Publix Case Essay

Identify the relevant marcroenvironmental factors. What impact do these issues have on the focal organization? Level I: The Global Business Community The macroenvironment consists of the global business community, focusing more on the external environment of an organization. The macroenvironmental factors that are relevant to Publix and its industry includes society, demographics, economic, natural, political/legal, and technological. I.Society: Publix serves over 1 million customers every day. This consists of individuals being influenced by others, organizations, society, and the subcultures, which they identify with. Publix is based in the United States, initially being founded in Florida. In places such as Atlanta, Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee, where Publix has presence, consist of a melting pot of cultures that have come to the â€Å"land of the free† for convenience and freedom of choice. Due to this, there are many subcultures that have their own preferences. Some only eat Kosher, organic, or specialty products, that may only be found in certain supermarkets; alternatively, consumers may just be looking for the best deal they can get their hands on. Customers, both men and women, are becoming more knowledgeable about products and are more demanding on quality in the goods they purchase, therefore being more involved in company’s decision making process. â€Å"Nutritional conscious supermarket shoppers are checking labels as never before†(Mujtaba et al, 2012). II.Demographics: The growth rate of the population, the age distribution, and household patterns all account for many of Publix’s’ innovative ideas. In Florida, Atlanta, South Carolina, and Tennessee, all have a strong student population, as well as dual employed family homes. In such a fast paced society, a majority of this population can be categorized as time impoverished customers. They opt for already pre-cut food and prepared cooked dinners. Studies show that 37% of households buy prepared products at least once a week, a major increase from 27% in the previous year(Mujtaba et al, 2012).This is the reason why Publix was one the first to incorporate self-checkout within their stores to cater to this market. Similarly, Publix tried to penetrate the online market due to the trends of customer behaviors  to buying goods online. â€Å"By 2007, 20 million households in the United States will purchase groceries, goods, and other household items online†(Mujtaba et al, 2012). This is an approximate expenditure of $85 million dollars for mainly good items. The pattern of most household shows that individuals, families, and any other consumers in the supermarket industry, on average, live in a geographical area for about 10 years. This means that the average revenue spent by consumers every year have a lifetime value of ten years, and that relationship needs to be nurtured. Despite educational level, since the recession of 2008, many individuals have felt the effects not only in their bank account, but also within their daily lives. Therefore, in general, the United States has shifted to a â€Å"bargain shopping† way of purchasing goods. However, those living in the United States also seek the full package, and want to be taken care of [customer service], at a reasonable price. Therefore, there has been a trend showing cost- conscious customers turning away from premium brands towards individual store brands. III.Economic: Fortunately for all in the food industry, US food spending is on the rise. However, unfortunately for Publix and other supermarket retailers, they are not capturing their fare share of that market. Instead those penetrating the available market are alternatives to supermarkets, such as supercenters, warehouse clubs, and drug stores. When regarding the food industry in the United States it is a market-based economy, where there is currently an oversupply in choices available to the consumer. It has been 5 years since the recession hit consumers, thus companies all over the United States, and the average customer now spends $50,000 dollars as a lifetime value over ten years. However, due to recent trends, the average income of online target customers would deliver a higher profit those regular shoppers. IV.Natural: Over the last decade, there has been a lengthy move toward environmentalism. In the past, environmentalism would not have much to do with the food industry, but this view is incorrect. Generally speaking, most companies are expected to have a corporate social responsibility towards the environment, its well being, and the well being of its stakeholders. According to the food industry, across the board, consumers believe that corporations should  have their best interest in mind and provide foods that are of quality and are not detrimental to the human body. Global activists group have arisen such as Greenpeace, who have formed two other coalitions, including True Good Now and GE free Markets. V.Political/ legal: As mentioned, as customers obtain more knowledge and want a voice ion what is in the goods that they purchase, food safety is becoming a major issue in the grocery industry. Therefore, there have been many laws and regulations that have been enforced to ensure this. For example, seven of the nations largest grocery stores have admitted to re-dating meats and fish that had already reached their original sell by date. VI.Technological: Due to technology, 20000 new items are hitting the market every year across the board. The on-going innovations brought forth by technology are bringing changes and new procedures in all industries, not just food retailers. Therefore, the value of understanding and anticipating changes in consumer preference cannot be overestimated. Technology is a major success factor in the food industry and plays a major role in efforts to offer more value for the customers needs. It’s a new force in the environment that should not be reckoned with. It enhances the competitive position offering better service to the time- impoverished customer, and even those customers seeking convenience. Level III: The Focal Organization Each successive level is part of the preceding one. This is why macroenvironmental factors affect the focal organizations.   The fact that Publix serves over 1 million customers in America, does not mean that all of these consumers are similar in behavior, values, or associated subcultures. America has become a melting pot of cultures with various beliefs and household patterns. Due to the fact that these customers are becoming more demanding, it is important to have an environment that takes care of their employees, customers, suppliers and community that they serve, to bring increased value to the customer. This results in better quality and more needs that are satisfied. Their mission is to become the premier quality food retailer in the world. Customers are delighted with their shopping experience because Publix is responsive to the wants and  needs of customers, such as already prepared food, due to their Customer Intimacy Programs. To cater to the wide range of subcultures and demographics, Publix had to employ the Deliver plus 1% philosophy. You must meet the customers shopping needs, plus exceed it by 1%.   Despite the cost- conscious consumers, they get the full package they seek at Publix, that they would not find at another competitor such as Wal-Mart. Publix supermarkets are ranked third among 46 chains, nationwide. As their prices are slightly higher than some of its competitors, Publix received neutral ratings on prices but excelled in checkout speed, service, and cleanliness. This shows that the customer perceived value was higher than the customer perceived cost of paying slightly higher prices for high quality goods. Consumers do not mind spending a little extra to shop at Publix, once their ‘full package’ service is satisfied, with clean stores staffed with trained and friendly front line employees. Environmentally, Publix does their part. They are a caring employer, and are known for being socially responsible in the community. By adhering to the needs of consumers and abiding by safe and clean environments, this becomes a major strength of the Publix brand. Last but not least, technology is a major force that has aided Publix get to where it is today. They were one of the first companies to have water fountains, self- service shopping, shopping carts, and computerized scanning technology. These are all innovations that add to the Publix brand, where shopping can truly be a pleasure. Self-service checkouts cater to the time- impoverished customers, and the computerized scanning technology that assists in keeping shelves stocked. Technology has also allowed Publix to explore the online market, founding PublixDirect. Even though they did not do well, it is a start to discovering a whole new market, where opportunities for major profit exists. All Macroenvironmental factors have had a direct influence on Publix’s operations, as described above, especially technology. 2.Discuss the market factors. How do collaboration, competition, supplier, and regulators affect the performance of the focal  organization? Level II: The Market The market consists of the microenvironment. This includes all factors such as collaboration, competition, suppliers, and regulators. I.Collaboration: At Publix, †where shopping is a pleasure†, everything revolves around pleasing the customer. This philosophy does not change, and should never be compromised. To do this associates are encouraged to interact with their customer on a daily basis, resulting in immediate and local feedback. The advantage of this information is that Publix can better determine customers needs, wants and desires. To allow customers to enjoy shopping at Publix’s clean facility, management believes employees should also conduct work in a place â€Å"where working is a pleasure†. Publix offers their employees world class training programs, especially for their perishables department like the deli, bakery, produce and seafood. With over 1,000 stores, Publix has retained the largest employee- owned supermarket chain in the United States because it has a loyalty and commitment to employee training. In an industry that can be categorized with having high turnover, most of their employees have been working with them for 10 or more years. Associates are taught to understand that they are not just in the grocery business, but also in the people business. Through this world class training program, Publix has created its Publix Customer Intimacy Program that enables managers to keep their fingers on the pulse of the customer on a daily basis (Mujtaba et al, 2012). This is not only a phrase, but has turned into a philosophy. This allows Publix to get both information from their own consumers, and also from their competitors. Another program implemented in its stores is called the Associate Voice Survey (AVS), and Quality Improvement Process (QIP). The focus is not on the customer, but instead their associates. The fact that Publix is constantly rewarded for 100 Best Companies to Work For, Employers of Older Workers, and Employers of Choice, speaks a lot to the way they treat their employees, results in quality improvements and assures that front line employees carry out Publix’s philosophy. II.Competition: Despite the strong competition in the supermarket industry, Publix has no immediate plans to expand internationally at this time. Whether Publix is being undercut or imitated, they are not willing to concede its customers to  the competition. The idea is that â€Å"only [they] can give [their] customers a reason to shop elsewhere. As long as [they] take care of [their] customers better than anyone else, [they] will defeat [their] competition†( Mujtaba et al, 2012). Wal-Mart is one of their top competitor, similarly challenging other industries across the globe. They are number one retail grocer in the world and opened major supercenters throughout Florida, and in many other countries(Mujtaba et al, 2012). Due to economies of scale, they are able to successfully compete on price by undercutting almost all of their competitors. Therefore focus is beginning to shift to differentiation and performance improvement versus pricing, as no profits come from matching Wal-Mart prices. Within the food Industry, Safeway and Kroger Co. take second and first place as competitors, doubling and almost tripling their revenues, respectively, in 2009. Other companies such as Lacklusters financial performance has plagued some supermarket players in recent years, and also Walgreens, a food and drug store is one of the most admired companies. Whole foods, is a close runner up, which has achieved one third of Publix’s sales, and should be considered competition. Publix is still small relative to other giants in the food industry. However, it consistently ranks highest among its competitors. To stay among these ranks, Publix retains their customers by benchmarking by studying the best practices of their competition; find gaps between customer needs and availability, thus, trying to fill them. Despite major profit possibilities, none of the major grocery chains have mastered the online arena. III.Suppliers As with most companies, the suppliers that distribute to Publix are not noted in the case. However, Publix prides itself on a corporate culture of an organization that creates superior value, but also high quality goods. Suppliers are likely to have a relationship with Publix, such as the one they have with their employees. Its about quality products at good prices, with a good shopping experience. Offering â€Å"functional foods† that are fortified with popular herbs, vitamins, and healthy additives implies that Publix must have a healthy relationship with their suppliers to supply this. Also, with the rise of cost- conscious consumers, Publix offers their own brand to cater and retain them. With private label branding continuing to  grow, Publix must have their own supplier, which differs from all others, which supply their individual local brand. Private label branding grew 10.2% from 2007, and accounts for 25%( Mujtaba et al, 2012). 64% of shoppers said they often or always buy a store brand versus a national brand (Mujtaba et al, 2012), which has major implications for supermarkets and their own suppliers. IV.Regulators Mentioned previously, food safety has become a major concern. Therefore, in the food industry, leaders are paying more attention to ensure that the food products are in a safe and clean environment. They are required to constantly look at all risks that are associated with providing good quality as well as good safety, while attempting to get rid of them. Level III- Focal organization: Embedded in Publix’s business culture is that everything revolves around the customer, and servicing them with a smile. Their value proposition for customers clearly states that its customers want more than just groceries. Customers must be satisfied, delighted, and excited every time they visit or shop at your store. Some try to copy Wal-Marts style of providing low cost goods to customers, and almost guarantee a re-purchase. However, studies show that this is not an easy task, and is not likely favorable to those retailers. Hence the reason Publix strives for differentiation. How do they maintain this competitive advantage whole competing with supermarket giants? Through the different programs at Publix, such as the Customer Intimacy Program and the AVS, employers are able to provide customers with value. They have created cross-functional and ad hoc teams to discuss opportunities for improvement that prove the fact that â€Å"two heads are better than one†. That is a competitive advantage in itself, being equipped with front line employees committed to making the arena a better place for the company’s consumers. They are committed to satisfying the needs of its customers better than their competition. This is why they passionately focus on customer service, because only they can give their customers a reason to leave, and attracting  new customers is about five to six times more costly than retaining the ones they. Service is what Publix built its reputation on. As a result, Publix is ranked third among 46 chains, nationwide. Collaboration and Competition are the major factors regarding the microenvironment that affect their focal organization.

