Skinhead and It Fashion Codes

Skinhead subculture is originated among working class youths in United Kingdom in the 1960s. The first skinheads were greatly influenced by Jamaican rude boys and British mods. Originally, the skinhead subculture was primarily based on elements of fashion, music and lifestyle, not politics or race. However, with the revival of skinhead in 1970s, the emergence of white power skinheads made them largely related to race and politics. Today, I will explain the skinhead identity by showing two clips from Romper Stomper and my partner Silvia will introduce different factions and politics of skinheads as well as their condition nowadays. Clip ] This clip presents the conversation between Hando and the woman in his room, illustrating his main purpose of becoming skinhead. Hando’s life as a skinhead is largely related to Nazi. As showed in the film, his room is decorated with a great number of Nazi objects including the Nazi helmet, posters, flag, book and tattoos on his body. The neo- Nazi culture commodities are used as subcultural capital, which is expected to raise their status and help differentiate themselves from others.However, audience of mainstream will interpret these subculture capitals as strange, deviant things and hence regard skinheads as a subculture which cannot be accepted by the mainstream culture. Although not clearly indicted in the film, the activities of these skinheads seem to be depicted as deviance that violates social norms. The first clip we intensively represents the deviant image of skinheads through scenes such as using violence to the Asians, and close-up of their unusual living place.Deviant acts can be a way to predicate identity, thus against norms of the dominant culture and in favor of a subculture. Fashion The identity of skinheads can be also maintained through fashion and music. Fashion is an essential element to distinguish skinheads’ identity not only from that of mainstreams, but also from different factions. Thro ugh fashion, skinhead groups form unique resources for individuals to project an image and hence achieve their identities. Skinheads are visually identified by their short hair and unique clothing styles.Although various factions of skinheads may have tiny differences in dressing, they all conform to a general dressing style which includes braces, fitted jeans, ‘sta press trousers’, button-down shirts, polos, boots, and flight jackets. Moreover, skinheads favor of several brands such as Ben Sherman’s button-down shirts, Fred Perry’s polos and Doctor Marten’s boots. The choice of particular fashion items is orchestrated by skinheads to reflect their collective identity. Furthermore, skinheads also use fashion to distinguish between factions.For example, several skinheads use different color laces in their boots to show their political identity, or stance on race. White laces refer to white power skinheads, red laces stand for communism and a combinat ion of yellow, black, and blue laces refer to anti-racist SHARPs. In addition, tattoos are used to identify different affiliations. Number 69 can be found in those who pay homage to the peak of 1969 of skinhead subculture, while nazi symbols can be found on those racist skinheads.MUSIC Music is another critical aspect for skinhead identity. Traditional skinheads were heavily impacted by Jamaican ska and reggae music. In 1960s, skinhead music was labeled as ‘skinhead reggae’ by record companies. Some bands such as Charmers, Desmond Riley were singing about skinheads. Thus, this early music reflects the clean cut fashion which is indicative of skinhead style. In 1970s, the emergence of Punk music not only drew skinheads’ attention, but also the mainstreams.Since many skinheads label themselves as the periphery of mainstream culture, a new form of punk called Oi emerged to uniquely express skinheads’ frustration and ideology. Similar to fashion, difference co uld be found in various factions’ Oi music. For example, racist skinheads’ music can be easily distinguished because the themes of their songs are racism, largely differ from others. That’s the end of my part; let’s welcome Silvia to introduce the factions and politics of skinheads and their condition nowadays. http://v. youku. com/v_show/id_XMzIyNTQ0ODI4. html

International business climate Essay

There are various factors which are used in measuring the business climate of a nation and also globally. Some of these factors are energy costs, business income tax levels, market size, life’s quality, infrastructure, incentives, workforce availability and others. Globally, the investors are known to monitor the share prices of most business corporations in order to make an informed business on the companies or the market to invest in. According to Guy (2009)and Katsioloudes&Hadjidakis, (2007), business climate globally has been quite harsh on the investors. Some of the business rules in most countries are not conducive for the business climate. These are rules that are quite unstable, disloyal and the corruption is completely out of hand. During crisis, investors usually sell the shares that belong to the entire business in order to avoid losses. This hence affects the entire business adversely. According to the literature review that has been conducted on the international business climate, most multinational companies enjoy relationships and hence have merged in order to ensure competition. Most countries have a vast set of regulations and laws that do affect business operations. As Kirpalani (p. 114) asserts a country like the UK has very active monopoly policies. The monopoly commission plays a very vital role as far as mergers and takeovers are concerned. The UK law does permit the mergers commission and monopolies to investigate, block and delay all the proposed mergers that are not of public interest. Social factors also have a major influence on global business climate. Communities on global business climate are very keen on the way the company does utilize their income in order to support local people as far as destination economies are concerned. Their main interest is to see the local people engage in the foreign companies. They do expect all the multinational companies to be involved in some social activities for example helping the poor people. International business climate are also involved in conserving the environment as every business is going green. There are various government policies that do affect business activities. To ensure that there are low levels of pollution, governments should also establish those policies for example emissions standards. The political environment has set various laws and has aimed at reducing the corporate taxes in order to encourage some of the foreign investments in Africa and Asia (Scaffer et al, 2008). Most of the economies in the global international climate have also invested in effective communication facilities to enable business transactions. If we have to involve the issue of Switzerland in the international business climate we acknowledge the fact that just as the international climate has incorporated economic, cultural, legal as well as political issues so has Switzerland. One of the reasons that make Switzerland cope and suit in the international business climate is the fact that its legal climate is quite transparent and has regulations that are not discriminative. It has a legal system that governs the local and international business activities and stops anti- competitive behavior. Its political climate is effective and very stable. If we are to compare the international climate with that of Switzerland, it is patent that Switzerland’s international climate is better. Therefore, with that in mind there ought to be some recommendations for the international business climate. Switzerland happens to be one of the leading countries globally when it comes to the IT infrastructure. Some of the factors that do work in its favor comprise of issues like security, telecoms competition and government support. The official currency of Switzerland has remained to be Swiss Franc (CHF). It is one of the currencies that has always been used in the country and is quite strong as well as stable over many years. It is convertible and is not controlled by the government. It also has one of the best banking sectors in Switzerland and one of the biggest commercial bank. The communication systems in Swiss are vast and quite modern. Its domestic system comprises of an extensive cable as well as a microwave network. It has the best reputation when it comes to transportation as it has the most efficient and extensive public transportation globally. Its economy is the best and all the Swiss citizens are entitled to education. For those who are financially deprived, the government is responsible for paying their meals, transportation, books and other amenities. The citizens are free from other foreign country and are only subject to the laws of their country. Since it is not part of EU and UN, the government is also free from the outside regulations. Its tri level system of politics is effective since the country and state bodies are usually granted high control levels. The collegial system of Federal council contributes highly to its political stability. Switzerland economy is so effective and has mounted to be the global leading public and medical health infrastructures. It tops the list of all European countries despite the fact it is not a member of EU. As compared to the international business climate, culturally, there main priority has been protection of the environment. Their regulation standards are quite high and efficient making the industry grow at high rates. It is one of the vast and major exporters of both goods and services and a big supplier within Europe after Japan and USA. The climate of Switzerland is definitely what can be termed as pro business. Just like the international climate, it has also adopted a legislative act that promotes economic attractiveness for all businesses. It has created a wonderful appealing economy for business. They also have an advantage of a having high standards of production. Switzerland was ranked by the World Economic Global Competitiveness Report as the global’s most competitive economy (Ina, 2010). It has a sound environment, infrastructure, efficient market and a high technological innovation. The major laws that govern the foreign investment are the Swiss Code of obligations, Securities Law, Cartel Law and Lex Friedrich. Recommendations for International Business climate The international business climate is yet to be what can be termed as perfect. It is therefore the duty of each nation to make sure that everything is running smoothly. In most third world countries, the investors are always at risk. There ought to be firm laws governing each country and protecting businesses from being affected by inflation. Just like in Switzerland, nations need to improve on their efficiency, security and laws in order to have an appealing business climate. The political climate should also be enhanced into one that can accommodate business effectively. It is the duty of the legal system to make sure all social evils are cubed for example corruption in order for businesses to survive. There should be a strong relationship with other foreign countries in order for international trade to survive. Other laws should be introduced whose measures should include tax breaks as well as investment credits for the small companies. There should be strict safety environmental regulations and the government should also offer subsidies and a wonderful climate for businesses. Conclusion Though the international business climate is so much like that of Switzerland, Switzerland has one of the best business climates that are quite appealing. The international business climate should emulate Switzerland and aim to make their climate appealing. This can be done through adoption of laws that protect businesses, unification of all those who are concerned and eradication of all social evils like corruption.

European Colonization of the Americas Research Paper

European Colonization of the Americas - Research Paper Example Some say that many of these diseases even occurred because of communicability from Europe to the Americas as well as climate change and environment change for those that were transported from the Americas to Europe. European lifestyle on the whole was very dynamic as compared to the era that the people were living in at the time. People were in close contact with domestic animals like cows, goats, sheep, horses and pigs for the purpose of livelihood and food. This furthered the process of catching diseases due to the lack of medicinal opportunities available to them and thus new germs were introduced to the people, killing almost 10 to 20 million people within the span on the century. Most of these people were the American natives and this led to a great amount of both political as well as cultural instability in the country at the time which gave more leverage for the English to warp in on the opportunity and establish more settlements. For them, it merely meant more land and space to capitalize on. Economically speaking, European countries benefitted a great deal by the degree of goodwill that they gained by exploiting the opportunities with respect to resources available in the Americas; they were able to import spices, cloth, as well as other kinds of treasures like silver. Most of the slaves that were transported were Black Americans and due to the migration, there was a loss of identity and language among the Americans giving yet another upper hand to the Europeans so that they would be able to manage and establish another version of Europe altogether in America. The main reason for English settlement included an inspiration from Spanish conquests during the Inca... This paper stresses that European colonization in history has been regarded as one of the strongest colonial powers; the Europeans were able to set foot in almost all the territories around the world, gaining an excellent base with regard to trade and investment all over. They were able to use their knowhow and intelligence to build on and use resources and thus they managed to exploit opportunities and make themselves stable and rich with time. However, with their colonization in America, they faced problems as well as were termed to be successful in various ways. This report makes a conlcusion that by capitalizing on American resources, setting up industries, building passage ways from the Americas to Europe and furthermore, being able to import and export labour and human resources, they were able to enrich themselves. However, at the same time, this also proved to have certain amount of demerits as American migration proved to bring about communicable diseases in Europe, slaves and labourers were looked down upon with time with regard to international human rights and thus the Europeans were looked at as a harsh and brutish community of people. At the same time, they lost out on a great amount of their own population as well as religion, which tended to make the European countries unstable in terms of polity and social life. With lesser natives in the European countries, they had no choice but to depend on the Americans. In this manner, they were both weakened as well as enriched by their colonization in the Americas.

