Saturday, December 28, 2019

The Importance Of A Recent Declaration Of Australia

A recent declaration has been made in June of 2015, by the G7 nation leaders in favour of supporting the decarbonisation of the global economy by the end of the turning century. The leaders of these top 7 industrial countries have put forward the common goal of working towards a zero-carbon based global economy, which is said to eventually benefit the global society as a whole. The question brought up in this situation is as stands, how will changing to a decarbonized economy affect the way the world works and more specifically how it will affect the top fossil fuel producing countries like Australia who rely heavily on these resources to build a strong economy for their nation. Australia is one the largest fossil fuel suppliers,†¦show more content†¦There was a 17-page communiquà ©, which was issued after the initial summit at Schloss Elmau under the title of â€Å"Think Ahead, Act Together† (Connolly 2015). This was to confirm the G7 leaders support towards the rec ommendations placed before them by the IPCC and the UNs’ Climate Change Panel to reduce the global greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 to 70 percent by the year 2050 (given that 2010 was the starting year of the initiative) (Connolly 2015). Decarbonising the economy will consist of reducing and further along completely removing the use of carbon and the production of carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuel based energy sources (Jeffrey Sachs 2014). This minimizes the release of harmful greenhouse gas emissions into the environmental biosphere. In the current time there has been three different pillars identified in the deep decarbonisation scheme (Jotzo Skarbek 2014). The first of the three being a shift into a lower carbon based electricity production solution by using a mix of wind, solar, hydro and nuclear energy predominantly with limited use placed on fossil fuels. The second consists of using electricity produced from a low-carbon supply to power personal vehicles, buildings and select few industrial processes. Finally energy efficiency can be maximized through the modification and improvement of building designs to greatly reduce the need for external energy for basic requirements such as cooling, heatingShow Mo reRelatedThe Issue Of Turning Back The Boat People1638 Words   |  7 Pagesthe most important and grossing issues from recent decades and Govt. of Australia has taken an undeniably secure stand on the issue of refugees who endeavour to land in Australia by watercraft (Hasmath McKenzie 2013). Some people says government should consider the needs of people coming by boat as they have reached here after risking their lives and facing a lot of difficulties but some says that these people don’t have any right to live in Australia as they came here with an illegal way. PeopleRead MoreAsylum Seekers Essay999 Words   |  4 Pagesdiplomacy’ (Capling 2008: 613). Howard’s rhetoric after election in 1997, moved away from Labour’s enthusiastic engagement with Asia, and towards a perception of an Australia less interdependent with Asia, emphasizing Western liberal democratic ties (Jones and Benvenuti 2006: 111). East Timor had reinforced the Indonesian perception that Australia had an arrogant neo-colonial foreign policy (Day 2015: 675). Yet, the burgeoning democracy following the fall of Suharto in 1999 gave the opportunity for betterRead MoreBlood Shortage And Fda Policy Limitations Essay1448 Words   |  6 PagesBlood Shortage and FDA Policy Limitations Our nation has a major blood shortage which results in a national health crisis. States all over the nation are reporting the need for blood donors and the importance of having donors to help those who are directly affected. There has been a recent rise in shortage due to the increased demand of high complex surgeries which require a large supply of blood. McMillan reports, â€Å"just one liver transplant can take 120 units of donated blood† (Zabarenko, 2016)Read More Thinking and Enquiry Skills in Global Education Essay1131 Words   |  5 PagesTo examine and explore what is global citizenship? This essay will look at the importance of becoming a global citizenship, the role we, as educators play in this development and how the curriculum frameworks and associated learning emphases for global education assist in the development of a global citizen. What is global education? â€Å"Global citizenship would seem a recent concept, but its origin can be traced back to at least 4th century Greece when Diogenes declared himself a cosmopolitan –Read More2.1 Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneur And Enterprise Skills.1336 Words   |  6 Pagesfound to be a powerful predictor of long term job success and consist of problem solving, communication, teamwork, digital literacy, financial literacy, creativity, critical thinking and presentation skills (FYA, 2016). 2.2 Importance of Entrepreneurship Education The importance of the role of EE and enterprise skills is highlighted in both European and global development views (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 2015). While a strong emphasis on economic success and jobRead MoreGlobal Resource And Food Scarcity1577 Words   |  7 PagesNations Peoples of the world. Reflecting the struggles of peasant farmers and First Nations Peoples, the La Via Campesina movement attended the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva in 2014 to advocate for the drafting of the ‘International Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and People Working in Rural Areas’. There are inherent social justice issues when agrarian communities and First Nations Peoples are providing the majority of the global food production and protecting biodiversity resourcesRead MoreThe Church And Its Impact On The Environment1509 Words   |  7 Pagessaying on Easter Sunday of 2013, â€Å"let us be†¦ channels through which God ca n water the earth, protect all creation and make justice and peace flourish† (2013, as cited by Dorr, 2014). Ecology has, therefore, long been an issue of concern and great importance to the papacy, and does not go ignored by other members of the Church. Representatives of the Catholic Church all over the world have actively supported ecology for decades. In a statement released by the United States Catholic