Friday, November 29, 2019
This Fall Apart Essays - African Writers Series,
This Fall Apart ESSAY ON THINGS FALL APART Things fall apart tells a story of an African tribe and it's cultures. It tells the story of the life of a man by the name of Okonkwo, by his lifelong friend, Obierika. Okonkwo, a well-respected member of his village, had an undying desire to be manly at all times. He was a father and a husband of three wives and worked very hard to support his family; he began doing so at a very young age. Under no circumstances would he ever warrant the assumption by any man that he was either weak or afraid. The only fear that he did have was that any man think such of him. Okonkwo had a very short, violent temper that was immediately triggered in response to actions that he deemed to be weak of another. Unfortunately, almost every time that Okonkwo let loose his violent temper in his manly way, he brought trouble upon himself, as well as those around him. Though highly respected in his village, Okonkwo was exiled and banished from the village for seven years. This was the result of the murder of a clansman. Although the act was truly accidental during the funeral of an elder in the village, to kill fellow clansmen was not accepted. During the ceremony guns where fired, Okonkwo accidentally fired his gun, killing the son of the dead elder. Since this was done accidentally he was able to return to the village with his family after being banished for seven years. During the seven years of his exile, the Ibo village started to fall apart. The downfall of the Ibo spiritually was the mechanism that triggered the downfall of the Ibo village and it's livelihood. White missionaries emerged on the village bringing with them their Christian religion and beliefs that were totally different from the Ibo people. This was two years after one of their own was killed in the village. Although the collapse was primarily caused by three men, Mr. Brown, Rev. James Smith, and the District Commissioner, it was the passivity of the village (Umuofia), as well as the power of the mission's government that led to the demise of the Ibo way of life. Clearly this strengthened the credibility of the new white men and their religion. Futhermore, a major blow was dealt to the Ibo religion. Christianity provided an answer to the questions' people had about their spirituality: the Ibo religion began to appear to be false by default. The new religion's validity and acceptance, coupled with the void created by the dissolution of the void created by the dissolution of the Ibo spiritually, left the remaining Ibo believers over powered by the Christian converts and their new followers. A final illustration of Okonkwo's rash actions leading suffering for himself and those around him occurs when he hastily kills the head messenger who comes to Umuofia to break up a town meeting. Okonkwo and his fellow villagers came together and were planning to kill the missionaries. The messenger stood up to Okonkwo demanding to get by. Able to speak only two short sentences, Okonkwo furiously assassinated him; taking his machete and cutting off his head. This did not produce a war of any type. The remaining three messengers continued their journey and the villagers never attacked. This brought the ultimate suffering to Okonkwo, who hangs himself, as well as the suffering for the rest of the tribe, who may not bury him and some of whom are brought to the court where Okonkwo and some others had at one time suffered. In concluding I would say that Africans in their traditional beliefs and ethics, are very passionate about what I would consider supernatural, or mystical powers. Some of their beliefs I could accept in a spiritual way but not as a way of living my life. The beating of one's wife is not condoned under any circumstances, and effects the community as a whole. This is regarded as totally unacceptable but not because it happened on the wrong day but because it's morally wrong. ESSAY ON THINGS FALL APART Things fall apart tells a story of an African tribe and it's cultures. It tells the story of the life
Monday, November 25, 2019
Financial Ratio Analysis of British Airways The WritePass Journal
Financial Ratio Analysis of British Airways INTRODUCTION Financial Ratio Analysis of British Airways INTRODUCTIONFinancial AnalysisCurrent Ratio:Interpretation:Quick Ratio:Interpretation:Stock Turnover:Interpretation:Debtors Collection Period:Interpretation:Creditors Collection Period:Interpretation:% of Wages:Interpretation:Gearing Ratio:Interpretation:Fixed Assets Turnover:Interpretation:Total Assets Turnover:                                                                                                                                                £mReturn on Capital Employed:Interpretation:Gross Profit %:Interpretation:Net Profit %:Interpretation:Margin al Ratio:Interpretation:Solving Ratio:Interpretation:Assets Cover:Interpretation:Operating Ratio:                                                                         £mInterpretation:IMPACT OF EVENTS: RECOMANDATION:CONCLUSION:References:Related INTRODUCTION British Airways is the largest international airline in the world. It is based at the busiest international airport of the world named Heathrow Airport with holding 42% of land slots. It has a global flight network through partners such as American Airways in US and Qantas in Australia. It serves about 150 destinations in some 75 countries. British Airways is, through its subsidiary British Airways World Cargo the words twelfth largest cargo airline. British Airways world cargo has global fright opportunities through the British Airways flight routes. Due to recession, British Airways faced loss in the year 2008-09. So the company took the decision to get merged with Lberia. As a result it reported half yearly profit of 158m, first in last two years. In 2010 it revealed the double whammy of volcanic ash cloud from Iceland and cabin crew