Value Added Tax Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Value Added Tax - Essay Example The concern for the measure is not limited to its monetary or financial impacts on trade and commerce but also in the overall all competitiveness of industries and markets. The objective of this paper is to be able to assess current opinion regarding the VAT measures and determine areas of concern. The opinion of various stakeholders on the issue, EU objectives and the state of global markets will also be taken into consideration. The paper will then conclude with a summation of the issues that dominate current discussion and weigh the legitimacy of projections on the issue. Lszl Kovcs' opening statement to the 2006 Joint Conference forum of the European Commission (EC) and the European Banking Federation (EBF) regarding the modernization of the VAT Rules for Financial Services and Insurances, acknowledged the interest of the issue to a number of sectors and industries. He reiterates to the assembly that the reviews of the VAT rules are motivated by the desire to simplify them to enhance and unify pan-European trade, particularly financial services (Tabellini 2003). ... n the assessment done by the 1973 Hutchinson Report: objections raised against the directive were concerned the lack of actual infrastructures to facilitate the application of the measures which impairs consumer credit levels. In response to the challenges of determining taxable amounts and VAT deductions in these industries, the industries were given exemptions due to the lack accounting and fiscal methods to implement measures. The lack of capacity was not based on the lack of fiscal or accounting skills but rather on the lack of justification of administrative charges and the complication of legal and accounting jurisprudence. It was only in the middles of the 1990's that efforts to implement full taxation were picked up. The Commission together with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) determined that it was possible to charge VAT using cash flow methods of financial services, known as the truncated cash flow method (TCA). Technical feasibility tests were conducted in financial institutions and yielded within acceptable parameters as well. Using the system, there would be no VAT or zero rating on business-to-business (B2B) transactions and will be considered as customer charges in business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions. However, there was still opinion that the systems was still to complex for actual implementation and migration to TCA was inhibitive because of the cost. In response to these continuing concerns, the Commission has identified three key issues for resolution (EC 2006, pp. 3-4): 1. Mitigation of administrative cost of implementation and fiscal supervision for economic operation and fiscal compliance 2. Establishment of related budget security and legal certainty for Member States and economic operators respectively 3.

Country analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Country analysis - Essay Example Shimko attributes the economic deterioration in Afghanistan to a military strike and transformation that followed after 9/11 attacks. United States had resolved to fight terrorism by targeting heads based in Afghanistan. Military revolution) affect the economic situation of the country especially if one of the countries is superior in terms of technology, military, and economically (Shimko 17. Afghanistan belongs to the periphery countries. It shares a small percentage of the global wealth despite owning oil ores. The agricultural, labor, and natural resource system of Afghanistan is dependent on the status of the government and the level of dependence on foreign aid. Shimko notes that the effect of post Middle-East American military action has resulted to a country that is struggling to get the economic condition on its feet. The country registered a slow economic growth rate since 2013 due to weak governance capacity after the anti-terrorism wars. The country has failed to implement operations together because of unending wars since the invasion by Soviet Union in 1979 (Shimko 31). Afghanistan used to contribute an integral share to the agricultural sector of the world before the war and unending political instability. It used to export surplus produce to USA, France, India, and Pakistan before Cold War and US invasion in 2001. The insurgence of military forces does not only seek to boost security against terrorism, but also control mineral deposits that could turn the country into a world-mining center. However, the country is among the poorest countries in the global economic position platform. Afghanistan would subsidize and protect copper, iron, cobalt and lithium mineral deposit in a bid to boost its mining industry. The deposits remain unutilized because of the prevailing poor economic status. However, the country is struggling in weak government and post-terror

Reflection on Uncomfortable Experience Bed Bath

Reflection on Uncomfortable Experience Bed Bath People Personal Development. Introduction The development of reflective skills is a key element of personal and professional development for nursing and healthcare staff (Smith, 1998). However, it is important to be able to develop effective skills in reflection, which incorporates much more than simply reviewing incidents, but forms part of a process of ongoing development of self awareness and insight into the actions of self and others (Rolfe et al, 2001). According toJones (1995), reflection is also an important part of developing clinical skills and understanding the relationship between evidence and quality of healthcare practice. This means that reflection is also part of professional development and provision of the best possible standards of care (Gustafsson and Fagerberg, 2004; Higgs and Titchen, 2001). Some authors suggest that reflection is both flawed and biased, and because of this, is not necessarily a useful activity, but this is usuall because if reflection is not focused properly, it does not achieve what i t is supposed to achieve (Burnard, 2002). Any reflection could be poentially biased, as it is an indiviudal and personal action applying critical thinking to essentially subjective experiences (Jones, 1995). However, the value of reflection has been repeatedly demonstrated in the literature as providing elements of personal development through insight and learning, and professional development, through reflecting on own practice in the light of ‘best practice’ (Cottrell, 2003; Gibbs, 1988; Schon, 1987). Reflection often focuses on distinct elements of nursing experience, such as critical incidents or significant occurrences within clincal practice (Minghella and Benson, 1995; Smith, 1998). This kind of reflection is important to allow nurses to understand the experience and their own role within the case, and to consider how to change their behaviours to improve future practice (Gibbs, 1988; John and Freshwater, 1998). It is this capacity to change and improve practice which is the real value and goal of reflection (Rolfe et al, 2001). This essay focuses on an experience caring for a patient with a spinal injury, who was immobile and had suffered incontinence of faeces, which required nursing care to assist with personal hygiene. The chosen model for the reflection is Gibbs(1998) model (see Appendix) which is a cylical model which allows for a review of the incident and an evaluation of the experience, followed by development of a plan for future practice improvement. Discussion Description In this element of the model, Gibbs (1988) encourages the practitioner to describe the incident, to say what happened. In this case, the patient was immobile within an acute hospital facility, had been incontinent of faeces, and was, understandably, upset and embarassed by what had happened. In particular, the patient, who was a young adult male, was very aware of the odour. I assisted the qualified nurse in attending to his hygiene needs, using appropriate manual handling equipment. The patient was upset by the experience. Simply by describing this incident in a few lines, I have been able to highlight key elements of the incident which start to emerge as important for considering future practice. Feelings In this element of the Gibbs (1988) cycle, the practitioner is encouraged to describe how they were feeling. In this case, I was also embarassed, and made even more so by the awareness of the faecal odour and the fact that this was a young male, who was being given a bed bath by two women. I also felt very ‘sorry’ for the young man, who was immobile due to an accident and spinal cord injury. Here, reflecting on my feelings makes me realise that my feelings may have been transmitted to the patient, and that a professional approach is needed because the patient is already embarassed and self-conscious. I was aware that we had a lot of power, because the patient could not help himself, and that how I behaved was important in reducing the effect on the patient. Evaluation In this element of the reflective cycle, the practitioner is required to consider what is good and what is bad about the experience. In this case, it was good that working with an experienced nurse, the whole procedure was managed swiftly and professionally, and that communication with the patient was maintained throughout. The qualified nurse had cared for the patient before, and they seemed to have a good nurse-patient relationship. Her manner was professional but warm, not patronising. The negative parts of the experience included my own feelings getting in the way of my professional relationship with the patient, and the fact that I am sure he was aware of my reaction to the situation. Analysis This is the key section of the Gibbs (1988) cycle, because it encourages the nurse to analyse the situation, and it is here that critical analysis skills come to the fore. In relation to caring for a patient in this kind of situation, the complexity of the emotional/psychological and personal dimensions of the patient’s experience means that professional approaches to their care are very important (Slater, 2003). The use of different hygiene aids and approaches, such as, for example, planning to ‘check’ for hygiene needs very frequently, might assist in preventing this situation occurring. However, as a junior student, I was not really aware of what other options there might be. Further discussion with my mentor revealed that the patient had been considering a stoma bag, because this would give him some control over managing faecal incontinence and would allow the patient some independence. The patient was paraplegic, not quadraplegic, and would, with the stoma ba ck, be able to manage his own hygiene needs in relation to bowel function. The implications of this kind of surgery would be considerable. I didn’t realise until after the incident, whilst discussing it with my mentor, that this was on the patient’s mind, and that much of his response to the situation was due to frustration and that these experiences were contributing to his desire to have surgery to have a stoma formed. Conclusion This section of the reflective cycle asks the nurse what else they could have done. In this situation, I think I could have perhaps discussed more of the patient’s case with the nurse prior to the incident, or could have asked the patient, sensitively, what we could have done to support him better. I could also have spent more time considering the kind of impact that spinal cord injury would have on a young, otherwise fit man, in terms of the social impact, and the lack of independence. Certainly I had never considered major surgery as a means of providing some personal independence. Action Plan Here the nurse writes bullet points of action for future practice. In the future I will: Discuss cases in more detail with the qualified nurse Be aware of my own emotional responses and try to act more professionally. Listen to the patient and encourage them to talk frankly with me. Try to develop better communication skills Spend more time after even seemingly innoccuous incidents talking with my mentor about cases, to become more aware of the complexities of patient experiences. Overall Conclusion This reflective cycle has provided me with a deeper insight into a situation which for me, was at first all about my response and feeling sorry for the patient. Gibbs (1988) provides a good cycle for reflection, because it moves the individual on towards changing their own practice, not just becoming aware of it. References 2 Burnard P (2002) Learning human skills: an experiential and reflective guide for nurses and health care professionals, 4th edition Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann Cottrell, S (2003) Skills for Success: The Personal Development Handbook Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan. Gibbs, G. (1988) Learning by Doing. A Guide to Teaching and Learning Methods Further Education Unit, Oxford Polytechnic, Oxford Gustafsson, C. and Fagerberg, I. (2004) Reflection: the way to professional development? Journal of Clinical Nursing 13 271-280. Higgs J, Titchen A (2001) Professional practice in health, education and the creative arts Oxford: Blackwell Science John C and Freshwater D (1998) Transforming nursing through reflective practice Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. Jones, P.R. (1995) Hindsight bias in reflective practice: an empirical investigation. Journal of Advanced Nursing 21 (4) 783–788. Minghella E, Benson A (1995) Developing reflective practice in mental health nursing through critical incident analysis, Journal of Advanced Nursing, 21, 205-213. Rolfe G, Freshwater D, Jasper M (2001) Critical Reflection for Nursing and the Helping Professions: A User Guide. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Schà ¶n, D A (1987) Educating the reflective practitioner San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Slater W (2003) Management of faecal incontinence of a patient with spinal cord injury. British Journal of Nursing, 12(28), 727-734. Smith A (1998) Learning about reflection. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 28(4), 891-898 Appendix Gibbs (1988) Cycle of Reflection http://www.nursesnetwork.co.uk/images/reflectivecycle.gif

