Designing a course in technology-Enhanced learning for Adult learners Essay

Designing a course in technology-Enhanced learning for Adult learners - Essay Example This paper aims to present a discussion that revolves around principles of learning design. The focus is to design a unit assessment plan that will educate 65 year old adults on prevention, treatment, and management of foot related complications. Some of the skills that the unit assessment aims to establish among the older population include synthesis of instruction, exploration skills, designing skills, collaboration, and reflection skills. Technological transformations have prompted the majority of educators to adopt newer and advanced forms of newer technology in teaching. Teachers in institutions of higher learning have opted for the use of e-mails, PowerPoint presentations, education applications, and design Web sites to pass knowledge and information to learners (Caulfield, 2011). The mode of connecting teaching to learning has formed the center of current debate, with critics questioning the validity of the relationship. This is because they have argued that such learning techniques are vulnerable to losing their validity with changes in technology. On the other hand, proponents have highly held the phenomenon, citing their value in expanding the learning and teaching experience. Rogers (2003) maintains that the application of skills in learning and teaching is crucial, as it determines the effectiveness of the teaching and learning experiences. When a new technology emerges, there are various levels that educators should undergo in their endeavors to fully adopt any technological model of teaching (Rogers, 2003). However, recent research has revealed that some learning sessions have not fully benefited from the advantages of employing technological based teaching and learning experiences. This is because of the different degrees of adaptation by teachers. Analysts have argued that educators should follow the right procedure in their quest to make some technology based models of teaching part of their professional initiative. Some of the

Computers and Information Systems Essay Example for Free

Computers and Information Systems Essay INTRODUCTION OF INFORMATION SECURITY POLICY Information is a valuable asset. The protection of these assets is a basic management responsibility. Employing officers are responsible for: †¢ Identifying and protecting computer-related information assets within their assigned area of management control and ensuring that these assets are used for management-approved purpose only and all employees understand their obligation to protect them. †¢ Implementing security practices and procedures that are consistent with the Company Information Asset Security Manual and value of the assets. PRIVACY AND SECURITY POLICIES TAKEN CARE BY VARIOUS HIGHLY RECOGNIZED HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATION PARTNERS HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATION Partners HealthCare is committed to ensuring the privacy and security of patient health information. In order to facilitate and implement the activities related to the privacy and security of Protected Health Information (PHI), Partners HealthCare has appointed a Corporate Privacy Officer. The privacy officer responsible for implementation and oversight of the policies and procedures regarding the privacy of health information at their site. BETH ISRAEL MEDICAL CENTER Beth Israel Medical Center has adopted CPRI Toolkit -Technology Resources Policy to ensure uniform and appropriate use of its computer and telecommunication resources (the â€Å"Technology Resources,† defined below). POLICY: In using or accessing the Technology Resources, Users must comply with the following provisions. NO EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY â€Å"Users understand and agree that: BIDMC retains the right, with or without cause or notice to the User, to access or monitor the Computer Information, including User e-mail and Internet usage.†(Hodge et al. 1968, pg 17) Please keep in mind that anything created or stored on the Technology Resources, including the Computer Information, may be reviewed by others and that even deleted files may be recovered. USE OF E-MAIL AND INTERNET ACCESS AND USE All User e-mail addresses assigned by BIDMC shall remain the sole and exclusive property of BIDMC. Users should endeavor to make each of their electronic communications truthful and accurate. â€Å"Users should use the same care in drafting e-mail and other electronic documents as they would for any other written communication. The quality of your writing will reflect on BIDMC. Users are encouraged to use the Internet and intranets to assist them in the performance of their jobs.† (Thomas. R. 2001, 87) PASSWORDS Users are responsible for safeguarding their passwords for access to the Technology Resources. Users should recognize that the combination of a logon identification and password is the equivalent of a signature and that the disclosure to another individual is the equivalent of handing that individual a signed blank check. MAYO HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATION Mayo HealthCare is committed to ensuring the privacy and security of patient health information by means of certain policies. ACCESS CONTROL TERMS Individual-based access control. Role-based access control. Context-based access control. POLICY-RELATED TERMS Policy: a broad statement of principle or intent that presents Mayo’s position. Policies are interpreted and supported by standards. Standard: a rule or regulation that specifies conduct or a course of action. Standards are mandatory directives for implementing Mayo policy that ensure uniform compliance. Guideline: a recommended course of action or a response to a given situation. Guidelines should be considered when determining how to implement standards. PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION (PHI) I. Information security Mayo Foundation will protect its vital information from unauthorized access, modification, disclosure, or destruction, by conducting security program with patients and of Mayo Foundation. II. Security administration A group will exist to develop and maintain an information security program for Mayo Foundation entities. THEMES COMMON AMONG EACH ORGANIZATION`S POLICIES †¢ Controlling Access to Information and Systems, Operations and Administration. †¢ Network Security Policies. †¢ E-mail and the Worldwide Web, Telephones and Fax. †¢ Data Management. †¢ Backup, Recovery and Archiving. †¢ Document Handling. †¢ Securing Data. KEY SECURITY PRINCIPLES AND ELEMENTS FOR INFORMATION SECURITY AND PRIVACY MANAGEMENT The key security principles and the critical areas needing improvement for the healthcare organization. SECURING REMOTE ACCESS AND OTHER DRIVERS OF PHYSICIAN EFFECTIVENESS For many providers, ensuring physician effectiveness and quality of life is a top priority. This includes helping physicians gain off-site access to records, without having to come to the hospital or sign into multiple hospital systems. EXTENDING SECURITY AND PRIVACY TO THIRD PARTIES Secure interoperability from hospitals to physician practices is also becoming a requirement as the healthcare industry in many global markets moves towards wider use of electronic medical records and information sharing across collaborative groups (such as the emerging US regional health information organizations). (Perry. E., 1967, 48) DEVELOPING BUSINESS CONTINUITY AND DISASTER RECOVERY PLANS In the wake of high-profile natural disasters and health-related crises worldwide, most healthcare respondents (70%) identified business continuity and disaster recovery planning as one of the most critical business factors driving their information security spending. Forty-four percent, however, do not yet have such a capability, and 59% report that developing or improving these plans is a strategic security initiative for the coming year. References Hodge, Bartow, Hodgson, Robert. N. (nod.). 1968 Management and the Computer information system McGraw-Hill Companies, The, New York, NY, U.S.A. pg 17 Peltier, Thomas. R. (n.d.). 2001, Information Security Policies and Procedures: A practitioners Reference. TAYLOR FRANCIS LTD, pg. 87 Rosove, Perry. E. (n.d.). 1967, Developing Computer-based Information system. John Wiley Sons, NY,pg. 48

Jack’s Transformation in Jack and the Beanstalk Essay -- Jack and the

Jack and the Beanstalk – Jack’s Transformation  Ã‚  Ã‚      "Jack and the Beanstalk" is an example of a Buildungsroman. As the tale progresses, Jack evolves from an immature person into a mature, self-assertive person. While minor differences exist in various versions of the tale, such as those between Joseph Jacobs' and Horace Elisha Scudder's versions, the tale can always be read as Jack's quest for maturity. Some critics, however, analyze the tale as one in which Jack remains spoiled and immature. While they make points which support their claims, careful analysis of the tale will reveal that Jack's struggle to grow up and to achieve maturity is representative of the difficult process of adolescent (especially male) maturation and the process of adolescent socialization.            Some critics, as previously stated, maintain that Jack does not mature or learn any lesson during the tale. For example, Nell B. Byers writes that Jack is "a fellow who makes what would not be thought of as a prudent investment; who is not above trickery in outwitting the giant's wife; who steals the giant's treasures; and who, having killed the giant, lives with his mother happily ever afterward in affluence" (26). Byers' statement would lead one to believe that Jack does not change very much. Granted, a literal reading of most versions of the tale supports Byers' statements. Jack appears to be an immature, spoiled brat, or worse. Yet, a deeper reading is required to fully understand the tale's meaning.            Another critic, William Mayne, comments on Jack's lack of maturity and morality in Joseph Jacobs' version of "Jack and the Beanstalk." In this version, Mayne claims that Jack "went up to another land where he had no right to be, and set o... ... Works Cited Bettelheim, Bruno. The Use of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1977. Byers, Nell B. "Porridge For Goldilocks." Education Digest March 1949: 25-26. Jacobs, Joseph. English Fairy Tales. 3rd ed. New York: Schocken Books, 1967. Mayne, William ed. Book of Giants. New York: E.P. Dutton & Co., Inc., 1968. Scudder, Horace Elisha. "Jack and the Beanstalk." The Children's Hour: Folk Stories and Fables. Ed. Eva March Tappen. New York: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1907. 23-33. Utley, Francis Lee. Introduction. Once Upon a Time: On the Nature of Fairy Tales. By Max Luthi. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 1970. 14-15. Wolfenstein, Martha. "Jack and the Beanstalk: An American Version." In Childhood in Contemporary Cultures. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1955. 243-45.   

