The Journey Of Self Discovery Of Identity And Culture Essay

The journey of self-discovery of identity and culture is a very challenging process because it involves discovering and revealing the good and bad experiences that shaped us as human beings. The effects of self-discovery includes: happiness, disappointment, clarity, enlightenment, and even self-fulfillment. However, it also entails fear, doubts, confusions and misunderstandings. Most importantly, it also means finding our ultimate purpose of life. According to Abraham Maslow’s arguments, in â€Å"The Need to Know and the Fear of Knowing,† boils down to finding our inner and outer knowledge of oneself. He concludes that â€Å"all factors that permit courage, freedom and boldness will thereby also free our need to know.† He argues that when we safely release ourselves from unnecessary fear and pain, it is one way of freeing ourselves from mental and emotional traps. He asserts that by bravely re-visiting all our choices of life, digging deep into our childhood, and even exposing our unpleasant experiences will eventually make us wiser and stronger. He emphasizes that each approach could be culturally diverse and is also based on individual’s needs. For example: In â€Å"No Name Woman,† Maxine Hong Kingston argues that a ghost haunts her for publicly revealing the family’s secret about her aunt disgraceful past. She recreates the events of her life, both imaginary and factual stories to help her better understand the Chinese culture as well as to figure out what part from her identity isShow MoreRelatedSelf Discovery In Anita Nairs Ladiesbor1330 Words   |  6 Pagesintends to explore the theme of self discovery through the act of journey in Anita Nair’s Ladies Coupe. Travel narratives are broad genres which illuminate mainly on people, place and culture. Journeys form the focal point of every travel narrative. In literature, the motif of journey is used as a distinctive idea or theme and is used to represent a cha racter’s epiphany or self realization. It provides a personal assertion outside the compressed state of one’s life. Journey is seen as a means of confrontationRead MoreFresa y Chocolate and The Borderlands1467 Words   |  6 PagesIdentity is the essential core of who we are as individuals, the conscious experience of the self-inside. (Kaufman cited in Anzaldà ºa, 1987, p.84) The objective of this essay will be to interpret the contradictions of identity produced in the movie Fresa y Chocolate and The Borderlands. When personal identity, is stifled and shaped by nationalistic discourse. By examining the polarised dichotomies of self-identity, juxtaposed against the internalised and dominant hegemonic discourse of imposed NationalRead MoreDiscovery Essay977 Words   |  4 PagesDiscovery Essay Discovery inhibits the ability to embrace new beginnings and accept a sense of change whether it is found or forced upon an individual. The places you travel and the people you meet can emotionally revolutionize a self-discovery through unexpected but anticipated terms evoked from curiosity. ‘Swallow The Air’ written by Tara June Winch and ‘The Thing Around Your Neck’ written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie break the inhibitions of vulnerability, as their ideas represented throughRead MoreWhy I Am I?1576 Words   |  7 Pagesby many individuals, ranging from different backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities. Each individual, in some way or another, is struggling to come to terms with this question and are looking for answers within themselves. However, this simple, yet, complex question, involves more than looking into oneself and evaluating one’s own self- identity. Lately, I have also been wondering about the kind of person I am. Exploring my â€Å"Self † and â€Å"Identity,† has been a constant battle between the person that I knowRead MoreSimilarities Between Harry Potter And The Invisible Man1574 Words   |  7 Pagessubject matter and time period, share common themes and patterns. Invisible Man follows the journey of self-discovery of an unnamed â€Å"invisible man† as he journeys up North to find work. The well-known Harry Potter series follows a young wizard through the trials and tribulations of Hogwarts, the school of wizardry. Various symbols and influential events in their respective worlds shape the self-discovery journeys of these two heroes. While the narrator of Invisible Man’s tasks seem less significant comparedRead More Essay on Individual Verses Society in Song of Solomon1101 Words   |  5 Pagescontrasts the image of a self-made individual with that of an individual who is the product of his or her society. Since society changes, the man who simply reflects his social environment ch anges accordingly. But â€Å"the true individuals self-discovery depends on achieving consciousness of ones own nature and identity†(Middleton 81). This is what differentiates Pilate and Milkman from Macon and Guitar.   There are direct similarities between Milkmans and Pilates self-discovery. They both achieve theirRead MoreMuslim Women Of Pakistan, By Tehmina Durrani s My Feudal Lord, An Autobiographical Narrative1164 Words   |  5 Pagesa woman that has the potential to expose and challenge a male dominated society. Durrani’s courage, resistance and mighty pen become agents for change. These agents, along with exposition of assumed authority of debauchery and superiority of male culture assist her in dismantling established societal pattern of marriage. The process of evolution encourages her to reflect on the woes of other women in Pakistani society and the ways to counter violence, inequality and isolation in feudal trap. The paperRead MoreAnalysis Of The Rea l Voyage Of Discovery By Jane Harrison And Beneath Clouds1263 Words   |  6 PagesMarcel Proust wrote that the â€Å"real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.† Proust emphasises the point that to experience a greater understanding of the world one must experience it through the eyes of others. Authors often use this notion to challenge an audience’s beliefs system, making their texts tools for acquiring new knowledge. This concept is explored and portrayed as a common theme throughout the Indigenous Australian texts, Rainbow’s End, byRead MoreAn Interview With Joy Ladin896 Words   |  4 Pageslives is quite another† (Baldwin, ). How can we be sure of the complex nature of our gender identities and gender expression, be genuine, when we have been socialized into looking at the world through the lens of a binary gender system since we were born? It seems to me that the definition and expression of womanhood are constantly evolving, and that is good news. My Biological sex is female, my gender identity is female, but is my gender expression what I am starting to question. It was after I readRead MoreDiscuss How Yolen’s Perspective on Personal Discovery Is Conveyed in Briar Rose.979 Words   |  4 PagesDiscuss how Yolen’s perspective on personal discovery is conveyed in Briar Rose. Jane Yolen conveys the idea about personal discovery by taking the reader on journey with the characters. This journey helps the characters find out who they are and where they belong. It is not easy trying to understand oneself. Throughout the novel the readers see the characters form strong relationships with one another, and stick together through the hard and good times. This helps the characters find out who

What Does Locke Mean By Returning - 1013 Words

Jesus Gutierrez Benjamin Dunn Phil-1301-P08 03-13-2017 Midterm Essay What does Locke mean by returning to â€Å"Commonsense,† and what does he see in impressions? What does Hume think about impressions? And how do both Locke and Hume correlate with one and another? In locke’s writing he argues over common sense and of impressions while also focusing on countering Descartes’ Writing. While Hume goes more in depth about impressions and ideas and how they relate to one and another, while also explaining about how they both function. Readers will know Locke s thoughts towards innate ideas, Hume s view towards cause and effect, and on how both Locke and Hume are relatable to one and another In Locke’s essay of, â€Å"concerning†¦show more content†¦Hume says that for humans finding or thinking of no explanation for the cause and effect could be considered as such unintelligible. Hume explains that we get the knowledge of cause and effect through our experiences. Hume explains more in depth by describing if how something new is introduced to someone they would not have the experience to cover any of the causes and effects of that object because they have no past experience towards that one object. Hume also says that someone is not able to find the effect from just experiencing the cause and as Hume assumes only if you have experienced it all will you know what will happen if the same thing is going to happen you’ll assume or predict what will be the cause and effect. Such as for every day you experience the sun comes up every day you’ll expect it or predict that it will probably come back up tomorrow as it’s been a repeating experience. Hume presumes that people imagine, to discover the causes and effects through reasonings and not experience.which in turn is not what he believes is true. But Hume explains that we would never be able to find the cause of what gunpowder would do with fire through reasoning alone and also could not find the cause or effects of an y particular event. Both Hume and Locke agree that the brain starts as a â€Å"blank state† going against what Descartes thought. While Descartes wrote that everything was already in the mind and it just needed to be â€Å"unlocked† through doingShow MoreRelatedEssay Government1525 Words   |  7 Pagesany way it pleases. Locke and Mill on the other hand believe that government should be able to provide security for its citizens, but in order to do this government does not need to be large rather it should be limited. Thus, the question arises of how limited government should be in order to provide security. In this case, should government be able to use its authority in any way it pleases as Hobbes argues or should there be a limit placed on governmental power as argued by Locke and Mill? I believeRead More Force, Morality and Rights in Thomas Hobbes and John Lockes Social Contract Theories1632 Words   |  7 Pagessocieties have become apparent through the failure of governments, resulting in the creation of theories regarding ways to balance the amount of power given and the way in which justice is enforced. Due to this need for change, Thomas Hobbes and John Locke created two separate theories in which the concept of a social contract is used to determine the ways in which a government can govern without forfeiting justice. In this essay, the relationship between force, morality, and rights within both theoriesRead MoreGeorge Hobbes And Locke s Theories On Government, Human Nature, And Natural Law1661 Words   |  7 Pagessame conclusion about the existence of natural laws and how that shapes human nature. However, they disagree on what the natural law would be comprised of. The same can be said for how differently they view the origins and role of governments. Hobbes would argue that governments are made from power and fear, and serve the purpose of keeping the covenant by protecting the inhabitants. Locke, on the other hand would argue that the basis of governments is law, and that the purpose of governments is toRead MoreSocial Contract Theory: Natural Rights and Personhood Within Democracy 1387 Words   |  6 Pagespurports how man should be treated and/or to what rights he is so entitled must begin with what ‘man’ is. There is no doubt man has an inherent value that entities such as flies and trees lack. This value does not come from mere physical form, but from what comprises personhood; because these things can be separated from our physical form they can fail to be developed or instantiated within man’s physical form. Natural rights, and the debate about what they are and where they come from, have beenRead MoreThe Influence of Locke and Hobbes on Government1735 Words   |  7 PagesThomas Hobbes and John Locke have authored two works that have had a significant impact on political philosophy. In the â€Å"Leviathan† by Hobbes and â€Å"Two Treatises of Government† by Loc ke, the primary focus was to analyze human nature to determine the most suitable type of government for humankind. They will have confounding results. Hobbes concluded that an unlimited sovereign is the only option, and would offer the most for the people, while for Locke such an idea was without merit. He believed thatRead MoreIndividual Moralities, Social Responsibilities and Controversial Drunkenness1671 Words   |  7 Pagesyour own individual morals. To maintain a harmonious balance within a society, each person must behave within a certain code of conduct towards the rest of the individuals and the society as a whole. Although the â€Å"code† does not ask individuals to change their own morals, it does ask that they not injure the interests or rights of others. One must also realize that their morals may differ from that of another individual. Although they may practice their right of freedom by living according to theirRead MoreHuman Nature, By John Locke2060 Words   |  9 PagesLevithan, and John Locke in his second treatise in his book, Two Treatises on Government, both talk extensively about human nature.The pair take two different approaches to explaining human nature.The pair take two different approaches to explaining human nature. Hobbes argues that human nature turns the state of nature into a perpetual state of war in which people only focus on self-preservation as a result of the fact that humans are only driven by their appetites and aversions. Locke, on the otherRead MoreYou Call That Progress?1401 Words   |  6 Pages You Call That Progress? Scientific research has often challenged boundaries of what people find necessary and oppositions to advancements in the field are mainly composed of fear—is nature being tested? Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein depicts Victor Frankenstein pushing the boundaries of nature in the name of science, when it seems like the world was not ready for such a creation. A college student today might remember growing up with Dolly the Sheep, the first successful cloned mammal. Dolly’s achievementRead MoreJacques Benigne Boussuet : The Principles Of Politics1929 Words   |  8 PagesDijon France. He died in 1704, however his ideas did not. Bossuet wrote a book named, â€Å"The Principles of Politics derived from the scripture† which summarizes the idea of a monarchy based upon The Word of the Most High. Bossuet debates that a human man does not seat the throne or become king, but the true king is God. Bossuet writes in his Political Treatise, â€Å"Consequently, as we have seen, the royal throne is not the throne of a man, but the throne of God himself.†(Jacques Benigne Boussuet) FurthermoreRead MoreEuropean Political Philosophers: John Locke and Jean-Jacues Rousseau1938 Words   |  8 PagesJohn Locke (â€Å"Locke†) and Jean-Jacques Rousseau (â€Å"Rousseau†) are two of the most well known European political philosophers to this day. Locke is a 17th century political philosopher due to him writing his works in the late 1600s. On the other hand Rousseau is an 18th century political philosopher with his writings coming approximately 100 years after Locke’s. While it is known that most philosophers build off the works of their predecessors, there is a vast range between Locke and Rousseau when

