BP’s Competitive Advantage

Despite the fact that the item they are likely generally well known for in the brains of purchasers, gas, is thought of as homogeneous, the achievement of BP in the organizations capacity to develop and keep up its remaining as a global vitality superpower lies in its administration of human capital. BP’s genuine upper hand isn't in the products or administrations it sells, their prosperity originates from the organizations capacity to deal with a less effortlessly copied asset: information. Coordinated effort and information the executives structure the center of the BP esteem framework. As communicated by BP in their own words, they point â€Å"to connect with the imaginative gifts of our workers, and create and apply driving, financially savvy innovation and scholarly innovativeness to upgrade advancement and new ideas† (BP, n. d. ). This paper will address this one of a kind part of the BP plan of action, information the board, and how it converts into monetary execution. Foundation BP is a worldwide vitality pioneer, the center segments of their business are: oil and gas investigation and creation, refining and showcasing of oil flexibly items, assembling and promoting of synthetic concoctions, and the production of Photovoltaic (sun powered) cells. They are right now in the best three globally in gas holds, and are the biggest retailer of gas in the US, just as one of the world’s biggest advertisers of avionics fuel (Corporate Watch, n. d. ). Established by William Knox D’Arcy from a noteworthy oil find in Iran, they have extended through development and merger, as of now working in more than 100 nations, utilizing 97,600 individuals with 2007 incomes surpassing $284 billion (BP, n. d. ). Information Management The test to an association the size and extent of BP can regularly be catching the abundance of information made by their kin, occupied with business, learning best practices, and sharing and putting away that data between specialty units to boost BP’s potential. BP’s system is â€Å"encompassed by a straightforward structure, which depicts a learning cycle †previously, during and after any occasion †which is upheld by basic procedure tools† (Kotelnikov, n. d. ,  ¶ 1). The BP learning technique is to regard each procedure as a shut learning circle; exercises gained from each experience are settled upon and posted on the organization intranet to catch information and experience to be shared by all BP specialty units. Organizations make tremendous measures of important information through act of their workers, without a framework set up to catch this information; it will regularly leave with their representatives. Further, in an enormous organization like BP, the possible exists for it to work not as a community unit, however as â€Å"a assortment of individual fiefdoms as individual business units† (Quelch and Deshpande, 2004, p. 96). To cultivate this feeling of community conduct, BP made companion audit and cross specialty unit connection procedures (Quelch and Deshpande). A case of how this has emphatically affected the organizations benefit, as of late because of information sharing between specialty units of architects, they accomplished a cost reserve funds of $74 million out of 1998 to meet their aggregate objective of decreasing retail site development by 10% (SAIC, n. . ). As the executives of data frameworks prospered in the time of the 1990’s, the accomplishment of BP’s upper hand in their responsibility to overseeing information will perpetually prompt different associations making practices and foundation to help information the executives later on. Information the executives makes upper hand by putting away and sharing aggregate â€Å"on the job† learned encounters and circulating them to present and people in the future of an association that would some way or another be lost. BP has kept up their capacity to develop and improve productivity through usage of information the executives procedure.

Most popular places across the globe

Most well known places over the globe 6 most visited nations on the planet You can be an enthusiast of man-made ponders and love nature from the separation, however you will positively consider these sights next time you are arranging your excursion abroad. With incredible financial aspects and developing traveler division, they make certain to stay significant visiting spots whenever you book a ticket. Thailand. Completely clear water, sandy sea shores and palm trees make Thailand a delightful goal for travelers, who are searching for an experience. Sanctuaries of antiquated Hindu and Buddhist divine beings are all over the place, and you can get a considerable amount of profound experience by visiting one of the neighborhood exhibition halls and archeological locales. Additionally, Thai individuals are normally liberal and inviting towards guests, flooding their nation every year, and the fundamental locales will hope for something else than 100 million sightseers the following year. Joined Kingdom. Regardless of political burdens that have been happening in the capital of the UK of late and have caused significant reaction from the country’s driving gatherings, London despite everything stays one of the most visited urban communities on the planet. Its global network, joined with unusual British taste, won’t leave you cold, and the stormy nearby climate will help you to remember the days when Arthur Conan Doyle composed his perfect works of art. The outdated style and flourishing night life make the nation a problem area for voyagers, who are searching for a decent experience and a bit of history. Germany. Aside from being adored by its own kin, Germany draws in a great many travelers consistently. Some state the reasons are straightforward: it isn't just a moderate goal, yet additionally one of the most secure. Germany has the most reduced criminal rate among European nations and can flaunt work open doors for understudies, who need to consolidate benefit and recreation. Outsiders love the nation for its normal assets also, recognizing secured regions like the Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park and the Jasmund National Park. Italy. Numerous individuals admit they fantasy about visiting Italy consistently. With its prestigious Mediterranean cooking and languid, laid-back Southern way of life, this nation consistently gets one of the most attractive regarding the travel industry. For those, who might want to wash in the sun and tune in to the waves, slamming on the shore, Italy will be without a doubt an occasion goal of a century. Rich lodgings and chronicled locales in urban areas like Florence, Venice and Milan have their very own culture and welcome guests from around the globe. In the event that you are infatuated with the Renaissance time frame and workmanship history, you will be charmed to investigate the sights that incorporate Colosseum and Roman Forum. Besides, a guide will consistently be close to show you around, and regardless of whether you don't communicate in the language, local people are ordinarily well disposed towards outsiders. China. You may have caught wind of the Great Wall of China, yet do you know there is much more to this nation than meets the eye? Other phenomenal goals incorporate the Shaolin Temple, the Huangguoshu Waterfall and the Forbidden City, a sentimental and spooky spot directly in the center of the nation, where east and west meet. We can't represent all the vacationers over the globe, yet most of those, who at any point visited China, said it was the most notable experience of their lifetime. Not exclusively does this nation safeguard old conventions and praises the divine forces of their predecessors, it likewise takes after an ideal blend of antiquated and contemporary, a mix, exciting for any voyager with experience. US. On a worldwide scale, the USA stands best in class as far as the travel industry and vacation spots. Its fundamental goals are the Grand Canyon, Hawaiian sea shores and tidal ponds with completely clear water. Instructive the travel industry is a fundamental wellspring of salary in excess of thirty states, and Hawaiian summers carry a huge number of dollars to the national treasury. With this number consistently developing, America can be gladly named one of the most well known nations for voyagers and experience searchers over the globe.

Spring Classes Online

Spring Classes Online The MIT Spring Term subject listings have been posted to the web. Check them out! Here are a few highlights: 2.007: Design and Manufacturing I Prof. Alex Slocum Develops students competence and self-confidence as design engineers. Emphasis on the creative design process bolstered by application of physical laws, and learning to complete projects on schedule and within budget. Synthesis, analysis, design robustness and manufacturability are emphasized. Subject relies on active learning via a major design-and-build project. Lecture topics include idea generation, estimation, concept selection, visual thinking and communication, kinematics of mechanisms, machine elements, design for manufacturing, basic electronics, and professional responsibilities and ethics. A required on-line evaluation is given at the beginning and the end of the course so students can assess their design knowledge. Matt notes: 2.007, a robotics competition class, is perhaps the most famous class at MIT, and Prof. Slocum is one of the best teachers at the Institute. BE.010J: Introduction to Bioengineering Prof. Paul Matsudaira, Prof. Angela Belcher, Prof. David Gifford Basic concepts, tools, and applications in bioengineering and a survey of the bioengineering activities in current engineering disciplines at MIT. Gives students a perspective on the relationship between biology, bioengineering, and biotechnology. Introduces concepts in bioengineering and biology and emphasizes the quantitative and integrative nature of biological and bioengineering problems. Matt notes: Im pretty excited about the new major in Biological Engineering. This is a great way to get introduced to the field, with some incredible professors as well. 14.02 Principles of Macroeconomics Prof. Olivier Blanchard Provides an overview of macroeconomic issues: the determination of output, employment, unemployment, interest rates, and inflation. Monetary and fiscal policies are discussed. Important current policy debates such as social security, the public debt, and international economic issues are critically explored. Introduces basic models of macroeconomics and illustrates principles with the experience of the US and foreign economies. Matt notes: 14.02 was one of my favorite classes at MIT. Prof. Blanchard wrote The Book used by this class and classes at many other colleges! 17.42 Causes and Prevention of War Prof. Stephen Van Evera Examines the causes of war, with a focus on practical measures to prevent and control war. Topics include: causes and consequences of misperception by nations; military strategy and policy as cause of war; religion and war; US foreign policy as a cause of war and peace; and the likelihood and possible nature of great wars in the future. Historical cases include World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Seven Years war, the Arab-Israel conflict, other recent Mideast wars, and the Peloponnesian war. Matt notes: What can I say? There are few topics as important as this. Meanwhile, in news about classes not being offered in the spring, this morning I heard a friend of mine, along with four other MIT students, on the radio talking about a fall term class shes helping to teach. Shes been getting a lot of press for this lately, between the radio show and a Boston Globe article (that was picked up across the world by the Sydney Morning Herald!). Heres some of what the article said I think the reasons why the media is so interested will quickly become evident: Deconstructing Carrie: MIT examines mores of Sex and the City This semester, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is giving its best scholarly treatment to a slice of popular culture each Tuesday evening when 24 undergraduates gather to ponder HBOs Sex and the City. [] Students in the elective class Sex and the Institute watch a pair of half-hour episodes, each followed by a half-hour of discussion. It is a serious class, instructors say, examining the shows unorthodox treatment of issues such as marriage, dating, sex, gender roles, and career and family balance. []Some students new to the show said they were taken aback by its piquant language and scenes of male and female nudity. Yet for all the shows titillating subject matter, the class feels like an intellectual undertaking, perhaps Sociology 101 meets Psychology 101. [] MIT officials said the class was created this year within the womens studies department as a seminar with six credits. Seminars are meant to be interesting and topical, said Myles Crowley, a spokesman for the school. Other seminars this year include: Enough Time to Fall: Spectacular Failures in Engineering and Other Experiments, Photovoltaic Solar Energy Systems, and What Is Particle Physics? Theres no transcript of the radio interview (with Bostons local wacky morning team), but they asked some fairly standard questions: Have any of you pulled a hack (though the hosts said prank)? Is it wierd to be in a place where everyone is brilliant? Whats up with the bird flu? Can you fix my TV? Oy vey! I should note that I took the idea for this entry from similar ones done by Mitra [07/06/05] and Bryan [08/10/05] for the fall term. Mitra, Bryan, and anyone else: what are some interesting classes you see in the spring term?