Jane Austens View of Marriage in Pride and Prejudice Essay -- Austen

Jane Austen's View of Marriage in Pride and Prejudice "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want if a wife" This comment is humorous and satirical, but holds an underlying truth.   The fact that Jane Austen opens the novel with such a comment on marriage evidences the importance of the theme in the book.   Indeed the novel is all about marriage in society.   Austen lived in a time when marriage was the only way out for some women, or they would be forced to become a governess and lose their independence.   The way that this opening sentence is out provides another theme, satire.   Austen sees the following marriages that she writes on as amusing but they are still frowned upon, such as the marriage of Mr. Collins and Charlotte Lucas.   Austen sees this marriage as beneficial for both partners.   He can potter around the garden and suck up to Lady Catherine deBourgh, while Charlotte spends her time alone reading. The first marriage to be examined is that of Mr and Mrs Bennet.   This is not a marriage of love, but of vulgarity and shallow natures of both parties. Mr Bennet is of a higher class than Mrs Bennet, who is "a woman of mean understanding" contrasting Mr Bennet's "quick parts".   They have been married 23 years and at once, the Bennets realise that they have absolutely nothing in common, so they withdraw from each other.   Mr Bennet spends all day in his study retreated from Mrs Bennet and her gossip. "With a book he was regardless of time" "Mrs Bennet spends her day with tittle-tattle and idle conversation.   She is vulgar in her behaviour; the only aim for her is to get her daughters married off to someone with lots of money." Austen shows us ... ...g from the couple's opening resentment of each other - Elizabeth herself describes the "malice of Mr Darcy".   His all turns around, and we know that Darcy is the most suitable husband for Elizabeth. He is generous and intelligent, and Elizabeth is "convinced that she could have been happy with him" when she almost loses him.   In fact of course they are, and we don't need a sequel to be told that! Works Cited Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Ed. Donald Gray. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1996. Fritzer, Penelope Joan. Jane Austen and Eighteenth-Century Courtesy Books. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1997. Monaghan, David. Jane Austen Structure and Social Vision. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 1980. Rubinstein, E., ed. Twentieth Century Interpretations of Pride and Prejudice. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1969.

East African Breweries – Analysis of It’s Business & Financial Performance

Brief company overview Established in 1922 and with its headquarters in Nairobi- Kenya, East African Breweries Ltd. (EABL) is aleading branded alcohol manufacturing company in the East African region engaged in the marketing,brewing and selling of alcoholic and non- alcoholic drinks as well as the manufacturing of glass containers. Majority owned by Diageo, it consists of a number of subsidiaries. 1 1. 2. Research rationale.Compared to their counterparts in the developed world, little research has been carried out on organizationsthat operate in African countries as these are seen as lacking the management capacity or financial resourceseither to compete with larger organizations in the developed world or to interest international investors. However the events of the last two years, which have seen investors lose millions of dollars in theirinvestments due to the collapse of the international financial markets, have increased the need forinternational investors to diversify their por tfolios into regions hitherto considered unimportant.By carryingout a critical business and financial evaluation of the performance of a typical large African organization, thisreport attempts to highlight the missed opportunities that may remain untapped in emerging markets. With annual revenues of KES 21 billion (US$ 285 million), KES 26 billion (US$ 367 million) and KES 32 1The subsidiaries include Kenya Breweries Ltd. , Uganda Breweries Ltd. , Kenya Maltings, UDV Kenya and CentralGlass Industries. The company also holds a 20% stake in Tanzania Breweries Ltd. (EABL, 2008a p. 5) – 2 – Â © 2009 PK Mwangi Global Consultingbillion (US$ 479 million)2in FY06, FY07 and FY08 respectively and an adherence to internationalaccounting and audit standards i. e. IFRSs and ISAs respectively, thiscompany3may represent a well managed company with growing profitability and investment potential. Thisreport attempts to establish this by analyzing its business and financial performance over a three year period. To assist in the analysis of EABL’s performance the average exchange rate prevalent in the three years understudy are as follows: Table 1: Foreign exchange rates.Average annual exchange rate Calendar YearUS Dollars (USD) Kenya Shillings (KES)2006 1 73. 738702007 1 70. 8073320081 66. 83044 Source: Oanda (2009) 1. 3. Research objective and question. This research delves into both the business and financial performance of EABL with an aim to identify themajor business elements that are key to its performance. It goes further to look at how these business factorshave impacted on the financial performance of the company. It is difficult to separate the financial performance of a company from its wider business environment andhence the business and financial performance of a company are closely interlinked.Decisions made at thecorporate and/ or business level impact directly on company’s financial performance. Where corporatestrategy aims to grow t he company through acquisition of competitor firms, this will have a direct impact onprofitability and profitability indicators. Increased sales in new markets will lead to bigger profits andmargins where costs are well managed. 1. 4. Research approach. Drawing primarily on secondary sources of information (accounting books, annual reports, academicjournals, newspaper articles, etc) this research sought to analyze both quantitative data and qualitative

High Schools Should Be Able to Sell Junk Food Essay

High schools should be able to sell candy, chips and soft drink. If â€Å"variety is a spice of life† than why shouldn’t it apply to younger people? Recently schools have been taking into consideration depriving students of branded â€Å"unhealthy† foods in canteens such as candy, chips and lollies. They condemn junk food as the cause for obesity and believe that by banning it completely, the problem will disappear. Banning junk food from schools won’t change anything or stop people from being overweight completely. What label is put on unhealthy, where is the line drawn? There is a fine line between certain healthy and unhealthy foods; some could even be labelled as either. A hamburger for example generally contains meat, bread and salad. A sandwich on the other hand contains pretty much the same thing! Does that mean that sandwiches should also be banned from schools? For daily nutrients a variety of foods is needed, everything in moderation of course. Certain foods shouldn’t just be eliminated from a person’s diet. Think of the food pyramid (the amounts we should have the most to least of), people should have breads; pasta’s and rices the most. Then have vegetables and fruits. Next on the pyramid are eggs, dairy and meat. Last but not least are fats, oils and sweets. While fats, oils and sweets should be consumed the least, they are still needed and important for our body to function well. Unhealthy foods should still be kept in schools as people should know to eat in moderation. Students are constantly reminded about healthy eating. All throughout primary and high school students are taught in PE the healthy food pyramid and the dangers of eating too much of one food. Students being mature and well educated should be able to choose what they want to eat, knowing the consequences of their actions. Letting them make their own choices also sets them up for life in the real world, as they need to realise that eve rything has consequences, whether good or bad. While some may argue that children obviously can’t make the right choices, I beg to differ. While people blame adolescent’s obesity on their eating habits, there is another factor that isn’t seen. Another reason for child obesity is lack of exercise. In this day and age most children’s form of entertainment comes from a screen, whether it be Playstation, Wii, Xbox or even just their phones. Sure, people still attend sporting clubs and such but the amount of people who do has dropped dramatically in the last 20 years. Majority of people 20 years ago played outside games for their entertainment, getting the amount of exercisenecessary to burn fat and be healthy. Students are mature enough to make their own choices and shouldn’t have to be sheltered. If they take away junk food, not only are they taking away kids freedom of choice but they are taking away their enjoyment too. A school in Seattle is considering relaxing it’s ban on unhealthy foods in high schools after the policy has cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars. Moreover, opponents of the ban say it’s not even accomplishing its mission of preventing kids from eating bad foods; as many students just go to milk bars to buy products they used to buy at vending machines. The revenues are down by more than $50,000 dollars a year which has caused the school to cut back on funding to a range of student activities, with poorer families unable to attend. A member of the board admitted â€Å"I think we went a little too far.†(www.seattletimes.com.)From this example it’s evident that while people believe strongly about banning junk food, they need to ask themselves some questions, is it really for the better? Will it just make things worse? Not many bought the healthy foods and because of that others had to suffer. Poorer families who can’t afford to pay for extracurricular activities will be forced to not participate, providing their kids with fewer opportunities than the rest. While others may say that students will eventually get used to the healthy foods, they need to read this article. According to the article they trialled this ban for seven years, with the profits not getting any better. If they want to wait they will be waiting forever because it will never change. Sure it might just be this be this school but if it happened there then what reason is there that it wouldn’t happen here? There needs to be a middle ground, where they don’t take the ban to an extreme as there are good intentions for the ban. School canteens should sell both types of foods but make healthier foods a cheaper option than fatter foods. Banning junk food from schools won’t change people’s eating habits or stop people from being overweight. Both unhealthy and healthy foods are needed for a healthy diet but in moderation. Schools should make healthier food an easier and more affordable option for people to buy at canteens. As the old clique states; don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.