Professional Integrity Fraudulent Activities †MyAssignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about the Professional Integrity Fraudulent Activities. Answer: Introduction: The concept refers to the avoidance of all forms of fraudulent activities that include cheating, plagiarism and willingly providing deceitful information to the learning institution. Additionally, the integral behaviour entails the prevention of intentional stoppages or distracting the teaching and administration procedures. The works submitted by the students should demonstrate the honest efforts of the individual and other persons assistance require credit. Furthermore, the persons should ensure the maintenance of a professional environment within the learning institution at all times and report any violations to the relevant authorities. Comparison of behaviour before learning and after learning The concept of academic and professional integrity was the physical aspect only, which dwelled on the idea that the concept refers to the personal appearances. Additionally, I did not realize how the use of another persons works affected the honesty and professional requirements of assignment submission. I did not understand the need to provide citations for tasks done and the use of my efforts to complete various assignments. The lack of academic and professional knowledge failed to portray the acceptable conduct of an academic professional. However, the study has assisted in identifying the right academic conduct such as the following of institutional policies, which include allowing a quiet learning environment and other administrative procedures. Additionally, the study has assisted in the doing of assignment by avoiding plagiarism, outsourcing of assignments, faking of illness to get more assignment time and paying other persons to do tests. The integral behaviour Avoiding plagiarism in assignments submitted. Allowing the smooth conduct of administrative procedures. Showing equality and fairness in sporting activities. Always having the physical appearance of a student by having the right dress code, behaviour, and discipline. References Anon., 2018. Seton Hall University. [Online] Available at: www.shu.edu/student-life/academic-professional-integrity.cfm Mason, D. A., n.d. K-States E-Learning Faculty Modules. [Online] Available at: elearningfacultymodules.org

The Final Steps Into The Ordinary Essays - Same-sex Sexuality

The Final Steps Into The Ordinary marcus Snell English 101 1:00-1:50 11/6/00 The Final Steps Into The Ordinary ?It's hard sometimes to put your finger on the tipping point of tolerance. It's not usually the Thurgood Marshalls and the Sally Rides, the big headlines and the major stories. It's in the small incremental ways the world stops seeing differences as threatening?And it's finally happening for gay men and lesbians. They're becoming ordinary.? In the September issue of Newsweek magazine Ann Quindlen wrote an article entitled The Right To Be Ordinary. In this article Quindlen addresses the issue of gays and lesbians becoming a part of every day life. The article states that even though there is still a lot of discrimination in our country; being gay or lesbian over the years has become more widely accepted. The author effectively argues this point by her use of anecdotes, her tone, and by ?. Quindlen successfully uses anecdotes to show readers how gay men and lesbians are becoming more commonplace. She builds her credibility by use actual anecdotes that have really occurred and have been reported in many newspapers. On incident that she reported was the Supreme Court's decision that the Boy Scouts had a right to keep out gay scoutmasters. This seems like a setback but it was actually a blessing in disguise. Even though the gay scoutmaster lost his trial, it was the Scouting officials that really took the beating. Men who had been Eagle Scouts for years began to send back their badges. The United Way would no longer support them and took away their funding. Cities and states soon prohibited the Boy Scouts from using public facilities. All this the Boy Scouts lost because of one little act of intolerance for a fellow human being. An additional example would be that during the summer in Vermont, nearly 500 gay and lesbian couples were united in civil unions. Even if these unions were only a ?second-class? type of marriage, it still meant something to the individuals. Unlike how many religious leaders have felt, nothing awful occurred because of these marriages ?The sky did not fall. The earth did not split in two. Happy families and happy friends watched happy people pledge their love.? Anna Quindlen's tone made the editorial both successful and unsuccessful in relaying the point of her thesis. In writing her editorial, Quindlen used a somewhat humorous and aggravated tone. Her humorous tone was shown strongest when she was talking about Dr. Laura Schlessinger and about the Biblical text. To quote Quindlen about a letter written to Schlessinger, ? It thanks the conservative radio talk-show host, who has a loyal following of people who apparently were not yelled at enough as children and are trying to find someone to make up for it, for educating people regarding God's law on homosexuality.? Quindlen also addressed a few questions that the Bible had raised in her mind. The Bible states that slaves may be bought from neighboring nations. She was confused because a friend had told her that this stood for Mexicans but not Canadians. Another passage tells her that she is morally obligated to put her neighbor to death because he works on the Sabbath day. Last of all, she talks of how her friend told her that eating shellfish is an abomination (again according to the Bible) but a lesser abomination that homosexuality. Quindlen disagrees with this statement, along with the ones before it, and would like some clarification. This humorous tone kept the editorial entertaining and gave a different perspective on how to view what the Bible has to say exactly. A hint of aggravation could also be heard coming through to the reader. Sign of aggravation were ineffective in conveying her thesis. Anna Quindlen's aggravation illustrated that even with all the progress the human race has made, with accepting differences; we still have a long way to go. Some of the strongest feelings of irritation are present near the end of the editorial. ?There are still too many gay bias murders, too, and too many committed by young men who feel threatened by the very notion of homosexuality. That's one of the saddest things about the decision by the Boy Scouts, that they send

Tim McGraw essays

Tim McGraw essays Set This Circus Down, released in April of 2001, has already received RIAA platinum certification. The album has resided on Billboards Charts for 13 weeks and has peaked at number 1 for several weeks. The success of this hit album goes to, Grammy winner and multi-platinum country artist, Tim McGraw. Samuel Timothy McGraw, the full name of this chart-topping singer, was born on May 1, 1967 to Betty McMom Trimble and Tug McGraw. Although, McGraw was born in Delhi, Louisiana, Monroe is the city he considers home. During his upbringing, McGraw was always interested in sports. He always wanted to be an athlete. This pursuit landed him a sports scholarship Northeast Louisiana University. Even though, McGraw received his first guitar at the age of eleven, it was not until college that his interest in playing it peaked it peaked. He bought himself a new guitar on holiday and began teaching his self to play. His interest changed to singing, which took him to Nashville in the early ninetys. He signed a contract with Curb Records shortly thereafter and released his first self-titled album in 1992. This album failed to reach country radio audiences and things didnt look so good for McGraw. As he is quoted, "I was told by one producer to pack up and go home. I would never make it." Though the album didnt make it, some of the singles, when played live, sparked something in fans. In 1994 he released his second album titled Not A Moment To Soon, which became his first major hit. It contained his breakthrough song Indian Outlaw which stirred up lots of controversy over the Native American stereotypes depicted in the lyrics. Nevertheless, McGraw continued his success with the release of All I Want. In 1996 McGraw teamed up with country singer, Faith Hill, on The Spontaneous Combustion Tour and later that year the two tied the knot on October 6...

SSD Case Backlog Causes Delays in Benefits

SSD Case Backlog Causes Delays in Benefits SSD Case Backlog Continues to Cause Delays A woman from New York was initially denied SSD benefits in 2012, and once her appeal was granted five years later, the battle was far from over. The SSA continued to give her the runaround regarding the benefits checks she desperately needed. This example makes the case for how important it is to partner with an experienced and skilled SSD lawyer from the beginning.The woman owned a private practice as a social worker, but her diseases took a severe toll on her daily activities. She suffers from chronic migraines, visual impairments and other illnesses that made it incredibly difficult to work, forcing her to stop.When her Medicaid and Medicare coverage lapsed, she was forced to pay out-of-pocket for medical treatment, while she no longer was working. She applied for Social Security Disability in order to help her with her necessary medical treatments.The Negative Effects of the Backlog Unfortunately, she was denied benefits in 2012, and had to wait five long years to have a hearing with a judge. Due to the backlog of cases, she had a video conference with a judge in Iowa. A video conference is not an ideal situation to have for someone with disabilities to accurately display evidence.The backlog of SSD cases is a serious issue. Â  As we stated in a recent blog, more than 9,000 people died waiting for SSD hearings in 2016.From 2010-2018, the SSA closed 67 offices and reduced their operating budget by 9%, all while the number of beneficiaries has risen. All remaining offices now experience increased wait times and excessive telephone hold times. These service reductions cause long delays for appeal decisions.The SSA was awarded a $40 million dollar increase in their operating budget for 2019, in the hopes of reducing backlogs and wait times.Why You Need an Experienced SSD Lawyer In the end, she was awarded benefits from the judge. But this exhausting fight was not over, as she should have received her check seven months ago, but was still getting the runaround from the SSA, and did not get straight answers about her check.Eventually, a news advocacy team helped come to the bottom of the situation and she received her check. Yet, if an attorney with experience in complex SSD appeals- like those at Disability Attorneys of Michigan- had been able to advocate for her, such intervention may not have been necessary.This is why it is critically important to partner with an experienced and skilled team of Social Security Disability lawyers from the beginning, who can guide clients through the process and help clients obtain benefits. Skilled lawyers know the ins and outs of SSD and how to best serve clients, whether helping fill out an application or skillfully representing clients in an appeal hearing.We Can HelpIf you are disabled and unable to work, call Disability Attorneys of Michigan for a free confidential consultation. We’ll let you know if we can help you get a monthly check and help you determine if any money or assets you receiv e could impact your eligibility for disability benefits.Disability Attorneys of Michigan works hard every day helping the disabled of Michigan seek the Social Security Disability benefits they need. If you are unable to work due to a physical, mental, or cognitive impairment, call Disability Attorneys of Michigan now for a free consultation at 800-949- 2900.Let Michigan’s experienced Social Security Disability law firm help you get the benefits you deserve.Disability Attorneys of Michigan, Compassionate Excellence. Michigan Social Security Disability Lawyer, Social Security Disability, Social Security Disability Backlog, Social Security Disability Benefits, Social Security Disability Lawyer