Nursing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 11

Nursing - Essay Example It provides the anticipated levels of education that nurses in the country should conform to. This is clearly spelt out in recommendations 4, 5 and 6. In order to ensure that I align myself with these recommendations, I will endeavor to earn my degree in the next two years. A degree forms the foundation of the advancement in career to the higher levels. After the degree, I look forward to a work experience of between three and five years. After this, I will go for the master’s degree. I strongly belief that there is need to balance between work experience and level of study. Upon completion of the Master’s, then I will get in for PhD in the next one or two years. Increasing the level of education will have far-reaching implications towards becoming a proficient nurse. The essence of gaining some experience in practice of nursing is geared towards providing a broad understanding of the profession. Theory and practice have many differences, of which I endeavor to explore. Education is very important because it will help me to explore the experience that I will have met in practice. This is the reason I am convinced that education and practice should go hand in hand; this is because they are complementary in nature. Education will also open me to new ideas and techniques that were not fully explored at the Bachelor’s level. Additionally, further education will open my mind in order to engage in research that will help promote nursing profession. My role in nursing will be facilitated by higher education. At the beginning of my career as a junior nurse, I will have the basic nursing tasks to conduct. With additional experience and higher education, my roles will have to change, for example, I will endeavor to specialize in research. Therefore, at the beginning I will have to work under a known researcher but later on will develop projects of my own. Having completed my master’s and PhD, engaging in research

SMART CHOICES by John Hammond Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

SMART CHOICES by John Hammond - Essay Example He lives in Belmont, Massachusetts and is extensively popular as one of the initiators of the decision sciences field. In this book â€Å"smart choices† from the three leading consultants on decision-making, readers get to understand how to approach each and every type of decisions with a set of elementary skills developed by professors from the University of Southern California, MIT and Harvard. In Smart Choices, the authors offer a systematic approach to making the correct choices. They guide people how to be confident and consistent to decisions they make. For example, choosing which job offer to accept, selecting a fantastic book to read to buying the right vehicle. This user-friendly guide demonstrates to readers how to create a complete set of alternatives, assess deep-seated objectives, grapple with uncertainty, determine likely consequences, and make tradeoffs. Not only will the readers understand how to make good decisions, they will understand and learn how to come u p with smartest decisions. For any individual caught at a confusing situation, the Smart Choices program improves abilities of decision-making and makes one’s life more fulfilling and rewarding. The three authors claim that making smart choices is an essential life skill, which can be trained. They provide a realistic model for making decisions, and show that it is applicable in both business and personal situations. They demonstrate that the solution is to break down the decision into its individual essentials, identifying those that are most significant, and analyzing potential outcomes. These authors also argue that decisions should be made before turning into problems. Their so-called PROACT (Problem, Objectives, Alternatives, Consequences and Trade-offs) approach can be broken down precisely. I.e. Identifying the Problem, specifying the Objectives, creating Alternatives, understanding the Consequences, and weighing the Trade-offs. By following these crucial steps, an ind ividual must shed light on uncertainty, evaluate risks, and be sentient of what other alternatives a decision might produce. Smart Choices summarizes eight useful elements in making the correct decision, from identifying what exactly the decision is and identifying the objectives to considering risk, tolerance and also looking at what one decides on today influences what he/she may decide in the days to come. The book is complete with real-life situations that effectively demonstrate each element of an excellent decision. The general idea of Smart Choices is that excellent decision making comes about through scrupulous planning and thoughtfulness. In chapter one of this book from the three leading professors on decision making, some decisions are fairly obvious. For example, will you step in for your employer for two weeks while he/she attends an educational development course? Definitely it is yes, or one’s bank account is running low, but he/she has a three-week break comin g up and wants to get away to somewhere warm to relax with his/her family. Some of the essential decisions one faces in life are complex and tough, with no obvious or easy solutions, which will not probably affect an individual alone, but also affect his/her family, friends, coworkers and several others both known and unknown. Coming up with compelling decisions is therefore, one of the most significant determinants of how smart someone meets his/her responsibilities and achieve professional and

Financial ratio analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Financial ratio analysis - Assignment Example The ratio calculations will be found in Appendix 1. The ratio shows the extent of altered charge capital in the capital structure of a firm. Concerning Qatar Navigation and Gulf warehousing, the 2013 proportions are 10.03% and 48.88% separately. In light of the proportions, 10.03% of Qatar Navigations capital structure is obligation while the staying 89.97% is value. Then again, 48.88 % of Gulf warehousings capital structure is obligation while the staying 51.12 % is value. Nearly, the influence level of Gulf distribution center is higher than that of Qatar Navigation. The level of designing for both organizations is safe (Leach, 2010). The proportion measures the capacity of the business to meet its present commitments utilizing the present resources. As a rule, it is fitting for the proportion of current advantages for current obligation to be over one. Concerning Qatar Navigation and Gulf warehousing, the 2013 proportions are 2.099 times and 1.436 times. Qatar Navigation could meet the present commitments 2.099 times utilizing the present resources. Then again, Gulf warehousing Co. could meet the present commitments 1.436 times before depleting the present resources. Nearly, Qatar Navigation had a higher liquidity level than its rival (Gulf warehousing Co.) in 2013 (Leach, 2010). The ratio shows how well a company manages its administrative expenses such as the operating costs and the cost of capital. The higher the ratio, the lower the administrative expenses of the company. Concerning Qatar Navigation and Gulf warehousing, the 2013 ratios are, 42.38% and 18.69% respectively. Based on the ratios, 57.62% of Qatar Navigation’s revenue were consumed by the operating expenses while, 81.31% of Gulf ware housing’s revenue were consumed by the operating expenses. Comparatively, Qatar Navigation is more capable of generating profits since its operating expenses are lower compared to that of Gulf warehousing (Leach, 2010). The ratio shows the

Warehouse management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Warehouse management - Essay Example It has become outdated when a company could take an order and quote to deliver after a month or two but today delivery is either the same day or in some cases the next day. This happens to keep your existing customer, which is far cheaper than finding a new one hence satisfying a current customer becomes paramount. Reichheld and Teal (2001) in a well-established research found , 5 percent customer retention can increase many companies profits by 25 to 95 percent, and cost of 6 to 7 times more for gaining a new customer than keeping an existing one. To ensure organizations maintain high performance in their operations that contribute to customer retention and satisfaction the idea of a warehouse has helped them to increase their accuracy, timeliness, customer is provided with the right product in the right condition and at the right time. This paper addresses the measures that enhance the performance of a warehouse. Performance and productivity of the warehouse is measured to ensure customer expectations and continuous improvement of the warehouse and avoid incurring additional costs and loss of customers. The suitability of any of the measures is governed by customer expectation, although they need to align to the company’s resources. Rushton, Croucher and Baker (2010), asserted that the method used should address both the cost of service provision and the level of customer service. Here, the areas measured within the warehouse are cost, flexibility, reliability, and asset utilization. There are a number of measures used nowadays in warehouses, which are based on productivity, cost performance measures, and those related space, labor, and equipment utilization. Most warehouse managers experience a big problem of inadequate space with many warehouses operating with about 20 percent of their available space at any time. Warehouses with high space utilizations result in high cost on employees for their

English 105 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

English 105 - Essay Example se people require, it would also be great to spread awareness and to let other people know about their plight so that they can come forward and help them, it is an arduous task but someone has to take an initiative and drive other people forward so that they work in unison and improve the overall living conditions in Africa. It is really a surprise to me that the world has made so much progress yet many people continue to live far below the poverty line, this disparity has to be eliminated and it is really important for the other people to understand this and they will also work towards eliminating this disparity once they understand how important it is to restore parity in the society. â€Å"Drought is a recurrent phenomenon in the semiarid regions of Africa. The first showers of the rainy season usually follow a long dry season, during which the soil becomes thoroughly dried out.† (M. Eugene, P. 8) Africa is hit badly by other factors also and even this needs to be sorted out, the climate experts should intervene and suggest solutions to these natural problems that are being faced by several people in Africa. â€Å"Malnutrition is a major health problem, especially in developing countries. Water supply, sanitation and hygiene, given their direct impact on infectious disease, especially diarrhea, are important for preventing malnutrition. Both malnutrition and inadequate water supply and sanitation are linked to poverty. The impact of repeated or persistent diarrhea on nutrition-related poverty and the effect of malnutrition on susceptibility to infectious diarrhea are reinforcing elements of the same vicious circle, especially amongst children in developing countries.† (WHO) Malnutrition remains another huge problem, the final paper will also reveal some very important statistics and it will also aim at providing solutions to these ever growing problems. The most important aim would be to make the people who are living in ideal conditions understand the plight

Pe Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Pe - Essay Example However there are a number of anonymous women of the oracle at Dephi who responsible for advising the Athenians to go and defend the wall of the Wood. Most women in the Greek society were greatly restricted but not as much as the women in other societies of that time. Their role in art was very much important since they represented the ideals of the Greek society and even some religious fervor. This gave rise to an art of great perfection that was highly demanded as a trade item. At that time religion had a lot of interdependence on the stories that were developed in the earlier society where women could prove to act more powerful and independently. The Greek developed a sense of an ideal so that the portrait of the depicted women could depend not only on the ordinary people but on the best that was available at that time. Most of the societies benefited economically from the spreading trade in art while the rest of the world reaped some little benefits from the view of the women that had a less restriction in the Greek society. According to the literature of stereotypes of Athens, women were highly valued for their virtues of not gossiping, taking the responsibility of household management, and most importantly for the production of legitimate children (Tomus, Hall and Geldart 11). The aristocratic woman was majorly secluded in the quarters that were set aside for the women and they were to be accompanied when they were in the public places. She could own a lot of property but they could not sell those property. Most of the Athenian women were subjects to their fathers and even after they were married, they could ask for their return. All women in Athens were not recognized as the citizens of Athens. Â   In Roman, women were legally subjects to the pater familias whether the dominant male in their household of birth or the household of their husbands (Sommerstein 37). They could own property and dispose-off the same property at their own wish and even

McCain Foods Essay Example for Free

McCain Foods Essay McCain Foods is a Canadian company that produces potatoes and provided all sorts of fries to their customers all over the world. McCain Foods Company is a well-known potato producer. McCain also competes with public companies such as Kraft Foods, Aviko and ConAgra Foods which have a clear advantage in terms of raising capital because they are also producing potatoes as their main product. Private ownership puts the company at a competitive disadvantage. Even so McCain Foods Company tries to inform their customers by doing campaigns and promotion by giving points and free deliveries. Consumer food expenditure on ready-to-eat foods continues to rise due to the success of new dining concepts, and changing lifestyle. Demographic factors, such as more families with working women, smaller family sizes in general, and more disposable income coupled with less disposable time has spurred this trend. Since McCain Foods is more focused on business to business they are partnered with few companies that will help them in packaging, in examining their potatoes quality and distribution. Due to the changes in the external environment that impacts McCain Foods Company sale rates, they made changes to improve their potatoes quality to maintain their customers demand. Such us, using the sunflower oil that reduces saturated fats by 70% instead of using regular vegetable oil. This is made because mainly McCain Foods have a strategy to keep a good relationship with their farmers and customers In the Netherlands, McCain Foods Company is located in Lelystad where the corps are grown and distributed. The distribution of McCain Food products are done by road to the other European countries and ships to be distributed to other countries outside the European region. McCain Food Company McCain Foods is a company located in Canada and a privately owned company established in 1957 by four brothers namely Wallace and Harrison McCain, supported by brothers Andrew and Robert. McCain Foods is the world’s largest manufacturer of frozen French fries and potato specialties. McCain foods also perform in helping the environment and achieved several Charitable Initiatives such as â€Å"Feeding the hungry and supporting education in South Africa† and â€Å"Supporting sport in the UK for ? 5 million to UK Athletics â€Å". McCain Foods is the largest French fry producer in the world, claiming a global market share of almost 33%. (4) McCain operates globally with over 57 production and manufacturing facilities across six continents. The company’s products are available in thousands of restaurants and supermarket freezers in more than 125 countries around the world. The company has least presence in the developing organic foods segment. Natural and organic food products segment is one of the fastest growing categories in food retailing. The company has not acquired any organic brand companies nor has it launched organic products. Internal environment McCain foods  is an organization that has the motto: â€Å"McCain it’s all good†. Their actions, decisions and behaviors are guided by their values and Code of Conduct. McCain is trying to make their business to be more like a family business. Because some companies are known for the products they make, and some are known for the people who make them while McCain likes to be known for both. Their strategy is to keep a good relationship with the farmers and their customers. As it is shown in Graph (1. 1), McCain Foods makes contracts with their supplier partners and grower partners, even though the number of the supplier partners is greater than the grower partners. They also employed a lot of employees to work in their company. With these big numbers McCain Foods is also trying to maintain their relationship with their employees and partners, because these numbers tells us that McCain more or less is depending on their supplier partners, the farmers, and employees. Same thing goes to the Supplier partners and Employees of McCain Foods. This means that there is a mutualism relationship between McCain, the employees and their partners that will bring a good result.

