Integrating Business Model Canvas in Feasibility Assessment of Share Essay - 136

Integrating Business Model Canvas in Feasibility Assessment of Share Economy Businesses - Essay Example The Business Canvas Model’s Inspiration is an artist who does his work on canvas painting. The chassis of the model takes into consideration the consumer, the product offered, the infrastructure and the monies of a business model. The Canvas Model is a visualization of a business model that seeks to explain how a firm creates, delivers and captures value. There are nine building blocks within the Business Canvas Model. Its popularity is mainly with entrepreneurs for business innovation. An alignment of a feasibility study with a business model is a strategic business-planning tool. Being a share economy business, most of AirBnB’s customer segments are interdependent usually consisting of personal and business travelers (PPTPOP 2014). Identifying the different markets such as the mass market, niche market, segmented, diversified, or a multi-side platform is a crucial stage in the process (Osterwalder and Pigneur 2013, p.164). The company caters to a multi-sided market. I t offers shared rooms; private rooms or a guest could just rent out the entire place. Feasibility analysis is necessary to find out the gap in the current market (Hass2 008, p.48). The personal travelers were the initial target for Airbnb as they were the most alive to pricing and more amenable to where they stayed. Airbnb's offering is especially popular with business travelers who want to stay in a place for more than a week and want to feel more homely than in a hotel. The main channels for customer acquisition for AirBnB are its website and application, social media, public relation, and word-of-mouth. A share economy business encourages collaborative consumption in the economy (Botsman and Rogers2010, p. 132).  Identifying how the value proposition of the company is a fundamental stage in the feasibility study (Johnson 2010, p.158).

Creating Corporate Advantage Essay Example for Free

Creating Corporate Advantage Essay Most executives focus on individual elements of their resources, business, and organization without integrating all the parts into a whole. First, it is important to understand what a good corporate strategy is. According to the authors, it is not a random collection of individual building blocks, rather a fully constructed system of interdependent parts. In order for the organization to thrive, executives must actively direct decisions about resources the corporation will develop, and the business in which it will compete. During this, the executives must make sure all elements are aligned with one another. By applying the triangle of corporate strategy, the strengths of all special assets, skills and capabilities will illustrate how each element quot;fits. quot; The Resource Continuum is another model that shows the basis for corporate advantage along a continuum. This model can be applied differently to different business, as one size does not fit all. Many companies choose to integrate other businesses based on products rather than resources, and end up with a quot;plain vanillaquot; infrastructure. By following this continuum it will constrain the set of businesses to compete in while limiting th There is no one best way to design a product, make a product, manage operations, or serve customers. The best way depends on a firms objectives, resources, competencies, and context (products and customers). Firms choose to compete in different ways. A firms strategy defines how it will compete in the marketplaceits own best way. Strategy formulation involves (1) defining the primary task, (2) assessing core competencies, (3) determining order winners and order qualifiers, and (4) positioning the firm. The secret to effective strategy? Excel on the order winners, meet the order qualifiers, capitalize on core competencies, and maintain focus. Corporate strategy drives functional strategy. Functional strategies must be consistent with and supportive of corporate strategy. Strategic decisions in the operations function involve products and services, processes and technology, capacity and facilities, human resources, quality, sourcing, and operating systems. Policy deployment is a planning system that helps align day-to-day operating decisions with the companys overall strategy.

Danger and NASCAR Essay examples -- Racing Death Essays

Danger and NASCAR â€Å"I had never even heard of Dale Earnhardt until he crashed into eternity, but now here I am writing a column about him† (King, 64). This reaction, recorded by Florence King in National Review, seems to be a common one since Earnhardt’s death in the Daytona 500. Dale Earnhardt was a driver in the Winston Cup circuit for the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). Despite the fact that he is arguably the most popular NASCAR driver, many people did not know who he was until he died. It is sad to realize that sometimes it takes death to become recognized. However, Dale is not the only NASCAR driver who is becoming known from his death. In a span of nine months, Tony Roper, Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin, and Earnhardt himself all have died on three different racetracks (Hinton, 133). NASCAR is focusing on the pressing issue of how to make racing as safe as possible, while remaining competitive. Some of this deals with learning from thes e deaths. All sports have risks. Unfortunately, sometimes we learn most from our mistakes. NASCAR is learning, and changing. Despite the fact that NASCAR (National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing) has a $1.7 billion, 8-year deal (Hinton, 135) with Fox, it actually had very humble beginnings. Many debate the very beginnings of racing itself. Richard Petty, a 200 race winner nicknamed â€Å"The King,† once joked, â€Å"It was the day they built the second automobile† (Menzer, 57). NASCAR actually began with a bunch of â€Å"Good Ol’ Boys† from down south. Many of the original drivers were moonshine runners, transporting illegal whiskey to lots of places in the southeast. NASCAR â€Å"was born on December 14, 1947, during a meeting of thirty-f... ... June, 2001. Hunter, Don & Pearce, Al. The Illustrated History of Stock Car Racing. Osceola, WI: MBI Publishing Company, 1998. King, Florence. "The Misanthrope's Corner." National Review. 2 April, 2001: 64. McCormick, Steve: About.com. 27 Aug. 2001. 26 October 2001. http://nascar.about.com/library/weekly/aa082701a.htm Menzer, Joe. The Wildest Ride: A History of NASCAR. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001. "NASCAR considers safety rules for super tracks." The Goshen News 24 Oct. 2001: B-2. "NASCAR Safety is the Issue." Advertising Age 72.9 (2/26/01): 28. Academic Search Elite. Palni Site Search. Goshen College Good Library. 25 October, 2001. Spencer, Lee. "NASCAR is Facing Pressure to Get up to Speed." Sporting News. 225.7 (2/12/01): 22. Academic Search Elite. Palni Site Search. Goshen College Good Library. 25 October, 2001.

William Sherman :: essays research papers

William Sherman How would you feel if your brother came into your room and transformed it into a junkyard? You would probably have the same feelings of the civilians in Georgia when William Sherman came across their land. William Sherman was hated by most Southerners and favored by many generals from the North because if his brilliant war tactic. William Sherman was born on May 8, 1820 in Lancaster, Ohio. But according to the American History Encyclopedia, he was born on February 8 of that year. His father died when he was child, and his mother couldn’t afford to raise him so she sent him to be raised by Thomas Ewing, his father’s friend. He soon married Mr. Ewing’s daughter, Ellan. William Sherman attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and graduated 6th in his class in 1840. During the Mexican War, he was an unpopular soldier in California because he had little combat experiences. He resigned from the army in September 6, 1853, and became partner in a banking firm in San Francisco and New York. Years before the Civil War started, William Sherman was superintendent of the Louisiana State Seminary and Military Academy at Alexandria; which later was moved and renamed to Louisiana State University (LSU). When the war broke out, Sherman felt adverse with the newspapermen in Louisiana, so he moved b ack to his hometown for two months. His family then migrated to St. Louis, Missouri where he was elected president of the Fifth Street Railroad. On his forty-first birthday, Sherman wrote to the Union Secretary of War offering his service in the military for three years. On June 20, 1861, he joined Mc. Dowel’s army and fought in the First Battle of Bull Run, the first battle in which the Union lost to the Confederate. In August of 1861, William Sherman was promoted to Brigadier General and was elected by General Robert Anderson to defend Fort Sumter. A month later, Sherman told the Secretary of War, Cameron, that if he had 60,000 men he would drive the enemy out of Kentucky and if he had 200,000 men he would finish the war in that section. Many newspaper writers humiliated William Sherman because Cameron returned to Washington and reported that Sherman required 200,000 men. Sherman didn’t get a large number of army as he wished, but he was placed command of the Fifth Division, which was an average size army seizing Tennessee.

Areas Of Feasibility

Also additional members of employee will be hired for the better arrive; trainings Of staff are necessity for the future tourist goers in Mat. Pico De Lord. To ensure the safety and wellness of each tourist Wanderlust Sojourners will help Mat. Pico De Core to recruit well-trained staff that are capable in giving better quality of services. Following are in line for refinement of service at Mat. Pico De Lord: Proposed Operational Hours: 6:00 AM- Opening hours 4:00 PM- Closing hours Overnight can be done as long as following restriction is being followed such as: 1.Potential hikers can climb the mountain for the allowable closing hours ND go down with the permitted opening hours 2. Weather is also to consider whenever potential hikers would like to do overnight. For the following restriction are to be followed well-trained staff should be hired. Security personnel, trained Tour Guides, and Registrars personnel. Wanderlust Sojourners can make a better Operational system in Mat. Pico De Lord such as; Improvement on accuracy and efficiency of sales, reservations, and accounting of revenues, Improvement of operational efficiency (elimination of repetitive tasks, current information readily accessible).Improvement of guest service (accurate and fast dissemination of guest information) Resources In order for the Mat. Pico De Lord to accommodate the changes it will need additional help to restructure. Since Mat. Pico De Core is a government owned the participation of National and Local Government unit will be a great factor, in need for the management and financing so the proposed project can be effectively executed. Most especially the local government, in the moment the project will gain its profits the Local will be the first hand to get the benefits of the project.Private sectors and Voluntary sponsored are also welcome. For the Government and private sectors to work together both must agreed upon through a variety of mechanisms including contracts and concessions. Marketing For the Mat. Pico De Lord to be well known, Wanderlust Sojourners will design a marketing Strategy that would help Mat. Pico De Core gained potential tourist. Wanderlust Sojourners Will make Mat. Pico De Lord as natural environment with a potential to build a recreational and adventurous experience to its potential tourist. Mat.Pico De Core would also endorse a rare opportunity to the community around it. It will revivalist the industry where in the community will benefit. Mat. Pico De Lord could facilitate coordination and make assistance to the community. While there is widespread public interest I preserving the area's natural and cultural values. Wanderlust Sojourners will arrange a Marketing Strategy that will promote Mat. Pico De Lord. Wanderlust Sojourners will make Market Development wherein identifying and developing new market segment for current products (market expansion).Wanderlust Sojourners will also use Service Development treated for the modification of se rvices offered. Diversification strategy will also likely to be use through acquiring business outside the site and Mat. Pico De Lord services offered. Use of Social Media (faceable, twitter, instating, and creating official weeping for Mat. Pico De Lord) and Prints Ads (newspaper and magazines) are to be done for the intense promotion of Mat. Pico De Lord to gain more potential tourist. With all of this Marketing Services Wanderlust Sojourners will help Mat. Pico De Lord to target and promote to the right tourists.Market Research The market areas would be defined based on distance from the site. Demographic characteristics for the resident market would be analyzed to provide an indication of support.

