Management Strategy Models

Introduction Comprehensive business situation analysis can take many forms. Situation analysis involves the evaluation of the situation and the trends in a particular company’s market. The commonest is the analysis on the basis three C’s. According to Orcullo (2007), his particular situation analysis refers to the study of the major elements of the businesses that crucially affect the direction that any business takes.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Management Strategy Models specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Gotz and Mann (2006) say that customers, costs and competition traditionally form the core of the three C’s analysis. Strauss (2008) says that, nowadays business situation analysis includes collaboration, the company itself and competitive advantage that the company holds over its rivals. According to Bohn (2009), another model that will be used to evaluate Morison’s company is th e SWOT analysis. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that Morrisons is experiencing relative to its competitors will be analyzed to determine the situation and recommend the possible remedies and strategies it should take to avoid losing ground to other supermarket chains. The C’s Business Situation Analysis Customers Like the other leading three stores, Morrisons has focused on the mid low-end segment of the population. The company has pursued a strategy focusing on offering unbeatable customer service and a favorable shopping environment. Again, it regularly competes on special offers and other promotions that aim to convince customers as savings oriented. The strategy has had considerable success evidenced by the number of customers who visit the stores every year. For instance, the store announced that a whooping 10.8 million customers visited the store in the three months leading to November 2009. The figures were way ahead of predictions and further ser ved as a vote of confidence in the customer service polices that is in place. Competition Morrisons supermarket faces competition from many other retails chains in the UK that already control a big share of the market. Waitrose, Sainsbury, ASDA and Tesco provide for the major competition for Morrisons in the UK. Apart from Waitrose, the rest are way ahead of the Morrisons in the market in terms of diversity of goods and services and regional presence.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Company Morrison Supermarkets plc. is classified as the fourth largest super market in the United Kingdom. It is got a sizable market share in the UK that was estimated at 11.8% in 2008. Currently, it is estimated to employ more than 124, 000. However, compared to its competitors, Morrisons was the smallest in terms of the market share segment. It is way behind market leader Tesco with a market s hare of 30.9%, Asda with 16.8% and Sainsbury with 16% (Li 2008). The company majorly deals with groceries and consumer goods that form the core of its revenue sources. Its revenue in the year 2010 is estimated to have hit 14, 528 million pounds. It is made a net profit of 460 million pounds in the year 2009. SWOT Analysis The C’s analysis above brings out many strengths and weaknesses of the Morrison’s retail chain. Similarly, it analyses the opportunities that can be exploited and the threats that are encroaching on its survival in the market (Fine 2009). Any strategy therefore that the new leader is going to carry out must address the elements identified in the SWOT analysis. Strengths It is apparent that Morrisons has a distinct advantage in the Northern part of the UK. Its historical ties with the place and success in courting low and mid low-end customers is one of the strengths that it boasts over its smaller rivals. The acquisition of Safeway’s retail gro up has only served to reinforce that advantage of consolidating Northern UK and other parts of the country. Again, unlike its competitors who have diversified in the products they offer, Morrison is yet to diversify universally beyond groceries and non-food offers. It therefore provides an area of strength that can be exploited by the retail chain to its advantage. The chain also has enormous strength among the upper middle class segment of the population. Morrison too has its â€Å"good quality food† tag that it has cultivated over time and which accords strength that its competitors do not have. Morrisons has a strong balance sheet besides owning majority of its store portfolio which is estimated at 89%. Estimates put its value of property to be 7.5 billion pounds higher than its market capitalization. With only 19% as its debt equity, Morrisons comes out top in the sector.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Management Strategy Models specifically for yo u for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The company therefore is stable as far as asset worth and accumulation is concerned. The above are financial strengths that the company can use to its advantage to increase business Weaknesses The supermarket however seems unsure which direction it should take. Failure to establish presence in the south when all other major chains did so was a case in point where the retail chain’s top management failed to make quick decisions and take risks to increase its market share in the UK. Opportunities Concentration on the low-end market means there still is an opportunity for the supermarket to grow its customer base in the high sections of the population. The fact that its leading competitors have larger market share and make more profits with their low-end client base is reason enough that there is still opportunity in expanding the customer base. Though Morrisons has ventured into the southern part of the UK, there st ill is an opportunity to expand its operations throughout the country to make it a nationwide chain hence access a larger client pool. While Tesco for instance has 2282 stores, Morrisons has 447 stores, giving it a huge opportunity to grow its branches to effectively compete with the leading three stores. All of Morrisons rivals have developed online shopping options for their customers. They have expanded their market reach to accommodate those that rely on the internet for shopping. Morrison’s new CEO has acknowledged the company is looking into the possibility of developing such a system. It is an opportunity that if exploited could see is customer base grow while the market share will be increased. Threats The price war between Morrisons and Tesco placed Morrisons at the receiving end. A Tesco advert in 2007 sought to inform prospective customers how Tesco had over 3000 items priced cheaper than at their rival Morrison. The financial muscle and the greater market share of the competitors will always be a threat to Morison’s position and progress as a market leader in the UK.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Strategy development Given the stiff competition among supermarkets in the UK, it is important that Morrisons develops a strategy aimed at maintaining its competitive advantage. Its strengths as identified in the SWOT analysis will be consolidated while the measure will be put in place to stem the weaknesses. The strategy has to focus on exploiting the existing opportunities to increase the revenues of the company. Porter’s Generic Business Model According to Porter’s generic business opportunities model, innovation, quality enhancement and cost reduction form the core of any business strategy (Rundle and Johnson 2010). Innovation aims to increase the differentiation of products and adds value to them. Kossowski (2007) asserts that differentiation will enhance creativity that will ensure uniqueness of products giving a company’s good s and services an edge over the others. Quality enhancement on the other hand will involve concentration of particular market segm ents and development of highly developed products for those markets. Provision of cost leadership involves reduction of costs while remaining competitive on pricing. Charging lower prices will ensure while maintaining an acceptable profit margin on each unit of goods sold will effectively manage costs leading to profitability. Porter’s generic business opportunities model suits Morrisons as it seeks to increase its market share while raising its revenues. The new Chief Executive Officer needs to focus on new innovations that will bring new customers on board. Their marketing ways have to change so as the message goes beyond the mid low-end customer base that forms its core clientele. Innovation is also critically needed if the company is to increase the variety of goods that it has offering its customers. Pricing has been one of the fronts that the super markets have engaged each other. Morrison’s has a strong financial backing which can easily be turned to price offer s to customers. The new CEO will need to focus on specific market segments like they are doing now with a reduced margin and an intention to win the price war. A price war can easily turn against the company especially if the rivals have a considerable financial muscle like that of Tesco and the other two leading supermarkets. Morrisons has numerous factories where its products are manufactured. Possession of these factories gives them an advantage over their competitors. In the quest to improve sales, the new management should focus on improving the quality of their goods. This will be easier especially because they have control over the production of a majority of goods for their outlets. The leadership of the company should focus in making goods difficult to imitate by competitors and counterfeits. That way they are able to lock in any intended onslaught on their products by the competitors. Diversification beyond food products is necessary if market leaders like Tesco are to be challenged. Considering all leading supermarkets target the low-end segment of the market and regularly engage in price competition with Morrisons, it is important the new CEO carefully reviews the strategy. Caution will need to be applied in order to ensure costs are minimized while profits are maximized. Five forces Model Five forces model is another strategy model that is popular with businesses (Hax 2009).This strategy model suits into Morrisons current needs and the new management can use it to improve its market share while combating the challenges that face the company. According to Shaw-McMinn et al.(2001), the model involves analysis of the market through five fronts which touches on almost every aspect. Threat from new entrants in the market, the industry, bargaining power if suppliers, the bargaining power of buyers and the threat of substitute products constitute the five forces that shape strategy formulation in many companies. There are likely to other new entrants in the UK market. Though they present no considerable threat, it is important that the new management of Morrisons take note of them. New entrants normally enter the market with the intention of capitalizing on the existing player mistakes. Lack of online shopping for Morrisons may be one of the weaknesses that new entrants may be targeting. Considering they will be competing for the same clientele, it is important that Morrisons take steps to consolidate the customer base and ensure loyalty of customers. One way the new CEO can do it is through introduction of the shopper’s card that promises rewards for loyal and consistent customers. The supermarket industry in the UK is vibrant and any innovation player is guaranteed to keep its place. The new management of Morrisons should increase industry presence through offering diverse types of goods. Morrisons has already consolidated its position on the food sector. Its time the new management focused on other fronts that as a result will net new customers hence increase customer base. Keeping competitive advantage should also be top of the agenda. Morrisons would want to keep its superb infrastructure that greatly aides its domination of the groceries market. All goods that Morrisons distributes are obtained from suppliers. Considering it is largely a grocery oriented chain, suppliers come in handy. Suppliers determine the quality of the goods sold by the supermarket. Good relations with suppliers are therefore critical to Morison’s survival in the market. A few years back some industry analysts in the UK felt supermarkets in the UK including Morrisons were being too tough on suppliers. It is understandable because Morrisons has packaged itself a store that offers quality products compare with its rivals. Considering suppliers too have power and they can decide to sell their produce to other willing industry players, it is important the new management develop a relationship that is beneficial to both pa rties. It will be important for the new CEO to avoid the common hostilities that normally characterize supplier-buyer relationships. Buyers or customers are the main backbone of any business that has intentions of surviving in the market. The bargaining power of customers if not checked and carefully dealt with can easily lead to losses. Businesses have to perform a delicate balancing act where they need to make a sale and gain profit and ensure a customer is not lost or the reputation of the company is not damaged. The financial strength that Morrisons has plus an expected jump in profits through sound management will be enough for the new management to offer promotions that can double up as bargaining events. Substitute products offer reprieve to customers when they feel that do not experience maximum utility from the products they are interested in. It is therefore important that Morrison’s stock substitute products that will offer customers a wide variety to choose from i f their original intentions are not met. That calls for diversification of the products on offer in the stores in an effort to go beyond food products as earlier said. Conclusion The models described above do not offer the ultimate solution to Morrisons quest of increasing its market share in the UK. It is important for the management to note that its other leading competitors have overseas operations which gives them a competitive edge over Morrisons. The new CEO should consider taking Morrisons operations abroad in order for the company to increase its revenues and to improve its international market share. References Bohn, A. (2009) The SWOT Analysis. Berlin: GRIN Verlag. Hax, C., A. (2009) The Delta Model: Reinventing Your Business Strategy. New York: Springer. Fine, L. G. (2009) The SWOT Analysis: Using Your Strength to Overcome Weaknesses, Using Opportunities to Overcome Threats. New York: Booksurge Llc. Kossowski, A. (2007) Strategic Management: Porter’s Model of Gener ic Competitive Strategies Theory and analysis. Berlin: GRIN Verlag. Li, E. (2008) Supermarket Chains and Grocery Market in the UK. Web. Mann, C. J. and Gotz, K. (2006) Borderless business: managing the far-flung enterprise. London: Greenhood Publishing group. Orcullo, N. (2007) Fundamentals of Strategic Management’ 2007. Manchester: Rex Bookstore, Inc. Rundle, S. and Johnson. N. C. (2010) Business As Mission: A Comprehensive Guide to Theory and Practice. New York: Inter-Varsity Press. Shaw-McMinn, Peter, G. and Moss, Garry L. (2001) Eyecare business: marketing and strategy. London: Elsevier Health Sciences. Strauss, S. (2008) The small business bible: everything you need to know to succeed in your small business. London: John Wiley and Sons. This essay on Management Strategy Models was written and submitted by user Spencer L. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

