Improving Productivity Essay

To talk about improvement we need to know first what productivity is in a technical view as a work application. As Montano said, productivity is the proportion that is achieved between the made product or proportionate service and the inputs that have intervened in the accomplishment of this product or service[1]; a measure of how efficiently an organization converts inputs into outputs. Taking into account its definition, it is important to know how to improve the productivity in companies. The specialization and division of the work are some of them. These allow major knowledge of the work, increase of the quality and therefore major performance of the workman; in addition there is a better control of the work, a decrease of mistakes and wastes and enables delegation. Mechanization saves time of manufacture, increases number of working hours, eliminates costs of training compensations and rewards, etc. Standardization allows a decrease of costs of maintenance, the scale and scope production. As scientific management (developed by Taylor) arguments, nonstandard labor practices are too expensive and wasteful; their approach was to homogenize the labor element of operation: standard methods and standard time. Productivity improvement involves methods study, with flowcharting as operator-machine time chart. Methods study, aimed at improving as well safety and ease of performing the work; ergonomics and the well design of distribution of plant are important issues in productivity. Effective communication clarifies the objectives of the whole organization and therefore allows saving time. Training, education, planning and coordinating activities form effective work. What is very important is to integrate as many employees as possible into this process. As Leon Ho express â€Å"Procrastination is the biggest time thief of all! † By identifying the reasoning behind procrastination issues, solutions can be found, such as breaking larger projects down into smaller pieces, scheduling some tasks for first thing in the morning so they are done, and delegating any tasks that are so routine they feel like a waste of your time[2]. Without a deadline, people tend to put things off. A time standard acts like a deadline, helping to keep people motivated. In overall reducing cost and waste, analysis methods that are made especially for areas of the organization, quality control and technology are the most known ways to improve productivity in any firm. No matter what type organization is, all search improvement in productivity that obliges better methods and equipments. However, improving productivity should be permanent, alive and part of the organization at all levels[3]. Now, new productivity needs to be broad and integrated. Bibliography MONTANO,Agustin. Administracion de la produccion.

Frito-lay and Snack Foods

In 1898, Caleb Bradham bought the patent rights (quy?n sang ch?) for Pepcola brand name va renamed Pepsicola. Sales increased sharply in America and expended to other continents. From here, Pepsico became multinational food and beverage corporation in United States with many famous brands of snack foods, beverages and other products. Beside the popularity of Pepsico brand on beverage, snack foods are also pay an important role in increasing annual retail sales on the world for Pepsi Group. Specifically, food and snack sales in North and South America combined contributed 48 percent of PepsiCo's net revenue in 2009.And Fristo-Lays North America, which is combined with the Frito Company and the H. W. Lay Company, creates the top selling line of snack foods in the U. S, Canada and Mexico. These brands include Lay's and Ruffles potato chips, Doritos tortilla chips, Tostitos tortilla chips and dips, Cheetos cheese flavored snacks, Fritos corn chips, Rold Gold pretzels, Sun Chips and Crack er Jack popcorn. In which, PepsiCo holds six slots in the top 10 global snack brands. The top three brand positions are Lay’s (7%), Doritos (3. 6%) and Cheetos (2. 7%).Ruffles, Tostitos and Walkers also feature in the global top 10. It cannot denied that PepsiCo is a king in competitive snack industry, and fighting for a higher place is a huge challenge for other snack makers, but not impossible. Pringles, ranked 4 (2. 3%) of the Top 10 snack global brand share 2013 based on retail value, is one of the most popularity snack brand of Procter & Gamble Co. The brand commands an 11% share of extruded snacks total retail value. Its main markets are Western Europe and North America, which account for a combined share of 50% of its sales at a global level.It proved that Procter & Gamble Co is a large competitor in snacks global market. Kraft Foods is also a remarkable representative in this race. Although Planters, a division of Kraft Foods on snacks food, was just formed in 2000, a chieved many successes with the main strength is nuts. Today Planters is available in an infinite variety of product lines ranging from Nuts & Seeds, to Mixes, Peanut Butter, Bars, and Nuts for Baking & Cooking, all available with Kraft’s â€Å"Naturally Remarkable† taste and quality guarantee.In general, any successful worldwide snack brand has tapped into the opportunities in these areas, and manufacturers looking to grain traction on the global scale should take heed and invest in flavor, format and occasion innovation as well as leveraging into adjacent categories. Besides, it is also important for snack makers to establish brands firmly. Pack imaging is particularly important and a very powerful marketing tool to build up brand equity.

Career Research Paper

This Job Involves many skills. Since physical therapists are always working with people they must enjoy working with all different kinds of people. Touching others is also a large part of this job. They not only have to help a patient get better and help prevent injury. A therapist must have a good understanding of the human body and be able to show patients various exercises.There have been various types of therapy: heat and cold, hydrotherapy, electrotherapist, and massage and exercise according to Churchman. Heat and cold involves heating and cooling the Injury with various tools. Hydrotherapy Includes using hot water to help with various injuries. Electrotherapist Involves using electric shocks to relax the muscles. Massage and Exercise involves using acupressure and electrical stimulation. Today physical therapists make their own history through research. Rather than following everyone else they research to find what works best for them and their patients.The general duties of a physical therapist, according to Churchman, Include transporting patients, make-up of treatment tables, cleaning arioso machines, clerical work, talk with patients to become familiar with them and their injuries. They tend to work 40 hours a week and often-on Saturdays according to â€Å"Physical Therapists†. This article also states therapists tent to work one on one with patients and rarely work in groups since each injury is different they cannot be grouped together.The income off physical therapist ranges from $50,000 to $104,000 according to â€Å"Physical Therapists† and assistants tend to earn an average of $32,000 as stated in Churchman. The education needed for this Job once involved eating a physical education degree but has changed since them. However in 2001 all programs for physical therapy will be at the matters degree level and above. Students will need their undergraduate grades and volunteer experience in physical therapy. The undergraduate classes sh ould have a balanced combination of course that will teach you how to live and how to earn a living.Understand the development of humanity spiritual and social needs as well as physical needs. Therapists must think logically and be able to write and speak effectively. They must learn to have strong relationships with their patients. Tarring In high school they should start taking courses that will help them learn all of these skills. A few classes include biology, English, physics, first aid, and health. In college or university there are many programs to help physical therapists get the requirements they need.Physical Therapist Assistants require a two-year associate degree that gives students theoretical and practical knowledge. Physical therapists mostly work In the field with baccalaureate degrees but most students today earn a master's. Henderson also mentions that all students need some clinical experience while they are studying to et their various degrees. A few ways to get started it taking positions in large teaching hospitals in metropolitan areas to gain experience. The armed forces or the U. S. Public Health Service are also a good place to start.Hospitals or local practices are also available in most areas. Many new graduates tend to go to hospitals first. This Job really Interests me because I enjoy working with people and I always want to freshmen at San Marco's and was studying to become a Sports Medicine Trainer. I have always looked up to her and we have always had similar interests. I looked into Sports Medicine and found it quite interesting but I knew I would not be able to handle that much pressure. Later in my freshman year, my knees started to bother me while I was dancing so I went to an orthopedic surgeon to get a diagnosis.I noticed the physical therapist's office across the lobby but did not know anything about them. When I got home I began to research physical therapy and found it really interesting. I took anatomy and physiology in high school and fell in love with learning how the body moves. I am now in my third year at community college and I till have one more year before I plan on transferring to San Marco's Sinology program. From there I plan to get my master's, possibly Loam Linda, and my PhD from SST. Augustine in San Marco's or Loam Linda.San Marco's will help set up an internship at the new hospital in Tentacle and I am hoping to get a Job there while I finish up my education. Eventually I plan to open my own private practice, possibly specialize in a sport and work with athletes or work with the armed forces. Looking more into working for the armed forces, I could either enlist as an officer or work as a civilian. Enlisting as an officer would involve going through basic combat training, advanced individual training, and officer schooling.If I were to work as a civilian according to Henderson, many civilians hold two Jobs. Rather than only working for the military they tend to work at other pract ices or hospitals in the area. I feel I would also have to be very positive to help all the military men and women stay positive and keep working hard. Another issue with enlisting would be getting certified in each state. According to Henderson a therapist must be certified in the state before they are able to start practicing.

Upload later Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Upload later - Essay Example Despite this, it is difficult to align the strategic map of the business with the corporate strategy that defines the operations of the organization. Corporate strategy, on the other hand, is the improvisation of the organizational working efficiency towards the attainment of the strategic plan through the elimination of waste and production at lowest possible costs (Demeester, De Meyer & Grahovac, 2014). The operational resources are critical in the attainment of the operational strategy. These resources include the tangible and intangible resources, the operational processes and capabilities. The tangible resources consist of the equipment, materials, facilities and human resource that perform the practical work. The intangible resources, on the other hand are the skills, market relationships and knowledge that determine the quality of production. The operational processes combine the intangible and tangible resources to formulate a coordinated framework of the production procedure (Hill & Cuthbertson, 2011). The first challenge that the organization encounters in the alignment of operation strategy to the corporate strategy is the agreement on the model of operation. A company can be integrated like McDonalds’s, Holding Company like Tyco International or an Allied Company like the Unilever Company. This choice of operating model defines the relationship of the business and the amount of investments allocated to the company. It is important to understand the operating model because it involves the allocation of funds to various business entities. In the process that the senior management decides to implement the corporate strategy, competitors will launch a model that capitalizes on the company’s large investment in efficiency improvement (Boyer And Lewis, 2002). This may amount to sever losses in the company. More often, it is a challenge to map the business strategy to the functional alignment because of the