Business Strategy Essay Example

Business Strategy Essay Example Business Strategy Essay Business Strategy Essay He has an MBA in Marketing Management from the University of Western Sydney and he has an MA in Knowledge Management from the University of Technology, Sydney. His research focuses on Power, Control and Influence in inter-firm relationships, as well as strategy and organizational theory more generally. Catalogue entry This is an integrating module. The module discusses key concepts of strategy and provides a range of analytical models that enable students to make sense of the complexity of the environment in which organizations operate. It builds upon students prior knowledge of the functional areas of organizations and relates such knowledge to issues of strategic development. Aims This module aims to: Inform students of the key developments in, and thinking derived from, the study of strategy Explore models and theories of strategy and their application by practicing managers Critically appraise where and when such models are useful Provide interesting and engaging examples and exercises that illustrate these concepts with the intent of building students capability in strategic thinking and practice. Learning outcomes Knowledge On completion of this module the successful student will be able to demonstrate the ability to: 1. Critically analyses the concepts, theoretical ideas and empirical research endings which underpin the study and management practice of strategy; 2. Evaluate and apply these concepts, theoretical ideas and empirical findings to develop their own views on strategic decision making in organizations; 3. Explain the notion of sustainable competitive advantage and the implications of strategy-making within a dynamic environment; 4. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of international strategic management 5. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the complexity in implementing and managing change. Skills This module Will call for the successful student to demonstrate: 6. Strategic thinking through reflection on organizational practice and applied work on case studies; 7. The ability to apply concepts, frameworks and techniques pertaining to the strategic analysis process; 8. The ability to generate strategy options for an enterprise and evaluate strategic choice and organizational fit. Syllabus 1. What is Strategy? An appreciation of strategy 2. Making a Start. Purpose, goals and where to start in a messy process 3. External Analysis: PESTLE and Future Thinking Industry lifestyle, competitiveness and profitability 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. SIBS Strategy: From a market/customer perspective Internal Audit: Resources and capabilities Generic strategies and value chain analysis Organizational Culture: Influence on strategy formulation and implementation Managing strategic change Making Strategy Happen: Measuring performance International Strategy 10. Putting it all together Programmer Learning Outcomes Addressed in This Module Knowledge and understanding Cognitive skills Practical skills AY The core business of firms and its relationship to strategic management 82 Apply and critically evaluate the impact Of management models, concepts and theories in organizational environments CO Undertake research to address strategic and other management issues within organizations AS The theory and practice of business in international contexts 83 Evaluate options using appropriate decision-making criteria including the use of financial tools. CO Conduct strategic organizational analysis to identify key strategic problems and develop solutions AY The role of entrepreneurship, enterprise and consultancy in the business environment 86 Analyses and develop diverse investigative methodologies to apply to solve organizational management problems CO Undertake critical analyses to develop, plan and recommend implementation of strategic decisions. Teaching and learning strategies Learning on this module will involve a mix of the following activities: Reading from the set text Reading recommended additional readings and papers Case study analysis Applying your own experience and knowledge to theories and concepts Group activities Watching selected video clips and presentations Completing assignments The learning strategy will develop the capability of students to understand theoretical frameworks and apply them to the industry to develop a deeper understanding of its operation. Concepts will be developed in a generic intent and then applied to industry, in combination with knowledge gained in other modules. It is important to stress that the module will provide broad frameworks for understanding ; comprehensive coverage is neither intended nor appropriate at this level. Assessment of Module Learning Outcomes Outcome Coursework 1 Coursework 2 Online Participation x 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Assessment scheme coursework 1: case study (40%) RED sometimes referred to as (Product) RED, was created in 2006 as a form Of creative capitalism: an organization that collaborates with some of the worlds best known corporate brands but for a charitable purpose. RED) is global organization that administers and promotes an umbrella brand ((RED) that member corporations may use for their products and then pay back into the Global Fund to fight Aids, tuberculosis and malaria in Africa. Now read the case study about (product) RED, a global organization set up for a charitable purpose, found on page 152-154 of the core text Johnson G. , Schools K. Whetting, R. , 2011, Exploring Strategy, Text Cases, FT Prentice Hall, 9th edition (also available online in Unit 2). After this reflect on the following questions about the case, and write your answers in a short port (using the template below). You should feel free to discuss the questions in your syndicate, but the work you submit must be your own individual work! If the work resembles too much that of your colleagues it will be deemed to be plagiarisms). 1 . Drawing on the three perspectives in the Key Debate or the four stances in Table 4. 2 (4. 4 for the 8th edition) of the core reference text, what is the rationale of: a) The founders of (product) RED? B) The Director of Social Responsibility for GAP? C) The author Of the article in The Times? 2. What views might shareholders of GAP have on (product) RED? . In your view is (product) RED an appropriate corporate activity? 4. How can (product) RED contribute to the competitive advantage of a firm? You should submit your work online by Sunday 10th November 2013. Please ensure that the total word count is no more than 2500 words. You will not be penalized if the word count is less quality matters more than quantity. You will be penalized though if your work is substantially bigger than 2500 words. Coursework 2: Integrating Planning Approaches (50%) The deadline by which the assessment must be presented to the University is Sunday 8th December 2013. This task is about demonstrating your understanding of the models we have discussed over the last weeks and, exploring uncertainty further. We ask you to do the following: 1. Define your (chosen) industry (be sure to identify your specific industry segment within this broadly defined industry). 2. Conduct a PESTLE analysis of your (chosen) industry, using this to identify the key drivers for change over the next 5-10 years. 3. Use an impact-uncertainty matrix to identify two critical uncertainties, and use these in turn to identify four scenarios (as in the ex. diagram found in Illustration 2, p. 3 in Johnson, Schools Whetting (2011) or the ex. diagram found in Illustration 2, p. 58 in Johnson, Schools Whetting (2008)). . Answer the question: What strategic issues do these scenarios raise for your (chosen) company or organization? DO this by conducting a 5 forces analysis of your (chosen) industry today, and predicting how each of the five forces would be influenced in your 4 scenarios. Then comment on strategic issues for your (chosen) company. The assessment is asking you to bring the three types of analyses (PESTLE Scenarios, 5 forces) together such that you analyses the effects of your chosen scenarios on your (chosen) organization, using the five forces model. You will need to ask yourself questions like: Will any changes in regulations affect entry barriers (as deregulation has in the short haul airline business) for example? What impact might the economic environment have on buyer or supplier power? What strategic issues are raised for your (chosen) business? To ensure maximum marks it is important that you argue your choices, backing these up with clear data or other sources. We would like to see evidence of research on the subject going beyond what you simply know. The word limit is 2,500 words, and any word count more than 10% above this will result in lower marks. Appendices are allowed as extra words [for diagrams and illustrations]. Mark allocation [1 Choice of drivers for change (including quality of research behind this) 20% [2] Impact/uncertainty matrix and correct identification of 4 scenarios 20% [3] Five forces model today completed correctly [4] Five forces model changes under 4 scenarios [5] Consideration of issues for your chosen company and future strategy 20% Virtual Learning Environment Participation (10%) Participation in online discussions and activities is mandatory. Participation will be assessed at the end of the module. Plagiarism Plagiarism is not accepted in any coursework. If you are uncertain as to what constitutes plagiarism, please refer to the Middlesex University plagiarism policy (usually available on Minibus) as well as the guidelines on the Library Services web pages: http://nubbin. Mad. AC. UK/study/library/index. Asps Communication and Contact Information Announcements regarding this module will normally be made by email and online announcement on Minibus. Please ensure that you regularly read your university e-mail and are thus kept informed of any changes / placements. Staff Contact The module leader is Dry. Stephan Bijoux who is available to deal with any queries regarding the teaching and assessment of this module. However, most queries can be dealt with by the tutors in the syndicate area. If you wish to contact the module leader or your tutors please use one of the following methods: a) Send an email to your tutor or the module leader. B) Phone your module tutor or module leader. C) Post any questions you have on your syndicates discussion board, or in the general module discussion area. If you feel your question has not been deiced by the tutor, please follow up with an email.

Evaluation of an Employment Development Plan of Saudi Aramco in Saudi Arabia The WritePass Journal

