Quality vs. TQM an Example of the Topic All Posts by

Quality vs. TQM Introduction Quantum Research International (2007) mentioned, Quantum Research International, Inc. founded in August 1987, in Huntsville, AL, is an independently owned small business that provides planning; research and analysis; and engineering and information technology products, services and solutions to U.S. Armed Forces, Federal Government, and industry customers (Corporate profile, para. 1). The company has over 300 employees and consultants who provide top notch service to QRI customers. QRI is a services-based company that is highly recognized in its industry as a leader. The company has no formal mission statement, vision statement, listed goals, or listed objectives. However, by going through information provided at QRI's (2007) website, these items of importance can be identified. The purpose of this analysis is to compare QRI's corporate responsibility, mission, vision, goals, objectives, and strategies to the quality of its products and services. In addition, the researcher will comp are Motorola, Inc. and its total quality management (TQM) to Quantum Research International, detailing the differences. Need essay sample on "Quality vs. TQM" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Discussion Determining QRI's corporate responsibility Corporate responsibility can be thought of as a company's commitment to the micro-environment (customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders, media, and competitors) (Learn Marketing.net, n.d.). QRI (2007) is committed to providing quality to customers through its employees. The company has no formal written mission or mission statement. Yet, QRI (2007) takes pride in providing customers with the highest level of customer satisfaction possible. In fact, QRI's (2007) diligence helped the company acquire a contract worth almost $450 million in 2006: (Huntsville, AL and Colorado Springs, CO) Quantum Research International, Inc. (Quantum) has been awarded the Concepts and Operations for Space and Missile Defense Integration Capabilities (COSMIC) contract to provide support to the U.S. Army's Space and Missile Defense Command, Future Warfare Center, Space and Missile Defense Battle Lab (SMDBL). The total value of the contract, including options, is in excess of $449M over a ten-year period of performance. (In the news, para. 1) The company's core competencies are the reason why. QRI (2007) has many core competencies, including: National security and force modernization Logistics Organizational improvement and leadership services Command, control communications, computers, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance Air and missile defense Homeland security Test and evaluation Survivability analysis and assessment Audio, video, and video teleconferencing technologies Modeling, simulation, and analysis Strategic planning and programmatics (Core competencies). According to Kotelnikov (2008) Your company's core competencies are the things that you can do better than your competitors in the critical, central areas of your company where the most value is added to your products (What: Is core competence?, para. 1). Thus, one might say that QRI's (2007) mission is to outperform the company's competitors. In order to achieve this, QRI must provide its customers with outstanding quality in the company's products and services. Quality, as Merriam-Webster (2008) defined, is a degree of excellence (#2a), social status (#3a), and an acquired skill (#4b). As a result, QRI (2007) is aligning its core competencies with quality in the sense that the company is highly recognized as an industry leader for the quality of the products and services provided (Core competencies). QRI's goals, objectives, and strategic focus QRI did not list any goals, objectives, or strategies either. However, based upon the core competencies, one goal and objective can be to utilize core competencies (goal) that lead to a sustainable competitive advantage (objective) and results in superior value creation (strategic focus) (Kotelnikov, 2008). As mentioned earlier, quality is a degree of excellence (Merriam-Webster, 2008, #2a). Significantly, QRI (2007) considers its employees the company's livelihood and strength (Corporate profile, para. 2). Thus, QRI's quality is the end result of increased productivity and a low employee turnover rate from the company's highly skilled and motivated employees. In order to achieve the company's goal, objective and strategic focus, QRI must have a vision. On the front page of the company's website, by the Quantum Research International logo, are the words Where vision becomes reality (QRI, 2007). Remarkably, this means that quality is being achieved. Does this mean that QRI also demons trates total quality management? Yes and no. On the one hand, the company is attentive to its micro-environment (Learn Marketing.net, n.d.). Sadly, QRI (2007) has not implemented the TQM strategy within its organization. Total quality management (TQM) Hashmi (2008) defined, Total quality management, TQM, is a management philosophy that seeks to integrate all organizational functions (marketing, finance, design, engineering, and production, customer service, etc.) to focus on meeting customer needs and organizational objectives (TQM defined, para. 1). Consequently, QRI (2007) satisfies its customers and is the leader in the company's industry. Yet, the organization has not aligned all these functions together. Right now, QRI does have outstanding quality, but not total quality management. What company does? Motorola is one. Motorola demonstrates TQM The company, Motorola (2008) is a global communications leader with over 80 years of experience. Motorola (2008) United States region sales in 2007 were over $36.6 billion. The company helps people, businesses, and the government stay connected. Motorola has a rich history, dynamic future, and is driven by the spirit of innovation (Motorola, 2008, About Motorola). In fact, the company's philanthropy is community investment. Motorola's (2008) strategic focus is an emphasis on education, connecting the unconnected, critical community needs, and employee involvement. The company has a solid corporate responsibility as well. Motorola (2008) indicated that, Corporate responsibility means harnessing the power of our global business to benefit people. It also means doing the right thing in all aspects of our business, including how we treat the environment, our employees, our customers, our partners and our communities. (Corporate Responsibility) Additionally, Motorola (2008) guides its company on a profound set of business principles: Innovative products, customer delight and quality Ethics and transparency Environmental quality Diversity and inclusion Safe and healthy workforce Economic opportunities and growth Supplier relationship Community support Shareholder value (Corporate responsibility: Business principles). All of these principles are consistent with total quality management. Why? TQM principles The principles of total quality management call for the organization to be committed to everything. In fact, Hashmi (2008) pointed out these principles as follows: Management commitment (plan, do, check, act), Employee empowerment (training, suggestion scheme, measurement and recognition excellence teams), Fact based decision making (SPC, DOE FEMA, The 7 statistical tools, TOPS), Continuous improvement (systematic measurement and focus on CONQ, excellence teams, cross-functional process management, and attain, maintain and improve standards) Customer focus (supplier partnership, service relationship with internal customers, never compromise quality, and customer driven standards) (Principles of TQM). An organization that understands its corporate responsibility and strategic focus can determine whether or not total quality management is feasible. Motorola (2008) has defined its corporate responsibility whereas Quantum Research International (2007) has not. Furthermore, Motorola (2008) listed its philanthropy, strategic focus, and business principles as well. These are things associated with the micro-environment which leads to TQM. QRI must do the same if the company wishes to achieve TQM. Conclusion Motorola's total quality management (business principles) can be implemented into the Quantum Research International, Inc. For example, Diversity and inclusion (Motorola, 2008) is similar to the QRI (2007) having its employees as the backbone of the organization. QRI's (2007) core competencies parallel Motorola's (2008) Innovative products, customer delight and quality as well as Economic opportunities and growth (Corporate responsibility: Business principles).Moreover, what the researcher considers to be QRI's (2007) goal, objective, and strategic focus is identical to Motorola's (2008) Ethics and transparency (values), Community support (competitive advantage), and shareholder value (maximizing wealth) (Corporate responsibility: Business principles). Environmental quality, Safe and healthy workforce, and Supplier relationship all deal with the internal organization (Motorola, 2008). Basically, these things will only be effective if the employees are motivated to succeed and managem ent has a good rapport with suppliers. Currently, QRI (2007) says the employees make the organization and does not clearly define management's duties. Thus, QRI needs to envision (strategic focus) a vision (total quality management) and make it a reality (create a mission; set goals, objectives, and strategies; and define corporate responsibilities). References Hashmi, K. (2008). Introduction and implementation of total quality management (TQM). iSixSigma. Retrieved October 23, 2008. Kotelnikov, C. (2008). Core competencies: Things you can do better than your competition. Innovation Unlimited. Retrieved October 23, 2008. Learn Marketing.net. (n.d.). Micro environmental factors. Retrieved October 23, 2008. Merriam-Webster. (2008) Quality. Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary. Retrieved October 23, 2008, from website: http://mw1.m-w.com/dictionary/quality Motorola. (2008). About Motorola. Retrieved October 23, 2008. Quantum Research International (QRI). (2007). Quantum Research International. Retrieved October 22, 2008.