Fall 2011 Emily Dickenson Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Fall 2011 Emily Dickenson - Essay Example Staring with the formal characteristics of writing, there are three identifiable techniques used within this poem. The first characteristic Dickenson uses in her poem is the idea of imagery. As she describes death, or impending death, Dickenson describes the concept by having readers imagine cold and bleak winter afternoons that oppress everything encompassed in the day. It is through this grim picture of a frigid winter’s day that the reader can start to appreciate the lifeless nature of death. By requiring the reader to visually imagine the places and experiences she is describing, Dickenson is able to connect a reader of her poem to their emotions of the events she is describing. Upon analyzing the poem, a person can equate the emotions they feel about a dreary and bland winter day to the unavoidable future of facing death. Along with visual images, the second language characteristic Dickenson utilized in â€Å"There’s a certain Slant of light† is the concept of metaphor. Upon describing despair and depression, Dickenson used a metaphor of ringing church bells that echo in the empty air around them to relate the stark loneliness of depression to readers. By connecting these two items together, Dickenson is also taking the physical object of a church bell, which has both positive and negative connotations, and connecting it specifically with a negative emotion in this use of metaphor within her poem. While the first two examples demonstrate the visual images and metaphors Dickenson wanted her readers to see in â€Å"There’s a certain Slant of light,† the poem also contains the language characteristic of rhyme. Dickenson uses the form of inexact rhyme, where the words at the end of line have similar sounds but are not required to have matching vowel and consonant sounds like exact rhyme. In using this type of language characteristic, Dickenson is adding a degree of ease to the poem for readers. By reading the poem as it float s along, the dark subject matter of â€Å"There’s a certain Slant of light,† might not even rise to the reader’s awareness upon first review of the poem. Upon establishing three language characteristics that exist within Dickenson’s poem, I am now able to speak of my interpretation of this written work. After reading â€Å"There’s a certain Slant of light,† I found that this poem represented a feeling of despair and depression from Dickenson. Whether this was connected to a bleak and dreary winter day or just from depression in general, this idea translated into the incredible loneliness that comes from realizing you feel totally alone. Each time I read the poem, I paid attention to the emotions I felt upon voicing Dickenson’s words. While the majority of the emotions evoked by this piece were feelings of loneliness and trepidation, the one thing that truly struck me was that by setting this poem to the beat of an inexact rhyme, the l ight and airy nature of how one speaks the poem seems to almost contradict the message Dickenson is portraying. Perhaps in this way, Dickenson was attempting to lead to the reader to believe that even in the most dreary and bleak of winter days, there is always cause to hope for spring. Question 2 As a major genre in literature, the concept of postmodernism is defined as literature from the post World War II

Epidemiological studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Epidemiological studies - Essay Example An epidemiological study is the study of a population in order to determine and examine the relationship or correlation between certain segments of the population and their increased risk to disease due to expose to certain environmental exposure. This involves determining what factors related to diseases and the factors that might protect humans against the disease (Gallin, John and Frederick 15) Epidemiological studies are usually divided in two categories which are; Descriptive epidemiology which looks into a population by age group ,who gets affected by a disease, the rate and time at which the disease occurs and how often it occurs and the place where it occurs. Another one is analytical epidemiology which looks into finding out the causes of disease within a population by using cohort studies, case control studies and experimental studies giving attention to ideology. Bottom line, epidemiology largely relies on figures for finding out and quantifying the association between dis ease and the risk factors in order to establish if there is a common attendance of occurrence of certain diseases within a given geographical scope. Clinical trials on the other hand are the research studies that are carried out in order to confirm or denounce if a drug is fit for human consumption using designated or pre-defined rules.

Sustainable Buildings Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Sustainable Buildings - Assignment Example ding United Kingdom, japan have had strict environmental policies implemented to help in enhancing the environmental quality and thus preserving the resources sustainability (Gottfried & Malik, 2009). According to McDonald (2005), Canada’s green building is growing vigorously in the market. The prediction of the increased activity of green building is widely done by several firms that suggest that at the overall share of green buildings in the market is likely to grow at a stronger pace. While Canada’s construction market is smaller compared to the one seen in the United States and the data used in building a green building share in the U.S are not available in Canada. The top environmental main reason Canada is constructing green buildings is to reduce the consumption of energy. Water and energy consumption as well as improving the quality of air that is indoor are the driving factors. There is a lower greenhouse gases emission during construction. The future if green building in both the United States and Canada is seen to be in a good place several years to come if they master the skill of cross- disciplinary. Since communities are integrated with their natural environments, the industries must, therefore, master these skills. Several institutions of education in both United States and Canada are offering courses in green building that target sectors that are specific sectors. This will ensure proper knowledge and skills are imparted, and the future of green building lay

Legalization of Marijuana (why america should NOT allow it) Research Paper

Legalization of Marijuana (why america should NOT allow it) - Research Paper Example As a result, there has been heated debate on whether to legalize it in America with its proponents claiming that it has medicinal values that might prevent some major diseases. Due to this, it was in 1970 that the Food and Drug Administration carried out thorough survey to establish its properties at the University of Washington. The results of the research indicated that the structure of Marijuana was very complex and it would take many other years of extensive study to establish its genuine medical values (Vaughn, 1). In 1972, the US Congress situated marijuana in Schedule one of the Controlled Substances Act since they deemed it to have no genuine medical values. From that time onwards, many states of the United States has taken a step further of legalizing the medicinal use of Marijuana (ProCon.org, 1). Marijuana is a brown, green, or gray mixture of desiccated, grated leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant, which contains a chemical referred to as tetrahydrocannabin ol. All forms of marijuana alter the normal functioning of the brain. One of the major characteristics of Marijuana is that it is very addictive. In this regard, studies indicate that doctors have diagnosed more teens with Marijuana that with any other abused drug including alcohol (Above the influence.com, 1). Head states that Many Americans believe Marijuana as a remedy for many of their health conditions ranging from glaucoma to cancer. However, on a national level, these anticipated benefits remain unaccepted. This implies that there is a lot of controversy in the assertion of medical benefits of Marijuana (2). Why America should not allow the legalization of Marijuana There are numerous reasons in support of the anti-legalization of Marijuana in America. In general, although proponents of Marijuana assert medicinal benefits, it becomes very dangerous to use it for medicinal purposes. In addition, it lacks approval by the Food and Drug Administration and different legal drugs ma ke use of marijuana needless (ProCon.org, 3). Generally, the harmful effects associated with use of Marijuana include general apathy, premature cancer, addiction, hostility and augmented violence, damage of harmonization and discernment, several mental disorders including despair, destruction to the immune system loss of memory and reproductive problems (Marijuana.com, 3). One of the major reasons of the anti-legalization of Marijuana is its severe addictive capability. The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 categorizes Marijuana as a Schedule one drug on the foundation that is has a high possibility for abuse. This means that once people start using Marijuana, it gets in to their system and it becomes very hard to stop using it. In this regard, it dominates their lives and controls their actions towards using the drug (Head, 1). Contemporary survey indicates that Marijuana is presently the principal cause of drug addiction other than alcohol in the United States. For instance, among the 7 million people aged 12 and above categorized with severe addiction of an illegal drug in 2008, marijuana accounted for 4.2 million of this. This indicates that approximately two thirds of Americans stricken by any drug use condition are suffering from addiction of marijuana or its abuse (DuPont, 10). This simply implies that the number of people using Marijuana would sharply augment if the

Project management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Project management - Essay Example This paper aims to examine this suggested approach and determine its effectiveness as far as complex project management is concerned. 1. Statement of the Problem The concept of Project Management was first utilized in the mid 1900s, when oganizations started to systematically apply management tools and techniques to complex engineering projects (A Brief History of Project Management 2012). Fast forward to half a century later, complex projects involving developments on information technolgy requires a management style that would adapt to the dynamism of current technological breakthroughts. To support these requirements, Project Management has evolved into a discipine encompassing boundaries of multiple industries, employing fresh approaches, regardless of the project size and scope. This research will specifically focus on the Systems Approach to Project Management and its effectiveness as a guide towards the achievement of project goals. 2. Definition of Terms a. Project Management – The planning and organization of an organization’s resources in order to move a specific task, event or duty toward completion (Project Management 2012). b. ... It may also be defined as management thinking that emphasizes the interdependence and interactive nature of elements within and external to an organization (Systems Approach 2012) d. Project Management Processess – The common elements of Project Management, regardless of the methodologies used. This includes initiation, planning or development, production or execution, monitoring and controlling, and closing (Project Management 2012). e. Project Management Methodologies – Step by step tactics that details what the project manager has to do from start to finish. To date, there are 10 identified methodologies being used, depending on the project and industry type. Methodologies answer how questions pertaining to project management as a whole. 3. Methodology Research is the primary methodology used. Online journals and case studies were utilized to enable the writer to support the argument stated in the first part of this term paper. Relevant data have been gathered from s pecified documents and compiled databases in order to analyze the material and arrive at a more complete understanding of this particular project management methodology. This is a qualitative research utilizing books, write ups and other related researches. Below are the questions that this research aims to address: a. What is the systems approach to project management? b. What are the essential elements to the systems approach? c. What does it require the project manager to do? 4. Review of Related Literature Systems Theory teaches us to to look at the total system performance and the relationships between systems. Every projects is seen as a system consisting of many interrelated and