Conference of BishopsRead MoreAnalysis Of New Zealand920 Words   |  4 Pagesimprove service trade (New Zealand Government). Even though currently, their trade agreements are stable, there have been bumps in the road. Trade disputes can be seen in Indonesia with imports of animal products, Canada and their wine production, Australia with tobacco packaging and the United States with tuna (New Zealand Government). The reason for most of these restrictions/disputes is an attempt to protect their economy. If consumers were buying exported agricultural products and wine (their majorRead MoreEssay on Independence Issue in Hih Case2665 Words   |  11 PagesIntroduction: This essay discusses about the corporate collapses in the new millennium. In recent years the Australian corporate sector has witnessed the failure of number of corporations, including HIH Insurance, Harris Scarf, One. Tel, Ansctt Australia. This paper focuses on the financial audit of HIH insurance, which collapsed on 15th March 2001. This was the largest failure in Australian business history. Royal commission was appointed investigate re-issue of HIH Insurance collapsed with debtRead MoreNon-Market Strategy for Big Pharma Companies as a Response to India’s Protectionist and Discriminatory Policies1563 Words   |  7 PagesLeading Pharmaceutical companies have, in recent times, been alarmed by the some adverse regulatory rulings in India. First in a landmark decision in March 2012, the Indian Patent Office allowed a domestic company (Natco Pharma Ltd.) to sell a generic version of Bayer AGs cancer drug ‘Nexavar’ on the grounds that the German company’s drug not affordable to the local populace due to cost reasons. Then in March 2013, the Honorable Supreme Court of India denied patent protection to Novartis’s blockbuster

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Socioeconomic Status and Health Care Essays - 1776 Words

Socioeconomic Status and Health Care Sharing My Own Perspective There is a strong correlation with an individual or group SES and the quality of health care received. Social Economic Class relates to what group of class an individual fit in based on their income, which can include wages, investments or other source. The quality of care depends on the facilities that is offering the services, the staff, accessibility to the service and the kind of health insurance that the person has. Affording health care is expensive and the lower or poor class has to decide between being able to afford food or other daily needs and going to a clinic for screening. Most of the time, individuals who fall in the class will ignore the health signs while†¦show more content†¦Some of my friends did not have the same privileges, which might be due to their parents not knowing about the certain program, or having the necessary document to qualify for it. In my high school, we had a health clinic that made sure all the kids’ immunization records was up t o date. On the other side of Chicago where the community income was much lower, there was no health clinic at the school so whenever a child get ill, the parents of that child would have to take off work and seek medical treatment. I also recall by my house around the corner, that there were a lot of shelter, food pantry and a mental clinic for individuals who display mental disorder. I always wondered why it was so close, but there was a large population of individual who were homeless, drug users and abusers and they were mostly African Americans, and minority Caucasian. My social identity inform my perspective, because I have seen many of my peers in similar SES class of mines not being concern about health care or their quality of care. I have also seen individuals in my community not being able to go to the fancy rehab center that can assist them to overcome the addiction they have, but rather fill up housing units that is overpopulated with individuals with multiple mental dis orders and addictions. My national origin gives me an insight into what kind of care you are able to afford based on your SES. I remember whenever I had aShow MoreRelatedSocioeconomic Status And Health Care933 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to About.com (Elizabeth Boskey, 2014), socioeconomic status is defined as a arrangement of elements including income, level of education, and occupation. It is a way of looking at how individuals or families fit into society using economic and social measures that have been shown to influence individuals health and well-being. Socioeconomic status is broken into three categories: high, middle, and low social economic status. These three categories are used to describe the three areasRead MoreInadequacy Of The United States Mental Health Care System1104 Words   |  5 PagesMental Health Care System: Barriers to Care According to the World Health Organization, mental illness will affect approximately 25% of people at some point in their life (â€Å"WHO Qualityrights†, n.d.). Despite that, the current mental health care system in the United States is inadequate. Many aspects of the system need improving, especially the barriers to service. In fact, approximately 20% of individuals are left without necessary treatment for their mental health disorder (â€Å"Mental Health†, 2016)Read MoreSocial Class And Its Effects On Health1336 Words   |  6 PagesAll over the world status hierarchy and social class are a common concept of how well we live our lives, however they affect our lives more than we think. Social class can affect many things such as education, opportunities presented to us, economic factors, and even our health. Recently socioeconomic status effects on health has become a more popular topic of discussion but is nothing new to researchers. â€Å"Research on socioeconom ic inequalities in health in the UK has a long history. In the earlyRead MoreWang And Steven Model Of The Cumulative Impact Of Multiple Risk Factors951 Words   |  4 PagesExplain the Shi and Steven model of the cumulative impact of multiple risk factors? There are risk factors such as race/ethnicity, low socioeconomic status (SES), and lack of health insurance, which independently and strongly related with disparities (Shi Steven, 2005). These risk factors are barriers to access to health care, quality to care, and health status. The vulnerability of an individual increases with increases of risk