The Fashion Design Of Chanel - 990 Words

It has been over a century since Mademoiselle Chanel, determined to reform the concept of femininity as much in style as in the essence, commissioned the chemist Ernest Beaux to develop what will become the symbol of international perfumery. Chanel No. 5 is unquestionably the most legendary ever made fragrance, described as an opera of olfactory art. Independent, unconventional, and provocative, Coco Chanel transformed her unfamiliar name into an obligatory reference point for fashion design of the twentieth. As an icon of female strength, she translates the complexity and elegance that characterize the woman, with the creation of what would become the scent par excellence. Her way of conceiving the perfume is peculiar. When asked where to put the perfume she replies: â€Å"A woman should wear a fragrance wherever she expects to be kissed† (â€Å"A Woman†). Coco also launches what turned out, according to the instructions of the designer, had to embody a concept of femi ninity timeless, unique, and fascinating. The avant-garde idea of Chanel breaks every scheme imagining her fragrance for a modern and independent woman, far from the stereotype that envisages she should perfume of roses. Hence, Chanel No. 5 is the first perfume that rejects the convention and symbolizes the technological and cultural innovation, furthering the women s empowerment. Chanel No. 5 is a concentration of absolute femininity that shook the world of fragrances forever with an abstract composition of 80Show MoreRelated Chanels Influence On Fashion Essay866 Words   |  4 PagesChanel’s Influence on Fashion Coco Chanel was one of the most influential fashion designers of the Twentieth Century and she was the first significant female fashion designer. The fashion world was impacted by Chanel’s phoenix like return to fashion after her retirement in 1953. Chanel introduced men and women to practical yet elegant styles. Although Chanel has been deceased for forty-one years her undeniable influence on fashion and women’s roles in society will be remembered for generationsRead MoreCoco Chanel and Fashion Essay994 Words   |  4 Pages Coco Chanel, born Gabrielle Bonhuer Chanel, on August 19, 1883 in Saumur, France was an amazing woman who redefined fashion as we know it today. She was a clothing designer who revolutionized the fashion industry with her suits, little black dresses, and avant garde flare. Because of this quickly in her young life she became well know, and rose to be the fashion icon that she is today. From the timeless designs that are still popular to this day, and the sophisticated outfits that can be pairedRead MoreCoco Chanel1588 Words   |  7 PagesCoco Chanel: Most influential women’s fashion designer The designs created by Coco Chanel have had the greatest impact on women’s fashion. Her designs are classic, timeless, and still very popular today. All of her accomplishments were because of her hard work, dedication, and being her own person. Gabrielle â€Å"Coco† Chanel was born on August 19, 1883 in Saumur, France. (A+E Television Networks, LLC â€Å"Coco Chanel Biography†) When Chanel was twelve years old, her mother, Jeanne Devolle, past awayRead MoreCoco Chanel: Life and Times944 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Coco Chanel: Life and Times Born into dire poverty and aged 11 when her mother passed on, Coco Chanel has come to be recognized by some as the epitome of success in the fashion industry. Indeed, she has such a huge following of admirers that in some instances, fans have made pilgrimages to one of her preserved apartments in Paris. As Tracy, a professed timeless fan of Chanel notes, Chanels fashion spirit will forever remain immortal. Further, her timeless designs also continue to be hugelyRead MoreChanel1024 Words   |  5 PagesCoco Chanel Fashion designer. Born on August 19, 1883, in Saumur, France. With her trademark suits and little black dresses, Coco Chanel created timeless designs that are still popular today. She herself became a much revered style icon known for her simple yet sophisticated outfits paired with great accessories, such as several strands of pearls. As Chanel once said,â€Å"luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury.† Her early years, however, were anything but glamorous. After her mother’sRead MoreAnalyse Coco Chanels Philosophy Essay1460 Words   |  6 PagesGabrielle Bonheur Chanel was born on August 19, 1883. Her parents were Albert Chanel and Jeanne Devolle. In 1895, her mother died of bronchitis, and therefore her father sent his daughters to the covent of Abazine in Corrà ¨ze. He has never been there since that day. During this time, she learned the skills of sewing. Chanel wanted to be a seamstress, but not plying her needle. She began to sing at cafà © concerts. The popular songs oh hers was ’’Qui qu’a vu Coco’’, so she acquired the nickname’’ Coco’’Read More Chanel Essay582 Words   |  3 Pages CHANELnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel was born in Saumur, France in 1884. Vogue Magazine referred to her as â€Å"the couturier who takes no account of fashion, who pursues her own faultlessly elegant line in the quiet confidence that fashion will come back to her - and sure enough it always does.† nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Chanel began designing heavily during the 1920s. Her first outfits were wool jerseys, and were very simple. She became famous for the simple look of herRead MoreBurberry : A Brand Image1327 Words   |  6 PagesBurberry manufactures a fashion catalogue, fragrance and cosmetic collection. The brand maintains a strong British identity and has built a reputation for its authenticity, originality and craftsmanship. It is widely renowned for its trademark checked print trench coat and ‘prorsum’ horse logo. Being a brand that is globally franchised, Burberry has reinforced its brand image defined by authentic British heritage, remaining relevant and ‘current’ within the fashion industry through use of digitalRead MoreChanel1242 Words   |  5 Pagesrecognition: 1909 through 1920s In 1909, Gabrielle Chanel opened a shop on the ground floor of Étienne Balsans apartment in Paris—the beginnings of what would later become one of the greatest fashion empires in the world.[1] The Balsan home was a meeting place of the hunting elite of France and the gentlemen brought their fashionable mistresses along, giving Coco the opportunity to sell the women decorated hats. During this time, Coco Chanel struck up a relationship with Arthur Boy Capel, a memberRead MoreFashion, Fashion And Luxury Company1542 Words   |  7 Pagesin technology. Chanel is an established beauty, fashion and luxury company headquartered in France. The brand was founded by Coco Chanel who was famous for revolutionizing ladies’ fashion as well as introducing timeless elegance and style. The strength of the brand also lies in Karl Lagerfeld, a cult designer, who never fails to interest the management team and consumers in promoting and preserving the brand image and attuned to the n eeds and market trends of the consumer. Chanel brand will continue

