707 week 9 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

707 week 9 - Assignment Example Demographic factors such as age, gender, level of education, and area of residence are other possible variables for the study. Mean, range, and standard deviation will be calculated for both self-efficacy score, age and educational sessions because the variables are measured on a ratio scale that allows for calculation of the descriptive statistics (Heavey, 2011). Frequency and percentage will be used gender, level of education, and area of residence because of the variables are measured on ordinal scale of the variables. Lack of equal interval on magnitude and absolute zero property does not allow to use mean, range, and stanadard deviation in describing he variables (Heavey, 2011). The task force could use a t-test to investigate the relationship between self-efficacy score and number of educational session. The statistic would test a hypothesis for significance of a relationship between the two variables (Heavey,

Market Equilibration Process Paper Essay Example for Free

Market Equilibration Process Paper Essay Market Equilibration Process provides a balancing market opportunity for a business organization to adapt to the various changes occurring in the market in their field. To guide the Department in adapting to the demands of adjustment to balance the market. This will enable producers and buyers to be on the same equal price and products. Law of demand balance to exist there must be a request from the product or products or services. There must be willing buyers with the resources available to purchase products or services at the agreed price. Once the need has been established, these products can be produced or developed. Law of supply this product is supplied to the market the price the consumer is willing to pay, and this in turn creates a balanced market. In case there is a bug in one side, influenced by the balance and shift over to one side. In place of this type there may be a shortage in supply caused the price increase that would result in the competition coming in to fill the void. Other possibilities are to have excess supply in the market, and this will drop the price of the goods that may cause a significant decline in prices, would create an imbalance in the balance in the market. Efficient markets theory all participants in the market and all relevant get information as soon as it becomes available. The surplus in the market occurs when there is a surplus of the inks that are displayed is greater than quantity ordered quantity. In this case, some producers will not be able to sell all their goods. This prompted them to lower their prices to make their products more attractive. For many companies the competition and thereby reduce prices reduce the market price of the product. In response to low prices, and consumers increase the quantity demanded, move the market towards balance price and quantity. In this case, excess supply has been downward pressure on the price of the product. Shortage of market occurs when there is excess demand that is the quantity ordered is greater than the amount offered. In this case, consumers will be able to purchase as much of a commodity as they would like. In response to the demand of consumers and producers alike raise the price of the product and the amount they are willing to provide. The increase in price will be too high for some consumers; they will not demand  the product. At the same time increase the amount of available products that satisfy consumers others. Here we show an equilibrium price of Pe. What if the price were P1, which is higher than Pe? The quantity supplied would exceed the quantity demanded at the price. The result would be an excess quantity supplied at price P1, or a surplus. But given D and S, there will be forces pushing the price back down toward Pe. Suppliers will attempt to reduce their inventories by cutting prices, and producers, seeing a lower price, will cut back on the quantity supplied. As the price falls, demanders will offer to purchase morethat is, the quantity demanded will increase. If not prevented from moving, the price will eventually reach its equilibrium at Pe again. What if the price is, for some reason, at P2? At this below-equilibrium price, the quantity demanded exceeds the quantity supplied. There is an excess quantity demanded at P2, or a shortage. Market forces will cause the price to rise. Demanders will bid up the price and suppliers will raise the price. The point of this analysis is that any disequilibrium situation automatically brings into action correcting forces that will cause a movement back toward equilibrium. The equilibrium price and quantity will be maintained so long as demand and supply do not change. When we refer to a stable equilibrium, we mean that if there is a movement away from the equilibrium price or quantity, there will be forces pushing price or quantity back to the equilibrium level or rate. An unstable equilibrium is one in which, if there is a movement away from the equilibrium, there are forces that push price and/or quantity farther away from equilibrium (or at least do not push price and quantity back toward the equilibrium level or rate). (Stable And Unstable Equilibria, n.d). Market Equilibration Process Paper Market equilibrium is the point in which industry offers goods at the price consumers will consume without creating a shortage or a surplus of goods. Shortages drive up the cost of goods while surpluses drive the cost of goods down, finding the balance in the process is market equilibrium. A good example of a market equilibrium commodity would be the price of gasoline. Currently a barrel of oil is around $81.00USD. This has resulted in an increase in the price of a  gallon by about $1.00 from one year ago to an average of about $3.00 per gallon of gasoline. While driving habits have not started to change, people are taking notice and may be looking to make changes should price continue to rise. The sector of the market that is taking notice and making a changes is those homes that use oil for heating. The recent cold snap in the mid-west and east has increased the need and usage of oil. The $1.00 increase in price per gallon of gas from a year ago is resulting in a larger percentage of increase in home heating. Consumers are starting to make changes in their live style in order to achieve a personal equilibrium in their budget. The dollar increase may not seem like much but the bottom line result is in increase of about 3% 5% in homes heating costs. The reasons sighted for the increase in oil is increased consumption by China, colder than normal temperature is Europe and shortages in Europe due to their unseasonable amount of snow fall in the large cities (2010, 07). With all the commotion going on in the Middle East and the ever increasing demand for Oil by countries such as China and the U.S it is very easy to see why price of crude oil and gasoline keeps climbing. According to Rodney Schulz of Schulz Financial, â€Å"One may argue that the oil market is not efficient because a few large players, such as some of OPEC’s largest producers, have the ability to move prices. And that is true, as well as the fact that insiders in those organizations can take advantage of certain information† (2012, 03). He stated further that Looking at the oil and gas industry, one immediately finds evidence of market efficiency with oil and gas prices. First, if the market were not efficient, firms that did nothing but trade oil and gas futures would be as ubiquitous as independent producers. Moreover, they would perform as well in down markets as in up markets. This would be an easy business to start, as there are almost no barriers to entry. However , firms that do nothing other than trade oil and gas futures are practically nonexistent (2012, 03). Reference (2010, 07). Market Equilibrating Process Paper. StudyMode.com. Retrieved 07, 2010, from http://www.studymode.com/essays/Market-Equilibrating-Process-Paper-359014.html (2012, 03). Market Equilibration Process Paper. StudyMode.com. Retrieved 03, 2012, from  http://www.studymode.com/essays/Market-Equilibration-Process-Paper-932326.html Stable and Unstable Equilibria. (n.d). Retrieved from http://wps.aw.com/aw_miller_econtoday_13/29/7556/1934389.cw/content/index.html

Free Scarlet Letter Essay: Secrets :: Scarlet Letter essays

The Secrets of The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter is considered by many to be the greatest accomplishment of an author hailed as the master of the American short story. It is set in Salem, Massachusetts. In this strictly controlled Puritan town the inhabitants live by harsh laws and fierce prejudices. Hester Prynne, a young wife whose husband is presumed dead, is being publicly humiliated for the sin of adultery. The proof of her sin is her baby girl Pearl. She conceals the identity of Pearl's father to protect him from the harsh judgement of Puritan law. She however is doomed to spend the rest of her life marked as an adulterer by wearing a scarlet "A" on her chest. Hester's husband meanwhile has arrived in the colony and taken up practice as a doctor. He makes Hester promise that she won't reveal his identity to anyone. The book covers a seven year period during which the identity of the father becomes known. It is the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, who is renowned as an especially holy and pi ous man. Wracked by guilt he starts to show outward signs of serious illness. Hester's husband under the assumed name Roger Chillingworth moves in and begins taking care of Dimmesdale. Chillingworth soon discovers that the Reverend is Pearl's father. Dimmesdale however thinks that Chillingworth is simply a doctor. Chillingworth uses his influence to multiply the feelings of guilt in the minister while trying to keep him in physical health, as a form of emotional torture. At the climax of the story, Dimmesdale confesses and dies. Hester and Pearl leave the colony. Chillingworth whose whole purpose was to get revenge from Dimmesdale suddenly finds his life without purpose and dies within a year. Hawthorne used the settings in the book, not only to develop the story, but to make a statement about Puritan Society through the use of allegory. The Puritans were a people dedicated to perfecting themselves according to a certain set of values that were uniquely Puritan. On the individual level a Puritan would try to reach perfection by living out this series of values. If they did not succeed, as in Hester or Arthur Dimmesdale's cases, their punishment would be in the fact that they did not live up to the perfection they strived for. The prison, in The Scarlet Letter is proof that Salem is a society striving for self perfection, not only individuals dedicated to perfecting themselves.

Social Studies Portfolio Entry 1 Draft 1

Social Studies Portfolio Entry 1 Draft 1 Independence of Singapore Introduction This portfolio entry is about the independence of Singapore. I chose this topic as I will learn about it in Primary 5, in relation to Social Studies. The independence of Singapore led us to full self-government. We had little resources, but the determination and perseverance to survive. What Happened Before Independence After the war, the British were no longer seen as capable leaders of Singapore, as they had failed to protect her from the Japanese.The British granted Singapore self-government in 1959, and the PAP won during the general elections, making Lee Kuan Yew the first Prime Minister. Singapore and Malaya merged with Sabah and Sarawak to make the Federation of Malaysia. However, Singapore separated from Malaysia because of the racial and religious tensions between both countries. Lee Kuan Yew feared that there would not be enough resources for Singapore to survive. How the Government governed Sin gapore after IndependenceThe government tried to have harsher punishments for crimes, so that there would not be many criminals and Singapore would be freer of corruption. Lee Kuan Yew grew Singapore’s economy by making education compulsory and maximising business opportunities. He also provided more housing for citizens. How others felt about the Independence of Singapore At the time of independence, citizens and even the ruling party of Singapore felt apprehensive about the future. With no natural resources, many felt that she would not be able to survive without the help of the other countries.My feelings towards the Independence of Singapore I feel the forced independence was a blessing in disguise. With wise steps, active participation and determination, Singapore has become a thriving country. If there had been no sudden separation from Malaysia, Singapore might not be what it is today. Conclusion In conclusion, Singapore’s independence allowed her to be successf ul. If Singapore had been a part of Malaysia instead and decided to become independent at a later stage, she would have to spend more time adapting and probably would not be as advanced as she is now.