Using the evidence of the three sources above, and your own knowledge, to what extent did Hitler succeed in creating a genuine volksgemeinschaft Essays

Using the evidence of the three sources above, and your own knowledge, to what extent did Hitler succeed in creating a genuine volksgemeinschaft Essays Using the evidence of the three sources above, and your own knowledge, to what extent did Hitler succeed in creating a genuine volksgemeinschaft Essay Using the evidence of the three sources above, and your own knowledge, to what extent did Hitler succeed in creating a genuine volksgemeinschaft Essay Essay Topic: Our Countrys Good Volksgemeinschaft means Peoples Community. This meant that there was to be no individual person, whether he stands at the top or bottom of society, can possess the right to make use of this freedom at the cost of the national concept of freedom. For only the security of the national concept of freedom makes safe the continuation of his personal freedom. This suggests that all individuals represent the community and are the same, therefore whatever they do; good or bad will affect the whole community. Hitler wanted Germans who were genetically pure to come together into one Community to be the superior dominating race.Those in Germany, who were not ethnically German, such as Communists and Jews, would be excluded from this community. But this also included Germans who were mentally ill and social outcasts. They would be put in concentration camps and removed from any high office and discriminated against. Volksgemeinschaft also involved a sense of hyper-Nationalism and racism in that Hitler wanted people to believe that they should be proud to be part of the Volksgemeinschaft. He carried out various methods in order to succeed with the creation of a genuine Volksgemeinschaft. Therefore, in the following essay I will be arguing that Hitler didnt succeed in creating a Volksgemeinschaft.Hitlers overall aim was to create Volksgemeinschaft. In order to do this he needed the support of various institutions and individuals in Germany, but this was a failure because propaganda did not achieve its revolutionary goal of destroying class and religious loyalties. This portrays that Hitler could not destroy the churches and class loyalties. Although, Hitler did manage to gain control of the Protestant church because it had many branches and so the Nazis could form their own branches and eventually replace the Protestant churches. The churches faced serious attempts by the regime to establish effective ideological control through the Reich Church under Bishop Ludwig Muller. I n September 1933, the Confessing Church under the leadership of Martin Neimoller was set up. Despite increasing Gestapo harassment, the Confessing Church managed to defeat the attempts to control worship and Hitler abandoned Mullers Reich Church.The Catholic Church also faced increasing aggressiveness and many Nazis begun seeking ways to remove crucifixes from churches and to stop Catholic Youth movements. Although the Catholics resisted effectively their resentment never developed into political opposition to the regime. But it did defend its independence and after 1939 effectively opposed. Hitler wanted to control the Catholic Church and eventually replace them with the German Faith Movement. However, failed because the Catholic Church was increasingly powerful and too big to control.The Nazis failed to destroy the class loyalties in the workers and were futile in gaining their support. This was because the workers lost their trade unions and bargaining points. They were forced to work longer hours for lower wages. Additionally, the strength through joy scheme was expensive and a big scam as the Volkswagen was very expensive to create and not one car was ever built. Hence, Hitler could not succeed in creating a unified Volksgemeinschaft because he could not gain the support of the various organisations within Germany as they all had reasons to oppose the Nazi regime.On the other hand, some may argue that Hitler did succeed in creating a genuine Volksgemeinschaft because the Hitler Youth were enthusiastic about life under the Nazi regime because it provided wide-scale opportunities for advancement. This suggests that the German youth were offered exciting activities such as sporting events and trips to the countryside. Such activities appealed to many because they had never experienced this before. Furthermore, they also enjoyed hiking, singing and camping, which was away from home and school. This appealed to the German Youth because the regime had brought a bout real change. This emphasises that they had never experienced such enjoyment before and therefore, the introduction of such activities was both overwhelming and thrilling hence, they fuelled their support for the creation of the Volksgemeinschaft. However, I disagree with this because not all youths conformed to the Nazi ideals as until late 1943increasingly negative attitudes are recorded. This clearly demonstrates that Hitler did not have a positive response from all youths, for example The White Rose Group. The group distributed pamphlets attacking the lack of freedom and detailing the atrocities against Jews.In spite of this, others argue that the Nazi regime did have successes because it heightened national awareness, and that this was in itself sufficient to secure for the regime a considerable degree of stability and social integration. This implies that the regime brought about changes by securing the stability of social issues, for example women were encouraged to give birth to Aryan babies and they were rewarded this. Additionally a number of welfare schemes were introduced to support women and children. This resolves the social issues that women may experience hence some argue that Hitler succeeded in creating a genuine Volksgemeinschaft because he got the support of women. Yet, I still believe Hitler did not succeed because not all women gave birth to loads of Aryan babies. Moreover many women, especially from the late 1930s onwards had to struggle to manage families and work therefore, the regime was not stable hence, Hitler did not succeed in creating a genuine Volksgemeinschaft.In conclusion, I believe that Hitler did not succeed because; he failed to gain the support of the various institutions and individuals in Germany. His aims of controlling the churches had failed; he failed to gain the support of the workers because he did not meet their demands. Furthermore he faced increasing opposition from youth groups and he did not resolve the s ocial problems that women faced when managing families. These are all evidences that Hitler did not succeed in creating a genuine Volksgemeinschaft although it did grip all areas of public life, but it did not receive a positive response from the German citizens.