Evaluation of an Employment Development Plan of Saudi Aramco in Saudi Arabia Introduction Evaluation of an Employment Development Plan of Saudi Aramco in Saudi Arabia ). The diverse workforce present in the organization needs to be managed in an efficient and effective manner. The dissertation will try to identify the importance of ‘employees development plan’, investigate the current practices of the company’s employees development plan, evaluate its effectiveness, and identify common obstacles for employees development plan at the company. The dissertation will also propose some recommendations based on its findings for creating a viable employees development program. The dissertation will be divided into five chapters. The first chapter will be comprised of the introduction, overview of the research, background, and research objectives. The second chapter will detail the research methodology. The third chapter will present a literature review and theoretical background of the research. Fourth chapter will present the findings and analyze the data. Finally, chapter five will present the results and conclusions of the research. Research Objectives Investigate to what extent does the company care for its employees through its employees development plan Identify the significance of employees development plan Investigate practices of employees development plan Evaluate the effectiveness of employees development Identify most common barriers for employees development plan Research Questions What is the employees’ attitude towards the company regarding its employees’ development plan? How employees’ development plan benefits the objectives and goals of the company? What is the significance of employees’ development plan for both the company and its employees? To what extent do the employees consider the employees’ development plan at the company efficient? What are the common barriers associated with the employees’ development plan at the company? Literature Review Definition of employee development plan Employee development plan has been defined as a set of planned efforts by an organization which facilitates the learning and acquaintance of knowledge, specific skills and behaviors for its employees; all of which are essential for them to be successful in their current jobs (Goldstein, 1993). Dotta (2009) defines it as a â€Å"sequence of concurrent activities, initiatives and programs that an organization is involved with to maintain, improve and enhance the skills, capabilities and performance levels of its workforce and other staff members. Employee development plan encapsulates various individual development plans. According to Department of Defense of USA (2006), an individual employee development plan is a tailored written plan developed by the supervisor and employee outlining the employee’s developmental objectives and the developmental activity for achieving these objectives.   The purpose of an employee development plan is to increase the current proficiency, dev elopment, and progression of the employee through a systematic development plan. Based on aforementioned definitions, several important points can be stated: Employees’ development plan is aimed at enhancing the capabilities and competencies of an organization’s workforce. Employees’ development plan is designed according to training and development need analysis and employee-supervisor negotiation; both of which are governed by organizational goals and objectives. Employees’ development plan is also crucial for the progression of a career path. Indeed employees development plan and career path complement each other. Although it is not necessary that an employee development plan is linked to specific positions; it is common for organizations to train and develop their employees to occupy critical positions in future. Employees’ development plan first identifies the developmental objectives of an organization’s workforce. These objectives form the basis of several developmental activities designed to achieve these objectives. It identifies why, what and how to enhance the capabilities and competencies of employees. Significance of employee development plan In today’s business environment, which is characterized as multi-faced, highly complex, extremely competitive, and dynamic, organizations are required to be very flexible and adaptable in order to survive and succeed. Employee development, a practice that seeks to assist organisations in meeting their business goals through continuous learning and development (Harisson, 2009) is a critical element for achieving that flexibility and adaptability. So much that often human resource development personnel are qualified as ‘agents of change’ (Harisson, 2009). It is only through continuous, effective learning and development of employees that modern day organizations can acquire the essential competencies to adapt to a new conjuncture. Best Practices in Employee Development Plan Numerous studies have recommended several successful approaches towards employee development programs. There is a general consensus among researchers regarding the foremost need for an organization to conduct an analysis of its existing needs and requirements (Jacobs and Jones, 1995; Clegg et al, 2005). According to Jacobs, (1995) an employee development can be rendered meaningless if it does not respond to the organizational needs. Existing needs and requirements can be identified through an effective market analysis, analysis of existing and future labor trends. (Clegg et al, 2005). Apart from the needs’ assessment, several best practices have been identified by human resource practitioners and researchers. A survey of best practices of 71 companies practicing employee development activities identified three underlying factors important for an effective employee development plan. These are: (1) individual development plans should be developed for key and high potential employees (2) the individual development plans and practices should be strictly aligned with organizational strategies and goals, and (3) the entire workforce should be facilitated for its progression through the developmental process (Reynolds, 2005). Another study prepared by LSA Global (2008) reveals that an effective employee development plan should share the following characteristics: (1) Strategy driven: employee development plans should be linked with business strategy (2) Positive cost/benefit ratio: return on investment of employee development plan should be ensured (3) Employee development plan should be supported by key strategies, systems, structures, policies, and practices. (4) It should be driven through various channels apart from formal training. (5) Employees’ abilities should be maximized through shared ownership of development plans (7) Learning by doing: real tasks and on-the-job projects within training environment should be offered (8) Knowledge and skills acquired should be transferred back to the job: (9) Development plan should be linked to other people-related programs (for instance they should be conducted by line managers). (10) Continuous learning process Rationale for the Current Research Although there is a large array of literature on human resource development, practitioners often come under criticism for doing very little to evaluate the learning and development solutions that have been designed to deliver whereby significant and often scarce resources are allocated blindly in development plans that are considered to be effective (Harisson, 2005). When undergoing financial stress, organizations often downsize human resource development budgets. Human resource development personnel undergo tight scrutiny in justifying their expenditures and are required to prove the effectiveness of their employee development plans. Thus evaluation of employee development plan is a viable solution. The importance of evaluation in further signified as the learning and development theory and practices in the modern day is undergoing a considerable change in order to keep up with new circumstantial requirements. In fact, one of the major changes occurring nowadays and in the upcoming years is the organizational changes driven by ‘higher integration between coaching, organisational development (OD) and performance management’ (CIPD survey, 2010: pg.6). Similarly, Sloman (2007) made several important propositions regarding the ongoing change in the employee development practices and approaches (see appendix 1). The shift in the learning and development approach and employee development practices signifies the importance of evaluating the current practices of an organization to see whether they are abreast with the prevailing best practices. Additionally, employee development approaches and practices of the oil and gas rich Middle Eastern countries and the Gulf Nations is an under-researched area in HRM literature. Moreover, the available literature regarding employee development practices generalizes the Middle East and the Arab World rather than addressing individual countries or companies (Harry, 2007). The existing gap in the literature pays way for the current proposed study to evaluate the employee development plan at Saudi Aramco in Saudi Arabia. Research Methods and Approach Research Philosophy Identifying a research philosophy is imperative for designing a viable research method as it determines the manner in which information regarding a research problem/question is collected, evaluated and applied. Researcher have identified mainly three research philosophies namely positivist and interpretivist and realist (Galliers, 1991). A positivist research philosophy perceives reality as a constant phenomenon; something that can be perceived objectively (Levin, 1988). It is a stance of a natural scientist. According to Hirschheim (1985 p.33), â€Å"positivism has a long and rich historical tradition. It is so embedded in our society that knowledge claims not grounded in positivist thoughts are simply dismissed as ascientific and therefore invalid†. Interpretivism, on the other hand, seeks to understand reality from a subjective perception in order to make sense of motives, actions and intentions of those that they study. They emphasize the social construct of the reality (Husserl, 1965). Interpretivists contend that reality and its perceptions can be better understood by placing people in their social contexts (Hussey and Hussey, 1997).   Realists believe that the existence of reality is independent of human thoughts, emotions and beliefs. The research philosophy underpinning the proposed research is interpretivism. The research aims to evaluate the employee development plan of Maersk Oil through the perceptions, attitudes and beliefs of its employees, managers, and executives; thus it aims to gain subjective insights for evaluation. Research Approach and Strategy   A research approach can be either deductive or inductive. The premise of a deductive approach is to test a hypothesis, explain casual relationships and enable generalization of a theory. On the other hand, inductive approach focuses upon building a theory by understanding a phenomenon or seeking an answer for a question. The approach adopted for the proposed research is inductive, as this study will look to identify the weaknesses or strengths or the current employee development plan at Saudi Aramco, and answer several proposed questions pertaining to its evaluation. The research strategy for this study will be exploratory as it will aim at providing insights and understanding of the nature of the phenomenon under study in new light. Within the exploratory approach, this study will utilize both qualitative and quantitative data. On one hand, statistical analysis will carried out for the survey responses which will be distributed among the employees of a company, whilst interviews will be conducted with some senior officials and employees in order to gain insights regarding the evaluation of the employee development program. It will complement the understanding gained through the data analysis results. Data Collection According to Yin (1994), there are five ways of collecting data; these are â€Å"experimental, surveys, archival analysis, history, and case studies†. This research will utilize a survey strategy. According to Kelley et. al, (2003) â€Å"the survey strategy refers to the selection of a relatively large sample of people from a pre-determined population, followed by the collection of data from those individuals. The researcher therefore uses information from a sample of individuals to make some inference about the wider population. For the purpose of evaluating the employee development plan, a questionnaire will be prepared, reviewed, and distributed to a random sample of Saudi Aramco employees. Survey strategy will allow the researcher to collect a large amount of data within in short time with minimum costs and efforts (Naresh et.al, 2003).   Interviews, the qualitative form of collecting data within survey method, will be used concurrently. Semi-structured interviews will be designed and conducted of several senior officials at the company. References CIPD (2010), ‘Annual Survey Report : Learning and Talent Development’, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, {online} cipd.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/BC060DD1-EEA7-4929-9142-1AD7333F95E7/0/5215_Learning_talent_development_survey_report.pdf (cited on 13th September, 2012) Clegg ,S. et all, 2005: Managing Organizations: An introduction to Theory and Practice. Sage Cohen N., 2002Pressure on AP Moller to Be Open, Australasian Business Intelligence, April 23, Department of Defense of USA (2006) The individual development. {online} usuhs.mil/chr/idp.pdf (cited on 13th September, 2012) Dotta, P.(2009) ‘What Is an Employee Development Plan?’ {online}: ehow.com/about_5161579_employee-development-plan.html (cited on 13th September, 2012) Goldstein I. L., 1993 â€Å"Training in Organizations† (3rd Ed.) Pacific Grove, California: Books Cole Harrison, R. (2005) Learning and development. 4th ed. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Harrison, R. (2009) Learning and development. 5th ed. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Harry. W (2007) Employment Creation and Localization. The crucial human resource issue for GCC. Int Journal of Human Resource Management. Vol. 18, no.1, pp 132-146. Husserl, E. (1965), Phenomenology and the crisis of philosophy, New York: Harper Torchbooks. Hussey, J. Hussey, R. (1997), Business Research: A practical guide for undergraduate and post-graduate students, London: MacMillan Press Ltd Jacob, R L and Jones, M J. (1995) Structures on Job Training- Unleashing Expertise in the Work Place. San Francisco. Berrett Koehler. Kelley, K., Clark, B., Brown, V., and Sitzia, J (2003) Good practice in the conduct and reporting of survey research. Int. Journal for Quality in Health Care. Volume 15,  Issue 3 Pp.  261-266. Levin, D. M. (1988).   The opening of vision: Nihilism and the postmodern situation. London: Routledge. LSA Global (2008) ‘Top 10 training best practices for effective learning and development programs’. {online} http://jobfunctions.bnet.com/abstract.aspx?docid=375846 (cited on 13th September, 2012) Naresh,M. et.al.,(2003) Methodological issues in cross-cultural marketing research. International Marketing Review. 13 (5) 7-43 Reynolds, S.(2005) Training and development managers share best practices and courseware through LearnShare. Toledo Business Journal. 5(2) 155-163. Saudi Aramco (2012) ‘About Us’ {online} saudiaramco.com/en/home.html (cited on 17th September, 2012). Sloman, M. (2007) ‘The changing world of the trainer: emerging good practice’, Oxford: Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann. Yin, R. K. (1994) Case Study Research. Design and Methods. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, Inc.

