A Deeper Look at Globalization Essays - Cultural Geography

A Deeper Look at Globalization Its a word we hear almost everyday while watching the news, reading the paper, or even in our day-to-day conversations. It is associated with both good and bad, and for better or worse, we are inevitably involved in its transformations. Globalization has been a popular discussion and has been intensively discussed even though it is a relatively recent idea. Given its sudden emergence, it can be a term that isnt quite understood and there are people who are completely against it. Yes, there are pros and cons to it, just like almost anything else in the world, but I believe it is better to embrace globalization and have a chance to better human development than to try and ignore it. Globalization is an unavoidable entity that is here to stay. It is causing the nation-state to die, and in its place, a world nation is emerging. In this paper, we will first look at what Globalization really is. Then, we will discuss the skeptical and radical thoughts of this idea and find out why Globaliz ation is diminishing the nation-state. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the term Globalization as a process by which the experience of everyday life, marked by the diffusion of commodities and ideas, is becoming standardized around the world. Some things that have contributed to globalization include: technological developments for communication and transportation, huge migrations of people, economic activities that have expanded to national markets, and international arrangements to reduce the cost of business in countries (Merriam-Webster). This basically means that it is a process of interaction between people, companies, and governments of different nations. It is pushed by international trade/investment and supported by technology. Although the term only came to be quite recent, first becoming well known around the 1980s (Giddens), Globalization is not a new idea. People have been buying and selling to each other across the world for centuries. This whole outbreak and popularity of the idea of Globalization only emerged so recently because policy and technological developments have increased the world trade, investment, and migration. We are able to learn news and trade money at the drop of a hat. Because this term is so new, its meaning can sometimes not be so clear. People often take on strong opposing opinions of it and this creates heated disputes. Just like anything else, this idea can be taken many different ways. In his book, Giddens covers two different opposing sides of this idea: the skeptics and the radicals. In the skeptics opinion, they think, all the talk about Globalization is only that-just talk (Giddens 7). Like I already stated, people have been buying and selling across the world for centuries. Skeptics believe that this idea is not a new concept and does not dramatically change the world. Giddens also goes on to say that they believe countries dont even gain much money from international trade and most trading is thus done in close regions. Taking a look at Globalization from the other side, radicals argue that not only is Globalization very real, but that its consequences can be felt everywhere (Giddens 8). It is in fact a concept that does have a significant impact that is changing the world. World trade has noticeably and rapidly developed over the last forty years. This is causing the nation-states to decline while a new nation is forming expanding. The fiery debates on globalization often involve the effects it has on the nation-state. Nation-states are considered less important as their power is diminishing through Globalization. It has provided these nations-states with minimal roles. This diminishing role of power in nation-states is due to the influences it has that take control of the nation-states economies. Multinational corporations affect nation-states in this way. The technological shifts made by Globalization are also to blame for the decrease of power. The ability to receive instant information across a t the blink of an eye has created a place where everyone is connected. Even though it creates this death of a nation-state, globalization is something that I believe is very important and useful. A broader range of products, services, technologies, and knowledge is more available and that these developments will have the potential to reach many

Why Veins Look Blue Even Though Blood Is Red

Why Veins Look Blue Even Though Blood Is Red Your blood is always red, even when it is deoxygenated, so why do your veins look blue? They arent actually blue, but there are reasons why veins look that way: Skin absorbs blue light:  Subcutaneous fat only allows blue light to penetrate skin all the way to veins, so this is the color that is reflected back. Less energetic, warmer colors are absorbed by skin before they can travel that far. Blood also absorbs light, so blood vessels appear dark. Arteries have muscular walls, rather than thin walls like veins, but they likely would appear the same color if they were visible through the skin.Deoxygenated blood is dark red:  Most veins carry deoxygenated blood, which is a darker color than oxygenated blood. The deep color of blood makes veins appear dark, too.Different sizes of vessels appear different colors:  If you look closely at your veins, for example, along with the inside of your wrist, youll see your veins are not all the same color. The diameter and thickness of the walls of the veins play a part in the way light is absorbed and how much blood is seen through the vessel.Vein color depends on your perception:  In part, you se e veins as more blue than they really are because your brain compares the color of the blood vessel against the brighter and warmer tone of your skin. What Color Are Veins? So, if veins arent blue, you may be wondering about their true color. If you have ever eaten meat, you already know the answer to this question! Blood vessels appear reddish-brown in color. There isnt much difference in color between arteries and veins. They do present different cross-sections. Arteries are thick-walled and muscular. Veins have thin walls. Learn More Why Blood Isnt BlueWhy Babies Have Blue EyesWhy the Sea Is BlueChemical Composition of Human BloodIntro to Biochemistry Reference: Kienle, A., Lilge, L., Vitkin, I.A., Patterson, M.S., Wilson, B.C., Hibst, R., Steiner, R. (1996).  Why do veins appear blue? A new look at an old question.  Applied Optics, 35(7), 1151-1160.