Open Method of Coordination Essay Example for Free

Open Method of Coordination Essay 1. Introduction: This paper aims to offer an assessment of OMC performance in relation to its goals and methods. A determination therefore will be made on whether OMC goals are met and what obstacles have been met in attaining said goals. In order to attain this purpose, we will define the Open Method of Coordination (OMC), find its goals and reasons why it was introduced into EU policymaking, followed by a brief overview in academic literature. Secondly, we will analyse the concept of social inclusion/exclusion (according to Atkinson). Thirdly, we will analyse whether OMC’s social inclusion made any improvement since Lisbon through the National Actions Plans and any other possible base. 2. Analysis and discussion 2.1 Define the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) its goals and reasons why it was introduced into EU policymaking.   What is OMC’s overview in academic literature? Summit at Lisbon in March 2000 Hughes, K. (2001) said that at the DOT.COM Summit at Lisbon in March 2000, the EU set itself the strategic goal of creating full employment in a competitive and inclusive knowledge-based economy. The author stated that to reach this goal, EU prime ministers announced the adoption of a new open method of co-ordination, which is based on benchmarking and spreading best practice. Such method the author said is really intended to help member-states converge towards common objectives in areas such as employment, economic reform and social cohesion. The objective of full employment (Grubel, 1977) will always be an objective of every right-thinking state for the fulfilment of which guaranties peace and security among citizens. The four stages of OMC as described by Hughes, K. (2001) includes the following: First, EU ministers agree on policy goals in the area concerned.   Second, member-states translate these guidelines into national and regional policies, with specific targets.   Third, the ministers agree on benchmarks and indicators, to measure and compare best practice within the EU and worldwide.   Finally, through evaluation and monitoring, member-states performances are assessed relative to each other and to their declared goals. Hughes, K. (2001) also posited that advocates of this soft (i.e. not law-based) approach argue that it enables member-states to co-operate closely, yet recognizes their diversity and avoids forced harmonization. The author also opined that the approach allows co-coordinated action in areas where it would be politically difficult, or even impossible, to move forward through a common policy or legal framework.   In addition, the author said that it allows for a concerted EU approach while leaving legal competence and authority with the individual member-states.   Thus, Hughes, K. (2001) concluded that progress can be made through open co-ordination where otherwise there would be none. To balance the claim of OMC, Hughes, K. (2001) noted the fear of the critics, who believe that open co-ordination is at best a talking-shop and at worst a weapon aimed at the traditional Community method of European integration. Thus the author said: â€Å"They view the new approach as a Trojan horse for more inter-governmental decision-making. Whether they are right will become apparent as the targets of the Lisbon summit are met or not over the next few years. The more difficult question is whether it is indeed another tool for integration, or rather a move towards increased, and perhaps less effective, inter-governmentalism.† To produce a set of common but not legally-binding, objectives for tackling poverty and exclusion would seem to be an useless exercise since everything would be based on voluntary decision of the members since whatever may be agreed upon are not legally binding. But this was what happened at Lisbon where the EU leaders suggested that open co-ordination should apply to areas such as social exclusion, enterprise and e-Europe, where most or all powers remain with the member-states. Hence, Hughes, K. (2001) noted that the member-states will produce national action plans for reaching these objectives, on which the Commission will then comment. OMC therefore seems to be a unique way of solving problems among members where the absence of legally binding rules will not hinder the members to act on what is beneficial to them. The members states must really have to rest on the strength of the political pledge to the development, on its professed worth and efficacy, and on peer pressure and public support. The European Economic Integration It would be incomplete to look at OMC if none is mentioned about European economic integration. Wikipedia (2006) acknowledged the fact that thee OMC was first applied in EU employment policy, as defined in the Amsterdam Treaty of 1997, although it was not called by this name at the time. It stated that OMC was officially named, defined and endorsed at the Lisbon Council for the realm of social policy and since then, Wikepedia (2006) said the approach has been applied in the European employment strategy, social inclusion, pensions, immigration, education and culture and asylum. Tsoukalis, L. (1997) in describing the process of European economic integration said: â€Å"It concentrates mainly, although not exclusively, on the more recent phase which started around the mid-1980s and which has been characterized by a continuous expansion of the European agenda, the strengthening of intra-European economic ties, the transfer of new powers to common institutions, as well as the geographical extension of what we may call the European economic system.   †¦.   The process of integration has always been characterized by fits and starts, by bursts of activity which have often been followed by crisis and relative inaction. In the early 1990s, the economic and political climate changed once again, the deterioration of the macroeconomic environment being accompanied by successive crises in the exchange markets and growing scepticism about the future of European integration. Unemployment rates reached dangerous heights, while economic growth receded. And the armies of unemployed began to seriously threaten Europes welfare systems. Yet the process of integration did not stop; far from it. And the plan for EMU has remained on the table with a treaty seal on it. The remaining years until 1999 are therefore most likely to be dominated by preparations for the historic rendezvous with the single currency, a rendezvous which, if it does take place as scheduled, some countries at least are bound to miss.† Tsoukalis, L. (1997) also said that during the same period, the EU has gone through two more rounds of enlargement, with the accession of five new members (without counting the accession of the Eastern Là ¤nder following Germanys unification). Mentioned by the author was also the fact EU has also gone through two major treaty revisions, linked to the internal market program and EMU respectively, while a third one is under negotiation as of 1997 then. The author argues that those developments show hardly any signs of withering away. On the other hand, the same author said that there is the allegedly unstoppable trend of economic globalization which, according to so many experts and laymen, leaves little room for public regulation and effective intervention, citing as examples Ohmae (1990), Hirst and Thompson (1996) and Boyer and Drache (1996). The author also posited that European integration has indeed evolved within the context of growing international economic interdependence, a term still often used instead of globalization by the less exuberant representatives of the economics profession. 2.3 Analysis of the concept of social inclusion/exclusion (according to Atkinson). OMC could not be discussed in isolation with social inclusion/exclusion, hence out understanding of the OMC necessitates us to look more on the concepts of social inclusion (Planning Portal, 2006) and social exclusion (Kerrycdb, n.d.). Atkinson, et. al. (2002) described the concept of social inclusion and exclusion as follows: â€Å"I know there is some scepticism about the open method of coordination given its character of soft law. Yet I am convinced that an effective open method of coordination in the field of social inclusion can play a crucial political role at this stage in European politics. It will create a common understanding of our core social values that goes beyond solemn declarations at the level of heads of state and government, and so should enable us to define in a more precise way the substance of the European Social Model. It has, then, the potential to be a powerful driver.† (Emphasis supplied). The optimism of the authors (Richardson, 1994) is readily evident.   In certain circumstances, a law may have power to demand compliance (Hutter, 1997) but one could hardly limit human freedom to choose (Hill, 1993) and decide for the themselves. On discussing Principles of Indicator Construction in relation to social inclusion/exclusion Atkinson, et. al. (2002) said:   â€Å"†¦ it is an important feature of this process that the policies to achieve social inclusion are the responsibility of member states, under the subsidiary principle. Social inclusion is to be promoted through the method of open coordination, as described above. Member states are to agree on the objectives of policy, but they will be free to choose the methods by which these objectives are realized. One member state may achieve low poverty rates by active labour market policy; another may place greater reliance on social transfers. In one member state transfers may be provided by the state, in another transfers may be private. In one member state training may be associated with apprenticeships; in another, it may be part of the school system. This we have taken to mean that, for the present purpose, the social performance indicators should in principle be concerned with outputs rather than inputs. The aim is to measure social outcomes, not the means by which they are achieved. †¦.† Readily evident is the fact that indicators social inclusion/exclusion be seen in outputs and inputs that Atkinson, et. al. (2002) went further saying: â€Å"While we regard total spending on education, for example, as a measure of the resources being put into education, and hence would prefer a measure of educational attainment, we recognize that the availability of teachers may be an index of educational opportunities. If our concerns are forward-looking, then we may take into account the possibility that one can benefit from a service in the future. Confidence in the future can be improved by the existence of services; they have an option value that is a form of current output. A sense of exclusion may be generated by the absence of educational or health facilities. A person may be over school age but still feel that the absence of a secondary school in his or her town is a factor in social exclusion.† (Emphasis supplied) On discussing Social Indicators from a Member State Perspective, Atkinson, and et. al. (2002) said: â€Å"For a valuable review of both European and national initiatives, predating the National Action Plans on Social Inclusion, readers are referred to Vranken et al. (2001).† The same authors also made comparison of the conceptual frame-works adopted in different countries, the databases employed, and the indicators used. After which they consolidated national reports on poverty and social exclusion that have been formed by official and academic researchers. Further, the same authors said: â€Å"Member states differ in the degree to which they have set explicit targets for combating social exclusion. In some cases there are strategies aimed at promoting social inclusion that already include explicit targets and indicators against which to measure the effectiveness of policy. Some countries, such as Ireland, have set a national objective for the reduction of financial poverty; others have adopted a set of progress indicators by which performance is to be evaluated; and still others monitor the trends in poverty and social exclusion in a less structured manner and without pre-commitment to identified targets.† Based on said premises the author opined that the amount of space allocated to each country varies. He was quick however to mention that in each case, however, a National Action Plan on Social Inclusion (NAPincl) was submitted to the Commission in June 2001 and that the NAPincls were requested to state the progress aimed for by national policies and to list the indicators used to assess progress, and the European Union is to move from that base towards commonly agreed and defined indicators.   (Paraphrasing made) 2.3 Did the OMC social inclusion made any improvement since Lisbon like through National Actions Plans? Although there are several members stated which have adopted jointly the OMC as strategy, what is cited in answer to the question is that one involving U.K. OMC social inclusion made any improvement since Lisbon on different occasions based in the following: a. On National Actions Plans European Commission, Employment Social Affairs, Social Inclusion (2006) on Implementation and update reports on 2003-2005 National Action Plans on Social Inclusion said: â€Å"The second UK NAP (2003-05) maintains the process of developing a broad and comprehensive strategy. Facilitating access to employment for those capable of working is at the centre of the strategic approach and has been helped by continued good economic and employment growth. The strategy also envisages the provision of good income support and high quality social services to those who cannot access work. Among the groups identified as requiring special support are: lone parents; the long-term unemployed; older people; those with few or no qualifications; ethnic minority communities; sick or disabled people; and residents of deprived neighbourhoods. The strategy involves commitment to a number of targets, supported by national indicators, most notably the aim of eradicating child poverty by 2020.†Ã‚   The Commission also noted that an important measure to help meet this target has been the provision of high-quality, integrated early-years education and health, family support and childcare services in the most disadvantaged areas. Hence, the Commission believes that these services will now be extended to cover all areas of England over the next ten years and it’s thus noted that the European Social Fund has a key role in support of the National Action Plan to help people develop their employability and skills, with a particular focus on unemployed and socially excluded people. b. On how open a member state to the process Armstrong, K. (2005) in concluding the paper â€Å"Implementing The Lisbon Strategy: â€Å"Policy Co-Ordination Through ‘Open’ Methods: How Open Is The United Kingdom To The OMC Process On Social Inclusion?† stated among other things, that his study has found examples of domestic adaptation to the OMC process on inclusion. He cited that these examples relate in particular to the mobilisation of anti-poverty networks and the willingness of central government civil servants to develop new working relationships with such networks. He thus mentioned that DWP and NGOs have joined forces to develop a participation tool-kit for the next round of NAPincls is an indication of a desire to break out of traditional bureaucratic routines and at least gives the appearance of a commitment to the NAPincls. The author further said that attitudes towards the NAPincls from the devolved administrations is more ambivalent, although the idea that the EU process might serve as a model for recasting the Northern Ireland anti-poverty strategy suggests a stronger adaptation dynamic at work here. Nevertheless, the author admitted the difficulty, that it is that it is hard to escape the conclusion that notwithstanding the elaboration of new processes, the UK NAPincl remains primarily a report and not a plan. He thus noted that to be sure, it has filled a gap between the central and devolved government social exclusion and anti-poverty reports and acts as an overview of the UK as a whole. The author also noted that the lack of synchronisation between the EU co-ordination processes and the domestic cycle of budget-planning and target-setting results in a reinforcement of the domestic arena as the key driver of social inclusion objectives, indicators and targets. This he believes undercuts the ability of the UK NAPincl to do more than report on what has already been agreed. (Paraphrasing made) Armstrong, K. (2005) also said that the research reported here also highlights two different political visions of the future of OMC. Particularly he noted the evidence of domestic adaptation – particularly at the level of central government – points to the importance of altering domestic mind-sets and routines in order to buttress commitments to political change. The alternative vision, however, the author observed is that is one that looks to EU institutions – in particular the European Council – to deliver high-level messages and to steer the Member States in the desired direction. He thus argued that it may not be a matter of choosing which vision to follow but the evidence of the Lisbon Strategy to date has been that there remains a gap between the big statements of political intention and delivery within the Member States. Thus he recommended that more needs to be done to uncover the domestic mechanisms of adaptation in order to explain the success or failures of the commitments made at Lisbon. (Paraphrasing made) Conclusion: There is evidence for a European to make a statement such as: â€Å"We are we a step closer to European Social Model and is the OMC the right approach.† OMC social inclusion made any improvement since Lisbon on the basis of the following: Although there is no legal compulsion to do things in OMC, there is evidence to say that voluntary actions do accomplish great things. Even in the absence of compelling force on the basis of legislation, people have goods reasons of accomplishing their political and economic purposes. The implementation of the OMC in the United Kingdom is one of the best proofs. Although more concrete proofs are still necessary to really declare that OMC will lead the members states to success, positive developments in the early implementation bears much goods results to further build upon. The power of humanity is not only manifested in having law to force them to move but also making them more willing effort to do things when they believe that right decisions just make many great things, and OMC is the one of these.

