Discuss roles and responsibilities of a System Analyst and relation to Research Paper

Discuss roles and responsibilities of a System Analyst and relation to a project manager - Research Paper Example Master's in business administration is also required. However, some individuals are hired with a bachelor's degree in a technical field, as well as considerable on-the-job business training. This job requires one to possess strategic skills (technical and business) as well as ability to interact with professionals with variety of skills (Shelly, 12). A Systems Analyst must have good analytical skills, (to be able to analyze for the report) good communication skills, and experience in programming is a help also. Basic skills such as grammar, spelling, data entry and Microsoft office (Microsoft words, excel, PowerPoint and Microsoft outlook) skills are also required. Other skills needed are verbal communications and reading of comprehension. It is important for system analyst to be able to understand complex business process. System analyst need to understand business organizations and how they operate. It is important to understand how organizations are structured and managed (Shelly, 34). In addition to understanding the business, analyst must understand business functions such as accounting, human resource, finance and customer care. One should know the organization they are working in, their traditions and values, what it does, what makes it successful and most definitely their strategic plan. A system solution is tailored for specific needs of specific organization. They should also possess people skills and knowledge. This is because system analysts normally work on development teams with other employees (Niznik, 8). They need to understand a lot of people and possess many interpersonal skills. Analysts need to understand how people think, learn, react to change, communicate and work (Shelly, 17). System analyst mostly works in office or laboratory. Their work is more involving therefore most of the times they do overtime. This happens especially when designing a new system or one is being installed. One might be able to telecommunicate but most of their du ties are performed by themselves. System analyst can advance to a senior position such as senior or lead analyst or chief information officer. Most of system analyst after gaining experience, they choose to become independent consultants. Role and Responsibilities One role of systems analysts is to enable systems with different setups to communicate with each other on both hardware and software level (Mannetti, 9). Systems are more varied and advanced as tools such as wireless Smartphone and internet-based applications continue to replace the functions of a regular PC computer. As a result, individuals in these kinds of computer careers should stay abreast of the latest technologies. They are also more in demand to provide systems security as more and more confidential data is stored electronically on a network. Analysts are trusted with private information such as salary, health and job performance information. They should come up with a system that will protect the information fro m being hacked, leaking or tempered with (Mannetti, 4). They might also work with confidential corporate information about products, strategic plans, business tactics and security systems and process. If these kinds of information leak then the organization is doomed. System analysts play a major role especially in governments and security agents. System analyst designs complex systems that will accomplish goals of the business or organization. Design

The theme of loneliness the most in the novel Of Mice And Men Essay Example for Free

The theme of loneliness the most in the novel Of Mice And Men Essay A guy goes nuts if he aint got nobody. Dont matter no difference who the guy is, longs he with you. I tell ya a guy gets to lonely an he gets sick. This is a very interesting definition of loneliness brought to us by Crooks, one of the pivotal characters, along with Candy and Curleys wife, whom develop the theme of loneliness the most in the novel. Steinbecks novel Of Mice and Men is set at the time of the Great Depression after the stock market crash of 1929. The currency is almost worthless and people can afford little possessions. Due to the situation, many people move from place to place to find work. This means they are never in one place long enough to form any relationships, thus being a very lonely existence: Guys like us, that live on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. George and Lennie are the two main characters of the novel, they find work in a ranch near Soledad: even the name of the small town recalls Solitude, furthermore soledad means loneliness in Spanish. Which emphasises the power and role loneliness has in the novel. Steinbeck infact emphasises loneliness, powerlessness, and isolation, and his hatred for it throughout the novel. He contrasts this with the companionship of George and Lennie. They are the only men who actually travel together,and look out for each other, and this is proved by the way everyone is suspicious of their friendship. The three characters I have chosen to describe the theme of loneliness are very jealous of the two mens friendship. They are: Crooks, Candy and Curleys wife. Crooks is a black man that is isolated because of the racist society of the early Twentieth Century. The loneliness that Crooks feels is created by the discrimination of the white ranchers towards him. Crooks does not know how to relate to other people because he is mistreated, he is disrespected and isolated: he cant participate at the daily events with the other white people, he doesnt know how to control his frustration and therefore is angry at everyone. Cause Im black. They play cards in there, but I cant play because Im Black. They say I stink. Well I tell you, you all stink to me! Moreover, no one likes living in a barn and working with horses all day long, Crooks spends all his nights reading to take shelter from society. Crooks is fascinated by George and Lennies strong friendship Well, spose, jus spose he dont come back. Whatll you do then? Crooks asks such questions, because having no friends he doesnt know how it feels. he tries in every way to seek understanding and to begin friendships with other people, he would do anything to come out of his solitude and depression. If youguys would want a hand to work for nothing Just his keep, why Id come an lend a hand. I aint so crippled I can work like a son-of-a-bitch if I want to. Crooks, too, experiences the emotional bleakness of the majority of the characters drawn by Steinbeck in this story, as shown in his jealousy of George and Lennies friendship and his desire to join in the dream of part-owning their own ranch. Crooks wants to participate in George and Lennies dream not only because he wants to leave the hostile ranch he works in but because he too wants to be involved in their friendship. Candy is an old, physically disabled swamper. He has worked on the ranch for a great part of his life, and it is on this very farm he was victim of a machinery accident which cost his hand, leaving him behind money but loneliness. His old age and his handicap make him feel useless, this thought makes him more handicapped than his missing hand. He feels like a useless old man who is wasting the last few years of his miserable life. He is haunted by the idea of losing his job because he is a cripple and that this will then further lead him to death. I got hurt four years ago. Theyll can purty soon. Jusas soon as I cant swamp out no bunk houses theyll put me on the county Candy thinks that no one wants to be his friend because he has missing a hand. He is often invited by the other people on the ranch to drink and play cards but always refuses because he has a very low self-esteem, so Candy is putting a loneliness tag on himself and not the other people. At the end he tries to make friends joining George and Lennies dream: to have their own ranch. This is one of Candys feeble attempts to make place for himself in society, and to give himself a goal in life. Ill wash the dishes an little chick stuff like that. But Ill be on your own place, an Ill be let to work on our own place. After Candy lost his dog he felt even more lonely than before, his dog was the only possession Candy actually owned and that he could take care of by himself. After his death Candy owned nothing, not one important thing. The relationship between Candy and his dog is the same as that between George and Lennie. While George had Lennie and the other ranchers had each other, Candy on the other hand had no one, and this led him to depression and loneliness. No one else in the book shared the same dreams as Candy. This is why he so desperately seeks attention from George and Lenny. He even offers them money, but as its well known money doesnt buy friendship Maybe if I give you money, youll let me how in the garden even after I aint no good at it. Curleys wife is another pivotal character and her hasty marriage to Curley proves to be another failed attempt of escaping from her own spiral of loneliness. In addition, his failure to satisfy her either emotionally or physically leads her to seek solace in the other men even those at the very bottom of the social hierarchy of the ranch. Curleys wife is a tease to everybody on the ranch. She will dress and act in a provocative way. She uses her beautiful body to attract attention; she does this so she will feel less lonely. These acts make her feel wanted and important, because she always has everyones eyes on her, but at the same it gives her a bad reputation, and so none of the ranchers wants to talk to her. This seek for attention prevents her from getting rid of the sexual image the other men have of her. Maybe you better go along to you own house now. We dont want no trouble. George sees Curleys wife as a very dangerous threat, he soon refers to her as rat trap. This shows us how radical sexism was like in the 1930s and how woman were treated in that society. Although the sympathy we at first feel for her soon diminishes due to her cruelty, and the she treats: Candy Crooks and Lennie referring to them as a nigger an a dum- dum and a lousy ol sheep moreover she dismisses their dream as Balony. Curleys wife notices how simple-minded Lennie is and takes advantage of that situation. She knows that Lennie is the only person, with whom she can discuss her problems. Her type of loneliness is caused when there is no one around you to talk to. This underlines the sexist society of the time, a society that didnt care of a womens opinion; a society that only looked at women in cat houses and brothels. Curleys wife was aware of this and tried to seek attention through her body, Maybe Curleys wife demanded too much of Lennys simple mind, more that what he could give to her: without meaning to, he kills her. Curleys wifes death can be seen both as a tragedy and as something positive because she ended all of her sufferings. All these three characters are very alike even though they have different types of solitude, because everyone tries to solve their problems in some way. All three also try to get closer to George and Lennis friendship. Solitude is an inevitable fact of life, an important phase of growth that not even the strongest people can avoid.

