Mayo Clinic Case Study free essay sample

Word of mouth marketing has been our strongest ally and serves as a very powerful tool. In order to create a cohesive marketing research design strategy this memorandum will outline specific key tactics that must be employed. The Mayo Clinic’s CEO and board have decided to increase sales revenues to 100 percent over the next five years and that means we have much work globally to do in order to make that a reality. There will be many facets of the marketing mix that will need to be addressed in order to achieve this goal. The purpose of this marketing research is to gather information about the brand recognition, reputation, and appeal of the Mayo Clinic globally. As a brand we must exude qualities that will appeal to people internationally. There are several fundamental facts that describe why someone should chose the Mayo Clinic. The Mayo Clinic offers over 100 years of medical tertiary and quaternary care from civilians to world leaders. We will write a custom essay sample on Mayo Clinic Case Study or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The Mayo Clinic was founded by globetrotting specialized physicians who were looking to establish an advanced standard of medical care by consulting with other physicians internationally. The Mayo Clinic is focused on delivering exceptional care that knows no borders. We also need to establish and position our strongest attribute in the global markets as being the experience one encounters here at The Mayo Clinic. Our brand is based on knowledge and superior care. Through explanations, listening, interpretation, multi-lingual, and listening to the consumers is what the experience here at The Mayo Clinic entails. In order to improve our sales so exceptionally in five years we must utilize specific market research strategies. We must continue to monitor patient satisfaction with studies to assess the perception of the care received. When surveying patients a high level of attention to detail should be maintained. International data collection can offer many challenges and thus the quality and structure of our satisfaction surveys must be markedly superior to ensure reliable information is returned. Word of mouth marketing has been an asset and that penetrates all cultures. Our cultural adaptability must remain a focus while conducting marketing research. The ultimate goal is to be THE choice of medical care internationally. Formal focus groups are useful in collection of in-depth information. We can learn how well the clinic is known in a specific region and how people are influenced to choose The Mayo Clinic. Health insurance that includes our care as part of their policy does not innately encourage a patient to choose us, in fact one of our studies proved that some insurance holders who had The Mayo Clinic as an included resource had no knowledge of the clinic. Face-to-face interviews with health insurance policy holders revealed the aforementioned. Telephone interviews are effective in certain countries and discounted in others, please refer to our marketing research by region listing to determine if this method is the right choice for the location you will be researching. Clinical trials and sponsorships like fundraising walks can prove to be important marketing research tools. Some things to keep in mind when conducting strategic marketing research include cultural influences, geographic location, and current awareness of the  brand. We must chose to conduct research in markets that have potential to supply patients that would benefit from services of our clinic. In this way observational research can be a tool within a tool, we can observe before we decide what method that particular market best will respond to. After identifying the market to be researched you must obtain the trust of the people you will be interacting with and communicate the advantages that The Mayo Clinic provides. Extensive research using both primary and secondary methods in target markets allow a better understanding and more reliable data to be extracted and analyzed. Generally we will conduct research both through vendors and ourselves, this is a combination of primary and secondary methods though primary research will prove more investigative and tailored to fit our needs. A mix of qualitative and quantitative data will be collected. To review the strategy as discussed in the meeting we will identify largest potential markets for international healthcare and target those markets for research. Next we must identify the most effective means of communication of the benefits our clinic offers in that area. When conducting secondary research choose reputable reports. When conducting primary research gain the trust of the community and conduct interviews and create focus groups. Finally our joint effort if done effectively will increase sales revenue as desired. Please promptly review this memo and your notes from our meeting and employ learned tactics.