The Corporate Strategy Model

The Corporate Strategy Model Understanding the strategic position is concerned with identifying the impact on strategy of the external environment, an organizations strategic capability and the expectations and influence of stakeholders. The sort of questions this raises are central to future strategies. The Environment Environment plays an important role in building up the strategies and how it affects the organisation strategies and goals looking out for the opportunities and threats from the outer world. Therefore it is very important to evaluate the environmental impacts on the organization. The capabilities Capabilities depends upon the resources and competences within the organization. One way of thinking about the strategic capability of an organization is to consider its strengths and weaknesses. Look for the core competences and USPs which the competitors will find difficult to imitate. Purpose The major influences of stakeholder expectations is organizations purposes. Purpose is summarized in an organisations vision, mission and values. This is important since it clarifies who should the organization serve and how should it work. this reflects the corporate social responsibilities and ethics. Culture These influences directly either on organizational, sectoral or national. Corporate Governance Corporate Governance is concerned with the structures and systems of control by which managers are held accountable to those who have legitimate stake in an organization. (4) There are many other reason which has made its presence an important issue for the organization. Out of which the three main reasons are as follows; The separation of ownership and management control which means that the organization works with hierarchy or within the chain of governance. This chain basically represents those groups that influence an organization through their involvement in either ownership or management of an organization. Scandals by the corporate have increased a lot of public debate about different parties in the governance chain should interact and influence each other. Most notable here is the relationship between shareholders and the boards of businesses as well as relationship between government or public funding bodies and public sector organizations. Increased accountability to wider Stakeholder interests has also come to be increasingly advocated; in particular the argument that corporations need to be more visibly accountable and responsive , not only to owners and managers in the governance chain but to wider social interest. Governance Structure Strategic Purpose Social responsibility and ethics Stakeholder expectations Figure 4.0 Influences on strategic purpose (4) The governance chain explains completely the roles and relationships of different groups which are present in the governance of an organization. The chain is very simple to understand it is similar like a family tree. It has shareholders, family members, managers and a board. It is a large and publicly quoted organization with more investors layers as well. Hence good corporate governance can be achieved only if it is an embedded part of corporate life: part of the DNA of the organisation, its internal processes and the way it makes information available externally. In many countries most companies are run mostly for the benefit of the shareholders, the rightful owners. But there is another model, where companies are run for the benefit of other significant groupings as well such as customers, the general public or employees. This is the stakeholder model. Choosing a board for each of these models or something in between requires people with different backgrounds and outlooks. The following table compares the shareholder and stakeholder models: Shareholders Stakeholders Maximize shareholder value and look after shareholder interests Look after all stakeholder interests, especially public Seek profitability and efficiency Look for survival, long term growth, and stability Hard-nosed and commercial Less concerned with profit than value for money A Stakeholders mapping can be used appropriately to understand the stakeholders influence. Stakeholder mapping can define his expectations and power and helps in understanding political priorities. It emphasizes the importance of two issues: Interest of the stakeholder group on organizations purposes and choice of strategies Power of stakeholders to actually do it They are described in a quadrant of four different types based on level of interest and their power, as follows Non Profit Organizations A non-profit organization is an organization which does not distribute its surplus funds to owners or shareholders, but instead uses them to help pursue its goals. Examples of NPOs include charities (i.e. charitable organizations), trade unions, and public arts organizations. Most governments and government agencies meet this definition, but in most countries they are considered a separate type of organization and not counted as NPOs. They are in most countries exempt from income and property taxation. Profit Organizations An organization is a social arrangement which pursues collective goals, controls its own performance, and has a boundary separating it from its environment. It is a business which has a primary goal of making profit and a proposed goal such as helping the environment. Differences between Profit and Non-profit Organization Ownership is the quantitative difference between for- and not-for-profit organizations. For-profit organizations can be privately owned and may re-distribute taxable wealth to employees and shareholders. By contrast, not-for-profit organizations do not have owners. They have controlling members or boards, but these people cannot sell their shares to others or personally benefit in any taxable way. While they are able to earn a profit, more accurately called a surplus, such earnings must be retained by the organization for its self-preservation, expansion and future plans. Earnings may not benefit individuals or stake-holders. While some non-profit organizations put substantial funds into hiring and rewarding their internal corporate leadership, middle-management personnel and workers, others employ unpaid volunteers and even executives may work for no compensation. However, since the late 1980s there has been a growing consensus that nonprofits can achieve their corporate targets more effectively by using some of the same methods developed in for-profit enterprises. These include effective internal management, ensuring accountability for results, and monitoring the performance of different divisions or projects in order to better benefit from their capital and workers. Those require satisfied management and that, in turn, begins with the organizations mission There are a variety of perspectives, models and approaches used in strategic planning. The way that a strategic plan is developed depends on the nature of the organizations leadership, culture of the organization, complexity of the organizations environment, size of the organization, expertise of planners, etc. For example, there are a variety of strategic planning models, including goals-based, issues-based, organic, scenario (some would assert that scenario planning is more of a technique than model), etc. Goals-based planning is probably the most common and starts with focus on the organizations mission (and vision and/or values), goals to work toward the mission, strategies to achieve the goals, and action planning (who will do what and by when). Issues-based strategic planning often starts by examining issues facing the organization, strategies to address those issues and action plans. Organic strategic planning might start by articulating the organizations vision and values, an d then action plans to achieve the vision while adhering to those values. Some planners prefer a particular approach to planning, eg, appreciative inquiry. Some plans are scoped to one year, many to three years, and some to five to ten years into the future. Some plans include only top-level information and no action plans. Some plans are five to eight pages long, while others can be considerably longer. For-profit and nonprofit business plans have many similarities. For that reason, nonprofit personnel would benefit from reading the links in the section above, For-Profit Business Planning. Some of the terms are different, but in most cases they can readily be translated into words more commonly used in the nonprofit sector. For example, balance sheet is what nonprofit call a statement of financial position, profit and loss statement (or income statement) is essentially the same as a statement of financial activities, and so on. One of the key difference between a for profit and a non profit plan is the marketing section. In a for profit business, the served customers are generally those who provide the revenues needed to cover expenses and continue operations. For a non profit, often the served constituents do not provide this sustaining funding, and it must be sought from a third party donors. This means the marketing plan must describe both how the organization will communicate its services to its service target market and how it will communicate its need for funding to its funding target market. This means detailing these two separate marketing messages and two strategies for marketing. Another key difference is the non profit part of the business plan. Financial plans for a non profit do not have to show net profit, and, if they do, there must be some explanation of what those retained earnings will be used for. They cannot be distributed as dividends, as the organization is technically owned by the public and not by the directors or board. However, profits can be accumulated for the purposes of creating an endowment or capital fund for future expenditures. An accountant should be consulted for any decisions of this nature. International dimensions of strategic business management and planning Going global is one of the key visions of most of the organizations. Choosing globalization increases the option for the organizations range of products or services and how to manage across the borders. Through international strategy framework it becomes achievable in a better way. International strategy as the core theme, depends upon two things, the external environment and organizational capabilities. If you see the figure 6.0 it focuses more on internationalisation drivers and on the capabilities side it emphasises on international and national sources of advantage. Figure 6.0 International strategy framework Internationalisation drivers Market selection Sources of competitive advantage Mode of entry International Strategy (4) Market Drivers Similar customer needs Global customers Transferable marketing Internationalisation Drivers Figure 7.0 Internalisation Drivers International Strategies Cost Drivers Scale economic Country-specific differences Favorable logistics Government Drivers Trade Policies Technical Standards Host Government Policies Competitive Drivers Interdependence between countries Competitors global strategies (4) Market globalization drivers There is a general belief that several markets are converging around the world. There are several reasons for this. First, the convergence of Gross National Product (GNP) per capita in the developed world is leading to a convergence in markets sensitive to wealth and level of income such as passenger cars, television sets, and computers. Second, there is evidence to suggest that in some industries, customers tastes, perceptions, and buying behaviours are converging, and that the world is moving towards a single global market that is basically Western and, more specifically, North American. In a landmark article titled The globalization of markets Levitt (1983) predicted that globalization drivers such as new technology would lead to homogenization of consumer desires and needs across the world. He argued that this would happen because generally consumers would prefer standard products of high quality and low price to more customized but higher-priced products. Third, in the quest to build a global brand and company image, multinational firms are increasingly favouring a global standardization of marketing and advertising efforts. This does not mean identical marketing and advertising campaigns, but the use of similar themes that send the same message across the world. Recent developments in broadcast media, particularly direct-broadcast satellite and international media, are making this more possible. CNN, for example, broadcasts standard adverts around the world. Cost globalization drivers Several key cost drivers may come into play in determining an industry globalization level. One key factor is global scale economies. That is, the costs of producing a particular product or service are often subject to economies or dis-economies of scale. Generally, economies of scale arise when a product or a process can be performed more cheaply at greater volume than at lesser volume. This is often the case when the product or service is standardized; hence it becomes hard for multinational firms to differentiate themselves, and cost becomes key in achieving and sustaining a competitive advantage. Producing different products for different countries leads to higher cost per unit. This is because multinational firms serving countries with separate products may not be able to reach the most economic scale of production for each countrys unique product. Multinational firms could reduce the cost by using common parts and components produced in different countries. Another factor is sourcing efficiencies. Global sourcing efficiencies may push multinational firms towards a global strategy. The prices of key resources used in the production process have a strong impact on the cost of the product or service, the cost of inputs depends on the bargaining power of the firm with their suppliers. For example, large firms purchasing large volumes have more clout with their suppliers than their small rivals. Hewlett-Packard (HP) is a good example. In the past, country-level subsidiaries used to solicit bids for insurance coverage independently. Each subsidiary chose the local provider who bid less than the competition. However, HP now belongs to a global insurer-insured pool which provides rebates based on business volume. In addition, as noted earlier, some countries provide a cost advantage because of low cost of raw material, low cost of labour, or low cost of transport because of location. Thus multinational firms locate their activities in different countries to benefit from these advantages. Further, in sectors where transportation cost is low, closeness to customers is not important, and urgency to distribute the product is low, multinational firms tend to concentrate their production in large plants producing large-scale products. Finally, high cost of product development drives multinational firms to focus on core products that have universal appeal to control cost. Government globalization drivers Governments have different policies for different industries. While (as discussed above) the general trend is lower trade barriers and less regulation, for a few sectors trade barriers are prohibitive and highly regulated by governments. In addition to trade barriers and regulations, technical standards are becoming similar around the world. For example, several countries have accepted new international accounting norms and standards. In Europe, the International Accounting Standards (IAS) are quickly becoming the norm. This will allow direct cross-border comparison of financial statements, and facilitate communication between subsidiaries and the centre. Companies like Nokia, the Allianz group, and Novartis are working to bring about a convergence of US accounting standards with IAS. Competitive drivers Because of tight interlinks between key world markets, intense competition across countries, and the continuous increase in the number of global competitors, multinational firms are adopting a globally centred rather than nationally centred strategy. According to George Yip, the increase in interactions between competitors from different countries requires a globally integrated