Company Background And Market Analysis Of Mcdonalds

Company Background And Market Analysis Of Mcdonalds McDonalds is the leading global foodservice retailer and the worlds largest chain of hamburgers fast food restaurant. It is founded in year 1955 by Ray Kroc. McDonalds serves more than  60 million people with more than 32,000 local restaurants in 117 countries each day. It employs more than 1.5 million people. More than 75% of McDonalds restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local men and women. Source From the table above, since year 2004 until year 2008, even until now, McDonalds is still the number choice of customers when come to fast food follow by Burger King and Wendys. In year 2008, Subway took over Wendys place and ranked at number three. Besides that, The Star Online stated that McDonalds is ranked in the top 10 most valuable brands in 2010 and it is placed at number six. Top 10 most Valuable Brands in 2010 Rank Brand Value ($bn) 1 Coca-cola 70.45 2 IBM 64.73 3 Microsoft 60.90 4 Google 43.56 5 GE 42.81 6 McDonalds 33.58 7 Intel 32.02 8 Nokia 29.5 9 Disney 28.73 10 HP 26.87 Source: Company Situation Mission Statement: McDonalds vision is to be the worlds best quick service restaurant experience.   Being the best means providing outstanding quality, service, cleanliness, and value, so that we make every customer in every restaurant smile. Values: We place the customer experience at the core of all we do. We are committed to our people. We believe in the McDonalds system. We operate out business ethically. We give back to our communities. We grow our business profitably. We strive continually to improve. Management Overview McDonalds management is very successful as it exports its brands throughout the globe. The company operates McDonalds restaurants as well as franchises. There are 32,478 restaurants in 117 countries at year-end 2009, and there are 26,216 were operated by franchisees and 6,262 were operated by the Company. Under franchise arrangement, a portion of the capital have to be provided by franchisees to invest in their restaurant businesses for the equipment, signs, seating and decorations, reinvesting in the business is needed from time to time. Financial Situation Revenues by geographic Segment: McDonalds largest geographical market is Europe, accounted for 41% of the total revenues in the year 2009 which is mainly driven by France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Revenues are generated through other geographic segments: United States (US),  Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA) and other countries and corporate are 35%, 19% and 5% respectively. From McDonalds 2009 annual report, we can see that its total revenues from the US reached $7,944 millions in year 2009, a decrease of 1.7% over year 2008. Revenues from Europe were $9,274 million in year 2009, a decrease of 6.5% compared to year 2008. While revenues from APMEA reached $4,337 million in year 2008, an increase of 2.4% compared with year 2008. Revenues from other countries and corporate reached $1,190 millions in year 2009, a decrease of 7.8% over year 2008. The total operating income and assets in US shows favourable results where the figures keep increasing since year 2007 to year 2009. Total capital expenses in US show improvement as well where the expenditure is lesser in year 2009 compared to year 2008. Market Share: According to Jim Muehlhausen, McDonalds had occupied 19% of the total market share in the fast food industry. While its closest competitors: Burger King and Wendys accounted 2% individually. Pie Chart below shows the market share of the major players in the fast food industry. Source: Market Situation Sector Trends The land size of United Statess is at 3.79 million square miles, according to U.S. Bureau of Census, with the total population of 307,006,500 in July 2009, it is the third largest both by land area and population. The table on the left shows the population in United States in July 2009 according to states. Segmentation The market is segmented by demographic, geographic, psychographic and behavioural. Targeting McDonalds target market is people who love fast food. The demand of fast food is increasing nowadays as everyone is practicing faster paced lifestyles. Macdonalds target market is: children, students, working adults and families who are from five to seventy years old. Students tend to spend their time to socialize with their friends in fast food restaurants compare to other restaurants as it offers affordable prices and trendy ambiences. Besides that, due to the hectic schedule, fast food restaurant is always the number one choice for working adults to have their meals as it offers quick services. Kids simply love fast food, hence, the parents will bring their children to fast food restaurants to have family meals. Positioning McDonalds outlets are located mostly in high population states such as: Florida, New York, Texas, Illinois and Ohio. They were built near office buildings, schools, in shopping malls, etc., which are high visibility, traffic volume and ease of access areas. State July 2009 population Alabama 4,708,708 Alaska 698,473 Arizona 6,595,778 Arkansas 2,889,450 California 36,961,664 Colorado 5,024,748 Connecticut 3,518,288 Delaware 885,122 DC 599,657 Florida 18,537,969 Georgia 9,829,211 Hawaii 1,295,178 Idaho 1,545,801 Illinois 12,910,409 Indiana 6,423,113 Iowa 3,007,856 Kansas 2,818,747 Kentucky 4,314,113 Louisiana 4,492,076 Maine 1,318,301 Maryland 5,699,478 Massachusetts 6,593,587 Michigan 9,969,727 Minnesota 5,266,214 Mississippi 2,951,996 Missouri 5,987,580 Montana 974,989 Nebraska 1,796,619 Nevada 2,643,085 New Hampshire 1,324,575 New Jersey 8,707,739 New Mexico 2,009,671 New York 19,541,453 North Carolina 9,380,884 North Dakota 646,844 Ohio 11,542,645 Oklahoma 3,687,050 Oregon 3,825,657 Pennsylvania 12,604,767 Rhode Island 1,053,209 South Carolina 4,561,242 South Dakota 812,383 Tennessee 6,296,254 Texas 24,782,302 Utah 2,784,572 Vermont 621,760 Virginia 7,882,590 Washington 6,664,195 West Virginia 1,819,777 Wisconsin 5,654,774 Wyoming 544,270 Total 307,006,550 McDonalds target market and its market segmentation: Children Youth Adults Elderly Demographic Age 5 to 12 13 to 25 26-54 55-70 Occupation Students Students/Part-timers Part-timer/Full-timer/Self-employed Retired Income 1000 to 2500 >2500 Pensions and savings Geographic Within United States Psychographic Interests Entertainment Entertainment, leisure Entertainment, leisure Enjoyment Lifestyle Dependent Aggressive Aggressive Slow and steady Behavioural Occasions Birthday party Birthday party, gathering Gathering, anniversary Anniversary McDonalds SWOT analysis Strengths Strong global presence with its nearest domestic competitor being only half of its size. The market leader in both domestic and international markets. Strong brand recognition Ranked number one in Fortune Magazines 2008 list of most admired food service companies Having more than 32,000 local restaurants in 117 countries. First to come out with nutrition facts information on its products. Weaknesses Lack of product innovation. High cost for employee training due to high employee turnover. Opportunities Its outlets are located in high visibility, traffic volume and ease of access areas. International market Advances in technology Threats Saturated food industries. Price competition between competitors. More health conscious customers and fast food is categorized as unhealthy food. PESTLE implications Political According McDonalds 2009 annual report, foreign currency translation had a negative impact on McDonalds consolidated operating results in year 2009 which is driven by the Euro, Russian Ruble, British Pound, Canadian Dollar and Australian Dollar. While in year 2008 and 2007, the foreign translation had positive impact on its consolidated operating results. The table below shows how the foreign currency translation affect McDonalds consolidated operating results. Economical With its franchises in US, McDonalds provide a lot of job opportunities to the US people to reduce the unemployment level in that country. McDonalds is hiring up to 600 part-timers to work in its outlets throughout the Las Vegas area which is with 14.2% of unemployment level. Social Fast foods lead to obesity problems in America as they are high in fats, calories, sugar and salt. Rates of obesity in America are keep increasing obesity will leads to other diseases like heart diseases, diabetes, etc. The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) said that a person will gain an average weight of 10 pounds if he or she ate fast food two or more times in a week. Pew Research Centre reported that almost 20% of Americans eat fast food at least twice a week after the survey is conducted. As the health concern is increased among the Americans, they tend not take less fast food as it have been seen as unhealthy food. To conquer the problems, McDonalds comes out with nutrition facts charts on selected packaging and menu information for customers to have guidelines for the food intake and meet their nutrition desires. Sample nutrition facts are shown in the pictures below. Technology With the technology, McDonalds serves burgers and fries to the customers in minutes time, McDonalds was the first to have touch-screen computers at the front counter and drive-thru to serve customers faster and easier when they ordering food. There are also touch screen self-ordering kiosks for customers to order food by themselves. Besides that, McDonalds uses Wayport for high speed connectivity to the internet. Legal McDonalds has been involved in legal cases which most of them are trademark disputes where many food businesses are using Mc or Mac because of McDonalds strong brand recognition. Environmental To reduce the impacts on environment, McDonalds uses 3Rs approaches: reduce, reuse and recycle. There is 82% of McDonald packaging are made from renewable materials at the moment. Besides that, cooking oil is recycled to be reused in variety products such as environmentally friendly biodiesel. Competitors situation and SWOT McDonalds closest competitors are Burger King Corporation and Wendys International Incorporation. Burger King Burger King is founded in year 1954 by McLamore and Edgerton. It has more than 12,200 outlets in 73 countries, however, 66% of its outlets are located in United States and 90% of them are privately owned and operated. It is having more than 38,800 employees serving about 11.4 million customers in daily basis. Strengths Second largest fast food hamburger restaurant Strong brand equity Weaknesses Heavily concentrated in US market Relies heavily on its franchises Opportunities International market Advances in technology Threats Changing consumer habits towards healthier food choices Intense competition with the competitors Increasing labour costs Wendys Wendys is founded in year 1969 by Dave Thomas. It is an international fast food chain restaurant which ranked as the worlds third largest hamburger fast food chain. In year 2009, there are 6,541 restaurants worldwide where 1,391 are company restaurant and 5,150 are franchise restaurants, majority of them 77 are located at North America. Wendys employs 46,000 people worldwide. Strengths Third largest hamburger fast food chain restaurant Global brand Strong supply chain Weaknesses Concentrated in North America