History Essay Introduction Essay

STEP 1: Focusing your topic: In writing a research essay for history, you should first formulate an idea (a working thesis) about the focus of your research. This gives you a starting point to find source information. The thesis statement must address your assignment. Use keywords from your assignment to help formulate a working thesis statement. STEP 2: Research: Librarians are trained to assist you with finding appropriate sources, but keep in mind there are some types of sources that are NOT appropriate to use for a college level essay. These include sources like encyclopedias (including Wikipedia), textbooks, Answers.com, etc. (These are places to start if you have no information about the topic, but they are not reliable sources of research info). Evaluate any source (especially Internet sources) you plan to use in your essay in terms of the following: Accuracy–(Is the information in the source correct? Does it generally match up with information you’ve found in other sources on the same topic?) Authority–(Who claims responsibility for the information in the source? You would not use a paper written by a 6th grader as a source for a college level class) Objectivity—(Is the author objective or biased? Is there an agenda?) Currency–(Is the information up to date? For example, you wouldn’t want to use a book published in 1959 if you were writing an essay about how students use computers to do research) Coverage—(Is balanced information provided, or is the coverage one-sided or incomplete?) Use sources that contain information that will support the thesis statement of your essay. Don’t use sources that you do not understand. STEP 3: Writing the essay: An academic research essay contains the following elements: Introduction—This introduces the reader to the topic and makes a specific claim (the thesis statement) about the topic. This claim is what the body, or main part, of your essay will support and explain. Argument and Documentation: Often called the body of the essay. This should be several paragraphs/pages long and contains the topic sentences that provide supporting points for your thesis statement, examples from sources that illustrate your supporting points, and explanations of HOW the examples illustrate your supporting points. Conclusion: Wraps up your essay and is the appropriate place to include your opinions about the topic. ↠ A word about transitions: Use them. You should create smooth transitions between paragraphs. This is often done by repeating keywords from the thesis and/or by introducing the topic of the following paragraph in the last sentence of the preceding paragraph. Transitional terms such as â€Å"In addition,† Similarly,† and â€Å"However† also help create smooth transitions. Repetition of keywords and ideas creates transitions. 02/08 The parts of a history research essay: Introduction: This section of the essay introduces the reader to the topic and to your particular historical take on the topic. Some historians like to â€Å"set the scene† with an anecdote that illustrates something important or interesting, or which catches the interest of the reader and focuses it on the essay’s topic. Others prefer to state vital data and background to the topic (one example of this would be a biographical essay which starts with information about when and where a person was born, etc.) Many find it easier to write the introduction after they have written the body of the essay. Statement of Thesis: This commonly appears within the introduction, usually as the last sentence of the first paragraph. Your thesis should be clear and straightforward. If you cannot state your thesis statement succinctly, you may need to think more carefully about what you are trying to argue in your essay and focus your topic more clearly. Argument and Documentation: The bulk of your research essay will be your support of the thesis statement from your introductory paragraph. A â€Å"format† to use for supporting your thesis might be as follows: MAKE A POINT, in your own words, that supports your thesis idea. This is the topic sentence of a paragraph. PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE from a source. This might be done in the form of a quote (using the exact words the source uses and quotation marks– ex. â€Å"quote†) or a paraphrase (restating the idea in your own words—no quotation marks). Whether you quote or paraphrase, you need to CITE any information you obtain from a source, and you do this by inserting a parenthetical note that includes the author of the source’s last name and the page number(s) where the information appeared in the source. For MLA format, the information that goes into the parenthetical note—ex. (Smith 64)—is the first bit of information about that source that your reader will see on your Works Cited page, so it is usually the author’s last name. If you do not have an author’s name, use keywords from the title—ex. The title of the article is â€Å"Joan of Arc: Heroine or Heretic.† Your citation might be (â€Å"Joan† 86). If there are no page numbers, as is often the case with Internet sources, the same citation would be (â€Å"Joan†). [pic]An important part of developing your research writing is to EXPLAIN how the EXAMPLE you have used makes your POINT. This explanation is written in your own words and should clearly indicate how you see the example conveying the point/conclusion you’ve reached about the topic. Conclusion: The conclusion wraps up your essay and serves as an appropriate place to offer your own opinion, apply the research to present-day issues, or state the historic significance of the topic. Visit The Learning Center website at http://www.tridenttech.edu/664_2970.htm for links to handouts on using MLA format, using thesis statements and topic sentences, and avoiding plagiarism.

Apes Air Pollution Vocabulary

Chapter 17 Vocab * Acid deposition- the settling of acidic or acid-forming pollutants from the atmosphere onto Earth’s surface. * Acid rain- Acid deposition that takes place through rain. * Aerosols- very fine liquid droplets or solid particles aloft in the atmosphere. * Air pollutant- gases and particulate material added to the atmosphere that can affect climate or harm people or other organisms. * Air pollution- the act of pollution the air, or the condition of being polluted by air pollutants. Ambient air pollution- see outdoor pollution * Atmospheric pressure- the weight per unit area produced by a column of air * Carbon monoxide- a colorless, odorless gas produced primarily by the incomplete combustion of fuel. * CFC’s- chlorofluorocarbon. One of a group of human-made organic compounds derived from simple hydrocarbons in which hydrogen atoms are replaced by chlorine, bromine, fluorine. Clean Air Act of 1970- revision of prior congressional legislation to control ai r pollution that set stricter standards for air quality, imposed limits on emissions from new stationary and mobile sources, provided new funds for pollution-control research and enabled citizens to sue parties violating the standards. * Clean Air Act of 1990- congressional legislation that strengthened regulations pertaining to air quality standards, auto emissions, toxic air pollution, acid deposition, and depletion of the ozone layer, while also introducing market-based incentives to reduce pollution. Cold front- the boundary where a mass of cold air displaces a mass of warmer air. * Convective circulation- a circular current driven by temperature differences * Coriolis effect-The observed effect of the Coriolis force, especially the deflection of an object moving above the earth, rightward in the northern hemisphere and leftward in the southern hemisphere. Criteria pollutant- six air pollutants- carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, tropospheric ozone, particulate m atter, and lead- for which the Environmental Protection Agency has established maximum allowable concentrations in ambient outdoor air because of the threats they pose to human health. * Ferrel cell-An atmospheric cell lying between the two thermally direct cells: the Polar cell and the Hadley cell. It transfers warm air to high latitudes and shifts cold air back to the subtropics, where it is warmed. Front- the boundary between air masses that differ in temperature and moisture. * Ground level ozone- see tropospheric ozone. * Hadley cell- A large-scale atmospheric convection cell in which air rises at the equator and sinks at medium latitudes. * Halocarbons- A chlorofluorocarbon or other compound in which the hydrogen of a hydrocarbon is replaced by halogens. * Inversion layer- in a temperature inversion, the band of air in which temperature rises with altitude. Montreal Protocol- he Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer is a protocol to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer. It is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of a number of substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion. * Nitrogen dioxide- a foul-smelling reddish brown gas that contributes to smog and acid deposition. * Outdoor pollution-air pollution that occurs outdoors Ozone depleting substances- airborne chemicals that destroy ozone molecules and thin the ozone layer * Ozone hole- thinning of the ozone layer over Antarctica. * Ozone layer- a portion of the stratosphere that contains most of the ozone * Particulate matter- solid or liquid particles small enough to be suspended in the atmosphere and able to damage respiratory tissues when inhaled. * Photochemical smog- air pollution containing ozone and other reactive chemical compounds formed by the action of sunlight on nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons, especially those in automobile exhaust. Polar cell- one of a pair of cells of convecti ve circulation. * Primary pollutant- directly harmful * Relative humidity-the ratio of the water vapor contained in a given volume of air to the maximum amount the air could contain for a given temperature * Residence time- in a biogeochemical cycle, the amount of time a nutrient remains in a given pool or reservoir before moving to another * Secondary pollutant- added to the atmosphere Sick building syndrome- a building-related illness produced by indoor pollution in which the specific cause is not identifiable. * Stratosphere- the layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere and below the mesosphere * Temperature inversion- an abnormal increase in temperature with height in the troposphere * Troposphere- the bottommost layer of the atmosphere * VOCs- volatile organic compound

