London Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

London - Essay Example However, temperatures below -20 degrees centigrade have been noted in the past one decade, but their accuracy is yet to be validated (Anderson, p. 27). The city has a cluster of activities, ranging from streets to places of entertainment. It is also a city with numerous economic activities since it is considered as a manufacturing center with a good industrial network. People working in the city engage in both official and casual activities. Examples of those who engage in official activities include teachers, lawyers, doctor and bankers. On the other hand, the casual workers include craftsmen, builders and wood choppers (Burling, p. 207). London has a rapidly growing population. The population has hit more than seven million over the past one decade. People are originating from all parts of the world to live in the city (Boulton, p. 105). They have come with different lifestyles and colorful festivals. That is why London is considered as a multicultural city since the Roman times. Currently, about a quarter of the city’s inhabitants are members of ethnic minorities. With the diverse culture of its inhabitants, London has a variety of dishes. These dishes include delicacies such as dosa deli, churros Garcia, grilling Greek and the orange buffalo (Lawley, p.

Global Business and Political Forces Case Study Essay Example for Free

Global Business and Political Forces Case Study Essay Walgreens Corporation â€Å"C-Level Executives† will have to consider the Global Business and Political Forces associated with their Global International Expansion plans into the Country of Brazil during the period of (2014-2016). Analysis The key issues Walgreens Corporation â€Å"C-Level Executives† pose to face would be attempting a massive global expansion and creating new value innovation within that new global market. The want and need to expand internationally into Brazil might potentially cause the Company to lose its current top rated status quo and therefore could risk their Company’s name and future success rate if prior strategic planning is not done properly. Current competition in the same U.S Market looking to expand internationally such as CVS could also pose and cause a potential threat to Walgreens expansion plans. However, the Brazilian market is even more competitive because Brazilian Company’s already know how to operate in that country and are already familiar with the areas region. Therefore, their capabilities of gaining access to information and expertise about where the high demand for property expansion location sites would be at to open a new booming business, stands to be greater than that of other countries outsourced investors or foreign Company’s looking to expand. Related assumptions Walgreens would have to be able to maintain a competitive advantage point globally, so creating an exclusive brand pertaining to that specific region of the country, as well as, maintaining or improving their current Prescription Savings Club program and product line seems essential to their international expansion success. In order to stay ahead of the game and beat out any competition Walgreens â€Å"C-Level Executives† will need to focus on its core competencies and strengths. These practices are going to be critical when serving a diverse Country, while maintaining Walgreens longstanding tradition of fairness, trust and honesty. ((2013). Company Overview). Alternatives There are several alternative actions the C-Level Executives can take that would include the following: First, management must actively evaluate and manage any potential political risks involved when making global expansion investment decisions and then continue to monitor those associated risks on a routine basis. Political forces and risks that could impact Walgreens are going to be subject to change, so it won’t be considered enough to evaluate those risks only once before the decision to invest has been made. Executives of Walgreens must take an active approach and monitor political risks all the time and use those findings to their advantage by applying those methods strategically towards any other investments, operational plans and any other future decisions. Therefore, management over political forces must be implemented into Walgreens operating business practice and processes, in order to protect their investments. (PwC Advisory and Eurasia Group.) Secondly, obtaining reliable, accurate information and interpretation of international business risks tend to be roads blocks at times for executives seeking to better their decision making through evaluation of political risk. Therefore, the use of multiple world-wide sources in which provide up to date, extremely accurate information that has not only been analyzed but also prepared by top risk managers should also be considered as part of an ongoing systematic approach to political risk management. (PwC Advisory and Eurasia Group.) Thirdly, To avoid any future setbacks from competitors such as CVS and similar Drugstore/Retail chains, Walgreens will need to create and invest in a new value of innovation to enhance their diverse customer’s experience. I believe Walgreens strengths lies in the fact that they have their own unique branding style and a high level of ethical quality in the way they perform their business practice, so by enhancing their current U.S. loyal customer connections over into their potential new global customers they stand a better chance to set themselves apart from CVS and any other competitors they might be faced with along the way. Evaluation International partnerships increase challenges but also create new ideas in new markets that can then be translated back to US markets. Because all companies, even primarily domestic ones, are affected by politics to some  degree, all need a baseline of political risk management activity. At a minimum, company management should be aware of how political risks affect business processes, and they should factor these risks into both investment decisions and general risk management. Recommendation My suggestion would be that the â€Å"C-Level Executives† when operating internationally should carefully analyze their current approach to political risk management and determine whether it is contributing to their current business performance strategy as efficiently or effectively as it could and should be or having and adverse effect, taking away from it instead. Once carefully reviewed and evaluated they should find areas for improvement and make changes accordingly to ensure a better business development plan for the following (2014-2016) timeline. Implementation Long-term sustainable success internationally depends in good part on a company’s ability to grasp the implications of political risk and apply them to business risk. By embedding political risk considerations in normal business processes, companies enable management to make better decisions regarding global expansion, sourcing, branding, intellectual property protection, community and government relations, operational structures, and other business issues that arise in complex international markets. (PwC Advisory and Eurasia Group.) Conclusion Ultimately, any company looking to expand globally has to be willing to take risks, but it’s also essential to their future developmental successes that before taking that huge leap to expand internally that they become extremely aware of the high stacks and potential risks involved. In general, the more a company ventures beyond its home country physically or through outsourcing the more it increases its exposure to political risk. Companies should keep in mind, however, that even a minor investment involving a major risk or opportunity can have a material impact. Sustainable success internationally depends in good part on a company’s ability to grasp the implications of political risk and apply them to business risk. Mark Wagner, Walgreens Executive Vice President Operations Community Management had this to say: Our customers come from all walks of life, and it would be impossible for us to serve them well if we developed identical, instead of individual needs. Ive found the best way to recognize individuality is by taking time to learn about diverse interests and their background. Everyone has needs, wants and expectations and as managers, its our job to develop that strategy and exceed those expectations. (Walgreens outlines strategy to analysts.)

