AN ESSAY BASED ON THE BELOW CASE STUYDY Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

AN BASED ON THE BELOW CASE STUYDY - Essay Example It is very unethical, for the Tomoco Company to offer pay Vijay money so that he can offer them the very important and confidential information of Ishimuru, this will highly dent and even kill the trust company's customer have in the company in this era where corporate ethics has become very important in aspect of any company operations and marketing and brand image. The Tomoco company is dedicated to coming up with new innovations in the auto mobile sector. It has the responsibility to ensure that it come up with its own battery formula that can be used in the proposed econocar. Probably Tomoco has a compliance program that is well established which shows that Tomoco has been committed to laws and regulations governing the country auto mobile is designing, marketing and selling activities. Thus getting information falsely from a rival company will be going against these laws or regulation and the company may destroy its image that it has built over the years. It is worth to note that a good company image and reputation goes a long way in marketing a company products, in this case Tomoco cars and any improper business conduct of the company may lead to destroying the reputation and tradition of the company and thus reducing its market segment. (Dole and Lowe, 2003) The Tomoco company also may face legal actions fro... Since the law is applied when a person has leaked important and confidential information regarding a company which is vital to its business operation, to a competitor company, thus hampering fair competition, Ishimuru company will have a strong case as it will have evidence and more so it will be able to identify the person (Vijay) and the company (Tomoco) which has obtained the leaked or stolen information. Such lawsuits are normal costly to a company and even if Ishimuru losses the case the damage will be already be caused to Tomoco which may be irreparable. (Dole and Lowe, 2003) Since both the two companies are involved in research and innovation of lithium ion (li-ion) battery, and no particular company has a proven formula or an already working design, it is equally risky and nave to accept a design from a rival. This is because the proposed design may not be good enough than the one the Tomoco is developing. More so Vijay seems to be a self centred person and may easily sell a wrong formula to Tomoco are equally will also be willing to sell the same design plan to any other company after sealing a deal with Tomoco. Basing on the above factors, Clive smith on behave of Tomoco will probably refuse the offer from Sandeep on the basis of ethical conduct and keeping the company reputation, image and lawful conduct. (Dole and Lowe, 2003) Draft marketing plan for the launch of the econocar A Product Marketing Manager is to make sure that company's product achieves the returns expectations that the manager projected when he received the endorsement for developing the product. The method of ensuring that products achieve revenue is by including a launch plan. This contains all the deliverables (collateral, materials for

Kudler Strategic Plan Part II Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Kudler Strategic Plan Part II - Essay Example The paper discusses the new strategy and implementation plan, the functional tactics with a work breakdown structure, a Gantt chart to define the timeline and the tasks and the deadline. It also discusses the key success factors for the implementation plan. It also includes the risks and the risk management along with a contingency plan. Established in 1998, Kudler Fine Foods (KFF) specialty food and wine retail stores have successfully expanded to a chain of three stores at La Jolla, Del Mar and in Encinitas. The stores are operating in hired premises. Despite the economic slowdown, things are promising primarily because Kathy Kudler, the owner and in whose name the chain is named, is a workhorse. Her perfect strategy with dogged determination to purse the goals had made the chain to remain afloat and also do brisk business despite the general slump in the industry. But the most important thing that has been giving the chain the ability to maintain is the cash flow. This in turn is due to Kathy’s seven-days-a-week work schedule to monitor the activities of the business. Kathy has hired managers to help her at the three locations, of which the one at Del Mar is a matter of concern because of the low population in the vicinity. Kathy is now looking for an alternate location with a larger population base. Carls bad, CA is a possibility, Kathy is exploring. Kudler Fine Foods uses only the finest organic ingredients. Whenever possible, we purchase local produce from organic farmers. We use unbleached flour in our bakery goods and we don’t add unnecessary preservatives to our products. Food is rotated from the shelves on an ongoing basis. Those items that are still in â€Å"good† condition are donated to local homeless shelters and food kitchens. Each of our stores has its own modern European-Style Bakery. In the wee hours of the morning, our bakers begin mixing their dough and creating fresh breads and pastries including fruit tarts, table loaves, flat

Outlining and Evaluating theories of relationship breakdown. Essay Example for Free

Outlining and Evaluating theories of relationship breakdown. Essay Stephanie Rollie and Steve Duck developed a model of the termination of close and intimate relationships in 2006.This model focuses on the processes that typify relationship breakdown , rather than being tied to distinct phases that people pass through . The 6 stages may appear to overlap or have common features but also serve very different purposes and ultimately have different consequences. Initially , the first stage is breakdown , this is where one of the partners decides that they cant stand it any more and only when this dissatisfaction manifests itself into a complete reality check of I cant stand this any more do we see a progression to the next stage of this stage theory. After the breakdown Rollie and Duck suggest that the second stage is something known as the intra-psychic process ; this is generally characterised as a social withdrawal and resentment with the dissatisfied partner focusing on their partners faults and a sense of being underbenifited. This normally coincides with a tendency to re-evaluate the relationship and consider alternatives. The next stage is something known as the dyadic processes ; this is where partners begin to talk with each other about the problems leading to the breakdown , sometimes this can result in reconciliation as the other partner accepts the validity of the dissatisfied partners views.