Organization and Behavior Essay

1. Understand the Relationship between Organizational Culture and Structure 1.1. Compare and contrast three different organizational structures and cultures. The long term success and failure of every company depends on its structure – no matter how vague it may sound, structure of a company decides where the company will be in the near future. The three types of structures are: Functional structure – under this kind of structure, the company is divided into different groups, who are then assigned different tasks – like the accounts, the sales and admin, and the marketing departments. Divisional structure – this kind of structure is followed by companies with huge geographical area coverage. Each part of the area has a smaller division within the same umbrella group. Matrix structure – this is a combination of both the divisional and functional structures, and operates upon theories imported from these two structures. But, this structure is associated with ego clashes among the top positions, and power clashes. The different kinds of organizational cultures are as follows: Power culture: organizations following this kind of culture may be able to respond to crisis very quickly, but the problem is that the system is very centralized. This kind of culture relies heavily upon people rather than committees (Harris, 1994). Role culture – position is main criteria in the role culture. The organization is controlled by senior management at the top of the pyramid, and the system is also highly formalized. Task culture – this type of culture is practiced more often by organizations with a matrix structure. Main emphasis in this structure is given to completion of tasks. It strongly believes in the unified power of a team (Harris, 1994). 1.2. The relationship between an organization’s structure and culture There is a very strong relation between organizational structure and its culture, as only the perfect match of the two factors will lead to a good working environment in office. At TESCOS, as a store manger, it is  definitely a priority to look at the kind of attitude and behavior the employees are having, and how clean and suitable the culture is. If the structure of a company id hierarchical, with all the decisions being made at the top, the employees will have no or less freedom, and there will lack of autonomy at the lower level of the pyramid. On the other hand, if the power is divided between all the sections, the company culture will be lot more friendly, with the employees at all levels enjoying equal freedom (Parker, 2000). 1.3. Overview of four factors that can influence individual behavior at the Irish TESCOS Environment – more emphasis put on building a friendly and mutual environment in the workspace will ensure that team work and productivity of the company increases. Technology – the better the prevailing technology at the core of the company, the lesser the employees will have to work, and hence, better streamlined workflow and productivity can be ensured. Locus of control – employees who have an external locus of control will constantly criticize people, find faults, and also depend on others for their success. On the other hand, people with internal locus of control think that their own destiny is in their own hands. Customer Demand – though and external factor, but it is to be noted, that the more the demand, the more the sales, and greater the growth of the company (Parker, 2000). Task-2 2. Understand the Relationship between Organizational Culture and Structure 2.1. Compare three different leadership styles for three different business  organizations Leaders are different, and so are their leadership styles. Leaders are meant to motivate their team, and hence, leadership styles sculpt the outlook of the staffs. Here are the various leadership styles: Laissez Faire – in this kid of leadership style, the leaders allow a certain level of freedom is given to the staff, and trained directors are appointed to coordinate efficiently between the high level managers and the working staff (Antonakis et al, 2004). Autocratic style – under this style of leadership, the leaders keep an eye on the employees at all time, and face time is increased. There are a lot of arguments over this style of leadership, as there exists no or little freedom for the employees, and they sometimes find it extremely uncomfortable to work under these situations. But when practiced in a controlled manner, this style can be effective, especially under tight deadlines (Antonakis et al, 2004). Participative – This is a good balanced style, and a mix of both the autocratic and Laissez Faire styles. This gives a little bit of freedom to the employees, while the managers are still around supervising at all times. 2.2. How organizational theory underpins the practice of management for the Irish TESCOS In the Irish TESCOS scenario, organizational theory has a vital role to play. The authenticity and practicality of organizational theory has been questioned by many modern scholars, but the fact remains that these theories underpin and supports the stability of an organization. These theories, apart from helping the managers to find out the prevailing problems in the company, also help them to find the right method to deal with the problem, and ultimately solve it. There are a lot of these theories – they have been created in different  periods, with different economic and socio economic conditions – and the real art for managers’ lies in finding the best method out of these, and applying them in the present context. Some of these theories may seem to be obsolete these days in the age of ever changing technology, but it is to be understood that they form the base and foundation of companies across the world. 2.3. Evaluate four different approaches to management used by different organizations. The four different managerial approaches are as follows: Participative- Under this approach, the managers discusses and collaborates with his team managers about the decision making process. [pic] Bureaucratic- Bureaucratic is opposite to participative process, where the manager forces the team members to follow strict rules, and to obey a chain of commands (Tittemore, 2003). Autocratic – An autocratic manager is almost a ‘dictator’ who supervises his people at all steps and ensures job is done at the right time. Hands off approach- This is the friendliest approach of all, where the manager gives complete freedom to his men in all respects (Sapru, 2008). Task-3 3. Understand ways of using motivational theories in organizations 3.1. How different leadership styles impact employee motivation in periods of change Periods of change are often the periods when crisis happens. Hence, good leadership techniques are to be adopted by the leaders to protect the company from sudden jerks. Here are the most commonly practiced leadership  styles: Autocratic – managers following this style will never allow the team members to contribute towards the decision making process, and will try to establish huge confidence towards their own decisions. Democratic – totally opposite to autocratic style of leadership, when special attention is paid to what the team members think. The point of views of the employees is hence at least heard before making the final decision. Quiet – in this process of decision making highly trained employees are recruited by the manger, and then leaves day to day decision making to them, as he remains ‘quiet’. Transformational – as the name suggests, the manager practicing this method tries to encourage and motivate his team about the bright future of the company, and hence tries to extract more productive work from them (Robbins and Judge, 2008). 3.2. Identify the application of three different motivational theories within the workplace. Listed below are three different motivational theories: Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs – Maslow states that human needs can be graphically represented as a pyramid, and they move from the bottom to the top; as the needs at the bottom are satisfied, man focuses on the next need at the top. These needs range from love needs, social needs, to self actualization (Maccoby, 1998). Carrot Stick – this theory was coined by Bentham, and explains that human is motivated by either of the two forces – fear or incentives. Either he will work to fulfill his money, security and other material needs, or he will work due to pressure and fear. The motivation – hygiene theory – this theory was introduced by Herzberg in 1959, and stresses on the fact that employee satisfaction and dissatisfaction is caused by some ‘hygiene factors’ (Maccoby, 1998). 3.3. The usefulness of a motivation theory for managers at the TESCOS in Ireland. Companies like the TESCOS do rely on their employees for not only production, but also for proper distribution and even product quality control. But to get exceptional performances from them it is required for the managers to provide proper motivational incentives. Motivational theories can help the TESCOS managers to properly motivate their employees and provide them proper job roles for increased productivity. Organizational Management – organizations use motivational theories to promote favorable working conditions at the organizational and departmental levels. Rewards – The reward system takes a lot from the expectancy theory, and helps motivating the employees to work even harder, as they see their work being appreciated. Perception of the employees – in the equity theory, it ca be learnt that employees perceive the rewards given to them in exchange of the work that they need to do. When the perception and actual incentive matches, the employee gets motivated to perform better in the future (Robbins and Judge, 2008). Productivity – a lot of company incorporate goal setting as a fine tool to increase the productivity level of the employees. Task-4 4. Understand mechanisms for developing effective teamwork in organizations 4.1. Explain the nature of groups and group behavior within organizations. A group may be defined as a collection of individuals who have similar aims and are set to achieve the same goal. Groups are mainly of two types: Formal Groups – these groups are designed by companies, and each group is assigned different and specific tasks. Informal groups – these are groups formed by individuals themselves. Hence, they are not properly arranged, and not at all structured (Butler 1986). Groups are formed over a series of steps. They are: Forming – the initial stage of group formation. In this stage, the resources and other details required to form the group are procured. Storming – much like ‘brain storming’, in this stage, the individuals in each group challenge and try to find answers. Conflicts are common in this stage. Norming – in this stage, all conflicts are resolved, as the answers to the questions asked by the members are found. Performing – in this stage, coordination, and team work starts taking place between the different team members, and they start becoming a single unit. 4.2. Factors that may promote the development of effective teamwork in organizations The factors that can improve teamwork are: Good leadership – A good leader ca motivate his men in performing better and reaching greater heights. Hence, leadership is a factor that should never be underestimated. Leaders are adept in different theories and motivational methods, and the best leaders are those who can take spontaneous decisions (Parker, 2000).. Diversity – good teamwork develops as and when the members embrace diversity in terms of age, sex, religion and culture. Communication – if communication is strong among all the team members, everyone will be on the same page, and will also be equally informed. Great communication is the key to effective team building. Team Building Exercises – proper training is to provided for effective team building; and the training is to provided with the help of professionals who can indulge the team in proper drills and exercises. 4.3. Impact of technology on team functioning within TESCOS in Ireland. In the modern era, no organization can work without upgrading to the latest technological trends. Technology not only makes sure that the employees have to work less, but also ensures that the results are always accurate, and there is no repetition of jobs. While emails can help the employees to communicate with themselves and the third parties, devises like the Blackberry and Smart phones enable them to properly communicate. Teleconferencing allows the team to communicate over distances effectively without being physically present there. And of course, computers are, the more advanced, the better. Not only TISCOS, but every company these days understand of the important role that technology plays, and hence have started to upgrade to the latest technological updates. References Antonakis, J., Cianciolo, A. T. and Sternberg, R. J., 2004. The Nature of Leadership. New York: Sage Publications, Inc. Butler Jr., J.K., 1986. A global view of informal organization. Academy of Management Journal, 51, 3, 39-43. Harris, S. G., 1994. Organizational Culture and Individual Sensemaking: A Schema-Based Perspective. Organization Science, Vol. 5,(3): pp. 309–321. Maccoby, M., 1998. Why Work: Motivating and Leading the New Generation. New York: Simon & Schuster. Parker, M., 2000. Organizational Culture and Identity. London: Sage. Robbins, S. and Judge, T., 2008. Essentials of Organizational Behavior. 9thEd, New Jersey: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Sapru, R.K., 2008. Administrative Theories and Management Thought. New Delhi: Prentice-Hall of India Private Limited, p 276 Tittemore, J. A., 2003. Leadership at all Levels. Canada: Boskwa Publishing.