Brand Perception And Customer Buying Behaviour

Brand Perception And Customer Buying Behaviour In this chapter, concepts, theories and relevant models about branding, brand perception and customer buying behaviour will be discussed in detail. An individual who buys products for personal use and not for manufacture or resale is said to be a consumer. A consumer is someone who can make the decision whether or not to purchase an item at the store, which can be influenced by marketing and advertisements. Each and every consumer is influenced by their own brand perception and buying decisions which depends on various number of factors. 2.2 Branding Brand is the image that consumers have in mind (Aaker, 1991). It is also the unique characteristics that have been developed all the time in order to differentiate actual products from the competitors (Murphy, 1990). In addition, The American Association defines a brand as a name, term, sign, symbol or design, or a combination of them intended to identify the goods or services of one seller or group of sellers and to differentiate them from those of competitors. A brand is thus a product or service that adds dimensions that differentiate it in some way from other products or services designed to satisfy the same need. These differences may be functional, rational, or emotional or intangible related to what the brand represents. Brand concepts must address customer interests and lifestyles. Factors that affect its brand image and brand perception among marketing communication program that implementing to the public to create brand perception, brand characteristic, brand image and bran d equity. De Chernatony and McDonald (1992) define a brand as an identifiable product, service, person or place, augmented in such a way that the buyer or user perceives relevant, unique added values which match their needs most closely. There have been two basic values identified by de Chernatony (1999) that contribute towards the brand premium. One is the functional value such as the price, technology, design and store layout. This functional value is a distinct attribute that a customer adds to the brand and distinguishes the brand from the rest. The second form of added value comes from emotional value. This value is derived from notions like advertising, internal branding, translating the retail brand into consumer taste, and even the shopping experience itself at the retail outlet. 2.3 Brand Perception Perception is how we see ourselves and the world we live in. However, what ends up being stored inside us doesnt always get there in a direct manner. Often our mental makeup results from information that has been consciously or subconsciously filtered as we experience it, a process we refer to as a perceptual filter. To us this is our reality, though it does not mean it is an accurate reflection on what is real. Thus, perception is the way we filter stimuli (e.g., someone talking to us, reading a newspaper story) and then make sense out of it. Perception has several steps. Exposure sensing a stimuli (e.g. seeing an ad) Attention an effort to recognize the nature of a stimuli (e.g. recognizing it is an ad) Awareness assigning meaning to a stimuli (e.g., humorous ad for particular product) Retention adding the meaning to ones internal makeup (i.e., product has fun ads) Brand perception is consumers ability to identify the brand under different conditions, as reflected by their brand recognition or recall performance (Kotler Lane, 2006). Brand recall refers to consumers ability to retrieve the brand from the memory (Keller, 1993). According to the improvement of measurement for brand equity, consumer-based brand equity was described for four dimensions; brand awareness, brand association, perceived quality, and brand loyalty (Pappu, et al, 2005). Brand awareness was defined as the consumers ability to identify or recognize the brand (Rossiter and Percy, 1987). It refers to the strength of a brand presence in consumers minds. Brand awareness has several levels starting from the less recognition of the brand to dominance (Aaker, 1991). Perceived quality was evaluated and decided by consumers. Perceived quality is another valuation of brand to push the customer to buy products. Brand building has been around for centuries as a means to distinguish the goods of one producer from those of another. The earliest signs of branding in Europe were the medieval guilds requirement that craftspeople put trademarks on their products to protect themselves and consumers against inferior quality. In the fine arts, branding began with artists signing their works. Brands today play a number of important roles that improve consumers lives and enhance the financial value of firms (Kotler Lane, 2006). Brand awareness and brand perceived quality as the significant factors to create and maintain brand equity. There are positive relationship among brand awareness, perceive quality and brand equity (Aker, 1996, Buzzell Gate, 1987). The marketing program has effect to improve the perceive quality of brand for different customers. Brand perception is consumers ability to identify the brand under different conditions, as reflected by their brand recognition or recall performance (Kotler Lane, 2006). Brand recall refers to consumers ability to retrieve the brand from the memory (Keller, 1993). According to the improvement of measurement for brand equity, consumer-based brand equity was described for four dimensions; brand awareness, brand association, perceived quality, and brand loyalty (Pappu, et al, 2005). Brand awareness was defined as the consumers ability to identify or recognize the brand (Rossiter and Percy, 1987). It refers to the strength of a brand presence in consumers minds. Brand awareness has several levels starting from the less recognition of the brand to dominance (Aaker, 1991). Perceived quality was evaluated and decided by consumers. Perceived quality is another valuation of brand to push the customer to buy products. Brand building has been around for centuries as a means to distinguish the goods of one producer from those of another. The earliest signs of branding in Europe were the medieval guilds requirement that craftspeople put trademarks on their products to protect themselves and consumers against inferior quality. In the fine arts, branding began with artists signing their works. Brands today play a number of important roles that improve consumers lives and enhance the financial value of firms (Kotler Lane, 2006). Brand awareness and brand perceived quality as the significant factors to create and maintain brand equity. There are positive relationship among brand awareness, perceive quality and brand equity (Aker, 1996, Buzzell Gate,1987). The marketing program has effect to improve the perceive quality of brand for different customers. 2.4 Brand Equity Source: Aaker, 1991 Brand equity is the added value endowed to products and services. Aaker (1991) defined the brand equity as a set of brand assts and liabilities linked to brand that adds or detracts the product or service value based on the customers perspectives. This value may be reflected in how consumers think, feel and act with respect to the brand that consumers had perceive from marketing programs. Brand equity is an important intangible asset that has psychological and financial value to the firm. The value of brand equity depends on the number of same people who buy regularly (Aaker, 1996). The brand loyalty, brand awareness, and brand perceived quality are necessary to maintain the brand equity (Motameni Shahrokhi, 1998). There are two different perspectives of brand equity; financial and customer based. The first perspective evaluates the asset value of a brand name that creates to the business (Farquhar et al, 1991). Brand equity increased the discounted future cash flows and revenue com paring to the same product did not have the brand name (Motameni Shahrkhi, 1998). According to the second perspective, the premise of customer-based brand equity models is that the power of brand lies in what customers have responded, seen, read, heard, learned, thought and felt about the brand over time. In other words, the power of brand lies in the minds of existing or potential customers and what they have experienced directly and indirectly about the brand. The customer-based brand equity finally drives the financial return to the company (Lassar et al, 1995). The valuation of brand has been studied for different approaches, for example, marketing, premium pricing market value, customer factors, replacement cost perspective. According to the valuation based on consumer factors, the measurement of customers preference and attitude can be used to evaluate the brand equity (Aaker, 1991 and Kapferer, 1992). 2.5 Marketing Communication The marketing communication is considered as the strategic activities for brand managers to build and maintain the brand image of targeted customers (Duncan Mulhern, 2004). It is a significant driver of competitive advantage to create the ability of companies to attract, retain, and leverage customers (Kitchen, Joanne, Tao, 2004). Duncan (2002) explained that marketing communication is a process for managing the customer relationship that affects brand value lastly. Marketing communication programs are not only above the line activities such as advertising and sales promotions but also below the line activities such as public relations. Regarding recent concept of marketing communication, two-way communication as well as one way communication is a key determinant of brand strategies to stimulus the brand orientation process (Aaker, 1996 and Urde, 1994). 2.6 Consumer Behaviour Schiffinan and Kanuk (2004) define Consumer Behaviour as the behaviour that customers display in searching for, purchasing, using, evaluating and disposing of products and services that they expect will satisfy their needs. Consumer buying behaviour incorporates the acts of individuals directly involved in obtaining, using and disposing of economic goods and services including the decision process that precede and determine these acts (Huctings 1995). Lamb, Hair and McDartiel (1992) note that consumer behaviour is a study of the processes the consumer uses to make purchase decisions as well as the use and disposal of the purchased goods and services. It also includes the analysis of factors that influences purchase decisions and goods usage. Further more consumer behaviour is a process and purchase is only one step in that process. Santon,Etzel and Walker (1994) states that consumers are complex in nature and keep changing constantly. So it is a must for the marketers to constantly improve their understanding of consumers and understand what influences the needs of the consumers. In short, the understanding of the buying behavior of existing and potential customers is imperative for marketers (Lancaster 1998). It is also needed for the competitive survival. When the consumer is viewed in the proper perspective, the outcomes could be quite positive for the manufacturer. Lamb,Hair and McDaniel (1992),claim that the knowledge of consumer behavior reduces uncertainty when creating the marketing mix. The field of customer behavior covers a lot of ground: It is the study of the processes involved when individuals or groups select, purchase, use, or dispose of products, services, ideas, or experiences to satisfy needs and desires (Michael, 2003). Earlier, the field was referred to as buyer behavior, which emphasized o n interaction between consumers and producers at the time of purchase. Now marketers feel that consumer behavior is not merely a consumer handing over money in return for a service or good, but it is an ongoing process. The exchange of a transaction in which two or more organizations or people give and receive something of value is an integral part of marketing. 2.7 Consumer Decision Making Mahatoo (1985) defines Consumer Behavior decision making process consisting of a number of steps that begin before the purchase and reaches beyond the buying act. He suggests that marketers have to go beyond the various influences on buyers and develop an understanding of how consumers actually make their buying decisions .The ability to create a good service and to persuade the market to buy this offering instead of its competitors offering depends upon the insight into the consumer purchase decision on the understanding of how the target customers arrive at their purchase decisions. Price is one of the dominating factors when it comes to making a purchase decision. It generally plays a vital role in determining consumers brand choice while selecting a product. Consumers look into the price while taking a buying decision and check whether it is within their affordable limits. This helps them to maximize their immediate utility that they gain from the purchase. The consumers give relative importance to both price and quality, so while choosing a brand they make a choice consistent with the relative importance attached to both attributes (Nor Khasimah Alimana and Md Nor Othman, 2007). It is also known that consumers look upon the additional services and freebies which come along with the product rather than looking on the price factor. Customers were believed to put different weights on every factor when it comes to the evaluation process. Analysis shows that customers who had experienced bad customer service tend to consider more thoroughly all aspects of the serv ice when it comes to choice of product (Tor W. Andreassen and Line L. Olsen, 2008). According to Kotler (2003), there are five roles people play during a purchase. They are Initiator: It is the person who gives the idea of buying the product or service. Influencer: It is the person who reviews or influences the decision. Decider: It is the person who makes the buying decision: what to buy, how to buy, when to buy and where to buy. Buyer: It is the person who actually makes the purchase. User: It is the person who consumes or uses the product or service. 2.8 Buying Behavior Buying behavior is a process in which consumers decide and act accordingly to buy certain products for their use. There are certain aspects which we need to understand. Why do consumers buy what they buy? What are the key factors for influencing consumers to buy the products? What are the changing trends in the society? Consumer buying behavior refers to what consumers buy at a certain point of time which involves their decision making. So it is important for any firm to keenly analyze on consumer buying behaviors as it has a great impact on the firms marketing strategy. It also plays a key role in the success of the firm. It is important for any firm to create a marketing mix that satisfies the customers. 