Research Paper Topic Ideas

Research Paper Topic Ideas Research Paper Topic Ideas Research Paper Topic Ideas While writing research paper, you should remember that it must be based an original controversial topic. Research paper writing requires exploration of  some problem (for example, terrorism, abortion, genetically modified food). The topic shouldn't be too general. If you are interested in investigating the topic you care about, you should read as much literature as you can find. It help you not only to narrow your research paper topic but also to know more about the chosen topic. For example, the topic 'Abortion' is too general, but you may investigate one side of this problem while writing academic research paper. The narrow one will be 'Induced abortion as an independent risk factor for breast cancer' . While writing research paper on this very topic, you should give general information in the introduction about the problem of the abortion in the modern world. A thesis statement should also be presented at the end of the research paper writing introduction. You should write po ssible pros and cons in the body of your research paper. It'll be a good idea to present data which support your arguments; otherwise you will end with opinion paper, not research paper. The body paragraphs should explain your chosen position on the topic supported with the evidence. Finally, research paper conclusion is a last step where you should include concluding remarks. Research Paper Help If you have some uncertainty how to write a research paper, this part of the article will give you helpful information for research paper writing (referencing secondary sources): Use secondary sources while writing research paper. It means that your research may come across the other writer who quotes or discusses another book or author. In this case, you must cite on the reference page the source where you have found this reference to another book. However, the original sources may not be included in your reference page of the research paper. However, you obviously must include source where you have found the reference. Besides, you must tell the reader the name of the author whose work was paraphrased or quoted. For example: Anderson (as cited in Jackson, 1998, p. 71) the professor of linguistic reports that...   If necessary, you need to add appendix page. If you have appendix, mark it as Appendix in the center at the top of the research paper page. If you have two, three, four etc. use capital letters beginning with the first one (Appendix A, Appendix B etc.). The appendix shouldn't be placed on the reference page. Custom Written Research Paper If the above information is not enough for you to write a research paper, you can always rely on our assistance.   is available 24/7 to assist you with research paper writing on any topic.   We provide free plagiarism report and guarantee authenticity of every delivered custom written research paper.

Implementation of electronic road pricing is needed in Hong-Kong. To Essay

Implementation of electronic road pricing is needed in Hong-Kong. To what extent do you agree with this view - Essay Example For example, the electronic road pricing (ERP) system adopted in Hong Kong to manage traffic through congestion charges. Hong Kong pioneered use of ERP in the 1980s with great success. With few advancements in technology in the 1980s, ERP was implemented through use of an in-pavement reader and a transponder that was placed under vehicles. Adoption of ERP in Hong Kong solved the problem of congestions and charge evasion that faced manual road pricing. However, soon after adoption of ERP followed its critics thereby derailing advancements and over the years the project remained dormant until later propositions on its use rose again later. This was attributed to the fears that traffic problems would rise again in the Central and Wan Chai areas of Hong Kong. Therefore, the roads and transport administration made the recommendations for ERP system to resume operations. However, with time a new administration that was opposed to use of ERP took over thereby derailing ERP system once again. ERP is mainly applied in areas where there are high congestion levels and there is a functional public means of transport in existence. Existence of a public means of transport is to offer an alternative to road users who abandon use of personal vehicles. Therefore, ERP may arguably be considered a method of encouraging use of public means of transport as opposed to individual transport means. Efficiency of ERP depends heavily on its application to only areas with high traffic levels and a functional public means of transport since its application in many areas would arguably strain the system. For example, in Hong Kong ERP would only be most efficient in the Central, Wan Chai, and Causeway Bay. Charging periods are highest during peak hours and lower during off peak hours. Peak hours are determined by the economic advantages relating to different times of the day therefore the most economically

Entreprenuership Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Entreprenuership Report - Essay Example The marketing department determines the patterns of demand in the market. This therefore informs the production in order set an appropriate supply for the products in the market. The report below discusses the process of introducing a new product in an already existing market. In doing this, the report includes an extensive situational analysis, resource allocation, marketing, distribution among other essential operations that will help secure a substantial market for the new product. Introducing a new product in an already existing and active market requires the consideration of various features of both the market and the new product. Marketing refers to a management function concerned with the determination, anticipation and satisfaction of the market demand. An appropriate marketing department should earn a product whether old or new a substantial size of the market capable of achieving the product profitability. Among the key factors considered in the market research, include the name of the product, the price that must consider the cost of doing business and the profitability among other essential features of the market (Parente, 2005). Marketing is an essential department in the introduction of the new product; the marketing team must carry out effective market researches and market analysis in order to determine all the factors that will influence the demand for the new product. This way, it advises other essential department in the company such as the pro duction department on the quantity of products and the features to incorporate in such products in order for the products to gain profitability desired. United Kingdom is a developed economy; this implies that the people have a higher purchasing power. The smart TV market can therefore sustain yet a new product, which will compete effectively against the many other products currently in the market. However, such a market makes informed

Chinese stock bouble 2007 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Chinese stock bouble 2007 - Research Paper Example This led to the skyrocketing of trading volume, as retail investors sought to reap the benefits of the record-making rise. According to a 2008 report by Yao and Luo, the SSE had hit 6124.04 by October 2007 (10).   That this was a stock bubble, was not lost on analysts - vice chairman of the National People’s Congress in China, Cheng Siwei, was among one of the many analysts to point out that, following a year of volatility, the Chinese stock market was overheating (qtd. in Tucker & Dyer). Even though the government took steps to tackle the dramatic situation, it could not succeed in heading the bubble off. By the end of 2007, the stock bubble had ‘burst’ - the SSE Composite Index began to see a fall right after October 2007 and, by the middle of 2008, had plunged to a shocking 2651.6 1 - less than half of what the index had been at its peak (Yao and Luo 7). This paper looks at this stock market crash - also known as the Chinese Stock Bubble 2007 - in detail, out lining what it was, the reasons because of which it occurred, and its effects on economic conditions within and outside of China. In addition to this, this paper also uses its review of the Chinese Stock Bubble to provide recommendations for avoiding such market crashes, in the future. THE CHINESE STOCK BUBBLE It has been seen that the Chinese stock market was, preceding the crash, characterized by volatility. This is demonstrated in How We Explain the Chinese Stock Market Bubble?, a report that graphs the rise and fall of the SSE Composite Index, from 2005 to 2008 as follows (1). As apparent from the graph, the Chinese stock market saw a boom at the beginning of 2007. This picked up momentum, until the market crashed at the end of the year. According to Yao and Luo (2), prices of stocks shot up after the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China became listed on several Chinese stock exchanges. The authors point out that, by the time the market had begun to heat, the combined market value of the 1500 odd companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges exceeded a massive 32 trillion RMB (2). Following the American economic recession of 2007 and a realization in investors that large Chinese companies had been moving to milk cash from â€Å"ignorant, prudent savers,† the bubble began to fizzle off - and fast (Yao and Luo 2). Within months, the market value of listed companies had begun to plummet; by June 2008, the combined market value of listed companies had fallen to less than half of what it had been during the bubble (Yao and Luo 2). Individually, the Shanghai Composite Index fell down by over 60%, while the Shehzen Composite Index saw a 60% plunge (Xinhui). Reasons for the Chinese Stock Market Crash American Sub-Prime Lending. While the official explanation for the Chinese stock market crash centred on the influence of American sub-prime lending on the Chinese economy, analysts have argued that this is a superficial justification that do es not delve into the actual reasons underlying the crash (Xinhui). Xinhui points out one valid argument for such criticism - the sub-prime loan crisis resulted in an 11% drop in the S&P Index, whereas the Chinese stock market crash was much more massive. Critically analyzing this chain of thought gives one food for thought - it is hard to believe