strikes. British airways reported a pre-tax loss of 164m, larger than 148m loss it made in the same period last year. But they performed really bette r at the end of the current year and gained profits. ND British Airways’ earliest predecessor was an Aircraft Travel Pvt. Ltd. It was found in 1916. On August 25, 1919 the company inaugurated the world’s first scheduled international airways service. In November 1936 British Overseas Airways Corporation was found. The long term service was started by British European Airways in 1946. After the integration of British Overseas Airways Corporation and British European Airways, British Airways was found in March 1974. Company was officially incorporated in the year 1984. Company’s operational headquarter is situated at Heathrow airbase. Company serves to more than 150 top destinations of the world and carries about 32 million passengers on average annually. British Airways faced many ups and downs during its journey. Company faced losses due to the strike of its crew members. The strike continued for 22 days and led company to the estimated loss of  £150m. After earning good profits in the previous years, it faced huge collapse during mid of 2008 and it continued for around two years. In 2010 company announced to merge with Lberia. And finally on April 8, 2010 the combination was established. After this combination, now at the end of this year it is estimated that company will have profits. Combination of British Airways and Lberia will lead company to great profits. Performance is improving day by day. Performance of last six months is far better than previous time period. Financial Analysis Current Ratio:                                                                                                                                                 £m Years 2009-2010 2008-2009 2007-2008 Current Assets 2674 2346 3148 Current Liabilities 3740 4142 3244 Proportion 0.71 0.57 0.97 Interpretation: This Ratio is to calculate that which assets we can turn in to cash. In current liabilities we count long term borrowings, Bills payable etc. The ratio in year 2008 was 0.97which came down in year 2009 to 0.57 and in 2010 it was felt down to 0.71. This shows the current assts are recovered in 2010 after fell down in 2009. Quick Ratio:  £m Years 2009-2010 2008-2009 2007-2008 Liquid Assets 2576 2219 3036 Current Liabilities 3740 4142 3244 Proportion 0.69 0.54 0.94 Interpretation: This ratio is to calculate the liquid assets of the company. In year 2008 ratio was 0.94 which reduced to 0.54 in year 2009 but once again in year 2010 it came back to 0.69. The reason behind that current liabilities effects ratio indirectly. Stock Turnover:  £m Years 2009-2010 2008-2009 2007-2008 Sale 7994 8992 8758 Stock 98 127 112 Proportion 82days 71days 79days Interpretation: The average number of Days Company hold the stock called stock days. In year 2008 the stock turnover was 79 days it slight came down in year 2009 to 71 days but in year 2010 it again went up to 82 days. Company should circulate their stock and generate cash in small days for better growth. Debtors Collection Period:  £m Years 2009-2010 2008-2009 2007-2008 Debtors*365 182135 193450 213890 Sales 7994 8992 8758 Proportion 23days 22days 25days Interpretation: Sale or investment in fixed assets is good but company should check their debtors. This ratio helps to calculate that average in what time company receive money from debtors. British Airways debtor’s collection period in 2008 was 25days which came down in year 2009 to 22days and in2010 to 23days respectively. It is good sign for company is able to collect money in short period. Creditors Collection Period:  £m Years 2009-2010 2008-2009 2007-2008 Creditors*365 227395 243090 236520 Cost of Sales 7994 8992 8758 Proportion 29days 28days 28days Interpretation: This ratio is almost same like debtor’s collection period ratio the only difference is that this ratio is to calculate in what time company pay to their creditors. In 2008ratio was 28days which remained same in year 2009 it slight up in year 2010 to 29days. It shows that company’s reputation is very good for payment. % of Wages:  £m Years 2009-2010 2008-2009 2007-2008 Wages*100 134600 146600 143300 Sales 7994 8992 8758 Proportion 0.17% 0.17% 0.17% Interpretation: This ratio helps to calculate averagely how much company spend to sale the goods or provide the service. In year 2008 this ratio was 0.17% which remains also same in next two years. It means company’s good management is able to control the wages. Gearing Ratio:  £m Years 2009-2010 2008-2009 2007-2008 Short term lib. overdrafts+ Long Term Lib. *100 509700 504900 518400 Shareholder funds 1913 1644 3033 Proportion 267 307 171 Interpretation: In gearing Ratio Company finance it from high level loans. In year 2008 this ratio was 171 but in year 2008 it rapidly up to 307in year 2009 but in year 2010 it again come down to 267. It means company did well after 2008 to maintain their gearing ratio. Fixed Assets Turnover:  £m Years 2009-2010 2008-2009 2007-2008 Sales 7994 8992 8753 Fixed Assets 7520 7802 7890 Proportion 1.06 1.15 1.11 Interpretation: This ratio shows the increase and decrease in utilization of company’s fixed assets. In year this ratio was 1.11 which slight increase in year 2009to 1.15 but just come down in year 2010 to 1.06. Fixed assets somehow depend on the sale of the company. Total Assets Turnover:                                                                                                                                                 £m Years 2009-2010 2008-2009 2007-2008 Sales 7994 8992 8753 Total Assets 10194 10148 11038 Proportion 0.79 0.89 0.80 Interpretation: This ratio helps to measure that what is the ratio of company’s total assets turnover. Company’s total assets turnover was 0.80 which was just more in year 0.89 and in year it just down in year to 0.79. Return on Capital Employed:  £m Years 2009-2010 2008-2009 2007-2008 P.B.I.T or (L.I.B.T)*100 (53100) (40100) 88300 Long Term Liabilities+ Share Capital 6472 6006 7794 Proportion -(8.23) -(6.68) 11.33 Interpretation: R.O.C.E ratio is the perfect way to calculate the profitability of the company. R.O.C.E of British Airways was 11.33 in year 2008 which became negative in next two years 2009 and 2010 to -6.68 and -8.23. It clearly reflects that company’s revenue goes up but its profit falls down. It means that company went in loss in last two years. Gross Profit %:  £m Years 2009-2010 2008-2009 2007-2008 Gross Profit*100% (23100) (22000) 87500 Sales 7994 8992 8753 Proportion (0.03)% (0.03)% 0.10% Interpretation: G.P ratio is the share of the company compare to its sales. Gross profit is the margin on sales before deduct tax. In year 2008 company’s profit was 0.10% but in next two years company faces loss ratio 0.03% equally. It means that company definitely not being successful to improve their revenue to make the profit. Net Profit %:  £m Years 2009-2010 2008-2009 2007-2008 Net Profit/(Loss)*100% (42500) (35800) 69600 Sales 7994 8992 8753 Proportion (2.45)% (4.46)% 10.09% Interpretation: Net profit is the remained profit after deduct tax. This amount is the net amount of the company. British Airways conclude 10% net profit in year 2008 but in next two years 2009 and 2010 it shows the loss 5% and 10%. It shows overall strength of the organization. These ratios prove that company faces losses from last two years. Marginal Ratio:  £m Years 2009-2010 2008-2009 2007-2008 Net Profit/(Loss) (425) (375) 680 Sales 7994 8992 8753 Proportion (0.06) (0.05) 0.08 Interpretation: Marginal ratio is to calculate the margin of company on net profit. This ratio is very flexible ratio. The marginal ratio of the company in year2008 was 0.08 but in next two years it goes in to negative (0.05) and (0.06). Because company face losses in these two years so it effect marginal ratio of company. Solving Ratio:  £m Years 2009-2010 2008-2009 2007-2008 Shareholder funds *100 191300 164600 303300 Total Assets 10194 10148 11038 Proportion 18.77 16.22 27.48 Interpretation: This ratio clearly shows that the solving ratio percentage is down from last 2008 year continuously. In year 2008 the ratio was 27.48 which were good but after that in 2009 it came down to only16.22 but it starts recovering from last year. It is now good sign for company. Assets Cover:  £m Years 2009-2010 2008-2009 2007-2008 Total Assets 10194 10148 11038 Long Term Debt 3446 3074 2751 Proportion 2.96 3.30 4.01 Interpretation: Assets cover ratio of the company is coming down from last three years. In 2008 it was 4.01 but in year 2009 it reduced to 3.30 in year 2010 it again fell down to 2.96. This is really not a good sign for the company. Index is enlightening that company’s assets are sharing high proportion of debts which indicates that shareholders are losing faith in company’s performance. Operating Ratio:                                                                         £m Years 2009-2010 2008-2009 2007-2008 Operating Expenses 8225 9212 7880 Net Sales 7994 8992 8758 Proportion 1.03 1.02 0.90 Interpretation: This ratio shows the overall efficiency of organization. It is an important ratio for any company. In 2008 company ratio was 0.90 which climb up to 1.02 and 1.03 in years 2009 and 2010. It is a good sign for company. It means company will took up their profit in future. IMPACT OF EVENTS: British Airways faced biggest loss of its history  £401 million in year 2008-09. The reason behind that were 15days cabin crew strike and ash cloud due to volcano explosion in Iceland. But April 2010 bring some relief for British Airways when they successfully merge with Lberia the Spanish airways company. After this merger company come back on track company report  £158 million profit in first six months after merger. There was an unexpected raise of 8.4% in revenue. After two years continues loss company first time come up with profit. British Airways expecting good result and definite increase in their profit.  RECOMANDATION: British Airways is very well known company. It is true that company faces losses continuously from last two years, But Company handle the situation very effectively. The company merge with Spanish airways company Lberia. After this merge company is come back on track company had made  £158m in first six months. So it is advisable that still company is trustable. After all these still British Airways has bright future. CONCLUSION: After analyse ratios it conclude that British Airways pass through lots of up and downs. Company faces losses from last two years continuously. Still company is able to run their business effectively. In year 2008 company revenue was 8753 which slight up in 2009 to 8992 but in 2010 it was again fall to 7992. There is no doubt that company’s revenue come up in 2009 but if we see company’s gross profits and net profits ratios, company is in loss from last two years continuously. In year 2009 company G.P ratio was (2.45) and in 2010 was (2.89).Same in net profit/(loss) ratio in 2009 was (4.46) and in year 2010 was (6.64). In R.OC.E ratio also shows the negative return after 2008. In 2009 ratio was (6.68) in 2010 it was come up to (8.23). But after merging with Lberia in April 2010 British Airways starts deal with profits which is good sign for company. So it concludes after two years losses still company’s future seems bright. References: https://fame.bvdep.com/version-2011222/cgi/template.dll?checkathens=1kick=1product=1user=student%40beds.ac.ukpw=dsQVymWfUHCPaHwR7YzRVg%3d%3d 20th march 2011 www.Britishairways.com 22nd march 2011 Dyson, John R. Accounting for non-accounting students 8th edition. FT Prentice Hall.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
DQ1 CK and DQ2 DW Comment to peer Response Sec1w9 Assignment