Definition Essay - 680 Words

B5Z3 Eng 102 Definition Paper March 1, 2002 Friendship, defined from Websters Dictionary as, the state of being friends, or a friendly feeling. Friends, on the other hand, are defined as people whom one knows well and is fond of. The second definition states a friend as an ally, supporter, or sympathizer. My personal definition of what friendship is, is a feeling or emotion expressed in such a way that another feels wanted and important, a relationship between a person or persons where everyone has some companion to talk to when their in need of one. I would define friends as people whom you can have several types of relations with and feel several emotions for that person. Someone that one might go to in time of need.†¦show more content†¦Most of the time that results because they are usually the ones you talk to the most so eventually the two become close and they find themselves expressing their feelings to each other without even realizing that they are becoming closer every time. But, if you arent married then you still probably go to your best friends and tell them everything going on between you and your lover. Parents and children I think fit together on this subject. Parents and childr en create a great friendship over time. Throughout a childs life and especially through their adolescent years, children tend to pull away from their parents making it hard to actually establish a friendship with them. Teenagers experience knew things that they dont want their parents to know about or they just dont feel comfortable talking to their parents about it. Parents are the same way. There are some things that children dont need know about. However, over the years when a childs parents become unable to take care of themselves, then the children take of them and all their bills and other things. Children learn to appreciate their parents in life and learn that they can turn to their parents a lot for support. The same goes for being close to their siblings. After all the meanness gets out of them, they realize the greatest friends end up being the people they used to beat up on as kids. Friendship is a crazy thing. Some people you consider closerShow MoreRelatedPr ide Definition Essay951 Words   |  4 Pagescan be many different meanings of pride. Pride can be the allegiance towards a certain group or club, the pride one gives towards its own country, or even the pride that someone has internally within themselves could be another way to look at the definition of pride. Pride can be interpreted in more ways than one; it just depends on the way the word is being used. The pride that I have towards a group at church or an extracurricular club at school can have many different interpretations to otherRead MoreTourism Definitions Essay960 Words   |  4 PagesThe Framework of Tourism: Towards a Definition of Tourism, Tourist, and the Tourist Industry (Leiper, 1979) Find six academic definitions for tourism, tourist or travel. Discuss each of these six definitions and explain the merits and efficiencies of each one, making connections with the points raised by Leiper (1979) where possible. Then provide an overall discussion about which definition is best and for what reason/s. Introduction Six definitions for the term Tourism were found from a varietyRead MoreThe Definition of Justice Essay860 Words   |  4 Pagesmorality and the values individuals hold most important. One value looked at by Socrates and his colleagues is the principle of justice. Multiple definitions of justice are given and Socrates analyzes the merit of each. As the group defines justice they show how self-interest shapes the progression of their arguments and contributes to the definition of justice. The topic of justice first comes about through a conversation between Socrates and Cephalus. The two are reflecting upon their oldRead MoreDefinition of Cheating Essay716 Words   |  3 Pageson-line dictionary defines the word â€Å"cheat† simply as ‘using trickery to escape observation.’ The word cheat dates back to as early as 1590 and is a transitive verb (a verb that requires both a direct subject and one or more objects). Other definitions of the word cheat include: to deceive or mislead somebody, especially for personal advantage, to break the rules in a game, examination, or contest, in an attempt to gain an unfair advantage, and to have a sexual relationship with somebody otherRead More Definition Essay - Defining Freedom713 Words   |  3 PagesDefinition Essay – Defining Freedom Is it possible to define freedom? To define freedom is more than a difficult task, but perhaps easier than one might imagine if not overanalyzed. Given ample time to consider the task, however, a simple, sufficient definition can present itself: freedom is the ability to choose, for any creature living life in any place in any time. There is no greater truth to the statement, and no underlying meanings; freedom is simply the ability to choose. Read MoreAbnormality Essay Discuss Two or More Definitions of Abnormality920 Words   |  4 PagesINDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES Question 10 â€Å"Abnormality is very difficult to define. It can be hard to decide where normal behaviour ends and abnormal behaviour begins† Discuss two or more definitions of abnormality AO1 = 6 marks Knowledge and understanding of definitions of abnormality. AO2 = 6 marks Commentary on definitions of abnormality. The term ‘abnormal’ means deviating from the average. Therefore, if we were to adopt a literal approach to defining abnormality, we would conclude that any rareRead More High Definition Television (HDTV) Essay examples511 Words   |  3 PagesHigh Definition Television (HDTV) High Definition Television, also known as HDTV, is a technological advancement compared to the analog television most Americans have now. High definition was a marvel that was bound to come. It seems that every time a new technology emerges, it is a must have, but is high-definition television worth buying? This is the question I have posed to myself and will try to answer. High definition started in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. It was a simple experimentalRead More HDTV: Implications for High Definition Television Essay1738 Words   |  7 PagesHDTV: Implications for High Definition Television    HDTV (High Definition Television) has many positive attributes and is the television set of the future, but the primary concern is how this revolutionary standard can coexist and eventually replace the existing color TV system.   This vital problem associated with HDTV is similar to the obstacle that color TV encountered in 1954 - which was enabling the color signal to be read simultaneously with the monochrome signal, without interferenceRead MoreDefinition Essay790 Words   |  4 PagesDEFINITION ESSAY Definition Essay Definition: The aim in this essay is to define, explain, and exemplify something. Generally, in definition essays, we try to make the terms that we use understandable for the reader. Our understanding of a term may be different from the general concept, or we may be focusing on a specific aspect. Giving an exact definition would enable the reader to follow the ideas and arguments in your essay. Organization: Definition of a term is generally given in the introductionRead MoreThe History and Development of Assessment and Evaulation761 Words   |  3 PagesAssessment and Evaluation, Definition, History and Development† Introduction In this short essay we will define â€Å"Assessment and Evaluation†, we are going to compare several definitions found in diferent books and web pages. We will be writing about the history and development of â€Å"Assessment and Evaluation† and how it is very important for the counseling profession. As we will later reasd in this essay, assessment and evaluation are two terms