Science a world of its own

Science, what does this word mean when you're a teacher or more importantly learning to be a teacher. Is it a dirty word? Or Just unfamiliar! Are we scared or Just unsure how to teach it? I will be looking at these thinking by current pre service teachers and graduate teachers. How do we gain confidence, belief and a good attitude towards teaching science in schools? Is it really that hard and daunting to teach 5 year olds and then again to 12 year olds. Is there any difference?Is there a way to help in making science a subject that is as important to a pre service teacher s Health & Physical Education or Art? â€Å"Science in Australian primary school is thus in a state of crisis† (Department of Employment & Training, 1989). Attitude towards teaching science at school is a major problem. Previous research has shown that elementary education majors often dislike science and lack confidence in their ability to teach it. This is an important problem because students who hold the se attitudes are likely to avoid teaching science, or teach it poorly, when they become teachers.It is therefore necessary to identify pre service elementary teachers who hold negative attitudes towards science, and attempt to convert these attitudes to positive before they become teachers. (David H. Palmer, 2001). Why is our attitude so dish-Jointed when it comes to science and to some extent mathematics too? Personally I can't remember much about doing science in primary school as it was too long ago. I feel that it was casual and fun but what I do remember doing was some exciting stuff in and around the school boundaries.Finding bugs, doing experiments and making erupting volcano's in year 6. But high school to me it started to be boring, not fun and an attitude â€Å"why do I have to go to Physics and Chemistry? Over the last two decades, a considerable amount of research attention has focused on the science attitudes of pre service elementary teachers. It has been found that m any of them hold negative attitudes which appear to have arisen from their past experiences in science, particularly at secondary level (Babel & Smith, 1994; Unloading & Wallace, 1996; Scamp, 1991; Westerners, 1982).The only good thing about science was Chemistry when you could play with chemicals and the Bunsen burners and melt things. I believe most pre service teachers think of this time in High School and make a Judgment. Within 3 seeks my attitude has started to change. With what I have seen and learnt, I am optimistic, a little excited on teaching science at primary school. What can change the attitude of the pre service teachers? There were three main reasons: personal attributes of the tutor, specific teaching strategies, and external validation.It was proposed that many of the individual factors were effective because they represented either â€Å"performance accomplishments† or â€Å"vicarious experience† as defined by Bandeau (Psychological Review, 84, 1977, 191-215). Do we as pre service teachers have enough knowledge and belief about science to infidelity teach it at school? Teaching practices are often considered as one of the reasons why American students are not currently demonstrating top achievement in science and mathematics. Both theory and common sense suggest that teachers ‘knowledge of subject matter necessarily influences their classroom practices.Linkages between teachers' personal knowledge, beliefs, and instructional activity have proven elusive despite the considerable level of concern expressed regarding low levels of mathematics and science knowledge possessed by pre and in service elementary teachers Leningrad, Putnam, Stein, & Baxter, 1991). Elementary teachers have been found to possess generally low level conceptual and factual knowledge as well as inadequate skills in the content area of science (Victor, 1962; Blower & Howe, 1969; Winner, 1993).General agreement exists that lack of such a background in sci ence knowledge significantly contributes to hesitancy and possible inability to deliver effective science instruction in classroom settings. Indeed, previous research in this area found that teachers gravitate toward performing those tasks in which they feel confident and competent (Cunningham & Blankness's. 979; Hone. 1976). Do I feel I have that belief and knowledge? I certainly don't have a full knowledge of what I need to be a competent science teacher, but be assured I'm excited to teach and be taught over the next couple of years.I certainly believe I can teach but gaining more knowledge would be an advantage. Maybe if science and mathematics subjects are more prevalent in undergraduate courses, than what it currently is around the country, it may be a subject that teachers will like to teach. As there continues to be a need for pre service teachers to bolster their understanding in these areas, this might well indicate a need for collaborative efforts between departments of s cience and mathematics and departments of education in devising ways in which higher education might better serve the needs of these entry- level teachers.Are we being taught enough in undergraduate teaching courses in the science subjects? Is more needed to alleviate the growing concern in this matter. A lot of studies have been conducted throughout the world, especially in western society. Not only pre service and graduate teachers had trouble teaching science but so did hose teaching for example grade 6. From what I have read many teachers believe that they need a more clear direction, a lack of materials and more information on suitable topics to be taught is needed. The general feeling was that teaching science involved considerable effort.This effort involved preparing a suitable topic and organizing the materials necessary to teach that topic. As well there seemed to be a lack of direction in the area of science. The feeling was that many teachers do not consider science to b e a high priority and hence were not willing to expend energy in organizing for it. A comparison was made between teaching science and social studies. The teachers suggested social studies was much easier to teach because the curriculum was well organized, the information was all together in one book and there were few materials needed.Science on the other hand required gathering ideas from a variety of books as well as a lot of materials for activities. Many of these materials were consumable and had to be replaced each year. One teacher suggested that ;there are some teachers who love science and are willing to put in the effort but the majority do not. There is no doubt that the use of a quality traduced program with supporting equipment and appropriate in servicing can help the primary teacher initiate worthwhile, sequenced science lessons on a regular basis.A study of 139 pre service teachers from the University college of Central Queensland by Ken Appleton concluded that there are general points about teaching science discipline knowledge in pre service and, by extrapolation, in service courses which can be learned from this study. Firstly, science discipline knowledge needs to be taught in a way which will give students a more positive self -image of themselves as teachers of science and technology.Teaching discipline knowledge without taking this goal into consideration may do more harm than good: ; students' self – perceptions may well remain largely negative, and may even become more negative. Secondly, the teaching strategies which have proved effective in generating positive changes in self-perception tend to be time consuming, and need to be conducted in small group settings rather than large lectures. This means that the amount of content â€Å"covered† would usually be less than; that delivered in large group lectures.That is, what is gained in students' self-confidence, is paid for by covering less intent. The small group teaching also means more expensive teaching compared to traditional lecture and laboratory methods. Thirdly, once students' self-confidence is improved, many could be expected to access science and technology content for themselves through individual research and/or normal science courses-? while not proven, this is a reasonable hypothesis given the changes documented in this study and others (Kirkwood, Berlin & Hardy, 1989).Ideally, a pre service course should there- fore contain at least two compulsory science and technology education units: he first based on strategies such as those outlined here, and the second a more specific focus on discipline knowledge. However, restrictions on the number of compulsory science education units able to be included in a pre-service course may make independent study the only viable means for many students to gain further science and technology discipline knowledge.I personally know that when I first ventured into being a teacher 7 years ago, I studied t o be a secondary PEE teacher. It was very science based, because you specialize in these subjects to teach at secondary. But primary school teaching is different you need a range of knowledge in al teaching disciplines from art, religion, JOSE, English, mathematics, IT and science to name a few. You never know when you need that knowledge even if you're a specialist teacher.If there is still such a lack of concern for competency in teaching science in primary education, maybe there should be extra training for graduate teachers either through a tertiary institution or during their first years as a teacher or even in the summer before they start teaching at a school and let's not forget about the current teachers either. Studies have shown that they still need updated knowledge in science subjects. Keeping this in mind the more extra-curricular learning a teacher can get the more confident they will be to teach science.This in turn will change their attitude and belief to teaching it and influence other pre service teachers wanting to move into the primary school teaching. Unfortunately teaching science at primary school level is still daunting to many pre service teachers. Having had bad experiences while at school themselves, this has contributed to pre service teachers not having enough practical and theory based knowledge, having little or no belief and confidence being low. Will science ever be a object that pre service teachers want to teach? Will it change over time?It has been known that a problem exists for decades but no one seems to have the answer to alleviate the problem. Many studies, surveys have been performed and implemented without success. What will the government of Australia do to fix this problem? With the change to a national curriculum, let's hope something will finally be done.

