Research and Methodology paper 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Research and Methodology paper 2 - Essay Example According to the health practice standard, every human being is responsible for quality health practices. Every person is involved in one way, or another to create a better health environment in the community. The health practitioners are accountable for the quality of health services they discharge to members of the community. The code of professional conduct demands that every decision made by the health practitioners is justified according to existing ethics and ethical behaviour standards. In that essence, many agree that the development of treatment on various conditions that affect many people is directly dependant to the research availed to the health practitioners. Research is dependable for facilitating and determining the cure for various conditions (Weinbroum, Ekstein & Ezri 2002). Research is also necessary for the determination of processes during administration of medicines. Apart from medical decision, research is critical in that it helps the practitioners be satisfied that the conditions affecting people are treatable under determined conditions. Research has provided the backbone for nursing practitioners to develop their practices and improve service delivery to members of the community who visit various health centres. The research methodology discusses or rather critiques individual research delivered under the operating practitioners department. Operating department practitioners fall under the umbrella of health care providers. Their main tasks involve is providing the patient with perioperative care. They manage operations towards safe and secure results. They are employed in medical operating departments. Even so, they can be allocated to other departments since they have a wide array of clinical and surgical knowhow. In most hospitals or health centres, they are mainly found in the accident and emergency units, intensive care units, and the ambulance service