Psychology paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Psychology paper - Essay Example One of the first similarities between what took place at the prison outside of Baghdad and what unraveled at the makeshift prison at Stanford is that the people portraying the guards had no previous experience in those roles. The United States soldiers only had experience as soldiers, but they still enforced their authoritative roles on their prisoners, much like the guards in the prison experiment. These roleplaying guards also did not have experience, though that did not stop them from making it known who had the greater power. In both cases, the soldiers and the pseudo-guards conformed to the roles of real prison guards the more that they exercised their power over the prisoners, doing what they could to dehumanize them. The guards and the prisoners alike had no choice but to accept these roles, even though the guards soon began to abuse their power. The abuse itself was similar in nature and in intensity. The purposes behind the abuse in both cases were to degrade and humiliate. The abuse was also used to instill a sense of fear in the prisoners, as well as to make it known who was in charge. The rights and bodies of the prisoners were violated, and they were denied essential aspects of a healthy life, such as food or a healthy environment.

Occupational Health & Safety Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Occupational Health & Safety - Essay Example In this similar context, workplace stress is fundamentally described as the physiological and the physical effect that is experienced by a particular individual or people while engaging with any sort of employment (Erickson, 1996). In this paper, a detailed analysis of workplace stress relating to OHS will be discussed. A Brief Overview of Workplace Stress Workplace stress is regarded to be a major issue in the organizational context. This is for the reason that this particular factor can broadly affect the heath of an individual by causing severe stresses. Workplace stress can generally take place in any place of work of different organizations if there lay inconsistencies between workplace demands and the ability of an individual to perform deliberate acts in order to comply with those demands. It has been apparently observed that stressful workers often remain less productive and incompetent and most significantly motivated, which further restricts the organizations to accomplish their desired business targets. Moreover, the organizations are not able to attain greater success in this competitive market due to the presence of stressful workers within the workplace. Another major reason of creating workplace stress is the incapability of the business managers belonging to any particular organization to provide greater support to the employees and controlling and motivating them for the accomplishment of organizational goals. Moreover, workplace stress can also occur due to the reasons such as unpleasant tasks, ineffective control and unsuccessful participation in decision-making process (Leka, Griffiths, & Cox, 2003). Managing Workplace Stress Workplace stress is considered to be a critical determinant that affects the health and wellbeing of a particular individual at a significant level. After acquiring a brief idea about the different causes of generating workplace stress, it can broadly be stated that there are several ways by which stress or workplace st ress can be minimized to a greater extent. In general, normal stress can be managed by taking proper care of oneself through performing regular exercise, consuming healthy foods on a frequent basis and sleeping properly. Similarly, workplace stress can be managed through maintaining a balanced schedule, evading performing multiple tasks at a time and making effective plans of availing short-term breaks while conducting work activities (Cartwright & Cooper, 1997). Furthermore, workplace stress can be reduced by managing emotions in a constructive and positive way, meeting challenging situations and solving conflicting conditions through handling work pressures and staying focused on the activities that are needed to be performed. Furthermore, stress in the workplace might also be reduced through establishing and developing effective communication with every organizational member and preserving a healthy climate within the workplace (Help Guide, n.d.). Finally, it can be affirmed that workplace stress can be managed effectively with the application of a risk management approach. This approach can be measured by recognizing the hazards that are prevalent for causing detrimental effects to employees in the organizational context (Leka, Griffiths, & Cox, 2003). Workplace Stress in Relation to Occupational Health and Safety with Case Example With regard to determining the issue of workplace stress relating to OHS, it has been apparently observed that workplace

Online Writing Lab Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Online Writing Lab - Essay Example You, I believe, would also be experiencing the same difficulties with language and culture that all people coming from other countries face during the early days adjusting in the new environment. The matter doesn't get any easier especially for an immigrant coming from a developing and a Muslim country like Pakistan in our case. Locals looking at us with a suspicious eye, jobs not easy to secure, investigation teams just around the corner waiting for us to make a wrong move etc are some of the problems that we have to cope up with. Apart from this there comes the problem of communication gaps that exist between the locals and people like us who use English as a second language. Writing applications, interview letters, and even writing and speaking simple words may elicit negative and undesired feedback due to inappropriate usage of grammar. Sometimes using correct sentence composition may land us in trouble since the usage did not convert to the same context in the local's minds due to cultural differences. Having experienced these issues myself, I have some encouraging news for you about how to avoid landing into tricky situations in front of your peers. Leafing through my computer files yesterday I found my solution to the cultural and language problems I had faced during my initial days in the United States. The solution was a simple Online Writing Lab called 'OWL' for short. An OWL is an always available facility which provides you free writing resources and instructional material on the internet. It is a portal where students, members of the community, and global users can find information to assist them with many writing projects while teachers and trainers can use the material for in-class and out-of-class instructions. Every country has its own set of rules and expectations about the ways to communicate in a business setting. In some countries, they may place less emphasis on written materials and more emphasis on verbal communication. However, in the United States, memos, letters, and emails are important and play a role in creating a person's business reputation. The 'OWL at Purdue' has a special section relating on how Non-Americans should go about writing for a business audience. It includes information on how to approach a topic by getting to the point, to keep the message simple, how and when to use active and passive voice with special emphasis on nondiscriminatory language, and a guide on using verbs rather than keeping the message vague. The best part of the Online Writing Lab is that it provides a teacher-student relationship as in a school yet a completely professional online environment just like in the case of distance learning. You can write a letter for your business purpose, but send it first to your teacher at the OWL from where you will receive instructions and training on how to improve your business writing. As a result you can then send the convincingly written revised letter for the business purpose you initially intended and get a firm response. Not only this, there is a lot more available on their website including basic formatting and referencing styles for business reports, demo letters and memorandums, and writing guidelines. Your reputation remains safe while all the time you learn how to make your writing skills even better. And while your writing skills improve, you are assured that your spoken language gets better. Your convenience is the key here. You can send emails, write letters or memos, and make corrections and revisions all at a

My Leadership experiences Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

My Leadership experiences - Essay Example As a student in a graduate school, I have maintained my position as a group leader. As a result, I have learnt to appreciate and deal with individuals who have different cultural backgrounds and ethnicity. There were also times when conflicts of interests are present within the group that I handle. By establishing an open communication line with the team members, I was able to successfully resolve the misunderstandings and arguments within the group. In the process of calming down the increasing tension, I have taught my group mates the importance of Tai Chi as a relaxation technique wherein the group members have decided to individually write down their frustrations, anger and discouragement in a piece of paper and place them in the ‘garbage basket.’ As a result, I was able to successfully reduce the negative pressure that exists among the team members. In general, the practice of a weak leadership is likely to contribute to the organizational failure and inefficient operations within the Navy. In line with the inefficiency in the Navy’s operational system, there is a higher chance of having a decreased working attitude and morale of the leaders as well as his or her subordinates. In the end, it becomes more difficult to create and maintain a healthy and peaceful working environment for the team members. Based on my previous leadership experiences when implementing an important organizational change, ‘resistance to change’ among the team members is one of the most common loop-hole or bottleneck that could impede the planning of developmental stage in the Navy. Basically, the three major factors that could promote resistance to change include: (1) the fact that people may feel that they have no control over the sudden changes; (2) the workers may see change as a threat to their current positions of

God's grandeur Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

God's grandeur - Essay Example Basically, the poem bears the purpose of summoning forth the attention of readers to comprehend the nature of God as a divine being and become transported to a dimension of enlightenment instead of preferring to dwell in the mundane life of pure dull work. Through the first part of â€Å"God’s Grandeur†, the octave consists of rhyming pairs ‘foil / oil’, ‘rod / trod’, and ‘toil / soil’ out of consecutive lines whereas ‘God-shod’ comes from two separate lines in the beginning and in the end. This pattern exhibits how the poet renders the rhythm to sound as though there exists ‘springing’ within intonations or tones so that the intended effects accord with the theme of enlivening God’s qualities in a reader’s mind or imagination. Hopkins makes use of words that possess relevance with each other as in the case of ‘toil’ and ‘soil’ as well as ‘rod’ and ‘trod’. On beginning with â€Å"The world is charged with the grandeur of God†, the poet means for the reader to be reminded of the typical knowledge of power via the verb word ‘charged’ with which may be associated an electrical charge, electricity, or an electric field full of charges and electrifying potential each of which is symbolic of power. Based on this perspective, Hopkins seemingly desires a critical reader to draw analogy between the flowing charges to light and God’s power to God’s consuming brilliance and somewhere, perceive the overwhelming difference between man and God. The speaker of the third viewpoint proceeds to state in awe: â€Å"It will flame out, like shining from shook foil; It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil.† In the first use of simile, the thought about ‘flame’ in signifying ‘grandeur’ is aided by the imagery of a foil that shakes and shines at the same time. This somewhat contrasts the second simile where