Islamic Law and the Modern World Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Islamic Law and the Modern World - Essay Example Thesis statement: The Islamic Law is less important in the modern world because the same does not support democratic ideology, limits individual freedom, less secular, hijacks politics, manipulates economics, against modernity, and limits basic human rights within religious belief. The concept of democracy envisions equal opportunity for all within national boundary. Besides, democracy is totally against the influence of royal families and religions groups over national politics. This is important for a modern state because democracy allows equal opportunity to all citizens. On the other side, an individual’s religions belief determines his/her worth and rights in an Islamic nation. To be specific, the laws related to Islam limits the scope of democracy within Islamic nations. For instance, the Islamic nations never allow democracy within national politics because democracy allows citizens to choose their government. Fatima Mernissi (2009, p.16) states that, ‘The pouring of masses onto the streets during the Gulf War, their calling for democracy, passed unnoticed in the Western media’. But some nations (Muslim majority) try to inculcate democracy within the mainstream society, known as Islamic democracy. For instance, some secular nations l ike Turkey try to redefine Islamic principles to inculcate democracy into the society. Still, this is not an easy task because Islamic principles, especially Sharia, are not in favor of democratic thought. Similarly, some other Islamic nations, like Pakistan, are not totally against democracy because Islamic law is not the one and only law in these nations. So, one cannot plainly blame Islam for the less scope of democracy within nations because the political elite and religious elite classes are responsible for the same. On the other side, the religious fundamentalist groups are in favor of the strict implementation of laws related to Islam.

Employees in an International Market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Employees in an International Market - Essay Example As Groenewald (2009) states, â€Å"staffing, training, compensation, and performance management are basically important tools in the human resources practices† (p. 1). In this paper, we will examine the functions of human resource department in managing employees in an international marketplace. Most Critical Human Resource Functions To manage employees in an international marketplace, the human resource department of a company needs to execute some critical functions. These functions not only ensure a smooth running of business processes but also help a company achieve its corporate goals and objectives effectively and efficiently. Some of the most important HR functions in this regard include aligning recruitment process with corporate objectives, starting programs for employee training and development, and increasing employee motivation. Let us discuss these functions in some details to know their significance for a better management of employees. Aligning Recruitment with Corporate Objectives One of the main roles of the HR department is to align the employee recruitment process with the overall strategy of the company in order to build an inspired and productive workforce. Employee selection is one of those functions that are critical to ensuring a company’s success. It is the responsibility of the HR department of a company to recruit such people, who can prove themselves productive for the company through their skills, talent, and knowledge. A skilled and experienced employee is a key towards the success of a company. Therefore, global HR managers look for such people who can give improved performances and can ensure high levels of profits for the company through their performances. In today’s competitive world, recruiting and forming a diverse workforce...This paper stresses that employee training also plays a valuable role in ensuring long-term profitability of a company. Therefore, HR professionals put their efforts in investing i n employee training and development programs to improve the individual performances of employees as well as to increase an overall organizational productivity. Employee training and development also help in creating a pool of suitable replacements for the employees who either resign from their jobs or get promotions within the company, hence, leaving their positions available for other suitable candidates. Employee motivation is the combination of employees’ job-related behaviors, the level of efforts employees exert, and the employees’ level of determination. Companies are at risk of facing many setbacks with a lower level of employee motivation.This report makes a conclusion that effective human resource management is one of the most important factors that determine the success of a company in local and international markets. The main functions of the human resource department in managing employees in an international marketplace include strategic employee selection and recruitment, developing effective employee training programs, and increasing employee motivation to meet corporate goals and objectives. Some of the main outcomes of focusing on employee management in broader terms include selective and strategy-oriented recruitment of employees, improved organizational performance, improved business efficiency, and formation of a skilled workforce which is able to meet the requirements of the international business environment.

Power and Politics in Organizational Development Essay

Power and Politics in Organizational Development - Essay Example The concepts of power and politics are two areas of organizations that can be very difficult to define and understand. However, in order to be successful in organizational life and development these areas must be explored. In the past Organizational Development has been criticized for not taking these factors (French & Bell, 1999, pg. 282). French & Bell (1999) explain that the understanding of Power and Politics is still in very early stages in OD. However with recent research we still continue to derive theories and applications for the OD field. Organization development is influenced by and depends upon politics and power, culture and effective performance of the management team. Organization development is complex process which relies on high moral values that transcend both the organization and the individual. The shared values that underlie a high-performing organization's strategy and bring meaning to the individual employee's work are reflected in both the decision-making and the goal-setting processes. Power is the potential to influence behavior, "to change the course of events, to overcome resistance, and to get people to do things that they would not otherwise do (Pfeffer, 1994, pg. 30). In short, it is a way to get things done; not the only way, but at least a major way, and one that is often used in organizational life. ... 283). Managers use power to accomplish goals all the time. The use of power is sometimes called "organizational politics" as managers use power and influence to produce results. Because of its association with politics, power is many times looked upon with disdain, as a dirty word. At the same time, we admire managers for what they achieve, and while we may not like it, we acknowledge that the ability to willingly wield power is often a prerequisite to managerial success. Following David McClelland, "positive faced of power is characterized by a socialized need to initiate influence and lead" (French and Bell 1999, pg. 282). Power is used frequently when the necessity to accomplish goals requires us to rely on those on whom we depend. It is especially important when they have a different point of view and cannot otherwise be relied on to do what we want them to do (Pfeffer, 1994, pg. 39). The greater the degree of difference in point of view, the greater the resistance and conflict and the more important it is to use power, influence, and organizational politics as a way to get things done. If everyone has the same goal and is in agreement about how to achieve it, there is no need to use power. Studies have shown that the more agreement there was on the goal and the means to attain it, the less political activity occurred (Pfeffer, 1994, pg. 39). There is no need to engage in politics or exercise power when there are no differences in perspective or w hen no conflict exits. The time and energy can, in these situations, be more productively employed toward goal accomplishment. To the extent that organizations can agree on goals and on the means to attain them, organizational politics can be reduced. In the absence of this

