Solar Energy And Its Social Consequences Essays - Energy Economics

Solar Energy and Its Social Consequences To understand the social consequences of solar energy, one must be aware of what solar energy is. Solar energy is a radiant energy produced in the sun as a result of nuclear fusion reactions. It is transmitted to the earth through space in quanta of energy called photons, which interact with the earth's atmosphere and surface. The strength of solar radiation at the outer edge of the earth's atmosphere when the earth is at its average distance from the sun is called the solar constant. The intensity of energy actually available at the earth's surface is less than the solar constant because of the absorption and scattering of radiant energy as photons interact with the earth's atmosphere (Thorsen, 1997, Encarta). The amount and strength of the solar energy available at any point on the earth depends on the day of the year, time of day, the latitude of the collection point, and the orientation of the object used in collection. The earth is rich in abundant natural resources. However, the earth's natural resources are being consumed at an astronomical rate. It will only be a matter of time before those resources are depleted and we are forced to consider other alternatives. We can wait until every resource has been consumed and go back to living the way mankind did a century ago, or we can continue to move forward and explore the possibilities of harnessing the power of something that remains constant in our lives?the sun. Mankind has been using the natural energy of the sun for ages. Interactions between the sun's energy, the oceans, and the atmosphere produce winds that have been used for centuries to turn windmills. Modern applications of wind energy, when attached to generators, produce electricity. Through photosynthesis, solar energy contributes to the growth of plant life masses that can be used as fuel, such as alcohol or methane. Solar energy is a clean and safe source of natural energy that should be considered as an alternative energy source for the future. The sun is not indigenous to any one country. It is a resource that can be utilized globally. Individuals and countries could possibly become more self sufficient in energy resources (Alcorn, 1997, p. 212). An idea that has been proposed to produce power on a large scale would involve placing giant solar modules in earth's orbit where energy generated from sunlight would be converted to microwaves and beamed to antennas on earth to be converted to electric power (Thorsen, 1997, Encarta). To produce as much power a five nuclear power plants, ten million pounds and several square miles of solar collectors would have to be assembled in orbit and an earth based antenna five miles in diameter would be required. This vision requires an exorbitant amount of money. To my knowledge, there isn't a government on earth that is willing, thus far, to fund such a project. The potential future uses of solar energy are confronted with opposition. So far, the cost of constructing devices that would be able to harness a free energy source is at the top of the list. I realize there is a lot of money involved, but I really can't think of any technological discovery that was free to begin with. Every invention has come about through scientific research, and research requires money. Some have expressed concern regarding certain industries having to change their products to supply the new needs of society (Alcorn, 1997, p. 213). Due to new and expected futures advances in technology, the world will always be forever changing. Some industries will initially absorb some monetary and opportunity costs, but it is the price they will have to pay for progression. Another public concern is Mother Nature. If we experience too many cloudy days in a row; then we will need a backup source of energy. Perhaps it would be a good idea to explore the possibilities and fund th e research for solar energy before we deplete our backup resources.

Free Essays on Osama BinLaden

Introduction I don’t agree with the Muslim extremist leader Usuma Bin Laden but in order to comprehend our nation’s current state, we must realize why such a person would commit such heinous crimes against humanity to please his leader, himself, and his followers. In order to understand his ideals we look behind so-called enemy lines to see why he does this. I will inform the class how he influences his people, and why the United States disagrees. Body of Speech I. Why does Usama Bin Laden commit these acts of terror on America and its people? 1.Back in 1979 during the cold war when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, bin Laden joined forces against the Soviet Union. a. Afghanistan received funds by the U.S. during the conflict b. The U.S trained bin Laden during the war. c. After the conflict the U.S. pulled out and left. 2. Another reason why bin Laden has such a hatred for U.S. is its infiltration into the holy land or the â€Å"land of the two Mosques.† a. During and after the Gulf War the United States occupied Saudi Arabia and set up permanent military presence in the region, which is also the â€Å"two most holy places in Islam† Mecca and Medina. b. Bin Laden feels that the U.S. should have no involvement in the Holy Lands of the Middle East. 3. Usuma Bin Laden’s people are constantly undergoing warfare in which he thinks is brought on solely by the United States. II. How does bin Laden influence his followers to justify these acts and some case carry them out. 1. He is seen as a hero and/or pope like figure to his people. 2. His followers believe that Bin laden will lead them to a better life, and that terrorist acts upon the U.S. propel them. 3. Bin Laden is much like any other religious extremist by taking excerpts from the Curran (Muslim bible) and exploiting them. III. Why will the people of America never understand Usama Bin Laden’s viewpoints?... Free Essays on Osama BinLaden Free Essays on Osama BinLaden Introduction I don’t agree with the Muslim extremist leader Usuma Bin Laden but in order to comprehend our nation’s current state, we must realize why such a person would commit such heinous crimes against humanity to please his leader, himself, and his followers. In order to understand his ideals we look behind so-called enemy lines to see why he does this. I will inform the class how he influences his people, and why the United States disagrees. Body of Speech I. Why does Usama Bin Laden commit these acts of terror on America and its people? 1.Back in 1979 during the cold war when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, bin Laden joined forces against the Soviet Union. a. Afghanistan received funds by the U.S. during the conflict b. The U.S trained bin Laden during the war. c. After the conflict the U.S. pulled out and left. 2. Another reason why bin Laden has such a hatred for U.S. is its infiltration into the holy land or the â€Å"land of the two Mosques.† a. During and after the Gulf War the United States occupied Saudi Arabia and set up permanent military presence in the region, which is also the â€Å"two most holy places in Islam† Mecca and Medina. b. Bin Laden feels that the U.S. should have no involvement in the Holy Lands of the Middle East. 3. Usuma Bin Laden’s people are constantly undergoing warfare in which he thinks is brought on solely by the United States. II. How does bin Laden influence his followers to justify these acts and some case carry them out. 1. He is seen as a hero and/or pope like figure to his people. 2. His followers believe that Bin laden will lead them to a better life, and that terrorist acts upon the U.S. propel them. 3. Bin Laden is much like any other religious extremist by taking excerpts from the Curran (Muslim bible) and exploiting them. III. Why will the people of America never understand Usama Bin Laden’s viewpoints?...