A Timeline History of Mathematics

A Timeline History of Mathematics Mathematics is the science of numbers. To  be precise, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines mathematics as: The science of numbers and their operations, interrelations, combinations, generalizations, abstractions and of space configurations and their structure, measurement, transformations  and generalizations. There  are several different branches of mathematical science, which include algebra, geometry and calculus. Mathematics is not an invention. Discoveries and laws of science are not considered inventions since inventions are material things and processes. However, there is a history of mathematics, a relationship between mathematics and inventions  and mathematical instruments themselves are considered inventions. According to  the book Mathematical Thought from Ancient to Modern Times, mathematics as an organized science did not exist until the classical Greek period from 600 to 300 B.C. There were, however, prior civilizations in which the beginnings or rudiments of mathematics were formed. For example, when civilization began to trade, a need to count was created. When humans traded goods, they needed a way to count the goods and to calculate the cost of those goods. The very first device for counting numbers was, of course, the human hand and fingers represented quantities. And to count beyond ten fingers, mankind used natural markers, rocks or shells. From that point, tools such as counting boards and the abacus were invented.   Heres a quick tally of important developments introduced throughout the ages, beginning from A to Z.   Abacus One of the first tools for counting invented, the abacus was invented around 1200 B.C. in China and was used in many ancient civilizations, including Persia and Egypt. Accounting The innovative Italians of the Renaissance (14th  through 16th century) are widely acknowledged to be the fathers of modern accounting. Algebra The first treatise on algebra was written by Diophantus of Alexandria in the 3rd century B.C. Algebra comes from the Arabic word al-jabr, an ancient medical term meaning the reunion of broken parts. Al-Khawarizmi is another early algebra scholar and was the first to teach the formal discipline. Archimedes Archimedes was a mathematician and inventor from ancient Greece  best known for his discovery of the relationship between the surface and volume of a sphere and its circumscribing cylinder for his formulation of a hydrostatic principle (Archimedes principle) and for inventing the Archimedes screw (a device for raising water). Differential Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716) was a German philosopher, mathematician and logician who is probably most well known for having invented differential and integral calculus. He did this independently of Sir Isaac Newton. Graph A graph is a pictorial representation of statistical data or of a functional relationship between variables. William Playfair (1759-1823) is generally viewed as the inventor of most graphical forms used to display data, including line plots, the bar chart, and the pie chart. Math Symbol In 1557, the sign was first used by Robert Record. In 1631, came the    sign. Pythagoreanism Pythagoreanism is a school of philosophy and a religious brotherhood believed to have been founded by Pythagoras of Samos, who settled in Croton in southern Italy about 525 B.C. The group had a profound effect on the development of mathematics. Protractor The simple protractor is an ancient device.  As an instrument used to construct and measure plane angles, the simple protractor looks like a semicircular disk marked with degrees, beginning with 0 º to 180 º. The first complex protractor was created for plotting the position of a boat on navigational charts. Called a three-arm protractor or station pointer, it was invented in 1801 by Joseph Huddart, a U.S. naval captain. The center  arm is fixed, while the outer two are rotatable and capable of being set at any angle relative to the center one. Slide Rulers Circular and rectangular slide rules, an instrument used for mathematical calculations, were both invented by mathematician William Oughtred. Zero Zero was invented by the Hindu mathematicians Aryabhata and Varamihara in India around or shortly after the year 520 A.D.

I Miss Not Seeing You

I Miss Not Seeing You I Miss Not Seeing You I Miss Not Seeing You By Guest Author This is a guest post by Julie Link. If you want to write for Daily Writing Tips check the guidelines here. â€Å"I love France,† my friend sighed, and I nodded my agreement. â€Å"I miss not being there,† she added. Huh? My commiseration over lost croissants gave way to puzzlement over this odd expression. You love it, but you regret not being absent from it? A quick perusal of the internet yielded more instances of the erroneous idiom. A headline on .OhGizmo.com laments, â€Å"Goodbye, F-117A. We’ll Miss Not Seeing You.† A query posted on WikiAnswers.com asks â€Å"How do you say i miss not seeing you in french† [sic]? Dictionary.com defines the verb â€Å"to miss† as â€Å"to regret the absence or loss of: I miss you all dreadfully.† The definition makes clear that what my friend missed was being in France rather than not being in France. How did â€Å"I miss being there† morph into â€Å"I miss not being there†? I’ve never seen the expression misused when the object of the verb is a person or a thing. Does anyone say â€Å"I miss not my mom?† (Well, perhaps, but that’s a topic for another day.) No, we all understand that that when we miss something or someone, we regret its absence or loss. We miss the warmth of summer, Gran’s apple pie, or a dear friend. The problem occurs only when what is missed is an action: â€Å"I miss seeing you,† â€Å"The children miss playing at the beach,† or â€Å"Nana misses rocking her grandbabies.† Perhaps the error derives from trying to emphasize the regret. Doesn’t not rocking the babies sound sadder than rocking them? But to add the word â€Å"not† is to create a double negative. Parsing my friend’s remark, for example, would suggest that what she regrets is being in France; that was not what she intended to convey. The definition of â€Å"miss† already denotes a negative- the absence or loss of something- so the addition of the word â€Å"not† negates the loss and creates, if not an arithmetic positive, then at least a grammatical confusion. Why this simple expression, so easily grasped that children use it comfortably, becomes so slippery when a few words are added is difficult to explain. An understanding of grammar is helpful; diagramming the sentence (Does anyone do that nowadays?) would demonstrate that whether what is being missed is a person, a thing, or an action, the structure of the phrase does not change. Rather than exposit the grammatical technicalities of gerunds and direct objects, I think I’ll cogitate over a croissant. The only problem is that I miss not counting calories. About the Author: Julie Link is an experienced editor and avid lexiphile who loves reading and writing about language and grammar. She may be contacted at julieolink@yahoo.com. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 Examples of Passive Voice (And How To Fix Them)15 Types of DocumentsHow to Send Tactful Emails from a Technical Support Desk