DQ1 CK and DQ2 DW Comment to peer Response Sec1w9 - Assignment Example Quilts did not qualify for copyright protection because its purpose was functional. I agree with you that quilts are considered a part of woman’s history in America. There is definitely artistic talent associated with quilt making. The terms of copyright protection in the United States are standardized. â€Å"As a general rule, for works created after January 1, 1978, copyright protection lasts for the life of the author plus an additional 70 years†(Copywright, 2010). In your response you mentioned how copyright have evolved over the years. As you stated in your response copyrights have gotten to the production phase today. The application of copyright today includes many things including music CDs, movie DVDs, books, and website among others. Piracy is a huge problem that is hurting copyright protection in today’s economy. Piracy can be defined as an unauthorized reproduction or use of a copyright book, recording, television program, patented invention, or trademark product (Dictionary, 2011). A country that is breaking a lot copyright laws is China. It is hard or virtually impossible for American companies or the government to do anything about the piracy explosion in China. Back in the 19th century when quilting was very popular in America nobody could foresee how technological advances were going to change the world. â€Å"A quilt is a treasure which follows its owner everywhere†(Klein,
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Wk 11 (2nd Discussion) Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Wk 11 (2nd Discussion) - Article Example is really about questioning the authenticity of something regarded as fact, and this perspective should be adapted and not disregarded if one aspires to grow in truthful information.       One way to interact with information is by delving deeper into its research basis. If a claim is made, one should ask, â€Å"What scientific research supports such claims?†(Pope, 1998). If none can be provided, then this claim can be dismissed as mere hearsay, or looking at it as a challenge, is a statement which can fuel a research study to be conducted to determine whether it is true or not. If a research study is provided as a support though, then it is but proper and fitting to scrutinize the instruments and methods utilized in gathering and analyzing data. For example, if s survey questionnaire was given out by a psychologist to the respondents, validity of the tool should first be established to ensure that the questions will not bring about bias to the study or it should undergo face and content validation by experts in the field first to ensure that the questions are not leading towards specific results. This should be done since the anomalie s may be rooted foremost in the methodology, which also paved way for erroneous conclusions.       Now, the aforementioned approach can be likened to the scrutiny of the branches of a plant. Another way to determine the accuracy of information is to examine closely vague and ambiguous terms. Repressed memories of sexual abuse during childhood have been studied by many, but the definition of repressed memories has been haphazardly used by in media, literature and in legal proceedings. A gray area has clouded the vivid demarcation of whether repressed memories are figments of the unconscious defense mechanisms or whether it is a scheme of forgetting (Pope, 1998). Defining terms and allotting which definition is described in which study can provide a much clearer way of assimilating information, and a way to determine
Monday, November 18, 2019
Cold chain In food industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words
Cold chain In food industry - Essay Example Indeed, keeping the goods ‘in a safe, wholesome and good quality state from the production to the consumption stage’ (Aung, Chang and Kim 2012: 435) can be considered as the cold chain’s mission. Through a similar approach, food cold chain has been described as ‘a special kind logistics applied in food’ (Lan and Tian 2013: 347). When referring to cold chain emphasis should be given to the following fact: the quality of the cold chain’s products is difficult to be secured. In the food cold chain sector a similar issue appears. For this reason, a series of methodologies and standards have been introduced for ensuring quality in all phases of food cold chain. However, the full alignment of food cold chain with the relevant rules is not always easy, especially due to the cost involved. The various characteristics of food cold chain are analytically presented below. Reference is also made to the standards applied in the specific sector. A series of case studies has been employed in order to show the challenges that food cold chain has to face worldwide. It is proved that the sector’s advances are continuous but the lack of effective control mechanisms often reduce the quality of food cold chain’s products especially in countries with limited potentials to support food cold chain. Chapter 2 – Need for the cold chain in the food industry Cold chain, as a series of processes, has been established in order to respond to specific needs of the food industry. Reference is made in particular to fresh food products (such as vegetables, meal, fish and so on) that have to be transported to areas quite far from the area of production (Handley 2010). For such production, there can be 4 levels of transport, as described in Appendix 1 (Handley 2010). As it is made clear through the graph in Appendix 1 cold chain has a key role in the transport of fresh goods, a role that it is clearer at Transport levels 1 & 2 (Appendix 1), i.e. from factory/ production area to the wholesale (Handley 2010). At level 3 of the transport process, i.e. from the wholesale to the outlet, the value of cold chain is also critical, ensuring the high quality of fresh products that reach the market (Appendix 1). In practice, all parts of the transport process have to be developed in order for a food product to reach its destination, i.e. the end consumer; this means that cold chain, as part of the transport process, cannot be omitted since such initiative would destroy the rest of the parts of the transport process. This means that without the intervention of the cold chain fresh food products could not be available for consumers. In the study of Aung, Chang and Kim (2012) emphasis is given to the importance of the cold chain for the preservation of perishable foods; it is explained that without cold chain these foods could not reach consumers (Aung, Chang and Kim 2012). In other words, due to cold chain perishable foods can keep their qualities, as these qualities are described in table presented in Appendix 2. According to the specific table the qualities of perishable foo