The Complete Guide to Conic Sections on ACT Math

The Complete Guide to Conic Sections on ACT Math SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips You will usually see one conic section question (though no more than one) on any given ACT, but just what is a conic section and how do you solve it? Luckily for us, though conic section questions are rare, they are generally straightforward and can get you an easy point if you take a few minutes to study them. This will be your complete guide to conic sections- what they are, how you'll see them on the test, and the best way to approach these types of ACT math questions. What Are Conic Sections? A conic section is any intersection of a cone (a three dimensional figure) and a plane (a flat, infinite surface). Depending on how the plane slices the cone, the intersection will create: A circle A parabola An ellipse A hyperbola Picture: Magister Mathematicae/Wikimedia For the ACT, you will only need to know about circles and parabolas. And the only parabola knowledge you'll need are covered by your quadratic functions. The ACT will never test you on ellipses or hyperbolas. What You'll Need to Know About Conic Sections The only piece of information you really need to understand to master conic sections on the ACT is the equation of a circle. Every ACT conic section question will ask you information about this equation and you must either find the proper equation from given information or identify the individual pieces that make up this equation. Equation of a Circle $$(x - h)^2 + (y - k)^2 = r^2$$ This is the equation of a circle. $h$ and $k$ are the coordinates for the center of the circle. $h$ stands in place of the $x$-coordinate and $k$stands in place of the $y$-coordinate. The center will, therefore, be at $(h, k)$. $r$ is the radius of the circle. â™ ª Love (and the equation of a circle) is all you need. â™ ª Picture: byronv2/Flickr Typical ACT Conic Section Questions Though you will only have to know the equation of a circle to solve your conic section questions, you may see conic section questions in a few different ways- as a word problem, as a diagram problem, and/or as a scenario problem. But no matter their form, it should be pretty straightforward to solve the problem if you remember your formula. Let's look at a typical ACT conic section problem. We can see, based on the graph, that our center coordinates for our circle are $(4, 0)$. This means that we can count from the circumference to the center to find that our radius is also 4. So if we replace these values with our $(h, k)$ and our $r$ in the equation for a circle, we would get: $(x - h)^2 + (y - k)^2 = r^2$ $(x - 4)^2 + (y - 0)^2 = 4^2$ $(x - 4)^2 + y^2 = 16$ This means that our final answer is G. ACT Math Strategies for Conic Section Questions Though conic sections are generally fairly simple, you will be able to solve them more easily if you use strategy (especially if you forget your key information on test day). #1: Prioritize Your Time and Energy Conic sections are one of the least common ACT math topics. This type of question may or may not show up on your ACT, and even if it does, there will only be one question on circle equations per test. Though it is not a guarantee that you will see it, it is a useful formula for you to know if you're trying for every last math point. #2: Memorize the Circle Formula If you're going for every last point, then be sure to memorize your circle formula. On every ACT conic section question, you will be given a string of answer choices that all look incredibly similar. This is to muddy the waters for anyone who only has a passing recollection (or no recollection) of the formula. Your best bet for a near guaranteed point on all conic section questions is to simply memorize the formula and quiz yourself on it before test day to make sure you have it down. #3: Alternatively, Remember Just a Piece of the Formula and Guess Strategically If you're worried for any reason that you'll forget your formula or if you would just rather spend your time memorizing more common ACT math formulas like slopes and angles, then even remembering a piece of the circle formula is better than not memorizing any part of it at all. For instance, if you don't remember the $(x - h)^2 + (y - k)^2$ side of the formula, but you do remember that the other side is the radius squared (and not just the radius), you will often be able to eliminate two or three answer choices. Now you have between a 33% and a 50% of guessing the right answer, which is certainly better than a 20% blind guess. So pick just a piece of the circle formula and commit it to heart, even if you can't or won't for any reason memorize the whole thing. Ready to show 'em what you got? Test Your Knowledge So let's put your knowledge to the test on real ACT math problems about conic sections. 1. 2. 3. If a circle has a circumference that is tangent to the origin and a midpoint at $(0, -7)$, which of the following is the equation of that circle? A. $x^2 + (y - 7)^2 = 49$B. $x ^2 + (y + 7)^2 = 49$C. $(x - 7)^2 - y^2 = 49$D. $(x - 7)^2 + y^2 = 7$E. $x^2 - y^2 = 7$ Answers: E, F, B Answer Explanations: 1. For this problem, we know that our circle's midpoint is at the origin, which gives it the coordinates $(0,0)$. We can also see that the radius of the circle is 52. That means that our circle formula will be: $(x - h)^2 + (y - k)^2 = r^2$ $(x - 0)^2 + (y - 0)^2 = 52^2$ $x^2 + y^2 = 52^2$ Our final answer is E, $x^2 + y^2 = 52^2$ 2. For this question, we are actually working backwards, but the principle of the circle formula hold true. We must simply use the values we are given and reverse engineer them to find what we need. We know that our circle formula is: $(x - h)^2 + (y - k)^2 = r^2$ If our equation is then: $(x - 5)^2 + y ^2 = 38$, then we know that the radius must be the square root of 38 and the midpoint must be $(5, 0)$. Our final answer is F. 3. As usual when working without a diagram, let's draw a quick sketch of the scene. We know that the midpoint is at $(0, -7)$ and the circle is tangent to the origin, so this is the circle we're dealing with. We know that the radius is, therefore, 7 and we can plug the midpoint values into our equation. $(x - h)^2 + (y - k)^2 = r^2$ $(x - 0)^2 + (y - -7)^2 = 7^2$ $x^2 + (y + 7)^2 = 49$ Our final answer is B, $x^2 + (y + 7)^2 = 49$ The Take-Aways Though conic section questions are relatively rare, if you're going for every last point, it's a good idea to memorize your circle formula (or even just a piece of it) for a quick point. You will never be asked to do more than identify it when you see it or to identify its pieces, so go ahead and grab it if you can. What's Next? Want to brush up on any of your other math topics? Check out our individual math guides to get the walk-through on each and every topic on the ACT math test. You should also be sure to take a look at our articles on how to complete the square and the four different graph quadrants. Worried what the Ivy Leagues think of the ACT? Learn how some of the top schools in the United States feel about the ACT vs. the SAT. Running out of time on the ACT math section? We'll teach you how to beat the clock and maximize your ACT math score. Trying to get a perfect score? Check out our guide to getting a perfect 36 on ACT math, written by a perfect-scorer. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Math lesson, you'll love our program. Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

