Maintaining Computer Systems Essay

Polices are something that are needed in the work place because they make sure that all the information that is collected is both safe and secure but also making sure that the information isn’t leaked outside the company. The information that can be leaked from a company is ranged from personal information of the employees that work there or something that will allow the company to lose many millions of pounds, if this happens, the company could be forced into legal proceedings to protect its own interests. As well as attempting to steal the leaked information, the information could also be used for reasons such as discriminating, harassing against or earning a profit against them and the information. All the different examples can be related back to the Data Protection Act (1998), Computer Misuse Act (1990) and the Copyright Design and Patents Act (1988) this is the protection of any material created meaning that it can‘t be copied by anyone without permission, this act also gives the creator the freedom to take someone to court if they feel their product has been used in a way they have no permission too. Without certain acts being put into place someone could easily take the information from one person and pretend to be them in a different place, either on the internet or within the work place. Repercussions could mean the user loses their job or money because it would look like they would be doing things they shouldn’t be. Issues There are many different issues that organisations will have to deal with somewhere down the line such as data going missing or the theft or breakages of systems, the company will have different procedures that would need to be put into the place before the problems arise so they can be prepared and can act quickly, this would be to avoid losing hours of work. Health and Safety As everything else that is put into the workplace, a fully working and up-to-date health and safety legislation is needed to be put into place. This is to allow the workers to feel completely safe within the work environment and examples include CCTV cameras and fire alarms and equipment, these are checked regularly to make sure they are fully operational. The health and safety policy is put in place to also protect the business because if a worker is found to have hurt themselves but the company would be seem to not be at fault because of the policy being put in place. There are other forms of health and safety that workers would need to be aware of when working such as electrocution when using the system, trapping parts of themselves within the computer system (for example, trapping a finger within a part of the computer such as the fan,) fire and static shocks. Some of these can be stopped by the user such as waiting for the computer to be off before attempting to change or fix any parts and therefore reducing the chance of being electrocuted and leaving no chance of being a finger trapped within the computer system, but sometimes there are things that would be out of the individual’s control such as fires but when this type of problem arises, that’s when it would be up to the company to fix and sort out, rather than the individual. The precautions that can be taken by the individual can include taking fire safety training courses; this allows the user to be ready for any emergency that could come up and would save the company vast amounts of money. Other precautions that can be completed by the individual can include wearing a band that stops electrics shocks to the user, these can help to company not lose any hours that could be spent working but it can also make a worker seem highly needed and important to the team, therefore these small changes can be good on both scales.

Sbi Change Management

THE WORD CHANGE Change is inequitable; not a respecter of persons. Change is for the better or for the worst, depending on where you view it. Change has an adjustment period, which varies on the individual. It is uncomfortable, for changing from one state to the next upsets our control over outcomes. Change has a ripping effect on those who won’t let go. Change is awkward — at first. Change is a muscle that develops to abundantly enjoy the dynamics of the life set before us.Change calls own strength beyond anyone of us. Change pushes you to do your personal best. Change draws out those poised for a new way. Change isn’t for chickens. Change does have casualties of those defeated. Change will cause us to churn or to learn. Change changes the speed of time. Time is so slow for the reluctant, and yet it is a whirlwind for those who embrace it. Change is more fun to do than to be done to. Change seeks a better place at the end and is complete when you realize you are different. Change Management:Change management is a set of processes that is employed to ensure that significant changes are implemented in an orderly, controlled and systematic fashion to effect organizational change. One of the goals of change management is with regards to the human aspects of overcoming resistance to change in order for organizational members to buy into change and achieve the organization's goal of an orderly and effective transformation. Organizational change management takes into consideration both the processes and tools that managers use to make changes at an organizational level.Most organizations want change implemented with the least resistance and with the most buy-in as possible. For this to occur, change must be applied with a structured approach so that transition from one type of behavior to another organization wide will be smooth. SBI: State Bank of India is the largest state-owned banking and financial services company in India, by almost every p arameter – revenues, profits, assets, market capitalization, etc. The bank traces its ancestry to British India, through the Imperial Bank of India, to the founding in 1806 of the Bank ofCalcutta, making it the oldest commercial bank in the Indian Subcontinent. The Government of India nationalised the Imperial Bank of India in 1955, with the Reserve Bank of India taking a 60% stake, and renamed it the State Bank of India. In 2008, the Government took over the stake held by the Reserve Bank of India. SBI provides a range of banking products through its vast network of branches in India and overseas, including products aimed at NRIs. The State Bank Group, with over 16,000 branches, has the largest banking branch network in India.With an asset base of $260 billion and $195 billion in deposits, it is a banking behemoth. It has a market share among Indian commercial banks of about 20% in deposits and advances, and SBI accounts for almost one-fifth of the nation's loans. * The Stat e bank of India is the 29th most reputed company in the world according to Forbes. * State Bank of India is the largest of the Big Four Banks of India, along with ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and HDFC Bank — its main competitors. Change Trigger: Liberalisation of the Indian Banking system:During the 1990s, the Indian economy began a period of rapid growth as the country's low labor costs, intellectual capital, and improving telecommunications technology allowed India to offer its commercial services on a global basis. This growth was also aided by the government's decision to allow the creation of private-sector banks (they had been nationalized in the 1960s) Private sector banks made their first appearance in January 1993. The private-sector banks, such as ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank, altered the banking landscape in India.Core banking systems and electronic delivery channels that allowed these banks to introduce new products and provide greater convenience to customers acted as a hur dle for the PSBs. During that period, Public Sector Banks accounted for over three-fourths of total banking industry assets. They were weighed down with huge NPAs(Non-Performing Assets), falling revenues, lack of modern technology and a massive and highly unionized workforce. New entrants began to erode the market share of the nationalized banks, especially in metro cities and urban areas.The PSBs found it increasingly difficult to compete with the new private sector banks and the foreign banks. These banks also employed state-of-the-art technology, which helped them to save on manpower costs and concentrate on providing better service. Changes in SBI: Drivers for a New Core System Though SBI had undertaken a massive computerization effort in the 1990s to automate all of its branches, implementing a highly customized version of Kindle Banking Systems' Bankmaster core banking system (now owned by Misys).However, because of the bank's historic use of local processing and the lack of r eliable telecommunications in some areas, it deployed a distributed system with operations located at each branch. Although the computerization improved the efficiency and accuracy of the branches, the local implementation restricted customers' use to their local branches and inhibited the introduction of new banking products and centralization of operations functions.The local implementation prevented the bank from easily gaining a single view of corporate accounts, and management lacked readily available information needed for decision making and strategic planning. The advantages in products and efficiency of the private-sector banks became increasing evident in the late 1990s as SBI (and India's other public-sector banks) lost existing customers and could not attract the rapidly growing middle market in India. In fact, this technology-savvy market segment viewed the public-sector banks as technology laggards that could not meet their banking needs.In 2002, SBI adopted a new tech nology that included the implementation of a new centralized core banking system. This effort encompasses the largest 3,300 branches of the bank that were located in city and suburban areas. The State Bank of India's objectives for its project to modernize core systems included: †¢ The delivery of new product capabilities to all customers, including those in rural areas †¢ The unification of processes across the bank to realize operational efficiencies and improve customer service. Provision of a single customer view of all accounts †¢ The ability to merge the affiliate banks into SBI †¢ Support for all SBI existing products †¢ Reduced customer wait times in branches †¢ Reversal of the customer attrition trend Challenges for the bank: The bank faced several extraordinary challenges in implementing a centralized core processing system. These challenges included finding a new core system that could process approximately 75 million accounts daily — a number greater than any bank in the world was processing on a centralized basis.Moreover, the bank lacked experience in implementing centralized systems, and its large employee base took great pride in executing complex transactions on local in-branch systems. This practice led some people to doubt that the employees would effectively use the new system. Initial Conversion Project: The conversion effort began in August 2003, when SBI converted three pilot branches to the BaNCS system. The successful conversion and operation of the pilot branches was followed by the conversion of 350 retail branches with high-net-worth customers between August 2003 and September 2004.At this point, the bank intentionally halted the conversions to analyze and resolve reported problems. After the software and procedural changes were implemented, SBI converted an additional 800 branches between December 2004 and March 2005. Unlike in the previous conversions, this group of branches included predominan tly commercially oriented offices. The conversion effort then refocused on retail branches until November 2005, when the bank paused again to resolve problems that came up during this second group of conversions.After the second round of changes, the system and processes were functioning smoothly, and management believed the branch conversion could be accelerated. Based on the successful pilot survey, SBI decided to convert the approximately 6,700 remaining SBI branches to the BaNCS system. The conversion of the remaining branches began in June 2006, with the stated goal of completing the conversion by year-end 2008. Managing the change: The factors which helped SBI in managing such a huge change are as follows: * Senior management commitment.The project was driven by the chairman of SBI, who met every month with the information technology (IT) and the business sector heads. The chairman monitored the overall status and ensured that sufficient resources were allocated to the project . TCS senior managers were thoroughly committed to the project as well and periodically met with the SBI chairman to review the project status. †¢ Staffing and empowerment of project team. The core banking team consisted of the bank's managing director of IT acting as team head and 75 business and IT people selected by the bank.TCS also staffed the project with approximately 300 IT professionals trained on the BaNCS system. Importantly, the SBI business people were viewed not just as contributors to a key project but as future bank leaders. This team reported to the SBI chairman and was empowered with all decision-making authority. †¢ Ownership by business heads. The regional business line heads were responsible for the success of conversion of their respective branches and reported the status to the chairman. Thus, the business heads' objectives were aligned with those of the project team. Focus on training: SBI used its network of 58 training centers across India to trai n employees on the new system. TCS personnel first educated approximately 100 SBI professional trainers, who then trained 100,000 SBI employees at the centers; the remaining employees trained at their respective job sites. Benefits of New Core Systems Implementation The new core system has resulted in benefits throughout the bank for both the customers and the employees of SBI. For example, the new core banking system has allowed the bank to redesign processes.It established 400 regional processing centers for all metro and urban branches that have assumed functions previously performed in the individual branches. The customers after implementation of this CBS system were no longer only the â€Å"customer of the branch is no longer only the customer of the branch but has also became the customer of the bank†. Meaning, they can carry out any transaction in any branch of the bank. After implementation of this system the bank has reversed the trend of customer attrition and is n ow gaining new market share.