Collapse of Weimar and the Rise of Hitler essays

Collapse of Weimar and the Rise of Hitler essays In 1919, a defeated Germany was forced to abandon government under the Kaiser, who had fled to Belgium and adopt the Weimar, a democratic but flawed system. Soon after Hitler and the Nazi Party appeared, and years later the Weimar Republic fell. What accounted for the fall of the Weimar? My essay will prove that there was not a single reason, but in fact a series of events that lead to the collapse of the Weimar. President Ebert used the Freikorp, who were a rightwing mercenary unit, to put down the Spartacus uprising, a communist inspired revolution. After that, Ebert was always seen as an enemy in the eyes of the extreme left, and so consequently the government he represented, Weimar, was also seen in the same light. Next, the Kapp Putsch saw Dr. Kapp, leader of the Freikorp and an extreme right-winger, try to take control of Berlin with his mercenaries. This time Ebert used the moderate leftwing in the form of the trade unions, to put down the revolt, by calling a general strike in the region. This would result in the rightwing becoming against the new republic, along with leftwing groups. But possibly the greatest threat for early Weimar Germany was the Treaty of Versailles. The treaty left the Weimar with a massive debt that she was unlikely to repay. The problems that were handed to the new government and the events that occurred as the new Republic was created can be seen as a fa ctor that lead to its eventually downfall. Weimar Republics type of government caused another problem. Its parliamentary system was proportional representation, allowing small, localized parties, such as the Nazis and Bavarian Peoples Party, to gain seats in the Reichstag, gaining national recognition and prestige. No party ever gained majority government during the history of the Republic, and this weakened the government. Proportional representation was responsible for a series of coalition governments, which ruled Germany th...

The eNotes Blog First Known Jane Austen Manuscript Sells for $1.6Million

First Known Jane Austen Manuscript Sells for $1.6Million This week, the English auction house Sothebys sold the earliest known work of novelist Jane Austen for a stunning $1.6 million dollars ( £993,250 after taxes). The work fetched three times more than what Sothebys had anticipated. The manuscript is titled The Watsons. The sixty-eight pages are written in Austens minuscule hand and   it clearly shows her attempts at revisions throughout. It is estimated that Austen wrote The Watsons in 1804, when she was twenty-nine years old. The novel centers on protagonist Emma Watson, the youngest of four sisters, who is being raised by a wealthy aunt. Emma must return to her family and wait while her two elder sisters search for husbands. It may be disappointing to some that the work was only a quarter completed, but critics such as Margaret Drabble are thrilled nonetheless. Drabble calls The Watsons  a tantalizing, delightful and highly accomplished fragment, which must surely have proved the equal of her other six novels, had she finished it. Like her other work, this novel contains Austens quintessential wit, displayed in lines such as Female economy will do a great deal, my Lord, but it cannot turn a small income into a large one. Had the work been completed, it would have made a seventh novel in the authors oeuvre. The other six titles are Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park, Persuasion, Emma, and Northanger Abbey. The buyer of the manuscript made his winning bid via telephone and remains anonymous.

5 Ways to Deal With Difficult Students

5 Ways to Deal With Difficult Students Teaching a lesson to your class can become quite a challenge when you have to deal with the constant disruption of a difficult student. It may seem like you have tried every behavior management tip known to man, along with trying to provide an organized routine to help the student manage their responsibilities. Inevitably, when everything youve tried fails, keep your head up and try again. Effective teachers choose discipline techniques that will encourage positive behavior and motivate students to feel good about themselves and the decisions that they make. Use the following five tips to help you combat classroom disruptions, and deal with those difficult students. Define Expectations Specifically, define your expectations and help students understand there are consequences for unwanted behavior. When students break the rules they need to be ready for the consequences. Clearly write out and define each expectation you have, and post them in a visible spot in the classroom. Common Student Expectations for the Classroom: Stay seated during classroom activities and eventsRaise your hand before speakingShow respect for school property and studentsWait to be dismissedBe prepared for classBe considerate and respectful Parent-Teacher Communication Get parents involved in their childs education. A lot of the time the students that are being disruptive, may not be getting the attention that they need from home. By communicating your concerns with the parents, you may find there may be something going on in the household that is out of your control. Find a way to keep parents informed of their childs behavior at school. Communicate with Parents by: Creating an open-door policyEmail, text or instant messageWeekly or monthly newsletterProgress reportParent conference Once you find a way to communicate with the parents of the difficult child, next you must consider what words you will choose to say to the parents. Present the facts of the unwanted behavior, and be prepared to communicate with the parents how you plan to change the students behavior. Knowing how you are going to deal with the parents, will help you address the needs of the child for behavior modification. Model Expected Behavior Set a positive tone by modeling expected and appropriate behavior. When you are dealing with a difficult student, explain to them why you dont like the behavior they are displaying, and model for them the behavior you would like to see. (Example: I did not like that you yelled out in class without raising your hand. The appropriate way to talk in class is to raise your hand and wait to be called upon.) By modeling the expected behavior, you are showing them exactly what you expect of them. Children Learn From: SeeingListeningCopying what they seeActionsAttitudes Reward Acceptable Behavior Sometimes when the students that are not behaving, see the students that are behaving get rewarded for that behavior, it sets a positive example. Setting up a hands-on behavior management plan can help students physically see and track how they are behaving throughout the day. This, in turn, can make them re-think how they are behaving and get rewarded for acting appropriately. Keep Calm, Cool and Collective Naturally, when someone gets you upset it is common to react with frustration and anger. When this happens, its important to remain calm. Take a deep breath, or even walk away from the situation for a moment to clear your head. Remember, this child may not have learned the tools of how to properly communicate, and now it is your job to teach them. When you stay calm in a difficult situation, it will model for the student that this is the proper way to react. Sometimes overt behavior can be contiguous and that only leads to a classroom of unwanted chaos.

Destination Evaluation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Destination Evaluation - Essay Example Through considerable exports the region has helped in gaining access to a huge pool of foreign investments which are expended over development of sectors like tourism. The region through the opening up of large number of hotels and tourism related infrastructure has helped in attracting many tourists from other nations which helped in enhancing the country’s revenues (Library of Congress-Federal Research Division, 2007, p.3, 8, 13). In this connection the paper further divulges to reflect on a particular state of the Saudi Arabian region, Bahrain and evaluate the destination in terms of the different tourism opportunities available. This state located in the Saudi Arabian peninsula is also a prime member of the cooperation council of the Gulf region joined by countries like Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and other Saudi Arabian regions including the United Arab Emirates. ... Tourism Activities in Bahrain The region of Bahrain is gradually developing as one of the tourist hotspots in the Saudi Arabian region. Tourism is being increasingly developed in the region of Bahrain through rendering enhanced focus on drawing in large crowds to the state. It is observed that considerable amount of tourism activities would help in rendering large economic prosperity to the region. To develop Bahrain as a hunting ground for tourists the government of the region is keenly focusing on the development of hotels of three and five star qualities in large numbers. Further the region is also inviting grants from world bodies like the United Nations to help in the development of the heritage sites in the Bahrain region. The national airlines carrier of the region, Gulf Airlines is also found to render increased support for helping in the promotion of tourism in the region by helping attract large number of tourists at concessional rates. Further the government of Bahrain is increasingly focusing on the development of activities like trade expos and exhibitions which would help fetch large number of foreign delegates from developed regions of the world. Corporate tourism is being widely encouraged by helping in the enhancement of amenities pertaining to organization of meetings and conferences. The region is also found to host international sporting events like the Grand Prix which signifies the flow of large number of tourists in the country. The government of Bahrain to help encourage this wide flow of international tourists is continually working for the development of hotels and several tourism facilities inside the country with the active cooperation of the Gulf Cooperation

