Supplier Relationship Management In Todays Increasing Economic Environment Business Essay - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 17 Words: 5083 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Economics Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? Abstract In todays increasing economic environment, organisations are looking for new techniques to improve their competitive advantage. The focus of my research is in the area of purchasing which have now become a strategic function and a key reason in positioning competitively among all other competitors. The paper discusses that in recent years, the relationships between buyers and suppliers have been continuously receiving a considerable attention for effective operations within organisations. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Supplier Relationship Management In Todays Increasing Economic Environment Business Essay" essay for you Create order Traditionally, supplier-buyer relationships were regarded as adversarial, arms length transactions. However, the approach towards managing this relationship is changing and moving towards a more collaborative approach due to the fact that now suppliers are important sources to gain competitive advantage to operate in global markets in terms of their expertise, knowledge and ability of sharing risks. [Research paper Journal] The research aims to provide an understanding of supplier relationship management, factors of supplier evaluation and selection process, and the elements that contribute to the establishment of a productive customer/vendor relationships. Such a study is important for buyers to build and maintain effective relationships with their suppliers for consistent cost reductions while working together to mutually create revenues and other benefits. The paper recommends that this information may work as a reference guideline for buyers when initiating cooperative rel ationships with their supply sources resulting in advanced purchasing and strategic supply chain management in their organisation. The research method adopted in this dissertation is secondary exploring various business journals, business websites, textbooks and articles. Due to continuous new product developments, product innovations and increase in costs, managing supplier relationships will further become crucial in the near future. Due to this reason, therefore, this paper discusses the requirement of supplier relationships and how this shift in organisational strategy towards building relations has and will going to change the employees role, companys processes and organisational goals. The findings from this research provides an evidence of how companies have improved their supply chain operations through understanding the importance to develop effective supplier relationships as part of their core business activity for not only to achieve success within procurement depa rtment but also to successfully complete other supply chain cycle such as maintaining production flow at all times, planning accurately, inventory handling, logistical issues and achieving financial benefits. Examples included findings from large organisations of Hong Kong, Rolls Royce, GE, and Japanese firm Toyota. The main conclusion that can be drawn from this research is that every organisation must emphasise the need to actually develop world class suppliers that helps in building long-term relationships, reduction in costs, improved QCDS (quality, cost, delivery and service) criteria, improved customer service, mutual information sharing, reducing the NPI (new product inspection) costs and becoming world class organisation in the market. Introduction Nowadays, the majority of Organisations believe that their companys real assets are embedded in the quality of the relationships shared between the business and their stakeholders such as clients or customers, employees and suppliers. Developing and managing supplier relationship will be the main subject throughout this project. The objective of this research is to investigate the importance of the need to focus more on building collaborative relationships with their strategic suppliers by large manufacturing companies. With increase in globalisation and restructuring of several organisations, procurements role has changed focusing more towards costs, quality, flexibility and technology. [Herbig and OHara, 1995; Goh and Lau, 1999] In the previous years (traditionally), purchasing was considered as a secretarial function in which the buyer-supplier relationships were viewed as being adversarial and unsurprisingly results in a win/lose outcome. Before, business operations from manufacturing to assembling the finished goods were prepared in-house but now many organisations have moved towards a more combined approach where manufacturing firms have started concentrating more on their core competencies only and rest outsourcing nationally and internationally to satisfy their customer expectations. Organisations are going lean i.e. working towards continuous improvement, adopting just-in time and total quality management and eliminating wastes. This highlighted the requirement for most of the lean organisations to grow cooperative supplier-buyer relationships to achieve real productivity, improved design and quality that are unattainable unless the supplying partners assist in product innovation. Hence, several manufacturers have recognized their ability to become world class competitors based on establishing high levels of trust and cooperation among their suppliers. [They and Briggs (1994)] For example, highlighting the case of Rolls Royce, the engine manufacturer, that outsources 70% of their material from external supply chain and thats the reason Rolls Royce try to encourage their suppliers to work openly and jointly contributing to their performance. Rolls Royce belief in building good supplier relationships assures quality and competitiveness to their product offerings and helps to achieve customer standards. The growing face of domestic and global competition has led to understand the manufacturing companies to practise global sourcing which is a strategy to improve companies competitiveness in the international market through reducing costs, improving quality, increased exposure to universal technology, and improving delivery and reliability. A connection or association is known as a relationship. Relationships are said to be when individuals, organisations and internal or external groups to an enterprise interact. At recent times, relationship marketing describes long-term marketing strategy that emphasise on buildi ng and maintaining long-term relationships with customers rather than just focusing on one-time sale approach. At business level, relationship marketing is applied to variety of purchasing supplier relationships in the context of a broader network of interconnected purchasing, supplier and competitor organisations. Supplier relationship is defined as a systematic approach to supplier evaluation, selection and ongoing relationship management with the goal of cutting the costs of goods and services boosting profits. Supplier relationship management is a proactive approach of an ongoing business links to secure a competitive advantage within the organisation, focusing more on overall relationships between the supplier and the customer (buying organisation) rather than focusing on specific contracts. The idea is to develop trust and understanding of each others requirements and interests while providing assistance to each other. For example, Rolls Royce sends their experts to th eir sub-contract suppliers to improve their technology and performance standards. Such relationships bring profit and provide competitive advantage. [https://www.ogc.gov.uk/process_supplier_performance_and_contract_management_6368.asp] Today, most of the companies have realised that doing business jointly with their strategic suppliers will enhance their organisational ability to respond quickly to demand changes, focus on core business only and hence, results in implementing best practises. For example, Rolls Royce believes their supplier make very essential contribution to their business performance as over 70% of their manufacturing costs comes from external supply sources. focus more on their core competencies such as encouraging suppliers to work with transparency, openly and together to enhance continuous improvements. rather than Small to Medium size Enterprises and many local businesses use Transactional Purchasing whereas Large Enterprises use Relationship Purch asing to compete strongly in this economic climate. Transactional Purchasing Relationship purchasing Focus on short, discrete purchasing Focus on supplier retention Short-term orientation Long-term orientation Arms length Closeness Simple buyer-seller relationship Complicated, including internal relationships Emphasis on price, quality and delivery in the offered product No Innovation Emphasis on price, quality, delivery other factors, like innovative design as a collaborative exercise b/w purchaser and supplier Moderate supplier contacts High level of supplier contact with each contact being used to gain information strengthen the relationship Little sharing of information Significant sharing of information, including cost information and transparency Introducing Supply chain management The project is focused on process for choosing world class suppliers, importance of building supplier relationships, various supplier development approaches and process of negotiation required in purchasing that plays a vital role in todays supply chain management. Explaining what is supply chain management and its various elements that are necessary for the movement of goods and services within the business. Supply chain management consists of the intra and inter-organisational co-ordination of business functions that act as both transformative and support functions. This emphasises managing supply chain effectively must be a key activity within the businesses. [Mentzer et al. (2001)] Supply chain combines flow of materials, goods, and information (includes money) that floats within and between organisations linking with a variety of tangible and intangible facilitators, e.g. relationships, processes, activities and integrated information systems. Different views of supply chains are implemented in terms of a process when operations are emphasised, a logistical channel when emphasises marketing, a value chain whey looking at value added activities, and a demand chain when considering customer satisfaction. [Peck H. (2006)] Key elements of supply chain The key elements of supply chain are that links with each other by the movement of products. The following explains that supply chain starts and ends with the