The Not So Wonderful World of Eurodisney

The Not So Wonderful World of Eurodisney Euro Disney and other Disney are subsidiaries to Walt Disney Company. This is a case study based on Euro Disney to critically analyse and answer question of the Not So Wonderful World of EuroDisney- Things are Better Now at Paris Disneyland. EuroDisney first year of operation was faced with several factors in which hindered their financial growth and success in the first year of operation. The case study will analyse and answer several questions relating to the Not so Wonderful world of EuroDisney. The questions are broken down in to five which are: 1) Why was Euro Disney performing poorly during its first year of operation? Recommend and propose strategies and suggestions to improve the situation? 2) To what degree do you consider that these factors were a) foreseeable and b) controllable by either Euro Disney or the parent company Disney? Evaluate the cross-cultural marketing skills of Disney! 3) Do you think the new theme park would have encountered the same problems if a location in Spain had been selected? 4) If you were the business development manager, what would be the major consideration you would go through before selecting a location for the next Disneyworld? 5) From your discussion select a location you think will be the next Disneyland site. By the end of the analysis, a clear understanding it to be derive on what lead to the not so wonderful world of EuroDisney, and shading light on mistakes made by the parent company. CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of Euro Disney and other Disney company in various countries making it a network of international family entertainment network in all house hold around the world with four business diversification which are media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment and consumer products. Disneyland, Disney world and all places Disney have been known as the happiest place on earth, the goal of Walt Disney is opening Disneyland was not to just be a theme park, but to be a theme park that the entire family could enjoy. Although the Walt Disney Company was founded in 1938, it was not until 1952 that the theme park, Disneyland, was opened to the public. When Walt Disney opened an amusement park in the middle of Southern California orange groves in 1955, he changed the way that Americans, and the world, viewed such entertainment. Once the domain of carnival hucksters, amusement parks underwent a significant makeover at the hands of the head of the Disney Studios Walter Elias Disney is a pioneer, innovator and possessor of one of the most fertile imaginations in the world. He was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon and philanthropist. Disney is famous for his influence in the field of entertainment during the twentieth century. As the co-founder (with his brother Roy O. Disney) of Walt Disney Productions, Disney became one of the best-known motion picture producers in the world. The corporation he co-founded, now known as The Walt Disney Company, today has annual revenues of approximately U.S. $35 billion. Disney is particularly noted for being a film producer and a popular showman, as well as an innovator in animation and theme park design. He and his staff created a number of the worlds most famous fictional characters including Mickey Mouse, a character for which Disney himself was the original voice. He received fifty-nine Academy Award nominations and won twenty-six Oscars, including a record four in one year, giving him more awards and nominations than any other individual. He also won seven Emmy Awards. He is the namesake for Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resort theme parks in the United States, Japan, France, and China. In April 1992, The Walt Disney Company and Affiliated Companies opened a new park for European visitors. It was located by the river Marne some 20 miles east of Paris and was designed to be the biggest and most lavish theme park that Walt Disney Company had built as compared to other sister companies (Cateora, Graham, p.615). Nevertheless, the development of big theme park in Paris instead arise Euro Disneys start up problems because the management has done some mistakes on project plan. They could not arrange a proper plan. Since the management not able to purposely consider certain outcomes, there was a something wrong in planning Euro Disney. The Disney management also did not have ample assumption about the European market as well as they did for their parent mark. CHAPTER 2 2.0 CASE STUDY The not-So-Wonderful World of Euro Disney Things Are Better Now at Paris Disneyland. 2.1 The questions of case study to be answered: Question 1 Why was Euro Disney performing poorly during its first year of operation? Recommend and propose strategies and suggestions to improve the situation? Question 2 To what degree do you consider that these factors were a) foreseeable and b) controllable by either Euro Disney or the parent company Disney? Question 3 Evaluate the cross-cultural marketing skills of Disney! Question 4 Do you think the new theme park would have encountered the same problems if a location in Spain had been selected? Discuss! Question 5 If you were the business development manager, what would be the major consideration you would go through before selecting a location for the next Disneyworld? From your discussion select a location you think will be the next Disneyland site. CHAPTER 3 3.0 ANSWERS TO CASE STUDY 3.1 Question 1 Factors that contributed to Euro Disneys poor performance during its first year of operation. Euro Disneys factors of poor performance marketing mistakes were present throughout the whole inception of Euro Disney. Euro Disney were faced with several affecting factors which contributed to the failure or poor performance of the company, the factors came along with location, price, and lack of research in exchange rate, as well as the style of the theme park all played roles in the lack of success experienced by Euro Disney. The factors that played into the unsuccessful first year could have been foreseen and somewhat easily by Euro Disney or the parent company, the same goes for their being able to control them. Hostility among the French had risen even as the plans were being set as it was stated earlier, that they did not want American imperialism invading their country and culture. Cateora Graham, p.614 reports, Paris theatre director Mnouchhkin descried Euro Disney as a cultural Chernobyl. In fall 1989, during a visit to Paris, French columnist pelted Michael Eisner with e ggs. The joke going around at the time was, for Euro Disney to adapt properly to France, all seven of snow whites dwarfs should be named Grumpy Location Many factors contributed to Euro Disney poor performance during the first year of operation and many of these factors could have been alleviated if the proper factors would have been looked at previously. The first problem was the demographics and subsidies, and because the French government made Disney an offer it could not refuse, they located Euro Disney 20miles outside of Paris, a location that was thought to be very convenient. It played a negative role in the success in the success for Disney. How many people go to Paris to get glimpses of American theme parks? Most of the tourist going to Paris would spend time travelling the city and its wonders. About 17 million lives less than two hour drive from Paris and another 310 million can fly there at the same tie or less. The French government offered the company more than $1billion in various incentives; all in the expectation that project would create 30,000 French jobs. The land came at rock bottom prices, cheap loans were made available, and a dedicated high speed TGV and suburban railway link was also offered by the French. France gave Disney an offer they could not refuse, overlooking the over value franc, bad weather, French people not being known for their hospitality and occasional anti-American demonstration by angry farmers because French agricultural subsidies had been cut, Paris was still chosen to be home of Euro Disney. The climate in Paris was also unsuitable and off-season attendance was way below expectation. Many landmarks events were competition to Euro Disneys opening year, such event was the one held in Spain. Spain held the world fair in Seville and Barcelona was home to the 1992 Olympics which took tourists to area other than Paris. All in all, 1992 was not looking good for Euro Disney in terms of success. Foreign uncontrollable and Exchange rate. In Paris in regards to economic forces, legal forces, competition, and culture can be held accountable for Euro Disney misfortune. In opening in the summer of 1992, Europe was entering into recession and this caused income from catering, merchandise, including souvenirs and foods, hotels to be way below that was expected. High interest rates also caused many currencies to devaluate against Franc leading to more financial difficulties for Euro Disney. In negotiation with France, lawyers were used excessively. The rigid legal approach was offensive to the French, who, like most Europeans consider depending on lawyers to reach a conclusion to be last resort. Despite the foreign market uncontrollable hindering the park from the beginning, when Euro Disney opened in the summer of 1992 many marketing and operational errors factored into the parks unsuccessful opening. Advertisement made by Euro Disney Another controllable factor was the advert made by Euro Disney, which factored the poor the poor performing by the Euro Disney in Paris. Euro Disney advertising had emphasised Disney image as an alluring bit of American rather than an explaining to potential customers what they can actually do for the park. France (2004) reports, every surface that could possibly have an advert placed on it clothing, buses, taxis, myriad walls and billboards, even the snow you sky on now hawks something. According to Wikipedia encyclopaedia, ÂÂ ´Advertising is the promotion of goods and services, companies and ideas, usually performed by an identified sponsor. Company are bombarding us with thousand of advert with only one intention, to persuade us to buy their product. Euro Disneys image marketing did not explain to Europeans that the theme park was or what attractions it had to offer the European consumer. The company advertising focused on the size of the park and the glamour behind it that t his poor marketing strategy hurt over all business. No one in France cared that Euro Disney had cost over $4 billion and that its 4,800 acres include five separate recreation areas, six hotels with room for 5,200 people in all, an entertainment centre, a 27 hole golf course and a wooded campground. The marketing strategy in America was used in France and it backfired when the French visitors stayed away from the park. Yes advertising bombards us everywhere, but it is not without control and regulation by the government, businesses, and citizens. This opens one of the major issues in advertising, the question of law and ethics. The sensitivity perceived by the French in relation to the advert was that, it did not tell them what the citizens will benefit from the EuroDisney, and also the French were not happy with how the Americans use their own advertising style. Poor Management operation The management of Euro Disney had difficulties due to cultural and lack of understanding of the French culture. Operational errors that easily could have been avoided accounted for more troubles than were expected in the Euro Disney. In regards to employees, alcohol, admission and hotel prices, and breakfast in the hotel, staffing problems, and regulations regarding pets, many problems cause the Euro Disney misfortune in the first year. The employees dressed code enforced on employees prohibited facial hair and limited the use of makeup and jewellery. The lack of understanding by the parent country in regards to the dress culture of the French affected customer patronage. The French did not think dress standards like that existed outside the west military academy. Also the ban on alcohol caused astonishment in a country where glass of wine is normally given for launch and it is necessary as a fork for eating. However banning the alcohol in this theme park could have ever been a consi deration is unbelievable and since it was a major issue, this policy of not serving alcohol in the park was also a hindering factor at Euro Disney. Another factor that leads to poor operation was the price system. Prices involve around Euro Disney were also the cause of it not performing well and not generating profit. consultant who studied the park say that its high admission price 30 percent more that Disney Orlando makes visitors keen to take as many rides as possible, so they spend less time shopping for Mickey Mouse ears and such. Prices at the Disney hotel were high compared to other hotels in Paris, the hotels in Paris ranges from $180 to $380 in the Paris metropolis. Staffing problem One of the major factors in the customer relationship in the international marketing, even at the domestic market is the customer- staff relationship. At Euro Disney, there were staffing approach problems too. The company had tried using the same team work model it did use either in America or Japan, which did not work in France. Within the first nine weeks of Euro Disneys operation, roughly 1,000 employees, 10 percent of the employee left. People were leaving because they felt they were not being understood and they were not being treated in an appropriate manner that was satisfactory to them. The company actually taught that Monday would be a les busy day, while Friday a hectic busy time, but the reverse was the case, Monday turned out to be very busy at the Euro Disney. Unforeseen issues Factors that really could not be seen by managers included the approach to European recession, the Golf war in 1991, and increased interest rates. External factors that affected business were also the devaluation of the Franc currency in the international market, which lead to competitors to draw the attention of customers to the various sites. These competitors were the worlds fare in Seville and the 199 Olympics, which was held in Barcelona. (Cateora, Graham, p.615) Ethnocentrism The managers of Disney and Euro Disney used their way of doing business, their cultural belief and ethics, and what they know and are used to in order to try and get another country to do the same. Cateora Graham describes in more detail, A brainstorming, kick the door down attitude seemed to reign amongst the U.S. decision makers. The authors referred to one former managers comment, We were arrogant, it was like, we were building the Taj Mahal and people will come on our terms. Ethnocentrism is usually referred to as tunnel vision. This view says that one certain ethnic group beliefs about morals is the right one and better than any group. The French saw the American managers as bullies, arrogant, and workaholics. A search for the topic, Business culture Vs French (n.d) refers to Laura Hampton, French ministry of Education as she explains the views that the French have about American business and culture: The French have a love or hate relationship with the U.S. We are deeply admired for many things (entertainment industry, our political system, our optimism as a people) but they are also very critical of the role the U.S has played in globalisation which they see threatening their own identity, culture, and language (Regarding management practices) the French are less direct about theory expectation and you have to pay closer attention to the subtle cues given to you., Disregarding the French culture of being the worlds biggest consumers of wine, the management of Disney still hung on their we know best conviction. Male employees had to keep well groomed as the American managers wanted in this way. Their insensitivity to the French culture led to a very bad start even though they did relent in some areas such as allowing females employees to wear brightly coloured nails polish and allowing kennels for the quest pets. The French would never dream of leaving their pets when going on vacation. (Cateora Graham, p 615) CONCLUSION: the major factor that contributed to their poor performance, during their first year of operation can be narrowed down to marketing surveysm, which lead to ethnocentrism and self reference criterion. 3.1.2 RECOMMENDATION, PROPOSE STRATEGY AND SUGGESTION TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION AT EURO DISNEY. There are several means in which the controllable factors could be avoided in other to present Euro Disney the success it needed at the first year of business. This means are suggest and proposed as follows: The deliverance of advertising to the customers, not on the physical composition of just the area alone, but on the resources and service that a customer will get from patronising the resort. Advertising should be careful controlled. Society needs to make sure that people are not taken in by misleading advertisement. There is a set of principles that all advertisers must follow (Roman Mss, 2003, p.200): Tell the truth, show the truth- the product should look exactly the same way as the consumers will purchase it Make the general impression truthful- Advertising is judged not by what it says, but what consumers thinks it says. (p.201) Ban weasels and dangling companions- All sentences must be clear. Substantiate product claims- must provide evidenced that the claim is true. Back testimonials with research. It is crucial that cross cultural communication, cooperative decision-making and collaborative problem solving be implemented in multinational corporation management like Disney. It is important that the management of a multinational corporation work together to overcome boundaries and differences and to be able to communicate, and collaborate in order to effectively work together, communicate, make decision, and solve problems as a single entity as globalisation does simple that. This brings the world together. The EuroDisney could use the help of the Disney in Turkey in other to be able to handle the cultural difference in French. By understanding the French culture, EuroDisney will be able to bring polices that will be accepted by the French customers. The French cherish their culture that it is important for EuroDisney to able to adapt the culture and avoid cultural self criterion, rather try to understand the culture of the French. Make use of their number one asset which is human resource in order to apply the best approaches and method and focus on both macro and micro economics of the global business. The management from the head quarters branch(in this case, management from the United State) cannot do this alone but will achieve success if he learns from those in the various parts of the world and learns from those who are experts in the various locations and cultures in which they live and work. They will next, approaches communication, sales, customers services, find solutions, developing innovative tactics, and so on. The best way in managing a diverse sales team is to incorporate the sales management from each area and empowering them and learning from them, this system will help the Euro Disney to overcome the cultural differences and policies that are not suitable for the French workers. Generally as management, it is important to have a general knowledge of domestic activities and policies, and to understand the various cultures and operations of the sales force outside of the United States. This can only be accomplish by using human resource from which are familiar with the culture of French, company, and cultures, how business is handled in different parts of the world, varying company policies and operations (although the company is an entity, policies and routines vary slightly, if not extremely, in order to accommodate the differences), language and cultural differences, various sales methods, training, customer service, account management, follow up procedures, key account management, and so on. Can only be handled by working with the various sales teams and using their expertise. CONCLUSION: The above mentioned proposed recommendation will tackle the poor performance at Euro Disney. The first recommendation should be the market research and survey, which will tackle the staffing problem, cultural issues and drafting and delivering of effective promotion, 3.2 Question 2 3.2.1 The factors that could have been foreseeable and controlled by Euro Disney or the parent company. Taking a look at the above mentioned factors that lead to the poor performance of Euro Disney in their first year of operation, some of the factors were possibly foreseeable, while some were not foreseeable and uncontrollable. A company reputation and size of Disney is allowed no room for mistakes. The stakes involved are billions of dollars. Complementary businesses like that of the hotel industry are reliant upon the success on the success of this team park in Paris. Generous funds received from the government and private institutions would have to be made well of. Disney should be able to foreseen the unforeseen. When Euro Disney was established the consideration taking into account is the geographical area and culture as well. However Disney established the Euro Disney based on the nature or American thinking, they expected the Europeans to act as Americans and thrive over newly designed theme park. They forgot that they were producing a massive theme park bigger than any other theme park in Europe for the American mentality. They could have calculated the exchange rate, and did not calculate the European culture. They could have foreseen the problems mentioned in the above poor performance factors listed. Factors such as those mentioned above are not categorized as the unforeseen; rather they are being classified as the expected factors, which Euro Disney or the parent company Disney should have detected. Economics, politics, culture complemented and associated with in depth analysis of the 4Ps follow the basic principles of marketing. Disney should have foreseen the changing economic scene in France with the forthcoming European recession in 1991. The relationship with the French government should have been handled with greater care and delicacy, because of the size of the investment involved and ultimately, the number of jobs dependant on the success of the Euro Disney. Looking at culture, the parent company can force itself on another people, looking at the cultural profile of the French, which in this case was the European continent. Disney promoted its product, the theme park similar to that of Tokyo Disneyland in Japan believing Europeans wanted their piece of Americana. In inte rnational marketing, the needs and wants of the consumer are being indentified, the package presented by Disney to their customer meet neither their needs nor wants. Disney true success lies in adapting to the surrounding culture of the French and Europe as a whole, being marketing oriented in finding success in customer satisfaction. Disney failed in both aspects. Culture is wide and change occurs when resistance slowly yields to acceptance, so the basis of resistance becomes unimportant or forgotten, which means that on the part of the European community, we are certain to see compromise, but over a period of time. Disney too has to reconcile with the environment it has settled in. we read in the case that Disney does ultimately mend it ways. Making room for continuous change is the best way to go about its business. CONCLUSION: most of the factors that lead to the poor performance of EuroDisney in their first year of operation were foreseeable which are the staffing problem, advert problem, and cultural differences and so on, where some factors were not, such as the economic recession at that time in Europe. 3.3 Question 3 The cross-cultural marketing skills of Disney The problem was that in the beginning, cross cultural marketing skills were not used and employed. Taking for example, Disney executives were told that French did not take breakfast in the morning, which lead to downsize but surprisingly, the French do eat breakfast. Cross cultural marketing would have let the managers know that the Europeans were more energetic and covered more of the Euro Disney theme park and rides than those in the western hemisphere. Therefore, instead of the normally three days stay at the Disney American theme park, the stays were normally shortened to two days stay. The European vacation customs were not being examined so the theme park did not see profits and success as hoped. Americans take short breaks but they take the more often. However, Europeans take one month for holiday. The American managers thought that the Europeans would change their one month tradition and adopt the Americans shorter yet more frequent time off but did not happen. The French schedule remains the same and they would close the office and factory during the entire month of August, which was contrary to what the American do. These factors should have been considered. Cross cultural marketing would have been extremely useful but the parent compan y executives were being quite ethnocentric and it cost a great price. (ibid, p.615) needed to say, their cultural marketing skills were unsatisfactory, in fact, nonexistent. Had they had any skills of this sort, the beginning would have been a success and not such a failure at the start. Therefore, we can say that the skills of Euro Disney cross cultural marketing skill was poor, they did not have skills of cross cultural marketing skills which is the main key in dealings in international trade like Euro Disney. They put an American theme park in the middle of Europe with American mentality, American food, and this did not heed to the cultural values of the Europeans. However, the new CEO in 1993, the park understood their problem and made the changes. They then started their new marketing plan, which included skills of cross cultural values, understanding. They started to include French and European favourites like Zoro and Mary Poppins. They advertising campaign include famous European characters with the magic kingdom. Within a year, they took off deals boosted. CONCLUSION: after the recognition of the problem facing Euro Disney which was the cross cultural marketing skill, which was bad. After some time park understood the pending problem and provided a solution, which was the use of French in their advertising campaign and so on. 3.4 Question 4 3.4.1 New theme park in Spain Spain is a country that accept and receive foreign cultures compared to France, the southerners receive foreign culture with greater warmth compared to the central and east Europeans, in which if Euro Disney would have launched in Spain, Disney would have met less criticism. But we should bear in mind that, Euro Disney is actually built to serve the entire Europe as a whole not just Spain. Therefore, criticism will likely come from other part of Europe, even if Spain receives Americans with warmth. Cultural profile is formed as the bases of international marketing relationship, how a product is being marketed in the international market, in a foreign country is based on the cultural variable present in the country. In other for Disney success in marketing the theme park internationally, it will force them never over emphasise the importance of understanding the culture of a foreign culture. A theme park in any part in Europe generally, Spain not excluded will face a varying percentage of regal restraints, political risk, culture conflict, and economic disruption as well. Therefore, if Disney places a theme park in Spain, it is believed that the cultural difference will lay a huge role in its success, as suggested earlier. Disney would have to adapt to the customers culture and the culture of Spain generally, and incorporate them into the development, implementation, and operation of a new theme park. The workaholic habits of the Americans is opposite of not just Spains focus of life and family first, but generally Europe as a continent. In the United States, people focus more on themselves and individuality is the focus not group (Hofstede cultural dimension). CONCLUSION: international marketing is the function associated with culture, what one is able to do in marketing to a particular foreign product is shaped by the cultural variables of the country. A theme park is Spain as in another part of Europe would face a varying proportion of, legal restraints, political risk, culture conflict, and economic disruption. 3.5 Question 5 3.5.1 The major considerations for the next Disneyworld The consideration for the next Disneyworld should be in Dubai. Dubai should be considers as the next Disneyworld location priority. Dubai (UAE) is the major commercial business hub of the Arab world. Business horizons expand from the west coast of the United States to the eastern Philippine archipelago. Business communities around Europe have created a stronghold here as a gateway to most of Northern Africa, the Middle East and to a limited extent the Asian Subcontinent. Dubai seems to be a good strategic location for the Next Disney world to be established. Dubai is seen as the portal not only to the minority communities from Europe, Asia and Americas but specifically to the Muslim world of over one billion. Then underlying opportunities are immense. The parent company Disney is already a recognise figure in households of the respective location UAE. The relaxed social and cultural atmosphere Dubai possesses over Muslim states should not pose a threat to the continuity of business a t Disney in Dubai, which will be called Disney Arabia. Dubai reports a GDP (gross domestic product) per head of US$15,000 to $18,000, one of the highest figures in Asia. The trade balance remains a surplus with over US$500 million. The infrastructure boasts access to telecommunication facilities and transport by land, air and water as state of the art. The diverse ethnic communities level communication barriers between the Arabs and expatriates. All in all, Dubai posses the qualities and the right backdrop to promote the new Disney Arabia to a wider scope of people, both the conservative and the more liberal, foreign and local. Thus, lunching the new Disney subsidiary is obviously not an overnight or one day project, meticulous planning will be needed in defining the eight Ps as pertinent to the Arab world. CONCLUSION: it is important to learn from the mistakes that were made when EuroDisnay was started. Having offices and managers from the country will be detrimental. Incorporating Dubai culture and examining the tourist activities, practices and trends will be crucial to the making of breaking of a Disney in Dubai. CHAPTER 4 4.0 CONCLUSION Euro Disney faces poor performance during their first year of operation, which makes it important to learn from mistakes that were made when Euro Disney was started. Having offices and managers from th

