ART Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

ART - Essay Example These categories can be broken down to subsections. For example, nature has animals, landscape, plants and flowers, waterways, and weather. These can also be broken down, point being that there is a wealth of accurate portrayal of the knowledge of 19th century living in an English village. His scenes are more distinct than Turner's and more diversified. His use of light is different as he shows the reflection of clouds in the water. The reflection in the water is realistic. We are almost looking at a photo. Turner use of light was totally different. He blended the horizons with the sky and the clouds with the blue of the sky. He was before his time of the Impressionist school. Turner's Raby Castle, the Seat of the Earl of Darlignton 1818 is just the opposite of Constable. Nothing is distinque. His painting is beautiful. It shows a large area that would be called a landscape in a different time period. In this painting, we see the clouds descending in the valley. His little ray of sun in only shining in one area of the whole valley. Yes he does have the concept of light, but his idea of light has nothing to compare with the concept of Constable. In his Caernarvon Castle 1799 where he uses watercolor over pencil, the use of light is very different. There are yellow and green hues. The boats are distinque and the castle looks as though it is in the shadow. Turner did landscape, and watercolor paintings and experimented in printmaking.(Magister n.d.) At 14 years old, he entered the Royal Academy of Arts and had one painting exhibited per year to the end of his life. (Magister, n.d.) Because he had financial stability, he travelled all over Europe and was able to expand his horizons something Constable was never able to do.(Magister, n.d.). Constable was never financially stable. He sold his first painting at 43 years of age. When Turner used his landscape paintings as historical paintings or to tell a story. The Opening of Wallha, 1842 exhibited 1843 was done in co mmemoration of the opening of the Walhalla Temple in Germany.(Art Authority). Oil on mahogany support The painting tells a story showing the temple as a historical monument, the Danube river, the bridge and people on the shore having a good time.(Art Authority) It is complicated and much to be seen. It is in the end of the romantic style. The lines and colors blend into other subjects. Here the lines are soft and the colors blend into other color. There is still the Romantic school of having people clearly visible. There is a contrast in lighting between the water, the clouds and the sky. As this is a historical painting, the story of the painting is clear. The Shipwreck "The moods of nature": (Magister, n.d.) This painting shows the contrasts in nature: water and waves, sky and clouds, life and death, dark and light, windy and calm. So much is expressed at the tip of a brush, perhaps Turner was expressing his emotions. His images are blended other than the sails of the boats. In ea ch of his painting he has at least one subject where the image is not troubled. Snow storm- Steam-Boat of a Harbour's Mouth, 1842 is a complete blending of colors. The steam and the sky are visible. The waves are not discernable from the steam boat nor is it obvious that there is a storm. The pre -impressionism has started. The parting of hero and leander - from the Greek of Musaeus, 1837,

Prison Break Essay Example for Free

Prison Break Essay Prison break is an American television series just entering the second season. It is a drama series set around a prison. This five star thriller is based in a prison named Fox River. The masterminded character, Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) is the main actor in this series. He plays as a structural engineer, this comes in handy when he plans to break out his step brother Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell), also acted as Drake in Blade Trinity out of prison. Lincoln Burrows (Purcell) is the only family he has, and is on death row, convicted of the murder of the vice presidents brother. In actual fact, the vice presidents brother is hiding. This scheme was set up by the vice president herself and her right hand man, working with the secret service agent Paul Kellerman. (Paul Adelstein) Lawyer Veronica Donovan (Robin Tunney) investigates a conspiracy that takes place indicating that Lincoln Burrows was framed for the murder. The evidence was destroyed and Veronica could not get Lincoln exonerated. When a date was set for the execution of Lincoln, Michael has to think fast about how he is going to execute this plan. He has plans of the prison tattooed all over his body. These blueprints are camouflaged by artwork of devils and angels and so not anyone can see it and understand it apart from him. Any phrases or important words would be tattooed backwards or inverted and only could be recognized seeing it through a mirror. He deliberately robs a bank firing a gunshot on the ceiling to acquire maximum security and gets caught intentionally and gets sent to the same prison as his brother. The action inside the prison is full of suspense as the series continues. Michael has to persuade several other prisoners who are important for this escape to happen. Predictably other prisoners acknowledge that there is a scheme going on and they have to be part of the escape for obvious reasons. Psychopath Theodore Bagwell (Robert Knepper) known as T-Bag as his nickname, is a perfect example of why this show is so great. His character is a murder and rapist. His emetic performance is what gets the viewers gripped. Throughout the series there is another plot of whats happening outside the walls. Veronica is working hard to end this conspiracy or to delay the execution. This is not an easy task as she is fighting against the government. The second season is when the cons are on the run. Fernando Sucre, Benjamin Franklin, John Abruzzi, Theodore T-bag Bagwell, Charles Patoshik, David Apolskis, Michael Scofield and Lincoln Burrows are the Fox River 8 MOST WANTED MEN IN AMERICA. The phrase MOST WANTED sums up the feelings of how the cops would really like to catch them. After the breakout the cons make their way to the airstrip to board a plane that should wait there to pick them up. The plane was unknown and identified by an inspector. The pilot had to leave the cons behind after being suspicious. This is a difficult situation for Scofield and the viewers are worried that the fugitives will be apprehended. He proves his intelligence by having a plan B if they never made it to the airstrip. They all go their different ways to uncover five millions dollars buried in Utah by an inmate that was killed in Fox River. The break out becomes a Federal matter and FBIs have to get involved. Special conniving agent FBI Alexander Mahone (William Fitchtner) is at almost the same intelligence as Scofield and is a real obstacle for him. This undeniable amazing series caught over ten million viewers. Brett Ratner, the director of Prison Break has turned famous after directing the best series with the highest ratings. On www. reviewit. com, 10,000 blogs show the people love the excitement and the suspense they get watching this series. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Miscellaneous section.