Organisational Culture of Oral Smooth Plc Essay

Organisational Culture of Oral Smooth Plc - Essay Example It is the process of establishing the empire of business by a series of strategies viz. executing the business concept, promotion, services, goods, pricing, equal and effective idea generation to generate healthy relationship to meet the organizational and personal objectives (Harris, 1994). We can analyse the situation by strategically approach to the business of Oral Smooth Plc. Oral Smooth Plc is based in London; an innovative company produces tooth pastes for smokers. In the past, Product Diversification and Customer Care do have due attention from the management experts. Today it has become a powerful tool for the consultants to enhance the managerial efficiency. Edgar Scheins theory also caters the same effect to better the performance of the organisations. Objective of the study Oral Smooth Plc is having its presence in every part of the UK. The product diversification always enables the company the market leader of the sector without any challenges. Here Oral Smooth Plc wants to put their business mark in UK as a part of diversification in the business. We would like to know the differences, similarities and the difference within the organization, how the organization manages his employees and the process to ensure successful service delivery and customer satisfaction. Organizational culture of the company using Edgar Scheins theory The particular theory focuses on an organisational culture ethics the system. Scheins says that culture is the basic factor for change in an establishment (Campbell, 2003). The thorough understanding about the organisational dynamics starts with this fact. In order to have a strong and dominant leadership Scheins suggests 3 levels of culture (Black, 2003). They are, 1. Artifacts (this can be very easily seen just like our outfits and not very easy to decipher) 2. Espoused values (Philosophies and targets) 3. Assumptions (unconscious beliefs) Scheins also suggest, group dynamics for a better leadership in organisational cultu re. He says that small groups function within a particular group culture in the similar way firms function within the culture of the firm. His model categorise informal groups into 3. 1. Vertical cliques containing different ranks in the same section/dept 2. Horizontal cliques containing similar ranks 3. Mixed cliques containing members of various depts. Here we can implement the Schein management theory for the better performance of the firm. To Biech, Elaine 1998, Culture envelops us in fully. They are, pervasive and complex. Hence as per Scheins we cannot understand Organizational development and planned change, if not we consider it as the main origin of resistance to change. Furthermore, Biswas & Twitchell (1999) remarks that if management consultants are not in a position to understand about culture, naturally they will handle the situation and such embedded culture will manage them .In fact cultural awareness is everything for a society to know but as far as leaders are conce rned, they are the top-notch community to learn this properly as they are to lead the society. To Block (1999), with his Three categorisation of Culture, Edgard Schein has contributed much to make the management practitioners aware what culture is. The plan Oral Smooth intends to ensure its monopoly across the country by their corporate strategic management. So as a first and prime step they want to organise a good campaign to make the event more noticeable there in the country. They wish to make it reorganised their marketing presence within a short time period. A clear but brief background of the two markets, with a

Contribution of Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture towards Food Security Essay

Contribution of Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture towards Food Security in India - Essay Example In regards to urbanization process, peri-urban and urban agriculture emerged from a simple and traditional activity into a professional and commercial initiative. In this case, it has turned out to be the major component in food security strategies. By definition, peri-urban and urban agriculture is a sector within or on the fringe of a city, a metropolis or town, which raises and grows processes as well as distributing agriculture products through the use of water and land resources, services and products around the urban area (Ruel et al., 1998). Poverty can exist at individual level that includes limited basic needs, low purchasing power, social exclusion and psychological distress (Nunan Fiona, 1999). While at community level it includes limited employment opportunities as well as scarcity of products and services. Integrated agricultural systems can be used to enhance the household food security of the poor in urban areas. This study explores different aspects related to how urban and peri-urban agriculture contributes to the household food security in India (Nunan Fiona, 1999). A thorough literature review was carried to compile some of the important research findings. The chapters of this report are organized as follows; the proceeding section describes the background information on urban and peri-urban agriculture in South Asia. The second chapter that includes literature review compiles some important concepts and research findings that are relevant to the topic. The third chapter that includes results and findings describes the costs and benefits as well as threats to urban and peri-urban agriculture in the world. The final chapter that includes conclusions lists important policy recommendations to address the probable problems in the sector. Urbanization or shifting of people from rural to the urban areas is known to

Describe how the ozone layer shields those on earth from harmful uv Essay

Describe how the ozone layer shields those on earth from harmful uv rays describe how ozone at ground level can harm us. you wil - Essay Example If the ozone layer gets ultra-thin, people would be exposed to more UV radiation. UV radiation is the leading cause of skin cancers. High levels of UV levels would also harm the wildlife and plants. If plants get affected, they are unable to carry out photosynthesis. Consequently, there would be a slowdown in the release of oxygen into the atmosphere (Miller and Spoolman 24). Scientists worry that the ozone layer is getting thinner and thinner every day. This trend began in the 1970s. Since the 80s, the level of the ozone layer has been decreasing at a constant rate. By the 90s, the level of the ozone layer had reduced by 3-4 % of the initial levels. Strong reduction in the ozone layer level has been observed in the Antarctica, where the decrease is up to 50 % (Roshchina 4). Ozone depletion is closely associated with the use of chemicals, especially chlorofluorocarbons. Chlorofluorocarbons were widely used in aerosol cans as coolants. The chemical compounds penetrate the upper atmosp here as a result of nuclear explosions, space flights, flights of supersonic aircraft, and applications of chlororganic fertilizers in agriculture as well as by other means (Roshchina 4). Some countries have since banned the use of those chemicals as well as other ozone depleting chemicals. The main effect of ozone depletion in the atmosphere is the increase in ultraviolet radiation to levels that are dangerous to all forms of life (250-320mm). Ultraviolet radiation strengthened by reduction in the level of the ozone layer around the earth causes chromospheres to be activated. This leads to biochemical changes in the cells. The result is the formation of tumors, skin cancers, cataracts, immune-system problems and other potential injuries to human beings. Changes in the ecosystem conditions can also be observed around the ground. Therefore, absorption of the ultraviolet radiation by the ozone layer protects living organisms. Protection of the nucleic acids and proteins is crucial bec ause damage to these substances can result in mutations and even destruction of cells (Starr and Evars 44). Near the ground level, ozone is a pollutant. This is because it causes irritation of the eyes and respiratory tracts of human beings and wildlife. Ozone near the ground level also interferes with growth of plants. This usually occurs when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, released by combustion of fossil fuels, are exposed to sunlight. Ozone levels vary daily. The amounts of ozone depend on latitude, season and climate. The levels are normally high during the day and the warm seasons. Ozone pollution can be avoided by reducing the combustion of fossil fuels into the air (Starr and Evars 44). Ozone is toxic and corrosive. Repeated inhaling of ozone may permanently damage the lungs and lead to respiratory infections. Exposure to ozone may induce lung infection or aggravate existing respiratory conditions such as bronchitis, emphysema or asthma. It may also cause ch est pain, coughing, throat irritation and congestion. It is dangerous to people who like to spent lots of time in the outdoors especially on a warm weather. Older people and children are at a higher risk in the population as their lungs have reduced capacity. Ground level ozone kills seedlings and damages leaves which makes plants more prone to harsh weather, pests and diseases (Miller and Spoolman 25). However, ozone has some potential benefits. It is essential in maintaining the thermal status of the

Contribution of Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture towards Food Security Essay

Contribution of Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture towards Food Security in India - Essay Example In regards to urbanization process, peri-urban and urban agriculture emerged from a simple and traditional activity into a professional and commercial initiative. In this case, it has turned out to be the major component in food security strategies. By definition, peri-urban and urban agriculture is a sector within or on the fringe of a city, a metropolis or town, which raises and grows processes as well as distributing agriculture products through the use of water and land resources, services and products around the urban area (Ruel et al., 1998). Poverty can exist at individual level that includes limited basic needs, low purchasing power, social exclusion and psychological distress (Nunan Fiona, 1999). While at community level it includes limited employment opportunities as well as scarcity of products and services. Integrated agricultural systems can be used to enhance the household food security of the poor in urban areas. This study explores different aspects related to how urban and peri-urban agriculture contributes to the household food security in India (Nunan Fiona, 1999). A thorough literature review was carried to compile some of the important research findings. The chapters of this report are organized as follows; the proceeding section describes the background information on urban and peri-urban agriculture in South Asia. The second chapter that includes literature review compiles some important concepts and research findings that are relevant to the topic. The third chapter that includes results and findings describes the costs and benefits as well as threats to urban and peri-urban agriculture in the world. The final chapter that includes conclusions lists important policy recommendations to address the probable problems in the sector. Urbanization or shifting of people from rural to the urban areas is known to