The Universal Freckle, or How I Learned to Be White by Dalton (on Assignment

The Universal Freckle, or How I Learned to Be White by Dalton (on e-Reserve) - Assignment Example Certainly, everybody of us enjoys a privilege of one sort or the other in our lives. I, for example, have privileges over my servants, who then have many privileges over those living below in the poverty line. Likewise a woman in an Eastern society is more likely to enjoy privileges over their male counterparts since their men maintain a deeper reverence for the female genre altogether. Thus yes, I have been observing privileges around me all the time. Yes, ‘White Privilege’ is a term used to identify the advantages the white skinned people enjoy over darker one – in other words: Racism. Throughout the article the writer tries to undo the knots that hold racism and ethnicity together; something which has been validated by the UN convention that â€Å"there is no distinction between the terms racial discrimination and ethnic discrimination†. Though the world today is more evolved and mere colors do not define the privileges we enjoy today, but nonetheless the concept of racism has had a huge impact on the social structure of our society. Since every American stands equal today – as guaranteed by the constitution – the concepts of black and white had been pushed to a corner and we hardly find examples of racial discrimination today. The most contradictory products of racial discrimination came in the form of the teachers the writer had at school. At one school an African American teacher dare not cross the line and hit a white child drawing a clear border between the blacks and the non-blacks; while at another a Chinese teacher uses more productive measures and tries her best to blend the class into an equal force. Racial discrimination has always remained a heated debated and a serious problem of our society. Taking into account the writer’s experience with the German woman-shopkeeper, we all should rather pave our way towards unity and stand as one equal force. Divisions and

DX wk 7 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

DX wk 7 - Essay Example he patients history, lab tests and often their brain injury studies who that there may have been stroked, untreated high blood pressure or coronary artery disease (Beidel, Bulik, and Stanley, 2010). The damage can be to a single blood vessel or to many blood vessels that will then be called an infarction in the brain (Beidel, Bulik, and Stanley, 2010). In contrast, 293.0 Delirium Due to a General Medical Condition is a "disturbance in consciousness that is accompanied by a change in cognition" (American Psychiatric Association, 2000, p. 136). Delirium in this case, the cognitive disturbance has to be due to direct physiological consequence of the general medical condition (American Psychiatric Association, 2000, p. 136). Generally, delirium is brought on by a serious medical illness such as a serious infection, toxic effects of medication or AIDS (Beidel, Bulik, and Stanley, 2010). Although both of these conditions are due to serious medical conditions, delirium affects the cognition because of a lengthy illness that affects the brain directly. Although Vascular Dementia also affects cognition, it is a heart problem that has to be present (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Hans is a 66 year old male who is a retired mail carrier. He did his job well until he began to have challenges with his memory. Hans retired from his job five years ago because he was not able to carry out his duties correctly anymore; in fact, he began to make mistakes as he delivered the mail. At the age of 62, Hans was hiking in an area that he knew well and suddenly he was lost and could not find his way home. Soon after, he also mislaid things and forgot appointments and could not find his way around anymore. His memory continued to fail as he was unable to recognize his friends and lost interest in watching television and newspapers. According to Biedel, Bulik, and Stanley (2010), Alzheimers disease (AD) is a "common subtype of dementia" (p. 458), than other forms of Dementia. It