CRJ 565 Responses Weeks 1 and 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

CRJ 565 Responses Weeks 1 and 2 - Essay Example Arrange media promotions that positive stories on how its clients have accomplished their objectives. The solutions that Mary Chen has been offered can work effectively, if properly implemented, which in turn can help her be in control of everything, hence helping her regain her confidence as a leader. The crisis has made the company to lose its ability to remain competitive. Another issue is that, Mr. Todman, the company manager, is having problems with his attempts to adjust the company’s infrastructure, as is expected of him. He is also expected to focus his attention on specific changes, which might not be favor everyone, but in the long run will keep the company competitive enough. Possible solutions include, closing non-efficient plants which should help in reducing the high expenditures. He has also thought putting Maytag name into the Whirlpool family’s product lines could enable the company to be productive and survive the economic crash. It would be advisable for him to establish a good balance within the organization, by for example, displaying strategic thinking in re-building the company’s infrastructure and maintain focus on the people by educating them on the merged product before launching new ones. The case is about a bank manager developed issues with the company regarding employee, clients and the overall management issues. The main purpose is to provide Mary Chem with noble solution to her problems. The major issue is the employee moral conduct, and dealing with consequences arising from approving loans. This has come as a result of approving loans to individuals who have no sure means to repay their loans, thus resulting to foreclosures. Possible solutions include, reminding the employees of the main purpose for the department and reviewing the account details of client’s potential of foreclosure. Once reviewed, they

Small Business Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Small Business Plan - Essay Example The tag line or the mission statement of the hotel will be â€Å"Wish it, Dream it, Do it!† â€Å"Wish it† means consumers whose desires are the hotels external pursuit (Yoo, Donthu & Lee, 2000). â€Å"Dream it† mean consumers’ desires will be the hotels ultimate goal. â€Å"Do it† means the actions of the hotel will prove everything. The NAIS number of the hotel business will be 721111. The approximate annual revenue in the first year that the business is expecting to generate is $ 73,000 projecting the hotel to operate successfully. The business plan proposal for the theme hotel will include feasibility study, financial planning and marketing plans for opening this new venture (Brown, 2001). The Dream Paradise Theme hotel will be built on the parking lot 2 which is near to the Ontario place. The Ontario place will reopen to public by 2016 and this is the main reason the place is most suitable to choose (Nissim & Penman, 2001). Moreover, another reason for selecting the area is that most of the hotels are situated in the downtown area. When the consumers look at these hotels, they might face difficulties in decision making (Der Foo, Wong & Ong, 2005). However, this theme hotel will have special theme rooms and a proper location to attack tourism. The hotel will offer its customers various themed rooms to its customers and according to the demand of the customers Dream Paradise theme hotel will design its rooms. The hotel has decided to categorize its hotel rooms into primary rooms, silver rooms and gold rooms. The primary room will be designed as per the demands of its customer groups (Mason & Stark, 2004). Themes for kids will be like frozen, hello kitty, Disneyland and Legoland, etc. The themes for teenagers are angry birds, Sea world, Cars, Harry Potter, Star Wars, etc. Themes for adults will be of popular movies, countries and sights, etc and lastly, the

Romeo and Juliet Essay Example for Free

Romeo and Juliet Essay Baz Luhrmann is the director of the modernised film Romeo and Juliet- written by Shakespeare in the 1700s. Luhrmen uses cinematic techniques to help make Shakespearian dialogue understandable to a modern audience. He uses techniques such as camera work, appearance and props to convey the idea of a higher power creating an unchangeable destiny for Romeo and Juliet. The director also uses slow motion shots, low angle shots and close ups to help put across the meaning of Shakespeare dialogue. He also employs symbolism to convey the idea of Romeo and Juliet’s chaotic lives. By the end of this essay I will have shown how well Baz Luhrmann made this Shakespearian play understandable for a modern audience through his use of cinematic techniques. From beginning to end Baz Luhrmann uses modern film techniques to create Shakespeare’s 17th century play into something visually captivating for a modern audience. Baz Luhrman wanted to exploit the crucial beginning of the film by using a montage to help them understand the prologue. One example of montage in use is whilst the narrator speaks of â€Å"the break to new mutiny† he uses violent images to convey its meaning. The director uses images from newspaper headlines (Montagues vs Capulets) to suggest a tension between the two households. The use of special effects and a visually captivating montage help to bring a better understanding of what the prologue means. The idea of Romeo falling in love with a young girl at first site and to be willing to die for his love would be difficult for a modern audience to relate to. Baz Luhrmann had to make sure of two things, to make sure that his audience could easily accept that Romeo is a desperate hope for love and Juliet being so naive and innocent she could fall in love with Romeo so easily. The director illustrates these believable characteristics when we first see Romeo or Juliet in the film. When Romeo first emerges he is seen depressed. He smokes a cigarette whilst writing poetry wandering aimlessly on a grey clouded day. The cameras zoom on face of Romeo’s melancholic expressions. Baz Luhrmann uses these shots to bring impressions of a man who is lost and upset. Not long after this point in the film Juliet is introduced as being a young girl with an innocent personality. Her father’s face is zoomed into when he speaks of Juliet being still a stranger to the world- which implies that she is naive and could be easily seduced. This is done to emphasis the dialogue. In other scenes close-ups are done on her makeupless face an aspect that makes her more innocent. By using modern media techniques Baz Luhrmann could allow for his audience to believe that love at first site between these two people was possible. At the point of meeting, Romeo and Juliet are separated by a large blue fish tank; it is calm and peaceful. Deep blue water, soft pastel colours of pink and blue all give the effect of romance. Both Romeo and Juliet’s faces are zoomed into to help the audience acquire an understanding of the deep love both characters have fallen into. Capulet and Montagues had been historically in anger and fear of each other- meaning Romeo and Juliet’s love almost impossible to last without being torn apart by their families. A crucial point that sparks this anger is finding out of the secret marriage. This is soon found out by Tybalt (Juliet’s brother) who in his rage looks for Romeo but is only met by a fight with Mercutio (a close friend of Romeo’s). He brings the audience’s attention through uses of cinematic techniques. He uses fast moving cameras, low angle shots, special effects, close-ups, slow motion camera shots, music and pathetic fallacy to make his audience feel a sense of suspense and thrill from the action scenes. Tybalt disliked Romeo and takes his rage out through violence. At the crucial point of engagement he is confronted by Mercutio. The director chooses to have the camera move quickly between the two foes to create almost a blurred vision effect. This gives the audience confusion amongst the scuffle to mimic the experience the characters feel. The camera closes up to show. Tybalt responds by stabbing Mercutio with a shard of glass. This critical moment is slowed down to dramatize the seriousness of Tybalt’s actions. Low angle shots are quickly met by Mercutio falling to the floor and shouting:† a plague on both your houses† Baz Luhrmann uses low angle shots to underline the significance of Mercutio’s words. At this point a thunder storm comes about, and the camera angles changed to high above the heads of the men below. The use of pathetic fallacy and the suggestion that these actions are being judged by a higher power, both combine to help the audience understand the Shakespearian language. By using the weather to mimic the characters emotions the significance of his words are amplified. Romeo is met with feeling of vengeance and anger which lead to Tybalt’s death soon to come. Bazz Luhrmann opens this scene with a setting in dark streets with fast music to set the pace of the fight between Romeo and Tybalt. Focus is put on the faces of both Tybalt and Romeo to give more understanding of the rage being felt by both characters. Noises of car engines, loud bangs, shouting and thunder make the scene thrilling and exiting. Just before Tybalt is shot, the cameras zoom onto the gun to highlight its importance in the fight. A crescendo in the music is employed to build up to the climatic death of Tybalt. The gun fire is very loud and startling to underline the crucial moment when Tybalt dies. a close up on Romeo’s face of realization which adds even more unhappiness to the scene is used to emphasize his depressing thoughts. The camera slowing down and zooming on Romeo’s falling gun is the final cinematic technique used to imply the wrongness of Romeo’s actions. Every technique used by Baz Luhrmann used in both these fight scenes were all specific to helping his audience understand Shakespear’s sometimes confusing word. This made the director successful at keeping the audience’s attention and understanding. The final crucial point that Baz uses many techniques to help understanding is the final scene. Baz Luhrmann intended to make destiny a believable reason for Romeo and Juliet’s death. He sets the scene at a church filled with lit candles and large crosses. To symbolise a higher power is in play. High angle shots are used to amplify this idea. As if to say that this was an evitable ending between Romeo and Juliet he uses those. The fact that the director brought religious aspects to his use of props and high angle shots creates a believable ending that could not be avoided for it was their destiny. Death seemed believable and inevitable at this point. In conclusion Baz Luhrmann had clearly made his film approachable and understood by a modern audience. He clearly used a vast amount of cinematic techniques at points where the meaning of character dialogue was crucial to be understandable by his viewers. His ability to create two believable characters that could fall in love so easily was outstanding. Even though it would usually seem absurd to a modern audience Baz Luhrmann still manage to create the believability, by using techniques such as a use of props (Romeo smoking and writing poetry about love) or even a use of close up angle shots to emphasize the importance of dialogue speaking of Juliet being still a stranger to this world. In my opinion Baz Luhrmann did a perfect job of emphasizing important points, creating symbolic meanings, creating believable characters and enrolling a religious aspect to the film without losing audience acceptability.

The Monk Essays -- Essays Papers

CHARACTER ANALYSIS The Monk When one thinks of a monk, he may imagine someone who studies, prays, and performs manual labor. The Monk, one of the thirty pilgrims travelling on a pilgrimage to Canterbury in The Canterbury Tales, is nothing like the usual monk many people imagine. He is rebellious, ignores rules, and lives and controls his own life. Chaucer, the narrator and author of The Canterbury Tales, shows these characteristics in the way the Monk looks, the things he says and does, and in the things the host, a character in "The Monk's Prologue," and Chaucer say about him. The Monk is nothing like the usual monk many people imagine. He hunts hares and rides horses instead of studying, praying, and working. He does not follow the rules of the monastery which say that monks should not hunt, be reckless, nor leave the monastery. Instead,they should study and perform manual labor. The Monk ignores these rules. Chaucer shows that the Monk does not care about the rules when he says, "He yaf nought of that text a pulled hen"(Norton, p.85) and when he says, "Of priking and of ...