Emergency Department Poc Immunoassay Testing Essay

Introduction Cardiovascular disease is a substantial concern and has emerged as one of the leading health issues. In examining cardiovascular disease, its incidence is astounding. Each year approximately one million men and women die, averaging one death every thirty three seconds (Heart, 2013).The death rate for cardiovascular issues such as myocardial infarction and CHF claim more lives than cancer and Aids combined. Heart disease will be the number one cause of death by the year 2020 worldwide (Heart, 2013). Notably heart disease is a significant health problem that not only costs lives but is a significant economic burden with costs related to doctors’ visits, medications, rehabilitation and additional contributors such as loss of work and patient rehabilitations. It is estimated at approximately 485 billion dollars annually can be associated to the treatment of heart related issues such as heart attack and CHF, early diagnosis is imperative (Heart,2013). The intention of this proposal is to introduce the function of Point of care (POC) testing in the Emergency Department for immunoassay levels and educate on the benefits of early detection of Troponin and Brain naturietic peptide levels which are cardiovascular disease markers. This proposal outlines the purpose, targeted population, costs, and benefits as well as the process of evaluation. Furthermore, acquiring approval of the Emergency Department manager as well as the director is the intention of this proposal and it is hoped that the program once approved can be launched in June of 2015. Purpose of the Program The purpose of the program is to promote is to acquire funding for the purchase of an immunoassay point of care testing machine in the Emergency Department(ED). Heart disease effects millions of people worldwide, often patients present to the Emergency Department in need of testing for heart related issues. Often times the chest pain and symptoms people are experiencing are benign, in utilizing the POC testing patients  people can be quickly assessed for cardiac markers and if negative will result unnecessary precautionary medication utilization, decrease in unnecessary overnight observation, shortened length of stay in the ED as well as reduction in patient anxiety waiting for lengthy lab results (Noyan, 2013). Target Population The target population includes men and women greater than age 18. Although heart related issues such as cardiovascular disease and CHF most commonly affect persons greater than 65 and estimated 1% of the population can be stricken with disease as early as age 18. Often times drugs may be a factor as well as genetics (Heart, 2013). It is imperative all persons presenting to the ER with chest pain or other heart related issues be cleared for any possible life threating cardiac events. There are an estimated 250,000 sudden cardiac deaths occurring each year in the united states, that translates into 680 per day, half of this is in persons younger than 65 and in addition half of these have no prior warning symptoms (Heart,2013). Looking at these statistics it is imperative that having POC testing to rule out benign conditions and reserve resources for true life threating cardiac issues. Costs Once the purchase of the device is made its annual costs are slim. With the cost of health care rising and less insurance reimbursement saving money for the hospital is vital. The purchase price for the POC device is approximately 6,000 dollars which based on a study translated into approximately 9.00 to per person to perform the test which is very inexpensive( Mainor,2002). Benefits Benefits of this program is receiving funding for the purchase of the POC testing equipment, resulting in the ability to rapidly evaluate patients presenting with cardiovascular symptoms, such as suspected acute myocardial infarction or heart failure. Utilizing POC testing into an emergency department results in quicker diagnosis, treatment, improved patient outcomes, improves ER flow through by weeding out non acute patients, decreases unnecessary use of resources such as medication and  hospital admissions. Evaluation In order to assess if this program will be successful we can survey a control group to see if the statements that are made are accurate. In surveying 100 patients that present with cardiovascular symptoms such as chest pain. POC testing can be completed to see how many of the 100 patients were non acute chest pain resulting in the reduction of resources and admissions. In addition, research from other facilities is widely available and research has already been completed ensure the success of this program. Conclusion POC testing is an easy, quick intervention that leads to quicker diagnosis and the savings of vital resources need for life threatening emergencies. This department needs to have this machine, the improvement of ER flow by reducing non acute patient wait times would be only one of many invaluable reasons to approve and fund this program. References: Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics–2013. (2013). Journal of the American Heart Association, 127(6), 1-245. Mainor, B., Hardwick, W., & King, W. (January,2002). Evaluation of a Portable Clinical Analyzer in the Pediatric Emergency Department: Analysis of Cost and Turnaround Time. Southern Medical Journal, 95(6), 4-5. Retrieved October 6, 2014. Noyan, T., Gozlukaya, O., & Cankaya, S. (2013). The Evaluation of Cardiac TroponinI Assays Measured Radiometer AQT90 Flex and ReLIA Analyzers. Journal of Medicine and Medical Research, 1(4), 16-22.

Hormones and Behavior Essay

The endocrine system is the collection of glands that produce hormones. Hormones are chemical substances that act like messenger molecules in the body. They regulate metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep, and mood, and many other things. These hormones can affect an individual’s behavior in many ways. The Endocrine System is made up of several different endocrine glands the pituitary gland, pineal gland, thyroid gland, and adrenal gland. Each gland secretes different hormones that have many different effects on the body and behavior. The Pituitary gland is called the â€Å"Master Gland†. It is called this because its hormones influence other endocrine glands. Oxytocin is a hormone released by the pituitary gland. This hormone helps in regulating behaviors related to happiness such as sexual activity, social bonding, and helps to reduce stress. Oxytocin also plays a role in pregnancy and labor. The pituitary gland causes contractions in the uterus during labor and stimulates the ducts of the breasts to help eject milk. The Adrenal Gland is located underneath the back of the rib cage on top of the kidneys. The adrenal gland helps do several things such arouse the body, regulates salt balance, adjust the body to stress and affects sexual functioning. Epinephrine is a hormone released by the adrenal gland. This hormone is associated with fear and is what helps arouse the body. Epinephrine is most commonly known as adrenaline. When a person has hormone levels that are too high or too low, that indicates a problem with the endocrine system. It can be a sign of a Hormone disease. Hormone diseases can also occur if the body does not respond to hormones in the appropriate ways. Stress, infection, and changes in the  blood’s fluid and electrolyte balance can also influence hormone levels, according to the National Institutes of Health. The most common endocrine disease in the United States is diabetes. Diabetes is a condition in which the body does not properly process glucose, a simple sugar. This is due to the lack of insulin or, if the body is producing insulin, because the body is not working effectively, according to Dr. Jennifer Loh, chief of the department of endocrinology for Kaiser Permanente in Hawaii. Maintaining a healthy endocrine system helps your body perform many of its vital functions, such as growth, development, reproduction and immunity. The endocrine system may also affect some aspects of personality and behavior. To keep the endocrine system functioning properly, eat healthy and reduce stress. An unhealthy endocrine system can result in thyroid diseases, osteoporosis and a variety of other problems, both large and small. Here’s how to maintain the endocrine system.

Norway essays

Norway essays People around the world have many different views on what is considered proper etiquette. If one decides to do business without being informed of the customs and etiquette of the area, there is a slim chance that their business dealings will work out. When a representative is sent to another country, the representative is not only representing their business but also their country and themselves. To make sure you leave a good impression, when doing business with another country, one must be well informed on the area, culture, and business practices of that country. If you are a representative sent to Norway, first you should know a little about the area. Norway occupies the western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula and shares borders with Sweden, Finland and Russia. Norway has a long coastline and a mountainous interior that is blanketed by some of Europes largest glaciers. Over 500 sq km of Norway lies north of the Arctic Circle, but the countrys western coast usually remains ice free year-round due to the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. The country is at its best and brightest from May to September, and at its worst between November and March when average temperatures are below freezing. Midnight-sun days are days when the sun never drops below the horizon; these days extend from May 13 to July 29 at Nordkapp in the far north and from May 28 to July 14 in the Lofoten Islands. Southern Norway has daylight from 4 am to 11 pm in midsummer. On the other hand, the sun does not rise in the north from the end of November to the end of Jan uary. Knowing this you can plan what to wear. Secondly, you should know about the business dealings and economy of the area. Norway is a wealthy country with extensive offshore oil and gas reserves and traditional industries based on natural resources such as timber, aluminum, fishing, farming, and shipping. The country is almost self sufficient in hydroelectric power and e...

Training Session Report for Expatriates

Training Session Report for Expatriates Currently, a great number of people from the United States, Australia or the UK live and work in China. The main problem, which they encounter, is cultural and linguistic barriers. Poor knowledge of the Chinese language and culture often leads to misunderstanding or even conflicts. This training session aims to prepare expatriates for possible difficulties, which they may face, while living in this country. In particular, we need to focus on different behavior patterns, dress code, business culture, etiquette etc.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Training Session Report for Expatriates specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More First of all, foreigner, working in China, must stay in touch with their friends and relatives. This will prevent them from feeling lonely and home-sick. Yet, at the same time they must bear in mind that they must not avoid communication with local people. One should not become withdrawn, as this will o nly contribute to a sense of alienation. This person has to establish as many contacts as possible. This is the key step on his/her path to success. Apart from that, employees ought to be well-acquainted with the city, where they intend to live. They need to know about transportation, places of interests, its history, and so forth. For instance, when speaking about Beijing, an expatriate should remember that it is one of the most densely-populated cities in the world and transportation is a really challenging problem. This is why one has to know about the functioning of Beijing Subway, ring roads, railway stations, expressways, highways etc. This knowledge will be of great value to expatriates, who may need to travel across the city or even across the country. The third issue that has to be addressed during training sessions is cultural values and etiquette, and dress code. For instance, one has to be well-aware of the fact that Chinese people are more inclined to think by means of analogies, metaphors and story-telling (Street Matelski, 2008, p 151). This peculiarity often slows down the process of communication between local inhabitants and foreigners. Secondly, during these training sessions, we need to etiquette, because the Chinese pay much more attention to formalities than Americans or Australians (Bucknall, 2002, p 61). This knowledge will enable us them reduce the effects of culture shock to a minimum. Expatriates must not be afraid of making mistakes during intercultural communication as they are practically inevitable. The biggest mistake lies in avoiding this communication. Unwillingness to communicate with the Chinese partners is one of the reasons why many expatriates feel home-sick.Advertising Looking for report on ethnicity studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Finally, the employees, who are going to live in China for a considerable amount of time, must acquire at least the smattering of the Chinese language. In this case, we must concentrate on various speech situations such as introductions, greetings, thanking people, asking for apology and so forth. Of course, such knowledge of Chinese is only superficial; however, it will indicate that a foreigner genuinely tries to integrate himself into a new culture or society. Certainly, at the beginning a foreigner will require the services of a translator; nevertheless, he/she has to work on his Chinese language proficiency in order to achieve success in this country. On the whole, during these training sessions, an employee has to learn about similarities and distinction existing between two cultures. This will help him/her avoid many potential problems. The most important thing is to overcome the feeling of anxiety which is so common among Australian expatriates. Reference List Bucknall K. 2002. Chinese Business Etiquette and Culture. NY: CM Online Media, Inc. Street. N. L. Matelski M. 2008. American bus inesses in China: balancing culture and communication. NY: McFarland.