Overview Of The Firstbank Nigeria Plc

Overview Of The Firstbank Nigeria Plc FIRSTBANK Nigeria Plc is one of the oldest financial institutions and indeed the largest retail lender in Nigeria, its the 1st bank to be established in West Africa. The bank was incorporated in Liverpool as a Limited Liability company in March 1894 with the name Bank of British West Africa. The bank was listed on the Nigerian Stock exchange (NSE) in March 1971 after which it acquired its name First Bank of Nigeria in 1979. Following the CBN induced industry-wide consolidation in 2005 the bank acquired its merchant banking subsidiary, FBN Merchant Banker ltd and MBC intl Bank Plc. FirstBank maintains a subsidiary in United Kingdom which has a branch in Paris, the bank also has representative offices in South Africa, China and Dubai through which it offers offshore financial services. Presently the Banks assets are in excess of N100billion. 1.2 THE NATURE AND SIZE FIRSTBANK as a leading commercial bank has the largest network of branches in the country, over the years the bank has continually reviewed its organizational structure and corporate identity in line with changing financial environment. Known for its uniqueness for being dependably dynamic and stability, 1st Bank has made for its self a name, a brand goodwill associated with fidelity and safety of funds. Being a key player in the nations financial-banking sector, Firstbank delivers a wide range of financial services to its numerous customers; the bank is well known for innovative changes in technological device and service delivery. Being the first bank to introduce a Biometric ATM i.e. an ATM machine that uses both pin no selection and finger prints to identify transaction buttresses this point. The bank through its acquired subsidiaries also provide other financial services and they include, insurance policies, housing schemes, asset portfolio management. 1.3 PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FIRSTBANK offers a wide range of wholesale, retail and consumer banking products and services in ensuring that it keeps true to its name as the 1st bank of choice in the country,. Our products include: Æ’ËÅ" CONSUMER BANKING: Generic Savings Account, Current Account, First Premium Term Deposit, First Savings Plus Account, First Hifi (Children) Account, First Current Plus Current Account(with zero COT), FIRST Current Business Account, First Dom Account, First Instant Savings Account. All accounts have the flexibility of over the counter withdrawals given the new CBN policy, ATM cards, Dividend warrants lodgment and access to E-Banking services. . Æ’ËÅ" WHOLESALE BANKING: The services and products therein are further divided into ASSET PRODUCTS: They include- Term loans, Overdraft, Oil and Gas contract finance(OGCF), Bankers Acceptance, Commercial Papers, Bills Discounting, Project Finance, Equipment Leasing etc, INTERNATIONAL TRADE FINACE: Includes but not limited to- Import finance, Export Finance, Clean lineconfirmation, Letters of Credit, Bills for Collection, Forex Trading Invisible RemittancesPayment for Services. Æ’ËÅ" E- BANKING: First Online which allows you to transact business online at the comfort or your home or offices. First Alert-Instant notification on your account First Mobile-Access to your account through you phone, it includes buying of airtime and payment of utility bills. First Pay and First Collect-effect payment and several collection to and from your merchants. FIRST CARDS : Debit and Credit cards which include- MasterCard, FirstBank Naira MasterCard, First Cash Card, Visa Card (Gold, Classic and Infinite), Visa Credit Card. Notice that all cards issued by the bank comes with FIRSTBANK brand name- FIRST FIGURE 1C:UsersDanielDesktopCYNTHIAFirstBank MasterCard.jpg C:UsersDanielDesktopCYNTHIAVISA_GOLD2.gif C:UsersDanielDesktopCYNTHIAFirstCash Card.jpg Æ’ËÅ" MONEY TRANSFER: FIRSTBANK offers funds transfer services locally and internationally through mediums like- First Domestic Transfer, Western Union, Money Gram and RIA. Æ’ËÅ" OTHER SERVICES: Other services rendered by the bank includes- Agricultural Financing, FIRST Diaspora banking services for Nigerians in Diaspora and Bills Payment for prompt settlement of utility bills(e.g. PHCN, Water and DSTV) 1.4 VISION, MISSION AND ESSENCE Vision: To be the clear leader and Nigerias bank of first choice Mission: To remain true to our name by providing the best financial services possible Essence: The DNA of the FirstBank brand lies in its strength, size and dependability, typified by its brand icon, the African Elephant. Our brand essence is therefore Dependably Dynamic which is a holistic representation of our past, present and the future of FirstBank. 1.5 CORE VALUES The core values of FirstBank are coined in an acronym for quick recall and living by the guiding principle TELL SPIC Team Work Everyday a better way, the team spirit is embedded in our culture as the best possible way to work. Ethics The good will of the bank is to be maintained as you deal with both internal and external customers, ensuring that the client leaves your office satisfied. Loyalty the essence of brand name and its very existence evolves in loyalty to our customers, Firstbank has been in existence for generations and loyalty to our customers is what makes us tick. Superior Performance To strengthen the banks brand, leverage and upscale the customers experience through delivery of excellent services. Professionalism To revolutionize the Banks operations in line with the dynamics of the operating environment while ensuring that we provide the best financial services unmatched. Integrity Adopt high ethical values to guide the conduct of all banking business and transactions in conformity with all relevant regulatory requirements. Customer Centricity The customer is the king and the reason we are in business, their demands should be met in line with banks policy 1.6 OUR BRAND PILLARS LEADERSHIP Our statusability as truly the 1st and No1 SAFETYSECURITY- Security of fundsInvestments, job security, Integrity. ENTERPRISE Resourcefulness, Tenacity SERVICE EXCELLENCE Efficiency, Performance focused, Reliability, Accessibility 2.0 PLANNING This chapter focuses on goal setting, study plan, expected difficulties to be encountered in data collection and plan to overcome these challenges. 2.1 OBJECTIVE OF THE ORGANISATIONAL ANALYSIS The objective of the organizational analysis is to specifically examine the current state of the Banks operational and structural framework, analyse the functional units and the interface relations and also recommend ways of improving the interface relations. 2.2 GOAL SETTING Goals setting involves establishing specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-framed (S.M.A.R.T ) target by an individual or organization. Goal focuses attention towards goal-relevant activities, revealing the objectives and strategies in which the goals can be met. Figure 1 below is the structured project plan for the organisational analysis. Activity Timeline 20-Jun-12 22-Jun-12 24-Jun-12 26-Jun-12 28-Jun-12 30-Jun-12 2-July-12 4-July-12 8-July-12 10-July-12 12-July-12 14-July-12 16-July-12 18-July-12 22-July-12 Review of BSN course material Data Gathering Data compilation Report writing Draft Report Review Sub-set meeting Review Update report Draft submission to set adviser Correction and final submission Figure 2: Project Plan 2.3 PROJECT PLAN Reviewing of the BSN course materials and EBSCO database to understand theory on organisational structures, data collection method and research report writing style. The internet (Google search and Wikipedia) comes in very handy in enhancing project plan. The objective of the data collection stage of the project is to gather relevant and accurate information, to obtain the participation and co-operation of the appropriate target population and to facilitate the collection and analysis of data. The targeted populations are staff of the functional units, staff of hub branches, heads of the functional units (department) and some strategic business units and staff of Human Capital Management- Head Office. The medium to achieve this includes- Informal Interviews, telephone survey, one-on-one chats with some members of the targeted population e.g. the heads of departments and staff of the Human Capital management because of their exigent duties. All perceived sensitive questions would be handled through interviews (which are not formal) and not written questionnaires. The FirstBank Intranet and internet website will be used extensively to gather information on functional units and organizational structure while personal visits to the Head Office and hub branches will be utilized to objectively gather information on functions of various departments, interface relations and recommendations for improvement of the interface relations. Data compilation stage will include analyzing data collected and reviewing information from subset meetings and research report writing. Report writing stage would involve applying the reviewed data gained from the various materials and extraction of relevant information from FIRSTBANK intranet and periodic publications. Data structuring and report preparation will also be done at this stage. Reviewed responses from telephone calls and outcomes of informal interviews Discussed challenges with Set Advisor at subset meeting and via phone calls. Update and revised document with necessary corrections. 2.4 DIFFICULTIES TO BE ENCOUNTERED IN DATA COLLECTION Questionnaires could not be used because of the banks policy on bulk mails or questionnaires related to work and business environment hence adequate data collection seemed impossible. Network challenges when accessing both the internet and the Banks intranet. Time constraint and the busy schedule of visited staff will also be a limitation. Insufficient time due to researchers official duties. 2.5 PLAN TO OVERCOME THESE DIFFICULTIES All perceived sensitive questions would be handled through interviews and not written questionnaires. Extra hours to be dedicated for accessing the Banks intranet while a substitute internet modem was purchased to curb congestion or delays on web hosts. Personal interviews will be conducted for staff with busy schedule, telephone calls and communication chat applications were also utilized for other staff Ensure proper time management. 3.0 ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE AND CULTURE This chapter focuses on the theories of organisational structure and organisational culture. 3.1 ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE Organisations exist to achieve goals; these goals are broken down into tasks as the basis for jobs. The term organisational structure therefore refers to the formal configuration between individuals and groups regarding the allocation of tasks, responsibilities, and authority within the organization (Galbraith, 1987; Greenberg, 2011). Said differently, The framework, typically hierarchical, within which an organization arranges its lines of authority and communications, and allocates rights and duties. Organizational structure determines the manner and extent to which roles, power, and responsibilities are delegated, controlled, and coordinated, and how information flows between levels of management. (Business Dictionary-Google). The structure of the organization can be defined simply as the sum total of ways in which its labour is divided into distinct tasks and the its coordination is achieved among these tasks /(Mintzberg 1983a) Very early organizational structures were often based either on product or function (Oliveira Takahashi, 2012). Others moved beyond these early approaches and examined the relationship between organizational strategy and structure (Brickley, Smith, Zimmerman, Willett, 2002). This approach began with the landmark work of Alfred Chandler (1962, 2003), who traced the historical development of some companies, He concluded from his study that an organizations strategy tends to influence its structure. He suggests that strategy indirectly determines such variables as the organizations tasks technology, and environments, and each of these influences the structure of the organization. More recently, social scientists have augmented Chandlers thesis by contending that an organizations strategy determines its environment, technology, and tasks. These variables, coupled with growth rates and power distribution, affect organisational structure. The Organisational structure as argued by Alfred Chandler can be seen in FIRSTBANK structure which was changed recently to suit the Banks intended strategy. The Bank in Oct 2010 had embarked on a re-structuring of its entire operational system and workforce, we can therefore deduce that Strategy determines organizational structure. A critical review of Mintzberg definition shows that it is not against the aforementioned, the design of every superstructure ends up as a compromise between the objective factors of work flow, process and scale interdependency, and the subjective factors of personality and social need. Organisations may be conceived on paper, but they must function with flesh-and-blood human beings. (Mintzberg, 1983). Hence for a critical analysis of FirstBank OA, the Mintzberg theory will be adopted. 3.1.1 ORGANISATIONAL CONFIGURATION Mintzberg claims that organisations are composed of five basic elements, or groups of individuals, any of which may predominate in an organisation. The design parameters determine individual positions (examples will be shown using FirstBank configuration) Operating Core: Staff or employees who perform the basic work related to an organisations product or service e.g.- Tellers, Customer Service Officer, Foreign Operations Staff Strategic Apex: Top-Management responsible for running an entire organisation. The Executive Directors and Executive Vice President of the bank sit at the Strategic Apex Middle Line: Managers who stand in a direct line relationship between the strategic apex and the operating core. They include the Group Heads, RegionalArea Office Managers. Techno structure: Organisational specialists responsible for standardising various aspects of an organisations activities eg- Internal Control and Audit, Compliance, Credit Risk Management(CRM) AND MANCO Support Staff: Individuals who provide support to an organisation outside its operating workflow.