ICT is a term that describes both computer Essay

Indeed, it is important that each student be equipped with the necessary technology if these students are expected to access, analyze and use data (Zardoya, 2001). Business researchers are similarly concerned with the question of whether or not the introduction of information technology leads to a better competitive advantage, better sense of judgment that leads to better decision making and a greater level of productivity (Al-Gahtani, 2003). ICT is a term that describes both computer software and hardware, access to the internet and information and communication technology resources as he World Wide Web and CD-ROMs (Clark et al. , 2005). That is, the issue should not be whether technology works as a replacement for old, rather, it should be how we can develop and choose visions that will utilize the immense power of technology for the support and creation of new forms of learning (p. 4). Overall, CACSR provides students with the requisite environment, which is interactive, intended to keep up their interest while teaching them the application of comprehension strategies as they read expository text passages (Kim et al. ,). Studies have shown that educational technology in which dictionary component is integrated has been successfully utilized in the promotion of literacy skills among elementary school students (Fry & Gosky, 2007). In analyzing the study, the researcher suggested that CD-ROM storybooks have a positive impact on reading comprehension. This is because they reduce decoding challenges while they allow students to obtain help as often as they need ed it without having to wait for the teacher (Fry & Gosky). QuickSmart is a computer-assisted program designed to improve the automaticity of the basic academic skills of students who have persistent learning difficulties in their middle years of schooling (Graham & Bellert, et al. , 2007,). Based on an information-processing view of cognitive operations QuickSmart was intended to be an strong intervention focused on basic academic skills that can equip students with the requisite skills to engage more successfully with classroom instruction (Graham & Bellert, et al. ,. Concept-mapping software, or webbing, allows students and teachers to construct concept maps using specific software programs (Marchinko, 2004,). Concept-mapping software has been used in middle school science classes to help students decipher both the similarities and differences between and animal and plant cell and in writing class to help students brainstorm and add to the concept network as ideas come from the students in the class (Marchinko,). Teachers also use concept-mapping software to provide their students with a visual roadmap of the direction which each lesson is going (Marchinko,). The KidTools computer programs are electronic performance support systems. They directly seek out behavior and academic performance support software for children with learning difficulties. (Miller & Fitzgerald, 2007, p. 13). A cognitive-behavioral modification program, KidTools is one of several programs which have become increasingly popular during the last two decades as researchers have documented their effectiveness (Miller & Fitzgerald). RockSim is a rocket design program for middle school science class, which takes students through the process of engineering their own rockets and performs flight simulations (Wilson, 2005,). Finally, BodyFun is a computer game can take the children through the rudiments of nutrition and other health information. (Geiger, et al. , 2002,). In a test of BodyFun in a middle school class the opinion of teachers is that the program is of very high quality and the materials of good quality. However, they were also of the opinion that the program is suitable for the school environment. (Geiger & Petri, et al. ,). Education is feeling pressure to respond to a mandate to improve the engagement-level of classrooms, due to surveys which repeatedly find middle school students especially characterize traditional classes as boring (Taylor & Duran, 2006, p. 11). Overall, most classrooms continue to implement instructional practices that focus on memorization of facts and the reading of textbooks and other course materials. (Taylor & Duran,). As a result, many researchers have called for the dire need to move from a didactic to a constructivist approach to teaching (Taylor & Duran, p. 11). In most classes, this entails increasing the students’ abilities of inquiry, and this can be enhanced by using appropriate technologies (Taylor & Duran, p . 11). One teacher reports that her middle school students have become experts at creating video projects and slide shows that showed what they’ve learned (Crawford, 2005, p. 2). InFocus projectors produced a difference that was unmistakably prominent and improved class presentation and involvement (Crawford, p. 1). Studies have shown that students who use computers to write reports had better grades in the same tests as those students that did not use computers for the same purpose at all (Taylor & Duran, 2006, p. 10). One study found that teachers who made regular use of PowerPoint presentations felt more confident in their ability to produce and help students develop skills in creating multimedia presentations and products that support engaged learning (Taylor & Duran, p. 13). Video streaming is another technology being used in some classrooms (Whitaker, 2003), while some K-12 classrooms are even experimenting with robotics activities to enhance student engagement in lessons (Williams & Ma, et al. , 2007, p. 201), although most reports on the usefulness of robotics is anecdotal in nature and evidence is still required to prove to educators that robotics activities have a positive impact on curricular goals (Williams et al. , p. 201). Now, many believe that the convergence of literacy instruction, for instance, the internet is remodeling the face of literacy instruction. This is because teachers now seek to prepare the children for their well deserved future (Witte, 2007, p. 93). A threaded discussion group is a is a series of postings on a single topicâ€Å" (Grisham & Wolsey, p. 651). The study found that through threaded discussion, student engagement was increased. This was because they were able to establish a community through which control of conversation is achievable. Also, there is also a degree of control over the meanings they jointly constructed and also the connections they wanted to mane to their own worlds. (Grisham & Wolsey, p. 649). Though acknowledging that one of the serious drawbacks to the Web is that students often become lost trying to navigate through a maze of hazy information (Trotter, 2004, p. 1). The MyAccess program is a web-based writing program that instantly scores essays and provides remedial instruction for students at a middle school in Georgia (Ullman, 2006, p. 76). The program was found to not only relieve teachers of much of their paper correcting burden, but also the instant feedback gave room for more quality which led to a significant increase in quality of writing (Ullman, p. 76). Another project reported on in the literature was the creation of a website which supported middle school teachers and students in making connections between literature and science in the context of the local environment (Howes & Hamilton, 2003, p. 454). WebQuest is another powerful tool for teachers to use in improving the engagement level of students in their class (Lipscomb, 2003, p. 154). Though relatively new, educators are already encouraging its impact (Lipscomb, 2003, p. 153). The important pedagogical purpose of a WebQuest is that it provides purposeful experience for students, both with the technology and in the subject matter being explored (Lipscomb, p. 154). More recently, other schools are experimenting with the use of blogs, or web logs, to enhance learning. Witte (2007) pushed for the use of a blog discussion tool on already present school computer networks in order to further engage students in learning (p. 95). Witte (2007) decided that blogs were an important go-between between class and students when he found out that, while some students showed minimal interest in our classroom activities and assignments, they were reported, by their parents, working on the computer, writing poems and essays away late into the night. (Witte, p. 92). A theory was devised as to why diffusion was so slow, with explanations centering on the way farmers gained information about the innovation and which channels were helpful in making them reach the decision to use the new idea (Rogers, p. 14). Diffusion theory can help educators understand why technology is and is not adopted in classrooms (Surry, 1997). Other researchers have adopted the diffusion model to counteract the fact that lack of utilization has been the bane of the utilization of new and innovative instructional products (Minishi-Majanja & Kiplang’at, p. 4). Indeed, Al-Gahtani’s (2003) literature review revealed 75 articles in which perceived attributes were measured, with the overall result being that compatibility and relative advantage scored high when implemented in companies while complexity was a disadvantage in its adoption process (p. 59). While determinists can be either utopian or dystopian (Marx, McCluhan and Toffler versus Ellul, Orwell or Luddites), all determinists see technology as an autonomous force. They describe it as being beyond the control of humans. They also see technology as a principal cause of social change (Surry, 1997, p. 6). In education, developer-based theory results in top-down technology-based reform initiatives such as Goals 2000, which seek to implement educational change by proposing systems that are better than previously existing one (Surry, p. 7). Overall, the instructional development process is of the basic assumption that technological superiority is enough a condition that directly leads to the adoption and diffusion of products and practices that are innovative (Surry, p. 7). Adopter-based theoreticians such as Ernest Burkman are prone to point out situations where a technologically superior innovation was rejected by users because of the strength of human, interpersonal and social factors which sometimes play a prominent role in adoption than technological superiority (Surry, p. 11). Another by-product of adopter-based theory is the study of revenge effects, which occur when this occurs when alien structures, organisms and devices interact with human beings in ways novel ways which they previously, did not forsee (Surry, p. 11). Indeed, a prominent component of the adopter-based diffusion theories is the need to predict and account for likely revenge effects (Surry, p. 11). Large scale market forces such as sector growth, volatility and concentration of markets effect the acceptance of a particular technology (Park et al. , p. 1480). Subjective norm is another strong construct developed along this line of research. Subjective norm is defined as an individual’s perception that people who are important to him are of the opinion that a certain action or behavior should not be performed by him and has been shown to strongly influence adoption of technology, especially if use is mandatory and not voluntary (Park & O’Brien, et al. , p. 1480). All of this feeds into instruction through the lens of constructivism, or the belief that learning happens especially agreeably in a situation where the learner is consciously engaged in constructing a public entity, be it a sand castle on the beach or the theory of the universe (Williams & Ma, et al. , 2007). In this context, technology is used in education to create a situation that enables ‘learning by making’ and ‘learning by design’ (Williams & Ma, et al. ,). Various programs along these lines include efforts to have children design computer games, and making learning easier with programmable bricks (Williams et al). Thus, from the constructivist point of view, the way computers are used is more important than the fact that they are present in a roomâ€Å" (Sheumaker & Slate,). Integration of computers is deemed successful only when students learn through computers and not about them (Sheumaker & Slate, et al. , p. 3). Finally, reinforcing this model is the ecological model of technology integration in education. According to this model, technologies are just like actors in social systems, embedded visibly or invisibly in the context of activities (Kupperman & Fishman, 2002,). Through the use of new tools we develop new literacies, and from use or non-use are active, inactive or even, semi-active members of class (Kupperman & Fishman,). Mention of the word â€Å"actor† enlists actor-network theory into these models as well. According to this model, the social world can be describes as materially heterogeneous. It consists of a tangled web of several human and nonhuman participants who participate and negotiate among themselves. They make rules for themselves based on shifting allegiances and interactions (Samarawickrema & Stacey, 2007). In order to have their way, these various actors may use calculation, negotiation, persuasion and even violence (Samarawickrema & Stacey,).