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Product Success Is Not A Reliable Indicator Business Essay
Product Success Is Not A Reliable Indicator Business Essay The report highlights the importance of different factors that contribute to the success of a company and strengthens its foundation. It draws insight on product success that is given an important consideration in terms of companys future growth and revenue generation. It is an essential pre-requisite for a companys strength. It contribution is vital towards the success of a company but it is not considered as a reliable indicator as various other factors play a greater and crucial role in determining companys strength. The strength of a company lies in those indicators which have the power to govern change and sustain its competitive advantage in the long run. There are various indicators which have been changing with the course of time and changing needs of business environment. These indicators are viewed different by various scholars. Thus, enriching there interaction in a company. The term reliability is the measure of consistency of different indicators that are devised in a company structure to overcome competitive threats and have a grab on opportunities. It can be correlated to business acumen and its knowledge. A great deal of business success depends on generating new knowledge and on having the capabilities to react quickly and intelligently to this new knowledge . . . (Richard Rumelt, 1996). The products of a company play a significant role in generation of revenue but the essential indicators are the factors leading to the creation of the product in accordance with the market demand and consumer needs. The firm specific knowledge plays a crucial role in exploiting the available resources to have a competitive advantage and contribute to companys strength. An essential feature of strategy or more specifically innovation strategy should be directed towards accumulation of such firm specific knowledge. Ives et al. (1998), for instance, trace the history of knowledge management back to the ancient Sumerian civilization where cuneiform archives served to record knowledge for future generations. Modern management tends to focus on controlling, centralising and standardising knowledge which reduces the marginal cost of knowledge by economies of scale. It is argued whether knowledge management represents an extension or departure from these tendencies. The conversion of tacit into explicit knowledge and storing it is lined up with such tendencies. The new technology integrates knowledge in the organisation. It opens up new opportunities for knowledge creation and transfer beyond the more traditional means of face-to-face interaction, mentoring, job rotation and staff development (Alavi and Leidner, 1997). IBMs Larry Prusak says, knowledge is both an asset and a process of acting knowledgeable. Knowledge management is the process of continually managing knowledge of all kinds to meet existing and emerging needs, to identify and exploit existing and acquired knowledge assets and to develop new opportunities (Quintas et al., 1997). The knowledge management programmes have coheren ce across a number of dimensions, including organisational structure and culture, people aspects, process and technology (Quintas et al., 1997 p387). Harry Scarbrough (1998) points that managing knowledge is not easy as it are often sticky and tacit. It cant be extracted from its context. He raises human relation issues such as staff will resist being treated as a moveable asset. It is further argued that knowledge itself appears in a number of different guises according to context: intellectual capital (e.g. Bontis, 1998; Roos et al, 1998); knowledge assets (Boisot, 1998; Teece, 1998); workplace and organisational capital (Adler and Cole, 1993; Argyris, 1992). The formulation of an innovation strategy having the ability to cope up with an external environment that is considered to be complex and ever changing, with consequent uncertainty about present and future advancements in technology, competition challenges and market demands may prove to strengthen companys business tactics in the long run. It is argued that the distinction between approaches i.e. choice and implementation breaks down when firms decision are made in complex and fast changing environments. The rational approach to innovative strategies dominance is believed to be less effective than the incremental approach which lays emphasis on changing needs in the light of new information, learning and understanding that is consciously obtained. The nature of the competitive threats and opportunities that emerge from advances in technology rightly stress the importance of developing and protecting firm-specific technology in order to enable firms to enable themselves against the c ompetition (Porter, 1980). It is argued that Porters approach underestimates the power of technology to change the course of the competion by transforming industrial structures and overestimates the organisational competencies to exploit them. It is very difficult (but not impossible e.g. the case of Nokia) for a manufacturing traditional textiles to have an innovation strategy to develop and make computers (Patel, P. and Pavitt, K., 1998). The