The Greatest American President Ever Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Greatest American President Ever - Essay Example Gains in the stock market produced numerous millionaires who advanced the Reagan reign because several people adopted Reagan’s communication styles. The nonviolent downfall of the global communalist union that Reagan formerly condemned as an Evil Empire was a monumental victory in the foreign policy of the U.S. Diplomatic and economic accomplishments notwithstanding, the presidency of Reagan also had its imperfections characterized by the broadening gulf between the ordinary working and rich Americans especially when it came to matters that Reagan could not sufficiently address. Others included certain grave foreign policy bloopers and poor relations amidst races. Regardless of these precincts, Reagan retired with superior approval ratings and numerous Americans consider him amongst the greatest presidents because of his ability to transfer the right information to the citizenr . Perhaps, most significantly is that the powerful ideologies of Reagan continue shaping the contour s of politics in America to the current day. Looking back at the last six decades, Reagan is the influential and important president. Loved by the Republicans and detested by the liberals, Reagan transformed five decade of economic and political orthodoxy on its crown, consequently transforming numerous Americans from Roosevelt Democrats into conservatives by communicating his ideals in a comprehensible manner. Reagan is responsible for the growth and participation of conservatives in American politics (Dunn 93). Reagan’ huge influence on the history of America was partly attributable to proper timing and communication. Similar to Frank Roosevelt, Reagan secured the presidency at a period when a considerable American population felt a profound discontent regarding the state of economy, social order, and politics in the U.S. The economy of the country that had taken pleasure in the great and long periods of sustained prosperity, stalled. Real wages became stationary, stock val ues along with corporate gains reduced. Furthermore, inflation and unemployment soared. Ordinary Americans who expected constant increase of their living standards instead encountered rising unemployment, higher prices, and falling wages. The American population had to stomach the painful end of the Vietnam War that eventually ended with the defeat of the U.S. Additionally, underlying cultural conflicts unchecked by the counter-cultural social revolutions became manifest. As such, bitter racial animosity propelled by the policies of the government on affirmative action and school desegregation spread in the South affecting the nation (Dunn 136). The challenges in the social arena, military, and economic impediments affected the country making it seem that the United States was facing several difficulties. At the conclusion of the 1970 period, profound dissatisfaction with life in the U.S. led to transformation. The foundation principles that had regulated the politics of the United States following the establishment of Roosevelt’s New Deal Order appeared unsuccessful. American citizens were prepared to attempt something fundamentally different. Consequently, that marked an opportune ascent of Reagan who preached an optimistic conservative populism doctrine that essentially realigned the politics of U.S. The subsequent Reagan Revolution enhanced a conservative domination period of the social order and American politics that would precede a generation (Dunn

Application of Engineering Principles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Application of Engineering Principles - Essay Example exhibit very good formability. One can convert metallic materials into different forms like plates, bars, tubes etc. to name a few. This is possible because metallic materials have very good formability by virtue of non-directional metallic bond. Not just that, metallic materials are easy to assemble to form different assemblies and structures by different joining processes from mechanical fastening to welding processes. (b) Excellent Combination of Mechanical Properties Different set of mechanical properties are required from a component to match the demands posed by the service conditions and environment. Some applications demand very high strength and hardness, while small to moderate ductility is good enough, such as tools for drilling of hard rocks. On the other hand some applications cannot allow relaxation on ductility and toughness; while strength can be sacrificed to some extent. Metallic materials offer excellent combination of these mechanical properties. Not just that, me chanical properties of metallic materials can be tailored as well by means of alloying, mechanical working, surface treatments and suitable heat treatment. Therefore, metallic materials have an edge over other class of materials when it comes to offer desired combination of mechanical properties to suit an application. ... Q2. Relevant properties required by the materials used for manufacturing the â€Å"Centralizer† and â€Å"Travelling Block Hook† are briefly discussed below. (a) Centralisers: These are used to ensure centering of the drilling string in the well bore. Three types of centralizers are there - drill pipe centralizer with changeable sleeve, bit centralizer with changeable sleeve and casing centralizer [1]. Casing ring centralisers are used to provide clearance gap or stand off between the wall of well and the casing. The centralisers rub off against the wall of the well. This rubbing action leads to wear and tear, heat generation and many times sparking. The material, therefore, should have low coefficient of friction, so that less heat is generated and chances of spark generation are minimized. The material should provide high wear resistance. It should possess high thermal conductivity and resistance against spark. Zinc and aluminum alloys posses these properties and are therefore, used for manufacturing of centralisers. Nowadays, spray metal technology is also being explored for fabrication of the casing centralisers [2]. (b) Travelling Block Hook: Travelling block and hook are used for lifting in drilling rig [3]. The material for manufacturing of this component should be high on strength, wear resistance, fatigue resistance and toughness. This is because catastrophic failure of this component can jeopardize safety of the personnel besides other tangible losses. Low alloy steels are used for manufacturing this component. The material is hot forged into the shape and then hardened to improve strength of the component. However, in hardened condition its ductility and toughness drops drastically and therefore,

Crime and Poverty Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Crime and Poverty - Thesis Example For purposes of this study, a definition of poverty and crime is outlined. A crime is an act committed in violation of the law commanding or forbidding it and for which a punishment is imposed upon conviction Legal definition of the word states crime is a wrongdoing classified by the State or Congress either as a Felony or Misdemeanor. A felony is a serious crime punishable by at least one year in prison. During the term of sentence, a person charged with felony loses certain rights such as the right to vote and hold public office. A convicted person is also not allowed to make contracts, get married, suing or keeping professional licenses. A misdemeanor is a crime for which punishment is usually a fine and/or a jail sentence of up to one year, but repeated offenses become a felony. Poverty is defined as a state of condition of having little or no money, goods or means of support. Several studies provided different measures on how poor a family or a person is. According to Boyes & Melvin, a family is poor if its income falls below a certain level and it is defined in an absolute sense: The U.S. uses poverty level, the World Banks uses per capita GNP, and economists use economic security index. The poverty level in U.S. for 2011 was set at $22,350 for a family of four. The World Bank uses per capita GNP of $755 or less as its criterion of a low-income country. In this definition, poverty becomes a relative concept, because the poverty level in U.S. would represent a substantial increase in the living standard of most of the poor people in the world.... Data showed that people do not readily conform to the poverty threshold or level set by the government. People contends that the $20,000 poverty threshold for a family of 4 does not reveal the true situation of poverty level, while others believed it should be higher. Poverty threshold is used by the government as a measure of poverty for a family to qualify in government programs, such as Head Start, Food Stamp Program, National School Lunch Program, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, etc. The review also revealed causes of poverty among the people of the United States, stating drug abuse as a major cause, health problems causing huge medical bills, and unemployment reasons. It is also noted that there is a rise in unemployment because of the economic crisis, but I find it intriguing to see too many single parents as a cause of poverty. I did not find any substantive data to support this claim of respondents of survey. Other reasons fall under social and culture since reasons given is that poor people lack motivation, a decline in moral values, while others put the blame on the poor quality of public schools. Drug abuse, health care, education and employment problems are concerns of the government and are larger in scope because of government funding needed to solve them. Towards the review three theories emerged why crimes are committed, the sociological, psychological and economic theories. These theories nullify the hypothesis that poverty is the cause of crime.