The Normality of Prejudment essays

The Normality of Prejudment essays In his article, The Normality of Prejudgment, Allport argues that normal cognitive processing of information leads to prejudice. He claims that humans have a natural tendency to categorize experience and that categorizing experience serves a number of important functions. However, when we process information about people, the categorization process results in generalizations about social groups, and these generalizations set the foundation for prejudice. Allport begins by observing that people usually associate with other in-group members. He claims people do so simply because it convenient and comfortable whereas associating with out-group members is a strain. It is a strain because one has to make an effort to understand other languages, traditions and values. However, in some situations such as the workplace, it may not be possible to avoid people from other groups. When contact with out-group members does occur, people often misinterpret their behavior resulting in negative feelings toward them. According to Allport, people tend to over generalize their negative feelings toward even one person to dislike of an entire race or other social group resulting in prejudice. For a majority of the article, Allport discusses cognitive categorization and how it can generate prejudice. He asserts that we categorize our experience because doing so is highly functional. One useful characteristic of categorization is that it forms large classes of information which help to guide our daily lives. Allport gives the example of a darkening sky: People assume that a storm is coming, and they can act accordingly. In addition, categories assimilate a great deal of information into a particular cluster. This aspect of categorization helps for us to quickly identify related objects. For example, an individual can identify creatures with wings and a beak as birds. Further, categorization simplifies our experience thereby making it eas...

Treaty Of Versailles essays

Treaty Of Versailles essays On June 28 1914, the war had started with the shooting of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. On 28 June 1919, exactly five years and about 9 million dead soldiers later, the Treaty of Versailles was signed by defeated Germany. Germanys nose was in the dirt and the allies meant to keep it there. At the treaty of Versailles, Germany and the other Central powers agreed to repay every cent of damage caused by the war. This was known as the reparations and the final amount was fixed at the huge some 30 billion gold marks (at least two zeros more for todays value) plus interest payable over thirty years. The Peace Treaty of Versailles wasnt a real success. The Versailles Treaty left many questions unanswered and did not fully settle the questions. The pact couldnt reverse the tendency initiated by World War I. Generally the Allies attempted to create a status when it all began, which lead to instability and created the Second Great War in Europe. The unsympathetic settlement with Germany left it weak and opened the door for military opportunists, like Adolf Hitler. The Allied nations wanted to keep Germany at the bottom level; most of the leaders were determined to crush Germany and her possessions. Thus, the Versailles Treaty had altered its articles, according to the widespread hatred towards Germany. Consequently, Germany was blamed as the instigator of WWI. The outstanding figures in the negotiations leading to the treaty were Woodrow Wilson for the United States, Georges Clemenceau for France, David Lloyd George for England, and Vittorio Emmanuelle Orlando for Italy-the so-called Big Four. U.S President Woodrow Wilson insisted that Germany should be treated fairly with justice and honor so that they would not want to get revenge in the future. In fact the United States had suffered only few casualties compared to other allied countries. President Wilson also suggested that a Le...

Using the Spanish Verb Dejar

Using the Spanish Verb Dejar Like many other verbs, dejar has a basic meaning - in this case, to leave something somewhere - that has broadened over the centuries to be used under a wide variety of circumstances. Most of its meanings, however, pertain at least in a broad sense to the idea of leaving something (or someone) somewhere, placing something somewhere, or abandoning something. Dejar Meaning To Leave While to leave is one of the most common translations of dejar, it should not be confused with to leave in the sense of to leave a place, where salir is used. Thus, shes leaving tomorrow is sale maà ±ana, but I left my keys at home is dejà © las llaves en casa. Examples of dejar with its basic meaning: Dà ©jalo aquà ­. (Leave it here.) ¿Dà ³nde dejà © el coche aparcado? (Where did I park the car?)Dejarà © el libro en la mesa. (I will leave the book on the table.)Dejà © a Pablo en Chicago. (I dropped Pablo off in Chicago.) When the object of dejar is an activity or person, dejar can mean to leave, abandon or give up: Deja su carrera para irse a la polà ­tica. (He is leaving his career to go into politics.)Han fallado en sus tentativas de dejar el fumar. (They have failed in their attempts to quit smoking.)Dejà ³ a su esposa por la mujer que deseaba. (He abandoned his wife for the woman he wanted.) Dejar Meaning To Lend When an object is left with a person, dejar often means to lend. (The verb prestar can also be used with the same meaning.): Como era un buen jefe me dejaba su coche. (Since he was a good boss he would lend me his car.)Me dejà ³ su casa de vacaciones. (He let me use his vacation home.) ¿Me dejas tu telà ©fono?  (Could I borrow your phone?) Dejar Meaning To Pass On In many contexts, dejar can mean to give or to pass on: Mi madre me dejà ³ su capacidad de esperanza. (My mother passed on to me her capacity to hope.)Me dejà ³ su direccià ³n postal para escribirle. (He gave me his mailing address so I could write to him.)Cuando murià ³ me dejà ³ su panaderà ­a en su testamento. (When he died he left me his bakery in his will.)Siempre mi pap le dejaba la tarea mas difà ­cil a mi mama. (My father always passed the most difficult tasks to my mother.) Dejar Meaning To Leave Alone Sometimes, when the object of dejar is a person, it can mean to leave alone or to not bother:  ¡Dà ©jame! Tengo que estudiar. (Leave me alone! I have to study.)No nos dejaba en paz. (He did not leave us in peace.) Dejar Meaning To Allow Another common meaning of dejar is to allow or to let: No me dejaban comprar nada que no fuese reciclable. (They didnt let me buy anything that wasnt recyclable.)El faraà ³n se asustà ³ y dejà ³ salir al pueblo de Israel. (The pharaoh got scared and let the people of Israel go.) Using Dejar With an Adjective When followed by an adjective, dejar can mean to put or leave someone or something in a certain state or condition: La ley no dejà ³ satisfecho a nadie. (The law didnt satisfy anybody.)Me dejà ³ feliz, como ver un oasis. (It made me happy, like seeing an oasis.)El partido me dejà ³ rota la rodilla. (My knee got broken during the game.) Dejar Meaning To Delay or To Stop Sometimes, dejar means to postpone or delay:  ¿Por quà © no deja el viaje para maà ±ana? (Why not put off your trip until tomorrow?) The phrase dejar de usually means to stop or to give up: Hoy dejo de fumar. (Today I give up smoking.)La hepatitis A dejà ³ de ser una cosa de nià ±os. (Hepatitis A is no longer a childrens disease.)Nunca dejarà © de amarte. (Ill never stop loving you.) Using Dejar With Que Finally, dejar que usually means to wait until a certain time: Dejo que las cosas se sucedan naturalmente. (Im waiting until things happen naturally.)La madre no dejaba que los socorristas atendieran a su hija. (The mother didnt wait for the rescuers to help her daughter.)

Leadership Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Leadership - Term Paper Example The traits required for becoming an effective leader is to firstly value the team members, developing a vision for the organization, sticking to the golden rule which is to treat the employees/team members in a respectable way. Other traits of effective leaders are to admit the mistakes if they occur and try to rectify them immediately. If employees need to be criticized, they should be done privately and not in front of the other employees. All plans should be according to the aims and objectives of the organization and leaders should work upon promoting a healthy and competitive environment of the firm. Leadership Style & Skills and Importance of attending Talks & Relationships The type of leadership skill required for a CEO of a consumer technology corporation is the democratic style of leadership and the transformational style of leadership. The final decision in this leadership style is taken by the leader but the employees or team members are allowed to give in their opinions a nd suggestions for the decisions that are to be taken by the organization. The team members’ views and suggestions are pondered upon by the leader and the best possible option is decided by the leader. The team members are actively involved in the projects and decisions and are well aware of the progress of the organization. In this type of leadership style, the level of job satisfaction among employees is high and so is the productivity level of the firm. Being a consumer technology corporation, changes in the field of technology are taking place at a dynamic mode and hence via a democratic leadership style the organization has the opportunity to be on the right track and would also be meeting the expectations of the consumers accordingly. Through the democratic leadership styles by leaders, the skills of the team members or employees are also developed. The leader also gets a chance to discuss various issues with team members and hence these talk sessions allows the confide nce and morale level of the employees to be boosted. Through such conversations, the leaders get to build upon good leader-employee relationships and hence further job issues and tasks are done is a smooth and consistent matter. These particular talk sessions helps in boosting up the productivity level of the firm. Leader following & communicating Vision & Setting the Tone The mission and vision of any organization are vital messages that need to be followed and abided by the entire organization. The vision of the firm gives direction to where the organization is headed and what it plans to achieve through its production services for the consumers. Hence it is extremely important for the leader to follow and communicate the vision of the firm in an explicit manner to the employees or team members of the organization. A leader sets the tone for the organization by developing certain sets of values and principles for the firm. The vision and mission statement reflects upon the tone of the organization and employees therefore know the direction of how they should perform their work and also know about the rules and regulations that are to be followed in the organization. By following the mission and vision, the leader is able to optimize their potential capabilities on leading the organization (Northouse, 2012). Leader Having

Case plan scenario Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Case plan scenario - Essay Example This is the basis of this case plan. The purpose of the plan is to move the client to the point where they recognize the need to change their unhealthy eating and drinking habits for their benefit. One of the best ways of treating lifestyle diseases is for the patient to abandon their unhealthy way of life that led to or worsens the effects of the diseases. In the case of the patient that is the subject of this plan, it was established that their lifestyle disease is attributable to their eating fatty, junk foods and heavy drinking. When advised to quit that lifestyle in favour of a healthy one, they protested bitterly to the point of claiming that they rather die and stop eating junk food and drinking. Two possibilities arise. Either the patient does not understand and appreciate the contribution of their lifestyle to their disease or they do, but there are certain forces that drive them to refuse to cooperate with the dietician. Either way, the task ahead is to get the patient to cooperate with the dietician for the sake of their health. However, the patient has made it clear that they will not cooperate with the dietician. Thus, it may be necessary to enlist the help of a third party. Arguably, this is the best and first third party to approach the patient’s immediate family, if they had one. The fact that the client leaves alone further complicates the situation. Functional families are known to offer the highest moral, emotional, psychological and other forms of support in difficult moments such as when a member of the family suffers from a life-threatening disease or condition. The effective treatment of a lifestyle disease or any other disease takes the joint effort of both the patient and the health practitioner (Malcher, 2009). Otherwise, left to one party, the process of administering treatment is an exercise in futility. Suppose a patient visits a