Write a paper which reflects your understanding of the relation Essay

Write a paper which reflects your understanding of the relation between religious views of creation and the way that humans based on these views think - Essay Example The definite stand of Christian left for instance, is to go for same-sex marriage, has become controversial, contrary to the Christian right’s beliefs, but this group has remarkable explanation appealing to the human intellect and reason for justification. According to the Christian left, God has created everyone equal and it is the ultimate goal of Jesus Christ to liberate the oppressed and give freedom to those who are in bondage of sin. From their own interpretation of some Biblical texts associated with this thought, Christian left remakably reflected that Jesus would want to end the oppression against the third gender, and so legalizing the same-sex marriage as they believe would substantially end the repression against the homosexuals. Christian views nowadays are therefore trying to create a way to justify the human actions, unlike from the past which the literal interpretation of the Bible was most likely emphasized. Today, Christian views are still remarkably placing higher authority on God’s Word, but some views are susceptible to create justification leading to the belief system that is highly intellectualize and rich in substantial reasons. However, no matter how diverse these doctrines are, Christians have been united with the basic idea that God from the start would want to ensure a good plan for his creation, but as the humanity failed, he wants restoration and this was made possible through the death of Christ at the cross. This is the basic foundation of the Christian belief, as Christians remain to believe that God is the ultimate creator and source of everything. Furthermore, as creator of all things, God allows calamities at present to inflict remarkable consequences and pains on the humanity. A Christian view concerning this may lead to the very characteristic Jesus would want to show to the mankind. With his

Summaries of Five Lectures Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Summaries of Five Lectures - Research Paper Example Often companies overlook the actual cause by focusing on the tip of the iceberg. At this stage, companies also decide whether to undertake exploratory (exploring the motivations of consumers), descriptive (answering questions such as what, where, when, how) or causal (establishing cause-effect relationships in consumer’s behavior) research. Next, a plan is formulated which is implemented by collecting either primary or secondary data is the desired manner. There are two main types of research: qualitative (comprising of focus groups, observations and third-person techniques) and quantitative. Primarily, companies engage in research by employing the four core media; that is, telephone, internet, mail and face-to-face conversations. For instance, Pepsi conducted a blind-taste test (known as Pepsi Challenge) where consumers were told to taste two cups (one with Pepsi one with Coke). The results revealed that Pepsi was the popular choice amongst Americans. Lecture 3 discusses the three core steps of marketing namely segmentation, targeting and positioning. Segmentation refers to grouping the population into categories based on common characteristics pertaining to behavior, psychographic elements or profile of customers. Segmentation based on behavioral aspects tends to focus on the purchase behavior, benefits, features, usage patterns as well as perceptions of the customers. Psychographic segmentation is based on lifestyle patterns and personality traits of the customers. Profile refers to categorizing the market based on age, income and socio-economic status. Targeting comes after segmentation and refers to the selection of one or more such groups towards which the elements of the marketing mix are aimed at. These segments are evaluated on the basis of criteria such as their potential profitability, size, as well as their coherence with the organizational goals. Finally, positioning refers to the whole or space in customers’ mind that the company wis hes to acquire. In short, the company decides the area in which it would differentiate itself from competitors as well as how it intends to do so. For example, Diet Coke positioned itself against Coke Zero by appealing to a different target market (women) compared to Coke Zero that targeted athletics and sportsmen. Lecture 4 discusses the buyer behavior process. This begins with an analysis of the various roles that consumers take on as â€Å"initiators†, â€Å"influencers†, â€Å"deciders†, â€Å"buyers† and â€Å"users†. A personal consumer is one who is the end user of the product bought, whereas, an organizational consumer is one who buys with the intention of using the product in the manufacture of some other product. The process of making decisions involves recognition of the fact that the consumer has an unsatisfied need which he/she attempts to satisfy, searching for potential ways to satisfy that need, evaluating alternative products on th e basis of various criteria, purchasing and finally, evaluating the decision in retrospect. When the product falls short of the customer’s expectations he/she may experience cognitive dissonance. Consumers purchase products owing to peer pressure (for instance, a Mercedes to show off his status) as well as his/her personality traits (for instance, drinking ground coffee instead of Nescafe’s 3-in-1 satchel). The buying process for organizations is far more complex and involves a more rational, well-informed choice as opposed to purely hedonic or impulsive behavior

An Insight into Academic Writing Essay Example for Free

An Insight into Academic Writing Essay Authors Gerald Graff and Cathy Berkenstein claim in their book, They Say, I Say, that academic writing is not about â€Å"playing it safe and piling up truths and bits of knowledge,† like many people assume. Rather, it is about the dynamic interaction between other people’s points of view and the author’s response to those perspectives. In chapter one of Graff and Berkenstein’s book they emphasize the necessity of balance when implementing certain writing â€Å"moves,† specifically, when introducing a counter-view, summarizing other’s arguments, and when quoting someone else’s words. Graff and Berkenstein contend that by opening an argument with an explanation of what the thesis is responding tointroducing a counter-viewgives the main point clarity and relevance. They encourage stating the opposing view or assumption initially so that it will define and explain what the thesis is addressing. But, they also caution the writer not to bloat their introduction with extraneous information for fear of losing the audience’s focus and engagement. What Graff and Berkenstein suggest, then, is that â€Å"as soon as possible you state your own position and the one it’s responding to together, and that you think of the two as a unit. † Basically, they insist that the best way to give a â€Å"genuine response to other’s views† during academic writing is to have a balance between introducing what â€Å"They Say† (the opposing point of view) and what â€Å"I Say† (the writer’s response). If being in a constant dialogue with others’ positions is essential to arguing persuasively, as Graff and Berkenstein claim, â€Å"then summarizing others’ arguments is central to [the writer’s] arsenal of basic moves. † All too often during a summary, writers will provide their own opinions on an article’s topic rather than revealing what the article is actually stating. On the opposite extreme, there are the writers who â€Å"do nothing but summarize,† which dilutes their own views in an ocean of someone else’s ideas. Graff and Berkenstein remind us that a â€Å"good summary requires balancing what the original author is saying with the writer’s own focus. † In other words, an exceptional summary contains the perspective of the original author, while emphasizing the points the responding author wants to address. One of the best ways to initiate an effective argument is not only to summarize what they say, but to quote their exact words. According to Graff and Berkenstein, â€Å"Quoting someone else’s words gives a tremendous amount of credibility to your summary and helps ensure that it is fair and accurate. † By quoting someone else’s exact statement it serves as a proof of evidence that you are not just fabricating another’s claim, but that you are disclosing their true ideas. Like introducing a counter-view and summarizing, quoting requires that you find an ideal balance between the quantity of quotes and content of commentary. A common issue with quoting is when the author assumes the quote speaks for itself. As Graff and Berkenstein, quotes are like literary orphans that have been taken from their original context, â€Å"they need to be integrated into their new textual surroundings. † In simpler terms, a quote needs to be introduced, interpreted, and then connected to the central idea. I found chapter one of Graff and Berkenstein’s book, â€Å"They Say,† to be extremely interesting and useful. The way they tied all their information to a central idea, while explaining how to do just that fascinated me. I felt like their writing had a constant flow from introduction of a move, to implementing balance, to common problems, how to fix those problems, and then to exercises that would reinforce their primary concepts. Their style and content kept me engaged and focused. Also, I learned a handful of writing tactics, like introducing a counter-view, summarizing, and inserting quotes, that I was not one-hundred percent sure on how to do prior to the reading. Overall, I found the chapter to be engaging, informative, and beneficial to me and my writing style.

