Assignment One Personal Development Essay

1.Brief Introduction (300 words) I am employed by the a Policy & Planning Manager within the Fitness to Practise Directorate to an Assistant Director. In my annual appraisal last year, my line manager raised concerns regarding my communication skills, specifically around tone and political sensitivity, which were regarded as impacting on my ability to build effective relationships. As a result, I have chosen to use this exercise as an opportunity to develop an up-to-date picture of my relationship building skills within the hierarchical and collaborative working culture of the . To this end, I developed a Personal Effectiveness Questionnaire, which I circulated to a range of senior colleagues with whom I have regular contact in a one-to-one and group context. To increase the response rate to the questionnaire ( a copy which is included as supporting evidence), and in recognition of the fact my target audience are bombarded with electronic information and are therefore likely to ignore an email, I chose to circulate this confidentially, through the internal mail. Respondents were asked to complete the questionnaire and return to me anonymously. I also invited respondents who felt they had issues that they would like to discuss further, to contact me to arrange a confidential chat, however nobody took up this opportunity, which may be an indicator either of their workload, or my approachability. I also used a variety of other investigation methods, including Myers Briggs and Belbin’s team role questionnaires, self-assessment, and reflection on a range of management model reading materials supplied by the CMI website, to understand how this might be applied to interpret my own behaviour and management style. I also reflected on my notes from previous appraisal meetings, informal and formal feedback from my manager and Professional Insight coach over the past twelve months. 2.Presentation slides (please see enclosed) 3.Presentation notes (2, 200 words) 3a.Range of skills (i)Leadership & Management Style (150 words) To get an overview of my preferred leadership and management style, I considered the results of a Myers Briggs assessment which I completed during a recent Change Management course. The results of this showed my self-assessed type to be INTJ and my reported type to be ESTJ. I thought that it was interesting that the personality traits that were most consistently featured, were Thinking and Judging. I think that this reflects the fact that a strong tendency towards planning and critical thinking underpins my management style. I also found interesting that when I circulated the personal effectiveness questionnaire, a number of colleagues independently volunteered remarks in the free text comments box at the bottom of the questionnaire, to the effect that I had a reputation for ‘getting things done.’ I feel that this observation, given in a free and unprompted context, is of particular significance as it is therefore likely to reflect their true opinion of me. An ability to ‘see things through to completion’ and to be a driving force within projects, is something which I have also identified through self-assessment, to be a definitive characteristic of my management style. This focus on the timely completion of projects is in line with Belbin’s team role, Completer/Finisher. I was interested to find that I also identified with the weaknesses of this ‘team role’ as defined in CMI management theory summary, as I have observed that my tendency to worry can be an annoyance to colleagues. I recognize that one of my key development goals should be to be more measured in my approach to escalating and communicating risks or outstanding tasks. (ii). Team Management (300 words) Blake & Moulton identified two drivers of managerial behaviour: concern for getting the job done and concern for the people involved. These factors influence the manager’s style. I have undertaken a self-assessment using Blake’s managerial grid and have identified the ‘Team Management’ approach as my preferred style. This involves high level of concern for the task and low for people, which is seen by some organisations as very effective. However, I also realise that this may not be in step with the culture of my present employer, which in certain contexts promotes a more collegiate style of working. I have identified two management styles which I think are more commonly exhibited within the culture of this organisation: ‘Authority-Obedience’ – high levels of concern for both task and people. This represents quite a controlling style, but runs the risk of damaging relationships. ‘Country Club Leadership’ – high levels of concern for people and low for task. This is seen as accommodating – it may create a warm and friendly working environment but a the cost of getting the job done effectively. I do not have the positional power to exert an ‘authority-obedience’ managerial style, though I am working within a culture which sometimes draws upon this. As there is an expectation of me to get jobs done reasonably efficiently, with the involvement and co-operation of other people, I realise that it would probably be more effective to strive for a management approach that is more ‘Middle of the Road.’ Middle of the Road involves a moderate level of concern for task and people. ‘Adequate performance is achieved by balancing the necessity of getting work done with maintaining morale at a satisfactory level.’ (iii)Managing your time and workload (400 words) Research by Francis-Smythe & Robertson (1996) shows that individual preferences about how we deal with five aspects of time, defines our own unique ‘time personality’. These five categories are: planning, punctuality, impatience, time awareness and polychronicity (multi-tasking). I decided to explore this theory by using it to categorise and self-access my own preferred behaviours, to help me better understand my strengths and weaknesses in this area. Planning – I think I have a strong preference for planning ahead. I write to-do lists every day before I leave work, in order of priority, to remind me what I need to do as soon as I get in the next day. This helps me to manage stress, by avoiding a last minute panic. It would be helpful for me to develop better strategies for coping with events that occur off-plan, or when deadlines are missed or rushed. Punctuality – I have a tendency to be late. I prefer to work flexibly, and I am more effective if I feel in control of my day. I feel very stressed if I am late for something important. I try to manage this by avoiding early morning meetings. Polychronicity – I prefer to have lots of tasks on the go at the same time, keeping everything moving forwards in small, manageable stages. I am good at prioritising and multi-tasking. Time-awareness – I have a high awareness of the time. However, sometimes when I am focusing on a ‘thinking’ task – I lose track. Impatience – I recognize that given that many of the tasks in which I am involved are dependent on input or timely decisions by other people my impatience sometimes manifests itself in a visible irritation which can impact on building effective relationships. (iv)Building effective relationships (200 words) I circulated a personal effectiveness questionnaire to colleagues which focused on my communication skills, as I recognize that these are the foundation stone to an effective leadership & management style. In general, there was a wide range of views regarding my sensitivity to the political nuances of the organization and awareness of the structural hierarchy. There was also a fairly wide range of views regarding whether my tone is considered to be in step with the culture of the organization. I understand that my ability to build and maintain effective relationships in the workplace is dependent on my ability to understand of the culture of the organization. I found it helpful to apply Johnson and Scholes’ cultural web to understand the factors (stories & myths, symbols, power structures, organization structures, control systems, ritual and routines) which influence the organizational values of my employer. When I thought about it from this perspective, I was surprised to recognize the power of stories and myths within my workplace, and the barrier this often presents to my ability to develop effective relationships, since many of my colleagues have been in post for over twenty years, and therefore steeped in a shared organizational memory which I, as a fairly recent recruit, have limited knowledge and understanding of. (v)Giving and receiving feedback (300 words) I circulated an anonymous personal effectiveness questionnaire to a range of colleagues, and received six responses. Half of the respondents felt I was very good at responding to constructive criticism in a one-to-one situation. One colleague had some concern in this area. Three-quarters of the respondents felt I was excellent, or very good, at responding to other people’s ideas in a one-to-one situation. Two colleagues had some concern. I felt that, in general, it is reasonable to assume that colleagues are likely to err on the side of being fairly generous in their assessment of others. Therefore, the high incidence of close colleagues reporting concern around my ability to give and receive feedback is likely to highlight a significant area for development. When I circulated the questionnaire, I included in the cover letter, the invitation to colleagues who had any concerns that they would like to discuss, to arrange a face to face meeting. Despite the high number of colleagues who clearly had some concern about my interaction with them, nobody too up this suggestion. Although I do realise that colleagues are busy, I feel that the significant reluctance of people to speak to me about their concerns directly, is in itself evidence of real concern about how I might react to feedback. I also self-assessed my own ability to give feedback that is specific, timely and effective in achieving the desired change in performance. I identified two specific scenarios in which I discussed with my manager. Firstly, I provided feedback to Document Services staff in relation to the timely preparation of the Fitness to Practise Reference Group papers which resulted in significantly improved communication and higher standards of performance. I also provided feedback to several paper authors, intended to manage expectations around the stages of preparing the papers for submission to Council, which had a marked and immediate impact on the tendency of authors to stick to the schedule. 3b.Learning style and process (300 words) My most memorable learning experience to date was learning to scuba dive in the Red Sea. This is because it was very a practical, hands-on course. The experience of scuba diving results in a very striking, multi-sensory memories; the smell of the sea and the equipment, the image and feel of fish swimming next to you, the sound of the boat above. This is in line with a preference for learning through kinetic experience (N. Fleming, VARK methodology – ‘Teaching and Learning Strategies’. During the course seminar, we completed a learning styles questionnaire which investigated our preferences for activist, reflector, theorist or pragmatist types. This exercise indicated that I had a moderate preference for theorist, compared to the other learning types. I think this reflects the fact that I also tend to learn effectively through independent reading and listening. I am interested in abstract concepts and theories, which I think may be partly the result of conditioning through the preferred teaching styles of successive teachers and university tutors. Throughout my career, in the workplace I have acquired many new skills and strengths through practical experience. For example, I have a strong ability to prioritise my work and meet deadlines, which has developed out of necessity through my experience as a bid-writer responding to invitations to tender. In that situation, missing a deadline would have had significant financial consequences. Similarly, I have developed strong active listening skills as a helpline worker for a children’s charity, as we were provided with specific training to develop open communication and trust. The inability to gain the trust of callers would have had significant consequences for child safety. 3c.Development plan, including justification and resources Development Plan WhyWhatWhen To improve awareness of internal hierarchy and political nuances and appropriate risk escalationMentoring with Assistant Director of Legal ServicesAugust 2010 – January 2011 To improve skills chairing meetings and improve ability to be inclusive of other people’s ideasOne day training house programmeSeptember 2011 To develop effective relationships across directoratesSix month secondmentJanuary 2011 To develop strategies for managing stress (expected to improve communication with colleagues)GP advice and weekly counselling Cognitive Behaviour TherapyAssessment by West London Mental Health Trust August 2011 To monitor progress and review development planMonthly personal development with line-manager to focus on communication skillsFrom August 2011 3d.Future Direction (100 words) I recognize that my weaknesses around communication skills, particularly within a group setting or chairing meetings, currently presents an obstacle to leading projects at the highest level. In terms of future direction, I would like to visualize myself having sufficient political sensitivity and nuanced communication style, to chair Project Board meetings, line-manage other members of staff, and blend into the culture of the organization. In particular, I would like to improve my ability to manage stress and work flexibly to cope with unexpected events. I believe that the successful completion of my development plan will help to equip me to position myself for future promotion and to operate at a more senior level. 4.Personal Review (500 words) I chose to give a presentation exploring my management style to my line-manager. in a confidential one-to-one basis, as I considered that this would facilitate honest feedback and constructive critical evaluation. In terms of my presentation style, felt that I achieved an appropriate balance between credibility as a presenter in a professional context, with an informality and approachability most suitable to the one-to-one format. She felt that in terms of the content of my presentation, I demonstrated a significant level of insight into own strengths and weaknesses in terms of my personal management style, and how that supports me in delivering the requirements of my role and dovetails with the preferred management style and culture of the organization. In particular, the presentation proved to be a very effective mechanism for opening up a debate and honest exchange of views around our different management styles which provided a platform for rebuilding a relationship that had recently been in danger of breaking down. We discussed the development plan, which felt to contain achievable and relevant activities. In terms of building effective relationships, we identified that difficulties around this tend to arise where my line-manager is on leave and I lack the positional power to manage risks effectively. In recognition of this, has made arrangements for the Assistant Director of Legal to act as my mentor and provide additional senior cover to enable me to escalate risks appropriately. We also had a useful conversation around the power dynamics of seeking senior cover for risk management from other Assistant Directors, where departmental agendas may be in conflict with achieving the goals of the organization. We also had a very constructive discussion around learning styles, which enabled me to articulate my preference for ‘auditory’ learning, and draw attention to my active listening skills in telephone contact with distressed clients, in both past and present roles. This rather helpfully distilled what may be an unusual emphasis on the content and tone of speech, rather than body language, which sometimes leads to differences of perception of the mood of face-to-face communication, and its impact on effective relationships. I think it was helpful to arrive at a shared understanding of this with my line-manager, and we discussed a variety of strategies for ‘damage limitation’ of this in meetings and improve my personal development in this area. She has also offered to seek funding for six additional sessions of Professional Insight coaching from an external provider, which can be added to my development plan.