Air Asias Corporate and Business Strategies

Air Asias Corporate and Business Strategies Air Asia is a low cost air carrier that charges the lowest fares per kilometre in the world. A PESTLE analysis indicated that liberalisation of the air market has improved international market access and supported the growth in the number of airlines and passengers in East Asia. A five forces analysis indicates that the airline industry is highly competitive, with a high threat of new entries and of substitutes in the domestic travel market. Air Asia is positioned at the low cost end of the spectrum of competitors that fly internationally. A SWOT analysis indicated that Air Asia has strengths in management, operational efficiency and marketing, but has weaknesses in staffing, customer care, and attractiveness to business travellers. The airline has been successful because it has taken an entrepreneurial and innovative approach to the market, leveraging its competencies to create automated ticketing processes and to reduce other operational costs. The airline should consider expanding into Europe and western Asia using Abu Dhabi as a hub, which would require additional aircraft or joint ventures with other low cost carriers. The firm should also consider introducing business class flights that charge a higher price, but provide the services including convenient scheduling that can attract the business segment of the airline market in East Asia. 1.0 Introduction Air Asia is a low-cost air carrier providing service between its main hub in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia and destinations in East Asia. The airline also provides service to Abu Dhabi and London. Air Asia has adopted a generic strategy of cost leadership by reducing the cost of operations and passing the savings through to customers with very low ticket prices. The firm was founded in 1996 as a low cost domestic airline, and was purchased by Tony Fernandes in 2001. The firm was re-launched as a no-frills airline in 2001 with three aircraft. Air Asia entered the low-cost international market in 2003. The firm currently has revenues of $60 billion and provides services to 60 million customers a year. Air Asia is the first low cost airline to have formed a joint venture for the procurement of aircraft with a competitor, JetStar, which is based in Singapore (Quantas, 2010, 1). The airline currently has interlocking ownership through the Shin Corporation which holds a major equity position in b oth Air Asia and Thai Air Asia. The airline also holds a minority equity position of 30% of JetStar, which is a low cost Australian airline. 2.0 Environmental and Industry Analysis A PESTLE analysis provides an assessment of the industry environment, which is necessary to create a context for the airline industry analysis (Grant, 2008 p. 68). A Porters five forces analysis provides an indication of the competitive forces influencing rivalry in the airline industry. 2.1 PESTLE Analysis The PESTLE analysis is a qualitative evaluation of the political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental forces affecting the airline industry. The focus of the analysis is on the East Asian region, which is the primary market for Air Asia. Political: The trend is toward liberalisation of the airline markets in East Asia to allow airlines access to markets without the need for a specific bilateral agreement concerning air transportation between nations. An ASEAN open skies agreement, the Roadmap for Integration of Air Travel Services (2004) was ratified by member nations in 2007 and will be fully implemented by 2015. Nations in the region such as India and China that are not members of ASEAN are also liberalising air transportation regulations (OConnell Williams, 2006, p. 362). Economic: The rate of economic growth in the ASEAN nations is variable, with the ASEAN member nations experiencing a growth rate of only 1.5% in 2009 because of the global economic crisis. In contrast Chinas GDP grew at 8.9% in 2009 while Indias GDP grew at 6.8%. Economic growth in 2010 and beyond in the region is likely to be strong because East Asia has largely recovered from the global recession. Social: The social trend in East Asia is towards increased consumption including transportation consumption because of the economic growth in the region. Globalisation has also increased the propensity to travel in East Asia for both business and recreational purposes. The population in the region is also growing rapidly. Another social trend is the increased use of personal computing devices, which intersects with the technology drivers in the airline industry. Technological: The air transportation industry is technology-driven, with information technology used to enhance marketing and engineering technology used to improve safety. Airlines use information technology systems such as internet ticket sales, paperless tickets and automated check in systems to improve customer care while reducing cost of operations (Buhalis OConnor, 2005, p. 12). These systems are also used to maximise load capacity by controlling scheduling and use of aircraft. Legal: The nations in East Asia have various ownership and anti-competition laws that affect the ability of airlines to merge or to acquire an airline (Hsu Chang, 2005, p. 558). In addition some nations in the region have laws that affect the ability and the nature of joint venture agreements between domestic and foreign airlines. Environmental: The PESTLE analysis suggests that the implementation of the Open Skies agreement can increase access to markets for air carriers although the various national laws concerning ownership may hamper the use of a merger and acquisition strategy for expansion. The analysis also suggests that airlines implementing new technologies to improve customer care may enjoy a competitive advantage. The growing population and affluence in the region will produce greater demand for air transportation in the long run. 2.2 Five Forces Analysis The five forces analysis is an industry-based assessment of the factors driving competition to support the development of strategy (Peng, 2009, p. 35) (see Appendix A). If the competition in the industry is high, there is less likelihood that a firm in the industry such as Air Asia will gain competitive advantage through a strategic initiative. Buyer Power: Buyer power in the airline industry is weak because of fragmentation of buyers and the large numbers of potential buyers. The propensity of air travel in East Asia is relatively low compared to the global average of 2.0 trips per year, with India at .1 and China at .3 (OConnell Williams, 2006, p. 362). At the same time, the large size of the East Asian market results in sufficient travel to support a growing airline market. Buyer power is somewhat strengthened by low switching costs in the industry, with buyers able to chose among many different competing airlines. Buyers can be segmented into business travellers and recreational travellers with different price sensitivities. Business travellers value flight schedule and convenience in an airline with price often a secondary consideration. In contrast, recreational travellers are more sensitive to price and the cost of the airfare relative to the total cost of recreation (Talluri van Ryzan, 2004, p. 17). Supplier Power: Suppliers in the airline industry consist of aircraft manufacturers, producers of fuel, and airports, with the power of these groups moderate. The manufacturers of aircraft have moderate bargaining power because of the high cost to airlines for switching aircraft types because of the need to carry additional parts inventory. Aircraft manufacturers, however, pose no threat of credible integration. The producers of fuel have relatively strong bargaining power because oil prices are established by global markets with airline consumption representing only a small portion of oil industry sales. Airports have moderate bargaining power through their ability to provide airlines with gates and ground services. Although airlines changing airports in a destination region face high switching costs, the increased development of regional airports intended to reduce congestion at major airports reduces the bargaining power of airports because of gate fee competition (Hooper, 2002, p . 293). Threat of Substitutes: The threat of substitutes is high in domestic markets because consumers in East Asia prefer rail and road transportation that is less expensive than air travel whenever possible despite the increase in time for travel (OConnell Williams, 2006, p. 362). The threat of substitutes in international travel within the region is low because of the absence of viable substitutes. Overall, the threat of substitutes in the industry is moderate. Threat of Entry: The threat of entry is high in the industry. Although the cost of aircraft is high, a new firm can enter the market with only a few aircraft as Air Asia did in 2001. The liberalisation of the market environment is eliminating barriers to entry in the form of governmental restrictions on airline routes. As a result, a threat of entry also exists from established airlines from other regions seeking to expand routes in the East Asian region. Competitive Rivalry: Competitive rivalry is high in the industry because of a diversity of rivals, high cost of fixed assets and operations, low switching costs, and low levels of product differentiation. Many airlines compete in the East Asian market, each of which has different strategies and different brand reputations. As a result, price rivalry is characteristic of the industry. Aircraft are expensive to purchase and operate, with a high load capacity necessary to cover costs. Passengers can switch airlines at a relatively low cost despite the use of incentive programmes by some airlines to increase customer loyalty. While air transportation can be differentiated based on the level of amenities available to passengers, the fundamental attribute of transportation service is similar in all airlines. The five forces analysis suggests that the primary threat in the industry comes from competition among rivals, which is intensified by the possibility that new airlines will enter the East Asian markets. The analysis also suggests that opportunities may exist for smaller airlines to form strategic partnerships with other airlines to expand the schedule and destination options for passengers at a cost less than the amount necessary for direct investment in aircraft and terminal gate facilities. In the low cost segment of the industry, taking advantage of this opportunity would require Air Asia to adopt a strategy that restructured in the industry (Cockburn, Henderson, Stern, 2000, p. 1127). 2.3 Competitors and Competitor Groups Competitors in the airline industry can be divided into the two main groups of full service airlines and low cost airlines. Full service airlines are large firms that have been in the industry for an extended period of time, with many of these airlines enjoying a monopoly or quasi monopoly on certain national routes prior to the gradual liberalisation of the airline industry in the ASEAN market, with full liberalisation taking place by 2015. These major airlines often use a hub-and-spoke routing system in which short-haul feeder flights bring passengers to a hub airport for transfer to other aircraft for long-haul flights or for other short-haul flights to reach their final destination (Burghouwt and Veldhuis, 2006, p. 107). Airlines in this competitor group use a differentiation generic strategy based on frequent flight scheduling and use of airports conveniently located with respect to major urban centres, with a wider range of services justifying higher ticket prices. They also ha ve a wider range of destinations including transcontinental flights. Competitors in this group include Singapore Airlines, Air China, Malaysian Air, and Thai Airways International. The low cost group of competitors focus on flights taking passengers directly from the point of origin to their final destination, although transfers may be necessary to consolidate passengers and maximize capacity utilisation. Airlines in this competitor group are regional airlines with destinations limited to East Asia. There are numerous competitors in this group including Jet Star, Tiger, Value Air, Firefly, and Maswings. Appendix B shows the positioning of firms in the two competitor groups. 