My Grandmother Essay -- English Literature

My Grandmother This poem explores the relationship between the speaker and her grandmother. It focuses on the remorse and guilt she felt - and perhaps does still feel - about the way she behaved towards her on one occasion, and can be seen as an attempt to exorcise this. The poem is divided into four parts: the first stanza describes her grandmother working in the shop; the second the incident which causes her guilt; the third stanza shows her in retirement. In the final stanza, after her grandmother has died, the speaker reflects on herself and her grandmother's life. The first stanza sets the scene - the antique shop reflects the character and life of the grandmother. The words 'it kept her' suggest that it seems, to the speaker, her only reason for living; the grandmother's concern is with surface appearance ('polish was all') not with deep human feelings ('there was no need of love'). Her solitariness is suggested in the fact that it is only 'her own reflection' she sees reflected in the antiques; it is these she lives 'among', not people. The antiques themselves create an oppressive atmosphere - they are 'faded' and 'heavy' in this stanza, and in the final stanza the 'tall/ Sideboards and cupboards' in the 'long, narrow room' take on the air of coffins. Even the sounds of the words the speaker uses contribute - the sibilants in 'the brass/ Salvers and silver bowls' are unwelcoming to the reader, and perhaps betray her disapproving attitude to the shop. But to the grandmother the antiques have great importance. They are 'needed', though never 'used' - they are a substitute for human company, a replacement for love. She takes pride in her possession of them; the speaker's 'wish not to be used/... ...think that the women is treating the girl like she was an antique; "It was perhaps I think a wish not to be used like antique objects ...." In stanza three I think that you can see all the memories actually being revealed to the grandchild; "All her best things in one tong narrow room" It gives us the sense that after she had passed away now the guilt is just kicking in and the old women's life has just began to open. In the very last stanza I think that the very last chapter in the old women's life is beginning to come to an end. Nothing is left in memory of her: "..and no finger marks were there" I think that now her life is over and that her family have been excluded, their lives have had a fundamental change and new dust had just began to settle over the rather cold possessions she seemd to value over her children and grandchildren.

An Assessment on the Importance of Public Personnel Management as a Field of Study Essay

Public Personnel Management as a field of study has undergone considerable development in the past 40 years. Personnel professionals now have available a wide range of techniques which they can apply toward the efficient acquisition, allocation, and development of human resources – human resource planning, job analysis, selection, appraisal, training, and labour management relations. The field of personnel management is growing in importance as organizations of all kinds increasingly focuses on the role of employees in organizational culture and performance. Competent employees are critical to the introduction and retention of quality goods and services, customer satisfaction, and long term organizational viability. Graduates of personnel management are employed as human resource specialists, generalists, benefit administrators, analysts, trainers, because they were taught on compensation, industrial relation, recruitment, performance assessment, planning and development to enable them acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively assist organizations in changing employee values, norms and behaviours consistent with emerging or new organizational dynamics. If one analyses the term public personnel management, it is clear that the concept consist of the following three integrated elements: i) Public: This refers to the locus of the sub-discipline, that is, the terrain or domain in which it is practiced, namely the public sector generally (including commercialized public corporations, statutory bodies and local authorities), and the public service in particular (consisting of the central, state, departments and the provisional administration). ii) Personnel: This denotes the human resources – labour, workers, personnel, etc – who are employed in the public and private sectors and who are involved in service delivery in the society. iii) Management: This refers to those practices, activities and processes related to the marshalling of the human resources of an organization in order to contribute effectively and efficiently to the optimal achievement of predetermined organizational goals. Public Personnel Management can therefore be define as ‘the art and science of policy-making, planning, decision making, organizing, controlling, and motivating human resources for securing, maintaining, developing, integrating, involving, compensating as well as enriching human environment for the blooming of human skills and capacities in a government owned organizations, in order to secure organizational and social objectives as well as employees’ satisfaction’. The origins of Personnel management can be traced to the concern about exploitation of people working in factories during and after industrial revolution and was introduced through law of the land in most of the countries to deal with issues pertaining to grievances and welfare of the workmen. As the dynamics in relations between trade unions and management changed, the personnel management responsibilities consequently grew beyond welfare to other areas such as ensuring amicable industrial relations and effective personnel administration. During this period the emphasis was on formulating and monitoring conformance to rules and procedures. The world in the 1970s, saw changes in the competitive human resources environment brought about by growing competition, which resulted in availability of wide choice for customers and that in turn, gave a new dimension to marketplace – customers’ preference, which in effect drives companies to continuously innovate and provide the kind of value to customer that competition cannot match. With this shift in business dynamics, the realization dawned on companies that people and their knowledge is the only source of sustainable competitive advantage, as other resources related to materials, equipment, technology, finances etc have proved short lived in the absence of human capital capable of deploying these resources effectively and efficiently. Companies now bank on people’s domain knowledge combined with their awareness of markets (customers’ expectations & competitors’ moves in particular) for developing innovative new products & services and thus creating enhanced value proposition for customers. This marked change in attitude of managements saw the emergence of concept of Public Personnel Management which characterizes implementation of personnel policies to maximize objectives of organizational integrity, employee commitment, flexibility and quality. IThe recognition of the role and importance of public personnel management in the workplace has lead to a demand for graduates who are trained and qualified in public personnel management who can advise organizations in this area, and the highest development of a career structure through which such an employees may rise to the highest levels of the organization. The importance of public personnel management as a field of study especially in the 21st century cannot be overemphasized because the effectiveness of any organization in general is a direct function of the qualitative individuals (employees) who make up that organization. The knowledge, skills, abilities, and commitment of the members of the organization together constitute the most critical factor in the development and implementation of work plans and the delivery of products and services without which the organization cannot accomplish its objectives. Consequently, the attraction, recruitment, organization, placement, development and motivation of qualified manpower (the personnel function of management) is a central responsibility of all levels of management, from the chief executive to the first line supervisor. Secondly, Public Personnel Management as a course of study exposes students to the academic disciplines that underlie the effective management of human resources, and goes on to explore both theory and practice of human management activities. Such activities range from initial manpower planning, which reflects the broad long term aims of the organization together with its technological and labour market content, through resorting and then onto the training and development of individuals and teams, which will enhance their performance. How effectively an agency accomplishes its mission is heavily determined by the skill, determination, and morale of its employees hence public personnel management as a field of study avails an opportunity for future managers and administrators to be better equipped with managerial skills and capacities with which to effectively and efficiently administer in the future. Thirdly, public personnel management as a field of study is important because it is a science that is concerned with the study of administrative process, government activities and independent variables. It is essentially the study of various processes and specific functional activities by the institutions that must function within a particular environment to improve the general welfare of society by providing products and services to it. Fourthly, public personnel management is important as it focuses on the application of management practices and techniques in the public sector, that is, the management of personnel in public organization hence it includes an understanding of the particular political and government environment in which decisions and actions regarding the management of public employees take place.

Negotiation Planning

Price to recoup development costs and maintain competitive advantage Issues What should be on the table? What will the discussion focus on? Look for commonality and tradeoff The new technology Preventing the sale of technology to direct competition Net Profits Recoup the development costs Audio shouldn't sell the technology to external customers – Reducing profitability to the company Sharing Internal sales profit Terms What sort of stipulations may apply?Audio should not produce products using Z-25 technology Supply Z-25 magnets for free Magnetic Advances should be given first preference in any further technology advancements in magnets Avoid selling it to competition Goals specific/measurable/]sustainable; target/range you are shooting for; make best guess for the other side; rank them YOU: OTHER PARTY: 1. I am shooting for 61 mm in profits (the minimum I could go is 47-TAP and the maximum I could go is 140-TAP.TAP at minimum would be 32 mm. Taking the average of the above t wo would give me an estimate of 61. 5 mm as target) 1 . 80 mm as TAP ( If the deal succeeds, Mad's maximum profits would be 140 – 32 = 108, and minimum refits would be 20 – 32 mm = -12, so taking average of 108 and -12 and adding them to our opportunity cost ( 12 mm (development costs)+20 mm Internal sales)) 2. Audio should not produce products for Internal dollops 2.So they will be embarrassed to take up the issue with top management Through internal sale of Z-25 products we can get 20 mm in profits Z-25 has enormous commercial possibilities The technology two years lifetime and it cost 12 mm There is 15% and 10% profitability on external and internal sales respectively Negotiation Strategy How do you plan to approach the negotiation? What will you share/keep private? Keep private the net profits Keep private other potential offers I plan to approach by showing them the losses of no selling the product. They could potentially gain 8 mm (20 mm from internal sales †“ 12 mm deep costs) if they didn't go through the deal. So I would say that they will lose more if they don't do the deal because at minimum I am offering them 20 mm + 12 mm = 32 mm. I think even the other party would show losses supporting his argument.