strategy to monitor moves by competitors in different countries. He notes that by pursuing a global strategy, competitors create competitive interdependence among countries. This interdependence forces multinational firms to engage in competitive battles and to subsidize attacks in different countries. Cross-subsidization is only possible if the multinational firm has a global strategy that monitors competitors centrally rather than on a country-by-country basis. Globalized competitors drive industries to adopt a global strategy. Yip noted that when major competitors, especially first movers, use a global strategy to introduce customers to global products, late movers adopt the same strategy so as to achieve economies of scale or scope and other benefits associated with adopting a global strategy. Last, the ability to transfer competitive advantage globally drives multinationals to adopt a global strategy. For example, IKEA succeeded in transferring its locally developed advantage to a global market. Conversely, sectors where the competitive advantage is locally rooted and hard to transfer across countries, multinationals tend to adopt an international strategy rather than a global one. (8) Strategic Management Strategic Management is a term which underlines the importance of managers with regards to the company strategy. Strategy needs to be defined by the people especially the managers who also implement them. Strategic Management involves a greater scope than that of any one area of operational management. It is characterised in way it makes easy for the managers to make decision and judgement based on the conceptualisation of difficult issues. Corporate strategy is defined as the identification of the purpose of the organization and the plans and actions to achieve that purpose. Corporate strategy consist of two main elements: corporate level strategy and business level strategy .See figure 7.0 At Corporate Level: All the decisions need to be taken over what business the company is in or should be in. The culture and leadership of the organization are also important at this broad general level. Corporate strategy is the pattern of major objectives, purpose or goals and essential policies or plans for achieving those goals, stated in such a way as to define what business the company is in or be in and the kind of company it is or be. (9) At Business Level: corporate strategy is more alarmed with the competing for customers, generating value from the resources and the underlying principle of the sustainable competitive advantages of those resources over rival companies. Figure 8.0 The essence of corporate strategy At the individual business level: How do we complete successfully? What is our sustainable competitive advantage? How can we innovate? Who are our customers? What value do we add? At the general corporate level: What business are we in? What business we should be in? What business our basic directions for the future? What is our culture and leadership style? What is our attitude to strategic change? What should it be? What is the purpose of the organization? And what are our strategies to achieve this? (10) The three main areas of strategy At both the levels of corporate strategy every organization has to manage its strategies in three main areas: Organizations internal resources; External environment within the area of organization operates; Organizations ability to add value to its organizations process. Resources Strategy Resources of any organization includes human resource skills, investors and the capital. Organizations need to build a good strategies to optimise the use of the resources. In particular, it is essential to investigate the sustainable competitive advantage that will allow the organization to survive and prosper against competition. Environmental strategy Environment encompasses all the aspect external to the organization itself: not only the economic and political circumstances, which depends place to place but competitors, customers and suppliers, who may vary widely around the world, but also competitors, customers are particularly important here. Hence organizations therefore needs to develop corporate strategies that are best suited to their strengths and weakness in relation to the environment in which they operate. Adding Value Apart from environment and resources organizations still need to add value to the supplies brought into the organization. For long term survival, an organization take their supplies seriously and then deliver its output to its customers. The main purpose of corporate strategy is to make the organization create and add vital values to make sure the organization adapts the changes and continue to add value in future. Core areas of Corporate Strategy There are three core areas of corporate strategy are strategic analysis, strategy development and strategy implementation. Strategic analysis: The organization, its mission and objectives have to be examined and analysed. Corporate strategy provides value for the people involved in the organization, its stakeholders but its the managers who decide the objectives of the organization. They also analyse the resources and examine the objectives as well as the relationship with the environment. Strategy development: A strategy options has to be developed and then the right has to be selected. To be successful, the strategy is build upon a particular skills of the organization and the special relationship that it has or can develop with the other outside suppliers, customers, distributors and government. Strategy implementation: The selected options now has to be implemented and the organization will find many other difficulties in terms of motivation, power relationships, government negotiations, company acquisitions and many other matters. Hierarchical Characteristics of Strategy Strategy can be formulated on three different levels: Corporate level Business unit level Functional or Operational level, While strategy may be about competing and surviving as a rum, one can argue that products, not corporations compete, and products are developed by business units. The role or the corporation then is to manage its business units and products so that each is competitive and so that each continues to corporate purposes. While the corporation must manage its portfolio of businesses to grow and survive, the success of a diversified firm depends upon its ability to manage each of its product lines, While there is no single competition to Textron, we can talk about the competitors and strategy of each of its business units. In the finance business segment, for example, the chief rivals ate major banks providing commercial financing. Many matagers consider the business level to be the proper focus for strategic planning. Corporate Level Strategy Corporate level strategy fundamentally is concerned with the selection of businesses in which the company should compete and with the development and coordination of that portfolio of businesses. It is concerned with: Reach Defining the Issues that are corporate responsibilities; this might include identifying the overall goals of the corporation. The types of businesses In which the corporation should be involved and the way in which businesses will be integrated and managed . Competitive Contact defining where in the corporation competition is to be localized. Take the case of insurance; In the mid-1990s, Aetna as a corporation was clearly identified with its commercial and property casualty insurance products. Managing Activities and Business Interrelationships Corporate strategy seeks to develop synergies by sharing and coordinating staff and other resources across business units. investing financial units across business unit to complement other corporate business unit. Management Practices Corporations decide how business units are to be governed: through direct Corporate intervention (centralization) or through more or less autonomous government (decentralization) that relies on persuasions and rewards. Corporations are responsible for creating value through their businesses. They do so by managing their portfolio of businesses. ensuring that the businesses are successful over the long-term. developing business units. and sometimes ensuring that each business is compatible with others in the portfolio. Business Level Strategy A strategic business unit may be a division, product line, or other profit centre that can be planned independently from the other business units of the firm. At the business unit level. the strategic issues are less about the coordination of operating units and more about developing and sustaining a compititive advantage for the goods and services that are produced. At the business level the strategy formulation phase deals with: positioning the business against rivals anticipating changes in demand and technologies and adjusting the strategy to accommodate them inf1uencing the nature of competition through strategic actions such as vertical integration and through political actions such as lobbying. Functional Level Strategy The functional level of the organization is the level of the operating divisions and departments. The strategic issues at the functional level are related to business processes and the value chain. Functional level strategies in marketing, finance, operations, human resources and RD involve the development and coordination of resources through which business unit level strategies can be executed efficiently and effectively. Functional units of an organization are involved in higher level strategies by providing input into the business unit level and corporate level strategy such as providing information on resources and capabilities on which the higher level strategies can be based. Figure 9.0 Levels of Strategy (10) Global Strategies Global strategies have been deliberately pursued in some industries to integrate worldwide strategy. Essentially, strategy is centralised for the whole world, with an integrated network of production and market positions in all the leading countries on a broadly similar platform. The need for strategic business management planning can be easily understood by the porters diamond model. The diamond model is an economical model developed by Michael Porter in his book The Competitive Advantage of Nations, where he published his theory of why particular industries become competitive in particular locations. The phenomena that are analysed are classified into six broad factors incorporated into the Porter diamond, which has become a key tool for the analysis of competitiveness: Factor conditions are human resources, physical resources, knowledge resources, capital resources and infrastructure. Specialized resources are often specific for an industry and important for its competitiveness. Specific resources can be created to compensate for factor disadvantages. Demand conditions in the home market can help companies create a competitive advantage, when sophisticated home market buyers pressure firms to innovate faster and to create more advanced products that those of competitors. Related and supporting industries can produce inputs which are important for innovation and internationalization. These industries provide cost-effective inputs, but they also participate in the upgrading process, thus stimulating other companies in the chain to innovate. Firm strategy, structure and rivalry constitutes the fourth determinant of competitiveness. The way in which companies are created, set goals and are managed is important for success. But the presence of intense rivalry in the home base is also important; it creates pressure to innovate in order to upgrade competitiveness. Government can influence each of the above four determinants of competitiveness. Clearly government can influence the supply conditions of key production factors, demand conditions in the home market, and competition between firms. Government interventions can occur at local, regional, national or supranational level. Chance events are occurrences that are outside of control of a firm. They are important because they create discontinuities in which some gain competitive positions and some lose. The Porter thesis is that these factors interact with each other to create conditions where innovation and improved competitiveness occurs. (11) Figure 10.0 Porters Diamond Model Government Related and supporting industries Demand Conditions Factor Conditions (11) Conclusion No nonprofit entrepreneur should launch prior to completing a strategic business management planning. This is where entrepreneurs perform the well-known SWOT analysis to determine the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) associated with their nonprofit business proposition. Strengths and weaknesses identify factors that are under their control, such as what they do better or worse than the competition. Opportunities and threats are external or not under their control. For example, an opportunity may be a new foundation looking to fund nonprofit organizations within a specific time frame. A threat may be the lack of philanthropic donations due to a recent tax increase or the reduction of the nonprofit tax deduction. Many nonprofits fail because they fail to complete their SWOT strategic analysis. The strategic planning process depends on the nature and needs of the organization and the its immediate external environment. For example, planning should be carried out frequently in an organization whose products and services are in an industry that is changing rapidly . In this situation, planning might be carried out once or even twice a year and done in a very comprehensive and detailed fashion (that is, with attention to mission, vision, values, environmental scan, issues, goals, strategies, objectives, responsibilities, time lines, budgets, etc). On the other hand, if the organization has been around for many years and is in a fairly stable marketplace, then plann

Free College Essays - Identity in Their Eyes Were Watching God :: Their Eyes Were Watching God Essays

Identity in Their Eyes Were Watching God    In life everyone tries to find his true identity. For some it comes naturally.   For others, it might take years to find, or it might never be found at all. In the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston reveals a woman’s identity through her struggles in life, her treatment by society, and her thoughts on life. Janie is a young African American girl who grew up in a white life style. She believed she was related to the white man until she was around six. This impact changed Janie’s view on life. While she thought she was able to do things, the color of her skin held her back. This made her try harder to accomplish her goals. When her grandmother insisted that she marry Logan, she did not want to.   Even so, Janie married him to fulfill her grandmother’s dreams. Even though Janie did not love him, she struggled until she could not stand it, and finally ran away with Joe. â€Å"It had always been his wish and desire to be a big voice and he had to live nearly thirty years to find a chance.† (28) ***HOW DOES THIS QUOTE RELATE?*** While Janie was with Joe in Eaton Vile, she had a higher status then the rest of the town’s people. Janie tried to interact with them, but Joe would not let her. He thought of Janie as being better than all of them. This led to the way she was treated in society. All of the women in the town thought Janie had everything, but Janie did not. She wanted to be accepted as part of them. When Joe died, people in the town expected Janie to be mournful, so she put on an act for them. â€Å"She sent her face to Joe’s funeral, and herself went rollicking with the springtime across the world.† (88) After Joe’s death Janie continued to run the store. While working, she met Tea Cake, who showed her how to play checkers. â€Å"Somebody wanted her to play. Somebody thought it natural for her to play.† (96) This illustrates how he treated her as equal. Compared to the other two husbands in Janie’s life, Tea Cake was very progressive and open minded. Tea Cake taught her so much that she started to feel more independent. After Tea Cake’s death, Janie grieved on the inside so much that she did not care what people thought of her.