Case study ---Twinkie-eating vultures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Case study ---Twinkie-eating vultures - Essay Example A vulture capitalist is an investor who has used sections of the terms of an investment deal in a company to grab rights of the company or the valuable parts of the company (Cyr, 1998). This is a sharp contrast to a venture capitalist who always invests in the company likely to excel in the market and bring profit to the investor. The case of Hostess Brands Inc is run by vulture capitalists who are always looking for ways to invest in a company that will likely not bring profit in the present so that they bring out the takeover clauses which will end up in the forfeiture of the company’s assets. This will make the vulture capitalists sell off the parts constituting the company and this will make them earn profit while the company collapses. This is according to Goldstein (2011) explanation. Twinkie-eating Vultures With the hobbling of the Hostess Brands Inc.; the media through the vulture capitalists have been informing the masses that the products they use to get from the Hos tess Brands like Twinkies, Ding Dong and Ho Hos since they believe that the Public Sector Unions are solely responsible for the collapse of the company. This is the first tactic that the vulture capitalists use when they are blaming the other concerned parties for the collapse of the firm or company in this case they ensured that Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union were blamed for the collapsing and meltdown of Hostess Brands Inc. The work of BCTGM is to represent the interests of employees within the organizations. In the Hostess case the BCTGM was very influential on the employees’ interests in the company and as such it can be deemed that the conservatives who are the vulture capitalists had seen this as a controversy and as such they had to take the blame for the Hostess Brands Inc. shortcomings. According Kotz (1994) the public unions are always highly controversial among the conservatives who always advocate the downsizing of the public sector and will always blame the unions for their losses and deficit. The union itself was represented in the Hostess Company by around 5,600 employees and this can be argued that they did not bring the company down. Instead the managers left in charge are responsible for being incompetent and bringing the company to a close as they had announced. To the capitalists the employees were of no importance to the employers not with the sacrifices they made on behalf of the company. The union which has the mandate to put the interests of the workers before anything else took a great exception on the Hostess Brands Inc. The BCTGM workers never inquired on getting more money from the company, neither did they ask for any benefits to be accorded to them nor did they ask for better pensions. The union workers’ basis was that they wanted to ensure that the company in the end should have had a great turnover and mobility. This would have brought the company to a profit making fir m. One of the main emphases in any company should be the contested exchange logic. The logic of contested change basically implies that when it comes to labor the production process must not be perceived as the combination of labor in conjunction with non-labor inputs instead it should be seen as also the process whereby the labor on actual work is also derived from workers. With

Market Analysis for TESCO Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Market Analysis for TESCO - Essay Example That was exactly the case with Tesco having over 450,000 employees and over 3,200 stores today. A very humble beginning in 1919 when Jack Cohen began this journey gradually transformed the fortunes. Strong Government support: It was the state patronage which encouraged the promoters of Tesco to plan for future. Not many hurdles were created by the political class. In fact Tesco also kept the ruling class in good humor by taking politically correct steps from time to time. Minimal competition during those early days: Those were the golden days when Tesco came out with its first branded tea in 1924, not many competitors were around and terms like 'cut-throat competition' were not even introduced. Satisfied customer: Grabbing customer attention is not a big deal but retaining customer loyalty requires sound thinking at the top. A satisfied customer often takes pride in becoming a goodwill ambassador for the company. Tesco team says1, "Our core purpose is to create value for customers to earn their lifetime loyalty." By all accounts it can be said that they are indeed working, quite successfully, towards that. Reigns in the hands of able management and shrewd strategists: It is said that 'Winners don't do different things, they do things differently'. This statement gives full credit to strategists of successful enterprises. Strategic decisions provide a direction in which the organisation is to move. Organisation's mission and objectives find a reflection of strategists. Tesco has a long term strategy for growth, based on four key parts: growth in the Core UK, to expand by growing internationally, to be as strong in non-food as in food and to follow customers into new retailing services. Committed workforce: Organisations are not passive components. They are live, full of activity and environment-responsive like living beings. With time organisations acquire a character and develop a typical personality and we tend to make an image of the employee depending on the organisation he/ she works for. This very personality of the organisation considerably influences the functions of organisation in the long run. Reasonably good industrial relations: Keeping the workforce in good humour by providing them with adequate benefits and considering them as an inseparable part of the organisation helps in resolving the disputes quickly. Good investor relations: This becomes all the more important when general public has a stake in any. After becoming Tesco PLC from Tesco Stores (Holdings) in 1983, Tesco became a public company and it has been sharing good amount of its profits with investors. Understanding the environment: Continuously monitoring the environment and following the leads is the key to a successful business. Continuously studying the different aspects of environment (social, political, legal, technological, etc) and taking corrective and adaptive steps accordingly helps in growing of an organisation. Tesco started computerised check-out counters as early as 1982 and this stride continued with opening of www.tesco.com and its online operations. On the societal front Tesco states, "One of our most important values is to treat people how we would like to be treated."2 With this in mind Tesco makes a

Graduate Reflection Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Graduate Reflection Paper - Essay Example I was very aware of Gardners 7 Intelligences and I attempted to gear as many lessons as possible to different learning styles so that all students were able to grasp the course. This spoke to my ability to accommodate and adapt learning materials. One example, is when I gave an assignment in which I allowed students to express themselves in their own way. Many students said they enjoyed this assignment. I learned about myself as a facilitator. As an example, I found that adults ask many more questions than children. I also found that a facilitator must know the material very well because adults think on their feet. I feel that I have met. In the second criteria (1b), I found it interesting to understand the differences between formal and informal groups. At my job, Ive found informal groups to be those that come together for a brainstorming session or to answer a particular questions that the business must answer. Often, these meet around lunch and they tend to be groups that come together for a short time. They can also come together as social groups. Formal groups usually come together under the direction of the head of the company of a specific supervisors needs. The formal groups must organize larger issues and create change within the company. Groups have a variety of dynamics which may be difficult at times and a group can quickly become dysfunctional depending on the circumstances. As an example, when one person within the group becomes dominant in the group and they are not the leader, the group becomes dysfunctional because no one else has a chance to speak. To bring it back to function, the group leader must be able to maintain a balance between all people within the group. Each individual must be able to bring in their point of view during discussions so that they can feel heard. The many readings in this area helped me become a better facilitator. As an example, The Kolun (2001) article gave several

Problems and Risks with Information Security in the modern world Research Paper

Problems and Risks with Information Security in the modern world - Research Paper Example This essay discusses that increasing and tougher market competition, globalisation, rapid developments in technology, higher demands from customers and other similar factors are some of the changes that companies are confronted with as they try to create their niche in the global market. In response, companies have redefined and re-shaped their strategies in order to equip them with the necessary tools and mechanisms that will enable the organisation to address the challenges brought by change. One of the most important challenges that organisations have to deal with is the rapid evolution and changes in information technology. Information is one of the primary assets organisations. It is being exchanged among organisations, employees, customers, management, partners and other stakeholders of the company. Meanwhile, developments in communication and computer technologies have paved for faster exchanges of information through the use cellular phones, internet, and other technological devices that allow people to be connected anytime, anywhere. In this regard, information technology has become an integral part and tool of organisations as firms respond to the challenges of the market and cope with the increasing demands of the customers. However, as information becomes more valuable to firms and organisational processes become more dependent on information systems (IS), IS security has become one of the major issues that modern enterprises have to tackle. (Belsis, Kokolakis & Kiountouzis 2005). Threats, identity theft, fraud, viruses, data integrity, data protection and other similar concerns have been part of the many issues that IS security have to deal with as the proliferation of the use of computers continue in the Information age. In this regard, this research will focus on the problems and risks in information security in general and in the banking sector in particular. Objectives of the Study The study intends to examine the nature of information security . It also seeks to determine the various problems and risks that information security is dealing with. Likewise, the study aims to identify some of the theories that are proposed in order to address the concerns and issues pertinent to information security. In addition, it aims to understand information security from the viewpoint of the banking sector. Finally, the study seeks to test information that will identify further concerns in information security in the banking sector. Research Questions In view of the integral role that information security in organisations, the research will be addressing two main questions and these are, first,

Graduate Reflection Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Graduate Reflection Paper - Essay Example I was very aware of Gardners 7 Intelligences and I attempted to gear as many lessons as possible to different learning styles so that all students were able to grasp the course. This spoke to my ability to accommodate and adapt learning materials. One example, is when I gave an assignment in which I allowed students to express themselves in their own way. Many students said they enjoyed this assignment. I learned about myself as a facilitator. As an example, I found that adults ask many more questions than children. I also found that a facilitator must know the material very well because adults think on their feet. I feel that I have met. In the second criteria (1b), I found it interesting to understand the differences between formal and informal groups. At my job, Ive found informal groups to be those that come together for a brainstorming session or to answer a particular questions that the business must answer. Often, these meet around lunch and they tend to be groups that come together for a short time. They can also come together as social groups. Formal groups usually come together under the direction of the head of the company of a specific supervisors needs. The formal groups must organize larger issues and create change within the company. Groups have a variety of dynamics which may be difficult at times and a group can quickly become dysfunctional depending on the circumstances. As an example, when one person within the group becomes dominant in the group and they are not the leader, the group becomes dysfunctional because no one else has a chance to speak. To bring it back to function, the group leader must be able to maintain a balance between all people within the group. Each individual must be able to bring in their point of view during discussions so that they can feel heard. The many readings in this area helped me become a better facilitator. As an example, The Kolun (2001) article gave several