Divorces are made in Heaven Essays

Divorces are made in Heaven Essays Divorces are made in Heaven Paper Divorces are made in Heaven Paper Algernon also says a comment about divorce: Divorces are made in Heaven. This is an inversion of the normal phrase Marriages are made in Heaven. Divorce would have being a topic up for much debate at the time not only because of the issue of money but also that women were basically subservient to men, which meant that women would have had limited rights. However, this is not an issue in the play as womens role in society in The Importance of Being Earnest is portrayed as quite the opposite; all the women have more money than the male characters and seem to get the upper-hand over men. For example, Lady Bracknell sends her husband to dine alone in the bedroom if Lady Bracknells table is out at her dinner parties. Algernon also believes that marriage cant consist of just two people, as it would be tedious for a man to do so. He says that in marriage three is company and two is none. It was not uncommon in the contemporary society for men to have a wife and a mistress. Wilde may be hinting at this fact or he may possibly be using irony to have a private joke about his own Bunburying. He was known to be living a double life with his wife and his lover Lord Alfred Douglas. It could be that he was directing this joke to a few members of the audience at the time, who knew what he meant. In the play, there is irony that both Jack and Algernon only have their Bunburys while they are single men. Lady Bracknells views on marriage are key to the basis of the play. Lady Bracknell believes that it is entirely the parents decision on who marries their daughter: An engagement should come on a young girl as a surprise, pleasant or unpleasant as the case may be. It is hardly a matter that she could be allowed to arrange for herself. This quotation is funny as it has an element of truth but is going beyond the normal customs. It is true that the parents would have had a lot of influence of the husband of their daughters but the girl would have an idea of who he would be. It was more a matter of agreement than completely arranging the whole thing with the girl being oblivious to it all. Gwendolens reasons for wanting to marry Jack are quite absurd. She illustrates that she loves Jack mainly because she thinks his name is Ernest. She says that the only safe name is Ernest. She is being ridiculous in thinking that the fact that a newborn babys character would be determined by the name he had been given. Whilst her mother is basing her decision on Jacks money, status and birthright; Gwendolen is basing her marriage on a name. Even though the later seems the more absurd, Wilde may also be demonstrating that permitting marriage on the grounds of birthright is just as ridiculous as it is true that one cannot help what one is named or into which family one is born.

Music Piracy essays

Music Piracy essays On September 19, 2003, the Federal Communications Commission filed 196 lawsuits against citizens who were pirating music. The people ranged from a ten year-old girl to a seventy-five-year old grandfather, who had allowed his grandchildren to use his computer. The suits were filed against down-loaders who had pirated well over 800 songs. Only recently has the issue of file sharing become an out-of-control problem. The public is fascinated with having access to music without paying, or paying very little for it. Although down-loading is a common activity in households today, the FCC and artists alike find file sharing to be a hobby which must come to an end. Typically, the first step to promoting an album is to release the single on the radio. The audience grows affection for this song, and cannot wait for the C.D. to come out. However, thanks to the internet, people can have access to the single right after its radio release. File sharing solves the issue of waiting months to hear one particular song. In some cases, that one single happens to be the only good song on the album. Rather than pay eighteen dollars for twelve songs, in which only one holds significance, listeners are now downloading that solo track for free. Unknown bands also have a chance to introduce their music to the world; posting tracks online helps the musicians gain a following without going through a major record label. Websites such as Napster were a success because visitors could download as many songs as they liked without paying a dime. Eventually, the FCC found means to shut down the site, which led to the creation of such sites as Kazaa and Morpheus. Kazaa allows visitors to download up to two hundred songs before they have to pay a fee. After that, they are charged around ninety-nine cents a song. Napster made a comeback in the fall of 2002 by charging down-loaders around ninety cents a song. However, this minor charge came about only recently ...

Behavior Tracking Contracts, Incident Reports, and Worksheets

Behavior Tracking Contracts, Incident Reports, and Worksheets Behavior Tracking Worksheets These help determine what happened just before the inappropriate behavior occurred and should be used consistently if you suspect a behavior disorder or disability. Download/Print  a PDF  Download/Print a Word Document Functional Behavior Assessment Worksheet These  forms will help structure your first meeting with the IEP team to review their observations and shape the Functional Behavior Analysis (FBA.)   It is the first step toward creating a Behavior Improvement Plan, to support the students success.   The FBA needs to be completed before a  behavior contract may be implemented. Download/Print a PDF Download/Print a Word Document Monday to Friday Checklist This sample requires the teacher to sign per day or per half day each time the child exhibits appropriate behavior. There should be a reinforcer or reward in place for a specific number of teacher initials.This sample   behavior contract is suitable for first to eighth grade students and should be filled in with the teacher present. This plan requires the reinforcers and consequences to be listed.   Download/Print a PDFDownload/Print a Word Document Countdown to Positive Behavior This  popular worksheet is placed on the students desk. It focuses on modifying  one behavior at a time. Initially the teacher should stand next to the student and administer it, but after a day or two, the student should be ready to take over.   You may want a peer you trust to monitor the other student.   This works well with young elementary students, but with fourth or fifth grade students, in which case a teacher should be leery of opening a compliant student up to bullying on the playground, etc. This is a great self-monitoring tool to teach a child to raise his/her hand and not call out. Download/Print a PDF Download/Print a  Word Document Countdown to Positive Behavior (Blank) This worksheet is more flexible, since unlike the above printable, this form is blank.   You could use a different Behavior for your countdown on consecutive days, alternate, or take a more flexible approach.   You need to start with a single behavior to start, and add behaviors as you go.   This might be part of a two pronged approach, as you may want to use the countdown for one behavior, while focusing on other behaviors with a behavior contract.   In other words, you are challenging the student to prove that he has mastered the calling out behavior, or the talking during instruction behavior.   Download/Print a PDF Download/Print a Word Document Functional Behavior Assessment Worksheet This particular worksheet is what gets things started! This form would provide the agenda for a first meeting with your IEP team to address behavior issues.    It provides for Antecedent, Behavior and Consequences to be observed and counted.   It creates a structure for your FBA meeting that will help you collect baseline data and share responsibilities for the BIP (Behavior Improvement Plan) and its implementation.   Download/Print a PDF Download/Print a Word Document

Retail marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Retail marketing - Essay Example As Hahn puts it, it is the strength of the online shopping business like that of eBay that is inherent by the fact that it is online (Hahn, 2006). Use of the internet allows both the sellers and bidders to participate in online auctions from anywhere in the world. A seller let’s say in China can put up a doll in an online auction site that can be bid on by bidders that reside in the United States. In essence due to the absence of territorial barriers made possible through the use of the virtual space, items can be purchased by technically everybody anywhere in the world. Inherent in the worldwide interdependence of buyers and sellers is the comfort given to the buyers. The buyer simply sits in front of the computer, logs on to the online shopping site, uses an e-money, then waits for the delivery of the product. There is no longer a need for personal visit on stores which could require much effort especially for busy buyers. The Internet offers variety that is simply impossible in traditional stores (Postrel, 2004). Definitely, buyers do more than purchase items of their choice because they also work or study. More than the comfort offered by online shopping, time is saved for other purposes. Basically, the cost of participating into internet auctions through various retail agents is zero (Hahn, 2006). Online shopping also allows buyers to customize their products, as well as benefit from cheaper prices. As buyers are purchasing directly from the supplier, it eliminates the need for retailers and distributors who often add to the cost of the product . Postrel (2004) found that prices on the Internet were 6 percent to 16 percent lower than prices off-line. Aside from the fact that purchase through online auctions saves time, it also allows the buyer to offer a bid at the time convenient to him since there are time constraints (Miller and Layton, 2000). Bids

Discuss the agency problem relating to multinational companies, and in Essay

Discuss the agency problem relating to multinational companies, and in particular multinational banks, and how, they differ from - Essay Example The situation of agency problem is such in many of the organizations that the agents or the management of the organization makes use of their authority for deriving personal benefits rather than benefits of the principals or the shareholders. In other words, agency problem arises due to the conflicting interests among the management, creditors and shareholders’ regarding the goals of the organization as well as that of the concerned parties (Investopedia, 2011). The agency problem in multinational companies can be appropriately discussed by focusing on the ways as to how the supervision and regulation affects the risk-taking measures of the banks in the host-country (Ongena & Et. Al., 2011). This research paper is aimed to present the discussion on agency problem in multinational companies, particularly banks, through review of various aspects related to the evolution of the problems. The research also aims to present a comparative study of the agency problems faced by the mul tinational organizations and domestic organizations. Two Most Common Agency Problems in Banks In the non-financial corporations, an incentive is provided to the shareholders through limited liability that allows them to seize bondholders’ wealth by increasing the level of risk. The government is indulged in protecting the bond holders from the outcome of risk taking activities of the banks. Thus, the shareholders’ incentive to supervise and restrain risk taking is low. In the banking literature, such situation of absence of discipline is known as the â€Å"moral hazard problem associated with deposit insurance†. A second very common situation of agency problem arises due to the limits on the wealth of managers that forces a separation of control and ownership. This forces the managers to consider their own objectives to be more important than that of the shareholders (Demsetz, 1997). Agency Problems and Risk Taking at Multinational Banks The root cause of agency problems in multinational companies, particularly banks is related to the structuring of regulations for multinational banking units. The host country is more interested in structuring the regulations in such a way that would provide disadvantage to the foreign firms to compete with the domestic firms. But this notion would result in inconsistency with the objective of a single market (Baum, 2002). The consequence of leaving the supervision and regulation in the home country, as evident from the case of the European Union, is that the member countries adopted different structures of regulation and supervision for the financial institutions. Thus, if the multinational banks are faced with similar regulatory issues, they would either split according to functions or would consolidate regulation into one agency. In that case, in certain situations the Central Bank will be involved, whereas in other cases, it would not. Hence, it is evident that considering these regulatory issues, the multinational banks would select policy trade-offs on the basis of their degrees of responsibilities and

Supply Chain Would Cease to Exist without Information Systems Research Paper

Supply Chain Would Cease to Exist without Information Systems Technologies - Research Paper Example Both association and suppliers have to practice information technology since it guarantees the integration of supply chain on condition that the associates truthfully share it and if not, their supply chain would definitely come to an end. Even as it broadens the level of knowledge it makes sure the accuracy in outlay management as well. What is more, it is a feature to evaluate the top suppliers' value and then leverage potential right through the absolute supply chain (Bharadwaj, 2000, p. 182). DHL is the wide-reaching seller of the global package and document express and logistics trade, focusing on offering modern and custom-made solutions from a single source. They analyze information technology as a practical tool. DHL runs the intercontinental air express shipping business in providing high-tech technology that presents customers smooth access to delivery and trailing information. Their spending in IT enables them to carry on exploiting the latest technologies to rationalize the shipping method and give services that let customers be further competitive. DHL exploits X.25 plus Frame Relay technology in their speedy TCP/IP exchange network (DHLNET), facilitating clients to monitor the status of deliveries, research shipping programs and rating details from anyplace in the world. Moreover, it presents helpful information on map-reading, delivery moments and system ability which allows shipments to move with ease around the world. Different innovative equipment used by DHL is Electronic Data Interchange. Deployment of EDI enhances rate and efficiency in carrying, invoicing and statistics management and permit customers to interact via symbolic electronic messages openly with DHL.