China's Air pollution Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

China's Air pollution - Term Paper Example In this situation, China is faced with a major debate. The country is one of the highest contributors of environmental pollution; particularly the air. The air is an important part of human life and it is an established belief that the microscopic particles that people inhale while breathing can potentially cause serious damage to their health. The amount of damage is dependent on the level of concentration of pollutants in the air. These pollutants are emitted in to the environment through various industrial and economic activities, which in turn increases the concentration level of pollutants in the air. There are a number of factors that affect the relationship between emission of pollutants and their concentration in the air. However, it is a commonly agreed notion that the emissions are an outcome of increased level of industrial activities in the economy, or in other words, the level of development activities that take place in the economy (Matus, et al., â€Å"Health Damages from Air Pollution in China†). Among the factors affecting the level of pollution in the air, site is very important. Certain places are the key source of emission; such as the center of the cities, and exclusive industrial belts. These areas are most populous; increased proximity to these regions affects meteorological conditions more than the other areas in the country, which in turn determines the extent of environmental damage. Secondly, the characteristics of the source such as the emission temperature and the velocity of emission affect the rate at which level of air pollution increases. Thirdly, physical dimension of the pollutant particles interferes in the level of impact cast on health condition of human beings. Hence the particle size of matter is an important factor in determining air pollution in the country. Not only are the humans sufferers of this environmental condition, other animals are also adversely affected in this environmental degradation (Ho, â€Å"Ai r pollution in China†). The Economic reform China’s economy has been reflecting massive growth rates since the past two decades. During this period China has undergone economic reforms and is now considered one of the world’s fastest growing economies. The per capita income of the citizens in the country has been growing at the astonishing rate of 9% in 2011 (Mendez, â€Å"Chinese Economic Development and Pollution†). China has been ranked as the third largest country that take part in the international trade. It comes immediately after United States of America and Japan. This economic reform in the country is the main reason that has pushed China to the position in the international sphere. Increasing importance of the economy in world trade has transformed the economy into a global powerhouse. There has been emergence of new factories and overall rate of productive activities in the country has rocketed. These industries obtain their primary supply of en ergy from the reserves of coal possessed by China. Energy is produced by burning this coal, which emits huge amount of carbon particles in the air. This implies that urbanization and development of the Chinese economy has also led it on the path of making significant contribution towards degradation of the environment.