Mixed Feelings - Feminism, Mass Culture, and Victorian Sensationalism Essay

Mixed Feelings - Feminism, Mass Culture, and Victorian Sensationalism - Essay Example In exploring the politics of sensationalism and affect, I presume that the process of naming and assigning social and cultural meanings to bodily responses, such as "sensations," has a history. My project is thus part of the larger enterprise of producing a history of the body and of physiological experiences such as affect and sexuality. Recent scholarship in this area has been profoundly revisionist because it has provided histories of phenomena that had previously been considered natural or outside the work of culture. The importance of Foucault's work on the history of sexuality, for example, resides not just in its specific details, but in its claim that sexuality has a history and is not a natural or prediscursive entity. 1 Tracing the cultural construction of the body or sexuality has revealed how ideologies are naturalized by the often invisible work of attaching meanings to physical processes. I have studied the sensation novel and the politics of sensation in order to parti cipate in this broader project of exploring the political consequences of constructing the body, sexuality, and affect as "natural." Thus, I am less interested in offering a descriptive history of the sensation novel than in considering how a discourse about the "sensational" or affective serves as a vehicle for the promulgation of ideologies of gender and mass culture. And I have found in Victorian criticism of the sensation novel an opportunity to examine how and why "sensationalism" acquired its new meaning and a bad reputation. What I have uncovered points to a more general theory of the politics of sensationalism.

The Effects that William Penn Building Has on Its Surroundings Research Paper

The Effects that William Penn Building Has on Its Surroundings - Research Paper Example Penn himself suggested the name the Latin name of "Sylvania" for this place, which means land of woods, but King Charles of England amended it to â€Å"Pennsylvania† which means Penn’s woods, in order to pay great regards for Penn. In the honor of the founder of the city, a huge bronze statue of Penn is mounted over the top of city’s hall building, also termed as the William Penn building. Penn was not only a good state developer, but he was also one of the early voices for democracy & the union of states. He had very good relations with the colonials & he was in favor of united states of Europe too, along with the United States of America. He proposed some principles for the Pennsylvanian government which are of great inspiration in today’s US constitution. He argued in his most writings that unity is the solution to the problems faced in that time particularly & there is no place for war & unnecessary occupation over people & places. Since his childhood he had seen many sufferings; he was a deep reader of human reaction to sufferings & epidemics & always preferred peace & harmony between people of every place & every religion. The William Penn building has been built on a public square termed by Penn as the Centre square since it is located at the middle of the city of Philadelphia. The centre square is one of the squares laid by Penn himself & planned that it would be a ten-acre place for public buildings. Hence according to his wishes, the Philadelphia city hall has been built at the place. The construction started in the year 1871 & since then many changes have been made to the building with a total cost of $24 million. It covers a total area of 58,222 m ² & is of 167  m height including the bronze statue of William Penn. The building was completed in the year 1901 & since then it has been one of the tallest buildings in the world. For many years, it was forbidden to build any building in the surroundings which gets higher than the statue of Penn, but then the restriction was lifted. It is also the largest  municipal building in the United States. It was designed by a famous architect of that time s John McArthur, Jr. in the second empire style of architecture.  

The Possibilities And Effects Of Raising Prices Above Competitive Assignment

The Possibilities And Effects Of Raising Prices Above Competitive Levels In Oligopolistic Markets - Assignment Example Examples of oligopoly in our economic system today include Steel industry, Aluminum, Film, Television, Cell phone and Gas among others (Perloff 2011). The probability of raising prices above the competitive levels demand a detailed understanding of the oligopolistic markets and the influential trends involved. Normally, the possibilities prevalence depends on the desire of the involved firms for success. In this piece, the mention of the possibilities would imply the probability of occurrence of raised prices above the competitive levels. In this situation, when such an issue is mentioned, many would tend to begin asking themselves on whether the probabilities are activity prompt or automatic. Again the choices by the firms in the market that attribute to alteration of the prices beyond the competitive levels have consequences. Moreover, the essential point to understand in this scenario is the essence of prices, their thresholds and the effect of status in the oligopolistic market (Mansfield 1982). Oligopolistic markets have variant features relating to the prices such as the limited number of firms selling the same commodities. If there are a number of firms dealing on similar products then it implies that there must be a significant extent of competition for which the price is a critical factor. Altering the price in a particular firm would impact the entire market since one of the market forces is altered. The provision of branding of products by different firms means that the products are distinct and each might be identical to the associated firm. The entry barriers might possess a negligible concern albeit they are considered imperative due to their significant influence and regulation in the number of firms (McGuigan, Moyer & Harris 1999). Firms in the oligopolistic market cooperate to determine prices and endeavour to uphold the price levels. The prices are regarded as monopolistic since they are the main point of concern in the market. The firms compete on the prices m in order for the prices to remain as a competitive industry model. In the situation where firms compete on prices, the desired price is regarded as the competitive level price. This implies that evident consequences can result if any firm elevates its prices beyond the actual one determined by the competition in the market (Cassimatis 1996). The monopoly as well as the competitive scale is responsible for the determination of price and the benefits involved in the market. Oligopolistic market prices and the consequential profits are indefinite since the challenges in modeling inter-reliant price productivity deliberations (Glahe & Lee 1982). Background Investigation Having looked at the oligopolistic markets, what are would be the possibilities and effects of raising prices above competitive levels? In order to have an in-depth understanding of the preceding question, we have to understand

Online Dating Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Online Dating - Essay Example Some people have found themselves involved in online dating, regardless of the seriousness of their involvement. Recent research has shown that more men are involved in online dating than women and various reasons have been found to be the cause. To begin with, men are naturally attracted to the physical appearance of the person who they are involved with. As a result, they may find themselves in a relationship without having thought of the consequences of their actions. This increases the possibility of someone being involved in multiple relationships without any serious inclination to the people involved (Barlow 2009, p. 61). To a woman including me, dating is perceived to be something that is very sensitive and doing it online is perceived to be a sign of desperation. I think that dating online is a show of how desperate someone is, and as a result, ladies keep off the online dating even if they are desperate in reality. This limits the number of women involved in online dating. As compared to other places such as a bar, I find it to be a more convenient way of finding a boyfriend so long as both parties share similar objectives and interests. On the other hand, research carried out by Cornell University has shown that most women believe that those who date online do that only for fun. I personally find online dating impossible and perceive it as a lie and do not believe that anyone can really find true love through the internet. Ladies have difficulty in trusting someone they have never met due to the distance and the fact that most of the information about the person is usually read on a profile. According to the research, it is perceived that meeting someone physically makes it much easier to create a bond and now the person than communicating through a text and email. It is also believed that most of the men met online are extraordinarily evil or immoral and thus may be

The Possibilities And Effects Of Raising Prices Above Competitive Assignment

The Possibilities And Effects Of Raising Prices Above Competitive Levels In Oligopolistic Markets - Assignment Example Examples of oligopoly in our economic system today include Steel industry, Aluminum, Film, Television, Cell phone and Gas among others (Perloff 2011). The probability of raising prices above the competitive levels demand a detailed understanding of the oligopolistic markets and the influential trends involved. Normally, the possibilities prevalence depends on the desire of the involved firms for success. In this piece, the mention of the possibilities would imply the probability of occurrence of raised prices above the competitive levels. In this situation, when such an issue is mentioned, many would tend to begin asking themselves on whether the probabilities are activity prompt or automatic. Again the choices by the firms in the market that attribute to alteration of the prices beyond the competitive levels have consequences. Moreover, the essential point to understand in this scenario is the essence of prices, their thresholds and the effect of status in the oligopolistic market (Mansfield 1982). Oligopolistic markets have variant features relating to the prices such as the limited number of firms selling the same commodities. If there are a number of firms dealing on similar products then it implies that there must be a significant extent of competition for which the price is a critical factor. Altering the price in a particular firm would impact the entire market since one of the market forces is altered. The provision of branding of products by different firms means that the products are distinct and each might be identical to the associated firm. The entry barriers might possess a negligible concern albeit they are considered imperative due to their significant influence and regulation in the number of firms (McGuigan, Moyer & Harris 1999). Firms in the oligopolistic market cooperate to determine prices and endeavour to uphold the price levels. The prices are regarded as monopolistic since they are the main point of concern in the market. The firms compete on the prices m in order for the prices to remain as a competitive industry model. In the situation where firms compete on prices, the desired price is regarded as the competitive level price. This implies that evident consequences can result if any firm elevates its prices beyond the actual one determined by the competition in the market (Cassimatis 1996). The monopoly as well as the competitive scale is responsible for the determination of price and the benefits involved in the market. Oligopolistic market prices and the consequential profits are indefinite since the challenges in modeling inter-reliant price productivity deliberations (Glahe & Lee 1982). Background Investigation Having looked at the oligopolistic markets, what are would be the possibilities and effects of raising prices above competitive levels? In order to have an in-depth understanding of the preceding question, we have to understand