Jewish Cosmopolitanism in the Modern Era Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Jewish Cosmopolitanism in the Modern Era - Essay Example As the Jews started to prosper in there respective settlements, so did Anti-Semitism grow and developed into one huge monster that today’s history still recalls. Anti-Semitism is defined as the hate towards people of the Semitic group. This hatred is defined in various forms that include cultural, political, economic, religious, racial, and apocalyptic. Milestone events that marked the height of Anti-Semitism included the First Crusade back in 1096, that happened in France and Germany, The Massacre of Jews in Spain in late 1300s, Expulsions from England, Portugal, Russia and Soviet Republic. The peak of all these was the Holocaust by the Germans under Adolf Hitler. All these revolutions were about Jewish clearance due to many aspects relating to Anti-Semitism. The above historical events changed the Jewish perception of themselves. This was from the new definitions that were given of the Jews in the many expulsion revolutions that were Anti-Semitic. General fear of being assoc iated to the Jewish culture with an imagination that the same could eventually happen and the same fate repeat itself allover again is another main cause of change. These two causes have redefined the modern Jews, turning them into a cultureless population spread allover the world, and minority seclusions with respect to discrimination they faced back then. This has caused tremendous assimilation where the current Jewish has turned into a cosmopolitan culture, giving no origin or definition. This paper shall analyze some of the causes that the city has had in the identity-building process that has resulted into the evolution of the traditional Jew into an independent modern-day Jewish Cosmopolitan. The changes of the Jews shall be attributed to the main Anti-Semitic hatred forms that attributed the Jews as unique, thus deserving the hatred they received, and still to some reasonable measure, still receive. These are cultural, economic, religious, political, apocalyptic, and racial p erceptions. Major cities in the world are cosmopolitan; meaning that they host diverse cultures, races, religions and tribes. Based on the Anti-Semitic belief by the Jews that predominantly having the desire to exercise the Jewish Culture would lead to the easy identification of Jews, much care is taken. There is also a belief that since the Jews were considered as the Chosen Lot, there was a tendency of them wanting to overturn any other culture and make people assimilate their culture. The result of this fear made the modern-day Jew take up the cultures of various cosmopolitan groups in the city, gifting them with diverse survival tactics that aped all the communities. This gave the modern Jews an upper hand as they were able to interact with all the groups. According to them, this was a survival skill they had to learn in order not to be distinct and conspicuous for any attack from the Anti-Semites. This was good, but eventually, Jews lose their touch with their culture and thus lose there identity too. Judaism, the main Jewish religion, has had a long misunderstanding with Christianity ever since the emergence of Christianity. This misunderstanding arose from various factors that included the differences in beliefs about God, processes and general conduct. This is despite the origin of the two being from the same historical foundation, usually described as the Second Temple period. The dominance of Christianity has, however, outweighed Judaism with statistics showing a population of 2 billion

BG Group plc Accounting Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

BG Group plc Accounting - Coursework Example Of the three business segments of the company, the E&P segment is the largest in terms of non-current assets subject to impairment issues. Oil and gas exploration is a capital intensive activity and all costs incurred are capitalized as intangible assets until oil or gas is discovered. Once the reserves are proven, these costs are transferred to property, plant and equipment in the company balance sheet. Costs incurred on unsuccessful oil and gas fields are written off in the in the income statement (BG Report 2011, pp 89). This method of accounting based on â€Å"successful efforts† is not a term defined in the IFRS 6 but used by the oil and gas industry as a carry over from previous GAAP practices (KPMG, 2008). BG plc does not differentiate between development fields and production fields. This too is inline with accepted industry practice (KPMG, 2008). Non current assets are reviewed at least once a year for impairment. As on 31 December 2011, BG Group held a balance of $ 4,383 million in expenditure related to unproved oil and gas reserves within the category of intangible assets. In the previous accounting year, this figure was higher at $5,342 million (BG Report 2011, pp 89). For assessment of impairment, BG plc combines oil and gas production fields into cash generating units based on geographical location, use of common facilities and marketing arrangements (BG Report 2011, pp90). This disclosure is not usually made in Oil company reports (KPMG, 2008) and is therefore an improvement on industry practice. BG plc uses the net present value of future cash flows for impairment assessment using certain short term and long term assumptions depending on the nature of the asset. The Exploration & Production business segment is particularly sensitive to commodity prices. Impairment testing of oil and gas properties is based on assessment of proven and probable reserve estimates using the SEC definition (BG

English Language Learners Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

English Language Learners - Research Paper Example This essay discusses that when one viewed the wealth of materials regarding the topic ‘English Language Learners’ from the online search medium, one would be awed at the magnanimity of results amounting to more than 16 million in various informational categories. The fact signifies the extensive interest on the topic manifested by an array of practitioners and users, especially in the field of education. This area of education would thereby be more explored in the current research to proffer pertinent details that led to the development and continued focus on English Language Learners (EELs) in the contemporary academic setting. This area is chosen to enhance one’s awareness on the subject of interest and thereby enable one to share the knowledge, including crucial information to assist and guide other ELLs that one would potentially interact with in the near future, specifically in terms of improving learning outcomes. The discourse would initially present the de finition of key terms, evolution, historical development and continued growth within this area of academic discipline. Likewise, one would determine current legislation that shapes it in contemporary times; in conjunction with expounding on the best practices related to curriculum and instruction utilized in English as the Second Language (ESL) setting. In addition, one would also identify and describe specific technological applications and future trends that influence and affect English Language Learners (ELLs). ... 1). On the other hand, the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) differentiated analogous terms such as ELL, ESL (English as Second Language), LEP (Limited English Proficiency) and EFL (English as Foreign Lanuage), as summarized in Table 1 below: Table 1: Definitions of Key Terms KEY TERMS DEFINITIONS ELL (English Language Learner): an active learner of the English language who may benefit from various types of language support programs. This term is used mainly in the U.S. to describe K–12 students. ESL (English as a Second Language): formerly used to designate ELL students; this term increasingly refers to a program of instruction designed to support the ELL. It is still used to refer to multilingual students in higher education. LEP (Limited English Proficiency): employed by the U.S. Department of Education to refer to ELLs who lack sufficient mastery of English to meet state standards and excel in an English- language classroom. Increasingly, English Language Lear ner (ELL) is used to describe this population, because it highlights learning, rather than suggesting that non-native-English-speaking students are deficient. EFL (English as a Foreign Language)Students:nonnative- English-speaking students who are learning English in a country where English is not the primary language. Source: (National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), 2008, p. 2) Historical Development The origin of instruction to ELL was actually traced as early as the 1600s and 1700s when some states were reported to establish private and public schools with bilingual education regulations during the European colonization of the United States

Different Types of Documents Produced in a Business Environment Essay Example for Free

Different Types of Documents Produced in a Business Environment Essay The different formats in which text may be presented are font typefaces, headings, font size, effects (bold, italics, underlined), colours and text boxes. We can format text in paragraphs, tables and columns. We can add bullet points, headers and footers. We can also add tables, graphs, diagrams and flowcharts as a clear way to represent data and processes. 1. 3 Explain the purpose and benefits of producing high quality and attractive documents The documents you produce for your organisation are an image of representation of your organisation. So it creates an impression on the reader about the standards of the organisation. A good quality document that looks good to the audience can gain more customers and increase the company’s reputation. The quality of your documents is a reflection on you. 2. 3 Describe different types of technology available for inputting, formatting, and editing text and their main features A keyboard and mouse would be the main technology to insert text into a computer. When using a keyboard you press the specific key for each character that needs inputting, and this is transferred on to the computer screen, in a word processing program. A mouse helps you navigate on the computer screen to select the programs to select the programs to open and view and type the text. Another form of inputting could be copying and pasting information from the internet or another document. You could even use a scanner to input text and transfer documents into the computer. Within the Microsoft Word package, you have the following tools to format the text to make it look high quality: -WordArt: this includes effects such as shadows, outlines, colours, gradients, and 3D effects that can be added to a word or phrase. WordArt can also bend, stretch, rotate, or modify the shape of the text. -Page layout: the arrangement of text, images and other objects on a page. -Columns: this is a vertical division of text on a page, usually found in the layout of booklets, newspapers, magazines and leaflets. -Paragraphs: usually a distinct, short section on a document/ piece of writing, usually with a single theme. -Headers and footers: A header or footer is text or graphics that is usually printed at the top or bottom of every page in a document. A header is printed in the top margin; a footer is printed in the bottom margin. The types of technology that are available to edit text are: -Spell check: a computer program that identifies possible misspellings in a block of text by comparing the text with a database of the correct spellings. -Grammar check: this is a tool on Microsoft programs that gives you helpful hints to improve your sentence structure. -Find and replace: this is a function that allows you to search for a particular word in a document and replace it if you need to rename more than one word. 3. Explain the benefits of agreeing the purpose, content, style and deadlines for producing documents. The audience of a document is the group of people for who it is written for. Therefore, documents should be designed to meet the needs of the expected audience. You need to know the purpose of the document so you know what and how to produce it, for example, if it is advertising for young people you would want it to be eye catching and in a style that will appeal to them. It is important to agree the content so you can obtain the information, plan and organise the layout. Deadlines are important so you can plan other work around it and complete the document on time. 3. 2 Outline different ways of organising content for documents. To organise the content you require for a document, you first need to find out how the document is to be presented and the information that is to be included. But ways you could organise content could be: -Bullet points -Alphabetical ordering -Chronological order -Headings -Text -Graphs -Text boxes You should then store all the information needed safely and with clear file names. 3. Outline ways of integrating and laying out text and non-text. Text and non text can be integrated easily with Microsoft Word or Publisher. There are many ways of laying out a document, using columns, graphics, and blocks of text, headings, background colours, images and white space and wrap text around; which helps you to work around with its different features to get a consistent format. Also there are other office applications that help with integrating and laying out text and non-text, for example, Excel and PowerPoint, help with integrating text and non-text in spread sheets and slides. Many organisations use a logo on all their printed materials and their documents often have a very specific style. This will be achieved by always using the same fonts, font sizes, text and page colours and page layout. 3. 4 Describe ways of checking finished documents for accuracy – including spelling, grammar and punctuation – and correctness, and the purpose of doing so. When you have finished creating a document, you should review and check it thoroughly before sending or printing the document. Word documents have a spell check function, however even using spell check might not be completely accurate, therefore using a grammar check on the document as well, will be more beneficial. After doing the spell and grammar checks, you could ask another colleague to proof read your work – having a proof reader can help highlight problems as they are a fresh set of eyes that have not read the document. Re-reading the documents several days after completing, may refresh your mind to notice any corrections and adjustments. It is beneficial to compare the final version with original notes and rough drafts. All of these checks are to ensure that your document that you want to make is fit for purpose and correct before showing to a senior member of staff or production of the document. 3. 5 Explain the purpose of storing documents safely and securely, and ways of doing so. Any document with any sensitive information should always be stored safely; electronically or physically. For example, -A filing cabinet which can be locked, as it may be required for future use/reference. Storing confidential documents electronically should always be stored with password protection, on a safe and secure operating system. -Locking your computer if you’re leaving your desk, even if it is for just a few minutes. -Being aware who is around you or your desk when dealing with documents with confidential information on. 3. 6 Explain the purpose of confidentiality and data protection when preparing documents. Any form of personal information held about a person within a company is protected under the Data Protection Act; this means all data should be kept confidential. This is significant to ensure nobody will be able to get the data and pass the information on. Confidentiality is very important when preparing documents, because Oxfordshire County Council is involved with a lot of personal data: †¢Full names †¢Contact details (addresses and phone numbers) †¢Records When preparing documents we need to be aware of what we are including in the document, for example if you are adding a photograph, do you have the right permission to use it? As a company, in order to protect the users and the owner, confidentiality must be observed. 3. Explain the purpose and benefits of meeting deadlines. If deadlines are valued and meeting those deadlines is enforced, expectations are consistent. It is important that you produce your work to the best possible standard in order to meet the requirements of the person setting the task. This will show you are responsible and trustworthy and you can be relied upon to get things completed. You may not know who else might be waiting for your work; it could have to be passed on to someone else. This may cause problems and delays in the workplace and could affect team relationships.