customer: [https://logistics.about.com/od/supplychainintroduction/a/into_scm.htm] Customer This is the customer that starts the value chain by deciding to make a purchase of a particular product for example, in an aviation industry procuring turbine blades or a fan shaft which is offered for sale by an organisation. At this stage, the customer contacts the sales team and places purchase order with a right quantity and delivered on a right date. If in case, this product needs manufacturing then the purchase order includes a requirement that must be fulfilling by the production facility. Planning The requirement for planning occurs when customers purchase order is received and processed with other existing orders. Production plans are created by the planning department to generate products to accomplish the customers order. If manufacturing requires, then raw materials are purchased to complete the process. Purchasing The list of materials e.g. raw materials and services is obtained which is required by the production department to complete the purchase o rder. Then purchasing team issues purchase orders to procure raw material from selected suppliers on their manufacturing site on a requisite date. Inventory The raw materials that are received from suppliers are checked for quality and moved into the warehouse. The invoice is received for the parts that are delivered by the supplier and then materials are stored until there is a demand from a production area. Production According to the production plan, the raw materials from the inventory are moved into the production area where product manufacturing takes place and creates the finished product. Once the parts are completed, they are again sent back to the warehouse and stored prior to delivery to the ultimate customer. Transportation Logistics department then finds the most efficient shipping method in order to achieve on-time delivery at the right date mentioned by the customer. After goods are received by the customer, an invoice is sent by the organisation (supplier ) for delivered products. Outlining Case study: GE-Aviation In this project, there will be discussion on relationship purchasing within aviation industry considering GE Aviation as a case study. Suggesting methods of procurement and ways of maintaining GEs existing and new relationships with suppliers. On-line procurement is one of the major processes that I will be focusing in my project which GE adopts within their business that not only reduces the cost and saves time but also provides the right amount of communication with its suppliers at the right time. For example, GE-Aviation has its own department for RB211 jumbo jet engine where there are teams responsible for engineering, operations, purchasing and billing. The engine gets repaired and maintained on site. For RB211 engine type, GEs biggest supplier is Rolls Royce who is the OEMs and can provide material many times. Using SAP software within the whole organisation saves a huge amount of time for purchasing transactions and also makes easy for GE purchasing team to analyse de mand raised and provide forecasting to their suppliers for each product by just looking into the system and working through its historical past. GE uses Relationship Purchasing in which they believe to maximise their revenue it is very important to have good supplier relationships. Some of the key approaches/strategies required before working towards building relationships are as follows: Selecting a world class supplier Companies that outsources internationally their materials opens the opportunity to identify potential suppliers, evaluate and reasonably short list them that result with the best supplier. This is considered as one of the most important process to perform by the procurement team that aims to choose the best supplier that ensures reliable supplies with low risk involved and maximises the overall value to the buyer. The following are the seven key steps involved in supplier evaluation and selection process: (Fig 7.5 Supplier evaluation and selection process [pg 163]) Recognise the need for supplier selection The first step is to recognise the actual need for selection of supplier. Purchasing team must work with new product development department in order to recognise future buying behaviours. Purchasing groups proactively select suppliers and anticipate demands rather than wait until a demand rises. The process to start this evaluation arises due to the following scenarios: Through new product development Poor performance received from existing internal and external suppliers Closure of the contract Procuring new tools and equipments Thinking to expand business into new markets or products Due to inadequate capacity of existing suppliers Throughout outsourcing and re-engineering analyses Deciding to reduce the size of the supply base Identifying the main sourcing requirements All the way through evaluation process, procurement team must keep an eye on what they are intended to do. Acquiring materials is not just important but also focus to meet specific requirements set by the other internal customer and indirectly by other supply chain members. For example, an aviation company like GE that makes engines has to buy all the machinery and spare parts along with buyers taking care to ensure a perfect quality products are delivered on time. Establishing sourcing strategy Developing purchasing strategies results in long term alliances that buyers look each time to compete in todays growing competition. Several vital strategic decisions that affect the selection of suppliers are: Picking single or multiple suppliers Creating short-term or long-term contracts Suppliers wish to develop working partnerships rather than arms length relations Working with suppliers that can provide support with product designs rather than those who cannot modify designs Having choice of local, domestic, foreign or global suppliers Therefore, sourcing strategies and policies must be carefully re-evaluated during supplier selection as requirements changes frequently in shorter times because of changing market conditions, changing consumer preferences and accustomed corporate goals. Identifying potential suppliers This stage identifies a list of suppliers that can actually have the capability to deliver of what is required by the customer. Buyers can use various numbers of sources to develop the preliminary list of supply sources by a quick search of company websites as well as long and detailed search for companies that can support with design and make specialised products. A rule of thumb must take place to determine the effort to be used into supplier selection by comparing the existing suppliers efficiency and strategic importance of an item because too much effort and expensive resources are wasted; too little effort and potential suppliers might be missed in this initial search criteria. Following are the sources of information widely-used to identify potential suppliers: Current suppliers Using existing suppliers who are already on the preferred list which are consistently meeting buyers requirements that reduces the purchasers time and effort in evaluation of supplier capabilitie s. But at the same time, existing supplier may not always provide the world class long term results and that is the reason why organisations scan information continuously to recognize potential new sources. Sales representatives and agents Marketing information received from these individuals can become a valuable source of information for new product offerings. Buyers keep this information in their file for future reference even if there is no urgent requirement for a supplier service. Internet searches Nowadays suppliers launch customer websites as part of their marketing approach and help the buyers with detailed information from a simple search of possible suppliers. Various other websites can also help in discovering and assessing important information like reviews, comparisons, comments, analyses and case studies of potential suppliers. Experience Experienced individuals working within purchasing team generally carries a wide knowledge about various capable supplie rs as experienced buyers have already worked in a particular industry for many years and familiar with the main suppliers and their features. Internal sources Operating different business units within large organisations, each may have their own procurement department. Therefore, other units in the same organisation becomes a valuable source of information exchange to buyers through informal meetings, formal team sessions, an internal database, purchasing newsletters, etc. Limit suppliers in the selection pool At this stage, the procurement team must consolidate and analyse the information gathered on potential supply sources that helps them to make informed decisions. Getting a long list of suppliers is just the initial task but buyers then have to eliminate the weakest suppliers until they attain the strong shortlist. Therefore, the final supplier is then selected from this list. The following are the entry qualifiers features that influence buyers final decision [Howard (1998)]: Financial strength Appropriate business strategy Strong supportive management Proven manufacturing capability Design capability There are also many reasons that influence buyers decision to procure material on the following basis: Buying directly from the original manufacturer or distributor Original equipment manufacturers mostly offer lower prices that avoid the costs of wholesalers and retailers along with profit margins. The final choice must be considered on the basis of four factors including the size of the purchase, the manufacturers policies of direct sales, availability of storage at buyers facility, and the required additional services. Local, national, international and global suppliers Choosing international suppliers are more favourable as they usually offers the best price along with technical support but these have to be balanced by higher shipping costs, stocks, communication problems and common risks involved. Also, choosing local suppliers are considered more responsive to fluctuating demands, small deliveries and regular changes in purchase orders using Just-in-time method that not only supports local suppliers and allows the buyers to enhance local economy but also helps in building community goodwill. Large or small suppliers Usually buyers focus on suppliers capability to do the work rather than selecting on the basis of its size. But a buyer must keep in mind the unexpected increase in demands that can only be dealt by larger firms providing extra capacity to overcome these fluctuations. At the same time, in order to create a diversified supply base, buyers intentionally deal with smaller