Role of Leadership in Managing Quality Research Paper

Role of Leadership in Managing Quality - Research Paper Example Moreover leaders establish a particular direction for their followers which allow them in managing the internal environment of the organization, business, school, institute, nation etc. Once the adherents follow guidance provided by their leader efficiently they can ultimately achieve their targeted goals, aims and objectives in an organized manner. Hence it is clearly evident that quality can easily be maintained with good leadership on any stage or medium as it is the excellence of leaders who are able to set objectives efficiently and assist their followers in implementing those objectives within specified time limits (tribehr.com, 2012). In Big Organization Considering the role of leaders in big organization it is found that leaders are proactive and lead their employees through providing example. The employees follow such instances after being inspired by the charismatic leadership of their leader rather than having a sense of dictatorship. A good leader is one who leads in a ma nner which is depicted through implementation and then leading through actions as opposed to simply dictating their rules and actions without exemplifying any real instances. Leaders recognize and act in response to the variation of the external environment and completely understand the ups and downs of the changing external environment. They are then able to communicate the right direction to their followers for attaining quality in work. The role of leadership in a big organization is to comprehend the requirements of every stakeholder such as clients, owners, suppliers, working staff, general public and any other concerned associate of the business. Every stakeholder formulates the significant part of the quality management process hence they all combine to have an effect on organization’s success. It is the quality of good leadership to induce ethical values throughout their organization which can be achieved through organization’s mission statement or they can the mselves become role models for inspiring their employees for becoming a strategic part of quality management initiative (lennoxhill.co.uk, 2011). True leadership has the ability to equip their employees with the essential resources and struggle to fulfil their duty with sincerity and accountability. The entire organization can be motivated by true leaders for fulfilling their duties and get everyone involved in the process of quality management. It is essential at this stage that leaders must inspire and recognize the contributions and efforts made by employees at all levels which will further instigate a sense of accountability amongst employees and will inspire them in attaining more results and they will voluntarily involve more in quality management procedures. This entire process is dependent on the inputs from both sides whether it is the leader or it is the company’s workforce (Ovretveit, 2005). In Educational Institution The educational field has also changed consider ably in a manner that education administration is now treated more towards the scope of educational management which is now further improvised and transformed into educational leadership. This example is clearly evident from the ceremony held in 2000 having the inauguration of the National College for School Leadership in England. The expression ‘instructional leadership’ is basically derived from North America and it has been superseded in England and all around the world by the concept of ‘learning centred leadership’. It has become a requirement for educational leaders and managers to focus all their efforts more towards the quality management of their educational institution for competing with the other leading

Speaker's response for Sports management class Essay - 1

Speaker's response for Sports management class - Essay Example The first was about starting in the business. The speaker was able to articulate the difficulty of not knowing what to do or being clueless about the job. I found that lawyers like the speaker tend to work on contract and facility issues, insurance, sponsorship and tax (Bhardwaj 2011). His perspective on how to address that situation is practical and something that I will remember if faced in the same dilemma. He said that one should be calm about it and approach it in a holistic and objective manner. I believe he wants a certain level of detachment that would enable him to focus, learn and avoid mistakes. The idea is get past the jitters, the ignorance and other work-related related pressures. Secondly, there is the case of needing to be appropriate at work and towards other people. The speaker was a lawyer and his work involved defense and prosecution. He stressed that it is preferable to work with adversaries professionally and not become rabid supporters of employers because in t he industry, everything comes in full circle. An adversary today, might be needed in the future. So it helps that one is level headed about work especially when the position entails conflict resolution. Which issues require more consideration? I would like to point out the issue regarding the alignment of interest. The speaker stressed that people should not enter the sports entertainment business because he loves sports. ... Essentially, lawyers deal with the law and with documents regardless of where he works. But he was unhappy working for corporations. There is a discrepancy when he clearly thrived and excelled in the sports management business. Obviously, he is a sports fan. This factor must contribute to a worker's motivation. A business manager and his counterpart who loves sports would have radically different approach in an issue because the latter would be more involved and passionate about it. I feel that this issue needed further clarifications. Where you do stand on a controversial issue? One of the controversial issues in sports entertainment management is the focus on profit. Sports managers tend to see organizational success as inevitable offshoot of single-minded pursuit for profit. I am against this wholeheartedly. I believe that this position is valid for several reasons. First is that America has very strong ties with sports and that its management is almost within the realm of public interest. According to Kelly, sports has occupied a major role in modern society, as element of the economy, spectacle with symbolic meanings and an arena of human development (226). A purely commercial organization could get away with greed for profit but the fans will never condone its pursuit if they think that the management and sports administration is harming the sports or their teams or making inappropriate sports decisions in favor of more money. This is supported by the fact that sports and its leading figures are considered product brands. Any inappropriate management decision can damage them and the public could simply cease patronizing. Baker and Esherik (2013) maintained that sports is still a profit-based organization

Expectancy theory in nursing Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Expectancy theory in nursing - Article Example There are three components of expectancy theory, which are expectancy, valence, and instrumentality. In expectancy, the belief is that the efforts of an individual’s determine their attainment of desired performance and goals. To do so, the individuals have to develop their self-efficacy by assessing whether they have the required skills and knowledge to achieve the desired goals. Goals difficulty occurs when the set goals are set too high or the achievement of the performance expectations are set too hard. This leads to low expectancy especially when the desired results of an individual are un-attainable according to the beliefs of the individual. An individual may also get the perceived control where they believe that there is some degree of control over their expected outcome. If such individuals believe that the outcome is beyond their perceived outcomes, then their ability to influence is low leading to low motivation. In instrumentality, individuals believe that they will receive a reward if they meet the performance expectations set. This may be in form of a promotion, salary increment, or recognition. Valence, on the other hand, is the individuals’ beliefs in the reward of certain outcome. It is based on their goals, motivational factors, and values. Expectancy theory is related to nursing management in that it allows the nurse managers to ensure that their employees are well motivated to maximize on their potential. It ensures that the nurse managers come up with policies to ensure that each successful outcome of the nurses’ performance is rewarded. They ensure that the efforts made by all the nurses will result into attainment of desired goals and objectives (Yoder-Wise, 2014). To do so, the nurses have to have the required belief in their ability to achieve the set goals and ensure that the goals set are not too high for the nurse to achieve. Â  

Speaker's response for Sports management class Essay - 1

Speaker's response for Sports management class - Essay Example The first was about starting in the business. The speaker was able to articulate the difficulty of not knowing what to do or being clueless about the job. I found that lawyers like the speaker tend to work on contract and facility issues, insurance, sponsorship and tax (Bhardwaj 2011). His perspective on how to address that situation is practical and something that I will remember if faced in the same dilemma. He said that one should be calm about it and approach it in a holistic and objective manner. I believe he wants a certain level of detachment that would enable him to focus, learn and avoid mistakes. The idea is get past the jitters, the ignorance and other work-related related pressures. Secondly, there is the case of needing to be appropriate at work and towards other people. The speaker was a lawyer and his work involved defense and prosecution. He stressed that it is preferable to work with adversaries professionally and not become rabid supporters of employers because in t he industry, everything comes in full circle. An adversary today, might be needed in the future. So it helps that one is level headed about work especially when the position entails conflict resolution. Which issues require more consideration? I would like to point out the issue regarding the alignment of interest. The speaker stressed that people should not enter the sports entertainment business because he loves sports. ... Essentially, lawyers deal with the law and with documents regardless of where he works. But he was unhappy working for corporations. There is a discrepancy when he clearly thrived and excelled in the sports management business. Obviously, he is a sports fan. This factor must contribute to a worker's motivation. A business manager and his counterpart who loves sports would have radically different approach in an issue because the latter would be more involved and passionate about it. I feel that this issue needed further clarifications. Where you do stand on a controversial issue? One of the controversial issues in sports entertainment management is the focus on profit. Sports managers tend to see organizational success as inevitable offshoot of single-minded pursuit for profit. I am against this wholeheartedly. I believe that this position is valid for several reasons. First is that America has very strong ties with sports and that its management is almost within the realm of public interest. According to Kelly, sports has occupied a major role in modern society, as element of the economy, spectacle with symbolic meanings and an arena of human development (226). A purely commercial organization could get away with greed for profit but the fans will never condone its pursuit if they think that the management and sports administration is harming the sports or their teams or making inappropriate sports decisions in favor of more money. This is supported by the fact that sports and its leading figures are considered product brands. Any inappropriate management decision can damage them and the public could simply cease patronizing. Baker and Esherik (2013) maintained that sports is still a profit-based organization

What is applied anthropology and how did it emerge Essay

What is applied anthropology and how did it emerge - Essay Example As a consequence of this, the British were able to colonize large regions of the world during the colonial period. Before World War II began, the British colony had to change its tactics by engaging itself in more positive administrative arrangement that could be catalysts to strategic economic growth of its colonies. Heavy funding and underwriting began to stream towards social science exploration in African. This funding, ideally, was through a couple of mechanism, which included funding from foundation like the Rockefeller foundation and Carnegie Corporation. A portion of these funds permitted the anthropologists to liberate themselves from a prism relationship, including colonial emissaries and subjects. In the early 1940s, the British enacted an act that saw the provision of funds for social science explorations in the protectorates. The reason that social science reached were carried in out in the British colonies, was primarily shed light into the human society of Africa, which was apparently a lot less known. The results that were collected from these pragmatic researches provided anthro pologists with crucial information, which they transformed it later into compelling theoretical products (Chambers 2008, p54). In any case, without this transformation, the whole process would malformed. The researchers ensured that anthropology came out as a science, so that it would get full government support. However, if anthropology emerged as snot a science, there was no way it would have received any government support. This success saw an increase in total number of academic departments. Additionally, as the British ceased their operations in the colonies, applied anthropology began to erode gradually. However, applied anthropology was evidently not developed fully enough theoretically (Escobar 2008, p87). Apart from colonialist Europe,