market Having management problems Relies on franchises Opportunities International market Advances in technology Threats Strong competitors Increase in beef prices Fast food have been seen as unhealthy food Objectives and Assumptions Assumptions During the preparation of a marketing plan, there are few assumptions being made upon it where there will be no large fluctuation particularly on Foreign Exchange variance. Besides that, it is crucial to take variances such as economy crisis, natural disasters that will have impacts on McDonalds business into consideration during the preparation of a marketing plan. Objectives These marketing objectives are what McDonalds is trying to achieve on the three following years of its operations by using SMART criteria which are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely: Marketing: Specific To increase market share. To increase new product awareness. Measurable To increase the market share by 5%. To have an increase of 18% on new product awareness. Achievable Advertisements on the new product to grab customers attention. More franchisees to open new franchises. Realistic Fast-paced lifestyle leads to higher demand as more customers prefer fast food nowadays. Timely To increase market share by 5% yearly start from 2010. To have an increase in product awareness by 18% start from 2010. Financial: Specific To increase overall sales revenue. To reduce cost of sales. Measurable Increase sales revenue by 8%. Reduce the cost of sales by 5%. Achievable Higher demand for fast food. Realistic McDonalds order raw materials in bulk to get cheaper prices and reduce cost. Advertising stimulate customers appetite and increase sales. Timely Sales revenue increases by 8% annually start from year 2010. Cost of sales reduces by 5% yearly start from 2010. Societal: Specific Provide healthier fast food. To make product more environmental friendly. Reduce electric and water consumption and wastage. Measurable RD at 8% of sales on healthier food recipe in year 2010. Reduce energy consumption and wastage by 3%. Achievable Reduce in fats, calories, sugar and salt in the products. Electric and water consumption is reduced by using them wisely Realistic 82% of McDonald packaging are made from renewable materials Timely Electric and water consumption and wastage is to be reduced by 3% monthly start from January 2010. Strategy Marketing Mix Marketing mix is all about putting the right product in the right place, at the right price and at the right time to boost sales and hence generate higher profit. Product McDonalds primarily sells hamburgers, chicken products, cheeseburgers, breakfast items, lunch items, french fries, soft drinks, shakes and also desserts. McDonalds should innovates its products continuously as people tend to change their preference and tastes from time to time. Without product innovations, customer will get bored to eat the same food over and over again. With its strong brand recognition, McDonalds serves its customers within minutes from ordering until they get their food with world class food quality by using fresh ingredients and excellent product features. Its staffs are trained to provide fast and excellent services to the customers. McDonalds product packaging is environmental friendly and 100% recyclable to reduce the negative impacts on the environment. Questionnaires have to be prepared from time to time to get feedbacks from the customers so that McDonalds have an idea to improve on its products and environments by following customers preferences. As people starts to practice healthy lifestyles, McDonalds includes salads, wraps and fruit into its menu. Besides that, McDonalds comes out with nutrition facts table and charts for people to have guidelines for their food intake and to meet their nutrition desires. The sample nutrition facts table for McDonalds USA is shown below. Source: Price McDonalds uses value-based pricing and psychological pricing on its products. One example for psychological pricing is $3.59 instead of $3.60 and $4.99 instead of $5. In customers perception of saving, they look at the items with prices ending with  £0.95 or  £0.99 more favourable as compare to  £1.00 as example although there are only  £0.05 and  £0.01 difference. The prices are set where they are reasonable and affordable by the customers. It uses value pricing strategies  on some of its products where they are cheaper to buy in a set compared to ala carte such as: happy meal, combo meal,  family meal, breakfast and lunch sets to increase overall sales volumes. Discounts coupons should be given out from time to time to attract new customers and to boost sales in those particular periods. Place McDonalds outlets are located in high visibility, traffic volume and ease of access areas. Most of its outlets consist of the distribution channels. It is important so that the product is available to the customer all the time. In United States, there are nearly 50% of McDonalds outlets can be reached by driving within three minutes. McDonalds gives certain level of satisfaction, fun as well as happiness each time they dine at McDonalds as it offers better ambience, hygienic environment and also great services. Free Wi-Fi with high speed connectivity to internet is provided to customers for them to access to internet to do business and entertainment when they are dining. Besides that, children will not easily get bored when they just sit and eat as they can have fun at the playgrounds in the restaurants while their parents have some time to spend together. Every McDonalds outlets have Drive-Thru to make customers who want to take away more convenient and fast. Besides that, quick del ivery to households is provided with a little charge. Promotion McDonalds uses various promotion channels to effectively communicate the product information to the customers as it has clear understanding of the customer value that helps to decide whether the promotion cost is worth spending or not. McDonalds three main advertising objectives are to make people aware of its product, having position perception about it and remember it. It does its advertising promotions through televisions, radios, hoardings and also bus shelters. Printed ads in newspapers and magazines and television programmes are one of its important marketing medium too to stimulate customers appetite. Besides that, McDonalds is doing sales promotion too. Customers can enjoy McDonalds breakfast and lunch sets in cheaper price in a certain period of the day. Besides that, discount coupons will be given to customers from time to time for them to enjoy McDonalds foods in cheaper prices. Kids simply love to celebrate their birthday parties in McDonalds. Hence, McDonalds can give special discounts and gifts to the birthday kids so that they will come back next year and tell it to their friends. Forecast and implications McDonalds three years forecasts and budgets (Dollars in millions) 2009 2010 2011 2012 Objective comment Sales 7944 8580 9266 10007 Improve by 8% yearly Cost 659 626 595 565 Reduce by 5% annually Profit 7285 7954 8671 9442 Increases by around 8% yearly It is forecasted that McDonalds in United States will meet its financial objective where its sales increase steadily by 8% yearly start from year 2010 while its cost reduces by 5% annually. Hence, the profit will be increasing by around 8% yearly start from 2010. Metrics McDonalds is using metric strategy in order to measure whether it can achieve its objectives or not. Marketing metric: Objectives Metrics To increase market share Measure by number of new franchises opening yearly Increase product awareness among target audiences Calculated by the sales of the particular product after advertising promotion is done Financial metric: Objectives Metrics Increase sales revenue Product sales is measured by dollars annually Reduce cost of sales Cost of sales is measured by dollars yearly Societal metric: Objectives Metrics Provide healthier fast food Measure by the percentage of fats, calories, sugar and salt in the products Reduce electrical and water consumption and wastage Calculate by the electric and water bills monthly More environmental friendly Measure by the percentage of its packaging that using recyclable materials Conclusion As the conclusion, although McDonalds is number one in fast food industry, it should keep improving its business in term of marketing, financial and social to be better in the future. McDonalds can get feedback from the customers to know what they prefer, how they want McDonalds to change so that McDonalds know what action it should takes to improve itself. With new product innovations and healthier fast food, McDonalds will be more successful. Word Count: 2275 words

The responsibilities of a project manager

The responsibilities of a project manager

Dna: The Thread Of Life :: essays research papers

DNA: The Thread of Life The "thread of life", is deoxyribonucleic acid, otherwise known as DNA. It is the spiral shaped molecule found in the nucleus of cells. Scientists have known since 1952 that DNA is the basic substance of heredity. This was hypothesized, and later confirmed by James D. Watson and Francis Crick. They also know that it acts like a biological computer program over 3 billion bits long that "spells" out instructions for making the basic building blocks of life. DNA carries the bodies genetic code, controls the development of an embryo, is capable of duplicating itself, and is able to repair damage to itself. DNA can be manipulated to change all kinds of things. All DNA molecules consist of a linked series of unites called nucleotides. Each DNA nucleotide is composed of 3 subunits: a 5 carbon sugar called deoxyribose, a phosphate group that is joined to one end of the sugar molecule, and one of several different nitrogenous bases linked to the opposite end of the deoxyribose. There are 4 nitrogen bases called adenine, guanine, thymine, and cytosine. In DNA adenine pairs with thymine and guanine with cytosine. Medicine's ability to diagnose continues to exceed its ability to treat or cure. For example, Huntington's Chorea is an inherited disease that develops between the ages of 30 and 45, can be diagnosed before any symptoms appear. This can be hard for both the individuals with the disease and their family. There is a 3 billion dollar project underway right now called the Human Genome Project, a 15 year program to make a detailed map of every single gene in human DNA. With automated cloning equipment to steer scientists through the DNA, scientists are finding human genes at the rate of more than one a day. This may not sound like very much but as technology increases the rate at finding them will increase. Since January 1993 to January 1994 scientists have located the genes for Huntington's disease, Lou Gehrig's disease, and the "bubble-boy" disease. Scientists are expected to find the first breast cancer gene any week now. Even with the best tools of today, the progress is full of surprises. Human DNA is not like that of plants, in which the trait of color of a flower is determined by one gene. Even the color of a human eye can involve the interaction of several genes. Some complex genes, such as cystic fibrosis, can go wrong in any number of places. Scientists have already accounted for 350 places where the cystic fibrosis gene mutates, and more are being uncovered