Hemp: The Earths Greatest Plant :: essays research papers

Hemp: The Truth About the Earth's Greatest Plant   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In a perfect world there would be a product that could serve as a fuel source, a food source, a paper source, a textile source, and this product would be easy to produce in any of its forms. Believe it or not such a product does exist; it is the plant known as hemp. No tree or plant species on earth has the commercial, economic, and environmental potential of hemp. Over 30,000 known products can be manufactured from hemp.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hemp was a common crop grown in the U.S. until 1937 when it was unjustly banned. A common misconception about hemp is that it was banned because it was a widely abused, harmful drug. Hemp was banned because it was a competitive threat to the wood industry. Corporations that profited from the demise of hemp spread rumors that marijuana was a major drug problem, which it was not at the time. They also propagated a campaign that it was a drug that induced uncontrollable violence, another complete falsehood.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hemp is the plant scientifically known as cannabis sativa. It is referred to as hemp when it is grown for its fibers, stem, and seeds. Its leaves and flowers produce the drugs marijuana and hashish. However, sterile breeds of the plant are still illegal to grow in the U.S. Literally millions of wild hemp plants grow throughout the entire Midwest today. Wild hemp, like hemp used for industry purposes, is useless as an intoxicant. Yet U.S. drug law states that one acre of this can result in the owner being sentenced to death. The death penalty exists for growing one acre of perfectly harmless, non-intoxicating weeds!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hemp can produce any product that paper can produce. The difference is that one acre of hemp can produce four times as much paper as one acre of trees ( a study done by the U.S. Department of Agriculture). Also, a crop of trees takes twenty to fifty years to be ready for harvest where hemp is ready to harvest four times as much in just a year. In addition, hemp produces twice as much fiber per acre as cotton. Twenty five percent of all pesticides in the world are used on cotton, averaging to four pounds of chemicals per acre of cotton in the U.S. every year. Since hemp is a natural repellent to weeds and insects, it needs almost no insecticides or herbicides. If it were substituted for cotton it could greatly reduce the pesticide usage. Again, hemp can produce anything cotton can and what's more it can produce it better.