Benguet Corporation Essay

1. Statement of the problem The Benguet Corporation refused to submit concentrate samples to the Philippine Associated Smelters and Refining Corporation (PASAR). The Benguet Corporation faces shortage in producing their products and complying its contract to Mitsubishi Metal Corporation and complying the LOI. 2. Analysis of the case  Strengths The Benguet Corporation is the major producer of copper concentrates. It was the oldest mining company, the largest gold and chromite producer and one of the largest copper producers in the Philippines. Smelted Weaknesses Benguet Corporation production was expected to decline steadily which results a negative impact to Mitsubishi Metal Corporation. The Letter of Instruction (LOI) ensures the Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corporation (PASAR) an adequate supply of copper concentrates from all local companies which results/causes pressure to Benguet Corporation in submitting its samples to PASAR. Opportunities-chance,break It is the biggest and oldest mining corporation started since 1903 and produces largest gold, chromite and copper in the Philippines. It is active in exploration for gold, copper, chromite and coal. Its expertise is about exploration, mining, beneficiation and marketing of minerals. Threats Benguet Corp. faces complaint from own shareholders. It also fears from selling their concentrates to foreign smelting and refining plants because  of the mercury content which results Benguet enter into a 12year contract to Mitsubishi Metal Corporation. 3. Alternative Solutions to the problem The Benguet Corporation provides 5-year summary of financial performance, including the individual subsidiaries’ contributions and the resulting effects which results of return of the company stakeholders. The Benguet Corporation tried to have a partnership to different small mining corporations which results higher operation employment and workers. Since, Benguet Corporation worriedly looked for foreign buyers of its concentrates. The corporation decided to have a partnership with other foreign smelting and refining companies that could help them mercury content of their products. The LOI helps the Philippine Industry to lessen its dependence of foreign especially Japanese smelter who processed most of the local mining outputs which PASAR does it best to cater the local mining corporations here in Philippines. Since Benguet Corporation could not possibly meet its contract to Mitsubishi and fulfill its quota to PASAR, the Benguet Corporation must submit first its concentrates to PASAR to refine it before giving it to Mitsubishi Corporation to lessen the refining and smelting charges of the Japanese Corporations, so there will be no reimbursement of the total project price and there will be no contractual and workers would be affected. 4. Pointed Solution The Letter of Instruction (LOI) was executed not for negative purposes but for the good of all mining corporations. These is the reason why the LOI 1387 forced and mandated all the local mining corporations to submit their products to the Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corporation (PASAR) for testing, refining and smelting of mining products before transporting it to the foreign companies but the Benguet Corporation president, Mr. Jaime V. Ongpin is doubtful to PASAR’s capability in smelting  and refining their products. The reason why Benguet Corporation-PASAR Controversy. Yes the PASAR encountered difficulties on its first year but everyone deserves second chance. I believe that PASAR could help the Beguet Corporation on its problem about smelting and refining its concentrates and to lessen the mercury on its mining products.

Academic review of a journal article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Academic review of a journal article - Essay Example The research was aimed to provide answer to tow questions: the what and the how of decision processes of senior finance executives (Coleman, Maheswaran & Pinder 2010). Nobody has built an integrated picture of how executives make the major finance decisions and by what factors/aspects they guided (Coleman, Maheswaran & Pinder 2010). The authors highlight that the literature doesn’t offer integrated explanation of the mainline finance decisions and that it is missing not only the joint test but also variables problems as it relies on theories. Therefore, many decisions and firm’s behavior cannot be explained as it omits non-quantifiable data (Coleman, Maheswaran & Pinder 2010). Authors of the paper provide the literature review of managers as wealth destroyers followed by the growing importance of sustainability and risk aspects in decision making process. Finance managers are viewed as wealth destroyers, however, there is very limited information in the literature reviewed and discussed by Coleman, Maheswaran & Pinder (2010). Another issue that the authors are reviewing through the literature relates to the importance of sustainability and risk in finance decision making processes. Even though both these factors are not related directly to finance, finance managers increasingly rely on non-financial data in decision making process. Authors review the elements of ESG (environmental, social and governance) and highlight its importance in the modern business environment through the literature review. Finance managers tend to make their decisions based on environmental and social aspects rather than solely on financial data. Authors have designed a methodology that enabled them to resolve the questions set at the beginning of the paper. As the initial step that would provide information for further investigation, authors of the

The Summary of Krugman Article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Summary of Krugman Article - Essay Example The firms where served by the slaves working in these firms. Unlike the 17th century, America of today is more urbanized and is characterized by metropolitan environment with no small towns. The urbanization of America has led to mass rural-urban migration with people leaving villages for the urban environment in search of modern and industrial jobs (New York Times, July 5, 2013). In addition, the author compares the ethnicity and religion evolution of the 17th century and 21st century. During the 17th century majority of the Americans were WASP with only a few Protestants, today majority of Americans have European and Britain ethnicity. Krugman (72) concludes by comparing the history of American democracy of today to that of the 17th century. Unlike the 17th century, America remains the best country in terms of democracy, freedom, and protection of human rights (New York Times, July 2, 2013). Summary of Holcberg In the article, â€Å"Human Organ for Sale† Holcberg describes t he need for well-wishers and good Samaritans to take part in rescuing over 80,000 suffering individual who need some body organs. The calls out for public response purposely to donate their body organs to other Americans who cannot afford to buy given the high costs of these body organs. According to Holcberg (51), this legal trade on the human body organs is founded on personal beliefs and choices that must be made by the patient. The patient has the choice to evaluate the degree of the risks that are associated with organ transplant, including surgery and financial costs. This would guide the patient’s choices before accepting organ transplant. Secondly, Holcberg (52) argues that personal and constitutional freedom must be exercise. Therefore, everyone has a right to donate or not donate his or her organs to the needy people. The law should not only recognize the right to organ donation but also the freedom to sale these organs (Holcberg 54). He further emphasizes on the ne ed to educate the poor people so as to enable them make informed and rational choice in life. By educating the low income members of the society, their ability to participate in informed decision-making process are enhances. Education s the poor with the knowledge and social skills including the right to sell or donate their body organs at will. He concluded by asserting that the solution to lack of organ related suffering among the Americans would be realized through legalization of organ trade in American (Holcberg 32). In his view, saving human lives starts with giving freedom and rights to people to trade in organs at will with the constitutional protection behind them. Sale of Human Organ in Support of Life Many people lose their lives yearly because of organ related conditions that would have been avoided had organ sales been legalized. Deplorable health conditions and poverty cause many thousands to die yet these deaths are avoidable and can be saved. The concept of organ don ation has dominated a number of legal debates with respect to its legalization. According to Holcberg, legalization of organ trade and donation would be a fundamental life saving step. Legalization of this trade will play a role in improving the quality of life for the donor and the recipient. For instance, a family member with the right to organ donation may opt to sale one of his organs (kidney or liver) to finance better treatment for one of his or her family member (Holcberg 53). Under such circumstance, legalized organ sale would prove beneficial in financially empowering the family at large. Any restriction on organ sale is likely to leave the family in deplorable financial condition with no hope for tomorrow yet a sale of one organ would generate financial

Nitrogen Oxide as an Environmental Pollution Essay

Nitrogen Oxide as an Environmental Pollution - Essay Example with the first section covers the common nitrogen oxides, followed by the sources and potential sinks in the environment, then the chemical behaviour of these oxides, the impacts on human and ecosystem, and finally the prevention and control of these pollutants. Nitrogen oxides mainly consist of nitrogen and oxygen, and the most common nitrogen oxides are nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) (Farmer 2013, p.26; Harrison 2001, p.179). Notably, nitrous oxide and nitrogen dioxide are emitted when nitrogen reacts with oxygen in the air during combustion at high temperatures and this shows that the amount of nitrogen oxides produced depends on temperature of combustion. Another nitrogen oxide is nitrous oxide (N2O) which is a greenhouse gas that has a greater impact on climate change. Nitric oxide is a colourless gas with a sharp and sweet smell, but nitrogen dioxide is a colourless gas with a strong, harsh odour. Of the nitrogen oxides emitted, nitric oxides forms the larger part, followed by nitrous oxide then nitrogen dioxide which is produced in low amounts, and also it is important to note that both nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxides does not have prolonged lifespan in the atmosphere as compared to nitrous oxide. Nitrogen oxides are produced naturally but they are as well produced by various human activities including agricultural activities, transportation and industrial processes and many others. In nature, nitrogen oxides are produced because of bacterial processes, biological growth and decay, forest fires (Lippmann 2009, p.823), volcano, and lightening among others (Hill 2010, p.128). Thunderstorms lead to the production of nitric oxide as a result of high heat of lightening released in the process of breaking down nitrogen molecules. On the other hand, burning of fossil fuels is considered the primary source of nitrogen oxides as part of human activities. Transportation fuels when burned produce nitrous oxide and mostly, motor vehicles and trucks