National Geographic: Mysteries Underground :: essays research papers

National Geographic: Mysteries Underground   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The video I reviewed was a National Geographic film called Mysteries Underground. This video was about extraordinary sites there are to see in underground caves. You traveled along with cave explorers and got to see all the beautiful untouched natural formations such as gypsum chandeliers, gnarled calcite columns, and jewel-like lakes. It showed and talked about all the careful proceders the cave explorers go through. It also talked about how the formations were made over such a long time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I learned many interesting things that would never seem possible. In the world's new most exotic ,Lechuguilla, cave there lied water so clean and clear that the cave explorers were forced to take all there clothes off before they swam acrossed it because the littlest dirt from any clothing would contaminate the pureness of the water. All the cave explorers are very cautious as to what they touch or where they step because some of the crystal formations are so fragile that the slightest vibration from a voice or a footstep could ruin millions of years of forming. In some parts of caves there are giant and very smooth ice formations that must be slid down very carefully because if they are not taken cautiously you will pick up to much speed while sliding and finally hit some kind of stone wall or something. One lady was not careful enough and boy did she pay. She was only a mile and a half or so in the cave and she broke her leg. It took almost five days to get who to the surface of the cave where she could be attended to. Also I found out that caves were much larger then I had originally thought. The largest cave now, Mammoth Cave, is over 200 miles long. And if you are exploring a cave being miles and miles from the entrance it is very important that you be careful because if you break your leg that far from the entrance it would probably take months to get you out safely. One safety precaution I learned was that when the explorers are traveling through cold water they must make sure they don't get their upperbody wet because that will cause them to freeze and get many sicknesses that are caused by the cold. One thing that I found interesting was that with the technology today you would think that we would have all the caves discovered and explored. We aren't close at all. In fact some caves have been being explored for years and there is still no end in sight.

Search for Freedom in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Song of So

Search for Freedom in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Song of Solomon, and Push       Many minority authors write about an individual's search for self which culminates in the realization of personal freedom. This has been an important theme in African-American literature beginning with the slave narratives to modern poetry and prose. The concept of freedom has a myriad of meanings which encompasses national political liberty to an individual's own personal freedom. Personal freedom is the ability to ignore societal and familial influences to find the true sense of self. Individuals are truly liberated when they are physically, mentally, and spiritually free. Sense of self is the enlightenment we possess when we psychologically realize and accept our true qualities and limitations. Attaining personal freedom is not a simple affair. It is a lifelong journey which is tedious and demanding with obstacles and setbacks which must be conquered. The search for personal freedom is exemplified in the following three novels, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Gi rl by Harriet Jacobs, Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, and Push by Sapphire. The main protagonists, Linda Brent, Milkman and Precious, respectively, achieve personal freedom through attainment of knowledge, by confronting their families, and by overcoming the prejudices of society. Moreover, although the search for personal freedom is an individual journey, it cannot be achieved without assistance.    Knowledge is a primary factor in the attainment of personal freedom. This includes not only scholarly education but also awareness of historical heritage and familial legacy. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., in his introduction to The Classic Slave Narrativ... ...Carmean, Karen, Toni Morrison's World of Fiction, Troy: The Whitston Publishing Company, 1993. Jacobs, Harriet. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Written by Herself. 1861. The Classic Slave Narratives. Ed. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.. New York: Mentor, 1987. 332-515. Morrison, Toni. Song of Solomon. New York: Plume, Peach, Norman. Modern Novelists Toni Morrison. Ed. Norman Page. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1995. Sapphire. Push. New York: Vintage Contemporaries, 1996. Storhoff, Gary. "'Anaconda Love': Parental Enmeshment in Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon." Style 31 No. 2 (Summer 1997). 290-309. September 18, 2001 <http.//p26688.cl.uh.edu:2071/cgi-bin/web>. Willbern, David. "Reading After Freud." Ed. G. Douglas Atkins and Laura Morrow. Contemporary Literary Theory. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 1989. 158-179.   

The Botany of Desire

America. He also explains how human manipulation of the plant has weakened it, so that â€Å"modern apples require more pesticide than any other food crop. † I think the most standing out argument in this chapter is John Chapman insisted planting the apples from seeds although the fruit will taste bitter rather than sweet. He wanted to preserve the apple's wildness. This phenomenon led to the apple wine is permeated in the most American families.However, some apple trees were planted by grafting buds onto young tree stalk to satisfy people's desire for sweetness. The intended audience of the book is people who study in biology and environmental, or anyone wish to learn about how to view the world by using a plant's eye and what is the role of plants in our lives. The author's purpose Is to inform the domestication of the apple and entertain people by using a plant's eye to view the world.In addition, the author persuade grower don't plant the apple only to satisfy the people's desire of sweetness because stripped of the genetic diversity plants rely on to survive disease, the relatively few popular apple varieties grown in monoculture have become increasingly vulnerable to Insects, bacteria and viruses. Furthermore, according to this chapter, â€Å"The next best world, though, Is the one that preserves the quality of wildness itself, It only because It Is upon wildness-of all This opinion Indicates the author don't support the artificial modify.However, he changes his tone. He thinks If there Is no civilization without wildness. He considers the complex relationships between human and natural. The author combines literary, historical, and scientific references to attract audience to ponder, Is the human domesticate nature or contrary. In Pollen's writing, he supports that man and nature will use of each other. The Botany of Desire By Laughing of plants in our lives. The author's purpose is to inform the domestication of the increasingly vulnerable to in sects, bacteria and viruses.Furthermore, according to this chapter, â€Å"The next best world, though, is the one that preserves the quality of wildness itself, it only because it is upon wildness-of all things†(Pollen). This opinion indicates the author don't support the artificial modify. However, he changes his tone. He thinks if there is no civilization without wildness. He considers the complex and scientific references to attract audience to ponder, is the human domesticate

Introduction to Distribution Management

Distribution Management Introduction to What do we mean by Logistics? †¢ Logistics concerns itself with the movement of the physical flow which begins with the source of supply and ends at the point of consumption. †¢ Logistics is also concerned with: †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Plant and warehouse location Inventory levels Production scheduling Materials management Storage Customer order processing Inwards and outwards freight and †¢ Distribution channels. History of warehouse In early writings, man was described as having stored excess food and kept animals for emergency surplus. †¢ As civilization developed, local warehouses were introduced. Merchandise was stored in connection with shipping, trading, and manufacturing activities. †¢ When transportation branched out from local to cross-country, warehouses became more than local storehouses. †¢ The warehouses were located in the center of the city, usually close to the railr oad depot and the wholesale market district. History of Warehouse As the demand for storage space increased and land value rose, multistory buildings were erected to provide more storage space on minimum amount of land. †¢ Technology has created a highly specialized discipline that allows warehouses to store more per square meter, move stock faster and more accurately, and to know where everything is located. Discussion Connections Form groups randomly to think about the following questions: †¢ Some people say warehouse is a evil because it is totally a cost-adding activity. Do you agree? Describe the roles of the refrigerator in your home. What is the implications for the understanding of the value of warehousing. Why have a warehouse? †¢ Supply chain imbalances The supply chain connecting manufacturing with end consumers will never be so well coordinated that warehousing will be completely eliminated. How to increase the flexibility of warehouse operations through p rocess design, system selection and justification, and layout configuration is what we will try to study in the whole course. Why have a warehouse? High speed – zero defect supply chains Supply chain integration will lead to reduced inventory holdings along supply pipeline. The accuracy and cycle time performance pressures in warehousing are immense. Warehouse in the Supply Chain Value adding warehousing Major Types: Raw materials and component warehouse Hold raw materials at or near the point of induction into a manufacturing or assembly process. Work in progress warehouse Hold partially completed assemblies and products at various points along an assembly or production line. Finished goods Hold inventory used to balance and buffer the variation between production schedules and demand. Located near the point of manufacture Full pallets in and full pallets out Value adding warehousing Distribution warehouse and DC Accumulate and consolidate products from various points of manufacture within a single firm, or from several firms, for combined shipment to common customers. Located central to either the production locations or the customer base. Fulfillment warehouse and fulfillment center Receive, pick and ship small orders for individual consumers. Value adding warehousing Local warehouse Distributed in the field in order to shorten transportation distances to permit rapid response to customer demand. Single items are picked, and the same item may be shipped to the customer every day. Value-added service warehouse Serve as the facility where key product customization activities are executed, including packaging,labeling, marking, pricing, and return processing. Value adding warehousing Generally, the value of warehousing lies in that having the right product in the right place at the right time. Thus, warehousing provides the time-and-place utility necessary for a company to prosper. Importance of Warehouse Costs †¢ Warehousing is expensive †¢ Between 2 and 5 % of the cost of sales †¢ ROI emphasis puts pressure on warehouse costs †¢ Customer service emphasis can increase costs †¢ Challenge to increase service levels at the same time as reduci ng costs †¢ Focus on Productivity Accuracy efficiency Discussion Connections †¢ Use some examples to explain the customer service in logistics area? †¢ Why we need to emphasize it? †¢ What will be the possible elements of distribution activity which affect customer service. Warehousing Environment †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ E-commerce Supply chain development and partnering Globalisation Quick response Just in time Rising labour costs Increasing SKU population Increasing technology choices Warehouse Requirements †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Execute more, smaller transactions Handle and store more items Provide more product & service customization Offer more value added services Process more returns Receive and ship more international orders Warehouse Limitations †¢ Less time to process orders †¢ Less margin for error – requirement for exacting accuracy levels †¢ Difficulties in finding suitable staff †¢ Warehouse management system (WMS) capability / fit to requirement problems, or justification for ROI The Bottom Line Warehouses / distribution centers play an increasingly important role in the success or failure of business enterprises. Warehouse master planning methodology Warehouse master planning methodology †¢ Investigating warehouse operations through warehouse activity profiling and warehouse performance benchmarking. †¢ Innovating, optimizing and simplifying warehouse operations in receiving and put-away, storage, order picking, shipping, and material flow. †¢ Implementing new warehousing designs in computerizing warehouse operations, and humanizing warehouse operations. World Class Warehousing Profile – orders, item activity, process, customer †¢ Benchmark – performance – practices – operating infrastructure †¢ Innovate – streamlining – eliminating unnecessary activities – better ways of doing activities †¢ Automate – computerize and mechanize †¢ Humanize – involvement of warehouse peopletreat people the way you would like to be treated Warehouse Activities Warehousing Activities †¢ Receiving Accurate and speedy receipt of all materials coming into the warehouse Order accuracy/quality confirmation Disbursing materials to storage or other destination – cross dock Warehousing Activities †¢ Pre-packaging Converting bulk receipts into smaller quantities Warehousing Activities †¢ Put Away Placing products/packages/unit loads into storage It includes: Materials handling Product placement Location verification Warehousing Activities †¢ Storage Physical containment of products until required Storage method depends on the size and quantity of the items in inventory and the handling characteristics of the product or its container. Warehousing Activities †¢ Order Picking Process of removing products from storage to meet a specific customer demand The essential basic warehouse function around which most warehouse designs are based High impact on customer satisfaction Warehousing Activities †¢ Packaging and/or pricing Optional process after the picking process Normal where mail/ courier delivery is involved Involves protective packaging Prepricing at manufacturer or receipt into the warehouse inevitably leads to some repricing activity as price lists are changed while merchandise sits in inventory. Warehousing Activities †¢ Sortation Consolidation of the order into a total customer delivery Occurs where consolidation is not completed during the picking operation Warehousing Activities †¢ Unitizing & Shipping Including the following tasks: Checking order for completeness Packaging into shipping containers/ unit loads Preparing shipping documents ,including packing lists, address labels, consignment notes and bills of lading Weighing to determine shipping charges Accumulating orders by outbound carrier Loading trucks or containers Learning Objective Basing on the current situations in Chinese market to : Have an understanding of the role and function of warehousing & distribution in the total integrated logistics process Have a basic knowledge of the process of designing warehouse facilities Know the equipment options and their uses for storage and materials handling Be aware of the customer service implications and the customer order processing options. Learning objective Understand the importance of standards & performance measurement, and the opportunities presented by distribution information and warehouse management systems. Appreciate the potential and importance of electronic data interchange and automatic identification to distribution operation Be aware of the importance of human relations management to warehousing & distribution and understand the process of selection, training, motivation and communication in the physical distribution environment.