2.9 Types of Consumer Buying Behavior There are few types of buying behaviors based on the type of products which needs to be purchased. Complex buying behavior is where an individual seeks lot of information about a high value branded product before purchasing it. Habitual buying behavior is where the individual buys the product out of habit. Variety seeking buying behavior is where the individual likes to shop around and experiment different products. Consumer buying behavior is determined by level of involvement in the purchase decision (Renjith, June 2004). According to Mahatoo (1985), the nature of the decision process varies depending upon the product and the consumer. The marketers need to determine the kind of decision making behavior that is involved with the particular product in order to understand the behavior of the consumer. Howard (1989) classifies consumer buying decision into three broad categories: Routine Response Programmed Behavior- A consumer generally uses a routine response behavior while frequently buying the low cost goods or services. These goods and services can be called low involvement products as the consumer spends little time on decision making and purchases easily. The consumer is familiar with different brands in this product category, but usually sticks on to one brand. The consumer usually skips many steps in the decision process as he buys the product out of habit. Limited Decision Making Buying product occasionally. When you need to obtain information about an unfamiliar brand in a product category. Requires a moderate amount of time for information gathering as it is compared with various brands. Acquiring information about an unfamiliar product category is called as limited decision making. Examples: books, clothes and cosmetics. Extensive Decision Making Consumers usually spend much time on extensive decision making with high involvement when they purchase an unfamiliar expensive product. This is the most complex type of consumer decision making as the consumers need a great deal of information to compare it with its alternate brands. Examples: cars, computers. Complex buying behavior involves three steps: The consumer develops belief about the product. The consumer develops attitude about the product. The consumer makes a thoughtful choice. Consumers usually engage in complex buying behavior when they are highly involved in a purchase, which usually happens when the product is expensive, risky, and highly self expressive. Many products do not carry features unless the buyer does some research. The marketer of a high involvement product must understand consumers information- gathering and evaluation process. According to this the marketer needs to develop strategies which will assess the buyer in learning about the products attributes and their importance. The marketer also needs to differentiate the brand features, motivate store keepers, and use proper print media to describe the brand and the buyers interaction to influence the brand choice. Dissonance-Reducing buyer behaviour According to Herbert (1965), the consumer sometimes gets highly involved in a purchase but see little differences in brands. The high involvement is due to the fact that the purchase is expensive, infrequent and risky. For this type of purchase the consumer will shop around to learn more about the product but purchase it quickly responding to the primary factors like price or convenience. After the purchase, the consumer might experience dissonance by hearing favourable things about other brands or noticing certain disquieting features. Now the consumer will alert the informants who support his or her decisions. For example, here, the consumer acted first then acquired new beliefs and ended up with a set of attitudes. Marketing communication should supply beliefs and evaluations that help the customer feel good about the brand of his choice. Variety-Seeking Buying Behaviour Henry (1987) states that some buying situations are characterised by low involvement but significant brand differences. Usually consumers do lot of brand switching. Take for example, cookies. The consumer has some knowledge about cookies, chooses them without much evaluation and evaluates the product during consumption. But next time the consumer may reach for another brand according to his taste. Brand switching occurs for the sake of variety rather than dissatisfaction. 3.10 Buying Decision Process The consumers engage in a decision process to deal with the marketing environment and make purchases. The consumer goes through a series of logical stages to arrive at the decision when he faces a problem which could be resolved through a purchase. A typical buying process consists of five stages. (Micheal and Elnora, 2000). 2.10.1 Problem Recognition The purchase process starts where the buyer recognises a problem or need. The need maybe triggered by internal or external stimuli. Marketers need to identify the circumstances that trigger a particular need (Micheal, 2003). People have unsatisfied needs and wants that create tension or discomfort, which can be satisfied by acquiring and consuming goods and services. Hence, the process of deciding what to buy begins when there is a need and it can be satisfied through consumption. Mahatoo (1985), states that when the consumer becomes aware of a discrepancy between the existing state and a desired state, a need is aroused. The existing state is the total situation of a consumer, the current needs, attitudes, motives. The desired state is the situation after the kinds of changes the consumer wishes. Both these states are the functions of consumers motivation, personality and past experience of cultural and social influences. Evans and Burman (1984), defines a stimulus as a cure intended to motivate a person to act. It can be social, commercial or non commercial. Need recognition shows a persons readiness to act by becoming aware of a need but does not guarantee that the decision making process will continue. Kotler (2003), suggests that by gathering information from a number of consumers marketers can identify the most frequent stimuli that triggers an interest in a product category, thereby developing marketing strategies that would create a spark in consumers interest. 2.10.2 Information Search When a consumer needs to gain knowledge about a product or service, he or she would be aroused to search for more information in the product category. Consumer information sources fall under four groups: Personal sources: Family, friends, neighbours Commercial sources: Advertising, sales person, dealers, display boards Public sources: Mass media, consumer-rating organizations Experimental sources: Handling, examining, using the product. The relative amount and influences of these information sources vary with product category and consumer characteristics (Peter, Daniel and Nancy, 1986). Customer decisions are based on a combination of past experiences and marketing information. Past experience is considered as an internal source of information. Greater the past experience, lesser the external information the consumer is likely to seek to make a decision. Baker (2000), states that if there is a sufficiently high level of involvement with the problem, the consumers are likely to engage in a complex and extensive information search. If the involvement level is low, they are likely to use a very simple information search. Kotler (2003), states that by gathering information the consumer learns about competing brands and their features. There will be lot of brands available to the consumer in a product category, in which only a few brands the consumer would be aware of (awareness set). Among these brands, few brands will meet consumers initial buying criteria (consideration set). As the consumer gathers more information only a few brands would remain (choice set). All the brands in the choice set might be acceptable. 2.10.3 Evaluation of Alternatives There is no single evaluation process used by all customers or by one customer in all buying situations. The consumers view each product as a bundle of attributes with varying abilities of delivering the benefits needed to satisfy them. The attributes of interest to buyers vary by product. Consumers will pay most attention to attributes that deliver benefits (Mary, James and John, 1997). Once a choice set has been identified, the consumer evaluates them before making a decision. The evaluation involves establishing some criteria against which each alternative is compared. The criteria that consumers use in the evaluation results from their past experience and feelings towards various brands as well as the opinions of family, friends, etc. (Stanton, Etzel and Walker, 1994). The product related attributes such as quality, durability, price, design, etc. Influence the buying decision of a consumer. A way to narrow down the products in the choice set is to pick an attribute and then excl ude all products in the set that does not possess that attribute (Lamb and McDaniel, 1992). Thus the choice which possesses all the required product related attributes can be selected. 2.10.4 Purchase Decision From the evaluation process discussed about, consumer will reach their final purchase decision which is made up of five purchase sub decisions: Brand decision, Vendor decision, Quantity decision, Timing decision and Payment method decision (Joseph and Howard, 1987). After evaluation, the first thing in mind would be to purchase the product or not. If the decision is to buy, a series of related decisions must be made regarding the features, where and when to make the actual transaction, how to take delivery, a mode of payment and other issues. So a decision to purchase starts an entirely new series of decisions that may be time consuming and difficult. Selecting a source from which a purchase can be made is also a buying decision (Stanton, Etzel and Walker, 1994). A consumers decision to modify, postpone or avoid a purchase decision is heavily influenced by risk. The amount of risk varies with the extent of money at stake, the amount of attribute uncertainty and amount of self confide nce. Marketers must understand the factors that create a feeling of risk in the consumer, thereby providing information and support to reduce the risk (Kotler, 2003). 2.10.5 Post Purchase Behaviour Every customer after buying a product will experience either satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Hence the marketers job does not end when the product is bought; it must be monitored for post purchase satisfaction and post purchase actions. A very important stage of the consumers decision is the impact of current decisions on the future purchasing behaviour. Mahatoo (1985) says that three general outcomes are possible. They are: 2.10.5.1 Satisfaction Satisfaction occurs when a product performs according to expectations. The brand chosen has served to fulfil the customers needs and thus reinforces the response of purchasing the brand, which also means that beliefs and attributes about the brand are positively influenced and the likelihood of repurchase is increased. 2.10.5.2 Dissatisfaction Dissatisfaction occurs in the reverse situation, when the products performance is not up to the expectation it leads to negative belief and attributes about the brand. A dissatisfied customer is not likely to recommend the product to others. The results of satisfaction and dissatisfaction are recorded in long term memory and become inputs to the internal search of the firm. So the marketers must be careful in satisfying the needs and expectations of the customers. 2.10.5.3 Cognitive Dissonance: Cognitive dissonance occurs when the consumer experiences a feeling of doubt or psychological discomfort about the choice made. It is often felt right after the purchase when the consumer begins to have second thoughts about the product chosen. Dissonance is more likely to occur in complex decision making with high involvement purchases. Dissonance can come from a personal source from advertisement or from experience with the product. Post purchase evaluation is important to marketers because positive evaluation increases the probability of repeat purchases and brand loyalty. Negative or doubtful thoughts increase the probability that different alternatives will be considered next time when the need arises (Husted, Varble and Lowry, 1989). 2.11 Factors influencing the behaviour of buyers http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~market/380dir/cbinfluence.jpg Source: (http://blog.oneshotmarketing.com/2010/08/consumer-buying-behavior-the-laws-of-attraction/ accessed on 20/10/10 at 9.15pm) Consumer behaviour is affected by many uncontrollable factors. Culture is one of the factors that influence behaviour. Culture can be defined as our attitudes and beliefs. It is developed along with age in the society. For an individual growing up, a child is influenced by their parents, brothers and sisters. They learn about their religion and culture which helps them to develop opinions, attitudes and beliefs (Richard, 1976). These factors will influence a buying behaviour of the consumer, other factors like friends or people they look up may also influence their choices of purchasing a particular product. Culture is the most basic cause of a persons wants and behaviour. Culture is learned from family, church, school, peers, colleagues. It reflects basic values, perceptions, wants, and behaviours. Cultural shifts create opportunities for new products or may otherwise influence consumer behaviour. Peoples social status plays an important role in the consumer buying behaviour. Social class distinctions allow companies to position their products to appeal to certain social classes. The easiest example is automobiles. Marketing for Mercedes Benz is completely different from the marketing campaign from Honda or Toyota because they target individuals from the upper class. Another powerful and easy factor that companies manipulate in their marketing efforts is the social factor. To be part of a group, or represent a certain lifestyle, you must have certain possessions. Personal and Psychological factors are very specific realms and the target market segment becomes even smaller. That means even less amount of people can use these products. This reflects in higher prices to account for the decrease in volume 2.12 Models of Consumer Behaviour The various models of consumer behaviour as per (Ramasamy and Namakumari, 1990) are stated as follows 2.12.1 The Economic Model According to the economic model of buyer behaviour, the buyer is a rational man and his buying decisions are totally governed by the concept of utility. If the customer has certain amount of purchasing power, a set of needs to be met and a set of products in a very rational manner with the intentions of maximising the utility or benefits. 2.12.2 The Learning Model According to the learning model, buying behaviour can be influenced by manipulating the drivers, stimuli and responses of the buyers. The model rests on mans ability at learning, forgetting and discriminating. 2.12.3 The Psychoanalytical Model According to this model the individual consumer has a complex set of deep stated motives that drive him towards certain buying decisions. The buyer has a private world with all his hidden fears, suppressed desires and totally subjective longings. His buying action can be influenced by appealing to these desires and longings. 2.12.4 The Sociological Model According to the sociological model, the individual buyer is influenced by society, by inmate groups as well as social classes. His buying decisions are not totally governed by utility, he has a desire to emulate, follow, and fit in with his immediate environment. Several of his buying decisions may be governed by societal compulsions. 2.12.5 The Nicosia Model Efforts have been made by marketing scholars to build buyer behaviour models from the marketing mans point of view. The Nicosia model and the Howard and Sheth model are two important models. Both of them belong to the category called the systems model where the human being is analysed as the system with stimuli as the input to the system and behaviour as the output of the system. The Nicosia model tries to establish the link between a firm and its customers, how the activities of the firm influences the consumer and results in the buying decision. The information from the firm influences the consumer towards the product, thereby he develops a certain attitude towards the product causing him to search or