Midterm Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Midterm - Essay Example For instance, the company needs to determine; the target market, political aspects, economical aspects, beliefs and culture, and if there are any legal matters that the Company ought to familiarize with. Since, it is significant to exalt immediate reaction to a few inclinations that may be present that ought to offer the company a competitive benefit internationally. Thus, the company necessitates a strategic tactic that is in amidst the company’s preeminent interest to define how the company will successfully succeed other company in the market. Rationally, for the company to be prosperous it needs to first understand and comprehend the challenges that the company products face from other companies Comprehensive and Transnational Business The above move targets the company to identify a policy that ensures the company’s product achieve an overwhelming support from across all markets. â€Å"No society can surely be flourishing and happy of which by far the greater part of the numbers are poor and miserable.† (Baffoe-Bonnie & Mohammed, 75) The reason as to why The company should consider mining of diamonds To Intensify sales and control the diamonds market Safeguard the company future To curb the adverse risks that come a long with losses from the company’s current products The company’s goal is to acquire new market that for the company’s products within two months by requesting for appointments, induction of new social media publicizing operation and networking with homegrown business ventures. This goal will allow the company to grow and increase its revenue. However, there some geographical aspects to consider. Currently, some parts of the country suffer from poor infrastructure, adverse weather conditions like flooding and scarce energy materials for manufacturing processes. Reoccurring earthquakes and tropical weather conditions; The Company needs to fully consider and come up with strategic plans to avert the afor ementioned problem from affecting the company. The Political and Legal Environments Facing the Business The political setting of the US the most influential on earth, thus it is very stable. The two foremost political parties: Democrats and Republicans are the ones that determine the US politics. Besides, Citizens interests are competing and thus differ on the basis of their different families, their race or age. Operational concerns Starting up a business- requires registering the company name, finding licenses, authentic certifications and documentation, and insurance. Making and implementing contracts- an inclusive contract needs to be placed in the location that is a lawfully binding, what activates a breach and necessitates legal act, principles that contrast across boundaries, and debate the legal consequences basing on the legal structures of the US Employee hiring and sacking- the company prerequisites to comprehend the legal consequences that come along with labor issues. B usiness culture in the new product Culture are the arts, ideals, insolences, and beliefs and other indices of human rational achievement considered collectively. Communication language in the office is English, thus it is advantageous to the company as most employs are conversant with the English language. The companies that deal with diamonds require gem diamonds. The above diamonds are abundant in the company’s mining fields. Cultural modification issues may surface in the company The company’s products depict high quality as compared to others. Therefore, the company must

Katrina Course work Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Katrina Course work - Coursework Example If people will not do something about it, chances are, the city will eventually vanish. Hurricane Katrina started as a tropical depression twelve due to the interaction of the tropical wave and the tropical depression. It transformed into the tropical storm status and in the span of 2 hours became a hurricane. The intensity ceased for a moment but came back growing from Category 3 hurricane to category 5 in the span of 9 hours. It decreased its intensity when it was absorbed by a frontal boundary. Yes, because the continuous rise of the intensity of the hurricane from tropical depression was nonstop. It started as a tropical depression on the 23rd of August, and within just a few hours, it transformed into category 1, to category 3, and finally made its strongest as category 5 hurricane. No, Hurricane Katrina was an extremely powerful storm. It was just too strong making it one of the five deadliest hurricanes in America and Katrina could easily change its intensity in just a few hours making it hard for the government and the people to make thorough

Consumer Behavior Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Consumer Behavior - Research Paper Example It was primarily responsible for introducing smartphones to the public. This product made consumers realise that they could browse the web, communicate and do several other things on their mobile phones. It was after the Apple iPhone that the mobile app market rose to its current status. Apple was not the engineer or pioneer of mobile applications or smart phones; however, they were responsible for introducing it to the mass market. Through their elegant presentation, gracious store atmosphere, and well planned innovations, the company has garnered a loyal following from electronic and mobile enthusiasts alike (Sass 2). Every time Apple launches a new version of the IPhone, hoards of consumers will be waiting in line at any of their stores for the purchase of its products. Sometimes, buyers may camp outside their branches overnight. The organisation may get pre-orders for about 2 million iphones within the first hour of release. For the past five years, the same hype has been created around Apple’s products, and it looks like this trend will continue in the foreseeable future. As explained earlier, clanning is a phenomenon that takes place among consumers who share similar values and interests. Part of the reason why Apple products create a lot of excitement is the fact that they bring together persons with similar interests. When one consumer was asked why they would wait for hours in line in order to buy an iPhone, the person replied that it is an opportunity to meet people who have the same passion. The company has a community of enthusiasts who simply enjoy being part of something new and exciting. They thrive in the anticipation and suspense created around a new product launch. Apple is well aware of this consumer behaviour, thus explaining why it always creates a lot of secrecy around its launches (Vuong 6). The organisation never tells buyers how many phones it has stocked in order to create suspense.