The company aims and objectives

The company aims and objectives 1 Introduction Strategic management is the way a business will formulate, implement and evaluate its decisions across the departments in order to help the company to achieve its objectives. It means using the company aims and objectives to develop policies and plans, allocate resources in order to implement the plans and then evaluate whether this has been successful. Strategic Planning ensures that an organisation is doing the right things. If a business needs to change the way it runs its business operations then a strategic plan explains what the organisation is changing to. Once it has determined the right things to do, it devolves accountability for doing them right to one or more business plans (Guest 1989). Every organisation has a mission statement setting out its aims and objectives and strategy can be defined as â€Å"The determination of the basic long-term goals and objective of an enterprise and the adoption of courses of action and the allocation of resources necessary for carrying out these goals† (Alfred Chandler, 1963). Johnson and Scholes (2002 p13) suggested that a company needs a mission and mission statements; a vision or strategic intent; goals; objectives; unique resources and core competences, strategies and control. Strategy was ‘the direction and scope of an organisation over the long term: ideally which mat ches its resources to its changing environment, and in particular to its markets, customers or clients, so as to meet stakeholder expectations. To continue in business and be profitable every business needs a strategy and according to McGee et al (2005)strategy is the ability of a company to thrive and survive. The report will outline the stages, steps and procedures that should be implemented to carryout a strategic analysis as part of the strategic management process. The New Vintage Car Company is a specialist organisation which has a small niche in the specialist car market and a mission statement, objectives and strategic intent. 1.1 Aims and Objectives of the report The aim of the report is write a report about a chosen firm within the automotive industry (real or invented) indicating the stages, steps and processes involved in the planning and analysis, formulation and implementation and evaluation of the strategic management process. 1.2 Objectives To understand the importance and characteristics of strategic management to all forms of organisation To investigate a range of strategic management models and their strengths and weaknesses To consider the relevance for strategic management of organisational culture and ethics To analyse and evaluate a range of strategic management models To apply and to tailor models of strategic management as appropriate 2 Stage One Strategic analysis Generally there are two main approaches to strategic management the organisational approach dealing with competitive advantage, resource allocation and economies or scale and the the human approach. According to Arieu (2007), ‘there is strategic consistency when the actions of an organization are consistent with the expectations of management, and these in turn are with the market and the context. Strategic management can be bottom-up, top-down, or collaborative processes which means that in the bottom up approach employees send in proposals to their managers who choose the best ideas which are assessed through capital budgeting processes such as return on investment or cost benefit whilst the top-down approach is where the CEO and the planning team make the decisions. Johnson (1999 p154) advised that strategic planning was the ‘process of drawing up long-term, wide ranging plans in accordance with the organisations main aims and will involve analysing customer expectations, competitive pressures and overall changes in the market. Operational planning on the other hand was the development of plans for a specific operation within the organisation whether it was for a product or a service. He added that although organisations used information from analysis, quantified objectives which became the organisations targets for a planned period of time, could be based on ‘ guesswork. Strategic management is an ongoing process that evaluates and controls the business and the industries in which the company is involved; assesses its competitors and sets goals and strategies to meet all existing and potential competitors; and then reassesses each strategy annually or quarterly [i.e. regularly] to determine how it has been implemented and whether it has succeeded or needs replacement by a new strategy to meet changed circumstances, new technology, new competitors, a new economic environment., or a new social, financial, or political environment. (Lamb, 1984:ix). As the New Vintage Car Company is a small specialist business it is very much a very collaborative style of strategic management with the 10 main employees taking part in management decisions. 2.1 Strategic management theories Strategic management was a concept which was developed in the 1950s and 1960s which theorised that gathering all the functions under one strategy and coordinating the different departments. Chandler (1962) showed that a long-term coordinated strategy was necessary to give a company structure, direction, and focus stating that ‘structure follows strategy. Selznick theorised that an organisations internal functions should be matched to any external environmental circumstances through SWOT analysis which was developed by the Harvard Business School General Management Group. Anscoff developed a strategy grid to compare market penetration strategies, product development strategies, market development strategies, horizontal and vertical integration and diversification strategies and a gap analysis. Druckers (1969) management by objectives (MBO) meant that companies set objectives and then monitored if they had been achieved and suggested the use of team work. Function strategies incl ude marketing strategies such as new product development strategies, human resource strategies, financial strategies, legal strategies, supply-chain strategies, and information technology management strategies dealing with short and medium term plans. However, Mintzberg (1988) thought of strategy as a process or pattern of behaviour which has evolved over time and necessitated fluidity and the realization that there were unpredictable issues which could arise. 2.2 Analysis Part of the planning process for a company would be to analyse the current market place and the companys position in it. This could be done through various analysis techniques such as PEST, SWOT, Gap analysis, Porters generic strategy analysis. 