2.4 Developmental Stage of Market and Industry The air transportation market in the East Asian region is in the growth stage of development, which is characterised by a rapid rate of increase in sales (Inglada, Rey, Cote-Millan, 2006, p. 9). The economic growth in the region is allowing more individuals to afford air transportation, particularly for tourism. In addition, the increased commerce with the ASEAN region and with China as a result of the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement that was gradually implemented between 2004 and 2010 is producing higher commercial and business demand for air transportation between Southeast Asia and China (Wong Chan, 2004, p. 509). The low cost segment of the airline industry in East Asia can be viewed as at the point of emerging from the market penetration phase of growth. The low cost airline industry is comparatively new in East Asia, with independent airlines entering this market segment in 2001 (OConnell Williams, 2005, p. 260). Many of the firms in this segment of the industry can be considered prospectors using the Miles and Snow typology because they adopt strategies to use entrepreneurial skills for developing new types of services and have strong marketing competencies (Wratschko, 2009, p. 71). In contrast, the major air carrier segment of the industry can be considered mature, but undergoing a period of transformation because of the elimination to governmental regulations that had given many of these airlines a competitive advantage in routes and airport access. These airlines can be considered as defenders because they focus on retaining market share despite the instability in the market created by new market entrants such as low-cost airlines. 3.0 Resources and Capabilities In the resource-based theory of the firm, the resources and capabilities of the firm should be the foundation of the firms strategy. To use this approach, the firm assesses its resources, determines the capabilities that can provide it with competitive advantage, select a strategy that matches resources and capabilities with opportunities, and identify resource gaps that have to be filled (Grant, 1991, p. 115). A SWOT analysis can be used to identify the resources and capabilities of Air Asia and the way the firm can use these resources to take advantage of opportunities and counter threats (see Appendix C). A value chain analysis can provide an assessment of the areas in which Air Asia can add the most value for customers, which a gap analysis identifies the resources that Air Asia must acquire to implement a selected strategies. 3.1 Swot Analysis Strengths: Air Asia has a strong management team, with operations managed by an ex-Ryanair director with extensive experience in controlling expenses in a low cost airline (OConnell Williams, 2005, p. 264). The airline has a good technology infrastructure that supports very low cost of operations from its use of technology to automate customer processing and to maximise load on flights. The company also has strengths in operational cost containment through very low staff levels, lack of amenities on flights, and standardisation of aircraft which reduces expense for maintenance and parts inventory. Only 8% of the airlines passengers are business travellers, indicating that the cost leadership strategy has been successful in attracting the recreation segment of the market (OConnell Williams, 2005, p. 268). Another strength of the firm is its marketing competency, which has effectively designed and promoted a service targeted to the underserved low-cost no frills segment of the market . The airline has a breakeven load factor of only 52% and the worlds lowest airline unit cost of $.23 per passenger kilometre (OConnell Williams, 2005, p. 265). The airline also has a strong brand reputation in the market for offering low fares. The airline also has strong information technology competencies. Weaknesses: Air Asia has weaknesses in human resources, poor customer care in resolving complaints, and limited ability to attract business travellers. Because of its low cost approach to operations, the airline has lower staff levels than competitors. The lower staffing creates issues such as delays in turnaround time that result in delays in departures, with inadequate communications and support for delayed passengers. The airlines business model also reduces its ability to attract the business market that values flight scheduling, on time flights, and convenience. Air Asia uses only the A320 aircraft, which has a range of only 4,800 km with a full passenger load, which limits the destinations that the airline can serve (Airbus, 2010). Opportunities: Opportunities for Air Asia are providing expanded service in the growing East Asian airline market, opening new intercontinental routes, and forming joint ventures or other strategic alliances with competitors in markets not currently served by the airline. A significant overlooked opportunity in the region is the potential of tourism from Northeast Asia to Southeast Asia (Winter, 2007, p. 28). Smaller airlines can gain greater access to markets in the region through joint ventures and strategic alliances that allows airlines to code share, which involves transporting passengers using aircraft from two or more airlines. Threats: The primary threat for Air Asia is an increase in competition with some airlines adopting a similar operating model to Air Asia which reduces differentiation. A threat to the business model comes from cultural differences such as the preference of Indonesians to use heavy luggage that must be stowed in cargo compartments (The Low Cost, 2009). Another threat comes from the regulations in some nations setting minimum fares and airport usage limitations, which are not covered by the ASEAN Open Skies agreement. The airline is vulnerable to the threat of an increase in fuel prices and the possibility of disruptions to travel caused by terrorist attacks. The SWOT analysis indicates that Air Asias strengths in management, operational efficiency, marketing, and brand reputation would allow it to take advantage of the opportunities presented in the region from growth and tourism potential. These strengths could also support efforts to develop more intercontinental routes and joint ventures with competitors. The weaknesses of the airline in limited human resources and poor customer care could inhibit growth unless they are addressed. The weakness of insufficient staffing increases the firms vulnerability to the effect of cultural differences. At the same time, the firms strengths can help overcome the threats posed by increased competition. The airlines difficulty with attracting business passengers because of its business model may ultimately have a negative effect on its market share as business travel in the region increases. 3.3 Value Chain Analysis The value chain analysis disaggregates the activities of the firm to determine which activities add the most value to customers (Grant, 2008, p. 145). The inbound logistics segment of the chain involves purchase or leasing of aircraft, fuel, and gate space at airports, which add some value through reducing overhead and by providing convenient or desirable routes. The airline adds significant value to the customer in its operations, which has reduced costs to allow the fares to be the lowest in the world. This segment of the value chain, however, does not add value for customers who desire amenities or assistance from airline staff because of insufficient support from the human resources management function. Outbound logistics in the context of an airline involves factors such as airport turnaround time, which are related to operations. Marketing and sales also adds significant value to operations by the airlines ability to leverage its technology support function for internet ticket sales, paperless tickets and automated check-in. Because of the difficulties that the firm has with customer care and complaints, the after sales service segment reduces value for the customer. Based on this analysis, Air Asia adds primary value for customers in the operational and marketing segments of the value chain. 3.3 Gap Analysis Gap analysis involves determining the discrepancies between the current resources of the firm and the resources necessary to achieve the desired future state (Grant, 2008, p. 162). The generic future state for Air Asia is continued growth in its primary market in East Asia and expansion into secondary markets. To increase its share of the market in East Asia, Air Asia requires additional aircraft, additional staff, and additional access to airport gates. The airline has 78 planes available including aircraft owned by the firm and aircraft available through joint ventures, all of which are A320 models. Because these planes operate near capacity, additional aircraft would have to be acquired for expansion. To expand into intercontinental markets, the airline would also need larger aircraft with longer range. The firm would also require additional human resources to meet the operational and customer care needs with expansion, particularly to attract business customers. The analysis sugg ests that the firm does not have sufficient depth and breadth of resources to support expansion and must acquire additional resources. 3.4 Technical and Landscape Fitness of Air Asia Air Asia has high technical fitness, but only moderately high landscape fitness. Air Asia has developed and implemented a proprietary yield management system, computer reservation system, and enterprise resource planning system. In addition, the firm makes extensive use of a front-end internet interface with its backend computer systems to support online internet ticket purchases and paperless tickets. The technology systems are flexible enough to respond to any change in customer requirements, and have been a factor in promoting the acceptance of paperless tickets in Malaysia (Sulaiman, Ng, Mohezar, 2008, p. 149). Air Asia has been successful in attracting the low-cost segment of the market, but may not have sufficient flexibility to respond to a change in the environment such as a surge in business demand or a dramatic decrease in demand because of terrorist attack or high fuel prices. 3.5 Competitive Scenarios A likely competitive scenario is an increase in competition in the low cost segment of the East Asian airline market from new entrants and low cost subsidiaries of established major carriers. A FAR analysis of the scenario suggests that other carriers will adopt some of the functions used by Air Asia such as paperless ticketing, reduced staff level, and no amenities to become cost competitive. The assets required for these airlines to adopt this business model are generally available with their existing fleets of medium range aircraft. The risk posed by this scenario is Air Asias loss of competitive positioning as the lowest cost carrier in the market. 4.0 Conclusion The most likely reason for Air Asias success has been its willingness to risk using innovative strategies to reduce costs while maintaining profitability. The firm was a pioneer in the use of internet reservation and paperless tickets in the market, with its marketing overcoming any passenger reluctance to use the electronic systems. It has also adopted the innovative strategy in the low cost segment of the market of forming joint ventures with competitors to gain entry into new markets and to reduce operational costs. 4.1 Recommendations Air Asia should expand into the intercontinental market by using Abu Dhabi as a hub for routes in western Asia, North Africa, and Europe. From the Abu Dhabi hub, the airline could offer flights to India and Southeast Asia. The business model would continue to follow the cost leadership generic strategy. To implement this strategy, the airline would have to expand the size of its fleet, with the possibility of adding some wide body aircraft designed for long haul flights in addition to A320s. Funding could be obtained from a seasoned equity offering, with the airlines historic performance supporting the offering. The airline could also form code sharing relationships with low cost airlines in Europe and western Asia. This strategy would offset some of the airlines vulnerability from additional competitors using a low cost business model entering the East Asian market. Air Asia should offer some flights designated as business class that provide a wider range of services for business travellers at a higher price than its normal flights. This strategy would be intended to attract a higher percentage of business travellers. Implementing this strategy would require modified A320s to provide passengers with additional seating space and may require additional staff for customer care. The business class aircraft would have priority in operations for scheduling and turnaround to ensure that they remained on time. The airline would use its marketing competencies to differentiate between low cost fares and business class fares. This strategy would address the problem of low market share in the business segment of the market and diversify the market base if competition in the low cost segment increases.