Andy Warhol Essay -- Biography

Hailed as the founding father of the Pop Art movement in the late 1950's and early 1960's, Andy Warhol, through his endeavors, brought forward society's obsession with mass culture and allowed it to become the subject of his art. He produced works that defied and challenged the popular notion of what art should be by disputing the "traditional conventions pertaining to the uniqueness, authenticity, and authorship" of art (Faerna 28). However, it is an injustice to say that Warhol's goals primarily included the desire to create such a ground-breaking and salient style of American art or to entertain the public by making his own artistic contributions. Rather, Andy Warhol's interests were more entwined in his own self-interest and greed. Although a fraction of Andy Warhol's inspiration resided in his ambition to create a "unique" and exotic style of American art, his main motivation was purely materialistic and involved acquiring large sums of money and publicity to fuel his obsession with wealth and fame. Andy Warhol's experiences throughout his difficult and poverty-stricken early life are one among many possible explanations for Warhol's addiction to materialism later on in his life. Born on August 6, 1928 into the slums of Pittsburgh, Andy Warhol was the fourth child of working-class Slovakian immigrant parents who barely spoke English. As a child, Warhol developed chorea, an illness which causes abnormal involuntary movements. Consequently, this contributed to his isolation as a child as he was often bed-ridden and thus became an outcast at school (Gale American Decades). During his early years, he also developed a fascination for fame and recognition as he would constantly amass pictures of celebrities and movie sta... ...sted in the chemical processes that went into forming Oxidation Painting; rather, he was more concerned with converting these bodily fluids into something precious and valuable. Oxidation Painting was an attempt by Warhol to project his persona into the media in order to garner publicity and attention. Furthermore, Oxidation Painting remains as Warhol’s most economically valuable work. Now, twenty-three years after Warhol’s death, his face and art are on T-shirts, iPods, blue jeans, sunglasses, Christmas cards, handbags, skateboards and wallpaper. His reputation and popularity are both endless and his works of art continue to fetch enormous sums of money. Even with his death, Warhol’s name continues to be met with both publicity and infamy. Ultimately, Andy Warhol’s legacy lies with his outlandish and exotic style of art and his lust for materialism and wealth.

Medical Ethics Essay

Living in the land of opportunity and freedom has its limits. There is an expectation that every time we visit our doctor’s office that we all will get the highest amount of respect and help that can be given. Growing up, throughout my whole life I have been in and out of the emergency room more times than any normal person probably should have. Just only eleven months ago, I severely fractured my calcaneus (heel bone) into three separate pieces and had to stay in the hospital for four days due to surgery. Throughout my countless surgeries and visits to the hospital, I cannot imagine myself in a situation where the a doctor would refuse to give treatment or perform any type of procedure to anyone due to his or her personal belief whether it be based on race, sexual preference, political beliefs, or frankly any other reason. Today there are many Doctors who are refusing medical assistance to patients because of their own personal religious and even political beliefs and values. It turns out that a doctor’s ability to refuse any kind of service is legal. Randi Kaye, a CNN Correspondent interviewed Dr. Edward Langston at The American Medical Association. The AMA along with the many Doctors agree â€Å"Any physician as the opportunity that if because of personal beliefs religious or moral beliefs that they can refuse to provide services, but we also believe that physician has an obligation to provide an avenue where the patient can get the care that they’re seeking,†. One particular case dealing with a man in New Jersey, written by Rmuse, an advocate for freedom of religion and particularly, freedom of no religion. Joao Simoes, a gay, and HIV positive patient at a Catholic Hospital. Dr. Susan V. Borga, came into his room while looking at the medical file. She looked at Joao Simoes and a sked him how he contracted HIV. Simoes confirmed that he contracted the virus through unprotected sex. Dr. Borga then asked if it was due to unprotected sex with another man. As soon as he confirmed that yes, it was with another man, Borga closed his file walked out of his room. Simoes was not allowed to contact his personal physician for three day to help get medication. When he was finally allowed to contact his physician, he was told that he had already spoken to Dr. Borga informing her that Simoes needed his medication. Her response to the physician was that he must also  be gay being that he was his doctor. This was followed by â€Å"This is what he gets for going against God’s will.† Simone was finally able to get his medication after the hospital allowed his sister to visit and saw that she gave his medication to the nurses. Another case dealt with a Wal-Mart pharmacy in Wisconsin. Due to this pharmacy being a very busy pharmacy, they contacted a temporary agency because they need temporary assistant. This temporary employee informed Wal-Mart through a written statement that due to his religious beliefs, he would not be able to handle any clients that had any issues with or relating any form of contraception. Wal-Mart decided to compromise with the new employee to where he passes on the client to another pharmacist. When calls were made dealing with contraception, he would place them on hold and not inform anyone. When patients would pick up a birth control prescription, he would walk away and not tell anyone there was a patient waiting. Wal-Mart then tried again to compromise, but when realizing there would be no resolution, he was fired. A last case explained by Jessica Dweck occurred in Florida. â€Å"Florida physician Jack Cassell taped a sign to his office door advising Obama supporters to â€Å"s eek urologic care elsewhere.† The only way that this doctor could be sued successfully is if the patient is currently being treated and was in need of care, that the doctor ceased care without a proper notice or referral for another doctor. A doctor’s visit in not based on political views. The relationship between a doctor and a patient should be based on the physical and emotional wellbeing of the patient. The main question and concern should be why in the year 2014, when the United States is dealing with terrorism, and teenagers going on a shooting spree at their high schools, is there such a clause that allows Doctors to refuse medical attention towards friendly, innocent Americans based on hatred? Why is it that after so many years of war and innocent blood shed is there still a clause that allows Doctors to refuse medical assistance on the base of religious or personal beliefs? In an online article† Pharmacist Conscience Clause: Laws and Information† explains the reason why it was enacted. The conscience clause was first executed in response to the Supreme Court decision in 1973 in the Roe v. Wade case during the woman’s rights movement. Roe v. Wade ruled unconstitutional a state law that banned abortion except  to save the life of the mother. This response caused major uproar to the point where some states proposed legislation and passed laws allowing them to refuse abortions in their establishment. It went as far as pharmacist refusing in supplying refills and prescriptions of contraceptives. These actions resulted in the enactment of the conscience clause. The conscience clause was enacted in order to protect medical professionals from legal action for refusing to assist with contraception and abortion. In fact, many states began to follow with their own conscience clause which also allowed them to refuse medical service and prescription refills according to their idealistic beliefs. Unfortunately, there are also laws that that allows doctors to refuse medical attention to patients due to racism, sexism, or any type of hatred. â€Å"Since 2005, twenty-seven states introduced bills to widen refusal clauses. Four states are considering granting carte blanche refusal rights-much like the law adopted by Mississippi in 2004, which allows any health care provider to refuse practically anything on moral grounds. â€Å"It’s written so badly there is no protection for patients,† (Erdely). It is mind boggling to see that this is allowed in the† land of the free†, the State where the people are allowed to be who they want to be, and the possibilities of living a successful and happy life are endless. What seems to be going on, and what we probably should be concerned about is that doctors are taking advantage of the clause and finding loopholes to be able to act upon their bigotry. The system seems to be seriously broken. If something is wrong than it is up to us to make them right. The main concern then should be getting the Obama administration to revoke the conscience clause that was put in place by President Bush right before he left office. If people began signing petitions, and calling the news stations to publicly get the word of the unfair treatment of patients needing medical attention. This method surely would be a great starts in fighting against these unfair acts. Once the word is out on the streets, multiple legal actions should start to be put into place towards those doctors that placed many lives at risk or altered their lives to a point where they did not want to be. Such examples would be women who were brutally raped and were forced to have the babe due to doctors refusing to help. Or women losing their lives because of  internal infections caused by pregnancy. It is a safe bet that what people want is a life where there is no judgment. A life where the color of skin, political party we, sexual interest, and lastly choices in life that are made good or bad, should not be the determinant nor reason to be handed down a death sentence (Rmuse). Our country should not be stepping back into a life of hate, disregard, and prejudice towards one another. It should be taking a step forward to a place where we all get properly treated and be refused a health service because of hatred. Works Cited Dweck, Jessica. â€Å"Can Doctors Refuse to Treat Patients Based on Their Political Beliefs?† Slate Magazine. N.p., 6 Apr. 2010. Web. 08 July 2014. Erdely, Sabrina Rubin. â€Å"Doctors’ Beliefs Can Hinder Patient Care.† Msnbc.com. N.p., 22 June 2007. Web. 08 July 2014. Kaye, Randi. â€Å"When Doctors Play Judge.† CNN. Cable News Network, 12 Nov. 2012. Web. 09 July 2014. â€Å"Pharmacist Conscience Clauses: Laws and Information.† Pharmacist Conscience Clauses Laws and Information. National Conference of State Legislatures, May 2012. Web. 06 July 2014. Rmuse. â€Å"Conservative Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists Create Death Panels By Abusing Conscience Clause.† PoliticusUSA. N.p., 4 June 2012. Web. 09 July 2014.