McDonalds Change Management Case Study

McDonalds Change Management Case Study In this report I will analyze the handling of a significant change that occurred in McDonalds few years back, how the management and other employees reacted to this change, how the resistance was handled, what were the major factors that led this change happen and to what extent the change was successful in achieving companys objectives. It is very important for organizations to prepare themselves for the changes that they may have to face in order to compete with the latest development that is happening within and outside their environment. However these changes can bring many improvements and progress to that organization in certain aspects. For example it may be helpful for making the work easier; it can open ways for future innovations and can also help to generally improve peoples life. Colin Carnall (2002) The primary purpose of my report is to provide insights about the change management process in McDonalds that occurred recently and evaluate the outcome of implementing it. Moreover to highlight any resistance associated with it and how it was overcome by the management. SECTION 1 1.1 A Little about McDonalds McDonalds started its operations in 1954. As everybody is now familiar with the clown character which is Ronald McDonald, that has been designed as the trademark for the company. McDonalds restaurants offer a uniform menu to a large extent, including hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, French fries, salads, milk shakes, desserts and ice cream sundaes. The companys top sellers are the Big Mac, Quarter Pounder with cheese, the Fillet-o-Fish and Chicken McNuggets. The customer target of McDonalds is usually children and young people. 1.2 Brief description of the recent change occurred in McDonalds Though McDonalds has a reputable brand image and a memorable history of previous achievements, yet management at McDonalds started feeling that the growing population has developed different nutritional attitude and behaviours as they are extremely different from the population of the previous decades. They felt a severe need to redefine the image of McDonalds and repositioning the brand in the minds of customers as people today are more concerned with their health and figures than ever before. Since last few years peoples perception about McDonalds food has changed considerably, as they feel that it provides greasy food which is very high in fats and more expensive than its competitors, whereas the competitors have already made measures to reduce fats in their products and also provide less expensive meals. Moreover McDonalds had to face a considerable loss few years back as the consumers began to switch to its competitors, such as Burger King, Subway and KFC for the reason that the y offer fresher and high quality food at comparatively lower price with faster service. In order to keep gaining the market share and retaining its customers McDonalds had to respond to the changing behaviour of consumers. Furthermore, noticing that the obesity issue in the UK is getting serious and complex, McDonalds received a big challenge to implement certain changes the soonest possible time. Understanding the changing behaviour of its consumers and the health-conscious factor prevailing in the market, Management finally decided to implement a new integrated marketing communication plan as part of their marketing strategy that mainly involved innovations in their advertising and promotional campaigns focussing on changing the customers perception for McDonalds food quality. 1.3 Main Objectives in making this change The main objectives of McDonalds for adapting to the changing demand of its customers were: Implementation of Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) plan as part of their marketing strategy. Providing a balanced diet and an active lifestyle Operating with freedom to adapt practices to local markets, and to share best practices internationally between restaurants, markets and countries, while holding on to a common brand identity Innovation in advertising and promotional campaigns To be the customers favourite place and way to eat Effectively tackling the obesity Adopting a new health-conscious brand image Meeting the latest trend of health awareness and the growing concern in obesity among the children and target market Introducing a new, separate low-fat menu for children Changing the public image of McDonalds Maintaining the traditional efficiency of fast food restaurant and provide comfortable environment to customers. 2.1 Main Drivers of the change Like most big companies, McDonalds engages with a variety of different stakeholders in the countries where it operates, as well as monitoring all pending political initiatives. McDonalds is a large multinational business with many stores on high streets and in shopping centres across the country. As such, the company is affected by the external factors that impact all retail business in UK. The main drivers of this change are described as under: Environmental Shifts Changing social needs and market demands of customers Increased awareness in people about health and food consumption and safety Emerging diet programs that encourages public to be figure conscious Growing concern in obesity among target market Latest trends of health awareness Technological Changes Innovation by the competitors Developments in technology Economic trends and developments Market Competition consumer confidence local environment competitive pressure 2.2 Explaining the need for change using appropriate framework Above are the main derivers that created a need for changing the brand image of McDonalds over the last few years. Below I will explain in detail using models and frameworks as to how these drivers created the need for this change which took place. 2.2.1 PESTEL ANALYSIS In this section, I will explain the all the factors (drivers) of this change with the use of the Pestel Analysis that comprises of political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal factors that combine to be the main reason for bringing a change in an organisation. (P)olitical factors McDonalds just like other organizations follow certain rules and regulations imposed by the government. For that reason they need to obey all the policies in order to achieve their organizational goals. The UK government is very particular about health and safety of its people and have set some standards to be met by every food chain in order to keep the business running so McDonalds had to bring this change of repositioning itself in its consumers minds so as to give them a positive image of their food quality and price. (E)conomic factors Due to the heavy slump in the economy, people have become much more price sensitive than ever before. Every single penny counts a lot now. Therefore they want to spend for the quality food that matches their demand, in other words they want return of every single penny they pay and that return includes the quality and satisfaction. These changing economic trends actually affected the profitability in terms of value for money and highly created a need for McDonalds to adapt itself to the changing market demand and standards. (S)ocial factors Social factors include the changing lifestyle of people which has made them more health conscious and safety sensitive. In case of food chain, demographics play an important role to affect the market conditions. Therefore, the age group which is the main target market for McDonalds is between 10-50yrs that includes children and young people who are truly becoming more aware of diet planning day by day due to the increased information available to them through various research planners and diet programs that encourage them to be figure conscious. This changing style of target market was a big challenge for McDonalds to keep itself running successfully that could only be achieved by adapting itself to the environmental change and delivering what customer actually demands from them. (T)echnological factors Advancement in technology has too much affected the mindset of people. As the technology evolves so does the human behaviour. With the use of internet and information technology, people have become more aware and active. They have got a quick access to all types of information, be it diet planning or education or environment or safety or any other issue. Developments in technology highly demands from businesses to evolve themselves as and when required by their consumers and same was the case with McDonalds. (E)nvironmental Environment is a very vital part of every business. McDonalds faces a tough competition by its competitors including Subway, KFC and Burger King. Realizing that its competitors are evolving their business according to the changing lifestyle of customers, McDonalds was forced to take prompt decision in order to beat the competition and staying ahead of it. (L)egal Legal factors involved the safety regulations as set by the government for all food chains. These regulations are actually set keeping in mind the customers needs and are also monitored and improved on regular basis as per the changing lifestyle of consumers. Consumer protection is another factor that McDonalds is expected to consider while doing business as part of the legal bindings. SECTION 3 3.1 Evaluating the process of change management by McDonalds In this section I am going to evaluate the effectiveness of the process of change management by McDonalds. Their main aim was to change the mindset of the consumers and creating positive perception and image of McDonalds in their minds. Here I will use ADKAR model of change management to analyze the effectiveness of the process adopted by the management of McDonalds to bring this change in place. This model comprises of five key goals including awareness, desire, knowledge, ability and reinforcement. Below is the in depth analysis of the change management process of McDonalds. 