Stages in a Marketing Plan Essay -- Business Marketing Papers

Stages in a Marketing Plan This essay will present the stages of a marketing plan and critically evaluate the differences suggested by the leading authors. However it is vital to understand what marketing planning is. Although marketing planning would appear to be a simple and step-by-step process, in reality it is not. As marketing plans are very complex, cross functional and it touches every aspect of organizational life. However the stages of marketing planning will explain and explore some of these issues by focusing on the process of marketing planning. Marketing planning can be defined as a sensible way to manage the sales and marketing function is to find the systematic way of identifying a range of options, to choose one of them, then to schedule and cost out what has to be done to achieve the objectives. Marketing planning is the planned application of marketing resources to achieve marketing objectives; it is simply a logical sequence of a series of activities leading to the setting of marketing objectives and the formulation of plans for achieving them. Companies go through some kind of management process in developing marketing plans. Marketing planning is essential when considering the increasingly hostile and complex environment in which companies operate. Many external and internal factors interact in a complex way, which affect the ability to achieve profitable sales. The four typical examples, which companies set, are maximising revenue, maximising profit, maximising return on investment and minimising costs. Revenue is the monetary value received by a company for its goods or services. It is the net pric... ...d along by momentum. Also if the company's culture and management style are not supportive of marketing planning, then no improvements will occur. And also if the business is highly competitive, no improvements will be seen, however the company might fare much worse without a marketing plan. Common implementation problems of a marketing planning could be lack of a plan for planning, weak support from management, lack of resources, lack of information and also it could occur due to too much detail and being too far ahead. In today's increasingly competitive markets, there is a growing realization that success in the future will only come from meticulous planning and market preparation. Therefore having a marketing plan is useful as it is better to weigh up the costs of planning against the costs of not planning.