Profile of Switzerland

Profile of Switzerland Population: 7,623,438 (July 2010 estimate) Capital: Bern Land Area: 15,937 square miles (41,277 sq km) Bordering Countries: Austria, France, Italy, Liechtenstein, and Germany Highest Point: Dufourspitze at 15,203 feet (4,634 m) Lowest Point: Lake Maggiore at 639 feet (195 m) Switzerland is a landlocked country in Western Europe. It is one of the richest countries in the world and it has consistently ranked high for its quality of life. Switzerland is known for its history of being neutral during wartimes. Switzerland is the home of many international organizations like the World Trade Organization but it is not a member of the European Union. History of Switzerland Switzerland was originally inhabited by the Helvetians and the area that makes up todays country became a part of the Roman Empire in the 1st century B.C.E. When the Roman Empire began to decline, Switzerland was invaded by several German tribes. In 800, Switzerland became a part of Charlemagnes Empire. Shortly thereafter control of the country was passed through the Holy Roman emperors. In the 13th century, new trade routes across the Alps opened and Switzerlands mountain valleys became important and were given some independence as cantons. In 1291, the Holy Roman Emperor died and according to the U.S. Department of State, the ruling families of several mountain communities signed a charter to keep peace and keep independent rule. From 1315 to 1388, Swiss Confederates were involved in several conflicts with the Habsburgs and their borders expanded. In 1499, the Swiss Confederates gained independence from the Holy Roman Empire. Following its independence and a defeat by the French and Venetians in 1515, Switzerland ended its policies of expansion. Throughout the 1600s, there were several European conflicts but the Swiss remained neutral. From 1797 to 1798, Napoleon annexed part of the Swiss Confederation and a centrally governed state was established. In 1815 the Congress of Vienna preserved the countrys status as a permanently armed neutral state. In 1848 a short civil war between Protestant and Catholic led to the formation of a Federal State modeled after the United States. A Swiss Constitution was then drafted and was amended in 1874 to ensure cantonal independence and democracy. In the 19th century, Switzerland underwent industrialization and it remained neutral during World War I. During World War II, Switzerland also remained neutral despite pressure from surrounding countries. After WWII, Switzerland began to grow its economy. It did not join the Council of Europe until 1963 and it is still not a part of the European Union. In 2002 it joined the United Nations. Government of Switzerland Today Switzerlands government is formally a confederation but it is more similar in structure to a federal republic. It has an executive branch with a chief of state, a head of government that is filled by the President, a bicameral Federal Assembly with the Council of States, and the National Council for its legislative branch. Switzerlands judicial branch is made up of a Federal Supreme Court. The country is divided into 26 cantons for local administration and each has a high degree of independence and each is equal in status. People of Switzerland Switzerland is unique in its demography because it is made up of three linguistic and cultural regions. These are German, French, and Italian. As a result, Switzerland is not a nation based on one ethnic identity; instead it is based on its common historical background and shared governmental values. The official languages of Switzerland are German, French, Italian, and Romansh. Economics and Land Use in Switzerland Switzerland is one of the wealthiest nations in the world and it has a very strong market economy. Unemployment is low and its labor force is also very highly skilled. Agriculture makes up a small part of its economy and the main products include grains, fruit, vegetables, meat, and eggs. The largest industries in Switzerland are machinery, chemicals, banking, and insurance. In addition, expensive goods such as watches and precision instruments are also produced in Switzerland. Tourism is also a very large industry in the country due to its natural setting in the Alps. Geography and Climate of Switzerland Switzerland is located in Western Europe, to the east of France and to the north of Italy. It is known for its mountain landscapes and small mountain villages. The topography of Switzerland is varied but it is mainly mountainous with the Alps in the south and the Jura in the northwest. There is also a central plateau with rolling hills and plains and there are many large lakes throughout the country. Dufourspitze at 15,203 feet (4,634 m) is Switzerlands highest point but there are many other peaks that are at very high elevations as well- the Matterhorn near the town of Zermatt in Valais is the most famous. The climate of Switzerland is temperate but it varies with altitude. Most of the country has cold and rainy to snowy winters and cool to warm and sometimes humid summers. Bern, Switzerlands capital, has an average January low temperature of 25.3 degrees F (-3.7 degrees C) and an average July high of 74.3 degrees F (23.5 degrees C). References Central Intelligence Agency. (9 November 2010). CIA - The World Factbook - Switzerland. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sz.html Infoplease.com. (n.d.). Switzerland: History, Geography, Government, and Culture- Infoplease.com. Retrieved from: infoplease.com/ipa/A0108012.html United States Department of State. (31 March 2010). Switzerland. Retrieved from: state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3431.htm Wikipedia.com. (16 November 2010). Switzerland - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland

Marketing strategy for managers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Marketing strategy for managers - Essay Example Based on these factors a manager can decide how much to spend on advertisements, what values to promote and what kind of media to select for display of advertisements. Direct marketing which means non-existence of intermediaries between the manufacturer and the customer is another effective way of communicating value with the customers. Analyzing consumer markets Only by a thorough understanding of consumers can enable companies to ensure that â€Å"right products are marketed to the right consumers in the right way† (Kotler & Keller, 2012, p.151). The cultural and social background of consumers affects their buying patterns. The marketing manager needs to study the four major psychological processes like â€Å"motivation, perception, learning and memory† (Kotler & Keller, 2012, p.160) as these affect the behaviour of the consumers towards the market. Building strong brands A strong brand can be created by â€Å"careful planning and a deep long term commitment† ( Kotler & Keller, 2012, p.241). I feel a branded product or service creates a certain amount of trust among the consumers and in the modern day fast life brands enable consumers to easily identify a product thereby simplifying their decision making process. Brands can become successful only if consumers can get satisfaction from â€Å"past experiences with the product† (Kotler & Keller, 2012, p.242). This can happen only if a branded product can satisfy the needs of consumers and it maintains consistency with the messages provided through advertisements. I believe it is the job of the marketing manager to assess the likes and dislikes of the consumers regarding the brand and accordingly make improvements on the branded products or services. In... The essay demonstrates that the ability of a firm in establishing a profitable customer base and relationship highly depends upon the marketing manager. The contribution of the marketing manager in the success of the business in due course of time enhances the personal perspectives as well. Development of the buyer-seller relationship enhances dynamically and this takes place through the generation of linkages and relationships with entities of the external marketplace especially between the channels and that of the end users. Strategy enhancement is another dimension that develops as a personal perspective. The lifetime value of a customer can be said to be a driver that helps in the determination of the quantity of resources that a firm generally invests in a particular relationship. The mangers with their developed strategies attract the potential customers and maximize their investment in valuable resources along with the minimization in the non valuable investments. Individual c apabilities develop with time and the representation focuses towards a hardcore customer centric approach leading to the optimal fulfillment of their demands. The development of knowledge and that of the management of interaction is a kind of technology development and can be regarded as a key resource for the establishment of a long term and profitable customer relationship. A perfect blend of sales, marketing and that of service information system will act as a key variable in the development of robust paratnership with the customers.

CLOCKS Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

CLOCKS - Assignment Example Quartz crystals can be set vibrating with an electric current with crystal vibrations ranging from 2.5 to 5 million times a second. This means that vibrations in quartz clocks allow them to get time measurement to an accuracy down to a millionth of a second. The present day quartz clock developed in the early 1900s, clock needs certain basic requirements for it to work. First, it must have a power source that will allow it to create motion. Second, the clock must have a time base which provides a periodic oscillation dictating the measurement of time. The time base is essentially the device that controls clock signals. Lastly, it must have a way to convey the information generated by the time base and be able to display this information to actually tell time. During the 19th century until the middle of the 20th century, the pendulum clock was the standard time teller. The principle of the pendulum at work is such that its swing is independent of the amplitude, or size, of the swing. In effect, the only factors affecting the amplitude are the length of the pendulum and the force of gravity. Each swing of the pendulum releases a spring-loaded ratchet in the clock mechanism, which drives the hands. If the pendulum is left alone, frictional forces would act upon it and so it will eventually stop. Thus, a pendulum clock must contain a weight-driven or electrically operated mechanism that periodically pushes the pendulum to keep it swinging. Pendulum clocks and earlier versions of watches known as chronometers are quite cumbersome because their movement stops when they are not wound. In addition, pendulum clocks are highly dependent on external forces such as the force of gravity and temperature. Thus, quartz clocks and watches are the more popular options today. Quartz clocks are battery powered with gears regulated by a tiny crystal of quartz. When the battery sends electricity to the quartz crystal through an electronic circuit, the quartz crystal oscillates at