( only if its constructive not destructive ) This stage could be seen as the make or break stage where issues are brought up like we need to stay together for the kids or just a general believe that things dont have the capacity to change. The fourth stage in this model is social processes ; the break up is aired and made public to friends and family , generally , advice and support and sought from people outside the relationship and alliances are created (e.g. you can do better than her) .Also in this stage things are discussed which tell us that a relationship is progressing deeply through the stage , for example child custody. The fifth stage is the grave dressing processes ; this focuses on the spectra of the relationship I.e. How it  started ?, what was it like ? How it went wrong . This stage also sees partners organize their post relationship lives and begin to publicise there own accounts of the breakdown. It is highly likely that not the same story is told to everybody as the ex partner may want to appear in a different light to different people , e.g. new potential partners. The final stage of Rollie and Ducks model is the resurrection process ; this is simply the final evaluation of the relationship and what the partners need to improve on or change for their next . Rollie and Ducks model is supported by observations of real-life break ups . Tashiro and Frazier 2003 surveyed undergraduates who had recently experienced the breakdown of a romantic relationship . They found that not only had the students experienced emotional distress but at the same time had new insight into what they wanted in their next relationship . This links support to the grave dressing and resurrection process as it is setting a new template for the future thus supporting 2 stages of the model and consequently lending support and credibility to the model. On the contrary the fact that it looked at undergraduates who are new into a scene with loads of people they dont know leaves this research open to scrutiny of age bias , the model even states that young adults tend to test the market and that the 6 stages mainly apply to older people , this doesnt necessarily reduce validity of the model but casts doubt on the generalisability of it The model doesnt consider individual differences which I believe plays a massive intrinsic and extrinsic role in this process. In 1998 Akert found the role people played in the dissolution of the relationship was the single biggest indicator of the impact of the dissolution experience . Concluding that the instigator suffered less of the negative consequences of break up (e.g. depression and loneliness) than the non instigator. The model generalises the emotional impact to both the non instigator and the instigator which in the majority of cases is unfair as someone is likely to be more hurt than the other , this decreases the reliability of the model because everybody behaves differently , its in our nature. Rollie and Ducks model is subject to heterosexual bias because it cannot be generalised to lesbian , gay , bisexual or transgender relationships . For example a homosexual couple that are not out as homosexual cannot go through the social processes stage as they wont have that social network due to the fact they are not out as homosexual. It clear that there are many more extraneous variables that mean that different people go though different forms of a relationship breakdown ,there is no norm. In congruency with this not all heterosexual couples act the same as a couple that have had a 3 week fling will break up differently to a couple in a marital relationship. The point I am making here is that the model needs to differentiate between the nature of a relationship before it can gain fully credibility through its application of stages. Culture plays a large role in this and there is definitely culture bias present in this model as it is only applicable to the western world , further from this it is only applicable to the western world to an extent due to religion , for example the catholic church frown upon divorce and will not allow a re marriage in that church after a divorce. In most cases a break up is not seen as unscrupulous or deviant in western culture but in others like collectivist tribal cultures where marriage is arranged and is a conjugate of 2 families rather than individuals a break up is non negotiable . Thus rendering the model culture bias as it is clearly only applicable to western society. Evolutionary psychologists attempt to explain relationship breakdown by 4 predictions , it is important to remember that these are prediction and not assumptions. As is does with the mate preferences this area of psychology differentiates between male and female aspects of breakdown. 1)Costs related to emotional investment; this says that the female rejectees will experience a greater loss associated with the emotional investment withdrawal due to the potent dependence on the resources of the man.(applicable to relationships involving older people) this comes from the hunger gather theory of evolution. 2)Increasing commitment ; This is the idea that males may manipulate the female knowing that she values emotional commitment extremely highly , it suggest that men who fear for there relationship will  attempt to increase commitment through a variety of ways , for example cohabitation , marriage or children. It is thought that this is to maintain sexual access to the female. Yet again this is based on ideas of evolution first outlined by Charles Darwin. 3)Infidelity ; This implies that males are more likely to be unfaithful and cheat on their partners due to their desire for sexual variation . This can also be a way of ending the relationship and forcing the rejectee to move on more swiftly. 4)Reputational damage ; the rejectors may be viewed as heartless by a jury of their peers and the rejectee may be portrayed as a helpless victim . It is thought that this could damage the rejectors reputation and consequently affect there chances of finding an alternative . To counter act this the rejector may deploy tactics like can we still be friends . Perilloux and Buss conducted research into this area in 2008 when they got 98 males and 101 females to fill in a questionnaire at a university . 69% of the participants where white Caucasian and the rest where from a range of ethnic backgrounds ( attempting to emit culture bias). They found that females more than males reported higher levels of costs associated with losing their partners emotional commitment . This supports the evolutionary approach as it shows that there is a cost relating to emotional investment specifically in women , as the prediction outlines. Also they found that more males than females reported success at preventing a relationship breakdown by increasing their level of commitment , again showing stacks of support for increasing commitment . Male rejectors more than female rejectors reported engaging in sex with other potential mates prior to the break up . Conclusively supporting the notion of infidelity. And finally rejectors indicated a higher cost of being seen as cruel and heartless compared to the rejectees , Fully supporting the idea of reputational damage. In terms of finding linked to the predictions Perilloux and Buss extrapolated evidence to support all , giving masses of credibility to the evolutionary predictions. On the contrary , this is a fairly socially sensitive explanation because it casts males in a bad light suggesting that they are unscrupulous through infidelity , the implications of this are that males may feel insulted by  the idea that they would sleep with somebody else to end a relationship , where in many cases men are just as faithful if not more faithful than women .Thus rendering the predictions socially sensitive.