Strategic Management And Leadership Semco Case Study Business Essay

Strategic Management And Leadership Semco Case Study Business Essay Executive Summary: The purpose of this report is to identify the leadership and management styles adopted by Ricardo Semler and their impact on the strategic choices of Semco. This report will also explore various management and leadership theories and the resultant effect on organisational and leadership strategy. Introduction: The report intends to take a holistic view of the management and leadership styles and theories and their impacts on organizational leadership and strategy in the backdrop of Semco. Continuing further, the report will assess and evaluate the leadership requirements of Semco and formulate a suitable leadership development plan. A brief look into the evolution of Ricardo Semlers Semco is necessary to understand the organization. Semco, despite challenging the traditional style of corporate management, has continued to grow by leaps and bounds ever since the legendary Ricardo Semler took charge. The organization that was thought to have adopted a management style often termed as a recipe for disaster has been a champion of change with profits growing consistently. Semco had a manifold increase in profitability, growth and productivity, which is remarkable considering the many years of economic melt-down and the volatile political scenario it was operating in. Such an accomplishment requires full faith in employees and a commitment from the top management, but it was not always so. This progress was gradual and methodical as will be demonstrated in the following sections. 1: Leadership styles adopted by Mr. Semler and impact on strategy Ricardo Semmler The authoritarian: When Ricardo Semmler joined his fathers company in 1979, the company was involved in manufacturing equipment for the shipping industry. The revenues were shrinking and despite Semmlers insistence to diversify into other businesses, the management stuck to the same industry. When Mr. Semmler was made in charge in 1980, his first action was to fire 60% of the top management which opposed his radical ideas. An autocratic style of leadership, as theorized by Kurt Lewin, is evident from many actions taken by Semmler. This was combined with a traditional management style which involved following a strict policies and procedures framework for almost every task. Reports and manuals were a norm. The focus was on productivity and achievement of goals. The management performed the traditional roles, as described by Henry Fayol in his theory of 5 functions of management, namely; planning, organizing, commanding, coordinating and controlling the organization. This management style suited well to the fairly authoritarian style of leadership of Ricardo Semmler who held the power to decide for the organisation. Impact on strategy He changed the strategy of the organization, shifting the focus from shipping industry only to diversification into various industries. His vision was to reduce reliance on one industry only and expand into different businesses. This meant that the achievement of tasks were the focal point of the strategy while the employees felt stressed and de-motivated. Innovation seemed non-existent and steadily the staff turnover began to rise. Stress took its toll on Ricardo Semmler himself and his health condition became worse. This was the time for a change. The Change: Source: http://www.shkaminski.com/Classes/images/Managerial%20Grid.gif The management grid by Blake and Mouton perfectly describes the styles of management adopted by Semco. Initially, Semco was located in the bottom right section aiming for high production with low concern for people but gradually the shift towards Team management whereby the organization is divided into small teams operating fairly independently of others but in a coordinated way with high productivity while keeping employees motivated and satisfied. Ricardo Semmler The Democrat: This was when he turned the tables around, making the change by involving the employees in almost every decision made in the company. The change was not a drastic one, it was gradual yet steady. Ricardo Semmler had realized that employees involvement in the decisions related to the organization was essential. They must be well aware of what the organization wants to achieve. Employees should give in their 100% regardless of the skills set they possess. For these reasons, Semmler transformed himself and adopted a leadership style that was identical to Kurt Lewins participative style of leadership. Reforms such as removing the formal line of authority, discarding the organization chart, letting employees set their salaries, select work hours that suit them and even choose their managers and spiraling the organisition into one where there are no cabins and where employees are involved in all major decisions made by the organization are all evidences of the change in management style by Ricardo Semmler. Impact on strategy These actions have brought about a change in the overall strategy of the organization. The employees are aligned with the strategic objectives of the organization. The organization now operates with a strategy that promotes culture of overall openness sharing ideas and providing feedback. The strategy of Semco is now to involve employees in the organizations benefits through its unique profit-sharing scheme, motivating them to work for the growth of the company they can call their own. The organizations structure has been re-defined, moving from hierarchical to business unit approach with teams at the core. Teams mutually decide upon what needs to be done and who will be responsible for what tasks. For this to be achieved multi-tasking is pivotal and most employees are adept at majority of the tasks performed within the unit. This promotes ideas of self-governance and self-management and incorporates responsibility among employees into the overall strategy of the organization. The f ocus has shifted from being task oriented to more people oriented with high importance given to productivity. 2: Link between management and leadership theories 2.1 Leadership and Strategic Management: Leadership and management are two distinct systems that must co-exist in any organization. Managers tend to have a short-term orientation and usually solve problems as they appear. Leaders on the other hand are more forward looking and make decisions that suit the long term interests of the organization. Leadership and management both shape up the organization. While leaders decide on the direction of the organization, provide the resources and set the frame, managers ensure that the objectives are achieved within the allocated resources. Theoretically, managers and leaders are considered to be separate. However, managers will not be working alone and will be managing a team of individuals for achieving the targets set for them. This will require a degree of leadership skills too as this would call for influencing the actions and thoughts of other people. Henry Fayols 5 Functions of Management (1916) http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Leadership-Management/48673 Henry Fayol devised a theory which suggested that management is essentially a combination of stepped activities, namely; Planning: Plans are made, budgets are decided, limitations are taken into account and parameters of operations are established. This role is commonly shared by both the leader and the manager. A leader would usually be planning for the longer-term while the managers viewpoint is fairly shorter and focuses on immediate targets. Organizing: The second phase invariably includes the allocation of resources that would be consumed for achievement of objectives. Decisions about financial capital, human capital and the structure to be followed for attaining success are taken. Commanding: This ensues deriving the optimum out of the resources. Managers communicate clearly what is expected from the employees and lead by example. Coordinating: Teams will be striving for their individual targets and a balance needs to be maintained among all activities. Harmonization of activities is vital and so is management of conflicting interests. Leaders would take the driving seat. Controlling: Sizing up the benefits of activities is important. Controlling is measuring performance to be able to plan for the future. Leaders would again be looking at the long-term implications of the actions performed and decide on the future strategy. Managers on the other hand will be more concerned with what needs to be repeated and what is to be avoided. To sum it up, Henry Fayol proposed a management theory which describes the functions of management but in effect, it also categorizes the traditional role performed by the leaders as well. Peter Druckers 5 Management Processes (1954) http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Leadership-Management/48673 