The supermarket industry Tesco

Personal Marketing Plan Essay Example

Personal Marketing Plan Essay Example Personal Marketing Plan Paper Personal Marketing Plan Paper OBJECTIVES Combining business school education, professional/personal development training, self education along with life experiences directed me toward beginning a career as an entrepreneur. Many years have been spent taking classes and exploring various business opportunities. I started my college career as a business major. During that time, I also studied various art mediums to explore creative talents. In my junior year, I decided to combine those strengths and interests into my career path. Now that graduation is closer it is time to formulate and began executing a plan for the next 5 to 10 years of my life. Short Term Goals I have five main short-term goals, which include goals before graduation, educational career and professional goals. Before graduation, I aim to increase my grade point average to a 3. 0 minimum. Improving my resume and working knowledge through VCU’s small business mentorship program. And starting a part time personal home inventory service business while in school will enable me to apply previous knowledge, and use the many resources and services that are available. Start up cost for this venture is moderate compared to other businesses. My plan is to invest the minimum, $3000 during start up. Also I have employed the services of a professional coach to assist with personal and professional development. After graduation, (May 2008), my career goal is to expand my home inventory business, â€Å"Professional Home Inventory Services† from part time to full time operation. I plan on continuing education at Virginia Commonwealth University or the University of Maryland. Here, the goal is to earn a certificate in International Management. With a personal interest in the African culture (African Art and History), I plan to begin my travels to Africa through a Study Abroad Program. I intend on completing the certificate program in 2011. My personal interest in Africa will be a lifelong study. This certification and additional coursework will help my career by opening up the passageway to a new business venture, security and most of all spiritual growth in knowing more of my African heritage. I have and investment goal to save 15% of my annual income in addition to current savings, for a second business, which will be a combination of Importing African Art for resale online and business consulting. Long Term Goals My long-term goals include the continuation of my career, personal and investment objectives. I plan to be operating the consulting firm, â€Å"Robinson Business to Business Consulting† by 2013. I anticipate opening my import business,† Africa All Around â€Å"by 2015. I have estimated that it will take a minimum of 25,000 to 35,000 to start; therefore the money I have saved in addition to profits gained from the inventory service business will be used to help finance this venture. I want to continue to save a percentage of my income for future investments. Situation Analysis SWOT In order to understand what strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that I might encounter, I performed a SWOT analysis. As for my strengths, I am a highly creative and friendly person, I possess strong analytical skills, and I enjoy working alone and with small groups. I also have strong interpersonal skills. Patience and attention to detail are definitely virtues in the home inventory business. My main weakness is communicating in large groups. Improvement is needed in the areas of personal and professional development, writing and communication skills. At times, multitasking can be a challenge. I could be more effective with improvements in focusing, and time management. And I lack advanced training in computer software programs such as Microsoft Office. Also, a fair understanding and working observation of product values and knowledge of market values are needed for the inventory industry. That additional understanding will come with experience. There are several opportunities in front of me at this time. The first is the great need for small businesses for future economic growth, locally and internationally. There is a tremendous need for small business to keep up with technological advances and environmental changes. Small business can innovate and create new jobs at a faster rate than their larger competitors. Unfortunately, living in times of high crime, recurrent natural disasters and, bad weather conditions all in the mist of being extremely busy due to work and family demands is where I find opportunities to provide a service that is in demand . Owning a small business can be very challenging but with planning and organizing, allotted time will allow for personal interest endeavors such as travel and art. Finally, the threats I have include average competition, which is expected with a low cost high profit margin start up venture. Through research, I have found two companies in the Richmond Virginia area. There are companies on the internet that market home inventory software and not the bells and whistles of technology nor the personalized service aspect of the business like I will offer. But, the homeowner himself can accomplish this task if they choose to invest the time and effort. Another consideration is the rate of expansion, which is lower on average, than other businesses but once again, this business has high profit margins, on average than other businesses. Personal Marketing Strategy Target Market When targeting my market I will directly seek middle to upper class homeowners, current homebuyers and sellers (movers) in the market. Estate owners or their deceased relatives’ estates are good targets for asset documentation and estate sale planning and management. Demographically, services will be offered in Richmond VA. and surrounding counties and Northern VA. Marketing Mix –The 4 P’s There are many factors to consider in why I (my company) should be hired. In order to improve my chances for consideration I must present myself as a product, promote myself, set my price and finally determine my place. Product: Since I am the product I am a marketable asset. I have several important skills that will make me a successful business owner. I have excellent customer service skills. I posses a since of business practices, and product knowledge. As mentioned in my SWOT analysis, I have patience and strong attention for detail. Change in external environmental conditions; weather, crime and consumer behavior leads to new marketing opportunities that may call for internal environmental changes. Staying current with the industry connective components over the industry span such as; insurance company practices, homeowner’s insurance policies, new real-estate developments, market value, safety and security, will be critical at all stages. Being able to deliver this information will add value to my product while marketing and adapting to changes. Promotion: Now that there is a product, it needs to be successfully promoted. There are several possible ways to do this. The first is networking; developing business contacts with insurance companies, real estate agents, close friends and relatives. Social functions, and community events are other ways offering information about myself and my work. Being affiliated with non profit organizations that assist with business ventures will be a romoting factor. I will treat every opportunity as if I was on an interview I will position myself as a serious career professional and not just a college student. Always taking advantage of every opportunity that may arise. Price: The earning of an inventory specialist varies depending on the size of the home. For example, a 1200sq. ft. home could cost $300 to $350 for about a 4 hour job. Following graduation, I expect to be earning between $35,000 and 45,000 a year. These numbers are based on demographics, the experience that I will have, and salary based on he industry. I will be willing to negotiate and discount services, providing that multiple services are purchased or if a business contract is landed thru a referral. Place: There are two cities in which I would want to live, Northern Va or Maryland. When considering where I want to live, several factors came into play. First, I weighed the average salary, cost of living, cultural activities. Demand and competition in this industry was also evaluated. Either of these areas could offer great opportunities for this field. I could pursue the same class of target customers. An informal network with current contacts of friends and family homeowners and organizations would be a channel for promoting and advertising. Also low cost mailings online advertising would be appropriate distribution method. Conclusion: The purpose of this personal marketing plan was to identify and evaluate my short and long term goals, determine my strengths and weaknesses, examine opportunities and threats that I face to create a action plan to determine my marketability as a entrepreneur. I will be able to target specific markets in which I want to work through specific methods of research geared to segmented markets. I will be able to choose and determine specific locations, salaries, organizational cultures which I believe I will be the most functional in. My conversation with professionals currently in the field have given me a better perspective and have caused me to think more about both the pros and cons of being a entrepreneur in the inventory management field. With the completion of this project I feel more prepared and focused towards what I need to accomplish in order to reach my ultimate goal in life.