Two Means Of Mass Communication Media Essay

Two Means Of Mass Communication Media Essay Is print either superior or inferior to video? How would one decide such a matter? When superficially comparing two means of communication largely used nowadays, namely print and video, one could venture stating that the latter is better just by looking at the audience rates for each medium. However, the issue of deciding which type of medium is better is far more complex, starting even from establishing what better means. Being in no position to offer a clear-cut answer to the essay question, in the following lines I will draw some theoretical guiding lines and then outline and discuss some of the important advantages and disadvantages of using print and video as message conveyers, guided by the idea that each medium has its characteristics and each person has to decide which one better suits him or her. The focus points in comparing the two media will be related to the audience rates for each medium and their possible causes, the characteristics of the two media and of the media pr oduct on offer and, lastly, to the impact on the two types of media consumers. Marshall McLuhans famous phrase the medium is the message (1964: 7) represents a suitable starting point in comparing print and video. It indicates that the medium through which a message is conveyed has high importance in the reception of the meanings of the text. Moreover, it implies that each medium shapes the messages it transmits to the audiences according to different factors which I will later present. In discussing these two media in this essay I will mainly refer to newspapers as being representative for the print medium and to television for video. Moreover, the media products which will be addressed will be non-fictional, i.e. not movies or literature. However, it should be noted that print is actually referring in general to the written messages, no matter which is the medium through which we gain access to them (P. David Marshall, 2004). Each medium, nevertheless, inscribes different characteristics on the message it conveys, as I shall attempt to demonstrate in this ess ay. Firstly, I will cast my attention on the audience rates of the two media and on how these could be explained. As stated in the introduction, one could fall into the trap of considering video better than print only because of the number of media consumers each medium has. Indeed, the number of audiences is relevant when studying a medium, especially the effects it can have on people, an aspect which could help one decide which medium is better. The data presented by McQueen indicates that British people spend an average of over 25 hours watching television a week, with, on a typical day, 80 per cent of the population tuning into television (Cultural Trends, 1997, quoted in Glastier, 1997) (1998: 3). Barwise and Ehrenberg draw a more generalised conclusion: people in many countries spend between a third and a half of their free time with television, more time than we spend on anything else except sleep and work (1988: 12). Moreover, the specific example Bourdieu (1998) gives about Fren ch TV viewing being more popular than all newspapers is eloquent. Bourdieu also draws the attention on the possible dangers of the large number of audiences: television poses no less of a threat to political life and to democracy itself (1998: 10). Not only does television manipulates through its nature (Hall, 1996), but it also alienates its audiences, according to the data presented. Audience rates reflect the particularities of print and video consumers. The difference in audience rates is due mainly to the fact that television does not require the audiences to be literate in order to become television consumers: television offers viewers a variety of subject matter, requires minimal skills to comprehend it, and is largely aimed at emotional gratification (Postman, 1987: 88-9). Moreover, the two media have different target consumers. Newspaper reading is similar to other intellectual activities: it is habituated in the youth and then it becomes a custom (Putnam, 2000), the readers choosing certain newspapers due to their clearly defined policy with which its readers can identify themselves [†¦] [because newspapers] express the feelings and hopes, often unexpressed, of its millions of readers (Hornby, 1965: 102). Even if television viewing creates dependence, TV viewers are more flexible than newspaper readers, surfing the TV channels in search for suitable programmes which will attract them, as well as new television viewers. Furthermore, print has always been addressed to older, educated people, to the literate (Putnam, 2000), whereas by its nature the video medium creates the illusion of reality (Hall, 1996) and thus appeals to all people, disregarding their social status, sex, age or race. Extensive research shows that people consider watching TV mainly as a time-passing, relaxing activity, as Barwise and Ehrenberg note: television is so popular because it provides large amounts of distraction and relaxation at a trivial cost with minimum effort to the viewer (1988: 19). By contrast with printed material, video media products have the advantage of being more entertaining. If newspapers have the aim of informing their readers more than other media (Monaco, 1978), TV producers have to create entertaining programmes that can attract audiences and keep them tuned in. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to have access to multiple resources, including equipment, a setting, money, a team etc. In this respect, print is more cost-effective, less constrained than the video medium and more at the disposal of media consumers. Nevertheless, newspapers are not the only form of print, the contents of some magazines and tabloids being more similar to TV programmes than any other print medium, because they have the same role: to entertain their public. If different in audience rates, the two media, print and video, are also dissimilar in what concern the social effects they determine. Putnam (2000) argues that TV viewing alienates the media consumers in different respects, such as determining them to be passive and encouraging less social communication in all its forms written, oral, or electronic (2000: 231). Whereas texts conveyed by print engage their audiences in a one-to-one process, video media facilitates social interactions indoors, in front of the TV, as McCullagh argues: [t]elevision may, for example, facilitate family communication and talk, but the content of the talk and conversation often has little relationship to what is on the screen (2002: 