(I.T support, Security personnels) Mintzberg identified five organisational configurations, they however depend some contingency factors which include Age of the organization, Size Technical System, Environment and Power factors: Æ’ËÅ" Simple Structure is characterized by loose division of labor, relies on direct supervision and finds its key part at the strategic apex Æ’ËÅ" Machine Bureaucracy which relies on standardisation of work process, relatively centralized power for decision making; with its key part in the techno structure where the planners of the organisation reside. Professional Bureaucracy which deals with standardisation of skills and has the operating core as its key part. Divisionalised form -each division has its own structure, it centers on standardisation of outputs. Autonomous units are created to deal with entire product lines, allowing top management to focus on large-scale, strategic decision. The middle line is key part of the organisation. Adhocracy, a highly informal, strong presence of mutual adjustment, organic organisation in which specialists work in teams, coordinating with each other on various projects. FIRSTBANKS structure like most large corporations is characterized by the divisionalised form of Mintzbergs configuration as various divisions (departments) are created by their product lines or end products. The techno structure is located at Head Office to provide services to all divisions; support staffs are located within each division like we have the IT support for each area and marketing assistants who are support staff assigned to each branch. Most of the operational activities are conducted by the middle line managers, department heads or unit heads and they all operate with some form of independence and centralization within their units. They coordinate the output, acting between the strategic apex and the operating core. They also oversee the activities of the operating core and are expected to report back to strategic apex. The typical operational structure in a FIRSTBANK branch is divided into two divisions- i. The Operations Unit who are in charge of the everyday running of branch and attending to customers demand. The head of this unit is called The Branch Operations Manager. ii. The Retail or marketing unit who are in charge of increasing the market size and credit portfolio of the branch. The Business Manager heads this unit of the branch. Each of these units runs independently of each other with separate reporting lines even though they are situated in the same complex ant they form part of the whole group. Given the Banks ever evolving strategy in line with changes in market dynamics and technological advancement, the structure design is determined by the strategic planning and corporate transformation unit through the HCM department, stating unit and individual key responsibilities and the reporting lines. The final structure is then approved by the strategic apex and the statutory regulatory authority (Central Bank of Nigeria). Usually the bank makes the policies available on its local INTRANET and other periodic publications or circulars as organisational changes are initiated. 3.1.2 ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE EFFECTIVENESS EFFICIENCY Effectiveness of a system is about doing the right things. Its about producing the intended or expected result, In measuring organisational effectiveness, the relevant question would be: is the organisational system doing the right thing for its survival?, is it focusing its drive on opportunities to produce revenue? Is it producing the output it needs if it is to survive? Efficiency of a system, on the other hand is about the inputs the system uses in order to produce outputs that is doing things right, accomplishing your tasks with a minimum of time and resource, It centers on performance and cost reduction. To thoroughly examine organizational success, both measures should be considered because productivity is a function of inputs to outputs which is the theme of efficiency and effectiveness. Efficiency should always be the servant of effectiveness.(BSN Phase 1, module IX, p 575) Looking at the Banks history and evolutions, one can boldly say that FIRSTBANK has achieved some level of efficiency and effectiveness. The total assets of the Bank as at Dec 2011 as published equals N,2463,543, total equity was N373,572 while the total Customer Deposits was N1,783,777,(figures are in millions).however there is room and need for improvement, the Bank lacks behind in mobilization of current account deposits and booking of credit facilities. These lapses deny the bank of some benefits which include increase in customer base and collection of float income from these deposits. The FIRST Instant savings account was introduced by the Bank to bridge this gap on deposit mobilization, this product however has not recorded much success because of the strict requirements, the deployment of FINACLE 10 Banking solution which is scheduled to kick off this year July is an Efficiency measure in order to reduce turnaround time, this I believe is coming rather too late. The strategic Apex of the Bank needs to review these points afore mentioned and reach a favorable conclusion so that the Bank can edge forward. 3.1.3 DESIGN PARAMETERS Mintzberg identified nine design parameters. By using these parameters the organisational designer can influence the way individuals are positioned in the organisation and the way groups or departments are formed. The design parameters are Job specialisation; Behavior formation; Training and indoctrination; Unit grouping; size; Planning and control systems; Liaison devices; Vertical and horizontal decentralization. The design parameters predominant in FIRSTBANK are: Job Specialisation: In FIRSTBANK, all job titles are specified, the roles to be performed, the job description, key competences and reporting lines are well explained for staff to understand. Job Specification for each job title is easily accessible on the intranet, it is the banks believe that job specialization increases employee productivity. Æ’ËÅ" Training and indoctrination: In order to carry out task, employees need to possess particular skills and knowledge.(BSN Phase 1 Course Notes, pg 584). In FirstBank its a trend to continuously train staff on a need to know and improvement basis, this exercise forms part of appraisal marks to be awarded during year end performance rating. The heads of branches or departments recommend staff for training if a knowledge gap or improvement need is identified. Educational and career advancement is also encouraged. The Human Capital Management Development anchors this aspect of the bank. Given the ever increasing need for the aforementioned, the Bank has rebranded its HCMD training arm to be called FIRST ACADEMY. The essence is to inculcate the banks values, ensuring that their staffs are well grounded and ever ahead of industry trends. Indoctrination are done upon recruitment of staff be it new or experienced hirees in order to imbibe the banks culture and values into them. The unit grouping is an important design parameter in FIRSTBANK because it creates a system of supervision in which there is a reporting line, departmental, unit or group head for all strategic units of the bank, this encourages standardization of outputs. Firstbank adopts functional grouping Vertical decentralisation: Mintzberg (1983a, p.99) defines vertical decentralisation as the dispersal of formal power down the chain of line authority. FISTBANK adopts limited vertical decentralization. Heads of departments/units are delegated the power to control most of the decisions concerning their line units and such decisions are cascaded down to their subordinates, however they have their reporting lines and various limits. 3.2 ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE Culture refers to the underlying values, beliefs and codes of practice that makes an organisation what It is. The customs of an organisation, the self image of its members, the things that make it different from others are its culture. Culture is symbolic; Culture is unifying and refers to the processes that bind the organization together. Culture is rooted deep in unconscious sources but is represented in superficial practices and behavior codes. Deal and Kennedy (1982) argue that culture is the single most important factor accounting for success or failure in organizations. They identified four key dimensions of culture: Values the beliefs that lie at the heart of the corporate culture. Heroes the people who embody values. Rites and rituals routines of interaction that have strong symbolic qualities. The culture network the informal communication system or hidden hierarchy of power in the organization. Peters and Waterman (1982) suggest a psychological theory of the link between organizational culture and business performance. Culture can be looked upon as a reward of work; we sacrifice much to the organization and culture is a form of return on effort. Schein (1992) says that organisational culture is developed over time as people in the organisation learn to deal successfully with problems of external adaptation and internal integration. It becomes the common language and the common background. Employee values are measured against organizational values to predict employee intentions to stay, and predict turnover. This is done through instrument like Organizational Culture Profile (OCP) to measure employee commitment (OReilly, ChatmanCaldwell 1991). However Daniel Denisons model (1990) asserts that organizational culture can be described by four general dimensions: Mission Strategic Direction and Intent, Goals and Objectives and Vision Adaptability Creating Change, Customer Focus and Organizational Learning Involvement Empowerment, Team Orientation and Capability Development Consistency Core Values, Agreement, Coordination/Integration Denisons model also allows cultures to be described broadly as externally or internally focused as well as flexible versus stable. The model has been typically used to diagnose cultural problems in organizations. 3.2.1 FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE ORGANISATIONS CULTURE (FIRSTBANK) According to Schein (1992), the two main reasons why cultures develop in organizations is due to external adaptation and internal integration. External adaptation reflects an evolutionary approach to organizational culture and suggests that cultures develop and persist because they help an organization to survive and flourish. If the culture is valuable, then it holds the potential for generating sustained competitive advantages. Additionally, internal integration is an important function since social structures are required for organizations to exist. Organizational practices are learned through socialization at the workplace. Work environments reinforce culture on a daily basis by encouraging employees to exercise cultural values. Organisational culture is shaped by multiple factors, including the following: External environment Industry Size and nature of the organizations workforce Technologies the organization uses The organizations history and ownership The external environment to FirstBank includes the ever emerging competitors, the realization of this pushes the Banks management is forge ahead and be innovative. The increasing number of banks offering same products that Firstbank had exclusivity to buttress this point, exceptional service delivery and brand value/positioning are the keys to have an edge over others. Other aspects of FirstBanks external environment include the legal or statutory regulations which the Bank must conform with, the political, socio-economic dynamics of Nigeria. The workforce of the bank is considerably large in comparism to other banks being the bank with the largest number of branch network and emerging diaspora banking through its subsidiaries. Prior to the rebranding of the Banks workforce, 1stBank had a culture of mostly old staff and few young staff, in 2008 the bank retrenched over 900 staff especially those who had spent over 25 years in service, the management immediately embarked on recruitment of new and experienced hirees who were relatively young, in addition to this, salaries were increased to suit the modern banker status. A new culture in that aspect had been achieved as 1stbankers were no longer distinguished by long suits and old staff. 3.2.2 FIRSTBANK CULTURE FIRSTBANK possesses a strong culture which is continually being improved. In the light of Daniel Denisons model of culture dimensions, FirstBanks mission strategic direction, goals and objectives, are clearly understood by members of staff. The Bank strives to make its staff live by its core values and this has so far helped the bank in terms of durability and goodwill. For the importance of the afore mentioned, FirstBank carries periodic mystery shopping exercise and branch spot checks to ensure that we live what we preach, hence staff are enjoined to move with the train. FirstBank adapts quickly to industry changes and are quick to identify a market opportunity hence they are most often the fore most bank for some products or innovations in the banking industry. Its the bank policy for staff to stick to a particular dress code, have the banks premises painted in a particular way and colour, have a products and services delivered to customers with the brand name FIRST and a unique way of service delivery. All this distinguishes the Bank and a Firstbanker from every other bank or person. The Elephant is also a historic symbol of FirstBanks culture which represents stability and strength, like Peters and Waterman (1982) suggests, the strong culture of the bank has positively enhanced its good will and market share, however things can get better. There exist an area of improvement in the Banks culture as it is normally being discussed within its members that staff are not been sufficiently motivated, the slow promotion process is a major aspect of this. A review of the Banks choice to downsize its work force recently by way of retiring (and firing) staff (although with mouth watering incentives) buttresses this point. Firing on the base of culture Usually pointed as a source of creating family like environment, the notion of corporate culture is also used for firing, with this practice started from shoe company Zappos, which granted its fired employees with huge compensations afterwards.(Google- Wikipedia .As the corporate culture may mean almost everything, firing on the base of culture means the employer does not accept and desire to be inclusive for the culture of the employee and thus the employee does not fit in corporate culture, although this may fall in the ground of discrimination, there is still not law or case law resolving or addressing the question making this practice possible and available for businesses for now. Firing on corporate culture is a recent practice, from 2008. 3.2.3 CULTURAL TYPES Handy (1985) identified four(4) types of organizational culture and they include: Power culture: Entrepreneurial in nature, central control, quick to response, built on trust flexible. Role culture: Roles are more important than persons, functional, rule and procedure driven Task Culture: Cross functional, based on jobs and projects, networked, coordinationcombination of jobs around tasks. Person Culture: People are the central focus, controls are only possible where members agree. FIRSTBANK adopts the role culture, this is because the roles are seen before the persons behind it, and the workforce is also driven by rule (policies) and procedure. 3.2.4 THE PROCESSUAL APPROACH The processual approach is a translation model in which movements of ideas or objects reside in the sense maki