Husserl’s Conceptions of Formal Mathematics Essay -- Edmund Husserl Ma

Husserl’s Conceptions of Formal Mathematics Edmund Husserl’s conception of mathematics was a unique blend of Platonist and formalist ideas. He believed that mathematics had reached a mixed state combining Platonic and formal elements and that both were important for the pursuit of the sciences, as well as for each other. However, he seemed to believe that only the Platonic aspects had significance for his science of phenomenology. Because of the significance of the distinction between these two types of mathematics, I will always use one of the adjectives â€Å"material† or â€Å"formal† when discussing any branch of mathematics, unless I specifically mean to include both. First, I must specify what I mean by each of these terms. By material mathematics, I will mean mathematics as it had traditionally been done before the conceptions of imaginary numbers and non-Euclidean geometry. Thus, any branch of material mathematics seeks to describe how some class of existing things actually behaves. So material geometry seeks to describe how objects lie in space, material number theory seeks to describe how the actual natural numbers are related, and material logic seeks to describe how concepts actually relate to one another. Some of these areas (like material geometry) seek to deal with the physical world, while others (like material logic) deal with abstract objects, so I avoid using the word â€Å"Platonic†, which suggests only the latter. By formal mathematics, I will mean mathematics done as is typical in the 20th century, purely axiomatically, without regard to what sorts of objects it might actually describe. Thus, for formal geometry it is irrel evant whether the objects described are physical objects in actual space, or n-tuples of real nu... ... Bouvier, Bonn, 1981. Tieszen, Richard L. â€Å"Mathematical Intuition: Phenomenology and Mathematical Knowledge†. Kluwer, Boston, 1989. Zalta, Ed. â€Å"Frege’s Logic, Theorem and Foundations for Arithmetic†. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/frege-logic/ Footnotes 1. Lohmar, p. 14 2. However, this claim is itself a material claim of the truth of a statement in material logic, i.e. that the given statement follows from the given axioms, when this statement and these axioms are viewed as actual objects in our reasoning system. 3. Husserl, p. 16 4. Fà ¸llesdal, in Hintikka, p. 442 5. Hill, p. 153 6. Husserl, p. xxiii 7. Husserl, p. 161 8. Gà ¶del, p. 385 9. Husserl, p. 163-4 10. Husserl, p. 167-8 11. Husserl, p. 169 12. Husserl, p. 168-9 13. Husserl, p. 136 14. Gà ¶del, p. 385 15. See Zalta’s discussion of Basic Law V. home

Indian Beer Industry – Oligopoly

Economies of scale: The increase in  efficiency of production  as the number of goods  being produced increases. Government policies: restrictions on advertising leading to surrogate ADVT. , polic ies which make it difficult for expansion of companies. Access to distribution channels: cost of distribution in this industry needs to be looked at logically. If firms in this industry carries significant costs from distribution which are then reflected in their prices to customers, the customers will choose the competition.Suppliers product differentiation/ SWITCHING COSTS OF BUYERS: the development of new products that may create a new demand or create repeat customers is always a key success when in a competition. Exit barriers: Typical barriers to exit include highly specialized assets, which may be difficult to sell or relocate, huge exit costs, such as asset write-offs and closure costs, and inter-related businesses, making it infeasible to sell a part of it. Another common bar rier to exit is loss of customer goodwill. Buyers switching costs: n order to remain competitive, companies in this sector must make their products readily available and accessible to their customers or they will go with the competition. Advertising: when everyone’s advertising in the industry is d same, its easy for companies to get lost in the mix. However by staying on top wid interesting and new ways to promote a product, people remember that product better. Importance of a specific product to a customer: An imp competitive advantage that ensures that customers will be less likely to switch to another company for a similar product. BUYERS USE OF MULTIPLE SOURCES: urchasers regarding the selection of suppliers (sources), e. g. the use of a single or two or more (multiple) sources. {Considers the justification of either method in the context of reducing the uncertainty (risk) of a particular purchase. Illustrates the marketers view of sourcing and the differing sales tactic s employed according to the suppliers' preferences. Concludes that purchasers should examine uncertainty buying-selling situations (UBSS) objectively with regard to their own organizations' need criteria, e. g. cost and timeliness, this determining the relevant sourcing policy}.Demand and supply curve: demand for beer increases at all prices 1. Initially in equilibrium with P1 and Q1. 2. A non-price determinant of demand (availability of complement goods) has changed: the demand curve shifts out from D0 to D1 At the initial price level there is excess demand with quantity demanded rising above the quantity suppliers are willing to supply at price P1 (? 2. 50) 3. The market price responds to excess demand by increasing. This causes demand to contract again (movement back up the demand curve), but also supply to expand (movement down the supply curve) 4.The new equilibrium is reached where supply and demand are equal at the higher price P2 (? 3) and Q2 (50 bottles) One of the reasons for higher sales of beer in South-India is the hot and humid climate for around 10 months. Due to this people consume beer all throughout the year increasing the volumes. As the figures suggest, thehot states contribute most to the revenues generated from the beer sales. (See Exhibit 15) . Hence we conclude that the overall market in India is highly diverse and for each region different strategy needs to be employed.

Capitalismâ€a Propaganda Story Essay

Michael Moore is the Leni Riefenstahl of our time. Or, perhaps he would be better characterized as a Bizzaro World Leni Riefenstahl, because while she propped up with propaganda the political powers of her time, Moore uses the same techniques to bring down the powers of our time, be it GM (Roger and Me), the gun lobby (Bowling for Columbine), the government (Fahrenheit 911), the health care industry (Sicko), or free enterprise (Capitalism: A Love Story). In this latest installment in his continuing series of what’s wrong with America, Michael Moore takes aim at his biggest target to date, and the result is a disaster. The documentary is not nearly as funny as his previous films, the music selections seem contrived and flat, and the edits and transitions are clumsy, wooden, and not nearly as effective as what we’ve come to expect from the premiere documentarian (Ken Burns notwithstanding) of our time. And, most importantly, the film’s central thesis is so bad that it’s not even wrong. First, let me confess that even though I have disagreed with most of Michael Moore’s politics and economics throughout his career, I have thoroughly enjoyed his films as skilled and effective works of art and propaganda, never failing to laugh — or be emotionally distraught — at all the places audiences are cued to do so. My willing suspension of disbelief that enables me to take so much pleasure from works of fiction, does not always serve me well when pulled into the narrative arc of a documentary. Thus it is that with his past films I have exited the theater infuriated at the same things Moore is †¦ until I rolled up my sleeves and did some fact checking of my own, at which point Moore’s theses unravel (with the possible exception of Bowling for Columbine, his finest work in my opinion). But with Capitalism: A Love Story, Moore’s propagandistic props are so transparent and contrived that I never was able to suspend disbelief. What was especially infuriating about Capitalism: A Love Story was the treatment of the people at the bottom end of the economic spectrum. The film is anchored on two eviction stories contrived to pull at the heart strings. One family filmed the eviction process themselves and sent the footage to Moore in hopes he’d use it (many are called, few are chosen), and the other was filmed by Moore’s crew. The message of both is delivered with a sledge hammer: Greedy Evil Soul-Sucking Bankers (think Lionel Barrymore’s villainous Mr. Potter in It’s a Wonderful Life) are tossing out onto the streets of America poor innocent families who are victims of circumstances not of their making. Why? First, because this is what Greedy Evil Soul-Sucking Bankers do for fun on weekends. Two, because the economic crisis caused solely by said bankers has made it impossible for families to make the payments on those subprime loans they were tricked into taking by those same bankers, who themselves were suckered into a Ponzi-like scheme cooked up by Alan Greenspan and his Wall Street/Federal Reserve buddies to take back the homes fully owned by (first) the elderly and (then) the poor. In the fine print that the bankers carefully slipped past the elderly and the poor for these second mortgages and subprime loans, the contracts said that the rates on variable rate loans could go up, and that the house was collateral for the loan such that if the loan payments are not made the home is subject to foreclosure and repossession by the bank (which is what the bankers are hoping happens). In Michael Moore’s worldview, a goodly portion of the American people are ignorant, uneducated, clueless pinheads too stupid to realize the fundamental principle of a loan: you have to have collateral to secure the loan! No collateral, no loan. You say to the banker â€Å"I would like to take out a loan.† The banker says to you â€Å"what do you have for collateral?† What happened in the housing boom was that bankers relaxed their standards for what they would require for collateral (and income, assets, etc.) because (1) the government told them to do so and promised to cover their losses if it didn’t work out, and (2) they wanted to make more money; and borrowers wanted in on the cash cow that everyone was milking, from individual house flippers looking for a quick buck, to ordinary families wanting extra cash for remodeling, tuition, or whatever, to mortgage giants wanting corporate expansion. And all were driven by the same motive: greed! Yes, greed. Those evicted families knew perfectly well what they were doing when they freely chose to climb onto the housing bubble and take it for a ride. I have a much higher view of the American public than does Michael Moore. I don’t think the American people are so stupid or uneducated that they didn’t know what they were doing. This wasn’t rocket science. It was even on television, the ne plus ultra of pop culture! I well remember watching A & E’s television series Flip This House, and reading all those magazine articles and get-rich-quick books on how to make a fortune in the real estate market, and thinking â€Å"wow, everyone’s getting rich except me; how can I get in on the action?† What I felt is, I’m sure, what lots of people felt. I looked into securing a second mortgage on my home in order to build a second home on an undeveloped portion of my hillside property, and then selling it to turn a tidy profit. Everyone was doing it. What could go wrong? Well, for starters I thought, what if it takes longer to build the home than I projected? We all know how slow construction projects can be. Could I make the payments on the second mortgage for an additional six months to a year? And what if I couldn’t sell that second home? Could I make the payments on the new loan indefinitely? What if my income decreased instead of increased, like it was at the time (and, subsequently, did †¦ dramatically!). And what would happen if I couldn’t make the payments? The answer was obvious, and it wasn’t in the fine print: I could lose my primary home. Forget that! Making a profit on a second home would be nice, but losing my first home would hurt well more than twice as much as making a profit on the second home would feel good. That’s a basic principle of risk aversion: losses hurt twice as much as gains feel good. Now, I’m not really a risk-averse guy (I gave up a secure career as a college professor for an insecure career as a writer and publisher), but even I could see the inherent risks involved when the home you live in could be taken away. My hillside remains sagebrush and wild grass. What about the people on the other end of the economic spectrum — the bankers and Wall Street moguls? Why aren’t they being evicted. Now, given that I’m a libertarian, you might expect me to come to the defense of Corporate America. Not so. Here I am in complete agreement with Michael Moore that, as I’ve been saying since the day it was first pronounced, â€Å"too big to fail† is the great myth of our time. None of these giant corporations — GM, AIG, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, et al. — should have been bailed out. In fact, they should have been allowed to fail, their stocks go into the toilet, their employees tossed out on to the gilded streets of lower Manhattan, and their CEOs dispersed to work as greeting clerks at Walmart. They gambled and lost on all those securities, bundled securities, derivatives, credit default swaps, and other â€Å"financial tools† that I’ll bet not one in a hundred Wall Street experts actually understands. If you really believe in free enterprise, you must accept the freedom to lose everything on such gambles. These CEOs and their corporate lackeys are nothing more than welfare queens who adhere to the motto â€Å"in profits we’re capitalists, in losses we’re socialists.† Sorry guys, you can’t have it both ways without corrupting your morals, which you have, along with the politicians you’ve bribed, cajoled and otherwise coerced to your bidding. The solution? I have some suggestions of my own, but Michael Moore’s solution is beyond bizarre: replace capitalism with democracy. Uh? Replace an economic system with a political system? Even the à ¼ber liberal Bill Maher was baffled by that one when he hosted Moore on his HBO show. How does a democracy produce automobiles and computers and search engines? It doesn’t. It can’t. Capitalism: A Love Story, ends with a remarkable film clip that Moore discovered of President Franklin Roosevelt reading from his never proposed second Bill of Rights (he died shortly after and the document died with him). Included in the list are: The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation; The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation; The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living; The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad; The right of every family to a decent home; The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health; The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment; The right to a good education. That’s nice. To this list I would add a computer in every home with wireless Internet access. I’m sure we could all think of many more things â€Å"under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all — regardless of station, race, or creed,† in Roosevelt’s words. But there is one question left unstated: Who is going to pay for it? If there is no capitalism, from where will the wealth be generated to pay for all these wonderful things? How much does a â€Å"decent† home costs these days, anyway? Do you see the inherent contradiction? Of course you do. So does Michael Moore, who elsewhere in the film longs for the good old days when the â€Å"rich† were taxed 90% of their earnings. So did Willie Sutton, who answered a similar question after being nabbed by the FBI during the Great Depression and asked by a reporter why he robs banks: â€Å"Because that’s where the money is.†