SUMMARY Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

SUMMARY - Article Example In the developed world, older siblings are mandated to take care of their younger siblings in circumstances where the parents have gone to work and other rare situations when the parents are away. On the other hand in less developed countries it is an obligation for the older sibling take care of the younger siblings in all situations which include meeting some of their financial needs, mentorship, seeing them transit from one level to another. The nature of sibling relationship is influenced by factors such as age, sex, order of birth, number of siblings and treatment by parents. Researchers have shown that birth order has a lot to do with how siblings relate with each other. Being a firstborn is attached to a lot of expectations and responsibilities as opposed to other order of births. Firstborn have a lot of duties to fulfil as well as several points to prove not only to their parents but to the entire society. Birth order therefore has a strong influence on the personality and behavior of an individual throughout their entire lives. However other factors that influence character and behavior such as heredity, competency, and peer influence among others should also be considered in equal measure when analyzing behavior among

Organizational Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Organizational Communication - Essay Example This paper therefore analyzes the findings from the paper on the tools of communication adopted by TWA to dominate the Ozark employees. The findings of the study revealed that communication processes can be effectively employed in understanding how power is created, enacted as well as maintained. It is the assertion of the study that power does not just exist but it is deliberately created, enacted and maintained through communicative efforts and behaviors by members of an organization. Though power is to a higher side determined by resource endowment by a firm, the process of communication only makes the actualization of real power from the resources. Communication in the form of domination of power comes in as the parties involved interact. Therefore, communication as a tool can be exploited for the betterment of an organization through creation of favorable working/relational environment or adversely through creating unfavorable environment. The TWA company employed dividing pract ices towards the Ozark employees in order to establish power-as-domination especially by communication as a tool for the power imbalance. The domination of power was felt from the TWA towards the Ozark and the various modes of communications were employed as the means of realizing the vice. Communication was employed in creation of power-as-domination in its complex status. The complexity of power-as-domination as created through communication meant that understanding the mergers would entail multiple perspectives of concepts. In the case under analysis, communication was employed to create power structures besides enactment as well as maintenance of power-as-domination. Power structures imply that there was disparity in the levels of association and interaction by the members of the organization. Some people enjoyed power benefits while others participated at a relatively low level. Those in higher power structures exercised authority to those operating at lower structures of power as illustrated by communication. However, concerning the TWA, power-as-domination was not invented in the process of acquiring the Ozark but rather had been previously designed by the members. The power structures created by the use of communication as a tool by the TWA enabled it to level coercion and threats towards the Ozark employees. In order to enforce compliance from the pilots of the Ozark, size disparities as well as threats were employed by the TWA. In the process, fences, branding, resistance as well as symbolic divisions were employed for the maintenance of the power structures created through communication. Surprisingly, the Ozark employees had a unique identity feature, which equally served as communication to identify them easily distinctively from the TWA employees. They used tattoos, green stitching, labels on clothing as well as Ozark pins, which in essence made the work of TWA in establishing, enacting and maintaining power towards them quite easy. In general, th e study affirmed that power-as-domination as a tool employed through communication served to create divisions among the employees. The employees from the Ozark organization received an unfair treatment from the TWA managers as they exercised the power created through communication. TWA managed to convince the Ozark into the merger deal through communication where such coercion and brutality was involved. In the like manner,

Organization research for communication major Assignment

Organization research for communication major - Assignment Example Choose a bona fide organization in which you eventually would like to be employed or could imagine requesting to do a career interview with a key employee there. The organization you choose should include the type of job position you wish to have in the first five years after graduation, or wish to know more about because you might be interested in having that job within several years after graduating. This job should be a realistic possibility within five years of graduation. Indicate answers to the following questions based on the research you conduct, and specify the source(s) for each answer right after the information you supply for each question (except for [a]). Sources are likely to extend beyond the organization’s own website. b. Its locations including headquarters/principal place of operation and the full street address of the location in which you are most interested in working? Its headquarters is at 37 Broadview Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492 (Creative Solutions Services, 2014). Retrieved from http://www.css-llc.net/index.php/contact-us c. The organization’s mission statement and the values it communicates publicly? Their mission statement appears to be: â€Å"We provide a true partnership approach and act as an extension of our clients organizations† (Creative Solutions Services, 2014). Retrieved from http://www.css-llc.net/index.php/about-us/our-firm Creative Solutions Services (CSS) is an executive search firm and staffing solutions provider that renders permanent placement, contract to hire, VMO, and consulting services. We specialize in finding top talent in Investment Banking, Private Equity, Alternative Investments, Technology, Operations, Sales, Media, and Consumer Goods. (Creative Solutions Services, 2014). Retrieved from http://www.css-llc.net/index.php/about-us/our-firm e. The organization’s history, beginning with the date founded/operations began? It was founded in 1996.