Biography of Henry David Thoreau

Biography of Henry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau was born on July 12, 1817. He was born in Concord, Massachusetts. As a poet and essayist, he was sending a good life. Sadly, he was pasted on Concord on May 6, 1862. In the first year of his life, his family moved, but returned after five years. He grew up in the village and later reached masculinity. His favorite villages are forests, streams and meadows. He is the third child of the family. As his life expanded and made new friends, he established friendship with Ralph Waldo Emerson. This year's favorite book is a biography of Laura Dassow Walls' Henry David Thoreau, he lives in Concord, Massachusetts, lives with Emerson, Hawthorne, Al, Technology weakens the ability to learn through observation Thinking that we might make it, we can find the answer on Google, but what is the importance of discovery? Thoreau from 1820 to 60 years and the explanation of New England life are attractive Biography of Henry David Thoreau Henry David T horeau was born on July 12, 1817. He was born in Concord, Massachusetts. As a poet and essayist, he was sending a good life. Sadly, he was pasted on Concord on May 6, 1862. In the first year of his life, his family moved, but returned after five years. He grew up in the village and later reached masculinity. His favorite villages are forests, streams and meadows. He is the third child of the family. - Henry David Thoreau Walden's Walden, Henry David Thoreau's first person is about events and ideas when he lived in Walden Pond in the '800s. Henry David Thoreau is a poet and philosopher who lives a simple life to build a direct connection between people, gods and nature. He thinks that knowledge is intuitive power, not logical proof of learning. In the work of Henry David Thoreau, he has explored another more thoughtful lifestyle. Thoreau is a student of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson gave Thoreau the property at Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts; Thoreau spent two years here. Thoro ugh's social experiment demands him to separate him from society, become individuals, and learn from his experience. Emerson gave the facility of Walden Pond to Henry David Thoreau. - Lincoln is believed to struggle for racial equality When he believes African Americans are inferior, the image that people give to him is not true, radical radical Republican reconstruction It will be promoted to the era of. The thoughts of many people, even when they were tested, or even their own inference. Compared with reality, Henry David Thoreau's ideas and ideals did not go well.

Should people eat dog meat or not Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Should people eat dog meat or not - Essay Example ating is one of such long-standing problems and finding a solution cannot be postponed any more because being in hurry for a better life, it is impossible to catch it without finding common language with the Nature. Something familiar can be found even between the most different countries and Switzerland, China, Vietnam, Mexico, Indonesia, Philippines, Korea, Taiwan, Polynesia, the Arctic and Antarctic have a common spoilt reputation because of dog eating. Such a tradition appeared in those countries due to different cultural and historical moments. For example, Susan R. Friedland shares such Philippine cultural fact: Among the Benguet Igorots, the cleansing ritual known as tomo or temmo is performed for the warriors who had directly or indirectly participated in inner-village conflicts (faroknit). The ritual animal has to be the dog, based on the belief that its barks can drive away haunting spirits (74). Even though scientists have proved that China was the first country that domesticated dogs, at the same time, dog meat was one of the main food sources. It is still common to consume it but some changes are also visible. As Frederick J. Simoons noticed, â€Å"a ban on slaughtering and eating dogs had been in effect in Hong Kong since 1950, with severe penalties, a $1000 fine and six months in jail, for violations. However, because the law is so contrary to the tradition of the Chinese majority, it has been wildly ignored† (314). The situation in Switzerland differs because, on the one hand, people who eat dog meat are not punished for that and it is allowed but, on the other hand, the law persecutes its trading. Arctic and Antarctic appeared in the list because its inhabitants use dogs as nutrition in emergency cases what is opposite in Korea, where they have created a breed that is meant for eating: Importantly, whether dog meat consumption is considered a National tradition, culture or custom maybe a matter of semantics only; clearly the motivation in Korean

Importance of Mastering Computer Skills in the 21st Century Essay

Importance of Mastering Computer Skills in the 21st Century - Essay Example Even the most basic computer skills are incredibly important, and there are many tasks that would be considered as being the 'basic' computer literacy skills, and they are: performing basic operations, such as turning the computer on and off, which sounds simple but which can actually be rather tricky to people who have never used a computer before; word-processing, as this is considered as being the most basic of all skills because when using computers it is easier as the computer deviates it a little from the common typewriter; email, which is obviously incredibly important to learn because this is considered as being the modern-day form of mail, and these days most all communication is done through email; printing of a document, which although not always necessary is crucial to learn; and finally the use of peripherals, as you need to be able to know what a portable driver is, for instance, and how it is used. Once you have learned even just the most basic computer skills, then you will be able to move forward and start learning and understanding about the multitude of other issues that there are for you to grasp the concept of, and although things may often seem a bit difficult to start off with, if you begin by learning the basic steps you will see how much dramatically easier the entire process is overall. There are many consequences that are sure to come if you do not have computer skills, for instance you really cannot get a good job these days if you do not have computer skills, not only because most companies and businesses require you to do some sort of computer work, but as well because you are going to have to know how to type up a resume and cover letter on the computer and print it out, as well as respond via email to possible employers. You are certainly going to have a lot of trouble if you do not have computer skills under your belt, which is why you most definitely should make sure that you take some sort of class or go to some type of seminar where you can learn the essential computer basics, and you will immediately notice the benefits that you will reap from doing so. In the 21st century, a large majority of work and communication is done using computers, and especially in regards to the Internet, which, if you learn how to use properly, will allow you to go places that you never thought possible. For instance, there are so many different types of jobs and working opportunities that you can find on the Internet, and for the most part, these will be options that you would not have otherwise had, without the use of the Internet. Not only that, but rather than using postage mail as had been more largely used in the past, with the Internet you are able to connect and communicate with people all over the world, whether they be friends, family members, or people you just met, quickly and easily. There are so many different benefits that can come from you having even the most basic computer skills, which is why it is truly so important to keep up with the times and make sure that you are aware of the advanced technology, in particular computers and the I nternet.

International Trading and Financial Systems Essay

International Trading and Financial Systems - Essay Example presence in the UK. In 1998, it became the first British retailer to reach a pre-tax profit of over one billion pounds. After peaking in 1997-98, a slump in profits began to take place around 1999 which started while Sir Richard Greenbury was the Chairman. Profit margins were pushed to untenable levels and customer loyalty was seriously eroded. In an increasingly competitive and more globally outsourced retail business, the aging and bureaucratic Marks and Spencer which had based its image on being a traditional British retailer, was no longer able to compete with its business rivals. There was a belated switch to overseas suppliers as rival retailers increasingly imported their goods from low cost countries. This undermined a core part of its appeal to the British public. Its refusal to accept credit cards in its stores apart from the company's own charge card played a part in falling profits. It failed to analyze the market needs of the younger customer and cater to a more diverse section of the public. As a result of these shortsighted policies, its profits fell from 1 billion pounds to 145 million pounds by 31st March 2001. The share price fell by more than two-thirds. In 2004, the Arcadia Group tried to take over Marks and Spencer (Wikipedia 2008). A major corporate restructuring plan was announced on 29th March, 2001. This included a total focus on UK retail, expansion of home, food and beauty products, recovery plan for clothing, modernization of stores, improving pricing for value and longer store hours. Financial measures were implemented to bring about sustained growth and enhanced profitability in the company's future. These included renting store space instead of owning the property in the sale and... This paper analyzes the general economic factors that affect the market from which finance will be drawn also need to be considered. There has been an increased trend among economists to favour a finance system based model of macroeconomics.A strong financial system leads to overall growth of the economy, via domestic markets as well as international. Governments should have an effective monetary policy regarding exchange rates which affect international trade, as well as judicious policies regarding interest rates, taxation and the budget which will affect the investment and credit activities of banks and corporates. These will in turn affect the primary and secondary financial markets from which finance is being drawn. The government needs to monitor the economy, not through excessive deregulation or liberalization, but by exercising caution and some restraint, if needed. International capital flows via multinationals and foreign direct investment will benefit the international market. Short term loans and capital flows should not be used as a trade-off for long term financing which will bring about a stronger economy in the long run. It concluded that The UK Government can also educate the individual consumer about personal and public finance issues, thereby producing more financially capable individuals who can then play a more informed role in the financial future of the UK.

Toxicant Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Toxicant - Research Paper Example With such a profile, one would expect that there would be no intake of the metal in humans. However, the metal that is a common pollutant in soil, water and air is exposed to humans through these agents as well as food and consumer products (Kacew & Lee, 2013). The greatest exposure occurs through breathing it in or swallowing. Exposure through the air is mainly as a result of motor vehicle exhaust resulting from the use of leaded gasoline (Who. int, 2014). The exhaust avails the lead in air, which is then taken into the body through breathing. Then there are the industrial sources such as lead manufacturing and recycling industries as well as smelters that result in the release of the metal into the air in the process of workings (National Research Council (U.S.), 2013). At home lead paints act as the main source of exposure through the air. The paint chips from the walls or movable objects, creating lead dust. Naturally, lead occurs in small amounts in source water. However, the use of lead plumbing materials has made the metal available in drinking water in large amounts. The pipes leach the metal slowly into the water. Depending on the temperature, acidity and standing time on the water, large concentrations of lead may result from the plumbing with the low detectability of the metal making it prone to consumption (Who.int, 2014). The high cost of removing the old piping propagates this method of exposure. However, the contamination and therefore exposure to lead through water may be the result of secondary pollution of water by industrial effluents (National Research Council (U.S.), 2013). Exposure through foods results from the consumption of foods handled using lead based containers. Lead cans and ceramics provide chippings that are consumed with the food. The presence of lead in the body may be detected by studying blood cells using a microscope for changes or using X-rays with the metal appearing as dense

Identity theft Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Identity theft - Essay Example Personal data like Social security number, credit card number, bank account, etc. are not unique like for instance fingerprints and can be misused when they fall into the wrong hands. In the United States many people have suffered huge losses on account of unauthorized persons withdrawing funds from their bank or financial accounts and very often these persons who have stolen the identity have committed crimes and run huge debts using the victim’s identity. In short a criminal can use an individual’s identity to commit a wide range of crimes such as fraudulent withdrawal of money from banks, apply for credit cards and loans, fraudulent use of telephone calling cards, or buy goods or services which might not have been possible if the criminal had used his name hurry respond to "spam"  ­ or unsolicited email  ­ that request identifying data in the pretext of offering some benefits. Here people do not realize that in many of such cases the person who has requested for personal information has no intention of passing on any benefit to them. However Internet is not the only source. Misplaced or stolen wallets containing credit cards or other personal information, stolen laptops again containing personal data can prove easy targets for identity thefts. To prevent any kind of fraudulent use of one’s identity one must have a security policy and certain guidelines in place about what personal information should not be given to third parties especially through electronic means like the email. The guidelines to be followed are: 1) There should be no personal or financial details in any of the emails sent. 2) Open only those mails that have come from known persons or trusted parties. 3) All suspicious mails should be reported to the conce rned authorities. 4) Online passwords must be changed frequently and passwords that can be easily be hacked, such as those related to birthdays and