factors, however there is an interaction among different risk factorsRead MoreEssay On Sexually Transmitted Diseases1740 Words   |  7 Pagessexually transmitted diseases in the United States given their demographic and socioeconomic status. The studies have shown without access to health care, young men and women do not receive the necessary information or medical prevention devices they need for the prevention and/or transmission of such diseases. The data was descriptive comparative, and showed the correlation between demographics and socioeconomic status in relation to sexually transmitted diseases. The results from all five studiesRe ad MoreThe Top On America Isn t Just Better, It s Longer News Article764 Words   |  4 Pagescontemplate the three very differing experiences. Each of these experiences was significantly dissimilar from one another due to each individual’s socioeconomic status. As we have learned and discussed in Chapter three of the text, socioeconomic status (or social class) is an individual’s or group’s standing within a ranked social structure. This socioeconomic status is typically determined by three main variables such as income, occupational prestige, and education. Different models of the social classRead MoreEffects Of Low Socioeconomic Status On Mental Health1440 Words   |  6 Pageslinked socioeconomic status to mental health, especially in children and adolescents. Low poverty levels have been specifically identified as a key causal factor in developing mental health problems in children. There has been much discussion over the different theories as to why this is the case, but only two of these theories seem to hold a lot of evidence. Certain interventions and preventative measures can be employed in order to improve an individual’s mental health by altering socioeconomic statusRead More The Effect of Social Organization on Everyday Life and Health824 Words   |  4 PagesOrganization on Everyday Life and Health Most people do not think about their health or issues revolving around their health until they are actually ill or people think that their health is only affected by biological factors. However, our health should be a focus in our lives because our daily life has an affect on our health. Illness does not only have biological causes but is also influenced by social factors such as the socially imposed roles of gender and socioeconomic differences. Before theRead MoreObesity Epidemic and Nations Health1684 Words   |  7 PagesArgument paper The obesity epidemic and our nation’s health as a whole have many factors that include socioeconomic status in particular. Socioeconomic Status and Childhood Obesity will always shape our nations vision and mission with what we do with healthcare. Healthcare in America is in a major reconstruction faze, and is in much need of it, obesity and socioeconomic status are going to be the major contributors to this reconstruction. The ability to have access to better resources for sureRead MoreHow Culture Influences Health Of All Individuals1389 Words   |  6 PagesCulture Influences Health in America Culture plays a great role in the health of all individuals. The American race has a vast influence over other cultures that migrate to the United States. Unfortunately, the dietary habits of the average American can lead to an increased health risk and a variety of problems that will further be elaborated on. It is important to remember that health is not just the physical aspect that everyone assumes when they consider the word health. It actually has seven

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Problems with Limiting Freedom of Speech free essay sample

The following report was requested on behalf of the Communications department situated within and will be conducted by . The report shall concentrate on and investigate what problems would arise if freedom of speech was limited. It will be submitted by 18/10/2012. 2. Findings 2. 1 Who decides on the limitations of freedom of speech? The concept of Freedom of speech is one which is held sovereign by many constitutions and individuals, especially within the American states. The idea of limiting an American citizen’s freedom of speech would be highly offensive and seen as an act only a dictatorial Government would undertake which, with many factors considered, is true. The actions that in many cases are considered by these Governments are; Threats of imprisonments if the individual acts in an unfavourable way, prohibition of political parties and protests, also a very common limitation undertook within many places, such as Korea, is the censorship of the media and the killing or imprisonment of Journalists who have took part in media considered offensive to the current Government or acts which are seen as manipulating the minds of the citizens of said Country. We will write a custom essay sample on Problems with Limiting Freedom of Speech or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It has also been witnessed under Democratic Governments in places such as the UK. Although this governments main priority are human rights and equality they have in many cases limited freedom of speech, although in a more positive light than done by Dictatorial Governments. The limitations within this doctrine would be, imprisonment following – hate speech, causing physical or strong emotional pain to another, racism or bigotry. All the above limitations are decided by a government, regardless of their stance on human rights. But in day-to-day life we are restricted by our peers, perhaps in school or work. When we consider individuals beliefs, faith or race the typical individual would conform to their surroundings, ensuring they do not say anything or act in a way as to offend their fellow workmate/student or friend. This in itself is limitations on our own freedom of speech caused by ourselves, regardless of the policies our Government holds. 2. 