Greek History Class and Status

Greek History Class and Status Are there any special insights to be had from analysing Greek history in terms of either class or status? Greek history cannot be viewed as complete without analysing the class structure and status, as most of the historical evidence we have acquired from the classical period have come from inscriptions and sculptures made by one particular class of people, who had a high status in society. Thusly it is not necessarily about gaining special insights as it is gaining as complete an insight into Greek Ancient history as possible, though special insights will inevitably present themselves. This side of Greek history has only been focused on since these issues have come to the fore in modern times what with Marxism and communism rising in the 20th Century; these issues of class and status come under classical scrutiny because it is inevitable that they were as relevant then as they are now because human nature does not change and you will see clear comparisons. Only men native to a particular city-state who were free and owned land were entitled to the full protection of the law in a city-state and be considered citizens. The Athenian social structure consisted of the population being divided up into four classes based on wealth. This differs from Sparta where all male citizens who finished their education were considered equal. So it is clear that insights can be gained from analysing Greek history because both class and status are issues that classical historians must understand in order to have as complete as possible outlook on Greek history. People who were not part of the free land owning citizens were known as metics. Foreigners who moved into the city were part of this group, so too were slaves who had been freed. It can certainly be argued that this is exploitation of and looking down on certain groups of people showing us a special insight into how the different classes saw each other and the status each acquired. This insight could not be attained without analysing the class or status. Because they did not have the technology we have today in antiquity, G. E. M. de Ste. Croix argues in his book The Class Struggle in the Ancient Greek World that the dominant wealthy classes continued to dominate by demanding a lot more than was actually necessary from the lower classes. Such things as slavery, serfs, debt bondsmen and many other methods were employed to stop the lower classes from rebelling by keeping them busy. This is backed up by people such as Aristotle, who wrote in his Politics that men (meaning citizens of the state) were rational animals but slaves and women were not capable of reason. He called slaves animate tools whose only use was to obey the commands of the rich masters. In his Politics work he writes, But among barbarians no distinction is made between women and slaves, because there is no natural ruler among them: they are a community of slaves, male and female. Wherefore the poets say, It is meet that Hellenes should rule over barbarians; as if they thought that the barbarian and the slave were by nature one. This gives us some clear insight into the mindset of the citizens of Greek city states. There is a common misconception amongst people that Greece was a unified nation that thought as one. But, I have already displayed a difference between two different cities in Greece and their social structures were quite different and these differences do offer us special insights. Greece was not one nation operating under the same thinking, but it contained many different identities, it is both a Mediterranean and a Balkan country. In fact, an official Greek state did not come into being until Rome united it as one. There were hundreds of different states across the area which contained the people who became known as the Greeks. Loyalty was held to their own city states, rather than Greece as a whole. We can also gain some insight into daily life when analysing Greek history in terms of class or status. Most of the population were forced to work on the soil by those that were free citizens who were a small number of wealthy landowners and owned a lot of land. The slaves would work on the wealthy landowners land, there was little alternative to this. So they were viewed as mere tools, as the aforementioned quote from Aristotle shows, describing them as animate tools as if they were modern day tractors or any other tool that makes agriculture easier, for the wealthy landowner at least. There is also another area of study, apart from the relationship between the wealthy landowning citizens and the metics and slaves which is about how business in general was conducted in Ancient Greece that is opened to us once we study Ancient Greece from the perspective of status and class. Paul Millet suggests that patronage has had so little written about it that one might think it did not even exist in the Ancient Greek World. However, it must be said, with what little evidence we have; Sparta is the city-state we have the most evidence for patronage, but below this is Athens. Athens was viewed as the most advanced democracy of the time, and the aforementioned Aristotle also viewed it as such, despite its inequalities. This quote from Aristotles Politics is relevant here as, remembering his previously quoted view on barbarians, here he is talking about the citizens of the perfect democracy, which does not include slaves, women, metics and others: Democracy arose from the idea that those who are equal in any respect are equal absolutely. All are alike free, therefore they claim that they are all equal absolutely. Athens has always been said to have been the first true democracy by mainstream classical historians, special insight can be gained here from studying Ancient Greek history from a class and status perspective to denounce that myth. Though all members of the citizenship of Athens could vote at the assembly, the vast majority of the people who actually lived in Athens, like the metics, women, slaves and others could not vote or have any say in political life. Comparisons can be drawn to today here as, before Solons reforms slavery was given as a punishment for debt. This is comparable to today and offer special insight because today personal debt is at an all time high, particularly in America and Britain and if the debt becomes too high the banks send bailiffs to seize your property and your home effectively removing you from the citizenship and making you a metic. Using the Marxist ideology adopted by de Ste Croix in his aforementioned book, more comparisons can be drawn to today as a small minority of the people still maintain all the wealth. The means of production concept is also as relevant then as it is now and the owners of the means of production, the bourgeoisie still control it thus forcing the common man or the proletariat into working in order to survive. This in effect is slavery as they have no other choice but to work and feed the means of production to keep the wheels of democracy and capitalism turning. Analysing the status of women also offers special insights into Greek History that would otherwise have gone unnoticed by the male dominated classical period. The role of the female in Ancient Greece was one of purely being a housekeeper and a mother to any children she may have. As I have said, there was no way for them to get involved in political life. Plays like Aristophanes Lysistrata shows that the very idea of women being in power was considered completely ludicrous and was only relevant when they wanted to make a joke. Like slaves, women could hold no possessions as they belonged to her father and then once she is married to her husband. Their primary function of looking after the home included the use of many slaves, sorting out finances, spinning, bread making and of course weaving which is the epitomy of the feminine thing to do as in evidence from Homers The Odyssey. They lived and ate in separate quarters from the men, nor could they go out in public on their own. Spartan women had it better as they were allowed to take part in athletic competitions and generally had more freedoms. Comparisons can be drawn here with modern times also as in the Islamic faith women are encouraged not to be seen in public and in the Christian faith women have always been vilified. This is clearly special insight being drawn from Greeces Ancient history as studying the status or class both offer the opportunity to compare social issues from ancient times to today, as they are clearly still relevant. We can also gain insight from this because Athens direct democracy may not have worked if it werent for its usage of such strict requirements to be allowed to participate. This creates insightful debate over this very reasoning meaning that it was not a democracy per se, but rather a democracy for the few where only a small section of society could participate and be elected. Comparisons can also be drawn to today with the long Bush-Clinton dynasty heading towards their fourth straight president, who comes from the same elite wealthy section of society. But the only difference is that the debt slaves of modern times actually choose not to participate instead of being forced not to as was the case in Ancient Athens. A more obvious comparison to modern times and what we can learn from the Ancient Greeks is the modern examples of literal slavery as opposed to the economic enslavement I have spoken of. Slaves in near modern times are quite comparible to those of Ancient times and thus offer an interesting insight into Greek history and what we can learn from it in terms of their mistakes, before slavery was abolished in 1863 in America many people were taken from Africa and elsewhere to America to work as slaves. This is quite reminiscent of the barbarians I quoted Aristotle speaking of earlier, saying how they were less than human. This was the kind of attitude that allowed slavery to continue for as long as it did, and as Western society takes its origins from classical history it is then easy to understand why it was so readily accepted. The same comparisons can be drawn about the treatment of women and minority groups whose racism they had to endure is similar to the treatment and opinions of barbarians at the time. In conclusion, what constitutes special insight can be interpreted many different ways but I feel that it relates to the information we can gain that has previously been ignored by the classical history establishment, in favour of focusing solely on the elite wealthy landowners without considering the slaves and the people who did not necessarily have a voice. This is why I feel de Ste. Croixs use of Marxist ideology in his book The Class Struggle in the Ancient Greek World is extremely apt in portraying this special insight as it effectively shows the same system of control that is employed today as back in the Ancient Greek World in a different format to today, but still ultimately debt slavery. It also offers special insight in the general goings on of Ancient Greek society with the question of status and class relating to patronages usage and if it was even used at all as the lack of it in history books would suggest. The biggest special insight I feel it offers in terms of either class or status is that it shows the lack of willingness to make the unheard voices heard, it clearly shows that Greek history is written by those that dominated it and its majority of people living there as slaves, metics, women will unfortunately remain an unheard voice in the trumpeting of the creators of democracy we apparently hold so dear today. References De Ste. Croix, The Class Struggle in the Ancient Greek World, Duckworth Ed, 1997 Paul Millet, Patronage in Ancient Society, Routledge, 1989 Aristotle, The Politics, Jowett translation, revised by Jonathan Barnes, 1981 Homer, The Odyssey, E.V. Rieu translation, Penguin Books, 2003. Arisophanes, Lysistrata and Other Plays, Alan H. Sommerstein translation, 2003 Professor Paul Cartledge, Critics and Critiques of Athenian Democracy, 1st January 2001, BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/greeks/greekcritics_01.shtml