Recommending a Low-Cost Customer Service Essay

Executive Summary Acme De Mexico’s Manager has requested assistance in developing a minimum cost daily assignment schedule for the customer service employees in their newly built store. Specifically, he wants to know the minimum total cost per day, which is the decision variable. He also wants to know the exact amount of part time and full time employees which will determine the total cost. The objective function is to minimize costs. Acme specified a minimum number of employees required for each shift, a maximum number of employees per shift, specific shifts for full time and part time workers, and a maximum percentage of 50% of the total hours for part time employees. These constraints were input into Microsoft solver, which determined $47,800 to be the minimum employee cost per day, employing 23 fulltime workers and 45 part time workers per day. Specific assumptions were made which will be discussed in detail, along with the impact of non-typical days. A sensitivity analysis will then be per formed to determine how the percentage of part time employees’ constraint affects the total cost per day. Introduction Now the Acme De Mexico has completed the building process, it is now time to properly staff the store. The store manager, Mr. Rodriguez, has requested a minimum cost daily assignment schedule for the customer service employees at the new store. In order to have Acme De Mexico become a profitable business, it must make the best use of its resources (Jacobs & Chase, 2013). In this case the resources are time, money, and employees. In order to provide Mr. Rodriguez with the information he requested, linear programming will be utilized. Linear programming is the â€Å"several related mathematical techniques used to allocate limited resources among competing demands in an optimal way† (Jacobs & Chase, 2013, appendix A). In this case, we are given the following information. This report will provide an employee assignment schedule for a typical day, developed with a linear programming model  (Attachment 1). This model and its cells will be referenced throughout the report. An explanation will be provided to explain the model to include the assumptions made. The report will also briefly touch on how non-typical days may affect the schedule. Employee Assignment Schedule Acme De Mexico is open daily, from 7:00am to 11:00pm. Employee shifts are broken out over those 16 hours. For every hour of the day, a minimum amount of employees are required to be on the floor, which is depicted in the table below. The minimum number of employees (limit) needed on the floor at a given hour is one of the constraints. This constraint is displayed in cells G22 though V22. Additionally, only 30 employees are allowed on the floor at any given time for safety reasons. This constraint can be seen in cells G26 though V26 This is also a constraint, or limit. See cells A5-21 through cells C5-21. Part time employees are paid $500 (Pesos) per day, and full time employees are paid $1100 per day. Another constraint is the hours worked by part time employees cannot exceed 50% of the total hours worked per day (total hours = part time+full time). This is displayed in cell F36. Excel solver was used to solve the decision variable (E33), which is set as the objective. Cells D5 though D21 are the number and type of employees per hour, and are variable. The goal is to determine the minimum total cost per day. This is our decision variable, and is found in cell E33 of Attachment 1. The constraints mentioned above are input into solver. The first line shows the total number of part time employees must be less than or equal to 50% to the total labor hours each day. The second line ensures that the changing values are integers. We do not want half an employee to show up for his or her shift. The third line constraint ensures that the number of employees per shift does not exceed 30. Lastly, the fourth line constraint took into account the minimum employees per shift as specified by Acme. Our objective function is to minimize Acme’s the total employee cost per day. The total employee cost per day was calculated by multiplying the number of fulltime workers per day (E8) by the salary per day (C31). This total is reflected in cell C33. The same was done for part time workers: (E21)*(D31)=(D33). These two numbers were then added together, (C33)+(D33)=(E33). Solver determined $47,800 (E33) to be the minimum employee cost per day, employing 23 fulltime workers and 45 part time workers per day. Assumptions According to Knode, a few key assumptions are made when using linear programming: â€Å"The assumption of a linear relationship (between the objectives, the constraints, etc.), the assumption of continuous relationships, and the assumption of non-negative relationships† (2011). Additionally, the assumption was made that the solution and variables would  be integers, that is, not a fraction of an employee. It is also assumed that variables and solutions will be non-negative numbers. It can be assumed that there are enough employees to cover for employees who call in sick. Non-Typical Days Non-typical days may affect the schedule. For example, employees may call in sick. Employees who are off may have to come in to cover these shifts, or employees may have to work overtime to cover for the sick employee. This could increase the daily cost if the overtime rate is more than the hourly rate. Overtime may also come into play during holidays or busy times of the year. Acme may decide to open earlier and/or stay open later during these times. Acme would need to hire more employees to cover the extra shifts, or employees would have to work overtime. Sensitivity Analysis Sensitivity Analysis allows us to look at â€Å"variations in key aspects of the problem that could change the baseline answer† (Knode, 2011). One such key aspect is the constraint that hours worked by part time employees cannot exceed 50% of the total hours worked per day. The percentage of part time employees was varied to explore the possible outcomes. The results are displayed in the table below. It is interesting to note that with 0% part time employees, the total cost is the lowest. Conclusion Linear programming is a very useful tool which can help mangers solve many problems, including the problem of employee staffing. In the Acme De Mexico case, the decision variable was the minimum total cost per day for employee staffing. This also required determining the number of part time and full time employees per shift. Constraints were given and were input into solver, which resulted in a minimum daily cost of $47,800, with 23 full time employees and 45 part time employees. References Knode, C.S. (2011). Linear programming – Part 1 – Formulating the problem . Retrieved from: http://vimeo.com/duffer44/linear-programming-part-1 Jacobs, F.R & Chase, R.B. (2013). Operations and supply management: The core, 3e. Chapter 1 and Appendix A

Erickson’s stage of development

Discussion In this third module, we are discussing the human socialization process and how it influences our psychosocial development. After you have read the reading assignment and lecture for the module, please respond to all parts of the discussion by Saturday, December 7, 2013: 1. Identify and describe Erikson's stages of development as each applies to your own personality formation. How did success at one stage prepare you for meeting the next challenge? What do you anticipate for stages you have not yet reached? 2.As you progressed through each stage, how did the agents of socialization change as to their level of influence? For any stages you have not yet reached, which agent(s) do you predict will be the most influential? 3. Look in the Argosy University online library and the Internet for information on â€Å"feral children. † Explain why feral children are used as examples of young people for whom the socialization process has been stopped. Stage 1: Infancy†the challenge of trust (versus mistrust). Between birth and about eighteen months, infants face the first of life's challenges: to gain a sense of trust that heir world is a safe place.Family members play a key role in how any infant meets this challenge. I believe I was very well nurtured at this stage of my life. I have a very loving and caring family. I felt very comfortable with the ones who showed me the love I needed to blossom. Even at this early age I was ready for stage two. Stage 2: Toddlerhood†the challenge of autonomy (versus doubt and shame). The next challenge, up to age three, is to learn skills to cope with the world in a confident way. Failure to gain self-control leads children to doubt their abilities. My family never howed any doubts as to my abilities on any situation.Stage 3: Preschool†the challenge of initiative (versus guilt). Four- and five-year-olds must learn to engage their surroundings†including people outside the family†or experienc e guilt at having failed to meet the expectations of parents and others. At this stage of my life I did struggle at first. I was not sure how to interact with different people. My family always assured me that being myself would benefit me in the long run. I remember feeling guilty after making a project for my mother. I did not believe it turned out as ell as the others, which made me feel a little inferior to the rest.Again, my mother and family assured me all was well. Stage 4: Preadolescence†the challenge of industriousness (versus inferiority). Between ages six and thirteen, children enter school, make friends, and strike out on their own more and more. They either feel proud of their accomplishments or fear that they do not measure up. I guess at this stage of life I felt proud and yet fearful I did not measure up. Even though I was always proud I still felt like I had to be a chameleon and blend in with a variety of ifferent people. Stage 5: Adolescence†the challe nge of gaining identity (versus confusion).During the teen years, young people struggle to establish their own identity. In part, teens identify with others, but they also want to be unique. Almost all teens experience some confusion as they struggle to establish an identity. Through my teen years I was all over the place with my identity, I was a Jock, stoner, the losing end. I quit school because I loved to party with the stoners and whatever other crowd was partying. Stage 6: Young adulthood†the challenge of intimacy (versus isolation). The challenge for young adults is to form and keep intimate relationships with others.Making close friends (and especially, falling in love) involves balancing the need to bond with the need to have a separate identity. I struggled with this part of my life. You never know who your true friends are. Girlfriends came and went. I lived to party and didn't care about serious relationships. I became a father at 21 with my first of four. That did not slow me down at this stage either; I battled addiction and was not very reliable at all. The one who suffered the most was my daughter. So I was not really prepared to move on in ife. Stage 7: Middle adulthood†the challenge of making a difference (versus self- absorption).The challenge of middle age is to contribute to the lives of others in the family, at work, and in the larger world. Failing at this, people become self-centered, caught up in their own limited concerns. In this stage I started to see the light but still back peddled at times. I got married to the love of my life, had two beautiful girls with her. Things went well for a while but the old mike reared his ugly head causing mistrust and a lot of heartache and anguish in the house. I could not hold a Job. Partying became my life again. I sought help and rekindled the flame with the wife and then BAM, right back to the old ways.I had a son during a brief break up with the wife. This caused more strain and str ess. The story could go on and on. I finally got myself right, but it was too late. The people who loved me still loved me but would not trust me again. I am still doing very well at this point, going to school, working etc. Stage 8: Old age†the challenge of integrity (versus despair). Near the end of their lives, people hope to look back on what they have accomplished with a sense of integrity and satisfaction. For those who have been self-absorbed, old age brings only a sense of despair over missed opportunities.My anticipation at this point for this stage is too Just continue doing what I am doing and complete everything I start. Will I be a success? Who knows, only time will tell. A feral child is a human child who has lived isolated from human contact from a very young age, and has no (or little) experience of human care, loving or social behavior, and, crucially, of human language. Some feral children have been confined in isolation by other people, usually their own par ents. In some cases, this child bandonment was due to the parents rejecting a child's severe intellectual or physical impairment.Feral children may have experienced severe child abuse or trauma before being abandoned or running away. Depictions of Feral Children Myths, legends, and fictional stories have depicted feral children reared by wild animals such as wolves and bears. Legendary and fictional feral children are often depicted as growing up with relatively normal human intelligence and skills and an innate sense of culture or civilization, coupled with a healthy dose of survival instincts. Their integration into human society is also made to seem relatively easy.These mythical children are often depicted as having superior strength, intelligence, upbringing they represent humanity in a pure and uncorrupted state, similar to the noble savage. Feral Children in Reality In reality, feral children lack the basic social skills that are normally learned in the process of enculturati on. For example, they may be unable to learn to use a toilet, have trouble learning to walk upright, and display a complete lack of interest in the human activity around them. They often seem mentally impaired and have almost insurmountable trouble learning human language.The impaired ability to learn anguage after having been isolated for so many years is often attributed to the existence of a critical period for language learning at an early age, and is taken as evidence in favor of the critical period hypothesis. It is theorized that if language is not developed, at least to a degree, during this critical period, a child can never reach his or her full language potential. The fact that feral children lack these abilities pinpoints the role of socialization in human development. https:// www. boundless. com/sociology/understanding-socialization/the-role-of-socialization/ feral-children/