Academic Monitoring System using Android application Essay

ABSTRACT The portability, open source nature of smart phones and android OS for PC on android development platform has made the development of application software for various environments as handy. In this application are resulted in paper less work, easy to use and time saving in nature. The wireless communication technology of smart phone enables the information transfer from the current client to remote database server, where ever the network range is available. The Academic Monitoring System is a mobile computing software application, which focuses on an activity or function, which is based on management information system of academic institutions. Overall the system is acting as an effective tool, in assisting the smooth functions of the academic activities of an educational institution. The entire system development is proposed with Android development platform. Keywords: Academic Monitoring System, Mobile Computing, Android based Software Systems, Online Database Management System, We b Technology. 1. INTRODUCTION The nature of portability and handy use of smart phone led them in use of various applications where ever the personal computer is applied today. This project is about â€Å"Academic Activity Monitoring System (AAMS)† (every faculties posting attendance details can be easily traced out).The system will include the information about the attendance of the students credit system to keep a their performance record. This automation system is embedded into android application which runs in android OS for PC. In present system, every faculty posting attendance details can be easily traced out. The whole session is stored in the database and at the end of the semester or session report will be generated. The existing system is not user-friendly because the computer based attendance management and monitoring activities are handled with the help of manual and keying data to the database. The existing system functions with intranet and internet capability with off time data entry into th e database. The problem of real time data entry is proposed in this project work. The inter-related databases and tables provide a flexibility of none maintenance of specific records and avoids manual calculations. This monitoring system helps the management to handle their management activities with efficiency. More secured by means of information than traditional academic activity monitoring system. 2. HETEROGENEOUS COMPUING Mobile Computing & PC Computing Distributed Computing 3. EXISTING SYSTEM The faculty activities and functionalities are monitored in manual with the help of human. Collecting all attendance details of particular hour on real time is impossible task, when it is handled manual or semi computerized. Updating the database with the help of PC based computation is not a real time activity. Demerits: Lack of in-availability of information in real time. Time delay in data updating to the database. Consume large volume of paper work. Manual work 4. PROPOSED SYSTEM The entire system development is proposed with mobile computing concepts. The proposed system will easily handle all the data and the processes handled by this system is similar to the existing system with one variant as mobile computation instead of PC computation. The monitoring system proposed here is basically an integrated web project. The proposed project can be implemented using android. It allows the user to interact with the system in a graphical user friendly way. This system eliminates the drawbacks of the existing system and provides real time availability of information in the form of reports. Portability is one of the major key factors in this project. In this system fully online data server based application. Merits: Easily check whether for attendance post or not based on real time. The top level and middle management persons can monitor their management activities from their place and no need of manual or human physical monitoring. Per day attendance details are available to the management personals on his desktop. Time saving. It is user friendly. Details: 4.1. Modules: User Module – Administrator Attendance Posting Module – Faculty Update Database Module – Attendance Internet Connectivity Module – Android Client to Web Server based Online Database, PHP Scripts 4.2. Design & Development: User Module – Administrator Frontend: Android Design Backend: PHP Scripts Deployment in Web Server, Online Database Design Attendance Posting Module – Class Attendance Details with Time and Date (Theory & Laboratory) Update Database Module – Posting Attendance Details with Time and Date, Number of Students Present and Absent. Internet Connectivity Module – Android Client Connection with Campus WIFI, Retrieving the data to online database through webserver and PHP scripts 5. CONCLUSION This project will help the professor to post attendance or not time and calculations required to update the attendance manually. Administrator to identify for faculty activities in during class hour through web services. ` 6. FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS As soon as every faculty to posting attendance details such as class hall number, subject code, staff name, number of students present and absent details easily traced out. So easily monitoring every class details and staff activities through web server. 7. REFERENCES [1]www.android.developer.com [2]www.androidtutorial.com [3]www.w3schools.com [4]www.stackoverflow.com [5]www.mkyong.com [6]www.androidhive.info

Organizational Change and Development Mr. Carlos Ghosn

Organizational Change and Development Mr. Carlos Ghosn Carlos Ghosn is a businessperson who presently acts as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Paris-founded Renault. Additionally, Carlos acts in the same capacity at the Japan-founded Nissan (Millikin Fu 2005). These companies jointly generate more than 10 per cent of cars sold internationally.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Organizational Change and Development: Mr. Carlos Ghosn specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Carlos is as well the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Renault-Nissan coalition, the tactical affiliation administering both companies via distinctive cross-shareholding accord. For coordinating one of the most violent downscaling movements and leading the turnabout of Nissan Company at the verge of bankruptcy, Carlos attained his celebrity standing. Currently, Carlos ranks amongst the 50 most renowned individuals in international business and politics. In 1996, Carlos was empl oyed as the administrative vice president accountable for sophisticated research, purchasing, car improvement and engineering, and management of Renault Company (Yoshino Fagan 2003). Renault acquired around 37% stake of the Nissan Corporation in 1999. While continuing with his capacity at Renault, Carlos was hired as the CEO of the Nissan Company in mid 2001. Carlos met a debt of 20 billion dollars that the Nissan Company had not cleared. Additionally, just three of the forty-eight models of the Nissan Company were making a profit and undoing the falling fate of the company was deemed unattainable. Carlos promised his resignation if the company failed to attain a profitability status by the close of that year. He also affirmed that Nissan could have cleared all it debts by 2005. He disregarded business etiquette in Japan and went ahead to cut off 14 per cent of the entire workforce, closed up five plants, and sold off assets like the aerospace entity of the company.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Owing to his radical schemes, the net profit of Nissan rose to around 3 billion dollars in one year from a loss of 6 billion dollars in the previous year. Within twelve months of his 3-year turnabout scheme, Carlos managed to take Nissan back on the right course. By the end of the 3-year period, Nissan was among the moneymaking companies in the automotive industry. Moreover, the operating profit margin (prior to taxes and interests) of Nissan rose from 1.4% in 2000 to 9.2% in 2006. Carlos initiated major structural modifications at Nissan, considerably adjusting the culture of the company (Pisapia 2011). He stopped dependence of Nissan on an intertwined web of suppliers (keiretsu), modified the official language of the company from Japanese to English, and encompassed officials from Europe and the US in major international policy for the f irst time. In early 2005, Carlos was promoted by the Renault Company to be its CEO. With his assumption of the responsibility of CEO in both Nissan and Renault, he became the first individual to head more than one company simultaneously to the extent of their being among the Fortune 500 companies. He has maintained his dedication of establishing over a million trucks and cars every year in Japan. He has fully rebuilt every one of the earlier damaged plants making all plants attain full production. These efforts have placed Nissan past its rivals like Toyota in some markets. While heading the Renault Company, Carlos has ensured that it remained top on the sales charts by overpowering its rivals like Peugeot and to ensure that Renault evades losing in poor performance period of 2008, Carlos cut off 4800 workforce.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Organizational Change and Development: Mr. Carlos Ghosn specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In conclusion, dedication by Carlos improved both Renault and Nissan companies by making organizational change and development. The tactical partnership involving Nissan and Renault is not a unification or acquirement. Both companies are connected through cross-shareholdings accords (Segrestin 2005). This alliance has continued to widen its scope noticeably by establishing further partnerships. Reference List Millikin, J Fu, D 2005, ‘The global leadership of Carlos Ghosn at Nissan’,  Thunderbird International Business Review, vol. 47 no. 1, pp. 121-137. Pisapia, J 2011, ‘Finding the Future and Making It Happen’, Towards the Next Orbit:  Corporate Odyssey, vol. 1 no. 1, pp. 55-7. Segrestin, B 2005, ‘Partnering to explore: The Renault–Nissan Alliance as a forerunner of new cooperative patterns’, Research Policy, vol. 34 no. 5, pp. 657-672. Yoshino, M Fagan, P 2003, ‘The Renault-Nissan Alliance’, Harvard Business  School, pp. 303-023.

Free Essays on Street Crime V. White Collar Crime

Does Street Crime Pose More of a Threat to the Public’s Well-Being Than White Collar Crime? Computer Crimes versus Robbery Computer crime is a relatively new phenomenon with its conception being in the last half of the twentieth century. A computer crime is â€Å"any offense where the modus operandi or signature involves the use of a computer network in any way† (Casey, 2003, p259). The latter is a broad definition including many offenses such as social security fraud, embezzlement, piracy, and many more. Robbery, on the other hand, has been around much longer and more people are familiar with it. The Bureau of Justice Statistics defines robbery as â€Å"the completed or attempted theft, directly from a person, of property or cash by force or threat of force, with or without a weapon, and with or without injury† (2002). To determine the detriment to society of either computer crime or robbery, several aspects must be taken into consideration, including the victims, offenses, laws set forth for both, deterrence, punishments, and cost. In all, after discussing the previous issues invol ved in computer crimes and robbery, it will be apparent that the greater detriment to society comes from computer crimes. Victims of computer crimes are very different from victims of robberies. Computer crimes, because of the very nature of computers, have the ability to affect more people than any one robbery. Although the effects are more personal in robberies, the effects are much more widespread and serious with computer crimes. Not only do computer crimes affect people in the area they occur; their effects can be seen throughout the state, country, and sometimes even internationally. In his speech, Senator Biden stated that â€Å"if we are unable to preserve investors confidence, the markets will plunge and with them the health of our economy† (2002). From this it is apparent the severity of computer crimes and other white-collar... Free Essays on Street Crime V. White Collar Crime Free Essays on Street Crime V. White Collar Crime Does Street Crime Pose More of a Threat to the Public’s Well-Being Than White Collar Crime? Computer Crimes versus Robbery Computer crime is a relatively new phenomenon with its conception being in the last half of the twentieth century. A computer crime is â€Å"any offense where the modus operandi or signature involves the use of a computer network in any way† (Casey, 2003, p259). The latter is a broad definition including many offenses such as social security fraud, embezzlement, piracy, and many more. Robbery, on the other hand, has been around much longer and more people are familiar with it. The Bureau of Justice Statistics defines robbery as â€Å"the completed or attempted theft, directly from a person, of property or cash by force or threat of force, with or without a weapon, and with or without injury† (2002). To determine the detriment to society of either computer crime or robbery, several aspects must be taken into consideration, including the victims, offenses, laws set forth for both, deterrence, punishments, and cost. In all, after discussing the previous issues invol ved in computer crimes and robbery, it will be apparent that the greater detriment to society comes from computer crimes. Victims of computer crimes are very different from victims of robberies. Computer crimes, because of the very nature of computers, have the ability to affect more people than any one robbery. Although the effects are more personal in robberies, the effects are much more widespread and serious with computer crimes. Not only do computer crimes affect people in the area they occur; their effects can be seen throughout the state, country, and sometimes even internationally. In his speech, Senator Biden stated that â€Å"if we are unable to preserve investors confidence, the markets will plunge and with them the health of our economy† (2002). From this it is apparent the severity of computer crimes and other white-collar...