Criminology research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Criminology - Research Paper Example This is a worrying trend that should not only be left to the society and the law enforcers alone (Walsh, Anthony, and Craig Hemmens 57). According to recent research that was conducted, the results showed that high school male and female comprise of almost a quarter of crime arrests which is indeed an astonishing alarming rate. The research further shows that the rate of arrests of high female is nearly half the juvenile arrests as compared to two years ago when the rate was negligible to notice. Thus, more high school females are joining the gangs in order to commit criminal activities. It is also evident that more high school male and female are committing crime at an early age in their high school years which was not the trend before where the number was higher as the high school male and female graduated to upper classes. This shows that currently, the number is shockingly increasing with the majority being from the lower classes in the high system (Siegel, 114). The development of the juvenile justice system began more than a century ago where previously; the traditional English Common law was applicable. Initially, people who committed crime were confined in the same correction facility regardless of their ages. Thus, the old and the young were handled as adult criminals. The society including the families were fully responsible of disciplinary measures for the children but if the young adults committed crime that was viewed as above the norm, they were arrested and treated in a similar manner as an adult criminal. However, this system became abolished since the young adults instead of rehabilitating themselves they came out of the correctional facilities being hardcore criminals who had been hardened due to the influence on them by the adult criminals (Siegel, Larry and Brandon, 43). There was therefore the need to

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Research Paper

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation - Research Paper Example The last program evidently receives the most attention in terms of payment for grants, as in 2007 it reached $1.22 billion and accounted for 61% of all donations (Gates Foundation, Annual report, 2007). Additionally, the Gates Foundation works to improve economic conditions around the world through agricultural developments, financial services, and technology services. In the United States, the Gates Foundation focuses on community grants in the Northwest, technology services in libraries, and education across the country (Hill, 2006). From the critical perspective, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation represents the modern ideal of giving and philanthropy, of what Payton and Moody eloquently described as "[it] is about ideas and values as well as about actionis always an effort to blend the idea and the practical" (Payton and Moody, 4). In 2000, the leadership of the Gates Foundation Education Division was committed to being the most publicly scrutinized philanthropy in American history. The main philanthropic goal of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's Education Program is to increase significantly the number of low-income minority students who graduate high school with academic skills needed for success in post secondary education and in the workplace (Smerdon and Means, 1). In February of 2005, Bill Gates spoke at a governor's conference in Washington, DC regarding the condition of American high schools (Hess, 2005). The 45 governors in attendance listened as Bill Gates declared America's high schools obsolete. He elaborated by saying, "By obsolete, I mean that our high schools - even when they're working exactly as designed - cannot teach our kids what they need to know today" (Rhodes et al, 7). Additionally, Gates reviewed some troubling evidence to support his comments regarding the lack of success in Ame rican high schools. Gates made his point with the nation's governors by stating that only 71% of students graduated high school in 2002, and only 34% were minimally prepared for college (Rhodes et al, 7). In addition to improving American high school system, the Gates Foundation actively seeks to change public policy regarding American schools, which include implementation of transparency in school finance, multiple independent school providers, and performance-based accountability (Hill, 2006). The Foundation's commitment to increasing the number of smaller, personalized high schools, and a knowledge base for success in these schools, has led to the National School District and Network Grants Program. This program is taking a twopronged approach with regard to grantee organizations: (a) grantee organizations are developing new, smaller high schools; and (b) grantee organizations are converting larger high schools into smaller learning communities. As a part of the new high school initiative, the foundation provides grants for Early College High Schools (ECHSs) (Smerdon and Means, 1). The Early College High School Initiative focuses specifically on increased academic rigor through blending high school and college education (Smerdon and Means, 1). The ECHSs are purposefully designed to provide students with a high school diploma and an associate's degree, or 2 years of

Nursing Research Paper - Leukemia Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nursing - Leukemia - Research Paper Example Introduction The word leukemia is derived from the Greek words leukos and aima, which stand for ‘white blood.’ Leukemia is a form of blood and bone marrow cancer and it points to an abnormal production and multiplication of white blood cells (leukocytes) in a person’s body. Blood cells are produced in the bone marrow and they divide to form new body cells according to the requirements of the body (there is the dying of old cells and new cells have to replace them). In a person suffering from leukemia, the DNA of immature white blood cells somehow becomes damaged and they grow and divide chaotically. The old cells do not die and there is rapid division of body cells – more and more cells are produced in the body taking up more and more space and cancer problem arises. Simply put, the bad cells in the blood crowd out the good cells (Nordqvist, 2009). History of Leukemia Ancient Greeks discovered leukemia way back in the 4th or 5th century BC. However, John Hu ghes Benett officially diagnosed it in Edinburgh in the year 1845. In the 19th century, some physicians from Europe further realized that a number of of their patients were suffering from peculiarly high white blood cells levels. They termed this condition 'weisses blut', meaning â€Å"white blood†. In the year 1913, leukemia was categorized into four types namely acute lymphocytic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia (Erythroleukemia) and chronic myelogenous leukemia. Further, in the year 1970, it was proven that there was cure for leukemia, and by 1980s and 1990s, roughly 70% of patients suffering from leukemia had been cured. This brought high hopes to all patients suffering from leukemia globally. For ages, people have been fighting with cancer, the only difference being that they were not aware of the details of what they were battling (Johnson, 2011). Treatment options Just like the information concerning leukemia has changed with time, the treatment options available for the patients have also changed. The earliest treatment option administered to leukemia patients was arsenic. Generally known in the West as a poison, arsenic has been used to treat leukemia and such conditions as psoriasis and syphilis in traditional Chinese medicine for almost two thousand years. It has been proven to have a considerable anti-cancer effect for leukemia although the mechanism for this effect has remained unknown till recently when scientists in China found out that it targets proteins which contribute to cancer cells’ growth (Edwards, 2010). Healthandnutritiontips.net (2011) records that arsenic is still used in the treatment of some types of leukemia and that it has proved very successful. In the early 20th century, radiation therapy replaced arsenic (Johnson, 2011). Scientists found out that exposure to radiation decreases the cancerous tumors on patients in size. Radiation is still a very common and a very effective treatme nt option for leukemia, as well as other cancer types. However, it has several side effects that a patient needs to take into consideration (Healthandnutritiontips.net, 2011). Other modern/recent treatment options for leukemia include biological therapy or immunotherapy, chemotherapy surgery and bone marrow transplants. Biological therapy/immunotherapy has to do with treatment

Enhancing Shareholder Value Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Enhancing Shareholder Value - Essay Example Another school of thought believes that dividends are adverse for the average shareholder as they attract taxes and cause fiscal disadvantages. Last but not the least the third group lauds large dividends as a positive signal to shareholders that all is well. So where does the modern shareholder value satisfaction stand in relation to dividend policies This is the one of the main issues which I will review in my paper below. Secondly my research is concerned with whether corporate governance is a mechanism to enhance shareholder wealth The fear of manager stockholder conflicts as being a threat to Shareholder wealth has been expressed by many academics as the quote below demonstrates, "The separation of ownership and control in a modern corporation often requires the delegation of significant decision-making authority to professional managers, which introduces the possibility that managers will have incentives to make decisions that benefit them at the expense of stockholders" (Byrd, Parrino and Pritsch, 1998). As this quote argues from the thesis by Byrd, Parrino and Pritsch, 1998 where the authors have argued that the separation of ownership and control in a modern corporate form will require the transfer of this responsibility to professional managers and this will introduce a stockholder-manager conflict with in the corporate structure. It has even been suggested that like most small investors, they would be likely to depend on free-rider benefits from the efforts of larger shareholders, who may have better expertise in corporate monitoring (Byrd, Parrino, & Pritsch,1998). My paper will defend the Berles and Means thesis and try to assess the truth in the statement given in the question. The modern corporate form finds itself dependant on the efficient allocation of resources by its agents of the funds which have been made available by the shareholders.The creation of new ventures and prudent investment becomes a focal aim of the established companies. This efficient allocation is dependant upon what the investors believe will be the returns as well as the trust that their company will be managed to maximize the investment and that the cash flows promised in exchange for the investment will effectively be returned.This trust will be established through a broad set of factors which will stem from the legal, institutional and regulatory environment that guarantees the investor protection.Accountability is the core concern that runs throughout the governance issues. Whether it is accountability of the management to the board, or the board to the shareholders, or even the employees to the employers, this is one issue that comes to fore whenever the subject is raised. Ac countability does not confine itself to financial matters alone. It covers the whole idea of responsibilities placed on a person, a group or even a department and the evaluation thereof to find out how these responsibilities were carried out or delivered. The third issue which I will deal briefly with is how corporate governance can enhance shareholder wealth and the role of the law

Nursing Research Paper - Leukemia Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nursing - Leukemia - Research Paper Example Introduction The word leukemia is derived from the Greek words leukos and aima, which stand for ‘white blood.’ Leukemia is a form of blood and bone marrow cancer and it points to an abnormal production and multiplication of white blood cells (leukocytes) in a person’s body. Blood cells are produced in the bone marrow and they divide to form new body cells according to the requirements of the body (there is the dying of old cells and new cells have to replace them). In a person suffering from leukemia, the DNA of immature white blood cells somehow becomes damaged and they grow and divide chaotically. The old cells do not die and there is rapid division of body cells – more and more cells are produced in the body taking up more and more space and cancer problem arises. Simply put, the bad cells in the blood crowd out the good cells (Nordqvist, 2009). History of Leukemia Ancient Greeks discovered leukemia way back in the 4th or 5th century BC. However, John Hu ghes Benett officially diagnosed it in Edinburgh in the year 1845. In the 19th century, some physicians from Europe further realized that a number of of their patients were suffering from peculiarly high white blood cells levels. They termed this condition 'weisses blut', meaning â€Å"white blood†. In the year 1913, leukemia was categorized into four types namely acute lymphocytic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia (Erythroleukemia) and chronic myelogenous leukemia. Further, in the year 1970, it was proven that there was cure for leukemia, and by 1980s and 1990s, roughly 70% of patients suffering from leukemia had been cured. This brought high hopes to all patients suffering from leukemia globally. For ages, people have been fighting with cancer, the only difference being that they were not aware of the details of what they were battling (Johnson, 2011). Treatment options Just like the information concerning leukemia has changed with time, the treatment options available for the patients have also changed. The earliest treatment option administered to leukemia patients was arsenic. Generally known in the West as a poison, arsenic has been used to treat leukemia and such conditions as psoriasis and syphilis in traditional Chinese medicine for almost two thousand years. It has been proven to have a considerable anti-cancer effect for leukemia although the mechanism for this effect has remained unknown till recently when scientists in China found out that it targets proteins which contribute to cancer cells’ growth (Edwards, 2010). Healthandnutritiontips.net (2011) records that arsenic is still used in the treatment of some types of leukemia and that it has proved very successful. In the early 20th century, radiation therapy replaced arsenic (Johnson, 2011). Scientists found out that exposure to radiation decreases the cancerous tumors on patients in size. Radiation is still a very common and a very effective treatme nt option for leukemia, as well as other cancer types. However, it has several side effects that a patient needs to take into consideration (Healthandnutritiontips.net, 2011). Other modern/recent treatment options for leukemia include biological therapy or immunotherapy, chemotherapy surgery and bone marrow transplants. Biological therapy/immunotherapy has to do with treatment