suppliers. Multiple or single sourcing When there are numerous different suppliers available then it becomes very difficult to make a decision of how many to use? Most of the organisations have chosen a trend to reduce the supply base that will benefit them accordingly. Determining method to select supplier This is the last stage where buyers are left with four to five suppliers in their shortlist and decide to evaluate these remaining organisations by looking at the alternatives in more detail for example, using supplier-provided information, supplier/customer visits, preferred list of suppliers and third-party information. Supplier-provided information Detailed information can be acquired through requesting price quotations. Information received from quotations are then used to understand the product description and supply which is then followed by another requests of a detailed cost breakdown of the price quoted by suppliers initially that must include the costs of labour, materials, overheads and profit as buyers also require operational details to finally evaluate them. Supplier visits One of the most efficient ways of getting an overall view of suppliers capabilities and performance is to visit suppliers facilities by a cross-functional team. Generally, these visits are expensive and time consuming so a buyer must balance their desire to gather as much information as possible confidentially. The following table shows important information points that a buyer must collect during its visit: Management capability Quality management Technology levels Planning and scheduling effectiveness Financial strength Personnel relations E-business capabilities Sophistication and efficiency of operations ISO certifications Skills, knowledge and experience of workforce Evidence of good management and housekeeping Types of inventory Nature of the goods inwards, stores and outwards areas Environmental practices Employee employment contracts Any significant changes planned or expected Contact details of key decision makers Use of preferred suppliers This is a list of suppliers created by the purchasers to reward their best suppliers that consistently meets their strict performance criteria. The list can also be us ed as an incentive to improve the existing suppliers performance and assessed accordingly. External or third-party information This consists of all the other information available about a potential supplier. For example, Total quality management is a system that insists suppliers to meet the quality standards as similar to buyers and generates a flow of related information throughout the supply chain. Selecting supplier and signing agreement This is the final step to choose the supplier followed by signing a contract. This includes different purchasing orders required for routine and major items, i.e. using standard purchase orders for routine items whereas, detailed negotiation is required to agree on specific details for major items that increases the complexity in the purchase order. Supplier evaluation criteria After considering various steps in selecting suppliers, the buying organisation must analyse the following questions with the supply organisation in order to progress outside their traditional purchasing relationships and possibilities for long term relationships with them: [Spekman (1988)] Has the supplier signified a dedication or willingness for a longer term relationship? Is the supplier enthusiastic to perform resources to develop this relationship? Is the supplier willing or able to participate at the early stage or throughout the stage of product design? Has supplier brought any unique service to the business? Is the supplier showed their interests or commitment towards customers problems and effectively solving them together? Is the supplier is interested in improvements and innovations in the operations? Is there any openness of sharing and exchanging information between both companies? How much knowledgeable is the supplier about the customers indu stry and business? Is the need for confidentially exchanged information taken seriously? Supplier management and development In todays time, the need to improve supplier performance is open in large or small organisations and for this reason; the purchasing teams must introduce a supplier relationship management (SRM) approach to achieve their organisational goals and success in global purchases of technology. Therefore, this calls for managing resources efficiently throughout supply chain collaborations, dedication required from supply managers, creating standardised best practices effectively and tools required for tracking and evaluating the results. The process must begin with effective supplier performance measures required to undertake strategic supply or procurement decisions for the organisation. [Minahan T. And Vigorose M. (2002)] Effective supplier performance measurements What to measure The factors important to assess the performance includes: Delivery performance The purchase orders that are sent to suppliers involves all the appropriate information on deliveries, with quantities, lead times and due dates. Therefore, it is buyers responsibility to check regularly that how well a supplier actually meets their expected conditions. Cost performance There are many ways that can measure cost performances for example, monitoring real price delivered by the supplier after adjusting increase in the prices (inflation). Quality performance In order to measure quality, the best criteria for buyers is to check that products are delivered in 100% perfect condition with no defects. This also includes comparing previous performances, latest performance with mutually agreed standards and various other figures. Other qualitative factors in supplier performance Factor Explanation Problem solving Suppliers attention to provide solutions to the problem Technical skills Comparing suppliers manufacturing capacity with other business suppliers Reporting progress Suppliers incomplete reporting of existing problems and identifying and communicating other potential problems Corrective action Suppliers timely response to requests for corrective actions and requests for changes Cost-reduction plans Suppliers enthusiasm to find techniques that helps to reduce the total purchase cost New-product development support Suppliers capability to reduce time and cost required for new product development Buyer/seller compatibility Rating subjectively how well a purchasing firm and a supplier work together Therefore, the above are various other factors that help the buyers to measure the suppliers technical ability and closeness of both parties relationships. Reporting frequency This includes preparing reports to provide a clear feed back to supplier on their performance. Purchasing management must communicate with their buyers to send these reports by reviewing them weekly, monthly, quarterly or annually which is then followed with more face-to-face team meeting that reviews their actual performance, discussion on targets, identify potential improvements, examine changes, and so on. Any problems (for example, supplier fails to meet the required standard) occurred during crucial time must be addressed with special reports and meetings to avoid any financial and operational problems. Use of measurement data Procurement staff can make use of data collected from its measurement systems in many ways including: Identifying suppliers which are not meeting the performance goals and highlighting areas that calls for improvements, followed by corrective actions taken to raise the performance to acceptable levels or else finding new suppliers. It helps in discovering excellent performances achieved from supplier which then helps identify preferred suppliers that qualify for long term alliances. It also recognises the worst performing suppliers that are continuously not improving and needs to be removed from supply base whereas offering more work to superior suppliers. Supplier measurement techniques There are three techniques discussed for evaluating performance of suppliers, each differs in their use, level of subjectivity, resources required and implementing cost. Categorical techniques These techniques considers a particular aspect of performance, for example lead time and classifies a set of categories for performance rating as excellent, good, fair or poor and therefore, helps buyers in deciding which supplier is good or bad. This is an easiest system of measurement, easy to use, comparatively inexpensive and also the most subjective. There are some drawbacks of using this technique as they do not provide a clear analysis of performance, slower than automated systems and regarded as the lowest of the three techniques in terms of reliability. Scoring model This method overcomes the subjectivity of categorical technique by calculating a weighted score for different performance categories. This is more reliable and requires reasonable implementation cost providing flexibility for buyers to change the categories included as well as weights allocated to each. Cost-based techniques -This technique is the most comprehensive that can help the buying organisation to look for the total cost required for doing business with a particular supplier by identifying the lowest purchase price is not always the lowest cost of acquisition. Hence, this technique works through collecting data from the purchasing firms information system, analysing the total cost including the additional occurring costs whenever a supplier fails to perform as per expected by the buyer. This can be calculated using formula of supplier performance index (SPI) SPI = Total purchase costs + Non-performance costs Total purchase costs Supplier Development Approach Supplier development is an approach which was initially started in Toyota, Nissan and Honda in the 1930s time. Toyotas emphasised the need to treat suppliers as a major part of their company though working together to develop their businesses collectively. The approach consists of all the initiatives that buyers can undertake to improve supplier relationships, performance or capabilities to meet the buyers short or long-term supply requirements. [Sako, M. (2004)] Procedures required for supplier development are as follows: [Handfield et al., 1998] Step 1: Identification of critical items/parts for development It is not important for every organisation to seek development approach within their business but when we talk about companies operating within aviation industry automatically needs to develop these approaches as work is involved on engines which require careful attention to crucial and specific parts. Following are some example of questions that must be answered yes by the procurement team in order to adopt the supplier