A Nestlé Company Research

A Nestlà © Company Research ABSTRACT Our group has decided to choose Nestlà © Company for our research. Our study was to do a research on Nestlà © Company in general view because it would provide us with wide range of topic for example what is their favourite Nestlà © products, why the like Nestlà © products, what is their opinion on the company and others. The research would be based on information from the internet, questionnaire and interview. The questionnaire and interview was done at Tunku Abdul Rahman College in Setapak. For questionnaire and interview, all of us had decided to choose 50 students from year two Diploma in Business Administration (2DBU) students. Our key findings showed a very positive response on Nestlà © products and its brands. The results had showed that the 50 students trusted the Nestlà © Company very much. They have become a fan of the Nestlà © products over the years. Even though there was one student who was not interested with Maggi but she did like their other products and did tru sted the company. So, it was conclude that the research was satisfying because most students really liked the products so much and are a very loyal customer to Nestlà ©. They had used the products in quite long time. INTRODUCTION Background The history of Nestlà © began in Switzerland in 1867. Henri Nestle, the pharmacist had discovered nutrition food supplement to overcome the problem of malnutrition. He helps an infant who was unable to accept his mothers milk by using his product called Farine Lactee Nestlà ©. He then saves the life of the infant. Henri used his surname, which means little nest, in both company name and the logotype. Nestle means little nest which symbolises security, family and symbol of companys care and attitude to life-long nutrition. Nestlà © success with its product innovations and now has turned into world leading Food Company. Today, more than 5000 employees work in Nestlà © Company. The Nestle Company also produce more than 300 HALAL products in Malaysia such as the brand Milo, Maggie, Nescafe and Kit Kat have been trusted by household names and enjoyed for generation today. Nowadays, Nestle products are sold in every country in the world. Purposes The objective of this report is to study about Nestlà © Company in general profile. Do research on Nestlà © products and with respondents to provide opinion on Nestlà © and some improvement or suggestion. Besides, is to investigate and analysis the Nestlà © Company SWOT analysis (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, threat). This proposal aims to provide recommendation on improvement Nestlà © products and how can Nestlà © Company satisfied their customers needs. Scope The report investigates the general profile of Nestlà © products preference by Tunku Abdul Rahman College students from Business Administration (DBU 2) only. The other Tunku Abdul Rahman campus branches are not included in this report. It focuses on Nestlà © product and how consumers think about it. They were only 50 students to survey for this report. This recommendation is to improve Nestlà © products and satisfied customer needs. If long-term solution, suggested to do more health science research to develop more nutrition level of the food. Findings from Internet Nestlà © Company owns several brands in their product such as junior food, coffee, beverages, culinary product and others as well. The brands include Milo, Nescafà ©, Nestum, Maggi and many more. Based on the Nestlà ©s sales report, MILO, Coffee mate and Nescafà © are the best products sells. Culinary product like Maggi is the following best sells. Most of the people like to drink Milo or Nescafà © at the morning as their breakfast drinks. Nowadays, there are many choices in Milo. More choices are provided to obtain their customers need. Now, Nestlà © is promoting their new product such as Milo Sejuk, Mat Kool Spiro and others to attract their customers. Many people like to buy Nestlà © Companys product because their brands are trusted. Besides that, Nestlà © Company also provides wellness quiz and tools for their beloved customers, for example BMI Calculator and Waist Hip Ratio. When using these tools, everyone can easily check for their body weight whether is standard, underweight or overweight. After that, when you know your body weight, you can control or maintain your body weight by increase your food intake or maintain your diet. Every Nestlà ©s product has a simple device called Nestlà © Nutritional Compass. It provides the product information clearly. This can help us to make healthier choice when buying their product. Apart from that, Nestlà © also provide an app to help those who are not very well in cooking. The app provides step by step cooking guide for the users. There are many recipes provide for example how to bake honey chicken, how to cook Tom Yam fried rice, how to make Chocolate Milo and others more. For those who are interest can easily try it out. It is simple to do it by just follow the pr ocedure given by. Nestlà © research and development adapt to local consumers trend in lifestyle, culture and purchasing power. (Nestlà ©, Consumer Needs) This characteristic of consumer make Nestlà © research and development more understand about customer needs and to make new products. Besides it also do nutrition research to increase the nutrition level and tasty products. It makes all products standardise and safety to be consume. Nestlà © Company offer great career opportunities for those who interested with expertise skill and be competent for those who wish to excel in their careers. Nestlà © company also provide rewarding career and further develop to who want work in Nestlà © company. Next, Nestlà © set the principle to organize their organization, and how to treat each other. The principle set by Nestlà © Companys Trust, Respect, Involvement and Pride, its motivates them to run organization in successful way. Furthermore, Nestlà © company also provide training program Nestlà © Management Trainee program) to develop strength of employee. The Nestlà © Companys looking for applicant whose holder degree cert with minimum CGPA 3.2 and active in curricular activities. Program offer by Nestlà © such as position in marketing sales, supply chain, human resource and more. Findings from Sales Table 1: Sales of Nestle Product in Year 2011 Source:Nestle:http://www.nestle.com/Common/NestleDocuments/Documents/Library/Documents/About_Us/Quick-Facts-2011-EN.pdf According to Nestlà © company sales, the higher sales are powdered and liquid beverages with 18,204 sales. The products with high demanded which are Milo, Nescafà ©, and Nestea. The lower sales are mineral water at 6,526 sales. The sales of milk and Ice cream are 16,406. The products are Nestlà © NIDO, Nestlà © Coffee-mate, Nestlà © Ice cream and Dreyers. Nutrition and healthcare products have an average of sales compare to the higher sales with the sales of 9,744. Nutrition and healthcare products is such as, Nestlà © Nutrition, Nestlà © NAN, and Nestlà © Gerber. In addition, prepared dishes and cooking aids are like Maggi, Hot pockets, and Lean cuisine with 13,933 sales. The confectionary products like Kit Kat, Milo choco bar and Nestlà © Crunch with the sales of 9,065. The PetCare products have the sales of 9,764. For example products like Purina, Friskies and Dog Chow. The total sales of all Nestlà © products are 83,642 in 2011 year. The sales of 2011 have decrease 9,37 3 of sales from 2010. Findings from Nestlà © Company SWOT analysis (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, Threats) The Strength of Nestlà © Company is having been a trusted Company over 100 years of history. Penetrate the market share easily in the early stage, because the price for the product is low and now the Nestlà © market share price is high at 54.100. Nestlà © products mix with many extensions of product lines that provide high quality brand and product that are well-known and top selling brands. For example Nestlà © brands are Milo, Maggi, Kit-Kat, Nescafà © and Hà ¤agen-Dazs. Research and development (RD) is one of the strength to Nestlà ©, it helps develop new products. Besides it helps to improve the nutrition level, taste, and safety to be consumed. However, the weakness is Nestlà © entering into the markets that are already mature and can have tough competition between competitors in the market. The complex supply chain management usually happens in rural place such as India. The factory require good working environment, hygiene and so it can produce good quality products. High distribution cost because not all product are manufacture at the country. In addition, the opportunities for Nestlà © is the company can expand their product line such as new Milo sejuk by differentiate the product. Besides it have the opportunity expand to smaller town or geographical area. It opportunity for Nestlà © is lower cost of raw material and produce product that is cheaper. Since cost is lower the manufacturer is mostly located in Asia country such as India for manufacturing goods. The Threats is Nestlà © Company has many competitors to be competing in the market. For example company like Kraft food, Hershey, Ovaltine, and Cadbury. The Changing consumer trend in products due to launch new products by competitor. Existing competitor may take over Nestlà © consumer by increasing the product lines and by giving customers the variety of choosing the products and it threatening to Nestlà ©. Nestlà © also need to follow local policy that made by governments to produce certain products or goods. Findings from interview Our group has conducted the interview on 10 students. Based on our findings, we have found out that most students have been using Maggi and Milo for so many years. Three students have been using the product for 19 years and two students have been using the product for 15 years. In addition, four students have been using it for 18 years which was the highest based on our findings. All the students have said in the interview that they like these product so much because they had been using it since they were little such as product like Milo. They like both of this product because of its taste which all of them will describe it as very tasty and delicious. Furthermore, one student describes the taste as fantastic. These students said that Maggi was convenience because it only takes about 5 minutes to prepare and usually if they already hungry they will make Maggi to eat. Besides that, it is an instant noodle that tastes good. Moreover, they also felt these product are wonderful because i t was easy to find and both of it satisfy their taste bud. Then, one student has been using these products for 3 years only. He did like the products but not too much. In addition, we found out that Milo was the highest product that they will buy because most of them like the taste of Milo. Meanwhile, a student said it was good to drink Milo for breakfast. Plus, they have been drinking Milo since they were little. Nescafà © was the second highest product they will buy. Most of them agree with the taste of Nescafà © which was tasty to drink not like some other coffee. Then, the third highest product was Kit Kat. They described Kit Kat as one of their favourite chocolate to eat because it was delicious. This is due to the taste of it which is sweet. Maggi was at fourth because of it taste and also easy to prepare for it. At fifth was ice-cream by Nestlà ©. The students like the taste of the ice-cream which was very sweet and has many flavours that they could choose from. Furthermore, some like to eat ice-cream because to cool down their body. The last product was Coco Crunch because it is a healthy cereal food to eat for breakfast. But, one person said that she will buy Nestle products depends on her needs. This is because she also likes products from other brands. Besides that, all of the students found that the nutrition information very informative. Moreover, most of them found the nutritional information helpful because it let you knew about the nutrient contains in the Nestlà © product. So, they knew how much protein, vitamin and fibre consumed by them when they eat the Nestlà © product. Plus, they also would notice what type of fat and how much does it contain in the product. In addition to that, they can monitor what types of product provide the best or good nutrients for them because they needed a lot of energy. Then, we found out most students have no complaint about Nestlà © products so far except for one student only that have a complaint. Most of them really like the products. As we could see clearly throughout the interview they had become a fan of Nestlà © products for so many years. Some student agree that the Nestlà © product was quite good compared to other brands that already been in the market. Moreover, a student said it was hard for other brands to compete with Nestlà © because Nestlà © have been producing many of good quality products in the market for so many years. Then, they have no problem with the Nestlà © products and its brands. They had been using the products for so many years and did not face any problem. The products by Nestlà © are great so they dont have anything to complaint about. But there was one student who thinks Maggi was bad. She said that it was not good for your health to be consumed often. If there is any severe case then this will threaten the Ne stlà © Company. Besides that, we also found out that most of them wanted Nestlà © to produce more products and give more choices in the market. Some of them said they could make new flavour for yogurt and ice-cream. Furthermore, they all wanted Nestlà © to lower the price of their product. So, it will be easier for them to buy the product in daily basis. Then, some said that Nestlà © could improve their product quality by following the current demand in the market and see the feedback from the market and customer. Plus, they wanted Nestle to do more promotion on their products for students so they could buy it. They also said that Nestlà © could give free gifts to their customer when they purchase the products. This could help retain their customers. Findings from Survey/Questionnaire Out of the 50 respondent from DBU year two students who took questionnaire, 49 of they satisfied with Nestlà © product and they believe that Nestlà © is trusted company because they were in market over 100 years and produce more good quality products. Besides that, Most of them agreed that it is an affordable price but yet some said that they are very expensive. According to our respondent, some said product of Nestlà © cant be consumed by every range of ages and as they give reason that coffee product is not suitable for children. Moreover, the latest product MILO SEJUK as came to many peoples mine and yet most of them said it is delicious and few of them said it is not delicious. The respondent claims that it is easy to purchase Nestlà © product at any store such as supermarket and grocery shop. In addition, we notice that the respondents are very often purchasing Nestlà © product. Lastly, There are suggestion from some student to do more promotion should be held on to increas e customers awareness and purchasing rate until its become the households brand in the market mainly. Table 2: Source from questionnaire below shows student DBU year twos most preference on Nestle product and what DBU year two student thoughts on Nestle products are. CONCLUSION The problems faced the consumer in Nestlà © Company Product is mainly on their nutritional. From our internet research we realise that many people complains about the nutrition. The first problem is nutrition for elderly, we notice that it is a large extent by a person diet and also their nutrition consumption. By taking an improper nutrition and unbalanced nutria diet can increase the risks to have disease. Secondly, Children obesity caused mainly because their consuming to much chocolate and confectionary, taking a lots of chocolate cause them to have disease in early ages. Lastly, in our research we realise that Nestle is producing less energy drinks. RECOMMENDATION Based on our research, we will like to recommend to Nestlà © to produce more products that are suitable for older people such as protein milk and cereal with necessary nutrition where every older people can make it as their daily use and also they should produce some organic product to whom are very health conscious so it can be a healthy snack. Since children obesity is increasing, Nestlà © can produce a chocolate bar with less sugar so that obesity will not increase. Moreover, Nestlà © should produce more energy drink that is suitable for all ranges such as students and people that is active in their daily life.