Health Issues In Gender, Age and Ethnicity Essay

Health Issues In Gender, Age and Ethnicity - Essay Example makes the individuals have an inaccurate discernment of their appearance and have an intense feeling and need to lose weight even when they are thin, posing an harm to their health status. Anorexia is a common disorder among women in United Kingdom. According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists (2015), 95% of people suffering from anorexia in United Kingdom are women. Though the actual numbers of people suffering from anorexia is not known since most cases go undiagnosed, it is estimated that 5% of women aged between 15 and 30 in United Kingdom suffer from anorexia. The Royal College of Psychiatrists (2015) also suggests that women between the age of 15 and 30 have a high probability than men of suffering from anorexia. This makes women ten times more likely to suffer from anorexia. It is estimated that 10% of women in United Kingdom suffering from anorexia succumb to it every year. Anorexia is a common disorder among the age bracket of 15 to 30 years and may become severe leading to

Self Portraiture in Regard to Frida Kahlo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Self Portraiture in Regard to Frida Kahlo - Essay Example The paper "Self Portraiture in Regard to Frida Kahlo" analyzes the art and life of Frida Kahlo. Rather than restricting her art, this confinement helped encourage Kahlo as it was one of the few things she could do from her bed. The fact that she was so isolated in her practice may have also contributed to her willingness to experiment with artistic forms as can be seen in several of her self-portraits, such as â€Å"The Two Fridas† and â€Å"The Broken Column.† Kahlo’s 1939 self-portrait â€Å"The Two Fridas† demonstrates a tremendous struggle to find balance between the past and the present and the individual and social expectations as seen through line, shape, color and space. Kahlo represents these ideas as a dual image that relates back to Kahlo’s polio-inflicted childhood. â€Å"During that time, she created an imaginary friend who would later be reflected in a painting called ‘The Two Fridas.’ Explaining the painting in her diary she wrote, ‘I experienced intensely an imaginary friendship with a little girl more or less the same age as me. I followed her in all her movements and while she danced, I told her my secret problems†. She invokes this same relationship at an older age to express her feelings at the time of her divorce from Diego in the shape of an imperfect mirror image. Color plays a big role in understanding the image as one Frida is dressed in European clothing, indicating that this is the actual European half of Frida gained from her father as well as the portion of her that Diego.

Torts Of Negligence Essay Example for Free

Torts Of Negligence Essay Torts of negligence are breaches of duty that results to injury to another person to whom the duty breached is owed. Like all other torts, the requirements for this are duty, breach of duty by the defendant, causation and injury. However, this form of tort differs from intentional tort as regards the manner the duty is breached. In torts of negligence, duties are breached by negligence and not by intent. Negligence is conduct that falls below the standard of care established by law for the protection of others against unreasonable risk of harm. The standard measure of negligence is the omnipresent reasonable person standard. The assumption in this case is that a reasonable person is never negligent, thus the degree of care required is that of a reasonable person.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The creation of tort of negligence is a very important tool by which gaps in the law is filled. Often, actions require that some wrongful intent be present in the mind of the actor. However, intent is a difficult thing to prove. Moreover, there are cases where injuries arise without intent to cause them, but which necessitates compensation or correction by the person causing the injury, albeit negligently based on justice and equity. The vast coverage and minimum requirement of negligent torts give persons injured by these kinds of acts a definite remedy in law. However, important and useful as it is, the question arises as to whether the state should really punish negligence. It is easy to know why intentional acts should be punished. The deliberateness of the act shows the degree of moral corruption or perversity of the actor. However, negligent acts are just a degree higher than accident. Like accidents, simple negligence is sometimes unavoidable. Everyone is bound to be negligent once and while. The only difference is that some negligent acts are lucky enough not to result to injury. To punish each and every negligent act that results to injury is to reward those who are lucky enough for their negligent acts not to result to injury.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It becomes more problematic when a person considers liability imposed on persons other than those who committed the breach. An example of this the strict liability tort wherein a person is made liable even if he is without fault. This strict liability often exist in inherently dangerous activities or activities vested with public interest such as products liability, explosives and keeping of dangerous animals. Another is as regards persons who are made liable for the negligent acts of incapacitated persons under their care such as guardians and parents. They have not done anything to injure others and most of the things for which they are made liable happen beyond their control, but the state makes them liable for the damages caused because no one else may be made liable.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The law justifies all these through the word responsibility. Everyone has a responsibility for their actions. Everyone has a duty to avoid injuring others. This is the other side of the ethical dilemma. If the actor who committed the breach may find it unfair to find himself liable for the damage caused by a minor negligence, the party injured may also find it unfair to find himself burdened by the damage caused to him by the party who caused the breach. I believe what occurred is just a weighing down the scale of justice. It was a choice of which is more unfair. To burden the negligent party or to burden the innocent party who is damaged.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This same word, responsibility, is also used to justify strict and vicarious liability. Parents, guardians, employers and other similar persons are responsible for their wards and employees. I think this is also a balancing of the scale. Due to circumstances such as incapacity in law of inability to pay, the injured party may be again left with the burden of his own injury. Again, the law finds it less unfair to make people who are charged with responsibility and are thus deemed to be in a position of relative control, by which they can avoid damage, liable for the injuries that may result from the negligent acts.

Chinese Schools Essay Example for Free

Chinese Schools Essay Chinese schools have come a long way since the colonial days. Over the years and with the evolution of the national education system, Chinese schools have had to face countless threats to their survival. Despite this, Chinese schools have gained popularity and have enjoyed high enrolments, even among non-Chinese students. It has been reported that at least 10 percent of students studying in Chinese schools come from non-Chinese backgrounds. A number of factors contribute to this growing phenomenon. First, Chinese schoolteachers are well known for their high level of commitment. For this and other reasons, students from Chinese schools often excel in public examinations especially in Science and Mathematics. The other attraction of Chinese schools is that students are required to learn an additional language, Mandarin, which is a highly marketable skill in the job market. Chinese Education: A Historical Perspective The beginnings of Chinese education in Malaysia can be traced to the early nineteenth century. It was recorded that by 1815, there were already three Chinese schools in Malacca. One was founded by the London Missionary Society. With regard to the other two, sociologist Yang Qinghuang suggests that at least one would be a school founded by the Hokkien people. Scholar Zheng Liangshu suggests that some old-type Chinese schools might have existed in the Straits Settlements since the end of the eighteenth century. For a long time, Chinese schools in the Straits Settlements received neither help from the British government nor assistance from the government in China. Despite this, they thrived —funded mainly by clan and dialect associations. When faced with political and financial difficulties at the turn of the twentieth century, the Ching government of China changed its attitude towards overseas Chinese and began to promote Chinese education outside of China. It implemented educational reforms based on a proposal by Zhang Zidong. Following the reforms, the curriculum was revised to include Chinese Classical Literature, History, Geography, Mathematics, Moral Education, Physical Education and other optional subjects like Commerce and Drawing. In Malaya, Chung Hwa Confucian School in Penang not only adopted this new curriculum (it was the first to do so), it went further to include English as a subject. Support from the Ching government, however, was short lived. It ended with the fall of the dynasty. Chinese schools that attempted to run modern educational programmes (with a modern curriculum and incorporating English as a subject) faced enormous challenges. On the one hand, they were constantly in need of more funds. On the other hand, they lacked competent teachers. Furthermore, they had to compete with the more established English schools. Even so, there were five hundred Chinese schools with modern educational programmes established in Malaya and Singapore in 1920. By this time, textbooks for these schools had departed from the classical into the vernacular Chinese language (baihuawen). Because of their impressive growth, the British government decided that it could no longer afford to ignore Chinese schools. On 29 October 1920, it introduced the Regist ration of School Ordinance to restrict the activities of Chinese schools in the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States by way of registration and inspection. In 1935, control was further tightened: textbooks and teachers from China were prohibited. Only local materials and Malaysian-born teachers were allowed, and activities in Chinese schools came under strict scrutiny. Despite these challenges, Chinese education continued to thrive until it was suspended at the time of the Japanese Occupation of Malaya. After the war, Chinese schools resumed operation. By 1946, their number had ballooned to more than one thousand in Malaya. However, following the Barnes and Fenn-Wu Reports (June 1951) and the Education Ordinance 1952, Chinese education was exclude d from the national education system. The Chinese community rallied to form Jiao Zong (United Chinese School Teachers Association of Malaya, UCSTAM) and Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaya, UCSCAN) to safeguard Chinese education. The Malayan Chinese Association (MCA) joined in. Its president then, Tun Tan Cheng Lock spoke these memorable lines, †¦Chinese in Malaya †¦ should be given Chinese education †¦ The dialect or mother tongue can be likened to a person’s shadow, and is inseparable from the person himself/herself † (translated from Chinese). Efforts to safeguard Chinese education became even more difficult following the Razak Report in 1956 and the Education Ordinance in 1957. Thereafter, Chinese primary education was officially included in the national education system, classified as standard-type primary schools with Chinese language as the medium of instruction. However, Chinese secondary schools were excluded from the system when the Lower Certificate of Education examination (L. C. E) was introduced in English. This was not in accordance with the promise of fairness to other ethnic languages in the country as specified in the Razak Report. Furthermore, the Chinese community were horrified by the terms of reference in Paragraph 12 of the Razak Report: †¦the ultimate objective of educational policy in this country must be to bring together the children of all races under a national education system in which the national language is the main medium of instruction. Paragraph 12 was subsequently omitted following strong opposition from the Chinese community headed by Jiao Zong. Both the Rahman Talib Report (1961) and the Education Act (1961) reaffirmed the education policy as stated in the Education Ordinance 1957. Since government financial aid was vital to the survival of Chinese secondary schools, more than half of the 41 Chinese secondary schools then had little choice but to ‘convert’ itself into English medium national type secondary schools. On hindsight, many Chinese view this decision as a big mistake. The remaining 14 schools refused to give in, and have remained ‘independent’ to this day. The MCA facilitated this ‘conversion’ as it was satisfied with the verbal promises made by the Education Minister that the government has no intention to exercise its authority granted under the Act to change Chinese primary schools to national schools and that Chinese schools are allowed to allocate one third of their curriculum for learning Mandarin and Chinese literature. † As a consequence of this concession made at the secondary school level, development of Chinese education in Malaysia was restricted thereafter to the primary school level. The New Education Act 1996 posed an even bigger threat. It threw into question the status of national-type schools that were not established under Section 28 of the new Act. In fact, prior to this during the initial stage of implementing the ‘3R system’ (Reading, Writing Arithmetic) in 1980, Chinese schools had already been challenged to forgo their medium of instruction. Materials for learning all subjects except Mandarin were available only in Bahasa Melayu. In response, Dong Jiao Zong and various Chinese guilds and associations submitted a memorandum to voice their opposition to the Ministry of Education in 1981. The schools were given the assurance that the government had no intention of changing the character of Chinese schools. However in the ensuing years, Chinese schools were asked to consider the concept of ‘integrated schools’ (1985) and Vision Schools (proposed in 1995, implemented in 2000), in addition to the latest 2-4-3 resolution that sought to introduce the teaching of Mathematics and Science in English (proposed in 2002, implemented in 2003). Despite these challenges, Chinese schools seek to maintain emphasis on the Five Aspects of Formal Education in Confucianism (Wuyu Jiaoyu) namely, moral (de), intellectual (zhi), physical (ti), social (qun ) and aesthetic ( ei) education. Until today, Chinese schools m continue to value discipline, respect for the elderly, courtesy, personal character and morality, rather than marketable skills such as computer literacy, Mathematics and Science. Some Reflections How does the development of Chinese education affect the church community i Malaysia?n Should we stake our claims to citizenry and defend our right to be educated in our own (mother tongue) language? What about racial integration? Is it possible to promote Chinese education without further polarising the different communities? First, we have a moral basis for defending Chinese education. Being given the choice and having the opportunity to be educated in one’s own language is a universal human right according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948. Chinese education ha s existed in this country since the nineteenth century. As such, I believe we ought to defend the right of its existence in the same way as we would for the education of other ethnic communities in their own languages. Second, there is value in the Chinese school culture that is worth speaking up for. Even though outsiders might consider the Chinese community uncompromising in its stand with regard to educational issues, it must be pointed out that it is not just about safeguarding the Chinese language but it is also about retaining the ideals of holistic education. Furthermore, Chinese schools have a tradition of nurturing dedicated schoolteachers, and the Christian community should be at the forefront to encourage this culture of service and excellence. In the past, many of them have had to pay a high price for their conviction and dedication by becoming ‘martyrs’: Zhuang Xiquan, Chen Taomin and others were deported for opposing the Registration of School Ordinance 1920; Lim Lian Geok and Yen Yuan Chang were deprived of citizenship in 1961; Lim Huang Sheng and Sim Mow Yu were jailed under the Internal Security Act in 1987. Chinese education aids evangelistic work among the Chinese community. It provides students with a better understanding of the Chinese culture. Whereas in the past, the content of Chinese education was often influenced by traditional beliefs and practices, the Chinese education system today is more open to intellectual discourse on rethinking and repositioning the Chinese identity. The main grouse against Chinese schools is the lack of racial integration since students come from predominantly one ethnic background. The question we must ask is, is this acceptable or healthy in a multi-ethnic society like Malaysia? Most advocates for Chinese education would argue that it is less than ideal but what choice do they have? If national schools were to adopt a more holistic philosophy, and their teachers showed a more credible record in terms of commitment and disciplining of students, and if they provided students with the opportunity to study their own languages, racial integration would be less of an issue and Chinese students would be more evenly distributed between national and Chinese schools. Despite this obvious shortcoming related to racial integration, I still advocate Chinese education for what it offers. Clearly, through its holistic philosophy and track record, it has produced many responsible citizens through the years. Chinese education continues to play a significant role in nation-building and church life in Malaysia. Florence Kuek lectures Mandarin at Universiti Teknologi Mara.