The Influence of Loyalty Programmes on Customer Loyalty in Banking Essay

The Influence of Loyalty Programmes on Customer Loyalty in Banking Sector - Essay Example Due to globalised competition the strategic importance of satisfaction, loyalty and quality has been the core structure in winning over the consumer’s preferences and maintain competitive advantage. Thus the higher the quality of service, the more satisfied and loyal the customers would be. Since customer loyalty is still in a flux in the financial service sector, banks have an opportunity to strengthen the customer relationship by means of rewards programs which are relevant to its customers. About 20% of the banking customers are likely to change the primary institutions and also almost half of the percentage of customers prefers relationship with multiple institutions. Therefore a successful loyalty program would get customers invested in the relationship by rewarding the customers on the most optimal products and services (BAI, 2011). Aims and Objective The aim of the research is to find out the influence of loyalty programmes on customer loyalty in banking sector. The obj ectives of the project are to Analyses the factors that influences the loyalty of the customers in the banking sector To analyses the influence of quality on satisfaction Any changes in the customers loyalty patterns Recommendations on how banks can improve customer loyalty. Research questions The following are the research questions associated with the project: 1. What will be the impact of customers loyalty towards the banks brand image and positioning? 2. Does customer loyalty influences consumer behaviour? 3. How would customer loyalty affect the competitive advantage of the banking sector? 4. What is the influence of loyalty programs in the banking sector? 5. What factors influences the customer’s loyalty in the banking industry?. Literature Review Customer loyalty is about attracting right customers, getting the customers to buy often, allow the customers to buy in higher quantities and brings in more customers for the organization. it is build through means of keeping in touch with the customers, showing the customers that the organization cares for them and rewarding the customers for choosing a particular bank over its competitors. Thus treating the customers the way they want it to be treated (Customer Loyalty Institute, n.d). There are many different approaches towards customer loyalty. Theories of behavioural loyalty were considered as the function of total purchase; function of buying pattern, or of buying probability. These are the approaches that look at the brand loyalty rather than reasons. Loyalty should be evaluated both attitudinal and behavioural criteria (Akhter et.al, 2011, p. 1168). With the availability of ample banking facilities the customers gets influenced and this leads to customer loyalty towards its bank (Fry et.al, 2011). The managers are aware of the fact that quality superiority provides a competitive advantage for the banks and leads to customer loyalty, growth of market share and productivity of the banks. Culture ha s been identified as the key variable that influences the service quality perception that examines the banking sector (Sigala & Christou, 2006, p.381). Brand plays an important role in bank marketing in order to attract as well as retain its customers. Brand building is a costly activity but its benefits

Why Soft Drink Industry Is Profitable Essay Example for Free

Why Soft Drink Industry Is Profitable Essay 1. Why was the soft drink industry so profitable? Soft drink industry observed growth rate from its inception 1886 to 1990, the consumption of soft drinks saw remarkable growth, below data shows the growth in United State’s consumption. Year| 1899| 1970| 1980| 1990| Consumption| 0. 6| 22. 7| 34. 5| 47. 4| #Consumption: Gallons per person per year Financial figures also back the growth story of the Soft Drink market. ROE %| 1972| 1975| 1980| 1981| 1982| 1983| 1984| 1985| 1986| 1987| 1988| 1989| 1990| Coke| 22| 21| 20| 21| 18| 19| 23| 24| 27| 29| 31| 49| 36| Pepsi| 16| 18| 20| 20| 14| 17| 12| 30| 22| 24| 24| 23| 22|. ROE is even higher across years and it increased to 36% for Coke and 22% for Pepsi in 1990 from 22% and 16% in 1972 respectively. The main reason for being profitable is that the United States market took the soft drinks overwhelmingly and gradually it became a part of their life style also the manufacturing process for concentrate was simple and required small investment, significant cost were to advertise, promotion, market research etc, while bottling process was extremely capital-intensive and involved specialized, high speed lines, but there was no considerable investments required on Advertisements, promotions and market research etc. This way Concentrate Manufacturers and Bottlers complemented each other for higher profit margins by sharing cost on in procurement, production, marketing and distribution. Many of their functions overlap; for instance, Concentrate Manufacturers do some bottling, and bottlers conduct many promotional activities. Balance Sheet data for year 1986 shows that pretax profit as % of assets was $. 40 per case for Concentrate Producers and $. 37 for Bottlers. The Cola war between Coke and Pepsi played significant role to increase the consumer base as both came up with new strategies and ideas to grab the market share from others that resulted to new markets and new consumers.