Tension in Arthur Miller’s A View From The Bridge :: A View from the Bridge Arthur Miller Essays

Tension in Arthur Miller’s A View From The Bridge The whole of this play involves symbolism, on many different levels. The end scene, in which Eddie takes his own life with his own knife, is symbolic of the self-destructive nature that led to such an ending. As Arthur Miller wished to write 'a modern Greek tragedy ´ it is likely that the symbolism of the dagger is Eddie’s sexuality, which drove him to his drastic actions and eventually death. During the confrontation earlier in the play Marco raised a chair like a weapon, symbolic of the fight yet to come. Rudolpho danced with Catherine when she had previously been attending to Eddie, symbolic of him taking her from Eddie’s life. Therefore it seems natural to reason that Miller intended the title of the play to have some significance other than the geography of the location. The most obvious interpretation is of the audience sharing with Alfieri an unbiased overview of the unfolding of events. It is like being able to see from a bridge over a river, our vision uncluttered by opinions as it would be by the side of the river, or perhaps even as part of the river. The spray and swirling of currents of a river could represent the uncertain nature of life that clouds our perceptions and the flow of water the rush of emotions that carry us from birth to death. Though, even Alfieri is not completely removed from the happenings of the play, he takes an active part in the play as well as providing the 'chorus ´ character of the Greek format that Miller used. He is part of the American culture, but also part of the Italian culture, he also knew the family "I had represented his father in an accident case some years before, and I was acquainted with the family in a casual way." Perhaps this is why he is able to give a balanced opinion and to counsel Eddie (though his advice is unheeded). On the bridge we have time to form opinions, to judge other people, to 'settle for half ´. It was his American audience that Miller addressed through Alfieri: "Most of the time now we settle for half and I like it better. But the truth is holy, and even as I know how wrong he was and his death useless, I tremble for, I confess that something perversely pure calls to me from his memory--not purely good, but himself, purely, for he allowed himself to be wholly known and for that I think I will love him more than all my sensible clients." This dilutes the feeling of superiority and detachment that we are

Math in Basketball Essay

When I am upset, all I crave is bacon. It seems to bring out the good in everything. The sky is brighter when I eat bacon; the grass is greener; the glass is half full. Bacon just makes everything seem alright. I feel reenergized. Alert. Happy. Bacon is my substance of choice for mood-enhancement, as it optimally raises my dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine levels with no negative effects besides a little weight gain that is easily avoided by the addition of exercise. From an evolutionary stand point, bacon is the ideal food. Back in the day, before there were nutritionists and people ate to survive, cravings were responsible for encouraging the right balance of carbs to fats to proteins as well as the consumption of all necessary vitamins and minerals. Protein, which is found primarily in meat, proved to be one of the hardest nutrients for the ancient human being to find, since they would have to hunt animals in order to obtain it. Because of its importance to the human’s diet and its difficulty to obtain, the reward system for proteins tends to be much stronger than that for any other nutrient. Carbs may result in an increased level of serotonin, but proteins release tyrosine into the blood stream which causes the release of massive amounts of dopamine, the â€Å"feel-good† neurotransmitter. Bacon also has a great fat to protein ratio. Fats are another crucial nutrient because they are effectively concentrated, stored carbs which can be converted into ATP for energy on a cellular level. Containing nine Calories of energy per gram, one gram of fat is enough to sustain an average person in an inactive, waking state for ten minutes, though it may only last me a few seconds when I am riding my horse, Kaptain. This means that the average slice of bacon can sustain the average person for about one whole hour. Maybe twenty-four slices of bacon a day is not the most healthy diet, due to its lack of carbs, vitamins, and minerals, but on a sad, dreary, rainy day, that is pretty close to what I would eat. I would probably add some eggs, pastries, orange juice, and multi-vitamins to the mix in order to have a more balanced diet, but I would definitely feel pretty comforted and happy. Just thinking about a warm, crunchy, greasy, delicious plate of bacon with a side of steaming chocolate chip pancakes is triggering my lateral hypothalamus. My pituitary gland is already telling my mouth to water, my stomach to growl and prepare digestive enzymes, and releasing the hunger hormone ghrelin. Today may not be a sad, dreary, or rainy day, but I am still craving bacon’s crunchy goodness. Luckily, I can somewhat control my bacon cravings and I have a fast metabolism, or else I’m sure my horse would be suffering from intense back problems.

