Krispy Kreme Essay

Krispy Kreme has been in the doughnut business for over 64 years and has been a specialty retailer for doughnuts from the very beginning. Krispy Kreme implements a differentiation strategy, attempting to distinguish their donuts based on taste, quality and simplicity. The company’s goal since its infancy has been to satisfy customers by providing a unique experience. This bold strategy has differentiated them from their competition and created a competitive advantage. Customers are allowed to see how the doughnuts are made through the Doughnut Theatre then served the newly baked treats hot and fresh. The bright neon light that shines from every Krispy Kreme location reads â€Å"Hot Doughnuts Now,† is one of Krispy Kreme’s key marketing strategies. When this sign is lit up, customers know that they will get fresh doughnuts that have just been made. Krispy Kreme provides Code of Ethics which covers a wide range of business practices and procedures. It focuses on recognizing, dealing and reporting any ethical issues. Krispy Kreme’s commitment to social responsibility shines through their fundraising program, which offers three different ways of raising profit for your school or organization. Krispy Kreme has assisted non-profit organizations raise over 46 million through fundraising. Although Krispy Kreme has many competitive advantages, it has its disadvantages as well. The first is the extremely unhealthy nature of its products. By the time a person takes the first bite of their second Krispy Kreme donut, they have already exceeded the USDA’s recommended fat intake for the entire day. This is sure to turn off all consumers who have health concerns or are watching their weight. The second disadvantage is the single product concept and the lack of variety of Krispy Kreme products. Historical success for quick service type products revenue growth is slowest among any restaurant type. The product is not a necessity in hard times and external environmental conditions could hurt consumer’s willingness to buy. Krispy Kreme will encounter many indirect and direct challenges as it continues to increase its market share across the globe. Recent improvements  in IT have reduced mistakes in distribution and lowered the amount of computer malfunctions, but there is still room for improvement. Krispy Kreme will have to continue to supply the baking technology to their new factory stores which will be costly. Communication, along with the distribution of production technology and needed ingredients to each individual store can be difficult. Preserving order will be possible only through identifying certain technologies that will assist in the process of distribution and communication. With the recent upgrades, the employees must be able to operate the new technology without experiencing problems that could damage consumer confidence in the company. Another challenge to Krispy Kreme is the lack of publicity through advertisements. Krispy Kreme depends solely on name recognition and reputation of its business. By choosing to not spend its money on commercials, they risk the chance of having no recognition in certain areas. Moreover, McDonald has a great relationship with its younger consumer base though its mascot and Starbucks has worked out deals with Barnes and Noble to have its coffee shops located inside the bookstore. This way people do not just have to get their coffee and leave, they can relax and read at the same time. Krispy Kreme offers none of these benefits. One of the major problems in their current strategy is that they do not have different approaches in their marketing at all. They do not factor in age or demographics in their methods. No matter what area Krispy Kreme is located, everything will be exactly the same. Finally, growth may cause Krispy Kreme to become less attractive as they become more mainstream. Krispy Kreme may want to slow their growth in location to maintain the authenticity and exclusiveness associated with high quality products. As a universal product and a global brand Krispy Kreme considers its market as truly anyone and anywhere. This concept allows the company to move ahead with their proved business model in all markets. Although some markets will  be more successful than others, in my opinion Canada will emerge as the success story for Krispy Kreme. The Canadian market is more accustomed to the idea of having a donut as breakfast or a snack item versus other foreign markets. Although Canada has Tim Hortons as a popular donut shop, Tim Hortons is not famous for their donuts. Moreover, Canada is similar to the U.S. market in terms of demographics and this will play a great role in its success. References 1. Lamars Donuts News. October 25, 2002. http://www.lamars.com (05/20/04) 2. Krispy Kreme Homepage. http://www.krispykreme.com (05/21/04) 3. â€Å"Case Study: Krispy Kreme Doughnuts†. Corechange. (05/20/04) 4. â€Å"Krispy Kreme Announces store†¦Ã¢â‚¬  October 31, 2002. PR News Wire. http://www.prnewswire.com (05/20/04) 5. â€Å"Krispy Kreme word-of-mouth tactics†¦Ã¢â‚¬  October 21, 2002 Brandweek. V43.p9 (05/20/04) 6. www.moneycentral.com (05/21/04) 7. Miller, Beth. â€Å"The New Doughnut Dynamic†. St. Louis Business Journal (05/20/04)

Racism and Self-Identity: A Review of “The Color of Water” Essay

The American South, especially in from the 1930s to the 1960s, is a hard place to live for when you are a â€Å"colored person. † This novel, written by James McBride, discovers the complexities of having a bi-racial activity, especially at a time when blacks and other minorities are hated and discriminated upon by the dominant white society. This novel attempts to reflect at the domination of American society by the white man, and attempts to discover his own identity by looking at his mother’s past: the life of Ruth McBride, a Polish-Jewish immigrant in the South of the 1930s, beset by constant intimidation and violence of the white majority to other racial minorities, especially to Jewish immigrants and to the blacks, who were historically imported by white plantation owners to work as slaves in cotton plantations. However, the journey of Ruth McBride does not end here; she actually continued her journey away from the American South, loving two blacks in the way, and describing the unique complexities of the Harlem district of New York City. The Christian faith also plays a colorful part in this novel, providing the needed comfort and guidance in times of adversity. This background, combined with question about his racial self-identity, will soon lead him to have a violent behavior, including phases of drug use and crime. However, he will soon find value in his life, relying upon the principles of hard work and self improvement, plus additional skills in writing and jazz music. The novel starts with chapters introducing the mother of the author, Ruth McBride, and is already full of symbolisms and drama (McBride, n. pag. ). The first chapter, entitled Dead, describes the Jewish origin of Ruth, and offers a glimpse of the discrimination that they are already experiencing; and she further becomes â€Å"dead† due to her marriage to Dennis McBride, whose race is officially viewed as inferior, and whose race is a victim of an officially-sponsored racial segregation (McBride, n. pag. ). Given that the background of the family of Ruth comes from a conservative one, guided by orthodox Jewish practices, choosing to marry a colored one surely brings in discrimination by society and rejection of the family. In this case, it can be clearly seen that in America of the early twentieth century, your race can actually determine the way you live; being a colored can make you have a miserable life constantly under threat and looked down, even when you may live in the â€Å"land of the free. † This theme continues in the second and third chapters, where the bicycle of Ruth became a medium where she can find constant movement away from the troubles of living a multi-racial family, all while her son James already looked into crime and drugs for escape (McBride, n. ag. ). Ruth also recalls the origins of her family, as symbolized by the Kosher, where Jews are already suffering from discrimination and intimidation in their native land, and where immigration and the practices of orthodox Judaism serves as a convenient escape from the racial discrimination that they are experiencing (McBride, n. pag. ). Such experiences vividly explore the hardships of belonging to a hated race, where escape i s a necessary thing. The point of view of James is also seen in this chapter; James recall that he sees her mother as different at such an early age, although he really cannot fully comprehend why in fact she is different from others. This is highlighted in the account when James already reaches kindergarten; he asks his mother why she is different from him, although her mother refuses to entertain the question (McBride, n. pag. ). Her bitter memories regarding her family influences her not to open the topic later in her life, soon to be understood by James. In the third chapter, entitled Kosher, Ruth recalls the arranged marriage of her mother and her father, which was brought out of convenience, in which she does not make any sense of it at all (McBride, n. pag. ). In addition to this, she also recalls all of the strict practices of Orthodox Judaism, to which she sees it as very suffocating, making her have a very difficult life, combines with a very string fear of death (McBride, n. pag. ). Such experiences will later affect her in raising a family, focusing on hard work to offset the difficulties of their racial origin (McBride, n. pag. ). In the later chapters, such as in Black Power, James began to realize the complexities of being a multi-racial person; torn between the desire of having solidarity with fellow black neighbors striving to fight for black power and concern for his white mother who is unwilling to commit with this movement, emphasizing the importance of privacy, the church, and the family (McBride, n. pag. ). James even asked her mother if he was adopted, due to the fact that he has a different color with her mother. The civil rights movement at that time was very string, with the black community in their area actively supporting and campaigning for more black powers in society, to which her mother is very reluctant to accept (McBride, n. pag. ). Adding to such complexities is a commentary of James upon her mother’s belief, often contradictory because of her Orthodox origins, as well as she being a Christian convert living among a black community (McBride, n. ag. ). After this recall, however, James decides to show sympathy to his mother, ending up punching the face of a son of a member of the militant Black Panther Party, whom he deemed as a threat to his white mother. After all, this episode shows that joining a black power solidarity movement, especially for a multiracial is not always smooth; convictions for black power may conflict with personal beliefs and priorities, provoki ng hesitation despite common discriminatory experiences in a white-dominated society. The book then shifts on how Ruth has found her guidance and inspiration amidst all these contradictions, tracing her Orthodox Jewish origins to her eventual conversion to Christianity (McBride, n. pag. ). Her early experiences are never easy. Contrary to the popular belief that having a new life in America will lead you to the prosperous â€Å"American Dream,† In the chapter entitled the â€Å"Old Testament,† the experiences of Ruth’s family were no American dream; on the contrary, they suffered under constant poverty (McBride, n. pag. ). Her father tried to make a living by being a rabbi, forcing them to move constantly from place to place; until they decided to open a grocery store in the predominantly black town of Suffolk, Virginia. Ruth also had a recollection on her loveless daughter father relationship, especially because of the fact that her father was secretly abusing her sexually. However, she also points out that she still has a positive remembrance of her childhood, which includes her memories with her mother during Jewish holidays (McBride, n. pag. ). In the next chapter, entitled the â€Å"New Testament,† the conversion of Ruth to Christianity is portrayed. This is emphasized in the way how Ruth raised her children, not taking lightly one instance where Billy refused to recite a biblical passage in Easter Sunday (McBride, n. pag. ). However, questions on race is also9 presented in this chapter, with James asking her mother what is the color of God’s spirit, and her mother replying that it has no color, that God is the color of water (McBride, n. pag. ). Such passages reflect how important color is as an issue at that time, for ones’ opportunities and possibilities in life ism not determined by abilities alone, but by color. In addition to this, America at the time of James still sees a society wherein being a colored means being a lesser human being; where black power is being fought for, and being black while having a white mother makes you trapped in questions and confused. This is followed by a recollection in the home of her mother in Suffolk, Virginia, where the absence of opportunities for blacks and Jews alike has lead them to miserable poverty, in addition to the presence of the Klu Klux Klan which presents constant intimidation and violence for them (McBride, n. ag. ). This recollection is then intertwined with the experiences of James with respect to his siblings, highlighting the difficulties of raising a family that explores his/her racial identities (McBride, n. pag. ). The next chapters, especially School, Boys and Daddy explores the personal experiences of both James and Ruth on racial prejudice, with Ruth having to secretly meet with her loved one due to the threat of the Ku Klux Klan, a nd the fears of James in attending a predominantly white school. However, this part of the novel also gives a positive insight; the tremendous work ethic of Ruth, and the exploration of jazz music by James as a new way of escape (McBride, n. pag. ). The next parts of the book explores the devastation of the family with the demise of the second husband of Ruth, especially in its effect to James, and an insight into everyday life in the Harlem district of New York. James then began to seek the origin of his parents in Suffolk, Virginia, and witnesses the poverty and racial complexities in that area intertwined with the early experiences of his mother in love, especially in the chapters The Promise, Old Man Shilsky and A Bird who flies (McBride, n. pag. ). The problems of the interracial marriage Ruth and Dennis, as well as the discovery of the synagogue is highlighted in the chapters A Jew Discovered and Dennis; while the final chapter, Finding Ruthie, emphasizes the fact that being a multiracial is not only difficult, but full of uncertainties (McBride, n. pag. ).