Federal Budget Must be Reduced :: Argumentative Persuasive Economics Papers

Federal Budget Must be Reduced The annual multibillion-dollar federal budget threatens the future of the United States and must be reduced.To cut the size of the deficit, federal revenues must be increased, and federal outlays must be reduced, or a combination of the two may be used.Under the 1990 budget agreement, Congress cut defense spending and benefits to veterans, farmers, and Medicare and Medicaid patients. In addition, the agreement increased taxes for the wealthiest Americans and phased out some of their tax exemptions. The act also raised taxes on cigarettes, alcohol, gasoline, and airline tickets. ("Current Issues". Close-Up Foundation,1993.) This was a good first step, at balancing rather than rolling over the debt to future generations. However, the Republicans need to find some more support to get another such agreement passed. Expensive defense programs that were once necessary are no longer needed. The money that was once used for defense should be put toward lowering the budget deficit, which grows at the rate of $10,000 per second and stood as $5,020,705,156,014 at eight o'clock p.m. on November 13, 1995. This is according to the National Debt Clock ([Debt Clock], //www.fusebox.com/debtclock/). Because Americans are not willing to sacrifice social programs, the only alternative is to raise taxes. Americans may not like it, but they need to pay for the government services they want and need. However, this increase in taxes should be kept in perspective, since a tax increase will reduce personal income and business profits. Too high of an increase in taxes will only stifle economic growth by reducing the money businesses would have to invest in expansion and job creation. The latest step in balancing the budget was a stop-gap spending bill which passed through the House of Representatives November 8, 1995, ([CNN-House passes stop-gap spending bill-Nov.8,1995], http://www.cnn.com//US/9511/budget/index.html) This bill reduces the funding for some programs. On Monday, President Clinton vetoed the stop-gap spending measure, and a debt limit extension calling them "too high a price"

Customer Defection

MKT 711 9/4/2012 1. The purpose of the study dealt with customer defection. It talks about how the customers are slowly not becoming as loyal as they use to be. They seen a pattern after five years, the customer does not stay loyal to the company. There are different stages of the process of losing loyal customers and keeping them. Loyalty and profits, the more the customer is worth the more profits come out of it because the longer the customer stays. Failure, the employee learning the instructive steps on their own and leaving.Core customers, this is hard to determine but the best way to determine it is to ask who the most loyal and most profitable to you? 2. I think the article represents a conceptual study. The author uses a general research and experiences from other people an businesses to back up his points. There are some numbers given but I feel like there needs to be a lot more numbers to declare it as a quantitative study. The author uses examples like Lexus and baseball p layers to back up his case about the customer loyalty. When dealing with Lexus, they asked every member of their head quarters staff to interview four customers a month.The article also talked about baseball players and their batting averages. Someone who bats . 280 compared to someone who bats . 320 is a big difference in the players. Even though it is only . 4 away it still tells how the player does in the batting line up. The article uses examples like these in two different situations to show the difference in how everyone does things differently to show their customer base and how loyal they are. Even though they talked about baseball players they showed the popularity of the player because of their batting average number.This would also help by understanding the cash flow and products. 3. The researchers found that the key to customer loyalty is the creation of value. The value that the customer needs the employer to help them with their profits or money. The key to value crea tion is organizational learner. Without the value creation and organizational learner then the customer does not know what to do with the profit or where to put it. The customer only learns throughout the process with the company until they become knowledgeable to do it on their own. 4. Implications for future research would be to do a more quantitative study.This way they can mesh together the concepts of the research and the new quantitative numbers in order to show the CEO’s and companies why they should follow the plan and this is what needs to be done to become successful with keeping their customers. Once that process is done they then can expand that to become more qualitative. Then they will have answers from every angle, from concepts to numbers and the quality of the situation. 5. Marketing as we know it deals with identifying and meeting hum and social needs. In a short definition â€Å"meeting needs profitably†.The findings in the article helped pertain to Marketing because when worrying about the value of the customer and their certainty of the value of creation. Marketing is all about getting the name out there and making it profitable. Without the loyal customers then the product/profit is not marketable and will not make money. When establishing the relationship between the customer and employer/employee is when more successful opportunities from within the company. When losing customers, then the company doesn’t learn to try and build their relationship in other ways.I agree with the finding of the article and the conceptual study they are going for. I feel that it would be better to explain the article in a quantitative study to show the numbers of the project. Using Lexus and interviewing four customers a month is a good example. Just have to go more in depth of what the customer thinks. Another example with the baseball players batting averages. Use their averages and their salaries to show about loyalty and popularity of how the player plays. The article was good in showing loyalty and customer failure through the article, and gave good examples while still getting to the root causes of the business.

Poetry can bring to life experiences and ideas Essay

Q. â€Å"Poetry can bring to life experiences and ideas which are otherwise difficult for us to understand what is your response to this view?† My personal response of poetry being the â€Å"subject and formulae†, for individuals helping them to understand complicated life matters, which are difficult for us to understand is shown by comparing the two poems ‘London’ by William Blake and ‘Prayer before birth’ by Louis MacNeice. We can begin to comprehend the authors individual thoughts and feelings by analysing them through our own interpretation of language, form and structure of the poem. â€Å"Prayer before birth† is written in 1944 which is at the end of the second world war. This poem reflects the innocence of a child in the mothers womb being brought into a world of experience and temptation. It is quite ironic to have a an unborn baby â€Å"knowing† of the outside world and experiences as of yet not being born. But MacNeice uses clever imagery â€Å"†¦Let not the bloodsucking bat or the rat or the stoat or the club – footed ghoul come near me.† This gives us more of an image of how both innocence and experience differ from one another. This poem is a prayer which is to protect the innocence of the unborn child – to nurture them constructively against the pressures they might experience in the twentieth century. The way that MacNeice has constructed the poem is by conologically going through life experiences as we keep on reading. This is taken from the second stanza by asking God to not allow people to influence him into bad doings, where here he has a choice from early on in life to make the right decisions and choose the right pathway, however if he doesn’t this is related to the seventh stanza where his doings now turn into something which he has no control over and that it is â€Å"leathal automation†, due to the experience he is accustomed to. Even the structure of the poem visually illustrates the beginning to the ending of his â€Å"life† as each stanza gets narrower. But by looking at the seventh Stanza, also its the language of the poem becoming quicker,as we proceed toward the end of the poem altogether â€Å"†¦hither and thither or hither and thither..† This in comparison to the poem ‘London’ by Wiliam Blake. Where by the poem is of the Romanics which tends to attack the form of experience as it is alongside innocence due to nature not nurture. A poem of social protest, against the suffering of all who live in a world such as this. Written in 1789 (during the french revolution, and also the british industrial revolution). It’s about misery and human despair, the â€Å"mind forg’d manacles† of depression imprisoning people. The rapidly indutrialising economy and society corrupt and poisin all those who live in it. This poem is about how people may disfunctionally go through experience and end up passing their knowledge through to the next innocent generation. Blake tends to use the imagery of cjildren a lot as they symbolise purity and power. His argument is that if childhood is reacked then so is the the adult that they become. Throught every stage of his poem he uses a more innocent imagery of a child from â€Å"infant† to â€Å"new born infant†. Also he uses clever imagery of purity contrasted against impurity. Quite a few oximorons are used to contast imagery in the poem. Showing how the worldof experience can quickly corruptand destroy the innocence. â€Å"†¦Every black’ning Church appals;† â€Å"Black’ning† meaning dirty metaphorically and also literally. This also shows the church which is appuled by the conditions but turns a blind eye, â€Å"black’ning† is contrasted with purity which is supposed to be of the church , but the chuch is blackned by turning a blind eye. This imagery is used to show the state of human nature which people usually turn a blind eye. â€Å"†¦How the youthful Harlot’s curse† Blake uses his imagery of a young prosititute, which here is also contrasted with innocence which is corrupted. â€Å"†¦chimey-sweepers cry† is exploiting innocence. Becoming black,dark and tained. Also the dying breath of the solider,which is infact the last dying breath of the solider, this is about ordinary people killing ordinary people for causes which may not benefit them,thihs maybe could be connected to revolution. Therefore the running of blood down place walls,shows the guilt on the monarchy. â€Å"†¦Runs in blood down place walls† London is about how the controlling nature takes over innocence and the experience is now of automation. He shows this in the first stanza where theart of mapping, controlling, and resitricting are contrasted against the â€Å"flow† of the Thames. Not a poem of observed factual detail but Blake’s perception of London, he uses the traditional form of alternate rhyming lines to imitate the repititive predictability of the circle of suffering. Blake has experience of London so he is able to reflect back from when he was an innocent child to now of what he holds the knowledge of experience. This is shown in the first line of the poem: â€Å"†¦I wander thro’ each charter’d street,† The lyrical quality is quite simplistic it is not a performance based poem. Alliteration is used to addto the imagery Blake is trying to create of London. The words â€Å"weakness,† and â€Å"Woe† makes the poem sound of a feeble minded and gives the feeling of a spiritual lack of strengh of character. In the second stanza â€Å"every† is used to add imact which is used constanmtly through the first, second and third lines. The poem it self is quite short and in every stanza thereis four lines, the imagery is also quite strong in the short space Blake has used to give us an idea of what he feels London is all about. This could be due to having to get his point across to people Both these poems, in my opinion, share feelings of concern and disgust for experience. If i had to pick which one I prefered I would choose the Blake poem. This is because the meaning of the words is more clearcut. I accept that the point of the MacNeice poem may be to leave it up to the reader to decide whether or not the poem is sarcastic or not. But I dont consider this device to be particularly effective ; thought provoking maybe but not effective. The Blake poem is also more emotionally charged and melodramatic it is almost scary as the poem relates to London which is a mere 10-15 miles away and sadly corruption and sexually transmitted diseases are still relevant themes today.