169). Nevertheless, McCullagh pursues his line of argument by stating that the increased time spent in front of television must reduce the time that is available for other forms of social activity, especially those outside the home (2002: 172), while newspapers can be read ever ywhere, at any time. After having discussed a few important social issues regarding the two media which could balance the weight in favour of one of them when judging which is better, I can now look at other characteristics of both media. According to Postman, televisions conversations promote incoherence and triviality (1987: 81), while print is seen by him as a serious, coherent place, capable of management by reason, and of improvement by logical and relevant criticism (1987: 63). His line of thought is developed by Fiske and Hartley: The written word (and particularly the printed word) works through and so promotes consistency, narrative development from cause to effect, universality and abstraction, clarity, and a single tone of voice. Television, on the other hand, is ephemeral, episodic, specific, concrete and dramatic in mode (Fiske and Hartley, 1978, cited in Abercrombie, 1996: 9). Moreover, print texts offer the readers the possibility to have much more control: skipping, pausing, re-reading, and so on (Barwise and Ehrenberg: 1988: 129), unlike video which is an ephemeral medium. This does not imply, however, that television is inferior in all respects to print. One of the matters concerning each medium is related to the amount of time it takes to transmit information to the public and between the occurrence of an event and the moment when the public is informed. In what concerns the video medium, information is transmitted faster to the audience, even if it is usually presented more briefly. Due to the technological characteristics of broadcasting which permit transmitting live footage 24-hours a day, television can deal with todays news, or even news as it breaks, unlike most daily papers which can report only yesterdays events (McQueen, 1998: 100). Another aspect of transmitting news through the video medium compensates this advantage: [f]acts push other facts into and then out of consciousness at speeds that neither permit nor require evaluation (Postman, 1987: 71). There is the risk of loosing the complexity of a news story because of being constraint by time, similar to the lack of space for newspaper news: a television script (e.g. fo r the news) can be more succinct, using fewer adjectives and adverbs because the pictures convey much of the detail (Barwise and Ehrenberg: 1988: 128-9). However, the effect of this simplification of news is that we are presented not only with fragmented news but news without context, without consequences, without value, and therefore without essential seriousness; that is to say, news as pure entertainment (Postman, 1987: 102). Postman further argues that the short length of TV news reports has the role not to let the viewers engage too much with a particular subject, because if they do, they can lose the entertaining sense of the news programme. Spending approximately a day a week viewing TV, people happen to find out more on a particular topic without necessary having in plan to; hence, watching video materials doesnt always involve a voluntary engagement with the subject of the broadcast. Therefore, TV audiences are more likely to be passive because of the longer periods of time in contact with this means of communication, unlike the limited interaction with written texts, which is more likely to be a voluntary action, being more personal as well: the mood of reading is quieter and more reflective (Hornby, 1965: 32). Due to the limited number of pages and the one-to-one character of reading a written text, the reader is more of an active media consumer while a TV viewer could engage in other activities while the TV is on. Moreover, as Monaco argues, in order to read a text, one has to be willing, to invest a more intense intellectual effort because he has to supply his own images [and sound] (1978: 6), whilst to hear or se e something on television does not need such a mental effort. Hence, a written media text is more likely to be read in an active manner than a TV broadcast. This does not imply, however, as McCullagh (2002) argues, that newspapers cannot be read in a distraught way. Related to the issue of active/passive audiences is also the creativity of the media consumer. Print texts encourage people to be creative more than when viewing video materials, in which case the media consumer is a mere spectator, not the essential constitutive element of forming the mental image suggested by the text. News broadcasts comprise reading previously written news (news scripts), (motion) pictures, sounds and testimonies. By contrast with reading texts, where one has to imagine what he reads, the synchronisation voice-over with images [†¦] makes it appear as if the images speak for themselves declare their own transparent meaning, without exterior intervention (Brunsdon and Morely, 1996: 14-5). Ellis notes the characteristics of the video medium, which makes use of images as its main support: it helps communication by providing more redundancy, and provides emphasis by doubling information in both sound and image (2000: 97). Hence, the technologies the video medium is using can bear advantages over the print medium, making the former as popular as it is. The human resources for what is conveyed through a medium are an important part in offering a qualitative product. With regard to print, written texts have authors who express their opinions, their own views, and state their knowledge about different subjects in order to inform the readers. Hence, the articles are more personal than video media products which usually have a team to produce them. If an article is signed by its creator, the news are presented in an impersonal, but not necessarily objective, manner; this is the case of news broadcasts presented by anchors, not of broadcasters whose TV shows are associated with the style, manner and personality of their presenters (Hall, 1996: 9). The video broadcasts are varied in the way they are presented, in the way information not witnessed by the audiences is mediated to the public. This aspect could also influence the viewers due to the complexity of the stimuli conveyed through video. Apart from the statistics on audience rates and the features of the two media there is a great concern with the effects of media on audiences, which mainly derive from the technological characteristics of the medium. Unsuitable material presented on TV is more damaging than in the case of