Reaction paper of the film Take the Lead Essay

Take the lead is based on a true story, the movie tells us of the struggle of a dance teacher, Pierre Dulain. It is the real story of a dance teacher who believed in the talent of a group of problem kids. This film not only gives us a fun and relaxation but it also gives us knowledge about modern dancing and model dancing. Not only that, the film gives us the morality as teacher. How relationship between teacher and student should be in school as well as in their personal encounter. One day In New York, the polite dance instructor Pierre Dulaine sees a black teenager vandalizing the car of the director of a public school and on the next day he volunteers to teach dance to students to give respect, dignity, self-confidence, trust and teamwork. The reluctant director Augustine James offers the troublemakers that are in detention expecting Pierre to give-up of his intentions. Initially, the delinquents did not care about ballroom dancing, but after Pierre gives them a demonstration with his top dance student Morgan, the kids grew interested into the idea of ballroom dancing. He enters the kids in a city wide dance competition and by the end of the day, succeeds in turning the delinquents into respectful and well-mannered, young ladies and gentlemen. Yes as a dance teacher Pierre Dulaine bring the children in a new state of life. He teaches them how to appreciate a dance. There are so many dances that they studied: Salsa, Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Cha Cha, Rumba, Samba, Wedding Dance, Viennese Waltz, danceTONE Warmup, Jive, Swing , Paso Doble, Tango, Merengue, Bachata and other dance music genres!. He himself also learns to appreciate their model dance. In this great world consist thousand of people each of them have difference way to appreciate an art as well as made an art. An art work might valuable to this person but reject by the other. The importance is to understand, to appreciate, to enjoy an art as well as the one create it. We all know that treat a person like trash and he will become trash. When the school delinquent were treated like incorrigible criminals, they chose to act as obnoxious and as rude as possible. But when they were trusted and respected and shown the dignity of being creative, they learned to reciprocate with the kindness and gentleness. Even the most notorious and delinquent persons can metamorphose into productive and decent members of society if we show them respect, give them value, appreciate their talents and teach them to contribute towards the betterment of themselves and other people around them. Pierre Dulaine is an excellent archetype of a mentor for character transformation; unconventional enough to allow flexibility, firm enough to command respect, patient enough to extend sympathy, talented enough to demand excellence and human enough to connect with those who refuse to listen. For people trying to form values and personhood, much can be learned from Dulaine’s approach – which basically is to treat a person as a person, notwithstanding his faults and flaws. However, the film is better watched with a mature adult because of the nonchalant rudeness demonstrated by the story’s teenage protagonists which might negatively influence young audiences. As a teacher Pierre Dulaine not only teach them how to dance but also help them to have a confidence in life. A teacher concern what student is needs, a take a have responsibilities toward their children. Look for way how to give them an environment to grow their personality, their knowledge. Give hem an opportunity to express their problems and need. Give them an advisable that will help them develop their attitude. To became good value of life. To guide them become good citizens, Christian, to built the healthy good relationship with the other. They should be the second parents to them. Pierre struggles against the prejudice and ignorance of the students, parents and other teachers, but wins his battle when the group accepts to compete in a ballroom dance contest. He teach with love and hope. What you sow you reap. Pierre Dulaine: A renowned ballroom dance instructor who gets a job as a teacher for the delinquents in detention. A gentleman who treats everyone, especially the ladies, with respect and to teach the delinquents about respect, manners and dealing with personal issues through dancing. Director: Antonio Banderas – Pierre Dulaine: A renowned ballroom dance instructor who gets a job as a teacher for the delinquents in detention. A gentleman who treats everyone, especially the ladies, with respect and to teach the delinquents about respect, manners and dealing with personal issues through dancing. Initially, the delinquents did not care about ballroom dancing, but after Pierre gives them a demonstration with his top dance student Morgan, the kids grew interested into the idea of ballroom dancing. He enters the kids in a city wide dance competition and by the end of the day, succeeds in turning the delinquents into respectful and well-mannered, young ladies and gentlemen. n a public school of lower middle class neighborhood of New York, high school kids are having an organized party and Rock (Rob Brown) is refused admission. In a spit of rage, he wrecks the car of their school principal. Suave and well-mannered ballroom dance instructor Pierre Dulaine (Antonio Banderas) w itnesses this on his way home and decides he needs to help trouble kids like him. The next morning, he finds his way to the principal’s schools and presents himself as a volunteer dance teacher for the school’s most notorious students. Day after day, he confronts the school â€Å"rejects† during their daily detention time and gently infuses into them manners, teamwork, respect and self-confidence through the routines of Salsa, Waltz and Tango as he slowly transforms the delinquent students into ballroom champions. For a film that is supposedly based on a true to life story, the plot is full of unbelievable twists and implausible scenes. The scripting is a bit shallow and fails to delve into the character’s motivations and emotions. Characters are too caricaturish to be believable. The idea of the fusion of ballroom with street dancing could have been better developed and the resulting dances better choreographed. Cinematography and editing are choppy and rough. The choreographies were not exciting enough and the camera angles fail to capture the exquisiteness of some dancers. Only the charm of ballroom and Banderas save the film from being a bore. Over-all, the movie entertains to some extent with its dance routines. Treat a person like trash and he will become trash. When the school delinquent were treated like incorrigible criminals, they chose to act as obnoxious and as rude as possible. But when they were trusted and respected and shown the dignity of being creative, they learned to reciprocate with the kindness and gentleness. Even the most notorious and delinquent persons can metamorphose into productive and decent members of society if we show them respect, give them value, appreciate their talents and teach them to contribute towards the betterment of themselves and other people around them. Pierre Dulaine is an excellent archetype of a mentor for character transformation; unconventional enough to allow flexibility, firm enough to command respect, patient enough to extend sympathy, talented enough to demand excellence and human enough to connect with those who refuse to listen. For people trying to form values and personhood, much can be learned from Dulaine’s approach – which basically is to treat a person as a person, notwithstanding his faults and flaws. However, the film is better watched with a mature adult because of the nonchalant rudeness demonstrated by the story’s teenage protagonists which might negatively influence young audiences.