How Do the Sacred Texts and Beliefs of Islam or Christianity Essay

How do the Sacred Texts and beliefs of Islam OR Christianity, inform a Religion that is relevant to contemporary adherents? In todays society, unlike many years ago religion is not seen as an important part of peoples lives. People are way to busy or so they think to be ‘wasting their time’ with religion, and church. But for those who do believe in a religion, especially those from the Islamic religion, they take part in a religion that was formed hundreds of years ago, still using and believing in the same scared texts and beliefs. Islamic environmental ethics are drawn from the 3 underpinning principle beliefs, that are the 3 central concepts of Islam and the pillars of Islamic environmental ethics. Tawhid a belief brought upon many many years ago, is the belief of Unity. It believes in the Unity and oneness of all created by Allah and that unity is reflected in the created world, thus the Tawhid demands that the integrity of the created world be maintained by balance and harmony. â€Å"The whole earth has been created a place of worship, pure and clean.– Hadith The Khalifa, belief in Stewardship, is the belief that Allah has made humans responsible for all creation and with this involves appropriate use of resources for human needs. â€Å"It is He that has made you custodians; inheritors of the earth. † (Qur’an Surah 6:165) Akrah is the belief of accountability, Muslims believe that they will be judged on how they have acted, and ones treatment of gods created world. The sources of ethic al teachings, and the relationship between humans and the universe is outlined in the Qur’an, Hadith and Shari’a. It is defined in Qur’an as based on meditation of the universe and what it contains, sustainable utilization and development for human benefit, care and nurture extended beyond humans to the benefit of created beings. The Hajj is an obligation which fulfils one of the five pillars of Islam required of a Muslim at least once in a lifetime for those financially and physically able â€Å"those who can make their way there†. It is a faithful submission to the will of Allah. And pilgrimage to the House is incumbent upon men for the sake of Allah† – Surah 3:96. Before embarking on this miraculous journey, pilgrims must redress all wrongs, organise funds for the journey and the family being left behind, and prepare themselves for good conduct during the Hajj. The Journey then goes for 5 full days, starting officially on the 8th day of Dhul-Hijjah. After completing the Hajj with all rites performed, pilgrims have earned the right to be called al-Hajj or al-Hajji. The Hajj expresses the beliefs of Islam through commemorating important religious events. These include Abraham and his son Ishmael built the Ka’ba, and established the rituals of the Hajj to reflect his life, Muhammad’s last sermon on Arafat, Jamra symbolises Abraham throwing stones at Satan who tried to dissuade him from sacrificing Isaac, and Nahr reflects Allah replacing Isaac with a sacrificial lamb. The Hajj reinforces fundamental islamic concepts with the Five Pillars of Faith. Shahada, the declaration of faith that there is no god but Allah and Muhammed is the messenger of Allah is expressed through the Hajj by Talbiya (a prayer that states the pilgrimage is only for the glory of Allah) and through Mount Arafat (the place of Muhammad’s last sermon, where all are closest to Allah) Salat, the 5 daily prayers is expressed through the Hajj as the Hajj is a period where pilgrims are directly communicating with Allah and Muslims are in actual proximity of the Ka’ba. Zakat, Almsgiving is shown through the Hajj as the meat sacrificed or money given for nahr is distributed amongst family, friends and the poor, it also shows the obligation of the wealthy to the poor and Ihram, which means that money and status are not a factor for pilgrims and that all are equal. Sawm, fasting is expressed through the Hajj as it is a time of prayer, meditation and asking for forgiveness, as well as the Sa’y as it re-enacts Hajar’s search for food; empathy for hunger. Al-Akhira is believed to be the world to come, Muslims believe in an afterlife where they will be held accountable for their lives (Akhra), they believe that by participating in the Hajj there is a greater prospect of reward in the afterlife. The Hajj is not only significant to the individual but also to the community. The Hajj is significant to the individual as the Hajj is an opportunity for Muslims to experience spiritual rebirth and develop a sense of consciousness in Allah. It is also opportunity to reassess and confirm their Islamic beliefs. The Hajj provides opportunity for the pilgrim to improve their spirituality through worship, hardship and salat. It focuses the individual on jihad; sacrificing time, skills, money and struggling against external evils. Enables the pilgrim’s renewal through cleansing from sin. â€Å"whoever performs the Hajj†¦ will come home like a newborn†. The Hajj reinforces Allah’s mercy and compassion as it exceeds His anger by forgiving the sins of the sinful creation by declaring an absolute pardon for every pilgrim upon completion of the accepted rituals of Hajj. The individual strengthens their relationship with Allah and gains a greater understanding of Islamic history and has a better prospect of reward in the afterlife. The Hajj is significant to the community as the Hajj is a sign of unity, equality and a sense of pride in the global umma as they pray together and are equal in the ihram garments. It brings together Muslims of all races to from a fellowship for such a significant practice in the Islamic faith, and the hajj acts as a universal reminder of the blessing of Allah on humanity of our diversity and the brotherhood to worship the one Allah. As the Hajj and Environmental ethics apply themselves with todays contemporary society, the beliefs and sacred texts are used to form ideas of how to look after the environment and why it is necessary to participate in the Hajj.