The Da Vinci Surgical System Nursing Essay

The Da Vinci Surgical System Nursing Essay Imagine a situation where you have just been diagnosed with an illness requiring surgery. You have only two options: either to conduct a traditional surgery with large incisions, or laparoscopy which uses small incisions but is only available for simple procedures. However, you now have a viable option to conduct a minimally invasive surgery, many thanks to the advancement of surgical technology. Minimally invasive surgery is a concept existed prior to the inception of robots, referring to surgical procedures that are conducted by avoiding long cuts as surgeons introduce long-handled medical instruments to operate on body tissues via small incisions. The Da Vinci surgical system, also known as a telesurgical system, is currently the pioneer device in the robotic field made by Intuitive Surgical, Inc. A telesurgical system requires the surgeon to maneuver the robot during the procedure instead of allowing it to function from an encoded software. This surgical system is named such as a tribute to Leonardo Da Vinci, whom broke new ground in anatomical accuracy and the epitome of the era of Renaissance. He was highly regarded for his ability to bring life to his architectural drawings of futuristic automations. This particular device is meticulously designed to aid in complex surgery such as cardiac valve repair, prostatectomies and gynecologic surgical procedures by a minimal approach of 1-2cm incisions. Such ultimate breakthrough opens a new platform, beneficiating patients, surgeons, hospitals and the medicine field as a whole. Imagine major surgery performed with minimal incisions on the patients body. Imagine a faster treatment, better recovery rate and minimal duration spent in the hospital as well as better clinical outcomes. This is all made possible with the inception of Da Vinci surgical system. Da Vinci reforms surgery. It gives a whole new concept to surgery, omitting the painstaking experiences that patients had to face before its invention. In this proposal, we will be introduced to this bizarre medical equipment that is capable of improving the surgical field, in terms of its history, features, unprecedented benefits, criticisms, the future as well as recommendation of the latest Da Vinci surgical system. History Robot assisted surgical procedure first hit its limelight in 1985 when the PUMA 560 robotic surgical arm was used in a neurosurgical biopsy which is non-laparoscopic. The successful surgery posed greater precision which ultimately lead to the first laparoscopic procedure involving a robotic system, a cholescystecotomy, in 1987. It is then in the following year, the same PUMA system performed a transurethral resection. Consequently in 1990, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved its first robotic surgical system, AESOP system, the brainchild of Computer Motion for its endoscopic surgical procedure. The Da Vinci surgery system became known in 2000 for being the first system approved by the FDA for general laparoscopic surgery. This approval became groundbreaking as the Da Vinci system is all-encompassing of surgical instruments and necessary equipments for surgery. It has been approved in urological surgeries, general laparoscopic surgeries, general non-cardiovascular thoracosopic surgeries and thoracoscopically assisted cardiotomy procedures, applicable to both adults and pediatric procedures. Da Vinci surgical system is a proud creation of Intuitive Surgery, Inc. This company is the global pioneer in robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Initially, the US Army funded Intuitive Surgical to develop a system to perform battlefield surgery. However, they realized the potential of such technology to accelerate the application of a minimally invasive surgery. Intuitive Surgical was then established in 1995 to further develop this technology to a wider range of procedures. The Da Vinci surgical system was launched in January 1999 and it became the first robotic surgical system to gain approval by the FDA for general laparoscopic surgery. Subsequently, the FDA cleared this device for chest surgery, cardiac procedures, urologic and gynecologic procedures. Headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, Intuitive Surgical expanded its force by acquiring its principal competitor, Computer Motion, reinforcing its world monopoly in robotic-assisted surgical systems. It sustains growth excessively by 25% and has successfully expanded to more than 900 academic and community hospital sites. As of today, more than a thousand Da Vinci Systems are installed in hospitals worldwide. Problem Statement In tandem with the advent in science and technology, the field of robotic surgery is mushrooming. Robotic surgery is defined as the use of robot to assist in surgery procedures. The need for robotic surgery is subsequently demanded in the medicine field to overcome problems arise from surgery with traditional approach. Two decades ago, surgeons began developing a concept known as Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) in which microscopic cameras called endoscopes or laparoscopes were slotted into the patients body through small ports. However, MIS stumbled upon major roadblocks to advancement as surgeons were operating through standard two-dimensional monitor that lacked visualization while fixed-wrist instruments and poor ergonomic design limited the surgeons dexterity. Consequently, MIS was deemed suitable for narrow range of surgical procedures. To counter this problem while maintaining the concept of MIS, robot-assisted surgery was then make-believe. With the inception of Da Vinci sur gical system, the medical and surgical fields have revolutionized wherein surgeons and patients both benefit from it. Da Vinci Surgical System Mechanism Surgeons Console This is where the surgeon is seated in a comfortable manner while scrutinizing the bodys interior at a magnified 3D image through highly powered objective lenses. The systems three-dimensional and high resolution view screen enables the surgeon to observe the incision area in clarity. By manipulating the master controls located beneath the display screen, the surgeons hands and wrists are positioned perpendicularly to his or her eyes. The master controls consist of a pair of foot pedals and hand controllers each. The surgery can then be performed as Da Vinci translates the surgeons open-surgery hand movements from the master control, which acts like forceps, into a much precise movements of miniaturized instruments at the patient-side cart. The following illustrates a surgeons console from the Da Vinci surgical system. Patient-side Cart The patient-side cart includes three or four interactive robotic arms that function to execute the surgeons commands from the surgeons console. Two or three of the arms are designated to hold medical instruments such as scalpel, scissors and other dissecting materials; while the remaining arm is an endoscopic camera, equipped with a pair of lens, also known as the EndoWrist, provides a stereoscopic vision on the display screen. The laparoscopic arms shaft at the 1-2cm operating ports, omitting the need for using tissue of the incision walls in the patient for leverage, thereby minimizing tissue damage. Such miniaturized operating arms proven a significant advancement from earlier inventions such as the PUMA 560. Apart from that, assisting medical officers will facilitate in incorporating the right instruments for surgery, provide the 1-2cm port in the patients body and supervise the situation to eradicate errors as the tools are being utilized. EndoWrist Instruments Patented by Intuitive Surgical, the EndoWrist Instruments are another exclusive feature of the Da Vinci System that allows surgeons to operate with dexterity over a maximum range of motion. Designed after the structure of a human wrist, this device can expand beyond the capabilities of a human hand by providing a plethora of surgical techniques. Internal cables of the EndoWrist Instruments mimic the human tendons, providing specific surgical mission such as clamping, accurate suturing, dissection and tissue manipulation. This state-of-the-art device has extraordinary features, such as 7 degrees of freedom motion, 90 degrees of articulation, intuitive motion, fingertip control, motion scaling and tremor reduction. All these contribute to a smooth running surgery as surgeons operate with ambidexterity and unparalleled precision. This device is also available in a broad range of selection according to the requirement of a particular surgery. The product line includes various forceps, ne edle drivers, scissors, monopolar and bipolar electrocautery instruments, scalpels; all available in 5 mm and 8 mm diameters to heed a surgeons need. This instrument is also user-friendly in terms of recognizing different types and functions of instruments incorporated to the Da Vinci system. It detects the instruments via a unique interface; therefore it is easier to identify instruments that require replacements. Vision System EndoWrist Instruments are first introduced into the patients target anatomy through a series of dime-sized incisions to allow viewing of the bodys interior at a highly magnified three-dimensional image. These images are displayed via the vision system, designated with high-resolution three-dimensional endoscope and image processing equipments, previewing the exact condition of the body. By having image synchronizers, illuminators with adjustable intensities and camera control units, the operating images are well-enhanced, offering superior visualization of over a thousand frames of the instrument position per second. The vision system also has a built-in video processor that filters background noise. Meanwhile, the endoscope is designated prevent fogging by regulating the temperature of the endoscope tip. Surgeons are allowed to rapidly switch views on the display screen through a simple use of the foot pedal. How The Mechanism Function As A Whole In short, the Da Vinci system consists of four main mechanismssurgeons console, patient-side cart, EndoWrist instruments and the vision system. These features function as a whole in the same room under the conduct of a surgeon and few supporting medical officers. The relationship between the four mechanisms is illustrated as shown in the adjacent figure. Advantages Enhanced Visualization Target anatomy in the body interior is previewed in true-to-life three-dimensional vision, forming crisp images in immense clarity. The endoscopic camera also offers immersive view of the surgical field with superior contrast and magnification for an accurate identification of tissue layers. Such improvement enables surgeons to perform dissection or reconstruction of delicate tissues with much precision, regardless of the space allotted. Steady Movements; Take Control. The limitation of human hands is overcome by Da Vincis ability to reduce tremors and control movements via proprietary EndoWrist instruments, enhancing control and intuitive motion. This enables pervasive use of avant-garde techniques, further reducing the learning curve since complex procedures can now be handled in an open surgery approach. Solo Surgery and two-handed intracoporeal suturing can become standard practice for interns with the addition of a fourth arm from the Da Vinci surgical system. First-Class Ergonomics Surgeon need not worry about the fatigue occurring from long hour surgery as the Da Vinci surgical system is designed to allow them to operate while seated in a comfortable posture. Such clinical advantage also implies that less surgeon assistance is required because medical instruments are mounted to the robotic arms. Moreover, with the robotic arms offering extra mechanical strength that is beyond human capabilities, higher-BMI patients can be treated in a minimally invasive approach. Supreme Hospitality Inception of Da Vinci marks a historical breakthrough to hospitals worldwide by increasing productivity and operational efficiencies. Patients can enjoy diminished post-operative pain, decreased risk of infections and surgery complications, less complicated nursing care and faster rate of recovery. Hospital stays are largely reduced by half, thus decreasing hospital costs by approximately 33%. Criticism Like many things good, Da Vinci surgical system also has its drawbacks. While this evolving technology has become almost like a necessity to medical services, critics are questioning the lacking of long-term results studies to prove Da Vinci superior to laparoscopic surgery. Besides, this technology costs an average of $1.3 million, excluding the several hundred thousand dollars of annual maintenance fees. There is also no existing data to justify the increased costs and hospitals are having a hard time recovering the high cost. According to The American Journal of Surgery, 75% of surgeons claimed that they felt financially limited by any system that cost more than $500,000 Furthermore, a large portion of surgeons performed the surgery via Da Vinci surgical system on approximately 12 to 18 patients before they feel comfortable utilizing the device. Though training programs are offered by Intuitive Surgical, most surgeons find themselves intimidated by this device as they felt obstructed from grasping the texture of body tissues and ultimately, the loss of tactile or haptic sensation. The patient-side cart also occupies a large space that hinders the movement of assistant surgeons access to the patient. The safety aspects of Da Vinci surgical system remain doubtful to most people as they still do not trust the ability of a robot wholly. Though this system operates in a Master-Slave relationship, some still find it unacceptable to risk lives of patients as robots have the potential to be fatal should they malfunction. Hence, a huge amount of cost is forked out to reduce these risks by adding safety features, making them financially inaccessible to some physicians. Apart from that, surgery utilizing this device takes forty to fifty minutes longer compared to traditional open surgery. Recommendation Conclusion The Future The Da Vinci surgical system offers a surgery experience like never before to practicing physicians. Its brilliance in translating the surgeons hand movements from the console into corresponding micro-movements of EndoWrist instruments incorporated in the patients body interior has transformed the surgical fields in many aspects. A major outlook for this invention is its potential to perform remote operations, as what it was initially designed for. This long distance operation can be made possible by linking the patient and doctor through a series of ports from the Da Vinci surgical system. Say, a doctor from United States will be able to operate on a patient from across the globe, such as Africa. However this is still at its theoretical stage and will be developed in near future to globalize the surgical field. Albeit the criticisms, the Da Vinci surgical system is deemed as a mere preview of what to expect from future technology. From the high cost to the lack of touch sensation from surgeons feedback, the current Da Vinci surgical system has many hurdles to overcome before it can be wholly integrated into the healthcare system to satisfy everyones needs. To name a few, questions such as misconduct liability, credentialing, training prerequisites and licensing requirements for telesurgeons are still puzzling. However, Intuitive Surgical promises an improvement of Da Vinci surgical system in terms of size, haptic sensation and cost as their present focus before dealing with other relevant problems that are causing ambiguity to users. Although robotic surgery is still at its infancy, many of its known advantages are sustaining its progress and it has verified itself to be worth the value, particularly in areas unattainable to traditional laparoscopic procedures. For instance, the complexity of movement controls and manifold degrees of freedom by the Da Vinci surgical system offers minimal tremor and increased mobility which made it possible to go ahead of the human capacity. Robotic technology is aimed to bring surgery into the digital era and whether its advantageous usage can overcome the cost to execute it remains to be worked out. Despite being feasible to demands, further forthcoming research investigating efficacy and safety must partake for robotic surgery to take full root over conventional therapy. Appendix On the Market Two robotic surgical systems have received FDA clearance to be marketed in the United States: The da Vinci Surgical System, made by Intuitive Surgical, Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif., is cleared to perform surgery under the direction of a surgeon. The ZEUS Robotic Surgical System, made by Computer Motion, Inc. of Goleta, Calif., has been cleared by the FDA to assist surgeons. [The] da Vinci is cleared to assist in advanced surgical techniques such as cutting and suturing [sewing], says Neil Ogden, chief of the FDAs General Surgery Devices Branch in the Center for Devices and Radiological Health. ZEUS is cleared to assist in grasping, holding, and moving things out of the way, but isnt cleared for cutting or suturing. Clinical trials on ZEUS are underway with the goal of obtaining FDA clearance to assist in the performance of advanced surgical tasks in the United States, according to Paul Nolan, senior director of customer training and education at Computer Motion. Heres a profile of each system: The da Vinci Surgical System In July 2000, the FDA cleared da Vinci as an endoscopic instrument control system for use in laparo-scopic (abdominal) surgical procedures such as removal of the gallbladder and surgery for severe heartburn. In March 2001, the FDA cleared da Vinci for use in general non-cardiac thoracoscopic (inside the chest) surgical procedures surgeries involving the lungs, esophagus, and the internal thoracic artery. This is also known as the internal mammary artery, a blood vessel inside the chest cavity. In coronary bypass surgery, surgeons detach the internal mammary artery and reroute it to a coronary artery. In June 2001, the FDA cleared da Vinci for use during laparascopic removal of the prostate (radical prostatectomy). The da Vinci is intended to assist in the control of several endoscopic instruments, including rigid endoscopes, blunt and sharp dissectors, scissors, scalpels, and forceps. The system is cleared by the FDA to manipulate tissue by grasping, cutting, dissecting and suturing. In use, a surgeon sits at a console several feet away from the operating table and manipulates the robots surgical instruments. The robot has three hands attached to a free-standing cart. One arm holds a camera (endoscope) that has been passed into the patient through small openings. The surgeon operates the other two hands by inserting fingers into rings. The arms use a technology called EndoWrist flexible wrists that surgeons can bend and twist like human wrists. The surgeon uses hand movements and foot pedals to control the camera, adjust focus, and reposition the robotic arms. The da Vinci has a three-dimensional lens system, which magnifies the surgical field up to15 times. Another surgeon stays beside the patient, adjusting the camera and instruments if needed. There are 50 da Vinci systems placed in U.S. medical centers, 34 placed in Europe and five placed in Asia. ZEUS Robotic Surgical System The FDA cleared ZEUS in October 2001 to assist in the control of blunt dissectors, retractors, graspers, and stabilizers during laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgeries. ZEUS has three robotic arms that are mounted on the operating table. One robotic arm is called the Automated Endoscopic System for Optimal Positioning Robotic System (AESOP). AESOP is a voice-activated robot used to hold the endoscope. The FDA cleared AESOP to hold and position endoscopes in 1994, and voice activation was added later. ZEUS differs from the da Vinci system in that the AESOP part of ZEUS responds to voice commands. For example, a surgeon might say: AESOP move right. The positioning arm then would move right until the stop command was given. Like the da Vinci system, the other two arms of ZEUS are the extension of the left and right arms of the surgeon. Surgeons sit at a console and wear special glasses that create a three-dimensional image. Computer Motion has added a flexible wrist technology called Micro-Wrist, which is now included in FDA-approved clinical trials, Nolan says. There are currently more than 30 ZEUS units installed in North America, 15 units installed in Europe and the Middle East, and five units installed in Asia.