Balance Scorecard for projects by Stewart (2001) Essay

Balance Scorecard for projects by Stewart (2001) - Essay Example On the other hand, it can also be observed that the success of any particular project heavily draws on the performance of the people involved in that particular project. A project is often regarded as a mini organization as a result of the fact that it is more structured and controlled. It can also be noted that different projects have failed to achieve their goals as a result of poor management. â€Å"With a proper performance measurement tool such as the balanced scorecard (BSC), organisations can clarify their vision through measurable goals and outcomes,† (Shepko & Douglas, 1998 as cited in Stewart, 2000, p. 38). Against this background, this essay will discuss the BSC as a more contemporary means of implementing the strategies of an organisation in order to operate viably with the aim of achieving its stated goals. The discussion will heavily draw on the work of Stewart, Kaplan and Norton, Ahn and Prastacos. Particular attention will be given to the work of Stewart (2001) entitled Balanced scorecard for projects. The essay will critique journal the articles by these authors with the aim of discussing their views about this topic which is related to BSC. The paper is structure in different parts and the first part deals with giving an overview of the topic in view of the ideas raised by different authors. In the main, the essay will discuss the findings of different authors about the topic in question. The last part of the essay is based on a critical analysis of a case scenario of BBCL/El Nino/El Dorado. The discussion of this case study will heavily draw on the ideas raised by different authors mentioned above. A conclusion to give the main points discussed in the essay will be given at the end where a personal reflection about the writer’s own perception about the topic will be given. 1.1 Overview of the topic Organisations are currently encountering a revolutionary transformation where industrial age competition is replaced by the information age competition. During the contemporary period, it can be noted that sophisticated financial control systems were developed to monitor efficient allocations of financial and physical capital. Thus, the need for a new approach to the evaluation of value creation of the organisations has led to the development of the balanced scorecard. According to Kaplan and Norton (1996), a balanced scorecard is a strategy that is used to supplement the traditional financial measures with other criteria that measure performance from three additional dimensions which include the following: customers, internal business processes, learning and growth. The BSC can be used to transform the vision of the organisation towards the attainment of its strategic goals. According to these authors, building a scorecard enables the organisation to link its financial budgets with its strategic goals given that it will be easier to monitor the performance of the organisation as a whole through an outlined step by step process. Stewart (2000) suggests th at the goal of every organisation is to do more, better,