Legal Case studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Legal Case studies - Essay Example It has been met because the professor "has written the President requesting that he reject the department's and Dean's negative recommendations". The operative word in this case scenario is "recommendation". The university colleagues did not fire the professor. Rather they only recommended that the professor not receive tenure. Presumably, because this is a public university, there would be an established and published university policy that regulates academic freedom, tenure and due process. While this would seem like a broad stroke philosophy it must be detailed within the faculty and administrative guidelines or handbooks. In order to insure that students are able to advance in the knowledge and understanding of their fields, it is important that professors feel free to discuss issues without having worry about censure. Freedom of inquiry is achieved through research, discussion, and publication teaching, learning free from internal or external restraints that would unreasonably restrict their academic endeavors. Apparently the university policy is that these goals are reached through a multi disciplinary approach. Accordingly, if the professor is not willing to explore the the multidisciplinary approach then he is violating university policy. ... In conclusion, so long as the president of the university can make his decision based upon intelligent feedback and his own wisdom, he is not abusing his discretion. He is in fact working well within his own parameters and there should be no legal consequences, whatever decision he makes. The professor would be ill advised to commence proceedings based upon this fact pattern. Paper 2 In the CPM, read the case Urofsky v. Gilmore and answer Questions 2 and 3 2. The various opinions issued by the en banc court in Urofsky provide an instructive debate, and an interesting array of viewpoints, on academic freedom and professors' First Amendment free speech rights. Compare and contrast the various opinions. Which opinion, or parts of opinions, present(s) the soundest reasoning The most perceptive analysis The most constructive approach to the problem I think that the balancing test applied in this case is a good introduction to what should be regulated, but it is not complete. It is difficult to reach a decision which maintains the equality of rights but also reasonably and realistically applies how those rights are defended. It is true that university professors are employees and that the words they speak are spoken "on company time". The fact remains however that they fit into an entirely different category from their non-faculty state employees or actors in many material points. Firstly, they are wearing two hats in the scope of their employment. They are teaching but they are also contributing through their research. It is through their research that their students and consequently the university advance. Secondly, there is not handbook that

Accounting for Decision Making Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Accounting for Decision Making - Essay Example Break-even level of sales = Break-even units*Selling Price (Keiso, 1999) = 148148.15*170 = $25,185,185 Strategy #2 Fixed Cost = $25,000,000 Selling Price = $200 Variable Cost = $35 Break-even level of output = = = 151,515 units Break-even level of sales = Break-even units*Selling Price = 151515.15*200 = $30,303,030 Desired Target of Profitability The company's desired profitability target is $4 million. According to the break-even level of sales, the company must exceed the above revenue levels according to both strategies in order to be able to make profits. If the output levels, as given in the table, are taken into consideration for calculation of optimal revenue which exceeds breakeven and offers the firm with its target profitability level, the following table would provide the relevant answers to base our analysis with. Strategy 1 Â   Selling Price = $170 Estimated demand (units) Estimated Revenue ($) Profit ($) 150,000 $25,500,000 $314,815 180,000 $30,600,000 $5,414,815 200,0 00 $34,000,000 $8,814,815 Hence, if the company undertakes strategy 1, as can be seen in the table above, output levels of above 180,000 units would allow the firm to fulfill and exceed its target profitability level. This range of output also fulfills the break-even level of output therefore the firm is satisfying its desired profitability level. (Keiso, 1999) ... This level of output also has the highest probability of consumer demand levels hence the firm will benefit from undertaking this level of production and fulfilling its profitability targets. (Keiso, 1999) Margin of Safety Margin of Safety: Budgeted/Actual Sales - Breakeven Sales (Keiso, 1999) Margin of Safety (%) : MOS/(Budgeted/Actual Sales) (Keiso, 1999) Strategy 1 Â   Â   Estimated demand (units) Breakeven Sales (units) Margin of Safety (units) Margin of Safety (%) 150,000 148,148.15 1,852 1.23% 180,000 148,148.15 31,852 17.70% 200,000 148,148.15 51,852 25.93% Strategy 2 Â   Â   Estimated demand (units) Breakeven Sales (units) Margin of Safety (units) Margin of Safety (%) 150,000 151515.15 -1,515 -1.01% 180,000 151515.15 28,485 15.82% 200,000 151515.15 48,485 24.24% As stated above, the margin of safety can be expressed in either units or a percentage of the total estimated sales. These figures are important for key decision making for managers because it shows the extent by which the projected sales exceed the break-even sales. The margin of safety is an important measure of risk as it shows the amount of sales which a firm can afford to vary without incurring a loss. The higher the number, the more beneficial it is for the firm since the company would be able to withstand fluctuations in sales. A drop in the levels of sales, lower than the margin of safety would alarm the management since it would cause losses for that particular period for the firm. (Keiso, 1999) Decision The decision of whether the company should go ahead with the new product should include many other ratio and cash flow analysis and evaluations so that the management, even though they cannot avoid any risks, are able to come up with more suitable decisions. However, based

Blogs Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Blogs - Article Example The consumer knowledge leads to active role of the consumers in putting forward relevant queries on the products sold and also clears any confusion that may be present in the minds of the purchasers. China, for example has overtaken the US in the automobile market sales in 2009. This is due to the fact that with the spread of globalization, the Chinese consumers have become increasingly knowledgeable and aware about the automobile products. The tastes and preferences in the market have become rationale due to the aspect of consumer knowledge. The availability of information with the customers prior to the point of transaction provides an idea on the value of the product and also judges the aspects of price, economy, efficiency and product safety. Thus consumer knowledge enables to take informed decisions and influences the purchase behavior. Is impulse buying really impulsive? There are many instances happening around us where it could be observed that customers take decisions of pur chase just by looking at the product. It apparently looks as if the customer had no intentions of purchase just a few moments back but suddenly decides to buy the product. Researches on impulse buying suggest that these impulses exhibited by the customers are primarily the effects of underlying emotions and feelings or sentiments that are instigated at the occurrence of a specific event. This means that the intentions of obtaining the product features are hidden which comes out due to the impulse of a certain incident. It would be unreasonable to think that the customers have never experienced such emotions or feelings before and that sudden flow of emotion and feeling has led to the purchase of the product. The marketing specialists look to utilize the impulse buying behavior of the consumers in order to increase the sell of their products. For example, a customer going to purchase clothes and garments is not likely to buy cakes and chocolates. However, marketers adopt the techniqu es to bring out the basic needs and desires of the customers in order to influence impulse buying. The chocolates, cakes, fashionable toys are displayed in the counters. The electronic items and accessories may be wrapped up with national flags of a particular country. By looking at these items, some customers experience sudden flow of emotions and passion. This leads to the intent of purchase and thus influences the purchase decision. Market segmentation methods vary from one company to another The companies are better off in targeting a segment of the market rather than focusing on the entire market. This would lead to a more profitable and sustainable business as the product and services offered by a company may not fulfill the needs of the broader market (Kotler 15). In order to narrow down on the market segment whose needs are fulfilled by its products and services, an analysis of the target market segment is necessary. The cost of the marketing and promotion of its products an d services are reduced and increased revenues are earned by the company from the identified market segment. The companies undertake market segmentation based on the features of their offered products. For example, a merchant selling umbrellas and water-proof jackets may divide the market based on

Marketing Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Marketing - Case Study Example Several brands have registered success in the social media usage. Currently, social media usage must be employed to meet the younger generation. Marketing of products using online tools has increased sales volume because the clients employ online purchase of items. Apart from employing the online tools, social media have a massive impact on the success of the country both in business and politics. The Arab revolution is a product of social media usage in the airing of the grievances of the citizens. Facebook is the leading social media platform with massive subscribers and increased success in terms of usage. Facebook as a social media tool enjoys massive support from the youths who have employed it in communication and information transfer. Companies use social media marketing strategy to improve brand image and resonance (Beverly and Thomson 123). Marketing involves the employment of all the necessary platforms of promotion and advertising with the SNSs offering a better platform for communication. Social media platforms offer the opportunity for collection of feedback. Traditionally, feedback collection of products released in the market was hard to obtain owing to the nature of information sharing systems. However, with the introduction of social media platform companies are able to prepare the market for the introduction of new product, while also collecting the customer preferences about the product. The success of products in the current society has been pegged on the marketing plan and action employed by the company (Beverly and Thomson 145). Public relations use social media to improve product perception and facilitate the development of positivity towards the company. Social media can be employed both in communication and persuasive advertising with enormous success. Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, are some of the widely used social media platforms

Zoo Paper Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Zoo Paper Analysis - Essay Example I think that you should have expounded it more instead of jumping right away to your thesis. As suggested in the Argument Lecture, the thesis sentence should not be placed in the beginning of the essay; instead a good argument should come at the end of the sentence. In your paper, you immediately stated your thesis statement at the second paragraph stating, â€Å"It is morally wrong to keep wild animals in captivity†. In fact, you already hinted at it already at the first paragraph when you said, â€Å"No amount of replication, no matter how convincing, is enough to make up for denying these creatures their freedom.† You also expressed, â€Å"The argument is simple: The fact that we are stronger or smarter than animals does not give us the right to ambush and exploit them solely for the purposes of our own entertainment.† Since your audience is adversarial, it is not right for you to impose your belief to them at the start of your essay. You should have establish ed your points of argument first before stating your thesis statement. You failed to take note of the point in the Argument Lecture which said that in a great argument, the thesis is never explicitly stated. A positive point of your paper is that you were able to use cause and affect language in your essay. An example of this is when you said that â€Å"most animals in captivity cannot go back in the wild†. The cause here is the captivity which resulted to an effect of not being able to go back in the wild. Another cause and effect statement which you presented is that because of inbreeding in zoos, the offspring is often weakened. Your essay also stated a very good Point of Agreement in the third paragraph when you stated, â€Å"We humans take our own freedom quite seriously.† I would commend this statement because indeed your audience will agree to it because it is a given fact. It does not even mention anything about your desire to abolish zoos. In the same paragrap h you also stated a Point of Disagreement, â€Å"But too many of us apparently feel no obligation to grant that same right to animals†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The third paragraph is a good example of AGREEMENT  --> DISAGREEMENT. Reading the whole paper though, I think that you lack statements of Agreements. You concentrated more on Points of Disagreement. Maybe you should add more Points of Agreement so as not to intimidate your audience especially at the start of the paper. Another point which I want to mention and remind you is that â€Å"an argument is not a debate†. You did not have to present both sides of the argument like what you did in discussing about the case Jackie, the dolphin. As I was reading through your paper, I got confused as to what argument you were really presenting. Especially in the last four paragraphs of your essay, I was beginning to think that what you were fighting for was about the preservation of endangered species. You deviated from your previous argum ent about zoos being abolished. You jumped to a new topic about the destruction of the natural habitats of animals. There are now so many issues being presented so much so that you are already confusing your audience on what you really want them to do. Is it to abolish zoos, protect the ecosystem or is it the preservation of endangered species? Maybe you should have written another argumentative essay on these topics and just concentrate on the abolition of zoos in your essay. It is hard to persuade your audience if you confuse them with too many issues. Based on the above comments, the grade that I will give you is F because you failed to follow some of the basic guidelines which was presented in the Argument Lecture. Because of that, I cannot give you a high grade since from the start of your essay you have been out