3.1.1 ADKAR MODEL OF CHANGE MANAGEMENT Awareness Awareness helps the company to realise and feel the need for bringing certain change that is why it is considered as a basic tool for innovation. In this case, when management felt that their sales started going down they tried to look for the reasons and found that the living style and needs of their target market has evolved. They realised that people have become too much health conscious, which is why they started to consider the fast food as unhealthy and greasy food. This gave them the awareness about the lifestyle of their target market and their changing demands. Desire Desire relates to the strength of McDonalds to participate and support the change. It is quite understood that every organization wants to excel in the market by making huge profits and customer satisfaction so does McDonalds. With the economic development there has been a great change in peoples living standard as they have become more concerned about their health issues. Realizing this, the management at McDonalds responded to the changing demands of its customers in a very supportive way, and was successful to handle the resistance by other staff members. Knowledge It was important for McDonalds to have knowledge of how to change itself in order to match with the changing market demand. Once it was aware of the changing behaviour of the target market and was ready to adopt a change, management focused on what they needed to do in order to retain and satisfy the customers in the long run. The external factors including the competitors strengths and the changing consumers behaviour gave McDonalds, knowledge of what exactly to be done to make it stable and running. Ability McDonalds ability to implement the change can be analyzed by evaluating its goal and objectives. McDonalds goal was to implement Integrated marketing Campaign to adopt a new health-conscious image in the minds of customers. It focussed heavily on the advertising and promotional campaign of the company. The company decided to introduce a new low fat menu for children that would help them to overcome the growing bad publicity about McDonalds food for being rich in fat and to manage the obesity issue among children. Realizing the importance of consumers health, McDonalds introduced McKids Meals having both nutritional value and no fat thus making it different from the traditional McDonalds meals. Moreover the innovation in their Integrated Marketing Communication provided an effective advertising and public relations campaign to successfully introduce the new McDonalds to the public. Moreover they introduced McChicken Premiere and a zesty chicken to satisfy customers desire for good quality products at affordable prices. To keep the children, it also started to give more choices with Happy Meal including no-sugar-add fruit drink that is a low fat drink and also McDonalds coffee which appeals to adult. Furthermore McDonalds have responded in time to the changing healthy trend by adding salads and other lighter options in their menu. As children are one of the biggest consumers groups to McDonalds, therefore they paid considerable attention to them. They tried to provide a huge variety for children including the happy land with happy meals with toys. They believe that if they make themselves best suited for children, they can attract the whole family too. Finally the foundation for all above innovations was the Integrated Marketing Communication through the use of attractive advertising and promotional activities which could promote these new products in the market and made people aware of these innovations. These promotions were the basic tool for creating a positive perception in consumers minds for McDonalds and gaining their trust back. Therefore McDonalds created its new image in the market by the use of new advertisements and new theme I love it even more!. Reinforcement It was not enough to bring the change or adapt to the changing environment but it highly demanded from McDonalds to retain the change in the long run. That is why reinforcement of practicing and retaining that change played a vital role as post implementation of that change. McDonalds is quite successful to reinforce its employees to continuously practice retain their changed positive image in consumers minds. This was successfully done through positive encouragement and other rewards for the employees. 3.2 Resistance occurred in implementing this change Different people react differently to a change in the organisation. However it is important to accept this reality that resistance is always there in any form which may be there before, during or after the implementation of the change. McDonalds had to face certain conflicts and resistances in the process of bringing this change. This resistance came both from customers and McDonalds employees. Some of the employees were in favour of implementing Integrated Marketing Communication whereas some were against it and same was the case of customers as some of them opposed the change whereas others liked it. Overall the company faced following main conflicts/resistance: Different assessments of the situation Some managers and employees opposed it because they had a fear of the company being going into a loss if this implementation would not help to produce a positive result. They were confused that this change may make the problem more complicated and could make bad impression of McDonalds in customers minds instead of improving it. Moreover they were quite uncertain about the capability of the team that was dedicated by McDonalds to bring the required IMC (Integrated Marketing Communication) in place. They were thinking that the team may not be able to produce an effective quality due to lack of knowledge. Lack of communication and inadequate information The other resistance was related to the technological facilities being used by the McDonalds team. As employees thought that the systems that were used by the McDonalds team to implement IMC campaign might be downgraded due to the rapid advancement in the field of IT these days. Therefore they were very unsure whether the customers would have a positive reaction to their new campaign or not, which could result in not achieving the core objective of the change for McDonald as a whole. Low tolerance of change Another conflict among the managers was related to the experience of the team that was organized to help sustain the implementation of the changes. Some of the managers had a view that McDonalds may face a shortage of qualified workforce to keep up the capability of the marketing communication approach. Cultural differences among employees Another issue was the cultural differences among the staff that created some inner conflicts. Due to this the team may not function with proper co-ordination thus making the implementation of change be more complicated. Unwillingness to take risk Another resistance came from the staff was due to unwillingness to take risk. They were quite doubtful about the reaction of customers after the implementation of this change. Psychological resistance involved with new working challenge Management and employees were also resistant due to pressure of working with a new challenge and new environment. 