Monster Energy Drink Target Audience and Company Objectives Essay

Consumer Behavior Monster Energy Target Market Because the energy drink is still part of a new and developing industry, the energy drink target market is different than in some of the other beverage industries. Monster energy drinks have become a very popular, â€Å"hip† part of society, but the market at which they are aimed is not as wide and expansive, or diverse, as some might think. Early in energy drink history, when they were first being sold in the United States, athletes were the primary consumers. This shows that even initially energy drinks were directed at a select crowd, a group of people with specific interests. Although the consumer base for energy drinks has now expanded beyond that of simply athletes, the target market is still more particular than in other industries. When thinking about the energy drink target market, it is important to consider who is most receptive to the purported effects of the beverages. Although everyone is susceptible to the fatigue of the super-charged, over-worked lifestyle, young people are especially vulnerable to persistent exhaustion and insufficient energy. This group of people, more specifically male teenagers and people in their 20s, are also most likely to believe in the veracity of the energy drinks’ claims. As a result, the majority of energy drinks are developed for and advertised to this younger generation. In addition to focusing on a specific age group, many energy drink companies are even more exclusive in their marketing efforts, gearing their products and advertising to appeal to very specialized groups, such as gamers, extreme sports enthusiasts, and the hip-hop crowd. The effects of this emphasis on such a target market can be seen in the advertising campaigns of the energy drinks. Many of the names of the beverages, such as Monster LoCarb appeal to these specific consumers and the marketing strategies that revolve around sponsoring public events or celebrity endorsements reflect this focus. The design and packaging of many energy drinks also relates to the target market. Although the energy drink industry currently caters to a very specific target market, as it continues to grow and develop, it is likely that marketing efforts and the focus consumer base will be more diverse and expansive. The Monster Energy Drink, distributed by Monster Beverages Co., uses concentrated targeting as a marketing strategy. Strong promotion strategies including product hand-outs by young attractive vendors in powerful trucks blasting music are common ways The Company promotes in cities. The Company also uses Ricky Carmichael, a motocross legend, to endorse their products. 40 foot posters are used to target motocross fans which are a major target market for Monster Beverages Co. (Murr, 2006). Other effective advertisements include using high contrast, recognizable posters in retail stores and high energy, adrenaline rushed TV ads. Advantages of concentrated marketing include concentration of resources, better meeting the needs of the target audience, and strong positioning. Disadvantages include segments being too small or changing, and large competitors such as red bull to more effectively market to niche. According to Rodney Sacks, CEO, the target audience is 18 – 25 year old males (Murr, 2006). This market is focused on a product which offers an energy boost, so any audience that is involved in sports, or high endurance activity is a clear target. The green claw marks resemble adrenaline, power, and testosterone, accompanying its motto, â€Å"unleash the monster within†. High schools and colleges are clear niches for these high energy markets. The demographics for the target market for Monster energy drink are: Major Cities 18-25 year olds Males Athletes/ High endurance activities Income ? middle class According to the 2000 census, there are approximately 10 million males who fall under Sacks’ audience of 18 – 25 year old males. But I believe the target market is expanding to be much wider than that including women and older men. Judging by the effectiveness of free handout promotions in hot locations such as South beach, Florida, I see a target market of males and females ages 12 – 35. According to the census this number is around 80 million (US Census Bureau, 2007). Hansen’s Monster Energy drinks offer giant doses of caffeine and sugar in big black cans adorned with neon-colored claw marks. The scary packaging, plus a bevy of extreme-sports sponsorships, positions Monster as an edgy alternative to Red Bull in the fast-growing, $2 billion a year energy-drink market. Monster’s slogan: Unleash the beast. † Monster has certainly energized Hansen. The company has seen its sales more than double since it introduced the brand in April, 2002. Last year, Hansen earned $20 million on sales of $180 million, up from just $3 million of profits on sales of $80 million in 2001. Sales nearly doubled, while profits quadrupled, in this year’s first quarter. Those results helped Hansen earn the No. 26 spot on BusinessWeek’s annual ranking of Hot Growth Companies. Monster Objectives Hansen has jolted the Monster brand with a dose of guerrilla marketing. Teams of Monster ambassadors† give out samples of the product at concerts, beach parties, and other events. The company also sponsors motocross, surfing, and skateboarding competitions. Hansen representatives in black Monster vans supplement the company’s network of 300 independent distributors by assembling store displays and restocking specially designed racks in convenience store coolers. Hansen now owns an 18% share of the energy-drink category, according to the trade publication _Beverage Digest_. While Red Bull remains the leader with nearly half of the market, Hansen’s energy-drink sales increased 162% last year — more than three times Red Bull’s growth rate. A small subset of consumers is going wild over these drinks,† says Beverage Digest editor and publisher John Sicher. Hansen is really riding a tiger. † It’s a jungle out there, though. Coca-Cola Co. ([**KO**](.. /javascript:%20void%20showTicker(‘KO’)) ) is promoting its new Full Throttle energy drink. PepsiCo Inc. ([**PFE**](../javascript:%20void%20showTicker(‘PFE’)) ) is marketing energy drinks under its SoBe and Mountain Dew brands. And independent entrepreneurs have elbowed their way in with products such as Rockstar and FUZE Mega Energy. Every month we pick up a new product or two,† says George Kalil, who runs an independent bottling company in Tucson. Sacks estimates that the energy-drink category is growing 50% a year and that there’s room in the market for everybody. These are the new soft drinks of the world,† he declares. Sacks and Schlosberg are fending off the attack by diversifying. They’ve launched Joker, an energy drink sold exclusively in Circle K convenience stores, and Rumba, a caffeine-laced juice drink designed to be a morning pick-me-up. And they introduced Monster Assault, which comes in a black-and-gray camouflage can that saysDeclare war on the ordinary! † It’s a slogan that could describe the juiced-up strategy of this formerly sleepy beverage player. It is apparent that Monster has become a major player in the energy beverage market. We hope to be the number one choice of energy drinks among consumers.   

Carbon Essay Example For Students

Carbon Essay CarbonWithout the element of carbon, life as we know it would not exist. Carbon provides the framework for all tissues of plants and animals. They arebuilt of elements grouped around chains or rings made of carbon atoms. Carbonalso provides common fuelscoal, oil, gasoline, and natural gas. Sugar, starch,and paper are compounds of carbon with hydrogen and oxygen. Proteins such ashair, meat, and silk contain these and other elements such as nitrogen,phosphorus, and sulfur. More than six and a half million compounds of the element carbon, manytimes more then those of any other element, are known, and more are discoveredand synthesized each week. Hundreds of carbon compounds are commerciallyimportant but the element itself in the forms of diamond, graphite, charcoal,and carbon black is also used in a variety of manufactured products. Besides the wide occurrence of carbon in compounds, two forms of theelementdiamond and graphite, are deposited in widely scattered locationsaround the Earth. PROPERTIES OF CARBONSymbol = CAtomic Number = 6Atomic Weight = 12.011Density at 68 Degrees F = 1.88-3.53Boiling Point = 8,721 degrees FMelting Point = 6,420 degrees F

Health Care Legal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Health Care Legal - Essay Example Further, in some cases errors, which rendered harm to the patients, are not reported which in the later stage turn out to produce adverse circumstances that becomes difficult to be managed. Again, the medical staffs fail to provide required information about errors and adverse circumstances for the fear of being proved guilty and duly punished. Programs made to encourage the healthcare employees to come forward with such information by evading fear from their minds have also failed to counter significant changes (Griffin & Haraden, n.d.p.246, 250). The healthcare practices with a view to reduce the incidence of fatal occurrences can look forward in designing effective systems for rendering effective health services. In that, the healthcare concern can arrange for proper training of the medical staffs to render effective and flawless service to the patients. The healthcare employees working in critical areas like operation theaters, emergency departments, and intensive care units must be trained in teams to reduce the incidence of errors. Working in a team helps an individual to perform more effectively. Modern healthcare systems incorporate newer technological developments. However, more number of innovations promoted in healthcare result to making the process more complex, which in turn leads to errors. Induction of newer technologies must be conducted with due care to help the medical team perform efficiently. Technological processes as automated order entry would help the medical team to identify expired medicines and right ly destroy them. The use of efficient monitoring instruments helps to judge the condition of patients subjected to strong medications. The healthcare organizations must take resort to increased bar coding practices to reduce the incidence of wrong medications. Machine readable bar coding systems must be put to render accuracy in the system (Griffin & Haraden, n.d.pp.257-258; Kohn, Corrigan & Donaldson, 2000.pp.173,

Relationship between Serving Space and Structural Elements in Louis Essay

Relationship between Serving Space and Structural Elements in Louis Kahns Laboratories and Museum - Essay Example Inspired by the outstanding architectural skills of Louis Kahn, Jonas Salk offered him to design the facility. Jonas Salk wanted this Institute to be constructed in a distinctive manner. Louis Kahn was hired to provide unobstructed and voluminous spaces inside the laboratory so that they could be adapted to the readily modifying scientific needs. The building materials were supposed to be durable, simple, strong, and free of maintenance to the maximum extent. Kahn created two mirror-image structures aside a large courtyard. The height of each building is six stories, with the three floors at the base being used as laboratories, whereas the top three floors meant to provide the users with access to the utilities. There are distinct towers that protrude into the courtyard and provide the users with space to conduct individual professorial studies. Separate ventilation, heating, and support systems have been installed in the towers located at the buildings’ eastern ends. Six floo rs at the western end of the buildings overlook the ocean. In total, the Institute has been formed by the linkage of 29 distinct structures. The impact of outstanding architecture of Louis Kahn can be assessed from the courtyard. Things that need to be taken into consideration include the creative use of space and the level of emphasis Kahn has placed upon the utilization of the natural light. To entertain the vision of Jonas Salk that the environment inside the Institute should be suitable for the conduction of scientific research, Louis Kahn allowed maximal in-pour of the natural light. Each of the four external walls of the laboratory at all levels have been constructed from large panes of...Louis Kahn’s architecture has maximized the usability of the structures in that the serving spaces are intrinsically related with the structural elements. Ranging from the series of light wells installed in the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, to the open ceiling of the entry por ch in the Richards Medical Research Laboratories, and the use of narrow pexiglass skylights in the Kimbell Art Museum, everything has been chosen and installed purposefully to maximize the usability, and aesthetic appeal for the public. Louis Kahn has taken the use of machines and tools to the apogee of architectonics, thus designing structures as composite of components that worked in mutual harmony. Not a single design proposed by Louis Kahn understates his expertise in making the best use of materials. An in-depth study and analysis of the architectural work of Louis Kahn suggests that he was ahead of his time, which is one reason why his work has a great influence on the contemporary architecture.

Innovation Strategies Description Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Innovation Strategies Description - Assignment Example Therefore, Diamond believes that proximate reason as to why some civilizations came to dominate others through militarily, economically, politically, and cultural landscapes are from the effects of food production, effects of writing, effects of technology, governmental organizations, and effects of religion. He thus went ahead to demonstrate how these issues led to the occurrence of differences among cultures (Diamond, 1998). On the other part, Diamond believes that ultimate reason as to why some civilizations came to dominate others is through geography, but not through biology or race of which some studies have tried to prove. Henceforth, geography produces the cultural disparities of which his friend Yali had pointed out. The concept thus implies that Eurasian colonizers did not gain it power they still hold today through a systematic process, or through having the greatest of skill or mind, but pure geographic chance created this difference. The role of innovation in this process is that it leads to the development of systems of some specialized knowledge that eventually leads to the advances in metallurgy, literacy, and eventually the socio-economic organization. Diamond thus concludes that accidents of geography and environment created the domination of whites of the Eurasian origin over other races. Thus, the Europeans received more favors since they had more starting material and also had more favorable conditions. I agree with Diamond’s conclusion because I believe that all people and cultures have the capacity of doing similar things on the provision that they have the resources and privileges of doing so. Another proximate factor that might cause these differences in availability of advanced resources. These resources could be useful for people in all regions to conduct their own research, hence becoming the ultimate solution to many problems that occur in societies.