American Constitution of 1787 and pluralism Essay

American Constitution of 1787 and pluralism - Essay Example The constitution took effect on March 4, 1789. The delegation intended to amend the Article of Confederation and set up a new scheme of government. Through intensive debates, the delegation came up with a brilliant federal organization that had a complicated system of checks and balances. They came up with a bicameral legislature that had equal representation in the upper house as well as a relative representation in the lower house. Thus, the main outcome of the convention was a federal government that worked through a constitution that ensured that freedom equality and order prevailed in the country. The American constitution of 1787 promotes the application of pluralism in the USA thus giving the citizen power to govern their nation. Pre constitution America In the 1970s USA did not exist but there were just thirteen colonies under the Great Britain. In the 1970s, not everyone in the United States of America had the same opportunities. Blacks, women, Native Americans, and poor men had no voting rights and could not hold any elective posts. The British colonies in North America adopted their form of governance even after independence. The early leaders of Americas believed that everyone had basic rights that they referred to as natural rights. The natural rights included the right to liberty, life, and property. The founding fathers believed that the only way to ensure that everyone got their basic rights was to form a government that operates under certain laws. The founding fathers studied governments in the history. Most of their interest was in the Roman Republic, a government that existed about 2000 years before the USA was founded. This must have really influenced the drafting of the American constitution of 1787 states (Guide and Reader for American Government and Politics in the New Millennium 187). Rights and freedoms The fact that the authors of the 1787 constitution valued freedom in regards to the pursuit of freedom to own property and contentment , represented 12 of 13 states, and knew the importance of order is an indication that they would create a pluralist democracy. All fifty-five states delegates who went to Philadelphia to make the constitution believed that the people had to have economic and religious freedom in which they can express their opinions to make the USA a better place to live. Moreover, they had the understanding that ownership of property was an individual right and neither the state government nor the federal governments could deny the people such rights. â€Å"Their vision was that individuals would be to define their interests in terms of the national government and strengthen it† (American Government and Politics in the New Millennium 56). The authors of the constitution â€Å"realized that without a strong national government, the U.S. would implode because of the failure of the state governments to cooperate and look beyond their parochial interests† (states Guide and Reader for Amer ican Government and Politics in the New Millennium 54) Branches of the government Federalism advocates that the constitution made a pluralist democracy by creating separate levels of government so that the laws made by the officials would represent many interests from diverse states. Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances create a pluralist democracy through purposely making four institutions of government that are chosen in a staggered selection so that they would not be loyal not only within themselves but certainly not to others. The constitution purposely separated the national government into three parts- executive, judicial, legislative- and provided them with shared powers. Madison realized that â€Å"Besides separating the government into t

Governance regulations and ethics paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Governance regulations and ethics paper - Essay Example The financial crisis was considered the worst global crisis since the great economic depression. Many economists also perceived the financial crash as the worst in the economic history. The film under study is based on the most extensive research and exhaustive interviews with key financial insiders, politicians and journalists. Many academicians from different fields of knowledge were also included in the research to give their views on the subject. The film analyzed is based on the rise of a rogue industry, which has corrupted politicians, professionals, academicians, and regulators. The film unearths the 2008 global financial crisis that shook the entire global economy since the effects of this depression was felt either directly or indirectly in every sector of the economy. Arguably, the film portrays the financial crisis as a result of poor financial planning, forecasting and greed among some powerful individuals to amass wealth and enrich themselves. In fact, it is through such corruptions among certain powerful individuals, which shook the entire economy that the world is still yet to recover and recoup the financial losses. Definitely, this will take the country a lot of time and resources before it is restored to its former economic status (Furmston and Chuah 67). On the other hand, the entire globe still battles with the implementation of viable and some of the most appropriate economic policies, which steer economic development. Therefore, a lot of funds are required to be invested in the economy to promote economic growth and development. The UK corporate code of governance is also a crucial document that is very important in examining the elements of this case. Precisely, the corporate governance code 2010 was devised in a mid of the financial that shook the entire economy. This economic depression triggered a financial panic and suffering in the country and globally. The main aim of the UK corporate code was to investigate and monitor the performa nce of the listed companies and banks. This code has other aims and objectives as well. The corporate code was intended to facilitate effective entrepreneurial and prudent management for corporate governance to enable a company establish some sound management policies and guidelines, which can deliver the long term success of the entity. From the analysis of Nelson’s book, it is evidenced that good management principles and practices are essential in promoting the growth and development of the economy (Nelson 42). Moreover, the UK corporate code acts as a guide to a number of key components, which are involved in effective and sound governance. The code is based on good governance and transparency, accountability and focus to the core objectives and goals of various business entities. Importantly, the focus is on the long term entities of the corporations. The code aims to help the board of governance discharge their duties on the best interests of the company. In the review, the code saw few, but some significant changes in the â€Å"tone† of the code that guides the general behavior of the board with the hope that these changes help in promoting some clarity and understanding. In regard to the task of the board, and ensure there is efficient and effective communication with various stakeholders (Woodroffe 56). Furthermore, the code aims to ensure there is proper accountability and reduce underpin board ineffectiveness by encouraging that all the

The Causes of Party Polarization in America Term Paper

The Causes of Party Polarization in America - Term Paper Example Polarization is defined in politics as the process through which public opinions are divided and go to extremes (Baumer and Howard 22). Party polarization is defined as the process through which extreme factions within a political party gain some form of dominance within the party. In such a case, the moderate factions tend to lose influence and power. In recent years, the United States political system has witnessed increased polarization. Party polarization has had consequences in the United States especially with respect to policymaking. Whereas the parties tend to go to the extremes, the public opinion does not really go to the extreme. That notwithstanding, party polarization greatly shape public opinion especially in regard to policy. Party polarization is very evident in both the Congress and the Senate (Ura and Christopher 280). The state of American politics is increasingly colored by partisan polarization: the two major political parties have grown ideologically more unifie d internally and farther apart from each other. As the two parties’ policy preferences diverge further from each other at the elite level, it naturally becomes more difficult for the two to work together. With the shrinking rank of ideological moderates, â€Å"the possibilities of bipartisan negotiation and compromise diminish.† Today the two parties clash with each other more often and more strenuously and vigorously than recent history in Washington and in state capitals. Party-based conflicts, policy stagnation, and paralysis inspired by party competition seem to have become the norm in the early twenty-first century. It is against the above background that it is important to understand party polarization in the United States. To achieve this, this paper will seek to respond to the following questions: What are the roots of partisan polarization? What specific developments in the emergence of the political parties led to party polarization? What are the main contrib uting factors to the re-emergence of party polarization? How is partisan polarization linked to deeper cultural divisions within American society? What have been the policy consequences of partisan polarization for the policy process? Roots of Partisan Polarization Partisan polarization in American politics traces its roots from the period of the Civil War. However, it became more apparent after the attainment of American independence. Over the past century and a half, the American political system has been dominated by two main parties. Third parties that have emerged from that time achieved some measured success, but in the end, they have usually been absorbed by one of the dominant parties (Frymer 336). Partisan polarization has been as a result of ideological differences that can be traced throughout the American political history; it has emanated from the ideological divide of liberalists versus conservatives. It is also important to note that there are other factors apart from the ideology that has been critical in creating partisan polarization; for example, geographical divisions have been so evident as parties have taken the dimensions of the â€Å"Southern† or â€Å"Northern† wings (Pearson 1). While the rapid rise in partisan polarization is relatively recent, the origins of party polarization are not; in fact, much of what we see today can be traced back to the early twentieth century.