2.2.1 PEST analysis The PEST analysis could be used by the organisation to look into market growth or decline whilst investigating the position of the company, its potential for future growth and the direction the business should take. PEST stands for Political, Economic, Social and Technological factors, and can be used in conjunction with SWOT which are the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats analysis. PEST can be extended to PESTLE by adding Environmental and Legal or even adding any Political and demographic issues as STEEPLED (Grundy 2006). 2.2.2 SWOT analysis In order to see where the company is in the market place, a SWOT analysis will need to be undertaken. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Strengths would be the type of business and whether is has been well established in the area and has a loyal customer base Weaknesses are anything which may hinder the company in achieving its objectives and which may need to be changed such as financial constraints. Opportunities are the things a companies can use to progress Threats are the issues which affect a company and could potentially threaten the companys futuresuch as thecredit crunch with suppliers closing down, transport costs rising and banks not lending money (Armstrong 1982 p198 Hill Westbrook 1997). 2.2.3 Gap analysis The company will need to judge where there is a gap in the market, either a place for their product or where the company is at the moment and where they would like to be and so the difference is the gap. After this analyis the company needs to decide how to bridge the gap either through a strategic approach or a tactical/operational approach. The tactical operational approach would make use of the Marketing Mix Product, Place, Price, Promotion 2.2.4 The value chain Porter (1998) also theorized that a company could be successful if it contributed to the industry it was in via a value chain which meant that everything a company does should be questioned in terms of what value it adds in the eyes of the final customer. In 1993,John Kay stated that ‘adding value is the central purpose of business activity. 2.3 Competitor analysis A company needs to analyse what its competitors are doing, how well they are doing it and whether they are a real threat. 2.3.1 Competitive advantage and Porters 5 Forces theory Porters 5 Forces Model New entrants, Industry competitors, Suppliers, buyers and substitutes is a useful theory can help for an organisation to formulate the appropriate strategies to be successful in their market (Thurlby, 1998). Porters theory takes 5 elements which can influence a business such as New Entrants to the market and Industry competitors are there any new or similar companies setting up in business which could be a threat and which customers will choose instead of the original company; Suppliers who may be powerful enough to put up prices which the company has to pay or even refusing to do business with the company; Buyers how customers can put pressure on the company to lower prices or alter product lines; Substitutes customers changing to alternative products from another company if there is a product price increase; the use of price cutting and aggressive marketing by other similar rival companies; (Porter 1998). 2.4 The Competitive-positioning approach Companies need to be aware of the competitions own strategies at all times. A competitive advantage can be attained by organisations if the current strategy is value-creating, and not currently being used or activated by competitors or future competitors (Barney, 1991, p102). Choosing the correct market level is important as too high will lose customers and too low may see to many competitors. Porter (1995) thought that there were three routes to competitive advantage. A firm either (1) focused on a particular customer group (2) Specialised in skills competitors cannot match or (3) became the lowest cost producer. Having the competitive advantage means that a company must outperform its competitors by delivering superior value to customers and, in doing so, earn an above average financial return for the company and its stakeholders. Doing this successfully over a long period is sustainable competitive advantage which requires that they outperform their competitors for a long period in a way that customers are prepared to purchase at a sufficiently high price. Campbell et al (2007) argued that there were 8 areas which need to be considered for competitive and sustainable competitive advantage to continue for a company. They need to have a strategic intent to stretch the organisation in the future and be willing to work at continuous improvement which includes inputs, processes and outputs of products and services. They would need to work in a different way to their competitors and importantly they need to be perceived to be better by their customers who need to believe that they are the main r eason for the company being in business to serve their customers. The company must build on their core competences by continuous internal review and keep communication channels open both internally and externally. Its core competency is the restoring of classic cars and all the skills which go with this. The management must be aware that the business environment is constantly changing and they must be prepared to change with it especially during the current recession They need to be aware of their competitors but also know when collaboration and co-operation with competitors through strategic alliances is a necessity. 3 Stage Two Strategic formulation The New Vintage Car Company has formulated a strategy through the planning and analysis of companys SWOT and the gap analysis as well as having looked at the competition which is a few other similar small businesses. Strategy formulation is the process of determining appropriate courses of action for achieving organizational objectives and staying a profitable business. Johnson and Scholes (2002 p11) theorised that there were different levels of strategy: (1) corporate dealing with the ‘overall purpose and scope of an organisation and how value can be added to the business areas of the company and when a company has decided on its products and the market it should compete in (2) business unit strategy deals with how a company can achieve an advantage over its competitors and what opportunities can be identified or created and competitive strategy which is when the company sets out the framework for success in the market it has chosen with goal setting, commitment of resources a nd the monitoring or strategies and (3) operational strategy is how the different areas of a company deliver the corporate strategies with reference to resources, people and processes. Once the strategy has been formulated, the company needs a mission statement, set the aims and objectives and conduct the internal and external analyis of the niche in the market. The company would then implement the strategy by undertaking certain steps such as entering into a partnership or expanding distribution outlets. The strategy will then need to be reviewed. The strategy formulated by a company should reflect an environmental analysis as well as the organisaitonal vision, mission statement and organisational objectives. The way to formulate strategic plans is to use three steps which find out where the company is now, determine where the company wants to go, and then determines how to get there. This may require to take certain precautionary measures or even to change the entire strategy. Johnson and Scholes (2002) strategic model looks at three criteria suitability and whether it will work; feasibility and whether it is possible to make it work and acceptability and whether the strategies will be successful. 