Examine Wireless Communication and Bluetooth Technology Essay

Examine Wireless Communication and Bluetooth Technology - Essay Example However, wired environment is non-longer preferable because of their lack of flexibility and cost. Because of the challenges associated with wired technologies, Bluetooth and wireless technologies are increasingly becoming standards for using electronic gadgets like phones, iPhones, and laptops. Whereas Bluetooth technology and wireless communication offer users significant advantages over wired environment, wireless technology differs from Bluetooth's technology because of their complexity, security, and hardware requirements. Wireless communication is much easier to use, as compared to Bluetooth's communication (Gratton 201). The ease of use is one of the factors that differentiate the two sets of communication technologies. When compared to each other, Bluetooth is much simpler to use than wireless communication. Many users of communication equipment such as laptops report through Bluetooth are simpler to use. For instance, users of phones with a Bluetooth adapter can connect to a computer through a simple pairing process. The pairing can be accomplished through some few clicks on computers that enhance the use of the phone will be achieved. When users pair these devices, sharing of files can take place. On the other hand, wireless communication is not extremely easy to use (Morley and Parker 285). Users should have appropriate hardware, software and conduct configuration of their devices in order to transfer files. Because of this, users require to have an internet protocol address for each computer of wireless enabled phones. Moreover, users must purchase and install wireless devices such as routers to enable this communication. This process makes wireless communication challenging to use. Bluetooth's technology is more secure than wireless communication and thus, provides more security to data that users exchanged (Kartalopoulos 153). Security is critical, and users consider when it comes to evaluating technologies. Bluetooth covers a short distance as co mpared to wireless communication. Because of this reason, there are few chances of hackers getting around Bluetooth's connection. However, the fact that wireless communication allows connection over long distance is a security threat. When intruders connect to wireless communication network, most of them cannot be seen hiding or hacking the network. Just to illustrate, hackers can gain access into the wireless communication of his immediate neighbor even at the comfort of their house. Conversely, this kind of infiltration is impossible for Bluetooth's technology, as hackers have to maintain a certain distance from the victims. In addition, Bluetooth's technology has a robust level of security that is difficult to penetrate. Even when hackers succeed in gaining access into a Bluetooth connection, passwords can bar them from taking full control of the devices that they would like to compromise (Briere, Hurley, and Ferris 46). This is quite different with wireless networks where hacker s can use sniffer to detect passwords and hack into the communication lines. The fact that many users forget to protect their wireless networks using wireless pre-shared keys indicate the dangers of wireless communication Without doubt, Bluetooth's technologies are more secure than wireless communication Bluetooth technology and wireless communication have different hardware requirements that make them dissimilar (Huang and Rudolph 89).

Unit 5 Science Individual Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Unit 5 Science Individual Project - Essay Example It is a well known and reported fact that the current population of the world is more than six billion and a half billion and it is only increasing on a daily basis (CIA, 2007). This increase is certainly putting a strain on our food resources, availability of fresh water, distribution of energy resources, health services, education services and many other problems that are being faced by developing nations (BBC, 1999). Sadly, the situation is also worst in developing nations while many developed nations may have to face the problem of falling population rates, a growing number of elderly and not enough people in the workforce (King & Elliott, 1996). Of course there must be something that can be done about it and the United Nations itself has made many different recommendations to developing countries to help them achieve some level of control over their growing populations. However, it does appear that we are fighting a losing battle since the population of the world is still increasing and it is showing little signs of stabilization. In fact, at our present rate of expansion the population of the world has been estimated to rise to eleven billion humans by the end of this century (BBC, 1999). This is clearly unacceptable since we do not have the present technology nor the availability of resources to feed even the present population and a rise of almost hundred percent could only reduce our ability to handle the situation. If we do not control population increases and also do not drastically work towards providing an acceptable standard of life for the rest of the world we are simply heading towards disaster and conflict between the haves and the have-nots. The highest recommendation which can be made is to create awareness and educate people about the population situation. The UN is already working towards establishing programs for

Advertising and promoting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Advertising and promoting - Essay Example Marketing techniques are of very great importance in the promotion of various products at the local as well as in the international spheres. The mode of marketing and the medium used to market these products often play a key role in determining the number of people reached by these advertisements. However, the cost of airing certain advertisements in certain media is also a factor to be considered in this case. Moorthy (1988) argues that the type of medium chosen should therefore be that which can be accessed by most people as well as cheap in terms of the funds required to air an advertisement for a given period of time as compared with other media options. Some media house cover only limited areas and are not therefore suitable for an advertisement that requires a large number of people to reach (Moorthy, 1988). Depending on the type of promotion one wants to make and the target population, the choice of a media house is of prime importance to this task. For an international promot ion, the channel that is viewed by the international community should be the better option. On the contrary, a local promotion expected to reach just a few selected population should make use of a local channel that reaches most people in the region targeted. This paper will look at the choice of various media channels in carrying out marketing promotions over the others depending on the type of promotion to be made and the number and location of target population Marketing Communications (Advertising & Promotion: Media) As has been mentioned earlier, the choice of a media channel to be used in carrying out any type of promotion really matters a lot as far as the cost, location and target population is concerned. To illustrate this, I will use the choice of making promotions for a major launch of a new environmentally friendly, ‘greener’ car from a renowned vehicle manufacturing company in the world, the Toyota Company. Here the choice of the channel may be very difficu lt given the large number of the target population to be reached by these advertisements. Being an international promotion therefore, the channel hat is to be used in this case should be that which is common among most people across the globe. For this reason, my choice for this particular advertisement is preferably the current leading world news broadcasting television, The BBC Channel. Given her long standing existence as a world news broadcasting channel, the BBC channel has gained world wide fame as a reliable news house across the world. It therefore has the largest number of viewers across the globe giving the company a good number of people to reach with the news (Heard, 2004). The Toyota Company is known to have had a long history in car manufacturing in the world history. The company’s products are consumed by a large number of buyers in all the continents of the world. In order to reach her widely scattered myriad of customers and the available amount of money she has planned to se for airing the adverts, 50 million pounds, the company needs to select the channel that has a large area of coverage too and which is actually popular among the world populations. Using the BBC news channel therefore would be the best option in this case. Even though making advertisements on this channel may prove quite expensive, the amount of money the company has channeled towards this is certainly enough to accomplish the task and realize the target the end of the day. However, n most of the third world and developing countries, only a few homesteads will bin a position to afford the expensive gargets for transmitting the BBC news and so will be potentially left out. Besides, most people do not speak English as their first language while others do not understand English at all and therefore may not be catered for during the promotion since BBC uses only English as a medium for communication. For small scale businesses for instance a small scale restaurant which wants to re- open her

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 6

Marketing - Essay Example The financial services sector would include banking, life assurance and pensions, investment management and asset servicing apart from general insurance, corporate finance, and broking services sectors. The factors that affect the financial services industry are the government regulation and deregulation from time to time, global competition, changing customer preference behavior. Availability of skilled staff is essential. Marketing financial services, irrespective whether it is face-to-face or through direct marketing channels, comes with a high cost. If human element is eliminated, the electronic set up costs is high. Marketing of services is a bigger challenge than marketing of products. Various reasons account for this and hence strategic marketing plans have to be devised for this. The most important differentiation is that products have well defined parameters and the customer can base his decision to some extent on that. Services on the other hand are intangible. In services marketing, it depends to a large extent on the customer. Two different people would react differently to a given situation. Marketing a product is on the premise that there is a market of millions. Hence, all related services like delivery, demonstration and after sales service can be built accordingly. As far as marketing financial services is concerned, each individual is a market in himself. Customer relationship management is essential here. Transactional analysis is important because it helps to derive customer knowledge to offer and improve the services. The service staff can also be trained based on this informati on. In marketing financial services, various factors have to be taken into account. Financial services come with a high element of risk attached to it. Marketing of products and general services require the four P’s (product, price, place and promotion) but in marketing of financial services two

Currency Derivatives Essay Example for Free

Currency Derivatives Essay Preference of equity and commodity over Currency derivatives trading in India survey Kindly spare some minutes to fill this form and be a part of real customer perception survey and support us to gain an insight about the preferences of Indian retail investors for trading in market and the reasons behind the existing popularity of currency derivative market in India. 1. Did you ever think of currency derivative market as trading option? Yes, I trade in currency market No, but planning to invest after performing research? Never, what is Currency Derivatives? 2. In which market do you trade? (Choose all that apply, skip if you do not trade) Equity Commodity Currency Derivatives 3. Rate your expertise in the market: (Choose one level for each) Zero Commodity Currency derivatives Equity Beginner Intermediate Expert 4. Given Rs. 1000, how would you allocate the money among these investment options? (Allocation should add up to Rs. 100). Hedger Commodity Currency derivatives Equity Speculator Arbitrager 6. Choose and rate from 1 to 3 among the following attributes for each market. (Fill for only those market in which you trade) Returns Market volatility Portfolio diversification Hedging Arbitrage Commodity Currency derivatives Equity 7. Why do you think Indian retails investors have less preference towards currency derivatives market? Strongly agree Not enough self knowledge Less popular among peers Lack of govt. initiatives Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree.