Role of the Learning Mentor Free Essays

string(116) " 2020 Review presenting a vision to provide pupils with personalised learning offering a more adaptable curriculum\." A 2, 500 word assignment which examines the role of the learning mentor and analyses the strategies used in supporting science, evaluating the impact on pupils’ learning. This essay will explore and evaluate the role, the responsibilities and the purpose of the learning mentor. It will highlight and review strategies used in schools today to support children’s education, assisting them to develop skills and achieve their full potential. We will write a custom essay sample on Role of the Learning Mentor or any similar topic only for you Order Now The learning mentor has a large range of duties which require the ability to encourage social inclusion, collaborate with external agencies for specialist support and expand care to families and carers. Responsibilities also include the contribution to the assessment of pupils, the transition and pastoral care of vulnerable students and to identify and remove barriers to learning that some young people are faced with during their time in education. All of these areas will be considered and analysed. I will thoroughly examine current practice, theory and reflect upon my own development. Whilst examining the role of the learning mentor, I will be specifically looking at science and how it is taught and supported in schools today. My aim is to highlight the importance of the learning mentor and the impact they have on a child’s achievement and success. It will also indicate how the learning mentor’s holistic approach builds self confidence, a sense of emotional belonging and overall creates the best conditions for students to flourish academically as well as personally. Consequently, this will allow me to develop and improve my own practice and professional progression in the future. Education has not always recognised the holistic needs and development of children. However, over the years, the education system has seen a considerable amount of changes. It has been revolutionalised, transforming teaching from learning by rote to a multisensory, child centred, personalised education. This is due to many factors such as the development of technology, changes in society, values and attitudes, the recognition of children with additional needs and the implementation of learning mentors and support staff. So, when were learning mentors first introduced into schools and why? In 1999, as an out come from the 1997 White Paper, the Excellence in Cities (EiC) initiative was launched by the government to raise standards of attainment and was first piloted in disadvantaged, inner-city schools. As stated in Excellence in Cities: The National Evaluation of a Policy to Raise Standards in Urban Schools 2000-2003 (2005), Britain was in need of ‘inclusive schooling that recognises the different talents of all children and delivers excellence for everyone’. To achieve this objective, EiC implemented a gifted and talented programme, to provide extra support for 5-10 per cent of pupils in each school. Learning Support Units (LSU’s) were also introduced to provide intervention teaching and support programmes for difficult or vulnerable students and learning mentors were created to help students overcome educational or behaviour problems, ensuring that schools were inclusive of all. As highlighted by M. K Smith (1999) schools were able to utilise Learning Mentors for different matters according to their individuality, however the government did set out for the leaning mentor, four main objectives. These core beliefs from EiC are explained in Good Practice Guidelines for Learning Mentors (DFES 2001). Firstly, the learning mentor should have high expectations for every pupil, meeting the needs of all and taking an individualised approach to teaching and learning, ensuring barriers are removed so children can aspire regardless of the difficulties they may come up against. Barriers to opportunities could include family problems, bullying, low self esteem and poor social skills. The learning mentor must also establish good working relationships with pupils, parents, the community and other outside agencies. By creating a network, schools are able to work collaboratively to promote diversity, share good teaching practice and enhance performance throughout the area. The role of the learning mentor was not only introduced to improve the progress of low ability students, following a report by J. Freeman in 1998 which investigated research on the teaching and learning of high ability children, the government recognised that ‘provision for the highly able was not satisfactory’ and that children who are gifted and talented ‘have as much of an entitlement to have their needs addressed’ OFSTED (2001). Therefore, learning mentors provide extended learning opportunities to pupils to assure the prevention of a ‘glass ceiling’ that could potentially restrict performance. Besides from the objectives set out by the government, the role of the learning mentor is complex and extensive. Good Practice Guidelines for Learning Mentors (DFES 2001) makes clear that they are disciplinarians, nor classroom assistants. They are an active listener, a role model, a guide who negotiates targets and supports pupils, carers and parents whilst remaining reliable, non judgemental and realistic. R. Rose and M Doveston (2008:145) defines mentoring as ‘learning within a social context’ with learning mentors recognising ‘the necessity to ensure that students feel both comfortable with and in control of the learning process. ’ This social collaboration is clearly influenced by Vygotsky (1962) and his theory of social constructivism. A key point of Vygotskys theory is the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). As explain by Oakley (2004), the ZPD is the gap between a child’s actual level and the level of which the child could achieve with the guidance from an experienced adult, in this case, the learning mentor. This adult intervention can also be linked to the idea that Bruner put forward, labelling this type of assistance as ‘scaffolding’. A concept where a more able person provides guidance and support until the learner becomes independent. When evaluating the helping relationship, G. Egan’s theory takes a holistic, person centred approach, resulting in the ability to ‘develop more options in their lives’, Egan (1990:7). The changes brought about by EiC have shaped the way education system is today, with teachers and learning mentors taking on a child centred, holistic, inclusive and personalised approach. In 2006, the Department for Education and Skills published the 2020 vision: report of the Teaching and Learning in 2020 Review presenting a vision to provide pupils with personalised learning offering a more adaptable curriculum. You read "Role of the Learning Mentor" in category "Essay examples" The 2020 vision: report of the Teaching and Learning in 2020 Review (2006:3) points out that ‘When taken as a whole across the education system, in all schools, for all pupils, we think personalising learning has the potential to transform education. ’ The Assessment for Learning Strategy 2008 explains the importance of assessment in education. It aims to ensure every child is aware of their performance and how to improve allowing them to become independent initiators of their own learning and by informing parents and carers of assessment outcomes, children are also supported at home. In schools, assessment for learning happens constantly by teachers, learning mentors, teaching assistant and peers. Examples of formative assessment are precise learning objectives, peer and self assessment and immediate verbal or written feedback. Summative assessment gives a broader view of improvement and uses standardised tests. Assessment is essential for schools to plan the next steps for pupils in order to close the gap in attainment and is vital to effective personalised teaching and learning. In 2008, OFSTED evaluated the impact of assessment for learning on inclusion identifying that it is beneficial to pupils with special educational needs (SEN), providing pupils with the opportunity to discuss, question, explore and review ‘builds an understanding of what success looks like and how to apply skills’ OFSTED (2008:21). Assessment for learning therefore clearly goes hand in hand with personalised learning allowing children, teachers, learning mentors and parents to reflect, evaluate and advance. Subsequently, as indicated by Capel and Gervis (2009: 135) when feedback is given in conjunction with praise, pupils are more motivated to continue to make effort with a positive approach to the activity. Maslow (1970) made this very argument with his hierarchy of needs theory explaining that in order to feel the need to fulfil one’s potential, other needs such as self esteem or love and belonging must be met first. Aspects of Maslow’s theory can also be seen in government frameworks used in schools. Although currently under review, Every Child Matters (2003) has five outcomes, areas which are central to the learning mentors work. For example for children to ‘be healthy’, the learning mentor may be involved with setting up breakfast clubs, arrange sporting activities or promote hea lthy dinners. As for ‘staying safe’ they might organise police visits, implement a listening room or create an anti bullying initiative. For children to ‘enjoy and achieve’ they may perhaps provide one to one intervention to support achievement, have homework clubs and offer assistance for transition. The learning mentor could also arrange community work, school council groups and circle time, giving pupils the opportunity to ‘make a positive contribution’. And to allow children to achieve economic well-being, the learning mentor may possibly organise work experience, seek career advice and work with parents and other outside agencies. As a teaching assistant, my role differs from that of the learning mentor. The responsibitlies of the teaching assistant, although still aim to support pupils to reach their full potential are not as broad at the support offered by a learning mentor and is approached from a somewhat different angle. This is highlighted in a video at teachermedia. co. uk 2 outlining the differences between these two roles. From my experience, teaching assistants are usually classroom based; however work together with teachers and learning mentors to ensure the best type of individual support can be provided for all. With experience of supporting and teaching the national curriculum in year 3, I have observed the learning and development of many children. One subject which always usually requires a range of support strategies is science. Science is not just the teaching of facts and theories. As stated in the report, Primary Science (2003), teaching science equips pupils with indispensable skills that are transferable throughout different parts of the curriculum. The report explains how the main aim of primary science is to ‘stimulate pupil’s curiosity in the world around them and encourage critical and creative thinking’ (2003:1). The National Curriculum (1999) sets out the statutory programme of study for science, the four main areas of teaching are, life processes and living things, physical processes, materials and their properties and scientific enquiry. For pupils to achieve in science there is a balance needed between teaching factual knowledge and the skills of scientific enquiry. For example, students must be given the opportunity to address questions scientifically, plan and carrying out experiments, build on previous knowledge and interests, evaluate and discuss ideas. The teaching of science is essential as it promotes learning across the curriculum including spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, key skills, thinking skills, communication, application of number, working with others and information technology. ‘Successful Science’, a report by OFSTED (2011) found that the impact of good teaching could be seen when more practical science lessons were taught, when pupils were involved in peer and self-evaluation and when the pupils were given the opportunity to develop the skills of scientific enquiry by taking part in decision-making, discussion and research. Teaching was seen to be more engaging when the science that they were learning about had relevance to their lives and experiences. When I was asked to plan and teach block of lessons on magnets to a group of middle ability year 3 children, it was important to take into account many factors. How much science motivates children? What teaching strategies and theories to use? Would it need to be differentiated and how could I ensure progress had been made? The plan involved a range of multisensory activities such as testing magnetic materials around the school, finding the strongest magnet, watching videos, labelling the irections of force. Such activities were tailored for multiple intelligences, Gardner (1983) and also exercised both right and left brain skills ensuring the engagement and motivation of both boys and girls, Cheminais (2008). The lessons had clear, precise learning objectives as research shows that this works as classical conditioning, the action of providing a lesson ob jective will result in the learner’s response in knowing what to expect to learn, Gange and Medker (1996). Theories that influenced the teaching strategies used include both constructivists and social constructivist teaching. For example, for the pupils to develop their scientific enquiry skills, the activities were designed to allow them to construct their own learning through experiences. This meant that by planning and carrying out an experiment to find the strongest magnets, the students gained the knowledge that the strongest magnet is not always the largest magnet. Alfrey (2003) explains that Piaget thought that children have to assemble their own comprehension and ‘assimilate’ from such experiences, creating mental structures called ‘schemas’. Piagetian theory views the role of the adult as someone who is to provide a rich, stimulating environment for children to naturally discover, explore and actively build their own schemas through stage appropriate activities and tasks that will eventually support assimilation and accommodation. Some aspects of social constructivist teaching methods were used in the lesson, for instance the pupils were collaboratively seeking answers, and they shared their ideas, had group discussion and developed their listening skills. During the session the children asked lots of questions, this again showed just how involved the children were and how they were actively seeking answers and explanations. Talking Science Pedagogy (2008) summarises five teaching models used in science. Direct interactive teaching was used in the lessons when the magnets were first introduced to the children. Scientific vocabulary was taught such as north and south pole, magnetic field, attracts and repel. When the children learnt that opposites attract and the same repel, we used girls and boys to create an analogy in order to help them to picture it. During the lesson some issues did arise that could have potentially affect learning. The children had their own presumptions about magnets which lead to misconceptions. To identify these, the students were asked to discuss what they already knew about magnets, and then create a mind map with the findings. These included, ‘they stick to stuff’, ‘they stick to anything metal’ and ‘big magnets are strongest’. . How to cite Role of the Learning Mentor, Essay examples