Distinction and Characteristics of Leadership and Management

Distinction and Characteristics of Leadership and Management Distinction between leadership and management Any organization or company needs both a leader and a manager. The managers dominate most of the governance styles. The main differences lie between various supreme approaches to services. Managers have a value for results while leaders value relationships among members.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Distinction and Characteristics of Leadership and Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There is high regards over positions in management, while this is not evident in leadership styles. The leaders take reputable high risks compared to the managers, are personal, have caring attitude and, avoid copying others’ rules or governance styles (Pride et al, 2009, p. 23). On the other hand, the manages will often conform to existing rules and want to ensure protection of their status quo, thus may remain rigid measures over change, this makes the leaders more innova tive and ready to engage change for the better (Pride et al, 2009, p. 23). The leaders’ style of guidance is non-functional thus inspiring and motivational, compared to the management style of functionally analyzing, evaluating and solving problems from a personal perspective. The leadership hierarchy restrains the flow of unnecessary information, poor policies of the firm, agendas that conflict governance as well as pressures for the need to conform. They are therefore entitled the tasks of providing overall directions (Crystal, 2010, p. 1). According to Pride et al (2009, p. 23), the issues of leadership have revolutionized due to diversification of performance groups, and this is why today’s leadership styles lacks many of the historical references. The leadership styles made over decades concerning the ability to hold top management positions have become obsolete. Today the top management positions and their functions are still in common usage, but current trends i ndicate some distinct discoveries concerning distinction between managers and leaders. The process of exercising leadership skills, styles and qualities has a different meaning over providing a vision and influencing those led. The managerial tasks have brought about realization of coexistence and sharing of thoughts among people who are working towards common goals. From the analytical or professional point of view, it is possible to define the leadership style of governance in two ways. The first definition falls under the ability to have considerations of various aspects in the organization such as age, gender, performance, and experience and energy differences, characterized by an emphasis over good relations.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In this situation, the leader is a good listener who is approachable and friendly. This style entails openness thus enli sting the mental trust among those involved. Secondly is the ability to engage a leadership behaviour that directs an organization and assists in defining goals, structure and style of execution (Volmann et al, 2005, p.3). Characteristics of an effective leader A leader is able to perform various functions of the organizational such us selecting people to make up the organizational structure, units or segments that control the flow of information in and out of the organization. The leader must also have the ability to ensure group participation in a knowledgeable manner. The second function involves the interpersonal characteristics, which create good working morale within the organization. The leader ought to indicate a good degree of concern about humanness and pay attention to the follower’s concerns over leadership or other organization’s aspects. Lastly is the decisional function, that one mainly engages to give the impression of searching for the decisions regard ing achievements of goals. According to Pride et al (2009, p. 29), this is a traditional perspective that is all along associable to leadership and remains utilized to date. These functional points of view define leadership and the most crucial or hard part of leadership. Leadership entails the ability to create a compelling vision and style reshaped by future perspectives. According to Pride et al (2009, p. 23), the leader does the guidance tasks through the visions or ultimate powers accorded for a processes to be successful. Those involved must also act as a team. The most critical task of a leader is the ability to focus attention. This person is involved mainly with the aspects of deciding. Every time or day involves a fresh crisis requiring a solution. How the attention is subdivided determines the continuity of the organization. For instance, the leader cannot focus on the current tasks and ignore the future aspects or consequences that can affect the organization. Those prob lems, concepts, ideas or actions that receive the attention determine the sustainability of the organization. In line with Dodds (2008, p.1), a good definition of leadership is the ability to determine the aspects of an organization, that receives focus or attention at any given time. Otherwise, one considers the number of concerns receiving the concentration over a specific period.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Distinction and Characteristics of Leadership and Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Characteristics of an effective Manager The manager identifies with skills of handling supervisory positions. The time management skills assist in handling deadlines for the tasks and assignments. Good time management skills require a person who is able to set goals and assign specific tasks to employees while setting individual goals. Time management has a close link to resources management for instance finances , thus the need for wise budgeting. The manager also must have excellent communication skills since communication is a fundamental aspect of engaging projects especially when the managers have to engage or relate to employees, clients or other businesses. A good manager is confident and has a personality that enhances excellent communication ability. The communication ability and experience has to cater for groups as well as individuals. Conflicts are common especially in a diverse setting. The manager listen, identify, agree and discusses solutions with employees, providing follow up to relieve awkward tensions. Personal traits or personalities are also main aspects that govern management. The business expectations makes management hard to implement because not every person has the ability to engage all the required traits such as creativity, adaptability, charismatic attribute, confidentiality, understanding, ability to tolerate, great listening and willingness to learn. Experienc e is an important aspect of managers because they must have good knowledge of their title and the performance appraisals. Explain the meaning and importance of work groups and teams and evaluate the importance of groups and teams for effective organizational performance. Organization performance depends on the ability to create and administer a performance management culture among employees. The main and frequently utilized measure of encouraging performance culture entails methodologies that give employees’ confidence to question and seek guidance through departmental groups, human resource representatives or team leaders. Employees should participate in decision-making and policy implementation procedures especially on matters concerning performance requirements. Employees’ engagement also helps in avoiding conflicts during performance.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The best way to engage the performance culture therefore involves group or team work. The leadership styles and discipline are the key elements that play a vital role in creation, definition and management of a performing culture. Company’s group or teamwork culture is the systematic procedures that regard performance of duties and procedures, by engaging others especially in coming up with the ideas to achieve company goals. Performance involves combination of the employees’ thoughts, actions and feelings. Lack of proper management on these aspects of performance culture among employees’ means they become perplexed or stymie by some bureaucratic processes, and eventually conflict. Good group work sets its basis on employees’ interaction, to promote decision-making and direct accountability over performance. With discipline, there are clear expectations and commitments produced in a group work setting. There has to be management proactive measures to bloc k obstructions of performance such as rewards, which ensures that employees remain truly engaged to their duties. Today, emphasis on self-engagement and discipline has overthrown ancient style of â€Å"command and control† to enhance recognition of clear boundaries over the lines of duty, flexibility over performance and therefore foster required partnership. According to Dodds (2008, p. 2), a good teamwork focuses in capturing the global clientele. Through teamwork, the management is able to capitalizes on the employees strengths while minimize on the weaknesses. The differences between employees entail differences on management skills; therefore, such a setting strengthens understanding and enhances stronger bonds among employees. Teamwork creates opportunities for advancement and an entrepreneur should know that diversity is something more than a moral obligation. It is a business opportunity. Evidently, companies that practice the ethics of teamwork are incomparable to bu sinesses that engage individualism (Crystal, 2010, p. 1). Implementing workgroups in a company’s work environment could have benefits that include improved job satisfaction, a higher degree of company commitment and increase of turnover. Team spirit is a good ethical practice and thus a benefit in practicing business ethics in the workplace. Workgroups can lead to employee satisfaction, flexible work schedules and more responsibilities. Improved job satisfaction is one benefit that boosts employees’ morale to complete tasks correctly and in a timely manner. â€Å"The study of different approaches to organisation and management and the development of organisation theory have no practical relevance for today’s managers. It is really no more than a luxury for students and the time could be spent better on other important topics.† Critically reflect upon this statement and present a counter argument. A good management entails having influence over others. How does one gain the influence? The designated or emergent leader must acquire the ability or power to known the interpersonal influence by understanding various approaches or theories of managing or organizing. Precedence in policies and procedures Considering that most business regulations are standard that are applicable in most case scenarios, there is therefore need to prioritize on the imperative necessities to learn the policies or procedures to implement organization or management theories. One importance of the theories regards performance. Proper organization theories and procedures should support the performance-based analysis. Relevance of organization theories for today’s managers Employees’ management requires capacity planning and control. The managers have to know the techniques required to address the issue of scheduling business applications and planning the allocation of resources. Controlling performance through routing or queuing and having various p roblem-solving techniques in place for various departments is equally important (Vollmann et al, 2005, p. 3). The organization theories include optimization techniques. The function of management or organizing is to maximize on the elements that meet the least expenditure objectives within a constrained operating environment. Business management theories therefore assist in braking down a big problem to ease complexity and thus speeding up computation. t allows efficiency in and ability to handle the uncertainties adequately. Secondly, use of organizational theories in management is a dynamic approach that allows mastery of consecutive decisions-making procedures in a multi-stage pattern. It is easy for one to come up with a personalized way of dealing with problems, but the most effective procedures are those based on proven facts such as the management theories. For instance, theories indicate that it is possible to recursively relate a problem to solutions, to come up with most e ffective results or conclusions. A complex problem can decompose to various sub-problems for individual employees to handle. The solution to one problem creates a sequentially dependent framework, such that the solution of a sub-problem emerges from the preceding solution. A common management theory involves engagement of group or teamwork because of a consideration of the whole problem as a common quandary broken into various parts with preceding independent resolutions. Sensitivity analysis The management theories engagement also involves sensitivity analysis as an approach to solving problem. There is need for a manager to involve practical and proven procedures of solving problems. The theories assist managers in hypothetical, logical or substantial analysis of the most effective procedures to take. Theories provide business with major challenges regarding performance and assists in examining the most important factors for the revolution and performance. Theories also provide a procedure of examining impacts of changes and their effects as outputs (Dodds, 2008, p. 1). One has to evaluate reasonable limits for change or the individual impact on other independent measures of business quality. This approach determines business viability or validity. References Crystal, D. (2010). Managing Business Ethics. Web. Dodds, B. (2008). Pandemic Planning and Business Continuity. Web. Pride, W. M., Hughes, J. M. Kappor, J. R. (2009). Business. Kentucky, KY: Cengage Learning Publishers. Vollmann, T. E., Berry, W. L., Whybark, C. D. (2005). Manufacturing Planning and  control systems for supply chain management. New York, NY: The McGraw-Hill Publisher/Irwin series.