Great Ideas Reading Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Great Ideas Reading - Assignment Example However, the son successfully kills his mother and is put on trial. Goddess Athena is making a ruling. On the plaintiff, side is the ancient Furies who are seeking asylum for the murderer son. Athena, after a long time of deliberations and discussion in which the Furies are demanding asylum or revenge, rules in favor of the son. The judges votes tie and Athena’s ruling is withheld. To appease the Furies, the goddess grant them the power to give of deny consent to any person seeking success. Although the decision maintains peace and breaks the chain of revenge bloodshed, Athena’s decision is in part misguided. This is because she describes the murder of the mother by the son as a lesser crime than the mother avenging her daughter. This is not true. However, what is true from the verdict and the discussion is that there must be a willingness to bring to an end bloodshed which requires compromise by one of the warring parties. Therefore, there must be a way that people should seek to end violence and bloodshed related to revenge (Rodney,

Planned Parenthood and Teen Awareness Group (TGA) Essay Example for Free

Planned Parenthood and Teen Awareness Group (TGA) Essay The Teen Awareness Group or TGA is an educational program that is sponsored by Planned Parenthood in East Central Illinois. The aim of TGA is to mobilize specific age groups within the community to teach the younger population about teen pregnancy and other related issues. The ultimate mission or goal of the TGA is focused on a specific group of people, the youth, as a means to compartmentalize the services provided by Planned Parenthood and in the same way direct attention to vulnerable populations and ensure that specific needs or concerned posed by them are addressed. Another objective and motivation being utilized by Planned Parenthood is the consequences of being unguided throughout a young individual’s life. The organization recognizes through its educational program that undesirable results, such as unwanted teen pregnancy, etc. , are results of uninformed decision-making and an unguided life. Through education, TGA aims to teach the youth to become more responsible and aware. The program does not only benefit the youth in terms of being educated and guided. It also empowers them to become socially conscious of their responsibilities in terms of helping other people within the same age group to face challenges by becoming part time workers for the organization. Peer educators will be trained to be competent enough for the job requirements, and they should also be able to attend set meetings as required. Individuals who are eligible to join the cause should be between fourteen to eighteen years of age. The schools they are attending should be within the Bloomington-Normal and Champaign areas only. Aside from peer educators, individuals who will be joining the program will also be able to communicate with adults who are more experienced in the area. Planned Parenthood operates for TGA by coordinating with schools within the areas mentioned. Peer educators and individuals who want to join the program are asked to communicate with representatives working in their schools to be informed of how to join the cause whether as the subject or the educator. The resources for the programs that are lined up for the TGA are funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program and the Cunningham Township/Urbana City Social Services Funds. Each institutions plays a major role in the production of resources that completes and realizes the purpose of Planned Parenthood through its educational problem facilitated by the TGA.

