his life is not being fulfilled on the ranch. If this was not evidence enough Lennie even says George, I dont like it here George clearly showing that he does not want to be there. The only woman on the ranch, Curleys wife, also I believe lives an unfulfilled life because firstly all she is known as throughout the novel is Curleys wife, making he sound like a possession of Curleys. This says a lot about the period in which this novel was written, women were treated as inferior beings at this time, and I personally find it hard to see how you could live a fulfilled life when you are being put down constantly. The men on the ranch also have very dim views on her such as Georges opinion of her, I dont care what she says and what she does. I seen em poison before, but I never seen no piece of jailbait worse than her, not only does this starve her for attention it puts her down also. Curleys wife also has a dream, a dream of becoming famous, as she tells Lennie He was gonna put me in the movies, showing that she cannot be content in reality either. Curleys wife is naturally seeking attention because she has married a man who she hardly ever sees and no one is willing to talk to her: Why cant I talk to you? I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely, and she believes she should be in the movies, a place where you will always be in the spotlight so to speak, quite the opposite to how she is being treated on the ranch. Candy is the crippled swamper on the ranch, and is only able to do menial jobs around the ranch; this offers him no real fulfilment. Despite this Candys life amounts to the work he does on the ranch and his dog, these are all he lives for When they can me here I wisht somebodyd shoot me. As time progresses Candy realises that he has not got long left and with his dog, a huge part of his life having just been killed out of sympathy, he asks to join George and Lennies dream instead of his life being over once he has been told to leave the ranch Spose I went in with you guys. In wishing somebody would shoot him when he was told to leave the ranch shows that Candy fears for his future and where he has to go to when he is told to leave. To live your life in fear of your future, not knowing where you are going, not having control of you own life cannot be a very secure and pleasant mental environment to live in; Candy therefore cant have a very fulfilled life. Curley is a successful welterweight boxer, but unfortunately didnt quite make it to the top, instead he is stuck on his fathers ranch, a place where he doesnt always get the respect/fear he craves, so he has to be rude and hostile in his talking Well, nex time you answer when youre spoke to. This shows that Curley is not living the life he wants to live, thus making his life unfulfilled. Curley has a huge problem with intimidation, meaning bigger people intimidate him easily. He is also obsessed with power and authority: Curleys like a lot of little guys. He hates big guys, and on a ranch full of large men, he does not always have the security he wants. Curley is in a loveless marriage despite what he thinks he feels for his wife, she refuses to pay him the same attention: he aint a nice fella. Curley does not have his life going his way at all, he is stuck living somewhere he does not want to be, without the power he wants and with people he does not like; his fathers ranch. On top of this, he is in a marriage where the only love is on his behalf. This all leads me to the conclusion that Curley does not a have a fulfilled life. Crooks is a black stable buck in the novel, and during this time black people were regarded as inferior beings, this leaves Crooks open to much discrimination. Using Crooks as a stereotype, Steinbeck tries to show the relationship between black and white people in America in the 1930s. Throughout the novel, Crooks is treated with great disrespect, for example he is constantly being referred to as a God damn nigger. Crooks also gets segregated from the rest of the workers, this makes him incredibly lonely, we can tell this from a touching extract between Lennie and Crooks Crooks says gently, Maybe you can see now. You got George. You know hes goin to come back. Spose you didnt have nobody. Spose you couldnt go into the bunk-house and play rummy cause you was black. Howd you like that? Crooks is insulted countless times every single day of his life, the name nigger is used such as the term mate is used today, so without meaning to insult Crooks people did it every time they chose to speak to him. Every time when Crooks elevates himself above his usual status by making the odd chance comment or voicing his opinion, he is simply thrown back down to the ground. For example Crooks began to introduce his opinion into a conversation and was quite bluntly told by Curleys wife, you keep your place, then Nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it aint even funny. I find it near impossible to even think that Crooks could lead a fulfilled life when he is treated like a dirty animal, and his thoughts or feelings are considered worthless. My thoughts are that Slim is the only main character in the whole novel that possibly leads a fulfilled life. Unlike Crooks, Slim is paid much respect by all of the other workers. Candy refers to Slim as Hell of a nice fella, and comments are also made about peoples reactions when he speaks, all talk stopped when he spoke. This gives Slim a sense of belonging and importance. Slim is a highly skilled worker and the ranch would not be the same without him, and he knows this, so do the other workers on the ranch, Hes capable of driving ten, sixteen even twenty mules with a single line to the leaders. It is comments and views such as these which make Slim feel needed. Slim is favoured by all on the ranch, perhaps especially by Crooks and Curleys wife as he treats them without any prejudice or discriminative views. For example, Slim is very polite and actually pays a compliment to Curleys wife Hi, Good-lookin'. Throughout the novel, Slim does not mention any other life that he might prefer, nor does he show any evidence of him having a dream, this shows that he must be reasonably content with his life on the ranch as he has no cause to dream. I believe Slim to be the only main character in the novel to live a fulfilled life because he is clearly respected by all members of the ranch and very much favoured by them. Slim has security and he is also very independent, because of everyones admiration he also feels good in himself, Slim must have a great sense of fulfilment in his life. In a time where everyone had to make the most of what they had, only one person in this novel has succeeded, and that in my eyes would be Slim. It was a dog eat dog world during the Great Depression and Slim manages to rise above all of the bad things that have happened to him due to it. He manages to lift himself up above everyone else who were stuck in the rut of their own self pity, he manipulated the situation and uses it to his advantage. He took the wrong things in the other peoples lives and offered solutions for example he gave George someone to talk to, or the fact that he was polite to those who were treated like dirt, this made people like and respect him which is what drove him on inspite or the Depression.