Samsung managing intangible assets across borders

Samsung managing intangible assets across borders Unlike other electronic companies Samsung origins were not involving electronics but other products. In 1938 the Samsungs founder Byung-Chull Lee set up a trade export company in Korea, selling fish, vegetables, and fruit to China. Within a decade Samsung had flour mills and confectionary machines and became a co-operation in 1951. From 1958 onwards Samsung began to expand into other industries such as financial, media, chemicals and ship building throughout the 1970s. In 1969, Samsung Electronics was established producing what Samsung is most famous for, Televisions, Mobile Phones (throughout 90s), Radios, Computer components and other electronics devices. In 1978, Samsung Semiconductor became a separate entity producing for the domestic market. With the development of a 64K DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) VLSI chip (Very Large Scale Integration electronics chips) it expanded globally. In 1987, the founder and chairman, Byung-Chull Lee passed away and Kun-Hee Lee took over as chairman. In the 1990s Samsung began to expand globally building factories in the US, Britain, Germany, Thailand, Mexico, Spain and China until 1997. In 1997 nearly all Korean businesses shrunk in size and Samsung was no exception. They sold businesses to relieve debt and cut employees down lowering personnel by 50,000. But thanks to the electronic industry they managed to curb this and continue to grow. In the financial crisis in that year, Samsung was facing US $20 billion in debt and had to slim down the company by more than 100 non-essential businesses in a restructuring process. It kept only 47 affiliated companies and strategically re-focused on four technical components: displays, storage media, random access memory (RAM) and processors. The history of Samsung and mobile phones stretches back to over 10 years. In 1993 Samsung developed the lightest mobile phone of its era. Then they developed smart phones and a phone combined mp3 player towards the end of the 20th century. To this date Samsung are dedicated to the 3G industry, making video, camera phones at a speed to keep up with consumer demand. Samsung has made steady growth in the mobile industry and are currently second but competitor Nokia is ahead with more than 100% increase in shares. It is ranked as number 21 of the 100 most valuable brands worldwide carried out by Interbrand in 2008. This is an increase of more than 200% since 2000 with brand value rising from US $5.2 billon up to US $17.5 billion.  [1]   Samsung has recently overtaken Sony as the worlds biggest producer of televisions. Its philosophy of bringing people the latest technology at a fair price has quickly made it a firm consumer favorite, while its phones are now second only to Nokia. Looking ahead, the brand realizes the importance of having stronger representation at the point of sale, so it will open more Samsung retail outlets to deliver the full brand experience. The restructuring process led Samsung also to focus on core businesses. It restructured its business into four strategic business areas Home Network, Mobile Network, Office Network and Core components that support network products. Samsung follows a simple business philosophy: to devote its talent and technology to creating superior products and services that contribute to a better global society. Every day, its people bring this philosophy to life. Its leaders search for the brightest talent from around the world and give them the resources they need to be the best at what they do. The result is that all of its products-from memory chips that help businesses store vital knowledge to mobile phones that connect people across continents- have the power to enrich lives. And thats what making a better global society is all about. At Samsung, a rigorous code of conduct and some core values are at the heart of every decision they make. Quite simply, a company is its people. At Samsung, they are dedicated to giving their people a wealth of opportunities to reach their full potential. Everything they do at Samsung is driven by an unyielding passion for excellence -and an unfaltering commitment to develop the best products and services on the market. In todays fast-paced global economy, change is constant and innovation is critical to a companys survival. As they have done for 70 years, they set their sights on the future, anticipating market needs and demands so they can steer their company toward long-term success. Operating in an ethical way is the foundation of their business. Everything they do is guided by a moral compass that ensures fairness, respect for all stakeholders and complete transparency. A business cannot be successful unless it creates prosperity and opportunity for others. Samsung is dedicated to being a socially and environmentally responsible corporate citizen in every community where they operate around the globe. COMMUNICATION POLICY Since 1998 Samsung has been an official sponsor of the Olympic Games: Nagano (1998), Sydney (2000), Salt Lake City (2002) and continued its sponsorship until 2008. During the Games Samsung provides athletes, organizational staff and journalists with especially developed mobile phones promoting Samsungs products and delivering its promise of being an innovative and flexible company. With the Olympic Games Samsung gained quick, cost-effective global exposure. Its brand awareness increased after each Olympics about 2% and had a huge impact on the quick rise of the brand. Brand value increased since 2000 until 2004 about 100%. Samsung lends support to people and their communities in many different ways. Their current area of focus is on investing in teenagers futures, through support of science education and creative thinking that encourages leadership; assisting children in low-income families by supporting educational infrastructure and discovering and supporting outstanding students; and supporting programs that encourage family well-being. They also carry out programs in these areas at each of their eight volunteer centers. Samsung provides support for diverse artistic and cultural activities around the world. Over the years, Samsung has contributed extensively to numerous museums, galleries and exhibits in Korea and in many countries, including the United States and France. The Samsung Museum of Modern Art collects preserves and exhibits modern and contemporary art from Korea and abroad, while the Samsung Childrens Museum, the first of its kind in Korea, invites children have fun exploring the world they live in. Samsung also hosts and supports various cultural events for children and programs that encourage their early artistic development. In 1995, Samsung launched the Social Contribution Corps to encourage employees to get involved in community service. The initiative has since expanded to eight volunteer centers across Korea, manned by social welfare experts who support the development of employee volunteer programs. Their employees use their expertise and skills to give back to local communities and each employee donates an average of 10 hours to community-based projects. Strengthening the minds and fostering the creativity of young people is a primary focus of many of Samsungs programs. Samsung is a major supporter of the Korea Youth Science Olympiad, the countrys most prestigious science competition for junior, middle and high schools and the National Students Creativity Olympiad, aimed at encouraging inventiveness among students from junior to high school levels. Since 2001, Samsung has teamed up with the Green Family Movement Association to run a green school, which promotes environmental awareness in children and enables them to take practical steps to protect the ecosystems. For its target customers, Samsung established both in B2C and B2B the concept of hero products. It means that each Samsung subsidiary has to define at least one hero product, e.g. mobile phone, TV or digital camera, which has based on local or regional market research potential to become a blockbuster. Samsung very closely involves its target customers in the development/research process via generating feedback on its B2B online platforms. To achieve business impact, a common planning/monitoring across disciplines is needed with a brand management via value creation and innovation rather than simple cost controlling. Samsung, when switching its strategy towards a premium brand, started to move its planning towards communication activities which have impact on each step of the customer relationship path, i.e. from awareness to purchase to loyalty. Two major directions of impact towards high-end distribution channels and an emotional approach for its campaign were Samsungs strategy. In its latest campaign, Samsung cemented the companys new up market image by promoting its products in high-end distribution channels. Despite several challenging moments for the semiconductor industry, such as the recession in early 1990s and early 2000, Samsung aggressively increased its investments in the business unlike the rest of the industry which laid-off workers to cut cost. This preemptive investment strategy helped Samsung to gain market share and to meet the rapidly growing demand for 4 megabyte chips after 1994 in the global market. Samsung became the number one memory chipmaker in 1993. By pursuing twin goals of leading-edge technology and producing one generation-old products in the niche market of memory chips, Samsung successfully avoided risks of failing in the market. They laid out Flash memory where text, photos, sound and screen can be saved in the small-sized chips. Samsungs market share of memory chips has been growing continuously from 10.8% in 1993 to 28% in 2004, but it still follows Intel in the non-memory sector. In 2000, Samsung asserted that digital consumers, a growing importance of business networks and technical devices would create new demands for semiconductors in the future. Samsung recently announced its plans to beat Intel in computer chip sales and to make a better partnership with it at the same time. Synergy effects will be drawn when all three core elements of investment, leading-edge technology and the unique digital products work together within a dynamic business interaction. Samsungs vice president Yun Jong-Yong stated that the company will try to become one of the top 3 electronics firms by 2010 in terms of quality and quantity and will therefore try to raise its brand value and revenues in its semiconductor business over Intel. Despite tough competition Samsung and Intel both plan on building better platforms to improve combined business opportunities. Samsung is already leading the electronic market in some product segments, such as in the set-top box as leading product in home networking. FUTURE CHALLENGES As the market leader in semi-conductor chips, the third largest cellular handset maker in the world behind Nokia and Motorola, and the largest manufacturer of flat display screens in the world, Samsung has indeed come a long way from its humble beginnings of 1938. But Samsung faces some tough challenges in the future. Maintaining consistency Samsung has invested billions of dollars in global advertising and brand building activities. Given its presence in multiple industries on the one hand and its consistent investment in RD on the other, it will be difficult for Samsung to sustain its investment in branding activities. But Samsung must not be complacent and reduce the brand budget. It has not yet reached a position where the brand can live independent of its products as Sony does. Therefore, it will be extremely important that Samsung continues to build and nurture its brand in a consistent manner. Spreading the corporate brand too thinly Even today, the Samsung name is found on literally everything from ships, memory chips, to mobile phones and camcorders. Although the company is leveraging its brand to build new business and gain considerable advantage in existing businesses, this can prove dangerous to the corporate brand. As Samsung has been trying hard to position itself as a premium lifestyle brand worldwide, many of the businesses in the Samsung portfolio do not match this positioning. Therefore, although it might appear as an advantage at the outset, spreading the corporate brand too thinly across a wide array of businesses might prove costly to Samsung in the long run. Local and international competition Today Samsung is faced with never-seen-before competition in the consumer electronics industry. Not only should it fight the leaders like Sony and Canon, but also the new crop of companies which are following the Samsung path to compete with Samsung, the most significant one being the LG Group of South Korea and potential competitors from China and Taiwan. Although Samsung has a comfortable lead time due to its top-notch technology and constant innovation, this should not lead to any sort of complacency. Samsung should continue investing in technology and design capabilities on the one hand and marketing and brand management activities on the other to maintain the lead over its rivals that it has so tirelessly built over the past decade. There is a high intensity and constant competition in the electronics industry and usually the main competitors come up with new products very often. If a company does not keep up with trends and new products, they will lose their customers and profits. According to Barney and Hesterly, high levels of rivalry are indicated by such actions as frequent introduction of new products by firms in an industry (Barney, Hesterly, 2008, p. 46). Rivalry tends to be high where there are numerous firms in an industry and these firms tend to be roughly the same size. Furthermore, rivalry tends to be high when firms are unable