Analysing The Organisational Structure Of Syngenta

Analysing The Organisational Structure Of Syngenta 1-it has adopted a culture of innovation and progression along with the changes in needs of customers 2-it has not selected a conventional hierarchical structure that could be quite in appropriate for the company based on research 3-it has focused on authorizing the employees to use their power within specified limits so he could get the ownership of his task 4-it has adopted matrix structure that could be the best way to bring out the maximum potential from the work force as people from diversified fields sit together to perform a specific task and thus synergized efforts results in a way better outcome 5-it has fostered the employees to strengthen their skills and capabilities by not only specializing them in their specified fields but also make them educated about situation handling, time management, leader ship skills ,task motivation etc 6-they adopted a concept of teams rather than group as positive synergy of team leads to maximum performance in which every member makes use of not only his own competency but also other s expertise and skills ,this coordinated effort leads to comparatively better results than groups Disadvantages 1-its functional areas mostly work in collaboration with each other but it also works effectively as independent department .there is a need to specify situations in which each department has to perform its work independently or dependently in order to avoid misconception 2-as per few of team leaders their role is an intermediary between higher management and lower staff ,such statement could make confusion so there should be a specific style of leadership that their tam leaders should adopt so they teams performance could be enhanced 3-most of the scientist in Syngenta are not given specific research departments to use their expertise but they are rotated in different departments such as marketing that is totally new for them, they may move around different places for other tasks that could affect their specialized skill for which they are hired 4-in Syngenta the concept of innovation is a bit mixed up with the concept of openness to experience. It focuses on enabling employees to be open to experience different things to increase their innovative sills that may not be a necessary step to enhance creativity ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF PG Advantages 1-it focuses on thinking globally as it is spread across the globe so for each of its products it has to consider the global aspect primarily along with focusing the local customers interest according to their regions 2-its multidivisional structure enabled the organization to create the equity of brands distributed in its five business units worldwide and emphasizing on acting locally according to different regions 3-it has specified seven market development organizations which aim to develop new markets for the product line of company 3-global business services group is responsible for characterizing and then transferring information into a meaningful form throughout the worlds in every country where the company is running its business 4-corporate functions group aims to assist global business unit and market development organization to give their best practices; it also helps making external relations, human resource management and I.T management 5-it has strong focus on external environment to identify new opportunities by taking information from customers and suppliers 6-it supports creativity and seeking diversification of ideas to differentiate their products 7-low formalization and procedures in this structure provide comfortable environment for employees 8-low specialization causes the employees to be generalized about the tasks assigned to them in a certain job description 9-decntrailzation of decision making and authority enables the employees to interact frequently and exchange ideas about how to further differentiate the product Disadvantages it currently uses cooperative form multidivisional structure to strengthen its production strength in which different division work in cooperation to share their competencies but they should also focus on other strengths like marketing ,RD ,distribution to make use of cooperative form . 1-it currently focuses on product divisions for long term growth there is a need to emphasize on market divisions as well 3- It has modified the specific cooperative form of multidivisional structure according to its unique strategy 4-the success of cooperative multidivisional structure is influenced by how well the information is shared and processed by various departments so it may cause the loss of managerial autonomy and authority so, it may affect the integrated information processing activity that is demanded by this structure 5-it could also affect the individual performance of division as the reward system in the cooperative form structure is based upon the overall perfomance4 of company besides outcomes and efforts made by individual departments so it could be a bit discouraging for the high performance departments as they are being rewarded equally as others APPROPRIATE CULTURES FOR SYNGENTA AND PROCTER GAMBLE The appropriate culture for Syngenta should be such that it not only emphasize on team building but also it should focus on leadership skills as there is an environment of diversification with innovation so all the employees should not only be given multi skilled teams but they should also be given a chance to work in their specialized teams. Teams should be made after discussing with work force so every member could be comfortable with each other. There should be a management by objectives in which employees and mangers set their goals with mutual agreement so every employee should be committed with his goal and this owner ship may result in achievement of tasks in a better way. Open door policy should be adopted in which lower level staff is free to interact with senior management via open discussion sessions. This uninterrupted communication will lead to enhancement of trust and loyalty among the employees. Team leaders should specifically be trained to enhance their leadership sk ills according to specific style of leadership relevant to their personality. There is a need to arrange employee activity programs on regular bass to enhance the relationship between employees and creating a friendly and helpful culture .these steps are important for the maximum utilization of its human resources. In Procter and gamble there is a need of clear and simple communication from the top management to lower staff so every employee could easily understand the continuous innovation and modification in products .currently there is a strong focus to gather information from external environment like customers and supplier so internal sources of information from employees should also be considered important .decentralization should be implemented to a certain limit as there may be certain thing for which decision making by middle or lower management may be harmful so there should be a centralized approach in few cases. There is need of formalized procedure and standard operating program to run the operation in an organized manner. Specialization of tasks should also be taken as important factor to bring the maximum potential out of employee, as lack of specialization and generalized activities under a certain job description may cause confusion in employee. There is a need to utilize the e mployee skills according to his expertise for which he is specialized whereas diversified tasks should be assigned alongside. There should be a culture of specialization as innovation doesnt only come up with diversification but specialization and research in a certain field may lead to creation of a new product. EFFECT OF STRUCTURE AND CULTURE ON ORGANIZATIONS SUCCESS It is the most important factor for the success of an organization as it arranges the employees, management and workforce in a chain of commands. There is always a need for a formalized structure of positions and ranks in which the whole organization is arranged. The culture of a company is vital for its employees growth and survival. Most of the employees dont find convenient to work in strict and centralized management structure. Currently the multiple layers f hierarchy has been reduced to one or two layer in which the communication between upper and lower staff has been made relatively simple and easy. There is no need to get approval due to delegation by senior management to lower staff .It is an attempt to build trust and confidence in the employees. Culture plays a vital role in performance of employees Multidivisional structure is a good example of organizational structure in which every department works in collaboration with each other and thus creating the best value for cu stomers. Total quality management approach is also an attempt to produce quality by each and every member of organization for the satisfaction of customers. Structure is important as it helps the employees to view the clear picture of how they can approach the highest position and how they can interact and share ideas with them. Culture of organization should always be friendly and trustful as it helps employees feel as if they are at home. By establishing a positive and helpful culture we can achieve the organizational objectives not only better but also higher than expected through maximum utilization of employees potential, because happy employee leads to enhanced performance. FACTORS INFLUENCING INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR AT WORK Demographic Factors: The demographic factors are, culture, ethnic group, time, gender, etc. company favor people that go to superior socio economic setting, well cultured, youthful etc as they are supposed to be performing superior than the others. In Syngenta the youthful and active professionals that have first-rate educational background and efficient communication ability are always required, the analysis of demographic feature is important as it help out managers to choose the appropriate applicant 2. Aptitude and expertise: The physical ability of a person to do anything can be called as aptitude. Expertise can be termed as the skill to act in a way that permits a person to do better. The person performance and presentation is extremely inclined by aptitude and expertise. An individual can do well in Syngenta if his aptitude and expertise are coordinated with the job necessity. The managers should compare the aptitude and expertise of the workers with the job necessity. 3. Perception: The process intended for inferring the signals of environment in a significant manner is termed as perception. Every person on according to his mental capacity can systematize and understand environmental signals. There are many aspects that manipulate the perception of a person. The examination of perception is extremely important for the managers at Syngenta, It is vital for them to generate the positive work setting so that workers recognize them in most constructive manner. The workers are probable to do well again if they perceive it in an optimistic manner. 4. Approach: approach can be defined as a propensity to react constructively or critically to specific individual, situation and object. The factors such as relatives, culture, background, and association influence the development of approach. The managers in Syngenta must learn the factors associated with work as to generate the job setting in a positive manner that workers are convinced to create an optimistic approach towards the individual job. The workers can do better if they their approach is positive. 5. Personality: Personality can be termed as the examination of qualities and attributes on an individual and the relation between those characteristics and how he responds to certain situations. The numerous issues that affect the personality of a person are genetics, relatives, civilization, society and circumstances. It involves the truth that persons vary in their style while reacting to the environment of organization. It helps the individuals to appropriately guiding their hardships and encouraging them for the achievement of the objectives of company .in Syngenta it needs to be considered that dissimilar environment may create different reaction, so the study of these reactions is very important. Syngenta requires a specific kind of behavior from their employees like creativity and innovation in job, need acknowledgement for achievements, passion to achieve etc .and such behaviors can be revealed during inspection, education, experience, guidance, etc HENRI FAYOLS FUNCTIONS OF MANAGEMENT AT SYNGENTA The Five Functions are: 1. PLANNING At Syngenta there is a need to draw up strategy of activities along with agreement, stability, elasticity and accuracy considering the companys assets, kind and importance of effort and potential. Constructing a strategy is the most complicated of the five functions and needs the vigorous contribution of the whole association. Planning must be synchronized on diverse stages and with different periods of time. 2. ORGANISING At syngenta it is required to organize the resources, employees and supplies for the operation of the company, and outline a structure to go with the work. Organizational composition relies wholly on the number of workers. An enhancement in the number of functional activities increases the associations human resource needs and supports added levels of management; 3. COMMANDING At Syngenta it should maximize return from all workers in the benefit of the whole company. Booming managers have private truthfulness, converse without a doubt and support their decision on normal review. Their systematic knowledge of workers generates harmony, vigor, innovation and devotion and remove lack of ability. 4. COORDINATING At Syngenta there is a need to merge and synchronize actions and hard work to continue the stability between the actions of the association as in production to marketing and finance to marketing. Fayol has suggested weekly meeting for department leaders to solve issues s of general concern; 5. CONTROLLING At Syngenta it is required to categorize flaws and discrepancies by regular feedback, and coordinating actions with strategy, guidelines and commands. Fayols management functions let authority functions to operate professionally and efficiently through coordination and controlling techniques. At Syngenta, there is a need of relationship officers and a common group. MANAGEMENT APPROACH AT SYNGENTA HUMAN BEHAVIOUR APPROACH It takes Organization as community, it consist of two parts: a) Interpersonal Behavior Approach it involves the Psychology of individual employees b) Group Behavior Approach it involves the behavior of a group of individuals à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Features -it makes use mainly from human psychology and sociology. -it focuses on understanding individual relationships. -it gives importance to motivation that leads to high productivity Leadership, participative management, good human relationships and group dynamics are the major areas of this approach -it explains how management can be effective by making use of knowledge regarding behavior of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Limitations It treats management quite similar to human behavior It highlights the organization and organizational behavior in an indistinct manner. MANAGEMENT APPROACH AT PROCTER AND GAMBLE SOCIAL SYSTEM APPROACH à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢it mainly focuses on understanding the behavior of individuals and groups. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Features 1. Social System is an organization of cultural associations 2. The association exists between exterior and interior atmosphere of the company. 3. Formal association is a relationship of social groups working within an organization based on culture. 4. The collaboration between different departments is necessary 5. There is synchronization between the goals of organization and goals of groups. Decisions of organization are based upon the interest of every individual rather than for a single group of individuals à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Limitations It does not completely cover the practice of management -it neglects numerous management approaches and methods that are essential to involved managers. LIKERTS LEADERSHIP STYLES EXPLOITIVE AUTHORITATIVE In this style, the leader has a small worry for citizens and utilizes such technique as bullying and other terrifying technique to get acceptance. Communication is approximately downwards and the expressively isolated issues of citizens are overlooked. BENEVOLENT AUTHORITATIVE When the leader adds worry for public to a commanding place, a benevolent dictatorship is shaped. The leader now utilizes rewards to motivate suitable actions and take notice more to issues of lower staff, although what they pay attention to is often limited to what their inferior staff believes that the manager wants to listen. There may be a small allocation of authority to inferiors but still decisions are made in a centralized way CONSULTATIVE The upward surge of information here is still vigilant to some extent, though the manager is making authentic efforts to pay attention carefully to new ideas but major decision are still made via centralized system PARTICIPATIVE The manager makes utmost use of participative technique, involving lower level staff of organization in making decisions. People across the organization are emotionally close to each other and perform well at different levels .they are given chance to participate in exchanging ideas and information regarding decision making for the organization In Syngenta participative style of leadership is used in which employees from diversified department are given equal opportunity to share their views and inputs in various functional and operational levels. They are given opportunity to participate along with team leaders in resolving different issues of team and making improvements and innovation in the products and value for the customers MOTIVATIONAL THEORIES ALDERFERS ERG THEORY It is divided into three types of needs Existence needs are requirements for physiological and material comfort. Relatedness needs are requirements for fulfilling interpersonal associations Growth needs are requirements for sustained mental augmentation and progress. This approach is practiced by mangers of Kellogg which is a well known name in health foods it suggests that dissatisfied desires motivate behavior and when lower level needs are satisfied they get less important. He probably goes for higher level needs but if could not be achieved then he gets dissatisfied again and goes down to lower level needs which is termed as frustration regression. Which shows that already satisfied lower level needs may get reactivated and influence individuals behavior if his higher level need is not met .so managers normally give chance for personnel to emphasize on the significance of higher level desires. HERZBERGS TWO-FACTOR THEORY Frederick Herzberg offers structure to understand the motivational aspect of job setting. In his two-factor theory, Herzberg spotted out two kinds of factors that influence motivation in the office: Hygiene factors include salary, job protection, work setting, managerial rules, and practical excellence of management. Though these aspects do not encourage workers, they can create discontent if they are missing. Advancement in hygiene factors does not essentially enhance satisfaction. Satisfiers or motivators includes dependability, accomplishment, development chances, and feelings of acknowledgment, and plays a vital role in job satisfaction and motivation. For instance, managers can get to know what people actually perform in their work and make augmentation, thus enhancing their job satisfaction and performance. its being practiced in NESTLE(UK) in which mangers practice this useful theory of motivation to motivate the staff and subordinates in order to enhance their job satisfaction .using Herzbergs two-factor theory, managers make sure that hygiene factors are sufficient and then put up satisfiers into jobs. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TEAMS AND GROUPS CHARACTERISTICS OF A TEAM Team has Shared Leadership roles. It discusses, decides, and does real work together. There is a specific purpose of tem which it delivers accountability is mutually by the whole team and individual as well .Efforts are always made collective and performance is also measured in collective form. It always welcomes open ended discussion and active participation in problem solving .in Syngenta there is trend of teams rather than groups which is a positive approach in making innovation and advancement by making multi talented teams in the organization having members from different specialized fields. CHARACTERISTICS OF A WORK GROUP It has Strong, clearly focused solo leader who discusses, decides and delegates power to members. The objective of group is similar to that of organization .accountability is entirely individual .Efforts are made and performance is measured on individual basis. Meetings are normally run to share information. There is problem with group that it does not exactly determine what the organization requires from them. They cant even analyze the exact potential as group. They are not capable to design any strategy specifically for the group. It is normally seen in pharmaceutical companies like GSK where sales teams are made but they are actually groups in which every person is responsible for his own territory and assigned a specific sales target .all he does is to achieve the target and he doesnt need to bother about other members. Sales meeting is normally done to review the sales figures and future planning. SPECIFIC ELEMENTS OF TEAMS AT SYNGENTA At Syngenta there is a concept of innovation widely accepted and for that purpose projects teams are designed in which individuals from different departments are taken into team having own specialty and expertise regarding the project which is lead by trained team leader who normally adopts participative leadership style as every member is expert in his own field so he has given equal chance to participate in project accomplishment that is how every member of tem gets benefit from each other .the major issue with these is that they are short lived means they normally gets dissolved after a short period of time when the task gets accomplished and members are shifted to another project in that way they are unable to develop interpersonal relation with other members of teams .here it feels that main task of the team is not to make a synergized work force but to achieve the objective of company .These project teams are effectively working over major business strategies so there is a need to develop intra team liaison and emphasize on strengthening them as they are vital for making a successful teams .Although communication is better within the team but it is not up to the mark to develop understanding between team members .its functional areas can be improved to a great extent by focusing on team building as its members a competent enough to make effort as a team member as per their expertise. Leadership is also effective here as members have complete trust on their leaders that he understands their issue and resolves them quickly .the reason is that leaders are well trained and supportive to get the maximum potential of members so it should always be focused because a change in leadership style may cause inter team conflicts and resistance by members for leader. EFFECT OF INCREASED USE OF TECHNOLOGY ON TEAM PERFORMANCE improvement in networking and telecommunications have show the way to the propagation of virtual teams that do not work face-to-face but communicate over a computer based medium of communication .its members work together as interdependent group members on a common task while they are far away from each other at distant places .so the only way to interact and share ideas is computer mediated communication network and computer supported cooperative work. in Procter and gamble it has affected the team performance as virtual teams are not as effective as real teams because there is a lack of physical interactions and there is less chance of understanding each other as a team because every member is isolated from each other. Each member takes his task as the only responsibility to fulfill rather than team performance. There is lack of synergy in such teams and accountability is also individual. Even performance evaluation and efforts are also individual based rather than collective. So i t overall affects the performance of team because every member thinks about his own performance regardless of what team is performing and how well the task is accomplished by the team due to lack physical interaction and passion as a team.