The Operational Strategy for Gap Inc

The Operational Strategy for Gap Inc It is clear in the market that as an organization Gap is struggling. Profitability, changing customer needs and tastes and increased global competition has affected our performance. The Gap North America division for instance, has not posted an annual increase in sales at stores open at least a year since 2004. In 2009, sales were $3.82 billion, down almost one-third from where they were in 2004, Clifford (2011). At least four changes at CEO level have occurred, and as the new CEO, the need to determine and implement an effective operational strategy is of paramount importance. The objective of this presentation is to obtain board approval on the proposed Operational Strategy for Gap and any possible changes to the recommendations and conclusions drawn by the executive team. The methodology adopted involved reviewing the entire business operations of Gap and that of its leading competitors (especially Zara). This involved using secondary data from the case study, internet searches on trends and developments in the global fashion industry and that of the company. In the development of this operational strategy it was important to note that, the operational strategy is sub servant to the broad corporate strategy and using the Porters (1985) value chain analysis. This according to Heizer and Render (2011) uses identified activities that represent strengths or potential strengths and maybe opportunities for developing competitive advantage. It must be noted early, however, that an alternative perspective exist that the use of resource view approach. Using the resource view approach means that Gaps effectiveness is predicated by determining the optimum fit for the firms resources in the dynamic environment as noted by Heizer and Render (2011). A hybrid response and differentiation strategy shall be adopted as apposed to the traditional cost leadership strategy within Gap. Our focus and competitive advantage as an organisation has thus shifted from just become cheaper to becoming better and faster. This means that we are aligning to changes in cus tomer needs, increasing global competitiveness and a dynamic business environment. (A justification for this strategy is provided for in annexure 1 of this report). The CSFs necessary to ensure the success of the operational strategy included, effective communication, internal marketing, change management and while communication was found to be the most Cost of implementing changes to ensure that successful execution of the operational strategy was determined asà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. The recommendations put forward to the board included the need to adopt the operational strategy in line with understanding that radical change is a prerequisite. Critical Success Factors to include, internal marketing of the operational strategy, building a performance culture, ensuring effective communication and putting in place a reward-systems that are linked to performance are a must. Table of Contents Page 1.0 Design of goods 2.0 Process and Capacity Design 3.0 Location Selection 4.0 Layout design 5.0 Supply Chain Management 6.0 Inventory Management 7.0 Scheduling 8.0 Conclusion and Recommendations List of References Annexures 1.0 Design of goods 2.0 Process and Capacity Design 3.0 Location Selection 4.0 Layout design 5.0 Supply Chain Management Hanna and Newman (2002) define SCM as the configurations, coordination and improvements of a sequentially related set of operations. It is the output from operations referred to by Hanna and Newman (2002) that customers get, and therefore, the strategic emphasis of well-managed supply chain is to have a competitive advantage driven primarily by strong customer focus. Heizer and Render (2011) define SCM as the management of activities that procure materials and services, transform them into intermediate goods and final products and deliver them through a distribution system. The authors believe that in todays business competition is not between companies but rather supply chains. This means that if internal operations at Gap can be improved to surpass that of competition it will give our organisation a competitive advantage. This section of the report will focus on how Gap can change its relationship with suppliers and distributors and most importantly an evaluation of managing our purchasing and outsourcing activities in line with increased competitive activity. In reviewing the above the objective it to build a chain of suppliers that focuses on maximising value to the ultimate customer Heizer and Render (2011). The major challenge within Gap has been our inability to control and determine what is to be made and what is to be purchased effectively. As we maximise value along the chain we will be able to ensure that we improve on quality, delivery and innovation. Our global presences demands that the review of the supply chain be linked closely to the overall strategy of the business. In other words this means that the operational strategy must link back to the broad corporate strategy for GAP. Key aspects of this the broad corporate strategy and operational strategy is driven primarily be the need to increase competitiveness through product customisation, high quality, cost reductions and speed to market with the added emphasis being on the supply chain Heizer and Render (2011). Refer to the corporate strategy in à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. It is proposed that a new integrated supply chain be adopted with Gap. This means that, having fewer suppliers and building on a centralised manufacturing. The advantages will be cutting down on unnecessary costs by suppliers while building on a pool of highly effective supplier base that is aligned to the firms overall vision and direction. Zara continues to use vertical integration as a method to build on expandin g its supply chain. The Japanese, method of Keirestu would work well as we combine both few suppliers and vertical integration. Whilst our traditional many-supplier strategy worked in the past suppliers were responsible for maintaining the technologies and expertise, costs and quality controls the surge in competitive activity especially form Zara has shown that centralised and or few supplier strategy works better. The need to focus on controlling supply and building on technological advantages is an imperative to the success in the industry. It will be necessary as few suppliers will help on improve inventory management as we move closer to the implementation of a JIT system. These few suppliers will be asked to participate in the design of goods by helping in the partnering in research and development initiatives to include, provide design innovations, input on changing customers tastes and needs and technological expertises. Review of existing Suppliers: our focus is to cut down on scatter and huge number of suppliers and thus focus on building dependable close yet very few suppliers with long-term strategic relationships Heizer and Render (2011) Because of the shift in focus of our broad strategy (differentiation) it means that the selection of our suppliers inevitably has to change. This change however is radical demanding that our lower end suppliers that are not cost effective and do not meet the changing requirements set by the organisation must be immediately cut out. Whilst the medium to long-term aspect of our strategy demands that we build a centralised manufacturing. This means that, existing risk associated with the environment (customs duties, tariffs, security screening, natural disasters, currency fluctuations, terrorists attacks and political issues), controls (management metrics and reliable secure communication for financial transactions product designs, and logistics scheduling) and process performance (raw material and component availability, quality and logistics) need to be considered, Heizer and Render (2011). Ongoing reviews of competitors centralised manufacturing performance will continue in line with building on the above necessary changes to ensure that risks identified can be mitigated. Heizer and Render (2011) proposes that while changes in the supply chain management happens differently in different organisation its success will depend on the building mutual agreement of goals, trust and compatible organisational culture. These are discussed in the conclusion section of the report. Fisher (1997) offers insight on how supply chain decisions affect strategy. Because Gap desires to use a hybrid strategy various aspects of Fishers input are critical to the success of the organisation. Our Supplier goals will equate to those of Benetton and that is to share market research jointly and develop products and options. Our Primary selection criteria however will select primarily for capacity, speed and flexibility. Gap would need to invest aggressively to reduce production lead time while use product design that lead to low setup time and rapid production ramp-up. 6.0 Inventory Management Effective supply chain management that is aligned to both a well-structured operational and corporate strategy has ensured that Zara remains highly profitable. It has also meant that it (Zara) can continue to build on its in-house production and inventory management systems. Backed by advanced technologies and inventory optimisation models Zara has been able to improve on its efficacy. To this end, Zara has a failure rate of 1% compared to the industry of 10%. The experiences that we have faced as an organisation in managing inventory has greatly performance because our 10% error rate in our clothing collection is very high and makes us very uncompetitive. In-part our many-supplier strategy is to be the cause of theses failures while in turn the fact that suppliers are many, makes the handling and processing of inventory very difficult from inbound logistics of raw material inventory to delivery of finished goods inventory. Two categories of inventory posses the biggest threat to our organisation and are a major concern. These are the management of raw material inventory and finished goods inventory. It is key to note that in line with changes in supply change, a review of our customer satisfaction (refer to Goods and service design à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) suppliers, production schedules and human resource planning are key in achieving success in inventory management as noted by Heizer and Render (2011). Poor record keeping of inventory has also been a major problem this has been caused by the huge stock of unsold items returned from own store retail chains in exchange of in-season stocks. While the existing many-supplier strategy has also increased stock and warehouse as lead times for stocks continue to negatively affect stock holding levels and record keeping. This also in turn increases holding stock costs and insurance charges while our competitors especially Zara centralised distribution warehouses hold stock for only 72 hours. A very effective and simple system to implement in store is a two -bin system. It is the view of the executive that going back to basics in inventory control will play a critical role in ensuring that we succeed in tracking and monitoring stock movement for the group. If is difficult to worry about more scientific approaches such as probabilistic models when the major challenge is that we have excess stock of clothing lines that have not been sold. Art P eck the former CE for Gap the Northern American rightfully notes Unless we put cute clothes in front of our customer on the shelfà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦everything else we do isnt going to matter. 7.0 Scheduling Contracting manufacturing has created major challenges for our organisation in the past, as lead times have been long, late deliveries and prevention of out-of stock situations become an on going exercise. Lessons from the industry have shown the need to restructure our scheduling in line with proposed changes in supply chain and inventory management. According to Heizer and Render (2011), the scheduling decision addresses the problem of matching productivity to fluctuating demands. It is however important to note that different processes suggest different approaches to scheduling. Based on our selected strategy and the position taken by our competitors such as Zara and HM, it is important that we build on process focused facilities in the medium to long term period as we seek to centralise our operations. This means that we generate a forward-looking schedule, where MRP generates due dates that are refined with finite capacity scheduling techniques as noted by Heizer and Render (201 1). Automated scheduling systems will be put in place with trained and competent personnel. This is necessary to ensure that accurate and relevant production database is maintained throughout the entire organisation. Therefore in the first few months of operationalising the CE and Operations Director will review item master file, routing file, work-centre master file to ensure that scheduling is down to satisfactory standards (something that my predecessors failed to effectively manage). In own store retail structures Gap will employ a strategy current used by Zara to effectively manage staff. This method involves cyclical scheduling as it has been proven to reduce man-hours and increase staff motivation. Software to perform scheduled staff based on stores forecasted sales volumes with location staffing even during peak periods has been identified and been purchased to achieve the above requirement of cyclical scheduling at own store retail locations. Feasible and efficient schedules of production must be developed, the demands of human resources and facilities must be determined and controlled Heizer and Render (2011). 8.0 Conclusion and Recommendations The above analysis has clearly shown that change is eminent within the organisation. It is important to note that this change is radical and has to be implemented immediately. The criticality of the operation strategy (like all other major programs such as the balanced score card) demands that executives are tasked with specific duties and responsibility to ensure its success. To this end, executive management must ensure that operational decisions assigned to them be coordinated and communicated effectively among all operational structures and divisions (a schedule for the critical implementation has been shown below). The major concern from a marketing perspective is our failure to provide customers with products that clearly meet their specific needs and or tastes. The ever-changing business environment and increased competitiveness globally has also worked against the firm. However, from a purely operational perspective this has meant that we need to change our operating model an d ensure that it is aligned to the broad corporate strategy. In this regard the most effective strategy will be a hybrid response and differentiation strategy. This strategy will be different to the traditional cost leadership strategy within Gap. Our focus and competitive advantage as an organisation has thus shifted from just become cheaper to becoming better and faster. This means that we are aligning to changes in customer needs, increasing global competitiveness and a dynamic business environment. Key aspects of differentiation that will be incorporated are innovative design and a shopping experience unmatched to competition whilst the response aspect of our strategy will ensure flexible manufacturing reliability in our inventory, supply chain and scheduling structures and quickness in process design (as this will now be a lean structure). Key Operations Decision Major activities to be conducted Responsibility Due Date Design of Goods Process and capacity design Location Selection Layout design Supply Chain Management Inventory Management Scheduling The success of the Operational Strategy will not solely be based on its adoption and approval by the board but also by the need and realisation that it has to be implemented. However, implementation will also involve change, Burnes (2004), effective communication, Thill and Bovee (2001), internal marketing, Keegan (2001) and redefinition of reward systems and performance culture, Hitt, Black and Porter (2004). These critical success factors will help build on trust, ownership, teamwork and transparency while ensuring the successful implementation of the Operational Strategy. 8.1 Performance culture Reid (2005), sums up a performance culture that Gap must adopt to achieve a credible performance learning system these are: Openness and trust: candor must be encouraged and managers have to be willing to speak the unspeakable. Trust produces an environment where there is less defensiveness when issues are raised; people react more honestly and ask questions. Managed differences: conflicts are addressed and unfulfilled commitments exposed, options and alternatives are looked at without predetermined outcomes. Simplicity and focus: there is focus on implementation, with clarity and precision defining what needs to be accomplished and how. There is commitment at every level to remove complexity from the way of doing business. Playing to peoples strengths: leaders know their people and match effectively talent and task, as they understand their peoples strengths and how best to elicit them. 8.2 Internal marketing Internal marketing must become part of the on-going process within Gap. This will involve functional process alignment, motivation and empowerment of employees at all levels to consistently deliver and satisfy customer experience. Internal marketing must empower employees and give them accountability and responsibility because it helps non-marketing staff to learn and be able to perform their tasks in a marketing-like manner. For the internal marketing to be effective, employees must internalise the core values of the organisation. Sponsors can print t-shirts, caps and merchandise to give employees to wear every Friday so that they remember the importance of the project. 8.3 Reward systems To address motivation and morale within Gap there is need to initial review the existing reward and performance bonus scheme. The traditional approach of linking this to bottom line heavily undermines long term sustainability of the organization, as managers and employees race to meet target. Having worked in operations, the risk is made high as we near the festive season sales personnel dump long shelf life products on customers (on the basis that they will be in critical short supply) so as to meet targets. This works well until two months down the line, customers either refuse to replenish orders and or return product because it is nearing expiration. These losses are usually only accounted for way after the productivity bonuses have been paid out and annual accounts drawn. Whilst it is important to inform or remind employees what results are desired and motivate them to achieve and exceed the performance targets, the performance learning system (balance score card will help addre ss ensure this is done with great transparency). To achieve the above, sponsors through the HR department must ensure: Drafting job description based on process requirements and characteristics Translating process goals and action plans, personal training and development requirements into personal performance measures. Defining appropriate performance targets based on known capability and desired characteristics. Formally appraising performance against the range of measures developed and compare with target performance. Rewarding and recognizing superior performance. A balance must be struck in selection of reward system mix for both long term and short term success of Gap. Thus, in the short-term, rewards such as bonuses, commissions and piece-rate payments can be used long-term rewards can constitute stock based incentives i.e. stock options, stock appreciation rights and phantom stock plans. 8.4 Change Management Having internally marketed the adoption of the Balanced Scorecard as a PMM system, performance measure owners, must manage the change process. The change being implemented in Gap is planned as it is being consciously embarked upon, Burnes (2006). Stages of the planned change will entail: exploration, planning, action and integration. During each stage identified above it will be necessary for performance measure owners to involve employees for the change process to be successful. The change process reinforces behaviors that are aligned to Gaps objectives through feedback and full utilization of the reward system being created. However, in the implementation of the balance scorecard and in effecting change as a critical success factor to the entire project barriers might impede the successful execution of the project. According to Burnes (2006) the barriers to effective change programs are: competing resources, functional boundaries, change management skills, communication, Them and us- the opposition element, people needs and training, unrealistic timetables, resistance to change and initiative fatigue These factors can occur at any stage and can affect employees both the general labour force and even managers and the executive. To overcoming these barriers, Burnes (2006) proposes communication, ability to establish high trust relationships, negotiation, Influencing and build on self confidence.