A Business Plan to introduce Clean City Ltd

A Business Plan to introduce Clean City Ltd This document serves as a Business Plan to introduce Clean City Ltd, a registered Limited Company that was formed in January 2010. The sole purpose of Clean Citys business will be to solely engage/enforce the sorting of garbage, its collection, transportation and delivery/disposal to recycling plants and dumping sites, our main focus being recycling plants. What is Waste Management? Waste management is the collection, transportation, processing, recycling or disposal, and monitoring of waste materials, while Recycling is the process of re-using a given product (beyond its intended use), or producing a new product from a recyclable material. Nairobis population is approximately 4 million, 44% Kenyans fall below the poverty line, meaning approximately three quarters of Nairobis population falls under the urban poor category. In Nairobi, approximately 1,530 tonnes of garbage is generated daily and as illustrated in the Pie Chart below, approximately 1,130 tonnes of garbage rots uncollected close to its source, or is burnt in homesteads, dumped at illegal landfills or dumpsites or is collected by Non Governmental Organisations and Community based groups. Due to economic hardships and the high rate of unemployment, we have seen an increase of people migrating from rural to urban areas in search of better prospects to support their immediate families and/or dependants, and more often than not, most of these people eventually reside in low class areas such as the Kibera Slums or Peri-urban areas such as Gachie, Ongata Rongai, etcetera. Approximately half of the Kenyan population is based in Nairobi, and most of these migrants find themselves close to fragile areas such as rivers, valleys, steep slopes and adjacent to sewers or dumps. Nairobi City Council whose mandate is to provide and sustain a clean and healthy environment in Kenya has been unsuccessful due to its failure to formulate and adopt clear and comprehensive strategies that take into account all aspects of waste management; its reluctance to involve stakeholders and to educate the general public on taking responsibility for their garbage disposal; and its manner in which it has disseminated information on the inherent dangers of inadequate attention given to waste management, or lack thereof. The Councils Systems and Methods adopted to manage solid waste have failed to conform to the minimum requirements stipulated in the Environment Management and Co-ordination Act (EMCA) 1999, Part 11, Section 3(i). Generally it is poor governance. It is very sad indeed to witness adult pedestrians, motorists and passengers alike, ditching rubbish on footpaths, streets and roads without giving a second thought to the negative effects of their actions and having no regard for the beauty of Kenyans Capital, the Green City in the Sun. Majority of our young citizens, that is, our children, who are our leaders of tomorrow, innocently litter anywhere and everywhere outside their homes and/or school premises, and in many instances this habit grows uncorrected because these young impressionable children mirror what many of us adults do resulting in a vicious cycle. Many of Nairobi streets and footpaths are littered with rubbish ranging from maize cobs, cigarette butts, fruit skins to plastic papers. City Council of Nairobi owns and operates Nairobis only official landfill disposal site that is located in Dandoras high density residential neighbourhood where a quarter of low income voiceless Kenyans reside. The Dandora landfill is currently filled with approximately 1.3 million cubic meters of waste spread over approximately 30 acres. Dandora is approximately 7.5 km away from the Central Business District, out of sight out of mind. This has serious health consequences to the dwellers and the urban environment at large. In addition, low income areas are largely affected by uncollected rubbish due to poor infrastructure or geographically inaccessible areas and also due to the residents inability to pay for garbage collection services rendered by the Private firms. With the burgeoning population or in this case urban escalation, there is an urgent need for an operational mechanism to be put in place by the Council with the backing of the Kenyan Government to enable the formulation of structures that will encourage the participation of the private sector and the general public in waste management initiatives. Clean Citys main objective is to act as a catalyst towards the green movement, to eradicate the negative effects of environmental degradation where it will promote a cleaner, air pollution-free, urban environment and habitat by equipping the Public with facilities, knowledge and tools, in order to effortlessly segregate their garbage at source, meaning to sort out their garbage at the point of disposal; basically to make this practice a part of their lifestyle. Recyclables are treasures buried in our landfills and Clean Citys underlying desire is to promote the re-use, to enhance well organised and structured recycling systems instead of waste been burnt or dumped in landfills. Recycling is a pollution-reduction strategy and at the same time will save land that is currently being used as landfills. There is an urgent need for the public to unlearn the poor garbage disposal habits and to internalize that the sorting out of Garbage is a proactive approach to a clean habitat that will ultimately be beneficial to them at different demographical levels. 1.1 Objectives Clean City Limiteds endeavour is to have established a fully fledged Garbage sorting business by the year 2012 that will have incorporated the following Objectives: To run an ethical business that involves Corporate Social Responsibility in all aspects of our business activities. To aim for a return on investment of at least 15% yearly To achieve an operating profit of 10% of our total sales Incorporate or win the favour of the public and private sector in promoting waste management in Nairobi To advocate for the withdrawal of Dandora as a landfill plus other illegal dumpsites within Nairobi and to reallocate them to isolated land away from residential areas; and to convince the Council to allow privately owned landfills. To expand our horizons in the wider part of Nairobi and eventually to Kenyan major towns like Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret and to further penetrate regionally to our neighbouring East Africa such as Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. To exemplify to Kenyan citizens the benefits of garbage sorting. To educate Kenyans on the benefits of untapped or low key recycling business that can be used as a source of income, where scarce natural resources can be obtained, which are currently hampered by the landfill dumping. To introduce Leaf-it Depots where organic waste such as garden waste, grass, food, leaves, wood shavings can be deposited for composting Most importantly, to reinforce Nairobis slogan, The Green City in the Sun and to encourage and educate Kenyans on the paramount importance of living in a clean and healthy environment.    1.2 Mission Clean City Limiteds mission is to provide a garbage sorting framework that will encourage and promote effective and efficient methods of disposing of garbage by using our garbage sorting systems that would eventually enhance the current skeletal recycling business. Our labelled coloured/categorized recycling dustbins equipped with appealing advertisements and educational campaigns will be used as a conduit to achieve this mission. 2.0 Our Business Idea Currently, there are a few privately owned Garbage collecting firms that collect garbage once a week. These firms distribute between 8 12 bags per household for the months use and their charges range from between Kshs.400 Kshs.800.00. The current system involves households paying a monthly fee for garbage collection through their monthly service charge contributions to either an external management company or to their internal management committee, whom in turn organise for garbage collection services. Standalone/Bungalows would directly pay to the service provider. Once the garbage is collected, it is directly delivered to landfills where human scavengers sort out the garbage and sell to recycling plants. The vehicles used for collection and transportation are Lorries without canvas or any other material that can cover the back, therefore the back is left open with the stinky garbage out in the open for all to see and garbage spillage on the roads. Where does Clean City come in? Clean City will deliver an efficient and effective collecting/transporting service but at a premium cost. We shall diffuse in the minds of our clients the idea of an organised disposal/collecting/transportation system, a value for money service that will be a valued added benefit. We shall provide communal huge categorized Dumpsters that will be stationed on communal ground of households that constitute more than 6 units in a compound, where full thrash plastic bags from individual households can be disposed of for collection. We shall also provide our residential clients with service contracts stipulating the standards of proper sorting and disposal. Also included in our contract will be the probability of our refusal to collect garbage that has not been correctly sorted. 2.1 Target Market Residential and Commercial in Upmarket Areas Residential We have taken into consideration that not many apartments are provided with a provision for waste bins which normally is situated in the laundry/balcony area next to the Kitchen and if they are, the space is too limited to accommodate 3-1 recycling bins. However, we still intend to approach apartments and suggest they use 1 bins with compartments, that is, for glass/metal/plastic recyclables and the other for organic/wet and paper, and others. Please see images below. Standalone/Town Houses/Maisonettes have the advantage of spacious verandas and balconies for storage. Shopping Malls, Major Airports, 3-5 Star Hotels, Hotel Apartments, Golf and Social/Sports Clubs and Shopping Complexes we shall place huge Dumpsters in strategic positions please refer to images below. Schools Of paramount importance is to educate the young on the benefits of disposing of garbage in an organised and hygienic manner and to enlighten them on recycling materials. Upcoming Housing we shall also keep a keen eye on upcoming apartments so as to educate developers/real estate dealers on the need to have provisions in households for storing bins. We shall also approach newly completed apartments/standalone housing to enable us incorporate our services before tenants occupy them. Recyclers We have approached 4 major recycling companies PET Recycling Company for plastic waste Central Glass Industries for glass waste Roll Mill Limited for metal waste Pan Africa for paper waste Community based groups for organic matter However, we shall not limit our sale of recyclables to the above mentioned companies. 2.2 Business Model Once we have equipped our clients with the necessary bins and accessories, our Business model which is solely manually based will involve the following process: Each weekday will have a designated Zone or Region for Waste for once a week collections. We shall start off with 3 rear load trucks that have been equipped with a rear hydraulic conveyor lift that will lift Thrush bags into the main hold of the truck. Each truck will have a driver and two support staff, who will assist each other to lift the bags onto the hydraulic conveyor. All the 3 trucks will be dispatched together at any one time to their different zonal schedules. All waste will be delivered to our Waste Holding Site in Karen, where Waste will undergo a final segregation phase. Purchasing hydraulic trucks is a massive investment however this expenditure will compensate for the reduction in labour expenses in the long term. Classified Recyclables will be purchased and collected from us by Recycling Plants on a weekly basis while non-recyclable waste will be dumped at official landfills. Staff Working Hours Working hours will be from 8 am to 5 pm from Mondays to Saturdays. We do not foresee overtime issues, however, in the event of overtime, staff shall be compensated accordingly. No of Supporting Staff 3 drivers 6 staff to accompany drivers 4 staff to be based at our holding site Main Equipment/Accessories We have identified 3 reconditioned Trucks from the United Kingdom, model Personal Protective Equipment Bins and Dumpsters Plastic Garbage Bags Occupational Health and Safety Measures To avoid any job site hazards, we shall comprehensively train our staff on health and safety measures while on duty and also provide them with Personal Protective Equipment that will consist of the following: A pair of heavy duty gloves Jungle Green A pair of high top heavy duty boots/shoes Jungle Green Light weight safety helmet (for comfort due to tropical weather) Lime Green Safety Vest Lime Green Overalls Jungle Green The table below shows the total cost of the safety equipment. ITEM QUANTITY COST PER UNIT TOTAL COST Gloves 13 100 1300 Boots 13 500 6500 Helmet 13 750 9750 Safety Vests 13 500 6500 Overalls 13 600 7800 The Bins will be sold to residential clients while the Dumpsters that come in big sizes will be on rental to commercial clients. The dominant green colour will speak for itself, Clean Citys Green Footprint and the same principle will be applied to our trucks. Our Logo and Corporate colours The following Recycle symbol will be our logo and brand that will be pasted on all our equipment, uniforms and stationery. Our corporate colours are green and white. Our Offices We shall be located in Karen on a 1 acre plot that will be on rental, where most operations will take place. The site will consist of an Admin Office while most of the land will be an open air field with a shed, for sorting purposes. The monthly rental for the 1 acre office in Karen will be Ksh. 75,000/= 3.0 Management Team City Clean is owned by 3 partners, namely Regina Maru, Sheily Shah and Maureen Adhiambo, in the capacities of Managing Director, Financial and Human Resources Director and Sales, PR and Marketing Director, respectively. Once we have our operations running we shall bring on board an Office Manager. Structure, Ownership and Intellectual property City Clean is owned by 3 partners namely Regina Maru, Sheily Shah and Maureen Adhiambo Flat Structure Managing Director Finance Human Resource Director Sales, PR Marketing Director Accounts Clerk Sales Representative Admin Manager Support Staff Managing Director 4.0 Industry Analysis 5 Forces Model Threat of new entrants Already the market is flooded with waste collection businesses that are not following the Waste collection regulations, and the National Environment Management Authority has introduced more stringent regulations and measures to our competitors. NEMA further assured us that they shall not allow new entrants until the Clean Citys sorting/recycling concept has been fully established. Threat of Substitutes Clean Citys existing competitors offer an inferior service. We shall charge our residential customers a one-off fee for the cost of the bins however our service, that is, collection of weekly garbage will be Kshs.500.00 which is similar to what most of our competitors charge per month. Buyer Power Bargaining power of our customers will be low as City Clean has no competitor offering a similar product and service. Supplier Power Bargaining power of our suppliers, in this case, Kenpoly Industries who specialise in plastic, will be low as we are able to source the Bins and Dumpsters from other suppliers both locally and internationally, for example in China. Rivalry the degree of rivalry in the waste collection industry is low as City Clean is introducing a new and superior product and service. 