to differentiate their products from competitors in an industry. This can be seen in the personal computer and DVD industry. In the PC laptop industry, companies are focusing more on services that accompany the laptops and the designs of the computers. In the DVD industry the products are very similar and perform the same functions, thus it is hard to compete with existing co mpanies. If a company decided to compete in this industry, they have to compete with intense price rivalry. Dell focuses their strategy on selling their computers online and providing excellent customer service. They save money on not having a physical store and focus on online distribution instead. This saves them money and they can compete on other levels. With the popular trend of the internet, companies are now competing with providing more services online and expanding their online advertisement. The threat of Substitutes Substitutes in the consumer electronics industry are many and the different companies competing in this industry must apply many strategies in order to compete and make profits. The substitutes in the electronics market can be divided in to 4 categories. As will be mentioned the important factors in every industry of the general electronics market. Telecom The substitutes in the telecom industry are landline phones and email. At the moment, landline phones are losing popularity because of lower prices and popularity of cell phones and internet calling programs. In the cell phone industry, Apples I phone has the latest technology with its Touch screen, but companies are following and introducing new phones. Samsung has just introduced new line of innovative cell phones for 2008. Cell phones and PDAs have standard features and the only product differentiation lies with adding services such as Bluetooth, gaps and other communication applications and tools that are important for customers in the cell phone industry. Samsung provides an affordable PDA with the modern features to satisfy the average telecom user. Apple and Nokia are selling mobile phones with new technology for a high price for customers who are willing to pay more. There are not many substitutes for PDAs. The main one is using a cell phone or computer, laptop to call someone using e.g. Skype. Laptops / PC In the PC industry, the threat of substitutes is not very high because there are not many products that can do what a computer or laptop can provide. The only substitutes are portable and handheld devices. They are competing on price and trying to increase value based on service and customization. The major substitutes for computers are PDAs and cell phones for contacting other people. In terms of writing documents, portable devices are substitutes. Digital Cameras In the digital camera industry, there are two major substitutes. The first one is the film camera, and the other one is the cell phone camera. Unfortunately, there is not much interest in film cameras because of outdates technology and cell phone cameras dont provide the same quality and storage as digital cameras. HD TV Television have recently become very popular with the new HD technology. The substitutes for TVs are computers and laptops. For people who travel a lot, prefer to watch movies and favorite shows on their laptops because they can download or stream popular TV shows and movies from online sites. Furthermore, another substitute for TVs are going to the movies or watching videos on your IPod. Because of the limited availability and space on IPods and the smaller size of a laptop screen, TVs will still stay popular and be high in demand. Managing the Samsung brand architecture The Samsung name is used to represent every business unit of the Samsung group, as mentioned earlier. Even though the trend of late is to nurture a strong corporate brand, as Unilever and PG have been doing, Samsung lacks the necessary similarity between its various business units. Therefore, Samsung should develop a strong brand architecture system which will define and monitor the interaction of various brands within the Samsung portfolio with the corporate brand. This will be easier said than done, given the extremely diversified business units of the chaebol (Korean business conglomerate). The brand architecture would also guide Samsung in acquiring new brands to enter the value segments of different markets, as LG has done with the Zenith brand in the US to target solely the value segment. With the millions of dollars that Samsung has spent over the past decade to build the Samsung brand, it will be a major challenge to put in place a strong architecture system which will help the branding practices of Samsung going ahead. Creating the Samsung personality Most great brands are those that have strong personalities, with Apple iPod being the latest proof. But Samsung seems to have ignored this crucial aspect in building its brand. Although Samsung has been doing all the right things in its communications, it has not focused on creating a strong personality for its brand. It does not own anything specific in the consumers minds, like a Harley-Davidson standing for the rugged independence of western America or a BMW standing for the ultimate driving experience. As has been well recorded in the branding literature, a successful brand not only provides the customers with functional benefits, but also emotional and self-expressive benefits. So far, Samsung has emphasized the functional benefits of leading-edge technology, contemporary designs and exciting features. It needs to go beyond this and create a cult following for its brand, like the Apple iPod has done. Samsung needs to ensure that its brand can live on independently of its products. This could prove to be a major challenge. Although it is still a newcomer, Samsung has made significant inroads into the home and office printing markets over the past few years. The company has secured the second-place position in the laser printer category, following behind Hewlett-Packard but surpassing Brother and Lexmark. Samsungs ultimate intention is to achieve the top-tier position by 2010, but this is an aggressive goal that will require the right products and solutions, as well as a sound go-to-market strategy. Samsung has certainly been keeping on top of market trends, and it has launched a product range that is designed to meet the demands of todays consumers. The company has scrapped its A3 products and now offers multifunctional versions of all its devices, as well as recognizing the importance of the scanning function. Probably the most important announcement in 2008 comes from the solutions area, as Samsung finally has a competitive offering for this field. Samsungs next challenge will be to engage the channel to market these solutions. Samsung has enjoyed a year of growth and success. It is regarded as one of the worlds leading companies, producing products that are highly respected in the marketplace. The Samsung name is everywhere: in Asia, Europe and the Americas; the Northern and Southern hemispheres; in long-established nations and newly emerging ones. Samsung name means quality and innovation, and represents the combined teamwork of tens of thousands of employees worldwide. Samsung is moving to the forefront of the industry today because of its decade of dedication to the simple principles of change, innovation and creativity. Now that it is at last experiencing the success it has so long pursued and worked so hard to achieve, its mission has broadened. For with success come serious challenges and responsibilities. I believe that it is well prepared to meet these challenges and responsibilities. Success at Samsung has been the result of its relentless and fearless pursuit of change. It has taken the accepted and charged its employees to change it for the better. And it has dared to imagine the unimaginable. Nothing for it is ever finished-it can always be improved. It has used change as a motivator for its employees, as a metaphor for its culture and as a measure of its forward movement. Change has created momentum throughout the company. At Samsung, change has resulted in success-and success necessitates further change. It is now incumbent upon Samsung more than ever to continue to change at an accelerated rate. It will always stretch to greater heights. It will not rest on its laurels. People from the company will work harder, reach farther and continue to encourage and value change in order to maintain their leadership position. The responsibilities implied and demanded by its accomplishments are to its customers, its employees and to the communities around the world where it has made an impact, as well as to those where it will be influential in the future. Its customers have come to expect great products and service from it and Samsung will continue to deliver these. Its employees have come to expect a fertile environment in which they can create and a management structure that encourages, nurtures, values and rewards the creative process. Exploration of the possible-and sometimes the impossible-will always be encouraged. Among its immediate neighbors and around the world, there has been much transition. The world economy and social order have both been affected. There is much uncertainty ahead. It is its responsibility, broadly, to make the world a better place. Samsung do this every day through its products, which create better lives for the customers, and through demanding the highest standards throughout the organization. Now that the company finds itself in a leadership position, it is favorably situated to build on its legacy of change, innovation and creativity. Its five core values-people, excellence, change, integrity and co-prosperity-have served it well in the past and will continue to provide the sturdy foundation for a rewarding future. As employees worked to achieve these goals, they relied on these core values to overcome formidable obstacles: fierce competition, unhealthy economic environments and a rapidly changing world with many risks. Now stuff must look to these core values to maintain and improve their position as a market leader. It is now up to Samsung to redefine the future. It is not just their desire, but now also their duty to continue to strive to reach new heights. By taking on responsibility for the future, they can lead by example and demonstrate to the world that with hard work, it too can change for the better. Their growth and their future will come from the loyalty of their customers. They have earned this loyalty from their hard work in the past, and it will inspire them in the future. It is this loyalty that fuels the Samsung spirit and compels them to always keep moving ahead. It will not be easy maintaining their leadership position, but they are prepared for the challenge. They will redefine the future through their creative talent and by continuing to cultivate a culture that does not fear failure. The best measure of the success will be their ability to look back a year from now and be proud of their accomplishments, which were once only dreams. At Samsung, stability and security come from change. Through it, people working in the company will continue to aspire to lead and be prosperous. CONCLUSION Samsung Group is more than just the nations largest conglomerate. It is a mega brand with considerable cultural significance à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ a business card with the blue and white logo is much coveted, while any Korean national would take pride in a Samsung billboard in a foreign country. Samsung has made itself noticeable as one of the most innovative and quality brands in the electronics industry. Samsung strives to be sustainable and achieve competitive advantage by remaining at the forefront of the digital market. Samsung policy is We will devote out human resources and technologies to create superior products and services thereby contributing to a better global society. Samsung provides the electronics market with a full range of great consumer products, ranging from mobile devices to home appliances. They have proved themselves an innovative and efficient company that strives to provide their customers with the newest products for a great price. With their wide range of products they have generated a powerful supply of products. In order to secure future success in a very competitive market, they need to focus on being innovative and expand their products in to new markets and countries. Samsung should also invest heavily into establishing its brand name in foreign countries to attract talent. Applying all of these recommendations and suggestions will generate a better future for Samsung and will make them be able to compete with other companies in the industry. Samsung is a market leader or major market share holder in its many segments. Samsung leads but does not lead a pace that cannot be followed or easily copied. For example, Apple leads the digital music player market at a pace that its competitors cannot follow. Apple passed its competition through its competitive advantage: innovation. Company culture at Apple creates the pace of innovation and new product designs and introductions. Samsung needs to lead the market through an innovative competitive advantage to push a pace not easily copied. Samsung has encountered foreign competition because foreign competition has acquired its own domestic talent. Samsung should invest heavily into establishing its brand name in foreign countries to attract talent. Samsung is moving to the forefront of the industry today because of its decade of dedication to the simple principles of change, innovation and creativity. Now that it is at last experiencing the success it has so long pursued and worked so hard to achieve, its mission has broadened. For with success come serious challenges and responsibilities.