Human Resource Management Planning of The Fitness Centre

Question: Discuss aboout the Human Resource Management Planning of The Fitness Centre. Answer: Bounce fitness is one of the most famous fitness centers in Australia. It is made up of four fitness centers, spread throughout Australia. This assignment presents the human resource strategic planning of the fitness centre, along with focusing on the environment analysis, identification of the future labor needs. The new technologies that could be implemented and its impact on the job roles have also been highlighted. Analysis of the business strategic plans The mission of the bounce fitness lies in serving the community with unique healthcare services. The fitness centre is dedicated towards offering comprehensive and distinctive services to the society. The employees are motivated to work diligently to ensure that the services provided are of high quality. Bounce fitness is committed to establish them as premiere fitness centre (Armstrong Taylor, 2014). The employees are empowered to ensure that creative acquisition and efficient use of the resources. The values of Bounce fitness centre include the following: Integrity: The employees of the fitness centre ensure honesty in the services that they provide and ethical issues are taken care. Teamwork: The fitness club is committed to empower the internal teams as well as the members to achieve their mission and vision. Quality: Bounce fitness centre ensures high quality service being provided to the members. Accountability: The fitness center is accountable for the behavior of the employees and ensures a healthy and positive culture. The human resource responsibilities of the Bounce fitness centre includes learning and development of the employees, management of the performance of the employees, appropriate remuneration, selection and recruitment of the most appropriate employees, as well as succession planning (Verbeke, 2013). The various reviewing of strategies that the human resource team needs to ensure includes review of the policies and procedures. The review of the existing strategies is essential for further success of Bounce fitness centre. The new strategies adopted needs to be promoted to the members, such that customers could be attracted with the new strategies. Environmental analysis The analysis of the external environment is necessary for Bounce fitness center in order to identify the emerging trends in the market that are likely to have a strong impact on the human resource management of the Bounce fitness centre. The environmental analysis includes the revision of the compensation of the employees of Bounce fitness centre, following the market trends. Moreover, in order to stay ahead in competition among the fitness centers, various innovative schemes are to be designed and implemented (Fee, 2014). The legislations such as the equal employment Act, Work health and safety Act needs to be implemented by the organization, to be legally safe and achieve a competitive edge. Identification of future labor needs and skill requirements The employees of Bounce fitness centre is mainly three types, full time employees, part time employees and temporary employees. The full time employees work for 38 hours and are eligible for various benefits such as financial benefits and insurances. The part time employees work for at least two hours, but less than 38 hours. With the expansion in the business of the fitness centre the need for increase in the number of permanent employees have been realized. In order to fulfill this labor requirement, new recruitments need to be made. New technology and its impact on the job roles The new technology that needs to be introduced includes the ease of data storage and retrieval. An efficient data storage and retrieval process could be introduced to efficiently manage the increase in the number of members of the fitness club. However, with the new data storage system, the job roles might be affected. The managers need to be well versed and experienced to use the data storage system, efficiently. Thus, additional training might be needed or recruitment of new personnel could also be done, who have the required skills and knowledge. Potential changes to the industry With the emergence of new technology, potential changes that might be brought to the fitness centre include wide se of social media. This could be used for promotion of the new schemes being launched by the Bounce fitness centre. Strategic objectives Developing a strategic plan is important for any business. Each business organization has a unique way of developing a strategic objective that is best suited for the organization (Budhwar Debrah, 2013). Development of a strategic plan includes reviewing the existing plan and identifying areas that need improvements. The objectives are as follows: To ensure the health and safety at workplace in the Bounce fitness centre. To develop risk assessment policies. To install new and improve equipments in the fitness centre. To ensure that unique fitness solution is provided to the customers To identify the areas of improvement, from the feedback collected from the customers. Human resource services and cost benefits The human resource provision of services includes internal HR provision as well as external HR provision. Recruitment of the employees could be of two types, internal as well as external. External recruitment includes appointing personnel from external sources who has the required skills and knowledge (Cameron, Marcella Lockerbie, 2015). Internal recruitment includes incorporation of training programs such that the existing employees are competent enough to be promoted for the next level (Chang, 2016). These are some of the human resource services and cost benefit strategies that could be implemented. To ensure fulfilment of the organizational goals, the employees need to be trained such that external recruitment is not carried out. The expertises could be obtained internally. Appropriate technology The use of appropriate technology is essential for the Bounce fitness centre. The advancement in the technology includes use of high quality fitness tools and machines. These are essential to achieve a competitive edge in the high competition market (Robertson, 2014). Moreover, automation of various fitness tools needs to be installed. Human resource plan The strategic human resource plan includes assurance that the human resource team meets the strategic goals that have been set. It is important to monitor, whether the right people, having the right skills have been appointed to the right positions (Scholes, 2015). The human resource plan needs to ensure that the social, political, economical, as well as legal factors have been considered (Rothaermel, 2015). Flexibility as well as adaptability has to be maintained by the organization. The employees of the Bounce fitness centre have to be appointed such that they have the required skills. Moreover, flexibility in shifts among the employees is also desirable. Local as well as national legislations have to be abided by the Bounce fitness centre, avoid legal complexities. Risk management plans Risks are inevitable and integral part of any business. However, the management of the potential risks need to be done, such that the risks could be mitigated or curbed down (Sadgrove, 2016). The various risks for Bounce fitness centre involves rise of new competitors with improved fitness equipments. Moreover, lack of skilled employees is also a potential risk that might hinder the growth of the fitness centre (Sparrow, Brewster Chung, 2016). The risk assessment plan includes an emergency plan that needs to be communicated before the emergency occurs. Moreover, the risks of manual handling have to be mitigated such that accidents due to manual handling could be avoided. In order to ensure this, the fitness equipment needs to be checked from time to time, and ensure that they are in proper working condition. The risks of accidents with old and outdated fitness machineries need to be mitigated. Implementation of the plan In order to implement the plan, it has to be reviewed several times before the changes are made to freeze (Gollenia, 2016). The plan is then communicated to the necessary people and implemented. After implementation, the necessary changes are made to further modify the plan. In order to implement the plan of introduction of new machineries, modern fitness machineries are to be installed. New schemes for customers should be implemented. Human resource management is an essential activity for any organization and has to be taken care by the human resource team. In the given case study of Bounce fitness centre, the human resource strategic planning is important for achieving competitive edge. Human resource plan, along with the implementation plan and risk management plan has been made, such that the business might flourish and customer retention could be achieved. References Armstrong, M., Taylor, S. (2014).Armstrong's handbook of human resource management practice. Kogan Page Publishers. Budhwar, P. S., Debrah, Y. A. (2013).Human resource management in developing countries. Routledge. Cameron, R., Marcella, R., Lockerbie, H. (2015). International Comparative: Skill needs of gas industry in UK and Australia. In29th British Academy of Management Conference 2015: The value of Pluralism in Advancing Management Research, Education and Practice(pp. 8-10). Chang, J. F. (2016).Business process management systems: strategy and implementation. CRC Press. Fee, M. C. (2014). Human resources management. Gollenia, L. A. (2016).Business Transformation Management Methodology. Routledge. Robertson, S. (2014). Time and temporary migration: The case of temporary graduate workers and working holiday makers in Australia.Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies,40(12), 1915-1933. Rothaermel, F. T. (2015).Strategic management. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Sadgrove, K. (2016).The complete guide to business risk management. Routledge. Scholes, M. S. (2015).Taxes and business strategy. Prentice Hall. Sparrow, P., Brewster, C., Chung, C. (2016).Globalizing human resource management. Routledge. Verbeke, A. (2013).International business strategy. Cambridge University Press.