The Influence of Art in Fashion Essay Example for Free

The Influence of Art in Fashion Essay Fashion is a state of mind. A spirit, an extension of ones self. Fashion talks, it can be an understated whisper, a high-energy scream or an all knowing wink and a smile. Principally fashion is about being comfortable with what you are, translating self-esteem into a personal style. Furthermore, art and design were more directly tied at the turn of the twentieth century than they are these days. Artists did not see the dissimilarity among creating an original work of art, such as a painting, and designing a textile pattern that would be reproduced numerous times over. Each was a valid creative act in their eyes. From earliest times, man has changed his clothing often. A phenomenon known as fashion sprang up thousands of years ago. Men and women have tried to wear new things, dissimilar things, clothes that would amaze people or frighten others. To give these people new clothes, other people had to have new ideas, creativity and so were born the first fashion designer around 5,000 years ago. Fashion itself has served as a canvas of purpose for thousands of years. From the delicately gilded armor of crusaders long deceased to the red or blue handkerchiefs that designate gang connection nowadays, fashion has expressed all emotion known to man, yet none so persuasively as conflict. Perhaps the expressions against complacency that are obvious in art are making their way into the world of fashion in preparation for another conflict of sorts, one in which individuals are railing against the societal injustices and political malfeasance of the day. In the late 1920s, a new modernized design aesthetic dubbed Moderne (now known as Art Deco) combined Cubism’s geometric base with supple embellishments. Once more, textile patterns and fashion design echoed the trend. Shiny fabrics merely enhanced the connection with the speed of modern life–and art. The dresses, coats, bathing suits, and evening wraps found in the Tirocchi shop, when placed chronologically, chart for the observer not only the changing silhouette of fashion, nevertheless reflect the fact that fashion was part of an aesthetic that was part and parcel of its time. From the chemise and cloche of the 1920s, echoing Cubist concerns, to the evening dresses of the 1930s, with the body-skimming silhouettes and reflective surfaces, each garment has a particular relationship to the art of its time. Just as the Italian futurists and artists of the Bauhaus in the early part of this century designed clothes that reflected their artworks, so too did the geometric language of Art Deco and Cubism and the paintings of Picasso, Braque and Mondrian, serve as motivation to designers such as Elsa Schiaparelli who come to the forefront of fashion as the Art Deco style began to vanish. Furthermore, one example of art that can be seen in fashion was the collection of Judith Leiber, a leader in couture handbags. She has created more than 3,000 different designs since 1963 and every handbag showed art in very artistic way. Art and fashion have constantly shared an intertwining history and complex visual language, even though fashions influence transcends the white cube of the art gallery or museum space. The language of fashion, whether in the gallery or on the street, offers telling insights into who we were at the beginning of this century, how it has influenced us at the end of this century, and how will affect us in the one to come. In addition, fashion refers to the kinds of clothing that are in a pleasing style at a particular time. At special times in history, fashionable dress has taken extremely different forms. In modern times almost everybody follows fashion to some extent. A young woman would look unusual if she wore the clothing that her grandmother had worn when young. Nevertheless, only a small minority of people dress in the clothing that appears in high-fashion magazines or on fashion-show runways. It is not all the time simple to tell the difference between basic clothing and fashionable clothing. Particularly nowadays, fashion designers frequently use inexpensive and functional items of clothing as inspiration. Blue jeans, for example, originated as functional work clothing for miners and farmers. Yet these days, even people who dress in jeans, T-shirts, and sports clothes might be influenced by fashion. One year, fashionable jeans might have narrow legs; the next year the legs might be baggy. Fashion is art. What ever the designers made is a result of art. Moreover, fashion is something we deal with each day. Even people who say they dont care what they wear choose clothes each morning that say a lot about them and how they feel that day. One sure thing in the fashion world is change. We are continually being bombarded with new fashion ideas from music, videos, books, and television. Movies as well have a big impact on what people wear. Ray-Ban sold more sunglasses after the movie Men in Black. Occasionally a trend is world-wide. Back in the 1950s, teenagers everywhere dressed like Elvis Presley. Fashion is a way of self-expression that allows people to try on numerous roles in life. Whether you prefer hip-hop or Chanel-chic, fashion accommodate the chameleon in all of us. Its a means of celebrating the diversity and variety of the world in which we live. Fashion is about change which is essential to keep life interesting. Its as well a mirror of sorts on society. Its a method of measuring a mood that can be helpful in numerous aspects, culturally, socially even psychologically. At the same time, fashion shouldnt be taken too seriously or you lose the fun of it. Â   References: 25 most influential people in fashion, Retrieved on March 12, 2007 at http://www.time.com/time/europe/fashion/0902/influentials.html Fashion, Retrieved on March 12, 2007 at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fashion Fashion: A Presentation on Contemporary concepts of Art and Expression, http://www.students.sbc.edu/hart06/Fashion%20Presentation%20copy/Fashion.htm Judith Leiber, Art in hand: Retrieved on March 12, 2007 at http://www.phxart.org/exhibitions/leiber.asp