Acer Case

This time cellphones where not yet even invented so the market was pretty good for a starter. This is I believe one of the reasons why Acer’s startup was outstanding. One of the other many reasons is because of their willingness to try everything that came their way. They dared to do everything, from providing engineering to publishing trade journals. They were not hesitant and were very hungry to succeed. Acers CEO Shih was also a very charismatic leader, transferring very important philosophies to his employees hence creating a strong foundation. He paid his employees modest salaries and offered them equity. The employees in turn felt a sense of ownership and this had a very good impact on their performances. They were very loyal and followed Shih’s leadership. Shi did not only offer key employees equity but also delegated substantial decision-making responsibility to them. Empowering his employees in such a way only made them more loyal and committed to the company. Shih also believed and valued his employee’s education and created an environment where people were ready to learn and improve themselves. Joint ventures also cut down costs and developed good relationships with suppliers. The whole work environment was like a family and everyone there was very comfortable and happy. When employees are happy, the company’s customers are also happy. All of these reasons and more made Acer then known as Multitech outscore the other Taiwanese PC companies. After a strong decade of growth, why did Acer’s growth and profitability tumble in the late 1980’s? How do you evaluate Leonard Liu’s performance? Acers was founded in the mid 70’s and at that time the market was small. At the end of the 80’s there was a lot of competition and Acer had to struggle with these forces. Its competitors were producing PC’s at very low prices and Acer had to match that. One of the other reasons why Acer struggled is because it had expanded rapidly. This growth caused a shortage in management and some outside help ‘Paratroopers’ had to be brought in. Because of Acers overseas expansion these newcomers were supposed to help with the transition since they knew something about the international market. This however caused confusion in the company because of the culture clashes. The family culture was intruded by outside cultures and the working environments were no longer splendid. As mentioned before, happy employees lead to happy customers. Unhappy employee’s in turn lead to unhappy customers. Acer was also struggling financially. Expansion needs resources and these were not available. In order to solve this Acer had to go public and create equity by selling its stock on the market. As if this was not enough, Acer also had to deal with rebranding. This took up a lot of Shih’s valuable time. I look at Leu in different ways. First of all; he was just a man given a big responsibility and was trying to do the best he could. Some of his transformations were in the long run effective. He reorganized the company and this was very effective. Leu also gave some responsibility to the managers for the outcomes of their work, this made them work harder and they were careful in their decision making. However this changed the whole atmosphere in the company, the culture was changing and this was not appreciated. Culture is something one cannot change overnight but Leu tried to do that and it backfired. He tried to change everything overnight and this was never going to work with a company like Acer that was happy with their current culture and comfortable with it. Leu also spending a lot of money did not help and employees in the end lost faith in him. How effective was Shih in rebuilding Acer in the early/mid 90’s? What do you think of his new business concept (â€Å"fast food† model, Uniload, Smiling Curve, etc. ) and his new organization model (Client-Server, 21 in 21, etc. )? Is this a visionary framework for Acer’s future competitiveness, or a random series of ill-conceived top-down initiatives? Shih came back with some lessons learnt. Some of which came from Leu despite him leaving in a bad way. He found Acers organization was better and this helped him achieve his goals. He brought in new philosophies which lifted up the company and he communicated his ideas to Acer employees making sure they got the message and then acted upon it. The philosophy like ‘fast food businesses’ helped Acer to lower its costs and in the end make more profits. I believe through these philosophies Shih managed to get the attention of its employees and the message was therefore well communicated. Despite these strategies being vague I believe they were visionary. Acer needed to be redeemed to its old position and be given back its power. Its employees needed to be encouraged and be motivated to work. These strategies did the trick and created a turnaround for Acer. As Stan, what action would you take on Aspire? Should he approve its continued development? Should he allow AAC to continue to lead the project? With all of the changes Acer underwent, I would say Aspire was a good innovation and it is a chance not to pass. Aspire is a revolutionary innovation and if Shih lets it go, it will go to his competitors and he will loose out on a good opportunity. Him blessing this innovation will mean that he does what he preaches. He was always encouraging his employees to use their knowledge and skills and do something innovative. This was a chance to prove that he would support those innovations. I also think since AAC came up with the innovation they should be the ones to lead the project. This may even be an opportunity for Acer to expand deeply into other regions. Should Aspire become a global product? If so, who should manage the worldwide? Of course Aspire should go global!!! If the product is successful in one region they could try it in other regions and see how it performs there. In my opinion Taiwan should manage it because it is after the mother company and they have more experience in managing new products. Acer Case This time cellphones where not yet even invented so the market was pretty good for a starter. This is I believe one of the reasons why Acer’s startup was outstanding. One of the other many reasons is because of their willingness to try everything that came their way. They dared to do everything, from providing engineering to publishing trade journals. They were not hesitant and were very hungry to succeed. Acers CEO Shih was also a very charismatic leader, transferring very important philosophies to his employees hence creating a strong foundation. He paid his employees modest salaries and offered them equity. The employees in turn felt a sense of ownership and this had a very good impact on their performances. They were very loyal and followed Shih’s leadership. Shi did not only offer key employees equity but also delegated substantial decision-making responsibility to them. Empowering his employees in such a way only made them more loyal and committed to the company. Shih also believed and valued his employee’s education and created an environment where people were ready to learn and improve themselves. Joint ventures also cut down costs and developed good relationships with suppliers. The whole work environment was like a family and everyone there was very comfortable and happy. When employees are happy, the company’s customers are also happy. All of these reasons and more made Acer then known as Multitech outscore the other Taiwanese PC companies. After a strong decade of growth, why did Acer’s growth and profitability tumble in the late 1980’s? How do you evaluate Leonard Liu’s performance? Acers was founded in the mid 70’s and at that time the market was small. At the end of the 80’s there was a lot of competition and Acer had to struggle with these forces. Its competitors were producing PC’s at very low prices and Acer had to match that. One of the other reasons why Acer struggled is because it had expanded rapidly. This growth caused a shortage in management and some outside help ‘Paratroopers’ had to be brought in. Because of Acers overseas expansion these newcomers were supposed to help with the transition since they knew something about the international market. This however caused confusion in the company because of the culture clashes. The family culture was intruded by outside cultures and the working environments were no longer splendid. As mentioned before, happy employees lead to happy customers. Unhappy employee’s in turn lead to unhappy customers. Acer was also struggling financially. Expansion needs resources and these were not available. In order to solve this Acer had to go public and create equity by selling its stock on the market. As if this was not enough, Acer also had to deal with rebranding. This took up a lot of Shih’s valuable time. I look at Leu in different ways. First of all; he was just a man given a big responsibility and was trying to do the best he could. Some of his transformations were in the long run effective. He reorganized the company and this was very effective. Leu also gave some responsibility to the managers for the outcomes of their work, this made them work harder and they were careful in their decision making. However this changed the whole atmosphere in the company, the culture was changing and this was not appreciated. Culture is something one cannot change overnight but Leu tried to do that and it backfired. He tried to change everything overnight and this was never going to work with a company like Acer that was happy with their current culture and comfortable with it. Leu also spending a lot of money did not help and employees in the end lost faith in him. How effective was Shih in rebuilding Acer in the early/mid 90’s? What do you think of his new business concept (â€Å"fast food† model, Uniload, Smiling Curve, etc. ) and his new organization model (Client-Server, 21 in 21, etc. )? Is this a visionary framework for Acer’s future competitiveness, or a random series of ill-conceived top-down initiatives? Shih came back with some lessons learnt. Some of which came from Leu despite him leaving in a bad way. He found Acers organization was better and this helped him achieve his goals. He brought in new philosophies which lifted up the company and he communicated his ideas to Acer employees making sure they got the message and then acted upon it. The philosophy like ‘fast food businesses’ helped Acer to lower its costs and in the end make more profits. I believe through these philosophies Shih managed to get the attention of its employees and the message was therefore well communicated. Despite these strategies being vague I believe they were visionary. Acer needed to be redeemed to its old position and be given back its power. Its employees needed to be encouraged and be motivated to work. These strategies did the trick and created a turnaround for Acer. As Stan, what action would you take on Aspire? Should he approve its continued development? Should he allow AAC to continue to lead the project? With all of the changes Acer underwent, I would say Aspire was a good innovation and it is a chance not to pass. Aspire is a revolutionary innovation and if Shih lets it go, it will go to his competitors and he will loose out on a good opportunity. Him blessing this innovation will mean that he does what he preaches. He was always encouraging his employees to use their knowledge and skills and do something innovative. This was a chance to prove that he would support those innovations. I also think since AAC came up with the innovation they should be the ones to lead the project. This may even be an opportunity for Acer to expand deeply into other regions. Should Aspire become a global product? If so, who should manage the worldwide? Of course Aspire should go global!!! If the product is successful in one region they could try it in other regions and see how it performs there. In my opinion Taiwan should manage it because it is after the mother company and they have more experience in managing new products.