Innovative Organisations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 10

Innovative Organisations - Essay Example The focus of the writer’s study is on the Apple’s innovative product - iPod which is a current bestseller and in high demand. This product is having the features of downloading favourite music, books and other literatures which can be read and listened too. This iPod can be used in cars and other mobile settings. This report will be able to explain the innovation process and strategies used for the success of iPod product. Through this work the writer would like to put across the factors that help an organisation become innovative and iconic. To withstand in the platform of performance, companies need to be innovative in their activities. So, innovation is getting importance in this highly competitive scenario. In 1960s and 1970s innovation meant a new idea, concept, product or process-invention and in the 1980s it changed in terms of creating something new and bringing it into use. Later in 1990s, innovation was defined as creating something new, bringing it into use and getting a profit from it. Innovation is given huge importance in organisation because keeping pace with innovation is equal to a key to prepare for the future. It will lead to future survival and success of the organisation and it can make competitive advantage out of it. That is why it is seen that organisations are spending huge amount of money for R &D activities. Through this research work, the writer would like to do a study on the innovative process in an organisation and analyse how innovative that organisation is, in the area of performance. For the purpose of this study, the selected Company is Apple Inc., an innovative organization and the writer would concentrate her work on the innovative product iPod. The writer has selected this company because it ranked first in FT500 list of most innovative companies in the world. Apple iPod is the most successful product of Apple

Implementation of strategy power politcal Essay

Implementation of strategy power politcal - Essay Example Corporate politics in one time or the other has been considered to lead to divisiveness, which is considered as bad for the organization. However, there are times when corporate politics needs to be rejuvenated for the sole purpose of enhancing changes. These changes are mainly incorporated in the process where the organization is rising from a stable phase to a phase where the fundamental changes are crucial. Strategy implementation on the other hand involves change management. This therefore installs corporate politics with a definite role to take part in strategy implementation. In case of creating political harmony or political tension it is advisable that strategists identify the particular moment where politics can be used to get the wheels of various operations rolling and at the same time know the moment of shunning politics and embrace harmony (Kozami 362). Argument for In an organization, power is said to be derived from five different sources namely; legitimate power, rewa rd power, expert power, referent power, and coercive power. Reward power is attributed to the ability attributed to managers to appreciate positive results by rewarding them. Legitimate power is attributed to the ability of managers to use their status to affect an outcome. Referent on its case is attributed to the ability of managers to form a preference among working subordinates, which arises from ones personality. Expert power is attributed to the expertise the manager has and is identified by others while coercive power is deals mainly with the penalization act undertaken by the manager after a negative outcome has taken place. According to Kozami, strategists mainly use these powers to affect and influence the outcome behaviors of different organization members. Politics dwells mainly on how power is used and the relationship created by various management coalitions of consensus building for organizational purposes. Manifestation of corporate politics is vibrant due to the con ditions created by the nature of an organization (Kozami 362). According to Smith in America, policymaking does not cease to exist once the bills become law. Instead, it continues as various executive agencies have the mandate to establish systems and rules of implementing these laws. These actions in return have a huge impact on the profit margins, strategic planning, and overall management of various industries and corporations. A good example is in the case of the Federal Communications Commission when it decides on which of the broadcasting stations are to be offered licenses (Smith 203). In the business environment, Bridge et al suggests that the strategic decision makers are supposed to embrace the competitive aspect of the industry they operate in. This is because the industrial structure mainly affects the competition in the industry as it offers strategic choices for corporations (Bridge et al 308). Human factor is one of the crucial factors that are considered in strategic management. Leadership in this case is considered at a strategic judgment perspective. One of the attribute that define strategic management is strategic choice. This therefore indicates that any executive judgment despite of it being good or bad is supposed to be made before strategic choices are made. It is

Ethnicity and Gender in Late Childhood and Adolescense Essay Example for Free

Ethnicity and Gender in Late Childhood and Adolescense Essay This paper focuses on an study that was conducted to examine the awareness of gender and ethinic bias along with gender and ethnic identity in late childhood and early adolescence. Data was collected on children in 4th, 6th, and 8th grades from various elementary and middle schools. The ethnic groups that were represented were White/European American, African American, an Latino. Daily diaries and individual interviews displayed that ethnic, gender, and grade level differences affected the awareness of bias ( Developmental Psychology, 2011). It was further proven that children in this age range were more aware of gender bias than ethinic bias. Keywords: gender identity, ethnic identity, bias During adolescent development a child’s need to be identified based ethnicity and/or gender becomes more prevalent and is further influenced by their peers. In addition, during this stage of development, social identity can have a deeper impact on intergroup attitudes. In the text, chapter 3 discusses gender schemas and how they evolve from being inflexible to flexible though the development of a human being (Wade Tavris, 2011). In the Development Psychology article, â€Å"Ethnicity and Gender in Late Childhood and Early Adolescence: Group Identity and Awareness of Bias†, 2011, psychologists, Alabi, Brown, Huynh, and Masten examined the awareness of gender an identity bias and its impact on the individuals/groups. The hypothesis is the possibility that children can be aware of one type of bias and oblivious to the another based on their group identity. The study was conducted with 350 students from three participating elementary schools and three middle schools in Southern California. The schools represented various ethnic/racial make-ups and socioeconomic statuses that included 67 African American, 120 White, and 167 Latino students. Two methodologies were used during this study, case study and naturalistic observation. The case study methodology as described by the text is the description of an individual based on their observation of behavior during a specified period (Wade Tavris, 2011, p. 18). During the first week the case study was conducted by each participant receiving a diary to document their assessment of what identity was most important to them. The approach was referred to as identity centrality and the children received an ethnicity and gender score based on the results. The second portion of this test, identified as the identity salience approach involved students documenting whether or not they thought about gender, ethnic, or no identity at all during each period of the school day. The results of this test revealed that 51% of the children mentioned ethnicity and 63% mentioned gender. Following this portion of the study, the students were assessed through individual interviews with the same ethnicity, same gender experimenter. To assess ethnic identity, the students were presented five items with opposing questions, in which they had to choose the statement that they most identified with. A similar assessment was conducted to determine the degree of their gender identity. The final results of these assessments revealed that 51% of the students were aware of ethnic bias associated with ethnic identity while 49% were unaware. The relationship between bias and group identity was determined by eight ethnic and gender identity measures to include: gender and ethinic identity, salience, centrality, positivity/importance of ethnicity, contentedness with gender, felt gender typicality, and felt pressure to conform to gender norms. Over 38% of the students felt positive about their ethnicity and felt content/typical with their gender. 26% percent felt that their ethnicity was not important and felt no pressure to conform to gender norms. 20% of the students felt that their ethnicity was not important but was discontent with the gender norms. Finally, 9% felt that their ethnicity was positive and important and were content with gender norms. In this study the awareness of gender and ethnic bias varied by age group. It comes as no surprise that children become more aware of gender bias than ethnic bias at a young age. As the text mentions, gender identity is discovered at preschool age in which the process of gender typing begins. This is where boys and girls begin to get in touch with their masculine and feminine characteristics (Wade Tavris, 2011, pg. 107). Ethinic identity creates a sense of emotional attachment to the group and the individual feels the need to conform to the values set forth (Wade Tavris, 2011, pg. 350). This study further showed that European American students were more aware of gender bias than ethnic bias. In middle school all students were equally aware of both biases but African american and Latinos were likely to be aware of ethnic bias in elementary school. The potential cause of this stemmed from belonging to a negatively stereotyped group which raised the earlier awareness. This showed that European American students were less likely to be targeted for ethnic bias ( Developmental Psychology, 2011). In early adolescence girls were more aware of gender bias than boys and could attest to being targets of discrimation. Conclusion The conduction of this study proved that children in late childhood and adolescence were more aware of gender bias than ethnic bias. In addition the results showed that children who were non European-American experienced and identified with ethnic bias at an earlier age. The limitations to this study was the demographics. This study was conducted in Los Angeles which has a very unique demographic because it is essentially a melting pot of ethnicities. The different socioeconomical factors and educational inequalities impacted the outcome of the results. Children in the poorest schools had more challenges to encounter in school than their peers in this study. These experiences molded their ethnic identities and the biases associated with it. During late childhood an adolescence development, group identity and intergroup relations became important factors. It is expected that this age group no matter the gender/ethnicity will witness or be a target of discrimination. Although legal segregation is a thing of the past, gender and ethnic bias can greatly impact society but the attitudes and beliefs of individuals can be contained through intervention. With intervention at the earlier stages of development, children can fully witness equality. Future research methods inspired by this article should focus on the data collected from various locations throughout the country. Keeping this research generalized to one location compromises the true validity of the study. New research methods will determine how different ethnicities identify with gender and ethnic bias. Other areas of concentration that should be included in this study are the workforce, judicial system and media/television. Successful results of these research methods can pave the way for some individuals to change their ideologies. These studies can impact the lives of everyday people and potentially unveil solutions to discrimination. As we become a more multicultural country, we must realize the importance of cultural awareness so that we can better interact with different ethnicities/genders. Parents should encourage their to children to foster positive relationships with their peers despite cultural difference. These solutions will alleviate the stereotypes associated with gender and ethnic identity. References Brown, C. , Alabi, B. , Huynh, V. , Masten, C.. (2011). Ethnicity and Gender in Late Childhood and Early Adolescence: Group Identity and Awareness of Bias. Developmental Psychology, 47(2), 463. Retrieved May 21, 2011, from Research Library. (Document ID: 2321539051) Wade, C. , Tavris, C. (2011). Invitation to Psychology, fifth Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Andrew Carnegies Defense: The Gospel Of Wealth