printed texts because, unlike print, video offers a more convincing image of reality. Thus, the impact on audiences is higher over a short period, which, however, cannot challenge the place of the newspaper as the medium that daily records in some detail, life in all its aspects (Hornby, 1965: 98). In print, words and a limited number of images cannot present an exact picture of an event because all is filtered through the mind of the journalist; thereby, the reader receives second-hand information. The video medium offers a more exact image of the world, due to the images, comments and interviews presented. However, both perceptions of the world are biased because they are presented by people. There could be said much more about print and video, two different types of media, which, I would agree with Putnam, are complements, not substitutes (2000: 219). Therefore, it is hard to decide which one is better. Each media is good at responding to the expectations of its target audience and each of them has its advantages and disadvantages, some of which I have discussed in this essay. To conclude, I will emphasise once again the role of the two media: print mainly informs, whilst the video media mainly entertains. It rests with each person to decide which one is more suitable for them and if they can cope with the negative aspects of the specific medium. Student No: 0831496 Module: Media Sociology Word count: 2375 Mark: 65 (Mid Upper 2nd) Date of submission: 28.04.2009

events in history :: essays research papers

The year 1968 can be recognized by the mass-youth appeal in late twentieth-century political and intellectual culture. It's most frequently remembered for the assassination of Martin Luther King, the May uprisings by students and workers in France, the assassination of Robert Kennedy, the riots in Chicago during the Democratic National Convention, the massacre of government protesters in Mexico City during the weeks leading up to the Olympics, and the election of Richard Nixon--to name just a few of the more infamous events. It was a year marked by the beginning of America's decline as the single dominant economic power to emerge at the end of World War II. Many social changes that were addressed in the 1960s are still the issues being confronted today. The ‘60s was a decade of social and political upheaval. In spite of all the turmoil, there were some positive results: the civil rights revolution, John F. Kennedy’s bold vision of a new frontier, and the breathtaking ad vances in space helped bring about progress and prosperity. However, much was negative: student and anti-war protest movements, political assassinations, and ghetto riots excited American people and resulted in lack of respect for authority and the law. Edward Sanders' book-long poem entitled 1968: A History in Verse depicts all areas of the year 1968 from January 1st through the end of December. Sanders avoids depicting the year 1968 as either the last great hope for historical redemption in America or as the beginning of a reactionary turn in the culture. The book recaps the year in which he played an important socio-cultural activist, role model, musician, and poet. The poem continues to cite specific details centered mostly on where his rock band, the fugs, traveled to and whom and what he encountered along the way. â€Å"To me this was the last mote of proof in 1968 that the Nation was lost† (189). After witnessing the riots in Chicago, the "Nation" Sander’s referred to is an imaginary society in which community responsibility is shared equally between both government and citizens, and economic resources are distributed more rightfully among its members, when it is actually an existing set of political formations run by the government. The book continues to address 1968 as a rebellious era of the youth of America. The Yippies, or members of the anti-political association The Youth International Party, were active across America voicing their opinion and opposing the war.

The Effects of Sir Thomas Malory’s Life and Culture on the Arthurian Le

The Effects of Sir Thomas Malory’s Life and Culture on the Arthurian Legends In many cases, authors write books in order to comment on the culture they live in. In addition, the personal life experiences of the author are also expressed in the work. In the case of the Arthurian Legends, the major contributor was Sir Thomas Malory, who lived from 1405 to 1471 (Abrams, 420). The first section of this paper will examine why Sir Thomas Malory should be considered the greatest contributor to the Arthurian Legends. The second section of this paper will examine many themes expressed in Malory’s work, Morte Darthur, such as courtly love, brotherly love, chivalry, magic, and resolution, showing how the culture and personal life of Sir Thomas Malory helped shape his commitment to translating and writing the legends of King Arthur. The final section of this paper will show how, even in the last century, writers have used personal life experiences and elements of the culture around them to create their works. One of the most taxing aspects of dealing with the Arthurian Legends is identifying the major contributors. Arthurian legends were in existence long before the lifetime of Sir Thomas Malory most notably Geoffry of Monmouth’s Historia Regina Britannia, which was written between 1136-1139. The fact that Arthurian legends were in existence several hundred years before Malory’s life makes it essential to show why the study of his life and culture are important. The major reason why the study of the life and culture of Sir Thomas Malory should be considered important is due to the fact that his work (Morte Darthur) was the first complete version of Arthurian legends ever produced in English. Another reason it is important t... ... that surrounded him. The final section of the paper deals with the idea that, even in our culture, writers are able to take their personal experiences and extend them to represent the culture as a whole. All of these sections are essential for understanding Morte Darthur, Sir Thomas Malory, and the elements he used from his personal experience and the culture around him to translate and write many Arthurian legends. Works Cited Abrams, M.H. Gen. Ed., Greenblatt, Stephen. Ass. Gen. Ed. The Norton Anthology of English Literature 7th Ed. Vol. 1. New York: W. W. Norton and Co., 2000. Ackerman, Robert W. â€Å"Sir Thomas Malory†. World Book Encyclopedia Vol. 13. Chicago: World Book Inc., 1989. Mckay, John P. Ed., Hill, Bennett D. Ed., Buckler, John Ed., A History of Western Society Since 1300, 6th Edition. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1999.