development process: Do material procured account for more than 50% of product value? Is the existing or potential supplier can bring competitive advantage? Do you currently procure, or intend to procure on the basis of total cost or considering initial cost only? Can existing suppliers are able to meet the companys competitive needs for 5 years from now? Do the company wants the most responsive suppliers to demand and supply change? Is the buying organisation willing to become more responsive to the suppliers needs? Does the buyer intend to tr eat their suppliers as partners in the business? Do the procurement staff plans for open and long-term trustworthy relationships with suppliers? Therefore, if the answers to above questions is yes, then it is worth introducing resources into supplier development programme followed by focusing on core activities first, for example analysing and defining a portfolio of the purchased critical items (materials) where solid benefits can be achieved from supplier development. Step 2: Identifying critical suppliers for development This step involves targeting those suppliers that needs development. The most common method could be the routine analysis of supplier performance such as using measurement approaches discussed before in the project. Suppliers producing unique and essential products with a difficulty to replace them if they dont achieve the pre-determined targets are considered for development. Step 3: Forming cross-functional development teams Case study Accentures strategic supplier relationship management Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. They collaborate with their clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. The Accentures supply chain department works with customers across a broad range of industries to develop and execute operational strategies that allows profitable growth within existing and new markets. Their commitment is to help customers achieve high performance through supply chain excellence with a combination of global industry expertise and skills in supply chain strategy, sourcing and procurement, supply chain planning, manufacturing design, fulfilment and service management to help organisations transform their supply chain capabilities. Accenture defines SRM A systematic approach to manage suppliers in order to optimize the value delivered through the relationship over its life cycle. In todays economic e nvironment, every organisation must adopt strategic approach to supplier relationship. Accentures strategic SRM methodology helps their customers to handle procurement costs and risks to achieve high performance in both good and bad economic times. Factors that emphasise the need for more strategic approach to SRM Increasing global competition and shorter product life cycles continues to call the need for strategic SRM. Factors are as follows: Volatile commodity prices

Using Information Literacy to Promote Critical Thinking Essay

The cornerstone of Critical Thinking, Real-World Problem Solving and Meaningful Learning is questioning. There are three levels of cognitive questions and student learning. The first and lowest, data input processing, or gathering and recall information. Sample key words and desired behaviors are complete, count, define, describe, identify, list, match, name, recall, observe, recite, and select. Next, we have intermediate, data processing, or processing information. Sample key words and desired behaviors are analyze, classify, compare, contrast, distinguish, explain, infer, make an analogy, organize, plan and synthesize. The highest form, data output, or applying and evaluating in new situations. Sample key words and desired†¦show more content†¦Dont ask questions that you do not know the answer too. Above all, allow and encourage students to participate in questioning content. When dealing with real-world problem solving it is usual to find absolute right answers, but you can come up with some better than others. One needs to recognize the problem, formulate a question, collect data, and arrive at an acceptable answer to the problem. Often educators and teacher-librarians are admonished to avoid resources of a stereotypical type and to acquire materials reflective of cultural diversity. Promoting information literacy is a pedagogical approach that can effectively combat the entrenchment of stereotypes of Native Peoples, by assisting students in developing critical thinking skills, and thus enabling them to do problem-solving, decision-making, and creative thinking. It is imperative the teacher librarian actually promote critical thinking about popular representations of Native People and about information resources that purport to depict Native peoples and issues. The necessity for using informational literacy to separate multicultural fact from fiction is well illustrated with examples from literature and media. An example is Tom Sawyer, the book, when Injun Joe is portrayed as the bad guy. The reality is that librarians are unlikely to pull classics from the shelves because of the inclusion of racial/ethnic stereotypes, and intellectual freedom stances cannot be downgraded. However,Show MoreRelatedscientific literacy Essay1687 Words   |  7 PagesScientific literacy Introduction and audience When talk about science, perhaps majority of us think it is less relative with real life. However, as society developed, science encompassed us everywhere. This situation forces everyone to acquire the ability to learn and understand science. Some may think that, scientific literacy is what a scientist should have and nothing about normal people, however it is just too narrow. Look around the surroundings of us, everything is conned with science. AlsoRead MoreThe Achievement Of Desire By Richard Rodriguez1412 Words   |  6 PagesLiterate arts is a way for individuals to express and understand themselves through different forms of writing- like stories, poems, etc. Literate arts are good for promoting the development of aesthetic sensibility, using sentimental and cognitive responses- which leads to precise critical reasonings. In Richard Rodriguez’s essay, â€Å"The Achievement of Desire,† he informs the readers how education became the essential meaning of his life. He established how remorseful he was for neglecting his parentsRead MoreEssay on Information Literacy and the Public Library1519 Words   |  7 PagesThe American Association for School Libraries defines information literacy as the ability to use many types of reference resources and literacies to find information. The different types of reference resources and literacies include: digital, visual, textual, and technological literacies. The American Association for School Libraries has four main learning standards. The first covers inquiry, thinking critically, and gaining knowledge. The second standard includes drawing conclusions, making informalRead MoreTitle II Request For Funding1322 Words   |  6 Pagescreating. Describe the program/initiative. Aligning Research with Literacy Initiatives While Advocating for the Role of Media Coordinator According to CMS Superintendent Ann Clark regarding literacy as our North Star, it â€Å"is the most important skill we teach. Literacy is the foundation for academic success from pre-kindergarten through high school.† Literacy is key to achieving academic success and the responsibility of literacy encompasses every educator and discipline. Many media coordinatorsRead MoreLiteracy Is The Most Important Skill We Teach1286 Words   |  6 PagesSuperintendent Ann Clark regarding literacy as our North Star, it â€Å"is the most important skill we teach. Literacy is the foundation for academic success from pre-kindergarten through high school.† Literacy is key to achieving academic success and the responsibility of literacy encompasses every educator and discipline. Many media coordinators have been trained in Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and district adopted reading initiatives, such as Balanced Literacy and Reading Apprenticeship. HoweverRead MoreEvery Student Succe eds Act ( ESSA Case Study1477 Words   |  6 Pagesemphasis on higher-order thinking skills and not the rote memorization of facts and information. New Jersey has moved to administering PARCC as a way to assess these standards because it is aligned to â€Å"what students are learning in the classroom and measures real-world skills, such as problem solving and critical thinking† (PARCC, 2017). The New Jersey Department of Education goes on to explain how PARCC assessments also provide parents and educators with meaningful information to improve teachingRead MoreMy Philosophy Of Teaching And Learning Programs Essay1612 Words   |  7 Pagesteaching involves creating an environment that promotes student well being by welcoming open collaboration and participation, setting high expectations and developing positive, safe and respectful relationships with all members of the class.(Vrankovic, M, 2016). My learning philosophy is derived from the constructivist philosophy whereb y students are active participants in their learning in order to be able to transfer information into new situations to promote deeper levels of understanding which catersRead MoreThe Reasons Why United Airlines1447 Words   |  6 PagesReasoning, Information Literacy, Communication, Scientific Literacy, Cultural Literacy, Lifelong Personal Growth, Aviation Maintenance, Aviation Maintenance Management, and Aviation Maintenance Safety. To understand the reason why United Airlines (UAL) decided to implement SMS, we need to go back and analyzed its system before it implemented SMS and also after it was implemented. To do so, we will use critical thinking which is a disciplined process that consists of applying, and evaluating dataRead MoreIndigenous Employment And The Issue Of Email, Internet, And Digital Literacy1238 Words   |  5 PagesAssignment 2 â€Å"Indigenous employment and the issue of email, internet, and digital literacy† CSI 6113 IT Professionalism and Practice Ethical value:- All aboriginal indigenous people in Australia need to be digitally literate to fully participate in the today’s Information Society. The knowledge and skills that digital literacy provides are a central part to promote an open and competitive digital economy, and to improve social inclusion, public services and quality of life by enabling them to becomeRead MoreImproving Reading Comprehension and Critical Thinking Skills in Middle School Students1566 Words   |  7 Pagesare only required in sixth grade. In seventh and eighth grade reading classes can be taken as an elective class. I strongly feel that all students in middle school still need guidance and continuous practice with reading comprehension and critical thinking skills. Students who are beyond a sixth grade reading class are not getting these reading skills that can be applied in all other academic classes. As a teacher I can not change the fact that the school principal has decided that students in