Changes in Supply Chain Management

Innovations And Development In Supply Chain Management (SCM) SUBMITEED BY: vaibhav kumar srivastav TABLE OF CONTENTS SI NO. TOPIC PAGE NO (1) Meaning and Introduction 1 (2) Tour of Developments in supply 2 Chain (3) Innovations and Recent trends in 2 SCM (4) Visited Companies: DTDC 6 †¢ DHL 9 †¢SAMTAL COLOR LTD 13 †¢BHEL 16 †¢BLUE DART 18 (5) Case Study on Innovations and 21 Development in SCM (Nikon Inc. ) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We are very grateful to Prof. R. K. SINGAL, our Supply Chain Management Professor for giving us the guidance and help in grasping the theoretical oncepts of the subject and helping us in applying them practically in the Real Life Project at Many companies of Delhi Ncr. We are also indebted to manger who has guided us during company visit, for taking time out of his busy schedule, patiently answering our queries and helping us in understanding the supply chain management innovations and development followed at that particular company. (1) What is supply chain? Supply chain is a bridge between demand and supply. What is supply chain management? According to the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) â€Å"Supply chain management encompasses the planning and management of all activities involved in sourcing, procurement, conversion, and logistics management†. INTRODUCTION : Having achieved significant improvements in manufacturing, many firms are now focusing their attention on their supply chains. With increased globalization, supply chains for most products have become longer both on the input as well as the output sides. This, combined with the trend towards proliferation of products makes management of the supply chain a very challenging task. SO in order to produce quality products with less cost & supplying it at less time many innovations & development has been made in the management of manufacturing supply chains. In the management of product flows, the innovations include concepts such as modularisation, postponement, mass customisation and flexible automation, time-based logistics, and cross docking. In the management of information flows, the innovations include the use of information technologies and strategic partnerships to improve the transparency of information. INNOVATION – is it relevant to SCM? : There are some W&H questions that will prove that innovations are relevant to SCM: WHY CHANGE IS REQUIRED? : Today Companies cannot grow through cost reduction and reengineering alone . . . Innovation is the key element in providing aggressive top-line growth, and for increasing bottom-line results. WHAT ARE THE CHANGES REQUIRED? Changes in thinking, products, processes, or services are required in SCM. The goal is positive change, to make something better or improve efficiency, productivity, quality, competitive positioning, market share, etc. (2) HOW THE CHANGE CAN BE ACHIEVED? : The most successful innovation occurs at the boundaries of organizations and industries where the problems and needs of users, and the potential of technologies can be linked together in a crea tive process. Now take a tour of developments in supply chain: . Creation Era – This era of supply chain management include the need for large scale changes, reengineering, and downsizing driven by cost reduction programs. 2. Integration Era – The development of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) systems in the 1960s & introduction of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. 3. Globalization Era – Characterized by the attention towards global systems of supplier relations and the expansion of supply chain over national boundaries and into other continents 4. Specialization Era — Phase One — In the 1990s industries began to sold off non-core operations & Outsourced Manufacturing and Distribution . 5. Specialization Era — Phase Two — Supply Chain Management as a Service & Outsourced technology hosting for supply chain solutions. 6. Supply Chain Management 2. 0 – SCM 2. 0 results the combination of the processes, methodologies, tools and delivery options to guide companies to their results quickly. Innovation, Recent trends and changes in supply chain management: In the last one decade supply chain management has changed rapidly. There has been lot of involvement of new ideas. Few of them are described below:- (3) 1. Shifting focus from manufacturing to outsourcing: 25 years ago, most manufacturers owned their own factories and controlled their own production. They had complete, detailed knowledge of the capacity, schedules, and costs of manufacturing. Companies could adapt quickly to changes in the marketplace and restore the supply/demand balance more easily. Figure 1 shows the once-linear relationship companies had with their captive factories and sales offices. In the days before e-commerce, consumer demand fluctuated relatively slowly. With complete visibility into their own factories and sales offices, companies could easily find the status of inventory, work in progress, and customer orders currently in the supply chain. In the years since, a fundamental shift has taken place. More and more design, marketing, and sales take place on home shores, while parts manufacturing and final assembly are outsourced to offshore suppliers. In fact, a 2006 AMR Research study of contract manufacturing trends found that 92% of companies outsourced some of their production with 40% projecting they will outsource more in the next two years. . Emergence and proliferation of Information Technology: Information technology, even taken as an independent environmental factor and its adoption in professionally run businesses and firms has led to fundamental changes in supply chain behavior and further to the changes in governance structures. Virtually all sectors of industry in the developed and in the developing regions have witnessed t he following major trends over the past two decades: †¢Data storage costs have gone down in the past few years, while the volume of data gathered for business analysis purposes has increased dramatically. The cost per business transaction as well as the networking and communication costs within supply chains has been greatly reduced. Simultaneously, the capabilities and the content involved in the communications and the number and relevance of IT enabled business transactions have also increased. †¢With greater analytical capabilities and design technologies, new product introductions have increased, in part as a response to the need for greater product variety. As a consequence, product life-cycles have been shrinking, as documented for many industry sectors. The role of IT in the handling and communication of product design information is also well chronicled. These changes in IT (in particular business communication technologies) have played a critical role in enabling firms and supply chains to operate on a global scale [27]. Without IT being the enabler, the disintegrated supply network cannot be managed effectively. (4) 3. In the 1990s industries began to focus on â€Å"core competencies† and adopted a specialization model. Companies sold off non-core operations, and outsourced those functions to other companies. The specialization model creates manufacturing and distribution networks composed of multiple, individual supply chains specific to products, suppliers, and customers, who work together to design, manufacture, distribute, market, sell, and service a product. 4. Emergence of Retail Powerhouses: The consolidation or convergence of retail channels, as in the case of the retail chains such as Wal-Mart and the accompanying phenomena of smaller stores and chains being replaced by larger discount stores, not only have ad a profound impact on the supply channels, it has also changed the traditional roles defined for the manufactures, the retailers, the wholesalers and distributors. With the emergence of retail powerhouses, the large manufacturers of consumer items have seen incentives to outsource the cost and asset intensive operations to contract manufacturers, while focusing on creating and sustaining brand values through design and marketing activities. For retailers, the competition is now based on cost, logistics, and speed of innovation. These basic tenets of retail competition coupled with the change in the retail landscape have an enormous impact on the supply channels that feed the growing retail channels. These supply channels, both large and small, have to respond quicker and more efficiently to customer demand patterns. As a result, retail companies have attempted to change their business models and to dictate broad strategic and operating requirements to their vast supply base – thus there is pressure even on large and established suppliers to conform to the specific practices and the needs of the retail channels. In order to compete in the new landscape, retailers are taking on influential role in the design of products, they are also ready to reach in the second tier to develop market and distribute products that in some cases compete directly with their own suppliers. In short we can define latest trends in SCM as:- Trend 1. Demand plan sets the tone: Critical to the success of any Demand Plan is having all stakeholders, including sales, marketing, finance, product development and supply chain agrees upon a consensus Demand Plan. It is important for all participants to discuss factors affecting customer demand patterns, such as new or deleted products, competitors or market conditions, the aggregate demand plans and associated revenue plans. Once all demand for products and services is recognized, the information is consolidated into one Demand Plan. We have found that companies with dedicated resources focused around demand planning and forecasting yield stronger results and (5) drive more value to their company. Organizations that focus part time on demand planning and forecasting efforts yield substandard results. Trend 2. Globalization: The right Supply Chain Design is critical to managing the changes brought about by rapid globalization. A well thought-out Supply Chain Network Design can optimize the network and the flow of materials through the network. In doing so, network design captures the costs of the supply chain with a â€Å"total landed cost† perspective, and applies advanced mathematical technology to determine optimal answers to both strategic and tactical questions. TREND 3 can be found with: †¢Sales and operations planning †¢Transportation/distribution management †¢Improved product lifecycle management †¢Improved strategic sourcing and procurement Suppliers can differentiate themselves in a number of ways as well as provide value, additional services and capabilities to their customers. The differentiating factors include: †¢Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) †¢RFID †¢Labeling and packaging †¢Drop shipping †¢Collaboration TREND-4 Establishment of control mechanisms to proactively monitor the various components of the supply chain and, Information systems to connect and coordinate the supply chain as seamlessly as possible. A failure to excel at any one of these components can result in breakdowns affecting the entire supply chain. TREND-5: As the economy becomes more global, labeling and compliance to packaging requirements and regulations have become critical to success. Without adherence to local packaging and labeling regulations a product may violate local requirements, preventing it from being distributed and sold in that market. Product lifecycle management technology and processes can help ensure that products being produced and targeted for specific markets are well-managed and are compliant. TREND-6: Recent examples of collaboration have emerged in the expansion of Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) processes that include upstream and downstream value chain partners as regular participants. S&OP processes help maintain a well-coordinated and valid, current operating plan in support of customer demand, a business plan and a strategy. The improved resulting (6) operating plan provides the management of each partner with a complete picture of forecasted demand, supply capacity, corresponding financial information with financial implications and allows them to make informed, critical decisions. We have visited some companies to show the Innovations and Development they have applied in their SCM for last 10 years: Company Profile: DTDC Courier & Cargo Ltd. (DTDC) was incorporated in the year 1990. Within a span of 20 years, through its business associates DTDC expanded its delivery network across the length & breadth of the country, thereby creating the nation’s Largest Domestic Delivery Network. Today DTDC is the second largest Indian company in the Express industry. DTDC can also be credited with pioneering the franchisee concept for the courier industry in India, and today has the largest franchisee network. Headquartered at Bangalore, with 4 of its Zonal Offices at Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai & Mumbai, DTDC currently serves around 10, 000 pincode areas and has over 3700 franchised outlets supported by 176 offices which includes its Regional Offices, Area Offices, Branch Offices, Operational Hubs and Sub-Branches. DTDC has extended its service network to the overseas market and provides services to worldwide destinations using its own branches and international associates at prime gateways like USA, UK, Singapore, UAE, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, SriLanka & Hong Kong. Thanks to its strong IT infrastructure, the company is able to deliver 10. 5 million parcels a month to customers (7) across the world. To support its ambitious growth plans; DTDC has entered into an association with Reliance ADAG Group, and has on its Board, a Director from Reliance. Innovations and development they have taken in SCM for last 10 years: †¢V Express for Business Delivery: DTDC has lunched of V express, its new product which assures delivery of documents on the next business day. The product carries a unique feature of 100% money back if at all there is any service failure. The service shall be available in the 6 metros of Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad in select princode areas. There will also be SMS Alert on delivery as avalue added service. †¢SMS Courier Limited for Speedy Delivery of Intra-City Consignments: DTDC has launched SMS Courier Ltd. , its subsidiary for the purpose of speedy intra-city deliveries and mass mailing activities. SMS Courier will be useful to organizations dealing in large volumes of intra-city consignments like the banks, financial institutions, insurance companies and cellular operators. The newly-formed subsidiary will ensure timely deliveries even to the remotest areas of the city. This service is available in the six metros and has made its entry into Pune as well. †¢Tie-Up with Reliance Money For Distribution Of Financial Services: To support their ambitious growth plans DTDC India’s leading Air Express & Cargo Company and Reliance Money Limited entered into a strategic alliance wherein DTDC will be acting as a distributor for Reliance Money’s financial products and services. DTDC already has a tie up with Reliance Capital and they would be happy to be associated with Reliance Money also. With DTDC’s distribution network, Reliance Money will be able to reach out to the smallest of investors in the remotest parts of India thereby achieving its objective of providing safe and secure financial services at a retail investor’s doorstep. †¢DTDC uses IT as its virtual vehicle: But what made the courier delivery system so efficient? IT (information technology) of course. The operations, efficiency and customer satisfaction were all enhanced with the application of IT and this is the secret behind the success of DTDC. The company uses IT as its virtual vehicle to provide timely and accurate information on the movement and delivery status of consignments. This is accessible through various digital modes like the DTDC website, mobile telephony (SMS) or its in-house developed track and trace facility. IT is the backbone of the entire operational and customer service process and e-mail is the lifeline of the company’s communications system. Launch of Time Definite Services Under DTDC Prime Time Plus†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 9) â€Å"Prime Time Plus†, launched under the DTDC plus banner, is a guaranteed service for time definite deliveries of consignments within the next possible business day targeted at Time Critical Business to Business (B2B) and Business to Customer (B2C) Segments. PRIME TIME PLUS: PRODUCT/ SERVICE FEATURES  » Assured Time Definite Delivery with Money Back Guarantee*(MBG).  » Tamper Proof Security Pouch for Safe delivery.  » Real time Tracking and Status update.  » Dedicated High Performing Team to manage the service End to End.  » Distinct High Priority Operation Process.  » Dedicated Customer Support. Company Profile: DHL are the first letters of the last names of the three company founders, Adrian Dalsey, Larry Hillblom and Robert Lynn. 1111111111111 In 1969, just months after the world had marveled at Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon, the three partners took another small step that would have a profound impact on the way the world does business. 111111111111111 The founders began to personally ship papers by airplane from San Francisco to Honolulu, beginning customs clearance of the ship's cargo before the actual arrival of the ship and dramatically reducing waiting time in the harbour. Customers stood to save a fortune. 1111111111111111111111111111111111 ( (10) With this concept, a new industry was born: international air express, the rapid delivery of documents and shipments by airplane. 11111111111111111111 The DHL Network continued to grow at an incredible pace. The company expanded westward from Hawaii into the Far East and Pacific Rim, then the Middle East, Africa and Europe. By 1988, DHL was already present in 170 countries and had 16,000 employees†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ At the beginning of 2002, Deutsche Post World Net became the major shareholder in DHL. By the end of 2002, DHL was 100% owned by Deutsche Post World Net. In 2003, Deutsche Post World Net consolidated all of its express and logistics activities into one single brand, DHL. The world's largest express and logistics Network DHL is the global market leader in international express, overland transport and air freight. It is also the world's number 1 in ocean freight and contract logistics. DHL offers a full range of customized solutions – from express document shipping to supply chain management. 