Bata Shoes Organization Essay

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE COMPANY The business that became the Bata Shoe Organization was established on August 24, 1894 in Zlin, Czechoslovakia by Tomas Bata, and included his brother Antonin and sister Anna. Although this business was new, the Bata name had been part of a tradition of shoemaking for eight generations, spanning three hundred years. It was one of the first modern day shoe ‘manufacturers’ , a team of snitchers and shoemakers creating footwear not just for the local town , but also for the distant retail merchants. This departure from the centuries old tradition of the one man cobbler’s workshop was a brand new  concept, creating an entirely new industry. The Bata enterprise revolutionized the treatment of employees and labor conditions. Tomas consistently maintained a human focus, creating opportunities for development and advancement, and added compensation for employees based on achievement. In late 1985. Antonin was drafted into the army for compulsory military service and lift family shoe business. Also that year, Anna left the company to marry, leaving a young Tomas to build the business on his own. By 1905 Tomas had taken the new enterprise to 2200 pairs of shoes per day , produced by 250 employees – utilizing resourceful imaginations , skilled hands and modern machinery to keep up with demand. Under this ‘manufacturing’ system, productivity was greater than even before. Bata shoes were excellent quality and available in more styles than had been offered before. Demand grew rapidly in the early 1900s. Despite material and manpower shortages, cartel and the outbreak of World War 1, sales continued to increase , reaching two million pairs per year by 1917. As the enterprise prospered, so did the communities where it operated, Tomas believed that a focus on people and public service was critical for business success. The enterprise built housing, schools and a hospital near the shoemaking plant in Zlin. It provided food and inexpensive rent during very difficult times; when there was no help to be found. Bata companies alter provided rail services, construction, insurance, publishing and tannery in Zlin. Following World War 1, consumer purchasing power was very low; Tomas and his employees devised a plan to adjust to post-war economic difficulties and reduced their shoe prices. Bata stores were flooded with buyers and industry cynics were forced to follow their lead. Already exporting to other European countries, Northern Africa and the USA, the enterprise began establishing new sales organizations in these markets during the 1920s. Companies were opened in Poland, Yugoslavia, Holland, Denmark, United Kingdom and the USA. By the early 1930s, the Bata enterprise and Czechoslovakia were the world’s leading footwear exporters. â€Å"The Bata System† devised by the Zlin team, and later applied in other Bata Show Organization companies, organized operations into autonomous workshops and departments, allowing employees to contribute ideas and stimulate production, and contributed significant breakthroughs in footwear technology. BATA INDIA Bata India Limited Bata India managing director Marcelo Villagran. Incorporated as Bata Shoe Company Private Limited in 1931, the company was set up initially as a small operation in Konnagar (near Calcutta) in1932. In January 1934, the foundation stone for the first building of Bata’s operation – now called the Bata. In the years that followed, the overall site was doubled in area. This township is popularly known as Batanagar. It was also the first manufacturing facility in the Indian shoe industry to receive the ISO: 9001 certification.The Company went public in 1973 when it changed its name to BataIndia Limited. Today, Bata India has established itself as India’s largest footwear retailer. Its retail network of 1250 stores gives it a reach/ coverage that no other footwear company can match. Thestores are present in good locations and can be found in all the metros, mini-metros and towns Bata’s smart looking new stores supported by a range of better quality products are aimed at offering a superior shopping experience to its customers. And the new face of Bata India is now visible to the industry as well as its customers. Today, backed by a brand perception of experience, the company is working towards positioning itself as a vibrant and contemporary young brand. It has significantly transformed its retail formats to become more lifestyle-oriented, which has helped change consumer perceptions to a large extent. Bata India – Today ï‚ ·Ã¯â‚¬  Sells over 45 million pairs of footwear every year ï‚ ·Ã¯â‚¬  Serves over 120,000 customers every day ï‚ ·Ã¯â‚¬  Sells through over 1200 retail stores ï‚ ·Ã¯â‚¬  Operates 5 manufacturing facilities ï‚ ·Ã¯â‚¬  Employs more than 6800 people BATA’S BUSINESS UNITS * Bata Europe, Lausanne * Bata Asia Pacific-Africa, Singapore * Bata Latin America, Mexico * Bata North America, Toronto Bata is one of the world leading footwear retailer and manufacturer with operations across 5 continents managed by 4 regional meaningful business units (MBUs). The MBU approach provides quality resources and support in key areas to the companies operating in similar markets such as product development, sourcing or marketing support. Each MBU is entrepreneurial in nature, and can quickly adapt to changes in the market place and seize potential growth opportunities. Bata’s strength lies in its worldwide presence. While local companies are self-governing, each one benefits from its link to the international organization for back-office systems, product innovations and sourcing. Although Bata operates in a wide variety of markets, climates and buying power Bata companies share the same leadership points. Two important ones are product concept development and constant improvement of business processes in order to offer customers great value and the best possible service. VISION To grow as a dynamic, innovative and market driven domestic manufacturer and distributor, with footwear as our core business, while maintaining a commitment to the country, culture and environment in which we operate MISSION To be successful as the most dynamic, flexible and market responsive organization, with footwear as its core business BATA BUSINESS Bata shoe Organization companies are involved in every face of the business of shoes. Throughout the world, Bata companies service customers from the store sales floor to the factory floor. PRODUCT RANGE Marie Claire * Hush Puppies * Power * Bubble Gummers * North Star * Scholl * Weinbrenner Product range starts of Bata 299-2499. Bata start range 299 to lowest range of school shoe and highest brands of power & other product. Bata product lowest to highest range available to market. Hush Puppies – Now in India Hush Puppies are a famous shoe brand of the USA. It is so famous and pioneering that it’s sometimes referred to as a legend. This brand is owned and operated as a division by the Wolverine†¦ Bata is worst shoe maker Bata is the people who make shoes for high prices but with low quality. i bought a pair of slippers from bata named â€Å"comfit† for Rs. 749/- on may 2007. it is not compfortable at all. The slipper is made†¦ Poor quality shoes I bought one pair of leather shoes from Bata, Cochin dealer near Padma junction one year before. The product was formal shoes with laces. The shoes cost INR 1499 for me. Bata is worst shoe maker Bata is the people who make shoes for high prices but with low quality. i bought a pair of slippers from bata named â€Å"comfit† for Rs. 749/- on may 2007. High Price Poorest Quality I just happened to buy Bata shoes a week back. The item I bought was obviously overpriced, but going by the name bata I bought it at 499. Within a weeks’ usage, the shoe sole was partially ripped off! .TRANSFORMATIONAL PROCESS VIZ INPUTS OUTPUTS AND PROCESS FOLLOWED IN CONVERSION. In order to handle the increasing complexity of distributed industrial manufacturing systems, there is a strong demand for methods and tools that  support the designer in the analysis and optimisation of flexible infrastructures for the automation of production processes. We are currently investigating how emerging standards and advanced simulation techniques can be exploited successfully in the production of custom made shoes. Nowadays, many different approaches, methodologies and computer aided design tools can be employed in the analysis and optimization of complex industrial systems. As a consequence, the selection of the most appropriate techniques and tools for a particular system is critical. Before making any final decision, it is necessary to investigate the functionalities offered, compliancy with existing standards, and capacity for interoperability with non-proprietary instruments. We are currently working on a methodological approach to the structured design and simulation-based analysis and optimisation of manufacturing plants. The methods and tools used during the different phases of the design are illustrated with reference to an application in the shoe manufacturing sector. In particular, we describe an innovative plant for the production of customized shoes. This plant is located at the ITIA-CNR laboratory in Vigevano (Italy) and constitutes the pilot plant of a large European research project called EUROShoe, which began in March 2001 and is scheduled to finish in June 2004. | Figure 1: The Innovative Shoe Manufacturing Plant | EURO Shoe is a complex and ambitious project with thirty-five academic and industrial partners from ten different European countries. It aims at a dramatic renovation of the concept of shoes as products and of their production, based on a transformation from mass-produced to mass-customised goods. This product evolution goes in parallel with a transformation of footwear companies into distributed and flexible enterprises capable of handling the complexity that such a radical change in the nature of the product implies and of mastering the associated new technological challenges. This implies a complete revision not only of the entire manufacturing process but also of the tools used to analyse and optimize the resulting innovative industrial system. For the sake of brevity, the methods and tools used for the design, analysis and optimization of the plant automation system are outlined with reference to the control and supervision  of the transport line. In the shoe manufacturing plant that we consider (Figure 1), an innovative transport line is used to move the semi-finished shoes from one machining station to another according to a predefined operating schedule. In particular, the innovative molecular structure of the transport line (Figure 2) strongly enhances the modularity, scalability, integrability and reconfigurability of the production system, thus increasing the overall flexibility of the plant. | | Figure 2: Layout of the Shoe Plant (left) and ISaGRAF Simulation Graphical Interface (right).| At the beginning of the design life cycle, the control and supervision system of the transport line was specified by means of UML (Unified Modelling Language) diagrams; in particular use-case, class, sequence and state diagrams were used to specify the systems modules, their relationships and their dynamic behaviour. The system architecture and functions were designed using the Function Block formalism defined by the IEC 61499 standard, which integrates object-oriented concepts and discrete event models to suitably support control software design. The functional model obtained was analysed and optimized by means of closed-loop discrete event simulations performed in the Simulink/Stateflow environment, where both the controller and the controlled process were modeled and simulated through state charts, as was the behaviour of the overall system. In this way, the correctness and performance o f the solution proposed could be evaluated. In particular, a bottom up methodology was defined and exploited to study the system according to a modular approach. This enabled us to simplify the overall analysis process, to verify the correctness of the automation functionalities easily and to optimize the system performance from the very first phases of the design life cycle. Once the functional modules had been verified, the control and supervision algorithms were developed using the SFC (Sequential Functional Chart) formalism, which is an advanced discrete event modelling graphical language, directly derived from Petri nets, and included in the IEC 61131 part 3 standard, which defines programming languages for industrial PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers). The SFC algorithms were analysed through closed loop discrete simulations in the ISaGRAF environment in order to verify their correctness and to optimize their performance. ISaGRAF is a CACSD (Computer Aided Control System Design)  tool that allows the automation soft ware to be structured using all five IEC 61131 languages and supports simulation functionalities for testing purposes, as well as automatic code generation facilities for different industrial systems. In order to perform the closed loop simulations, simplified models of the plant devices have been represented in ISaGRAF by means of suitable SFC modules and data structures. Moreover, to simplify the analysis of the simulation results, a simple 2D graphic animation was realized in ISaGRAF (Figure 2). Simulations have been performed by considering typical operating conditions, ie, typical production orders, and the results obtained show that the system is deadlock free and that the plant is well balanced, ie its resources are all used effectively. After verification and optimization of the automation functions and algorithms, the corresponding code was generated and implemented on the target industrial devices. We found that the simulation-based analysis techniques reduced the plant rump-up times and costs and improved overall system performance. Future work will concern the exploitation of the standards, methods and tools proposed for other industrial plants and their integration within an advanced CACSD tool for manufacturing systems MANUFACTURING Tomas Bata’s revolutionary business concept was to industrialize the shoemaking process of that day. That type of thinking has been the driving force behind the Bata Shoe Organization success. The Bata Shoe Organization has been as innovator in the manufacturing of shoes over the years. Bata personnel have made important advances in DVP (Direct Vulcanization Process), PVC, athletic footwear production and slush – molded footwear production. 1. Raw Material Stock The raw material which includes the chemicals used for making cement adhesive,rubber latex and sole (both inner and outer),cloth(bought from Bombay Dyeing) used for making upper, material used for making binding,thread and the packing cartons etc. are stocked in the warehouse. Inventory of all the above items is properly maintained with the help of a ‘Material stock position’ chart made on the walls of the warehouse and a  computerized inventory Database. Every department has been allocated a maximum stock limit beyond which they cannot store the raw materials for themselves. It has to be used as frequently as possible. Every fortnight, the stock and usage is reviewed. The transmission of raw material from stock warehouse to respective departments is recorded and same is done with the transmission between various departments. All this data is readily available for review to all departments and can be checked anytime. Cement And Latex Manufacturing: The cement adhesive and rubber latex are the main chemicals used to paste together the different part of a shoe, are manufactured in the plant itself. Both these materials are produced keeping in mind the exact requirements and also the correct specification, which is the right mix of chemicals to make it the best pasting element and get the desired quality. 1. Sole Pull Manufacturing: The inner and outer shoe required in the shoe are also produced in-house. Huge rubber sheets measuring 3ft.x2ft. having a thickness of approx. 2 cms. are first heated to high temperature and then placed in a curing chamber for 8 minutes where they are again processed at high temperature of around 170oC. At such a high temperature the sheets expand and then sent for vulcanization where it is processed for 3 hrs. to set the shrinking limit of rubber. These sheets can be cut only after two weeks of vulcanization. This is known as seating process. 2. Making Binding: A binding is required on the outer of the shoe to bind the edges of cloth upper. This binding material is also made within the plant, using cloth. It is machne stitched onto the cloth upper. 3. Folding, Cutting And Stamping: The cloth that forms the shoe upper is produced from Bombay Dyeing. It is first folded into huge lots and then cut into pieces of uniform sizes according to the different size lots.These cloth pieces are then stamped with what may be called a batch number and the shoe size. An example of a  batch number may be â€Å"F-3218422†. In this code, F represents plant code of the Faridabad factory, 321 is the code of the particular workstation and assembly line, 8 represents the year of manufacturing, 42 the week and 2 signifies the day of the week in which production has been done.This stamping particularly helps if there is a defect found out in the shoe after sale. After stamping is done ,the upper is sent for stitiching. 