Peter Drucker, a renowned management theorist had a similar viewpoint of the process of management. According to him, management plays a predefined role in any context. These are: Objective Setting: Leaders provide the vision of the organization as a whole and managers, for their part, set the direction of their individual units. Motivation: Employees need to be motivated if managers want to extract their full potential. Leaders and managers have a variety of motivational tactics to use. Some could be financial incentives, while others are more humanistic in nature. Task Organisation: A manager needs to organize the task and organize the activities for the smooth operations leading to realization of objectives. Measurement: Performance needs to be measured in order to identify any divergences from the required performance and to find ways to fill any gaps in the desired and actual performance. Training and Coaching: Managers and leaders must develop their sub-ordinates. Managers and leaders have to train and coach their sub-ordinates in order for them to perform to the required level. Transactional Management and Transformational Leadership The transactional and transformational theories are another way of describing the inter-relationship and distinction between managers and leaders. According to this theory, managers are more involved with day to day activities of the organization while leaders are concerned with the strategic vision. Managers follow the set principles while leaders challenge the status quo. Leaders are more concerned with bringing about the change in the culture while managers implant that change in the organization. The primary role of a leader is to set the direction while managers ensure the organization is kept on track. Mckinseys 7S Framework http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newSTR_91.htm Source: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newSTR_91.htm The model suggests that any organization has 7 building blocks. The blocks are categorized as: Soft Elements: Shared Values, Skills, Style Staff Hard Elements: Structure, Systems and Strategy The model places highest importance to the shared values placed in the middle. It re-iterates the fact that all other elements are derived from the vision for what the organization wants to achieve. The Hard elements are determined by the leadership style chosen while the soft elements are drawn from management. Leaders would; evaluate what set of skills are possessed by the employees and what should to be developed select the staff taking into consideration their abilities and the needs of the organization; and Decide upon The style in which the organization is taken forward. The style of leadership would depend on circumstances Managers on the other hand; Shape the structure of the organization using tools such as reporting lines, organization charts etc Develop a plan, allocate resources and decide the course of action. In short, devise a strategy Craft the policies and procedures and standards on how tasks are performed. Leadership style may have profound impact on the strategy of an organization. A transformational style of leadership may stir up the enterprise, motivate and spur action. Such a leader provides an insight into the future, takes the initiative, inspires followers, involves stakeholders, improvises, thoughtful about individuals and implements successfully. This form of leadership would lead to an overhaul of the way the organization operates. A transactional leader on the other hand would have a strategy of maintaining the status quo and keep the current operations. Add Emotional Intelligence 3: Utilize appropriate techniques to review Semco leadership requirements 3.1: Use appropriate methods to review current leadership requirements In order to completely understand the requirements of leadership, it is necessary to understand the environment Semco is operates in, the phase the Semco itself is going through, what pressures are exerted from an industry sector, what its structure is and what the strategic direction it has assumed by the corporate parent. Semco strives to develop a competitive advantage. This is achived by looking at four factors according to Porters Diamond. These are: Firm strategy, structure and rivalry: strategy is what the organization wants to achieve. Structure of the enterprise should be developed to support the strategy and rivalry serves as motivation. Demand Conditions: portrays the demand of products and services. Factor conditions would be developed according to these demand conditions Related and supporting industries: an industry cannot survive without its associated industries. Semmler saw this when the shipping industry was shaking and Semco was badly hit. Factor conditions: The resources of the nation are the factor conditions. Education, mineral resources, capital goods all account for here. What we already possess and what needs to be developed. STEEPLE: Semco is primarily involved in production of heavy industrial equipment and development of intelligent systems however, it also holds stakes in an investment company and energy sector.A STEEPLE analysis is used to understand the environment that Semco operates in. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/br.html Social factors: Semco has shown high concern for social factors. It pays its staff good salaries and keeps them motivated. Semcos policy is to maintain a work/life balance evidenced by initiatives such as Retire a little bit allowing employees to do what they want. Technlogical factors: Technoloical advancement is the need of time and organizations need to identify and discover new technologies to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Economic: Semco operates in the fastest growing South American economy. It is among the emerging economies that have shown revival signs. Growth is expected to be 5% in 2010 as per the Central Bank. GDP composition by sector is: Agriculture:Â  6.1% Industry:Â  25.4% Services:Â  68.5% (2009 est.) Environmental: Brazil is the 7th largest oil consumer in the world and 10th largest when it comes to electricity. This is largely because major part of economy is related to industry. This poses a threat to environment. http://www.semco.com.br/en/content.asp?content=2contentID=548 Political: Semco operates in a political environment where, in the past, the government has often changed monetary, fiscal, taxation and other policies to influence the course of Brazils economy. Such actions are beyond control and Semco cannot predict what measures or policies the Brazilian government may take to influence the economy. Legal: The legal structure in Brazil is one that welcomes foreign investment. There are no requirements for government approvals or minimum investments. http://www.lexmundi.com/images/lexmundi/PDF/guide_brazil.pdf Ethical: Ethics is a major issue of concern in Brazil. It ranked among the 15 most corrupt countries in the world. There have been cases of corruption in the public sector. http://www.brazzil.com/cvrmar97.htm STEEPLE provides an insight into the macro environment Semco operates in. It is also important to understand the phase that Semco is going through as an individual organization. The organization has taken a strategy of diversification by entering new markets and developing new products. This has been done by revolutionizing the current practices, regular reinvention and constant renewal. Semco operates in a complex environment although the environment provides plenty of opportunities that might match its strengths. Semco needs to adopt a strategy of global companionship and to partner with international, well-reputed organizations to achieve economies, compete effectively and lead the market. It has to build strong bonding between the sister concerns and develop strong networks within the group and with parties external to the group. It needs a leadership that promotes mergers, acquisitions and alliances in order to continue its long run of success. 3.2: Plan development of leadership according to future needs: Semco needs to develop leadership that has the ability to foresee the future requirements and have a strong sense of responsibility. Semco needs to make use of the corporate parent theory to productively apply the concept of diversification through mergers and acquisitions. Strong communication skills are an essential attribute that must be developed to avoid ambiguities. The leader must be able to network well with inter-related parties and command respect so that others may give to heed his ideas. The leader should have the strength to accept his mistakes and the humility to give credit where it is due. Semcos culture is the core competency that it has developed over the years. Its competitors have been unsuccessful at adopting the culture, either because of lack of resources or lack of conviction. 4: Produce a future leadership plan for Semco