3.3 How McDonalds managed the Resistance to change It was really a crucial phase for McDonalds to implement these changes and overcoming the resistance by employees and customers. Management knew that their plan would only be successful if they would be able to handle this resistance successfully as they knew that achieving their organisational goals entirely depends upon the way any resistance to it is managed. They had to obtain the strong support in sustaining the success as bringing the change is something that has to be a continuous process that needs equally important post implementation attention as well. However comprehending the whole scenario, McDonalds tried its best to overcome the resistance by adopting following techniques: Involving everyone in the process of change For McDonalds, the most important point to start with solving the resistance was to involve everyone in the change process so that everybody should undergo some learning experiences in order to understand and appreciate the objectives of that change. Management provided them complete information to let them understand the objectives in making this change so that they must realize and appreciate the importance of doing this and also let the employees feel that they are important in making this change successful. This helped McDonalds in gaining the support from the staff and overcoming their resistance. Face-to-face interaction to gain trust of employees The management created an environment where they can have face-to-face interaction with all employees to develop strong interpersonal relationships and trust. Providing enough time to employees It was important for the management to let employees understand the changing environment and required changes to be made accordingly. For that employees need to have tacit knowledge which comes from observation and experience so management tried to provide space to employees to learn from their experience and observe the surroundings. Providing updated technology to facilitate knowledge management As the management was responsible to implement this change so they decided to deteriorate all the negative responses related to the technology, by providing the customers, employees and staff their respective demands. For that they provided the staff with the technology that could last much longer. Moreover they facilitated them with systems that guaranteed long lasting functions in order to assure them that the technology they will be using is quite compatible with the latest development in the world of IT. Education and Communication Managers tried to educate and inform people about the change effort so as to why it was needed and the expected outcome of that change which would be for the betterment of the company and employees as well. This helped the employees to realize the logic in the change effort. It also reduced any doubts in their minds about the negative effects of the change. Training and follow-up programs for the team involved As far as the conflict was raised regarding the deficiency of the talented team that was designed to work for the marketing communication, McDonalds decided to conduct special follow-up programs for the staff that was involved in the said changes, which would enable them to receive proper training and development required to implement the required changes. Developing a thriving organizational culture To overcome the inner conflict that was raised due to differences in culture, the management of McDonald developed a thriving organizational culture and a stronger organization by proper management of the staff, providing them what they actually deserved in order to motivate them. They highly focussed on the proper handling of elements such as organizational design, compensation programs for employees, performance management and career path in order to motivate employees and create interest in them to word dedicatedly for the company and support them bringing this change. Furthermore, the human capital management of the McDonalds also incorporated a process to ensure equality among employees to make them feel an important part of the organization irrespective of their cultural differences. This helped them gaining employees loyalty and hard that not only helped the employees but also the organization. Overall McDonalds management was quite successful in handling the resistance and conflicts raised by employees and customers and they all participated and supported the implementation and helped McDonalds gain its positive image back. SECTION 4 4.1 Assessing the effectiveness of the Change in meeting its Objectives It was very important for McDonalds to handle the conflicts and resistance carefully because it is something which leads to the success or failure of the change for being properly handled or by being neglected otherwise. Therefore management of McDonalds understood the importance of handling the resistance properly in order to make the change occur successfully. However McDonalds was quite successful in implementing the change effectively and was able to meet its following objectives: Shifting the attitude of children Shifting the attitude of children about healthy fast food meals was not easy but through proper marketing communications and campaigns strong encouraging characteristics, management was quite successful in doing it. As parents are the one who are responsible for eating patterns of their children so McDonalds aim was to encourage parents about their new healthier food plans for children and let them enjoy McDonalds more than ever before. Positive Image Building McDonalds new image successfully created a place in minds of people as they could see the new advertisements of McDonalds at all types of media which let them associate with the brand in a more positive way than ever before. Through the new advertisements and new theme of I love it even more! McDonalds was successful in encouraging parents to let their children eat healthy meals. This helped them to achieve its main objective of positive image building. Creating a safe environment Moreover the management was able to implement the change effectively by creating a safe environment for change that encouraged all employees to support and stay committed to the organizational efforts in bringing the change to meet its overall objectives. This helped them to overcome all the conflicts raised by employees and customers, before and during the implementation of these changes. Gaining organizational strength and competitiveness This change also helped McDonalds to enhance its overall organizational strength and competitiveness by gaining customer loyalty back and positive image building of the brand. People started associating themselves again with McDonalds and started encouraging their children to eat McDonalds which was the core element for bringing this change. Expand the business portfolio Moreover it also encouraged the management to strengthen and expand its business portfolio and survive to the tough competition in the market. By gaining its customers back, McDonalds started to earn more market share as compared to its competitors which led them to enter new market with same brand and expand the business to be childrens most favourite place to eat and entertain themselves. 4.2 Assessing the need for any further changes As people are getting very particular about their health so it is necessary for McDonalds to retain its good image in minds of customers and to maintain its food quality and standard along with the prices. They may need to focus on producing low fat products and should think of entertaining children in a lot more other ways as well just like the play section they already have. They need to keep a proper check on the services of its competitors so as to manage it accordingly. McDonalds must try to maintain its services in order to cope up with the changing social needs and market requirements. Furthermore management at McDonalds should be able to carefully plan such innovation and they must use effective strategic tools to implement such change in future as well, this would help them to achieve its vision of a food industry that provides a health-conscious sub-image which is consistent with the latest trend in health awareness today and for the future. Moreover the management leaders at McDonalds should always try to monitor what is working and not working in the process of the organization change in order to implement the change effectively. Such changes will help McDonalds to enhance its competitiveness and strength. Whenever the management observes the need of any further change, then that is the only time, they must impose required changes to be done in order to save the company to undergo any downturn again. It is recommended that McDonalds must see to it that any further changes are well planned and implemented carefully, because these will be the basis for the success or failure of the organization. McDonalds must continuously review, update and improve its products according to the changing environment in order to ensure and enhance its competitiveness.