Evolution of Human Parental Care and Recruitment of Juvenile Help Research Paper

Evolution of Human Parental Care and Recruitment of Juvenile Help - Research Paper Example Cooperation between parents and juveniles The costs incurred in the raising of a child are high, and this is the reason parents opt for smaller families. The costs involved in this process tend to be high due to the investment in them and that they are free from any work. The cost of raising children in the pre industrial age was not as high since the children gave back to the society (Karen 54). Children receive assistance from their parents, and as so, their parents benefit from the assistance of their own children. The juvenility as such has a twofold nature of receiving and giving back. Juveniles both depend on their parents and at the same time help the parents. Young juveniles provide valuable childcare assistance to their siblings in many societies. The dependence and help from juveniles are some features that determine the modern human beings. Even, though, juveniles receive a lot of assistance from others, they also give back to by exchanging labor and resources with others more so those who assist them. Enlisting of juvenile help by the restructuring of parental investment to involve juveniles gives the humans an advantage (Royal society (Great Britain) 156). They are associated advantage to be able to both increase reproduction and increased offspring survival by incorporating interdependence at various ages. In the quantity-quality, trade off the determination of the quality of an offspring stems from the parental care given. The quantity or quality of resources allocated by the parent to the offspring is dependent on the ability of the parent to harness energy from the environment. The quantity-quality theory argues that if there are extra parental inputs these can affect the quantity or quality of the offspring by either direct allocation to the offspring quality and include food provision, childcare, all nursing, financial or other transfers. Extra parental inputs can also decrease the energy that the mother employs in providing and other activit ies leaving a metabolic stability for lactation and reproduction. Notwithstanding the physiological constraints in offspring production, quality of offspring is not necessarily a purpose of quantity. A juvenile who is not sexually mature to fit into the production class and not competing for mates does not fore go many costs. If the juvenile contributes in any way, directly or indirectly, and results in the reduction of the mothers energy employed the juvenile receives immediate fitness benefit and does not have to wait to maturity in order to benefit. According to Karen (88) division of labor celebrated as an age association as efficiency improves when inequities in return rates differ between tasks and individuals. When there is an adjustment of the level of investment by parents based on the availability of helpers, where help is sensitive to help accorded by juveniles then there can arise some changes. When the parents get helpers, they may increase their levels of investment an d retain the same level of care to the offspring’s and transferring the saved energy to the task of reproduction. The number of children might increase without necessarily reducing the survivorship or child quality unless the number of the helpers also decreases. If, on the other hand, the number of helpers increases due to the recruitment of juveniles, the parents then placed in a position to produce more children

Tissue Engineering (bone) Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Tissue Engineering (bone) - Lab Report Example The principle behind tissue engineering is to replace, regenerate, or repair damaged tissue. The common approach falls under the heading â€Å"Tissue Engineering Triad†: insertion of specific cells, the provision of signals that induce the growth of tissue, and the placement of specific cells on or inside certain scaffolds [1]. The regeneration of tissue requires the use of specific cell types for a specific tissue engineering approach. Local environmental factors also have an effect on the success of any tissue engineering approach [2]. Research states that body cells combined with scaffold biomaterials function as templates for regeneration of tissues to direct new tissue growth [3]. Hence, there is the need to understand how they interact at the cellular level. The biomaterials used may be natural or artificial. With the use of artificial materials, it is noted that their engineering is a challenge because materials that totally match the biological and mechanical bone matrix setting are yet to be produced [4]. Thus, natural materials that are intrinsic to the bone have been produced through the use of hydroxyapatite [5]. Their use has been facilitated by nanotechnology. It has been found that nano-hydroxyapatite develop a greater amount of cells, which is important for cell regeneration [6]. There are disparities when it comes to selecting the material that will imitate natural ones in the use of biomaterials [7]. Collagen is one of the main structural proteins found in the extracellular matrix. On the other hand, gelatine is a product of denaturation of collagen through the application of heat and has been widely used as a scaffold material [8]. Research studies indicate that collagen exists in many forms, but gelatine can be produced specifically through the type of collagen used to produce it [9]. On the other hand, collagen has been found to resist various proteases [10]. Thus, particular enzymes for its hydrolysis are needed [11]. Gelatine

Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery Planning models Essay

Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery Planning models - Essay Example The researcher states that there are various models of business continuity. Some of these models include standards, supporting policies and program development.   There are a number of standard bodies that publish business continuity standards. Some of these standards include ISO, North America, Australia and United Kingdom. ISO standards usually specify a management system that will manage an organization’s business continuity. ISO standards also provide advices and guidance concerning the continuity of a business. On the other hand, North America provides continuity programs such as organizational resilience. This involves preparedness, continuity management and security systems. United Kingdom was a business management continuity standard which was divided into two parts. However, it was replaced by ISO standards. The other model of business continuity is program development. This is a management-level process that ensures that appropriate measures are taken regularly to ensure identification of probable disasters, accidents, threats or emergencies. Program development also involves assessing possible effects of such catastrophes, development of recovery plans and, readiness through plan testing and personnel training. Policies are all the things, which the management of an organization has authorized to always be followed and performed in accordance with a present design plan. Policies are  designed  to  support all the functions in an organization.

Morgan stanly Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Morgan stanly - Essay Example The headquarters is located in New York City, Manhattan, and the representatives of the company, as well as subsidiaries can be found in 42 countries. Total assets that company manages or supervises, reported by the company, total $ 304 billion. The company was established in September 1935 by Henry Morgan, Harold Stanley, and others. The establishment was stipulated by the Glass-Steagall Act, that required the proper division of the banking and investment activity of the financial organizations. As Chiou and Larson (2005) emphasize the first operational year appeared rather successful, as the company managed to gain the 24% of the market share (which involved up to $ 1 billion) in managing the public offerings (up to 70% of the company’s assets) as well as private placements. In the end of 1930s the company participated in the industrial development of the USA by offering $ 100 million debentures for the US Steel Corporation, as well as obtaining the rail syndicate in 1939. T he 1950s period is considered as quite notorious for the financial structure of the company, since the company was involved into the banking activity by co-managing the World Bank’s bonds. ... in the same year, and entered the real estate business by this merger. In 1990s, the company added another financial management approach, and started serving like the underwriter for most technical and scientific initiatives. Therefore, Morgan Stanley served as the key underwriter for Netscape, Cisco, Compaq, Dolby Laboratories, Brocade, Google and others. The core products that the company offers for the financial services market involve Global Wealth Management, Investment Management and Consulting, as well as working out proper and relevant management strategies for the institutional financial securities. Industry Analysis Financial services that are offered by the Morgan Stanley and competitors are generally intended to regulate the financial flow, stabilize the economic and financial global situation, as well as secure the managed financial reserves, debts, and investments from financial catastrophes and crises. Therefore, the financial services industry involves such spheres as banking, financial insurance, managing security, investment fund controlling, retail, payment systems development. Considering the circumstances of the 2008 financial crisis, stabilization, and reformation of the global economic system is regarded as the priority for most experienced economists. They make emphasis on developing effective financial management tools, that financial companies possess. (Horrigan, 2004) In accordance with the estimates, offered by Halah Touryalai (2013), Forbes observer, the Morgan Stanley controlled up to 40% assets of the retail clients in 2012, and the forecasts for the years 2013-2014 expect that this share will suffer 16% decrease. RBC Wealth Management’s (regional assets broker) market share, in its turn is

CRJS350(4) Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

CRJS350(4) - Research Paper Example The investigator may also need an expert with analytical skills during post-scene investigation, for examination of documents, financial data or other reports, to identify, confirm or analyze theories or conclusions. Law enforcers may also be needed to keep the public away from the scene, as well as medical experts for first aid and counseling of victims and family members. The fire investigators should also get training to enable them evaluate fire spread, ignition dynamics, as well as fire detection. As a Metropolitan Arson Squad training and logistics officer, I articulate the training and equipment needed for arson scene investigations. There are several tools and equipment needed during and after an arson investigation. The most essential include a barricade tape to keep the public away from the scene, camera and spare batteries for photography of the scene to preserve evidence as well as a tape recorder (IAAI, 2011). Communications equipment is also important to get in touch wi th other agencies, for instance, the police or medical experts. Catalytic combustion detectors that speed oxidation reactions from certain chemicals and fuels are also important for the investigators. Photo-ionization detectors are also important for detecting the presence of hydrocarbon vapors. ... Training is important for the unit to carry out satisfactory investigation of the scene. For instance, training on several accelerants such as gasoline and kerosene and others is important to educate on their effect of speeding up the growth and spread of fires (IAAI, 2011). Most accelerant liquids have unique characteristics as seen in fire development and after the fire is out. The same also goes for chemicals, fuels and other ignitable materials. The investigator should know what to collect in terms of importance. Photography training for the investigators is important, as evidence inside and outside will be needed before excavation can be done. Pieces of evidence recovered should also be photographed. Training should also be done on how to collect trace evidence which will be used in the investigation. This includes skin, blood and hair, from which DNA can be identified. Fingerprints can also be taken from accelerant containers and devices. There are personal items that the inves tigator should carry. These include identification cards, uniform and badges for identification and their own protection (IAAI, 2011). Flash lights would be used to light the scene so as to facilitate the investigative process. A good dependable flashlight can be used by individual investigators but it cannot light up the whole scene. Thus a larger lighting device is needed. Electrical generators can be used if the main power supply has been interrupted. If a gasoline generator is used, it must be kept away from the origin of the fire and all cords must be examined to ensure the scene is not contaminated with hydrocarbons (Schottke, 2013). Inverters, though not as strong as generators, can

Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery Planning models Essay

Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery Planning models - Essay Example The researcher states that there are various models of business continuity. Some of these models include standards, supporting policies and program development.   There are a number of standard bodies that publish business continuity standards. Some of these standards include ISO, North America, Australia and United Kingdom. ISO standards usually specify a management system that will manage an organization’s business continuity. ISO standards also provide advices and guidance concerning the continuity of a business. On the other hand, North America provides continuity programs such as organizational resilience. This involves preparedness, continuity management and security systems. United Kingdom was a business management continuity standard which was divided into two parts. However, it was replaced by ISO standards. The other model of business continuity is program development. This is a management-level process that ensures that appropriate measures are taken regularly to ensure identification of probable disasters, accidents, threats or emergencies. Program development also involves assessing possible effects of such catastrophes, development of recovery plans and, readiness through plan testing and personnel training. Policies are all the things, which the management of an organization has authorized to always be followed and performed in accordance with a present design plan. Policies are  designed  to  support all the functions in an organization.