class struggles Essay -- essays research papers

Class Struggles In the Communist Manifesto Karl Marx explains his historical vision of a revolutionary class struggle between Bourgeois and Proletarians. His views are highlighted from the very beginning â€Å"The History of all hitherto societies has been the history of class struggles† (50). Focusing on the development and eventual destruction of the bourgeoisie, which was the dominant class of his day, and the rise of the working class, that of the Proletarians. I do understand that in some cases the system has a stain upon it and Marx was out to find the solution. Unfortunately he thought that by making a radical socialistic movement, and changing the a capitalist system to a communistic one that the answer would have been put in place. The idea is put in simple terms, but the complexity of actually making it a reality is not. I understand that the harsh conditions in which the Proletarians worked and lived was enough reason for a revolution. This is when Marx elaborates the social changes communists hope to effect on behalf of the proletariat. With communism they will get rid of private property, which is the primary base of the problem, "...the theory of the Communists may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of private property" (67). I tend to believe that a mans property is that of value, this is a creation that is a fruit to man. In other words he is claiming that with no private property t...

My Technologically Challenged Life Essay

Monica’s parents play a huge role in limiting her access to technology. They choose to not use technology which I think is the main reason why they wouldn’t buy a computer for their daughters. Their reasoning sounds extremely familiar to me because my parents have done the same kind of thing to me. I begged my parents for a cell phone from seventh grade until my sophomore year when I finally bought my own but they would always tell me I don’t need a cell phone while my mom had one and my dad had THREE for his work. Anyways, I can relate to Monica on many levels. 2. I don’t think Monica is to blame for her technological difficulties at all. I think the main reason she is having troubles is her parents except for the lack of technology in her car which is obviously the manufacturers doing and not her parents. The lack of technology at the health-care facility is a pretty big issue if you ask me. The technology the workers could be and probably should be usin g would greatly improve the efficiency of the jobs they do. 3. Wunderlich’s reference to the weekend when terrorists were â€Å"supposed to be blowing up† the bridges in san Francisco was her way of adding some comedy to the story because there was probably a bomb threat that day and she could have potentially died simply because she didn’t have a GPS and got lost. If she had owned a GPS at the time, she wouldn’t have gotten so lost and never would have been on both of the bridges on accident.

Free Essays on Handmaids Tale By Attwood

of Aunt Lydia, or more likely, is she silent to create emphasis on the horrific deed? The answer is easily satisfied when the reader finishes the novel. Offred must realize the injustices if she feels compelled to reveal her story on the tapes. She must grasp the importance of conveying the atrocities that were executed during the Gileadian area. Offred is representative of an average women also because she has experienced no great traumas. She isn’t just ambivalent because of her tendencies but because she has been abruptly interjected int... Free Essays on Handmaids Tale By Attwood Free Essays on Handmaids Tale By Attwood The creation of Offred, the passive narrator of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, was intentional. The personality of the narrator in this novel is almost as important as the task bestowed upon her. Atwood chooses an average women, appreciative of past times, who lacks imagination and fervor, to contrast the typical feminist, represented in this novel by her mother and her best friend, Moira. Atwood is writing for a specific audience, though through careful examination, it can be determined that the intended audience is actually the mass population. Although particular groups may find The Handmaid’s Tale more enjoyable than others, the purpose of the novel is to enlighten the general population, as opposed to being a source of entertainment. A specific group that may favor this novel is the women activists of the 1960's and 1970's. This group, in which Offred’s mother would be a member, is sensitive to the censorship that women once faced and would sh ow interest to the â€Å"possible future† that could result. Offred is symbolic of â€Å"every woman†. She was conventional in prior times, married with one daughter, a husband and a career. She is ambivalent to many things that may seem horrific to the reader. On page 93, Offred is witness to Janine’s confession of being raped. She doesn’t comment on how the blame is placed on Janine. Is this because Offred has begun to accept the words of Aunt Lydia, or more likely, is she silent to create emphasis on the horrific deed? The answer is easily satisfied when the reader finishes the novel. Offred must realize the injustices if she feels compelled to reveal her story on the tapes. She must grasp the importance of conveying the atrocities that were executed during the Gileadian area. Offred is representative of an average women also because she has experienced no great traumas. She isn’t just ambivalent because of her tendencies but because she has bee n abruptly interjected int...