Andrew Carnegies Defense: The Gospel Of Wealth During the Industrial Revolution, several changes shaped American society. Inventions such as the railroad and electricity contributed to the massive change in American life. A movement from the rural farms to the industrial cities and factory owners desire to maximize profit and minimize cost started the battle between laborers and large capitalist bosses. Throughout this era, daring entrepreneurs such as John Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, Jay Gould, J.P. Morgan, and the Vanderbilt family helped shape the economy, and became known as the robber barons, because of their ruthless treatment of workers and underhanded business deals. Through their economic and political leverage, they accumulated massive amounts of wealth and had enormous influence. Robber barons utilized their wealth in a variety ways, such as purchasing extravagant mansions or hosting wasteful parties. However in the article Wealth, unlike the other millionaires of the Gilded Age, Andrew Carnegie encouraged fellow cap italists to live humbly and use their excess capital to assist the unfit poor, but only because he felt that the millionaires were most qualified to help. In Wealth, Carnegie argues that the fit and wise rich men of American must be the ones who distribute the wealth because they have the essential skills to do so. He emphasizes that millionaire class, to which he belonged, is very skilled and elevates their status in society with his self-praising writing. For example he says, their talent for organization and management is rare among men and this talent, secures for its possessor enormous rewards, no matter where or under what laws or conditions.  [1]  The rich are again represented as greater than the poor by having superior wisdom, experience, and ability to administer [wealth].  [2]  They are shown to have skills are unique and rare allowing them to do amazing things in all aspects of life-an indomitable group of people who can solve any problem. This resembles the widespread doctrine of social Darwinism, because if a person is fit by being skilled, it is natural that they will succeed and survive. Carnegie wrote that it i s because of their skill that only they must be responsible for the control and distribution of their wealth. While Carnegie elevates the richs image and portrays them as superior beings, he describes the poor as foolish, impudent, and unskilled. Throughout the text, Carnegie argued that it must be the rich classs responsibility to guide the poor, because their class can do for them better than they would or could do for themselves since the poor are, slothful, the drunken, the unworthy.  [3]  Carnegie demonstrates the unfit, foolish, lazy, and ignorant workers and laborers as the foils of the fit, skilled, wise, and hardworking millionaires. According to social Darwinism and Carnegies article, the poor at the bottom of society deserve to be there, because they are unfit and failed take advantages of their situation and earn millions of dollars, like the capitalists. By emphasizing the differences between the rich and poor, Carnegies article illustrates the prevailing belief of social Darwinism. Wealth was published during 1889 an era when public believed in the theory of social Darwinism. This belief stemmed from Charles Darwins theory of evolution and Herbert Spencer and William Graham Sumner used the popular catchwords of Darwinism, struggle for existence and survival of the fittest [and] applied [them] to the life of man in society  [4]  . Indeed Carnegie uses these terms in his article, as he says the law [of competition]à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦insures the survival of the fittest in every department.  [5]  By applying Darwins biological theory to man and society, the fittest or strongest members of society should be at the top and lead society, while the weak, unfit should be on the bottom and allowed to suffer and die out. This is echoed in Carnegies article as the millionaires should have all the control and power of their wealth, while the poor must be changed and learn to be fit or be left to die out. Successful business and entrepreneurs apparently accepted almost by instinct the Darwinian terminology which seemed to portray the conditions of their existence.  [6]  For example, as a child Carnegie had to support his family and by taking advantage of the situations provided to him. By doing so, he was able to own the biggest and most successful steel industry. In his article, a businessmans success and money are rewards of being fit, while the poors lack of money is a symbol of their failure in society. By presenting the rich and poor as skilled and unskilled, wise and foolish, Carnegie is able to justify that the rich were the only ones who were knowledgeable enough to share and keep their wealth. Carnegie arrogantly says that, this wealth, passing through the hands of the few, can be made much more potent force for the elevation of our race than if distributed in small sums to the people themselves.  [7]  The few or the rich should must have the money, because they will be able to properly distribute it to the poor. If the people themselves obtained this money, they would not have as grand a result as the millionaires. In his article, Carnegie needed to defend their immense accumulation of wealth, before explaining the more efficient methods of helping the poor. During this era, there was a huge economic gap between the rich and poor. In 1890, 73 percent of the nations wealth was held by the top 10 percent of the population.  [8]  This disproportionate distribution of money caused the laborers and poor to see the wealthy and business as evil and millionaires as corrupt robber barons stealing their money. This distrust was inflamed by the immense differences in living conditions of each class. While millionaires lived comfortably in extravagant, laborers and factory workers lived in dirty and disease filled slums. However, in Wealth Carnegie attempts to bind together the rich and poor in harmonious relationship  [9]  and provides a humble interpretation of the rich as they are just a the mere trustee and agent for his poorer brethren.  [10]  He wishes to have peace between the two classe s and portrays the rich as helpful caretakers of poor. In their crusade in helping the poor become fit, the rich must have control over their capital in order to help them. Carnegie states that they would provide them with ladders upon which the aspiring can rise free libraries, parks, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ works of art,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦and public institutions of various kinds.  [11]  He wanted to provide resources to those who will help themselves, just as he had brought himself up from working in a factory to owner of a steel factory. However, he would not just hand out money to the poor, because they would use it foolishly.  [12]  By providing with poor with these institutions, Carnegie hoped that they would learn how become fit and become more like the refined and educated millionaires. Even if the rich has so much, they should be willing to return some of their resources in the form of libraries and other services to assist the poor. By explaining that their wisdom and wealth will be used to assist the poor, the wealthy are given a legitimate reason to keep all their money and continue with the laissez-faire system of government. Even though Carnegie felt he provided the poor with ladders to success. The poor had no time to take advantage of them. As the wealthy obtained an immense amount of money, most of the population suffered in poverty. The poor had to work in dangerous factories in long 12 hour work days. After a day of hard work, laborers would barely make enough money to eat as Carnegies steel workers earned from $1.50 to $2.00 per day. While a family in the Pittsburg area needed $15 a week to live, most workers made less than $12.50.  [13]  Even if factory workers wanted to go to the local library they had no time or energy to do so. During this time, the wealthy were really not focused on relieving the needy with handouts. Carnegie felt that just giving foolish man money would cause him to spend it recklessly. He wanted to help the poor become more like the rich by providing them with the resources which would teach them how to be fit and if the poor really wanted to advance themselves, they wou ld go to a library and learn the skills necessary to do so. Given the circumstances, this would be unlikely, but Carnegie still proposes that this is a viable option, as he really does not know how the poor live. Since the government practiced laissez-faire politics which ensured that the government would stay away from business affairs, businessmen had full control over their finances and factories. If the government did interfere, they could only do so to benefit business, specifically those of the robber barons. Andrew Carnegies article Wealth supported this hands-off policy on business. As an article which drew heavily on the beliefs of social Darwinism, lack of government action would be beneficial to the evolution of society. The law of competition is not only beneficial, but essential to the future progress of the race and competition between these [businesses], as being not only beneficial, but essential to the future progress of the race.  [14]  Carnegie and many other businessmen believed that businesses should be free to compete against each other and that the government should stay out the way. If the government would get involved, they would only do so to protect competition between businesses. According to social Darwinism, competition would destroy the weak, leave only the fit in society. Thus, the skilled fit that remain are able to advance society and harvest their rewards. If the government created regulation that hindered competition between businesses, competition would be destroyed, and society would not be able to move forward. Therefore, any disruption or attempts to hinder the law of competition or defend the unfit were not allowed by the business owners. As Irvin Wyllie states in the article Social Darwinism and the Businessman, Herbert Spencer became the oracle of the age à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ in defense of laissez-faire as he applied the idea of evolution and completion to society.  [15]  Social Darwinisms law of competition became a bulwark for a government which did not interfere with businesses and left workers with despicable work conditions. In Wealth, Andrew Carnegie use of the law of competition to support the laissez-faire image of g overnment helped protect the businessmens interest. In Wealth, Carnegie also supported millionaires decision to fight against unions desires. Due to the harsh conditions in factories, low wages, long workdays, and lack of help from the government, unions like the Knights of Labor formed in an attempt to obtain a shorter workday and better working conditions for workers. Eight work days and higher wages would increase the bottom line and lessen the businessmans profit causing create deal of resistance from businessmen. Unfit laborers are portrayed by social Darwinism and Wealth as lazy and deserving of their suffering giving the idea that factory owners do not need listen to them. In Wealth, the wealthy are portrayed as all-knowing, as they know the best interests of the race.  [16]  Indeed, in this era, millionaires found unions to be hindrances to their companies and had the full support of federal government in stopping them. By emphasizing that the poor are unworthy, lazy, and ignorant and the wealthy knew what they were doing, Wealth defended why millionaires disliked unions and did everything they could to stop them. Andrew Carnegies article, Wealth, was a result of prevailing belief of social Darwinism in the Gilded Age. The rhetoric of Spencer and Sumners view of social Darwinism are apparent in his work and though this belief, Carnegie is able to say that the rich were the most capable group of people to hold and distribute the wealth. Through his ingrained belief of social Darwinism, he was also able to defend the wealths large accumulation of wealth, the laissez-faire government, and their aggression toward labor unions found during the Industrial era. Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) | Free essay | Management essays Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) | Free essay | Management essays Introduction KFC in the beginning was changing companies which belonged, since in 1964 Colonel Sanders first sold KFC. It was sold in a small group of investors who promoted KFC in public. In 1971 Heublein was highly involved in the day to day operations. However, R.J. Reynolds then acquired Heublein in 1982. R.J. took a more laid back approach and allowed business as usual at KFC. After that in 1986 PepsiCo bought this company and tried to grow it very fast and as well the restaurant segment even if KFC and PepsiCo had a very different culture and style which means that it was totally different. PepsiCo is a big company which recognized itself in 1985 and owns as well Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and now KFC. PepsiCo has a consumer product orientation and found that the marketing of fast food was very similar to the marketing of its soft drinks and snack foods. PepsiCo combines snack food, soft drinks and restaurants together and its a huge company in the world with many restaurants. Nowadays KFC belongs to YUM international and is the largest chicken restaurant in the world with over 32,500 restaurants with, AW All-American Foodâ„ ¢, Taco Bell, Long John Silvers and Pizza Hut in more than 100 countries. Today, some of the older KFC restaurants have become famous in their own right. One such restaurant is located in Marietta, Georgia. This store is notable for a 17m tall sign that looks like a chicken. The sign, known locally as the Big Chicken, was built for an earlier fast-food restaurant on the site called Johnny Rebs Chick, Chuck and Shake. It is often used as a travel reference point in the Atlanta area by locals and pilots. The original handwritten recipe is kept locked away at the KFC corporate headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky as a closely-guarded secret. Only two members within the Yum! Corporation knows the recipe in its entirety. Mission and Objectives we find reasons to celebrate the achievements of others and have fun doing it The mission of the KFC is to sell food in a fast ,to have a friendly environment that appeals to pride conscious, to be in a health minded consumers. The objectives of KFC is to increase the variety of menu, to introduce desert menu and introduce buffet to restaurants. Another objective goal is to target Menu items of African Americans in major cities with the following foods: greens, macaroni and cheese, peach cobbler, red beans and rice. However there are also menu items which should be target in Hispanics major cities are the fried plantains, flan, tres Leches. The implementations on non-traditional units are including the shopping mall food courts, universities, hospitals, airports, stadiums, amusement parks, office buildings, mobile units. Pest analysis Political UK Government has launched a new corporate tax scheme in April 2008, in which the tax is to decrease from 30% down to 28%, helping revive the economy and boost competition (BBC, 2008, p.1). Fast food companies like McDonalds, KFC, etc. could save millions of pounds from this stimulus. The Government is considering a proposed ban on junk food advertising to billboards, computer games and cinemas act in the face of the public health of child obesity. A blanket ban would be a hammer blow to companies such as KFC, McDonalds, Coca-Cola, Nestle, etc. (Mintel, 2009m, p.1) Economic As a result of the credit crunch and market instability, global markets are in disarray, deleveraging is under way (Kohler, 2009, p.27). The UK economy is now challenged by serious economic downturn. Latest Indicators published by Office for National Statistics (2009, p.1) states that all indexes are at negative interpretation, such as unemployment rate increased, GDP and national productivity decreased. The UK is heavily impacted by the economic downturn. Hickman (2007, p.1) argues that the era of spend, spend, and spend no longer exists. Britain shoppers habit of depending on credit cards is now forced to change. They have to cut back their expenditure since credit availability would be now a historic concept. Social Work mobility, working under pressure seems to force people to go out to eat and drink rather than cook at home for themselves (although this trend is moderated by credit crunch recently). People enjoy their spare time by spending hours in coffee stores, restaurants, cinemas, and fast foods are indispensable items in their orders. Bird and Hughes (1997, p.159) state that consumer is more and more concerning for ethical products. They are not only paying attention to products quality, but also ethical aspects of the goods purchased. This raises a question to all businesses, however, it is also an opportunity for those who care of their customers, their communities, like KFC, for instant. Customers concern about environmental issues in every item they buy (Mintel, 2009p, p.1). Environmental concerns are now a key priority among UK consumers and their importance is continuing to grow. Consumer concerns are encouraging retailers to introduce green products and to put their entire operations on a greener footing (Mintel, 2009c, p.1) Consumers may be increasingly turning to chicken outlets as a relatively healthy alternative to red meat, particularly on the back of recent government and health campaigners concerns over the nutritional content of fast food (Mintel, 2009a4, p.1) Attitudes towards burgers are changing. Burgers are no longer seen as should-be-avoid foods, but are positive ones instead (Mintel, 2009d, p.1). In addition, microwaveable burgers have been welcomed to serve a new snack-on-the-go audience (Mintel, 2009d, p.1). Technological and environmental issues The Internet is changing the way that many businesses are operating (Avinash and Minh, 2008, p.83). The Internet accounts for 8% of global advertising spend and growing rapidly (The Economist, 2007, p.124). It is an opportunity for fast food companies enabling its customers to order online easily via its website, creating competitive advantage for the company. Technology helps to shorten the geographic distance, booting business communication. Technology also helps to design and manufacture modern machines to produce high quality foods, saving time and human capital. Global warming, green house gas, recyclable materials are among most interests of environmental supporters. Swot analysis Strengths KFC has a very long history and has the most recognizable brand in chicken. KFC has name recognition around the world and has been globally positioned for many years. KFCs secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices has made it the leader in chicken for the last fifty years. KFC is the 2nd only to McDonalds in the UK and USA and ranks highest among all chicken restaurant chains for its convenience and menu variety. The quality of food is a key strength to KFC. The quality is defined by the YUM! and controlled by the local franchisees. There is a global standard, with regard to the quality of the KFC meals. The KFC recipes allow for quick a processing time, which makes it all the more convenient and more attractive to prospective clients. Customer-focused approach brings advantages to KFC. The company cares about the health of its customers. Recently, in 2008, KFC signs up to the Food Standards Agency commitment to providing healthier meals, helping its customers enjoy a healthier, more balanced diet. The commitments include: working with suppliers to reduce salt and saturated fat levels, dressings and frying oils for alternatives that are lower in saturated fat, increasing the number of healthier options on the menu and making nutritional information more readily available to customers (Mintel, 2009l). The company also puts nutritional information of its products online and in stores. KFC does business ethically and environmentally. KFC UK has promised to reduce packaging and waste by selling products such as its Fillet and Zinger burgers just wrapped into paper rather than in a cardboard box. The chain said it aimed to reduce waste by up to 14000 tonnes over 2009 (Mintel, 2009p). KFC has a strong development plan. In February 2009, KFC announced to open 300 new UK outlets between 2009 and 2014, creating 9,000 jobs. This expansion was designed to capitalise on really strong growth and customers increasingly turning to cheaper food options amid the credit crunch (Mintel, 2009q). Weaknesses Rumour: There is a rumour about using GMO chicken (Genetic Modification Organism). This arouses a great controversy in many places. For a developed market like the UK, this impacts negatively on KFC image since people think that the use of GM chicken will have great influence on the food chain which is very crucial to the environmental health and nature development. Legal issues: KFC has been ordered to pay a  £24,000 fine following the discovery of poor hygiene standards at its Bridgend branch in South Wales. The branchs staff did not wash their hands and wore dirty aprons, while the sites hot water was turned off, meaning that staff were also unable to wash food preparation equipment (Mintel, 2009k). Trans fats issues: KFC predominantly cooks its chicken in vegetable oil called trans fats, an unhealthy method of cooking (Oppapers, 2009). Lacking fun: Since majority of KFCs customers are people between 14 and 44, who are young, dynamic, and proactive, store decoration and atmosphere play a critical role for the companys success. Lack of knowledge about their customers: KFC does not have its own customer database. Opportunities The chicken and burger bar market reached  £3.6 billion in 2007 and is predicted to rise following years. The traditional low-cost fast food outlets are well placed to remain relevant as economic conditions tighten. The burger market reached nearly  £2.5 billion 2007 whereas chicken outlets were valued at nearly  £1 billion, however, the latter showed higher growth rates over the past six years. The takeaway market continues to outperform the eat-in sector (Mintel, 2009z). Despite the economic downturn, consumers are still likely to continue eating out, according to a survey of 1,000 UK diners by Survey Shack. 63% said price wasnt the major factor influencing whether they chose to eat out or not, and 77% said they would pay more if a meal was made from high-quality ingredients (Mintel, 2009y). Grab-and-go culture: The convenience of takeaway meals has a clear demographic bias towards men, younger consumers and those who are single. Factors such as lack of motivation to worry too much about nutrition (eg the absence of children) or that it is expensive or wasteful to cook for one-person meals will play a part in this motivation (Mintel, 2009c). Growth in the 15-24-year-old age group has benefited the chicken/burger sector as they represent the core market, however, the predicted drop in 15-19-year-olds in coming years will present challenges (Mintel, 2009a1). Threats Supermarkets and new competitors: Supermarkets own-label offerings have long been a significant part of the UK food sales, holding a share of nearly 29% and continuing growth in market share (Mintel, 2009a). The National Minimum Wage (adults now receive  £5.52 an hour) continues to have an impact on the fast food market. These increases can have a major effect on the cost base of the larger chicken and burger bar operators, particularly when you consider KFC has some 8,000 employees in the UK (Mintel, 209b). The introduction of the Licensing Act 2003 (for England and Wales) in 2005 has led to many pubs having extended opening hours, generating further competition for fast-food chains, both in terms of the later nights and daytime trade (Mintel, 2009b). Health trend away from fried foods: According to campaign group Consensus Action On Salt and Health, some meals from top fast food chains conceal shockingly high salt levels. The worst contain more than double a childs recommended daily salt intake in a single meal. Customers react negatively to this news (Mintel, 2009x) Recent survey by Mintel (2009) states that growth in fast food industry has slowed in recent years. It implies of an intense competition in the eating out market and the maturing of the. BCG MATRIX KFC uses large amounts of cash and is leader in the business so since it is a leader it should use a large amount of cash. The company has the worst cash characteristics of all, because there are high demands and low returns due to low market share. If there is not market share, question marks will simply take in great amounts of cash and when the growth will stop then there will be a dog. CASH COW Profits and cash generation should be high, and because of the low growth, investments were low. Keep profits high DOGS KFC should avoid and minimize the dogs in the company. As I mentioned before the BCG Matrix of KFC is depending totally from the YAM! Company which includes as well the other companies the referent standard is the industry growth rate measured against the SBUs growth rate. Product life cycle All the products have their life cycle whether it is very successful or not. The life cycle has four stages. The first stage is the introduction of the product and such an example will be the hot wings. The second stage is the growth of the product and the product is the hot shots. The third stage is the maturity and the product is zinger, chicken mania, chicken burger. And the fourth stage is the decline which is the twister. Task environment My company diversified in many industries and for each industry has different suppliers. It audits its suppliers for compliance and non compliance. Kentucky Fried Chicken Garcia, Augie. Discussions, March 12, 1999 www.scribd.com applied marketing Mr. Muhammad Nouman BBC (2008). Call for corporate tax clampdown. Available at http://news.bbc.co. uk/1/hi /uk_politics/7681165.stm. Accessed 3 January 2009 Mintel (2009m). Proposed banned on junk food advertising could be extended. Available online at: http://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic/search_results/show/display/id=118422/display/id=218594 Accessed 07 March 2009 Office for National Statistics (2009). Latest indicators. Available online at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/instantfigures.asp. Accessed 09 March 2009 Hickman M. (2007): First the credit crunch now the spending squeeze, The Independent on Sunday (2007) Thursday, 13 September 2007. Bird K and Hughes D. (1997). Ethical Consumerism: The Case Of Fairly-Traded Coffee. Business Ethics A European Review Volume 6 Issue 3,Pages159-167 Mintel (2009p). KFC reduces packaging. (27/1/2009). Available online at: http://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic/search_results/showset_access_filter=all-ZUK/display/id=280379/display/id=227776/display/id=438171. Accessed 08 March 2009 Mintel (2009c). Internal market environment. Available online at http://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic/subject/view=reports_categorylevels=90849list=cat_itemscat=17lev=1/display/id=394656/display/id=442497. Accessed 07 March 2009. Mintel (2009a4). Chicken and Burger Bar UK March 2008: Market in brief. Available online at: http://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic//display/id=280379/display/id=329487. Accessed 07 March 2009 Mintel (2009d). Burgers UK 2008. Available online at http://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic/my_reports/display/id=227787anchor=atom/display/id=227776. Accessed 07 March 2009 Avinash, W. and Minh. Q. H. (2008) How Can Internet Service Providers Tap into the Potentially-Lucrative Small Business Market? International Journal of E-Business Research, 4(1), p.82-98 The Economist (2007). The world in figures: industries. The world in 2008. p124, 126.