HMV an E-marketing Perspective Essays

HMV an E-marketing Perspective Essays HMV an E-marketing Perspective Essay HMV an E-marketing Perspective Essay Essay Topic: Marketing For this report we will be analyzing the original HMV music store on 363 Oxford Street, London, and how integrating or enhancing their e-marketing strategies could benefit their store. As previously mentioned, this was the first HMV music store to open, and was set up in 1921. At that time, the store did not focus on the music and film genre, but rather on a variety of HMV branded goods. It was conservative in the sense that business transactions were done on a one to one basis, and those residing outside of London could only purchase HMV products from exclusive appointed dealers [5]. Like today, many customers were able to open accounts within the store. Purpose Currently, HMV has the following marketing objectives [1]: Generate store traffic and encourage the purchase of other products, other than CDs, along with increasing album purchases. Increase positive perception among its customers. Predict and satisfy their customers needs. Analyze market trends traditionally as well as on the net. According to the 2003 Annual Report [4], their key strategies have been to: Optimize store portfolio. Achieve superior financial performance. Exploit new product opportunities. Secure leadership in chosen markets. HMV has a website in which it is possible to buy CDs, DVDS or video games, also sold in-store. Unfortunately, this only satisfies some consumers needs. The advantages provided to customers by this are that they do not actually have to leave their home to make a purchase, and it is less tedious to search for desired items. On the other hand, the prices for CDs and DVDs on the current site are either the same price or sometimes even more expensive than in the store, on top of which additional fees are imposed for shipping. For this reason, online transactions may turn out more expensive to the buyer. This implies that their current method is only targeting certain audiences. With the increase of internet competition, and the ability to purchase used CDs on an alternative site for cheaper prices (such as Ebay), or even download songs illegally for free, it is possible that many customers will refrain from paying full price for products offered on the HMV website or stores. Proposition Although HMV is already using e-marketing as part of their marketing activities, there is still room for new strategies to be implemented. With the adoption of new forms of e-marketing, HMV on Oxford Street would be more up to date with the changing market and therefore increase their sales and attract more customers. The specific marketing objectives recommended for 363 Oxford Street are to: Target new customer audiences (ie. people who only buy items on promotion, people who cannot afford to buy CDs or DVDs at regular price, and people who are loyal to their artists and still want original CDs rather than burned copies). Improve profitability brought by their video games. Encourage customer loyalty. Be the leading HMV store (in customer flow) by having the best communication with their customers. The idea proposed is to develop a personalized website, directly linked to the Oxford store, rather than all HMV stores. The strategies recommended to be used within the new site to achieve each of the recommended objectives, respectively, are to: Establish an infrastructure for customers to buy sell second-hand products through the site. Provide opportunities to try out new video games in the store hold monthly tournaments between customers. Offer coupons for in-store products on the site. Distribute weekly newsletters to registered customers who wish to be notified of upcoming events, sales, etc. Recommendation for Action In order for these strategies to be carried out, a website should be specifically created for the Oxford Street store. The website should initially be advertised promoted in the store, and by other means to notify people of its existence and getting them interested in visiting. Visitors of the site will then have the option to register onto the site, to become members and be able to take full advantage of all benefits provided by it. This site should carry the HMV brand name along with an extra word to differentiate it from other HMV sites, but continue to have the benefit of the well known brand that provides customers with a feeling of good quality and service. The website is to advertise promotions taking place in the Oxford Street store, in addition to the other incentives to visit the store. The infrastructure created to buy and sell second hand products will allow consumers with used CDs or DVDs which they are bored of and want to get rid of, to either sell or exchange the product with other consumers in the same situation who wish to swap. In this way, customers who are loyal to their artists and still like to have original CDs, but cannot afford to pay high prices, are able to obtain them at a low price. Although this will mostly be a customer to customer relationship, HMV could take part in each transaction by automatically adding a small amount to the price set by the seller, such as 50 pence, which would be paid to HMV for allowing the transaction on their site. With that money, the buyer could also be benefiting indirectly by having a certain amount, such as 10 HMV points added to their account. After accumulating a certain amount, such as 50 or 100 points, the points will then have to be redeemed in-store (Oxford Street) for discounts on products or freebies. In this way, different types of customers will be targeted that were not targeted before, and more customers will be attracted into the store. This move towards cheap trading of music and films is very important since, through evolving technology, it is now so easy to burn music or films and distribute them between friends [6]. The site can also include special video game related features to attract even more customers and increase in-store sales of video games. This can be carried out by allowing site members to try out new video game arrivals and encourage people to buy them. Customers will only be allowed to play for 10 minutes at a time, establishing that it is only a trial and if they wish to pass to other levels or play longer they must go to the store and buy the game. The website can also allow members to play random video games (sold in-store) against each other, to promote the games, and perhaps even hold monthly tournaments online. The finals can be held in-store and the winner may receive either a free game or a gift certificate for that particular store. The advantage to this is that by having promoted the games and getting people in the store, even those that do not win will probably end up buying something in the store, beginning with the game they played, if they liked it, and they will prob ably continue to go to that store. Therefore, profitability of video game sales may be increased, as well as customer loyalty. Another strategy proposed is offering in-store coupons on the site. Customers are to print out the coupons and use them at the Oxford Street store only. This strategy will increase both the amount of people going to the store and visiting the site. People will visit the site more often to check out the new deals being promoted and those deals will encourage customers to visit the store. This will attract a new customer audience, those that will not purchase an item unless it is on promotion. It will also encourage customer loyalty, since the coupons may only be redeemed at the Oxford Street store, so customers will go to that particular store rather than other HMV stores. The best way to be in touch with customers through e-marketing is by sending weekly newsletters. Upon registration on to the site, members will have the option of receiving a newsletter every week updating them on upcoming events. Customers may pick from a menu which events or promotions they would be interested in and be notified via email of the ones they chose. These events may include celebrity appearances in-store for autographs, final round of video-game tournaments to be carried out in-store, new releases of CDs, DVDs, video games, accessories, and hints on hot new coupons featured on the site, which they would have to enter the site to access and print. This would help promote both the store and the website and would further increase customer loyalty in the Oxford Street store, giving them a great advantage over other retailers, including other HMV stores. Tracking There are several ways in which progress can be tracked. One minor way would be by including a number of hits feature on the site to see how many people are visiting it. The number of people that register onto the site can also be counted. Members of the site could fill out a profile upon registration to keep a record of the type of audience that is being attracted by this strategy (such as demographics). In-store sales could be compared to previous years to see if the website has helped them through advertising their products and promotions. A quantitative approach may be to track the number of coupon redemptions in the store to see how efficient that particular strategy is. A survey could also be conducted either within the store or online to find out if the website has had an impact on customers, and how it has affected their spending habits at HMV Oxford Street (whether they are spending more or less on average). Tracking progress will help the Oxford Street store conclude whethe r more customers have been attracted into their store through the website, and if this has affected their in-store sales. Critical Success Factors In order for this integration to succeed in reaching its objectives, the following CSFs must be met by either the Oxford Street store, the new website, or both: Both the store and the website must always be up to date with new technologies trends (such as creating personalized CDs in-store). The website must take up the HMV brand name to absorb the image of the company and therefore have an immediate customer base (as HMV already has brand awareness and loyalty). The quality of the website must be good to live up to HMV standards and really keep customers happy. An example of a good quality the website should have is ease to search for a desired product, which may be achieved through potential sellers categorizing their products. Stock levels must be met within the store. If the store has more stock than it can sell it will cut the companys profit margins. If the companys stock levels are too low, it will not meet customer demands, and their customers will go elsewhere. Management staff should be well trained and always aware of everything going on in the site. This way they will be prepared to answer any question(s) a customer might have regarding coupons, promotions, tournaments, appearances, etc. Conclusion In conclusion, it is essential for companies to always stay in touch with customers needs. On the same level, it is also important for companies to constantly research and analyze the market to keep up to date with new technologies and innovations. Otherwise, it is quite unlikely for a company to succeed. Fortunately, HMV has always proved to be pretty good at this and this is no time to stop. In the case of the music industry, with the new technology providing so much internet competition, it is imperative that all music companies take the future of digital music seriously [10]. This is why HMV has begun to make the move in an attempt to retain market share and keep from internet delivery of music stealing their revenue. As a customer-focused company, HMV seeks to provide what consumers want, while keeping in view new technology. Developing new ways to reach consumers is what has made HMV Group the powerful retailer it is today. To support this, David Cameron, e-commerce systems manager of HMV Group plc, says If youre going to be a successful e-business, integrating your back-end systems with your front-end database is essential [5].