5.0 Marketing Plan 5.1 Our Product and Service Clean City is entering a niche market as this concept has not been introduced in Kenya, in fact countries worldwide that practice this healthy habit are few and far in between. It will be a new phenomenon in Kenya that we know will be received with mixed reactions; however, we are also very confident that we shall eventually have a good footing. Clean City will have a competitive advantage as no other Company in Kenya or even East Africa offers a similar product or service, neither do any of the other garbage collecting companies have automated hydraulic trucks that shall be in use. Our marketing strategy focuses on differentiation due to its nature of providing a value added benefit, uniqueness, affordability, profitability, superiority and ultimately giving us a competitive edge. Clean City is two-fold as it shall provide both a product and service. Our product has 4 facets that are interdependent of each other and these are the Bins, Garbage plastic bags, Dumpsters and Trucks while our service will involve the collection of pre-sorted waste that will be delivered to Recycling Plants and Landfills. Clean City shall have 5 or more classes of beneficiaries/customers at both ends of its supply chain as follows. The following table illustrates that Customers falling under 2 will benefit from our product while the rest will be benefit from our service. Customer Description of Benefit 1 Nairobi City Council Gradually reducing the size of the Dandora Landfill and assisting and advocating for its reallocation. 2 Household and Commercial Providing education and tools to sort waste 3 Compost Manufacturers Providing pre-sorted green waste 4 Recycling Plants Providing pre-sorted recyclable material 5 Animal Farms, example Pig Farms Proving pre-sorted food waste 5.2 Product Description Our Bins and Dumpsters will be custom-made to match the quality of imported Bins that are used in developed countries; however, City Cleans will be available at lower prices. The Bins that shall be rectangular in shape will come in 2 varieties; either with 2 or 3 partitions for recyclable waste which will be influenced by the amount of storage space available. A sample of Truck Leyland truck each  £6500.00 CIF. The government has kindly granted us freight clearance charges and government tax subsidies. Specifications 4 tonnes 62 midlift Hydraulic lift Vulture body Double bin lift Cummins engine A sample of Dumpsters. Size Specifications for Dumpsters Length 72 inches, Width 16 inches, Height 40 inches -For General Waste, Organic/Food, Glass, Metal Cans, Plastic Bottles/Containers. Each dumpster costs Ksh. 3500/= A sample Bins we shall supply both the 3-in-1 and 2-in-1 depending on household storage space. The size specifications for the Bins per partition Length 12 inches Width 12 inches Height 24 inches Green will symbolize organic and food waste Brown will symbolize general waste Yellow will symbolize glass and plastic bottles/containers and metal example Metal and Aluminium Cans/Tins. 5.3 Marketing Budget KES. Designing and Printing of Fliers 100,000 500,000.00 Mazingira Advertisements A4 size quarterly 80,000.00 Facebook Advertisements 15 days per month for 3 months 7,200.00 Purchase of .com Website and Design 20,000.00 Roadshows 4 times a month 40,000.00 5.4 Costs of Official Launch of City Clean To facilitate the official launching of Clean City, we have humbly requested the presence of Minister for Environment and Mineral Resources, Hon. John Michuki, the Environmentalist Activist and Nobel Peace Price Winner 2004, Ms. Wangari Maathai and the Director General of NEMA, Mr. Muusya Mwinzi and UNEP top officials, just to name a few. The launch programme will be brief and will mainly consist of a few speeches and refreshments. The venue will be at our Karen site. Costs of Tents 20,000.00 Refreshments 10,000.00 5.5 Promotional and advertising plan To build a customer database of a minimum of 2000 households within the next 12 months To build leads of at least 50 households and 10 Firms per week Advertise our services by distributing 1000 pamphlets/fliers to 50 households per week Give a personal touch by sending seasonal promotional representatives to deliver our Bins and Dumpsters door to door and illustrate the use, features and benefits of the Bins and plastic bags to our customers, with an aim to minimise resistance. Advertise our services on Facebook, Twitter Myspace and send out e-shots to a minimum of 50 per week Launch our website www.cleancity.com and invite internet users to join Advertise on Environmental magazines such as Mazingira We have already received backing on financial sponsorships from organisations we plan to partner with, UNEP has so far given us a pledge. 5.6 Pricing Strategy The pricing strategy of clean city will be quite similar to those of the prevailing competitor firms. The following figures depict the pricing strategy. For the services the company will charge households Ksh. 500 per month and Firms Ksh. 800 per month. A pack of a months supply for households bin bags will cost Ksh. 150 and those for firms will cost Ksh. 200. During the first month, households will have to purchase bins which will be sold in 2 varieties, 2 in 1 and 3 in 1. The 2 in 1 will be sold for Ksh. 700 and 3 in 1 for Ksh. 850. The firms will have to purchase huge dumpsters which will cost them Ksh. 3400. We will assure that the quality of all these materials is high and durable. 5.7 Market Segmentation Our target market is solely in upmarket areas that include residential homes, shopping malls, Cineplexes, 4 and 5-Star hotels and upmarket schools. 6.0 Operations Plan 6.1 Licensing and Registration Requirements NEMA The National Environment Management Authority, who is Kenyas Government Parastatal that has been given the mandate to act as Kenyas Environment Authority, has given us the required framework for all the licences and waste management policies, procedures and regulations. NEMA officials were very impressed and assured us of their full support. The cost of acquiring the licence and other regulations would be a total of Ksh. 65000. 6.2 Operating and Control Systems In order to have the operating and control system in place, we will purchase 2 computers and softwares. Our staff is already well trained in maintaining these systems and thus we will not spend on training more staff. Each computer will cost Ksh. 35000 and each software will cost Ksh. 10000 6.3 Accounting and Cost Cutting Controls We shall have computerized accounting systems with Software designed for book-keeping purposes. We also shall have an Electronic Tax Register that can calculate Value Added Tax and keep a record of our stock and daily sales. Fuel Consumption We shall sign contracts with only one fuel station close to our Site in Karen, where our Trucks will be fuelled using fuel cards, to avoid cash changing hands and to keep abreast with our fuel consumption. We shall also fit in all our trucks an anti-fuel theft device to stop any fuel siphoning. The fuel cost per month will be Ksh. 30,000 for each truck Therefore for 3 trucks a total of Ksh. 90,000. Mileage We shall take down Mileage readings of our trucks on departure and arrival on a daily basis. Performance Controls Applying Total Quality Management by incorporating benchmarking, through regular collections and comparisons of customer data in form of surveys and focus groups For effective communication purposes, our trucks will be equipped with VHF radios and a base station radio at our Site. Our trucks will undergo regular servicing to ensure effectiveness and efficiency We shall adhere to all the Governments regulations and ensure timely licence renewals 6.4 Financial plan: Accompanied summary: Company was formed in January and no revenue was earned during this period, therefore the financial projections commence from the month February 2010 when actual operations start. Target of having a customer base of 2000 households in a year and 500 firms in a year. 10 dumpsters will be purchased initially. Further dumpsters will be purchased as demand increases. Utility costs include telephone, water, electricity and internet. Salary Structure: 3 drivers @ 15,000/= each, 6 support staff @ 12,000/= each, 4 staff at holding site @ 12,000/= each. Each truck costs  £ 6500; 6500*127.945449 (exchange rate) = Ksh831, 645/= During the first month, we expect to have a customer base of 200 households and 10 firms; we expect these figures to gradually increase by 35% each month. Households will be charged 500 a month and Firms will be charged 800 per month. Sale of recyclables per Kg Ksh 10/=. We assume each household accumulates waste of approximately 2kg everyday out of which 1.5kg is renewable. Each firm accumulates 10kg of renewable waste per day. A pack of one Bin bag for households (medium size) that contains 30 bin bags for a month supply costs Ksh 150 /= A pack of one bin bag for Firms (Large size) that contains 30 bin bags for a month supply costs Ksh 200/= We assume each month half the new household customers purchase 2 in 1 bin whereas the other half purchase 3 in 1. Therefore initially we expect total households customers of 200; 100 will purchase 2 in 1, the other 100: 3 in 1. Consequently each month the 25% increase in customer base will follow the same trend. The 2 in 1 Bin will be sold for 700/= whereas the 3 in 1 will be sold for 850/=. Dumpsters are purchased for each firm @ 3500/= per dumpster. Break Even point i.e. when total revenue is equal to total costs and net profit is zero. After Break even point Clean City will start making profits. From the graph, the Break Even point is marked as 5.5 which is mid May 2010. After the 1st year, in the projections for the 2nd and 3rd year, we expect the number of customer base for both households and firms to increase by 15% annually. From the second year, we will depreciate the trucks and the office furniture on a straight line basis. The percentage annual depreciation will be 5%. The fuel cost for the 2nd and 3rd year will increase by 15% each year. This is attributed to increases in oil prices as well as increased demand of services and therefore more distance to be covered by the trucks. The initial cost of set up is presented in the table below: Item Quantity Cost per Unit (Ksh) Total cost (Ksh) Hydraulic Trucks 3 831,645 2,494,935 Gloves 13 100 1300 Boots 13 500 6500 Helmet 13 750 9750 Safety Vests 13 500 6500 Overalls 13 600 7800 Acre Plot in Karen 1 75,000 75,000 Purchase of website 1 20,000 20,000 Cost of purchasing office furniture 1 50,000 50,000 Cost of computers 2 35,000 70,000 Cost of software for each computer 2 10,000 20,000 Licensing and registration 1 65,000 65,000 Anti siphoning device for each truck 3 5000 15,000 Cost of Launch 1 30,000 30,000 TOTAL START UP COST: 2,871,785 PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT PROJECTIONS YEAR 1 2 3 Revenue: No of Households 15545 17877 20558 Price charged per Household 500 500 500 Total revenue from households 7772500 8938375 10279131 No of Firms 1013 1165 1340 Price charged per Firm 800 800 800 Total revenue from Firms 810400 931960 1071754 Sales of recyclables 7299150 8394023 9653126 TOTAL REVENUE 15882050 18264358 21004011 Expenses: Rent 900000 900000 900000 Salary 1980000 1980000 1980000 Utility 84000 84000 84000 Security 60000 60000 60000 Administration Costs: Stationary cost 24000 24000 24000 depreciation of office furniture 2500 2500 2500 loan repayment 565357 565357 565357 Truck expense: Depreciation of trucks 124747 124747 124747 Fuel (30,000 per month per truck) 1080000 1242000 1428300 servicing charges (10,000 per truck) 360000 360000 360000 Cost of Purchasing Bin bags 2534350 2914503 3351678 Cost of purchasing Bins: 3 in 1 443275 990994 1139643 2 in 1 365050 816113 938529 Dumpsters 245,000 531825 611599