4. Stitching : The cloth received after stamping is set for stitching and making it into a proper upper of the shoe. The stitching process starts with folding of the piece and stitching it in a particular fashion to give the shape of an upper. Next, it is sent for stitching the binding onto the edges of the sgoe. After the binding on the edges has been done, the shoe is transferred further where lace holes and flips used under that are stitched onto the upper. The last step in the stitching process is to put laces into the shoe, which is done by hands. The upper of the shoe is now ready to sent for assembling process. 5. Assembly: The assembly process uses a dual level conveyor belt as can be seen in the picture. A fact worth noting is that the conveyer does not have a linear arrangement of workstations; rather it is an ellipsoidal conveyer with different workstations positioned all around it. At first glance, it is not easy to comprehend as to wherefrom where the process begins. However ,a closer look reveals that fully assembled shoes are hand picked away from the conveyer at one particular point on the conveyer. Despite it unconventional designe, it is a very well organized and systematic assembly line configuration where none of the employee sit idle at any point of time , thus minimizing idle time losses. There is a parallel conveyer which basically consists of many metal shoe moulds onto which the entire shoe assembly is built. The shoe building process starts at one when one person applies cement on the inner sole and places it on the conveyer belt. The next person then applies  cement of edges of the upper of the shoe and again puts back the piece onto the conveyer, next,the inner sole is put on the upper part of the Mould and the cloth is pasted on the sole to get the exact shape of the shoe. Now ,when the shape is achieved ,the shoe is dipped into latex so that the latex covers the lower side of the shoe. It is then placed in a drying chamber to dry the latex where in the temperature is around 70oC. Once latex is dried and the shoe is taken out of chamber . It is again placed on the conveyor and the next person puts the outer sole(coated with cement) on the conveyor as well. The sole is then pasted on to the shoe tightly and pressed by a large bag containing water. This water filled bag is a part of the conveyor only and water is used to prevent the formation of air bubbles, which may leads to manufacturing defects. The person sitting next checks once again that there is no gap in the pasting. The side fixing is then pasted on the dried latex and the shoe moves on. The next employee pastes the Bata logo on the back of the shoe and also press the side foxing. On the next station, the toe guards, both side strips as well as circular one, are available to the employee. Coated with cement . Both of these are pasted on the shoe. The shoe is now prepared to be vulcanized and hence is transferred by the last worker on the conveyor , from the conveyor to the conveyor trolly. Introduction : Facility Layout means planning: a.For the location of all machine, utilities, employee work stations customer. service areas, material storage areas, aisles, restrooms, lunchrooms, internet walls, offices and computer rooms. b. For the flow of patterns of materials and people around, into, and within building. C .Infrastructure services such as the delivery of line communications, energy and water and the removal of waste water all make up basic utilities. Characteristic of facility layout decision: a.Location of these various areas impacts the flow through the system. b.The layout can affect productivity and costs generated by the system. c.Layout alternatives are limited by d.the amount and type of space required for the various areas. e.the amount and type of space available. F.the operations strategy. Objective of layout Strategy: Develop an economic layout which will meet the requirements of: a.Product design and volume (product strategy) b.Process equipment and capacity (process strategy) c.Quality of work life (human resource strategy) d.Building and site constraints (location strategy) Basic layout forms: a.Process Layout b.Product Layout c.Combination Layout d.Fixed position Layout Fixed-Position layout In fixed-position layouts, the item being worked on remains stationary, and workers, materials, and equipment are moved as needed. Fixed-position layouts are widely used for farming, firefighting, road building, home building, remodeling and repair, and drilling for oil,buildings, ships, aircrafts. Factors in Determining Layout and Design: Small business owners need to consider many operational factors when building or renovating a facility for maximum layout effectiveness. These criteria include the following: 1.Ease of future expansion or change Facilities should be designed so that can be easily expanded or adjusted to meet changing production needs. â€Å"Although redesigning a facility is a major, expensive undertaking not to be done lightly, there is always the possibility that a redesign will be necessary. Therefore, any design should be flexible. « Flexible manufacturing systems most often are highly automated facilities having intermediate-volume production of a variety of products. Their goal is to minimize change over or setup times for producing the different products while still achieving close to assembly line (single-product) production rates.† 2.Flow of movement The facility design should reflect a recognition of the importance of smooth process flow. In the case of factory facilities, the plan will show the raw materials entering your plant at one end and the finished product emerging at the other. The flow need not be a straight line. Parallel flows, U-shaped patterns, or even a zig-zag that ends up with the finished product back at the shipping and receiving bays can be functional. However, backtracking is to be avoided in whatever pattern is chosen. When parts and materials move against or across the overall flow, personnel and paper work become confused, parts become lost, and the attainment of coordination becomes complicated.† 3.Materials handling Small business owners should make certain that the facility layout makes it possible to handle materials (products, equipment, containers, etc.) In an orderly, efficient ²and preferably simple manner. FACILITY LOCATION Contact Person. Address, Bata House – 418/02, Gurgaon Mahrauli Road, Sector 17. Gurgaon 122002. Haryana. City, Gurgaon. State, Haryana. Phone, 124 4120100 1.Bata Nagar Factory Batanagar, WestBengal 2. Rubber Purchasing Dept. Kottayam, Kerala Rubber purchase and processing. 3. Bataganj Factory Bataganj,Patna Bihar Complete Manufacturing 4. Bata Tannery Mokamehghat, Bihar Leather Processing 5 . Faridabad Factory NIT, Faridabad UP Complete Manufacturing 6. Sandak Division Shivaji Marg, Sandak Sandak Footware. PRODUCTION PLAANING SYSTEM VIZ CAPASITY PLANNING, OPERATION MANAGEMENT SHEDULING ETC. PRODUCT PLANNING SYSTEM. They select their product designs according to their customer needs. And they are continuously bringing changes as the customers’ demands for new products. They are using the latest equipment and machinery to meet the customers demand and to provide them the product they need. | | Bata Production Division is going extra miles to meet ever growing production requirements of PU direct pouring and other footwear to cater the needs of our worthy customers. During the current season, the overall production is going 120% against estimates and 130% against last year. Similarly in the area of PU direct pouring, 123% production has been achieved against the estimates and 204% against last year. This milestone in production has been a result of restructuring of Maraka and Rubber Factories. A better production planning, maximum utilization of human resources and teamwork – all have been put together strategically to achieve competitive advantage in â€Å"Bata† products over the competition in the area of quality, prices and sales appeal PROCESS OF PLANING OPERATION SYSTEM, Their process consists of three parts. * Manufacturing In manufacturing are, all the raw materials are brought together and the raw material is cut into the shapes of the required products. All the pieces are cut here for the specific products. * Stitching The cut pieces of raw material are stitched here together to give the shape of the shoe. The sole is also attached to the upper portion of the shoe and all the pieces are joined together to give it the shape of shoe. * Finishing The product is then moved to finishing department where the rough look of shoe is converted in to a finished product. The shoe is polished, cleaned and all the unwanted materials are removed from it to give it a proper shape. The color and shine of the shoes are finalized here and the product coming out of this department is ready for use. * Retrenchment (Firing) As we know that Bata is a biggest firm around us and they hire the person who have the skills and ability to do work for a long time .They mainly fire people on the serious reach of agreement, misconduct, punctuality and upon not achieving their given targets and once the management has decided to fire a person they give one month prior notice to the respective employee and once the employee is fired can never be hired again. Moreover they do not conduct any exit interview. They do not believe in extending the outplacement facility to their employees. QUALITY SYSTEM, An important choice A choice of more than 3,000 items: footwear, clothing, bags and accessories, for men, women, children and sports. A very personal service Their professional specialized staff is there to help you make the best choice Product presentation All the items are clearly marked with the price, size and description of the materials used to make the product, thus saving you time and making your choice easier. Your purchase is guaranteed You have the guarantee to replace the purchased item if it is still intact and accompanied by the till receipt. INVENTORY MANAGEMENT Subject matter expert and course leader, Jean-Paul Waisman from the European Group with the support of Vladimir Spelda from Central Europe and Alain Groelly from Switzerland facilitated the Euro Fast Track Merchandising module in Italy from June 3rd to 15th. 14 European participants took part in the training. The course objectives were as follows: ~To learn the â€Å"Best Merchandising Practices† in the Bata Europe Group ~To better understand the role and function of the Merchandising Department in the company ~To develop and improve skills in shoe line building ~To understand, create and utilize the Consumer Lifestyles Segmentations ~To introduce analytical tools and techniques to perform in-season and end-season analysis in order to better manage inventory ~To introduce a disciplined, standardized methodology and process to the Bata Europe’s merchandising function in order to align business performance to benchmarks The participants worked through various major business areas including: ~Analyzing the market place and all the competition ~Understanding the need for market segmentation to better identify customers’ requirements ~Building a shoeline with core and additional collections to better meet store portfolio requirements ~Planning the merchandise allocation to the stores in such a manner that stores can achieve their sales objectives ~Using various analytical techniques to optimize sales and inventory management, and to maximize profitability A professor from the Ars Sutoria University in Milan explained in detail the various shoe construction types and material including tips to recognize a â€Å"quality shoe†. The group visited stores in Venice and made a competitive market place analysis including business cases as to how to improve Bata store performance, visual display and other areas of the business. The Euro Fast Track – Merchandising Module was very successful and participants were very enthusiastic as they participated in many practical exercises including a negotiation workshop. They also had the opportunity to share their experiences with many colleagues from other BSO companies across Europe. SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT Bata is using its raw materials from his different suppliers. Some of the suppliers are local while some are from Indonesia. Along with their own production, they are also out sourcing for some of their products. They are keeping a check on the quality of the products from outsourcing and using their own brand name. The raw material coming from their suppliers are stored in the warehouses. These raw materials are then moved to the production area, where the production is being done and the finished good are moved towards warehouse again for storage after proper quality inspection. They are their own distributers and they have their own stores all over INDIA. They have four types of store concepts. * City Store The Bata City Store gives you unique shopping experience as it showcases the latest collections for footwear of local and international brands. The store ambience is designed to create a lifestyle store that reflects and responds to your needs and expectations. The Bata City stores are located in top shopping malls in big city centers. * Family store Bata is the world’s leading family chain thanks to the wide assortment of every fashion footwear available in our stores. The products are primarily  the Bata brand, with a carefully selected assortment of articles from both local and international brands. * Superstore Bata Superstore offers a wide assortment of fashion, casual and athletic for the entire family. Located primarily in urban and suburban shopping center, these spacious stores offer the best value by providing good quality shoes at great prices. Service is fast thanks to a self-selection shopping environment with qualified staff to serve and assist. * Factory store Factory stores are the largest and the most value-oriented stores of our retail chain. They are ideally located in power centers, commercial parks and outlet centers with easy parking facilities. The product selection offers more than 1,000 styles of ladies, men, children and sport shoes with related accessories and apparel sold at attractive price points. It is based on a self-service concept with helpful staff available for service at any time. It appears to me that Bata was very far in the direction of micro managing. I do not believe he would have been much fun to work for. But it would have been a rewarding experience, not just from the point of view of finances, but rather like having a very demanding teacher. You do not enjoy the experience at the time but you look back on the experience with a certain fondness. You realize that you grew under the stress; that you were stretched and it was good for you. Bata tried to make the need for such micro-management less by the way he developed his system for setting pay and rewards. He said: â€Å"I was seeking a method which would work automatically as the sun rises and the sun sets.† He wanted to wind the company up and then let it run without his attention. In this system, every work unit was engaged in ‘buying’ and ‘selling’ goods and services to and from other work units. The prices were established by a central accounting office and were not negotiable. The ‘customer’ for the  product or service dictated the quality and schedule. Naturally the setting of these prices was subjected to considerable discussion and debate. However, all of the facts and figures used in setting the prices were available to the work unit so they had a basis for their side of the debate. The prices were set with due regard for prices of similar products which might be available on the open market. Work units were not constrained to buy only from within the company. What made the Bata system different from other methods of cost accounting was the agreement that if the workers could devise an improved method, which reduced waste, improved times of delivery and produced a profit beyond expectations, the workers could share in this profit. In other words, Bata produced a system which encouraged each work unit to become more entrepreneurial. Bata had a larger purpose. He intended for each worker to become much more conscious of the economics of the factory, to relate the results of the enterprise to his own fortunes and to become a more responsible guardian of wealth. For Bata the system of internal transacting was more than a way to run the company; it was a way to train people to become fiscally responsible in their own lives. BIBLOGRAPHY http://www. Bata.com www.product range.com http://www.bata manufacturing process. www.consumercomplaints.in/ MORE FREE TERM PAPERS ON SITE: www.BesplatniSeminarskiRadovi.com