bb king :: essays research papers

B.B. King Back in 1951, a young blues guitarist named Riley King had his first hit song titled "3 O’clock Blues.'' The song was so great, promoters whisked the young man from his Memphis, Tennessee home to the big top of New York City, where he shortened his stage name from Beale Street Blues Boy to "B.B.'' Boogie woogie pianist Robert "H-Bomb'' Ferguson recalls the first time he met B.B. King before the legendary guitarist's first show at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. "When I saw B.B., man, I laughed. This cat came out on stage with a purple suit, red shirt and green tie,'' says Ferguson. King agrees with Ferguson's memory, but notes that the color scheme was different. " It was a red suit with a red tie with red shoes. Red and black sock and black shoes,'' notes King. Over the past forty years, King has established himself as the indisputable king of blues guitarists. His creative style of blending gospel, jazz, and deep Delta blues has influenced two generations of blues and rock guitarists. Unabashedly, King admits that he's an original: "There's a whole lot of things I don't do as well as other people, but I can do and do very well being B.B. King.'' King launched his career as a professional musician on the streets of Memphis during the 1940s. He played gospel and blues on street corners for tips. Standing in-between blues and gospel, King took the path offering the promise of more financial rewards. At 66, King remains indefatigable. He does about 300 concert dates annually. Few artists who have attained the success that King has continue to drive themselves at such a grueling pace. The force pushing King to stay in front of the spotlight is simple. He wanted to be remembered. "If you're out there, people never forget you. That is one of the things I believe in today, never being forgotten. I would like to be remembered as a person that loved people and wanted to be loved by them''. King has wrought a unique style of blues often imitated, but never duplicated. Despite an unorthodox approach to the music, King has helped to shape the blues by bringing it into the mainstream. He hates when people label the blues as sad music. "Blues to me is many things,'' notes the King. "It has to do with people, places and things.

Child Abuse and Neglect :: Violence Against Children

Child Abuse "Trust unto Jehovah with all thy heart, And unto thine own understanding lean not. In all thy ways know thou Him, And He doth make straight thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5,6, YLTHB) The statistics on physical child abuse are alarming. Of the estimated hundreds of thousands of children battered each year by a parent or close relative, thousands die. For those who survive, the emotional trauma remains long after the external bruises have healed. Communities and the courts recognize that these emotional "hidden bruises" can be treated. Children who have been abused may display a poor self-image, Inability to depend on, trust or love others, Aggressive and disruptive—sometimes illegal— behavior; Passive and withdrawn behavior; fear of entering into new relationships or activities, School failure, Serious drug and alcohol abuse. The child and adolescent psychiatrist is able to treat the "whole child"—medical as well as psychological or emotional problems that have occurred as a result of the abuse. The family can be helped to learn new ways of support and communicating with one another. Through treatment, the abused child begins to regain a sense of self-confidence and trust. Child abuse is a matter of degree: the degree to which a parent uses inap-propriate or excessive control strategies with a child and/or fails to provide standards of care giving. In fact, abusive parents often do not know they are abusive. Our culture has, for generations, used corporal punishment as a means of controlling child behavior. Some parents think society places no restraint on such techniques. Many may recall the old saying, "spare the rod and spoil the child." It is not always clear what the limits are in efforts to get a child to behave. The best way to stop the child abuse and stop the abusive parents from abusing their children is by forming a non-profit organization working in cooperation with U.S. Dept. of Welfare , a resource for children and families to report a child abuse and to search for the abusive parents and put a penalty on them. These type of organizations have worked considerably good in the other fields and I am sure that this solu-tion will work out fairly well. In this Article " The goal of NCMEC," The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children states that "The goals of the NCMEC: A private, non-profit organization working in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice, NCMEC is a vital resource for families and America's 17,000 law enforcement agencies in the search for missing children and the quest for child protection." In 1986, six youth and adult survivors of child abuse and neglect formed what