Free Essays on Gender, Class, And Race Stereotypes In American Television

Gender, Class, and Race Stereotypes in American Television A Content Analysis Gender, class, and race stereotypes abound in contemporary society, much like they have done throughout human history. With the advent of television, however, stereotypical assumptions have become so pervasive, and so diffused, that some call for a serious and purposeful scrutiny of television's contents. On the following pages, various content analyses of television programs will be addressed, followed by discussions on the greater implications race, class, and gender stereotypes have on society. The research method most often used in studying media images is called content analysis. Content analysis is a descriptive method in which researchers analyze the actual content of documents and/or programs. By systematically counting items pertaining to a specific category, researchers are able to conceptualize a larger theoretical framework based on their observations of media content (Wiseman 1970). Content analyses of television programming show, that during prime tim e hours, men make up the vast majority of characters shown. Furthermore, women characters found during that same time frame are mainly in comedies, while men predominate in dramas. Thus, the implications are that men are to be taken serious, while women should not. (Tuchman 1978). Similarly, content analyses on soap operas reveal highly stereotypical representations of the genders. In soap operas, strong, willful women are predominantly depicted as villainous, while the more "benevolent" women are suspect of vulnerability and naivety (Benokraitis 1986). Furthermore, another sharp gender-stereotypical contrast on television content can be seen in advertisements. In fact, 75% of all television ads using women are for kitchen or bathroom related products (Tuchman 1978) On average, women tend to be portrayed in roles in which they are underestimated, condemned or narrowly defined, resulting in one rese... Free Essays on Gender, Class, And Race Stereotypes In American Television Free Essays on Gender, Class, And Race Stereotypes In American Television Gender, Class, and Race Stereotypes in American Television A Content Analysis Gender, class, and race stereotypes abound in contemporary society, much like they have done throughout human history. With the advent of television, however, stereotypical assumptions have become so pervasive, and so diffused, that some call for a serious and purposeful scrutiny of television's contents. On the following pages, various content analyses of television programs will be addressed, followed by discussions on the greater implications race, class, and gender stereotypes have on society. The research method most often used in studying media images is called content analysis. Content analysis is a descriptive method in which researchers analyze the actual content of documents and/or programs. By systematically counting items pertaining to a specific category, researchers are able to conceptualize a larger theoretical framework based on their observations of media content (Wiseman 1970). Content analyses of television programming show, that during prime tim e hours, men make up the vast majority of characters shown. Furthermore, women characters found during that same time frame are mainly in comedies, while men predominate in dramas. Thus, the implications are that men are to be taken serious, while women should not. (Tuchman 1978). Similarly, content analyses on soap operas reveal highly stereotypical representations of the genders. In soap operas, strong, willful women are predominantly depicted as villainous, while the more "benevolent" women are suspect of vulnerability and naivety (Benokraitis 1986). Furthermore, another sharp gender-stereotypical contrast on television content can be seen in advertisements. In fact, 75% of all television ads using women are for kitchen or bathroom related products (Tuchman 1978) On average, women tend to be portrayed in roles in which they are underestimated, condemned or narrowly defined, resulting in one rese...

Speech on Hamlet Essay

Speech on Hamlet Essay Speech on Hamlet Essay ‘Speak to me. Speak to me. Oh speak. For which they say you spirits oft walk in death, speak of it. Stay and speak!’ Already in the first scene of the play Shakespeare begins to forewarn the audience against the evils of revenge. Horatio, the most loyal, cautious friend of Hamlets, witnesses the appearance of the ghost. In the renaissance period, those who believed in spirits, trusted that the presence of one meant that they had unfinished business to attend. Though this idea was both supernatural and horrifying to the Elizabethan audience, it made clearly evident that the ghost, ‘In the same figure, like the Kind that’s dead’, came back for a reason and one that was unpleasant. Hamlet’s perception is that the prior King was the ultimate father; he was his idol and ‘his fathers brother, but no more like his father’. As the conversation with Claudius, Gertrude and himself, he begins to communicate his disgust for Gertrude and says s o with, ‘to post with such dexterity to incestuous sheets.’ Here, the audience recognizes the actions of his mother can never be forgiven by Hamlet and that Claudius will never replace his father. ‘Foul deeds will rise’, and ‘So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear’. These thoughts establish the foreshadowing events of revenge throughout the entire play. When Hamlet commences his descent into madness, his thoughts create the idea to assemble a play within a play, the murder of Gonzago. He justifies the reasoning by stating that if Claudius is disturbed, he will then reveal guilt for his actions, ‘Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King’. Shakespeare stages this for the audience and the characters in the play are able to understand the validity of Claudius as the murderer of the late King and the potential outcomes of this revenge against evil. As death is the primary concern within the play and the worst result of most revenge tragedies at the time, Hamlets differentiation is that his madness is ‘deeply ambiguous’. This manipulative plot instigates the actions of revenge feigned by the evils that madness can induce. As Hamlets disgust and loathing of Claudius develops in Act 1, scene 3, his pace and short phrases hasten to match his quicken thoughts. Shakespeare does this to alert the audience of the suspense that arises with hamlets tone. His unfinished lines portray the irrationality of his thoughts that lead to, ‘take him in the purging’, of Claudius’ soul. His forceful, commanding dialogue towards Gertrude in the next scene, ‘come, come and sit you down, you shall not budge,’ allude to the action being taken to avenge Claudius and perform his murder. As he kills Polonius,’ thou wretched, rash,

What Does It Take to Get into the University of Denver?

The University of Denver accepts 58% of applicants. What does it take to get in? Located in south Denver, the University of Denver boasts being situated in what’s becoming one of the trendiest cities in the U.S. Just a short drive to the iconic Rocky Mountains, the University of Denver takes advantage of both its urban resources and natural splendor to provide an enriching private education for its students. Beyond its advantageous setting, the University of Denver also offers a distinct women’s college that female students can opt into, where they’ll receive all the benefits of a single-sex college as well as the resources available to the co-ed school. Given its small size, students can expect to receive more individualized attention then they would at larger, nearby colleges such as UC Boulder. The University of Denver is the perfect school for any student who wants a small college feel with access to an urban social life and incredible outdoor activities. Keep reading to learn more about the tips that have helped ’s students get into the school that’s perfect for them. Apply to DU using either the institution-specific Pioneer Application or the Common Application . While you should choose the application format you’re most comfortable with, we generally recommend that you use the Common App, since you’ll be able to quickly and easily reuse parts of your application when applying to other schools. We’ve written an extensive guide, so be sure to check out The Common App: Everything You Need to Know . The University of Denver has several decision and deadline options: If you’re unsure about whether you should apply early, check out our post Early Action vs. Early Decision vs. Restricted Early Action . To apply, be sure to send in all of the following: For homeschool students: You will be required to submit a letter of recommendation from a non-family member. For international students: If English is not your first language, you’ll need to demonstrate your proficiency through TOEFL, IELTS, or CAE scores. You can also supplement your application with a video interview to confirm your English proficiency, and you will want to send test scores for any secondary high school programs such as IB. Last year, the University of Denver’s acceptance rate was 58% . DU received 19,904 applications last year and admitted 11,554 students. Of those, 1,504 students actually enrolled, making it similarly selective to schools like Illinois Institute of Technology and Texas A&M University . While there’s a good chance you’ll be admitted, you should still take the application process seriously and make sure that every part of your application is as strong as possible. One way to increase your chances is to get help from people who have been through the process before. Connecting with someone who has successfully gained admission to a school like DU can make the difference between rejection and acceptance. Estimating your chance of getting into a college is not easy in today’s competitive environment. Thankfully, with our state-of-the-art software and data, we can analyze your academic and extracurricular profile and estimate your chances. Our profile analysis tool can also help you identify the improvement you need to make to enter your dream school. DU uses a holistic review process to choose students with potential and who will contribute to the DU community. Use your application to highlight your strengths in the following areas. Academics. DU places a greater emphasis on GPA than it does test scores, but the admissions counselors will consider both when evaluating your application. The average GPA for incoming freshman was a 3.7, with the middle 50% of applicants falling between 3.47 to 4.0. The average SAT score was 1265, with the middle 50% earning scores between 1170 and 1370. The average ACT score was 28, with the middle 50% earning scores between 26 and 31. Extracurriculars. DU doesn’t care what activities you were involved in throughout high school, but they do want to see that you pursued something you were interested in with passion and excellence. This could mean taking a leadership position at your school, starting a new organization or initiative, or being recognized for your talents through awards and recognition. Whatever you do, show why those activities were meaningful to you and how you went above and beyond in following them. Character. It’s important that you give the DU admissions officers insight into who you are and what your strengths are. Write a compelling essay that focuses on an accomplishment or strength that you are proud of, and choose recommenders who can highlight strengths beyond what you could cover in your essay alone. Contribution to Community. DU is explicitly looking for students who will engages with their community. Show how your strengths and experiences will enrich the student body and how you’ll engage with the campus and the surrounding community. You can highlight how you’ve contributed to communities in the past through service or leadership. Every application is different, but over the years we’ve seen these strategies give our clients applications that are three times more likely to gain favorable admissions results. Tell your story. The University of Denver explicitly say that they give a lot of weight to your essay, extracurriculars, and supplementary materials, and the admissions counselors are looking for bright, motivated students who will make the most of their education. Whatever you don’t include in your application, they won’t know about, so make sure you highlight your strengths, your values, and your passion throughout your application. Partner with recommenders. Most students choose a recommender and let the recommender do all the work, but you need to make sure that every piece of your application is strong. Choose recommenders who can complement your essay by highlighting a different aspect of your character, such as athletic coaches or work/volunteer supervisors. Give your recommenders all the help they need to make their letters flow with the rest of your application. Enhance the themes of your completed application. A seasoned admissions counselor will review your entire application in about nine minutes and evaluate it. If you want them to remember something positive about you, then you’ll need to mention it throughout your application, not just once and hope that they remember. Try this strategy—finish your application at least a week early and leave it alone for a few days. When you return to it, read the whole application in nine minutes. What stood out to you? What wasn’t clear or could be improved on? Then make those improvements. The University of Denver receives applications from more qualified applicants than they can accept, and they work hard to make sure the DU is affordable for the students they admit. If you find yourself facing a no-thank-you at the end of the admissions process, don’t be too hard on yourself. Bright, motivated, resourceful students will find success, or create it, anywhere they go. The University of Denver doesn’t appear to have a formalized decision appeals process. However, we do not recommend that you petition your decision, as across most schools, decisions are rarely reversed. You are eligible to apply for transfer for any of the academic quarters, and DU is very open to transfer students, adults returning to complete their degrees, and other types of nontraditional students. That said, you’ll still need to complete an application via the Pioneer App or Common App, include your college transcripts with at least a 3.0 college GPA, and, if you’ve completed less than a year of college, you’ll want to include your standardized test scores as well. You can reapply after taking a gap year, but this path is riskier than simply committing to another school and requesting to take a gap year there. To see if a gap year is right for you, visit our posts, What Are the Pros of Taking a Gap Year? and What You Need To Know When Applying to Colleges After a Gap Year . By far, we recommend looking at another great school and making the most of your time there. Consider applying for other Colorado schools such as the University of Colorado – Boulder or Colorado College. For advice on adjusting to a different college path, check out our post Envisioning a New Future: Preparing for Life at Your Second-Choice (or Third, or Fourth) School . The University of Denver is a great option for dedicated students. If you’d like more personalized advice on your admissions profile, offers College Applications help , where you’ll be paired with a successful mentor at a top school who helps you along every step of the application process.