2 Example of a country where freedom of speech has been limited and the ‘Chilling-Effect’ ‘Chilling-Effect’ is a law that surrounds many factors within constitutional life, but most importantly the right to Freedom of speech. The concept of the Chilling effect is that when a law is passed it causes ‘ripples’ within society. For example, a former Dutch MP and critic of Islamist views against women, Ayaan Hirsi Ali became a ‘marked’ woman for exercising her right to freedom of speech. Because of her beliefs the Islamic community have issued a ‘fatwa’ (juristic ruling issued by an Islamic Scholar) asking for her to be killed. Due to this ‘fatwa’ the neighbouring individuals ordered a court hearing for her to be evicted due to her security concerns becoming a ‘nuisance’ and interrupting their daily life. Due to this event many people will think twice about standing on a ‘soap box’ to voice their opinions surrounding this religion and subject thus resulting in a ‘social ripple’, a Chilling-effect. 2. 3 Attempts of limiting freedom of speech 2. 31 The Cuban Constitution The Cuban constitution is considered one of the most restricted constitutions in the world. The only concept of the freedom of speech (and media) that is held has to be abided by in accordance to the Socialist society. Citizens residing within the nation are restricted to do the most basic tasks which most individuals residing in a country with a fair policy on Freedom of speech would be highly shocked by. These include, sending your children to any religious schools – as all schools within Cuba are non-religious, travelling abroad being without Government permission, changing jobs or residence without government permission, visiting or staying in tourist hotels, restaurants, and resorts is prohibited and choosing a hospital is also prohibited, as these are assigned to you by the Government. The freedom of press within Cuba is also highly restricted, as are the media material available to individuals, e. g. people within the nation must not access the internet unless permitted by the Government – this in itself is rare are the government are in high control over the internet and only 1. 67% of the population have that ‘luxury’, receive any publication from abroad and if an individual decides to do so they can be punished under one of the many ridiculously strict jail terms within their constitution and they are also unable to listen to foreign radio broadcasts. The result in Cuba restricting freedom of speech to such a high standard is the population within prisons are soared to an imaginable number, meaning less space for the more serious criminals as most of the cells are occupied by Journalists. 3. Conclusion It can be concluded that, by investigating the many factors of the concept of freedom of speech, it should not be limited. Of course, it is considered that many individuals or political bodies take advantage of the constitutional law, but because of the law they are punished accordingly. If freedom of speech was not limited in the Islamic culture, Ayaan Hirsi Ali would have been able to discuss her criticisms publically and perhaps led the Islamic culture to a new height, but because of the limitations she was almost executed turning her moral argument into a distasteful, ignorant rant. Also nations such as Cuba would have a more effective and efficient Government taking into account the safety and security of the individuals and more serious crimes, spending less money on jail terms on things considered ‘offensive to their policies.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Inferno By Dante And Punishments Essays - Divine Comedy, Literature

Inferno By Dante And Punishments The Comedy, later renamed The Divine Comedy was written by Dante Alighieri of Florence, Italy. In the early 14th century, while in exile, Dante wrote this epic poem which is broken down into three books. In each book Dante recounts his travels through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven respectively. The first book of The Divine Comedy, Inferno, is an remarkably brilliant narrative. He narrates his descent into and observation of hell through its numerous circles and rings. One extraordinary way Dante depicted hell is in his descriptions of the various punishments that each group of sinners has received. In a prior college course I took we learned about medieval torture practices. This knowledge led me to see similarities in the punishments given in Inferno. The diverse punishments that Dante envisions all the sinners in hell receiving are broken down into two types. The first he borrows from many gruesome and severe forms of medieval torture. The second type is often less physically agonizing. It is Dante's creative, very clever forms of punishment. Although all sinners in hell are souls, Dante gives each one a physical attribute so that the reader can envision the entire atmosphere clearer. The borrowed medieval forms of torturous punishments create physical pain for the different sinners in hell, and thus intended to be interpreted literally. The creative punishments are conceived to deliver mental and psychological pain to be understood metaphorically. Creative punishments in many cases can, however, inflict both a mental pain and a physical pain upon the sinner. Many of the severe punishments that Dante foresees for the sinners are borrowed from practices of medieval torment and imprisonment. The medieval dungeons were usually gloomy and dark, and inundated in disgusting stenches. Dante used this depiction to describe the overall atmosphere in the inferno. Unbearable and unavoidable extremes of cold or hot temperature, which are portrayed in the Inferno, are also representative of Medieval times. Prisoners of Medieval jails were provided with little or no ventilation to protect them from the extreme cold or hot weather, they could easily freeze to death or die of heatstroke. Throughout Inferno images of cruel punishment adopted from the ideas of medieval torture are seen to inflict physical pain upon the sinners. The eighth circle, called Malebolge, contained the sinners known as the Flatterers. The sin of flattery was punishable through torture intending to create physical anguish. As Dante travels over a bridge he sees that "the ditch beneath/ held people plunged in excrement that seemed/ as if it had been poured from human privies" (167). The sinners were obviously condemned to live in "*censored*" because of all the "bull*censored*" that ran across their tongues while they were living. Dante meets up with a sinner who informs him of this: "I am plunged here because of flatteries--/ of which my tongue had such sufficiency" (167). The irony is intentional that the sinners sit immersed in the crap that originally came from their mouths in the form of flattery. This punishment is quite