Resume Objective How to Know When One is Necessary

Resume Objective How to Know When One is Necessary Unofficially, when you’re applying for jobs, your resume objective is pretty much always the same: â€Å"I would like to get a job.† There may be more specifics than that, but let’s be honest- that’s the main goal here. So if you know your objective is to get this job, and the recruiter or hiring manager knows you are also interested in said job (because otherwise, why would they even have your resume?), why do you need to make this explicit in your resume? 1. What IS a Resume Objective?2. Do You Need a Resume Objective?3. What If You Decide to Skip It?4. What Does a Good Objective Have?5. Where to BeginWhat IS a Resume Objective?An objective is a short statement at the top of your resume (right after your essential contact details) that sums up for the reader where you are in your career, and what you’re seeking as the next step. So as you see, it’s a little different than â€Å"hire me.† Think of it as part of your elevator pitch for hiring you, instead of a literal statement of your job search. Again, you know why you’re there, and the reader knows why you’re there, but the objective is the kickoff to your campaign to convince them why they need to hire you. Basically, it’s your first chance to start breaking away from the pack.For example, if you’re applying for a nursing assistant position, and everyone has the same objective that says something like, â€Å"Seeking employment as a nursing assistant,† the reader will start glazing over by the third resume. You want your resume to stand out from the crowd, and the objective is another tool you can use to do that. But be careful: the resume objective is not necessarily the same thing as the resume summary statement. The resume summary statement, also known as a qualification summary or a competency summary, is a short statement or list of bullets that summarize skills and experience. It ties those skills and experience to the theme (or brand) you’re trying to establish for your resume. How is it different from an objective? A summary statement is a good way to take a long or complicated job/skills history and put your best self (your brand) into a few concise sentences. It’s not as good for newbie job seekers or career changers, because you might still be establishing that brand.Do You Need a Resume Objective?Well, that part’s a little controversial. Not everyone agrees that an objective is a good use of resume space these days. U.S. News World Report argues that the risks of a poorly written objective statement outweigh the benefits of including one at all, and that an objective is a waste of super-precious resume space. This is also the view taken by the folks at The Muse. The bottom line: there’s no unanimous voice fighting for the resume objective.But above all, regardless of what everyone else says, you need to decide what’s right for your resume and your job sear ch. An objective can be a very effective way to present yourself- you just need to make sure that you’re writing a good one that deserves to take that space. You should consider keeping an objective on your resume if:You’re just out of school, or don’t have tons of experience in your field.You’re changing careers, or applying for a job where your previous experience doesn’t apply 1:1.You’re focusing on a very specific position in your field (e.g. you’re not just sending your resume to a company you like, or passing it along to a recruiter, and hoping for an opening that fits). The objective is a way to start establishing that branding, or reframe your narrative. Cover letters are far from a given these days, in the age of faceless job application engines. The objective can be a handle, a narrative statement that could pack some of that same â€Å"I am perfect for this job† punch that would normally be covered in a cover letter. It’s a way to neatly outline your current goals, and align that with the job description at hand. The objective tells the reader what you’re seeking and starts the narrative of how you fit this job.What If You Decide to Skip It?I mean, the sky isn’t going to fall on your job search if you decide against including a resume objective. It’s unlikely that someone will get to the end of an otherwise fantastic resume and think, if only this person had included an objective. But that’s not necessarily the way to look at it- there are plenty of things you can leave off a resume that wouldn’t be missed. Instead, think of it as a proactive element you can use to your advantage. If you skip it, you likely won’t be actively damaging your chances at the position, but you are consciously skipping an opportunity to position yourself even better.What Does a Good Objective Have?If you decide to go ahead with a resume objective, you need to do it well . As mentioned earlier, resume space is precious. If you’re going to devote several lines to it, that’s several lines you can’t devote to something else. So you need to make sure your resume objective has these elements:It’s customized. Like the rest of your resume, it should be tailored to the job for which you’re applying- or at least the company. Generic objectives are visible from a mile away.It should be backed up. Anything you bring up in the resume objective, you should be prepared to flesh out in bullet points later in the resume.It’s not just about you. You’re great, you’re awesome. But lots of great, awesome people are going to end up in the â€Å"meh† or â€Å"no† pile of resumes. The goal is to start showing the reader that your awesomeness is the one that should get an interview for this Use it to emphasize your potential value to the company.It’s not a bragfest. Don’t just insert all th e flattering adjectives you can find. Use relevant action words that, again, will be backed up and enhanced by the rest of your resume.It’s short. This isn’t your memoir, it’s a brief statement that sets the tone for your resume.It adds value to the resume. If you’re just restating points or skills verbatim from later in the resume, don’t bother. The objective should be more of a â€Å"greatest hits† overview that is condensed into its most powerful form. So what does that â€Å"good† objective look like? Think of it as a formula.Strong traits + The role you want to fill + Good fit for the company = ObjectiveDon’t overcomplicate the objective: a sentence or two is great. You don’t need a bulleted list, or a long narrative paragraph. And in fact, a long paragraph could be a total visual momentum-killer, which is the last thing you want right at the start of the resume. You can label it as its own â€Å"Objective† s ection on your resume, but that’s not essential- it could just be a standalone sentence at the top of your resume, and the reader will understand what the purpose of it is.Where to BeginTo get you started, here are some examples of resume objectives- the good, the bad, and the ugly. You can also find templates and samples online, like with ResumeGenius and The Interview Guys (who also have a resume objective â€Å"cheat sheet† you can get via email). Let’s take a look at what to do and what not to do.The GoodExperienced customer service representative with more than 7 years of experience, seeking to leverage strong technical and customer-facing skills into an entry-level information technology position for TechSolutions Corp.Detail-oriented researcher with strong communication skills looking to transition into a blogging and social media coordinator position.Objective: To leverage 10 years of continuing education teaching experience and fluency in English, Spani sh, and French into a part-time ESL teaching position. The BadFabulous customer service rep seeks to leverage legendary skills into IT. (Let the reader make the judgment about whether your skills are â€Å"legendary.†)Bringing my brand to your blog and social media platforms. (What brand? Why you?)I would like a job teaching English to non-native speakers. (What skills and experience would you bring?)Seeking a full-time position in my chosen industry where I can apply my experience and skills to that position. (Waaay too vague.)The UglyI would like a job that pays at least $30,000 per year, with strong benefits and flexible hours to accommodate my child’s care schedule.I’ve always loved reading, so I’d like to secure a position with a large publishing company.Remember, the objective really sets the tone for the resume- it’s right under your name, and hits the reader before they get down to your qualifications and skills. If you’re going to i nclude one, make sure it’s the most specific, appealing one you can write. This is your chance to start moving ahead of the pack, so make sure you’re taking full advantage!b

Medicare Fraud Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Medicare Fraud - Essay Example   As part of what federal officials are calling the â€Å"largest national Medicare fraud takedown in history,† they announced the apprehension of 16 Metro Detroit health care officials allegedly involved in fraud and kickback schemes totaling over $122 million.The arrests were part of a nationwide sweep that resulted in charges against 243 individuals, including 46 doctors, nurses and other license medical professionals, accused of bilking the government with $712 million in false billings. According to officials, the schemes involved medical services that were unnecessary or never rendered, including hospice and home health care plus the billing, but not dispersal, of drugs.Authorities said the owners of home health care and hospice companies in Metro Detroit, two of whom are physical therapists, allegedly paid kickbacks to doctors and recruiters for referring patients to them, then billed Medicare for unnecessary services.Federal officials said two physicians — Dr. Waseem Alam, 59, of Troy and Dr. Hatem Ataya, 47, of Flushing —solicited kickbacks and submitted false claims to Medicare through their company, Woodward Urgent Care, in Bloomfield Hills.The physicians who allegedly solicited and received kickback also submitted claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary physician services through their companies, identified as A Plus Hospice and Palliative Care, At Home Hospice and At Home Network, Inc., all of which are located in Livonia.

Role of Agricultural extension in rural development strategies of Sub Research Proposal

Role of Agricultural extension in rural development strategies of Sub Saharan Africa - Research Proposal Example Tourism has been the major industry for more than two decades but the farmers of Zanzibar are not benefitting from the estimated 1.2 million tourists that visit the island annually. Once known for its spice plantations, large percent of Zanzibar’s land remain uncultivated and they import more than 70 % of vegetables and fruits (Nyang and Webo, 2012: 154). This paper proposes the use of farmer field schools in Zanzibar to help smallholder farmers make decisions, solve problems and obtain new techniques and skills. Farmers can reap a lot of benefits if they can apply what they will be taught in these schools. The farmers will also increase their productivity and profits through sharing knowledge with neighbors. There is a great need for field schools because: smallholder farmers in Zanzibar have very little knowledge on modern farming methods, many of them didn’t attend school and they only use conventional farming practices on their farm. Arable land in Zanzibar could be increased a great deal with introduction of these schools. Improving quality and productivity through group access to production, extension and training services and reduce cost of production through purchasing of farm inputs (including fertilizers, seeds and other equipment) in large volumes. The use of farmer field schools approach as an analytical framework began in South-East Asia in the 1980s and has played a big role in the farming sector. Farmer field schools approach has changed dramatically. The impact of rapid and sustained agricultural productivity in farming practices of Zanzibar is highlighted in literature. As put by Dixon et al, (2001: 108), factors that determine the growth potential of a farming system include: favorable access to services and infrastructure and appropriate resource endowments. This research is based on the assumptions that smallholder farmers of Zanzibar have little or no knowledge

Reflection Paper on case ( Nestle Infant Milk Formula ) Study

Reflection Paper on ( Nestle Infant Milk Formula ) - Case Study Example Competitors of a business are always present to replace a dying company. Company and its decisions are not only morally judged by people but there are some laws and regulations that are specially formulated to force every company abide by the rules. In case of violation, the company has to suffer not only morally but also legally. These rules and regulation run a business according to the code of business ethics. The code of business ethics helps in judging a company’s decision with respect to the set of rules and standards. One can easily gauge the decision’s credibility by going through the rules designed. In the chapter three of the book Business Ethics: A Global and Managerial Perspective, the author David Frtizsche defined some of the basic principles to judge the moral standards of the business decision. According to him the decisions can be judged on their moral credibility by gauging them on the principles like the Egoism and the Utilitarianism. The decisions, according to him can also be judged based on the reason behind the decisions; not the outcomes (2004). In the past years a case has been observed in the category of business ethics and the business decisions and their effects. The case produced severe impacts on the marketing strategies of the company. It also degraded the reputation of the company among the customers. The case helped in banning the company for seven years. The decision was considered as not only being morally unethical but also as being legally invalid. The Nestle Company is one of the top dairy service providing companies of the world. The company is based in Switzerland and it is working on many milk and related projects. One of the projects was the Infant Milk formula, which became a headache for the company in the later years. The infant milk formula was formulated as a substitute of the breast milk for the children. It came in powdered form and the feeding mothers were supposed to mix it with sterilized

Management and Supply Function Essay Example for Free

Management and Supply Function Essay It should be emphasised from the outset that purchasing and supply management is executed as an integrated part of the firms broader management (as part of the logistics management or supply chain management approach) *Purchasing and supply PLANNING is part of the firms general planning, mainly because the continuous supply of raw materials components services is of a strategic importance to the enterprise. The supply market is just as important for the firms survival continued profitability as the sales market is the firms own product. Firms general planning must be integrated. *The ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE of the purchasing and supply function should be aimed mainly @ linking into the firms overall structure in the most effective way. The purchasing and supply function primarily renders a service to the enterprise. *Purchasing and supply COORDINATION should be aimed @ harmonising and aligning the activities of the purchasing and supply function with those of the other business functions. When a firm vests the authority for the purchasing and supply function in 1 person or team. Advantages: ;gt;Standardisation of materials and products is possible because purchases are made at one point ;gt;Purchasing and supply staff are afforded the opportunity to become experts ;gt;Control over all aspects of the purchasing and supply function is improved ;gt;Administrative costs are reduced by eliminating duplication DECENTRALISED PURCHASING ; SUPPLY ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE Purchasing by different departments, branches or plants, while each of them enjoys an important measure of autonomy of decision making regarding the purchasing and supply function. Advantages: ;gt;Better liaision can be effected between decentralised purchasing and supply functions and the user functions of individual plants served by the purchasing and supply function ;gt;The needs users can be better satisfied because the purchasing and supply function knows them better ;gt;Different plants maintain their autonomy. Plant managers are often fully responsible  for the profitability of individual plants. According to the combined approach, common requirements of the different plants such as equipment and certain categories of raw materials, are purchased centrally head of office. The plants purchasing and supply functions are assisted by corporate   purchasing and supply in developing policies, procedures, and control measures, recruiting and training staff, auditing the   purchasing and supply performance of the plants. The main coordinating mechanisms of purchasing and supply management with other functions in the organisation, and with suppliers and customers, are definitely computer systems such as electronic data interchange(EDI), materials planning (MRPII) and distribution requirements planning (DRP). TWO TYPES OF COORDINATION Between purchasing and supply and other functional areas Purchasing coordination is lateral acts in an advisory/support method to the other functions in the enterprise. Between p and s and the supplier system Two dimensions to the coordination between p and s function and the supplier system. Firstly there is coordination with the whole supplier system and secondly with the individual suppliers. The flow of products and services from the supplier has to be effective, the p and s function has to ensure that coordination between them and the supplier ensures this occurs. This can be achieved by means of supplier alliances, integrated systems and inter-organisational teams. The supplier must become an extension of the buying enterprise. The chief coordinating mechanisms available to p and s management are open communication, strategic alliances, integrated systems, the conscious motivation of suppliers and standardisation of specifications, purchasing documents and purchasing procedures. CONTROL : PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF THE PURCHASING AND SUPPLYFUNCTION Control may be defined as a systematic attempt to reach objectives or set standards that accord with the enterprises goal, to observe actual perform- ance and compare it with the set standards, and to take corrective steps with a view to achieving the mission and goals of the enterprise. Objectives and basic principles of performance evaluation P and activities are complex, needs to have a control system. Feedback   on actual performance(measured against quantitative norms). This ensures that the p and s strategy is implemented at the various levels in the company. With this the p and s manager can monitor and improve the functions actual performance. Control ensures that all the other functions with p and s work optimally.