3.1 Suitability The strategies for the company need to be suitable for that company and its current and future position in the market. The question to ask is is it economical to pursue the strategies and would there be any cost advantages for the business due expansion (economies of scale) referring to efficiencies associated with supply-side changes, such as increasing or decreasing the scale of production, of a single product type? The company needs to also address the question of economies of scope which means efficiencies primarily associated with demand-side changes, such as increasing or decreasing the scope of marketing or distribution. A company which sells many product lines, sells the same product in many countries, or sells many product lines in many countries will benefit from reduced risk levels as a result of its economies of scope. If one of its product lines falls out of fashion or one country has an economic slowdown, the company will, most likely, be able to continue trading. Thin king of its customers the company needs to look at the experience economy and what their customers will get and how they will feel they receive not only value for money but are getting something extra and feel part of the company experience. This encourages company loyalty. The New Vintage Car Company has a loyal customer base in the UK and has overseas customers in countries where the current financial downturn has not had such as great impact. The company would make use of decision tree analysis and what if analysis. 3.2 Feasibility Feasibility is concerned with the resources required to implement the strategy and whether they are available now or need to be developed or obtained. The resources which would need to be looked at would be (1) finance and funding and whether the company would have enough capital without taking on a loan or issuing more shares; (2) people and whether there would need to be a recruitment drive to employ more skilled craftspeople or even take on apprentices; (3) time and whether the length of time it would take would be prohibitive or whether the time scales involved would be acceptable and (4) information and whether the company has enough expertise and knowledge to expand using the strategies. For this the New Vintage Car Company would need to undertake a cash flow analysis and forecast as well as a break even analysis and a deployment analysis. 3.3 Acceptability Acceptability deals with how the main stakeholders of a company will accept any new strategies. The stakeholders in a company are the shareholders, employees and customers. They will need to know the expected performance outcomes and whether there are risks and what the consequences of a failed strategy would be for the company. The shareholders would want to know that there would be returns on their investments either financial or non financial and the employees would expect improved pay or career prospects and customers would be concerned that they would still get the quality they were used to. An ideal tool for this would be stakeholder mapping. Therefore the formulation of a good workable strategy for the New Vintage Car Company is essential. Strategic formulation allows the company to plan its capital budgeting especially where there are limited funds and capital funds need to be invested where they can be most effective for all the stakeholders. The next stage is implementation. Implementing any strategies will mean a change of some kind. Strategic Planning ensures that an organisation is doing the right things and then doing them right but the strategic plan explains what the organisation is changing to. The Corporate plan would be at the head of the strategic planning with departmental strategic plans and functional strategic plans for other parts of management. What goes into a strategic plan must take into account the needs of the stakeholders, any environmental risks and threats plus the competencies, resources and values that the company has. (http://www.changeperform.com.au/strategic_plan_process.html) 4 Stage Three Strategic implementation and evaluation In order to implement the plans made, there will need to be an allocation of resources including money, people, time and computer support and establishing a chain of command with specific responsibilities given to individuals or groups. This also includes the right training for employees. Strategic management can often be planned or unplanned in that there are unpredictable circumstances as well as those which can be planned for. Once the strategy has been implemented, it will need to be evaluated as to its success or failure once again through SWOT analysis for company strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats both internal and external. The changes that could affect an organisation are any Political Changes such as a change in government, legislation, taxation,; any Economic Changes such as inflation, interest rates, unemployment; Social Changes such as population trends Technological Changes such as breakthroughs, new products and technologies, Implementing any strategies will need time and effort but they should not be imposed. The management of change is an important part of strategic implementation. Change cannot be forced on employees or implemented too quickly or there will be industrial problems. The idea of change is opposed for many reasons including job insecurity; fear of loss of status; pay cuts and job losses; breaks in routine; learning new skills and methods; change of work site and work colleagues. As the New Vintage Car Company is a small business it may be able to weather any of the changes which could affect the business. As the business uses a collaborative approach to management, the employees are part of the decision making process and the strategies which would affect them would be discussed collectively The Paton-Johnson model (2007 p109) can be used, as it suggests sequential stages for the management of change through initial conversations about change; diagnosis of what needs to be changes, how and why; the development of a new vision for the organisation and its employees which is shared and a plan to implement the changes. A useful addition to strategic strategies is Warrs Vitamin Model (1987) which considers the well being of company staff and the changes made in the organisation as vitamins to help the health of the company. Healthy minded employees work well and increase production which benefits the company. Employees need to know they are valued and respected within an organisation and if they do not feel this way they are discontent. 