A Career in Insurance Sales Essay -- essays research papers

A Career in Insurance Sales Nature of the Work Insurance agents sell one or more types of insurance, such as life, property, casualty, health, disability, and long-term care (Edwards, 1999, A12). Agents sell insurance policies to individuals and businesses to provide protection against loss or catastrophe. Insurance agents consider the financial status and life situation of their clients, and assist them in selecting their optimal insurance policy. Some policies can be designed to provide retirement income, funds for the education of children, or other benefits (Edwards, 1999, A12). Insurance agents prepare reports, maintain records, and they help policyholders to settle insurance claims (Abraham & Herman, 1998). Special in-group policies may help employers provide their employees the opportunity to buy insurance through payroll deductions (Abraham & Herman, 1998). Agents may work for one company or independently for several companies (Abraham & Herman, 1998). Brokers do not sell for a particular company, but direct their clients to companies that offer the best rate and coverage (Abraham & Herman, 1998). Life insurance agents and brokers are sometimes referred to as life underwriters (Abraham & Herman, 1998). Property and casualty insurance agents and brokers sell policies that protect individuals and businesses from financial loss, as a result of automobile accidents, fire or theft, tornadoes and storms, and other events that can damage property (Edwards, 1999, A13). Property and casualty insurance can also sell health insurance policies to businesses that cover the costs of hospital and medical care for their employees (Edwards, 1999, A13). Increasingly, insurance agents and brokers offer comprehensive financial planning services to their clients, such as retirement planning counseling (Edwards, 1999, A13). Because of this, many insurance agents and brokers are licensed to sell mutual funds and other securities (Edwards, 1999, A13). Education and Training Requirements College training may help agents or brokers grasp the technical aspects of insurance policies and the fundamentals and procedures of selling insurance (Abraham & Herman, 1998). Many colleges and universities offer courses in insurance, and a few schools offer a bachelor’s degree in insurance (Abraham & Herman, 1998). College courses in finance, mathematics, a... ... growth of mutual fund sales (Vault.com, 1999). Insurance agents do not desire a rise in crime, since fear of crime leads more people to seek insurance coverage for their homes, cars, and valuables (Vault.com, 1999). Sales of commercial insurance should increase as new businesses emerge and existing firms expand their coverage (Vault.com, 1999). Trends toward multiline agents, self-insurance, and group policies will also contribute to increased volume of insurance sales, and open positions (Vault.com, 1999). Since insurance is considered a necessity, agents are unlikely to face unemployment in times of recession (Vault.com, 1999). References   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Abraham, K. G., & Herman, A. M. (1998). Insurance agents and brokers. Occupational outlook handbook. (1998-1999 ed.). 250-252.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Edwards, S. A. (1999, March 8). Insurance: what you need to know. The Hartford Courant, pp. A12, A13. (Article appears on two separate pages.) Vault.com Inc.  © 1999 150 West 22nd St., 5th Floor, New York, NY 10011 http://www.vault.com/vstore/pages/occupations.cfm?Product_id=513&objectgroup_id=284&chapter=1

Anthropology: Examining the Physical and Cultural Characteristics of Hu

Anthropology: Examining the Physical and Cultural Characteristics of Humankind This course has provided interesting field studies of cultures that are drastically different than what I would consider â€Å"everyday life.† Anthropology examines not only who we are as a people, but also, importantly, who we were as a people. The studies of past cultures is a good place to start to answer questions about societies and cultures today, and to bridge together the gap between the past and present, and maybe even predict where we are headed in the future. Anthropology spans millions of generations, examining the physical and cultural characteristics of humankind. Often the artifacts recovered from a past civilization can tell us a great deal about how those people lived, their level of technology, their patterns of subsistance, and so on. Anthropology uses methods and tools from multiple scientific disciplines, such as the scientific method which allows the testing of falsifiable hypotheses. This approach seems to be a strong basis for many of the different areas of anthropology, namely archeology, ethnology, and linguistics. I had thought that male dominance and superiority (â€Å"man the hunter† model) was a highly conserved cultural characteristic in past societies, and even in many â€Å"less developed† areas of the world today. I was surprised by the case studies of the !Kung San (traditional foraging society, not sedentary), in which females were just as important as males in...

Computerized Library Management System Chapter2 Essay

Chapter 2 Review of related literature Related Literature Foreign According to Robson (2001), usability is a key requirement for users, says Elisabeth Robson, Product manager for Online Computer Library Center. The catalogue has become a way to pull together disparate resources, including commercial resources and web links. management systems also allow circulation, including check in/check out and enable libraries to purchase materials and track where they are. According to Chad (2009), consulting is at a major point of change in the wider information economy within which library systems form part of a larger whole. He was writing in a briefing paper about the study in library management systems. This studyexamined the systems used in higher-education libraries across the UK and came up with some significant observations and recommendations. It noted that the LMS market in UK higher education is already mature and that four main vendors ( Ex Libris, Innovative Sirsi Dynix and Talis) have almost 90 per cent of the market. This market maturity means, according to the study authors, that the benefits to libraries of changing LMS provider are limited. Library users expect to find everything together says Stephen Abram, vice president for innovation at Sirsi Dynix, the leading provider of software solutions and associated services for libraries. According to her traditionally, the library management system or integrated library system (ILS) was responsible for running libraries efficiently and effectively. Over the last few years, the role of the ILS has been expanding from meeting library needs to delivering user experience. Local According to Eden (2011), views that most libraries are forced to work with fewer staff because of the having a more improved and modernized system for their library. According also to the study, the library administration need to emphasize to their staff that the organization has a vested interest in providing them with the tools and training they need to assist the organization in the new information marketplace. These may include search engines, circulation systems, and the online public access catalog. According to Lopez (2002), University of the Philippines Mindanao when UP in Mindanao accepted its first batch of students in 1996, the Main Library collection was integrated with the core collection of the School of Management (SOM) Library at the Stanfilco Bldg., Ladislawa Avenue, Buhangin, Davao City. The Filipiniana and General References were housed together with the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) collection in Room 2 of the Philippine Coconut Authority. In the Second Semester AY 1996-1997,the CAS Library moved to its main campus in Bago Oshiro. Upon the recognition of UP in Mindanao by the Board of Regents (BOR) as a constituent unit (CU) of the UP System, the CAS was split into two (2), namely: College of Humanities and Social Cost Benefits Analysis between the Existing System and the Proposed BotolanCommunity College Library System Particulars PC Express Desktop Pentium Packagewith Canon IP2770 Printer 16,500.00Windows XP Professional 5,550.00Visual Basic 6.0 5,000.00Botolan Community College Computerized Library System 10,000.00 37,050.00 Salary of one (1) Staff 12 x 5,500.00 66,000.00 Handling the Existing SystemSavings (PHP) 29,000.00 % of Savings 43.93% Source: Villman Computers(www.villman.com), PC Express (www.pcexpress.com.ph)Source:http://studentdiscounts.com/microsoftvisualstudioprofessional2010-installsonupto2computers.aspx 63 Appendix ISample Output 64 Figure 1. Log-InFigure 2. Main Menu PRO