Kean University

I never thought this day would come as fast as it did. I feel like this year is just going to fly by and the next thing I know I’ll be packing to go to college, but let me not get ahead of myself. I remember always being asked, â€Å"What do you want to be when you grow up? † The funny thing is, I’ve always known. I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. I can look back to my younger years and remember playing teacher, writing out worksheets, teaching classes with my cousins. It’s something I always enjoyed. I am apart of the Coop Education program at my high school, I am now an intern at a preschool. It is just one step closer to what I want to do in my future. I now have hands on experience with young children, being able to interact and add input with any ideas I may have. As you can see, I am a determined young lady; if I want something I am going to try my hardest to be the best I can be in the field I am interested in. Kean University has so much to offer me, especially because I know what I want to do with my life. Kean is a teaching University and elementary education is one of the most popular fields at Kean. Why else would I look any further? I have a plan, people with plans become successful. I am someone who can be a team player when needed be. I was on my schools softball team my sophomore year in high school. I believe that playing a sport, taught me sportsmanship, self-confidence, and being able to work as a unit. You are able to bond with you teammates through the rough long practices and demanding games. I enjoy being involved in school activities. I was apart of Spanish Club and was the secretary of this club in 2007. We had fund raisers, put on a show for the International Festival two years in a row, held at Bloomfield High School, and also provided semi formals ,many accomplishments were made being apart of the Spanish Club. I was also joined Stage Crew my junior year, it gave me insight as to how plays and shows are put together. It’s not an easy job; it is time consuming but a learning experience. Next time I watch a play, I know how much hard work everyone backstage put in, being a part of stage setup and lighting was something new I tried out and did enjoy. I am a determined young woman ready to attain new information in a new ambiance with different people from different walks of life. I am ready to leave my nutshell and burst into a new atmosphere I can say Kean University is where I would like to spend the next four years of my life growing. The campus is big itself, and is unlike any environment I’ve put myself in. I would like to dorm. It’s a time in my life were I can be independent. A year away from my parents and around people I am not familiar with . Life is about experiencing new things. I want to advance, study and experience this all at Kean University