Ideas from the Underground :: Critical Thinking Cars Essays

Ideas from the Underground Automotive designer Jerry Hirschberg was speaking to the product planning manager for marketing at Nissan about redesigning their light trucks:'Really, "I responded, growing intrigued. "Yep. Seems they use their trucks as trucks less than twenty-five percent of the time"... "What do they use them as the rest of the time?"I wondered. "Basic transportation. Cars." There. A small, barely detectable synaptic spark The truck trisected itself in my mind in to three discrete boxes: one for carrying the engine, one the driver, and one the cargo. Seen in this formulation, it became dramatically evident that the former & latter were quite ample, but between them they sandwiched a rather stingy, cramped volume for the human cargo. And yet, according to Sheldon Payne's information, it was precisely this middle box that was most important and received the greatest use. In his essay "The Three Domains of Creativity" Arthur Koestler states that, "Creativity often starts where language ends, by regressing to preverbal levels, to more fluid and uncommitted forms of mental activity." Although at that point in the essay, he is speaking of scientific creativity, later on he conveys that it can be applied to almost any kind of creativity. Take Hirshberg in the above passage as an example. He was trying to access the raw information gathered by the marketing department at Nissan about what improvements consumers wanted in the light trucks. When he got to a point where his idea began to form in his mind, he stopped talking and started visualizing how he could redesign the new model of the truck. Another example of non-verbal thinking is shown in Ron Howard's film A Beautiful Mind, where John Nash is in a bar with his friends and he reasons out his new idea that won a Nobel Prize. His reasoning on the screen is shown as images of his friends and the girls they are trying to "get", as he thinks of how they could all win. The scene mirrors how he came up with his revolutionary theory. Koestler also emphasizes this idea of the visual playing a greater part in creativity than verbal thinking with the results of an inquiry, in 1945, into the working methods of eminent mathematicians in America. He wrote, "The results showed that all of them, with only two exceptions, thought neither in verbal terms nor in algebraic symbols but relied on visual imagery of a vague, hazy kind.

An Analysis of the Third and Fourth Stanzas in Poes Poem The Raven :: Poe Raven Essays

An Analysis of the Third and Fourth Stanzas in Poe's Poem The Raven These two stanzas start at line 25 of the poem, they are the third and fourth stanzas. The persona has heard a knocking at his door, but no one was there. At this point in the poem, his fear and excitement are increasing as some voice keeps repeating the word "Lenore." It is not clear whether he actually hears some other voice speak the word, or if he just interprets the echo after he himself says it as belonging to someone else. Most likely they are his own words, but in his imagination he is engaging in a verbal exchange with another person. After this exchange, his soul is burning, and though the footnote in the book interprets this as meaning he is embarrassed about his false assumptions about where the knocking came from, I think it more likely means that his soul is burning in anticipation of something more, something greater that is about to happen to him than he initially thought. Again he hears a tapping, and this time he goes to the window instead of the do or. He is eager to find out what is out there, because the noise is so mysterious to him that he feels like he must investigate it. At the same time, though, he seems a bit reluctant because the last line of the second stanza says, 'Tis the wind and nothing more!" It seems as though he is hoping that it is only the wind, because he is afraid of what else it might be, but he already senses that it is not just the wind. The whole passage seems to be a preparation of what is to happen in the next stanza - in which the raven appears. His whole self is focused on that event in anticipation, which is reflected in his language. He first enters into a dreamy state, in which his emotions of fear, yet also hope, take over. This is revealed in the verbs, "wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming." His mind is obviously in a very active state, as can be seen by the list of verbs. They are a mixture of positive and negative feelings.