Leadership Operations Management of Audi

Leadership Operations Management of Audi Organisation: Audi AG, Head Quarters: Ingolstadt, Germany, Chairman of the Board of Management: Prof Rupert Stradler (Audi, 2016) This report has been conducted for and requested by the Directors Senior Management Personnel of Audi AG, to investigate the different approaches/practices towards Operations Management, the overall performance of the organisation. Key emphasis has been placed upon understanding the value of Operations Management within the organisational context at Audi AG; and how effective operational efficiencies can aid businesses to successfully achieve business objectives. The application of different theories and models of approach/practice towards contrasting situations within the Audi AG working environment has been explored; for the resulting information/evidence to be contextually comprehensive. Methodology The information contained within this Briefing Paper has been obtained primarily through secondary research techniques including web-based research, academic journal reading and published books and articles. The reasons behind this, are that it is particularly problematic gaining primary research information from Board Level Directors Senior Managers due to time constraints, thus much of the information is obtained through organisational publications. However, primary research was utilised on occasions where greater depth was needed or the required information was not obtainable through other methods. Results 2.1  Audi AG Organisational Structure Audi AG (Audi) was historically established in 1910 by founder August Horch in Zwickau (Central-Eastern Germany). Audi AG operates and distributes cars worldwide, manufacturing cars in 11 Production Facilities across 9 countries in Europe, Asia, North America and South America. Audi AG Group currently employees 84,435 members of staff (November 2016) with a revenue of 58.42 Billion EUR (Full year ended 31 March 2016) Chairman of the Board of Management is Prof Rupert Stradler (Audi, 2016). Audi AG is categorised as a large multinational organisation and is a constituent of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange with a current share price as of COP (close of play) on 8th December 2016 at à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬604.62 EUR (Frankfurt Stock Exchange, 2016). Audi AG has many subsidiary companies including Lamborghini, Italdesign Giugiaro, Audi Brussels and Audi Hungaria Motor Kft; with also an overriding parent organisation of Volkswagen Group sitting above Audi AG in hierarchy. (Audi, 2016) 2.1.1 Organisational Management Structure Audi AG is a vast organisation with a Management Matrix/Structure that consists of many layers across various business functions and geographical prominence. The corporate management of Audi AG draws on its expertise and leadership to promote the interests of more than 80,000 employees, the Audi shareholders and the Audi customers around the globe. The managers of Audi AG form the basis for responsible corporate management. (Audi, 2016) Prof Rupert Stradler (Chairman of the Board of Management) is at the summit of the Board of Management and is responsible for the forward planning of the organisation, coupled with the performance of his appointed Board of Management. Beneath the Chairman, the Board of Management consists of Board Members responsible for the performance of specific business functions within the organisation globally; these include: Procurement, Human Resources Organisation, Finance IT, Sales Marketing and Production Logistics. The full list of Audi AG Board Member s is shown in Appendix A. Beneath the Board of Management, Audi AG is dissected depending on Geographical Area within each discipline. For example, European Sales Marketing Director North American Production Logistics Director; these individuals will report up to the relevant Board Member. The regions are once again split up depending on individual plants/locations and the Management Structure continues this trend throughout the organisation. See [Figure 1] Audi AG Company Organogram for further clarification of the Organisational/Management Structure within the organisation. (Audi, 2016) 2.1.2Audi AG Organisational Organogram [Figure 1] (P3, M2, D1) Author: Jacob Hood. Ref: (Audi AG, 2016) Organogram Key: Functional Relationship. Different Departmental Individuals/Functions that work very closely a together to achieve Organisational Objectives. Line Relationship. Organogram structural links indicating hierarchal structure and a subordinates/superiors across departments. Functional Relationship. Symbol to indicate the whole department works loosely albeit of lesser importance as with all other business functions. Indicated with a symbol to maintain clarity of [Figure 1]. Lateral Relationship. Different Departmental Individuals/Functions of the same Hierarchal Position that a work very closely together to achieve Organisational Objectives. 2.1.2 Overview of Operations Management Within Audi AG To gauge an understanding of the Key Operational Functions within Audi AG; an explanation of Operations Management in a broader sense and how the Business Function operates within organisations is critical. Joseph Martinich devised definitions in relation to Operations Management, Operations management is a discipline and profession that studies (and practices) the process of planning, designing and operating production systems and subsystems to achieve the goals of the organisation. (Martinich, 1997) It is responsible for all the processes associated with the design, planning, control, and production of the products/services that the organisation offers. Operations Management forms the fundamental groundwork of the production of products within organisations; and an efficient Operations Management Function leads to increased profitability, productivity and a more streamlined product build process. Within Audi AG, the key operations of the organisation involve the production of their various car models across the globe. These vehicles have numerous variations and are broadly bespoke based upon the customers desired specifications at the point of order. Some of these include: Different Body Shapes, Chassis, Engine Sizes, Left/Right Hand Drive, Transmission, Interior Specifications, Leather Seats, Carbon Fibre Trims etc. (Audi AG, 2016) These variations field complications to the Operations Management Team due to the fluctuating build times between variation of Model/Specification and requires careful scheduling and planning alongside the engineering and manufacturing processes in place to deliver the finished output/product. 2.1.3 Key Operations/Operations Functions Within Audi AG The Operations Management Function, which is known as the Production Logistics Procurement Functions within Audi AG are responsible for the design, control and delivery of Audi AGs Key Operations (Production of Audi Vehicles). The Board of Management Member for the Production Logistics Function is Dr.-Ing. Hubert Waltl and Procurement Board of Management Member is Dr Bernd Martens. (Audi AG, 2016) The inter-relationship between these two functions is crucial to the success of the Operational Processes at Audi AG especially within the Logistics Inventory Management Aspect of the Manufacturing Process. The Key Operational Functions and how Audi AG dissects these functions into Departments within Audi AG is indicated below. The assumptions below are taken from the Neckarsulm, Mid-South Germany Plant, where the production of Audi A4, A5, A7, A8, R8, RS6 and all the individual variations of such vehicles within the Neckarsulm Production Plant. (Audi AG, 2016) Scheduling. The Operation Function of Scheduling is responsible for the design and allocation of resources and setting up the timetable of when the product/service will be completed, following a customer order. (Management Study, 2017) Within the Organisational Context at Audi AG, they name this departmental function Production Control Planning. (Audi AG, 2016) They utilise sophisticated computerised systems to ascertain the duration of time that it takes to fully manufacture the product dependent on current Queue Time, Model Bespoke Specifications etc. This is then relayed to the Customer to give them an indication of the anticipated delivery time of their Audi Vehicle. A key aspect of Scheduling is devising the algorithms and the systems based upon their research of previous Build Time of vehicles to create accurate schedules for various models and variations of those models. Scheduling is also responsible for maximising the efficiency of the Production Line, Streamlining Process es and Eradicating Bottlenecks. For Example, within Audi AG the body and chassis of an Audi A4 takes sufficiently longer than the interior. Therefore, a key improvement to mitigate this issue could be to build in a buffer of excess Audi A4 bodies being manufactured in the night shift. This will then sufficiently mitigate the issue that the Interior aspects of the Manufacturing Process take less time to complete than the Exterior Production. Thus, maximising the number of vehicles that can be manufactured within a given time period. Capacity Management. Capacity Management is concerned with the matching of the capacity of the operating system and the demand placed upon that system. (Wild, 2002) Capacity Management within Audi AG is part of the Production Control Planning Departmental Function with the core objectives being to manage the current level of resources available in relation to the demand placed upon those processes; to deliver efficient and effective mechanisms that successfully meet Business Objectives. Capacity Management must be able to accurately draw upon historical and forecasted data to ascertain whether the current structure and configuration of Human/Non-Human Resources can sufficiently deal with current and prospective consumer demand. (Management Study, 2017) For example within Audi AG, they must be acutely aware of the Micro/Macro Environmental Factors, Sales Forecasts and balance these with a detailed analysis of the Production/Manufacturing Systems and make informed decisions as to whet her internal operational adjustments are required. One of Audi AGs Business Objectives is to work to ensure that the consumer doesnt have to wait extensive quantities of time to receive their new Audi Vehicle. Short-Term Demand can be dealt with by increasing the forecasted build time from 6 weeks to 8 weeks. However, if there is a prolonged increased demand for a model of Audi Vehicle, whereby Customers must wait over 8 weeks for their new vehicle; it may be necessary to increase the amount of resources available to manufacture more units of that model (More Labour, Machines Etc.), to successfully meet business objectives. It is the role of Capacity Management to monitor the current trends in relation to the processes and make pragmatic strategic decisions based upon this data. Transformation Process. The Transformation Process is the Operational Function that addresses the process of taking Inputs which include Transforming Resources (Staff, Machinery) and Transformable Resources (Raw Materials) and turns these resources/materials into finished Outputs that are ready to distribute to the consumer. (Pearson, 2016, p.567) See Appendix A for the Transformation Process Model in a visual format. Within the Situational Context at Audi AG, the Transforming Resources include: Production Line Workforce, Machinery and Individual Plants. The Transformable Resources include: Raw Materials such as Vehicle Body/Chassis, Engines, Leather Interior, Electronic Chips etc. The Output is the finished Audi Model Vehicle that is distributed to the customer, For Example Audi TT. The Transforming Resources assist to construct/transform the Transformable Resources into the final output product. (Pearson, 2016, p.567) At Audi AG, there are a couple of functions responsible for impl ementing the Transformation Process efficiently and effectively, these being Production Engineering and Maintenance Engineering and Quality Management. Production Engineering is responsible for devising innovative processes that can streamline the Transformation Process of producing an Audi Vehicle, thus saving significant costs if these can be implemented effectively. Maintenance Engineering is responsible for the continued operations of seeing through the existing Engineering Processes attributed to building Audis vehicles. This needs to be done effectively to ensure that quality products are being produced to the correct schedule set out by the Scheduling Function. Quality Management is responsible for the checking and vetting of the finished outputs to ensure it is to Audi AGs quality specifications. This is crucial to offer a consistent quality of product and ensure customers are happy with the products they receive. (Audi AG, 2016) Logistics Inventory Management. Inventory Management supervises the flow of goods from manufacturers to warehouses and from these facilities to point of sale. (Manufacturing Tech, 2017) Within the Organisational Context at Audi AG, the Operations Management Function of Inventory Management is incorporated within the Logistics Department. Inventory Management is responsible for supervising the process of managing inventory at various degrees/levels of completion/processing of those materials from Raw Materials through to Finished Products. Inventory Managements primary objective is to minimise the amount of excess capital that is expended on surplus inventory; the storage, transport and management of such inventory is very costly to organisations. Other reasons behind the implementation of this process is to be able to successfully meet seasonal demand, variation in production demand, ability to take advantage of quantity discounts, highlight quality/other issues in the Production Li ne and to streamline the Production Process and reduce costs. (Management Study, 2017) Within Audi AG, the Logistics Function must ensure to manage their inventory of Raw Materials (Engine Parts, Interior Materials, Chassis Etc.) so that they do not have excess Inventory costing the business money through unnecessary storage of such materials. Audi AG implement an Operational Approach called Just-In-Time (JIT) which will be explored in detail below, however broadly speaking it ensures the delivery of materials from Suppliers at precisely the time at when they are required in the Production Line. This program is devised in association with the Scheduling Function and mitigates the risk of unnecessary Raw Materials Inventory. Audi AG also must contend with the matter of Finished Goods Inventory (Completed Vehicles). The approach within Audi AG is to ensure to sell such stock as quickly as possible while the vehicles are worth the most money, often through promotions on certain models and incentives to purchase the Models/Variations whereby there is excess Finished Goods Inventory. (Management Study, 2017) Audi also removes this form of inventory through offering the vehicles as Company Cars or through Employee Centred Incentive Schemes. (Audi AG, 2017) It is the role of Inventory Management to also prevent these occurrences from happening and analysing Sales Trends Forecasts to minimise excess Finished Goods Inventory; as the costs to store and the depreciation of the vehicles reduces the profitability of the organisation. 2.2 Key Operational Approaches To Operations Management 2.2.1 Just-In-Time Philosophy/Theory The Just-In-Time Philosophy (JIT) is primarily used within Manufacturing/Retail focused organisations, however the theory can be applied across a range of different market sectors. Just-In-Time (JIT) refers to the process of the supply of materials, either from external suppliers or from other areas within the organisation, delivering the items to the relevant department/area of the business at precisely the time that they need it. The main objective being to achieve reduction and mitigation of surplus raw materials within the organisation with a view to increasing productivity, (Toyota Global, 2017) The art of just-in-time production consists of keeping intermediate stock levels down to an absolute minimum, yet none the less having each part arrive at the predetermined point at precisely the right time. (Audi, 2017) JIT is a Production Model where items are manufactured/created to meet demand, not created in surplus/advance of need. (Tech Target, 2017) Within the Organisational Cont ext at Audi AG, implementing Just-In-Time within the Procurement Process can significantly streamline the Production-Line Process and lead to increased productivity. For Example, within Production Line A at Audi Neckarsulm Plant, Germany the Scheduling and Logistics Department will utilise sophisticated computer systems to ascertain the quantity of each product is required to produce a given number of cars per day i.e. (500 Michelin 750 Continental Tyres Per Day). The suppliers for these tyres will then be allocated a precise time slot to deliver the items Just-In-Time for when they are required in the Production Line Process. This can assist to eliminate waste, inconsistencies, unreasonable requirements thus resulting in increased productivity in the line. (Toyota Global, 2017) 2.2.1.1 Advantages of Applying Just-In-Time Philosophy (JIT) Lower Stock/Raw Materials Inventory results in a significant reduction in storage space which saves capital in rental and insurance costs. (Tutor2U, 2017) As stock is only purchased when orders are placed, it results less working capital tied up in stock, which can be invested elsewhere in/outside the business. (Tutor2U, 2017) Mitigates the issue of un-sold finished stock being produced due to sudden non-forecasted increases in demand and prevents the risk of stock perishing due to it only arriving when it is needed to be used. This can increase Profitability within Audi AG due to unnecessary capital not being expended on wasted materials/stock. (Tutor2U, 2017) -Drives higher standards on the Production Line and with Suppliers due to there being little room for error with Minimal Stock retained to account for errors on the Production Line and very precise Delivery Slots can ensure Supplier Standards are maintained, thus increasing Productivity of these aspects within Audi AG. (Tutor2U, 2017) 2.2.1.2 Disadvantages of Applying Just-In-Time Philosophy (JIT) Little/No Room for Error. This is a big contributing disadvantage to the system for both the Production-Line. Minimal stock is kept for re-working faulty products due to the implementation of this process, therefore a lot of pressure is placed on the Production-Line to get things right first time. (Tutor2U, 2017) -Heavily Reliant on Suppliers. Suppliers are allocated a small-time slot to deliver the correct amount of the product that is specified by the Scheduling and Procurement Functions. If they miss their slot, deliver incorrect quantity/type of materials this can cause the Production Line to falter, meaning less vehicles are made, productivity is decreased and in-turn profitability. (Tutor2U, 2017) -There is no spare finished stock to cater for unexpected increases in demand, however the flexibility of the system means that it can react quickly to demand changes. Albeit this will not be as rapid for the consumer as having finished stock ready to be distributed. (Tutor2U, 2017) 2.2.2Six Sigma Six Sigma is a widely used Operational Approach towards Operations Management and is frequently applied within Manufacturing Businesses, however the fundamental processes also apply within businesses operating within the Service Industry. The Purpose of Six Sigma is to reduce process variation so that virtually all the products or services provided meet or exceed customer expectations. (DTI, 2017) Six Sigma adopts a very data driven, disciplined method for eliminating defects within processes and promoting business improvement within organisations. (iSixSigma, 2017) Within Audi AG, this could mean the Manufacture of a Car Model or the Service offered to customers throughout the Sales Process. (Audi AG, 2016) Six Sigma is able to show quantitatively how a process is performing and to achieve Six Sigma Status, a process must not produce more than 3.4 defects per million opportunities. (iSixSigma, 2017) Six Sigma is dissected into three core elements including: Process Improvement, Proc ess Design/Re-Design Process Management and will be explored below. 2.2.2.1Process Improvement The Process Improvement aspect of the Six Sigma Model addresses the concept of improving existing processes with the ultimate objective of increasing the quality of product/service that the consumer receives and attainment of Six Sigma Status