Management Information System Project Essay

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT First of all, I am thankful to God, because without him nothing would be possible. Without him, I would not have the strength and vigor to complete this project. I am also thankful to the lecturer, Mrs. Merlene Senior, for giving us this project to do and challenging us with it, and using it to help us increase our knowledge and to understand Management Information System to a further dept. INTRODUCTION Juici Patties started in 1980, by Jukie Chin, as a cottage industry. It was manufactured in his mother’s kitchen and sold in the family’s small grocery store. The demand for Chin’s product soon started to grow and grow steadily each day, which then lead him to establish the first Juici Patties Store in May Pen, Clarendon. The staff included one baker, a cashier, and Juckie, playing more than role. Juici’s men grew to include over fifty products comprising of different types of patties (chicken, shrimp, lobster, cheese and many more), soups ( red peas, chicken, beef, many more), porridges( peanut, cornmeal harmony, and etc.), and traditional Jamaican Breakfast dishes ( ackee n saltfish, green bananas, dumplings, stew chicken, liver, callaloo, many more). Juici became one of the most popular restaurants in Jamaica, because it offered Jamaicans â€Å"Homemade traditional dishes in comfortable and clean surroundings. This is reflected in their mission statement, which is â€Å"We are committed to providing excellent service by serving authentic Jamaican food at affordable prices in clean and comfortable surroundings.† The company itself has grown over the years from a single store in May Pen, Clarendon to having another manufacturing plant in Clarendon Park, Clarendon. This plant sat on 22 acres of land and had a retail outlet with a drive thru, a 24hr public restroom, furniture and welding manufacturing section (which made furniture for the different Juici outlets). The company also went on to acquire another manufacturing plant in Canada. This plant is HACCP (Hazard analysis and critical control points) certified and services Juici’s North American market. Its development has also included the use of MIS and/or Enterprise Applications used in its business techniques and practices in its day to day operations to improve its business processes for the benefit of its customers, staff and shareholders and communities in which it operates. This project will state the type of MIS or enterprise application currently in use by Juici, how it benefits them and also gives recommendations of the use of types and other changes Juici can make to further improve their system and increase profits even more. This project will also give some brief information about Juici such as what type of organization it, the organizational structure, and who the competition is/are. In order to expand, Jukie formed partnership with four of his closest friends, in various combinations. Juici then became a franchise (A franchise, according to http://business-law.freeadvice.com, is a franchise business is a business in which the owners, or franchisers, sell the rights to their business logo and model to third parties, called franchisees). After this Juici Patties spread to locations such as Kingston and St. Andrew and St. James. In 2001, it further spread to Falmouth, Trelawney and increasing the total number of outlets at the time to 34 and making Juici Patties the only chain of restaurant, at the time, to have its services in all fourteen parishes of Jamaica. There is a total of 50 stores islandwide, a few international outlets in North America, and a manufacturing plant in Canada. (Barness, 2005) – Founder of Juici Patties, Jukie Chin. NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES Juici started with only 3 employees (a baker, a cashier, and Juckie) and now has an excess of over 1500 employees islandwide. Juici is considered to have a strong family bond as all or most of the early employees literally grew up with Juckie and stayed with the company for many years, especially in Clarendon, where it all started. The positions now available at Juici range from Accountant to Human Resource Manager to Food Server to even furniture maker (in the wood work department). Juici offers his employees a comfortable work environment and good benefits and remuneration packages. COMPETITORS Juici Patties can be seen as one of the biggest patty companies in Jamaica with its main competition being Tastee Patties. This other patty phenomenal entity was established in the 1960’s by Vincent Chang. Tastee Patties is also seen as one of the top patty distributers in Jamaica and can be found in numerous locations islandwide and internally (North America). Tastee currently employees over 800 individuals nationwide and also offers its employees a family oriented, comfortable, and secure work environment. Tastee also sources the beef that is used to make their delicious patties, via their own slaughter houses. Tastee, like Juici, also offers a variety of products such as patties (beef, chicken, shrimp, etc.), soups, porridges, and traditional Jamaican dishes such as ackee and saltfish and green banana and dumpling. Tastee Patties Logo MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE Branch Offices: Floor Manager: Manages the staff that gives services to customers, and allocates the duties of opening and closing the restaurant. The floor manager also makes sure the employees follow the food safety laws and regulations and looks after the staff which makes the work force stronger and more profitable. Kitchen Manager: Manages the staff that works in the kitchen and the kitchen is seen as the most important part of the business as this is where the products are made that attracts the customers. Restaurant Manager: The head of the floor manager, kitchen manager and all employees in the outlet he/she is assigned to. This person also takes all counter reports from frontline employees and checks and sends it to the head office. Frontline Employees: Takes the orders and serve and deal with the customers and at the end of the day count per product sale amount and total amount of sales. Juici Patties current MIS/ Enterprise Application in use are: Paper-Based System: Advantages of a paper-based system- * Easy handling: As paper is physical by nature and therefore tangible and visible, a person who need not have any knowledge of computers to handle and work with paper-based documents. Such documents can be stored systematically in files, folders, cabinets etc. * Reproduction: You can copy a document by using a photocopier machine. * Recognized and required by law: Paper-based document originals are recognized by law as being ‘official’ and can be produced as evidence in court. In fact, the law may even require you to have certain documents only in paper format for them to be considered valid. Disadvantages of having a paper-based system- * Storage space: As paper is by nature physical, it takes up a lot of storage space. With its limited resources, a small business may not be able to afford to rent or purchase storage space onsite or offsite. * Recurring cost of supplies: If you store most of your documents in paper form, you need to keep purchasing several packs of blank paper every month for varying needs: photocopying, printing, fax paper, writing pads, invoice books, accounting books etc. Add to it the cost of other stationery items and you begin to wonder if there is a better alternative to the paper-based system of managing documents. * Limited mobility: No doubt you can courier or fax a paper-based document, but how can it match up to email or sending it as an attachment to an instant message? * Editing messy: Editing a typed or handwritten document will leave marks on paper. Also, the only way to preserve the pre-edited copy is to make a photocopy before editing it. This process has to be repeated every time you edit or revise the document. All it does is add more copies to your paper archive and leave the original document in bad shape. * Collaboration difficult: If your firm’s departmental heads in different corners of the office want to collaborate on a paper document, an assistant will first have to make copies of the document and distribute them. Then each head will have to make notes. To be able to see each other’s notes, they will need to gather anyway for a meeting before they finalize the action plan. Compare this with an electronic document management system where you can simply share the document (grant access to it) with your departmental heads; each of them can add their notes and save the document. The document can then be seen by all with everyone’s notes on it. A face-to-face meeting is not required, thereby saving the time of your busy senior executives. * Vulnerable to damage: As paper is exposed to wear and tear through frequent handling, exposure to adverse weather conditions etc., a document management system that is purely paper-based is not a stable one. In the event of a disaster, you could lose your documents as they may not be backed up. Documents that are not in digital form cannot be backed up online. Supply chain management (SCM) Supply chain management (SCM) is the combination of art and science that goes into improving the way a company (such as Juici Patties) finds the raw components( beef) it needs to make a product or service ( patty) and deliver it to customers. The following are five basic components of SCM. * Plan—this is the strategic portion of SCM. Companies need a strategy for managing all the resources that go toward meeting customer demand for their product or service. A big piece of SCM planning is developing a set of metrics to monitor the supply chain so that it is efficient, costs less and delivers high quality and value to customers. * Source—next, companies must choose suppliers to deliver the goods and services they need to create their product. Therefore, supply chain managers must develop a set of pricing, delivery and payment processes with suppliers and create metrics for monitoring and improving the relationships. And then, SCM managers can put together processes for managing their goods and services inventory, including receiving and verifying shipments, transferring them to the manufacturing facilities and authorizing supplier payments. * Make—this is the manufacturing step. Supply chain managers schedule the activities necessary for production, testing, packaging and preparation for delivery. This is the most metric-intensive portion of the supply chain—one where companies are able to measure quality levels, production output and worker productivity. * Deliver—this is the part that many SCM insiders refer to as logistics, where companies coordinate the receipt of orders from customers, develop a network of warehouses, pick carriers to get products to customers and set up an invoicing system to receive payments. * Return—this can be a problematic part of the supply chain for many companies. Supply chain planners have to create a responsive and flexible network for receiving defective and excess products back from their customers and supporting customers who have problems with delivered products. RESULTS Under their current system, Juici Patties has: * JUICI Patties has pumped more than US$60,000 (J$5.3 million) into â€Å"greening† its Clarendon operations, positioning itself to reap financial gains over the medium to long term while at the same time helping to realize environmental sustainability. (Barness, 2005) * They installed a water treatment plant — the recycled water from which is used to maintain their plants and lawns — but they have also installed two biodigesters, a solar system and two windmills. * Juici Patties currently has distributors in the Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos, Dominica, and St. Lucia. * Juici Patties acquired a manufacturing plant in Ontario, Canada. No Juici retail store is present in Canada, but Juici beef, chicken, vegetable and shrimp patties are available in some of Canada’s major supermarket chains and convenience stores. * Juici Patties has a number of community programmes such as Juici Patties Elderly Soup Feeding Programme. * Juici Patties has a sponsorship programme, where they sponsor community sports competitions such as Juici Patties Clarendon Senior Netball League. (Juici Patties) RECOMMENDATIONS Keeping in mind the need to maximize profits (a main objective for any business) in today’s day and age, the best way to do this is to utilize the best technology that is available, the following are recommended: * Enterprise Management System * Network: Internet/Intranet/ Extranet/ LAN * Application Technology: Client/Server, Web-Enabled applications * Security: Firewall Servers and Proxy Server. * Use ERP Is Juici Patties an Enterprise? Juici Patties can be considered an enterprise, as it is a large business community, operating over 50 outlets islandwide and internationally. It is a corporate entity and includes a group of people with a common goal with the resources to retain this goal. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) ERP, according to www. tmcnet,com, is an organization’s management system which uses a software application to incorporate all facets of the business, and automate and facilitate the flow of data between critical back-office functions, which may include financing, distribution, accounting, inventory management, sales, marketing, planning, human resources, manufacturing, and other operating units. ERP software comes in many forms, including supply chain management, manufacturing, distribution, warehouse management, retail management, and point-of-sale software. What Every Enterprise (Juici Patties) Needs? * Management of Data – for information communication * Event monitoring, updating, control * ERP * EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)- consists of direct computer-to-computer transmission among multiple firms of data in a machine readable, structured format. * AMS (Attendance Monitoring System) – is required for personal planning of the employees in the organization. It also helps in availability and scheduling. * DMS (Document Management System).- This system helps in keeping important document for viewing at later times. For the purpose of transaction handling this system some time have a facility of document modification, by giving text-editing facility. * CMS (Communication Management Systems). – The ERP uses CMS as a tool for all its communication needs of recording an event. This system is used for tracking the important resource for action. (Wolf, 2011) ERP Software * ERP software is a family of software modules that support the business activities involved in these vital back-office processes. For example, ERP software for a Juici Patties’ manufacturing company will typically track the status of sales, inventory, shipping, and invoicing, as well as forecasting raw material and human resource requirements. * Enterprise Applications/ Packages/ Suites/ Systems connects all of the information, which flows through a company to a single integrated set of systems. * This is implemented in modules, which can be integrated. * ERP may work with a wide variety of databases, hardware, and operating systems. * Leading Vendors of ERP are SAP, Oracle. * Originally. ERP packages were targeted at the manufacturing industry. * Their goal is to integrate information across the company and eliminate complex links between computer systems. * The architecture is client/server and uses OO methodology for design and development of whole system. * Key advantage of ERP is that it provides an integrated solution for all the requirements of the business. (Wolf, 2011) * It takes care of organizational hierarchy of authorities * Basically ERP solutions are based on Unix and Windows NT platform. A typical ERP solution has following modules: * Marketing, Distribution and sales * Manufacturing process * Accounting and finance * Personal management * Planning and control * Purchase and inventory The modules are designed for following purposes: – * Data capture from transactions * Data transaction validation * Analysis * Updating and reporting of accounting ERP Benefits: * ERP offers lots of benefits to the implementing organization. * It helps for a manager to make decision at the right time. * This is possible when entire organization is sharing information and interprets in same perspectives. * The benefits of ERP can be classified in two categories: – * Tangible benefits (Those which can be measured in one form or other) * Intangible benefits (Difficult to measure in absolute terms) The Risks of ERP: * Tied to a single vendor * Flexibility limited by options offered by the vendor * May inappropriately force generic processes * May inappropriately force org. structure changes * Complexity – particularly regarding mapping and standardizing processes across the organization CONCLUSION Juici Patties is one the biggest and most popular patty companies in Jamaica employing over 2000 individuals in over 50 outlets islandwide and overseas (North America). Juici Patties was the first company to have outlets in all fourteen parishes and one of few fast food restaurants produces the ingredients ( beef from cattle at their slaughter houses) to make their product (patty). Juici Patties current paper based and Supply Chain Management CMS worked well for many years and benefitted Juici in many ways, however with a new system or collaboration such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, and in the long run profits will have an even more rise. The ERP system will: * Improve the quality and efficiency of Juici Patties. By keeping a Juici’s internal business process running smoothly, ERP can lead to better outputs that will benefit the company such as customer service, and manufacturing. (Wolf, 2011) * Provide support to upper level management to provide them with critical decision making information. This decision support will allow the upper level management to make managerial choices that will enhance the business down the road. * Create a more agile company that can better adapt to situations and changes. ERP makes Juici Patties more flexible and less rigidly structured in an effort to allow the different parts of this organization to become more cohesive, in turn, enhancing the business both internally and externally. (Wolf, 2011) * Pepsi-Cola Jamaica Bottling Co., Ltd., and Juici Patties chain signed a deal that would see Pepsi serving as the preferred carbonated beverage supplier at Juici Patties stores across the island. (Juici patties and Pepsi sign supply deal, 2002) REFERENCES Barness, P. N. (2005, July 27). Jukie Chin Expands Empire. The Gleaner. Juici Patties. (n.d.). Retrieved from juicipatties.com: http://www.juicipatties.com/index.php?main=1 Wolf, T. (2011, May 10). What is ERP Software? TMC News. Turban, E.. et al. (2006), Information Technology for Management, Transforming Organization in the Digital Economy (5th ed). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Oklobdzija, Vojin G.,(2008). 2nd Ed. Digital systems and applications., CRC Press Computer Engineering Series; Publication: Boca Raton, FL CRC Press. Juici patties and Pepsi sign supply deal. (2002, February 3). The Sunday Gleaner.