Internet Essay: Internet Censorship -- Argumentative Persuasive Topics

Internet Censorship When I was in elementary school, I thought girls could give me some dreadful disease. I stayed away from girls because they gave me "cooties". After school, I would go fishing at a nearby stream, ride my skate board, or study only if mandated by my parents. The closest I came to technology was watching the "Little Rascals" on TV. Today, computers and the Internet offers a cyberspace playground for kids. Kids stay up past their bed time playing with their computer or surfing the Internet. The Internet provides entertainment and education for millions of people worldwide. The Internet will have the most dramatic effect on mankind since the industrial revolution. Through the Internet, people can send electronic mail, exchange files, and publish through the world-wide web (WWW), materials that traditionally appeared in journals, magazines, posters, books, television, and film. Information can be searched globally and retrieved in a matter of seconds by the use of Internet "search engines". Every technological advancement of mankind ...

Gastronomy †Pasta as a Favourite Food Essay

Trying to narrow down my favourite food wasn’t very easy, but if I had to choose one, it would have to be pasta. The reason being is that pasta can be dressed up in so many different types of sauces and there are many different types of noodles. I also like the fact that pasta is such an old type of food but is still loved by everyone. There are stories that say that Marco Polo brought pasta back when returning from one of his journeys to China, but in fact that is not the case. Pasta was already around during the years of Polo. The Arab invasion, during the eighth century was shown to be the biggest influence for pasta, and it wasn’t until 1839 when pasta and tomatoes (the recipe that most people use now) was first heard of. Pasta for me is my everything food. It’s something that I can make quickly when I am in a rush if I simply buy noodles and sauce at the store, it’s something that you can take hours to make, it’s something that you can make when having people over, because you know that everyone will like it and it is also something that you can have while out on a date. What’s great about pasta is that you can make it really quickly with an Aglio E Olio sauce (which is a butter and garlic sauce) and store bought pasta or you can take your time and make your own noodles from scratch as well as make you sauce. Also when making the basic tomato sauce you can choose whether or not you want to make it completely from scratch by cutting and roasting the tomatoes or if you want to use canned tomatoes. When I was little, my older sister and brothers Nona would make pasta noodles from scratch. My sister would always take some home and sometimes bring some over to our house. It was always a treat to be able to have fresh made pasta, especially when you knew that recipe had been pasted down from generation to generation originating in Italy. These are some of the reasons why I love pasta, and while I’m here at school I hope to learn how to make fresh pasta like the way my sister and brothers Nona did.