Environmental Thoughts in Theravada Buddhism

With 95% of the population in Thailand being followers of Theravada Buddhism, influencing the support for local and global environmental concerns is quite possible. Donald K. Swearer in the article â€Å"The Hermeneutic of Buddhist Ecology in Contemporary Thailand: Buddhadasa and Dhammapitaka† states that the Buddhist lifestyle and the early sangha are contributions to aid in living in a constantly dangerously changing world. Swearer believes that there are distinct ecological lessons that can be drawn from the texts and traditions in Thai Buddhism. In this chapter he shows how Buddhadasa Bhikkhu and Phra Prayudh both represent two very distinctive but complementary views to the environment issues within Theravada Buddhism. Buddhadasa's ontologically oriented view of nature as dhamma and the ethic of caring for nature correlates with the idea of EcoBuddhism, while Phra Prayudh is an approach, which is grounded in the reasoning of texts and the historical traditions of ancient Buddhism. Buddhadasa infers that the destruction of nature implies the destruction of dhamma. Swearer explains that to care for nature in linked to a pervasive feeling of human empathy (Pali, anukampa) for all surroundings, therefore caring is considered the active expression of empathy. Believing that to care for nature derives from a selfless, empathetic response in an ethical perspective. Swearer further explains the empathetic concerns for caring for things in at the core of one's being. The care for all needs to be done in their natural conditions, that is to care for things as they really are rather than as one may see fit or as one would like them to be. Phra Prayudh blames the destruction of the environment on a Western world that is flawed by three main beliefs: wrongful idea of nature, bad attitude towards other humans, and the drive for material goods as stated by Swearer. He also states that Phra believes the bases of environmental values are in katannu (gratitude), metta (loving-kindness), and sukha (happiness). This basically translates that being happy and grateful will fill us with compassion and permeate to the environment around. This concept is dealing with an understanding of how our consequences affect the world around us. Phra tells of how monks use forests for their monasteries and are the ideal place to overcome the difficulties in life. He believes that his ecological hermeneutic is based on the early life of Buddha the early sangha in the Pali scriptures. The main problem with the monks delivering their message and ideas to layman is the local government. Sponsel and Natadecha-Sponsel in the next chapter, † The Monastic Community in Thailand† states that even the sangha and the state are subject to corruption and abuse. It is the politics within the sangha can cause problems and inhibit the ability for everyone to realize the potential it can have within Buddhism and the environment. The basis of the sangha is stated as being hierarchical and with its upper levels are conservative the attitude and position on women is not favorable. But even with these issues and problems Buddhism has survived for over 2500 years and is gaining strength. With further understanding in new perspectives Buddhism will eventually become a momentous force in society.

Free Essays on Stress A Fine Line

Stress: A very fine line We are all familiar with the word â€Å"stress†, but there are many myths about it. Some people believe it means an individual is weak and unable to handle things properly. Others think it is an illness. Moreover, stress is an adaptive response. It is the body’s reaction to an event that is perceived as emotionally disturbing, disquieting, or threatening. When we perceive such an event, we experience what a stress researcher has called â€Å"fight or flight† response (Farrintong). To prepare for fighting or fleeing, the body increases its heart rate and blood pressure; more blood is pumped out to your heart and muscles and your respiration rate increases. Prolonged stress can cause many disorders, from minor to life threatening. Therefore, stress is divided in to two categories: acute and chronic. Acute stress generally is not very harmful, as long as it does not happen too often and your body has a chance to return to normal. However, it can trigger an abnormal heartbeat and even a heart attack in those with heart disease. Researchers have found that stress activates the body’s hormone system, provoking headaches, sleep deprivation and weight loss. Tension may be the first recognizable symptom of stress and is an early sign that the body might not be recovering from acute stress. Muscles are tense, tight and feel "hard" to the touch. A tense mind makes you feel jumpy, irritable, and unable to concentrate. This could be a signal to do something about s tress, both for immediate comfort and to prevent the long-term effects of stress. Furthermore, chronic stress can be the result of many instances of acute stress. In people with higher levels of chronic stress, the stress response is longer, contributing to their physical stress. Over time, chronic stress affects the nervous system and the immune system. The body becomes more vulnerable to many illnesses, from colds and minor infections to major diseases such ... Free Essays on Stress A Fine Line Free Essays on Stress A Fine Line Stress: A very fine line We are all familiar with the word â€Å"stress†, but there are many myths about it. Some people believe it means an individual is weak and unable to handle things properly. Others think it is an illness. Moreover, stress is an adaptive response. It is the body’s reaction to an event that is perceived as emotionally disturbing, disquieting, or threatening. When we perceive such an event, we experience what a stress researcher has called â€Å"fight or flight† response (Farrintong). To prepare for fighting or fleeing, the body increases its heart rate and blood pressure; more blood is pumped out to your heart and muscles and your respiration rate increases. Prolonged stress can cause many disorders, from minor to life threatening. Therefore, stress is divided in to two categories: acute and chronic. Acute stress generally is not very harmful, as long as it does not happen too often and your body has a chance to return to normal. However, it can trigger an abnormal heartbeat and even a heart attack in those with heart disease. Researchers have found that stress activates the body’s hormone system, provoking headaches, sleep deprivation and weight loss. Tension may be the first recognizable symptom of stress and is an early sign that the body might not be recovering from acute stress. Muscles are tense, tight and feel "hard" to the touch. A tense mind makes you feel jumpy, irritable, and unable to concentrate. This could be a signal to do something about s tress, both for immediate comfort and to prevent the long-term effects of stress. Furthermore, chronic stress can be the result of many instances of acute stress. In people with higher levels of chronic stress, the stress response is longer, contributing to their physical stress. Over time, chronic stress affects the nervous system and the immune system. The body becomes more vulnerable to many illnesses, from colds and minor infections to major diseases such ...