The End of World War I :: World War I History

The End of World War I As the news of the individual surrender spread, fellow Germans saw that they were losing the war and started mutinies. Many people told the Kaiser to seek an armistice with the allies. However, he did not show any intensions of giving up. With the end so close, many American newspapers started to create rumors that the armistice had signed been signed by the Germans. They assumed that our leaders were suing for peace. They were still only considering signing an armistice. The American armistice was based on Woodrow Wilson's fourteen-point plan. He did have a hard time convincing the other allies that the fourteen-point plan was going to work. Wilson who was wanted peace without actually winning the war. By the time the armistice was signed, the people of Germany were happy that the war had ended. The treaty was signed at Rethondes, France at 5:00 pm on November 11 1918. Two days earlier Kaiser Williams of Germany had abdicated and fled to the Netherlands. Prince Max of Beden had immediately accepted defeat. The word quickly passed along the front and at 11:00 the battles should stop. Many notes had passed between Prince Williams and President Wilson in the days that led to the armistice. All of the matters were discussed through notes although a representative was sent to explain the idea behind the fourteen point and other American theories that led to the formation of the armistice. After the armistice was signed and the war ended many of the Americans flooded the towns located near the front, they celebrated. Many sang their national anthem. The streets were crowded with people. The town center was so filled that you could hardly see anything. Church bells ringed through out Europe to praise the end of the war. Many people even sung huge flags of either America or France. Many of the soldiers just stared and wondered what was going on. They had seen all the death and did not realize why the men celebrated. Many people endorsed the fourteen-point plan. Some even thought that he would win the noble peace prize for his work during the tragic war. Many Americans believed that their president their war hero had ended the war with the fourteen points for peace. Many of the allies wanted to put and end to the war by claming victory and puncture the economy of Germany forever. The End of World War I :: World War I History The End of World War I As the news of the individual surrender spread, fellow Germans saw that they were losing the war and started mutinies. Many people told the Kaiser to seek an armistice with the allies. However, he did not show any intensions of giving up. With the end so close, many American newspapers started to create rumors that the armistice had signed been signed by the Germans. They assumed that our leaders were suing for peace. They were still only considering signing an armistice. The American armistice was based on Woodrow Wilson's fourteen-point plan. He did have a hard time convincing the other allies that the fourteen-point plan was going to work. Wilson who was wanted peace without actually winning the war. By the time the armistice was signed, the people of Germany were happy that the war had ended. The treaty was signed at Rethondes, France at 5:00 pm on November 11 1918. Two days earlier Kaiser Williams of Germany had abdicated and fled to the Netherlands. Prince Max of Beden had immediately accepted defeat. The word quickly passed along the front and at 11:00 the battles should stop. Many notes had passed between Prince Williams and President Wilson in the days that led to the armistice. All of the matters were discussed through notes although a representative was sent to explain the idea behind the fourteen point and other American theories that led to the formation of the armistice. After the armistice was signed and the war ended many of the Americans flooded the towns located near the front, they celebrated. Many sang their national anthem. The streets were crowded with people. The town center was so filled that you could hardly see anything. Church bells ringed through out Europe to praise the end of the war. Many people even sung huge flags of either America or France. Many of the soldiers just stared and wondered what was going on. They had seen all the death and did not realize why the men celebrated. Many people endorsed the fourteen-point plan. Some even thought that he would win the noble peace prize for his work during the tragic war. Many Americans believed that their president their war hero had ended the war with the fourteen points for peace. Many of the allies wanted to put and end to the war by claming victory and puncture the economy of Germany forever.