Exam Study Sheet

ERP as a business concept resounds as a powerful internal information management nirvana: Everyone involved in sourcing, producing, and delivering the company's product works with the same information, which eliminates redundancies, reduces wasted time, and removes misinformation. Learning outcomes Buffet believes In focused Investing and believes that all Investors should look at five features: 1 . The certainty with which the long-term economic characteristics of the business can be evaluated 2.The certainty with which management can be evaluated, both as to Its ability to realize the full potential of the business and to wisely employ Its cash flows 3. The certainty with which management can be counted on to channel the reward from the business to the shareholders rather than to Itself 4. The purchase price of the business the degree by which an investor's purchasing-power return is reduced from his gross return Innovation finding new six best practices of innovation: Find your re levant edgeAssemble innovation hothouses Reward risk takers Celebrate diversity Look around Mix practitioners and developers Social entrepreneurship â€Å"going green† Social Responsibility implies that an organization has a responsibility to society. Corporate Policy reflects the position a company takes on social and political issues. Sustainable or â€Å"Green† describes systems that minimize damage to the environment. Energy consumption Breakdown of Power Usage in The Typical Data Centre For convenience and to allow for automatic updates and backup, the majority of computer equipment is never completely shut down.It draws energy 24 hours a day. Percentage lighting/humidifier power distribution units air conditioners Ups IT equipment Chiller E waste State – Refers to discarded, obsolete or broken electronic devices Sustainable IT disposal – Refers to the safe disposal of MIS assets at the end of their life cycle Electronic Product Stewardship Canada (P EPS) – an industry association that educates and encourages e-waste control Recent International laws restrict the use of hazardous materials.Moor's Law has made technological devices smaller, cheaper, and faster, allowing more people from all income levels to purchase computing equipment. This increased demand is causing numerous environmental issues. State refers to drives, printer cartridges, cell phones, pods, external hard drives, TV's, Vicars, DVD players, microwaves, and so on. Greener IT four ways to save energy in a data center use outdoor air for cooling, cool high density areas, use low power processors, incorporate cooling solutions, use server power management, buy high efficiency power supplies, use overpopulation to consolidate servers.Organizational social networking three types of social networking an organization can implement: Passive search Boomerangs Marketing networks Passive Search?Finding people for new Jobs who are happy and productive where they thro ugh business networking sites. Boomerangs?Former employees returning to old Jobs. Marketing Networks?Using business networks for marketing and events It's a whole new world Virtual World?An Internet resource which presents a AD virtual community.Virtual Organizations- interactive web presence for businesses and their customers. Virtual Workforce?working from home†¦ Or anywhere via the Internet. Tools for virtual workforce Mobile commerce (m-commerce)?ability to purchase goods and services through a mobile device. Telemetric?The blending of wired and wireless technologies for efficient electronic communication. Electronic tagging?the use of RIFF (radio frequency identification) and other systems to identify and tracking digital assets. 4. Enterprise resource planning ERP Failures Blaming ERP for the â€Å"pickle† that many a company who has implemented ERP find themselves in is like blaming the CAD package for a poorly architect building. Like just about everything else, IT-enabling business processes is about using the right tools for the right reasons and executing. Enterprise resource planning – integrates all departments and functions hat employees can make enterprise-wide decisions by viewing enterprise-wide information on all business operations.ERP powerful organization tools Solution to incompatible applications. Addresses the need for global information sharing. Avoids the expense of fixing legacy systems. Legacy Systems?are older computer technology still in use. Functional Systems? serve single business departments or units. Legacy systems exist in personal computing as well as business Enterprise resource planning system Core data – employees, orders, customers, sales, inventory 0 ERP- Global sales report,Global manufacturing report, global shipping report Enterprise resource planning – ERP Integration Data Flow At the heart of all ERP systems is a database; when a user enters or updates information in one module, it is immediately and automatically updated throughout the entire system â€Å"Data† (centre) – purchasing, accounting and finance, manual resources, inventory, manufacturing, marketing and sales Why do organizations need integrations, if an ERP system contains one database that connects all applications together?Most organizations operate functional â€Å"silos†, and each department happily has its own systems A company might purchase an ERP and then all of the functional silos would be on one system; however, this doesn't happen very often in the real world ERP automates business processes such as order fulfillment?taking an order from a customer, shipping the purchase, and then billing for it.With an ERP system, when a customer service representative takes an order from a customer, he or she has all the data necessary to complete the order. When one department finishes with the order, it is automatically routed via the ERP system to the next department. To find out here the order is at any point, a user needs only to log in to the ERP system and track the order.ERP systems automate business processes, for example, order fulfillment When a Customer Service Representative (CARS) takes an order from a customer, he or she has all