Analysis Of The Prince By Niccolo Machiavelli - 1094 Words

United States of America’s sixteenth president, Abraham Lincoln once proclaimed, â€Å"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a mans character, give him power.† Lincoln declared this in a time of slavery in America when the United States was split into two halves, one side promoting slavery and the other opposing it. Ultimately, Lincoln unites the country in regards to laws and practices about slaves however, the two halves mindsets were still opposite. His main reason for this remark is to demonstrate that many individuals may seem pleasant on the most basic level, but when that individual is given infinite power is when their real personality is revealed. In the nonfiction essay, The Prince, by Niccolo Machiavelli,†¦show more content†¦If his political side is not protected enough, he also has a spectacular background which is able to support his role as a competent leader giving Russians a reason to trust him. He was a KGB intelligence member before he began his political role. Putin is a phenomenal leader in regards to the Machiavellian principles especially his ability to maintain an image and rule with a sixty five percent approval rating. Not only do these abilities empower him but as Machiavelli outlines, â€Å"Men in general judge by their eyes rather than their hands; because everyone is in a position to watch, few are in a position to come in a close touch with you. Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are† (Machiavelli 58). Putin could be completely opposite as to what he appears to be but since he has gained the respect of the people, they will fight and â€Å"shed blood† for him according to Machiavelli. The few that may know his real personality may oppose him publicly but will be humiliated by the citizens due to their connection with the leader. This further supports that Machiavellis principle is still valid and seen currently in one of the most dominant nations. One may argue that a leader may be treacherous, and has no will to further succeed the country but only their personal agenda and however, putShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Prince By Niccolo Machiavelli832 Words   |  4 PagesNiccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) has lived in an era when the Florence, Italy had become the battleground for the foreign forces and was suffering from political destruction. Moreover, an era of the Renaissance was in the process and being a philosopher of renaissance era, he put forward quite controversial theories and philosophies. His comprehensive work The Prince is considered as a remarkable piece of historical writing not only for the age of renais sance but also for the contemporary age. HeRead MoreAnalysis Of The Prince By Niccolo Machiavelli871 Words   |  4 PagesThe Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli From the moment a child is born from the womb, they are consistently instructed to follow the strict rules of what is classified as morally correct in order to succeed in life, and yet, The Prince, composed by Niccolo Machiavelli of Florence, goes against every word of these such instructions. The Prince is a historically controversially book written for Lorenzo de Medici, intended to assist him in improving the situations occurring in Italy at the time. In thisRead MoreThe Prince By Niccolo Machiavelli Analysis948 Words   |  4 PagesComposed nearly 500 years ago, Niccolo Machiavellis The Prince presents another perspective on the meaning of virtue. Machiavellis definition contended against the idea presented by the Catholic Church. Machiavelli did not force any opinions of his own, somewhat he composed from his experience and whatever theory that prompts activities which created successful results in the political scene of Italy and different nations. While Machiavelli contin ues to be scrutinized for his thoughts, in allRead MoreAnalysis Of The Prince By Niccolo Machiavelli1314 Words   |  6 PagesMACHIAVELLI’S LIVED WORLD: SETTING CONTEXT Niccolà ² Machiavelli’s The Prince was written in a time of political and civil unrest in Italy. For decades the city-state of Florence suffered several political uprisings and the establishment of new governments. From tyrannical rule to the creation of a democratic republic, and finally the re-establishment of the Medici family, The Prince comes from Machiavelli’s lived experiences in these political regimes. Machiavelli blames the division of Italy into city-statesRead MoreAnalysis Of The Prince By Niccolo Machiavelli1192 Words   |  5 Pagesthis: it was a duty to be the best. Niccolo Machiavelli, an Italian Humanist, wrote  The Prince  as a guide for his own prince, Lorenzo De Medici, to promote himself into the political arena of Italy. He analyzed power and the way Italy could become its own state and keep control. His extensive explanations were driven by his own fascination with power and his desire for an independent Italy. The Prince expresses the effe ctual truth of things and the idea that a prince must not be just and fair when comingRead MoreAnalysis Of The Prince By Niccolo Machiavelli1020 Words   |  5 PagesInterestingly, Niccolo Machiavelli in his work The Prince would disagree. Written for the Medici lords, The Prince offers advice on how to obtain and rule a principality. To do this, he must first explain the nature of man and adjust the method of ruling them accordingly. Machiavelli believes humans by nature are corrupt, so the Prince must also be corrupt to succeed. In order to prove Machiavelli’s opinion, it is first necessary to understand what he defines as success. Machiavelli believes thatRead MoreAnalysis Of The Prince By Niccolo Machiavelli1755 Words   |  8 PagesNiccolo Machiavelli’s â€Å"The Prince† provides guidelines for how the leader of a state should conduct himself, and the actions he should take to consolidate and maintain power. While Socrates does not explicitly discuss what he believes a good leader should do and how he should act in either â€Å"Apology† or †Crito†, he presents his opinion on how men in general should conduct themselves, and how a government should be run. Based on the accounts given, Socrates would vehemently disagree with Machiavelli’sRead MoreAnalysis Of Niccolo Machiavelli s The Prince 1625 Words   |  7 PagesOne well-known Renaissance thinker, Niccolo Machiavelli, was one of those philosophers whose political views caused an uproar during earlier ce nturies. His view on effective leadership was rather harsh and not exactly adopted in the Italian society. As a Renaissance citizen, Machiavelli proved his writing skills through a number of works such as short stories, plays, and histories. His more popular works included those call the Discourses on Livy and The Prince-which will be described further moreRead MoreEssay on Analysis of The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli517 Words   |  3 Pages The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli is about the origination of a prince. More or less how a prince can start from the bottom and become a great king or die at the feet of his people before reaching his prime. To become a prince there are many different ways which is explain in this book for example To arrive at this position depends not entirely on worth. Stating that there are a number of way you can become a prince by Favor of the people, but must maintain a healthy friendship and offer protectionRead MoreAn Analysis Of Niccolo Machiavelli s The Prince 941 Words   |  4 PagesNiccolo Machiavelli and Karl Marx developed theories concerning wealth and poverty in our society, as well as different types of governments. For instance, Machiavelli supported a capitalist economic system, unlike Marx, who embraced socialism in the society. Machiavelli wrote a book The Prince that explained how to be an effective leader. The theme of the book is the end justifies the means. A person could or should do whatever is necessary to achieve the desired goal. According to Machiavelli

Verba and Non-Verbal Communication Theories Free Essays

In all communication events, unless there is a relationship between actions and words, the message can be wrongly interpreted. I observed a conversation between a bartender and a customer in busy and crowded bar. The customer wanted the buy one more double bourbon but the bartender refused to sell to him. We will write a custom essay sample on Verba and Non-Verbal Communication Theories or any similar topic only for you Order Now This resulted in a series of communication theories, which will be analysed later. In order to analyse the communication theories that provide most insight into understanding the dynamics of the observed event, it is necessary to define what communication is and examine the different communication models and theories used in the observed event. In the context of the observed event, verbal and nonverbal communication, paralanguage, noise (psychological and physical), attribution errors, body movements (emblems, illustrators, affect displays and regulators) are the communication theories that will be examined to show how they all combine to give more meaning to messages. Communication is a process of which information flows from one source to a receiver and back. ( who) communication is a two way process which is complete only when the receiver gives feedback that he or she has understood the message. When people use words to communicate, they do not just listen to what is said in order to understand the message. They also look at the person who is speaking to see what their body is doing and listen to the way they are saying the words to understand their full message. For example, in the observed event, 80% of the communication has been made before the customer even opened his mouth to speak. The customer staggered to the bar and verbally asked to be served one more double bourbon. The bartender refused to serve him because he knew the customer is already drunk and according to the NSW law, should not be served any more drinks. The question is how did the bartender know the customer was drunk? As opposed to the verbal message, the bartender was able to decipher the nonverbal messages being sent by the customer – the disturbed balance in his movement, his glassy eyes, smell of alcohol, sweat on his face, and the muddled speech. ll these indicated to the bartender that this customer is drunk. When his request was denied, the customer became defensive saying he was not drunk. He refused the alternative non-alcoholic drinks offered by the bartender and became instantly aggressive, yelling and abusing the bartender. One could read the evidence of paralanguage in the customer’s voice. ‘Paralanguage is the vocal (but nonverbal) dimension of speech. (reading 2. 