product success is not a reliable indicator because when the product enters the market its reliability and validity depends on the market forces and competition and both of them are based on uncertainties. A firms technological innovation requires complementary assets to produce and deliver new products and services. Prior commercialisation activities require and enable firms to build such complementarities (Teece, 1986b). New products and processes can either enhance or destroy the value of such assets (Tushman et al., 1986). For example: IBMs direct sales increased with the development of computers, while disk brakes were rendered useless as auto industries invested in drum brakes. Further ample evidences are available for a given type of competence (e.g. quality) which can be supported or manufactured by different routines and combination of skills. Garvin (1998) and Clark and Fujimoto (1991) studies both indicate that there was no one formula for achieving either high quality or high product development process. There is a firm competition between firms on the basis of product design, quality, process efficiency and other attributes. It is pointed that firms are constantly seeking to create new combination, and rivals are continuously attempting to improve their competencies or to imitate the competence of their most qualified competitors (Schumpeter, 1934). Such processes drive the destruction of product creativity. The focus is on the dynamic capabilities of firms which provides a coherent framework to integrate existing and empirical knowledge, and facilitate prescription (Teece, D. and Pisano,G., 1994). What depicts the strength of a company in global market is not its products success but demonstration of firms timely responsiveness and rapid and flexible product innovation, integration of management capabilities to effectively coordinate and redeploy internal and external competences. It is offered as an emerging paradigm of a business firm. It tries to facilitate a prescription by integration of existing conceptual and empirical knowledge. It is an indicator which provides competitive advantage to firm rooted in their high performance routines, processes and continued by history. They are built as they cant be brought from a market place. The very essence of capabilities/competencies is that they cant be readily assembled through markets (Teece, 1982, 1986a; Kogut and Zander, 1992). Resear chers (Doz and Shuen, 1989; Mody, 1990) have pointed that collaboration and partnership can be vehicles for new organisational learning, helping firms to recognize dysfunctional routines, and preventing strategic blind spots. This concept of dynamic capabilities opens the door to inter-organisational learning. Leonard Barton (1992) finds that the organisational core capabilities can easily create core rigidities. That is, opportunity for learning will be close in to previous activities and thus will be transaction and production specific (Teece, 1988). Porter (1980) describes two market strategies: innovation leadership and innovation followership. The initial one is concerned with those firms which attempt to introduce a new product to gain a technological lead and temporary monopoly profits whereas the latter tries to initiate the market pioneer by reverse engineering. It is argued that the survival and growth in the firms succeed or fail in their innovations, whether offensive or defensive. For a firm to survive and grow in competition, it must be capable of adapting its technologically based strategy to this competition. The introduction of a new product in any industry poses a threat to older products and processes by turning them obsolete or uneconomic. It has been inferred that core competencies play a vital role in companys strength. Managers will be judged on their ability to identify, cultivate and exploit the core competencies that make growth possible (Hamel and Prahalad, 1994).In the long run competitiveness derives from an ability to build at lower cost and more speedily than competitors, the core competencies that spawn unanticipated products. The real sources of competitive advantage are to be found in managements ability to consolidate corporate wide technologies and production skills into competencies that empower individual businesses to adapt quickly to changing opportunities(Hamel and Prahalad, 1994). The validity of this statement still holds its firm position in the mainstay thinking of todays firms. Core competence leads to the harmonisation of a number of related skills which starts building up an intelligent organisation. The competence base should be strong and should be managed properly. It should not be overlo oked. The core product of a company is the crux of an end product.For example: Cannon has 84% share in laser printer engines but miniscule laser printer share.It has built its core competence in engines rather than printers through continuous feedback from customers. It has been able to manage low risk, low cost and reduction in lead time by focusing on its competencies. In conclusion, a well-crafted strategy can lead a company to be a pioneer firm in the market if it possesses the ability to convert intellectual leadership into market leadership and be ahead of their rivals. The foresight of the rising opportunities plays a vital role in gaining a competitive advantage. Core competence and dynamic capabilities holds the key to exploit opportunities and are intriguing assets which are built with time. By getting hold of such opportunities a company can capture royalties, market reputation, customer lock-in, vast distribution network and set or define rules for other companies to compete, as Sony did in portable audio products and Intel has done in microprocessors. The key to innovation is stability.The focus of a company should be on organisational stewardship and stability rather than short-term profit fixation which can be gained from the success of one product.