CRJS350(4) Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

CRJS350(4) - Research Paper Example The investigator may also need an expert with analytical skills during post-scene investigation, for examination of documents, financial data or other reports, to identify, confirm or analyze theories or conclusions. Law enforcers may also be needed to keep the public away from the scene, as well as medical experts for first aid and counseling of victims and family members. The fire investigators should also get training to enable them evaluate fire spread, ignition dynamics, as well as fire detection. As a Metropolitan Arson Squad training and logistics officer, I articulate the training and equipment needed for arson scene investigations. There are several tools and equipment needed during and after an arson investigation. The most essential include a barricade tape to keep the public away from the scene, camera and spare batteries for photography of the scene to preserve evidence as well as a tape recorder (IAAI, 2011). Communications equipment is also important to get in touch wi th other agencies, for instance, the police or medical experts. Catalytic combustion detectors that speed oxidation reactions from certain chemicals and fuels are also important for the investigators. Photo-ionization detectors are also important for detecting the presence of hydrocarbon vapors. ... Training is important for the unit to carry out satisfactory investigation of the scene. For instance, training on several accelerants such as gasoline and kerosene and others is important to educate on their effect of speeding up the growth and spread of fires (IAAI, 2011). Most accelerant liquids have unique characteristics as seen in fire development and after the fire is out. The same also goes for chemicals, fuels and other ignitable materials. The investigator should know what to collect in terms of importance. Photography training for the investigators is important, as evidence inside and outside will be needed before excavation can be done. Pieces of evidence recovered should also be photographed. Training should also be done on how to collect trace evidence which will be used in the investigation. This includes skin, blood and hair, from which DNA can be identified. Fingerprints can also be taken from accelerant containers and devices. There are personal items that the inves tigator should carry. These include identification cards, uniform and badges for identification and their own protection (IAAI, 2011). Flash lights would be used to light the scene so as to facilitate the investigative process. A good dependable flashlight can be used by individual investigators but it cannot light up the whole scene. Thus a larger lighting device is needed. Electrical generators can be used if the main power supply has been interrupted. If a gasoline generator is used, it must be kept away from the origin of the fire and all cords must be examined to ensure the scene is not contaminated with hydrocarbons (Schottke, 2013). Inverters, though not as strong as generators, can

Poverty and Crime Essay Example for Free

Poverty and Crime Essay â€Å"A study found that Americans who are living in extreme poverty has reached a 32-year high. This rise in poverty extends beyond ghettos and reaches to suburbs and rural communities. Poverty and crime has been a controversial subject over the years. Scholars argue that poverty does not have a relationship to crime because there are countries where poverty is very high but the crime rate is low. In the US it would be hard to argue that there is not a relationship between crime and poverty. The poor people make up an overwhelming majority of the people behind bars. Sociologist and criminal justice scholars have found a direct connection between poverty and crime. An economic theory of crime assumes that people weigh the consequences of committing crime. In an environment of extreme poverty, system failures abound. Establishing satisfying employment and economic well-being are important factors for successful reintegration from prison to the community. It will take all of us working together to make a real impact on this problem (capaassociation.org).† The Crime rates get higher as the poverty rates increase in America. But why do this happen, is it because people are getting desperate or is it just a consequence. A reason could be that people are running into conflicts. But another reason could be that some people look how others function and how they solve their problems. Or is it just how people label other people contributes the way they act in society. It is also possible that poverty is because of the culture of poverty. Conflict theories are the social, political or material inequalities of a social group, which detract from structural functionalism. People run in to conflicts in their life weather if there small or big, but the size of the problem is the individual’s decision. Some people resort to crime only if the cost or consequences are outweighed by the benefits to be gained. So if someone lost a job or needs money as fast as possible they are more likely to commit like burglary, mugging, larceny, or theft. Another conflict could be if someone finds out that a close friend is in trouble and they need money and they do what they have to help them out.

Management By Objectives Business Essay

Management By Objectives Business Essay The management by objectives is the best way to get more out of an employee in any organization. It is the way of dealing the problems by defining prior objectives for each employee and then to compare and to direct their performance against the objectives which have been set for each of them individually. It helps in increasing the performance of the organization by matching organizational goals with the objectives of subordinates from top level to the bottom level in any company. In normal cases the employees are asked to find out their own objectives and then they are evaluated by their superiors and will be added any extra if they do not meet the requirements or deadlines which are already preset for project completion. MBO includes tracking of the continuous changes of the processes and providing feedback to reach the objectives. Term coined by Peter Drucker: Management by Objectives was first introduced by Peter Drucker in 1954 in the book written by him, The practice of Management. According to DruckerManagers follow two rules without their knowledge Rule 1: With active involvement in the current activities,Managers come under a trap namely activity trap to successfully complete those jobs. Rule 2: As they are continuously involving in current activity it is quite common that they will lose their vision on long term goal. One of the concepts of Management ByObjectives was that instead of just a few top-managers, all managers of a firm should participate in the strategic planning process, in order to improve the implementability of the plan. According to Peter Drucker all managers (which implies both top as well as middle level) should: participate in the strategic planning process, in order to improve the implementability and practicality of the plan, and implement a range of performance systems, designed inorderto help the organization stay on the right track. Another concept of Management by Objectives was, that managers should implement a range of performance systems, which are designed to help the organization to function well without any problems. Clearly, Management by Objectives can thus be seen as a predecessor of Value Based Management. MbO Main Principles Cascading of organizational goals and objectives, Specific objectives for each and every member, Participative decision making, Explicit time period, and Performance evaluation after an activity and provide feedback. The SMART Objectives: The SMART goal era of the 1980s and 1990s provided some helpful criteria about what makes goals more or less effective in shaping behavior. By definition, a goal that doesnt shape behavior is ineffective. The theory went on to suggest that SMART parameters were good predictors of influential or effective goals. As an example, goals that were not specific or measurable were less likely to shape behavior than those that were high in these characteristics. Using a play on words, you were smart to include these characteristics in your goal and objective definition. Management by Objectives has also introduced the SMART method for checking the validity of the objectives, which should be SMART: Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic, and Time-related One of the almost important impressions of SMART goals is that they are pointed; they have an edge, often a sense of energy created by the specificity, the time limits and the measurement. Non-SMART goals seem flat in comparison (ie. Improve productivity); bureaucratic, like one more strategic plan thats going nowhere. While the enhancement to goal definition was a helpful direction, it did not address fundamental weaknesses in this model. In the 90s, Peter Drucker put the significance of this organization management method into perspective, when he said: Its just another tool. It is not the great cure for management inefficiency Management by Objectives works if you know the objectives, but 90% of the time you dont. The MBO style is appropriate for knowledge-based enterprises when your staff is competent. It is appropriate in situations where you wish to build employees management and self-leadership skills and tap their entrepreneurial creativity, tacit knowledge and initiative.Management by Objectives (MBO) is also used by chief executives of multinational corporations (MNCs) for their country managers abroad. Famous innovation management policies: MBO followed at Intel A Managers Guide at Intel provides the following directions. Start with a few well-chosen overriding objectives. Set your subordinates objectives that fit in with your overriding objectives. Allow your subordinates to set their own key results to enable them to meet their objectives MBO followed at Microsoft By: Bill Gates, Founder of Microsoft Prevent the missions or objectives that are competing against each other. Review Mechanism The review mechanism enables leaders to measure the performance of their managers, in the key result areas: marketing; innovation; human organization; financial resources; productivity; social responsibility; and profit requirements All individuals within an organization are assigned a special set of objectives that they try to reach during a normal operating period. These objectives are mutually set and agreed upon by individuals and their managers. Performance reviews are conducted periodically to determine how close individuals are to attaining their objectives. Rewards are given to individuals on the basis of how close they come to reaching their goals. . Setbacks of Management by Objectives: 1. May lead to suboptimalization: which means people are not ready to look beyond their own objectives and help each other. 2. Innovation cannot be seen anywhere. 3. Involvement of the time and paperwork. 4. Potential misuse by superiors who simply assign the objectives rather than asking their opinion. 5. Subordinates may try to negotiate easy goals. 6. Watch out for unrealistic expectations about what can be reasonably accomplished. 7. Inflexible and rigid. Solution: The Scheduled Project Management Drawing upon the influence of MBO theory that is to set clear objectives, build an action plan, andmeasure progress and Demings work (optimize processes and products by identifying andpracticing listed best practices behaviors), emerged the project management movement. Ineffect saying, 1. Yes set clear objectives, and get key stakeholder buy-in and definition for the participantthrough explicit requirement setting 2. Yes, put together a series of best practices action steps in the form of a work breakdownstructure. 3. But, what primarily helps people achieve their objective, is the planning, securing,scheduled deployment of resources and the completion of tasks. Project management is an evolution of MBO theory. Management by Objectives (MBO) (All about the goal) In the 60s, 70s and 80s it seemed like a good thing to manage work efforts by goals, hence theterm management by objectives. The idea was to improve management and workproductivity in general by being more clear visioned about the intended outcomesMBO principals contained many precursors to the basic building blocks used by current projectmanagement tenants. The basic MBO principles include the following activities: 1. Establishing a set of top level strategic goals. 2. Creating a cascade of organizational goals that are supported by the lower level definitiveobjectives and action plans. 3. There should be participative decision making in developing an organizational role and mission statement, as well as specific objectives andaction plans for each member. 4. Establish key results and/or determined performance standards for each objective. 5. Periodical measurement and assessment of the status or outcome of the goals. The assumptive strength behind the MBO model, as commonly practiced, is the notion that if adesired outcome is defined as a goal and progress is measured towards reaching that goal, thenthe chances of reaching that outcome are enhanced. Mission Statements and MBO All organizations have their own mission statement or vision statement that tries to encapsulate the overall strategic management of their company. Such statements are designed to implicitly state the organizations objectives in the broader sense. Yet this often fails to capture the true meaning behind the meaning of mission. A mission is an objective that needs to be managed, i.e they are the short term goals to be achieved. Therefore it should be specific to elements that make up the whole; thus flexible, dynamic and responsive to both the internal and external environment. Each mission needs a main effort an overriding factor that underpins the purpose of the mission. This should be communicated to all those involved it is the desired outcome that must be achieved. Expressed in this manner the objectives are clear, unambiguous and the employees are told what needs to be achieved not how to achieve them; thus encouraging new methods of innovation, flair and problems solving. SUMMARY: Successful management consists of settingup the good objectives and making the rightchoices towards the fulfillment of those objectives. Thosewho fail these two basic tasks, fail asmanagers. Management by objective is ageneralized procedure which lends itselfwell to that portion of management capableof being systematic. The remainingportion of management which is not systematic cannot be followed easily either in theory or in practice.