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 Below are the global facts and figures that show you the scale of the world's largest express and logistics network. Global Facts and Figures Number of Employees: around 285,000 1111111111111111111111111111111111111 Number of Offices: around 6,500 111111111111111111111111111111111111 Number of Hubs, Warehouses & Terminals: more than 450 1111111111111111111111 Number of Gateways: 240 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 Number of Aircraft*: 420 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 Number of Vehicles: 76,200 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 Number of Countries & Territories: more than 220 111111111111111111111111111 Shipments per Year: more than 1. 5 billion 11111111111111111111111111111111 Destinations Covered: 120,000111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 (11) Supply Chain Management For DHL Information Flow 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 Innovative Supply Chain Development Supply Chain Management services are delivered across industry sectors and provide expertise, knowledge and resources in terms of personnel and supply chain tools. All services are targeted at optimizing logistical operations in both process and strategy, and are aligned to the client's commercial expectations The services are as follows: ?Strategic Logistics Consulting ?Lead Logistics Provider ?Consulting and providing Transport optimization: Route-Pro and Trans-Pro ? Consulting and providing Supply Chain Design ?Consulting and providing Transportation ?Engineering, optimization and re-engineering Implementation and Project Management ?Process Management ?Outsourcing DHL’s consulting services also offer re-organization of customer facilities, project management for customers, implementation of new IT Systems, creation of tender documents and tender processing. (12) †¢Supply Chain Re-engineering DHL works with customers to review supply chain efficiencies. One of the main tasks is to evaluate cost efficiency to ensure that costs are being driven down throughout the contract duration. Data analysis allows DHL to provide customers with ‘what if modeling' or the impact of changing the business rules. Distribution to Stores Management DHL’s distributions to store solutions are focused on helping retailers create efficient and flexible supply chains to deliver product to retail outlets at high levels of service. 111111111111111111111111111111 These solutions are built from several core services including reverse logistics: ? logistics network strategy ?warehouse design and simulation ?Transport modeling. †¢After Sales Optimisation Optimising return logistics and spare parts logistics as well as maintenance and repair services. †¢Vehicle Management Services Our vehicle management services focus on the management of sales and marketing support programmes for automotive manufacturers. Combining a range of services and systems to deliver a global response, we help you overcome challenges at the end of the automotive supply chain. (13) Samtel Color Group Company Profile: Samtel Group's journey began in 1973, with a vision to create a world-class organization. Today, Samtel Group is India’s largest integrated manufacturer of a wide range of displays for television, avionics, industrial, medical and professional applications, TV glass, components for displays, machinery and engineering services. The group employs 6000 people in nine world-class factories and has an annual turnover of Rs 12 billion (USD 300M) Samtel Group has strong design and development skills and is a dependable player with excellent technological capabilities and a long-term commitment to the display industry. Its products are known for ruggedness and reliability and conform to the latest relevant quality standards. The group has excellent relationships with suppliers of key components and the ability to design new products as well as set up hi-tech manufacturing facilities. Samtel has registered many patents for developments in display technology. Chairman & managing director : Mr. Satish K. Kaura No. of employees – 6000 Corporate headquarters: TDI Centre, District Centre — Jasola, New Delhi We have visited one of its industries in GHAZIABAD i. e. (14) SAMTEL COLOR LTD Samtel Color is the flagship company of the Samtel group, and manufactures the widest range of Colour TV tubes in India and has a capacity of over 10 million picture tubes per annum. The company was incorporated in 1986 with a technical collaboration with Mitsubishi Electric, Japan to manufacture 14† and 21† Color Picture Tubes (CPTs). With a market share of over 60%, it is the largest tube manufacturer in the country. Its clients include leading domestic and international TV manufacturers. Integrated backwards with its component divisions at Ghaziabad and Parwanoo, Samtel Color also manufactures electron guns and deflection yokes for colour picture tubes. Samtel color ltd. Ghaziabad Was Established in the year 1988. Inaugurated by then FINANCE MINISTER N. D TIWARI. PRODUCT MANUFACTURED & EXPORTED: PICTURE TUBES MAJOR CUSTOMERS: LG, VIDEOCON, SAMSUNG, THOMSON etc. TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES: BTC, DELHI ASHARAM TRANSPORT ORDER PLACED -12 LACS (approx. ) It started with manufacturing picture tubes of 21’’ . They were out sourcing their raw materials from Samsung but later they started producing their own material at their own units . They mak e their products according to the anticipation of demand i. . PULL STRATEGY. They are having a continuous process. (15) Innovations and development they have taken for last 10 years: †¢Joint Venture With THALES Group: France’s THELES group, which has been operating in India since 1953, and has stepped up its presence in the country over the past two decades, has also teamed up with electronics manufacturer SAMTAL to create a joint venture, named SAMTEL THALES Avionics, which have an equity participation of 74:26 by SAMTEL and THALES. This joint venture design and anufacture global products to make the joint venture a part of THALES global supply chain. †¢Earlier they used to transport their products of small tones. Now they are transporting the goods in large tones. †¢As the needs of consumers were changing & because of stiff competition they were facing they started manufacturing & supplying TRUE FLAT PICTURE TUBES i. e. 29’’, 20’’, 21’’, 14’’ 6-7 years before. †¢Started manufacturing the raw- materials required in making picture tubes –panel, funnel, electron gun, DYs(Deflection Yoke ),band etc in its different units. t helped to increase the quality & reduced the time & increased profits †¢They are having robots in their units which help in producing quality products, reduces the time for manufacturing products. †¢Now they are manufacturing ULTRA SLIM PICTURE TUBES as it is the need of the hour& it provides them competitive advantage over other competitors. †¢Research is going on making LCD in airplanes. †¢They are using new technology for producing better quality products & reducing the cost. (16) Company Profile: BHEL was founded in 1950s. Its operations are organised around three business sectors: Power, Industry – including Transmission, Transportation, and Telecommunication & Renewable Energy – and Overseas Business. Today, BHEL has a wide-spread network comprising 14 manufacturing divisions, 8 service centers, 4 power sector regional centers, 18 regional offices, and a large number of project sites spread all over India and abroad. BHEL is one of the largest exporters of engineering products & services from India. BHEL has established its references in around 60 countries of the world, ranging from the United States in the West to New Zealand in the Far East. Its export range include: individual products to complete power stations, turnkey contracts for power plants, EPC contracts, HV/EHV Sub-stations, O services for familiar technologies, specialized after-market services like Residual Life Assessment (RLA) studies and retrofitting, refurbishing & overhauling, and supplies to manufacturers & EPC contractors. BHEL's product range include: Steam turbines and generators of up to 500MW capacity for utility and combined-cycle applications; Steam turbines for CPP applications; Gas turbines of up to 260MW (ISO) rating; Custom-built conventional hydro turbines of Kaplan, Francis and Pelton types with matching generators, pump turbines with matching motor-generators; Spherical, butterfly and rotary valves and auxiliaries for hydro station; HSD, LDO, FO, LSHS, natural-gas/biogas based diesel power plant; Industrial turbo-sets of ratings from 1. to 120MW; Steam generators for utilities, ranging from 30 to 500MW capacity, using coal, lignite, oil, natural gas or a combination of these fuels; Pulverized fuel fired boilers; Stoker boilers; Atmospheric fluidized bed combustion boilers; Circulating fluidized bed combustion boilers; Waste heat recovery boiler; Boiler Auxiliaries; Heat Exchangers & Pressure Vessels; Pumps; Power Station Control Equipment; Switchgears; Bus Ducts; Transformers; Insulators; Capacitors; Energy Meters etc. (17) Classification of Materials: The materials for procurement can be classified in two categories: Direct Materials: Materials, which go directly into the Project/ Product/ Site/ Systems. Indirect Materials: Materials other than above, such as consumables/ packing etc which are used in manufacture of despatchable products and materials such as coal, cement, kerosene, oil etc which are used to run the essential services/ machine tools/ office establishment. Supplier registration is one of the primary and important activities of MM functions. This is the entry point of supplier in BHEL. A carefully chosen supplier will be an asset to the organization. DEMAND FORECASTING METHOD? ABC analysis and EOQ methods. JIT does not work for BHEL as most of the procured items are long cycle items and Inventories have to be maintained to avoid any production hold ups. Normally inventories sufficient for 3 month requirements are maintained. HOW ORDERS ARE PLACED ? BHEL quotes against the tender requirements (normally global) published in all the national newspapers and also made available on the web sites of respective customers. After evaluation of all the received bids by the customer, if the BHEL’s bid is found to be technically acceptable and financially the lowest then the customer places a Work order on BHEL. CUSTOMER FOR BHEL? NTPC, NHPC, STATE ELECTRICITY BOARDS AND PRIVATE COMPANIES FOREIGN COUNTRIES LIKE RUSSIA, GERMANY, FRANCE, MIDDLE EAST etc. (18) Supply Chain Management For BHEL, Company Profile: Blue Dart Express Ltd. , India's premier integrated air express carrier and logistics-services provider, has been one of the largest Global Service Participants of Federal Express Corporation, the world's eading air express transportation company, since 1984. From 1984, Blue Dart represented all FedEx interests, under a principal to principal arrangement, in India. Blue Dart-Federal Express Relationship: Blue Dart and FedEx have determined a new agreement in October 1997 to coincide with the introduction by FedEx of its first round-the-world flight touching Mumbai, as well as its direct entry int o the country. Under this agreement, Blue Dart is the exclusive provider of transportation, (19) ickup and delivery, customs and related services for FedEx's International Priority shipments, as well as the sole preferred consolidator of FedEx services. The Alliance seeks to leverage the strengths of both organisations for mutual benefit. While FedEx focuses solely on the development of its international business, with its link to the vibrant economy of the Sub-Continent, Blue Dart continues to consolidate its dominant domestic position, and service and enhance its international customer base as a licensee of FedEx, to support FedEx's international growth. The new agreement is designed to stimulate the development of India's international express market by combining the competitive advantages of FedEx's global reach with Blue Dart's domestic coverage to increase the market share of both companies. Innovations and development they have taken in SCM for last 10 years: TrackDartTM: You can track the status of shipment by using the TrackDartTM box, which is available on the upper left panel of every page on our website. You may track shipments sent on Blue Dart services within India or to Nepal, Bangladesh or Bhutan. You may also track international shipments sent on Federal Express to/from India. Shipments under single or multiple waybills may be tracked using either the waybill number or the reference number given at the time of shipping. MailDartTM: You may either use the Waybill Number or the Reference Number to track the status of your shipments. This feature helps you to track Single or Multiple shipments. To track the status of your shipments by Waybill Number enter the waybill numbers either in `Subject' or in the text of the mail, each Waybill number seperated by a comma. To track the status of your shipments by (20) Reference/Order Number. Enter the reference/order numbers in `Subject' of the mail, each reference or order number seperated by a comma. Location Finder: 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 Find the service locations of Blue Dart and the Blue Dart counter or franchisee located closest to you. You may search by city, street name or pin code to find one of over 11,558 locations serviced in India, or in 211 countries worldwide. Transit Time Finder: 111111111111111111111111111111 You can check the transit times for your domestic and international shipments, and for the various services offered by Blue Dart to help you identify the service that meets your requirements. Price Finder: 1111111111111111111111111111111111111 You can calculate your shipping costs for your domestic and international shipments by using their Price Finder. Waybill Generation: 111111111111111111111111111111 The Online Waybill generation tool helps the credit customer to generate a waybill for a consignment. The user has to enter the details of the consignment and the waybill will be generated in a PDF format. Address Book: This feature comes with the online waybill generation module. The Address Book can be accessed by all credit customers of Blue Dart. You can create a new address list and modify or delete the addresses at any point of time. 1111111111111111111111111111111111111 (21) Case Study Case Study Nikon Focuses on Supply Chain Innovation— And Makes New Product Distribution a Snap Top consumer goods manufacturers now recognize that success requires more than just making market-leading products. Having the right distribution network is just as critical. Nikon Inc. is the world’s leader in precision optics, 35mm and digital imaging technology. So it’s no surprise that when the company saw the next big trend in photographic technology—digital cameras—they were ready to deliver with some of the most advanced product designs in the marketplace. But to ensure that retailers could meet the demand of tech-hungry consumers and professional photographers, Nikon, with the help of UPS Supply Chain Solutions, reengineered its distribution network to keep them well supplied. Client Challenge: To support the launch of its new digital cameras, Nikon knew that customer service capabilities needed to be completely up to speed from the start and that distributors and retailers would require up-to-the-minute information about product availability. While the company had previously handled new product distribution in-house, this time Nikon realized that burdening its existing infrastructure with a new, demanding, high-profile product line could impact customer service performance adversely. In our business, it’s not enough just to produce leading-edge products,† said Arnold Kamen, Nikon’s Vice President of Operations and Customer Service. â€Å"Having the ability—and visibility—to predict how much merchandise is (22) available and when it can be distributed makes the difference in staying ahead of customers’ needs. † For Nikon, that meant applying its well-known talent for innovation to creating an entirely new dis tribution strategy and taking the rare step of outsourcing distribution of an entire consumer electronics product line. With UPS Supply Chain Solutions on board, Nikon was able to quickly execute a synchronized supply chain strategy that moves product to retail stores throughout the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, and allows Nikon to stay focused on the business of developing and marketing precision optics. Our Solution: Starting at Nikon’s manufacturing centers in Korea, Japan and Indonesia, UPS Supply Chain Solutions manages air and ocean freight and related customs brokerage. Nikon’s freight is directed to Louisville, Kentucky, which not only serves as the all-points connection for UPS’s global operations, but also is home to the UPS Supply Chain Solutions Logistics Center main campus. Here, merchandise can either be â€Å"kitted† with accessories such as batteries and chargers, or repackaged to in-store display specifications. Finally, the packages are distributed to literally thousands of retailers across the U. S. , or shipped for export to Latin American or Caribbean retail outlets and distributors, using any of UPS’s worldwide transportation services to provide the final delivery. 23) With the UPS Supply Chain Solutions system in place, the process calibrates the movement of goods and information by providing SKU-level visibility within complex distribution and IT systems. UPS also provides Nikon advance shipment notifications throughout the U. S. , Caribbean and Latin American markets. The result: a â€Å"snap shot† of the supply chain that rivals the performance of a Nikon camera. Nikon has already seen the results of its innovation in both digital technology and product distribution. The consumer digital camera sector is one of Nikon’s fastest growing product lines. In addition, supply chain performance and customer service are measurably improved. Products leaving Nikon manufacturing facilities in Asia can now be on a retailer’s shelf in as few as two days. While products are en route, Nikon also has the ability to keep retailers informed of delivery times and to adjust them as needed, so that no retailer needs to miss sales opportunities due to lack of product availability. UPS Supply Chain Solutions is forging a broad spectrum of creative solutions to support the Nikon supply chain, including logistics, transportation, freight and customs brokerage services. Synchronizing those pieces to work together gives Nikon a significant advantage in leveraging the competitive strengths of UPS Supply Chain Solutions. â€Å"Through a combination of UPS services, we have been able to greatly shorten our supply chain,† Kamen said. â€Å"Although we are achieving greater speeds, we have better visibility of our products, which enables us to provide a higher level of service to retailers and ultimately, the final customer. † Once (24) again, Nikon leads the market in leveraging the latest developments in technology. â€Å"Thank You†