Medical Marijuana

Medical Marijuana Free Online Research Papers Legalizing Marijuana Is Beneficial Grass, pot, weed, bud, dope, indo, hydro, and good old Mary Jane are just a few of the street terms used for marijuana. Marijuana is defined as a mixture of the flowers, stems, and leaves of the Cannabis Sativa plant. When marijuana is smoked, THC [delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol] the active ingredient in marijuana goes from the lungs into the bloodstream, which carries the chemical to all organs in the body (National Institute on Drug Abuse 1). This chemical is what causes the ’high’ people experience by inducing relaxation and heightening the senses (National Drug Intelligence Center 1). â€Å"In the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, marijuana was classified as a schedule 1 substance, which put marijuana into a class with cocaine and other such drugs† (Rawson 1). Many facts have come into perspective since this act that counter the purpose in keeping marijuana illegal. As long as restrictions are set, then the legalization of marijuana would help the medical worl d, the economy, and the judicial system. The government keeping marijuana classified as a ‘schedule one’ substance restricts its medicinal value (Marijuana Legalization Organization 4). Even though marijuana has been passed for medical purposes on many state levels, the federal law makes it possible for practitioners to lose their licenses for prescribing marijuana. â€Å"Marijuana has been shown effective in reducing nausea induced by cancer chemotherapy, stimulating appetite in AIDS patients, and reducing intraocular pressure in people with glaucoma† (Drugpolicy.org 3). At the very least, the government should classify marijuana as a schedule II drug to show the acceptance of its medicinal purposes. A schedule one drug is defined as highly addictive without any medical values, which cannot be prescribed (Rachal 3). All the studies that show marijuana as a beneficial aid to patients should be enough to reclassify it. As long as scientific evidence through clinical studies demonstrates that the benefits outweigh the risks then a substance can be passed for medicinal purposes (Office of National drug control policy 6). Potential lung damage is the predominate negative aspect with smoked marijuana (Rachal 7). When a patient is faced with constant nausea from treatment and chronic pain, lung damage is minimal in comparison (Rachal 7). It is troubling how these cases are continually dismissed. A daily marijuana smoker may experience the same effects as a cigarette smoker such as chest problems like a daily cough or respiratory cancer (U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration 2). Many would argue that there is a pill version of THC, named Marinol that can be used in place of marijuana. A patient suffering from a rare form of lung cancer gave his opinion of Marinol. â€Å"The problem with Marinol is the THC isn’t absorbed into the bloodstream as quickly as with smoked marijuana,† Charles [not his real name] said. â€Å"It almost has a time-release effect. I take 20 mg. of Marinal in the morning with my cancer medication and by the time I’m hungry enough to feel like eating, it’s about 5:00 p.m. After that I’m hungry until I go to bed. I don’t want to have to wait that long for the full effects of the drug to kick in. When I smoke, I feel hungry right away† (Rachal 6). The choice to smoke marijuana or use the pill version should be placed with the patient. Unless it is legalized, then these patients will not have such an option. The government should not be allowed pick and choose who is allowed to use marijuana. By approving researches and keeping marijuana illegal, that is exactly what the government is doing. Recent studies have shown that there is no known type of cancer associated with marijuana (Safer 3). The argument that marijuana’s supposed negative effects outweigh its medical benefits is false. On the other hand marijuana should be legalized for recreational purposes as well because it would free judicial services in order to concentrate on harsher crimes and it would bring in money for the economy. â€Å"According to the national Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2006, about 6,000 people a day used marijuana for the first time, a total of 2.2 million Americans. Of these, 63.3 percent were under 18† (Bannigan 1). The opposition argues that legalizing pot will not eliminate the use of marijuana to underage users (Bannigan 1). This is true for alcohol as well but history shows how effective prohibition was when dealing with alcohol. The legalization of marijuana is not to eliminate the demand for all users but to aid America’s economy through taxation and limiting judicial costs. The amount of time in money put into marijuana is ridiculous when there are far more harmful drugs such as crack cocaine, methamphetamine and heroine. About one third of $68 billion a y ear spent on corrections is time served for nonviolent drug crimes (Klein 2). About $150 billion is spent on police services and court costs (Klein 2). About â€Å"†¦47.5% of all drug arrests are marijuana-related† (Klein 2). Seems like a lot of time and money wasted on a recreational drug that has never been proven to cause death. â€Å"There were 331 alcohol related deaths and 0 marijuana deaths in 2001 (Safer 1). The jail systems should focus more on violent crimes rather than nonviolent drug crimes. The United States only consists of about 5% of the world’s population but contributes to about 25% of its prisoners (Klein 2). Going to jail for marijuana does not help the drug problems in America. In fact through studies it has been shown that prisoners who only used marijuana going into the system come out using far more harmful drugs and may continue on to other crimes beyond petty drug use (Rawson 2). These funds spent on marijuana could be contributing to ha rsher crimes such as unsolved murders or cocaine busts. Besides the funds spent on marijuana remaining illegal boosting the economy there is also the taxation side. Most believe it immoral to try and profit off a drug. This is why marijuana needs to be reclassified and regulated. Marijuana is a natural occurring resource. It is an herb or plant just like the tobacco plant. If the government does not have a problem with profiting from tobacco then it should not be concerned with marijuana. â€Å"Marijuana is already California’s biggest cash crop, responsible for $14 billion a year in sales† (Miceli 1). That is billions of dollars obtained from a current illegal substance. That is also not including recreational purchases. It blows the mind how much our economy could benefit from such taxation. â€Å"A 10% pot tax would yield $1.4 billion in California alone† (Klein 2). Imagine how much profit could be obtained if there was a 10% pot tax in all 50 states. Those against the legalization of marijuana argue that the healt h risks outweigh these economic benefits. Last time the news was on, America was still in a recession. â€Å"Regardless of your position on legalization of†¦marijuana, the fact is†¦Ã¢â‚¬  America needs money and legalizing this vice is a relatively low-impact way to get it (Miceli 2). The opposition argues that the health risks of marijuana are why it should remain illegal. Yet alcohol is far more harmful than marijuana. â€Å"Marijuana is actually less dangerous than alcohol, cigarettes, and even most over-the-counter medicines or prescriptions† (Legalizing Marijuana 2). Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol will result in death while excessive amounts of marijuana will do no more than put the user to sleep (Legalizing Marijuana 2). As free Americans, they should be able to weigh the risks for themselves. Just like with any other harmful substances such as unhealthy for and/or alcohol (Marijuana Legalization organization 7). Many also believed that the legalization of marijuana will lead to an unproductive America. This seems pretty farfetched when giving the opportunity to drink constantly or go to work; the majority of American’s obviously choose work. â€Å"People who are intoxicated constantly, regardless of the drug, are unlikely to be product ive members of society. There is nothing about marijuana specifically that causes people to lose their drive and ambition† (Drugpolicy.org 4). The opposition should give American people a little more faith. Legalizing a naturally occurring plant will not change the American dream. It may just change how Americans spend their time dreaming. In fact, the patient named earlier also stated he felt motivated to get up and do more after smoking (Rachal 6). The claim that marijuana completely changes a person is not supported. Image distortion, personal identity loss, and hallucinations can be a result from high doses of marijuana (National Drug Intelligence Center 2). These factors do not completely change a person. Alcohol is by far a much more harmful substance. There have been numerous recordings of deaths by alcohol overdose (Safer 1). While â€Å"†¦there has never been a marijuana overdose death in history† (Safer 1). The scientific proofs of marijuana’s harm ful effects are increasingly distorted to keep it illegal (Drug Reporter 2). Marijuana is far less addictive than alcohol or tobacco (Drug Reporter 2, Safer 1). The mild side effects are made clear through yearlong studies and therefore should be presented to the public and let them decide on its recreational benefits. Just like the supporters of legalizing alcohol, Marijuana supporters will fight for its legalization until they succeed (Drug Reporter 3). â€Å"They [Marijuana users] refuse to give up their long quest for justice because they believe in the fundamental values of American society† (Drug Reporter 3). As long as America regulates marijuana in the same manner it does alcohol, then marijuana should be legalized. The tobacco company is allowed to run chaos in a sense because of all the additives they put into their products. If marijuana is legalized, it should not be processed the same way. Bannigan argues the fact that Marlboro can add a little â€Å"harmless ingredients† the way they do with cigarettes in order to help marijuana sale (2). That is why when marijuana is legalized there should be strict guidelines. First would be to make sure all production of marijuana remains pure. Meaning there cannot be any additives to the plant itself. Marijuana should be the pure cannabis sativa plant and nothing more. A second restriction should be placed in the same fashion of alcohol. In other words there should not be any machinery usage under the influence of marijuana. No driving would be allowed while under the influence and can be determined through a dilation test. This will ke ep the streets and work place regulated. The next obvious but still important restriction would be an age limit. The limiting age should be 21 seeing that the government believes 21 if fine for a much harsher substance like alcohol. This will regulate marijuana in the same fashion as alcohol. Thus also keeping the sale of marijuana in trusted occupations. This means the sale of marijuana should only be legal to those that obtain a license. A license should be giving in the same manner as it is now with medical marijuana. Only those that pass background checks and such regulations the government see fit should be allowed to distribute marijuana. With these restrictions in place, the legalization of marijuana would be sufficient enough to be beneficial to society. Even though keeping marijuana illegal holds some valid points, the benefits of legalizing it outweigh those points. Marijuana is a natural herb put on this earth, not created by man like other harmful drugs. Marijuana has been proven to hold medicinal properties that have been used throughout history. Medical marijuana is a benefit to society through the patients it helps. Recreational marijuana can be beneficial to society though taxation and cost of keeping it illegal. There are also harmful effects that can be taken into appraisal and decided on use individually. As long as guidelines and restrictions are set then there should be hardly any negative effects to outweigh the positive ones. Keeping marijuana illegal will only continue the fight against the controversy until the inevitable happens the way it happened with the prohibition of alcohol. Now is the best time to act in order to aid America out of this recession. Either way the battle to legalize marijuana will continue. Mar ijuana’s benefits to America definitely outweigh the harm predicted. It will not lead the way to legalizing other illegal drugs because those drugs are harmful man-made drugs with no medicinal benefits. Marijuana is also a non-lethal drug compared to the other illegal drugs. The proposition of wasting so much time and money on maintaining a natural herb illegal is ridiculous when faced with the option of profiting from it. Marijuana’ recreational and medicinal purposes pose no genuine threat to American society and therefore should be legalized. Research Papers on Medical MarijuanaUnreasonable Searches and SeizuresThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)The Effects of Illegal ImmigrationMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesThe Fifth HorsemanGenetic EngineeringMind TravelThe Project Managment Office SystemInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married Males