Generic Concept Of Authenticity In Pop Music Music Essay

Generic Concept Of Authenticity In Pop Music Music Essay This thesis and its associated research had its origins in my own fascination with the generic concept of authenticity, as it exists within life generally, and specifically within popular music. The dualities of good/bad, genuine/false, honest/fraudulent, and creative/derivative have always been present within the ranks of musicians and their performances. This thesis is intended to reconcile and explain the distinctions within these dualities, and to develop a model for evaluating authenticity within popular music. An Hypothesis on Authenticity in Popular Music As a foundation for the research and development in this thesis, I will explain my own stance on the key issue of authenticity. There are six key tenets within this proposition: Authenticity functions as a marker of quality Authenticity can be evaluated. Authenticity is not a finite concept. An Hermeneutic approach is essential in measuring authenticity Authenticity judgement requires a prior-researched description of genre Authenticity may only be assigned to a single piece of musicking. Here are some details of each one: 1.1.1. Authenticity functions as marker for Quality Whilst there are some ingredients of Authenticity that are more easily measurable, there are other criteria which are more subjective, and where evaluation of them is an activity more determined by expert consensus, or personal taste and background. Judgements made using these criteria are largely unquantifiable, and often in the form of personal assessments. Some of these judgements may be socially and culturally constructed, and are shared between groups of people, notably in the case of fans, critics, or enthusiasts of a specific type of music, or a particular performer. Students and researchers of popular music would normally adopt a more balanced and catholic judgement, so that an equally fair evaluation would be made on a piece of country-rock music, as would be made on a piece of punk music. Authenticity is a description of the provenance and integrity of a recorded, or live performance, as well as a definition of musical skill, tunefulness, and of a listeners personal gratifi cation. The judgement, or evaluation, of some aspects of authenticity of a piece of musicking may use less scientific criteria than others, wherein the measurement is inevitably affected by the tastes of the judge or evaluator. I have drawn extensively on Christopher Small (1998:2-3) and his eleven activities within musicking, in developing my own nineteen criteria for evaluating Authenticity, which operate as a hermeneutic circle, and of which the first fourteen relate to recorded songs, with an additional five criteria for evaluating live performances of songs. Here is a brief description of my nineteen criteria: The Notation This element is less important in popular music than in classical music, since the main method of transmission has not been through stave notation, but through recording, and performance. (Moore, A.F 2001:34) However, where it originally exists, or where subsequent notation has taken place on existing works, there is still value in its inclusion as a criterion, particularly where patterns of notation may be compared within several songs, or where consistent notational motifs may be identified Lyrics Whilst I contend that it is Performance and Reception that are central to the true meaning of a song, the lyrics have a strong bearing on this. It is also possible to identify common patterns in lyrics (Wall, T 2003:129) as well as everyday language in the context of performance, and collective responses and aspirations (Frith, S 1988:121) The words of the song should usually be grammatically correct and recognisable, and the overall content should be rational. Biography This element should also be twinned with autobiography as it refers to the use and influence of personal history, upbringing, nurture and culture on singer/songwriters and their eventual compositions and performances. It is an essential element to consider as far as authenticity is concerned, and in my view has been vastly under-analysed, and has been allocated insufficient importance. Recognised Influences There are undoubted connections here with my Biography element (No. 3), in that childhood and developmental influences are nearly always lasting, especially where they have been received in an emotional context (e.g. happy, sad, or painful). But in addition consideration is needed on more contemporary influences, both of musical, and of other types. Song Structure An important element in the primary text is the actual shape of the song, in terms of its musical texture, its use of instruments and voices, its rhythmic organisation and its relationship to lyrics. This is often a key factor in the determination of a genre. It is important that there is a pleasing shape to the song, with sufficient changes (verses and choruses), a comprehensible story line, and an appropriate length. There should also be a balance between familiarity and variety, and the song must have sufficient familiarity to provide comfortable reception, whilst, on the other hand, offering something new and challenging. Melody This is a pattern of pitches and rhythm that creates a tune or song, and as such, underpins the whole content of a song. It is the melody that, to a large extent, is the basis for the Emotion (No.13) element of the song. In popular music, the melody usually comprises verses and chorus, but with variety in the phrasing and lyrics. Meaning and Intellectuality The meaning of a musical piece may be interpreted in an abstract or a universal manner, and Composition may be viewed as having a subtle difference in meaning from some Performances. Such differences may also affect the meaning from the position of Reception, but it is easier to see musical works anchored to specific time, place, and cultural situations. This aspect is probably the most difficult to analyse scientifically, since the central question is whether the lyrics and/or the music stimulate some intellectual curiosity, with ultimate satisfaction. Context This broad topic is important not just for the more obvious analysis of Performance, and Reception, but also for the historical and biographical context in which a song was composed. Again there will be some interconnection with aspects of Biography and especially factors such as class, culture, gender, and politics. Instrumental The traditional rock line-up of a band is two or three guitars and drums, but in the case of country-rock and its convoluted development phase, many other instruments were involved. The exploration of the use of these instruments, and the ways in which they have contributed to the Performance and Reception of music is essential. Much has been written on the appropriate use of specific instruments and their relationship to the true membership of a genre, as well as whether there are acceptable levels of musical proficiency demonstrated in the execution of the song by the instrumentalists. Vocal Most popular music involves one or more voices, and this element is concerned with how these voices are used, singly or harmoniously, and the ways in which communication is established between singer and listener (Moore, A.F 2001: 44/5) It is arguable that, in many cases, it is the voice that is the final arbiter in establishing whether a piece of music is authentic or not. It is important that acceptable levels of musical proficiency are demonstrated in the execution of the song by the vocalist/s. Production This mainly Performance related element deals with the technical, and technological systems used to aid and enhance performance, as well as the choices made about instrumentation, vocals and, in some cases, stagecraft. There is a natural interlinking with other hermeneutical elements. The technical production of the recording should meet standard conventions of the genre, in regard to the mixing, the balance, and the volume as well as any additional enhancements. Cohesion and Balance (including Sonic Balance) This element is concerned with the extent to which the band is playing as a team with appropriate use of instruments and vocals, and to which the various instrumental and vocal elements within the performance/recording are balanced, so that a smooth and cohesive overall sound is achieved. Connectivity and Emotivity It is important that the listener/receiver, acknowledges a personal relationship with the song, lyrically and/or musically with the song exciting some form of emotion upon reception, and in which the listener/receiver is sufficiently stimulated and curious to have a desire to hear the song again. The Leader Within a band, the style of performance may be dictated or at least highly influenced by the leader who is often, although not always the singer. This inevitably affects the Reception of the music. However, the Composition of the music also needs to be considered in the light of the leader, for even if it is not he/she that is the main author, the style of the piece could be shaped by his/her approach. Repertoire This is what Christopher Small terms The Drama of Relationships (Small, C 1998:158) Each musical performance has, or should have, a recognisable narrative, or a set-list and this is most significant in the analysis of Reception. The psychology inherent within constructing a performance including many songs is important in the development of Audience Rapport, or even individual fan admiration. Stagecraft Middleton (1990:168) recognises false music and true music, where false means corrupt, manipulated, over-complex, and mechanical, and true means natural, spontaneous, and traditional. In these senses, the interpretation of drama, and a sense of theatre in the performance and reception of popular music are always important. It is inevitably connected to Repertoire, but is far more than this single item. Again, only in a live performance, the image presented by the performers through body movement, gestures, stance, and cohesion should augment the reception of the song. Planning and Organisation This thoroughly contemporary affair as Christopher Small puts it (Small, C 1998:30) includes the organisation of performances, the role of publicity and advertising, and the ways in which the audience is prepared for the Reception. Whilst they are not directly a composite part of a piece of music or its actual performance, the intricacies of the arrangements undoubtedly sway perceptions of a musical show or concert. Venue This, of course is solely a Performance/Reception element but, like Planning and Organisation, is extremely powerful, since the size, shape, location, construction, lighting and acoustics will exert major pressures on the ultimate performance. Audience Rapport This element is concerned with the intimacy, community, bonding and sharing of an audience and the ways in which they are able to persuade each other. It is also concerned with individual and group participation in the Performance and its effect on the perceptions of authenticity. In a live performance, there must be a general and universal approval demonstrated towards the song as demonstrated through facial and bodily expression during the performance and applause at the end. Having described all nineteen elements used in the assessment of Authenticity, it should be stressed that whilst Authenticity is a term that provides for a description of the integrity of a piece of musicking, this integrity is not always synonymous with attractiveness, as recognised by huge swathes of the worlds population. As I show in this dissertation there are plenty of examples of music that are authentic, according to measurement of many of the criteria, but which are not necessarily well received. Conversely there are many instances of well-received musicking that are not of a high level of authenticity as related to the other criteria. In other words, Authenticity is not finite. 