5 Conclusions There are many reasons why strategies fail and companies fail with them. Companies need to understand their market and their competition both now and in the future, know their own strengths and weaknesses and be aware of any opportunities which may come and any threats which are looming. The New Vintage Car Company will need to be confident of their employees competence in handling the new strategy and to introduce the changes gradually and with communication, cooperation and participation. Although strategic management is a complex process it can be handled efficiently although too much constraint may be limiting any future visions for the company. As a collaborative company there are just as many pitfalls as for those with top-down management style ‘too many cooks as well as ‘dictatorships. Strategic management consists of interpreting, and continuously reinterpreting, the possibilities presented by changing circumstances for achieving an organizations objectives. Strategic management processes are essential for an organisations success but they need to be paced and not rushed as this is where mistakes are made. The aim of the report was write a report about a chosen firm within the automotive industry (real or invented) indicating the stages, steps and processes involved in the planning and analysis, formulation and implementation and evaluation of the strategic management process. This was achieved through a brief investigation into the strategic levels associated with the New Vintage Car Company. The objectives of the report were o understand the importance and characteristics of strategic management to all forms of organisation and this was achieved through a review of the levels of the strategic management process and the theories and models with strengths and weaknesses. References Ansoff, I (1965) Corporate Strategy New York: McGraw Hill, Argyle, M. (1972, p.201) The Social Psychology of work, Penguin UK Armstrong J S (1982). The Value of Formal Planning for Strategic Decisions Strategic Management Journal 3: 197-211. Axelrod, R. and Cohen, M. (1999) Harnessing Complexity: Organizational implications of a scientific frontier New York: The Free Press, Chandler A (1962) Strategy and Structure: Chapters in the history of industrial enterprise, New York: Doubleday, Chartered Institute Of Personnel And Development. (2005) Managing change: the role of the psychological contract. Change agenda. London: CIPD. David, F (1989) Strategic Management, Columbus: Merrill Publishing Company, Drucker, Peter (1954) The Practice of Management, New York: Harper and Row, Grundy , T. (2006) Rethinking and reinventing Michael Porters five forces model. Strategic Change. Vol 15, No 5, August. pp213-229 Henry A. (2008) Understanding Strategic Management Oxford University Press Hughes, M. (2006) Change Management: A Critical Perspective. London: Chartered Institute Of Personnel And Development. Johnson B (1999) Introducing Management : a development guide for new managers Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann Johnson A Paton K (2007) Health Promotion and Health Services: Management for Change Oxford: Oxford University Press pp107-128 Johnson G Scholes K (2002) Exploring Corporate Strategy London: Pearson Education Ltd Lamb, R B (1984) Competitive strategic management, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, McGee et al (2005) Strategy: Analysis and Practice UK: McGraw Hill Moncrieff, J. Is strategy making a difference? Long Range Planning Review, vol 32, no2, pp273-276. Michaud C Thoenig J C (2003) Making strategy and organization compatible. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Mink/Esterhuysen/Mink/Owen, (1993) Change at Work Action Science Approach cited in Schumacher W D, (1997) Managing Barriers to Business Reengineering Success (Business Process Management Group) (www.bpmg.org) Pettigrew A. and Whipp R. 1993 p.5 Managing for Competitive Success Oxford: Blackwell Porter, M. (1980a) How Competition Forces Shape Strategy, Harvard Business Review, September-October, pp.137-145. Porter, M. (1980b) Competitive Strategy, New York: Free Press. Porter, M. (1998) Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors, New York: Free Press. Turner S. (2002) Tools for success: a managers guide. London: McGraw Hill. Warr P (1987) Work, Unemployment and Mental Health Oxford: Oxford Unviersity Press http://www.cipd.co.uk/subjects/ corpstrtgy/changemmt/chngmgmt.htm accessed 10 May 09 Harvard Business School (2002) Toward Continuous Change: Staying Competitive Through Change Harvard Business School Press (http://harvardbusinessonline.hbsp.harvard.edu/b01/en/common/item_detail.jhtml?referral=3035id=7188BC) accessed 12 May 09 Appendix A The New Vintage Car Company is a small specialist car making company which restores old classic cars but it looking to branch out into making new build cars based on the classic models of previous decades through a partnership with another small car company which produces self build car building kits for classic cars such as the MG. The company employs a skilled team of classic car body builders, wheelers, panel beaters, wing makers, and fender manufacturers who are skilled in working aluminium, steel, stainless steel, copper, brass and magnesium alloy as well as restoring ash frames from old cars or fabricating new wooden frames. The company has experience as vintage car coachbuilders has helped with classic car projects, from manufacturers including: Alvis; Amilcar; Auto Union; AC; Alfa Romeo; Aston Martin; Allard; Austro Daimler; Bentley; Bugatti; Bristol; BMW; Cadillac; Cisitalia; Cooper; Daimler; Delahaye; Delage; Invicta; Jaguar; Lotus; Lancia; Lagonda; Lamborghini; Maserati; Mercedes; Morgan; Porcshe; Riley; Rolls-Royce; Railton; Sunbeam; Tojeiro; Vauxhall; Veritas. The company has successfully completed a wide range of car commissions, from simple body repairs on existing bodywork to complete restorations and new bodies, sometimes from the most basic of plans. Commissions are from the whole of world motoring history, from fantastic exotica such as the 1938 Alfa Romeo Bimotore and two 1930s Grand Prix Auto-Unions, to a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Gull-Wing Magnesium Coupà ©. (adapted from http://www.rodjolley.com/flash/flashed.html)