Essay qestions(Middlehood and Adolescence) Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Qestions(Middlehood and Adolescence) - Essay Example The nature vs. nurture argument highlights the importance that family, society, and education play in conditioning the growth of the human individual psychologically. In â€Å"Adolescence,† John Santrock (2007) identifies six different factors that determine well being, and these can be related across the various schools of psychology and sociology related to human development theory. The intellectual assets are a combination of the genetic expression in the individual physical structure, brain, nervous system and general body health. The debate on the importance of education, positive family or community support systems, and social resources all relate to the stages of body development from infancy into puberty and the specific types of thinking that are developed in personality, also as related to the emotional imprinting. The psychological development must also be recognized as being unique in the different stages of human growth, and this has been recognized in Western psychology primarily since Rousseau. The nature vs. nurture argument has a broader application in behaviorist conditioning, Freudian neurosis, or the DSM related psychological disorders as they arise through conditioning, genetics, and other factors. Social assets relate to the nurture arguments and sociology, social psychology and other fields of analysis that relate the family, community, cultural, and structural support of the human individual in the growth cycle. Continuity can be seen in the steady progression of growth proceeding physiologically, as well as the development of complex knowledge systems such as science, math, arts, literature, and language. Continuity is part of the education process and growth patterns until adulthood and elderly stages. Discontinuity relates to the abrupt appearance of language, physical movement like walking, running, driving, sexuality, etc. This is seen in a

Stress Strain Relationship Essay Example for Free

Stress Strain Relationship Essay The unique relationship between stress (intensity of force) and strain (measurement of deformation) is evident. The external forces that act on the body impose loads that affect the internal structures of the body. In biomechanics, the understanding of mechanical properties internal forces is important for preventing injury and evaluating the causes of injury. It starts with mechanical stress, the internal force divided by the cross-sectional area of the surface on which the internal force acts. The three principle stresses are tension, compression, shear in biomechanics it’s known as the three basic methods of loading. Tension involves pulling the structure, compression involves a stress that compacts the structure and shear involves pushing the structure eccentrically. Tensile stress is produced when an object or material is axially loaded in tension with forces pulling on either side. For example, the humerus is loaded axially in tension when a sit-up is done; very large tensile loads may sprain or rupture ligaments and tendons, tear muscles and cartilage, and fracture bones. Compressive stress is the axial stress that results when a load tends to push or squash the molecules of a material more tightly together at the analysis plane. For example, the femur and tibia are under compression when you are standing, as a result of your body weight pushing down; large compressive loads may cause bruising of soft tissue and crushing fractures of bones. Shear stress is a transverse stress that acts parallel to the analysis plane as a result of forces acting parallel to this plane; these forces tend to slide the molecules of the object past each other. Scissors are also referred to as shears due to creating large shear stresses in the material; however in the human body shear loads can cause blisters of the skin, joint dislocation or shear fractures of the bone. Strain is the quantification of the deformation of a material. Linear strain is produced by compressive or tensile stresses; molecules being pulled apart or pushed together, as a result some change in length accompanies this stress. However, shear strain occurs with a change in orientation of adjacent molecules as a result of these molecules slipping past each other.

Impact of Hydrological Cycle on Earths Surface Processes

Impact of Hydrological Cycle on Earths Surface Processes The impact of a changing hydrological cycle on  Earth’s surface processes Introduction The hydrological cycle is the cycle of processes by which water circulates between the earth’s oceans, atmosphere, and land, involving precipitation as rain and snow, drainage in streams and rivers, and return to the atmosphere by evaporation and transpiration.(Website 1) Throughout this essay I will emphasise the importance of this cycle together with the factors that affect the water quality correlated with the climate change and the direct impact upon three Earth geological surfaces. The importance of the Hydrological Cycle Figure 1 : the hydrological cycle (evaporation, condensation, precipitation, surface runoff, infiltration and transpiration and the transitions of water between the solid, liquid and gas phases) (website 2) This process is extremely important for the biosphere, as it sustains all the life on Earth. Although water is continuously recycled, recent studies confirm that direct or indirect human activities (fossil fuels burning, factory pollution, etc.) have a huge impact upon the environment and continuous pollution may cause serious changes on the hydrological cycle, affecting both water quality and the processes that take place on Earth’s surface. Factors that influence the water quality Rapid growth of population and heavy industrialisation coupled with a weak effort to find a more suitable way of waste disposal are the main factors that induce water pollution.( Hennigan, 1969) Figure 2: various sources of water pollution (website 3) Chemical pollution The chemical industry is one of the most important threats to water contamination. For example the most dangerous wastes that come from the fertilizer manufacturing plants are nitrogen and phosphorous and their varying chemical forms. Nitrates can increase eutrophication, leading to the promotion of algae and macrophytes growth affecting thus the water quality. As for humans, the health hazards related to nitrates present in water are considered to be infant methemoglobinemia and cancer appearance. Phosphates can affect the growth rate of aquatic plants that may fix atmospheric nitrogen. Under these circumstances, phosphate becomes the growth-limiting agent, and programmes to control eutrophication have generally sought to reduce available phosphate limits, to prevent excessive algal and macrophyte growth, with subsequent increase in nutrient retention. ( Bahadori et al,2013) Biological pollution Bacterial pollution of water is the most serious threat, as diseases can be transmitted very easily through the underground water system. It only can be removed by filtration through a thick layer of porous and permeable sediments, but this happens only in certain areas. If the biological hazard will occur in one spot, it will be transmitted several kilometres from the initial place through water circulation, affecting a large area. That’s why it is very important to have a sewerage system carrying the human wastes away from the source, or to have a piped water supply. Journal (American Water Works Association, 1957) Changes of the hydrological cycle affecting Earth’s surfaces The chemical or biological pollution of water can lead to changes in climate and temperature that can affect the Earth’s surface processes. Chemical Weathering Weathering is the chemical or physical process that changes the rock structures located on Earth surface. In order to occur, the rocks must be directly exposed to water and air. The weathering disintegration takes place at the sub-microscopic level, and therefore exposed rocks that contain complex pore systems, fracture surfaces and grain boundaries provide the perfect surface where the chemical weathering occurs. However, as the concentration of chemicals in the atmosphere increases, the process is accelerated. ( Siegesmund et al, 2002) Chemical weathering rate depends on three main factors: temperature, amount of surface area and availability of water or natural acid. So, the rocks in the tropical environments experience the most severe weathering.( Siegesmund et al, 2002) Figure 3: Cube dimensions versus surface area (website 4) Because water is a dipolar molecule, it is categorized as a good solvent being able to dissolve many chemical compounds.(Mahhafy) In addition to this effect, water aids decomposition through acid action, hydrolysis and oxidation. A good example is the weathering of silicate minerals by carbonic acid that forms by the interaction of water with carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The reaction is given below: 2KAlSi3O8+ H2O + 2H2CO3= Al2Si2O5(OH)4+ 2K+++4SiO2(aq)+ 2HCO3 Other minerals that dissolve easily in water are halite and calcite. In particular, structures made out of limestone and marble contain calcite and are prone to chemical weathering by dissolution.(for example marble tombstones ) Erosion Erosion refers to the transportation of rock particles and minerals from the initial location to another. It is different from weathering as it is a dynamic element. The main force that induces erosion is gravity and the main agents are: wind, rain, running water, and glaciers. As the temperature increases, the amount of rain is also increased so the transportation of sediments is faster. The result is the rapid erosion of the river banks, producing a wider channel. A good example of this process can found in the testimonies of Kansas residents. They stated that Cimarron River, which was a small meandering stream in 1914, began to increase after the flood from the same year. The channel at Point of Rocks was 66feet in 1874, but in 1916, a bridge of 644 feet was necessary to be built in order to cross the channel at that point. By 1939, the width was measured as being 1400 feet, so many houses were engulfed by the channel in 1944. (McLaughlin, 1947) Figure 4: Aerial view of Cimarron River in the vicinity of Point of Rocks(lower left corner at N) and Elkhart bridge (upper right center) (McLaughlin, 1947) Deposition The final step in the weathering-erosional system is deposition. The rock particles that are picked up and transported by an eroding agent will be deposited in a final location and the erosion agents will become deposition agents. The deposited sediments will then be arranged from largest to smallest, process known as horizontal sorting. The main factor that influence the sorting of the rocks is water. However if the flow is high, small particles like clay, sand and silt will be found in the depositional basin together with a large quantity of bigger sediment, including boulders, cobbles and pebbles.( The International Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 1997) Diameter(mm) Particle type 256 mm and up Boulders 64-256 mm Cobbles 2-64 mm Pebbles 0.0625-2 mm Sand 0.002-0.0625 mm Silt 0.002mm and smaller Clay Table 1 : The diameter of various sediments that can be found in depositional basins(Grotzinger et al, 2010) Conclusion The chemical and biological pollution of water is in a direct relation with the changes that occur in the processes on Earth’s surface. The release of toxic gases in the atmosphere contributes to the increase in temperature that directly affects the hydrological cycle. As the temperature is increased, the amount of water that is precipitated is also increased and surface processes such as weathering, erosion and deposition are accelerated causing rock decomposition, alteration of river banks or the high abundance of large sediments in the depositional basins. Bibliography Books and Journals Water Pollution Robert D. Hennigan BioScience Vol. 19, No. 11 (Nov., 1969) (pp. 976-978) Alireza Bahadori Malcolm Clark and Bill Boyd,2013. SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology Essentials of Water Systems Design in the Oil, Gas, and Chemical Processing Industries, Siegesmund, S., Weiss, T. Vollbrecht, A. (eds) 2002. Natural Stone, Weathering Phenomena, Conservation Strategies and Case Studies. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 205 The American Water Works Association, (April 1957) Pollution of Ground Water World Health Organization Report Journal Vol. 49, No. 4 (pp. 392-396) The International Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 1997.Rain erosion hazard evaluation by soil surface micro-topographic features A case of the soil loss plots at ChiangDao experiment station, northern Thailand. (pp. 45-58.) Thad G. McLaughlin, (Mar., 1947). The Accelerated Channel Erosion in the Cimarron Valley in Southwestern Kansas. Journal of Geology Vol. 55, No. 2 (pp. 76-93) Grotzinger, J, Jordan, T H, Press, F and Siever, R (2010). Understanding Earth (6th Edition) pp Webpages http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/water-cycle http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercycle.html http://visual.merriam-webster.com/images/earth/environment/water-pollution.jpg http://www.engr.uconn.edu/~lanbo/G229Lect06121Weathering.pdf