Argumentative Essay: The Dangerous Expansion of Federal Power :: overextension of federal power

In 1995, there was great consternation when the Supreme Court ruled that carrying a gun near a school was not interstate commerce. On May 15, 2000, there was great consternation when the Supreme Court ruled that rape was not interstate commerce. It is a sign of how twisted the law has become that each of these common sense rulings was by a narrow 5 to 4 majority. While the 1995 case involved a federal law against carrying a gun within a certain distance of a school, this year's case involved a woman suing two men for rape under a federal law. Neither case was about whether the law was good or bad. The cases were about Constitutional limits on the powers of the federal government -- and all our freedoms depend upon maintaining those limits. The feds have been getting around the Constitutional limits by claiming to be regulating interstate commerce. But the Supreme Court didn't buy it. Rape is already illegal in every state. What the recent ruling said in effect was: You are in the wrong courthouse, lady. Sue those so-and-so's in the state courthouse down the street. State courts have the power to do everything up to and including executing people, so sending a case to a state court is no wrist slap. Why does it matter whether a case is tried in a federal court or a state or local court? It matters because a concentration of power is dangerous. The people who wrote the Constitution of the United States understood that -- and feared that -- even if too many of us today do not. The familiar division of federal power among the President, the Congress and the Supreme Court was just the beginning. The Constitution also made it possible to impeach anybody who abused his power. In addition, the crucial 10th Amendment to the Constitution said that the federal government had the power to do only what it was specifically authorized to do, while the people or the states could do whatever they were not specifically forbidden to do. This was understood for about 150 years. Then, during the heady days of the New Deal, the federal government's power to regulate interstate commerce was stretched to include virtually anything that the politicians in Washington chose to regulate. In one case, the federal government's agricultural laws were applied to a man who grew his own food in his own backyard.

Managing diverse workforce Essay

Workforce diversity includes the obvious differences we see when we look around: race, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age, religion and ethnicity. But it’s also the less obvious traits, the subtle differences that often register with us unconsciously, such as socioeconomic status, marital status, educational background, language, accent and appearance. We all have something that makes us unique, some special talent or ability that we bring to the table that differentiates us from our colleagues. That’s diversity at its best. Sourcing and managing people from a diverse background have become a critical part of an employment and management strategy. Workers who vary in age, gender, ability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background or culture, ethnicity and language, make a positive contribution to an organization’s workforce — they’re an asset to organization culture and the bottom line as companies and managers are realizing every day that passes. There is a common belief that a diverse workforce brings innovative and creative solutions to an organization from ‘outside the box’. An effective corporate diversity program is a powerful way to gain a competitive advantage and stand apart from competition. It can’t be overstated that diverse workforce brings real bottom-line value to any organization. Diverse workforce allows organizations to break barriers, attract new customers and build customer-base and help form strategic alliances with partners across the globe by having better knowledge of the target markets and establishing better communication capabilities and having ability to communicate in a variety of languages including understanding of cultural differences. Just over half of the employers polled in Canada said they anticipate a shortage of quali? ed workers in the next ? ve years and approximately 67% believe they currently have a more diverse workforce than 5 years ago. These forward-thinking companies are not only placing an emphasis on making a positive contribution to their workforce – but on their bottom line. Source:Randstad Despite Workforce diversity is becoming common phenomenon across Canada, managers of today are increasingly facing the challenges of handling a diverse workforce and being sensitive to this diversity (Tjosvold, 1985). The rationale behind this research is to understand challenges organizations are facing as a result of managing diverse workforce. Additionally the research would try to look into various ways managers can overcome these challenges and make managing diverse workforce a real success. The concept of managing diversity originated in America following the growing need to manage cross-cultural and individual differences in an increasingly diverse demographic workforce (Cox & Blake, 1991). In Canada, immigration and large numbers of women entering the workforce promoted diversity management efforts since the 1990s, although the workplace composition differs from that in the USA (Miller & A. Rowney, 1999). Experts (Fernandez, 1993; Rice, 1994; Carnevale and Stone, 1994) indicate that business owners and managers who hope to create and manage an effective, harmonious multicultural workforce should remember the importance of the following: Setting a good example: This basic tool can be particularly valuable for small business owners who hope to establish a healthy environment for people of different cultural backgrounds. This is because they are generally able to wield significant control over the business basic outlook and atmosphere. The leaders must exhibit strong commitment to addressing issues like myths, stereotypes, and real cultural differences, as well as organizational barriers that interfere with the full contribution of all employees. Communicate in Writing: Organization policies that explicitly forbid prejudice and discriminatory behavior should be included in employee manual, mission statement and other written communications. Diversity should be a super-ordinate goal instead of a goal assigned to individual group. Training Programs: Awareness and skill building training programs provides information on cultural norms of different groups and how they may affect work behavior. New employee orientation programs are ideal for introducing workers to organization’s expectation regarding treatment of fellow workers irrespective of their cultural or ethnic background. Recognize individual differences: There are number of dimensions around human relationships. These include but not limited to: acceptance of power equality, desire for orderliness and structure; the need to belong to a wider group etc. Difference should not be assumed to be cultural. Other sources are personality, aptitude or competence ( Goffee, 1997). Actively seek input from Minority workers: Seeking opinions of minority groups and their involvement on important matters is beneficial not only because of the contributions they can make but also as it sends a message that they are valued by the organization. Revamp reward system: An organizations performance appraisal and reward system should encourage and reinforce effective diversity management. Flexible Work environment: Cox (1994) indicated that flexible work environment could be highly beneficial for and to people of non-traditional cultural background because their approaches to problems are more likely to be different from past norms. Continuous Monitoring: Experts recommend that business owners and managers establish and maintain systems and routines that can continually monitor the organization’s policies and practices to ensure that it continues to be a good environment for all employees. Periodic surveys should be conducted by management to understand employee’s needs (Jorgensen, 1993). Impact of Diversity on Organizational Culture: Hill and Jones defined organizational culture as those set of norms, values, and attitude that defined the way the employees of an organization behaved and interacted with each other and with others outside their organization (Hill and Jones, 2001). Organizational culture has been seen as instrumental in impacting individual employees in an organization. A positive organizational culture promotes diversity by taking advantage of diverse talent pool as well as intellectual capital whereas a negative organizational culture will stifle and discriminate against diversity and thus affect the work environment and consequently the employee productivity (Chatman and Spataro, 2005). Thomas identified that organizational culture is responsible for the systematic and planned way in which a diverse workforce is managed in an organization and their skill sets are put to use for the benefit of the business (Thomas, 1992). With dramatic adoption of diversity as a value-add across number of organizations, it’s become important to make sure organizational culture promotes workplace diversity. It means extensively analyzing a organization’s current culture and changing those parts that limit cultural diversity. Also, it means recruiting new employees for the skills they can bring to the organization rather than their cultural homogeneity. Lastly, it means working with a management team to help them understand that cultural diversity is a business issue, and their own careers will benefit from enabling their employees to reach their full potential (â€Å"Managing Diversity†, 1999). Diversity management contains three (3) components: 1. Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action programs direct attention to laws that guide recruitment and promotion. 2. Valuing differences centers on interpersonal qualities that shape management’s relationships with their employees. 3. Managing diversity focuses on the diverse quality of employees’ work-life needs such as childcare, family leave, and flexible holiday schedules. It requires setting policies and procedures that empowers managers to meet employees’ needs (Galagan, 1999; Jenner, 1994; Wilkinson, 1999). â€Å"Managing diversity is managing human resource needs,† says Ben Harrison. ( Jenner, 1994). Human resource personnel alone can’t do the work of managing diversity. All levels of managers should implement programs designed to heighten awareness of cultural differences, foster appreciation for these differences, and identify the commonalties among the various ethnic groups. Managing diversity is an effort that will involve all members of the organization In order to reap the fruits of diversity. The process should start by including managing diversity into the overall strategy, this will promote cultural synergy and effectively integrating the better elements associated with multiple cultures. This tactic will help in aiding of identifying and implementing of new practices in companies with diverse units. Steps to be taken to begin managing diversity are: 1. Assess your organization’s needs by conducting an organizational audit to determine which diversity problems exist. The audit should consist of surveys, interviews, focus groups, or a combination of these. 2. One should learn all s(he) can by exposing him/herself to different types of people, for this can reduce Stereotyping. 3. Strengthen top management’s  commitment level. White males control the resources and feel most of the fear; therefore, they should be informed of the importance of their involvement, for this can reduce if not eliminate their fear. 4. Develop new selection criteria that include personality characteristics. Promote cultural synergy by effectively integrating the better elements associated with multiple cultures. 5. Invest in communication training to reduce prejudice and develop 6. Choose solutions that balance strategy to achieve the organization’s goals. 7. Build diversity into your leadership team: You must plan for the development and promotion of your employees. 8. Look for ways to adjust your organization to your workers. This means the organization’s culture should be employee oriented. Instituting flexible management systems to accommodate diverse workers can do this. This includes job sharing, flextime, and separate reward and benefit systems. (â€Å"Managing Diversity†, 1999,Galagan, 1999;Nelton, 2000) Conclusion At the end of the day appreciating diversity in people means recognizing, accepting, and supporting their differences. In addition, properly managing diversity means creating an environment that takes advantage of the different characteristics of everyone, which is in the best interest of the organization and the employee. The concept of managing diversity was developed as a result of the changing demographics of workforces, imperfections of Affirmative Action programs, and discrimination laws. Managing diversity involves consumption of all program and resources to building systems and a culture that unite different people in a common pursuit without undermining their diversity. It differs from solely using from Affirmative Action programs or other of its kind, because it creates an environment where all individuals can contribute to their maximum potential. Attaining support from top management is the most important implementing step in the process, which is necessary to ensure success. Additionally, it reduces the fears of the dominant group. Through the use of all valuing diversity, managing diversity and affirmative action companies create a qualified, diverse work force that appropriately reflects the demographics of its communities.