The Life of a Slave in the 1800’s

The Life of a Slave in the 1800’s Life as a slave was very difficult. As many as 4. 5 million slaves were working in Southern plantations in the early to mid-1800’s. There were two types of slaves; field slaves and house slaves. People think that being a house slave was easier but this proves that theory wrong. Slaves had terrible environments, were separated from family and friends, and were sometimes beaten to death. Whites knew that slavery was wrong and immoral. Though, it still continued.Being a field slave was not at all easy. A field slave worked from sunrise to sunset, but during harvest, they worked an eighteen-hour day. A field worker was out in the field when the first sign of light shone until it was too dark to see. Women field workers worked the same hours as men. Pregnant women were expected to work until the child was born, and after the child's birth the woman worked in the field with the child on her back. Field workers lived in tiny huts with dirt for a floor.These small huts gave absolutely no protection against the cold winter winds. Slaves slept on rough blankets inside the hut. After a day on a cotton plantation the slaves got in a line to have their cotton weighed and receive their daily food. The minimum amount of cotton to be picked in one day was 200 pounds. At about the age of twelve a child's work became almost the same as an adult's. The field slaves were watched all day long by a white person with a whip. If they did not work up to the expectations, they were beaten and sometimes killed.A benefit of a field slave, however, was that slaves got Sundays off and maybe parts of Saturday unless it was during harvest. Most house slaves were living under better conditions than field workers. However, house slaves did not get Sunday off and usually attended church with their owners. House slaves cleaned, cooked, served meals, and took care of the children. Some house slaves lived in attics, closets, or corners in the big hous e even if their families lived in the quarters. A cook's day was long and hard.A cook got up early in the morning to cook breakfast, and the day ended with cleaning up after dinner and gathering firewood for the next day. These slaves sometimes stole food from the owner. A house slave had a better opportunity to learn how to read and write. They often listened in on their owner's conversations so they were able to warn field slaves of the owner auctioning certain slaves and other important things. House slaves did many other things like waited on tables, washed, roned, took up and put down carpets, swept floors, dusted furniture, hoed and weeded gardens, and collected the chicken eggs. They also took care of the infants allowing the owner to do whatever they wanted. Although house slaves had more privileges, being a house slave was not much, if any easier than being a field worker. At the time, slaves were separated from their families and auctioned off to white families so that the y could work as servants whether it was in the fields picking cotton and tobacco or working inside doing all of the house chores and practically raising the children.Slaves were most likely to have been in a family where they were beaten horrendously if they did not meet the expectations that the white folks had for them. Back then, society looked at slaves like they weren’t fully human and shouldn’t be treated as one. Like anyone else would say, it is very safe to say that having a life of a slave in the 1800’s was not easy. WORKS CITED: http://library. thinkquest. org/CR0215086/dailylife. htm