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
mussolini Essay -- essays research papers
The first World War left the entire world in a state of chaos, suffrage as well as separation; this was all mainly centred in Europe. The European countries were most effected by this war because it was so close to home. Italy, being such a new country saw these effects in an extreme way. The already regionalised country became more and more separated and saw all the crippling societal results of this war. Benito Mussolini was able to capitalize on the state the country found itself in. Mussolini and his fascist ideals were able to overthrow Italy and turn it into a dictatorship and lead it into the second World War behind Hitler’s Germany. Mussolini was able to successfully turn Italy into a dictatorship under a fascist regime because of the country’s internally divided war-torn society as well as the weak state of Italy’s minority governments which could not unite to oppose fascism and finally because of his ability to appeal to this country through a false sen se of security and nationalism. In the troubled postwar period Mussolini organized his followers in the Fasci di combattimento, which advocated aggressive nationalism as well as violently opposed the communists and socialists. Amid strikes, social unrest, and parliamentary breakdown, Mussolini preached forcible restoration of order and practised terrorism with armed groups. In 1921 he was elected to parliament and the National Fascist party was officially organized. Backed by nationalists and propertied interests, in October 1922, Mussolini sent the Fascists to March on Rome . King Victor Emmanuel III permitted them to enter the city and called on Mussolini to form a cabinet. This created the fascist regime under Mussolini. The fascist regime turned society into individuals who would just obey and distrust reason as well as understand violence as an essential tool to order. Ideally the country would transform into a totalitarian state; where the government would have total control over the lives of individuals and this would mean that anything is justified if it serves the states ands. Fascism emphasized victory, glorified war, is cruel to the weak, and is irrational and intolerant. Mussolini used the condition of the country to his advantage in his journey to becoming the dictator of Italy. Italian fascism had at least four principal phases. Until 1925, it was political action seeking an ideolog... ...inent invasion by the Allies of the Italian mainland at last caused a rebellion within the Fascist party. In July, 1943, the Fascist grand council refused to support his policy-dictated by Hitler- and the king dismissed him and had him placed under arrest. He was freed two months later by a daring German rescue party and became head of the Fascist puppet government set up in Northern Italy by Hitler. Italy unlike the rest of Europe was greatly affected by the first World War and the state that the country was left in made it vulnerable to the extremist view of Mussolini and was easily transformed into a dictatorship and lead into a fateful alliance with Germany. Mussolini and his fascist ideals were able to overthrow Italy and turn it into a dictatorship and lead it into the second World War behind Hitler’s Germany. Mussolini was able to successfully turn Italy into a dictatorship under a fascist regime because of the country’s internally divided war-torn society as well as the weak state of Italy’s minority governments which could not unite to oppose fascism and finally because of his ability to appeal to this country through a false sense of security and nationalism.
Monday, November 11, 2019
My Father’s Life by Raymond Carver Essay
The last paragraph of this essay is my favorite by far, â€Å"†¦in their beautiful voices out of my childhood. Raymond. †The author of this story made it so tangible the dislike Raymond Jr. had for his birth name that it felt like a true revelation when the character finally embraced it. To hear his father’s name echo as his own name and to enjoy it leaves the reader with the same sense of happiness. The author of this essay has such a grasp on the lives and senses of a lower class worker that he surely must have experienced it in his childhood. It doesn’t surprise me to find out that his father worked at a saw-mill. That type of gritty upbringing must leave an indelible mark on your psyche. This mark was clearly a reservoir from which to pull deep and meaningful prose that truly paints a picture in the mind of someone who lacks those same experiences. This essay tells the story of a boy who liked his father more than most. This boy even liked his father, very possibly, more than his mother. It also tells how perceptive the boy and, later on, man were. This Raymond Jr. recognized the weaknesses of his father and still fell into the same traps himself. This essay taught me much about the depression era environment that the main character’s father, Clevie Raymond Carver, grew up in. His father rode on boxcards and pickled apples to get by. He also was able to set aside money to buy a car. I never imagined an environment where a day laborer would have the excess income to set aside spare change. In this modern age of paycheck to paycheck living that is truly an amazing feat. If the author was able to expand on his writings to fulfill a request of mine I would prefer to hear more about his father’s life before marriage. His father clearly had faults but what drove him into that personality. The character’s father was an alcoholic but still strived to better the life of his family. I’d like to know why.