Jamie Olivers Approach to business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 28

Jamie Olivers Approach to business - Essay Example This paper illustrates that Oliver has been able to create a niche market position in the catering business overcoming the challenges of stressful conditions, high competition, and low payment. The main reason has been his leadership initiatives that thrive on clear vision, effective communication, perseverance, and capacity to inspire others. The researcher would also create the clear and strong vision with long-term objectives and short-term goals that would be shared with the workforce. By working along with his workforce, the researcher would serve as the model that would inspire them for higher achievement. Teamwork has been an integral part of Oliver’s approach to work. Argote believes that motivated teamwork is based on sharing of knowledge, understanding and mutual respect. As a leader, the author would ensure that team learning processes are encouraged for higher productivity. Effective communication amongst the workers not only helps to resolve conflicts but also inc ulcates an understanding of cross-cultural values and helps develop mutual respect. It also encourages the workforce to be committed to the organizational goals and work towards excellence, both in terms of goal delivery as well as personal and professional growth. The constant learning environment is yet another major feature of Oliver’s approach that would be used to provide the opportunity to the workforce to improve their skills and core competencies to meet the challenges of time. In the current environment of global competition, learning environment of organization would help create a group of human capital whose competencies could be exploited to gain competitive advantage within the industry. Judicious planning and work details were important aspects of Oliver’s managerial approach.

Immigration policy in the USA Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Immigration policy in the USA - Term Paper Example Such tactics often result in increased competition for employment by the locals with their immigrant counterparts which will create dissatisfaction among the locals. Earlier, America welcomed all the people from the world irrespective of their ethnic or educational backgrounds. In 1980’s and 1990’s, America experienced enormous growth of small-scale industries, mainly because of the contributions of the immigrants. However, at present America implemented many restrictions upon immigration because of the increased threats of terrorism and violence from both legal and illegal immigrants. 9/11 incident resulted in the strengthening of the immigration policies in America. This paper discusses how immigration policy about whom and how many to let in has changed over time and what this change reveals about a society’s quest for national identity Changes in American immigration policies The immediate reasons for drastic changes in immigration policies are the threats fr om terrorists. 9/11 incident was a lesson for America’s immigration and naturalization department. Terrorists can enter America through legal and illegal channels. The war on terror and the disputes with the Islamic world made America vulnerable to terrorist attacks at any time. It should be noted that many of the Americans watching the Muslims in America with suspicious eyes after the 9/11 incident. It is difficult for the Muslim people to get American visa at present unless they have enough reasons to convince the authorities about their purpose of visit. Moreover, in many of the American airports, body screening is implemented especially for the Muslim people. All these policies reveal that America is not much interested in allowing Muslim immigration after the 9/11 incident. Another important issue which forced America to strengthen their immigration policies is the social problems associated with immigration. Uncontrolled Immigration can result in the identity crisis. Th e Middle East is facing such problems at present. In most of the Middle Eastern countries or the Gulf countries, the number of immigrants is more than the number of locals which created a lot of identity problems. No country would like to see more immigrants in its territory than the number of locals. The excessive number of immigrant people seen in the streets, workplaces and other public gathering places may create the sense of unhappiness among the locals. Moreover, Americans cannot keep a friendly attitude towards immigrants especially when they are struggling to get out of the recession problems. Many of the Americans lost their employment because of the recession problems and the subsequent collapse of big organizations. At the same time, they are witnessing the survival of the immigrant community in America. Immigrant community mostly has their own small-scale businesses and the recession has not affected their businesses very much. All ethnicities are not equal; all are not symbolic, costless and voluntary. When white Americans equate their own symbolic ethnicities with the socially enforced identities of non white Americans, they obscure the fact the experiences of the whites and non whites have been qualitatively different in the United States and that the current identities of individuals partly reflect that unequal history (Waters, n. d., p.201-202) Even though racism is prohibited by law in America, it can be observed in many other forms in American social life.  

Eassy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Eassy - Essay Example No wonder, the writer compared it to today’s terrorism rather than calling it a war. Since Warfare differs from terrorism in that the violent actions in the former are aimed at the combatants on each side and public generally is made aware that a war has erupted. Terrorist acts target innocent people deliberately. In warfare, innocents are not the primary targets. But this definition of war does not apply to Hiroshima bombing. Berger further proves his point as: â€Å"The two bombs dropped on Japan were terrorist actions. The calculation was terrorist. The discriminacy was terrorist. The small groups of terrorists operating today are, by comparison, humane killers" (273). The writer supports his comment by saying that terrorists also attack unaware common people at the railway station, in the market or people going home after the work. The war and terrorism are the evils and it is first duty of human kind to fight against evils and preserve life. This concept of ‘evil’, however, has been abandoned and it remains just an adjective today. The writer also discloses that today’s terrorists are from small nation who have dispute over large powers while Hiroshima atom bomb attack was made on a nation that had conceded defeat and was ready for negotiations (273). â€Å"While doctor and nurses at hospitals across the city tended to hundreds of damaged people, a disquieting sense grew throughout the day at other triage centers and emergency rooms that there, would, actually be less work: the morgues were going to be busiest.† (418) In the normal life, even a distant thought of a loved one’s death creates fear and we scold ourselves for such a thing, but seeing the gory dance of death and losing precious lives due to such outrageous and mindless violent act is unbelievable to most of us. A war without principles and terrorism are both extremely cowardly deeds. He continues: â€Å"But the real carnage was concealed for now by the twisted, smoking,

Big box stores vs mom and pop stores Assignment - 1

Big box stores vs mom and pop stores - Assignment Example Each restaurant offers something different than the other and so they are free to select whatever price they like for their products. Examples of Monopolies include public utilities like water, gas and electricity, cable TV, the local phone service companies. Important to note, that monopolies can exist in a market locally due to their geographical locations. Entry into a market where monopolies exist is quite difficult by new businesses since the large firms have larger market shares and there is not much left for the new companies in the market both in terms of buyers and profits. Competition is directly related to the methods and procedures by which the companies produce and sell their products. Different market structures are found in different industries which imply that there are different kinds of buyer to seller relations in every market. In a monopolist firm, they are able to increase or reduce the prices of their products (due to product differentiation), however, they cannot do so with full liberty, they have to abide by the unfriendly forces of the market. Sellers’ rivalry against each other involves sales-promotion costs along with the expenses of differentiating their products in order to attract customers. As a result, buyers get more variety in the products but in the long run the products prices involve the additional costs involved. Since the sellers in a monopolistic competitive market are not likely to be equally flourishing in their product policies and sales promotion, some of them will be successful in achieving profits exceeding t he basic interest on their investment, such profits will be earned from the buyers that have been attracted. (Karier, 241) The market and the monopolist’s demand curves are found to be the same. Demand of the monopoly is the demand of the industry and hence illustrated by a downward curve. However, the