The Philosophy of Medicine :: Epistemology

The Philosophy of Medicine Philosophy of Medicine? In Arthur Caplan's 1992 paper entitled "Does The Philosophy of Medicine Exist?" he argues that if a philosophy of medicine existed it would be concerned with epistemological or metaphysical questions. Caplan states "The goal of the philosophy of medicine is epistemological" (71). Caplan adds "the goal of the inquiry is to understand what those in medicine think they know and why they think they know it" (71). In conversation with Professor Caplan he has recently stated that he still holds the conclusion of his paper: namely, that a philosophy of medicine does not currently exist.[1] It will be my general aim to look at the discussion that takes place in some of the analysis of the medical field with a focus on epistemology. Specifically it will be my intention to distinguish in some of the topical literature if the questions raised are rightly epistemological yet or in need of some clarification. I accept Professor Caplan's stipulative definition that states that a field "must be well-integrated with other cognate inquiries and disciplines, have an established canon of key books, textbooks, anthologies and articles, and a set of distinctive and defining problems" (67). Epistemology meets all of these requirements. In attempts to assist medicine, authors from various quarters have offered analyses but confused what is and is not rightly epistemology. This confusion in turn blurs the distinction between philosophy in medicine and philosophy of medicine.[2] The resulting cloudiness may be an obstacle in the way of the development of the philosophy of medicine. I believe the importance of merely recognizing whether we are asking questions about the thinkers or about that which may not be the thinker is a particularly relevant foundation to philosophy of medicine. In line with an element of Professor Caplan's definition of the philosophy of medicine (69), I will attempt to explicate the key concepts in philosophy in medicine of 'uncertainty' and 'underdetermination.' Epistemology Epistemology is a branch of philosophy that is concerned with theories of knowledge. Its study focuses around the nature, scope, and basis of knowledge, and the reliability of claims to knowledge. Epistemology must often take up debates over where and how knowledge is obtained, and the role of reason.[3] The tools of epistemologists consist of, but are not limited to, truth-bearers, truth-makers, truth-conditions, sentences, propositions, beliefs, criteria, justification, foundations, certainty, determination, coherence, usefulness,and correspondence. All these terms carry different weight and notions within individual epistemological theories, and need not be fully unpacked to serve their purpose in this investigation.

A Critique of the Lin Article Essay

Lin, Mack, Enright, and Baskin (2004) state that prior to the writing of this article anger and related emotions have already been associated as triggers within the realm of substance abuse. As way of illustration the authors cite the Project Match 12-step facilitation therapy manual which states that â€Å"Anger and resentment are pivotal emotions for most recovering alcoholics† (Nowinski, Baker, & Carroll, as found in Lin et al, 2004, p. 1114). The traditional therapeutic method of choice within treatment settings has been that of anger management. The focus of this form of treatment is in establishing surface level coping mechanisms by â€Å"attempting to teach patients to more effectively manage or express anger rather than actually decrease their anger† (Dakken et al, 1995 as found in Lin et al, 2004 p. 1114). The authors present that there is insufficient documentation related to the efficacy of this approach. An alternative approach has been developed by a number of researchers titled Forgiveness Therapy (FT). FT states that while anger, resentment and other accompanying related emotions are correct responses to severe violations, harmful results are attributed to the same on a daily basis. The therapeutic goal, therefore, is in assisting the client in working towards educating the client regarding healthy forgiveness as a choice. The authors advise that â€Å"Robust results have been found when FT has been applied to certain populations† and â€Å"has been shown to decrease the frequency and severity of anger, anxiety and depression rather than simply improving individuals’ ability to cope with these emotions† (Lin et al, 2004, p. 115). Lin et al, (2004) chose support for the validity of FT by presenting the hypothesis that inpatient clients for substance abuse treatment who received FT would demonstrate â€Å"less anger, depression, anxiety, and vulnerability to substance abuse† than similar clients who received traditional anger management treatment. Subjects were randomly chosen within a treatment center to receive either FT or Alcohol and Drug Counseling (ADC) treatment from a group of suggested participants. All were diagnosed as substance abusers. Each participated in four instruments: The EFI, which is a sixty item self-report measure of self forgiveness, the BD1-11, which measures symptoms related to depression, the CSE1 which evaluates attitudes towards self, and STAI which assesses anxiety. Each participant also became involved in a 12 week program, either within the FT procedure or the ADC procedure. The ending result verified the original hypothesis for the researchers in that the FT group â€Å"demonstrated significantly greater improvement from pretest to posttest† (Lin et al, 2004, p. 117), as well as a marked difference in retention of improvements between the two therapeutic groups after four weeks apart from the therapy sessions. The authors did present five cautions. The first was the lack of being able to generalize the findings of the study due to the size of the testing. The second is the degree to which resentments are the norm within client’s treatment histories. The third caution is related to the need for the client to persevere within the therapy due to the length and depth of the therapy involved. The fourth caution is related to providing time for follow up data beyond the initial four month time frame which was provided for the purposes of this study. The fifth caution is that there may have possibly been some unforeseen effects by the therapist involved within the experiment since only one therapist conducted therapy for both groups. The authors summarize their findings by stating that chemical dependency issues may be linked to or are a result of unresolved negative emotional issues such as anger and resentment, and that future study of comparing and contrasting FT with more traditional anger management may continue to reinforce the advantage of therapeutically engaging in root issues rather than simply reinforcing traditional anger management daily coping methods. Critique of the Title From this researchers perspective the overall title is effective and appropriate. It is sufficiently specific while remaining properly concise. The wording provides a descriptive picture of the contents of the article while remaining under twenty words. The title also properly identifies the type of participants in the study, as well as the variables which are analyzed. The authors remain clear of utilizing jargon and acronyms which â€Å"might be unknown to the audience† (Pyrczak, 2008, p. 20). Pyrczak advises that it is normally unwise for the title of an article to reveal the results of the study (Pyrczak, 2008, p. 16). The authors of this article prove to be careful to not reveal the ultimate findings, while still causing interest by the use of their description. It is clear that the authors of this article took careful consideration in the formatting of this preliminary descriptor. Critique of the Abstract Overall this abstract is effective and appropriate. It clearly presents the purpose of the article in a clear and concise manner. The authors reveal the foundational underpinnings, the resulting hypothesis as well as the study group utilized for the overall experimentation. Highlights of the study are provided in the form of mentioning a general overview of the Forgiveness Therapy as well as indicating a favorable outcome linked to the hypothesis. The abstract did not become encumbered with titles of specific measures, except to indicate that there was a 12 week time frame of counseling sessions. While not giving specific statistics, the abstract was clear in concluding that not only were the results of this research positive, but that the authors felt confident to advise that this study substantiated the role of FT as a viable alternative for residential drug treatment. Critique of the Literature Review Overall, the literature review portion of this article is appropriate as well as informative. The purpose of the article along with the stated hypothesis logically flows from the abstract. For example, while reading the article the specific problem area which the authors are addressing is identified within the first paragraph, and this topic of concern is carried throughout the course of the article. Not only do the authors identify the problem area, that of â€Å"levels of anger and violence observed among alcohol and other substance abusers† (Lin et al, 2004, p. 114); but they also emphasize the gravity of the situation by providing specifics regarding the correlation between said negative emotions and the inability of addicts to remain sober. This provides the reasoning behind why greater development in this area within therapy needs to be addressed. In so doing the authors were also careful to properly cite sources for factual statements which reinforced their supposition. In so doing, they were careful to not inundate the article with an over abundance of cited material, leaving sufficient room for their own findings. While drawing out the concerns related to the anger and resentment issues at hand, the authors provide a well developed summary of both the Forgiveness Therapy model as well as the Anger Management Modules. The authors also provided clear and concise definitions of the instruments utilized within the study as well as providing well illustrated table in cooperation with the results of the study, and how those results can be interpreted with each instrument, and how they correlate with each other. For example not only does the article provide a Topic List for each group, (Lin et al, 2004, p. 1117 Table 1) it also provides a significant breakdown of the Means and Standard Deviation for Dependent Variables related to both study groups (Lin, Table 2, p. 1118). The only area in which this researcher may see the Literature Review as somewhat weak is in the fact that the latest research which is available within the article is from the year 2004, due to the age of the article in question. That being said, however, over all this is a well crafted review. Critique of Research Questions The hypothesis stated in this article leaves no room for questioning what it specifically entails. After providing a detailed foundation of why FT is a viable alternative in various counseling arenas as opposed to ADC, the authors then clearly state that they hypothesized that individuals in residential treatment for alcohol and drug dependence after receiving treatment augmented by FT, would demonstrate less anger, depression, anxiety and vulnerability to substance use and more self esteem than those receiving ADC treatment†¦. Lin et al, 2004, p. 1115). This hypothesis clearly provides not only a reference and a background of a therapy; it also provides specific measurable goals, and goals which can be contrasted by other measurable goals, within and on behalf of a specific demographic. Each of the specific parts of the hypothesis are logically developed within the literature review, and the developed research proves to be appropriate for the investigation at hand, albeit with specific concerns related to limitations which naturally apply due to the limited nature of the study in regards to amount of participants, limited amount of time for follow up study for the initial research, and some concern over possible biases inherent due to the fact that one therapist facilitated both study groups.