Tom of Maines Success Essay Example

Tom of Maines Success Essay Introduction: Tom’s of Maine creates effective personal care products using simple, natural ingredients derived from plants and minerals. Tom’s of Maine products-toothpaste, mouthwash, floss, deodorant, and soap-do not contain artificial sweeteners, preservatives, colors, flavors, or animal ingredients; are tested for safety and efficacy without the use of animals; are biodegradable; and are packaged in earth-friendly ways. Our philosophy of â€Å"Natural Care† guides us in doing what is right for our customers, employees, communities, and environment. They fulfill the Natural, Then Tom’s of Maine was moving beyond health food stores and into supermarkets and drugstores, where 70 percent of toothpaste is purchased. Even as Tom’s product distribution expanded nationwide, the company’s marketing strategy was low key. Care mission by donating 10% of our profits to charitable organizations; by encouraging our employees to use 5% of their paid time in volunteer work; by adhering to our standards of natural, sustainable, and responsible; and by not testing on animals. Tom’s of Maine products and packaging are designed to be sustainable and recyclable. Each year, Tom’s uses packaging made of 100% recycled paper board. The number of consumers interested in natural personal products is growing rapidly, fueled primarily by shoppers making purchases based on their health and wellness values. This large and growing segment of the population is 57 million strong. Tom’s of Maine’s savvy, passionate, environmentally aware consumers have been seeking and getting 100% happiness for almost 40 years. 1. Critically discuss which way of thinking about ethical behavior best describes Tom’s of Maine and its founder, Tom Chappell? We will write a custom essay sample on Tom of Maines Success specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Tom of Maines Success specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Tom of Maines Success specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Ethical behavior is acting in ways that are consistent with one’ personal values and the commonly held values of the organization and society, A reputation for ethical decisions builds trust in your business among business associates and suppliers. Tom Chappell dedicated himself to creating a company that produces natural products in a caring and creative work environment. Tom Chappell hopes to set an example of ethical business standards for others. His first book, The Soul of a Business: Managing for Profit and the Common Good, set a practical yet powerful new agenda for ethical and profitable business leadership. Like the company he pilots, Tom Chappell has received many awards including the â€Å"New Englander Award† sponsored by the Small Business Association of New England, 1991 â€Å"Entrepreneur of the Year† from CNBC and 1995 â€Å"Socially Responsible New England Entrepreneur of the Year† by the Entrepreneur of the Year Institute. Tom’s of Maine has been named one of the â€Å"100 Best Companies in the U. S. for Working Mothers† by Working Mother magazine and one of the â€Å"Top 10 Healthiest Companies† by Health magazine. Tom’s of Maine has received the prestigious â€Å"Corporate Conscience Award for Charitable Contributions† from the Council on Economic Priorities. Tom Chappell is active in many cultural and philanthropic organizations, among them: the Dean’s Council for Harvard Divinity School, the Advisory Council for the Center for the Study of Values in Public Life at Harvard Divinity School, The Nature Conservancy of Maine, and the Washington National Cathedral National Advisory Group. Tom’s of Maine distinguishes itself from other companies by stressing the â€Å"common good† in all of its endeavors. The company is passionately concerned about corporate wellness, customer wellness, product wellness, community and environmental wellness, and employee wellness. In late 2000 the company launched Tom’s Online Wellness Store to make its full product line available to customers around the globe. Among other customer-oriented activities, Tom’s utilizes the services of a wellness advisory council and provides wellness education. Tom’s of Maine practices stewardship through its commitment to natural, sustainable, and responsible ingredients, products, and packaging. In embracing the philosophy of â€Å"doing well by doing well† Tom’s has continued to produce impressive business results that attest to an ongoing stream of corporate wellness. In fiscal year 2001, Tom’s sales exceeded $35 million, which directly reflects the continued strengthening of its various product lines. Tom Chappell had his own views which made him work confidently towards the best with his ethical behavior. Sweet, Franklyn (1964). 2. Discuss critically what potential dilemma did Tom Chappell face in the mid-1980? Tom Chappell’s focus on growing his company had again placed him front and center in the bottom line oriented world of capitalism, the distaste for which had once driven him to move from Philadelphia to Maine. Still questioning whether such a life was truly meaningful, he enrolled in Harvard Divinity School in 1986, to which he would make a twice-weekly, 90-mile commute. After five years of study, he earned a master’s degree in Theology. Chappell, a frequent public speaker, went on to publish a book in 1993 called The Soul of a Business: Managing for Profit and the Public Good, which outlined his ideas on running a company with a strong set of personal ethics. His search for a more values-based approach to business also led to a new look at the company’s mission, which was examined over a year’s time beginning in June 1989. Input was sought from the entire workforce, and a multifaceted set of goals was finally agreed upon, which defined the company’s purpose as making a profit while working toward the common good. Tom’s would now place a much stronger emphasis on adhering to its core values, which had begun to recede into the background during the early 1980s, when a number of â€Å"M. B. A. s† were hired to â€Å"professionalize† the company. Though it took some time for the new mission statement to take hold, the company was ultimately revitalized by the process of implementing it. One unusual byproduct of the new mission was the decision to â€Å"tithe† 5 percent of Tom’s of Maine’s profits and donate the money to environmental, arts, and human needs causes. This figure soon became 7 percent, and then 10. In addition to public giving, the company also looked after the welfare of its employees, offering them retirement savings and profit-sharing programs, childcare benefits, and parental leave, and even free fruit to eat on the job. Factory workers rotated stations every hour to avoid fatigue and boredom, and all were encouraged to perform volunteer work in the Kennebunk community on company time. The firm’s corporate values were tested in 1992 after the company reformulated its popular natural deodorant. The new version, which eliminated petroleum products and added glycerin and lichen, proved to be ineffective for about half of users, who complained to Tom’s. In October of that year the company recalled the product at a cost of $375,000. The old formula was restored, and customers who had written to complain were given replacements and coupons for money back on their next purchase. The recalled deodorant, less effective but not useless, was donated to an organization that distributed it to the homeless. The company’s distribution by the mid 1980’s was still somewhat limited, despite of all the hardships the company did not lose hope and kept on working till they got success. Anof, (1965), Chandler, Alfred (1962). 3. Critically evaluate how important were Tom Chappell’s personal views in helping Tom’s of Maine to be successful? Following the successful introduction of its toothpaste, the company began to add other personal care products, including deodorant, mouthwash, and shaving cream, all made with natural ingredients and without testing on animals. In 1978 the Chappell’s decided to develop a line of fluoride toothpaste a controversial idea in the natural foods marketplace. The move was a success, however, and sales of fluoride toothpaste eclipsed those of the original formula within two years, during which time Tom’s toothpaste sales doubled. In 1981 the company’s name was changed to Tom’s of Maine, Inc. By 1983 the firm’s annual revenues were approaching $2 million. Recognizing that sustained growth would require new outlets for its goods, the company began to seek distribution to chain stores. The years that Chappell spent as a part-time student at the Divinity School brought him to a new understanding of his role. â€Å"For the first time in my career, I had the language I needed to debate my bean-counters† he explained. He realized that his company was his ministry. †I’m here to succeed. But there’s a qualifier. It’s not to succeed at all costs; it’s to succeed according to my principles. † One tangible result was the development of a mission statement for the company that reflected both the company’s business aspirations and its commitment to social responsibility. This document spelled out the values that would guide the company in the future. It covered the types of products ordered and the need for natural ingredients and high quality. It also included respect for employees and the need for meaningful work as well as fair pay. It pointed out the need to be concerned with the community and even the world. Finally, it called for Tom’s of Maine â€Å"to be a profitable and successful company, while acting in a socially responsible manner. † Some of the company’s programs were the result of decisions made by top management. The company began donating ten percent of its pretax profits to charities ranging from art organizations to environmental groups. These included funds donated to state and local curbside recycling programs, and a pledge of $100,000 for the Rainforest Alliance. Tom’s of Maine was facing increasing competition. Its prices were similar to those of its national competitors for baking soda toothpaste, but 20 to 40 percent higher for deodorant and mouthwash. Tom Chappell did not appear worried, however. He believed that â€Å"You have to understand from the outset that they have more in the marketing war chest than you. That’s not he way you’re going to get market share, you’re going to get it by being who you are. † He explained his philosophy. †A small business obviously needs to distinguish itself from the commodities. If we try to act like commodities, act like a toothpaste, we give up our souls. Instead, we have to be peculiarly authentic in ev erything we do. † This authenticity is applied to both ingredients and advertising decisions. †When you start doing that customer is very aware of your difference. And they like the difference†. It was Tom Chappell’s personal views that took out the company from all the problems and made it the best and the different. James R. Evans (2005), Drucker (1974). 4. Critically evaluate how Chappell’s approach to ethical management can work at larger firms. Socially responsible businesses should be encouraged to make regular assessment and self-criticism a priority, which in turn will make them less vulnerable to destructive criticism. Socially responsible businesses have experienced serious ethical failures and lapses, and there are many factors that make it difficult for organizations to carry out strong social missions. The employment of ethical business practices can enhance overall corporate health in three important areas. The first area is productivity. The employees of a corporation are stakeholders who are affected by management practices. When management considers ethics in its actions toward stakeholders, employees can be positively affected. For example, a corporation may decide that business ethics requires a special effort to ensure the health and welfare of employees. The company began donating ten percent of its pretax profits to charities ranging from art organizations to environmental groups. These included funds donated to state and local curbside recycling programs, and a pledge of $100,000 for the Rainforest Alliance. The company also urged its employees to get involved in charitable causes. It set up a program that allowed employees to donate five percent of their work time to volunteer activities. Employees enthusiastically took advantage of the opportunity. When one employee began teaching art classes for emotionally disturbed children, others became interested, until almost all of the company’s employees were involved. Employee benefits were not strictly psychological. The company offered flexible four-day scheduling and subsidized day care. Even coffee breaks were designed with employee preferences in mind, providing them with fresh fruit. The company also helped individual employees earn their high school equivalency degrees and develop skills for new positions. By 1993, Tom’s of Maine was moving beyond health food stores and into supermarkets and drugstores, where 70 percent of toothpaste is purchased. Even as Tom’s product distribution expanded nationwide, the company’s marketing strategy was low key. The consumers vote them with dollars daily as they are impressed with the product and purpose. It set up a program that allowed employees to donate five percent of their work time to volunteer activities. Employees enthusiastically took advantage of the opportunity. When one employee began teaching art classes for emotionally disturbed children, others became interested, until almost all of the company’s employees were involved. In late 2000 the company launched Tom’s Online Wellness Store to make its full product line available to customers around the globe. Among other customer-oriented activities, Tom’s utilizes the services of a wellness advisory council and provides wellness education. Tom’s of Maine practices stewardship through its commitment to natural, sustainable, and responsible ingredients, products, and packaging. In embracing the philosophy of â€Å"doing well by doing well† Tom’s has continued to produce impressive business results that attest to an ongoing stream of corporate wellness. In fiscal year 2001, Tom’s sales exceeded $35 million, which directly reflects the continued strengthening of its various product lines. Throughout the 1990s Tom’s of Maine has been repeatedly recognized for providing a model of ethical business standards for others to follow. It is Tom Chappell’s approach to ethical management he created a different Tom’s of Maine and can also work at larger firms. Boatright, J. R. (1999). Conclusion: To serve the customers by providing safe, effective, innovative, natural products of high quality. To build relationships with our customers that extends beyond product usage to include full and honest dialogue, responsiveness to feedback, and the exchange of information about products and issues. To respect, value, and serve not only the customers, but also the co-workers, owners, agents, suppliers, and our community; to be concerned about and contribute to their well-being, and to operate with integrity so as to be deserving of their trust. Reference: Sweet, Franklyn (1964) â€Å"Strategic Planning A Conceptual Study†, Bureau of Business Research, the University of Texas. †¢Chandler, Alfred (1962) â€Å"Strategy and Structure: Chapters in the history of industrial enterprise†, Doubleday, New York. †¢Anof, (1965) â€Å"Corporate Strategy McGraw Hill†, New York. †¢Drucker (1974) â€Å"The Practice of Management†, Harper and Row, New York. †¢James R. Evans (2005) â€Å" Principles of Operations Management†. OH: Thomson South-Western, Manson. †¢Boatright, J. R. (1999), â€Å"Finance ethics. A companion to business ethics†, R. E. Frederic. Oxford, Blackwell. Word Count: 2412.