The Unorganised Sector Issues And Concerns Essay Example for Free

The Unorganised Sector Issues And Concerns Essay Problems of Definition The bulk of the Indian labour force is employed in what is loosely referred to as unorganised sector. Most of them are neither organised nor hive any access to social security. Their employment is unprotected, their wages are extremely low, and a large section of them live under conditions below the poverty line. The developmental efforts by the state have done little to improve their living coalitions. This is a matter of concern not only for the trade unions but also for every rational person in this country. Defining the term unorganised sector is a difficult task indeed. Apart from the conceptual difficulties, the definition also depends on who is defining it and for what purpose. There are broadly three different usages of the term. Firstly, the government plan documents m-id demographic surveys extensively use the term. According to this usage, the unorganised sector is defined rather negatively, is comprising of the labour force that falls outside the organised sector. The organised sector is defined is the one covering labour force employed in all the enterprises in the public sector and only the non-agricultural establishments in the private sector employing 10 or more workers The criterion of 10 is derived from the Factories Act, which covers all the establishments employing 10 or more people. This definition though indicative of the structure of employment fails to qualify each sector, and therefore leaves many questions unanswered. It nonetheless serves the purpose of government planning and projections. Given the fact that unorganised sector accounts for more than 90% of the labour force in the country, the inadequacies of this definition as reflected in the statistical data, appear to be marginal, even though in actual terms the numbers may be very high. Another governmental source, which defines the unorganised sector, again for statistical and administrative purposes, is that of the Central Statistical Organisation. According to this definition, the unorganised sector includes all those unincorporated enterprises and  household industries (other than the organised ones) which are not regulated by any legislation and which do not maintain annual accounts or balance sheets. This definition also serves the limited administrative purposes, and does not qualify the sector. In any case, both the above definitions are based on the existing legal framework, whether concerning labour or business establishments, and are therefore liable to change with every change in legislation. Therefore, these definitions are hardly adequate tools for social analysis. The second source of definition of the term unorganised sector is literature in the economics discipline. Economists have tried to define this sector in terms of the organisation of capital, nature of products, technologies used (traditional or modern), the markets served (local or general) or the consumers of the products (rich or poor) The thesis has been that the unorganised sector is characterised by low technology that it caters to local markets and to consumers who come from the lower segment of the society. There are many difficulties with this definition too. Bannerji argues that attempts at clearly delineating the character of the unorganised sector have not been successful because such clear-cut demarcation is not universally valid. The exact combination of activities that actually exist in any one region at a given time, seem to be an outcome of the interaction of various factors such as complexity of the economy, the actual extent and distribution of control of investment resources and the technological choices available to that economy. Since the configuration of such factors is almost always specific to each situation, what is true of one country at one time, fails to apply to another Attempts to distinguish the two sectors on the basis of products, markets and technologies have a severe limitation, bec ause of the extensive linkages that exist between the sectors, very often the organised sector taking advantage of the low cost operation in the unorganised sector to manufacture its own products which are for general market. Moreover, bulk of the export goods are manufactured in tile unorganised sector through a systematic decentralisation of the production process and the putting-out system. The third usage of the term unorganised sector is by the trade unions and those concerned with labour. The attempt made by Nirmala Bannerji comes under this category of usage of the term. According to her, the unorganised sector usually consists of productive activities with  loosely formed groups bound by diverse types of informal working contracts. It includes a section of the self-employed, wage earners, family producers as also household workers. The significance of this definition is that it brings in the nature of employment relationship as the main factor that distinguishes organised from the unorganised sector. The unorganised sector consists of productive activities carried out by loosely formed groups which are bound by informal contracts. Even though Bannerji’s definition brings out the most imp ortant characteristic feature of the unorganised sector, from labours point of view, further exploration is required to get an insight into the complexity and the diversity of this sector. There are certain fundamental difficulties in using the existing categories of organised sector and unorganised sector for trade union purposes. Trade unions by their very nature are essentially concerned with protecting labour from exploitation and arbitrariness of whoever employs them. If labour Protection is taken is the basic criterion of the trade unions, then organised and unorganised cease to be homogeneous categories, because we find unprotected labour in both the sectors. Even though the unorganised sector accounts for the majority of them, even the organised sector has its own share of unprotected labour in the form of casual, contract, badli, and temporary workers whose employment conditions are similar to those in the unorganised sector. One may argue that the proportion of the unprotected labour in the organised sector is very marginal. This is however not true, because, during the eighties there has been a gradual decline in permanent employment accompanied by a sharp rise in the casual employment. A recent survey of seven major industries, commissioned by Friedrich Ebert Foundation in 1991, reports that during the eighties, in almost all the industries the proportion of casual and temporary employment has increased phenomenally, ranging between a quarter to nearly half of the total workforce. The National Sample Survey data also show a similar trend. According to this data, in the organised sector, the employment growth rate has declined from 2.48 per cent during 1977-78 1983 to 1.38 per cent during 1983 1987-88. In the organised manufacturing sector, particularly, employment had virtually stagnated during 1983- 1987-88. Given the above trends, from the trade union perspective, it would be fallacious to characterise organised sector as the protected sector, and the unorganised sector as the  unprotected sector. Apart from these conceptual difficulties, very often, among the trade union circles, there exists confusion between the terms unorganised sector and unorganised labour. Many use these terms synonymously, even though there is a substantial difference between the two. While the former refers to the unorganised part of the industry or the whole economy, the latter refers to workers who are not organised as trade unions. It is true that the bulk of the labour force in the unorganised sector is not organised, but at the same time there are also unorganised workers in the organised sector. Similarly, there are also some workers within the unorganised sector, as we shall see, who are organised as trade unions. From a purely trade union point of view, it may be more appropriate to use the terms protected sector and unprotected sector which cut across both organised and unorganised sectors. However, it would be impossible to totally discard the terms that are currently in use because the entire edifice of the statistical data is built on this foundation. Nonetheless, it would be useful to be aware of the inadequacies of the existing categories. One needs to be, particularly, careful while interpreting the official data. Labour in the Unorganised Sector Keeping the above mentioned definitional problems in view, let us now examine the salient features of the labour force in the unorganised sector as reflected in the official data. According to 1991 census, the total labour force in India is estimated to be 317 millions. Out of this, the organised sector employs only 26.8 millions (8.5 %), while the unorganised sector employs as many as 290.2 millions, (91.5 %) (See Chart 1 and Table 1). Pension scheme for agricultural labourers all over the country. As discussed earlier, the distinction between these two sectors is very crucial from the point of view of employment relationship. It is not clear from the census data whether the figures for the organised sector employment include the casual / contract workers also. If it does, then the proportion of the protected labour will be less than 8.5 per cent. While the majority of workers in the organised sector hive regular salaried jobs in the registered factories and service establishments, the workers in the unorganised sector are either self-employed or work as casual wage labourers in a wide range of sectors both non-agricultural and agricultural. The crucial distinction between the sectors is the nature of employment relationship. Going by Bannerji’s definition cited earlier, the unorganised sector includes agricultural labourers, construction workers, forest workers, fish workers, beedi workers, workers in smal l and tiny industrial units, powerloom and handloorn workers, self-employed workers, domestic workers and so on. If we use the term unprotected sector, then the list also includes all the casual / contract workers employed in the organised sector. Technically, labour laws do not differentiate between organised and unorganised sectors. However, in practice, they provide ample opportunities to the employers and their contractors to deny basic rights to certain categories of workers. As we shall see later, there are certain structural problems, which make, it difficult for workers to assert their rights. In the organised sector, for instance, the production strategies such as subcontracting, ancillarisation, etc., are essentially geared to by-pass the protective legislations. As a result, over the years, the proportion of casual and contract labour has  been increasing in almost all the industries in both private and public sector. An important characteristic feature of the unorganised sector is that it employs a large number of women. The relative proportion of female workers is very high in this sector. As shown in Table 1, only 4.2% of the total female workers (as defined in Census) are in the organised sector. The corresponding percentage for male workers is 10.2%. The difference is rather striking if we look at the absolute figures. As against 23 million male workers there are only 3.8 million female workers in the organised sector. That is, for every six male workers there is only one female worker. In contrast to this, in the unorganised sector, there are 86.8 million women workers against 203.4 million male workers. That is, there is one woman worker for every two and odd male workers. Table 2 shows the sex distribution in both the sectors. In the organised sector, women constitute 14.2%, whereas in the unorganised sector they constitute 30%. In terms of wages and earnings, there exists a substantial difference between the organised and the unorganised sectors. Table 3 shows the aggregate figures for the year 1981. Out of the total annual income of Rs.87,840 crores, the self-employed workers earned Rs.44,719 crores (50.9%,) while the wage and salary earners earned Rs.43,121 crores (49.1%). Within the wage earners category, the organised sector accounted for Rs.24,850 (28.3%) while the unorganised sector accounted for Rs.18,271 crores (20.8%). If we look at overall sector-wise figures by combining self-employed and the wage earners in the unorganised sector, we would get the broad picture of earnings in the unorganised sector in contrast to those in the organised sector. The unorganised sector accounts for 71.7 per cent of the total earnings in comparison to 28.3 of the organised sector. The organised sector workers, even though account for only nine-tenth of the total workforce, earn more than one-fourth (one third according to the latest figures) of the nations total wages and incomes. The figures of the average annual income per worker bring out the contrast between the sectors more sharply. While the organised sector worker earned Rs.10,851 per annum, the wage earner in the unorganised sector earned Rs.2,482 and the self-employed person earned Rs. 3,549. If we take the average of the unorganised sector as a whole, the figure would be much lower. These figures are for the year 1981, and the present figures in actual terms may be relatively higher. Issues and Concerns The primary concern regarding labour in the unorganised sector is that most of them live below the poverty line. Their access to the basic necessities of life such as food, clothing, shelter, education, health and other forms of social security is extremely poor. One of the major reasons for this is that they are not organised. They lack organisations which can effectively represent their issues and problems at the national level. The established trade unions in the country, including the left unions, have completely neglected this sector. This is reflected in the membership figures of the central trade union organisations. According to the latest verification of membership conducted by the central government in 1990, the membership of the top five unions is around 10 millions, which is roughly around 3 per cent of the total working population in the country. Even though this includes both the organised sector as well as the unorganised sector, the proportion of the latter is very in significant. For example, according to 1980 figures, the INTUC, which at that time was the largest union, had only 15 unions in the agricultural sector with a membership of 25,931, which is slightly more than one per cent of its total membership of over 22 lakhs. Similarly, CITU hid only 14 unions with a membership of 2,212, which is less than one per cent of its total membership of over 3 lakhs. There are, of course, certain structural difficulties in organising workers in the unorganised sector. Unlike in. the organised sector, the existing conditions are not conducive to the functioning of trade unions. In the organised sector, that is, in large factories and other establishments, collective  bargaining institutions are well developed and trade unions are accepted as legitimate organisations representing workers. In other words, the means of struggle for better wage and working conditions are institutionalised. This is however not the case with the unorganised sector. The following are some of the problems at the very fundamental level in this sector. 1. Employment regulation In the unorganised sector the primary issue is regulation of employment. This is a very difficult task for unions to achieve. The employment contract is unwritten and informal. Workers are at the mercy of the employer. Giving an appointment letter is unheard of in this sector. By making the very employment relationship informal, the employer keeps himself out of the statutory obligations. Workers in order to make any legal claim have to first identified the employer and establish the employment relationship. Quite apart from these legal problems, since workers depend on the employer who may be a contractor or a middleman or the principal employer himself, for their sustenance, they dare not take recourse to legal action. This problem is more acute in the case of migrant workers, for instance, in the construction industry. Another means of bypassing a formal employment relationship adopted by trader-merchant-manufacturer is to utilise the home-based family labour. The so-called self employed workers in beedi, carpet, handloom, coir, hosiery and a host of other industries, come under this category. The trader-merchant-manufacturer or his middlemen provide the raw material to the home-based workers and collect the semi-finished or finished goods which they market themselves. The price that the workers get for their value-addition is very low and equivalent to wages, and their living conditions are no better than the wage labour. So, the self-employed who constitute nearly 56 per cent of the total workforce in the country are not really self-employed in the true sense. In the absence of a formal employment relationship the established trade unions, which are more used to functioning in the organised sector where all that they have to do is submit charter of demands and negotiate a reasonable bargain for the workers, find it extremely difficult to fight for workers in the unorganised sector. Trade union work in the unorganised sector is much more demanding and relates to certain structural changes of very fundamental  nature which requires struggle at various levels. The means and strategies to be adopted for achieving these changes also differ very much with those that are adopted in the organised sector. The following are the three different levels at which the trade unions in the unorganised sector have to fight. †¢ Grass-root Level †¢ Labour Courts †¢ Political Level At the grass-root level, as mentioned earlier, it is very difficult to identify a single, consistent employer to deal with. As a deliberate strategy, contractors keep changing from time to time in order to avoid any legal binding. Also, at times, workers themselves move from one workplace to another. In certain cases such as domestic workers, unions have to deal with multiple employers who are not concentrated in one place but scattered all over. Given such a wide variation and the fluid state of employer-employee relationship, unions in this sector have to evolve innovative strategies to fight for the basic rights of their members. The second level of struggle is in the labour courts. Since the employer-employee relationship in this sector is not institutionalised, the disputes invariably end up in litigation. For instance, in case of contract workers in the organised sector much of the trade union work involves fighting court cases, which demands not only determination on the part of the unions but also resources. This is one of the major reasons why the unions of the workers in the organised sector turn a blind eye to the plight of the contract and casual workers. The third and the most important level of struggle is at the political level for policy changes and enactment of protective legislation by the government. This requires the unions to have a wider support base coupled with political campaigns. 2. Lack of trade union consciousness In this sector the very idea of trade union organisation is new. Due to their insecure employment situation, workers are not always forthcoming to participate in the union activity. The unions have an extremely difficult task of gaining the confidence of workers to begin with, and then convincing them -about the importance of dealing with their employers collectively  rather than as individuals. 3. Struggle for legitimacy In the unorganised sector, the basic struggle of the trade unions is for legitimacy of their own existence and freedom to function as trade unions. They are confronted with hostile employers whose basic advantage in operating in the unorganised sector is its unregulated employment and availability of cheap labour. Since trade unions by their very nature fight for regulation of employment, better wages and social security measures, they strike it the very root of this advantage. This results in a bitter conflict in which very often the trade unions are at the receiving end. Given such hostility to any form of trade union activity in this sector, the union activists have to find various means of obtaining legitimacy. Where hostility is very high, the activists function only as a voluntary organisation. As the situation improves they start functioning both as a voluntary organisation as well as a trade union simultaneously. Since, by definition, these two types of organisations have different legal status the activists function as either, depending on the need and circumstance. Such a strategy is essential in order to continue the organisational effort in a hostile environment. 4. Issues related to development policy Trade unions in the unorganised sector are confronted with not merely employment and wage issues, but also are forced to raise certain fundamental issues related to developmental policy. This is so because, in various sectors, such as fisheries, forestry, agriculture, etc., the workers directly depend, on natural resources for their livelihood. Governments development policy has a direct bearing on their lives. For instance, the forest workers, who have for generations lived in forests and enjoyed certain customary rights over forest resources, are now confronted with modem developmental agencies such as state corporations which have drawn boundaries within the forest area depriving them of their traditional rights, and in many cases even displacing them. The local people depend on forests for fuel, fodder, and material to build their houses. The forest corporations which were created with the explicit purpose of directly taking up commercial activity related to forest resources, and thereby replacing  the middlemen who had been exploiting the forests, have, in reality, deprived the local peoples access to the forests. Another example is that of fish workers living near and around Chilika Lake located in Orissa on the eastern coast. Thousands of fish workers for generations hid depended on this lake for their livelihood. But now, with government leasing out the lake to private entrepreneurs for developing prawn culture for export, these workers have been debarred from fishing in the lake. Such issues, related to the governmental policy can be taken up only at the national level, which means that there should be a national level organisation to represent the interests of the unprotected workers in the unorganised sector. Today, unfortunately, such an organisation does not exist. 5. Lack of visibility Lastly, the workers in the unorganised sector lack visibility at the national level. In contrast to workers in the organised sector, their working conditions and problems hardly ever become subjects of national debate. This is best illustrates by the fact that the primary focus of the New Economic Policy is the organised sector. The question of exit policy has generated a great deal of debate, and become a politically sensitive issue. It is a different matter whether the government is genuinely concerned about the retrenched workers in the organised sector. The point is, in the unorganised sector, which employs more than 90% of the total workforce in the country, redundancies and retrenchments are a daily affair. Ironically, this issue has never merited a debate or discussion either in the media or in the trade union establishments. Source:Unprotected Labour in India – Issues and Concerns by Sarath Davala (ed.) Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, 1994, pp:1-13.