Harley Davidson Financial and Strategic Analysis Review

Harley-Davidson, Inc. (Harley-Davidson) is one of the leading manufacturers of heavyweight motorcycles in the world. Harley-Davidson is the parent company of the group of companies including Harley-Davidson Motor Company (HDMC) and Harley-Davidson Financial Services (HDFS). The company offers more than 30 models of touring and custom Harleys through a worldwide network of more than 1,600dealers,spreadacrosssixcontinents. Harley-Davidson provides wholesale and retail financing and insurance programs principally to its dealers and customers.SWOT AnalysisShare DataHarley-Davidson, Inc., Share Data Price (USD) as on 01-Aug-201241.67 EPS (USD)2.33 Book value per share (USD)10.50 Shares Outstanding (in million)234.92 Source : GlobalDataPerformance Chart Harley-Davidson, Inc., Performance Chart (2007 – 2011) Financial Performance The company reported revenues of (U.S. Dollars) USD 5,311.71 million during the fiscal year ended December 2011, an increase of 9.31% over 2010. The operati ng profit of the company was USD 829.97 million during the fiscal year 2011, an increase of 74.59% over 2010. The net profit of the company was USD 599.11 million during the fiscal year 2011, an increase of 308.83% over 2010.Source : GlobalDataHarley-Davidson, Inc. – SWOT AnalysisSWOT Analysis – Overview Harley-Davidson, Inc. (Harley-Davidson) designs, manufactures, and sells heavyweight motorcycles. The company markets its products in North America, Europe, Asia/Pacific and Latin America. The company’s strong brand image, coupled with its wide range of products, helps it to be a front-runner in the industry. However, dependence on the domestic market and product issues are a few areas of concern to the company. Nonetheless, expansion in global markets, especially Asian markets, and launch of new models could ensure a strong future for the company. New emission standards for two wheelers and  the prevailing competition could negatively impact the companyâ€⠄¢s growth.Harley-Davidson, Inc. – Strengths Strength – Strong Brand Image Harley-Davidson owns one of the strongest brands in the world, which helps it attract and retain a loyal customer base. The company established a strong brand image with its motorcycles achieving iconic status and being ranked among the world’s most valuable brands. Harley-Davidson has been continuously ranked among the top 100 global brands in the world. The company holds 55.7% share in the US heavyweight market; and is ranked #1 or #2 in the heavyweight motorcycle market share in nine countries across Europe.Harley-Davidson’s motorcycles are known for their traditional styling, design simplicity, durability and quality. The company achieved industry recognition for its high quality, best design, robust performance and unflinching customer confidence, loyalty and trust of its products and services. The Harley-Davidson brand has significantly contributed to the success of the compa ny by building strong market recognition and a loyal customer base.Strength – Broad Product and Service Portfolio Harley-Davidson offers a broad array of products and services through its two business segments, namely, the Motorcycles & Related Products segment and the Financial Services segment. The company offers a variety of products in the motorcycle segment to cater to the various needs of its customer base. Harley-Davidson designs, manufactures and sells heavyweight touring, custom and performance motorcycles, besides a line of motorcycle parts, accessories, general merchandise and related services.Harley-Davidson is well known for its unique motorcycles. Its subsidiary, Harley-Davidson Motor Company (HDMC), manufactures five families of motorcycles, namely, Touring, Dyna, Softail, Sportster and V-Rod. These models are distinguished by their frame, engine, suspension, and other characteristics. The company shipped 233,117 motorcycles in the fiscal year ended December 20 11, comprising 39.5% Touring motorcycle units, 39.2% Custom motorcycle units, and 21.3% Sportster motorcycle units.Through Harley-Davidson Financial Services (HDFS), the company offers a package of wholesale and retail financial services for its products, providing it a competitive edge in the motorcycles business in the US and Canada regions. HDFS financed 51% and 30.4% of the new Harley-Davidson motorcycles retailed by independent dealers in the US and Canada respectively in 2011. HDFS provides wholesale financial services to Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealers, including floor plan and open account financing of motorcycles and motorcycle parts and accessories. These specific services provide a competitive edge to the company in capturing a higher market share and enhancing its bottom line.Strength – Focused Research and Development Activities Harley-Davidson has a strong research and development unit that facilitates innovation and attracts industry attention. Its Product D evelopment Center (PDC) undertakes the development of new and better quality products. The company spent $145.4m, $136.2m, $143.1m and $163.5m in the fiscal years ended December 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008 respectively on research and development activities.Harley-Davidson’s continuous focus on R&D helped the company in launching innovative products such as Softail motorcycles with 1584 cc engine with new features such as new hand controls, a larger odometer, and an anti-lock braking system option. Continuous research and development activity enables the company to maintain a leading position in custom and touring motorcycle market and develop products for the performance segment. Focused R&D activities enable the company to offer innovative products and improve its operational performance.Harley-Davidson, Inc. – Weaknesses Weakness – Product Recalls/Issues Product recalls/issues not only affects the company’s current revenue, but could also affect its long -term performance by reducing customer confidence. In February 2012, Harley-Davidson launched a repair service campaign to fix faulty brakes in about 1,228 units of 12 models, including the Road King and the Electra Glide Ultra Classic.In October 2011, the company initiated a world-wide recall affecting over 308,000 units of its Touring, CVO Touring and Trike motorbikes. The company made this recall owing to a potentially  dangerous glitch with their braking systems, where in the problem with a switch on the bikes could cause the brake lights to stop working, or may even cause the rear brakes to fail. Such recalls would hamper Harley-Davidson’s brand image and have a significant impact on its product sales.

Aluminum or Aluminium Alloys - List

Aluminum or Aluminium Alloys - List An aluminum alloy is a composition consisting mainly of aluminum to which other elements have been added. The alloy is made by mixing together the elements when aluminum is molten (liquid), which cools to form a homogeneous solid solution. The other elements may make up as much as 15 percent of the alloy by mass. Added elements include iron, copper, magnesium, silicon, and zinc. The addition of elements to the aluminum gives the alloy improved strength, workability, corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity, and/or density, compared with the pure metallic element. Aluminum alloys tend to be lightweight and corrosion resistant. List of Aluminum Alloys This is a list of some important aluminum or aluminium alloys. AA-8000: used for building wire per the National Electrical CodeAlclad: aluminum sheet made by bonding high-purity aluminum to a high strength core materialAl-Li (lithium, sometimes mercury)Alnico (aluminum, nickel, copper)Birmabright (aluminum, magnesium)Duralumin (copper, aluminum)Hindalium (aluminum, magnesium, manganese, silicon)Magnalium (5% magnesium)Magnox (magnesium oxide, aluminum)Nambe (aluminum plus seven other unspecified metals)Silumin (aluminum, silicon)Titanal (aluminum, zinc, magnesium, copper, zirconium)Zamak (zinc, aluminum, magnesium, copper)Aluminum forms other complex alloys with magnesium, manganese, and platinum Identifying Aluminum Alloys Alloys have common names, but they may be identified using a four-digit number. The first digit of the number identifies the class or series of alloy. 1xxx - Commercially pure aluminum also has a four-digit numerical identifier. Series 1xxx alloys are made of 99 percent or higher purity aluminum. 2xxx - The principal alloying element in the 2xxx series is copper. Heat treating these alloys improves their strength. These alloys are strong and tough, but not as corrosion resistant as other aluminum alloys, so they are usually painted or coated for use. The most common aircraft alloy is 2024. Alloy 2024-T351 is among the hardest of the aluminum alloys. 3xxx - The main alloying element in this series is manganese, usually with a smaller amount of magnesium. The most popular alloy from this series is 3003, which is workable and moderately strong. 3003 is used to make cooking utensils. Alloy 3004 is one of the alloys used to make aluminum cans for beverages. 4xxx - Silicon is added to aluminum to make 4xxx alloys. This lowers the melting point of the metal without making it brittle. This series is used to make welding wire. Alloy 4043 is used to make filler alloys for welding cars and structural elements. 5xxx - The principal alloying element in the 5xxx series is magnesium. These alloys are strong, weldable, and resist marine corrosion. The 5xxx alloys are used to make pressure vessels and storage tanks and for various marine applications. Alloy 5182 is used to make the lid of aluminum beverage cans. So, aluminum cans actually consist of at least two alloys! 6xxx - Silicon and magnesium are present in 6xxx alloys. The elements combine to form magnesium silicide. These alloys are formable, weldable, and heat treatable. They have good corrosion resistance and moderate strength. The most common alloy in this series is 6061, which is used to make truck and boat frames. Extrusion products from the 6xxx series are used in architecture and to make the iPhone 6. 7xxx - Zinc is the principal alloying element in the series starting with the number 7. The resulting alloy is heat-treatable and very strong. Important alloys are 7050 and 7075, both used to construct aircraft. 8xxx s include 8500, 8510, and 8520. 9xxx - Presently, the series starting with the number 9 is unused. What Is the Strongest Aluminum Alloy? Manganese added to aluminum increases its strength and yields an alloy with excellent workability and corrosion resistance. The highest strength alloy in the non-heat-treatable grade is alloy 5052. Aluminum Alloy Classification In general, the two broad categories of aluminum alloys are wrought alloys and casting alloys. Both of these groups are subdivided into heat-treatable and non-heat-treatable types. Around 85% of aluminum is used in wrought alloys. Cast alloys are relatively inexpensive to produce because of their low melting point, but they tend to have lower tensile strengths than their wrought counterparts. Sources Davis, J.R. (2001). Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys. Alloying: Understanding the Basics. pp. 351–416.Degarmo, E. Paul; Black, J T.; Kohser, Ronald A. (2003). Materials and Processes in Manufacturing (9th ed.). Wiley. p. 133. ISBN 0-471-65653-4.Kaufman, John Gilbert (2000). Applications for Aluminium Alloys and Tempers. Introduction to aluminum alloys and tempers. ASM International. pp. 93–94. ISBN 978-0-87170-689-8.