History of Canadian Labor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

History of Canadian Labor - Essay Example While plenty of research works paved the way for jotting down crucial historical components related to labor history in other countries, there wasn't too much of study materials for the historians to trace the labor history of Canada. However, with the publication of the Committee on Canadian Labour History, the history of Canadian labor, especially the changing context in the working class section, has assumed an important dimension. Historically, the working class people in Canada, despite their contribution to the economic growth and development of the country, and despite the fact that Canada has always depended more on factory production than service sectors, has remained in the shadows of negligence. The formation of trade unions in the 1880s and the working class revolt in the beginning of the twentieth century have played an important role in shaping the future of Canadian workers. Even today, majority of Canadians earn their livelihood from factory wages. But the changing sc enario is best reflected in the fact that most labors are not registered to unions in modern day Canada. It might be noted however that labor unions, at present or in the past, have been devising effective strategies to take the workers' issues to the respective higher authorities, and this draws the working class into joining unions in large numbers. This paper is going to critically examine the changing situations in the labor history of Canada, especially between 1940 and 1975. Systemization of labor was a major area of focus in Canadian history. This was important because bulk of nation's revenues came from large-scale production. In the 1870s, the living environment of labors in Canada was not at all healthy and conducive to profitable outcomes. So it was important to build a foundation that could lead to prosperity of the workers for the greater welfare of the nation. Incepted in 1869 by Philadelphia garment cutters, the Knights of Labor was one of the prominent labor reformist organizations in the late nineteenth century. The main objective of this secret organization was to launch a campaign for cooperation and education among the working class fraternity, without gender or racial bias. The idea of maximizing the potential of skilled labors was given foremost priority. The age of rapid industrialization required deployment of efficient workers to get optimum output. While the experience and competency of veteran labors was an asset to the management, the youthful exuberance of the young working class brigade was nothing less an important area of contention. The integration of Canadian capitalism in the twentieth century brought a new era in working class history. Diversification of unions, the impending threat of a cold war, gender biases at workplaces, inconsistent wage structures and frequent workouts did not augur well for the overall economic growth of the country. Most workers lived a life of perpetual struggle for food, clothing and shelter. New managerial machinery, so to speak, was introduced to downsize excess workers. It sparked the labor unrest all the more as skilled labors did not appreciate the new rules. Earlier in the nineteenth century, majority of workers in Canada enjoyed supremacy at their workplaces. But

Eassy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Eassy - Essay Example No wonder, the writer compared it to today’s terrorism rather than calling it a war. Since Warfare differs from terrorism in that the violent actions in the former are aimed at the combatants on each side and public generally is made aware that a war has erupted. Terrorist acts target innocent people deliberately. In warfare, innocents are not the primary targets. But this definition of war does not apply to Hiroshima bombing. Berger further proves his point as: â€Å"The two bombs dropped on Japan were terrorist actions. The calculation was terrorist. The discriminacy was terrorist. The small groups of terrorists operating today are, by comparison, humane killers" (273). The writer supports his comment by saying that terrorists also attack unaware common people at the railway station, in the market or people going home after the work. The war and terrorism are the evils and it is first duty of human kind to fight against evils and preserve life. This concept of ‘evil’, however, has been abandoned and it remains just an adjective today. The writer also discloses that today’s terrorists are from small nation who have dispute over large powers while Hiroshima atom bomb attack was made on a nation that had conceded defeat and was ready for negotiations (273). â€Å"While doctor and nurses at hospitals across the city tended to hundreds of damaged people, a disquieting sense grew throughout the day at other triage centers and emergency rooms that there, would, actually be less work: the morgues were going to be busiest.† (418) In the normal life, even a distant thought of a loved one’s death creates fear and we scold ourselves for such a thing, but seeing the gory dance of death and losing precious lives due to such outrageous and mindless violent act is unbelievable to most of us. A war without principles and terrorism are both extremely cowardly deeds. He continues: â€Å"But the real carnage was concealed for now by the twisted, smoking,

History of Canadian Labor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

History of Canadian Labor - Essay Example While plenty of research works paved the way for jotting down crucial historical components related to labor history in other countries, there wasn't too much of study materials for the historians to trace the labor history of Canada. However, with the publication of the Committee on Canadian Labour History, the history of Canadian labor, especially the changing context in the working class section, has assumed an important dimension. Historically, the working class people in Canada, despite their contribution to the economic growth and development of the country, and despite the fact that Canada has always depended more on factory production than service sectors, has remained in the shadows of negligence. The formation of trade unions in the 1880s and the working class revolt in the beginning of the twentieth century have played an important role in shaping the future of Canadian workers. Even today, majority of Canadians earn their livelihood from factory wages. But the changing sc enario is best reflected in the fact that most labors are not registered to unions in modern day Canada. It might be noted however that labor unions, at present or in the past, have been devising effective strategies to take the workers' issues to the respective higher authorities, and this draws the working class into joining unions in large numbers. This paper is going to critically examine the changing situations in the labor history of Canada, especially between 1940 and 1975. Systemization of labor was a major area of focus in Canadian history. This was important because bulk of nation's revenues came from large-scale production. In the 1870s, the living environment of labors in Canada was not at all healthy and conducive to profitable outcomes. So it was important to build a foundation that could lead to prosperity of the workers for the greater welfare of the nation. Incepted in 1869 by Philadelphia garment cutters, the Knights of Labor was one of the prominent labor reformist organizations in the late nineteenth century. The main objective of this secret organization was to launch a campaign for cooperation and education among the working class fraternity, without gender or racial bias. The idea of maximizing the potential of skilled labors was given foremost priority. The age of rapid industrialization required deployment of efficient workers to get optimum output. While the experience and competency of veteran labors was an asset to the management, the youthful exuberance of the young working class brigade was nothing less an important area of contention. The integration of Canadian capitalism in the twentieth century brought a new era in working class history. Diversification of unions, the impending threat of a cold war, gender biases at workplaces, inconsistent wage structures and frequent workouts did not augur well for the overall economic growth of the country. Most workers lived a life of perpetual struggle for food, clothing and shelter. New managerial machinery, so to speak, was introduced to downsize excess workers. It sparked the labor unrest all the more as skilled labors did not appreciate the new rules. Earlier in the nineteenth century, majority of workers in Canada enjoyed supremacy at their workplaces. But

Culture affects Essay Example for Free

Culture affects Essay This essay will be focussed on comparing two scenes from two different plays, the main characters and their personalities, and how their culture affects them.  The two plays in question are Arthur Millers The Crucible and Blackrock by Nick Enright.  Arthur Miller was an American playwright who was born in 1915. He grew up in New York to a Jewish family. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1938 where he began to distinguish himself as a playwright. His play The Crucible was written in 1953 and later adapted to a film starring Daniel Day Lewis and Winnona Rider in 1996. The Crucible inspired by the Salem Witch Trials. A group of innocent girls are caught dancing and chanting in the forest around a fire. (Puritan England where all forms of dancing and enjoyment would be strictly forbidden) To save themselves from being punished, they cry witchcraft and within days the whole town goes mad searching for the presence of the Devil and his witches. The few honest and true people who do not lie to save themselves from hanging are coldly murdered, including John Proctor the main male role. Nick Enright was born in Maitland in New South Wales. He started his career in the theatre as a teenager and wrote Blackrock in 19 and later on in 1997 was adapted to a film. Blackrock about a teens idyllic surfer lifestyle is shattered when a young girl is brutally murdered after a beach party and the investigation comes close to his circle of friends. The young man Jared, must deal with his conscience and his sense of loyalty to his friends.  Both the plays Blackrock and The Crucible although set in different time periods, both have a main character faced with some sort of personal moral dilemma. The decision between right and wrong, and having the courage to put yourself at risk on behalf of others. Act 4 of The Crucible The scene changes from the Vestry in the Courthouse to Salem jail.  Marshall Herrick enters and wakes up Goody Good and Tituba so that they can be moved to a different cell.  Tituba tells Herrick that they await the Devil, who will fly them to Barbados.  The Reverend Hale arrives and tells the prisoners that they must confess to being witches in order to thwart the ridiculous Court and avoid being hanged. Reverend Parris discovers that Abigail and Mercy Lewis have disappeared after robbing Parris and he suspects they may have boarded a ship. Parris delays telling Danforth this news because he fears that there will be a rebellion in Salem similar to the recent uprising in Andover. There they threw out the Court, as the people were unhappy with the proceedings.  When Danforth learns about the disappearance of Abigail he still considers that the evidence stands and will not postpone the executions for it would be a sign of weakness. Hale pleads with him to reconsider or at least give him time to persuade the prisoners to confess. Reverend Hale is having difficulties in persuading the seven condemned to death to confess, and he pleads again with Danforth for more time. He senses that Proctor is considering confessing, so he asks Elizabeth to talk to her husband stressing the future in store for their children if he is hanged. Elizabeth feels responsible for Proctors situation because she lied in Court. She also feels guilty for being suspicious about her husband after the affair with Abigail. She tells Proctor that she totally forgives him for the affair. Proctor hopes that if he makes an oral confession in Court, that will be sufficient for his Judges, but they require it in writing and it will be posted on the Church door. He cannot face this and, therefore, retracts his confession. He would rather die, and preserve his good name.