Speed Up Construction IBS Systems

Speed Up Construction IBS Systems Introduction In this chapter, the author reviewed works done by others through journals, articles, newspaper cutting, and quotes from authors and online articles collected. IBS system is a process to speed up the construction work and to minimize the dependency of labour on site. The objective of this study is further discussed about the barriers of contractor in implementing IBS. Besides that, this chapter also will focus on the basic review of IBS such as definitions, background, types and characteristics in IBS and have a basic introduction about the detail of IBS. Industrialised building is the term given to building technology where modern systematized methods of design, production planning and control as well as mechanized and automated manufacture are applied (Ingemar Lofgren and Kent Gylltoft, 2000) While Building system mean a building system includes design rules and a product system whose parts have compatible interfaces, thus permitting the use of several alternative components and assemblies is assured by means of a dimensional and tolerance system as well as connection and joint (Ingemar Lofgren and Kent Gylltoft, 2000) Definition of IBS There was no commonly accepted or agreed definition of IBS. Several authors have defined IBS as process or a technique. Blimas et. al. (2006) and Pan et. al. (2008) defined that IBS is often referred by literatures as off -site construction, off-site production, industrialised and automated construction. Warszawski (1999) explain in detail that an industrialized process is and investment in equipment, facilities, and technology with the objective of maximizing production output, minimising labour resource, and improving quality while a building system is defined as a set of interconnected element joint together to enable the designated performance of a building. Another definition by Trikha (1999) claimed that IBS also may be defined in which all building components such as wall, floor slab, column and staircase are mass produced either n factory or at site under strict quality control and minimal on site activities Another definition that clarified by Junid (1986) where IBS as process by which components of building are conceived, planned and fabricated, transported and erected at site. The system includes balance combination between software and hardware component. The software elements include system design, which is complex process of studying the requirement of the end user, market analysis and the development of standardise component, establishment of manufacturing and assembly layout and process, allocation of resources and materials and definition of a building designer conceptual framework.The software elements provide a prerequisite to create the conducive environment for industrialised to expand. According to Juunid (1986), the hardware elements are categorised into three major groups. These include frame or post and beam system, panel system, and box system. The framed structures are defined as those structure that carry the loads through their beams and girders to columns and to the ground whilst in panel system load are distributed through large floor and wall panels. The box systems include those system that employ three-dimensional modules (or boxes) for fabrication of habitable units are capable of withstand load from various directions due to their internal stability. CIDB defined IBS as construction system whereby the components are manfactured in a factory, on-site or off-site, then positioned and assembled into structures with minimal addtional site work. Classifications of IBS This section will focus on the classification of the building system that are published internationally and in Malaysia There are four types of building system under IBS in Malaysia and there are namely conventional column-beam-slab frame systems with timber and plywood as formwork, cast in-situ system with steel or aluminium as formwork, prefabricated system and the composite building system is shown in figure 2.1. Each building system is represented by its construction technology, functional and geometrical configuration (Badir et al, 1998). (cited at Thanoon et. al., 2003) According to Majzub (1977) has different concept in classifying building system that is the relative weight of the components should be used as a basis for building classification shown in figure 2.2. The factor of weight has significant impact on the transportability of the components and also has influences on the production method of the components and their erection method on site. This classification method is found to be inadequate to incorporate other building system flourish recently. There are five types of IBS had being used in Malaysia: (IBS Road Maps 2003-2010) Type 1: Pre-Cast Concrete Framing, Panel and Box System The most common group of IBS products is pre-cast concrete of elements in construction industry. For example, there are including columns, beams, slabs, Three-Dimension (3D) components (balconies, staircase, toilet, lift chambers), permanent concrete formwork, and so on. (CIDB, 2005). Pre-cast concrete framing, panel and box system is under categories of prefabricated system. The advantage using this is because it cans minimum waste due to work environment in factory is easier to control. Panel system is use for the construction of interior walls and exterior walls offer speed of construction in many ways. For box system will achieve ultimate objective of industrialization that is a maximum saving of human labour on site. Type 2: Steel Formwork Systems This system considered as least prefabricated IBS, as they generally involve site casting and subject to offer high quality finishes and fast construction with less site labour can come in tunnel formwork, beams, columns, and slab moulding forms permanent steel formworks (metal decks) and so on. (CIDB, 2005) The steel formwork is prefabricated in the factory and then installed on site. Type 3: Steel Framing System This system always be the popular choice and used intensively in the fast-track construction of skyscrapers. Recent development in this types system included the increased usage of light steel trusses. Steel is non combustible material and improves fire safety and reduces amount of structural damages in the event of a fire happen. Example: Steel beam, columns, portal frames, roof trusses. (CIDB, 2005). Steel framing also consider as prefabricated system and it to be erected whereby welding at joints are conducted. This system cans faster the progress construction. Type 4: Prefabricate Timber Framing System While the latter are more popular, timber building frame offering interesting designs from dwelling units to buildings requiring high aesthetical values such as chalets for resorts Example: Timber frame, timber roof trusses (CIDB, 2005). The advantage of the system is mainly in the interior flexibility, as large space can be used for different functions and can be easily changed or modified according to the use. Type 5: Block Work System This system has revolutionizes by the development and usage of interlocking concrete masonry units (CMU) and lightweight concrete blocks. The tedious and time-consuming traditional brick-laying tasks are greatly simplified by the usage of there effective alternative solutions. Block work system also consider under prefabricated system. The benefits of block work system are faster construction and increase bricklayer longevity. Moreover, its also increased energy savings like lightweight concretes resistance to heat flow is twice of medium and heavy weight concrete, its mean that less heating/cooling energy is needed. Characteristics of IBS It is important to have the following characteristics only consider to be accepted as part of the IBS and ensure the achievement of proven benefits of IBS. Each of them will be discuss briefly at below (CIDB 2008): Industrial production of components though pre-fabrication; or highly mechanized in-situ processes. For example, permanent steel formwork Reduced labour during pre-fabrication of the components and site works. Modern design and manufacturing methods involving information Technology such as the usage of Computer Aided design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) Systematic Quality control such as ISO 9000 principles Open Building Concept i.e permitting the hybrid applications, and adaptable to standardization and Modular Coordination (MC) Implementation Level of IBS in Malaysia The use of IBS have various advantages such as the reduction dependency of foreign workers, less wastage, less volume of building materials, increased environmental and construction site cleanliness and better quality control compare to conventional method. These advantages also promote a safer and more organised construction site, and reduce the completion time of construction. Many world-class Malaysian developers have chosen IBS over the conventional methods for important projects such as the Petronas Twin Towers, Putrajaya, KL Sentral, and KLIA. (IBS Roadmap, 2003 -2010) Even so, the usage level of IBS in building is still low. From a survey conducted by CIDB Malaysia, the usage level of IBS in the local construction industry stands at only 15% (IBS Survey 2003). The early efforts of the Government to encourage the use of IBS in the construction sector has yet to garner a good response, and this sector is still practicing conventional construction methods that have proven time and again to be wasteful, dangerous and messy. Relatively, the low labour cost in this country is the root cause of the industry failing to reform and being complacent with the current level of productivity, quality and safety. (IBS Roadmap, 2003 -2010) Moreover, according to the newspaper the star 2009 stated that Jamilus explained that IBS was a construction technique in which components were manufactured in a controlled