Treyvon Martin and Clarence Thomas Essay -- Political Spectacle, Polit

On February 26, 2012, an apparently innocent teenager was shot as he walked home through his neighborhood late at night. The Trayvon Martin killing and trial has recently been one of the primary topics covered by the media in America. The response to the news coverage of the case has been staggering. Students have organized hoodie marches and created Facebook groups to protest the unjustified murder of the young man. However, is the American public as well informed as it pretends to be? Americans have an unsettling susceptibility to manipulation from the media. In 1991, a similar event occurred in the case of the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings, where Supreme Court nominee, Clarence Thomas, had his personal affairs put on display for America. This event ignited unrest in women’s rights and civil rights groups across the country. Americans were surprised to discover that the nation had been blind to these supposed political injustices for years. The Clarence Thomas confir mation hearings cloaked a staggering message to the American people about media’s role in manipulating American sentiment by sensationalizing the news coverage relayed to the American public. The original purpose of the Clarence Thomas hearings were to determine if George Bush’s nominee for Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas, was a legitimate nominee for the prestigious role of Supreme Court justice. However, the hearings quickly developed into little more than a â€Å"political spectacle.† A political spectacle â€Å"is public in the sense that it deals with a†¦ scandalous action that carries instant and wide appeal no matter who does it† . The spectacle was tailored so that it would reach and catch the attention of millions of viewers. In order to accomplish th... ...ide, â€Å"Deconstructing the Political Spectacle: Sex, Race, and Subjectivity in Public Response to the Clarence Thomas/ Anita Hill â€Å"Sexual Harassment† Hearings,† American Journal of Political Science 37 (1993): 701. Dianne Rucinski, â€Å"Rush to Judgment? Fast Reaction Polls in the Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas Controversy,† The Public Opinion Quarterly 57 (1993): 575. Frances Trix and Andrea Sankar, â€Å"Women's Voices and Experiences of the Hill-Thomas Hearings,† American Anthropologist 100 (1998): 32. Larry Hugick, "On Night before Vote, Support for Thomas Remains Strong," Gallup Poll News Service 56 ( 1991): 2. Murray Edelman, Constructing the Political Spectacle (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1988), 99. Thomas P. Kim, â€Å"Clarence Thomas and the Politicization of Candidate Gender in the 1992 Senate Elections,† Legislative Studies Quarterly 23 (1998): 399.

Purpose of College Education

There is no doubt that education plays an important role in people's lives. At a very young age, people begin spending time in school to acquire the basic things necessary in life including reading and writing. They progress to more complicated lessons as time goes on. However, the most important education that a person can receive would probably be tertiary education. This is also known as college education where people are able to pick an area or field that they want to specialize in. The primary purpose of a college education would be for a person to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge in his or her chosen career and become fully prepared for the real world. For the students, a college education is a means of pursuing their dreams and ambitions in life (Borade, 2009). There are many people who believe that having a bachelor's degree will present more opportunities for them. Although there are several individuals who have become successful even without finishing their college education, it is still more effective if people graduate from college, especially if education is all that they have. Nowadays, companies and employers prefer to hire individuals who have college degrees and would pay even more if they have masterals or doctorate degrees. Having a college degree increases individuals' chances of being hired in the corporate world rather than having average and low-paying jobs. â€Å"For a parent, the very purpose of a good college education is to enable the child to probe the realms of thought and access real higher learning† (Borade, 2009). Parents only want the best for their children. They want to see their children succeed in everything that they do. They push their children to finish college because they know that this will benefit their children in the future. They want their children to maximize their full potential and bring out the best that they can be in life through academic learning. Academic institutions also plays a role in the academic lives of students. Their purpose is to provide the best educational experience to the students enrolled in their campus. For them, the purpose of college education is for them to act out their roles as providers of education. Without them, people will have nowhere to go to receive education. The staff and the institution greatly help students mold themselves into the best individuals that they can be in the future. However, it is important to note that not all people believe in a college education. These people think that everyone can become successful even without finishing tertiary education. This is not hard to believe since there are numerous college drop outs that have emerged to become successful in their respective fields. Still, people, especially young students should not rely on this information and try their best to excel on their own. They should keep in mind that not all people are lucky and fortunate enough to attend college. While they have the chance, they should make the most out of it and make sure that they benefit from the learning process. As stated above, the primary purpose of a college education is to prepare the students for the real world. However, there are many who decide to â€Å"rush through their college years without taking the time to explore avenues of thought that could broaden their perspectives† (Nguyen, n. d. ). Students should always remember that they can only experience education the fullest way when they take the time to absorb everything that they are being taught. They will not be prepared if they take it too fast or too slow. Thus, the true purpose of college education will be defeated.