Human Resource Management Case Study

Human Resource Management Case Study Abstract Strategic Human resource management is a long term proactive planning by the Human Resource department on how organizational goals and missions will be achieved by the means of its labor force resources. This essay is based on Strategic Human Resource Management theories and practices as a requirement for our Human Resource Management unit HR633. For this assignment Baa Bar restaurant has been chosen where the interrelationship between human resource management and Baa Bar restaurant’s environment will be evaluated and discussed. The definition provided by Michael Armstrong and Long (1994) is discussed together with the matching model by Devanna, Fombrun and Tichy (1984) is also discussed. The relationship between these theories, ideas and model are evaluated with the context of Baa Bar restaurant current practice and philosophies. Introduction Human resource management is about management of people at all levels in the organizational structure in order to achieve an competitive advantage over other business with the help of implementing their own HR policies and practices which are in alignment with their goals and missions of the organization. Armstrong and Long expand the idea of Walker who defined strategic human resources management as â€Å"the means of putting together the management of human resources with the strategic content of the business† HRM is also a strategic and comprehensive approach to managing people and the workplace culture and environment. Effective HRM enables employees to contribute effectively and productively to the overall company direction and the accomplishment of the organizations goals and objectives (About.com,2014). Baa Bar The corporate mission of Baa Bar restaurant is to be well recognized as one of the top â€Å"A† grade family restaurant in both its local and International tourist market. (Personal communication: Mr Sohal, S., 4th July, 2014) Key objectives To train and develop current employees in response to equip them with the changing trends and markets for effective and efficient customer service deliverance To deliver a safe and secure working environment to its employees To be in alignment with the organizational goals and mission To promote fair and equal employment opportunity for all people despite their race, culture ,religion and gender of people Adhere to fair selection process for new recruitment To adhere to the minimum wage rate for its employees despite the race, culture, religion , or gender This department is responsible overall management of human resources who are seen as the biggest asset for any organization’s success. The HR department is responsible for staff recruitment, training them effectively, developing them and allocating them to their respective duties. Their strategies need to be in complete alignment with the mission and goals of the restaurant. They acquire the right person with the right job at the right time in right number through training and developing them through organizational training and workshops in order to achieve efficiency and effectiveness in all other departments of the organization. They are main responsibility is to recruit, develop, use and maintain the employees of the restaurant as there is a shortage of employee loyalty and employee come in the restaurant to gain workforce experience and leave for better opportunities. Therefore to put a measure to this problem the HR department of Baa Bar restaurant has formulated a writt en contract outlining the Baa Bar restaurant’s policies and practices that employees need to adhere while working for the restaurant. The new employees that are recruited to be placed on a three months probation period to show the restaurant their ability and capabilities and as a means that shows the restaurant that they are the people for that position. Furthermore the contract restricts employees from leaving the company without giving the restaurant time to advertise, recruit and train another replacement for that position. All the employees are provided with basic training in all spheres of the restaurant duties so that when the need arises to cover up or switch positions for another employee due to absenteeism or if any emergency arises, they have the knowledge and are equipped to carry out of those responsibilities efficiently (Scribd.com,2014). Baa Bar restaurant is a family owned small restaurant run by Mrs Sunaina khan as CEO and Mr Sohail Khan as the Manager /Human Resource Manager and Mr D. Patel as the Supervisor/floor Manager/Human Resource officer for the restaurant. It has other ten kitchen employees. The structure of baa bar restaurant has four levels, upper most is the CEO, second level is the Manager, third level is the human resource manager and at the bottom level are all the kitchen employees. The HR department is managed by the floor manager and the restaurants manager. All HR planning and strategies are formulated at the third level of the organizational structure Mr. Patel who carry out the planning process and forward it to the upper level ,to the manager and CEO ,for the final approval for all Human resource issues. Therefore the HR department has formulated some internal policies for their human resource requirements. The department has formulated yearly proactive plans to cater for the increased produ ction and so that work flow in the restaurant is constant and does not stop due to shortage of staff. Every year the restaurant allocates certain amounts of profit for Human resource development for current employees and recruiting new employees depending on the requirements of the yearly projects. Every year the restaurant allocates a budget of $100,000 for its HR department from which the depart allocates $55000 for casual 3 to 5 new employee that are recruited every year during the summer for two months, mid November to mid January, when it’s the peak season for the restaurant due to general public holidays and influx of heavy tourist market. The department advertises on the seek website, Baa Bar restaurants official website and in restaurant’s fortnightly newsletter. At times they also outsource to Frog recruitments to get casual labors on short notices (About.com,2014). HR department formulates an action plan for its own department as a measure to attain their outlined projects and goals in order to achieve their organizational goals and mission. HR works in accordance with the restaurants mission and goals and have employees lined up to fit in when the need arises so that the operations of the restaurants day to day activities do not stop. The HR department of Baa Bar restaurant act as the chain agents for the change as the change arises. The HR manager and the restaurants manager work together hand in hand, educating, developing, motivating, supporting, coaching and training the employees beforehand and during the transition period so that employee are well prepared and equipped for the change. For Example, the one of the outlined goals for 2014 is to expand the Baa Bar restaurant’s current sitting arrangement to a new outside courtyard dining to mark the restaurant’s 10th birthday on 23rd of November. The CEO, the Manager and HR Manager together with other department managers, had a meting with the front line workers and the kitchen staff and advised them about the planning and what strategies the managers will conduct in order to achieve the success of the project. They were also explained why the restaurant needs to expand and what is expected from the employees and how it is going to affect them. T hey were further explained on how their current role will change. The HR department came up with the idea on how to cater for the increased employee requirements and resources as the work load will increase dramatically. The HR came up with the action plan on how to cater for the increased work load. It has made provisions to recruit 5 new employees, 3 new waiters and 2 new kitchen hands to help in the kitchen. It has also made provision to send the existing waitresses and the bar tenders to attend workshops organized in house by outside representatives and also cater for further developments for kitchen hands and chefs to upgrade their skills and attain further education in their respective positions at the restaurants expenses (About.com,2014). 2.0. Policies and practices with reference to Devanna, Fombrum and Tichy The Matching Model According to Devanna, Fombrum and Tichy, (1984) Human resource management are the operational plans of the organization that emphasis on the strategic plans and are conducted by the top level people in the organizational structure. It further defines that the organizational mission and strategy should be entwined together with the human resource policies and practices like job designing, employee training and development etc.so that they are in constant flow with each other in order to achieve the organizational missions and strategies. Human resource management department needs to scan the external forces that effect the organization at whole. The external forces are political, cultural and economic forces. Political forces are the laws, legislations and policies placed by the New Zealand government and ministry of labor such as organizational health and safety regulations which Baa Bar restaurant need to abide by at all circumstances and average wage regulations, taxation, IRD deduction, child labor, illegal employment etc. such laws are placed by the concerned authorities in order to standardize the local workforce by safeguarding the employee as well as the restaurants interest. Therefore it effects the human resource management of the Baa Bar restaurant where it has to base it’s employee salary, benefits, etc. in consideration and then decide the numeration packages for them. It also has to place internal policies and practices to ensure that OHS regulations are adhered by all employees at all time. It has to provide proper equipment and gear for the kitchen staff and send them to proper training on what to do in case of emergencies like fire, food poisoning. All employees have to go through proper food handling and hygiene courses before they start their new jobs at the expense of the restaurant. Such regulations put constrains on the human Resource management budgets thus increasing the expenses of the restaurant. Therefore, the HR department has to keep updated with the new policies and regulations in order to be in aligning with the New Zealand’s law and order as the government has placed a severe consequences for being infringement if found the restaurant could even be ceased from operating (Scribd, Inc.,2014) Social forces have effect on HR management because the type of background that employees come from defines their work ethics, behavior, and attitudes towards their role in the restaurant. It also defines their level of commitment and responsibilities they display in their performances. An employee’s attitude towards their present and future personal goals defines them as where they want to be in their career which will show their attitude towards their work. It also highlights the background from which they come from and how they will interact and behave with other employees therefore HR rules and regulations need to provide certain guidelines and principles that all employees need to adhere to to reduce conflicts (Scribd, Inc., 2014) Human resource management also has to pay emphasis on the economical forces of the restaurant because the economy of a nation either it’s suffering a recession period or growth; it will define the availability of its people’s education and health which simultaneously have a major effect on the available labor workforce. Therefore recruitment, selection and placement and well being in the restaurant will be affected and needs to be taken in consideration while making HR policies for the restaurant. The restaurant needs employees who are able to work up to their maximum capabilities. A growth in the economy means that the people are able to afford higher education and qualifications which the restaurant can utilize to its maximum in their respective tasks towards the achievement of the organizational mission (Scribed.Inc., 2014). Likewise competition also affects the HR policies as and increase in competition increases the need for the restaurant to retain their key emplo yees with more benefits and renumuration as the demand for them increases. 3.0. Human resource contribution to organizational strategy and planning Human resource management and planning emphasis on scanning the current human resource and forecasting for their future need in order to cater as the need arises. The HR department assesses the employee performance, education, qualification and skills with their current roles and assess if they match and compliment each other or not with the means of staff appraisal and performance measure on every six months basis. The employees who are no performing at their expected level are given six months to progress on their performance and by the end of the year all employees are rewarded with bonus in accordance with their performance. Accordingly the HR department rearranges the structure by regrouping duties to create more positions vice versa which is more favorable towards accomplishment of the restaurants mission and goals. The HR department provides on job training for its new recruits and further development opportunities to be aligned with the current trending skills and qualificati ons as the restaurant sees its loyal employees as asset to the organization and their updating developments will provide a competitive edge for its competitors. It believes that whatever they spend on staff development will be reaped by the restaurant and help the restaurant to equip it better with its competitors and in return will benefit in increase in profit level. Furthermore HR department needs to recruit only those candidates who are best equipped with the required skills and qualifications and capabilities that suits that specific position (Scribed, Inc. 2014). The problem with the Baa Bar Restaurant’s human resource policy and practice is that the policies and practices that are formulated is from the top level management and there is no provision for lower level employee involvement and insight from them as they are the ones who are affected by all the policies. The human resource department needs to make provision for an employee representative who can act on behalf of the employees of the restaurant in order to get their support and involvement when formulating HR policies and practices. Conclusion Human Resource Management and Planning involves taking measures and equipping the human resource of the organization for their current and future opportunities in achieving the organization’s missions and goals by formulating and updating respective policies and practices. Policies and strategies are formulated in order to set a fair and justified standards for recruitment, training and developing, redundancy process. The HR department has to scan its external environments in order to be aware of their impact on the organization’s labor force. References About.com,(2014). Human resource. Retrieved from  http://humanresources.about.com/od/hrbasicsfaq/a/hr_onestop.htm Armstrong, M. and Long, P. (1994). The reality of Strategic HRM. Institute of Personnel and development. London. Devanna, M.A, Fombrun, C. J. and Tichy, N.M. (1984). A framework for Strategic Human Resource Management, in Fombrun et al. (eds), Strategic Human Resource Management, New York, John Wiley. Scribed, Inc. (2014) External factors affecting human resource management. Retrieved from  https://www.scribd.com/doc/43375780/External-factors-affecting-human-resource-management-HRM