Profile of Joseph Lister, Father of Modern Surgery

Profile of Joseph Lister, Father of Modern Surgery English surgeon Joseph Lister  (April 5, 1827–February 10, 1912), Baron Lister of Lyme Regis, is considered the father of modern surgery for his  work developing sterilization procedures that saved countless lives. Lister pioneered the use of carbolic acid for sanitizing operating rooms and employed antiseptic surgical procedures to prevent deadly postoperative infections. Early Years Born on April 5, 1827 in Essex, England, Joseph Lister was the fourth of seven children born to Joseph Jackson Lister and Isabella Harris. Listers parents were devout Quakers, and his father was a successful wine merchant with scientific interests of his own: he invented the first achromatic microscope lens, an endeavor that earned him the honor of being elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. The young Listers love for science grew as he became fascinated with the microscopic world introduced to him by his father. Lister decided at an early age that he wanted to become a surgeon and thus prepared for this eventual career by delving into science and mathematics subjects at the Quaker schools he attended in London.   After entering the University of London in 1844, Lister earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1847 and a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery in 1852. Listers achievements during this time included serving as house surgeon at the University College Hospital of the University of London and being selected as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. Research and Personal Life In 1854, Lister went to the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary in Scotland to study under the famous surgeon James Syme. Under Syme, Listers professional and personal life flourished: he met and married Symes daughter, Agnes, in 1856. Agnes was  invaluable as a wife and partner, assisting Joseph with  his medical research and laboratory experiments. Joseph Listers research was centered on inflammation and its impact on wound healing. He published a number of papers regarding muscle activity in the skin and eyes, coagulation of blood, and blood vessel engorgement during inflammation. Listers research led to his appointment as Regius Professor of Surgery at the University of Glasgow in 1859. In 1860, he was named a Fellow of the Royal Society. Implementation of Antisepsis By 1861, Lister was leading the surgical ward at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. During this time in history, surgery was performed only when absolutely necessary due to high death rates associated with infections. With little understanding of how germs like bacteria caused disease, surgical procedures were regularly performed in  unsanitary conditions. In an attempt to combat wound infections, Lister began to employ cleanliness techniques used by Florence Nightingale and others. This process involved keeping the environment clean, changing dressings, and washing hands. However, it was not until he read the works of  Louis Pasteur that Lister began to link germs with surgical wounds. While Lister was not the first to suggest that microorganisms were the cause of hospital associated diseases or that infections could be reduced through antiseptic methods, he was able to marry these ideas and effectively implement treatment for wound infections. In 1865, Lister began using carbolic acid (phenol), a substance used in sewage treatment, as an antiseptic to treat compound fracture wounds. These injuries were commonly treated by amputation, as they involved penetration of the skin and significant tissue damage. Lister used carbolic acid for hand washing and treatment of surgical incisions and dressings. He even developed an instrument for spraying carbolic acid into the air in the operating room. Lifesaving Antiseptic Success Listers first success case was  an eleven year old boy who had suffered injuries from a horse cart accident. Lister employed antiseptic procedures during treatment, then found that the boys fractures and wounds healed without infection. Further success ensued as nine of eleven other cases where carbolic acid was used to treat wounds showed no signs of infection. In 1867, three articles written by Lister were published in Londons weekly medical journal, The Lancet. The articles outlined Listers method of antiseptic treatment based on the germ theory. In August of 1867, Lister announced at the Dublin meeting of the British Medical Association that no deaths associated with blood poisoning or gangrene had occurred since antiseptic methods had been fully employed in his wards at Glasgows Royal Infirmary. Later Life and Honors In 1877, Lister assumed the chair of Clinical Surgery at Kings College in London and began practicing at Kings College Hospital. There, he continued to research ways to improve his antiseptic methods and develop new methods for treating injuries. He popularized the use of gauze bandages for wound treatment, developed rubber drainage tubes, and created ligatures made from sterile catgut for stitching wounds. While Listers ideas of antisepsis were not immediately accepted by many of his peers, his ideas eventually gained nearly worldwide acceptance. For his outstanding achievements in surgery and medicine, Joseph Lister was ennobled a Baronet by Queen Victoria  in 1883 and  received  the title Sir Joseph Lister. In 1897, he was made Baron Lister of Lyme Regis and awarded the Order of Merit by King Edward VII in 1902. Death and Legacy Joseph Lister retired in 1893 following the death of his beloved wife Agnes. He later suffered a stroke, but was still able to consult on treatment for King Edward VIIs appendicitis surgery in 1902. By 1909, Lister had lost the ability to read or write. Nineteen years after the passing of his wife, Joseph Lister died on February 10, 1912 at Walmer in Kent, England. He was 84 years old. Joseph Lister revolutionized surgical practices by applying the germ theory to surgery. His willingness to experiment with new surgical techniques led to the development of antiseptic methods that focused on keeping wounds free of pathogens. While changes have been made to Listers antisepsis methods and materials, his antiseptic principles remain the foundation for todays medical practice of asepsis (total elimination of microbes) in surgery. Joseph Lister Fast Facts Full Name: Joseph ListerAlso Known As: Sir Joseph Lister, Baron Lister of Lyme RegisKnown For: First to implement antiseptic method in surgery; father of modern surgeryBorn: April 5, 1827 in Essex, EnglandParents Names: Joseph Jackson Lister and Isabella HarrisDied: February 10, 1912 in Kent, EnglandEducation: University of London, Bachelor of Medicine and SurgeryPublished Works: On a New Method of Treating Compound Fracture, Abscess, etc. with Observation on the Conditions of Suppuration (1867); On the Antiseptic Principle in the Practice of Surgery (1867); and Illustrations of the Antiseptic System of Treatment in Surgery (1867)Spouse Name: Agnes Syme (1856-1893)Fun Fact: Listerine mouthwash and the bacterial genus Listeria were named after Lister Sources Fitzharris, Lindsey. The Butchering Art: Joseph Listers Quest to Transform the Grisly World of Victorian Medicine. Scientific American / Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2017. Gaw, Jerry L. A Time to Heal: the Diffusion of Listerism in Victorian Britain. American Philosophical Society, 1999. Pitt, Dennis, and Jean-Michel Aubin. Joseph Lister: Father of Modern Surgery. National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Oct. 2012, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3468637/. Simmons, John Galbraith. Doctors and Discoveries: Lives That Created Todays Medicine.  Houghton Mifflin, 2002.

Summary of chapter 11- business ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Summary of chapter 11- business ethics - Essay Example Any business in the creation of its products will use resources and make waste by products. Through this process it functions within an ecological system. Ecology is the â€Å"science of the interrelationships among organisms and their environments.† Ecosystem refers to everything within the ecology which is both living and nonliving. These systems are interconnected and have a framework of checks and balances. If one of these systems experiences a change, all those that are connected to it will be affected as well. Effects of tampering by man can have unforeseen consequences which can be both injurious and beneficial. Though businesses are usually blind to such factors they have a duty to take them into consideration. In a traditional sense both society and business have considered the environment a free and unlimited resource. Though actions by a singular company are negligible, collectively their pursuits cause depletion of natural resources. In certain cases these policies may end up affecting the public such cases are known as spillover or externality. Thus spillovers cause the public to not only pay for their products but also the byproducts of their manufacturing process. The efforts taken to internalize processes so they do not adversely affect the environment are essential for our own benefit. Certain businesses may choose not to follow this business contract and the public would find themselves dealing with the spillover. According to Blackstone, every person â€Å"has this right qua being human and because a livable environment is essential for one to fulfill his human capabilities.† Given this right, acknowledging our actions is the moral course. Though despite this acknowledgement all this does is prevent the environment from degrading further. We must thus be careful to not consume that which we know is scarce. Before we can save the environment, it must first be decided which state we want to leave it in. Do we want to preserve it or restore

Post-war Manga and Animes comments on Japanese Society Essay

Post-war Manga and Animes comments on Japanese Society - Essay Example ever, through the aforementioned description it is abundantly clear that an Anime is equivalent to a regular cartoon but there are significant variations in how it is produced and the plot of the cartoon is designed, which is much more mature compared to the plot involved in American animations. Manga, which simply a name for Japanese comic book has inspired several Animes. These Animes does not only revolve around a much more mature protagonists and antagonists but their plots and sub-plots discuss more weighty issues faced by the society. The substance of this prose will examine the plots of Animes and mangas that were developed by creators during the post-war era in Japan. (Brenner, 2007) As we all know that the World War II was an epochal period in the history of Japan that redefined Japanese culture. As mentioned earlier, Animes were not just mere form of entertainment for the young population, but were meant to signify the changes and revolution that took place and are rapidly taking place in the Japanese community. As the war had a significant amount of impact on the dynamics of the Japanese society, the aftermath of the nuclear disaster seemed more pronounced on the thematic pattern followed by the Animes and mangas and they artists incorporated a strong element pertaining to nuclear apocalypses and the plot largely focuses on how the disaster affected adolescents and youngster as a result of the attack. (Napier, 2005) Despite the solemnity the subject of war usually radiates, according to film scholar Jerome Shapiro the playfulness in the Animes is an essential feature of their aesthetic sense and storytelling sense, he states: â€Å"Richie’s description of aware is substantially incomplete and misleading†¦ Mono no Aware†¦ is only half of a very complex... Japanese Manga and Animes have a huge fan following in Japan and it has a sizeable amount of followers on a global front as well. Even though, Japanese Animes and mangas are more like art form involving a stylized exaggeration in the representation and formation of character. Unlike normal cartoons, Japanese Animes have strong plot and does not have the same element of slapstick comedy involved also their visual characteristics may involve a strong influence of Japanese Calligraphy as the brush strokes used to draw various characters. As it is described by Richie, the Second World War was not only a spur to the creativity of Japanese people but also resulted in a spiritual revolution amongst the people and there came an uncanny resemblance to Buddhist ideology and doctrines and even resulted in the contemporary society of members of Japan adopting them. Hence, these post-war mangas and Anime does not only describe the ordeal of the people but also discuss the spiritual revolution that was brought about by it. The classic good vs. evil fight that is the main plot of Japanese animated and non-animated usually stems from Buddhistic beliefs in â€Å"Mappo† or the ends days of the world when the world would fall into complete chaos as people go further and further away from the teachings of Buddha and at that last possible moment the advent of the Maitreya Buddha; a saviour would navigate the world out of chaos and start a new world order. This is the typical scenario that is sketched by all the Animes and manga s and these are not only meant to be cautionary or foretell the advent of the saviour but are meant to reinforce the belief in the above mentioned spiritual teachings.