Ancient greece essays

Ancient greece essays Ive just begun my journey home, however I cant wait to tell you all that Ive seen and done. As I crossed the Athenian plain, my eyes were drawn to the three hundred fifty foot summit of the mighty acropolis (Tozer 247). I must say that until I got into Athens itself I thought Id made a terrible mistake coming in the summer. Outside of the city it is oppressively hot and humid, however as I entered the city I began to feel the cool sea breezes (Garland 22). I walked through the town to see the craftsmen at work, such statues they make. Absolute perfection, every muscle clearly defined like Apollo himself (Birch). Many of the craftsmen had recently finished working on pieces for the Parthenon. They painstakingly depicted the myths and history of Athena as well as Athens. On the east pediment is the depiction of Athenas birth. On the west is the battle between Poseidon and Athena for control of Athens. The statue of Athena is an object of unparalleled beauty; her face, arms, and feet are veneered in ivory, her clothing thickly plated in gold, and her eyes inlaid with precious stones (Woodford 39). While the sculpture is the best Ive seen, I must mention the architecture of the building itself. The size is overwhelming, as it is one hundred one feet and four inches wide, two hundred twenty-eight feet and one inch long. There are eight columns on each end and seventeen across its sides. Each column is six feet and three inches i n diameter, thirty-four feet and three inches in height (Woodford 17). There is a well blended mix of doric as well as ionic elements (Pomeroy et al 275). The acropolis is a sight to behold, Athens truly is a great city. The agora is filled with many different shops. There are bankers tables, booksellers, wholesale merchants, you can get all the necessities here (Pomeroy et al 283). I was so hungry by this time I stopped and got some ...

Russia vs United States essays

Russia vs United States essays The United States and Russia have been battling off pernicious factions menacing the stability of their democracies over the years. Russia has come a long way over the past century, enduring a number of different phases that have completely desecrated any power Russia may have had paralleled to the rest of the world. The United States, however, has been evolving into a prosperous world power that has led to new respect from many other nations. Both Russia and the United States have struggled in the past at maintaining a significant amount of cultural commitment to preservation of specific aspects of their respective democracies. Having a relatively new democracy, Russian citizens have different perceptions and expectations of government from those of United States citizens. With new liberties and freedoms, Russians are struggling to grasp the concept of capitalism and participation in government. In order to preserve strong features of democracy, such as the right to vote or fr eedom of speech, a country's constituents must respect and positively view their government. They must have faith in that the government is working for their best interests. Physically, the United States and Russia have been impacted greatly by their geography. Historically, the backgrounds of Russia and the United States are of stark contrast. Traditionally, Russians have a difficult time believing in the stability of their government as it has changed a number of times. Geography has had a profound influence on the Russian psyche. Russia is a land that lies open to invasion and the elements, for it possesses no major natural barriers. In the southeast, there are great plains that allow easy entrance to any would-be conquerors (Melvin 139). In the southwest there is the steppe, home of many fierce nomadic tribes and prime invasion route for the horsemen of central Asia. In Russia's north there are vast forests and tundra, which, although not a...

Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 29

Leadership - Essay Example Managers study motivation behavior in order to optimize human resource towards achieving organizations’ set objectives. Different workers respond differently to motivation. This makes management a complex endeavor since different workers will follow different motivational patterns or fall under different motivational theories. This necessitates managers to study motivational behavior (Gupta n.d). Douglas McGregor developed two theories of human motivation. According to theory X, it is assumed that workers will naturally stay in idle state unless prompted to work under coercion or other forms of motivation. This calls for a lot of supervision under a hierarchical form human resource management. This theory has been criticized for lack of economies of scale especially in large organizations where much of the work force would be deployed towards managing other employees. Theory Y is a reverse of theory X. According to this theory, employees are inherently self-driven and motivated to work such that work is a natural activity. However, the theory posits that capacity is usually underutilized and therefore, it is the work of the management to use different motivational approaches to optimize the human resource. Creating a favorable work environment that would meet each worker’s expectations for motivation is the greatest challenge facing this

American Government - partisan press and yellow journalism Essay

American Government - partisan press and yellow journalism - Essay Example Once they have projected their thoughts, they are bold and intensively expressive of the subject matter in question. The major differences between the two types of journalism are what they majorly concentrate on in their publications. Yellow journalism is more concerned with eye catching, over exaggerated and thought provoking themes. The claims are mostly unsubstantiated. Partisan press entails media concentration on the events and activities of one political party. This information is carried over the top at the expense of the other political parties. In recent times, the Houston Chronicle has come under fire for partisan coverage. This is because it has over concentrated on activities, events and information concerning the Democratic Party. A good example of yellow journalism is the story run on the front page of the LA Times in September 2009. In bold, they claimed that   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Our state is in a fiscal crisis, Republicans refuse to let us pass a single tax increase whatsoever, we do not tax oil companies for their profits, and the legislature just passed a budget that makes $15 billion in  dreadful cuts  to education and health care, and $11 billion in reckless borrowing† (Hogarth, 2009). This created unnecessary financial shivers as many made an attempt to purchase the paper for detailed information, which was, not sufficiently researched. Hindman, D. B., Littlefield, R. Preston, A., & Dennis Neumann. "Structural Pluralism, Ethnic Pluralism, and Community Newspapers."  Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly  76, no. 2 (Summer 1999): 250–263.