Free Essays on Thin Line Between Love And Lust Sonnet 128

written are flattering. Yet the poet turns the flattering to lust when the compliments are more gratifying for his sexual desire than any love that may be present. The sonnet is full of compliments of this sort. Ten of the fourteen lines that make up the sonnet are devoted to compliments. Except the compliments, instead of being gratifying are obsessive and sexual. â€Å"I envy those jacks that nimble leap to kiss the tender inward of thy hand† (128.5-6). He is addressing his wish to be the keys on the virginal she is playing exhibiting his over obsessiveness. The sexual desire found here is also evident in line 12 â€Å"Making dead wood more blessed than living lips†. By finding the keys that touch her hand more blessed than his lips that stand alone the line simultaneously shows his vulgar want of the woman’s body. Clark 2 â€Å"Since saucy jacks so happy are in this† (13). He is in a sense putting down her in a vulgar manner by telling the woman playing the instrument that her keys are irrelevant to the situation. As if she needs to quit the playing that she is enjoying doing and pay attention to him. Along with the obscene vulgar ness he displays an unfulfilled longing for the woman he feels the need to control and jealously of the keys that get the chance to touch her body. â€Å"Whilst my poor lips, which should that harvest reap... Free Essays on Thin Line Between Love And Lust Sonnet 128 Free Essays on Thin Line Between Love And Lust Sonnet 128 There is a Thin Line Between Love and Lust In Shakespeare’s sonnets the idea of love is a frequent topic. The love he normally speaks of is disclosing a sense of purity. However in sonnet 128 Shakespeare proclaims a pure love that can be viewed as promiscuous and lustful. At first sight sonnet 128 seems to contain an unalloyed love and desire for someone else. Nothing in the sonnet seems to have a negative tone intently. Actually the words written are flattering. Yet the poet turns the flattering to lust when the compliments are more gratifying for his sexual desire than any love that may be present. The sonnet is full of compliments of this sort. Ten of the fourteen lines that make up the sonnet are devoted to compliments. Except the compliments, instead of being gratifying are obsessive and sexual. â€Å"I envy those jacks that nimble leap to kiss the tender inward of thy hand† (128.5-6). He is addressing his wish to be the keys on the virginal she is playing exhibiting his over obsessiveness. The sexual desire found here is also evident in line 12 â€Å"Making dead wood more blessed than living lips†. By finding the keys that touch her hand more blessed than his lips that stand alone the line simultaneously shows his vulgar want of the woman’s body. Clark 2 â€Å"Since saucy jacks so happy are in this† (13). He is in a sense putting down her in a vulgar manner by telling the woman playing the instrument that her keys are irrelevant to the situation. As if she needs to quit the playing that she is enjoying doing and pay attention to him. Along with the obscene vulgar ness he displays an unfulfilled longing for the woman he feels the need to control and jealously of the keys that get the chance to touch her body. â€Å"Whilst my poor lips, which should that harvest reap...

A report on Five Internet Sites related to Language Development Essay

A report on Five Internet Sites related to Language Development - Essay Example Responses of growing children at specific age ranges are well defined in this chart. The first section deals with children below six months of age when vocalization and cognition of vocal stimuli begin to manifest. The child is able to discern between friendly and angry tones. In the next six months and by the end of first year children begin to use fragmented or whole monosyllables for communication and begin to comprehend the social value of verbal communication. After the elapse of another six months the child has a vocabulary of approximately 5-20 words, develops the habit of repeating words over and over and starts following simple commands. Vocabulary increases in the subsequent months although volume and pitch of the voice are often not well controlled. By the end of three years the child starts making intelligible use of verbs as well and develops reasoning ability. Cognitive ability is enhanced as the child attains the age of 5 years and can speak about things not present in its immediate environment. Speech at this stage is usually grammatically correct and the child comprehends the concept of time. Subsequent years result in dramatic developments and by the age of 8 years the child is expected to read and write as well. At this stage pitch and volume of the uttered sentences are well developed and can carry out healthy conversations. The site provides further links to parents to develop better communication with their off springs and handle speech and language problems at the right stage. It highlights the role of parents as instruments in assisting their children to develop better language skills. The site hosted by the popular search engine ‘About.com’ has a scholarly article on language development in the early years by Kimberly L. Keith, under the major title of Child Parenting. It focuses on the psychological aspects of the

Principles of Quality Management Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Principles of Quality Management Systems - Essay Example Total quality states the culture and attitude of an organization with the sole purpose of satisfying its customers with its products and services. The culture element in quality control is all pervasive in a company’s operations, removing the faults at first notice to achieve total quality control standards set in the principles of quality management systems. TQM is essentially customer-driven. It is run by top management, where improvement is a continuous process to satisfy customer needs as fast as possible. Products and services are improvised on the basis of collected data and its analysis. The employees participate in the best of team spirit feelings to attain a TQM culture and environment. All departments of an organization work for customer satisfaction – becoming internal customers first by operating as customers to some functions so that any loopholes may be checked and rectified before the product is Okayed for supply to venders. Thus, different parts of a company first become customers of its own products for some functions, then supplier to venders, who play a positive role in the process of total quality management for customer satisfaction. Products are developed in a TQM environment, where attention is paid to enhance and add quality and value to a product by checking errors instead of negative criticism. In a proce ss-oriented atmosphere, team members interact with their internal customers to attain total quality. Venders, who are external customers, become a part in the process of fulfilling customers’ demands, expectations, wishes and needs. Another important principle of Quality management systems is its â€Å"process approach†. This stress on process approach is fundamental to Quality Management Systems BS EN ISO 9001:2000.This standard is the "granddaddy" of global quality management system standards, and is designed to be used by any organization as the foundation for a QMS. It