How strongly has colonialism shaped the trajectories of post-colonial Essay

How strongly has colonialism shaped the trajectories of post-colonial African countries Discuss using one or several examples - Essay Example Would they have been richer or poorer today? This question has elicited debate for more than five decades, and also instigating exciting research by economic historians in colonial archives, an aspect, which has put the debate on a sound empirical footing. Some study findings have shown evidence of improved economic development outcomes within the period of colonialism. For instance, in the British West Africa, there was an increase of real wages (Frankema and Van Waaijenburg 2005, 34). Additionally, the status of military recruits in British East Africa and Ghana indicated that the height was increased during the colonial period, a pointer of increasing prosperity. Other arguments are that colonial rule was predatory. Should we consider this as evidence that colonialism was good for development in African countries? It should be considered that assessing the impact of colonialism does not only involve just looking at raw numbers, but also taking into consideration the counterfactual . We need to think on what the trajectories of African societies would have been at present if colonialism did not take place. Reid, (2002) observe that most African countries saw a steady rise on incomes during the colonial period. Africans reaped the benefits in development of infrastructure such as roads and railways as well as the mining technology. Colonization also led to deep integration of these African states into the World Trade Center and the world economy (115). However, it is still unclear n the extent by which such developments were contributed by colonialism and whether the development would have happened anyway due to the wake of global trade expansions or any other reason. The fact that there was a rise in the standard of living does not imply that all people’s living standards improved. Just taking an example from South Africa, the immiserising impact of land expropriation and establishment of â€Å"dual economies† on

Answer the questions for Cases Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Answer the questions for Cases - Essay Example The analysis of these above mentioned three concepts by Build-A-Bear executives enables them to devise effective innovative strategies and plans that fulfill all the basic demands of their clients while simultaneously resulting in increased brand awareness, customer satisfaction and loyalty. The Build-A-Bear workshop actually believes in selling an experience or personalized entertainment to its clients than just selling an ordinary product or a service for some money. Build-A-Bear is actually a workshop that allows preteens to create their teddy bears through a step-by-step production process. The first step is called â€Å"Choose me† in which a child pick an unstuffed animal followed by a second stage known as â€Å"Stuff me† in which a child a child operates a foot pedal that blows in the amount of fluff. Third stage â€Å"Hear me† is about including a voice box followed by a â€Å"Stitch me† stage in which the animal is stitched. The last two stages are known as â€Å"Dress me† and â€Å"Name me† stages in which a child has to cloth his or her animal and finally give it a nick name of their choice respectively. This workshop actually shares adorable memories of creating and preparing an animal in exchange of money. The entir e process is not only enjoyable but it is being remembered by young that later compels to try this workshop again and again. The marketing management concept of Product Development best describes the Build-a-Bear workshop. This concept is actually a business growth strategy that aims to generate excessive revenues by offering new products to existing group of customers. The additions and offerings of new products such as mini-scooters, mascot bears, in-store galleries of bear-sized furniture, spider costumes and sequined purses based on innovative ideas of customers greatly contributed in company’s success and goal accomplishment. Furthermore, the workshop is coming up with further innovations,

Rape Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Rape Culture - Essay Example Most people believe there is a rape culture today on campuses and other higher learning institutions. This paper has put out some views to support the argument for existence of college rape It is projected that the degree of false rape ranges between two to ten percent. Victims should report such cases. Other individuals may also report cases of another person rape case whereas it never occurred, for instance, a mother may falsely report a child rape or a boyfriend may falsely report a girlfriend’s rape. False rape victims provide false evidence like giving bloodied clothes, disarranging the room to indicate that there was a struggle. The existence of false rape is real. Psychologists and counselors argue that false rape signals different kind of problem. These problems mostly are psychological and may require quick intervention (John, 2008). The alleged victim should go through thorough counseling before any other action. The argument about false discussed some of the causes. Some of the cause includes attention seeking, revenge, psychological distress, and greed for power and or money. Some victims may attempt to report a false rape out of curiosity. They may be interested to know what will happen to people around him or her. Distraction is another cause for one to report a false rape. They may want to distract the police, family, or even friend from a particular occurrence. False rape in colleges and universities is mainly for attention seeking. A victim may falsely claim rape in order to seek attention from the individuals he or she is interested in. for instance a woman may falsely accuse a boyfriend of rape in order to get his attention. Students also may report false rape to seek their parent’s attention. Parents may neglect their children while in colleges and universities (John, 2008). This may affect the child psychologically leading him or her to reporting

Principle of Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Principle of Accounting - Essay Example The responsibility of developing marketing strategies for GM with the objective of increasing the product sales lies with the sales and marketing division of the company. This department of the company has been performing well recently. However it has failed to implement required modern marketing strategies to be able to successfully tap many of the unoccupied markets worldwide. The services related to testing of products of the company are carried on by its quality assurance department. This department has not been successful in developing good relationship with rest of the departments of the company in relation to the reduction of mishaps caused due to inferior vehicle quality. However, it has always been promised to the customer regarding high quality of the products. This problem can be reduced through proper coordination of the quality department with the other departments of GM. The accounts department of the company is held accountable for all the finance related activities carried on by the firm. Recently, few financial problems have crept up in the company which has contributed towards it being bankrupt. The major weakness was the top post of the department being two in number. However this issue has been resolved considerably through reshuffling of those positions in the company (Canis, & Yacobucci, 2010, p.27). Similarly, the company can take the help of other financial consultancy firms so as to boost the accountability of the department. GM was reported to have some issues related to its bankruptcy recently in the year 2009 and it came up in news as well (Economist, 2009). It is mainly attributed towards the alteration of the financial results of the company which paved the way for the department of accounting of GM to represent false picture of its financial position. This misrepresentation of the financial figures in the financial statements of the firm along with other errors in accounting that were present in the company records

Answer the questions for Cases Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Answer the questions for Cases - Essay Example The analysis of these above mentioned three concepts by Build-A-Bear executives enables them to devise effective innovative strategies and plans that fulfill all the basic demands of their clients while simultaneously resulting in increased brand awareness, customer satisfaction and loyalty. The Build-A-Bear workshop actually believes in selling an experience or personalized entertainment to its clients than just selling an ordinary product or a service for some money. Build-A-Bear is actually a workshop that allows preteens to create their teddy bears through a step-by-step production process. The first step is called â€Å"Choose me† in which a child pick an unstuffed animal followed by a second stage known as â€Å"Stuff me† in which a child a child operates a foot pedal that blows in the amount of fluff. Third stage â€Å"Hear me† is about including a voice box followed by a â€Å"Stitch me† stage in which the animal is stitched. The last two stages are known as â€Å"Dress me† and â€Å"Name me† stages in which a child has to cloth his or her animal and finally give it a nick name of their choice respectively. This workshop actually shares adorable memories of creating and preparing an animal in exchange of money. The entir e process is not only enjoyable but it is being remembered by young that later compels to try this workshop again and again. The marketing management concept of Product Development best describes the Build-a-Bear workshop. This concept is actually a business growth strategy that aims to generate excessive revenues by offering new products to existing group of customers. The additions and offerings of new products such as mini-scooters, mascot bears, in-store galleries of bear-sized furniture, spider costumes and sequined purses based on innovative ideas of customers greatly contributed in company’s success and goal accomplishment. Furthermore, the workshop is coming up with further innovations,

Principle of Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Principle of Accounting - Essay Example The responsibility of developing marketing strategies for GM with the objective of increasing the product sales lies with the sales and marketing division of the company. This department of the company has been performing well recently. However it has failed to implement required modern marketing strategies to be able to successfully tap many of the unoccupied markets worldwide. The services related to testing of products of the company are carried on by its quality assurance department. This department has not been successful in developing good relationship with rest of the departments of the company in relation to the reduction of mishaps caused due to inferior vehicle quality. However, it has always been promised to the customer regarding high quality of the products. This problem can be reduced through proper coordination of the quality department with the other departments of GM. The accounts department of the company is held accountable for all the finance related activities carried on by the firm. Recently, few financial problems have crept up in the company which has contributed towards it being bankrupt. The major weakness was the top post of the department being two in number. However this issue has been resolved considerably through reshuffling of those positions in the company (Canis, & Yacobucci, 2010, p.27). Similarly, the company can take the help of other financial consultancy firms so as to boost the accountability of the department. GM was reported to have some issues related to its bankruptcy recently in the year 2009 and it came up in news as well (Economist, 2009). It is mainly attributed towards the alteration of the financial results of the company which paved the way for the department of accounting of GM to represent false picture of its financial position. This misrepresentation of the financial figures in the financial statements of the firm along with other errors in accounting that were present in the company records