Friday, November 8, 2019
Iroquois essays
Iroquois essays Theories of literature demand the reader separate the author from the story. Millions of students engrain the mantra of the author is not a character in the novel into their memory or risk failing the most basic of English courses. While the author may not directly play a role in the novel, he does create a picture of a certain time and culture Therefore literature represents culture, especially in folklore and religious stories. This is true in the case of the creation myth; what a person believes about his creation provides insight to his cultural and personal beliefs. Comparing and contrasting the creation stories of the worlds three main religions with the creation myth of the Iroquois nation illustrates this link between culture and creation of a society. Within the stories of creation the reader gains insight to the use of symbolism in everyday life, the role of gender within society, religion as well as human relations with the earth itself. The similarities in the creation stories of several cultures can be attributed to the fact that the Judeo-Christian and Islamic versions of the creation are one in the same. The Quran does not retell the creation story; rather it makes comments and corrections on the previous Judeo-Christian creation. Therefore the symbolism between the three cultures and time periods is one and the same. This leaves many of the symbols in the works, however interesting and significant to the text, irrelevant to the topic of this paper. The only time a compare or contrast in symbols will be mentioned is when the Quran specifically addresses a change to the creation story as seen in the first five books of the Bible/Torah. The purpose of this work is to stress the symbolic significance in the Iroquois creation myth in relation to those of the East/Western religions. Readers of literature may assume the works of other cultures are a word for word account of what is meant....
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Monday, November 4, 2019
Differences between Ethics and Law From Bioethical Point of View Essay
Differences between Ethics and Law From Bioethical Point of View - Essay Example Although there is a boundary between laws and ethics, the boundary does not separate them sufficiently. This paper seeks to define law and ethics and in the process try to bring out the difference between the two. Ethics comes from the notion of rights and wrongs within a given society. These wrong and rights are based on actions we would expect others to do for us in return. We are thus forced or expected to do to other people, as we would wish them to do to us. With time, these expectations have been developed into principles that define ethics in a given society. On the other hand, laws are developed and imposed by the government to enhance harmony among members of a given society1. This implies that laws are generally accepted in a given society as guiding principles if they create a difference between wrongs and rights. The government, through peoples representatives, creates laws for a given society and not the vice versa. For these laws to be generally acceptable, they must fu lfill the society’s requirements for wrongs and rights. Laws are therefore developed from existing ethics and imposed by the government to mediate the relationship between members of a particular society. An example of a common ethic in medical practice is treating emergency cases urgently. A similar law created by the government would state that all emergency cases brought to a hospital should be attended within the shortest time possible. The law would continue and give penalty for defaulters. Similarly, ethics have attached consequences that stipulate actions to be taken on defaulters. Laws are therefore developed from existing ethics for them to be generally accepted by a given society2. The development of laws from existing ethics implies that laws are just extensions of ethics and hence related. Due to general acceptance principle, ethics are unwritten rules that mediate between people of a given society. On the other hand, laws have a wider coverage and varied interpre tations that require preservation in writing. Ethics of a given society do not require to be kept in a written format since people are aware and ready to commit to them. Ethics are therefore established on people’s conscience eliminating the requirement of written a document. For a code of conduct to be accepted as an ethic in a given society, people must have the ability to recall it when a need for application arises. Therefore, some institutions have a written document that stipulates the code of ethics that must be upheld by the members of such institution. For example, health institutions have a code of ethics document for medical practitioners. Elimination of ambiguity and preservation are the two main reasons for writing down laws. Ethics on the other hand are preserved in people conscience and passed from one generation to another. This factor weakens the difference between written and unwritten rules. Writing of laws is done objectively while ethics are preserved in people‘s consciousness for a similar objectives. This implies that the existence of laws as written rules and ethics as unwritten rules does not create sufficient difference between the two implying that laws and ethics are similar. Laws have to be approved by all arms of the government before being put into application. On the other hand, ethics do not require approval by any party since they are generally accept
Saturday, November 2, 2019
Homemade Lava Lamp Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Homemade Lava Lamp - Essay Example Subsequently add 10 or more droplets of the selected food colouring to the mixture in the bottle until a rich colour is seen. In understanding how the lava lamp works, the first step would be to understand that oil and water do not mix. They are insoluble. The main goal in the liquids used in the lava lamp is to obtain two liquids that have very close densities but are insoluble in each other and that is why oil and water are most preferable (Cothron et.al 4). Oil and water will not mix in the experiment as water is made up of highly charged compounds while oil is made up of long carbon chains that have no charge. As a result, the water molecules are not attracted to the oil molecules hence rendering the two liquids immiscible. The immiscibility of the two liquids causes the separation that will be seen in the experiment just as observed in our everyday life such as the kitchen sinks and oil spills. Further, the oil being less dense than water will float on top of the water as will be exemplified in the experiment. The baking soda used in the experiment contains sodium bicarbonate. Baking soda is technical ly both basic and acidic. When the baking soda is mixed with water, a chemical reaction is formed that releases carbon dioxide gas (Heuer, 10). Carbon dioxide gas is produced in a bubbling manner which is seen in the coloured fluid that is in the bottle. Food colouring is used to merely add colour to the experiment. When added, the food colouring falls through the oil and mixes with the water at the bottom giving it the particular colour of choice that is to illuminate at the onset of the chemical reactions in the
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)