Personal application assignment Essay

Prompt 1 I am currently employed as the Assistant City Manager/Director of Economic Development with the City of Mount Rainier, a small municipality located in Prince Georges County, Maryland. Mount Rainier is a historic residential community that borders the District of Columbia. Within the last several months, the city has been exploring the option of redeveloping its downtown district with the aims of removing blight and increasing tourism. In addition, the City of Mount Rainier has been trying to brand a new identity. As Assistant City Manager/Director of Economic Development, my role is to develop a plan that will aid the city in the revitalization its downtown retail and commercial district making it a desirable destination place. Currently, the downtown area lacks a mass of shopping, dining, and entertainment to attract visitors or residents. Along with spearheading these efforts, I am also responsible for finding funding to aid the city improve the public infrastructure that will aid in the revitalization of the downtown area. Evidently, the organization’s current orientation towards the tourism market is weak. The population has not yet been well oriented in the details of the tourism industry despite the city’s significant potential in the business. At the moment, Mount Rainier is not an obvious tourist destination. While the city does have a mix of tourist products and activities of interest for visitors, there are currently not enough infrastructures, enterprise motivation, and marketing advertisements to make a significant part of the tourism market take notice of such products. Future development in Mount Rainier will not just create a space for tourist, but will aid the city market its underutilized areas. The target customers are the local community, developers/investors and the focus is on the tourism market. It is recognized that the current economic crisis has actually caused a decline in out-of-the-country tourism for Americans and more and more Americans are going on vacation at locations in their own state or in other nearby states (Brown, 2008; Julio, 2008). This provides a market opportunity for the organization to take advantage of. Currently, the organization does not have a formal customer service rating system that can adequately measure customer satisfaction. Data on customer satisfaction is basically sourced through word-of-mouth and through survey forms given out independently by various tourism oriented services. Based on the previous topics, strong marketing and customer service management systems need to be established for the organization to take the first step in realizing its long term goals in the tourism industry. Prompt 2 The value creation and delivery sequences of the departments valued core competencies is coordinating how the City of Mount Rainier markets itself to businesses and developers, ensuring the implementation of financial packaging for development, attraction and retention. â€Å"Providing a value through specific product features, service development, pricing, sourcing and making the offer†(Kotler and Keller, 2008, p. 21). In other words, the value creation and delivery process in which has been created, gives the city the capability to understand and capture customer value, allowing the right activities for strategic planning in marketing economic development in the City of Mount Rainier. Specifically, the value chain in the organization’s efforts on tourism development begins with the identification of key tourism demands. It proceeds from this point to the customization of available resources to meet such identified demands. Finally, the products that address the identified demands are marketed and released. In line with this value chain, the core competencies of the organization include a strong expertise in conducting quantitative and qualitative research and managing communications between investor and investment representatives. Strength in formal research is known to be one of the effective components of business decision making (Hanson, 2008). With this core competency, an organization can realistically predict market outcomes and take advantage of identified opportunities. On the other hand, effective communications management is also essential in investment relations management. When an organization is able to maintain excellent communication lines, the risk of miscommunication is reduced, thereby allowing the organization to present and gather information from relevant groups accurately (Giannetto, 2006). According to Kotler and Keller, â€Å"a clear and thoughtful mission statement provides employees with a shared sensed of purpose, direction, and opportunity†(p. 27). The City of Mount Rainier’s value chain is driven by the mission statement which employees the department of economic development so heavily rely upon. As an organization, the City of Mount Rainier ‘s department of economic developments purpose is the coordination, planning, supervision, and in some cases, the execution of all programs, policies, proposals, and functions related to economic development. MDED also advises the Mayor and citizens on the most effective allocation of public resources devoted to economic development in the City. The vision of the organization is a city that is able to maximize all of its available resources and attract investors in developing all of its potential services. This envisioned city is has a stable, flourishing economy that is well managed by its officials who are empowered with decision-making information based on valid and reliable research. The mission-vision of the organization definitively plots the course of its strategic planning by setting reasonable short-term and achievable long term goals. On the short-term, the goal based on the mission is to identify key areas of development where the organization can recommend city funding to be utilized with the best possibilities for the greatest returns on investment. On the long-term, this organization intends to follow through with identified areas of development and establish programs that can explore such potentials completely. With the vision as its guiding perspective on what is the ideal, the organization studies how other cities are able to achieve similar goals in the past and determines the extent of applicability of such strategies to the City of Mount Rainier. Prompt 3 Using a classical approach, the City of Mount Rainier Department of Economic Development conducts its marketing research using an in-house research approach. The first step to this approach is drafting a brief by the manager discussing the area selected for the project. In the latter, Mayor and Council is provided with a verbal explanation and description of what is required, together with relevant background documents and samples of products or demonstration of services to be studied. Then Mayor and Council will hold public hearings to seeking the views of citizens on the proposed project. In addition, to conducting in-house marketing research the City contracts marketing research consultants to aid the city in determining the right development to build a healthy economy and increasing property tax dollars for the city. Thus, identifying and targeting development that that will be a good fit for the municipality. This approach to decision making provides a way of assessing the value of additional information that maybe inaccessible to staff. Another key aspect to this marketing research approach strategically shows comprehensive demographics, consumer demand and other feasibility studies that will be very costly and time consuming for a very small agency to conduct. Socio-cultural factors affect the intended clients since such factors are a part of the tourism experience. Many customers wish to have different cultural experiences and so diversity plays an important role. Situational factors, specifically natural phenomenon can greatly affect customer’s purchasing decisions as well. For example, the occurrence of a natural disaster such as an earthquake or hurricane can make customers shy away from the products even after rebuilding for fear of the occurrence repeating itself. On the other hand, other situations such as the occurrence of something noteworthy can be a positive factor that can draw customers to purchase tourism products. Prompt 4 The primary customer segments that the City of Mount Rainier Department of Economic Development target and provide services to are the community and investors/developers. The difference between the two entities is only what each requires from the City. As a local government, the community defines the development process challenging the undesirable and unacceptable disparities that may affect their quality of living. In other words, the community’s needs are to keep the nature that it is used to while developing sectors to gain greater financial leverage. On the other hand, investors/developers goals are to create, expand, or improve the endeavors of the city and would promote economic vitality. This requires for change to be effected by the government that would make the environment suitable for investments. These primary customer segments offer competitive positioning, increased visitation and a yield with significant growth potential. Competitive positioning allows companies to perceive and address their strengths and weaknesses against existing competitors and develop plans based on such analysis (Porter, 1980). The primary product strengths of the City of Mount Rainier are arts, theatre and cultural heritage, tourism, and accommodation. These focus areas and key strengths provide a framework to advance the commitments of strategic imperatives and guide investment throughout the city. The main advantages and uniqueness of the City of Mount Rainier, is its geographic location, local market demand and integration with other market clusters. With low-cost real estate and relatively cheaper labor costs in comparison to neighboring Washington D. C. , these attributes have been identified as key success factors for economic development. The organization can market these advantages to potential investors in order to get them to appreciate making investments in the city.

Human resources development Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Human resources development - Coursework Example (Blume, 2012). Theorist workers are the perfectionists who permanently select reasons and theories previously creating a conclusion. They are authoritarian to systematic and judiciousness of any mission or objective to be completed. Their judgments are not from their capability or earlier learning. They create exploration and founded on their coherent results on the recent situation, they derive to a decision. Pragmatists are applied in natural surroundings and effort to take any chance that derives. They affection to earnings tasks and create result by increasing self-confidence over learning and practice. They are prepared to takings new duty and construct up expertise for that reason. The learners are capable to get used to rapidly in varying circumstances, challenging atmosphere and jobs. The position firm has produced for the staffs and administrators requirement these kinds of learners to be capable to suitable themselves and progress giving to the necessities. (Grugulis, 2007). Reflectors usually don’t takings creativities, exploration for chances. They take a pew back, gather information, investigation, think about it systematically and then create a reasonable conclusion. These people usually don’t take part energetically in conversation only pay attention to others to create own ideas. Reflective learners are slow in increasing and judging a condition because they devote a lot of energy in examining the data, theory and the result. As they create own opinions afterward a long and detailed analysis, the probabilities of deviation and difficulties in their conclusions are small. They are effective in result making, but not effective. The learning curve is the constant development method which is grown complete capability. To take effectiveness and accomplishment slowly to a new task situation learning curve is very important to

Mbuti Culture Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Mbuti Culture - Research Paper Example The Mbuti tribe is dependent on the forest for all the aspects of their life including getting their food, clothes, materials for hunting, item of play, musical instrument etc. In the recent times the tribesmen have come in contact with the agricultural people living the peripheries of the forest. However hunting remains their primary source of subsistence. Even in their trade with the agricultural people they exchange the meat they get from the forest in exchange for farm products (Tanno, n.d. pp. 1-51). The forest and hunting activities influenced the culture, social structures, gender relations and the beliefs and values of the Mbuti tribe associated with the Molimo ritual of the tribe. Social Organization The difference in the strategy for procuring the subsistence has attracted the interest of the anthropologist and ethnographers. Along with the difference in the hunting technique some difference in the social structure has also been observed with reference to the number of memb ers in the community. The inhabitants of the southwestern region, the net hunters live in a comparatively large camp consisting to seven to thirty families together. There method of hunting and distribution of the hunt are also of communal type. The women beat the under bush to drive the animals to the net which are looked after by the men. According to famous pygmy researcher Turnbull, this method of hunting requires a number of families to cooperate with each other in order to procure their subsistence. On the contrast the archers live in small groups of three to five. Individual members hunt with the help of arches and bows. The different operations of arching are tracking and ambushing which requires less number of men than net hunting. Several reasons have been cited for this difference in hunting pattern and consequent social structure based on region. According to Turnbull, this has occurred due to the historical distribution of the forest. The southwestern parts of the count ries have been subjected to encroachment for agriculture, mining, plantations, tourist centers etc. As a result the inhabitable land and the land for hunting and gathering have been reduced. On the other hand the population of the tribe has increased over the years. As a result the tribe was forced to increase their utilization of the reduced amount of available land. Moreover due to the Law of Diminishing Return the tribesmen had to undertake more work individually in order to maintain similar level of consumption. Another interesting feature that has been pointed out by the scholars is that the pygmy tribe has a low exposure to the technological advancement. Therefore they are unable to increase the utilization of the plot of land with the help of technology. To compensate for that, the tribesmen are required to increase the coordination and cooperation among themselves to maintain similar level of consumption. (Abruzzi, 1979) Renowned anthropologist, Harako suggests another alter native theory. According to him the original mode of hunting of the Mbuti tribe was archery. But some time in history a part of the tribe came in touch with the Bantu speaking tribes. In course of their interaction and exchange the Mbuti tribe learnt to use the net as a tool for hunting. This theory gives an explanation for the division of hunting methods

Financial Reporting and Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Financial Reporting and Analysis - Assignment Example 2) Non-cash items usually include those items which do not include the transfer of money. The most feasible way for adjusting non-cash items is by adding the same form the net income of the firm (Hung, 2000). 3) The stock market participants were able to predict the fall in the revenues of Charter. As a result the company’s stock prices began being priced low by the stock market forces. A low price allocates a low level of dividend (Berk & DeMarzo, 2013). A low share price allocation also helps a firm to attract a large number of small investor (Rioja & Valev, 2004). However a declining share price also indicates a firm’s low revenue which also repels a number of investors who expect growth and rising dividends (Chandra, 2005). The financial performance of airlines industry is generally analyzed on the basis of return on equity (ROE) or return on assets (ROA). The airline industry is immensely capital intensive and profitability is usually measured on the basis of returns available on equity or assets. Accordingly it is seen that the ROA for the airlines industry on an average is around 9.8. From the given data it is seen that firm 6 incurs a ROA ratio of 9.95. Hence this firm belongs to the airlines industry. Banking firms puts special emphasis upon the returns from operations. Hence net margin is usually one of the critical parameters for judging the efficiency of the firms in this sector. The banking industry usually incurs a net profit margin of 16. From the given data set, it is seen that firm 9 has a net profit margin of 12.82. Most brewery firms analyze their financial effectively by analyzing the gross margin ratio. Breweries usually have a gross profit margin of 60. From the given data it can therefore be analyzed that firm 8 has a gross profit of 60.21. Hence firm 8 belongs to brewery industry. Departmental stores usually experience a very high level of liquidity and hence