Technology and Business Essay Example for Free

Technology and Business Essay Introduction If there is something that differentiates businesses all over the world before and after the Second World War, it is technology. Today, it is virtually impossible to create or find an industry untouched by even the simplest form of technology. Companies as big as software makers and even those as small as fund-raising charities utilize computers and other innovations to make work more organized, easier, and efficient. Thus, it can be said that rewinding to the time when technology is not yet popular in organizations is next to impossible. With the benefits that technology brings, it is not unusual to think that it also affects the way in which organizations behave. The direct access of many corporate individuals to computing machines and other technology shapes their perception and execution of work. Collectively, these perceptions and work executions make up the business culture that can affect and even change the organization tremendously. While it can be agreed that technology indeed changes the character of organizations, still there are two sides of contention. One is how the so-called organizational character has changed, if it had, and how it is still changing now. Secondly, it is important to note if the changes are towards a more positive organization, or otherwise. In discussing so it will be beneficial to point out the different issues surrounding the change that technology has brought about to companies and their cultures. Ultimately, there is an aim to find out how decision makers are affected by these character changes in organizations as brought about by technology. How technology is changing businesses To begin with, it can be argumentative to say that technology is changing the way organizations behave. Kraar L (1997) states that business cultures are changing in the same way that technological frameworks in companies are changing. Morrison J (1995) further claims that technology is unavoidable. However, merely expressing these claims do not show that the change is really happening, and how it is happening. A little history According to Craiger JP (2006), technology and business met halfway through two paradigm shifts. In the beginning, computers were purely of military use, mostly to study firing trajectories and strategize entry points to field battles. It was in the 1950s that computers were introduced for business use. At this time computers were big, called mainframe computers, and complex that they needed special skill and know-how to be operated. Computers and skilled operators were isolated in a computer room were all of the computer processes were done. At the same period, the era post World War II, there was a drastic improvement in the lives of people and there were more white collar jobs than ever. It followed that more white collar workers were hired, and these opened to more people being exposed into the technologically changing workplace. Still, however, computers were reserved for those who know how to use them. Because of this, employees who are not directly in touch with the new technology that their companies were adapting did not feel the importance or the effects that technology brought to their companies. Even managers did not feel the essence of technology in their day-to-day work life. It was only in the 1980s when more members of organizations have been given access to the new technology, thanks to the development of stand-alone computers by IBM. Through these smaller computers, managers and employees were able to appreciate the new technology that businesses have been clamoring about. (Craiger JP 2006).

The Importance Of Peat Bogs Environmental Sciences Essay

The Importance Of Peat Bogs Environmental Sciences Essay Peat is a material that is left in the ground by decaying vegetation, and is found in many parts of the world. Conditions most favourable to peat are low temperatures and a fairly moist atmosphere. Peat is formed in waterlogged, sterile, acidic conditions of bogs. These conditions favour the growth of mosses, especially Sphagnum. Sphagnum is a pale or ashy moss from the genus Sphagnum whose decomposed remains from peat. Peat is brownish/black in colour and in its natural state is composed of 90% water and 10% solid material. Peat consists of sphagnum moss along with roots, leaves, flowers, seeds of heathers, grasses and sedges. There are several types of peat: Fen Peat: is a black peat and contains a large amount of lime. It is usually found in hollows or in the beds of shallow lakes. This is found mainly off the Curragh, Co.Kildare. Blanket bog Peat: is generally found in Irish mountains and in flat areas in Donegal, Galway, Mayo and Kerry. It is composed primarily of grasses. Raised bog Peat: is formed mainly from sphagnum moss. Sphagnum is the main type. These are found exclusively in central Ireland, mainly in the Shannon basin. (Irish Peatland Conservation Council 2002). Here is an example of a peat bog landscape taken in Dublin, Eastern Ireland. (Travel Pod, Peat Bogs Dublin, Ireland). What is a bog? A bog is a type of wetland characterized by a thick mat of partially decomposed material and highly acidic water. Bogs have been useful to humans for thousands of years, providing a source of fuel in the form of peat and food in the form of berries which grow on bog shrubs such as cranberries. Peat bogs are wetland sites with poor drainage. Peat bogs are fed by rainwater and the soil builds up its own water table and acidity. Sphagnum mosses grow and decompose eventually forming layers of peat. Peat piles below the surface and may be many metres deep. (Environment and Heritage Service 2004). Formation of a Peat Bog: Flooded hollows and basins provide idyllic growing conditions for reeds and sedges. When the vegetation dies, it does not rot away completely as the water in the hollows prevents oxygen from reaching the dead plants. The partly-rotted plants steadily build up to form fen peat. Eventually dark fibrous peat completely fills the hollow to form a fen. Most of the nutrients are tied up in the peat and so the only minerals available for plant growth are those dissolved in rainfall. Layers of bog moss, which has the ability to create their own acid environment, begin to replace the fen vegetation and alter fen into true bog. A growing thickness of sphagnum peat slowly accumulates and the surface of the bog starts to rise above the surrounding land. The original fen has now become a raised bog. Raised bogs are mostly found on the lowlands around Lough Neagh, along the Bann Valley and in counties, such as Fermanagh and Tyrone. (Natural Heritage 2005 Abbot 1997). This image is of a raised bog in the Bann River Valley, which is situated in Northern Ireland, separating Londonderry from Antrim. (Irish Peatland Conservation Council 1998). The importance of peat bogs and there benefits. Peat bogs are very important and extremely beneficial to the environment and humans. They are; A living archive. A rich record of information lies sealed in our bogs. Much of this is organic and has a capacity to expand our understanding of people, culture, economy and climate far back to prehistory. Peat bogs have produced some of the most impressive finds of Irish archaeology, including extremely fresh-looking bodies of some of our ancestors. The lack of oxygen in the peat prevents the normal decomposing processes from taking place and so bogs have sealed within them a vast assortment of gold, bronze, amber, wooden and stone objects. These can tell us about how and where people lived in ancient Ireland. Archaeologists have discovered many fascinating structures within and below the peat. Some remains can be revealed without digging the peat. For example; the Stone Age farmland in the Cà ©ide fields, co. Mayo, is covered by up to 4 metres deep. The outline of the farm walls can be mapped by probing with iron rods which go down through the peat until they hit a solid structure. By inquiring at the right angles to the wall, its possible to establish the level of the old ground surface under the bog and the location and elevation of the wall built on the surface. (Irish Peatland Conservation Council 2002). A Habitat. Peat bogs are rich in range of plants and wildlife, some of which are exclusive to these environments. They are home to thousands of insects, including butterflies, dragonflies, and a rare raft spider. Nearly up to a thousand plants grow here, including carnivorous plants such as the great sundew as well as mosses and fungi. Birdlife is rich with waders, wildfowl, nightjar, winchat, merlin and the short-eared owl. A Carbon Source. Peat is rich in fossil carbon which has been removed from the atmosphere by plants accumulated over many years. Drainage and damage of raised bogs results in the quick loss of the stored carbon in the form of greenhouse gases, as the peat decays. Globally, Peat stores twice as much carbon as forests. A fuel source. Peat has been the traditional domestic fuel in Ireland since the early 1300s when peatlands were more widespread. Traditionally peat was cut by hand, using a special turf-spade called a sleà ¡n/slane. It is a slow, labour intensive process that can allow the bog to recover partially. (Godwin 1981) Endangered species. Many rare and unprotected species of plant and animal are found on bogs. For example, The GreenLand White-fronted Goose relies on wet bogs with pools for feeding and roosting. The invertebrates found on bogs contain many rare species. The bog moss Sphagnum imbricatum is entirely restricted to bogs and is the main peat performing species in the oceanic peatland types. Sphagnum imbricatum is becoming rarer as further sites are brought into development and bogs are being destroyed therefore killing off this bog moss. An electricity source. Milled peat moss is used to produce electricity. Milled peat is air dried peat in the form of powder or crumbs. This began first in co.Offaly in the year 1957. Bord na Mà ³na is responsible for peat production in Ireland. Bord na mà ³na owns 80,000ha of peatland and harvest 4 million tonnes of milled peat per year. The main market for milled peat is the energy sector both for burning in power stations and for domestic consumption via briquettes production. A tourist attraction. Due to huge areas of bog land in Ireland, many tourists visit the peat bogs. This is benefiting the local surrounding area economically and making people more aware of the importance of peat bogs. Peat bogs are a great place for Bird watchers as there is a huge diversity of birds. (Godwin 1981 Irish Peatland Conservation Council 1996). Although peat bogs are very important, they do however face many threats, the main one being; Peat extraction and human intervention, the introduction of machines for peat-cutting and milling has destroyed vast areas of bogland. Once the peat is cut, the area is drained and in turn damages the delicate ecosystem. The surface of the peat bog lowers and becomes drier and the wildlife there begins to die or leave. Humans can benefit from cutting peat economically. When humans cut too much peat at one time out of greed, they damage the bog as the peat does not have sufficient time to recover. If the peat was extracted gradually, the bog has a better and longer chance of survival. (Natural Heritage 2005 Environment Waikato Regional Council 1997-2007). There is a huge demand for peat from amateur gardeners. Peat actually isnt a great source of nutrients for plants as it contains very little biological activity. Manufacturers add nutrients to boost its chemical fertility. If gardeners were to make their own compost our peatland wildlife would have a more secure future and there would be less peat extracted from our peat bogs. Another threat faced by our peat bogs is silage run-off. This poisonous run-off can seep into the bogs water table; the results are devastating to both animal and plant life within, killing large numbers of different species present here. Overgrazing can have huge effects on our bogs. This can disturb wildlife and it damages the surface of the bogland. However, it has the ability to increase nutrient levels through animal urine and dung. When there are plant pests present and living, they threaten the biodiversity. They can grow very quickly and will compete against native plants for space, light and nutrients. These pests are reducing the original and native plant diversity. (Backyard Gardener) The Government has had a huge success in introducing laws to protect our peat lands. This was mainly prompted by the Irish Peatland Conservation Council. Our peat bogs need to be protected for many reasons. Bogs contain a wide variety of plants and animals. Without bogs as a habitat some of these animals may become extinct. Animals and plants can live and breed there without being disturbed. (Godwin 1981). Bogs contain a lot of water. Most of the water comes from rainfall. This is an excellent source of water when the community is in need. The peat bogs also help to filter water, leaving it fairly clean. The carbon contained in peat bogs make up 60% of the carbon in terrestrial ecosystems. If the bog is still living, (not destroyed or damaged) then carbon is slowly emitted to the atmosphere which helps reduce carbon dioxide pollution. In return, this provides for a better and cleaner environment. (Poland. Pl 2009) Peat bogs are a natural archive to our past. We can investigate into the changes of climate and the anthropogenic history of the area. Peat takes a long time to accumulate, so by analyzing the remains of plants preserved in peat, we can research changes which took place in the environment over the years. To observe nature in its natural condition unchanged by human intervention becomes a very popular way of spending free time. Therefore, people travel to see this landscape and it becomes a tourist attraction in many ways. (Irish Peatland Conservation Council 1996). What can we do to help save our peat bogs? Its easy and requires simple tasks such as; Refuse to buy peat or plants grown in peat. Stop using peat in your garden; you can start a compost heap as an alternative. Visit a peatland reserve close to you and see the wildlife. Once you do this, youll never want to buy peat again. Raise awareness of the importance of our bogs and inform the local community about our peat bogs. If you live near one, keep an eye out and report any illegal cutting or dumping. Recycle kitchen/garden waste to make your own compost and persuade others to do the same. Oxigen waste company have even introduced a brown bin collection day for all kitchen and garden waste that can decompose. (Irish Peatland Conservation Council 1996). In conclusion, although we may not think about it, peat and peat bogs have a huge influence on humans and the environment and vice versa. Without bogs, a wide variety of species would be killed off, there would be no natural source of history available to historians etc., there would be a lot more carbon in the air which would result in ozone damage, some animals would be left without a habitat and finally, they are a source of water when we are in need. However, Peat lands help humans in many ways and have a huge importance in the world today.