vile and repulsive. It is designed to inflict physical agony upon the sinner. Dante, as a visitor to this place, is questioned by a sinner, "Why do you stare more greedily at me than at the others who are filthy?" (167). Although Dante feels depressed for the sinners he has seen throughout his journey, in this ring among the flatterers he seems to be nonchalant about meeting them. He is not as moved by their condition as he is in other rings, maybe because he thinks they deserve this sort of punishment, however disgusting it may be. Dante, the visitor, leaves the ring having had his sights fill of it. The second form of punishment Dante uses in Inferno is very interesting to analyze. These are his metaphorical punishments which are quite creative and more original than any physical torture. In Canto XX Dante, the visitor, travels with his companion through the eighth circle where the souls of the Diviners, Astrologers, and Magicians have been sent to suffer. Dante describes a procession of "mute and weeping" (179) souls who "found it necessary to walk backward" (179) because they had their heads turned all the way behind them. These souls, when living thought they could see the future and are now damned to only see behind them. This description of these pathetic souls is an example of one of the psychologically painful punishments invented by Dante. It is obviously uncomfortable to have one's head turned backwards, but the mental anguish is far greater. For Dante who

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Marks Spencer Operations Management Essay Example

Marks Spencer Operations Management Essay The Company- A journey from cave to modern civilized societies, Marks and Spencer from a single market stall to a giant international multi-channel retailer has travelled over 129 years to establish its deep roots all over the world with 766 UK and 418 international stores. Marks and Spencer stores are spread over 50 territories worldwide employing almost 82000 people. Marks and Spencer is a general retailer that sells clothes, gifts, home furnishings and foods. The UK turnover is split between Food (54%) and General Merchandise (46%). Marks and Spencer acknowledges the fact that consumer is the real king of market. This can be drawn from its founding values which consist of Quality, Value, Service, Innovation and Trust; it also assures to work hard to ensure its offer continues to be relevant to its customers. The vision and mission of the company is to be the standard against which others are measured and to make aspirational quality accessible to all. This suggests that ‘Quality’ is at the heart of Marks and Spencer’s operations strategy (Marks and Spencer, 2013). International Expansion: Mamp;S has a clear and targeted strategy for its international growth. Henceforth it continues to build more new stores to expand in key locations across its priority markets, employing a mix of ownership models including partnerships and franchises (Marks and Spencer, 2013). Operations Strategy- An Overview- We will write a custom essay sample on Marks Spencer Operations Management specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Marks Spencer Operations Management specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Marks Spencer Operations Management specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Operations Strategy Perspective: The operations activities are aimed to achieve operations strategy of the business. Marks and Spencer’s operations management activities ensure that all its products are of high quality and the stores are located in the most convenient locations. This reflects that the operations strategy of Marks and Spencer is of a ‘top-down’ perspective where the business wants its operations to provide quality products with an easy access to all. The Top-down Strategy Hierarchy: Corporate Strategy: Mamp;S aims to be the world’s most sustainable retailer. Its eco and ethical programme, is at the very heart of how they do business. Mamp;S also aims to be a truly international, multi-channel retailer which can be accessible to even more customers around the globe (Marks and Spencer, 2013). Business Strategy: Mamp;S is reaching more customers across the new and existing markets through its online development. In order to dominate the competition, Mamp;S has facilitated its customers with ‘free next day delivery’ to its stores. Moreover, Mamp;S has also developed i-phone application to carry out its sales via mobile phones. Mamp;S has also encouraged the online sales to make it more convenient for its customers to shop with them (Marks and Spencer, 2013). Functional Strategy: Improved navigation, greater choice, exclusive ranges and offers have boosted the online sales by 16. 6% in 2013. The recent performance of the technology depicts that i-phone application has increased the sales via mobile phones by 200% this year. To carry out its operations efficiently, Mamp;S has developed a fully mechanised 900,000 square feet e-commerce distribution centre which is the UK’s largest. It has the capacity to process and ship up to a million products per week to customers’ homes and Mamp;S stores across the country (Marks and Spencer, 2013). Store Layout: Mamp;S has revamped its visual merchandising and window displays to do a better job of showcasing its products. The different fashion brand such as Per Una, Autograph, Indigo, Classic, North Coast, Blue Harbour, Cellezione and its core Mamp;S Man and Woman will have dedicated ‘shop in shop’ area so that the in-store environment communicates each brand’s distinctive values. In the food department, Mamp;S has refreshed the shelving with wood effect shelf edges to look less like a supermarket and more like a specialist (Baker, 2011). Mamp;S store is therefore a mix of functional and fixed position layout type where general merchandise and food department operates in a functional layout type and the restaurant being the fixed position layout type. Technology: Mamp;S understands the growing importance and contribution of strong IT function to operate efficiently in the multi channel world. The role of technology is changing at Mamp;S and as a result changing the company itself. Marks amp; Spencer rolls out ePLUM Enterprise Scale Manager from Invatron Systems Corp. to 37 of its European stores to centrally manage its in-store deli and bakery