monetary policy Essay

monetary policy Essay monetary policy Essay Analyse how monetary policy might be used to influence the level of Australia’s economic activity. Monetary policy is the Reserve Bank’s use of changes in interest rates to influence the level of the money supply and economic activity to achieve the basic economic objectives. This involves stability of Australia’s currency, maintenance of full employment and the economic prosperity and welfare of Australians. More importantly, the Reserve Bank of Australia’s approach to monetary policy is based on the achievement of an inflation target between 2 to 3 per cent. The main instrument of monetary policy is Market Operations (DMOs) whereby it involves actions by the Reserve Bank to buy or sell second- hand government securities (CGS) in the official money market to influence the cash rate. This, in turn, may dampen or enhance economic growth. The cash rate is the interest rate in the official money market. In order to reduce economic activity, the RBA will increase interest rates through the use of a tightening monetary policy. This will involve the RBA selling securities in the official money market which is comprised of banks with exchange settlement funds. The RBA will offer a high yield in order to retrieve excess funds from banks, which ultimately reduces the supply of cash in the official money market. As a result, cash rate will rise, forcing banks to push this cost onto their customers through increasing interest rates to remain profitable. Consequently, changes in interest rates will affect the level of economic activity, however these impacts are unlikely to be immediate as articulated by Philip Lowe in 2010, â€Å"It takes time for changes in monetary policy to have their full effect on the economy.† Employing a tightening monetary policy to increase interest rates will be effective in discouraging consumer spending whilst enhancing the level of savings within an eco nomy as obtaining loans become increasingly difficult. Interest rate changes can also affect the value of assets Consumers will also be more inclined to make mortgage and debt repayments rather than spend. Accordingly, aggregate demand and economic activity will decrease allowing for the achievement of government objective regarding the maintenance of economic growth between 3-4%. Evidently, the rate increases of 0.25% in May, August and November 2006 were intended to keep economic growth on target and reduce inflationary pressures. A rise in interest rates will additionally lead to significant capital inflow through attracting foreign investment which may lead to the appreciation of the Australian dollar and a decrease in the global competitiveness of its exports. On the domestic scale, however, higher interest rates result in a decline in business investment levels as firms tend to save their income rather than purchase capital when the cost of servicing debt rises and cash flows decline. Despite lowering inflation, reduced aggregate demand will consequently contribute to a decrease in income levels and reduced employment growth, as part of the transmission

6 Unusual Online Certificate Programs

6 Unusual Online Certificate Programs So, you’re not interested in an online MBA. You’d prefer to lead a rally, write a memoir, or brew the perfect craft beer? Never fear. Several colleges offer online certificate programs that appeal less to sharp-suited business people and more to the garden-growing, media-sharing, beer-brewing types. Interested? Take a look at these unique distance education programs: The Business of Craft Brewing Online Certificate (Portland State University) Through this four-course series, â€Å"industry specialists† teach students everything they need to know to start up and run a successful craft brewery. Courses include â€Å"Basic Business for Craft Beverages,† â€Å"Craft Beverage Business Management,† â€Å"Strategic Craft Beverage Marketing,† and â€Å"Finance and Accounting for the Craft Brewery.† Students are also invited to fly out to Portland to take part in the optional â€Å"Craft Beverage Immersion Excursion,† spending three days meeting with brewery owners, tasting Portland beers, and touring the Oregon beer empire. Cheers. Certificate in Organic Agriculture (University of Washington) If you have a green thumb and a fondness for organic food, the University of Washington Certificate in Organic Agriculture might be for you. The college touts this 18-credit program as a good fit for â€Å"those wanting to pursue a career in organic agriculture, anyone interested in beginning a community supported agriculture (CSA) enterprise, [and] home gardeners.† As a student, you’ll take online courses such as â€Å"Organic Gardening and Farming,† â€Å"Agriculture, Environment, and Community,† and â€Å"Food Safety and Quality.†Ã‚   You’ll also be required to complete an internship, which can be done by volunteering through a local organic farm, organic certifying agency, or organic business. Sustainability Certificate (Harvard Extension School) If you want to promote a sustainability in your community or business, Harvard’s Sustainability Certificate provides instruction from world-class thinkers. Students in this program take five courses. â€Å"Knowledge Set† courses such as â€Å"Energy and the Environment,† â€Å"Strategies for Sustainability Management,† and â€Å"Sustainable Business and Technology,† provide students with a common foundation of understanding. â€Å"Skill Set† courses such as â€Å"Catalyzing Change: Sustainability Leadership for the Twenty-First Century† and â€Å"Introduction to Sustainable Buildings,† help students take action. It’s also important to note that, although this certificate is coming from an ivy-league school, it is an open-access program. Anyone can simply start taking courses towards certificate completion without the need to apply. New Urbanism Online Certificate (Miami School of Architecture) Those with a passion for cities community building may be interested in the New Urbanism Online Certificate. Students earning the certificate are prepared to take the Congress for New Urbanism accreditation exam. (Although you should also be aware that the exam can be taken without the certificate). The New Urbanism certificate is self-paced and takes students through the basics of creating walkable, sustainable places. Course units include: â€Å"A Crisis of Place and the Alternative of the New Urbanism,† â€Å"Ecology Built Legacy,† â€Å"Architecture, Local Culture, and Community Identity,† â€Å"Green Building and Historic Preservation,† and â€Å"Implementing New Urbanism.† Creative Nonfiction Writing Online Certificate (UCLA Extension Program) If you’re serious about writing that best-selling memoir, personal essay, or political history, take a look at this UCLA creative non-fiction program. You’ll focus most of your 36 credits on intensive creative non-fiction instruction. You’ll also have the opportunity to choose from electives in poetry, playwriting, and fiction. Best of all, students that complete the coursework are given a consultation with a UCLA Writer’s Program instructor, detailed notes, and an in-person or phone critique session. Certificate in Community Organizing (Empire State College) What would you like to see change in your community? If you have a quick answer to that question but don’t know how to make it happen, consider earning a Certificate in Community Organizing. Empire State’s program arms students with knowledge about justice, power dynamics, and navigating government environments. It aims to help learners develop a skill set that can be applied to create lasting change in their communities. This 12-credit program includes courses such as â€Å"Advocacy in State and Community-Level Government,† â€Å"Race, Gender, and Class in U.S. Public Policy,† and â€Å"Human Service Policy.† To complete the certificate, students are required to apply their learning by working with real communities while taking the capstone â€Å"Community Organizing† course. Free Learning Alternatives If youd rather not jump into a major time commitment and write a big check just yet, take a look at these less formal free online classes. Youll find options for a wide array of subjects including photography, guitar, and writing.

Why I should be considered for master degree program Essay

Why I should be considered for master degree program - Essay Example I have always been a very good student getting positions and certificates. My teachers and professors always considered me a student worthy of reward. Thanks to the interest and hard work I put in, I happened to get an internship which helped me in getting acquainted with the work field. The duration of the internship was more than one year. I have also attended some training courses as well. Now, I want to enhance my knowledge regarding business through admission in masters program in business administration. I feel that I have enough knowledge and passion to show that I have a craze about going ahead in the business industry and contribute to the financial market. I keep myself updated with market requirements. I keep on reading related journals, books and magazines, and attend related seminars being held in my vicinity. I feel that I possess those special skills needed to fulfill the requirements for this course. I have always come up fresh, innovative and unique ideas. I have learnt basic computer knowledge and softwares, so as to equip myself with the latest technology that may help me in excelling in this course. I also possess the ability of synchronizing and connecting together the thoughts of the teacher and the student in a successful way. I have always thought about bringing my knowledge into use that I gained during my college. This enthusiasm is what pulls me to apply for this MBA degree. I am also interested in various aspects of business, like ethical leadership and conflict management. I believe that a leader must be able to resolve conflicts with efficiency. He must be ethical in his decisions and ideas. It is also important to stay in ethical boundaries while dealing with partners, shareholders, buyers, suppliers, and especially, the customers. I believe that customers are the most important asset of a business. I want to gain further