PHR Implementation

PHR Implementation Melchor Abejon   With the advent of the internet, including emails and other web-based technologies, patients nowadays have assumed a much more active role in managing their health care. An evolving concept that makes a great potential to improve the health of individuals and efficiency of health care is the use of Personal Health Records (PHR). The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the American Medical Information Association (AMIA) continue to advocate for the use of PHR, empowering individuals to engage in a much more active role of managing their health care. According to AHIMA (2005), the PHR is an electronic, lifelong resource of health information needed by individuals to make health decisions. The individuals manage and own the information in the PHR, which comes from health care providers and the individuals. The PHR is maintained in a secure and private environment with the individuals determining the right of access. As the chief technology officer of an academ ic medical center in the western United States, planning to adopt and integrate a PHR software in its existing Electronic Health Record (EHR) system, the purpose of this paper is to outline my recommendation of the essential functionalities of a PHR that are to be considered for the organization. Choosing a PHR that would fit the needs of the organization is not going to be an easy task. There are a number of PHR software in the market to choose from, so it is necessary to take precaution and compare the products and check out for reviews because the same as in the EHRs, once you purchased the system, you will be tied for it for a long time. The PHR software that is to be selected should be reliable, sophisticated and secure. Enumerated below are the functionalities of a PHR that I would like to be implemented first for the organization: Compatibility functionality. My chosen PHR should be compatible with the organizations EHR system and with other third party tools. It should be able to directly interact with the organizations EHR. This functionality is extremely important as it will enable the sharing of information of patients with their healthcare providers. Also, with the PHR connected to the organizations EHR, patients can make their appointments online, consult their providers from their PHR, and obtain drug prescriptions without the hassle of visiting the doctors office. The many number of third party tools and mash-up services are also becoming available online to provide personalized health and wellness tools in which individual patients can use depending on their health needs. Examples of these third-party tools are the (a) Microsoft Healthvault (b) Training Peaks and (c) Google Health to name a few. The compatibility of the PHR with such mentioned web based applications enables patients to have access to a more personalized tool, thus letting them reap the most benefits from their PHRs. Must have the basic features, intuitive tool design, and ease of use functionality. Not all people are comfortable with the use technology, so needless to say, my chosen PHR should be easy to use. It must have the standard features which are (a) add (b) delete (c) correct and (d) share records. Patients should be able to add, delete, correct and track their medical history. The menu navigation should be intuitive and most used features should be quickly accessed. It must also have the ability to control and share health information with health providers and as well as family members with the consent of the patient. Security and control functionality. Security and protection of a patient health information is always a top concern in the field of healthcare industry to achieve the meaningful use of systems. My chosen PHR must have the security features to make sure health information is protected and secured all the time while still accessible from anywhere. Ability to automatically pull records from healthcare providers. My chosen PHR should enable patients to pull their historical information about their health problems, drug prescriptions, test procedures performed and as well as allergies. Having this feature would enable the patients to become more aware of their health care and as well as engage themselves in a much more active role of managing their health care. Proactive health monitoring functionality. My chosen PHR must have the advanced features to help patients take control of their health. Example of proactive health monitoring features are (a) weight loss, body mass index, and cholesterol monitoring (b) alerts when certain health conditions reach a certain threshold such as blood pressure and (c) a health planner services to help patients live a healthier and more productive life. References PHR Reviews (2009). How to choose a PHR- Personal health record system. Retrieved March 7, 2017 from http://www.phrreviews.com/how-to-choose-a-phr Wager, K.A., Lee, F.W., Glaser, J.P. (2013). Healthcare information systems: A practical approach for health care management (3rd ed ). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

A Critical Look at Histories of Hutchinson and the Antinomians Essay

A Critical Look at Histories of Hutchinson and the Antinomians In the seventeenth century, the Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded as a haven for Puritans, who sought religious freedom and harmony. In order to achieve this haven, the settlers in Massachusetts Bay devised a system of government that would serve as both a political and moral authority. Between 1636 and 1638 the relative harmony of the Massachusetts Bay Colony was shaken by an uprising that has become known as the Antinomian Controversy. At the center of this controversy was Anne Hutchinson, a Boston woman bold enough to challenge the teachings of local ministers and to criticize New England churches. Hutchinson was extraordinary for a variety of reasons. Her theology of â€Å"free grace† and her claim to have received immediate revelations from God were considered a dangerous deviation from Puritan theology. She was also a woman challenging the established male hierarchy of Puritan society. In addition, her theological ideas had important implications fo r political theory and attracted many followers in seventeenth-century New England. However, despite all that is known about Hutchinson’s life and the details of the Antinomian Controversy, there are no written records of her beliefs. Instead, contemporary historians, political scientists and feminists must interpret her actions, trial records and the accounts of her contemporaries to determine why she chose to challenge Puritan society in the way that she did. Because little is known about why Anne Hutchinson acted as she did, she has become a veritable chalice into which historians, political scientists and feminists can pour their own ideas. As a result, interpretations of Ann... ...6. Hall, David D. The Antinomian Controversy 1636-1638: A Documentary History. Connecticut: Wesleyan University Press, 1968. Koehler, Lyle. â€Å"The Case of the American Jezebels: Anne Hutchinson and Female Agitation during the Years of Antinomian Turmoil, 1636-1640.† The William and Mary Quarterly 31, pp. 55-78. Lang, Amy Schrager. Prophetic Woman: Anne Hutchinson and the Problem of Dissent in the Literature of New England. California: University of California Press, 1987. Wertenbaker, Thomas Jefferson. The Puritan Oligarchy: The Founding of American Civilization. New York: Scribner’s Press, 1947. Westerkamp, Marilyn J. Women and Religion in Early America, 1600-1850: The Puritan and Evangelical Traditions. London: Routledge, 1999. Williams, Selma. Divine Rebel: The Life of Anne Marbury Hutchinson. New York: Holt Rinehart and Winston, 1981.