Chemiluminescence and Bioluminescence in Nature

Chemiluminescence and Bioluminescence in Nature Bioluminescence is a scientific phenomenon that is complex in character because luminous organisms possess unique light-producing chemical reactions and have varied methods of controlling light. Luminous organisms do not fall under order of animals but are unevenly distributed across multiple animal orders. Furthermore, luminous organisms are often adapted to specialized environments and can be difficult to physically research. This paper will cover the background of bioluminescence, luminous reactions and their regulators, and the practical applications of knowledge in this field. The purpose of the research is to gain an adequate understanding of chemiluminescence in nature in order to predict the nature of future research and gauge its potential in the modern world. Research for this paper was accomplished through the reviewing of published scientific papers and literature on the subject. Some of the results reached include that bioluminescence is different in terrestrial and aqua tic organisms and that a wide range of techniques are used to moderate light in both habitats. The conclusions that have been reached are that research of bioluminescence will surely accelerate and that further research of bioluminescence has potential in the areas of evolutionary biology, lighting technology, and medicine. Introduction When Christopher Columbus embarked on his voyage in 1492, he had to overcome many strong prejudices rooted in European folklore. Tales of sea monsters have captured the minds of Europeans for centuries, and Columbus was utterly mesmerized when the waters surrounding his ship began to shine. The alluring glow of bioluminescent organisms has continued to perplex humans all the way through modern times. Although science has illuminated the surprisingly dark realm of bioluminescence, further research is still required. This paper will cover the background, reactions, and uses of this complex, yet common phenomenon to determine the nature of future research and its applicability in other areas of science. HISTORY During the seventeenth century, the English physicist Robert Boyle conducted an important experiment concerning bioluminescence. Robert Boyle encased a piece of glowing wood within a glass bell and then proceeded to suck the air out the enclosure. As he took out the air, he observed that the glowing of the wood grew fainter and eventually was extinguished completely (Simon 114). This was scientific experiment demonstrated a principle concept of bioluminescence: oxygen plays a key role in luminous reactions. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, the French physiologist Dubois began to research luminous organisms in his marine laboratory. His major contribution was his experiment involving the Pholas clams. In his experiment, Dubois prepared two different solutions of clam juice. For the first solution, he mixed the clam juice with cool water and observed it glow for a while before it faded. He then mixed clam juice with hot water, but this solution failed to produce any light at all. In a stroke of genius, he decided to mix the two nonluminous solutions together. As soon as they were combined, the bluish light characteristic of the Pholas shone forth once again. This led Dubois to assume that in the cold solution, one substance was exhausted after luminescence and that in the hot solution, a different substance was destroyed. Thus, Dubois concluded that the unknown substance destroyed by the hot water was almost certainly an enzyme. An enzyme is an organic catalyst. Dubois identified that bioluminescence required an oxidizable substrate, an enzyme, and oxygen. He named the substrate luciferin and the enzyme luciferase (Simon 116). This major advancement was the stepping-stone into future research on this perplexing phenomenon. FUNCTION Although terrestrial habitats seem to be devoid of bacterial modes of light-production, there are a few cases of bacterial luminescence on land. Many supposed bioluminescent organisms such as mole crickets do not produce light themselves, but have turned out to be infected with parasitic forms of luminous bacteria. Luminous bacteria multiply within the hemolymph of arthropods (which is analogous to human blood cells). The infected creatures end up eventually end up dying (Nealson and Hasting 508). For example, the luminous bacteria X. luminescens live in the gut of a certain nematode belonging to the genus Heterorhabditis. Farmers greatly value nematodes because these un-segmented roundworms parasitize pest insects. The Heterorhabditis nematode enters the body of a host caterpillar through orifices like spiracles or the mouth. Once inside the caterpillars body, the nematode will proceed to penetrate the caterpillars hemocoel, the area containing hemolymph. When in contact with the he molymph, the nematode will then release its fertilized eggs along with the bacteria X. luminescens. The bacteria then multiply and produce extracellular chitinase and lipases that the nematode uses to complete the its life cycle. X. luminescens also produces antibiotics that arrests the growth of bacteria that would otherwise outcompete it and also prevents the caterpillar from putrefying (Havens 1). It is interesting to note that the bacteria only glow while in the hemolymph of the caterpillar, but not inside the nematodes themselves. This land bacterium uses a biochemical reaction very similar to its marine counterparts. The overall general reaction is the same: the flavin-mononucleotide and long-chain aldehyde (fatty aldehyde) are oxidized in the presence of luciferase to produce water and light. FMNH2 + RCHO + O2 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ FMN + H2O + RCOOH + Light (Havens 1). FUNCTION The most important luminous bacteria are the commensal forms that thrive inside the gut tracts of marine animals. Its not unusual to find 5ÃÆ'-106 to 5ÃÆ'-107 colony-forming units of luminous bacteria per meter of intestinal surface (Nealson and Hastings 508). Colony-forming units are used in the area of microbiology to express quantities of viable bacteria capable of forming colonies or clusters visible to the human eye. This relationship between the bacteria and the host organisms seems to be commensal because luminous bacteria produce the enzyme chitinase, thereby benefiting their host if they eat marine crustaceans (a regular staple of marine diet). However, studies of the senorita fish Oxyjulis californica, the blacksmith fish Chrormis puntipinnis, and the half-naked hatchetfish Argyropelecus hemigymnus show that the occurrence of each fish was connected with the species composition of the planktonic luminous bacteria population (Nealson and Hastings 508). Fecal pellets were l uminescent and contained colony-forming units of luminous bacteria. Similarly, luminous fecal pellets have been reported from the Antarctic cod and a species of midwater shrimp (Nealson and Hastings 508). Because the fecal pellets of these marine animals contain viable bacteria populations, it is possible that luminous bacteria mutually benefit through unintentional propagation by their host organisms. Historical accounts from 19th century battlefield hospitals have shown that luminous bacteria in the open wounds of soldiers were considered to be a sign of healing (Nealson and Hastings 507). It is interesting to note that Xenorhabdus is known to produce antibiotics (Nealson and Hastings 508). TYPES Bioluminescence can be divided into two subcategories: terrestrial forms and aquatic forms. Terrestrial forms of bioluminescence are sparse and restricted to insects and their relatives. Beetles in particular have unique chemical reactions. Non-insect relatives include certain centipedes. Luminous centipedes are unique in that they secrete luminous slime (Simon 57). Land is largely devoid of luminous animals that utilize bacterial forms of light production. Luminous land animals are usually found in humid, heavily forested environments. Contrarily, luminous bacteria dominate the majority of aquatic environments. Luminous bacteria even thrive in arctic waters. Luminous bacteria can exist as free-living bacteria, saprophytes, and as symbionts in relationships with various marine animals. Luminous bacteria in their free-living forms are regularly present in seawater. Recent studies give further insights on luminous bacteria demography. A sampling of the waters off the coast of San Diego, California showed that Beneckea were common in the winter while P. fischeri was prevalent during the summer (Nealson and Hastings 505). A study of luminous bacteria depth distribution demonstrated that P. phosphoreum were most abundant in the midwater layer of the open ocean. Saprophytic forms of bacteria are also extremely common. These forms of luminous bacteria are quite common and live on the surfaces of dead organic material. In fact, researchers often swab the outer surface of freshly killed fish or squid to start a culture of luminous bacteria. BACTERIA REACTION As opposed to most terrestrial forms of bioluminescence, bacterial bioluminescence is the dominant form in marine habitats. Currently, six species of marine luminous bacteria belonging to the genera of Photobacterium and Beneckea have been identified. There is one species of freshwater luminous bacteria (Vibrio). Like all forms of bioluminescence known to man, light of bacterial origin involves a luciferin-luciferase reaction. Luminous bacteria generate light through the luciferase-catalyzed oxidation of the substrate flavin-mononucleotide (FMNH2) with the associated oxidation of a long-chain aldehyde. What is unique about this reaction is that it is very slow; it takes ten seconds for a single luciferase cycle to occur, making it one of the slowest enzymes (Nealson and Hastings 497). Luciferases from various luminous bacteria have been isolated; although they all share high specifity for flavin-mononucleotide and long-aldehyde, the luciferase of Photobacteria exhibits fast decay whi le that of Benecka exhibits slow decay. Recent amino acid sequencing of P. fischeri and B. harveyi support the theory that the luciferases of these two species evolved from the same monomer. Bacterial luminescence has high oxygen affinity and occurs under low concentrations of oxygen or microaerophillic conditions. It is also interesting to note that facultative anaerobes, produce extracellular chitinase, and have specific requirements for sodium ion (Nealson and Hastings 497). FIREFLY REACTION The most widely known example of bioluminescence is in the fireflies. Bioluminescence in members of the beetle order is very unique. Fireflies use precisely timed light signals to attract mates. Specialized cells within the lantern section of the abdomen like all forms of bioluminescence involve a luciferin-luciferase reaction. This reaction can be divided into two steps. First, luciferin combines with adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to form luciferyl adenylate and pyrophosphate (PPi). This first step requires the prescence of magnesium ions (Osamu 5). Next, the enzyme luciferase speeds up oxidation of luciferyl adenylate to form oxyluciferin, adenosine phosphate (AMP), and light. This two-part process can be expressed as: Luceferin + ATP à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Luciferyl adenylate + PPi Luciferyl adenalte + O2 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Oxyluciferin + CO2 + AMP + Light FIREFLY CONTROL Although the reaction has been studied, the methods firefly use to control these flashes is still not well understood. Fireflies release the neurotransmitter octopamine that triggers a luciferin-luciferase reaction within the firefly lantern structure. However neurons synapse on tracheolar cells and not on firefly photocytes. Thus, there is a 17 micrometer gap between tracheolar cells and the photocytes. When fireflies were placed in a dark observation chamber with a steady flow of NO gas at 70 parts per million, adult Photuris fireflies immediately started to flash (Trimmer et al 2). Another not complexity in firefly light production is that fireflies can display different wavelengths of light. Because their luciferin molecules remain the same, scientists proposed that it was the color variation was the result of changes in the size of the luciferase protein cavity. Theoretically, a larger cavity would allow for more energy loss and thus lower-energy red light. Conversely, a smaller cavity would reduce energy loss and allow for higher-energy yellow and green light. Though this explanation seems to be logical, recent studies published by a team of scientists in Beijing suggest that the color of firefly light is affected by the polarity within the lantern microenvironment. Ya Jun Liu of the Beijing Normal University reports, Weve shown that the light wavelength [of the Luciola cruciata firefly] does not depend on the rigid or loose structure of luciferase but on the water H-bond network inside the cavityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Mutations of luciferase on residues involved in this network should modulate the color (Zyga 2). Though a little light is shed on how fireflies may actually the color of their light, clearly further research on the exact process is required. Marine Control In the marine environment, equally diverse techniques are employed to regulate bioluminescence. However, because most marine creatures house bacterial symbionts, light is constantly being produced and is difficult in a sense to turn on or off. Although light can attract prey and is useful in underwater communication, it also attracts unwanted attention from predators. The flashlight fish uses a retractable fold of skin as a shutter to conceal its bright photophore that lies below its eyes. In a similar sense, various luminous squids expand their chromatophores (color pigments) as to block off the emission of light. However, just recently scientists have discovered the first case of bioluminescence controlled by the use of hormones. Unlike the firefly luminescence, the velvet-belly lantern shark Etmopterus spinax relies on hormones to regulate luminescence, not nerves. Etmopterus spinax is now known to melatonin, prolactin, and alpha-MSH. These hormones are not new to science; theyve been known to control skin coloration in sharks and their cartilgenous relatives. Melatonin yields a slow, long-lasting glow on the underbelly of the shark, supposedly serving as counterilumination. On the other hand, prolactin elecits a quicker shine that only lasts up to an hour. Scientists hypothesize that the Etmopterus spinax use these relatively fast shines to singal to mates. Lastly, alpha-MSH inhibits luminescence. Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland and is known as the dark hormone for its role in sleep patterns in animals. As the shark descends deeper into the water column, its pineal gland senses the increasingly dark environment and compensates by producing melatonin. Therefore, melatonin is an ideal regulator because it is linked to the established biological processes of Etmopterus spinax. Quality of Light Chemiluminescence is the production of light through chemical reactions. Bioluminescence is simply chemiluminescence by a living organism. Therefore, bioluminescence can be considered to be a subset of chemiluminescence. The chemical reactions used to produce light are extremely efficient when compared to other methods of light production. Hence, bioluminescence is also known as cold light due to the relatively low amounts of heat that are produced. Conversely in incandescence, most of the energy used to create light is wasted as heat, and is accordingly dubbed hot light (Simon 13). Fluorescence on the other hand is the result of a special coating on the bulb that absorbs ultraviolet energy and then emits the energy as a longer wavelength of visible light. Phosphorescence is similar to fluorescence, but takes more time to re-emit light and is an overall slower process (Binger 1). INNOVATIONS The chemical luminol valued for its use as a chemiluminescent detector in crime scene investigations. Forensic investigators use luminol to specifically detect trace amounts of blood at crime scenes. To produce light, luminol needs to be activated by an oxidant. Often, a solution of hydrogen peroxide and a hydroxide salt is used to activate the luminol (Harrison 1). When a solution of luminol and the activator is sprayed upon a crime scene, trace amounts of iron present in the blood serves as a catalyst and speeds up the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. The products of this chemical reaction are hydrogen and water. The luminol reacts with the hydroxide salt to form a dianion. The oxygen (produced by the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide) then reacts with the diananion to form organic peroxide. This compound is unstable and immediately decomposes to produce 5-aminophthalic acid. Electrons of the 5-aminophthalic acid are initially in an excited state, but they soon return to their ground state and release their excess energy as visible photons. Thus, a blue glow is generated and lasts for up to 30 seconds. Although this technique requires a fairly dark atmosphere, the glow can be recorded by a long-exposure photograph. Bioluminescence is finding its unique applications in many fields. A team of researchers headed by Ohio State University have discovered how to manipulate a firefly gene to fight a form of cancer. These researchers were hoping to find a way to fight the cancer adult T-cell lymphoma and leukemia (ATLL). Laboratory mice had ATLL tumor cells injected into their abdomens. Normally, the tumor would progress unnoticed until it reached its later more serious phase. However, the ATLL tumor cells were genetically modified to produce firefly luciferase. Upon receiving the altered ATLL cells, the mice were injected with luciferin. This immediately triggered the biochemical reaction characteristic of the firefly, allowing the researchers to clearly record the visual progression of the tumor. Using this precise method of tracking the tumor, the were able to discover that the drug PS-341 killed over 95% of the cancerous cells (Firefly Genes 1).