Non-Toxic Colored Smoke Bombs

Non-Toxic Colored Smoke Bombs You may have read that the YouTube colored smoke bomb video is believed to have been faked, with the video showing a military smoke bomb, masked with duct tape, rather than the smoke bomb made using the recipe. I think that probably is true, but it doesnt invalidate the recipe for the colored smoke bomb (though I have heard recommendations that you avoid adding baking soda Im looking into that). Colored smoke bombs arent new. The other recipes I have listed date back as far as 1936. A colored smoke bomb is a normal smoke bomb, with dispersed dye. The trick is to release the dye into the air, rather than simply burn it.I get a lot of questions about the safety of smoke bombs. Is it safe to use your cookware for food after making a smoke bomb? Is the smoke bomb non-toxic? Is the smoke from the smoke bomb non-toxic?The classic smoke bomb recipe is very safe. The ingredients are sugar and saltpeter. I think we can agree that sugar is non-toxic. If you read the MSDS for saltpeter (potass ium nitrate), youll see eating it will cause you to throw up, and like other nitrates, it can be converted to nitrites, so its not good for kids to eat, but its not a poison. You shouldnt taste the smoke bomb, much less eat it, but if you do, its unlikely you would fall over dead (do call Poison Control). If you wash your cookware after making a smoke bomb, it will be safe for cooking. I should note: you can ruin your pan with this recipe. If youve made candy (badly), you know burnt sugar and pans dont go well together. Smoke particles arent great for your respiratory system. The smoke from the smoke bomb is no more or less safe than smoke from a campfire. Actually, the campfire smoke is worse, but it gives you a sort of safety benchmark.Moving on to the colored smoke bomb... I wouldnt eat the organic dye, nor would I intentionally breathe it. The MSDS of the particular dye you choose will give you details, and you should read the MSDS. Id make something like this in the lab, not my kitchen. The smoke is for show, not for inhalation. Its on par with the safety of most chemistry demonstrations. Its safe if you know what youre doing and use precautions, bu t not something the average person will want to make.

Regulatory, Cultural and Ethical Dimensions to the Introduction of Essay

Regulatory, Cultural and Ethical Dimensions to the Introduction of International Accounting Standards - Essay Example According to the research findings companies are often placed under regulations with respect to international accounting standards to enable the accounting professionals to provide an honest and accurate financial image to company’s stakeholders. Through compliance with international accounting standards regulations, companies are bound to benefit from their investors’ confidence with regards to truthful and accurate reporting of the financial situation and performance of the company. More so, compliance to such standards would render financial information more understandable, reliable, comparable, and relevant among the users of financial information in assessing confidence in company management and making economic decisions. Regulatory dimensions of international accounting standards are subject to a two tier endorsement mechanism standards a technical and regulatory level. The regulatory level endorsement mechanism is based on proposals of local accounting commission s that decide on the levels and whether the International Accounting Standards are to be adopted. Local regulatory bodies aim to ensure that full accountability and transparency is achieved in financial reporting through both local regulations and compliance to International Accounting Standards. Countries and regions such as the European Union have enforced compliance regulations among its publicly listed companies to apply International Accounting Standards in preparation of their financial statements. ... The regulatory level endorsement mechanism is based on proposals of local accounting commissions that decide on the levels and whether the International Accounting Standards are to be adopted. Local regulatory bodies aim to ensure that full accountability and transparency is achieved in financial reporting through both local regulations and compliance to International Accounting Standards. Countries and regions such as the European Union have enforced compliance regulations among its publicly listed companies to apply International Accounting Standards in preparation of their financial statements. This is in a bid to improve transparency and foster efficiency in corporate functions in the interest of the public and more particularly, investors (Palea, 2006, p.7). On the other hand, technical level endorsement mechanism uses Accounting Technical Committees and advisory bodies made up of accounting professionals and experts from both public and private sectors. These professional accou ntants committees and advisory bodies seek to provide expertise and support that is needed to assess International Accounting Standards and to advise companies on whether or not it is suitable for them to adopt the standards according to local and country preferences and interests. However, there exist Generally Accepted Accounting Principles that encompass a wide spectrum of local and geographically dispersed accounting interests and preferences all over the world. The GAAP is a common set of accounting standards, principles and procedures that are globally applicable by companies in compiling their financial statements. More so, GAAP include a combination of commonly accepted practices and local board authoritative policies and standards of reporting

HR 640 - Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

HR 640 - Case Study - Essay Example The business of ComputerHelp Inc. covers the software development, computer timesharing and sales. The business of ComputerHelp Inc. is now in better working position and the overall staff is well qualified. ComputerHelp Inc. has managed the business from all the sides of marketplace. Recently they have offered the company shares to its employees. When business of ComputerHelp Inc. went to the public its potential performance enhanced and overall staff confidence was also augmented. In this way ComputerHelp Inc. has established its branches in lot of other cities, such as New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and Atlanta. The working staff of the ComputerHelp Inc. is also augmenting and adding more value to the business of the ComputerHelp Inc. This expanding ratio of the ComputerHelp Inc. working staff is 10 percent each year (Case Study). The staff of the ComputerHelp Inc. is operational in different categories like managerial, professional, programmers, computer engineers, and technical. The overall workers of the ComputerHelp Inc. are highly educated and experienced. Though the ComputerHelp Inc. management has offered the main ownership to its working staff but still business has benefit program. The main partners and stakeholders of the business are getting profits in project and are also paid competitive wages. These employees are satisfied but the business growth of the non-consulting side of the business has resulted in the hiring of staff that will not be made partners or shareholders in the business. In the above situation new working staff that is not made the partners or shareholders in the business are considered as the employees. It seems that these employees are working for the wages and have no interest in business enhancement or company future. This situation creates the feel of disparity in those work ing employees (Case Study). This problem situation can result in the loss of