The Music Industrys Fear of the MP3 :: Media Delivery Digital Music

Corporate Fear of the MP3 The mp3 audio format is widely championed as the new great leveling format in the music business and the savior of local and unknown performers in the face of conglomerate-owned record labels, portrayed as giant, bloated entities who fear and despise the new format and seek to curtail its popularity and accessibility. In reality, the mp3 format is no different than previous innovations in portable recorded music software -- vinyl, cassette tapes, or compact discs all improve on their predecessors in sound quality and portability -- the mp3's novelty is its extreme accessibility, and once a conglomerate fully realizes the potential with which to exploit the new medium, the format becomes the latest appropriated technology. Corporate fear of the mp3 will only last as long as it takes for someone to figure out how to regulate and enforce the new format. Opposition to the mp3 by large corporations rests on the grounds of property and copyright law enforced by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the trade group which oversees "the recorded music you enjoy every day" (www.riaa.com). In addition to certifying gold and platinum sales records of albums, the RIAA lobbies against censorship of artists but conversely proposed and enforces placement of "parental advisory/explicit content" stickers on what they judge to be "offending" albums. The RIAA's concern with the mp3 format is how easily the format lends itself to the illegal industry of CD piracy. Added to a personal computer-run CD creator software/hardware package (a CD "burner" plus blank CD-R discs), the mp3's economic use of byte space while preserving digital CD sound quality is a potential gold mine for would-be pirates, and despite RIAA efforts ("confiscation of 23,858 illegal CD-Rs during the first half of 1998, as compared to 87 in the same period last year" ), CD pirates in the U.S. as well as many countries around the world continue to peddle "counterfeit" discs at "flea markets, from street vendors, at swap meets, and in a concert parking lots" (ibid.). The discs are regarded as counterfeit by the RIAA as well as the federal government because duplication of the work, which is copyrighted to the artist, their record label, or both, or others, is a violation of federal copyright law. Such fear over unauthorized duplication is not unprecedented; the proliferation of blank cassette tapes in the 1980s created a similar furor within the industry over

Quebec, The Province, The People, The History :: essays research papers

Quebec, The Province, The People, The History Quebec is a province in eastern Canada, bordered on the north by Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay; on the east by Labrador (Which is a part of Newfoundland), the Strait of Belle Isle, and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence; on the south by New Brunswick, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and Ontario; and on the west by Ontario, James Bay, and Hudson Bay. The name Quebec is derived from an Algonquian term for "place where the river narrows," referring to the Saint Lawrence River near the site of present- day Quebec City, the capital of the province. Quebec is sometimes called "the Storied Province," Quebec became part of the Canadian Confederation on July 1, 1867, as one of the four original provinces. The province of Quebec was first colonized by France and was formally acquired by Great Britain in the Treaty of Paris of 1763. The mass majority of Quebec's population today use French as their first language. Beginning in the 1960s the Quebecois (French-speaking residents of Quebec) made strong efforts to preserve their French heritage as well as to gain additional powers for the province, which led to conflicts with the national government that have yet to be fully resolved. This is apparent in the recent "Referendum" where theQuebecois tried to get Quebec special provincial concederations based on the fact the mass majority of Quebec residents speak French. Quebec is the largest of all the Canadian provinces. Its large area of 1,540,680 sq km (594,858 sq MI) accounts for 15.5 percent of Canada's total area and includes 183,890 sq km (71,000 sq MI) of inland freshwater surface. This is a major draw for Industry in Quebec. Elevations in Quebec range from sea level to 1622 m (5322 ft), atop Mont D'Iberville in the Torngat Mountains in the northeast. Anticosti Island and the Magdalen Islands, (which are both in the Gulf of St. Lawrence), are part of Quebec, which has a tidal shoreline of some 13,775 km (some 8560 MI). Montreal is the leading industrial and commercial center and largest city in the province of Quebec. The climate of Quebec varies drastically. Quebec's climate is effected by regional variations in altitude and by the pce's northern location, and its exposed position between the cold waters of Hudson Bay and the cold ocean currents along the Labrador coast. Montreal has an average January temperature of about -9Â ° C (about 16Â ° F) and an average July temperature of about 22Â ° C (about 72Â ° F). The recorded temperatures in the province have ranged from -54.4Â ° C (-65.9Â ° F), in 1923 at Doucet in the south, to 40Â ° C (104Â ° F), in 1921 at

Importance of Swot Analysis Essay

Why is the process of conducting an internal and external analysis on a regular basis important for any size company? The process of an internal and external analysis on a regular basis is important for any size company because it allows the company to know where it stands at the moment and determines the development and forecasts of those factors that will influence the organizational success. This is also known as environmental scanning where the external and the internal environments are scanned for information like ongoing trends patterns, occasions and changes going around and the effect it has to both these environments. External analysis: These analyses are performed outside the firm and depend on the following factors: a, MACRO: technological, demographic/economic, political/legal and social/cultural, national and global environment b. MICRO: competitors, suppliers, customers, publics, channels etc. Internal Analysis: This analysis is performed within the firm that includes the employees, management and the shareholders, resources, organisational structure etc. SWOT Analysis  The most common way of analyzing this external and internal environment is by performing the SWOT analysis. SWOT is an acronym used that describes Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats that are strategic elements for a firm. A SWOT analysis should not only result in the identification of a corporation’s core competencies, but also in the identification of opportunities that the firm is not currently able to take advantage of due to a lack of appropriate resources. (Wheelen, Hunger pg 107) The External analysis comprises of the Opportunities and Threats that the company needs to identify or focus on for its profitability and development of defensive actions. * Opportunities: This analyzes the area where the firm can identify its opportunities so as to have a competitive advantage over its competitors. Once identified, the firm has to work on them to make it one of its strengths. Its main aim is to find an area where they need to develop to be profitable. * Threats: These are the threats that the firm faces from outside the firm and can be from any of the external sources. The firm has to be prepared to tackle these threats by developing strategic decisions when required so that it does not affect their profitability or sales. The Internal analysis focuses on the internal environment of the organisation and analyzes the Strengths and Weaknesses of the company. * Strengths: These are the core competencies of the firm that provides them the advantage of achieving their goals. These should be aligned in meeting the customer requirements because at the end of the day, it is the customer whom they serve. Therefore, it should be customer focussed and market oriented. * Weaknesses: These refer to the firm’s limitations in fulfilling their strategic decisions or failure to implement them. It has to be analyzed from the customer’s point of view so as to get a clear idea. These steps need to analyze the firm’s resources and the capabilities to meet their goals and identify events and trends that might impact the strategic plans and decisions of the company.