Swot Vodafone

Email Developing a total communication strategy in the uk market 1. INTRODUCTION This report will critically analyse the external environment of the mobile phone operators industry with the application of appropriate strategy tools including PESTEL and Michael Porter's five forces models. An immediate result of this would be the identification of opportunities and threats that may arise from change in environmental factors and assessment of the attractiveness of the industry respectively.The report will also analyse critically, the strategic capability of Vodafone, also applying appropriate strategy tools resulting in the identification of key strengths and weaknesses of the firm. The aim here will be to identify and discuss the core competences the firm possesses. To aid the analysis, the report will draw on information from various sources such as: The Vodafone case study on page 557 in the main textbook by Johnson, Scholes and Whittington, Exploring Strategy 9th Edition, Prentice Hall, 2011. Other sources include Keynotes, Mintel and Magazines. . QUESTION ONE: PESTEL, KEY DRIVERS AND MICHAEL PORTER'S 5 FORCES 2. 1 PESTEL The PESTEL framework is used for the analysis and according to Johnson, Scholes and Whittington (2011), â€Å"it provides a comprehensive list of influences on the possible success or failure of particular strategies†. Discussed below are a few issues of PESTEL, please see appendix for other issues. Political/Legal factors Government's privatisation(through Ofcom) of the national telephone company, BT, compelling it to allow access to its network (via Openreach) for voice and broadband.This has helped to break down BT's monopoly thereby creating an opportunity for mobile operators to operate and at competitive rates. (case study p. 558) Economic factors a. The UK economy has still not fully recovered from the financial crisis of 2008, recovering even slower than other countries amidst huge government resuscitation efforts and even con sumer spending is expected to decline by 0. 6 per capita in 2011(the Telegraph, May 2011). This is a threat to the industry as, the slower the economic recovery, the slower the market growth for the mobile operators industry. b. Though the case study(p. 58) says that personal disposal income growth as experienced between 2002 and 2007 was forecasted to resume in the future, recent developments suggest otherwise. Now the future is here, reports say household incomes are falling(NewStatesman, May  ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­2011 and Mail Online, May 2011 ). This is a threat to the mobile industry as it means less income at the disposal of households, hence less subscribers to its services. Social factors a. Consumer need for converged services, such as mobile telephony, fixed line telephony, television and broadband internet, was increasing(case study p. 558).This means an opportunity for mobile operators to expand their market as more people are coming on board with t his convergence need which could be a result of the plunge in disposable income so people want all services in one and pay a lower lump sum for all in a bid to ration their income. b. A decline in UK fixed line telephone market as households were becoming â€Å"mobile-only† users. This is an opportunity for mobile operators to capture the market share of fixed line telephone operators in a bid to expand theirs. c. Consumer perceived prestige that comes with owning smartphones is an industry opportunity.For example, everyone wants to have an IPhone, HTC or Blackberry because they are ‘cool' or for other reasons, so operators in the industry can capitalize on this and increase their market share by offering cheap deals. d. Consumer ‘hype' for new and modern technologies as everyone wants to have the latest ‘thing' in technology. This would create an opportunity for the industry to capitalize on and expand their market share. Technological factors a. Developmen t of new technologies, IP(Internet Protocol) for voice, data and video transmission(case study p. 557).The dynamic nature of technology is posing a threat as operators may be stuck with obsolete technology thereby facing a challenge to be pro-active in order to retain market share and keep churn rates at bay. b. Continued upgrading of speeds over mobile networks poses a threat as operators have to keep up with the upgrading of speeds because they might loose customers to service providers who can offer better speeds. Environmental factors As a result of advancement in telecommunications technology, mobile operators have to replace network equipments and hazardous wastes(masts, cables, construction waste etc)frequently.Mobile operators are then faced with the challenge of finding energy efficient ways of recycling which may also be capital intensive, altogether posing a threat. Legal factors a. Ofcom's issuance of licences for additional mobile network operators will pose a threat to incumbent operators( as their market share is threatened) and be an opportunity to potential operators as this will lower entry barriers for them. b. Elaborate legal contracts can also be a threat to the industry as lots of legal obligations have to be satisfied prior to and after entry.Drawing up different phone contracts for different mobile packages can prove challenging for the operators. 2. 2 KEY DRIVERS FOR CHANGE Socio-cultural issue Consumer need for converged services: Consumer needs(which has led Virgin Media to provide multiple services such as the ‘quad play and others providing the triple play) change from time to time and even some firms will try to create the needs for the consumers thereby pushing the industry towards finding ways to satisfy these needs as the market expands. This is one of the major drivers of change for the industry.Technological issue: Development of new Technologies: The dynamic nature of technology will keep operators findings ways to sta y ahead of competitors by developing new technologies such as the IP, digitising high-speed distribution of voice, data and video over multiple networks. 2. 3 MICHAEL PORTER'S 5 FORCES ANALYSIS a. Threat of entry: (low) The barrier of initial capital cost of entry may be daunting but the regulatory changes in the UK communications industry by Ofcom saw the issuance of licences to more mobile operators and also allowing MVNOs to ease network capacity without the capital cost of building their own hence reducing barriers to entry. This has also led to increase in the number of competitors. b. Threat of substitutes: (low/moderate) Considering the advantages of mobile connections (make calls, sending messages/data, music etc), substitutes would be the fixed line connections, skype(or VOIP) on broadband, radio airwaves, phone booths or simply go without. With the fixed line connections, Ofcom reported that the number of lines dropped from 34. 9million in 2003 to 33million in 2009.Call mi nutes had also decreased by 15% from 167billion to 138billion over the same period with mobile minutes expected to exceed fixed line minutes in 2010(Case study p. 558). A report on Broadband news also says that mobile broadband will overtake fixed line connections in 2011. (Broadband Choices 2009). It is likely that the trend will continue in this way, considering the convenience offered by mobile connections, of being able to make a call on the move. c. Competitive rivalry: (high) One of the aims of Ofcom is to ensure healthy competition among operators which saw a rapid growth in the number of competitors.The major competitors in the industry are Vodafone, Telefonica O2, Orange, 3 UK and Tmobile plus lots of MVNO's. According to the case study, wireless operator margins in the UK were up because of strong competition(p. 559). d. Buyer power: (moderate) The main buyers from the industry are households(individuals) and businesses. According to case study(p. 559), average churn(custo mer switching) rates in the market was 20% annually due to the introduction of number portability in 2007 and competitive tactics such as subsidising handsets for subscribers. Customers would switch operators for better offers or added value for their money.To counter this churn rate, most operators have found a way to switch post-paid customers to longer contracts of 18months or even 24months as at 2009. A recent 2011 report (Sim-only deals, 2011) highlights other reasons for low switching rates including provider's loyalty programme and value for money SIM only deals which altogether gives them the power to make customers stay. e. Supplier power: (moderate) The main suppliers to the industry would be the handset makers and Ofcom. Major handset suppliers such as Nokia with 40% of UK handset market and Samsung,21%, supply handsets to the industry under global contracts(case study p. 59). There are more suppliers today including Apple, which is another fast growing supplier as their phones are deemed trendy and a must-have because of its innovative features. Sony-Ericsson, Samsung are among the loads of others. The case study p. 559 says mobile handset sales had experienced a decline in 2009 as UK wireless operators started to offer sim-only plans which allow consumers to retain their current handset and pay lower monthly tariffs. Ofcom on the other hand is the sole provider of spectrum. ATTRACTIVENESS: Based on the evidences from the five forces, the report concludes that the industry is attractive.This being that, though rivalry is high, but other threats and powers are low. Essentially incumbents or new operators can then focus only on competition and worry less about powers and other threats. 3 QUESTION TWO: STRATEGIC CAPABILITIES OF VODAFONE According to Johnson et al. (2011), Strategic capabilities are capabilities of an organization that contribute to its long-term survival or competitive advantage made up of two components: Resources, which are assets t he company has or can call upon and Competenceswhich are ways in which those assets are used or deployed effectively. 3. 1 RESOURCES AND COMPETENCESHuman Resources Vodafone has had a history of experienced CEOs including Arun Sarin(resource), who was skilled in achieving growth in developing markets(competence/strength). Also, Gary Laurence(resource), head of Vodafone UK, appointed CEO in September 2008 was known for his ability to identify strategic options(competence/strength) and the current CEO, Vittorio Colao(resource) who succeeded Arun in 2008 is known for strong reputation as cost cutter. (competence/strength). (Case study page 563) Vodafone's partnership with BT(resource) hosting BT's MVNO, allowed it to provide services to corporations. competence/strength). It started a joint venture with O2(resources) which enabled it to extend its fixed-line network. (competence/strength). Vodafone, in its target of business travelers with passport services(resources), was able to offer home country voice rates while roaming in Europe and mobile data services for ? 10 a day(competence/strength). (case study page 563) Financial Resources Financial Performance of Vodafone: (a) ROCE(Return on Capital Employed): measures the returns made from all forms of resources or capital employed in the business.Vodafone's resources are the capital employed and its competence is shown in the amount of returns generated from utilization these capital. Vodafone's ROCE plunged by 3. 73% to give a ROCE in 2010 of 19. 85. This may be slightly better than industry average but it shows a weakness to efficiently utilise resources to yield maximum profits. Vodafone| 2010| 2009| Industry| ROCE| 19. 85| 20. 59| 19. 48| Source. Morning Star Stock Report. (b) Current ratio:   measures a company's efficiency at meeting its short term obligations.A good ratio would be for current liabilities to be covered at least once but Vodafone's current assets(resources) can barely cover 50% of its liabi lities in 2010 though it improved from previous year. On the whole, this is a weakness as the company is low on liquidity and incurring too much liabilities in terms of its short term borrowings. Vodafone Plc| 2010| 2009| Industry| Current Ratio| 0. 50:1| 0. 47:1| | Source: Morning Star Stock Report. (c) Net Gearing: shows the proportion of debt within a company's overall capital. The table below shows that Vodafone's net gearing has declined from 40. 7% in 2009 to 37. 76% in 2010. Overall for the industry borrowing is about 40% of total capital. The reduction therefore for Vodafone is good as its means a reduction in finance costs too. Vodafone| 2010| 2009| Industry| Net Gearing ratio| 37. 76%| 40. 67%| 39. 40%| Source: Morning Star Stock Report. (d) Interest cover: explains Vodafone's ability to service its debt. From the table below, it appears Vodafone makes enough profits to service it finance costs as it has been able to increase its interest cover to 7. 51times in 2010 from 7 . 03times in 2009.This may not be a core competence but it is a strength for Vodafone. Vodafone| 2010| 2009| Interest cover| 7. 51 times| 7. 03 times| Source: Morning Star Stock Report. Physical Resources Vodafone makes heavy investments in the marketing of its Product brands (competence/strength) which includes, landline solutions and mobile telephony, mobile broadband and secure employee remote access(resources), making them well known. (Vodafone website). It invests also in the marketing (competence/strength) of 3G dongles or cards(resources) for internet connection giving it the largest share of 3G subscribers.Vodafone used wholesale services to distribute its fixed voice and broadband (resources) but its prices were too high giving it only a few customers(weakness). Another of its products is the Vodafone-at-home(resources), with which it competed with fixed line providers by offering fixed line prices when customers call from within or near their home(competence/strength). Cor e Competences For the sake of this report, the core competences identified are Vodafone's CEO's. They have been exceptional with what they bring to the table and how their expertise has been able to transform the company.Vodafone UK CEO, Gary Laurence has been formidable in terms of identifying strategic options available to the company such as successful alliances and joint venture with likes of BT and O2. Heavy investment in the marketing of its products giving it largest share of 3G subscribers is another core competence. 3. 2 VODAFONE VALUE CHAIN Primary Activities Inbound logistics: Vodafone possesses its own network equipments, backbones and infrastructure to provide various communication services, and purchasing of handsets (Annual Reports 2010, p. 21).Now, its in a network sharing agreement (sharing masts, sites and towers) with O2 covering the UK and 4 European countries,. (case study page 559, Guardian March 2009). , Another inbound logistic is the ownership of spectrum. S pectrum is of particular importance to the mobile phone and mobile broadband industry, which relies on it to carry information between customers' handsets and mobile masts. Vodafone spectrum is 1800MHz. (Ofcom report, Feb 2011). Operations: All Vodafone operations are based on in-house infrastructure. Vodafone's operations is dependent on its people, infrastructure and financial resources.Its logistics operations (which provides a variety of value-added services), evolves from a single, purpose built site in West Midlands. (Unipartlogistics. com) Out-bound logistics: Vodafone has consumer on-line purchasing systems in place that allow customers to purchase its services directly(Vodafone website). It also has its own billing system. Marketing and Sales: Vodafone has several own branded and other retail chains that it uses in distribution. According to the case   study(page 563), Vodafone invests a lot in marketing in all markets whilst promoting its brand and also sponsors Formula 1 and England cricket sports.Services:Its all encompassing website enables customer online ordering and feedback monitoring. (source). Vodafone has customer services helpline that offer after sales services and it also offers services to MVNO's such as Lebara mobile, Asda mobile, Talk mobile(Carphone Warehouse) and BT mobile(http://ukmobilecoverage. co. uk/), Support Activities Infrastructure: Vodafone's mode of expansion was the formation of a joint venture with O2(case study p. 559) to manage its mobile network and share network covering 4 European countries and the UK.It also leases BT's fixed line services and hosts BT's MVNO. (case study p. 562) Human Resource Management: Vodafone depends on its employees for the quality of its services to customers. It ensures an inclusive working environment and encourages innovation, ambition and pro-activeness. Vodafone encourages enthusiasm, talent and commitment in its employees in order to build and maintain its success and stay competit ive. (Vodafone, Our people). Technology and Development: Vodafone owns internet portals which enables on-line ordering.Also, continuous R&D helps the company to incubate and deliver innovation to the business. (Annual Report, 2010. p. 20) Procurement: Vodafone, like other networks, purchases branded handsets from suppliers. Vodafone holds several training courses for its procurement team for efficient management of supplier performance. CONCLUSION SWOT MATRIX STRENGTHS1. Experienced CEO's(UK CEO, Gary Laurence). 2. Partnership with BT and O2. 3. Offering home country voice rates abroad. 4. Heavy investment in marketing. 5. Vodafone at home6. Good Interest Cover7.Reduced borrowing| WEAKNESSES1. Low level of liquidity2. Inability to increase ROCE3. High prices and inefficient channel of distribution for fixed voice and broadband. | OPPORTUNITIES1. Government's privatization of Ofcom. 2. Consumer need for converged services. 3. Decline in Fixed line telephone market4. 2012 Olympics5. C onsumer demand for smart phones6. Consumer hype for modern technology7. Ofcom issuance of entry license| THREATS1. Slow economic recovery from recession2. Decline in disposable income3. Immigration cap4. Health issues in areas of mobile masts. 5.Customer switching rates. 6. Development of new technologies7. Capital intensive recycling8. Ofcom's issuance of entry license9. Elaborate legal contarcts| From all facts assessed in the report and also information from the case study and Vodafone accounts, it is indeed evident that Vodafone is struggling to develop a total communications strategy to enable it to secure leadership   in the rapidly growing market for high speed internet services in its UK home market due to the fact that it actually cannot improve its core activities in order to gain competitive advantage.Please rate the quality of this essay: Good Neutral Poor Struggling with your essay? You can get your essay custom written by an expert in your subject area. Fully researc hed and referenced, the perfect model answer†¦ Get a quote here Share ; download: Print Download Email Request the removal of this essay. 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