Globalisation: Advantages And Disadvantages

Globalisation: Advantages And Disadvantages Introduction: faisal From the start of curriculum I was aware of a group project to be completed as a coursework for this academic year. So from that moment I was pretty anxious about, what will be my topic and who all will be my group mates? The latter question was easy to answer but regarding the topic of the coursework stretched my anxiety to a greater extent. But when our group was assigned with the topic of globalisation and its impact on the companys marketing strategy, I was fascinated from the very moment I heard it because during the past two decades I felt that there has been dramatic changes in the way the countries and societies are developing. During this period the accessibility of greater variants of products was at ease. This accessibility has grown manifolds than our parents and grandparents had in their times. So this topic gave me a chance to look into those aspects in the global environment which have triggered these changes. So I was preparing myself to get into greater intricacies and depth of how globalisation has impacted and at what stage of globalisation we are at present. But in conjunction to that my focus was also in understanding the impact of dynamics of these environments on the firms performances as well as the marketing strategies; I was also interested in finding how these firms have adapted during these periods and so on. Therefore I planned and prepared myself to dig into all the kinds of resources i.e. library materials, e-journals and internet to get the valuable information relevant to the topic; so that it could help me for the better understanding and to get started with the project. During the starting of my project, I thought that it was easy for the companies to adapt to the post globalisation period and only the exporting companies should learn about the global marketing strategies. But later in the project I understood that the understanding of global marketing strategies is important to even the domestic players so as to the reporting companies. This was because of the free entry of foreign players in the domestic market of others as a result of globalisation. Globalisation gave both advantages and disadvantages to the companies all over the world. The advantage was they have the liberty to utilise the opportunities which arose in the international markets. The disadvantage is that they have to compete with global players even in their domestic markets. But with the progress of the project and with the help of group discussions we had, we understood that every firm can sustain and utilise the emerging opportunities with the implementation of a good strategy. The companies are trying to cope up with the changing scenario with the modification in their strategies. In the project we tried to analyse the marketing strategies which were prevalent before globalisation and the marketing strategies which are present past globalisation. The emergence of a global economy was due to globalisation. We also tried to analyse the effects of the emergence of global economy in the marketing strategies of the companies. Recollection of experiences: The day I got the topic and our team was formed we all planned and prepared ourselves to get into the details of project so that we can find and analyse the topic and present the report in the best our capabilities before the honorary. The task was humungous but we knew that if we work together nothing is as the heel of Achilles; so we strategized our motto and we promised each other that we all will work together and will not let any stone be unturned in this task. So the first obstacle before us was how to go about and get started with this project. But it is true that nothing is impossible for a productive team. So we planned that we need to divide the topic in different segments i.e. the entire project will be completed in three phases. In the first phase, we divided our group into different sub groups and each sub group was given task to gather the required information regarding the globalisation, the current situation of globalisation, business strategies pre and post globalisa tion era, marketing models, past and current marketing strategies, finding and analysing the global firms and the marketing strategies used by them. During the second phase, we planned to have series of group meeting sessions and frequent brain storming activities where we all gave our inputs and suggestions. During these sessions we were all required to update the group with our progress in our respective topics and findings we had till date, after these we all were given our future task to be completed and project progress precisely and followed by critical feedbacks. This was very crucial to avoid repetitions and to give new perspectives of thinking to the entire group members. These group discussions helped us to create a report which can serve the purpose of project as well as individual learnings. This also helped us to view the other side of every aspect as every individual will think only from one side. This also created a healthy competition among the group members. This me thod also helped us to understand the individual capabilities and capacities of every group member which was very crucial for development of the skills which the individual group members are lacking at. Third phase was also a group meeting session were we all sat together and analysed our project each subgroup, individuals were asked to give their individual analysis of the topic they were handling. On gathering all the analysis, the group was summoned to come to a consensus for the idea, and finally give a perfect analysis. During this stage the final draft of the project was prepared and was checked for errors and details. The errors and the deviations from the group objectives have been discussed at this stage and a group consensus was obtained from these discussions. The various differences from the group objective were found and the measures for rectifying the errors were suggested after the group discussion. The different subgroups discussed about the differences and there was a hot debate regarding the view points of every individual. These differences were supported by their own understanding depending on their own analysis. Therefore achieving a group consensus was very difficult at this point of time. But the group helped us to understand which all the incorrect view-points given by us. This helped us to understand our faults which were proved by the group logically. I understood the fact that the productivity will be high in a group rather than doing a job individually. Being in a group will avoid a self-centric view point in each and every point of life. This was evident from each group works I have done so far. Personal feelings and the learnings from the experience: This project was truly what I dreamt of because from the starting I was very anxious about the factors which are causing changes in our livelihood. Secondly I was curious how companies are coping with these rapid changes in the existing condition; what aspects of marketing are affected by globalisation and role of marketing managers to cope up with this change so as to get their firm golden bottom line always and increasing; always questioned me in my mind and I was searching the answers to these questions anxiously. During this project my sub group was assigned to gather information regarding marketing strategies in the pre and post globalisation era. Our group knew that this topic will require serious amount of groundwork to be completed to make a complete analysis of it. So in-order to accomplish this task, our sub group planned to go for a massive search for all relevant information during the past decade. For this we took the help of the materials present in our library and thro ugh this only our major portion of the information was collected. But going through all the materials in library took the major time of our project. We also resorted to go through the e-journals and internet to gather other vital details. After getting the relevant information, I and my sub group were able to select right and valid data for our project. Soon after this I was allotted in our sub group to make a rough draft of the information gathered during this process. Personally during this project I was able to gather great informations about the globalisation and its effects on companies marketing strategy. This project helped me to go through many journals in this topic which could have otherwise been untouched. Secondly sometimes I was not able to find relevant matters and I ended in searching irrelevant data and as a result I found myself getting caught at the dead ends. But on the further analysis, I found that doing things monotonously can bring a boredom and lacklustre app roach to the assigned task. So I formulated a plan that whenever such a situation occurs, I will ask my team mates to step into and guide or take the things in their hands and continue forwards for a while. After sometime, I rejoined the team and continued with the topic. Finally as a team player I and my team mates were able to produce great results. Sometimes during the group meetings, I was not able to put through my ideas convincingly because I felt I am not that aggressive during a heated debate. So at times I felt my suggestions being unheard during the team meetings. I was feeling very bad at this situation. But my group was so supportive that they had their patience to listen to suggestions. Each and every suggestion of mine was left to a discussion about itself and then the group gave the conclusions. Some conclusions were totally different from mine, but the group made sure that they made me understand where I have gone wrong in my thinking and conclusions. Personally I fe lt so irrelevant in the group at least initially, but later I understood the importance of correcting ones mistake when somebody proves it wrong logically. I was lucky to have such a group which could think diversely without which we could not have been able to give such a good report to our group project. The cooperativeness of the group helped me to enlarge my thinking and helped me to learn a lot about this topic. I was able to streamline my thinking to the topic especially the effects of globalisation on companies marketing strategy even though I knew about globalisation. I have not thought about this specific topic till I did this project. My group helped me to think and they helped me to start the project my adding to my knowledge of globalisation. This learning was very important for me, so that I will not repeat the same mistakes in any future projects. Moreover I have learned a lot of new things which wouldnt have been possible without my supportive group in this project. Group Dynamics and learning from the experience: It is truly said with great things some problems are accompanied to arise. Our team was truly an ingenious group, but when all the high energised individuals gather at a common platform and brainstorm together there are some situations for heated debate bound to occur. The major problem, we as a group faced was whole presenting our updates before the group. Some of the group members were poaching into those territories where there is already a group assigned for the above task. So at this point of time a ruckus usually formed. To rescue the group from this situation, some of our group members took initiatives to sort out the issues and were demarcating our territories to be handled by each subgroup or individuals. This motivated us to get back into the defined tracks. Sometimes during consensus stage, we as a group couldnt come up with consensus because most of the individualistic debates occurred during this time. At this point of time few of us individually stood up and took over t he control of the team and guided the situation to a productive platform and as a result we were able to come to a conclusion which was agreed by all the group members. During the project some of our group mates were not able to keep up with the pace of the project because of the tight schedule we had fixed for the sub groups. So at some point of time, these people felt left alone. But the group meeting sessions proved to be a remarkable platform to put these problems ahead. As a solution to this problem the sub groups were asked to update each group members initiatives, progress and hindrances they were facing. So these individuals who had problems were highlighted and remedy to it these individuals were assigned as a team leader for their sub group and were asked to formulate a strategy for the upcoming events in the project phase and to list out the KRAs (Key Result Areas) to be achieved till the next group meeting. Apart from these problems, sometimes irrelevant topics of debate s occurred during the group meetings which we as a group felt that it was hampering our productivity but our group members mostly recognised such situations and intervened and divert those to our project and to our relevant goals. Lessons for the future projects: Truly this project helped me and my group in a great way. Because of this project we were able to understand the details of the pre and post globalisation era; how this has affected the countries, people and society and the reason for their growth and development; the details of the developed, developing and underdeveloped economies and so on. The project has given us a great insight regarding the strategies and growth potential in this era and the marketing strategies the companies are using to cope with the competition in the globalised village. This project also helped me to understand the importance of home work before approaching a project. The homework here means preparing about the topic very deeply and thoroughly by reading more and more books, articles, journals, etc. This also helps to increase the quality of the project thereby increasing my personal knowledge. This also helps everyone to have a look at a topic from different perspectives so that a perfect conclusion can be presented, also helped me to identify the importance of keeping a timeline and adhering strictly to it so that the work as a whole can be delivered within the time frame given to the projects. This project taught me the importance and being receptive for new ideas and not being stubborn with my own ideas. These are major learnings for me from this group project which I can use as a lesson for my future projects. On the other hand this project has given us an opportunity to work as a team. This has led to a better understanding about our peers, know how, knowledge and the way they approach a situation helped us greatly. It also gave us an opportunity to develop our competency skills. This group project is a replica of our future working environments. So working under such teams gave our group glimpses of dynamics when a high energy team is brain storming and working to achieve a goal. It has also helped me to understand the importance of team work and productivity associated while working with great talent pool. So me and my group learned that no task is big for a team if the members of the team puts a whole hearted dedication to achieve the common goal. This project has also given me an opportunity to understand my mates bit more differently and it had made our bonding to the great extents. This group gave us all a stage to analyse our skills and competencies on a comparative basis. This has highlighted our strengths and weaknesses as an individual we possess and we have took that learnings on a very positive note; we as a group are trying to augment our strengths to our higher level while mending our weaknesses to bare minimum for our future projects and it is a mirror towards the realities which we are going to face in the corporate world. Conclusion: It is rightly said that The journey of thousand mile starts with a single step. I truly believe it after going through this project has given me a new insight about our globalised village; how great strategies have come and have been modified through-out. This has led me to a new paradigm to believe that the certainties of uncertainties are great and tackling this will make a global business players strategies crucial and vital. At personal front I am trying to improve my emotional and intellectual fronts while working as a team player. I also understood the roles of a team player and team leader; the need for a supportive group for better productivity; the amicable way of achieving a common consensus, etc. Moreover I have learned that one need to be opened to ideas and be alert to gather valuable information irrespective of individuals we are interacting and I am trying to be an excellent listener and good learner because the knowledge keeps on increasing when you are interacting frequently with others and if one doesnt, they will be obsolete in terms of knowledge base in near future. This is very crucial in the present competitive world and it has been rightly said that rolling stones gathers no moss. Last but not the least, I want to thank wholeheartedly to all my peers, seniors and faculties who have shared their valuable insights and their precious time to help me to complete this project successfully.

Sexual Enlightenment :: Essays Papers

Sexual Enlightenment Introduction Throughout human history, there has always been a wide range of conflicts with nature. The earliest humans had to learn survival techniques in the wilderness, we have always felt the threat of the devastating forces of the earth like volcanoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, and in recent decades have even ventured into the vast wonders of outer space. The issue we are focusing on here deals with various advances in the nature of human sexuality. Sexual enlightenment produced profound changes in human society. The aspects of sexual enlightenment covered in our web site are homosexuality, pre-marital sex, sexual disease, marriage and birth control. Homosexuality has been around for a long time. We know it has been around in some form or another for most of history. It reared its head in ancient societies like the Roman Empire and has survived to make its way into our present day world. Homosexuality has experienced many changes and different levels of acceptance depending on time and place. In the past few decades, this alternative form of sexuality has seen a huge growth in popularity. Though it is not fully accepted in today's societies, advocates are always fighting for homosexual rights. It remains a topic of varying acceptance. Our second aspect of sexual enlightenment is pre-marital sex. Of the cultures, past and present, who treasure the bond of marriage (for whatever reasons), pre-marital sex has been generally looked down upon within the society. Nonetheless, we know that it has still been a frequent occurrence in many societies. People just didn't want to wait until marriage, and they sure don't want to now. Pre-marital sex remains a popular occurrence in today's societies. Thirdly, we have the enlightenment in sexually transmitted diseases. Because of relatively recent advances in science, we have been able to study diseases much more thoroughly. We can understand how they work and even find treatments for them. These diseases have been around since people have been having sexual intercourse with multiple partners (probably all of human history) since that's how they are spread. We have records of prostitution dating back to ancient times, so sexual disease must be very old.