Public and Private Sector Accounting Essay

Accounting, known by and large to be a skilled, remunerative, but rather dry profession, has a long and fascinating history. In existence practically from the dawn of civilization, in one form or the other, accounting activity has been integral to some of the most important phases of history. Responsible for the invention of writing, accountants have over the ages, (because of their organic and fundamental association with the processes of trade, business, industry, governance, and taxation), been involved in monarchy and empire expansion, the process of colonisation, the industrial revolution, the World Wars, scientific progress, globalisation, and the spread of neo liberal economics across the world. Confucius, as a government official, was responsible for accounting, and much of what we know about the daily lives of ancient peoples comes from accounting records, such as inventories and sales records, found at archaeological sites. Accounting evolution has followed dissimilar routes in different countries and states and has been extensively shaped by the immediate and larger environment. Japan’s accounting processes, for example, which were significantly shaped by western influences, are very dissimilar from that of neighbouring China and have played an important role in the country’s far more rapid advancement in business, industry and international trade in the 19th and 20th centuries. Accounting policies and procedures in the modern day have, in somewhat similar fashion, evolved rather differently for private sector businesses and public sector corporations, being shaped and constructed by the unlike needs of the two sectors, the dissimilar nature of their income and expenditure streams, the different control processes under which they operate, and their diverse reporting requirements. Recent years have however witnessed significant rethinking in and rerouting of the functioning of public enterprises; the steadily increasing application of neo-liberal economic principles and greater accountability for the commercial and financial success of public sector corporations, leading to increasing convergence between the accounting policies and practices of the public with that of the private sector. This essay attempts to investigate the reasons for the differences in their historical evolution, and the current worldwide efforts to bring about greater convergence between the two accounting methods. Commentary and Discussion Historical Overview of Evolution of Accounting Whilst the extent of involvement of accounting activity in historical life across cultures is becoming clearer with the progress of archaeological work, the accounting profession has historically chosen to adopt a low profile, there being very few pioneers who can be identified with major accounting developments. The most important historical name to arise, in this connection, is that of Luca Pacioli, who in 1494 wrote a book on mathematics, in which he discussed the concept of double entry book keeping. The chapter on practical mathematics addressed mathematics in business. He said that the successful merchant needs three things: sufficient cash or credit, an accounting system that can tell him how he’s doing, and good bookkeeper to operate it. His accounting system consisted of journals and ledgers. It rested on the invention of double-entry bookkeeping. Debits were on the left side because that’ s what â€Å"debit† meant, â€Å"the left†. The numbers on the right were named â€Å"credits†. If everything was done right, then the bookkeeper could do a trial balance (â€Å"summa summarium†). Add up all the debits and then add up all the credits, he said. If everything had been done right, the totals should match. If not, â€Å"that would indicate a mistake in your Ledger, which mistake you will have to look for diligently with the industry and intelligence God gave you. † He wrote† It is difficult to overestimate the importance of double entry bookkeeping. Simple and adequate for the needs of business, it caught on immediately with Italian merchants, was central to their success, and contributed towards the impetus that led to the emergence of the Renaissance. Whilst the conceptualisation and implementation of the double entry system of bookkeeping in the 15th century was the first major watershed in the development of modern day accounting theory, the following centuries were also witness to a number of major developments in Europe and Asia in the area of business recording and accounting, many of which contributed to the development of modern day accounting principles and policies. Notwithstanding Pacioli’s seminal contribution to accounting methodology, a number of other renaissance forces also helped in giving body and shape to the discipline; key factors among these being the concept of private property, capital, widespread commerce, money, the use of credit, the development of arithmetic, and the growing use of writing for recording transactions. Although many of these factors did exist in ancient times, they were not found together, until the Middle-Ages, in a form and strength necessary to push for the innovation of double entry. Accounting rules, policies and practices evolved over time in response to the needs of businesses and to a range of developments. The emergence of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century led accountants to devise accounting methods for finding the cost of production; large scale production of goods in the United States led to the formulation of cost accounting procedures, the arrival of income tax laws saw substantial modifications in the practice of keeping accounting records, and the great depression of the early decades of the 20th century led to the introduction of standards, the establishment of accounting principles and accounting frameworks. Josiah Wedgwood, the famous potter, contributed significantly to cost accounting by studying his books, manufacturing cost structure, overhead, and market structure to avoid bankruptcy during the recession. He became an accounting pioneer and his firm survives even today. Accountancy practices in recent years have been repeatedly scrutinised, modified and clarified through the setting up of accounting standards, the establishment of auditor responsibilities and the enactment of laws for appropriate disclosure. The reputation of the accounting profession has been severely tarnished by corporate scams and frauds like Enron, which has led to the questioning of accounting methods and principles, as well the integrity of the accounting profession. Accounting systems and practices, whilst developing side by side all over the world have followed distinctly different routes, being influenced by institutional and cultural factors. Institutional factors like legal systems, taxation laws, financing norms and methods, credit availability and stock exchange requirements, which have been markedly different for Anglo-Saxon, European, Central Asian, and East Asian environments have shaped the development of accounting systems accordingly. Researchers like Hofstede and Gray have theorised that cultural differences have also played a significant role in the establishment of different accounting systems in different countries. Gray took up Hofstede’s cultural hypotheses and linked them to the development of accounting systems in a meaningful way, stating that cultural or societal values permeated through organisational and occupational subcultures, and vice versa, though obviously the degree of integration differed from place to place. â€Å"Accounting systems and practices can influence and reinforce societal values† Development of Accounting Methods in the Public and Private Sectors The power of various influences to shape the development of accounting systems and methodologies is also evident in the shaping of accounting norms for the public sector and their significant differences from those adopted by or enforced upon the private sector; the public sector, basically implying corporations whose ownership vested with governments, and whose control was accordingly decided by government diktat. Whilst governments had until the 1930s focussed mainly on the controlling of law and order, defence, foreign policy, and similar other areas, the end of the Second World War saw them taking a far greater interest in business and commercial affairs, as well as in infrastructural sectors. Whilst some of these developments were due to the influence of socialist thought and the example set by socialist states, (where all businesses were controlled by the government), they were also influenced by the widespread disenchantment with the capitalist way of governance after the great depression of the 1930s. The huge task of nation building after the devastation caused by World War II made it necessary for governments to actually contribute to infrastructure building, nursing of revived industries, and setting up of new businesses. In the UK, activities like mining and railways were controlled by the government. In Italy the state owned IRI (Institute for Industrial Reconstruction) owned companies engaged in mining, steel, airlines, banking, telephones, and automobile manufacture, and in India the government, apart from controlling all infrastructural activity also controlled the majority of heavy business investment and activity. Substantial governmental control over infrastructural and commercial activity, in addition to its existing control over governmental departments, led to the evolution of a significantly different form of accounting than what was followed by the private sector. The most important of these differences concerned the mode of booking expenditures and incomes, which in the private sector worked on the accrual basis, even whilst the public sector chose to stay with the older method of recording them only after they had been realised in cash or kind. The cash basis of accounting, which records income or expenditure transactions only after such transactions have resulted in the physical receipt or payment of cash, constituted the commonly followed way of accounting for all enterprises, until the adoption of the accrual way of accounting by businesses, changed commonly held accounting perspectives. The cash system records accounting events when they become tangible, e. g. , when a customer’s check arrives, when a shipped product reaches the customer, or when money for a business-related expense is removed from the bank. Cash accounting registers income when money arrives and registers expenses when money goes out of the business. Even today the cash accounting method is a more familiar accounting method because of its use by most individuals in tracking of personal finances. Under this method, one’s income is taxable when it is received, and expenses are deductible when they are paid. Cash accounting remains a straightforward and easily understood method of record-keeping for tax purposes. The accrual method on the other hand approaches accounting events in real time. A sale is registered as soon as a customer receives a consignment even though the actual payment could come much later. Similarly an expense is recorded as soon as the event occurs and a liability recorded as soon as an event occur, whether it is purchase of material, use of services like water or electricity and use of employed or contracted labor, even though such transactions do not involve the simultaneous exchange of money. Over time most private sector businesses, apart from those controlled by small individuals or which were small in size, chose to switch over to the accrual system, forced as much by pressure from regulatory bodies and lending institutions, as by their desire to reflect more logical and realistic business and accounting outcomes. Most tax systems stipulate the compulsory use of accrual systems for private businesses after they achieve a certain size or adopt specified legal structures like those of privately owned or joint stock companies. Most public sector organisations, across the world, however chose to remain with the cash based system of accounting. Such decisions grew out of certain specific circumstances. Governments are essentially different in their nature from businesses, the information required for better understanding and assessment of the financial operations of government organisations extending beyond the reporting of surpluses and deficits. Governments, unlike the private sector, whilst required to run their operations efficiently, are required to provide goods and services to the public, which in some cases becomes more important than making profits. The measurement of surpluses or deficits is in many cases not the primary indicator of the performance of government working. In many countries the public sector continues to retain a separate and different approach from the private sector. Their services are often provided free at the point of use and there is little or no direct link between the cost of these and government income, which is mainly in the form of taxation. The government, in many cases, decides upon the amount of grants required for specific public sector organisations through the formulation of budgets and provides the same on a periodic basis; many such organisations preferring to call their financial statements â€Å"receipt and expenditure† rather than profit and loss statements. The accounting policies of public sector organisations are also shaped by their different reporting requirements. Private sector organisations, especially those that are legally structured as joint stock companies need to provide a true and fair description of their financial performance for the benefit of their shareholders, the tax authorities, and other stakeholders. Even smaller organisations need to necessarily satisfy the requirements of tax departments and their owners, and their accountants routinely adopt the accrual system for recording transactions and preparing statements. Reporting requirements for government controlled organizations is significantly different. Comparison of actual disbursals and expenses with those budgeted is a routine requirement, a need that is more conveniently filled through the use of cash accounting records. The managements of such organisations also have to report on specific information needs of various bodies, including supervisory government departments, parliamentary bodies, and the governmental auditors. Conclusion Recent years have seen extensive debate in public sector accounting and the changes made in many countries for shifting from the cash to the accrual basis of accounting. Public sector working has been influenced during the last three decades by the concepts of New Public Management, (NPM), which expressly calls for enhancement of the efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of public service delivery through the implementation of a wide range of changes that include deregulation, decentralisation, outsourcing, substitution of input control by output control, result orientation, responsibility assignment and introduction and implementation of private sector management techniques. Whilst the adoption of the accrual system of accounting will lead to the production of more logical and more accurate financial statements, the convergence process will need extensive retraining and education not just of public sector accountants but also of public sector auditors and the users of these financial statements. Such lack of familiarity may lead to inaccuracies in the preparation of financial statements and will need to be addressed through appropriate training and skills upgradation of the concerned people. With the aim of public sector reforms being the dismantling of bureaucracy and more efficient use of resources, increased managerial autonomy and discretion is being accompanied by an emphasis on more extensive accounting practices. Again with accounting playing a key role in NPM implementation and in public sector reforms, the need for greater convergence between public and private sector accounting is being increasingly evidenced. Significant accounting reforms are taking place in many countries, more specifically in the United States, the UK, and West and Nordic Europe. Many public sector companies are changing their accounting policies to institutionalise accrual accounting for budgetary and external financial reporting purposes in order to provide useful information about liabilities, debt, usage of assets, and the cost of public services Whilst change is coming about slowly in public sector accounting, the issue is still being debated vigorously in many countries. The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) formulated the â€Å"Guideline for Governmental Financial Reporting† in 1998 to help public sector units at all levels to prepare their financial reports on the basis of accruals. The IFAC Guideline, along with the International Accounting Standards (IAS) followed by the private sector, make the basis for the International Public sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) developed by the Public sector Committee (PSC) of IFAC.