Herbal Medicine :: essays research papers fc

Herbal Medicine I would like to start out by saying a verse from Genesis 1:29-30 â€Å"And God said, behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.† This verse from the bible has a powerful, but simple meaning; all herbs shall be taken in to our body as the meat for healing. I not only believe in herbs because it is said in the bible, but because herbal medicine has the power to prevent & heal. Why?, well, its quite simple really, our bodies are organic, so, why would you want to take in something that’s inorganic, would it not be wiser to allow the body to heal with organic products. That’s exactly what you are doing when taking pain relievers, heparin, and antihypertensive medications just to name a few. In herbal medicine, the patient is empowered, and since herbs are certainly more convenient, without prescriptions or limitations, more patients can enjoy their benefits. The benefits which I’m speaking of is the ability to prevent & heal. Let’s take cardiovascular disease for example, which just happens to be the leading cause of death in the U.S., and according to Dr. David Vastola in his book To y our good health, he wrote out a section with a natural alternative for CAD and hypertension, how, well he says by taking in Omega 3, L-Carnitine, and Coenzyme Q10, that these 3 things can help a person to cope with CAD, and as for hypertension all they have to do is either to take Coenzyme Q10 or Hawthorne. Have we all here heard one time or another that ulcers are cause by stress, well, the NIH said that ulcers are caused by the helicobacterpylori bacteria, not by stress, and the NIH said that they can be â€Å"cured† with a combination of the trace mineral bismuth and tetracycline. The number two cause of death in America as we all know is Cancer, well, the NCI (Sept 1993) and Harvard Medical School performed a study on cancer patients, and the results were that they found an anti-cancer diet.

Hamlet and Structural Functionalism Essay

In the famous play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, family takes an enormous part in the failure in the main character, Hamlet. What is interesting about his family dynamic and the way his family affects Hamlet’s actions, is that it directly correlates to Emile Durkheim’s theory on structural functionalism. It is a theory that studies our social structure and culture, and how they work together and affect us. Durkheim suggests that our social system is made up of a bunch of different parts and when one of these components gets taken away, we suffer and go into normlessness- which Durkheim refers to as anomie. Anomie is an indication of a loss of our sense of values and rules of conduct, creating problems. In relation to the play Hamlet, we can establish a connection between structural functionalism and Hamlet’s family through the losses he encounters throughout the book. While dealing with the death and re-appearance of his father, his uncle’s deceit and his mother’s betrayal, he finds himself falling into anomie while overthinking, and becoming mad in result of his loneliness. In the beginning of the play Hamlet, we are promptly made aware of Hamlet’s family situation and what has recently happened with his father, Old Hamlet. When a child is born, the parent of the same sex as the child will usually be the one they feel the biggest connection with. There’s a feeling of common understanding, and when one gets that individual taken away it truly is devastating. That is how it was for Hamlet. We get to see the gravity of his father’s death destroying his optimism, when he’s talking to Claudius and tells him that people can act sad, but he has real grief beneath the clothes that he wears. â€Å"Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief, That can denote me truly. These indeed â€Å"seem,† For they are actions that a man might play. But I have that within which passeth show, These but the trappings and the suits of woe.† (1, 2, 83). Two scenes later, we are showed how the death of his father affects his mental state. When Horatio and Hamlet lay eyes on the ghost in scene 4, Horatio begs Hamlet not to follow him. â€Å"What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord, Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff That beetles o’er his base into the sea, †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1, 4, 72). Hamlet answers him with a shocking comeback and follows the mysterious figure into the mist. â€Å"Why, what should be the fear? I do not set my life in a pin’s fee, And for my soul—what can it do to that, Being a thing immortal as itself? It waves me forth again. I’ll follow it.† (1, 4, 67) This quote reveals Hamlet’s opinion on his self-worth. He explains to Horatio that he does not value his life. If Hamlet’s father had not died, and he had not been so fragile and in such grief, there would have been a significant difference in the way that he handled the situation. His father’s death, r ight from the beginning of the play, started affecting his sense of values and rules of conduct- leaving him in a state of normlessness. This is what spun the chaos of Hamlet into action, starting Hamlet out on his path to self-destruction, eventually to the point where his death is the result of his own medalling. In the words of a man who lived long ago, â€Å"what we fear, we create.† After the death of his father Hamlet continues to mourn the loss, as one would usually do if their parent were to decease. Oddly enough, his own mother and lest we forget; the recent wife of his father, says to him: â€Å"Do not for ever with thy vailed lids Seek for thy noble father in the dust: Thou know’st ’tis common; all that lives must die,   Passing through nature to eternity.† (1.2.2) This is shocking because normally, if one’s spouse has passed away they would experience some sort of great grief, however Gertrude takes little discomfort in the matter and in the quote above, tells him not to fret, for everybody must die at some point. To this, Hamlet says to himself, â€Å"O, God! a beast, that wants discourse of reason, Would have mourn’d longer–married with my uncle,My father’s brother, but no more like my father Than I to Hercules: [†¦]† (1.2.151). Clearly her insensitiveness and incentive to quickly re-marry angers Hamlet. How could she not mourn the death of her own husband, and re-marry his brother almost right after? Hamlet demonstrates great disgust for his mother and accuses her of incest. â€Å"She [Gertrude] married. O, most wicked speed, to post. With such dexterity to incestuous sheets! It is not nor it cannot come to good: But break, my heart; for I must hold my tongue.† (1.2.158). With the loss of his own mother, Hamlet (as would any child) starts to act out and feel a loss of control. We see this in his quote in act 1 scene 2: â€Å"O, that this too too solid flesh would melt Thaw and resolve itself into a dew! Or that the Everlasting had not fix’d His canon ‘gainst self-slaughter! O God! God! How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable, Seem to me all the uses of this world! (128) Here, Hamlet talks about how he wishes God had not declared suicide a sin, and how pointless life is to him now. This is huge because we get to see how the loss of his mother is affecting his sanity. He needs his mother to support and protect him, yet she is nowhere to be found. Rather, she is with the man that he needs to be protected from. This affects his sense of values and rules of conduct- leaving him in a state of normlessness. This is just another push from Gertrude to Hamlet towards his death (failure) in the end of the play. Meanwhile, Hamlet’s uncle and new step father Claudius is being a â€Å"villain, villain, smiling, damned villain!† (107) as Hamlet describes him in act 1 scene 5, because he feels that Claudius has been deceitful and betrayed his own brother. Which he in fact has. In act 3 scene 3, Claudius says he feels guilty for murdering Old Hamlet, yet he states, â€Å"That cannot be [Claudius cannot ask God to accept his apology), since I am still possessed Of those effects for which I did the murder: My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen.† (56) Revealing that he knows that he cannot as for forgiveness when he is still in possession of his brother’s belongings and is not ready to let them go. This whole affair leaves Hamlet very clearly bitter and upset with him. In act 3 scene 4, Hamlet’s mother says to him, â€Å"Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended.† (9) And he replies with a snarky remark claiming that Claudius is not his father at all, and that the one doing the real offending is her (Gertrude) to his father (Old Hamlet). â€Å"Mother, you have my father much offended.† (3.4.10) This quote proves to us how betrayed he feels by his uncle. Three scenes before these quotes, Hamlet presents his â€Å"to be, or not to be† soliloquy about suicide. â€Å"To be, or not to be: that is the question: Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles.† (3.1.57) He, again, is debating whether or not he should kill himself. This validates the theory that he is losing his mind due to his uncle’s actions, and essentially the robbing of his uncle entirely as a person that he once put his trust into. It affects Hamlet’s sense of values and rules of conduct- leaving him in a state of normlessness, pushing him even more off of the edge towards failure. Hamlet’s inability to remain mentally stable throughout the play is in the fault of the unfortunate death of one parental figure, the betrayal of the other, and the people that he invested into emotionally whom ultimately took advantage of his trust. When a kid is faced with such instability it becomes ridiculously difficult for them to continue on as fully functioning, emotionally stable human beings. When the most important people in Hamlet’s life disappeared, he started to go into normlessness, like we would if we were to lose a vital component in our society, such as the government. He fell into anomie, losing his sense of values and rules of conduct, creating multiple problems within himself. We see this as he overthinks throughout the entire play. He cannot make conscious decisions, think, or function properly. In conclusion, Emile Durkheim’s theory on structural functionalism does in fact directly correlate to Hamlet’s family and their part in his f ailure.