1.1.2. Authenticity is not a finite concept. Authenticity has so many different components (I have identified at least nineteen) as well as many mediators, so that relative judgements on each of the items would almost certainly mean that a final decision as to whether the song was authentic, could never result in a simple yes or no, but would be a relative assessment. The more appropriate question that should be posed by the judge, or evaluator, would be: to what extent has this song/performance been deemed to be authentic? A piece of musicking may, for example, have some authentic attributes, such as a truly original instrumental performance, and the vocal qualities may be genuine, whereas its lyrical content may be mundane, and derivative, thus rendering the song only partially authentic. This particular principle relegates the rockism argument, described in other parts of this thesis, to a peripheral position, since it accommodates varying degrees of authenticity, rather than insisting on one broad form of music being superior to another, simply based on its provenance. Rockists are people who consider that there were, and occasionally still are, golden periods of Rock, illuminated by artists and performances which contain an honesty, authenticity, and value of which the mainstream of performers in pop music are both incapable and unconcerned. The differences that show themselves when evaluating Authenticity, particularly in the contrasts between the more objective criteria and those that embody the expression of values generated and constructed by the critical and fan community, mean that an evaluation of authenticity cannot remain in perpetuity, and that it has a clear temporal characteristic, wherein evaluation may change over time. Therefore, despite the fact that judgements on the Authenticity of pieces of musicking may be made, they are essentially of a relative nature. 1.1.3. Authenticity can be evaluated There are many different hypotheses on the topic of musical authenticity, many of which have been reviewed and assessed within this thesis, all of which, without exception, explain the concept in notional terms, whilst avoiding any attempt to develop, or impose, a quantitative measurement of judgement. The decision on the authenticity of a piece of musicking, has been derived from a qualitative evaluation, left to the complex devices supposedly inherent within the intellectual abilities of a few senior musicologists and experts, or socially and culturally constructed values. I propose that, with the application of a list of authenticity criteria, built into a hermeneutic framework, there are a number of activities that can move the efficacy of the judgement towards a more accurate qualitative assessment, albeit still with strong elements of discrimination within it. 1.1.4. A hermeneutic approach is essential in evaluating authenticity Since each evaluation criterion has influences upon, and from, each of the other criterion, the idea of a circle is used so that ones understanding of a piece of musicking, as a whole, is established by reference to the individual criteria and ones understanding of each individual criterion by reference to the whole. Neither the whole piece nor any individual criterion can be understood without reference to one another, and hence, it is a circular process. Strictly speaking, hermeneutics was originally conceived as means of cultivating the ability to understand things from someone elses point of view, and to set aside ones own predelictions and tastes. So the whole evaluation exercise must be considered in full awareness of the evaluation conclusions which may have been reached by the relevant community practice, before and during the judgement process. Using the tools and procedures that I have developed to make an ultimate judgement on both authenticity, ensures that the decision will be as informed, researched, and analytical as is possible. 1.1.5. Authenticity judgement requires a researched description of genre Whilst I have described in some detail the general nature of a range of criteria that I have allocated to Authenticity [including Quality], it is important that the Authenticity criteria are enhanced and made more explicit. This should be done through a close examination, and subsequent description, of the genre that one is analysing (in this thesis, my exemplar is country-rock music). There have been major academic debates on the nature of genre, and in particular whether genre is a stable item rather than a temporal one. My position is based on the assumption that genre may be fixed and stationary, if one is, firstly, prepared to accept the existence of a continuum of a multitude of popular music styles, within which many different genres and sub-genres reside. Secondly, and perhaps paradoxically, it is important to acknowledge that the detailed description of any single genre, or sub-genre, is not universally acknowledged and is, therefore never canonically explicit. The nature of both of these conditions will be influenced by the beliefs and convictions of individual researchers. This means that genre definitions will inevitably vary, albeit within boundaries. Nevertheless, it is essential to generate a broad genre template through which authenticity may be evaluated. It is important to note that authenticity may be a validity descriptor of a piece of musicking, both in general terms, in the sense that the song has been composed, performed, and received in an authentic manner, but also in genre specific terms; so that a song may be classed as being authentic blues or authentic country-rock. The significance of this lies in the need to define genre-parameters when attempting to evaluate authenticity within a genre; hence the statement: Authenticity Judgement Requires A Researched Description Of Genre. 1.1.6. Authenticity may only be assigned to a single piece of musicking Within Popular Music, I propose that the evaluation of authenticity may only be made as far as a recorded or performed song is concerned. Authenticity comprises a number of attributes of composition, performance and reception, but is largely concerned with sound, rather than the characteristics of a human being. Therefore, authenticity cannot be assigned to an artist, other than in a general sense, through a judgement of his/her individual performance of a song. It may be seductive to contemplate the authenticity of an artist, as has been done frequently over the history of popular music, and as argued forcibly by the Rockists. Indeed, many rock artists have been accorded that epithet, including Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Leonard Cohen, and Lou Reed. However, human authenticity is a complex and hugely debatable concept. For example, it is arguable that even these notable performers could only be described as authentic, if they were to have totally eschewed commercial gain, desire for glory, or other forms of psychological reward during their long and successful lives. This has patently not been the case. Of course, it is arguable that human authenticity could be assessed on the basis that it is not a finite concept (as I have professed is the case for musicking). However, the study of authenticity of individual human beings, would be a multi-faceted, and almost impossible task, since there are so many variables and criteria, which would need to be taken into account, such that even a relative evaluation would involve an extremely complex decision-making process. It is most certainly not within the remits of my research within this thesis. It is also important to stress that the epithet of authenticity cannot be assigned to a body of work, rather than a single song or piece of music, but is only related to individual performances/recordings of songs. It would be possible, however, to make assessments of a number of individual songs performed by one artist or even an assembled group of artists, wherein it might then be possible to offer an overall measurement of the degree of authenticity of that particular set of songs but it would be an average, or mean, of the total assessment. On the same basis, it would be technically possible, albeit extremely arduous and time-consuming, to carry out such an exercise on the entire output of a particular artist. It should be stressed that even so, the eventual conclusion would still be an evaluation of the performance of the music, rather than the person. At this point I should also restate that my position holds that the evaluation of Authenticity of a live performance of a song may be made, even though this will inevitably differ from the recorded version of the same song. All of the criteria used in the evaluation of a recorded song will apply to a live performance of a song, but there will also be a few additional elements that should be applied. These are listed under an earlier principle (Authenticity functions as a marker for Quality)