Local Ethnography On Women’s Pay Equity

In modern era of technological advances and scientific innovations business nevertheless remains the epicenter of global events. Therefore, labor market to great extent is associated with equal human rights and productive human relationships that form the basis for social justice. The latter, as viewed by the majority of sociologists, is an equal treatment of society members regardless of their social status, condition, race, gender, political preferences, religious beliefs, etc. Social justice is regarded as the medium for every individual to achieve goals and have identical opportunities in modern society characterized by various economic, cultural, social, and political inequalities. In Canada each federation is governed by federal employment laws, which prohibit discrimination based on gender and sex. Also, a number of provinces have introduced new laws on wage gap elimination among men and women. Top managers along with sociologists were supposed to conduct surveys in their working atmosphere on the topic of women’s pay equity comparing fair treatment and compensation for work among occupations dominated by men and women. Results showed that women involved in both full and part-time jobs received less money than men. In fact, in late 1990s female workers earned 75% of the amount of money their male colleagues had regardless of the fact that according to the research their abilities to successfully negotiate with clients and work hard on the given tasks were several stages higher than those men were characterized by. Basically, it would be fair to claim that there exist several challenges modern social justice in Canada may experience throughout its attempts to achieve equal treatment among women and men in terms of financial and compensative situation: First of all, there is a strong tendency in the Canadian society to resolve the issue of wage gap and sex discrimination among men and women without resorting to legal assistance. Typically, these situations do not receive publicity and remain unknown being tackled on individual level. Most often, becoming a victim of underpayment or pay inequity women tend to seek other ways of additional income without leaving their previous jobs. This results in the situation when officially women are satisfied with their condition. Secondly, pay inequity has much in common with timetable as according to the recent research middle-aged women earn much less money than those in their twenties or thirties or than men of any age. Also, ethnicity and race play an extremely important part in the issue. â€Å"Visible minority women have the lowest income and highest unemployment rates of all groups.   In 1995, the average income of visible minority women was $16,600, compared to $17,100 for other women in Canada, and $23,600 for visible minority men† (Recommendations to the Pay Equity Task Force). The concentration of women in certain â€Å"underestimated† spheres is traditional and pronounced to high degree. For instance, the service industries include such jobs of no prestige and low income as waitress, cleaner, nurse, etc. According to the survey conducted in 2005, about 65% of working women are involved in service industry and have a part-time job due to numerous overwhelming home duties. Working several hours per day on regular basis greatly contributes to the issue of wage gap as such women are perceived as unqualified workers and add to the problem of poverty. Also, they tend to have low level of livelihood, which may cause poor living conditions resulting in high expenses on health care, etc. With these preliminary considerations in mind, it would be fair to claim that the issue of pay inequity reflects the adverse status of women in Canada. It denotes that despite numerous social changes implemented by work groups and both governmental and non-governmental organizations, the notions of self-employment and flexible working hours among women still remain of current importance. â€Å"In 2001,over three-quarters of a million women reported being self-employed, representing 11 percent of those with jobs. Over the past decade, 39.6 percent of new jobs in Canada were linked to self-employment, and 44 percent of those who are self-employed earn less than $20,000 a year†. (Recommendations to the Pay Equity Task Force). According to the Canadian Human Rights Act it is unlawful to evaluate the same task accomplished by men and women differently and pay unequal amount of money in the same organization.   The Act comprises all categories of state employees and necessary conditions for the implementation of the law. However, many find fault in the section that deals with the wage gap issue, as it is not catered to the needs of women. Forming the main risk group and therefore most often applying to higher echelon with complaints that require numerous formal rules and signatures, women tend to refuse from the idea of publicity especially taking into account the fact that the application requires certain expenditures and does not always guarantee the petitioner’s satisfaction. In order to support women and resolve the issue of unemployment, wage gap, and poverty among them there is a need in creating an efficient action plant that will meet the criteria of governmental establishments in terms of legal policy and comply with the demands of women in the community. The following are the decisions to be made:  §Ã‚   To gather all necessary available data on the problem of women’s pay equity. This will help the participants of the program to realize the scale of the issue and properly organize preventive measures. After the materials are received and processed, it is important to spread the information in the test field and among those who are relatively or not at all familiar with the problem. This may be implemented through mass media, public gatherings, etc. Identifying the problem helps in its faster and effective solving.  §Ã‚   To organize clubs and societies where unpaid or low-paid women will have an opportunity to talk about their previous or current experience, share their own ideas on how to reduce the number of those suffering from social inequity. It would be a significant contribution to the implementation of the project as the victims are the best source of thoughts and ideas on how to help people to solve the problem.  §Ã‚   To enlist governmental, non-governmental, and public organizations in the program including their financial support as project sponsors. To encourage them to tighten already existing rules of their companies in terms of wage gap and money distribution.  §Ã‚   To encourage women to start their own business and actively participate in public life  §Ã‚   To support women in new beginnings and promote their further professional education and training  §Ã‚   To collaborate with various associations and groups such as the Canadian Federation of Business and Professional Women Clubs  §Ã‚   To issue newspapers or journals on the topic  §Ã‚   To create favorable working atmosphere for women (especially of foreign origin).  §Ã‚   To promote global interaction among the members of the high-risk group portraying adverse conditions and consequences of inability to speak up and be assertive.  §Ã‚   To promote equal payment for jobs of identical value  §Ã‚   To uphold safe working environment with all necessary skills such as computer literacy, etc.  §Ã‚   To eliminate violence against women and avoid excessive number of men in the staff. In conclusion, it would be appropriate to note that the main objective of the action plan and other projects connected with the indicated above problem is to destroy the traditionally established stereotype denoting that women are supposed to be involved in low-income sector. â€Å"Policies such as paid parental leave, equal employment opportunities and the promotion of fair bargaining can improve women's ability to participate fully in the labor market† (Pay Equity). In order for us to succeed it is necessary to create a positive image of independent and smart woman who in fact always remains such and demonstrate her ability to cope with tasks that traditionally are only given to men.