Royal Enfield

Royal Enfield – Brand Rejuvenation of Motorcycle in India The year 2000 could have been decisive. That was when the board of directors at Eicher Motors decided to either shut down or sell off Royal Enfield – the company's Chennai-based motorcycle division, which manufactured the iconic Bullet motorbikes. For all its reputation, the sales of the bike was down to 2,000 units a month against the plant's installed capacity of 6,000; losses had been mounting for years. Just one person stood up to the board, insisting Royal Enfield should get another chance.He was Siddhartha Lal, a third generation member of the Delhi-based Lal family, promoters of the Eicher group of companies. Lal, then 26, was an unabashed Bullet fan: he even rode a red coloured Bullet while leading the baraat (procession) to his wedding venue, instead of the traditional horse. â€Å"The board agreed to give me a chance,† says Lal. â€Å"It was not because of its confidence in me, but because the b usiness was doing so badly it could hardly get any worse. † Lal felt Royal Enfield could still be saved. The bike had its reputation, a cult following, an instantly recognisable build, and aspirational value.Changes had to be made to keep up with the times and make the bike more acceptable, and there in lay the problem. Royal Enfield fans liked the bikes exactly the way they had always been. â€Å"We needed changes to attract new customers but by doing so risked losing existing ones,† says R. L. Ravichandran, whom Lal brought in as CEO in 2005 as part of his revival effort. Ravichandran had earlier worked with both TVS Motor and Bajaj Auto. â€Å"We were in a peculiar situation,† he adds. Rejuvenating Times The change had to be a calibrated one.The mistaken notions of prospective customers had to be addressed, and any reservations about Bullet and Thunderbird, which was launched in 2002, removed. At the same time, Lal and Ravichandran were clear that the individu ality of Royal Enfield bikes should not be compromised. â€Å"We did not want to go down the commuter route, but instead looked at the leisure segment,† says Ravichandran. Retaining the bikes' rugged looks was a given, including the build, the design of the head lamp and the petrol tank. But should the gears be shifted close to the rider's left foot – as in most bikes – or retained on the right side?The question gave Lal and his team many sleepless nights, since long time users were dead opposed to the change. The engine was another thorny question. The old cast iron engine was a relic of the past. Its separate gear box and oil sump design made it prone to oil leaks and it seized up very often. Its ability to meet increasingly strict emission norms was also suspect. A modern aluminium engine would eliminate these problems, but it would lack the old engine's pronounced vibrations and beat – which Royal Enfield customers loved.Laws of physics made it imposs ible to replicate these with the new engine. The new engine had 30 per cent fewer parts and produced 30 per cent more power than the old, with better fuel efficiency. By 2010, all Royal Enfield models had begun to use the new engine. Two other problems needed to be addressed: the quality of some of the components Royal Enfield bikes were using, and the sales experience. The case is prepared by Prof. Sanjay Patro and Aby Abraham, XLRI Jamshedpur for academic purpose only. It is not to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of a business situation To tackle the first, shop floor process were fine e ses e-tuned, whil suppliers w exhorte to le were ed improve qua ality levels. R Royal Enfield also embar d rked on a larg scale inter exercise to tone ge rnal e up performa ance. â€Å"We de eclared 2006 as the year o getting bac to the bas of ck sics,† says Ravichandra â€Å"We also formed a fie quality ra an. eld apid action fo to bridg the gap bet orce ge tween custo mer expectations an the reality nd y. † Slowly, the tide turned. E t Engine relate problems and oil leaka ed ages in the b bikes were tackled first.By 2008 de ealers were reporting lo ower worklo oads in the workshops. Warranty c claims fell sharply too. Royal Enfi ield also beg conduct gan ting marquee rides to promote leisu biking. e ure â€Å"Such steps removed the fears abou our produc reliability some customers may h ut cts' y have had,† says Venki Padmanabh han, who su ucceeded R Ravichandran as CEO e n earlier this year after Ravichandra was eleva an ated to the b board of Eich Motors. To improve sales exper her e rience new expanded. company-ow wned sho owrooms were la aunched and dea alershipsIn October 2008, Roya Enfield lau al unched in G Germany its newly desig gned 500cc Classic mod – inspire by J2, a del ed 1950 model Bullet – wit the new engine. It was a success, th admired fo its pe for erformance and fuel economy. Emboldened Lal launch it in In d, hed ndia in Nove ember 2009 initially as a 350 cc b bike, priced at Rs 1. 20 lakh. This proved a hit too. â€Å"Now, our capacit utilisation is 100 per t , ty n cent. Yet there is a six month waiting period for hs deliveries,† says Venk â€Å"We pla to doub our cap ki. an ble pacity soon to 1. 5 lak bikes. kh Changing T Times According to industry body, the Soc ciety of India Automob Manufac an bile cturers, the In ndian twost l e wheeler industry is expected to pos an annual growth of 11-12 per cent, and the market is expected to double ever four years till 2020. A ry s According to data from Nomura and Crisil, as o d 0 wo-wheelers were sold in India 20 011-12. Vehi icles in the executive many as 10 million tw segment form the bulk of sales at 6. 5 million, f med k 6 followed by the economy segment (1. 8 million) y and premium segment (1 million). m 1. The recent series of hike in the price of petrol h s es have played a significant role in the sa of twoale wheeler s, ac ccording to S SIAM, as mo first-time four-wheel buyers in rural India and tier II ost e ler n and tier III c cities have d deferred their purchases. Two-wheelers account for a very h high 76 per cent of mar rket share in the autom n mobile sector in Asia’s third-largest economy. Passenger r t vehicles account for 16. 2 per cent. 25 According to a recent H t Human Deve elopment Re eport by UN NDP, India i one of the youngest is e nations with the median age being 29 yrs by the year 2020.A the pene h And etration figur of 35% res Urban and 1 14% rural in ndicates that there going to be a per g riod of grow in the tw wheeler wth wo market. Challenging Times g The compet tition in high ‘cc' two wheeler seg her gment is heat ting up. Bajaj (Pulsar 35 NS, Rs 50 1. 75 lakh), Yamaha (Sp ports bike F FZ1, a 998cc motorcycle, at a price tag of Rs 8. 7 lakh), c e Kawasaki N Ninja 650, etc are burning the rubber t enthrall In c g to ndian youths. 2 Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Direc tor of Bajaj Auto, the 2nd Largest Motor cycle manufacturing Company of India, said â€Å"We have recognized the different needs of the customers of our high end bikes.To cater to these needs we have established separate stores called as â€Å"Bajaj Probiking Showrooms at in the major cities across the country. The Kawasaki Bajaj Ninja is available exclusively through Probiking Showrooms. † Bajaj has joined hands with KTM of Austria a bike manufacturer since 1934 and has brought higher end motorcycles in India under the brand KTM Duke. Hero Moto Corp after separation of its ties with Honda has become more aggressive. Honda charting out its solo journey wants to bring the best of the world to one of the fasted growing market of India. These are the few competitors to name.Many more will follow. Entry of Harley Davidson into India added new flavour to the higher end segment. HarleyDavidson India commenced operations in August 2009 and appointed the first dealership in July 201 0. Since early 2011, Harley-Davidson has been assembling motorcycles in India at its CKD (Completely-Knocked-Down) assembly unit at Bawal in Haryana. India is the second country where Harley-Davidson has CKD assembly operations outside the US, after Brazil. Harley-Davidson currently offers a range of 14 models from each of its 5 families – Sportster, Dyna, Softail, V-Rod and Touring.Each of the five Harley-Davidson motorcycle families boasts of a distinct character and caters to the varied sensibilities of the broad range of customers. Road Ahead Siddharth Lal observed that it grew at 42% and could sell 74,626 bikes during the year 2011. Venki is excited about the fact that demand has more than doubled and Enfield can supply and he is not bothered about the market share figures as they see themselves in a different league. In his words ‘it is more about the context of the product†, the product-market ‘. â€Å"Royal Enfield is a leisure brand that it enables customer to enjoy leisure†. It is an involving and engaging motor cycle† . The bike demands for continued caring kind of interaction from its riders that leads them to develop a emotional bond. Today, Royal Enfield's problems are of a different kind. It needs to scale up without diluting brand equity. From being the most expensive bike on Indian roads, today it faces challenges from iconic global brands such as Harley-Davidson which has entered the Indian market. With other competitors getting battle ready,how can it hold on to customers through the waiting period of six to eight months.Driving change when the chips are down is easy, when there is no other option. In Royal Enfield's case the? What would be your recommendations to Mr. Venki Padmamnabhan, CEO, with regard to its future roadmap, Product strategy, Brand Management /engagement and Marketing strategy? 3 Exhibit 1 Production figures for 2012 Jan-12 Hero Motocorp Ltd. 458848 7303 Royal Enfield 76 Harley David's Feb-12 479927 8005 116 Mar-12 502208 9004 104 Apr-12 485325 9013 104 May-12 515627 9256 100 Jun-12 517848 9265 74 Jul-12 469951 10057 90 Aug-12 401194 10237 86 Sep-12 367869 10255 87 Oct-12 426307 10606 78Exhibit 2 Harley Davidson Bikes Price list India Harley Davidson Super Low Price In India : 5. 5 lakh Harley Davidson IRON 883 Price In India : 6. 5 lakh Harley Davidson 883 Roadster Price in India : 7. 5 lakh Harley Davidson Forty-Eight Price In India : 8. 5 lakh Harley Davidson Nightster Price In India : 9. 95 lakh Harley Davidson XR1200x Price In India : 11. 95 lakh Harley Davidson Street bob Price In India : 13. 95 lakh Harley Davidson Super Glide Custom Price In India : 15. 45 lakh Harley Davidson Fat Boy Price In India : 19. 2 lakh Harley Davidson FLSTFB Fat boy Special Price In India : 19. lakh Harley Davidson Haritage softail classic Price In India : 20. 2 lakh Harley Davidson Night ROD Special Price In India : 19. 55 lakh Harley Davidson Road king Price In India : 22. 45 lakh Harley Davidson Street glide Price In India : 24. 2 lakh Harley Davidson CVO ultra classic electra glide Price : 34. 95 lakh Exhibit 3 Royal Enfield Bikes Price List in India 2012 : Royal Enfield Classic Chrome – 1,67,000 Royal Enfield Desert Storm – 1,57,000 Royal Enfield Electra 5 S – 69,000 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic 1,23,000 Royal Enfield Thunderbird K.S. 89,000 Royal Enfield Bullet 350 ES – 85,600 Royal Enfield Machismo 350 – 78,000 Royal Enfield Electra 4 S – 93,100 Royal Enfield Machismo 500 – 1,04,000 Royal Enfield Thunderbird S. S – 1,07,000 Royal Enfield Bullet 350 UCE – Rs. 99,500 Royal Enfield Electra Twinspark ES – Rs. 1,11,000 Royal Enfield Electra Twinspark KS – Rs. 1,07,000 Royal Enfield Thunderbird Twinspark – Rs. 1,16,000 Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500 – Rs. 1,66,000 4 -2: l Exhibit- Bajaj: Driving the Power Revolution with Pulsar 5 Exhibit: 3: Harley Davidsonâ€⠄¢s Advertisements in india t 6