bob marley and the whalers essays

bob marley and the whalers essays bob marley was found and died in the same place. he now has over 200 fan websites and his latest son ziggy marley is writing in his throneReggae singer, guitarist, and composer. Born Robert Nesta Marley, on February 6, 1945, in Nine Miles, Saint Ann, Jamaica. Raised mostly in Trenchtown, a poor section of Kingston, Jamaicas capital, Marley began singing with his friends Bunny Livingston and Peter Mackintosh (later shortened to Tosh) when he was a teenager. Marleys first single, Judge Not, was released in 1963, but made little impact commercially. In 1964, the trio became the nucleus of a band known as the Wailing Wailers. The group experimented with slowing down the quick dance rhythms of Jamaican ska music and scored hits with Simmer Down and Love and Affection. Despite its early success, the group disbanded in 1966. Shortly thereafter, Marley lived briefly in the United States, where his mother, Cedella Marley Booker, had moved in 1963. While in the U.S., Marley worked at a series of jobs, including a stint as a forklift driver, a lab assistant, and an assembly line worker at the Chrysler plant in Wilmington, Delaware. He returned to Jamaica later that same year and rejoined his new wife, Rita Anderson, as well as Livingston and Tosh, with whom he formed a new trio called simply the Wailers. By the late 1960s, the Wailers began recording with prominent reggae producer Lee Scratch Perry and had gained a great measure of prominence in Jamaica. Moving from ska to the somewhat slower, so-called rude boy music to an innovative brand of reggae, the group had a number of hits, including Soul Rebel, 400 Years, and Small Axe. In 1970, bassist Aston Barrett and his brother Carlton, a drummer, joined the band, which further deepened the Wailers thumping rhythms. From the mid-1960s, Marley and his fellow Wailers devote...

Free Essays on The 1960

After the 1960’s another extraordinary and well known period known as the Sixties, had both a positive and negative affect on society. John F. Kennedy youngest president to be elected was a Democrat from Massachusetts who promised â€Å"to get America moving again†. Other positive influences such as the civil rights movement outlawed discrimination in public accommodations, housing, and jobs; increased federal power to prosecute civil rights abuses. Specialized programs such as the Peace Corps, Alliance for Progress offered economic assistance. United States race with the Soviet Union in science and technology took further advances. Beside from these positive affects negative changes took place. Political assassinations, Cuban missile crisis, and discrimination based on color of skin reduced the accomplishments that could have taken place. In my opinion sports and games wasn’t very prominent in the 60’s, but rather a thing people did and watched to enjoy themselves. At first baseball, boxing, and football was something everyone was into and did. It was in the 60’s when basketball became recognized. Wilt Chamberlain was basketball's unstoppable force, the most awesome offensive force the game has ever seen. If asked to name the greatest players ever to play basketball, most fans would put Wilt Chamberlain at or near the top of the list. In boxing, Paterson vs. Linston was one of the outstanding matches ever seen and heard. Skiing was also a new sport, and in this Jackie Kennedy was the first woman to ski. Car racing was also another hobby for people in the 60’s. In baseball, 1962, Jackie Robinson the first black American to play in major league baseball was placed in the Baseball Hall of Fame for his talent. John F. Kennedy was described as rich, optimistic, one who had a good sense of humor and strong sense of found. The election in 1960 John F. Kennedy vs. Richard M. Nixon was televised to 70 million viewers. Because JK...