The Factors Affecting Recruitment

The Factors Affecting Recruitment Selecting the right person for the right job is the very important for every organization. Nowadays this has become more critical in IT firms as there is very high demand for IT professionals in the industry, hence the turnover is very high. HR management principles include the following aspects Staff management is putting the workforce in a place like recruitment. It is developing that workforce so that staff can meet the changing demands of patient care by role redesign and personal development. It is assuring staff of job satisfaction. Human resources management (HRM) is the logical and strategic focus to managing the most valuable assets of an organization the people working there who individually and collectively contributing to the achievement of business objectives. The terms human resource management and human resources (HR) have largely supplanted the term personnel management as a description of the processes involved in the management of people in organizations. Simply put, human resources management means the employment of people, the development of their capabilities, using the maintenance and compensation of their services in line with the work and the requirement of the organization. HRM strategy A human resources management strategy refers to the media about how to apply the specific functions of human resource management. The function of a human resources organization may have policies for recruitment and selection, disciplinary procedures, policies, reward / recognition, a human resource plan, or policy learning and development, yet all these functional areas of resource management humans must be aligned and correlated to correspond with the overall business strategy. A strategy for human resources management is therefore a general plan on the implementation of specific areas of human resource management functions. Human resource management involves three processes. They are: Organizational planning Planning process is involving identifying an organizations short term and long term objectives, formulating and monitoring specific strategies to achieve their goals Staff acquisition The process of staff acquisition is getting the needed personnel assigned to and working on the project. Team development Team development can be defined as the process of building skills individually and group for project performance. Human Resource practices Workplace safe, healthy and happy Creating a safe work environment, healthy and happy will ensure that your employees feel comfortable and stay with your organization for a very long time. Capturing their pulse through staff surveys. Open book management style Exchange of information on contracts, sales, new customers, management objectives, company policies, etc. employee personal data ensures that employees are as enthusiastic about the company and the management. Through this process of open book, which can gradually create a culture of participative management and ignite the creative efforts of its workforce.. This is making people an interested party to strategic decisions, allowing them to align their business objectives. Be as open as possible. It helps in building confidence and motivates employees. Employee self-service portal, Manager Online, etc. are the tools currently available to management practice of this style. Performance bonds linked to pay the premiums, or have any type of variable compensation plan can be an incentive and disappointment, on the basis of how to manage and communicate. Bono must be designed so that people understand that there is no payment unless the company hits a certain level of profitability. Additional criteria could be the team success and individual performance. Never pay with bonus without measuring performance, unless a legal obligation. 360-Degree Performance Management Feedback System this system, which seeks the views of older people (including the boss), peers and subordinates, has been increasingly adopted as the best of all available methods to collect performance information. Gone are the days of hard work to impress one person, now the opinions of all matter, especially if you are in a leadership role (at any level). Each person on the team is responsible for giving relevant feedback, positive and constructive. Such systems also help in identifying leaders for higher level positions in the organization. Senior managers can use this information for their own development. Develop a system of evaluation that clearly links the performance of individual with business goals and priorities. Each employee must have clearly defined information relationships. Self-rating as part of the assessment process enables employees. The assessment is more righteous if it relies on records of regular counseling and accomplishments of employees, monitoring throughout the year. For a more objective, besides the immediate supervisor, all employees must be evaluated by the next higher level (often called a guard). Cross functional feedback, if obtained by the immediate superior of another manager (for whom the work of this employee is also important), will add to the fairness of the system. A relative ranking of all subordinates reporting to the same manager is another tool for assessing equity. The standardization of the evaluation is another dimension of improvement of fairness. Knowledge Exchange Adopt a systematic approach to ensure that knowledge management supports strategy. Knowledge of the store in databases to provide greater access to information published by the company or employees at the gates of knowledge of the company. When an employee returns after attending the competencies or skills development program, sharing essential knowledge with others may be required. Innovative ideas (implemented in the workplace) are good for publication in these knowledge sharing platforms. However, what to store and how to maintain a knowledge base requires deep thinking to avoid disorder. The performers landmark Create profiles of top performers and make these visible through the intranet, bulletin boards, etc. It will encourage others to put on their best, creating a competitive landscape inside the company. If a systems approach is the high performance flat can surely prevent disgruntlements. Open discussions and feedback mechanism Ideas rule the world. Large organizations recognize, promote and implement the great ideas. Employees are the greatest source of ideas. The only thing that can stop great ideas flooding your organization is the lack of an appropriate mechanism to capture ideas. Open discussions of the house, staff management meets, suggestion boxes and ideas capture tools such as critical incident diaries are the building blocks that can help administrators identify and develop talent. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Ceremonies reward just recognize talent does not work; you must combine it with ceremonies where recognition is broadcast. As for the dollar check is often less important than listening to the applause of his colleagues in a public forum. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Employees with the Unexpected Delight The last but not least way to delight your employees from time to time with unexpected things that may come as a reward, a gift certificate or well done. Reward not only the best performers, but also some others who are in need of motivation to showcase its potential. Recruitment procedures Recruitment is the process of searching the candidates for employment and selects them to apply for jobs in the organization. Careful Recruitment process of an employee is very important. If we select unsuitable employee then it will give problem to our organization. Badly selected employees do not usually stay long with the organization. Sometime they leave themselves from the organization or else we have to discharge them from the organization. So a good recruitment procedure will influence the successful candidate in his future attitude to the firm. Factors Affecting Recruitment The recruitment function of the organizations is affected by internal and external forces. The internal forces or factors are the factors that can be controlled by the organization. And the external factors are those factors which cannot be controlled by the organization. Factors affecting Recruitment: Working conditions, salary and benefit packages offered by the organization The employment conditions in the community where the organization is located. Cultural, economic and legal factors Rate of growth of the organization. The effects of past recruiting efforts which show the organizations ability to locate and retain the good performing people. The future expansion and production programs. The size of the organization. Internal Factors Affecting Recruitment The internal factors which affecting recruitment and can be controlled by the organization. Recruitment policy Human resource planning Size of the firm Cost Growth and expansion External Factors Affecting Recruitment The external factors that are affecting recruitment are the forces which cannot be controlled by the organization. Supply and demand Labour market Image / goodwill Political-social- legal environment Unemployment rate Competitors Selection Procedure The term selection denotes a choice of one or many from amongst the candidates. It is very importance of making the right selection of staffThe main purpose of a screening procedure is to establish whether the applicant has the qualifications for a particular job, and then choose which candidate who is more likely to do well in that occupation.The advertisement for recruitment should be such that it can attract maximum applications from a number of suitable candidates. The entire selection process starts with a initial screening interview and ends with a final employment choice. Steps in selection procedure: response of applications or groundwork monitoring Application bank that gives a detail about the applicants background A well mannered interview to explore the applicants history life The physical examination Psychological testing that gives an aim gaze at a candidates suitability for that job A reference check Final Selection approved by the manager Communication of the decision to the candidate. Selection Criteria Selection criteria describe the qualifications, knowledge, and capabilities and undergo that a person requires in order making a job successfully. They are divided into: necessary criteria Desirable criteria. Selection criteria are used to help select the most capable, effective, suited, experienced, qualified, person for the job. Applicants must demonstrate and prove the ways in which they will be of value for the job and the organization. Examples of selection criteria ability to maintain confidentiality ability to work as part of a team ability to work independently ability to work under pressure attention to detail flexible and adaptable approach to work initiative keyboard skills knowledge of University organization, policy and procedures organizational/planning skills problem-solving ability sensitivity supervisory skills verbal communication/interpersonal skills Written communication skills.

The First Amendment: Free Of Expression :: essays research papers

The First Amendment: Free of Expression In 1787 our forefathers ratified the constitution of the United States of America, which contains the most important document to any American citizen, the Bill of Rights. The first amendment of the Bill of Rights states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the establishment thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech; or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. these freedoms (commonly called the freedom of expression) are of the most important rights in a truly democratic society. Without them there would be no new ideas; we would all conform under totalitarian rule for fear of punishment. However, when I, a common student at West Rowan High School try to express my feelings on "the state of the Bill of Rights in schools today" by making a computer presentation in multimedia class, my work is declared "bad" and my teacher and assistant principal do one of the most un-American things imaginable: they censored it. I had to re-make the presentation and lighten the harsh tone, and also erase the anarchy symbol from it. The teacher said that she was worried about me for reasons such as my feelings on the freedom of religion were almost satanic, because I said teachers should not be able to publicly practice religion in schools because it will encourage students to become a part of that religion. The presentation was neither slanderous nor obscene, but it did criticize teachers and administrators calling them "fascist dictators". At first I was angry at the school because I could wear clothing that was obscene or contained liquor advertisements, now they have completely taken away my freedom of speech. This of course proved my argument that teachers and administrators are totalitarians. As one journalist put it, "If Freedom of expression becomes merely an empty slogan in the minds of enough children, it will be dead by the time we are adults." I soon began reading more and more about the freedom of speech in schools and every time a subject as such came up the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the student declaring the action unconstitutional under the first amendment. As I was reading Nat Hentoff's book The First Freedom I came across a story in which a student wrote a newspaper article criticizing the school administration, soon after he ran for student government and was taken off the ballot for his critique. Unfortunately he did not fight it in court. The principal sharply taught the

Framed :: social issues

Framed In this piece I create a particular day with a girl and her pet. I intend to cause a deadly scene where the supernatural is involved. I also plan to allow the reader to make the story believable by setting it in the real world. This piece is aimed at all ages. The sound of glass shattering onto the kitchen tiles was enough concern for Socks to investigate. He pounced immediately out of his personal rug and in a matter of seconds he was at the scene. It appeared that broken pieces of glass were scattered on the floor along with bright red tulips. He then looked up at the distress face of his owner Elisa, who had just arrived home from work. He decided to comfort her and gave her a juicy lick on her soft white face. ‘Oh! Socks. These were supposed to be for my boyfriend. I’m going over to his place tonight,’ she explained with a single teardrop, whilst rubbing her fingers through his golden fur coat. ‘I guest I’ll have to bring you along, you sweaty. Okay?’ He barked ecstatically to highlight a ‘yes.’ Socks was able to understand what Elisa had said as he was a Labrador and had five years of training. An hour prior to the departure, Elisa had tried on at least fourteen different outfits, which all looked dazzling. She finally chose the violet dress with matching lipstick and high heels that showed her stunning long legs. She added a touch of foundation to her naturally beautiful face and flipped her blonde hair back to create a catwalk style-look. ‘Socks, here boy,’ Elisa called from the front gate. â€Å"Hop into the car, we’re leaving.’ She tied a violet strap around his body to correspond with her look. They arrived at the spacious double storey house with an eerie atmosphere due to the leafless trees mainly surrounding the estate. At the entrance a tall, slim man with electric blue eyes greeted them at the front brass door. ‘How are you, Elisa?’ he asked her cheerfully. ‘I’m fine Darren. This is my pumpkin - Socks,’ she replied as they entered the house. Her first impression of the house was simply shocking. Clothes were spread on the couch to the floor not to mention the creepy appearance of the house, however when she reached the dining room she was quite stunned. Framed :: social issues Framed In this piece I create a particular day with a girl and her pet. I intend to cause a deadly scene where the supernatural is involved. I also plan to allow the reader to make the story believable by setting it in the real world. This piece is aimed at all ages. The sound of glass shattering onto the kitchen tiles was enough concern for Socks to investigate. He pounced immediately out of his personal rug and in a matter of seconds he was at the scene. It appeared that broken pieces of glass were scattered on the floor along with bright red tulips. He then looked up at the distress face of his owner Elisa, who had just arrived home from work. He decided to comfort her and gave her a juicy lick on her soft white face. ‘Oh! Socks. These were supposed to be for my boyfriend. I’m going over to his place tonight,’ she explained with a single teardrop, whilst rubbing her fingers through his golden fur coat. ‘I guest I’ll have to bring you along, you sweaty. Okay?’ He barked ecstatically to highlight a ‘yes.’ Socks was able to understand what Elisa had said as he was a Labrador and had five years of training. An hour prior to the departure, Elisa had tried on at least fourteen different outfits, which all looked dazzling. She finally chose the violet dress with matching lipstick and high heels that showed her stunning long legs. She added a touch of foundation to her naturally beautiful face and flipped her blonde hair back to create a catwalk style-look. ‘Socks, here boy,’ Elisa called from the front gate. â€Å"Hop into the car, we’re leaving.’ She tied a violet strap around his body to correspond with her look. They arrived at the spacious double storey house with an eerie atmosphere due to the leafless trees mainly surrounding the estate. At the entrance a tall, slim man with electric blue eyes greeted them at the front brass door. ‘How are you, Elisa?’ he asked her cheerfully. ‘I’m fine Darren. This is my pumpkin - Socks,’ she replied as they entered the house. Her first impression of the house was simply shocking. Clothes were spread on the couch to the floor not to mention the creepy appearance of the house, however when she reached the dining room she was quite stunned.