2) one could read from the high pitch of his voice, and the angry tone of his voice which was becoming loud that the customer is beginning to get angry and aggressive. One could also see the angry look on his face; this is called affect display which is any emotional response in a communication. There are also different body movements by both the bartender and the customer that all gave more meaning to the conversation. For example, when the customer could not be controlled, the bartender called the security staff by raising his hand palm up and establishing eye contact with him. The security understood immediately that his service was needed at the bar. This nonverbal body movement is called emblems. According to ( textbook p. 69) ‘emblems are those gestures that have a specific verbal translation. Another body movement was the way the bartender was shaking his head side to side at the same time he was declining the customer’s request. This type is called an illustrator. Illustrators are all those gestures that go along with our speech. ’(textbook p. 70) There was also the evidence of repetitions of messages in the observed event. the bartender had to explain to the customer over and over again why he would not serve him more alcohol because the customer kept saying he should be served now. Here, there was difficulty getting the message across to the customer and this could be due to a particular barrier to communication called noise. Noise is any distortion factor that blocks, disrupts, or distrusts the message being sent to the receiver, interfering with the communication process. (textbook p. 7) In this context, the noise could be psychological due to the emotional state of the customer (being drunk) or physical noise stemming from the loud music in the club and also the presence of many people. Not getting the message across easily could also be due to attribution errors which are errors people make because they assign a certain meaning to something that was not intended. In this event, the customer is of Indian origin; so it could be that he understood the bartender’s shaking of head to be a ‘Yes’ instead of ‘No’. This is because a slow shaking of head in India means ‘Yes’. The presence of regulators such as ‘pauses’ that occurred throughout this conversation indicate opportunities for feedback and responses to be sure the other person is listening. To conclude, communication, which is the exchange of ideas, knowledge, information and attitudes, is much more than words. Although verbal and nonverbal communication are similar in that they both convey meanings and different in more ways, both of them put together provide complete meaning of the message. Even though they work together, it is nonverbal communication that accounts for 65 to 93% of the total meaning of communication. (birdwhitsell, 1970; mehrabian, 1981). This means that what is not being said in a communication determines the success or failure of that communication. Due to the dynamic nature of communications, it is important to master nonverbal behaviours especially in service industries like tourism and hospitality for effective communication. The bartender being able to know the customer was drunk was due to the nonverbal symptoms of drunkenness. Most symptoms of drunkenness are universal irrespective of age, gender, culture or origin and can be easily identified. Thus the different communication theories used in this communication event: verbal and nonverbal communication (vocal and nonvocal), the different types of body movements, noise (physical and psychological), attribution errors all combine to provide the most insight into understanding the dynamics of the observed event. How to cite Verba and Non-Verbal Communication Theories, Essay examples

Teenage Pregnancy Its Causes and Effects

Question: Discuss Causes and effects of Teenage Pregnancy Its Causes and Effects? Answer: Introduction: The term teenage pregnancy refers to pregnancy in females that are under the age of 20 when at the time of delivery. This happens when the start of puberty takes place before the first menstrual cycle but however occurs after the onset of periods. The age of the mothers is determined by the verified date when the pregnancy ends and not by the estimated date of conception. Pregnant teenagers face many similar obstetrics as issues as other women but however there are many other additional medical concerns for females who become mothers under the age of 15. These mothers are associated with more of the socioeconomic factors than compared to the biological factors of age. There are many negative effects of teenage pregnancy such as premature labor, risk of low birth weight and anemia which are connected to the biological age itself (Cornelius MD et al (2012). The life outcomes for teenage mothers and their children differ from other factors like social support and is important than the a ge of the mother at the time of the birth. Teenage parents who can rely on family and community support, social services and child-care support are more likely to continue their education and get higher paying jobs as they progress with their education. Effects and Causes: The effects of teenage pregnancies on the children are more likely to grow up in poverty and also have many health problems and also have very high rates of neglect and abuse (Hamilton (2012). Many children also tend to fail in schools and commit adult crimes and also incur failed adult relationships and marriages. There are many disadvantages of early childbearing and factors that affect it such as unemployment, poverty, low self esteem and also educational failure which are the negative outcomes of early childbearing. Also teenage mothers are more likely not to gain weight during their pregnancy which results in low birth weight which further is associated with childhood and infant disorders along with a high rate of infant mortality. The organs of this low birth weight are not fully developed which can result in symptoms such as intestinal problems, respiratory disorders and bleeding in the brain (Allen E et al (2007). Children born to teenage mothers are less likely to receive pr oper nutrition, health care, and cognitive and social stimulation. As a result, they may have an underdeveloped intellect and attain lower academic achievement. Another major issue is that being a young mother in an industrialized country could affect ones education like the teenage mothers are more likely to drop out of high school. Many studies also found that teen mothers dropped out of school before becoming pregnant but those who were in school at the time of pregnancy graduated as their peer group. Many teen parents usually do not have much emotional or intellectual maturity that is essential to provide for another new life and hence these pregnancies are often hidden for months which results in the lack of adequate prenatal care which results in the dangerous outcomes for the new born babies (Hofferth SL Reid L (2002). Teenage pregnancy can also influence the younger siblings.If the younger sisters of teenage parents babysit the children, they have an increased risk of getti ng pregnant themselves because once an older daughter has a child the parents often become more accepting as time goes by. Research indicates that pregnant teens are less likely to receiveprenatal care often seeking it in thethird trimester. Also many pregnant teens are at risk ofnutritional deficienciesfrom pooreating habitsthat includes attempts tolose weightthroughdieting,skipping meals,snacking, and consumption offast food items. In some societies early marriage is an important factor in the rate of teenage pregnancy (Stepp, G. (2009). However the average age of marriage is different in different countries where teenage marriages are common at higher levels of teenage pregnancies. Many teenagers are not taught about methods of birth control and how to deal with peers who pressure them into having sex before they even know what they are faced with. Therefore teenage pregnancies has become a public health issue because of their observed negative effects on the long term morbidity and the outcomes of perinatal pregnancies. Conclusion: It can be concluded that being a teenage mother and deal with the society can be very challenging as they have to give up a lot of things to take care of the ne born babies. They are not able to get a proper education and a secure place in society. Many studies conducted also points out both the daycare and educational developments in career programmes that will be a supporting way to young parents. These programmes include the evaluation and development of policies that promote the involvement of young people to attend school and have further training and education so as to support families that experience such problems that are associated with poverty and the disadvantages that follow (Tamkins, T. (2004).Therefore teenage parenthood is not in itself a social problem and some young people make positive choices to become parents at an early age. References Allen E, Bonell C, Strange V, Copas A, Stephenson J, Johnson AM, Oakley A (2007). "Does the UK government's teenage pregnancy strategy deal with the correct risk factors? Findings from a secondary analysis of data from a randomised trial of sex education and their implications for policy". J Epidemiol Community Health 61 Cornelius MD, Goldschmidt L, Willford JA, Leech SL, Larkby C, Day NL (2008). "Body Size and Intelligence in 6-year-olds: Are Offspring of Teenage Mothers at Risk?".Maternal and Child Health Journal 13 Hamilton, Brady E. and Ventura, Stephanie J. (April 10, 2012). "Birth Rates for U.S. Teenagers Reach Historic Lows for All Age and Ethnic Groups". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved April 18, 2012. Hofferth SL, Reid L (2002). "Early Childbearing and Children's Achievement And Behavior over Time".Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health 34Stepp, G. (2009) Teen Pregnancy: The Tangled Web. vision.orgTamkins, T. (2004) Teenage pregnancy risk rises with childhood exposure to family strife Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, MarchApril 2004

The Walt Disney Company free essay sample