GEZ Petrol Station Essay

GEZ Bhd is the major oil company in Malaysia has conducted two main businesses, which is the fuel business and the convenience store business. Under the fuel business, the petrol stations sold Petrol Ron 95 (R95), Petrol Ron 97 (R97), and Diesel. Mr Aiman was as an Area Manager is responsible for directing the sales activities of more than twenty petrol stations in the northern region of Malaysia. They are having a difficulty to sustain in the business even though they are in the stable business segment and consistent in the long run. This is due to the lack of knowledge in finance and costing which is it contributed to the business failure. There were disadvantages associated with a petrol station that is the fuel business had a very low profit margin. It was important that operators manage their cash collection very well. Realising the importance of management accounting concepts, Mr Aiman believed that the dealers and their relevant staff should have the knowledge in cost accounti ng. In order to collect data and build financial model, Mr Aiman has sought the advice from Rizal, a trained management accountant. To begin developing a CVP model, Rizal has gathered the necessary data from Baron Service Station (BSS) which is the busiest petrol station in the city. The petrol station had four pumps for petrol and one for diesel and the total number of nozzle was 20. The model that he would develop could be applied by petrol station operators of the same category. Regarding this case, from the cost-volume-profit analysis, Rizal can find that the breakeven point which is how much sales the petrol station of this type should generate from each of the fuel products and the Selesamart. Mr. Aiman also can learn that the importance of differentiate between fixed cost and variable cost so that the petrol stations can sustain their profitable business and growth. DATA ANALYSIS 1. How lucrative is the petrol station business? To determine how lucrative is this business, we need to identified each component with detailed calculation of the income statement which is does include all the revenue acquired, fixed cost and variable cost that related to the both type of the business. Firstly, we required to understand the definition of each component. Fixed costs are defined as expenses that remain more or less unchanged irrespective of the output level or sales revenue, within the relevant period. By definition, there are no fixed costs in the long run, because the long run is a sufficient period of time for all short-run fixed inputs to become variable. Variable costs are defined as expenses that vary depending on the output level or sales revenue of a company within the relevant period. Generally, as a business’s output increases, variable costs also increase. The more products a business sells, the more money it spends on materials and manpower to produce those products. We categorized all the expenses into fixed and variable costs and calculate the net profits of Baron S ervice Station for year 2009. REVENUE VARIABLE COSTS FIXED COSTS INCOME STATEMENTS (Partial) As describe in the Calculation stated above, the total contribution margin of Baron Service Station consists of two parts, which are fuel business and SelesaMart business. Total contribution margin is RM1,166,341.94. Contribution margin of SelesaMart business is about more and less 20% of the total contribution margin, which means that SelesaMart business is doing well, in addition, profit of SelesaMart will be higher if it doesn’t need to pay a 5% royalty to GEZ. From the income statement we can interpreted that this business in lucrative enough with a good control of expenses and Cost related to the operation, where BSS could generate Nett Profit of RM 772,825.94 (Calculation as per as Attachment 1) 2. Since the margin on fuel business is very low (6%) compared to convenience store (20%), do you agree that the convenience store is subsidizing the fuel business? Firstly, the profit margin for fuel business is very low if compared to convenience store. The fuel business only gets about 6% of profit margin for year 2010. Profit = Sales – cost = 100% – 94% = 6% This is because GEZ Petrol only gain a few portion of profit from the sales of each litre of Ron 95, Ron 97 and Diesel. Below is the profit for each litre of fuel sold by GEZ Petrol Station and the profit margin for each type of fuel. Products Price per litre Cost per litre Profit per litre Profit margin (%) Ron 95 RM1.80 RM1.6856 RM0.1144 6.36 Ron 97 RM2.05 RM1.9356 RM0.1144 5.58 Diesel RM1.80 RM1.7388 RM0.0612 3.40 Besides that, the petrol station also cannot increase the price even though the government increase the price of fuel. In the short run, the margin per litre would remain the same. For example, if the government announced there would be a 40 cents increase in the price per litre, then, operators also have to pay 40 cents higher. So, the profit margin will not increase. Products Price per litre Cost per litre Profit per litre Profit margin (%) Ron 95 RM2.20 RM2.0856 RM0.1144 5.20 Ron 97 RM2.45 RM2.3356 RM0.1144 4.67 Diesel RM2.20 RM2.1388 RM0.0612 2.78 From the above calculation, it shows that the profit margin will not increase due to increase in price.   Although the profit margin for fuel business is lower than profit margin for convenience store, but the revenue gain from fuel business is far better than convenience store. For example, from the monthly average sales of RM 1.7 million; where the large portion of this amount is come from fuel business (RM 1.6 million from the revenue), while only RM 0.1 million comes from convenience store. In addition, in year 2009, the sales revenue of the petrol station is RM 20,682,189.60 and about RM 19,251,897,60 of the amount comes from fuel business; which is approximately 93.08% (RM 19,251,897,60/ RM 20,682,189.60) of the revenue. While, only 6.92% (RM 1,430,292/ RM  20,682,189.60) comes from convenience stores. So, in this situation, it show that the fuel business itself are able to sustain the business of petrol station even without convenience store because the convenience store o nly contributed a little portion of their income. Other than that, most of the customers who come to petrol station are to refuel rather than shop at the convenience store. Only a few customers will buy at their convenience store because if someone wants to buy foods or other daily needs, they will prefer supermarket as they have more choices compare to convenience store. So, large portion of revenues or income that flow into the company is from the sales of Ron 95, Ron 97 and Diesel. Even though the profit margin for fuel business is small but the revenue is far better compared to convenience stores. Therefore, the convenience store is not subsidising the fuel business instead both fuel business and convenience store had contributed to sustainability of GEZ Petrol Station. 3. If the government raised the RON95 price to RM2.10, do you anticipate the profitability of the business will be eroded? If the government raised the Ron 95 price to RM 2.1 per litre, the profitability of business will be affected significantly. The changes of RON95 price from RM1.80 to RM2.10 per litre has incremental price of RM 0.3 per litre. In parallel, cost per litre of Ron 95 also will increase RM 0.2788 from RM 1.6856 to RM 1.9644 per litre due to estimation of cost on price proportion of 93.64%. Total Net profit for RM 1.8 (Ron 95) is RM 766,706.02 and had increase to RM 924,046.16 when Ron 95 price increased to RM 2.1. Net profit margin had increase from 3.71% to 3.98%. For Break- even Analysis, the increase of Ron95 price has indicate a better result which only required 3187559.208 litres/ RM 6,936,231.66 compared to 3618188.562 litres/ RM 7,015,784.34 to achieve zero profit. In overall, rise of Ron95 price by government will benefit GEZ petro station’s financial performance. It has higher profitability and capable to achieve Break Even Point with a lower output level compared to prev ious price which RM 1.8 per litre for Ron 95. Below are the changes of GEZ financial performance if Ron95 price changed. RON95 (79%) **Assuming the portion of fixed cost between Fuel business and Selesa Mart is based on the average sales of 2009 Price per litre RM1.80 Total Fixed Cost (RON95) Portion between fuel business and Selesa Salaries RM195,720.02 = 1.6/1.7 =94.12% Utility Cost RM35,550.00 94.12% of amount in fixed cost for fuel business Rental RM5,487.38 5.88% of amount in fixed cost for Selesa Mart Insurance Premium RM1,427.61 Stationeries RM1,784.52 Total Fixed Cost RM239,969.53 RON 95 Fixed Cost -Salaries Amount Salary(RM) Total per year Portion Fixed cost- Salaries Station Manager 1 3206 38472 0.9412*0.79 28605.78 Supervisor 1 1674 20088 0.79 15869.52 Cashier 3 950 34200 0.79 27018 Crew 12 812 116928 0.79 92373.12 Clerk 1 960 11520 0.9412*0.79 8565.67 General Worker 2 805 19320 0.9412*0.79 14365.35 Security Guard 1 1000 12000 0.9412*0.79 8922.58 Total 195720.02 Input changed: (Exhibit 3) Original Price New Price 4. If a credit card sale is reduced from 40% to 20%, what is the effect on overall profitability? Nowadays more and more people are using credit card in their daily life. People prefer credit cards because they are convenient to use and it is easier to take them instead of carrying a lot of cash. And if wallet or purse is stolen, we can simply call the creditor and close the credit card  account before anyone uses the card. In GEZ petrol station, petrol operators had to face was the increasing cost of credit card fees paid to bank as more and more of their customers were starting using credits cards. When a driver pays for gas with a credit card, GEZ petrol station must pay an average 1% of the sales price to the bank to process the payments. GEZ petrol station have accounted that the credit card sales are almost 40% of their total sales. Research are made to the Baron Service Stations ( BSS) , a petrol station that was located in a city, in the northern region of Malaysia. It was one of the busiest petrol stations in the city. In year 2009, BSS generated sales revenue of RM 19,251,897.60, 40% of the revenue RM 7,700,759.04 was come from credit card sales and the bank will charge RM 77007.59 from the credit card sales. Those fees are so high, it already slim profit margins and made it hard for stations to make money on gas sales. Otherwise when the credit card sales is reduce to 20% of the revenue RM 3,850,379.52 was come from credit card sales and the bank will charge RM 3,850,3.80 from the credit card sales. For details as below: Credit Card Fees (40%) Product Sales (Litres) Price/Litres Total Revenues Ron 95 8,459,604.00 1.80 15,227,287.20 Ron 97 174,576.00 2.05 357,880.80 Diesel 2,037,072.00 1.80 3,666,729.60 19,251,897.60 Usage of Credit Card 40% 7,700,759.04 Credit Card Fees Charges 1% Credit Card Fees 77,007.59 Credit Card Fees (20%) Product Sales (Litres) Price/Litres Total Revenues Ron 95 8,459,604.00 1.80 15,227,287.20 Ron 97 174,576.00 2.05 357,880.80 Diesel 2,037,072.00 1.80 3,666,729.60 19,251,897.60 Usage of Credit Card 20% 3,850,379.52 Credit Card Fees Charges 1% Credit Card Fees 38,503.80 Baron Service Station Partial of Income Statement for Year Ended 2009 (20%) Fuel Business Selesa Mart Revenue 19,251,897.60 Revenue 1,430,292.00 (-) Variable Cost Raw Material Cost 18,139,478.60 Evaporation Losses 83,613.27 COGS 1,144,233.60 Credit Card Fees 38,503.80 Royalty 71,514.60 Contribution Margin 990,301.93 Contribution Margin 214,543.80 Total Contribution Margin 1,204,845.73 (-) Fixed Cost 393,516.00 Nett Profit 811,329.73 Based on the calculation above, when the credit card sales been adjusted from 40% to 20% it will affect the overall profitability of the company. The income statement showed the increase of net profit from RM 772,825.94 to RM 811,329.73 of RM 38,503.79.When the credit card sales decrease, a 1% fees was charged by the banks also will reduce and this effect the variable cost for the company from before change cost is RM 18,300,099.46 to after change cost of RM 18,261,595.67. The difference between both of the cost and company managed to save is RM 38,503.79. The increasing of the amount in using credit card to make payment in the  petrol station will also increase the cost of credit card fees that need to pay to banks, indirectly it will give effect to the profitability of the station. The profit of the station will decrease due to the increasing of cost. If increasing of customers chooses to make payment by cash instead of credit card, then the profitability of the petrol station will increases, because the extra cost on the credit card sales that they bear will be reduce. To cover the problem, petrol stations can shift the cost of credit card charge by charges back the customer when they use cards. However petrol stations need to take risk that they maybe will losing customer. Customer maybe will decide to change to other petrol stations that do not have any charge when they use credit card to make payment. Petrol station also can offer a cash-only discount. This may attract more customer make payment by using cash. 5. What is the appropriate basis to allocate the cashier cost between four products Ron 95, Ron 97, diesel and SelesaMart? To assign the costs of products, we use cost allocation as it is a tool that can helps manager to track the cost that associated more efficient. Costs are allocated to obtain desired motivation because it sometimes made to influence management behaviour and thus promote goal congruence and managerial effort. Instead, it is used to compute income and asset valuations and to justify costs or obtain reimbursement because sometimes prices are based directly on costs, or it may be necessary to justify an accepted bid. From the information given in the case, GEZ petrol station conducted two main business which is the fuel business and the convenience store business, known as SelesaMart. Since GEZ provide joint provide, thus the appropriate basis is sales value at split-off point. The table shown below is the summary of monthly average sales. PRODUCTS SALES PROPORTION AMOUNT Fuel Business 94.12% RM 1,600,000 Petrol Ron 95 79% RM 1,264,000 Petrol Ron 97 2% RM 32,000 Diesel 19% RM 304,000 SelesaMart 5.88% RM 100,000 AVERAGE SALES (monthly) 100% RM 1, 700,000 Table 5.1 Monthly average sales in 2009 The total monthly average sales given is RM 1,700,000 with RM 1,600,000 was generated from the fuel business and the remaining from SelesaMart which in RM100,000. The highest contribution in fuel business in Petrol Ron 95 with RM 1,264,000 and follow with Diesel which is RM 304,000 then Petrol Ron 97 with RM 32,000. Then, we need to calculate total revenue for R95, R97, Diesel and Selesamart. Thus we multiply sales per litre with price per litre to get the amount of revenue. As stated in the case the sales revenue that BSS generated is RM20,682,189.60 that are comprise RM19,251,897.60 of fuel sales and RM1,430,292 of SelesaMart sales. The calculation can be summarizes as the table shown below : R95 R97 Diesel SelesaMart Sales (Litres) 8,459,604 174,576 2,037,072 – Price per litre (RM) 1.80 2.05 1.80 – Revenue RM15,227,287.20 RM357,880.80 RM3,666,729.60 RM1,430,292.00 Percentage (%) 73.63% 1.73% 17.73% 6.92% Table 5.2 Total revenue and percentage For BSS, they can allocate more cost to Petrol Ron 95 since it contribute the highest revenue which is RM 15,277,287.20 continue with Diesel with RM 3,666,729.60. For Petrol Ron 97 and SalesaMart, BSS can allocate less cost since it contributed only RM357,880.80 and RM1,430,292. In BSS there were two cashiers working at the sales counter. One will concentrate on the fuel transactions, and one for the shop, even though they handle both transactions at times and overall there were 6 cashiers working for BSS. Monthly salary per person for the cashier is RM950. So BSS shall pay RM5,700 to their 6 cashiers and RM68, 400 in annually. The appropriate basis to allocate the cashier cost between the four products RON95, RON97, diesel and SelesaMart is we calculated the revenue for the four products and we divided with the total sales to find the percentage for each products. So the percentage for product RON95 is 73.63%, RON97 is 1.73%, diesel is 17.73% and SelesaMart with 6.92%. The total revenue for Petrol Ron 95, Petrol Ron 97, Diesel and SelesaMart is RM20, 682,189.60. After we find the percentage, we calculated the cashier  cost for each product. To find the cashier cost, we multiple the percentage with the total annual salary for the cashier which is RM 68,400(RM 950 x 6 x 12). The result is, for the product RON95 the cashier cost is RM50, 359.58 followed by RON97 is RM1, 183.58, diesel is RM12, 126.58 and SelesaMart is RM4, 730.25. The total cashier cost is RM68, 400. The calculations can be summarize as shown in table below : R95 R97 Diesel SelesaMart Percentage (%) 73.63% 1.73% 17.73% 6.92% Cashier Cost RM50,359.58 RM1,183.58 RM12,126.58 RM4,730.25 Table 5.3 Percentage and cashier cost The choice of method for allocating common costs should depend on the ease of application, the perceived quality of information reported to external parties, and the perceived fairness of the allocation when multiple product managers are responsible for joint products. However, as discussed above, the allocation of common costs is arbitrary, and no method is conceptually preferable to any other method. All methods of allocating common costs across joint products are generally useless for operational, marketing, and product pricing decisions. 6. Is utility cost fixed or variable? What difference does it make to the breakeven point of Ron 95 if it is classified as i) fixed cost, and ii) variable cost? In our opinion utility cost is fixed cost. This is because,  the cost will be relatively the same as it was used for all the time. This cost wont effect the unit sold even though it not used. Utility cost as FC Utility cost as VC BEP (RM) 5,024,702.71 4,154,075.59 BEP (UNIT) 2,791,501.50 2,307,819.77 If the utility is fixed cost, the Break Even Point in RM is higher compare to the utility cost as variable cost. Same goes to the Break Even Point in Unit, which is the utility as fixed cost is higher compare to the utility as variable cost. CONCLUSION Regarding this case, from the cost-volume-profit analysis, Rizal can find that the breakeven point which is how much sales the petrol station of this type should generate from each of the fuel products and the Selesamart. Mr. Aiman also can learn that the importance of differentiate between fixed cost and variable cost so that the petrol stations can sustain their profitable business and growth. If the utility is fixed cost, the Break Even Point in RM is higher compare to the utility cost as variable cost which is RM5,024,702.71 compared to RM4,154,075.59 . Same goes to the Break Even Point in Unit, which is the utility as fixed cost is higher , 2,791,501.50 compare to the utility as variable cost 2,307,819.77 To assign the costs of products, we use cost allocation as it is a tool that can helps manager to track the cost that associated more efficient. Costs are allocated to obtain desired motivation because it sometimes made to influence management behaviour and thus promote goal congruence and managerial effort. Instead,  it is used to compute income and asset valuations and to justify costs or obtain reimbursement because sometimes prices are based directly on costs, or it may be necessary to justify an accepted bid. From the information given in the case, GEZ petrol station conducted two main business which is the fuel business and the convenience store business, known as SelesaMart. Since GEZ provide joint provide, thus the appropriate basis is sales value at split-off point