department scales. ePLUM Enterprise Scale Manager is a multi- vendor, multilingual, web- enabled solution that provides retailers with centralized control of in- store scales and printers accessible from any computer in the enterprise; this makes the operations much efficient and fast (Anon. , 2013). The internal team of software engineers of the company are developing new IT driven customer innovation projects that include 156 screens dubbed ‘Browse and Order’ – in store terminals where customers can buy Mamp;S’s entire online range across 63 stores. Moreover, Mamp;S has equipped 1500 customer assistants with i-pads to enable them to demonstrate to the customers, the store’s full range of the products, its availability and its sizes. The client- facing technology of Mamp;S includes virtual makeover counters, which allow customers to see how they would look on applying certain beauty products. On developing bid data strategy, Mamp;S will be able to drive its profitability and improve marketing and promotions by using data insights smartly. This technology will enable Mamp;S to send specific e-mails regarding promotions and offers to its customers based on their purchase history rather than sending bulk e-mails to all its customers which is of no relevance (Stein, 2013). All these advancements by the IT team of Mamp;S are aimed at encouraging customers to use technology to spend more money at Mamp;S. Supply Chain Management: It is very crucial for every business to have a strong supply chain network in order to satisfy its customers before the competitors do. Mamp;S though being one of the UK’s largest retailers is criticised by its Finance Director, Alan Stewart for under investing infrastructure for upwards of 20 years. He further adds that the way the company buys and distributes its clothing is inappropriate. Shoppers may be looking for the latest looks and demanding new ideas in stores and online every few weeks, but Mamp;S takes two to three weeks just to transport goods from UK ports to its stores. This is where Mamp;S is losing its competitive edge in the market because the other retailers have hi-tech systems to track stock. For example, one of the rival retailers, Hamp;M boasts that it can get designs from the drawing board to the store in a fortnight, while Mamp;S takes longer than that just to get its merchandise from the ports to its shops (Butler, 2013). For the businesses like Mamp;S where the life span of a product is very short- clothes due to change in fashion and food due to expiry, the business must develop strong bonds and ties with its suppliers. In order to increase the ability to respond quickly to the ever changing needs of customers, Marks and Spencer should work closely with its suppliers and integrate the supply chain so that both Marks and Spencer and its suppliers are working towards the same business objectives. Hence, there will be a win – win situation for both Mamp;S and its suppliers which will increase the operations efficiency and enable them meeting the market requirements on time. Logistics: Gist has a long history providing logistic operations for Marks and Spencer. Gist manages 100% of the storage and distribution of Marks and Spencer food products to their 700 plus stores, 24 hours a day and 7 day a week. Warehouses across the UK are operated by Gist employees who receive and pick store orders and then distribute to Marks and Spencer stores, including Simply Food, throughout the UK and Ireland, covering all their high street, forecourt and out-of-town stores (Gist, 2013). Outsourcing its storage and distribution would make Marks and Spencer’s logistics much faster and this will increase its efficiency in delivery to customers, increased sales and high customer satisfaction. Inventory Management: Inventory planning and control is an important aspect of operations management. In a market, customers demand certain quantity of products and services at a particular time. The role of operations is to supply and deliver the required quantity of products and services when demanded. Marks and Spencer in February 2013 was caught of having shortage in the stock of winter coats and woollens due to cold snap. The Chief Executive of Mamp;S, Marc Bolland said that Mamp;S sold 100,000 cardigans and jumpers from its core Mamp;S Woman collection in the fourth quarter but could have sold three times that number. Bolland insisted that the weakness was not down to having wrong fashions in its shops but there was just not enough stock of the right ones. The majority of Mamp;S’s knitwear is being made in Asia. Therefore, Mamp;S was unable to repeat orders fast enough and thus failed to meet the market demand (Wood, 2012). The above instance demonstrates the importance of demand forecasting in managing the inventory which was missing in this case. In a multi-echelon inventory system, effective communication between the different echelons is of high importance to deliver the products at a rapid pace. Mamp;S could have succeeded in minimising some of its losses had there been more flexibility in the supply chain and latest requirement updates in the inventories. Mamp;S Inventory and Technology: Marks and Spencer has chosen Quantum Retail technology, ‘Q’ to improve inventory management. This technology is able to forecast and make inventory decisions in real time while considering both inter-day and intra-day stocking. Quantum Retail’s software solution, Q manages the end-to-end inventory forecasting, replenishment and order planning needs (Quantum Retail, 2010). Quality Management: Mamp;S operates rigorous Quality Management Systems which have been developed with its suppliers. To ensure total quality, the systems operate on a precautionary principle and are supported by a range of on-site audits and product testing. Further, Mamp;S also ensures that its suppliers meet a range of quality, safety, environmental and social standards (Marks and Spencer, 2013). Mamp;S is renowned for its ‘quality and innovation’ and is often appraised by its customers for providing quality worth every penny spent at Mamp;S. The customers expect the best from Mamp;S products but recently, Mamp;S was in headlines for selling low quality and cheap clothing products. Fashion watchers, rivals and its customers insisted Mamp;S to abandon this practice. One of the rival retailers suggested Mamp;S that it should be