Jacques La Ramee :: Biography History Ramee Wyoming Essays Papers

Jacques La Ramee Throughout Wyoming many landmarks are named after an early French—Canadian trapper. These landmarks include the Laramie River, the Laramie Peak , the Laramie Plains, Laramie County , Fort Laramie , the town of Fort Laramie , and the city of Laramie . Jacques LaRamee (Laramà ©e, Laramà ©, Laramie , De la Ramie, de la Rame, or La Ramee it is spelled different by almost all the listed sources) was a mysterious man with obvious influence (Chittenden, 1935; Coutant, 1899; Fetter, 1982; McDermott, 1968; Pitcher, 2000). However, there is little known about him. LaRamee’s significance is seemingly lost along with his complete history, but when researched further one can begin to understand his historical impact. Not only are there various spellings of his surname, but some historians also question whether or not Jacques was his first name. Some go so far as to say it was Baptiste. There are others who state his given name was Joseph; this may be more accurate (pitcher, 2000). J. Edmond LaRamee, a supposed descendent of LaRamee the trapper, traces the trapper’s lineage from Jacques Fissiau (who would have been the great grandfather of Jacque LaRamee). The parents of Jacques are thought to have been â€Å"Joseph and Jeanne Mondou LaRamee of Yamaska , Quebec .† Other records show that Joseph fathered five sons, â€Å"none of whom was named Jacques or Baptiste. However, the third son, who was born on June 8, 1784, bore the name Joseph.† The name Jacques was first used by Dr. C.G. Coutant and that is probably the reason many historians use it today (McDermott, 1968). Among the remains of LaRamee’s fractured biography, a man of upright character and independent quality begins to emerge. According to Dr. C.G. Coutant’s History of Wyoming he entered the United States around 1815 with the North West Company – a major player in the fur industry that was involved in a continuous feud with a rival company, The Hudson Bay Company. These conflicting fur companies often created competition between their employees which resulted in violence. LaRamee strung together a group of â€Å"free trappers,† and they began trapping at the headwaters of the North Platte (Fetter, 1982). LaRamee’s success was due to his renowned attitude and peaceful reputation. His fellow free trappers shared his â€Å"theory that the world was wide and there was room enough for all.† LaRamee led his band of hard working peaceful trappers to undisputed territory where they could trap an abundance of fur without quarrel.

Crisis in Australian Film Industry

Films from down under are going, well, down and under†(Humphreys S cited in Kaufman T, 2009). This essay will confirm there is a crisis is the Australian Film Industry through exploring the economic, political and cultural factors that led to the crisis. The current economic climate and political decisions have had a significant impact on the Australian film industry, leading to lower production rates of overseas films in Australia.The internal and external cultural factors will be explored to highlight the responsibility the Australian public and the industry had and how ailing to meet these responsibilities has further deepened the already unfortunate circumstances in the industry. However there are economical, political and cultural factors that have led to the crisis in the industry; this essay will also explore why it is called a ‘crisis'. Thus exploring the loss of Jobs, the lack of Australian films being produced, and most importantly the erosion of a sense of nati onal identity that Australians gain through Australian cinema.Recent successful Australian films ‘Australia' (Alarm B, 2008) and ‘Black Balloon' (Down E, 2008) represents the laity that films should be produced to create a successful industry; this reinforces the sense of nationhood at risk of being lost. There is a common misconception that the strong Australian dollar benefits the economy (Boded M, 2010). However for the Australian film industry this is not the case, the Australian dollar has risen to a 28 year high (Dingle S, 2011) so it is justifiable to say this has significantly contributed to the crisis in the industry.Film executives believe that â€Å"the industry is in a crisis and in real pain but we scant tell the al story without sending your international customers running† (unknown cited in Boded M, 2010). Therefore, due to the strong dollar the film industry is in a lose-lose situation further deepening the crisis it is faced with. This is because international films being produced in Australia are significantly more expensive; hence Australia cannot remain competitive in the global market.Alarms McFarland from Deluxe Promotions states that the last international production that was produced in Australia was the 2009, Gavin Hood film Wolverine' and before that, Bag Loran's Film ‘Australia' (2008) (Cited in Dingle S, 2011). This three-year drought in international film production in Australia exemplifies the importance of a particular economic climate in order to attract overseas production in Australia and to lead to a successful Film Industry. The strong Australian dollar has significantly reduced the amount of international films being produced in Australia in recent years.Rising Sun Pictures co-founder Tony Clark stated that the current economic climate is â€Å"killing us all† and finding new business is crucial but close too impossible at this stage (cited in Boded M, 2010). This has led to a chain of inoppo rtune circumstances, further elevating the extent of the crisis. Due to the lack of international film production in Australia there is significant lull in Jobs in the film industry. The current situation in the industry can be labeled as a crisis as production companies are cutting staff to reduce costs and then the advertising and television (Dingle S, 2011).Production in Australia also creates employment through the use of stunt doubles, extras and film crew. The lack of overseas production will therefore result in limited Job opportunities in the industry. Therefore the strong dollar has a negative impact on the economy through the perspective of the film industry, as there are higher unemployment rates. Ultimately the Australian film industry needs to position themselves differently within the current economic climate and market place to gain some sort of benefit from the current economic climate (Hear G, Ryan M D, 2010).Economic factors contributing to the crisis in the indust ry can arguably be eliminated by political decisions. The Australian Government has failed to introduce adequate tax incentives to attract foreign film production in Australia, which is further stabilizing the current economic climate (Hear G, Ryan M D, 2010). Australian film commissioner Tracey Iberia believed the 15% tax offset â€Å"Just wasn't strong enough† for overseas production to stay in Australia and the tax offset should be doubled to 30% (cited in Dingle S, 2011). The Government will review Subfamily's proposal but some people in the industry fear it may be too late.Central City Rod Allen believes tax incentives cannot lessen the effect of the high dollar and â€Å"the incentives can't compensate enough now' (cited in Boded M, 2010). However, others state that the tax s â€Å"not a grant; it's designed to deliver significant inflows of external investment into Australia† (McFarland cited in Dingle S, 2011). Thus questioning the feasibility of introducing a tax incentive and its ability to seize the crisis in the Australian Film industry. Through exploring past tax incentives, it is evident that tax incentives do not cause enduring improvement to an industry.The ABA scheme was first introduced in the sass's, which led to growth in various companies in and associated with the film industry. However tax incentive such as these can lead to an â€Å"unstable bubble† in the Australian Film industry, attracting film to be produced in Australia and as the tax deflates so does the production rate of films, causing a negative slum in the industry (Burns A, Lethal B, 2010). Through investigating past tax incentives, it is seen that incentives fail to create stability, through this the extent of the crisis is recognized by showing that tax incentives will not cease the crisis.The success or failure of the Australian Film Industry is often based on the box office success. However statistics from Screen Australia show that the 100 Australia n eater films released between 2007-2009 had a total audience viewing off million by February 2011 and only 6% was viewed at the cinema (Screen Australia). This indicates that basing the success of the Australian Film Industry on box office figures is not necessarily a viable source as the Box Office only indicates a films profit made in cinema.Film writer Linden Barber believes the film industry â€Å"needs to get away from the fixation on the box office†¦ It doesn't matter where people see films as long as they view them† (2008 cited in Kaufman T, 2009). Therefore can it be Justified hat the Australian Film industry is not in crisis, but purely the unfavorable economic notion, however the industry can be recognized as being in a crisis by the lack of drive for Australians to view Australian films in cinema, therefore Australians are becoming deprived of a sense of national identity achieved through Australian film (Hear G, Ryan M D, 2010).One may be led to believe that Australians strong sense of nationhood and pride would entice them to watch Australian films to attain a sense of imagined community (Anderson B, 2006). However this is not the case, Australians have become a â€Å"viewing population- not a viewing nation† (Vernon D, 2005) weakening the sense of imagined community shared amongst Australians. The Age's film writer, Jim Schemers argues that a lack of marketing has put the industry in this predicament (cited in Kaufman T, 2009).Where as American films understand the importance of promotion, this recognizes the simple ways American films dominate Australian films in the Box Office (Kaufman T, 2009). This ‘American' style of promotion may of lead to the booming success of the film ‘Australia' (Hear G, Ryan M D, 2010), which raked in an enormous $26,91 5,773 (Screen Australia) in the box office alone. This stresses that maybe internal factors of the industry are the cause of the crisis. The negative attitudes within th e industry about the industry have transcended to Australian viewers.The 2008 film ‘Black Balloon' (Down E, 2008) displays images of ‘Australians' to its viewers and creates a sense of nationhood amongst viewers, however it's co-writer had a different effect on the Australian public. Jimmy Jack singled out other nominees at the Australian Film industry awards when saying â€Å"F*KC you! With pride accepting his award followed by a roaring applause. This highlights an industry comfortable insulting others in the industry (Kaufman T, 2009). Thus encouraging and tolerating a negative attitude towards the Australian film industry that the Australian public has accepted.This ultimately drives the issues in the film industry deeper into crisis. Australian cinema (not Just films produced in Australia) fosters an Australian story, representing and preserving Australian culture, character and identity (Marcher, 1999 cited in Hear G, Ryan M D, 2010). When exploring why the Austra lian film industry is babbled a ‘crisis' it is evident it is because of the erosion of national identity and a sense of imagined community, which can be achieved through Australian film.Bag Allurement's film ‘Australia' (2008) uses imagery of the Australian landscape to display national identity thus uniting all Australians with a sense of imagined community (Simpson C, 2010). The film also recognizes the gender and racial discourses imprinted into Australians national identity (Hogan J, 2010) in an attempt to create dialogue amongst Australians to help recognize and eliminate the issues. Ultimately Australia' recognizes Australia's past and encourages a brighter future for all Australians- indigenous or not.The film achieves this through creating a distinct shift in the attitudes of those within the industry by creating an indigenous film that is not â€Å"Box Office poison† (Simpson C, 2010). The film ‘Australia' (Lurching B, 2008) represents the power Aus tralian films hold over a sense of imagined community and national identity. Thus representing the lack of nationhood Australians will Unlike ‘Australia' (Lurching B, 2008) Elise Downs 2008 film ‘Black Balloon' displayed a ensue of ‘Australians' in a more subtle way.The film was the second highest grossing film in the Box office in 2008 to ‘Australia', gaining $2,265,689 in the box office alone (Screen Australia). Although this was less than a tenth of what ‘Australia' (Lurching B, 2008) grossed, ‘Black Balloon' (Down E, 2008) may have created a more sustainable sense of nationhood. Contrasting to ‘Australia' (Alarming B, 2008), the film was not tainted by Hollywood (Parents O, Parker R, 2009), displaying an Australian genre of film and following a less dramatic more realistic story line.Dominic Knight (from the Chaser's) believes that few Australian filmmakers seem interested in depicting ordinary life (cited in Kaufman T, 2009). Hence Aust ralian films need to maintain their cinematic identity and produce films in which audience's want to see (Humphreys S, 2008 cited in Kaufman T, 2009). Thus supporting the success of ‘Black Balloon' (Down E, 2008) in telling a relatable Australian story (Evergreen D, 2005). This further highlights the extent of the crisis, as a sense of imagined community is lost. Through exploring the various driving factors that contributed to the crisis in theAustralian Film Industry it is evident that soon, if nothing has been done, the industry will be labeled a tragedy. The industry is sensitive to certain factors and relies heavily on a specific economic climate to attract overseas production. These external factors are beyond the industries control but still need to be addressed. Although some people within the industry believe it is too late, or that a tax incentive would not be effective in the long-run the government along side the Australian Film Industry should investigate option's before it is too late.Through acknowledging that the industry is in crisis one can only anticipate that Australians will recognize the importance that the film industry has in creating a sense of national identity and imagine community and re-evaluate their attitudes towards Australian cinema. The Australian film industry cannot control the external factors that are contributing to the crisis in the industry, however the; industry, government and Australian public need to recognize the issues in order to salvage the industry and eliminate the factors that labels it as in a crisis.