the information necessary to complete the order (the customer's credit rating and order history, the company's inventory levels, and the delivery schedule) ERP process flow Data†centre† sales/quote/order warehouse pack/ship receiving returns accounting/billing/payment The organization before ERP Multiple functional systems provide support for the unique needs of each department but cannot be integrated across the enterprise document management, workflow, ERP †¦ Etc The organization after ERP – A central processing needs of each functional unit while having data sharing across the enterprise. Core and extended ERP components The evolution of ERP ERP – material planning, order entry, dist ribution, general ledger, accounting, shop floor control Extended ERP – scheduling, forecasting, capacity planning, commerce, warehousing, logistics ERP -II – project management, knowledge management, workflow management, customer relationship', human resource, portal capabilityCore ERP components – traditional components included in most ERP systems and they primarily focus on internal operations Extended ERP components – extra components that meet the organizational needs not covered by the core components and primarily focus on external operations Core and extended ERP components Three most common core ERP components 1 . Accounting and finance 2. Production and materials management 3.Human resource Accounting and finance ERP component – manages accounting data and financial processes within the enterprise with functions such as general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, budgeting, and asset management Dudley Harley-Davidson Canada (D DCD), the exclusive Canadian distributor of Harley- Davidson motorcycles, has improved inventory, turnaround time, margins, and customer satisfaction?all with the implementation of a financial ERP system Production and materials management ERP component – handles the various aspects of production planning and execution such as demand forecasting, production scheduling, Job cost accounting, and quality control Production and materials management ERP components This figure displays the typical ERP production planning process. The process begins with forecasting sales in order to plan operations. A detailed production schedule is developed if the product is produced, and a materials requirement plan is completed in the product is purchased. Sales forecasting 0 operations planning 0 detailed scheduling/production, 0 materials requirement planning, purchasing Human resource ERP component – tracks employee information including payroll, legal requirements of multiple Jurisdi ctions and tax authorities Extended ERP components include: Business intelligence Customer relationship management Supply chain managementE-business Business intelligence – describes information that people use to support their decision-making efforts Customer relationship management – involves managing all aspects of a customer's relationships with an organization to increase customer loyalty and retention and an organization's profitability Supply chain management – involves the management of information flows between and among stages in a supply chain to maximize total supply chain effectiveness and profitability E-business – means conducting business on the Internet, not only buying and selling, but also Irving customers and collaborating with business partners Primary Users and Business Benefits of Enterprise Applications Enterprise application – CRM, SCM, ERP Examples parenting/CSS, customers, accosting finance logistics Integration Middlewar e – Several different types of software that sit between and provide connectivity for two or more software applications The connected corporation Enterprise application integration middleware – Takes a new approach to middleware by packaging commonly used applications together, reducing the time needed to integrate applications from multiple vendorsMeasuring ERP Success with the Balanced Scorecard The Four Primary Perspectives of the Balanced Scorecard Vision and strategy – financial, internal business process, customer, learning and growing Balanced Scorecard is a measurement system whose objective is to clarify the company's vision and strategy and translate them into actions. It starts with the customer†¦ Customer?†To achieve our vision, how should we appear to our customer. Financial -â€Å"To succeed financially, how should we be appearing to our shareholders? † Internal Business Process?†To satisfy our shareholders and customers, wh at business processes must we excel at? † Learning and Growing?†To achieve our vision, how will we sustain our ability to change and improve? † Successful ERP projects share 3 attributes 1. Overall fit Off the rack Off the rack and tailored to fit Custom made 2.Proper business analysis Successful companies spend up to 10 percent of the project budget on a business analysis 3. Solid implementation plans A plan is needed to monitor the quality, objectives, and timeliness Overall fit This refers to the degree of gaps that exist between the system and the business process. A well-fitting ERP has no major process gaps and very few minor ones Proper business analysis The best way to determine which fit strategy is right is to conduct a thorough business analysis. Successful companies normally spend up to 10 percent of the project budget on a business analysis. Chapter 5 Operations Management and Supply Chain Management SECTION 5. – OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT â€Å"ove r view† Operations Management Fundamentals MM in Business Information Systems' Role in MM SECTION 5. 