environment (on-site, off-site), transported, positioned and assembled into a structure with minimal additional site work. Beside that, out of 1,400 contractors in Johor, there only 4% of it are using this systems. Moreover, he said that since year 2008, there only 51 contractors in the state have been reported to use the IBS system in their building projects and the number were expected improve in time. (The star, 2009) Malaysias Experiences in IBS The usage of IBS is not new in the Malaysia construction industry. The idea using IBS in Malaysia was first purpose during the early 60s when the Minister housing and Local Government visited several European countries and evaluated their building system performance. At the time, the government makes a big decision to give a try on a two pilot projects using IBS concept. The first project, Pekeliling Flat was constructed along Jalan Pekeliling with construction of 7 blocks of 17 storey flats, and 4 blocks of 4 storey flats comprising around 3,000 units of low cost flats and 40 storey shop lot and this project using large panel industrialized prefabricated systems. On the other hand, the second project was built in Penang with the construction of 6 blocks of 17 storey flats and 3 blocks of 18 storey flats comprising 3,699 units and 66 shop lots along the Jalan Rifle Range and this project was using the French Estiot System (Din, 1984). Even though the first implementation IBS was not successful due to the failure to keep within cost estimation but there are some successful adoption too. Among the significant projects that implement IBS are including KL Sentral. KL Convention Centre, KLIA, etc Following is the Successful implemented of IBS throughout Malaysia (CIDB Malaysia, 2003) Year 2007 Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART Tunnel), Kuala Lumpur The Spring Shopping Mall, Kuching, Sarawak Year 2006 Kuching International Airport, Kuching, Sarawak Persada Johor International Convention Centre, Johor Bahru Year 2005 Serdang Hospital, Serdang, Selangor The Curve, Mutiara Damansara, Selangor Year 2001 Kuala Lumpur Sentral ( KL Sentral), Kuala Lumpur Likas Stadium, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Year 1998 Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Sepang, Selangor Malawati Indoor Satdium, Bukit Jalil, Selangor Year 1997 Petronas Twin Tower, Kuala Lumpur Bukit Jalil, Bukit Jalil, Salangor Year 1984 Daybumi Complex, Kuala Lumpur Year 1981 High end bungalows and low cost houses throughout Selangor The Advantages for IBS adoption in Construction Industry There are some several advantages using IBS (MCRJ, 2009) 1. Reduce Remittances by foreign worker: The Government aimed to achieve 100 percent usage of IBS and to reduce to 15 percent or approximately 50,000 of foreign workers in the construction industry by 2010. With the current foreign workers totaling 227,000, the remittances of the foreign workers amounted to about 7.5 billion. It is expected that the Government would be able to reduce the remittances with the full implementation of IBS. (Bernama.com, 2006) 2. Enhance Efficiency of Construction Process and Higher Productivity: IBS is a methodology whereby a local construction industry is driven towards the adoption of an integrated and encouraging key players in the construction industry to produce and utilize pre-fabricated and mass production of the building at their work sites. This will help to enhance the efficiency of construction process, allowing a higher productivity, quality, time and cost saving. (CIDB, 2004) 3. Produce Better Product: IBS promises elevated levels of expertise throughout the industry, from manufacturers, installers, engineers, planners, designers, and developers. The benefits of IBS will ultimately produce better products for the population (CIDB, 2003) 4. Reduce Wastage, Less Site Materials, Costs, Cleaner and Neater Environment: The IBS, which enables on-site prefabricated or pre-cast building components manufactured at factories offers minimal wastage, less site materials, cleaner and neater environment, controlled quality, and lower total construction cost (CIDB, 2003). For example, the repetitive use of system formwork made up of steel, aluminium, etc and scaffolding provides considerable cost savings (Bing et al. 2001). 5. Higher Quality of Component: An industrialised building system component produces higher quality of components attainable through careful selection of materials, use of advanced technology and strict quality assurance control (Din,1984) 6. Reduce Labour at Site: Prefabrication takes place at a centralised factory, thus reducing labour requirement at site. This is true especially when high degree of mechanisation is involved (Warszawski, 1999) 7. Faster Completion: An industrialised building system allows for faster construction time because casting of precast element at factory and foundation work at site can occur simultaneously. This provides earlier occupation of the building, thus reducing interest payment or capital outlays (Waleed et al., 2003) 8. Not Affected by Adverse Weather Condition: Construction operation is not affected by adverse weather condition because prefabricated component is done in a factory controlled environment (Waleed et al., 2003) 9. Flexible Design: An industrialised building system allows fexibility in architectural design in order to minimise the monotony of repetitive facades (Warszawski, 1999). An industrialised building system provides flexibility in the design of precast element as well as in construction so that different systems may produce their own unique prefabrication construction methods (Zaini, 2000) Barriers of Adoption in Malaysia Construction Industry IBS can replace the conventional building system which is labour oriented However, since the first project of IBS not well accepted by construction parties because of fail to deal with the risks such failure of keep within the cost estimate. For example, the first project incurred 8.1 % higher costs than a similar building that using conventional construction method, while the second project was 2.6% lower than the cost. Both projects also completed in 27 months in term of compare to the construction speed but are inclusive the time of set up the recasting factories too. When come to the quality, the conventional method seems have better quality than IBS. In conclusion, there is a competitive with conventional construction method. Even though IBS is good to implement due to its advantages but the implementation of usage level is still very low. According to Waleed et. al. (2003), the common consensus of all the stakeholders of construction in Malaysia is that, the IBS implementation in Malaysian building construction industry is still very low compared to the conventional methods. This is due to several reasons(MCRJ, 2009): 1. Costs and Return Investment: Wide swings in houses demand, high interest rate and cheap labour cost, make it difficult to justify large capital investment. At present there is an abundance of cheap foreign workers in Malaysia and contractors prefer to use labour intensive conventional building system because it is far easier to lay off workers during slack period. The economic benefits of IBS are not well documented in Malaysia and the past experiences indicated IBS is more expensive due to fierce competition from conventional building system. 2. Lack of skilled and knowledgeable manpower: Fully prefabricated construction system requires high construction precision. Malaysian labour force still lack of skilled workers in IBS implementation. 3. The Practices: The construction industry is very fragmented, diverse and involves many parties. Consensus is required in the use of IBS during planning stage. 4. Knowledge based: Lack of Research Development (RD) in the area of novel building system that uses local materials. Majorities of IBS in Malaysia are imported from developed countries, thus driving up the construction cost. Engineering degrees in local universities seldom teach about the design and construction of IBS. 5. Low Quality: The use of IBS in Japan and Sweden are so successful due to high quality  and high productivity but it sis the opposite in Malaysia. Previous projects constructed  with IBS concept were of low quality and high construction cost. 6. Lack of Incentive and Awareness: Due to the lack of incentive and promotion from government in the use of IBS, many many architects and engineers are still unaware of the basic elements of IBS such as modular co-ordination. 7. Lack of Scientific Information: An IBS system can only be acceptable to practitioners if its major advantages are valuable compared to the conventional system. However, up to date, there is inadequate corroborative evidence to substantiate the benefits of IBS system. It is therefore, arguable that the implementation of IBS is particularly hindered by lack of scientific information (Badir et al., 2002) 8. Wastage of Material: Standardization of building elements faces resistance from the construction industry due to aesthetic reservation and economic reason. One good example of this is when a 300mm thick modular standardized floor slab has to be used although a 260mm thick floor slab can achieve the similar structural performance. This results wastage of material (Waleed et al., 2003) Summary of the Chapter Nowadays in Malaysia, IBS still being developed and applied in new building. Mean while, the implementation level is still very low what has anticipate by the government. The purpose of IBS is very clear as an alternative for conventional method and also reduces the dependency of labour, and increase the performance in time, cost, and quality. The Government of Malaysia promote IBS component to the construction industrials. In the literature review have proved that there are many benefits of IBS but still is low usage among contractors and the implementation of using IBS level is still very low.