The Walt Disney Company: Its Diversification Strategy in 2012 Xavier Lila (MGM 3800) KEY ISSUES Availability of alternatives and substitutes intensifies competition in Walt Disney media network division. Customers have a variety of choices on media entertainment: DVD, Internet and video games. Rapidly changing technologies: Walt Disney is required to stay on the front foot and the company has to either develop or acquire new technologies for better customer satisfaction and competitive advantage.Unpopular parks and resorts: Walt Disney has to embark on advertisements as well as install costly attractions in less favorable destinations such as Disney California Adventure so as to lure more customers. Losses incurred in interactive media: Acquisition of Playroom to feature as the gaming hardware and software arm of interactive media proved futile with heavy competition from established gaming consoles. Costly acquisitions in unproven foreign markets: India, China, Russia and Turkey off er expansion opportunities, but require billions of dollars in a high-risk investment. We will write a custom essay sample on The Walt Disney Company or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page ANALYSIS The Media Nervous division at Walt Disney is the highest revenue earner and also the division that faces the highest level of competition in the media industry. Competition is intensified by the fact that media network sells a preference to a customer and not an actual tangible commodity. A customers preference might be influenced by multiple factors such as genre of content that is aired, time of day and moods. Customers also have a variety of substitute choices for entertainment and can opt to play video games, watch a movie on DVD or browse the internet.As a result Disney is affected by diminishing advertisement revenues that directly impact finances. Disney counters alternate and substitute competition in an aggressive approach that involves acquisition and adoption of new technologies. Information Technology is a huge component in facilitating competitive advantage at Walt Disney. Robert Alger, the CEO reveals an aggressive acquisition policy that buys Intellectual Property that is either underused or under-exploited. While the policy has proved fruitful in the acquisition of Paxar and Marvel, it has the downside of high-risk acquisitions.The acquisition of gaming company Playroom is presented as a valid example. The company aggressively qua aired Playroom in efforts to exploit the already saturated and highly competitive games and console industry. Playroom would offer product development in online games for social websites thereby creating a gateway for a powerful renowned brand in Walt Disney. The approach resulted in annual operating losses averaging $300 million from 2009 to 2012. The company has continued to hugely invest in information technology so as to better reach customers as well as carter for customer needs using the internet. The latest technological investment in media networks offers Walt Disney a mobile phone application that allows subscribed users to watch content at anytime, anywhere on their smart phones. The approach might rove to be a success similar to Paxar or Marvel, or might prove to a costly venture that annually operates in loses similar to Playroom. Walt Disney assumes an aggressive acquisition policy that is consistently high risk. While the media networks are Walt Disney s highest earner, the companys identity is embedded in its Parks and Resorts.As a result Disney has heavily invested in its themed parks and resorts. However, there are multiple issues that reflect on Walt Disney strategic planning. The opening of Disney California Adventure was to ease the congestion at Disney World which had exulted in counter-productivity as Customers rejected Disney World due to congestion. Disney California Adventure proved to be a costly investment as customers complained that it lacked night time appeal and would instead go back to Disney World further compounding the issue of congestion.Disney California Adventure failed to serve its purpose in easing congestion; rather it became a point of comparison and represented lower expectations. Walt Disney proceeded to improve the situation through further heavy investments in attraction additions World of color water for $75 million and 200 million worth of race tracks in car lands, both of which are located in Disney California Adventure. The costly additions to rectify a previous failed plan indicate that there are multiple strategic planning issues at Walt Disney.The financial books indicate that Walt Disney has continued to be profitable and realized incremental every year for the past 3 years (2009 ; 2011). The financial progress experienced at Walt Disney is attributed to the capable and exemplary management leader ship of the CEO Robert Alger. Since his appointment at the helm Walt Disney has acquired Paxar and Marvel, and the many has increased global activity with Disney cacheable showing in over 100 countries compared to the 9 countries when Alger took over. However, there are various issues in lagers management style. Since taking over the company had exponentially expanded in its operations globally. Reeve uses have increased from $35. 5 billion in 2007 to $40. 9 billion in 201 1; however, this increase in revenue is significantly accounted for by successful movie productions of The Avengers grossing $1. 3 billion and the pirates of the Caribbean, Disneys most successful movie. lagers global exploits are yet to legalize significant profit returns. Despite accessing over 75% of China viewers and showing in an additional 91 countries, Walt Disney under Alger has struggled to show a directly proportional growth of acquired viewers and markets to earned revenues. Alger has admittedly stated to strategic issues in the acquisition of Disney Shanghai which the company has invested 43% of the $4. 5 billion venture. This raises multiple issues of concern with the simultaneously costly investments that Disney has undertaken in India, China, Russia, and Turkey, bearing that the investments are high risks to political and economic factors.Furthermore, Alger dismisses the operating losses incurred by interactive media as sufficiently covered by other revenues generated by the media networks. While Alger makes a valid point, it does not negate the fact that a critical division in Walt Disneys organizational structure has been operating losses in the millions of dollars for the past three years. SOOT STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES Diversification in s trategic organization Exploitation of intellectual property across media networks Brand Recognition High quality content in media networks Cohesive organizational structureAbility to adopt new technologies and Intellectual property Global alliances Acquisition strategies Licensing Media Networks Creativity High costs in market acquisition High operation costs Lack Of sufficient returns on investments in parks and resorts Interactive media operating on losses High risk investments Costly upgrades Simultaneous global expansions New parks lack appeal factor OPPORTUNITIES THREATS Growth of Marvel and Paxar International markets Further growth of media networks Better strategic planning Reducing operation costs Better evaluation of aggressive acquisition strategyBetter strategic plan for interactive media Better understanding of target market Extensive use of the internet as a medium for entertainment Strong competition in alternates and substitutes Changes in customers preferences and b ehaviors Rapidly changing technologies Operating losses from bad acquisitions Unstable global economy Demanding market on content and quality Heavy global investments #1 SOOT Analysis Walt Disney is a world leading brand and a major competitor and is strongly positioned in the entertainment market place. The company enjoys significant strengths in brand recognition and media networks.The media networks division acquisition of marvel studios offered the company a competitive advantage while the companys creativity ensured marvels studios success. The production of The Avengers highlights the success and strengths of Walt Disney as the movie grossed over $1. 3 billion in gross revenue. In 201 1 , the company was the largest licensor of merchandise products in the world indicating dominance in the licensing industry. While the company experienced successes in media networks division, multiple internal factors affected revenue earnings and highlighted the company s weaknesses.Costly upgrades and high costs of operations indicated that the company lacked an effective strategic plan. Poor management decisions also reflected in the acquisition of Playroom, as the acquisition operated in losses for three consecutive years. External factors also affected the company, as strong competition from substitutes and alternatives resulted in additional operational costs as the company countered competition through adoption of new technologies and acquisition of companies and intellectual properties.Changes in customer preferences and behavior also resulted in the adoption f the internet as a channel for entertainment and introduction of smart phone applications that offer on-the-go entertainment to customers. Walt Disneys organizational strategies are reflected in strategic business units: Media Networks, Interactive Media, Parks and Resorts, Consumer products and Studio Entertainment. The company operates on a cohesive organization strategy and is able to remain profitable despite one of its divisions Interactive media operating on losses.The organizational structure also allows for diversification of products and offers the opportunity of expansion n emerging global market. However, organizational strategies dictate for high risk investments in all strategic businesses units. Walt Disney adopts high risk investments in construction and renovation of its parks and resorts, in its aggressive acquisition strategies, in its efforts towards global expansions and in its strategies to obtain competitive advantage and accommodate consumer demands.PORTERS FIVE FORCES Intensity in competitive Rivalry (High) Competition is high in the entertainment industry, with multiple companies offering similar high quality, high content entertainment. Competition is specially high in media networks as companies compete for consumers attention. Competition in the console and online gaming market is also very high and Walt Disney Playroom has failed to be profitable. Threat of Us busiest (High) Rapidly changing technology ensures that customers have a variety of choices and availability of substitutes.Customers can choose to play games on phones, watch DVDs, play console video games, or listen to music at the expense of watching Walt Disney content. As a result, Walt Disney is t urning to the internet as a source of entertainment for its customers. Threat of New Entrants (Medium) Entry levels might require significant investments, however advancements in technologies enable smaller companies to enter into the market and offer high quality content. However, small companies might be