Online Purchases and Delivery Service in NTUC Fairprice Essay

INTRODUCTION NTUC Fairprice Co-operative Ltd (NTUC) was founded in 1973 by the labour movement. Its first supermarket was opened in Toa Payoh in the same year. NTUC has now grown to become Singapore’s largest retailer, with a network of more than 270 stores comprising FairPrice Supermarkets, FairPrice Finest, FairPrice Xtra, FairPrice Xpress and Cheers convenience stores. NTUC also owns a Fresh Food Distribution Centre and a centralised warehousing and distribution company. Sales in 2013 were reported at more than S$2.6 billion. NTUC also operates an online store where customers can order their groceries directly from their online store and have them delivered to their homes or destinations of their choice. This paper explores the business operations management of NTUC in Singapore and the possible challenges NTUC may face in their online retail and delivery service. This paper also evaluates and recommends appropriate measures that NTUC should implement to overcome these challenges as well as the methods to measure the business performance of the new process. PART 1 NTUC’s Business Functions NTUC operates with three core business functions to run the chain of supermarkets in Singapore; Procurement, Warehousing/Distribution and Retail. These functions are supported by Finance, Information Systems and Human Resources. Figure 1: Process Flow of NTUC Online Retailing and Delivery Service NTUC currently operates an online grocery store from their website.  According to their website’s Help section (2009), NTUC mentioned partnering a logistics service provider to provide the delivery services to customers. In its website (2009), customers have the option to select their preferred date of delivery but the earliest they can receive their purchase is by the next working day. NTUC currently does not provide delivery services on Sundays and Public Holidays. Delivery charges apply according to the order amount and additional charges will also be imposed to rearrange another delivery date if the customer is not present to receive the goods. Challenges of Online Retailing and Delivery Service Using the Soft Systems Methodology (Checkland, 1981), we identified some key challenges (Appendix 1) that NTUC may face for their online retailing and delivery service to their customers. Xing, Grant, MaKinnon and Fernie (2011) grouped these challenges broadly under availability, timeliness and condition. Availability †¢There is a lack of online tracking system.  Timeliness †¢Online grocers are unable to offer same day delivery to customers. †¢Deliveries fail to arrive as promised. †¢Distribution centres need to spend more time picking individual orders for customers. Condition †¢There is a need to have delivery accuracy as products with shelf life, especially fresh food, would require cooling. †¢Products are damaged during transit. Literature Review of Challenges Availability: Xing, Grant, MaKinnon and Fernie (2010 and 2011) conducted postal surveys with chosen households and qualitative interviews with retailers, logistics service providers and experts for their research papers. Both papers found that one of the key challenges of online home delivery is to keep customers informed of the availability and status of their purchase. Without such  online tracking systems, a big gap will be created between what the customers want to purchase and what they are offered eventually. Ruby and Zhao (2010) also identified that the most important attribute that affects customers’ satisfaction is the ability for online retailers to provide on-time delivery which would impact the customers’ decision to repurchase in future. Ling, Yang and Jun (2013) also reported that customers feel that the unavailability of ordered products will affect their online shopping experience negatively. Timeliness: According to Ling, Yang and Jun (2013), most customers tend to get very frustrated when faced with the inconvenience caused by any delay in delivery. Customers feel the hassle of having to stay at home along with the uncertainty in waiting time for the delivery person to show up with their purchase. Another challenge as reported by Starkey, A (2010) is that 17.5% of the customers had no one at home to receive their purchase during the normal delivery hours and 37.5% of them were only at home on some days. According to him, this translates to a 55% probability that customers run the risk of a failed delivery since there was no one available to sign their purchase. Another challenge that is highlighted by Xing, Grant, MaKinnon and Fernie (2011) is the timeliness of the standard delivery schedule. According to the authors, retailers and logistics service providers kept the delivery charges low so as to remain competitive as providing prompt delivery services would usually cost a premium for customers. Such measures usually result in a standard 3 to 5 business days for delivery causing a relatively low level of customer satisfaction in this area. Condition: Based on the findings by Xing, Grant, MaKinnon and Fernie (2011), customers’ satisfaction level drops when their purchases are delivered wrongly or the  orders are incomplete. Another factor that impacts their satisfaction level is the condition of the goods being delivered. As in the case of perishable items, customers expect their purchase to be delivered fresh. Operations Strategy Perspectives for NTUC Using the four perspectives on operations strategy (Slack, N., Brandon-Jones, A. and Johnston, R, 2013: Ch 3 Pg 73 – 85), we seek to understand the different perspectives that will help us recommend the appropriate solutions for NTUC in its online retail and delivery system. Figure 2: The Four Perspectives on Operations Strategy (Slack, N., Brandon-Jones, A. and Johnston, R, 2013: Ch 3 Pg 73 Figure 3.3) Top-Down Perspectives: According to NTUC’s website (2009), its vision is â€Å"to be Singapore’s leading world-class retailer with a heart†. NTUC also strived to â€Å"provide its customers with the best value, quality products and excellent service, be a preferred employer, to moderate the cost of living in Singapore, and serve the needs of our members, the labour movement and the community.† Bottom-Up Perspectives: According to Song, L., Cherrett, T. and Guan, W (2011), besides inconveniencing the customers, distribution centres also incur high costs whenever there are failed deliveries. The authors suggested that there are environmental costs to be considered for every added trip to the customers. This suggests that the CO2 emissions caused by these repeated trips would increase. NTUC should work closely with its internal Warehousing/Distribution team to understand these concerns before developing the strategy forward. Market Requirements Perspectives: Various authors (Xing, Grant, MaKinnon and Fernie,2010 and 2011; and et al) identified that customers expect to be kept updated of the status of their purchase; prompt delivery service as well as having purchases delivered to them in good conditions. Operations Resources Perspectives: According to Xing, Grant, MaKinnon and Fernie (2011), a high operational cost would make retailers cost sensitive. Technology advancements require monetary investments and yet retailers need to strike a balance between home delivery cost and the amount they charge their customers. Therefore, NTUC should explore how it can optimize its operations functions and resources to continue delivering the values customers expect. Appropriate Solutions for NTUC Based on the challenges identified and with the understanding of the 4 perspectives that NTUC need to consider, the following are some of the recommendations that NTUC should adopt to improve on their online retail and delivery system: †¢Upgrade the online order system †¢Implement online tracking system †¢Incorporate a collection / delivery point Upgrade the Online Order System: According to Ruby, R.D. & Zhao, M. (2010), NTUC should, in order to satisfy its online customers and ensure that they return to the retailer to purchase again, ensure that their website should be able to control conditions where a product is out-of-stock. The online website should provide updated inventory information of the product to avoid customers becoming unhappy over a failed purchase. It is also important to ensure that the descriptions of the product are authentic and exactly matches the intended product. NTUC should provide more delivery options (Xing, Y., Grant, D.B., McKinnon, A.C. & Fernie, J., 2011) and consumers who are willing to pay a premium for these choices could select their preferred delivery options with more specified dates and times. The authors believed that the premium delivery charges customers pay will eventually offset the increased in delivery cost  of NTUC or their appointed logistics service provider. Implement Online Tracking System: Xing, Y., Grant, D.B., McKinnon, A.C. & Fernie, J. (2011) concluded in their report that setting up an online tracking system is very important as it allows customers to keep track of their purchases. If retailers are using a logistics service provider which is the case for NTUC, a link to the logistics service providers’ tracking system should also be provided. The authors also suggested that retailers can adopt software applications that operate alongside their existing ordering system. These software applications are able to provide timely contact with the customer by email or text messages during the time of fulfillment to keep customers updated of their order status at appropriate times. The most important messages are at the point when their purchases are ready to be delivered with confirmation of the delivery date and time. Having a good tracking system not only reduces the probability of first time delivery failures, Edwards, J.B., McKinnon, A.C. & Cullinane, S.L. (2010) also reported that reducing repeating trips will significantly reduce the CO2 emissions. In their findings, a standard home delivery for a non-food item would be allocated 98 gCO2. Therefore, striving to improve on the home delivery system would also help reduce any harmful impact to the environmental. Incorporate a Collection/Delivery Point: To reduce the number of unsuccessful home deliveries to customers, NTUC should implement a network of collection/delivery points (Song, L., Cherrett, T. & Guan, W., 2011) as alternatives to the delivery addresses in their system. This means allowing customers to choose a nearest collection/delivery point where they would like to pick up their purchase from if they happen to be away when the delivery person arrived. Customers can also have the option to select the collection/delivery point as their delivery destination if they are sure they will not be home to receive their  purchase. Retailers can definitely benefit from this implementation as it reduces the number of re-delivery attempts. PART 2 A Perspective of the New System We use Soft Systems Methodology (Checkland, 1981) to have a systematic view of the new system (Appendix 2). In the process, we also identified two potential problems that may arise from this new system. Behjati, S. and Othaman, S.N. (2012) said that one of the key drivers of online shopping is trust and reliability. If customers do not trust the idea of shopping online, it would take more effort for NTUC to try to switch these customers to online customers. Another potential problem is an upgraded online ordering system would take up more internet bandwidth in NTUC. Therefore, the retailer must ensure that there is sufficient bandwidth (Ling (Alice) Jiang, Yang, Z. & Jun, M., 2013) to allow customers to search its online store seamlessly. NTUC’s â€Å"As Is† Process In the Help section of NTUC’s website (2009), a customer simply need to log into their account, select the products and the required quantity before adding into the shopping cart. Once the purchase is confirmed, an email will be sent to the customer instructing him/her of the delivery information. According to the website, the earliest date customers can receive their purchase is by the next working day. NTUC currently does not provide delivery services on Sundays and Public Holidays. Delivery charges apply according to the order amount and additional charges will also be imposed to rearrange another delivery date if the customer is not present to receive the goods. A clearer version of the â€Å"as is† process of NTUC is attached in Appendix 3. Figure 3: â€Å"As-Is† Process of NTUC NTUC’s â€Å"To Be† Process With the proposed upgrading of the online ordering system, online tracking system and implementing a collection / delivery point for NTUC, the â€Å"to-be† process is drafted in Figure 4 with a clearer version attached in Appendix 4. Figure 4: â€Å"To-Be† Process of NTUC Freeman, M. and Freeman, A. (2010) emphasized the importance that for the online ordering system to work, all products in the retailer’s inventory must be displayed. Out-of-stock products must be clearly indicated so that customers can make decisions on the spot to select alternative products. Rose, S., Clark, M., Samouel, P. and Hair, N. (2012), in their study, also supports this by saying that it is important for the retailer’s website to be easy to use. An overly complex navigation and information overload will reduce the probability of customers returning to patronize the online store. Omar, M., Bathgate, I. and Nwankwo, S. (2011), in their research, considered that when a customer is well-provided with order information and a clear estimate of the product arrival information, customers will be more certain of what they ordered and when they can expect their products to be delivered. It is therefore recommended for NTUC to set up an online tracking system for the purpose of allowing customers to trace their products any time of the day. Edwards, J.B., McKinnon, A.C. & Cullinane, S.L. (2010) provided that failed deliveries can cause a lot of inconvenience and highly uneconomical for both the customers, logistics service providers and retailers. According to the studies, a 100% successful first-time delivery would incur a CO2 emission of 98g for urban deliveries. This, however, increases to 110g of CO2 emission for a 12.5% delivery failure. Song, L., Cherrett, T. & Guan, W. (2011) suggested reducing failed deliveries by using a network of collection / delivery points (such as in petrol stations, convenience stores, post  officers etc) in nearby neighborhoods as alternative delivery destination. Keeping failed deliveries to a low number would limit the amount of CO2 emission to the lowest possible level. In this â€Å"To-Be† process, an upgraded ordering system coupled with an online tracking system for customers to track their parcels and finally providing an alternative pickup location instead of having the hassle of arranging for future delivery trips will improve the transactional process which is according to the expectations of the customer. This will improve their perception of NTUC. PART 3 In Part 1, we identified the challenges NTUC faced when operating the online retail and delivery system. Appropriate solutions were put up with the aim to improve these challenges. Part 2 looked at the changes that need to be made to the business process. In Part 3, we will be looking at how NTUC translate performance objectives into operation priorities and subsequently, how NTUC measures its performance and recommend further improvements to ensure the success of the new system. Implementing a Performance Measurement System For NTUC to succeed into achieving its performance objectives, a performance measurement system needs to be put in place. The Balanced Scorecard (Kaplan R.S. and Norton D.P., 1992) will be used for this purpose. Besides deciding and measuring performance, Sharma, A. (2009), in his research findings reported that the balanced scorecard can also help NTUC manage the strategies that require implementation and improvement so that the retailer’s long term goals are meet. Valmohammadi, C. and Servati, A. (2010) stated that it is very important to allow all managers, in this case all the Business Functions Managers in NTUC, participate in the performance measurement process. This is because implementation at various functions requires the expertise and active  participation of every functional levels in company. Balanced Scorecard of NTUC NTUC should start with an assessment of the company’s mission and vision; and working together with its functional managers identifies key objectives. SWOT analysis can be performed to eliminate the weaknesses and threats that NTUC is exposed to. NTUC will then develop the balanced scorecard (Appendix 5) which according to Sharma, A. (2009) helps each function teams understand and work towards its shared vision. The balanced scorecard depict the objectives, measures, targets and appropriate initiatives that are put in place to assess the performance around 4 broad areas (Kaplan R.S. and Norton D.P., 1992), namely financial, customers, learning and growth and internal business processes. Financial Perspectives: The reason why NTUC would take up the recommendations to upgrade the suggested systems is ultimately to achieve financial returns. Without a doubt, the financial perspectives of this balanced scorecard would focus on measuring the revenue, profit and also to increase the online market share of the retail business. The indicator for revenue and profit can be retrieved from NTUC’s Annual Report. NTUC’s growth average revenue growth for the past 3 years average 8.91%. Hence, a 9% growth is recommended as target for the company. Figure 5: Deriving the Revenue Targets for NTUC (Source: NTUC Fairprice Annual Reports) Based on the Annual Report, the profit achieved has been consistently at approximately $120 million for 2010, 2011 and 2013. Hence, using these 3 years as benchmark, we propose NTUC to set a target of maintaining the profit level at S$125 million. Figure 6: Deriving Profit Margins for NTUC (Source: NTUC Fairprice Annual  Reports) According to a market report in UK (Thomas, J., 2010), sales in online retailing is expected to increase by 34.4% in 2014 compared to 2013. Online sales are also expected to increase to 12.4% of the total retail market. Basing on this forecast, NTUC could consider targeting to achieve an increase an online market share of 12% for 2014. Figure 7: Forecast UK Online Food and Drinks Market by Value, 2009 to 2014 (Source: just-food) Customers Perspectives: From the customers perspective, NTUC decided to upgrade its online retailing and delivery process is so that it could satisfy its online customers (Ruby, R.D. & Zhao, M., 2010) and ensure that they return again for their next purchase. Hence, it is necessary that NTUC tracks its performance on customers’ usage of its online site. With an easier to surf online ordering system that NTUC would be investing, it becomes necessary for the retailer to track its customers’ traffic flows on the internet (Gunawan, G., F, E. & King, M., 2008) as this gives the company an indication if it is successful in building customers’ awareness and loyalty of its online retail service. In their study, Edwards, J., Makinnon, A. and Cullinane, S. (2011) reported that 38% of internet users access online food and grocery websites and this is likely to increase another 66% in he near future to 63%. We recommend targeting a 66% increase in online visitors as a performance measurement. Another performance measure would be to generate a report to derive the ratio of returning customers against its total online customer base. A target of 25% increase in online customer base is recommended which is in line with Jessica, L. (2011)’s report that the number of customers at NTUC has increased by an average of 25% every year. Learning and Growth Perspectives: The objectives on learning and growth focus on increasing the employees’ knowledge know-how of the new improved systems. With the implementation of the online order and tracking systems, NTUC need to ensure that its staffs undergo adequate trainings (Hoi, Y.C. and Alex W.H. Chan, 2012) to keep themselves up-to-date of what the new technology is able to achieve which allows them to handle challenges that arised in the future. As recommended by Lai, W.H. (2010), NTUC should budget 1% of its annual payroll to staff training and development. With improved system knowledge, NTUC’s employees would be able to make suggestions on how the business processes can be improved (Wilson, G., DuPlessis, A. and Marx, A., 2010). Adequate trainings (Tan, K. & Newman, E., 2012) also ensure NTUC’s employees are able to increase their productivity levels and NTUC should seek to achieve a 20% (Pollitt, D. 2012) increase in orders per head every month. Internal Business Processes Perspectives: In order to ensure the successful implementation of the proposed new systems, NTUC needs to ensure its internal functional teams are able to work seamlessly together. To measure the performance of its internal business processes, we propose NTUC to track the delivery success, product returns and ultimately the level of CO2 emission. Unsuccessful deliveries can be very costly and inefficient for companies. Edwards, J., Makinnon, A. and Cullinane, S. (2009 and 2011) reported that approximately 30% of home deliveries failed for the first time and that between 25-30% of online purchases were returned to the retailer as compared to 6-10% in traditional shopping environments. Therefore, with implementation of the online ordering and tracking system, NTUC targets to achieve at least 80% success rate in its first time delivery and less than 25% returns of customers’ orders. Another recommended measure is to reduce the CO2 emission of NTUC’s delivery services. Assuming that 25-30% of the online purchases were returned as mentioned above by Edwards, J., Makinnon, A. and Cullinane, S. (2009 and  2011), the CO2 emission according to Edwards, J.B., McKinnon, A.C. & Cullinane, S.L. (2010) is 123g. NTUC should set its performance measurement target to reduce CO2 emission to 110g. Figure 8: Emissions (gCO2) per item including Failed Delivery Rates (Source: Edwards, J.B., McKinnon, A.C. and Cullianane, S.L., 2010) CONCLUSION In conclusion, this paper analysed the business operations of NTUC in their online retail and delivery service. Key challenges relating to availability of the intended purchased products online, timeliness of delivery and the conditions of the products as a result of the delivery was identified. Adopting a business operations management approach, we recommend NTUC to implement an integrated online ordering and tracking system to improve the retail business processes and eventually to increase customers’ confidence in its online retail business. 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