Book Review of Robert Klitgaard's Tropical Gangsters Essay

Book Review of Robert Klitgaard's Tropical Gangsters - Essay Example The book tells the story of the author who, equipped with his surfboard and a $10-million-dollar loan from the World Bank, makes an attempt to rehabilitate the ruined economy of Equatorial Guinea, one of the most backward countries in the world. Robert Klitgaard, a Harvard-trained economist, in the story, deals with several important questions which are relevant to much of the world. "As in most other countries carrying out free market reforms, Equatorial Guinea's leaders have not always known quite how to make the new strategy work - or, in some cases, whether they should really try. This ignorance and reluctance, though extreme, are in many ways prototypical, and they raise general questions. How does one go about assessing an economy's strengths and weaknesses How does one go about developing the institutions needed to make free markets work And how can one help recalcitrant, inefficient, sometimes corrupt government move forward" (Klitgaard, ix-x) Apart from these essential quest ions, the author also deals with the important role of international aid which further gives rise to new questions. Thus, the author investigates the creative possibilities and inherent limitations of outside assistance, the tensions between aid and dependency, between benevolence and autonomy, and the possible ways of action in this context. In the context of economic and political changes taking place in Africa, Robert Klitgaard is engaged in a fascinating and compelling account of his two-and-a-half-year adventure in Equatorial Guinea and it provides an insightful explanation of why foreign aid often fails to achieve its goals. In the book Tropical Gangsters: One Man's Experience with Development and Decadence in Deepest Africa, Klitgaard, who is the former head of a multi-million dollar economic development program in the Equatorial Guinea, convincingly gives an account of his struggles against government corruption, capitalist adventures, and bankrupt economic theories. The narrator was sent as an economist-consultant to Equatorial Guinea, a small West African nation which is one of the poorest countries of the world, by the World Bank in 1985. Klitgaard has been highly effective in blending his personal reminiscence and economic analysis in his engaging memoir of his two-and-a-half-year struggle to rehabilitate the local economy. In the background of the modern tendency to move toward the free market across the world, the author suggests how the countries of Africa welcomed free market for economic development. "Africa has been the vanguard of a worldwide movement away from state-controlled economies and toward the free market. For years the prevailing wisdom concerning economic development advocated an interventionist state. Government should be the mobilizers and managers of resources. In contrast, the new movement says that the private sector is the key to economic growth, and downplays the state's role as mobilizer and manager." (Klitgaard, 7) Thus, the author deals with the various aspects of the backward economies of the African countries and he makes exceptional note of lethargy, corruption, and adventurism as the basic issues affecting the progress of these economies. In his analyses of the economic problems facing Equatorial Guinea, Klitgaard focuses on cogent and convincing issues such imports outstripping exports, lack

Research, Writing, and Rhetoric Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

, Writing, and Rhetoric - Research Paper Example The issue of influences of human behaviour is a fundamental area of study in the contemporary society where issues of morality and ethics almost always touch families and professions. A paradigm shift in the societal mindset is required to alter its potential to cause negative behaviours in the population. The power of a situation shapes the character traits of society members. Dawn K.Coutant, author of â€Å"The effect of A Power-Imbalanced Situation on The Cognitive Processing Of Low-Power Group Members† claims that when a child is born, the brain is blank (78). Knowledge is written into the brain from the experiences as one interacts with the environment. A range of factors such as culture, emotions and authority influences the traits of a person and impacts behavior. The socio-economic environment and situations surrounding the environment affects the traits of people more than they know. A person’s friends, family members, enemies, systems and even the media impact on his behavior in very fundamental ways. Many may argue about personality differences, which are inborn and not affected by the environment, but these traits are developed by situations surrounding the environment. There are certain standards and expectations that the society puts on every one of its mem bers. Adam D. Galinsky, author of â€Å"Power Reduces The Press Of The Situation: Implications For Creativity, Conformity, And Dissonance† states that the behavior of the members of the society is a product of these expectations (14). The society tells human beings what to do and how to do it. It prescribes the mode of behavior and conduct. In his book, â€Å"Replicating Milgram: Would People still Obey Today?,† Jerry M Burger explains the findings of an experiment that replicated Stanley Milgram’s obedience studies. His studies allowed for useful comparisons with the