Free Essays on Chiavalry

Chivalry. . . . . . . . . Today Chivalry is usually known as a moral system or an honor code. It originated in the 12th century when kings ruled the country, as a code to make peace. Now there is no king or queen monarchy, now there’s that wonderful thing that we call the Government. If you were to ask me if chivalry existed today I’d have to say that there are some examples, but there sure aren’t as many as there used to be. Back in the time when King Arthur ruled a lot of the people were loyal to their king and their country. Now our wonderful crime, racism, and hate conquer all systems. Some ways that you might be able to say that chivalry still is around is perhaps clubs, such as, basketball teams or baseball teams. The teams as well as the fans have great loyalty to their team. The fans will wait outside for days to get tickets for the big game. People pay to see fights on Pay-Per-View. And if you ever go to a Hawks game I’ll guarantee you that their fans will â€Å"tell off† anyone that is saying anything bad about their beloved team! Another way that you could find chivalry today would be all the Unions. Chicago Unions have plenty of hard working men and women in all sorts of trades. They are very loyal and proud (most of them!) of their work that they have done. Then you get the people that just want their paycheck. Those are the types that really don’t show much loyalty or contribute much to their job. Some ways that you could say that there is not really chivalry in today’s society is the slowly disintegrating church. Not nearly as many people are becoming involved in the church now as in earlier centuries. If you look at the data there is a big decrease in Ministers, Priests, Nuns, and Deacons. I know this because my Dad is becoming ordained to be a Deacon in about a year. After he is done doing all of the steps, he will become a deacon in the Catholic Church. I think that some people don’t care , but also I t... Free Essays on Chiavalry Free Essays on Chiavalry Chivalry. . . . . . . . . Today Chivalry is usually known as a moral system or an honor code. It originated in the 12th century when kings ruled the country, as a code to make peace. Now there is no king or queen monarchy, now there’s that wonderful thing that we call the Government. If you were to ask me if chivalry existed today I’d have to say that there are some examples, but there sure aren’t as many as there used to be. Back in the time when King Arthur ruled a lot of the people were loyal to their king and their country. Now our wonderful crime, racism, and hate conquer all systems. Some ways that you might be able to say that chivalry still is around is perhaps clubs, such as, basketball teams or baseball teams. The teams as well as the fans have great loyalty to their team. The fans will wait outside for days to get tickets for the big game. People pay to see fights on Pay-Per-View. And if you ever go to a Hawks game I’ll guarantee you that their fans will â€Å"tell off† anyone that is saying anything bad about their beloved team! Another way that you could find chivalry today would be all the Unions. Chicago Unions have plenty of hard working men and women in all sorts of trades. They are very loyal and proud (most of them!) of their work that they have done. Then you get the people that just want their paycheck. Those are the types that really don’t show much loyalty or contribute much to their job. Some ways that you could say that there is not really chivalry in today’s society is the slowly disintegrating church. Not nearly as many people are becoming involved in the church now as in earlier centuries. If you look at the data there is a big decrease in Ministers, Priests, Nuns, and Deacons. I know this because my Dad is becoming ordained to be a Deacon in about a year. After he is done doing all of the steps, he will become a deacon in the Catholic Church. I think that some people don’t care , but also I t...

Managerialism in social work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Managerialism in social work - Essay Example The research suggests that such managers were more oriented to profit, and were more capable of obtaining it, than the traditional owner-managers (J. Harris; 1998, p. 839-8620). This British evidence fits with the range of evidence from the USA and other countries assembled dismiss the thesis of the managerial revolution and establishes that the claim of a separation of ownership and control is well described as a 'pseudo fact'. He points out that 'growth, sales, technical efficiency, a strong competitive position are at once inseparable managerial goals and the determinants of high corporate profits'. These corporate profits are the prerequisites of high managerial income and status. The high status and material rewards which can be achieved by membership of a managerial occupation are dependent on the contribution made to profit achievement or at least to the continued survival of the corporation in a context where too great a deviation from profitable performance would lead to collapse or takeover. The ownership of wealth and the control of work organizations are closely related, on the basis of this kind of evidence. It is the case, however, that owners hip of enterprises is far more dispersed than it was in the past with the growth of an 'impersonal' structure of possession which has not, however, 'resulted in a loss of power by wealthy persons'; both managers and owners play their parts in the same 'constellations of interest' which are dominant. Moreover, similarly and uses the term 'ruling class' to cover the economic, cultural and political 'bloc' created by the alliances arise between capitalist and middle-class managerial class interests. A part in this is inevitably played by interlocking company directorships whereby the 'pattern of meetings' which these involve are 'reinforced by a network of kinship and friendship'. The importance of kin networks is shown by Marceau's (1989) research on European business graduates. She demonstrates how the 'international business elite' which she sees emerging uses kin networks as sources of prestige, information and finance. Power, managerial careers, wealth ownership and prestige are a ll closely interlinked in practice. The British scholar Christopher Pollitt (1990) has given this question considerable thought and has done some valuable work that is especially instructive here. In a searching critique of managerialism and its influence on the British and American public services, he builds an intriguing argument that managerialism "needs to be understood as an ideology, and one with some concrete and immediate consequences" (xi). Pollitt asserts that managerialism consists of a set of beliefs, values, and ideas about the state of the world and how it should be. He identifies five core beliefs of managerialism. 1) "The main route to social progress now lies through the achievement of continuing increases in economically defined productivity." 2) "Such productivity increases will mainly come from the application of ever-more-sophisticated technologies. These

Women Serving On the Front Line of Battlefield Research Paper

Women Serving On the Front Line of Battlefield - Research Paper Example This is based on the limited barriers that currently limit the presence and roles of women in the field. In as much as women should be accorded similar roles in the military, as their male counterparts, it is necessary to acknowledge their limitations that significantly depart from the roles of men. Summary and explanation of issue Women have begun playing an increasingly fundamental role on especially on the frontline during battles. It is fundamental to acknowledge that the need to attain gender parity in Pentagon has led to the enacting of laws that exalt the position of women working in the military sections. Previously, American women were barred from participating in direct combat roles. However, the changes in the nature and characteristics of the war have made the soldiers to be constantly in war. This means that women are always forced to participate in direct combat regardless of the ensuing challenges. This has made pentagon to advocate for additional roles for women in th e frontline of the battles. For example, congress has been recommending the introduction of close to 14,000 jobs for women serving in the frontline during battleground. According to Gass & John (4) â€Å"persuasion is powerful, and often positive social force†. ... These leaders would eventually their concerns to congress with the intention of contributing to the policy process. It is equally fundamental to acknowledge that the women have been advancing to the front of the battle lines by themselves to assert their authority. This has been vital to their empowerment and progress. The pentagon is equally a major stakeholder because it advises the congress concerning fundamental issues affecting women fighting at the front line in the battlefields. According to Gass & John (5) these are opinion leaders are influential who shape information and ideas through persuasion. It is evident that the pentagon initiates the policies formulated by congress. Consequently, it advertises the available positions within the military and allocates several roles. It is evident that the strategies that the entity has used to advance its persuasion process include formal announcements, advertisements and holding meetings with the women working in the military. The P entagon plays a neutral position in the entire occasion because it attempts to attain the highest degree of professionalism. Furthermore, it represents the needs of several persons who are not necessarily women in the front line. This means that it has to be extremely balanced in its approach. The final category incorporates congress that formulates laws determining whether women should participate in battles at the front line. According to Gass & John (23) purse persuasion seems to apply to the congress because it assumes a neutral position by allowing various personnel to voice their concerns. However, it ultimately represents the needs of the