Automobile Industry China Essay

? China became the world’s largest automobile producer and market in 2009 with annual sales of nearly 14 million vehicles. The market continues to expand in 2010. In the first nine months of 2010, automobile production reached 13. 08 million units, a 36. 1 percent increase from a year ago. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) raised its forecast for annual sales to reach a record 17 million this year, matching the highest annual total ever reached in the United States. Industry growth has been primarily driven by rising domestic demand stemming from rising incomes, a growing middle class, and by supportive industry policies from the Chinese government. The Chinese automotive industry remains very fragmented. In addition, Chinese central government officials fear that unchecked expansion of China’s auto industry encouraged by local authorities could harm the wider economy, and that excess capacity must be stopped. Hence, the central government continues to push for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the automotive industry which will support the emergence of a few leading national companies. China’s weak R&D, domestic innovation and design capabilities are key challenges to its international competitiveness. With the government’s encouragement, domestic firms have opted for strategic partnerships with foreign players, aiming to facilitate technology transfer and improve domestic design and engineering capabilities. The Chinese government has implemented a number of tax adjustments and subsidies for automobile purchases to encourage hybrid electric vehicles, pure electric vehicles and traditional vehicles of small engine displacement. Beijing has gradually introduced higher automobile emission standards for new vehicles. Plans to develop hybrid electric and pure electric vehicle production capabilities are part of a broader, environmentally friendly strategy to develop the auto industry. Market opportunities exist especially in the following areas: o Developing domestic innovation capabilities (e.g. vehicle design and engineering, hybrid electric and pure electric engines, electric motors and electric controls) o Productivity and quality upgrade (e. g. engines, transmissions, electronic control systems and safety systems) o Mergers and acquisitions (both in China and in Israel) o Clean transportation technologies 3 China’s Automotive Sector – Prepared for IEICI Updated November 2010 (Original April 2009) ? ? ? ? ? ? o Advanced manufacturing technologies o Supply of essential automotive components/systems to OEMs (e. g.electronic control systems and safety systems) ? The following automotive segments in China are considered to be highly competitive and it will likely be difficult for Israeli firms to penetrate the market unless they have an extreme competitive advantage: Fabric for seats/interiors, seat covers, floor mats, curtains, aluminum die casting, rubber bumpers, electronic harness cables, antennae, speakers, electric starters, vehicle cleaning products, window films, A/C compressors, fuel and oil and air filters. 1. MARKET OVERVIEW ? ? China’s automotive market has the most growth potential in the world; per capita car ownership is still remarkably low at 4. 78% and is expected to grow significantly. Domestic whole-vehicle manufacturers and automotive suppliers are still extremely fragmented (government-supported consolidation is imminent in the near future); challenges remain for domestic R&D and design. With government subsidies and tax incentives, China is aiming to establish an early footing in the production of low-emission and environmentally friendly automobiles. Component imports surged by 130% in the first half of 2010; 60% of imported components were drivetrains, engines or automotive body components. ? ? 1. 1 GENERAL OVERVIEW Market Growth Primarily fueled by domestic and partly by foreign demand, China’s rapidly expanding automotive industry has outpaced the nation’s already impressive GDP growth rates in recent years. Domestically, rising incomes and encouragement from the Chinese government for the urban population to obtain drivers licenses have spurred the demand for passenger vehicles. The booming passenger vehicle market has led to a soaring demand for automotive components. Internationally, automotive manufacturers faced with decreasing margins and profitability have sought out more affordable supply chain solutions, looking to China as a potential source for lower cost automotive components. Unlike developed markets for passenger vehicles, where growth in demand has been largely stagnant, China’s domestic demand for new automobiles has skyrocketed in the past years. Strong car sales in China in 2009 pushed the auto market to the largest in the world, and 2010 is set follow the positive trend. 4 China’s Automotive Sector – Prepared for IEICI Updated November 2010 (Original April 2009). Source: China Association of Automotive Manufacturers (CAAM) In the first nine months of 2010, automobile sales reached 13. 08 million units, up 36. 1% from a year ago. Over 9 million of the total sales were passenger cars and 3. 24 million were commercial vehicles. CAAM predicted that the 2010 annual sales will reach a record of 17 million units. It is widely believed that China’s automotive market currently has the most growth potential in the world. China’s 2009 per capita private car ownership was 4. 78%, far less than the 40% average of developed countries, and even less than other emerging markets such as Russia, Brazil and India. This is a strong indication that China’s domestic market is far from being overly saturated. According to CAAM predictions, growth in the auto industry will remain strong until 2020 with annual growth expected to consistently range from 13 to 15 percent. The total number of vehicles will jump from 67 to 150 million. Sales in larger tierone and tier-two cities as well as rural areas should keep growing at a rapid pace over the next few years and high growth areas will move from eastern China to the central and western regions. Market Players There are currently more than 100 whole-vehicle manufacturers and nearly 8,000 automotive parts manufacturers in China, located primarily in Southern, Eastern, and Northeastern and central China (see the map on the right). Together, the top ten passenger vehicle manufacturers (seven of which are joint ventures (JVs) make up almost 90% of China’s market share (see the table below). Nearly every major global vehicle manufacturer has established JV operations in China. 5 China’s Automotive Sector – Prepared for IEICI Updated November 2010 (Original April 2009). Top 10 Passenger Vehicle Manufacturers in China (2009) Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Source: CAAM Company SAIC1 FAW2 Dongfeng Chana (incl. Hafei) Beijing Auto Guangzhou Auto Chery BYD Brilliance Geely Others HQ Shanghai Changchun Wuhan Chongqing Beijing Guangzhou Hefei Shenzhen Shenyang Taizhou JV Partner GM, VW VW, Toyota, Mazda PSA, Nissan, Honda Ford, Mazda, Suzuki Hyundai Daimler Honda, Toyota, Isuzu, Fiat N/A N/A BMW, Toyota N/A Sales (Unit) 2,705. 5K 1,944. 6K 1,897. 7K 1,869. 8K 1,243. 0K 606. 6K 500. 3K 448. 4K 348. 3K 329. 1K 1,750K Market Share 19. 83% 14. 25% 13. 91% 13. 70% 9. 11% 4. 45% 3. 67% 3. 29% 2. 55% 2. 41% 12. 84% Import Positive demand growth for automobiles and components has not only caused domestic industry development, but has led to increased attention from leading foreign automotive manufacturers eager to expand into the rapidly growing market. Foreign automotive manufacturers have also been encouraged by lower import tariffs, which have been lowered for whole vehicles from 70-80% to 25% since China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO). Import tariffs on Semi-Knocked-Downs (SKDs) and Complete-Knocked-Downs (CKDs) have dropped from 50% to 25%, while import tariffs on vehicle components have dropped from 15% to 10%. 1 2 Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation First Auto Works 6 China’s Automotive Sector – Prepared for IEICI Updated November 2010 (Original April 2009) China’s automotive import growth was slowed due to weaker demand caused by the global economic crisis of 2009. Annual total import were USD 33. 1 billion in 2009, representing a year-onyear increase of only 5. 34%. Assisted by government incentive programs and China’s economic recovery, China’s auto import total bounced back from a sluggish 2009, surging by 130% to USD 27. 22 billion in the first half of 2010. Imported European luxury cars had a remarkable 237. 2% increase in 2010 compared to the same period the previous year. China’s automotive component imports grew to USD 12. 7 billion in the first half of 2010, a 90% increase over the same period of 2009. Drivetrain, engine and automotive body components accounted for over 60% of the total component imports (see chart). More than 80% of the imported components came from Japan, German, Korea, and the United States. The main groups of imported automotive components to China can be divided into three categories: ? Japanese and Korean OEMs and Tier I suppliers: Generally these companies tend to only use suppliers from their country of origin. For example, Toyota typically sources components from Japanese JVs or Wholly Owned Foreign Enterprises (WFOEs) on the mainland, or directly imports from Japan. Such practice tends to result from strict quality requirements, cultural compatibility and logistical concerns. German OEMs and Tier I suppliers: These companies typically import components in the areas where Chinese suppliers are weak (e. g. safety systems for high-end passenger cars). The US and French OEMs operating in China have not increased their automotive component imports as much as their peers for different reasons. US OEMs have steadily increased their sourcing from local Chinese suppliers for vehicles manufactured in China to stay competitive, and French OEMs are facing a shrinking market share in China. ? ? Chinese OEMs are emerging buyers of imported automotive components, especially in the segments of hybrid and electric vehicles and Chinese-brand luxury vehicles. 7 China’s Automotive Sector – Prepared for IEICI Updated November 2010 (Original April 2009) Export The impact of the economic crisis in 2008-2009 forced many multinational companies to reduce their sourcing of automotive vehicles and components from China. According to CAAM, China exported a total of 369,600 units in 2009 worth USD 5. 19 billion, which was down by 46% from 2008. China’s auto exports rebounded as the global market recovered in 2010, with 250,100 vehicles exported in the first six months (up 55. 93% year-on-year). Passenger vehicle exports surged 115. 93% to 116,500 units, while commercial vehicle exports increased 25. 50% to 133,900 units. Algeria, Vietnam and Egypt were the major whole-vehicle export destinations in the first half of 2010. The auto component’s export growth has witnessed even more impressive growth than whole-vehicles. Exports increased 54. 11% to reach USD 18 billion in the first half year of 2010, with drive system components exceeding 50% of the total by value. More than 50% of the components were exported to the USA, Japan, South Korea, Germany and the United Kingdom. 1. 2 MARKET STRUCTURE Supplier Landscape The automotive supplier landscape in China is extremely fragmented. According to CAAM, there are approximately 8,000 automotive enterprises scattered across various segments including full vehicle manufacturing, vehicle refitting, motorcycle production, engine production and automotive parts manufacturing. Most of these companies specialize in lower-end parts and lack the capital needed to invest in production of higher quality products. Seven of China’s ten largest components manufacturers are foreign companies, and about 70% of the country’s USD 160 billion auto supply market is occupied by foreign companies or joint ventures. There are approximately 120 OEMs in total, 40% of which produce passenger vehicles. One of the key contributors to the fragmentation of the automotive market as a whole is that Chinese suppliers serve a large amount of separate OEMs. The world’s leading automotive companies are all well-established in China. OEMs are represented by Ford, General Motors (GM), Volkswagen (VW), Daimler, BMW, PSA, Mazda, Nissan, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, and tier-one international companies including Bosch, Delphi, Denso, Johnson Controls, Lear, Magna, Visteon, Yazaki, ZF, Arvin Meritor and TRW. 8 China’s Automotive Sector – Prepared for IEICI Updated November 2010 (Original April 2009) Most of the international automaker and component manufactures have invested heavily in China in attempts to gain a competitive edge. For example, GM, Ford and Jaguar Land Rover have established their Asia Pacific headquarters in China. GM, VW and Honda have also opened China R&D centers and have begun to design car models specifically for the Chinese consumer. International automotive components companies have also expanded their presence in China. For instance, BorgWarner recently opened a China Technical Center. ZF announced the establishment of its Asia Pacific headquarters in Shanghai as well as a new Shanghai R&D center. Eaton’s Asia Pacific headquarters is in Shanghai. Rapid expansion from international firms has let to foreign-invested automotive components suppliers holding 70% of the Chinese market share. Most of the top Chinese automotive parts manufacturers are wholly owned domestic companies such as ASIMCO, Wanxiang, Hongteo, Fuyao, Dicastal, Wanfeng and others. These companies could be potential competitors or partners for Israeli companies. In response to the soaring domestic demand, Chinese automotive component manufacturers have ramped up their production capacities significantly, but this has also led to an increase in quality complaints. Key Challenges for the Domestic Industry Chinese suppliers are now looking beyond the domestic market and improving their production process to emerge as true global competitors. However, further investment in R&D is still required before Chinese manufacturers can truly compete globally, as the industry still lacks technological capability and suffers from quality issues. China’s Automotive Sector – Prepared for IEICI Updated November 2010 (Original April 2009) Flagship Domestic Automotive Companies Chery Automotive (Chery) ? Founded in 1997 and now has an annual production capacity of 650,000 vehicles, 400,000 engines, and 400,000 sets of gearboxes. ? Continues to expand into the overseas market and has established plants in 16 countries becoming the biggest Chinese vehicle exporter for seven consecutive years. ? Chery Automobile Test & Technology Center opened in July 2010, which became the largest auto lab in Asia. The company will invest RMB 2. 4 billion in 2010 to accelerate its new model development. ? Chery now owns a full set of manufacturing and R&D facilities, including four car plants, two engine plants, a gearbox plant, an automobile engineering research institute, an automobile planning and design institute and an automobile test & technology center. ? Have extensive technological and business relationships with overseas auto companies. Chery signed an agreement with Chrysler to produce Chery made cars under the Chrysler brand to be sold in the United States and Mexico. ? Chery Quantum Auto. Ltd is a joint venture between Chery and Quantum LLC under an Israeli Group. They aimed to invest USD 334 million in 2010 to develop high-end cars and SUVs for the overseas market. 