Intermediate Management Accounting past paper Essay

Intermediate Management Accounting past paper - Essay Example Nevertheless, the target profit margin is seen to rise substantially from a low of -0.004% in year one to 10.25% in year three. (b) Issues facing firms like KZ in making decisions on the costs to cut in order to meet the specified target income level. Costs relevance: It could be difficult for firms like KZ to associate all the costs involved to products. This makes the firm continue incurring costs that do not directly involve production hence eating on the margins. Cost classification: The firm has not classified its costs appropriately. For instance, marketing costs are classified as fixed costs and such costs are required to be consistent with sales made in a given year. In this regard, during year 2 and year 3, KZ sales were the same despite difference in marketing campaign undertaken. The marketing campaign should therefore be consistent with the amounts allocated in a given year. ... 27,000,000 Years Cash inflows in ?’000’ Discounting rates 17% N.P.V Year 0 (27,000) 1 (27,000) Year 1 1,454 0.855 1,243 Year 2 4,009 0.731 2,931 Year 3 3,904 0.624 2,436 Year 4 3,799 0.534 2,029 Total (18,361) Recoveries at the end of year 4: Technology estimated re-sale value – ? 8,000,000 Reimbursement by customers - ? 2,000,000 Total – ? 10,000,000 Net present value of recoveries = 10,000,000 x 0.534 = ? 5,340,000 Total Net Present Value (N.P.V) in ? ‘000’ = (18,361) +5,340 = (13,021) (b) Comment: Investment in the product should not be undertaken since it has a negative NPV. The net present value does not represent a proper assessment of the value of the new product since the objective of calculating NPV is to establish whether the project is viable. Question 11 Roles and limitation of transfer pricing in managing divisional firms Roles Transfer pricing refers to the price at which services or goods are transferred between different units of the same organization. However, the degree in which transfer pricing contributes to firms profitability or covers costs is a matter of policy. The main role of transfer pricing includes optimization of group’s profitability by supporting goal congruence, motivate divisional managers of both buying and selling divisions to engage in business with one another, facilitate realistic performance appraisal of different divisions, preservation of autonomy of divisional managers and also plays a significant role in facilitating decision making. Transfer pricing leads to operation of different division whose profits are assessed separately. The management of a division becomes simpler and coordination of sales, production and pricing decisions are also eased. The principal types of transfer pricing includes: Cost-based

How outsourcing could be accomplished in ways that improve employee Research Paper

How outsourcing could be accomplished in ways that improve employee acceptance and reactions to change - Research Paper Example The paper tells that in today’s global world, outsourcing jobs is increasingly a fact of life. Outsourcing may be necessary to retain a competitive advantage, as other firms are outsourcing to take advantage of lower costs and higher quality. That said, outsourcing may not always be acceptable to the affected employees. Employees may be cynical about the changes brought about by the outsourcing, which leads to decreased employee morale. There are ways that firms should approach outsourcing decisions, namely communicating directly with employees in an effective manner. There are also ways not to approach outsourcing, which involves blindsiding employees and lying to them, as OzBank, the case study detailed below, approached their outsourcing. Moreover, appointing an effective, transformational leader to guide the process is essential. Guang Qu et al. researched what characteristics regarding IT firms made the firms more likely to outsourcing. They found that industry munificenc e and dynamism was positively correlated with the amount of outsourcing done by the individual firms in the industry. On the other hand, industry concentration is negatively correlated with outsourcing, due to the power and resources such firms have. They also found that high capital intensive industries are less likely to downsize than low capital intensive industries. This is because high capital intensive industries do not put a premium on risky and novel practices, which outsourcing is considered to be. Cox et al. (2011) also studied outsourcing with regards to IT firms. They identified two different categories of IT outsourcing – IT outsourcing with regards to core value-chain operations, and IT outsourcing with regards to support activities. The main outsourcing in the core value chain operations is distribution, whereas, with support activities, human resource management and facilities management are the two main support activities which involve outsourcing. They state that firms outsource because they want to retain a competitive advantage, including costs savings and quality improvement. Outsourcing may also increase flexibility of the firm, as well as restructure the firms’ costs. The focus of their study is on IT firms which are in the public sector, as opposed to the private sector, and the research method was case studies with semi-structured interviews. They found that, with the firms in the public sector, that the cost savings was the most important factor in the decision to outsource, and that the firms which did outsource found that there was also a quality advantage to doing so. This is because there is generally a larger pool of skilled workers to draw upon when a firm outsources. That said, there might be a disadvantage to firms which outsource due to industry perception of these firms. Oh et al. (2006) studied this factor. They found that, with regards to investors, one half of the investors in IT firms responded negatively t o announcements that the IT firm would be outsourcing, and one half of the firms reacted positively. The positive reactions came when the level of transactional risk for the firm was low, and the opposite when the level of transactional risk was high. The key drivers for negative reactions were â€Å"the relative size of the contract, the inability to monitor the vendor’s performance, the asset specificity of the IT outsourced resources, and the relative size of the vendor† (Oh et al., 2006, p. 299). Lee et al. (2000) further studied information systems (IS) outsourcing. They identified five research issues with regards to this. The first was why firms used outsourcing for acquisition. In particular, a firm must decide whether to make or buy developed technology. The next issue is the motivation for outsourcing. Lee et al. (2000) notes that there are inherent advantages and disadvantages to outsourcing. The advantages include cost reduction and quality enhancement. The disadvantages include loss of control, loss of qualified personnel and loss of flexibility. The third