discouraged by lack of brand recognition and customer loyalty.As a result the threat is medium as a new entrant might have the potential but lack economies of scale and appropriate strategies Bargaining Power of Suppliers (Low) Walt Disneys aggressive acquisition policies have ensured a strong presence Of vertical integrations and horizontal integrations which negates the arraigning power of suppliers. Walt Disney acquires strategic companies that offer competitive advantage or possesses vital Intellectual Property that Walt Disney considers of value.Bargaining Power of Buyers (High) Buyers have high bargaining power due to availability of substitutes and the fact that entertainment sells desire and preference compared to actual tangible commodities. Therefore, buyers have the opportunity of deciding on what to pay for a medium of entertainment given that a consumer can get entertainment elsewhere for lesser costs. Buyers also have a choice of parks and resorts that charge less. 2 Porters Five Forces Analysis Internal and external factors affecting the company contribute to the high threat of substitutes and high intensity in competitive rivalry.Walt Disney strives to offer high quality, high Content entertainment to its consumers through innovation and creativity. However, the entertainment market is saturated with competition that offers similar services and products at comparable quality. Therefore, Walt Disney has to sustain competitive advantage through its acquisition strategies. The company acquired Paxar and Marvel so as to gain competitive advantage in movie and animation reduction. Despite acquisitions competition remains extremely high as entertainment companies adopt innovative technologies.Buyers have a higher bargain power due to availability of substitutes and decisions that are based on preference. Walt Disney customers preferred Disney Land to Disney California Adventure despite the fact that Walt Disney had invested millions of dollars in attractions at Disney California Adventure. The organizations position in the market place lowers the bargaining power of suppliers as well as lowers the threat of new entrants into the industry. New entrants would quire large capital to compete with an established market leader such as Walt Disney.Walt Disney also has the advantage of product diversification, a strategy that many new entrants lack. Walt Disneys aggressive acquisition strategy has enabled the company to implement horizontal integration and acquire competing companies so as to supplement one of its strategic business units. Walt Disneys organizational strategies are dictated by the levels of competition and desire to retain competitive advantage. As a result Disney looks to acquire emerging technologies and companies that own unique intellectual properties. UPDATE ON CASE STUDY Disney retains the five strategic business units and recorded an increase in revenues for Parks and Resorts by 10% at the end of fiscal year 2014. The company appointed a new COO, Tom Stags to manage the operations at the company. Stags is credited with profitability in Parks and Resorts an area that had strained to reach perceived potential (Huddles, 2015). In Disneys laid of 700 employees in its Interactive Media division all of whom worked for Playroom.Playroom continues to be unprofitable and continues to operate in losses thereby necessitating the need to layoff employees Burgess, 2014). Walt Disney continues in its aggressive acquisition strategy, Lucas films for $4 billion in 201 2 and Marker Studios for $500 million with potential performance contract that could increase the total to $950 million (Fixer, 2014). The $4. 5 billion Disney Shanghai resort is yet to be completed and completion dates have been pushed to 2016. CONCLUSIONS Walt Disney is a company that seeks to dominate in each of its distinctive strategic business units.The entertainment industry is an extremely competitive industry that relies on innovations, creativity, content and advancements in technology. Walt Disney is limited in the levels of innovativeness in its media networks. As a result the company solely relies on an aggressive acquisition strategy. While the acquisition strategy has proven effective and profitable with the notable acquisitions of Marvel and Paxar, it also leaves the company vulnerable in acquisition of fools gold. Rapid changes in technology have also contributed to the added emphasis in Walt Disneys acquisition strategy. The acquisition of Playroom highlights the dangers of an aggressive acquisition; the company had been operational for here years before Disney decided to acquire the online gaming company. The company has operated in losses since it acquisition and impacted revenues as customer preferences shifted from backbone games to smart phone games. In an industry that is highly competitive Disney aims to make quick decisions on acquisition of new companies that own unique Intellectual Property.The updated case study findings indicate that the aggressive acquisition strategy is a core principle at Walt Disney with the acquisition of Lucas Films; Disney buys a competitor and adds a subsidiary to its media networks. Walt Disney heavily relies on its diversification strategy so as to remain profitable and participate in an aggressive acquisition strategy. Diversification has allowed Disney to operate losses in its interactive media unit and still remain profitable as a company with media networks earning substantial profits to cover for losses experienced in other departments.While diversification offers profitability it also results in high operating costs and market acquisition costs. Walt Disney lacks effective strategic planning in some of its diversified units, in an industry where consumers demands are a rarity, Walt Disney appears to anticipate consumer demands rather than inquire. Walt Disney portrays good decision making in building Disney California Adventure to ease the congestion at Disneyland and offer more variety in additional resorts. However, the company fails to consult with its customer base on their preferences and on new attractions at the new resort.As a result Disney proceeded to build a resort that lacked in night appeal forcing customers to go back to Disneyland and leave Disney California Adventure. Disney reverts to more spending in excess of $275 million to add ore attractions that improve attendances. I think that Walt Disney perceives itself as a too big to fail as it extensively participates in high risk ventures. Walt Disney relies on its brand image to expand its businesses, but the company has adopted an aggressive expansion policy in abroad markets. The company has decided to open theme parks and launch Disney media networks in China, Japan, India, Turkey and Russia. The approach might prove to be successes if the plans go according to plan, but might prove to be costly should the new ventures fail to return investments and operate on losses. Again, Disney relies on its diversification strategy and relies on it policy that should one of the expansions abroad fail, the other expansions in the rest of the countries abroad would cover the costs of the failed venture. Walt Disney should review its operations and access the high risks that accompany such Ventures.RECOMMENDATIONS General recommendations Reduce the rate of acquisitions and concentrate on diversification of owned products Listen to customers before building parks and resorts that lack in appeal Company should concentrate on becoming a leader in technological innovations rather than an aggressive acquisition strategy. Review the role of interactive media and shutdown the strategic unit Reduce operational costs: Encourage better strategic plans Specific recommendations Adopt a gradual foreign market ace question strategy: The Company should refrain from simultaneous expansions in multiple markets.Adopt a cautious acquisition strategy: Analyze and evaluate profitability and competition before acquisitions. The company should sell Playroom as soon as possible as it has never been a profitable venture and has operated on losses for past six ears. The company should invest on innovations: Should have an innovation department that looks to improve open source ideas LESSONS LEARNED learned that diversification is an important strategy that can assure a company of revenues and profits.I learned that big companies and corporations might be better positioned to benefit through diversification of products and services due to financial capability compared to small companies. Also learned that an aggressive acquisition strategy has its benefits and disadvantages. Therefore, it is important to analyze the risk associated with an acquisition to ensure that losses suffered by a new acquisition do not adversely affect the revenues or bankrupt the company.

Compare a stimulus(eastenders)y mother said i never should) essays

Compare a stimulus(eastenders)y mother said i never should) essays The two items I will be comparing for my response are; 1) The play of 'My mother said I never should' 2) A scene from the TV soap, Eastenders. We have chosen to compare these two pieces because there is an uncanny resemblance between the characters on both pieces; also the story The play 'My mother said I never should' is a theatre production which has been performed all over England. It is a scripted play and can be adapted to suit the audience. The time scale varies in M.M.S.I.N.S and ranges from the 18th century to the 1990's, it is set in a rural area in Manchester and the characters were brought up in the same family. Eastenders is a TV soap, series, broadcasted on BBC1 regularly; it is set in modern-day East London in an area called Walford. The main point of M.M.S.I.N.S is the fact that a woman gives birth to a child when she is very young, her mother then takes responsibility for the child and they are brought up as sisters. The Characters are supposedly one family yet in the waste ground scenes they are all the children of their character, even though they are from different generations. Rosie (the child) discovers the truth of her parentage when she find's her birth certificate prior to her mother's funeral. There is a lot of friction between the characters and this is clearly shown in the play. (Detailed description later in essay) In Eastenders, The Slater family (who I am focusing this essay on) are very close and spend an evening celebrating in a local restaurant, suddenly a blazing row sparks up between Kat (the eldest) and Zoe (the youngest).Zoe believes that Kat is her older sister. They exit the restaurant and continue to argue on the street, Zoe states that she is fed up of Kat trying to control her, and shouts 'Don't tell me what to do.. YOU'RE not my mother' then after a short, awkward pause, Kat ...