2 – SUPPLY CHAIN FUNDAMENTALS Supply Chain Fundamentals Information Systems' Role in the Supply Chain Supply Chain Management Success Factors Future Supply Chain Trends Operations management foundations Production management describes all the activities managers do to help companies create goods. Operations management (MM) is the management of systems or processes that convert or transform resources (including human resources) into goods and services. A transformation process is often referred to as the technical core, especially in manufacturing organizations, and is the actual conversion of inputs to outputs.Operations management fundamentals Operations Involves the Conversion of Inputs into Outputs Example of Inputs, Transformation, and Outputs MM in business Typical MM activities include: Forecasting Capacity planning Scheduling Managing inventory Assuring quality Mo tivating and training employees Locating facilities Forecasting: Estimating demand for a product/service Capacity Planning: Determining the amount of space, equipment and throughput is needed to achieve the production targets. Scheduling: Determining when the production will occur. Managing inventory: Ensuring raw materials will be available on time and in place and that work in progress and finished goods have storage.Assuring quality: Ensuring standards are met through sampling inputs, in process work and outputs. Motivating and training employees: Appropriate pay, benefits, scheduling, and direction, supervision and instructions. Locating Facilities: Determining where to put production facilities and the cost effectiveness of near major markets or away from markets and close to transportation routes. Hierarchy of operational planning IS support for operations strategy depends on IS support for operations strategy depends on: Level of available technology. Skill level of workers. Degree of vertical integration, to what degree the suppliers are owned (or partnered) with the company. Extent to which outside suppliers are used.SUB Strategic Business Unit?is a stand-alone business under a corporate umbrella Strategic Planning?are the collection of decisions focus in doing the right things over a longer period of time MR. Systems?use sales forecast to make sure parts and materials are available Global Inventory Management Systems (SIMS)?locate, track and predict materials and components by installing GAPS in transportation vehicles Operational Planning and Control (POP&C)?deals with day-to-day operations. Competitive MM strategy Five key competitive priorities that can add value for customers: 1 . Cost 2. Quality 3. Delivery 5. Service 1 . Cost?key determinant in a customer purchase decision 2. Quality?product quality should reflect the exact requirements of a customer Process quality ensures a consistent error-free quality level.Several international quality met hodologies exist including Six Sigma Quality, SISSIES, IS014000, TTS, COMIC. An assignment for students is for individual students or groups to research one of these methodologies to see when they started and by whom; what objective is achieved and how; what prominent companies use them today and why; and what the advantages as well as disadvantages there are. 3. Delivery?fast and reliable 4. Flexibility?offering a wide variety of products to customers. Offering a choice of environmentally friendly products and services. 5. Service?New products revert to being commodities quickly. Often the distinguishing factor is the service provided by the supplier. M and the supply chain Supply chain consists of all parties involved, directly or indirectly, in the procurement of a product or raw material Supply chain management (SCM) involves the management of information flows between and among stages in a supply chain to maximize total effectiveness and profitability. The four basic components of Supply chain management (SCM) are: Supply chain strategy Supply chain partners Supply chain operation Supply chain logistics Supply Chain Strategy. A company must have a plan for managing all the resources that go toward meeting customer demand for products or services. Supply Chain Partners – Companies chosen to deliver finished products, raw materials and services.Supply Chain Operations -Scheduling production activities, including jesting, packaging, and preparing for delivery. Supply Chain Logistics?product delivery process and elements including orders, warehouses, carriers, defective product returns and invoicing. A typical manufacturing supply chain: Supplier, storage, manufacturing, storage (finished goods), distribution, retailer, customer A typical service supply chain: Supplier, storage, service, customer SCM software can enable an organization to generate efficiencies within these steps different supply chain components. Impact of Efficient & Effective Supply Chain Management on Porter's Five ForcesEffective and efficient SCM systems can enable an organization to Decrease the power of its buyers Increase its own supplier power Increase switching costs to reduce the threat of substitute products or services Create entry barriers thereby reducing the threat of new entrants Increase efficiencies while seeking a competitive advantage through cost leadership â€Å"Organizations supply chain† Supplier power + 5. 2 Supply Chain Fundamentals Supply chain fundamentals The supply chain has three main links: 1 . Materials flow from suppliers and their â€Å"upstream† suppliers at all levels 2. Transformation of materials into semi-finished and finished products through the organization's own production process 3.Distribution of products to customers and their â€Å"downstream† customers at all levels Collecting, analyzing, and distributing transactional information to all relevant parties, SCM systems help all the different ent ities in the supply chain work together more effectively SCM has significantly improved companies' forecasting abilities over the last few years A Typical Supply Chain for a Manufacturer Supplier/supplies 0 suppliers manufacturer (transformation)Ã'Ëœ distributor retailers customer customer's customer They need to determine all areas and potential threats that make the supply chain vulnerable. For example, An unusually bad season in Australia causes the eucalyptus harvest to fall short of expectation production levels, which causes the price to skyrocket The factory in Lit, Pennsylvania, is destroyed by a fire One of its transportation ships sinks A hurricane causes one of its transportation ships to be delayed The five basic supply chain management components Plan – This is the strategic portion of supply chain management. A company must