aiming to be a premium brand rather than trying to compete on price (Watkins, at el. 2013). The company should stick to its set objectives and design its day to day operations in such a way that it leads to achieving its long term goals. The mission of the company is to provide aspirational quality that is available to all. The above discussed case is a clear case of Mamp;S’s deviation from its long term goals. To rectify this error, Mamp;S should rediscuss its company objectives and strategies with its suppliers to ensure guaranteed and rapid recovery. Plan A and Sustainable Operations: Mamp;S aims to become the world’s most sustainable retailer. Its eco and ethical programme is at the very heart of how Mamp;S carries out its business. Mamp;S claims to make its business sustainable by integrating Plan A into every aspect of its operations- including the products that they evelop and sell, the stores that they rebuild or refit and the way they work with their suppliers and engage its employees. Plan A’s success lies in its innovative thinking and ideas. With the help of Plan A Innovation Fund, Mamp;S has launched a number of promising projects. These projects include ideas for developing more sustainable clothing fabrics, original thinking about ways to improve labour standards in t heir supply chains and a joint project with the Natural Environment Research Council to improve the way they share knowledge and work with its suppliers (Marks and Spencer, 2013). Plan A Activities: CO2 Neutral Mamp;S is proud to be certified as CarbonNuetral  ® Company across its operations in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Mamp;S also encourages its suppliers to reduce the greenhouse gas emission through actively developing various programmes aimed at this (Marks and Spencer, 2013). Zero Waste to Landfill Besides this, Mamp;S continue to work for reducing the amount of waste produced within its business. Mamp;S successfully fulfilled its commitment of sending no waste to landfill from its UK stores, offices, warehouses and construction activities (Marks and Spencer, 2013). Corporate Social Responsibilities: The Britain’s retailer has always cared about environment and society. Mamp;S knows that many of its customers as well do care about the environmental and social issues. So, it is of no surprise that Mamp;S customers donated a total of 3. 8 million clothes items through its Shwopping Scheme which raised ? 2. 3 million for Oxfam (Marks and Spencer, 2013). CSR activities at Mamp;S: Breakthrough Breast Cancer: The Company also carried out campaigns for raising money for Breast Cancer donations. Mamp;S has now generated ? 9 million for Breakthrough Breast Cancer in 12 years (Marks and Spencer, 2013). Big Beach clean – up: In April 2013, around 5000 customers and 4000 Mamp;S employees worked with the Marine Conservation Society at over 160 beaches, riversides and canals, cleaning, clearing enough rubbish to fill 4000 recycle bin bags (Marks and Spencer, 2013). These activities suggest that Mamp;S has always taken very hands on approach towa rds its corporate social responsibilities. Recommendations: Customer Satisfaction – It is very necessary for Marks and Spencer to maintain high quality standards in all their products. The prices of the Mamp;S products are usually higher than that of its rival companies such as Tesco’s and Sainsbury’s in food and Primark and Debenhams in clothing. Therefore, Mamp;S needs to ensure that all its products are of high quality because their customers are paying that extra amount in hope that the products will be of a better quality than other rival retailers. The hidden benefit for Mamp;S satisfying its customers is reduced complaints and therefore less service costs of paying an employee to find out the cause of the issue and fix it. This will increase customers’ loyalty towards Mamp;S which would lead to positive word of mouth publicity to the potential customers. Supplier Satisfaction: It is Mamp;S’s best interests to keep their suppliers happy by paying them enough and on time. This would make its suppliers feel like a part of Mamp;S and would be encouraged to work keeping in mind the needs and objectives of Mamp;S. By working more closely with its suppliers, Mamp;S can ensure that their products are of great quality standards are delivered on time with no or less troubles. Word Count: 2431 References: * Mamp;S, 2013. Company Overview. [online]Available at: lt;http://corporate. marksandspencer. com/aboutus/company_overviewgt; [Accessed 03 July 2013]. * Mamp;S, 2013. Our Plan. [online] Available at: lt;http://corporate. marksandspencer. com/aboutus/our_plangt; [Accessed 03 July 2013]. * Baker, R. , 2011. Marketing Week, Mamp;S outlines new store strategy for brands, [online] Available at: lt;http://www. marketingweek. co. uk/ms-outlines-new-store-strategy-for-brands/3030044. articlegt; [Accessed 03 July 2013]. Anon. , 2013. Marks amp; Spencer rolls out ePLUM Enterprise Scale Manager from Invatron Systems Corp. to 37 of its European stores. Invantron Systems Corp. , [blog] 2013, Available at: lt;http://www. invatron. com/blog/main/press-releases/marks-spencer-rolls-out-eplum-enterprise-scale-manager-from-invatron-systems-corp-to-37-of-its-european-stores/gt; [Accessed 03 July 2013]. * Stein, D. , 2013. CIO Interview: Darrel Stein, IT director, Marks and S pencer Interviewed by Angelica Mari , [online] on Computer Weekly. Available at: lt;http://www. computerweekly. com/news/2240179873/CIO-interview-Darrell-Stein-IT-director-Marks-and-Spencergt; , 20 March 2013, 17:15. * Butler, S. , 2013. Mamp;S boss under pressure amid race to upgrade supply chain. The Guardian, [online] 10 May 2013. Available at: lt;http://www. guardian. co. uk/business/2013/may/10/marks-and-spencer-marc-bolland-technologygt; [Accessed 03 July 2013]. * Gist, 2011. Marks and Spencer Excellence in food logistics. [online] Available at: lt;http://www. gistworld. om/en-gb/customers/case-studies/marks-spencer/gt; [Accessed 03 July 2013]. * Wood, Z. , 2012. Mamp;S admits womenswear stock shortages hit sales. The Guardian, [online] 17 April 2012. Available at: lt;http://www. guardian. co. uk/business/2012/apr/17/marks-spencer-womenswear-stock-shortagesgt; [Accessed 03 July 2013]. * Quantum Retail, 2010. Marks amp; Spencer Selects Quantum Retail to Improve Inventory Management. [online] Available at: lt; http://quantumretail. com/2010/01/0 5/marks-spencer-selects-quantum-retail-to-i