The UK Fast Food Market

The UK Fast Food Market UK is the country which has the highest fast-food consumption in the world. The country is known for having different cultures and a different cultural taste has a large impact on the global success of the fast food industry at national level. The UK fast food market grew by 5.2% to reach a value of $2.2 billion in 2008 (Datamonitor August 2009) The main players in the fast food industry: Sandwiches: Greggs, Subway and Thurstens Burgers: McDonalds and Burger King Chicken: KFC Pizza: Pizza Hut Dominos Pizza Fish and Chips Indian and Chinese Takeaway The external environment of the fast food industry can be properly analysed by applying PESTEL. It is a tool which helps in analysing the Political, Economic, Social and Technological environment of an industry. PESTEL analysis is a useful strategic tool for understanding market growth or decline, business position, potential and direction for operations. (Kotler 1998) PESTEL Analysis of the UK fast food industry: (P)olitical: The labelling of GM (Genetically Modified) food became important since April 2004 as new rules relating to GM labelling came into force. The motive behind GM labelling is to inform the customers if any ingredients in the food are genetically modified as it is the customers right to take a decision whether or not to buy such a product. The UK government is bringing strict regulations for the food sellers to inform the customers if the food items contain genetically modified ingredients. The political surrounding can be strongly affected marketers decisions. There has been increased regulation of business in recent times. The fast-food market was highly affected by the introduction of (GST) Goods Service Tax which resulted in the changes of prices in fast food outlets while the prices of other food items remained unchanged. Therefore, the fast food industry gives more emphasis on service rather than product stating that the customer will not get such type of service in their homes to differentiate them. (E)conomic The cost for setting-up a fast food joint or an outlet is very low. Therefore it becomes comparatively easy to enter the market. Franchising is an added beneficial factor and helps in setting up a good brand image. The market is growing as ever and a growing market is very important for the fast food industry. At the time of recession, the fast food restaurants do better business than other expensive restaurants as the price factor becomes important at such times. People tend to cut-down their expenses as their disposable income is less. (S)ocial The fast food industry in the UK pays a close attention to the requirements of the UK society. The people in UK have busy lifestyles and the fact that fast food restaurants are known for a quick and convenient service, they have become a part of the fast paced UK lifestyle. The people are a becoming more health conscious and have started adopting healthy eating as obesity is a known problem in UK. The fast food restaurants are known for serving foods which are high on calories. (T)echnological The fast food industry is a growing industry and technology has played an important role for the ongoing success. They have to keep up with the fast pace of changing technology to keep themselves in competition. A recent example to this is McDonalds installing Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale (EFTPOS) which is accepting debit or credit cards from customers at the time of their purchase. Online marketing for kids such as games, promotions of new products and offers on the website. Computerised order-taking and billing systems (till system). The recent improvements in technology especially in the fast food industry have been due to increased regulation. The increased regulation on health has resulted in the standards of safety to be stricter. This means that the customers have no doubt about the quality and service and they know that it is of the finest possible standard and so they can enjoy the product. (E)nvironmental Fast food outlets like KFC, McDonalds and Burger King are majorly known for the production and consumption of food derived from animals. Proper measures have to be taken to consider animal rights campaigns as there have been many campaigns relating to mistreatment of animals in slaughter houses. Prices of resources like oil and coal are on a rise and therefore the prices of fast food products are likely to increase as the cost of transportation increases. An environmentally friendly company has a good image in the minds of consumers. The packaging in McDonalds was changed to paper in 1991 from polystyrene boxes as the consumers demanded for a more environmentally friendly packaging. This has a good effect on the minds of the consumers that the food they are eating does not affect the environment. (L)egal The fast food industry has to adopt proper Health and Safety guidelines as they are associated with food. Such political factors are of great importance to the fast food industry as it can affect the industry to a great extent. Food standard agency is an agency which is responsible for the health of public in relation to food in the UK. It is important for the fast food industry to follow the regulations imposed by the FSA (Food Standard Agency) in the interest of public health. Porters Five forces model is designed to analyse the structure of the industry. Porters 5 Forces Analysis of UK Fast Food Market Buyer Power The fact that not everyone enjoys fast food has resulted in the weakening of buyer power in fast food industry but it is highly popular with maximum UK consumers. Brakes and 3663 are the leading suppliers/distributers in the UK which has concentrated the food service supply market. The fast food companies offer different range of foods and keep them differentiated from others. Major companies invest heavily in brand building with the help of advertising and keeping a unique and uniform visual style of their restaurants. Hence, buyer power is weakened and consumer loyalty is strengthened. Consumer loyalty is increased by some companies by rewards programs, competition and giving free gifts for example McDonalds offer a free toy in Happy Meals. The buyer power is however strengthened to an extent by insignificant costs of switching and a quantity of price sensitivity. Therefore buyer power is not high or low, it is moderate. (Datamonitor August 2009) Supplier Power One important input in the fast food market is food. UK has a concentrated food supply market with Brakes and 3663 as the leading suppliers or distributors. The suppliers have decreased their dependence on the fast food companies as they have other kinds of profit foodservice and cost foodservice customers. It is important for the fast food companies to maintain their suppliers who offer marketable quality food which is at a low cost. Therefore, the supplier power is increased in the UK market. Labour plays an important part in the fast food business and the laws in UK like the minimum wage law strengthens the employees who are considered as the suppliers of labour. This indicates that the supplier power is high and strong. (Datamonitor August 2009) Threat of new entrants The rules and regulations in the UK have certain barriers to entry. There may be some limitations implied by the local authority on the number of restaurants of a particular type, but this type of barrier is limited to an extent. It is difficult for a new entrant in the industry to gain profits and do well in the initial stage as there is low consumer loyalty and some barriers to gain entry in the fast food industry. There may be problems on getting into prime locations and places which are busy like high streets. Some fast food chains get into a location by buying or signing leases just to prevent a rival getting into that location. The cost of setting up a new chain is relatively low and recent years have seen many new entrants in the market. The ease of entering a market and expanding has been demonstrated by chains like Subway. Thus this can prove to be a serious threat which is more serious to smaller chains that have the benefit of wide market support. Therefore, the likelihood of new entrants is high. (Datamonitor August 2009) Threat of substitutes The fast food substitutes include other forms of food service and retails like ready-to-eat meals, frozen foods etc for home cooking. As fast food is cheaper than any other form of food service, substitutes do not challenge the price of fast food and the main purpose of fast food does not comply with substitutes as the convenience factor in fast food goes missing. Fast food has faced many forms of criticism of being unhealthy while retail food promises to consumers of being healthy. Substitutes also offer a wide range of products. Therefore substitutes pose a moderate threat to the fast food industry. (Datamonitor August 2009) Rivalry of existing customers There is a huge competition in the fast food industry in which McDonalds in the leading fast food which serves more than 2.5 million customers on a daily basis company in the industry (McDonalds 2008). Other competitors in the market include Burger King, KFC and Subway. There are other small independent fish and chip outlets, burger shops and kebab corners which include in the competition. The dominant firms control a larger share of the fast food industry and they are able to hold this share due to the high amount of marketing done by them. Ready-prepared sandwich market is the most popular fast food which accounts of 1/3rd of the food market. It is followed by the burger which is dominated by McDonalds and Burger King. The fish and chip sector comes next which is made of independent shops and has a market share which is half to that of the burger. The location of the fast food restaurant acts as an important key in the rivalry of the food industry. Therefore, threat of existing customers is high in the fast food industry. (Datamonitor August 2009) Swot analysis is a tool for auditing and analysing the environment of a company. It stands for strengths, weakness, opportunity and threats. SWOT analysis of McDonalds (S)trengths McDonalds is been in business since 1955 and has built up huge brand equity. It is the number one fast food company in UK in terms of food service sales with 12% share of the total sector in 2008. (Euromonitor International 2008). It has 31000 restaurants across the world which serves fries and burgers in nearly 120 countries. It retains its customers through continuous innovation and product development. It also provides a clean environment for customers. Due to its wide reach across the world, it gives McDonalds to handle economic fluctuations which can arise in a country. It can operate effectively even at times of recessions as there a social need among the people to get comparatively cheap and good quality food. Their global restaurants are adapted to meet the requirements of different cultures. For example, lamb burgers are served in India and they have separate entrances for families and single women in the Middle East. Large scale investment has carried to support the franchise network of McDonalds. Approximately 85% of restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by franchisees. In 1997, it was named Entrepreneurs number one franchise. Food safety is taken very seriously in McDonalds and there are around 2000 checks performed on every stage of food preparation It has a loyal staff and a strong management team. It provides professional training for its employees. More than 250,000 employees graduate from the Hamburger university which is a McDonalds training facility. (W)eaknesses McDonalds could not compete with the fast food pizza chain as it failed to test market pizza as a substantial product. More money spent on training due to employee turnover. The customers are becoming more health conscious which has been reflected in the sales in McDonalds to an extent as burgers and fries are known to be high on calories. (O)pportunities In this health conscious society, a need for low calorie food has arisen. Introduction of low calorie foods like low calorie burger and fries cooked in low calorie oil can be a great opportunity. Some McDonalds outlets have a playground for kids which are an attraction for kids. More outlets should have such playgrounds to attract families with kids. A dining-out market is a recent hit among the young generation and the middle age group. This can be seen as an opportunity for McDonalds in attracting more young and middle aged group by having restaurants which have a dine-out section. With the upcoming Olympics in 2012 and the FIFA World Cup in South Africa is a great opportunity and is predicted to have a positive impact on McDonalds as it is a principle sponsor of both football and Olympics. Enter the coffee selling market and compete with coffee shops like Costa and Starbucks by opening McCafe which is especially dedicated in selling coffee and having Wi-Fi internet to attract coffee shop goers. Also, get into the sandwich making segment which McDonalds is left out of. Provide optional food for people with allergies like nut free and gluten free. Expanding more into the emerging markets of India and China. (T)hreats Consumers adopting healthier lifestyles and nutrition can prove as a threat as McDonalds is known for serving food which is high on calories. McDonalds has been criticized by parents for spoiling their children as young as one year olds by their marketing tactics which include happy meals with toys and popular movie tie-ups. Threats from local competitors like Burger King, KFC, Subway and other individual burger outlets. Recession may reduce the sales in McDonalds to an extent as the spending among people is reduced due to less disposable income. Threats from contamination of the food like e-coli which was recent in the UK. Sources (Hoovers (2008), http://www.hoovers.com/mcdonalds/-ID__10974-/freeuk-co-factsheet.xhtml [2] McDonalds Annual Report (2008) [3] http://www.dlea.com.au/?Community/Health_and_Nutrition/Health_and_Nutrition [4] Jobber, (2006), Principles and Practices of Marketing, 3rd Edition)