Global Warming and the Kyoto Protocol Essay -- Environmental, Environm

Global Warming and the Kyoto Protocol Environmental issues are becoming a growing concern for the world as well as for the world's leaders. Pollution, littering and the burning of fossil fuels are all problems that have drastically affected humans over the past few years. Impure drinking water, radiation, less ecological diversity and cancer are a few of such harms that the world has experienced. However, one of the most prominent concerns is the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect, a natural occurrence, is turning deadly with the introduction of humans and carbon emissions and is slowly heating up the world. In future years this could cause catastrophic consequences. Rising global temperatures threatens the very existence of the world's population, making global warming an issue that has no territorial boundaries, every country is contributing to the problem and will inevitably suffer the consequences. As this is a global problem the interest of many world leaders was brought fourth. Eventually they came together to address this dilemma and come up with a solution to it. What officials are currently at odds with is how to implement the protocol that was reached in Kyoto Japan in 1997. This protocol made by world leaders is one of the first world wide efforts to try and resolve current environmental problems. The ratification of which, would have a huge beneficial impact on generations to come. The Third Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP3) was held in Kyoto, Japan from the first to the tenth of December 1997. The conference had more than 2,500 participants, 3,000 Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) and 4,000 press representatives in attendance. Discussions l... ...sultations. Despite world efforts Bush still claimed that the protocol is "fatally flawed," and bad for the economy. The European Union has been highly active in the efforts to get the protocol ratified and in working order. British environmentalist Michael Meacher said, "It's a beautiful day for the environment. It's a huge leap to have achieved a result on this very complex international negotiation." Up to this date 30 countries have ratified the pact. This very complex world issue is something which desperately needed, and got, attention. The future of the world and the existence of all living things are at stake. The Kyoto Protocol is on attempt to create a more environmentally sound world. There are flaws and the U.S. remains unchanging it its decision not to ratify it but a step has been taken and without a first step nothing will ever get very far.

The Brains of Violent Males Essay -- Compare Contrast Suicide Homicide

The Brains of Violent Males "It becomes increasingly evident that some of the destruction which curses the earth is self-destruction; the extraordinary propensity of the human being to join hands with external forces in an attack upon his own existence is one of the most remarkable of biological phenomena." -Karl Menninger (1). Violence is everywhere in our society- in movies, television programs, video games, and professional sports such as boxing and wrestling. In 2000, 28,663 deaths were related to firearms. 58% were reported as suicides and 39% were reported as homicides (2). The objective of this paper is to qualitatively evaluate and compare the brains of male murderers and male suicide victims. Even though more females attempt suicide, males are used for comparison because males are four times more likely to die from a suicide attempt (3). Male suicidal individuals have a higher success rate because they are more likely to kill themselves in a violent manner (i.e. using a gun). At first glance, most people would argue that homicide and suicide are opposite behaviors, yet the relationship may not be that straightforward. If it is assumed that the brain dictates behavior and that suicide and homicide are independent behaviors, one would expect that researchers would find differences between the brains of suicide victims and murderers. At the other extreme, suicide and homicide can be considered similar behaviors because in both cases an individual engages in killing someone, the only thing that differs is where the killing impulse is directed. Homicide is directed towards the external world, whereas suicide is aggression turned inward. When the cause of unhappiness can be attributed to an external s... ...robiology of suicide. http://www.afsp.org/research/articles/Mann/mann1.htm 8) Decision-making processes following damage to the prefrontal cortex, Article from Brain (2002). http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/125/3/624.pdf 9) "What's different about a Killer's Brain?" Whitley Strieber's web page http://www.unknowncountry.com/news/?id=2085 10) Why? The neuroscience of suicide: Physical clues to suicide , Scientific American article. http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=000D8D31-6937-1E1B-8B3B809EC588EEDF 11) Paxil & murder/ suicide. A story about how the maker of Paxil held liable in murder/suicide. http://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/media/ssri/Paxil_murder.htm 12) The mind of a killer. ABC news web page which contains pictures of normal brain and a murderer's brain http://abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/DailyNews/killer_brain021023.html

Marvel Case Report †Marketing Essay

1. Key Problems/Opportunities: †¢Marvel’s product line is limited to primarily the superhero genre. This makes diversifying more difficult. †¢Marvel competes not only with DC Comics but also with other types of films (such as action, suspense, thriller, horror, sci-fi, etc.). When people go to the movies for entertainment, they don’t typically just go to watch comic book hero movies. Therefore, Marvel faces competition from a wide range of genres (and production companies like Paramount that produce different genres of movies). †¢Marvel can turn each comic book character into its own brand and capitalize on additional streams of revenue through licensing. Toys, T-shirts, watches, and video games based on popular comic book characters are all products that can help augment Marvel’s revenue. †¢Not all characters are of equal worth to Marvel. Spiderman and X-Men are much more valuable brands than Daredevil and the Punisher. 2. New Information: †¢Marvel continues to have mixed success with its character lineup. Elekra only grossed $56.7M worldwide while Iron Man grossed over $585M worldwide (http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/ ?id=elektra.htm; http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=ironman.htm). †¢ Marvel Entertainment’s competitive landscape has become even tougher. Not only must Marvel’s lineup compete with DC Comic’s Superman and Batman, but also comic book heroes like Transformers and G.I. Joe (interestingly, Marvel used to own the rights to Transformers and G.I. Joe but sold those rights to Hasbro) (http://forums.superherohype.com/showthread. php?t=265502). †¢Marvel has been able to keep the X-Men franchise afloat with X-Men Origins: Wolverine and X-Men: First-Class (though it does seem to be weakening some) (http://boxofficemojo.com/ showdowns/chart/?id=vs-xmen.htm). †¢Disney purchased Marvel for $4 billion in 2009 (http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/31/news/ companies/disney_marvel/index.htm). 3. Recommendations: †¢Not every Marvel movie is a blockbuster. In fact, some of them are flops. While Marvel would certainly experience growth in focusing on production and distribution more, it risks stretching itself beyond its core competencies. While successful movies could prove to be very profitable for Marvel, lackluster movies could prove to be financially detrimental if Marvel also produced and distributed all of its films. †¢Marvel must learn to manage its growth. It cannot forever rely on its cash cows Spiderman and X-Men. However, new generations equate to new potential markets. Reintroducing classic characters to new generations could translate into recurring revenue streams. †¢Marvel should leverage its growth on one hand and not stretch itself too much beyond its core competencies on the other. Getting more into production could prove to be financially beneficial for Marvel. On the other hand, I would recommend leaving the distribution to those companies that specialize in that and are large enough to be able to diversify without it harming their business. Marvel’s core competency is in developing its characters and storylines. While Marvel could expand their core competencies to include production, doing so too much to include distribution might destroy Marvel’s core competencies. †¢Marvel has thousands of characters. It should strategically develop some of its highest-potential characters. However, this has also backfired (ex: Daredevil and Elektra). It worked with Iron Man and seems to be working with Thor though. †¢Marvel can continue to create new streams of revenue by aggressively seeking licensing opportunities and even international licensing agreements. Licensing can be extremely profitable, especially when attached to a lucrative film franchise.