9 R&D capability Chinese automotive component manufacturers are able to manufacture products when they are provided with designs and specifications, however most of them lack design, engineering and R&D capabilities. Owing to weak R&D and engineering capabilities, many local suppliers have opted to enter into technical collaborations or JVs with leading international suppliers with the goal of facilitating the transfer of technology and improve basic product engineering capabilities. A growing number of Chinese auto parts suppliers have begun to invest in and acquire western firms. Domestic R&D capabilities of Chinese automotive part manufacturers have historically been limited due to the small-scale of most operations and a shortage of investment in laboratory facilities in comparison to international firms. Taking steps to remedy the situation, the Chinese government has continued to encourage investment in R&D for core systems, such as engines, transmission systems, steering systems, brake systems and driving control systems. Safety and reputational issues Incidents and product recalls have raised questions about the quality and safety standards of Chinese manufactured automotive components. According to the 2009 China Automotive Product Quality & After Service Quality report, among the 9359 complaints documented about Chinese made cars, 19. 5% were related to engine problems; 10. 5% to steering systems; 10. 7% to braking systems; 18. 5% to automobile accessories and electronics; and the remaining 40. 8% related to the gearbox, clutch, front and rear axles, suspension systems and air conditioning systems. As a result of complaints and recalls, as well as other non-automotive related manufacturing scandals in China including melamine milk, contaminated pet food, and anti-freeze laced toothpaste, Chinese manufactures are facing serious issues about their reputation. This is a problem local manufacturers will have to overcome if they want to increase their competitiveness on the global stage. The drivers are in place for Chinese domestic manufacturers to move to the forefront of the global automotive industry, but substantial domestic investment in R&D and improvements on quality and reputation are a necessary prerequisite. 1. 3 EMERGING INDUSTRY TRENDS Industry Drivers The rapid expansion of the Chinese automotive industry has been largely attributed to the growth in domestic demand for passenger vehicles and international demand for affordable automotive components. The Chinese government also continues to play an important role in encouraging the growth of the industry. 10 China’s Automotive Sector – Prepared for IEICI Updated November 2010 (Original April 2009) Tier II and Tier III cities emerge as market growth engines In 2010, most multinational automakers have included a focus on Central and Western China markets into their strategies in order to capture future growth opportunities. For example, Volkswagen is ramping up capacity of its Chengdu plant more than doubling its production of Sagitars and Jettas from 150,000 to 350,000. GAIC Toyota (a JV between Guangzhou Automobile Industry Corporation and Toyota) is considering building a small and price-competitive car to target the lower end of the market. The JV also announced plans to expand its dealership network across central and Western China. Central and western China have emerged as the main growth engine of the automotive market. According to CAAM, automobile sales in second and third-tier cities in the first nine months of 2009 surged 41 percent and 51 percent respectively, while sales in the firsttier cities increased by 34 percent. Domestic demand has been fueled by rising incomes and a growing middle class creating a larger consumer culture. The purchase of an automobile is increasingly becoming a symbol of financial success. In the past, the focus has been on coastal cities. Since 2009, tier II and tier III cities have emerged as the strongest market growth engines (see more details on your left) Even though large cities in China are facing serious traffic congestion issues, Chinese have not been deterred about making new automobile purchases. China overtook the U. S. as the world’s number one automotive market in January 2009. The positive developments in the passenger vehicle industry have benefitted both domestic auto manufacturers (which are emerging from their infancy stages and developing competitive capabilities) and major international automotive giants (which have increased investment into China to expand their presence). However, with per capita car ownership was still only 4. 78% in 2009, still far below the 40% average in developed countries. This is a strong sign that domestic demand for passenger vehicles will remain high in years to come. The domestic aftermarket for automotive components is increasingly becoming an important driver of the industry. More than thirteen million cars are sold annually in China which is leading to a growing market for automobile repairs and further stimulating domestic demand for automotive components. International demand for automotive components has also increased as international automotive firms face pressures to reduce costs and take advantage of more economical alternatives abroad. China’s inexpensive labor force presents an attractive option for producing lower-cost automotive components, which were initially primarily for the international aftermarket but are increasingly being used by international OEMs. The majority of leading international automobile OEMs have established global sourcing offices, R&D centers as well as regional headquarters in China. 11 China’s Automotive Sector – Prepared for IEICI Updated November 2010 (Original April 2009) Finally, the Chinese government continues to play an important role in driving the industry. Post-WTO accession concessions have resulted in lower import tariffs, giving international automotive firms more access to the domestic market. Beijing has actively encouraged the establishment of JV R&D centers with preferential tax policies designed to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and technology. The government has pledged substantial funds towards automotive technology innovation, upgrades, and the R&D of alternative-fuel automobiles and components. They are also setting restrictions and quotas requiring all vehicles that are used for government use to be produced domestically. Industry Consolidation China is determined to restructure its automotive industry, with the hopes of changing the market from many fragmented manufactures to two or three dominant domestic firms. According to the State Council’s regulations released in early September 2010 which called for greater industrial consolidation, the automobile industry was at the top of the list of targeted sectors. The State Council set the goal of reducing the number of major automakers who are responsible for 90% of domestic sales output, from 14 to 10. Under the plan two or three companies would dominate the industry, responsible for producing more than three million vehicles annually, while four others would have annual output capacity of 1. 5 million units. The State Council named the following four groups as potential industry heavyweights, urging them to take advantage of consolidation opportunities: FAW; Dongfeng; China’s Automotive Sector – Prepared for IEICI Updated November 2010 (Original April 2009) Flagship Domestic Automotive Companies Shanghai Automotive (Group) Corp (SAIC) Industry ? Headquartered in Shanghai, it is one of the top three auto groups in China. ? Mainly engaged in the manufacturing, sales and R&D for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and auto components. ? The company is ranked 223 of the Fortune 500 companies with consolidated revenue of US$33. 6 billion in 2009. ? Sold over 2. 7 million vehicles in 2009, making up almost 20% of China’s market. ? SAIC invested over 10 billion RMB on new model development in the past 3 years, and will launch hybrid and electric vehicles in 2010 and 2012. ? Acquired Nanjing Automotive (Group) Corp (NAC) in 2007 and became the largest manufacturer in China with a consolidated annual production of 2 million units. ? SAIC has opened branches in the USA, Europe, Hong Kong, Japan and Korea. It has established a long-term cooperation with GM and Volkswagen. SAIC and GM formed Shanghai GM and the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) in 1997 and launched 8 additional China joint ventures, including SAIC-GM-Wuling, GMAC-SAIC Automotive Finance Company, and General Motors SAIC Investment Limited. ? Shanghai Volkswagen (a joint venture between SAIC and Volkswagen AG) recently announced it will build a fifth assembly plant in Jiangsu. The plant will have an annual production capacity of 300,000 vehicles and start operation by the end of 2012. 12 SAIC and Chang’an. Additionally, it named four regional leaders that it encouraged to consider regional consolidation: Beijing Automobile; Guangzhou Automobile; Cherry and Sinotruck. All of these companies are passenger vehicle manufacturers with the exception of Sinotruck which manufactures heavy-duty trucks (sales of over 125,000 units in 2009). Industry analysts predict that the coming wave of M&As within the automotive sector could see a deal that breaks the USD 1 billion mark, more than doubling the largest deal to date which was the USD 450 million purchase of General Motors’. Nexteer steering components unit by a joint venture established by Beijing’s Tempo Group and the Beijing government. Global Expansion As the leading automotive market, China automakers are accelerating global transformation to increase their presence in the overseas market. Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (one of China’s largest independent carmakers) recently completed its acquisition of Ford Motor’s Volvo brand for USD 1. 5 billion. This is an indication that Chinese automakers have begun to recognize the power of strong brand reputation. Geely’s Volvo bid is the largest takeover in Chinese auto industry and will provide a pattern for Chinese carmakers to expand aboard and acquire companies with a strong reputation. Beiqi Foton, China’s leading commercial automaker followed Geely’s step and announced its global expansion plan. This includes setting up a production base in Russia by 2012 with an annual capacity of 100, 000 vehicles and building five other plants in Brazil, India, Russia, Mexico and Thailand before 2015. New Energy Vehicle: Focus of Future Development High oil prices, air pollution, and China’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions have led the automotive industry to explore alternative energies. The Chinese government has launched policies and incentives to stimulate the development of new energy vehicles, including electric (hybrid, plug-in and battery), fuel cell, and hydrogen-powered. China has identified new energy vehicle as one of the seven emerging strategic industries. Many estimate China will become the world’s largest new energy vehicle market by 2020. The Energy Saving and New Energy Vehicle Development Plan (2011-2020) and the Automotive Industry 12th Five-year Plan (2011-2015), two of the key policies expected to guide the development of new energy vehicle industry, are expected to come out by the end of 2010. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) is the principal drafter of these plans which are later submitted to the State Council for approval. The plans set the following key targets for the new energy vehicle industry by the end of 2020: ? In the following five years China will aggressively support the development of key components of energy efficient and new energy automobiles. For electric motors and 13 China’s Automotive Sector – Prepared for IEICI Updated November 2010 (Original April 2009) ? ? batteries manufacturers, China hopes that three to five â€Å"backbone† enterprises will emerge with their combined market share exceeding 60%. China will produce 5 million new energy vehicles and become the number one producer of new energy vehicles in the world by 2020; Average fuel economy of passenger vehicles will be 4. 5 L/100 kilometers by 2020, the same as European standards. The plans will become the backbone policy for the entire new energy vehicle industry, as it provides direction for public funding, sector focus and industry structuring. Most important to pay attention to is that Chinese companies are likely to reap the most benefits from these structured strategies. To support indigenous innovation, the Chinese government has stated that the two or three key new energy vehicle component manufacturers will most likely be domestic companies, either state-owned or private. 2 REGULATORY OVERVIEW ? Government tariffs on automotive imports are in compliance with WTO rules, but minimum capital barriers still exist for foreign investors. The government has created some incentives to spur R&D partnership, and regulations for foreign distributers have been eased somewhat. The government has plans to implement higher auto emissions standards for new cars in China. So far four regions have implemented â€Å"China IV† emission standards (Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing and Guangdong Province). The Chinese government views the development of the new energy vehicle industry in China as a top priority and has introduced a wide range of subsidies and policies in its favor. ? ? China’s automotive industry supply chain is very broad with many components such as import and export, manufacturing, environmental protection, technology upgrades and quality control. As such, the industry is regulated by a range of government organs, both at the national and sub-national level. The below chart illustrates the key central level regulators of the automotive industry, and their relevant responsibilities. 14 China’s Automotive Sector – Prepared for IEICI Updated November 2010 (Original April 2009) The automotive industry is subject to a number of laws and regulations. The key regulations that are relevant to Israeli companies are addressed below. 2. 1 FOREIGN ACCESS TO THE CHINESE AUTOMOTIVE MARKET Trade The Chinese auto sector is competitive and has a well-developed supply chain. Imports of foreign-made auto parts will likely decrease as OEMs continue to increase their local capacities. At the same time, higher quality Chinese auto parts are increasingly being integrated into the global supply chain. Currently the import tariff for whole vehicles is 25% and for automotive components is 10%. 15 China’s Automotive Sector – Prepared for IEICI Updated November 2010 (Original April 2009) Investment Foreign businesses must meet a number of requirements in order to access China’s automotive market. The Chinese government has set requirements for minimum registered capital when a firm wants to establish an automotive facility which is RMB 500 million (USD 75 million3) for automobile financing, RMB 500 million (USD 75 million) for engine production and RMB 10 million (USD 1. 5 million) for an R&D center. All projects are subject to government approval. Foreign firms looking to produce passenger vehicles cannot set up WOFEs, but must partner with a local Chinese firm in the form of a JV, with the foreign partner’s stake limited to 50%. On the other hand, China offers fiscal and financial incentives to attract foreign investment in R&D strategies as part of the central government’s strategy to speed up the transfer of international technology. China currently provides tax incentives for enterprises engaged in research and development activities, allowing R&D enterprises to deduct 50% of R&D expenses. Suppliers are most often required to localize or invest in China and Israeli companies interested in tapping into the vast Chinese market will need to consider establishing a local presence. IPR Issues in China While the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) remains a contentious issue for companies in China, the country’s laws and regulations have progressed considerably in recent years, with the large majority now compliant with requirements of the WTO’s TRIPS agreement. The main challenge surrounding IPR protection in China is the lack of effective enforcement of the existing regulations. Enforcement issues arise from a range of root causes, including the relatively recent introduction of IPR legislation and concept of intellectual property in general, the absence of a fully independent judicial system, and provincial officials’ often protective attitude towards local job creating counterfeiting industries. While most foreign companies considering business operations in China may have to accept an unavoidable degree of IPR infringement, there are nevertheless a number of actions that a company can take in order to limit their IPR-related risk: ? ? ? Ensure to register your patents, copyrights, or trademarks with the relevant bureaus Ensure that your trade or other.