Ethics in Business are an Optional Extra Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ethics in Business are an Optional Extra - Essay Example ing even in corrupt practices they justified by reasoning along the lines of cultural relativism and the need for practical thinking, they believed that they were acting ethically even if their actions had unethical effects, such as promoting slave labour conditions. Increasing pressures from stakeholders are changing the behaviour of businesses, making those who manage them more aware of the need to follow higher standards of business ethics. Five different forces were identified as the sources of these pressures that are slowly but surely convincing businesses that the practice of social responsibility has become necessary. A key factor in this change of attitude is the experience that practising business ethics can help the firm achieve its purpose of earning profits whilst meeting the needs of its stakeholders. Another factor is that as more firms engaged in unethical business practices, whatever advantages they may have derived from doing so have become counterproductive, leading to serious threats to business survival. The paper concludes with the argument that ethics in business is in the process of being transformed from an â€Å"optional extra† to a â€Å"must-respond issue† that is necessary for the firm’s sustainability and competitiveness. This paper is a discussion of ethical practice in business. Starting with a description of business ethics and its important role in society, the discussion proceeds to the key issues related to the practice of ethics by business organisations. Examples are cited why business ethics is a controversial issue and the sources of the controversy, and how these are resolved in practice. The critical discussion that follows addresses the central question as to whether ethics is important and serves the purpose of a business, or whether it is merely an optional extra that a business could do without. The European Forum for Quality Management (EFQM, 1999) describes business ethics as a set of codes, values, and

An Assessment of Effectiveness of Dell's Organization Culture and Essay

An Assessment of Effectiveness of Dell's Organization Culture and Change - Essay Example Nevertheless, the concept of effectiveness should apply to all stakeholders in an organisation. This ensures harmony in all its operations, which has the end result of high performance. The current study examines the effectiveness exhibited by the dell management, in relation to how it has been able to effectively build an organisation culture, which pushed it up to its success. Background of the study In the past few decades, many organisations have changed their ways of doing business. This has been as a result of high competition. In particular, organisation culture and change has been one of the ways through which organizations have sought to focus on to maintain completive advantage (Harold 2009). In this regard, it is apparent that organisations have to analyse the best management practices through strategic plans that are aligned with organisation’s objectives, mission and vision statements (Hill & Jones 2008). These practices become a culture that an organisation shoul d endorse and cling on in order to achieve its objectives (Dyck and Neubert 2010). However, due to increased and the emergence of new technologies, any organisation that needs to survive in highly competitive market has to embrace such technologies (Marr 2010). This means that organisations should also create a culture of adopting innovations that are in line with their objectives (Daft and Lane 2010). Analysis of output control: a concept of organization culture In order to have a spectrum of what organisation culture and change entails, it is crucial to first understand what organisation culture is. This is an internal environment that establishes a personality for the organisation, which plays a part in influencing the behavior of its members (Flamholtz and Randle 2011). These could be summed up to mean core values and fundamental beliefs or an organisation. Studies have documented that an organisation with a strong culture, members act with shared understandings and commitment t o core values. Key elements of organisational culture involve innovation and risk taking, concern for people, team building and emphasis, and performance orientation (Phaditare 2011). With such deliberations, the focus of this paper will be on the case study on Dell Computers, which according to Bhattacharyya 2010, is argued to have been â€Å"able to achieve excellence by giving due emphasis on creating a positive work culture through pro-active human resource management practices† (18). In this regard, this paper aims at articulating on ways through which Dell’s organisational culture has enabled it achieve excellence. In order to have an efficient organization culture, an organization has to have efficient managers and the overall organizational structure. Dell’s organization structure is believed to forecast suitable performance in relation to its goals. For example, Dell’s reward system is linked to its goals, which help to motivate employees in orde r to improve performance. Nevertheless, Dell has created a culture of directions on each division on how to achieve its goals. Dell’s CEO Michael Dell, is argued to have tried to decentralize the authority to low-level employees. This has been an effective strategy that has facilitated company-customer relationship thus creating a customer service culture. Study objectives 1. To find out Dell’s elements of organ

Working in Groups Essay Example for Free

Working in Groups Essay -Have you ever worked on a group project? Was it easy peasy, or was it an unforgettable nightmare? Working together is hard, its no wonder group projects have such a bad reputation. Everyone will have to work on a group project at some point in their lives with a little whether it be school, business, an organization or even an event. Often when working in groups, members communicate poorly or sometimes not at all. In some cases people may even stab each other in the back. There are many difficult situations that may arise when working in groups. Some of the most common are participation, conflict, blame and domination. There will always be some who do not participate as much as others and will take a back seat and ride along the coat tails reaping all the same rewards as others who are working very hard. There may be some conflict because people have different opinions and points of view and may challenge what is being said or done by another member. This is ok, except when comments become personal or directed at specific people. This can often lead to resentment or animosity within the group. Things may go wrong at some point and it is easy to direct blame at someone and can be very damaging to the person blame is being put upon. Other members may direct anger and frustrations toward that member causing them to with draw from the group. Some people just have stronger personalities, I myself am usually one of the more outspoken members but in this experience I chose to take on a different roll because I do not currently have the time to be in a leadership type role. Often the more dominate people leave others feeling as if they do not have the opportunity to make their point or that their point doesnt even  matter. I personally experienced this when making a suggestion at this group projects meet up. As when working on anything, there are always going to be advantages and disadvantages. The first and most important advantage is increased productivity. Each individual can use the best skills they possess, and ensure quality to their work. There will be more resources available to you and the skill level will be broader. When a member is not able to complete something for any reason there are others who can be reliable for it. In a group there will be more ideas, different points of views and many suggestions to help make the group better. The disadvantages are that there is no individual thinking even if you feel strongly about something it must be a group decision in the end. The time an individual puts into a group is unknown and not acknowledged and credit is given as a whole even if you put in majority of the work. The competitive attitudes of people working in groups can also be a problem because some may lose focus as they are worried about who is doing more work rather than who is doing good work. I have worked in groups a few times and all had very different experiences depending on the project or task assigned. I would have to say that the best group experience for me was when working on a school project. When we first met up as a group, together we assigned who would be doing what. We also set up two deadlines in which we met up and discussed progress, problems and other issues anyone was experiencing. I would have to say that project was successful because we all collaborated decisions and responsibilities. Many people as adults already know what they are knowledgeable in and what they would be most successful in completing, so we first picked and chose then assigned what was left. When you are confident or interested in what you are working on it is much easier to complete. This group assignment was difficult in my opinion. The type of experience that gives working in groups a bad reputation and I know I am partly at fault for just accepting the situation rather than trying to make it better.  First off we did not know each other prior and had no clue what to expect of each other as far as interaction and personalities. The three of us met up once in Panera during the lunch rush and loud crowds, which I found to be quite distracting. When I arrived the other two members were already sitting. It seemed that one of the group members felt she had the most experience and pretty much took over. (I will call her the lead) She stated that we can finish this today in like 30-40 minutes My thought were WHAT!! We sat looking up our topic but not seeming to get much done. I suggested that we make an outline what we want covered about our topic and then assign who does what. I received a puzzled look from both and the lead said that due to the topic and type of assignment it just was not possible as it was too broad. The other member appeared to me to be on the quiet side, kind of a go with the flow person. I decided to do the same and stepped back knowing that what I was choosing to do would be unbeneficial to all of us. I felt I would just do what I felt was necessary on my own. The possibilities of problems can be endless within groups, ranging from general negativity to specific problems such as irregular attendance, unwillingness or inability to meet up as well as aggressive behavior or arguments. But the benefits and experience of working in a group make it worth the while and a lot can be avoided by setting up clear guidelines like rules or norms for the group from the beginning. Giving positive feedback and support from other members. And most importantly when problems do arise deal with them immediately and find a resolution to overcome the difficulties within the group so that it will build trust amongst the group and it can move forward positively. People forget that when working together it is every ones goal to make decisions to lead the group forward not just an individual. Groups are made u of individuals with varying personalities, backgrounds and ideas. For a group to work well a bond needs to be developed. Every group needs a leader and each member should feel a sense of belonging, a reason and purpose for their presence in the group. Each and every group experience will have a different lesson that can be learned whether good or bad. Work Cited Armbruster, Rachel Banding together for a cause Wiley and Sons Inc. 2012 Astin, A. (1993). What Matters in college? Four Critical Years Revisited. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Web Oct 2014 Hammar Chiriac, Eva, Gareth J. Williams, and Carl Senior. Group Work As An Incentive For Learning Students Experiences Of Group Work. _Frontiers In Psychology_ 5.(2014): 1-10. _Academic Search Complete_. Web. Oct 2014 Rafferty, Patricia D. The Evaluation Of MBA Group Work: A Case Study Of Graduate Student Experiences And Perceptions Of Positive Group Work Outcomes. _Journal Of Education For Business_ 88.1 (2013): 43-50. _Business Source Complete_. Oct 2014