Sunday, November 24, 2019

The Narrative Voice Of Huck Finn Essays - Literature, Fiction

The Narrative Voice Of Huck Finn Essays - Literature, Fiction The Narrative Voice Of Huck Finn The Narrative Voice of Huck Finn Huckleberry Finn provides the narrative voice of Mark Twains novel, and his honest voice combined with his personal vulnerabilities reveal the different levels of the Grangerfords world. Huck is without a family: neither the drunken attention of Pap nor the pious ministrations of Widow Douglas were desirable allegiance. He stumbles upon the Grangerfords in darkness, lost from Jim and the raft. The family, after some initial cross-examination, welcomes, feeds and rooms Huck with an amiable boy his age. With the light of the next morning, Huck estimates it was a mighty nice family, and a mighty nice house, too(1335). This is the first of many compliments Huck bestows on the Grangerfords and their possessions. Huck is impressed by all of the Grangerfords belongings and liberally offers compliments. The books are piled on the table perfectly exact(1335), the table had a cover made from beautiful oilcloth(1335), and a book was filled with beautiful stuff and poetry(1335). He even appraise s the chairs, noting they are nice split-bottom chairs, and perfectly sound, toonot bagged down in the middle and busted, like an old basket(1335). It is apparent Huck is more familiar with busted chairs than sound ones, and he appreciates the distinction. Huck is also more familiar with flawed families than loving, virtuous ones, and he is happy to sing the praises of the people who took him in. Col. Grangerford was a gentleman all over; and so was his family(1338). The Colonel was kind, well-mannered, quiet and far from frivolous. Everyone wanted to be around him, and he gave Huck confidence. Unlike the drunken Pap, the Colonel dressed well, was clean-shaven and his face had not a sign of red in it anywheres (1338). Huck admired how the Colonel gently ruled his family with hints of a submerged temper. The same temper exists in one of his daughters: she had a look that would make you wilt in your tracks, like her father. She was beautiful(1339). Huck does not think negatively of the hints of iron in the people he is happy to care for and let care for him. He does not ask how three of the Colonels sons died, or why the family brings guns to family picnics. He sees these as small facets of a family with a handsome lot of quality (1339). He thinks no more about Jim or the raft, but knows he has found a new home, one where he doesnt have to go to school, is surrounded by interior and exterior beauty, and most importantly, where he feels safe. Huck liked that family, dead ones and all, and warn't going to let anything come between us(1340). Huck is a very personable narrator. He tells his story in plain language, whether describing the Grangerford's clock or his hunting expedition with Buck. It is through his precise, trusting eyes that the reader sees the world of the novel. Because Huck is so literal, and does not exaggerate experiences like Jim or see a grand, false version of reality like Tom Sawyer, the reader gains an understanding of the world Mark Twain created, the reader is able to catch Twains jokes and hear his skepticism. The Grangerford's furniture, much admired by Huck, is actually comically tacky. You can almost hear Mark Twain laughing over the parrot-flanked clock and the curtains with cows and castles painted on them even as Huck oohs and ahhs. And Twain pokes fun at the young dead daughter Huck is so drawn to. Twain mocks Emmeline as an amateur writer: She warn't particular, she could write about anything you choose to give her to write about, just so it was sadful(1337). Yet Twain allows the images of Emmeline and the silly clock to deepen in meaning as the chapter progresses. Emmeline is realized as an early portent of the destruction of Hucks adopted family. The mantel clock was admired by Huck not only for its beauty, but because the Grangerfords properly valued beauty and wouldnt took any money for her(1337). Huck admired the Grangerfords principles, and the stake they placed in good manners, delicious food, and attractive possessions. But Huck realizes in Chapter 18 that whereas

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Corporate and business strategy in an international context Coursework

Corporate and business strategy in an international context - Coursework Example Michael Dell emphasized upon maintaining a flexible resource base so that rivals could not match the business model. The strategic focus of Michael Dell’s business model was managing opportunities. Dynamic capabilities enabled the company to meet this objective. Michael Dell converted other resources and capabilities into a distinctive competency by focusing upon adaptation and change. The industry in which Dell operated was characterized by a constant pace of change. Therefore the management needed to focus upon developing a sustainable future by continuously improving firm competency. To this end the dynamic theory was applied. The company maintained a reconfigurable resource base so that a flexible combination of uncertainty and commitment-intensity could be made feasible. In this manner, Dell was able to maintain its market leadership. Firm performance was characterized by the direct model which was different from the business models implemented by the competitors. Althoug h the competitors tried to implement Dell’s business model, they could not develop the same level of firm competency because Dell had already built an organizational capacity for response, reverse and contingency in this area. This allowed the company to maintain competence-generating strategic processes geared towards continuously renewing the competitive advantage. As a result Dell was well-positioned for changing future conditions. The PC industry was structurally attractive since it had the largest share of the industry. However the profit margin was not so great compared to those from microprocessors, software and services. Therefore Dell had to maximize its unit share in order to maximize profitability. This objective was met through tailoring the production system to customer requirements. The investments in online technology and JIT enabled the company to