CEO Project---Pepsico Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

CEO Project---Pepsico - interrogation Paper ExampleEmployee goals should be defined with job descriptions, which should incorporate employees goal responsibilities. This will reserve employees to dedicate their time in performing roles that will enable PepsiCo achieve its goals in modify strategy.The cultivate of identification of valuate landition is very important. It involves distinguishing activities that add value and should be retained, activities that do not add value but cannot be avoided by a company and those activities that do not add value and the company should eliminate them (iarnien and Vienaindien, 2012). The process of value identification involves workers, experts and customers in identifying product aspects that argon of extreme significance. These are the aspects that should be given priority in this project (Mcleod, 2009).Analysis of the PepsiCos aims and objectives shows that the company aims to lead in consumer products in the world that produces conveni ent foods and beverages. The company also seeks to enrich its employees through growth opportunities and ensure that investors discombobulate financial rewards (PepsiCo, 2014). PepsiCo seeks to achieve excellent and sustainable financial performance. The company also aims at ensuring human sustainability through its products, as well as environmental sustainability (PepsiCo, 2011).Based on the above mission, aims vision and objectives of PepsiCo, recommended strategy changes should be implemented on a timely basis to ensure success of the company. These features that require implementation of change include PepsiCos policies, functional strategy and business strategy. PepsiCo has invested in research and development and high tone of voice operations to ensure that safe products are provided to consumers (Nooyi & Johnston, 2014).The next step will involve identification of the extensive term strategic plans and short term strategic plans. In this case, long term strategic

Beethoven Interpretations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Beethoven Interpretations - Essay ExampleOriginally a dedication to Napoleon Bonaparte Eroica was changed at a time Napoleon declared himself Emperor. I chose Eroica for the symbolism, beliefs and ideas that are represented with the symphony.Eroica has become one of the most analyzed melodic pieces in history, filled with concepts such as heroism, death, apotheosis and revolution (Beethovens). Because the Eroica was longer than most pieces it was broadly performed towards the start of most concerts and was also known as Symphony No. 3 in E monotonous. The Eroica consists of four motilitys with the first movement being the Allegro con brio, the key is E Flat major in Sonata form (The Symphony).Though Eroica has been performed by many composers and symphonys Anton Rubinstein recorded and released his surgery or Eroica of June in 1994. He included four movements as well, and in listening to the first movement it is easily evident that Rubinstein employed a slower gait. It is eas y to distinguish among the legal documents in the orchestra and when the tempo begins to make believe there is a feeling of expectation and excitement as the listener waits to find out what different musical delight will be provided. Rubinsteins Eroica is almost whimsical and would fit well in a childrens dramatic scene as soundtrack accompaniment (Featured).I almost prefer the tempo used in the Rubinstein piece as it produces a much more calming and tranquil effect. The instrument that most stand out is the strings and of course the piano, though it is blended well with the other instruments in the arrangement. It is also possible in one of the calm periods to hear what may be a champagne flute or some other delicate instrument that would otherwise be overpowered during the rest of the arrangement.The Budapest symphonic music Orchestra also recorded the Eroica in June of 2007. Budapest Orchestra recorded each movement of Eroica in E Flat major. Movement one, Allegro Con Brio, s ounds quite a bit

Nursing Power Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Nursing Power - Assignment ExampleMrs. Jacksons tendency to favor other(a) supply members is a likely reason for lack of motivation among rung members at the work place. wrong difference of opinion resolution skills by nurse managers drive out be detrimental to the cooperation of members. Nurse Managers should adopt honorable practices aimed at resolving all form of conflict at the workplace. Mrs. Jacksons public discomposure of junior staff members depicts her poor conflict resolution skills. This is a most likely cause of underperformance of the employees. immature members in the staff are likely to keep any information that may contribute to conflict resolution for fear of Mrs. Jacksons demeaning treatments. Optimal team functioning in any care for environment is achievable when leaders create perfect work environments (Cummings et al., 2009). Staff satisfaction is among the cap considerations that breast feeding managers should ensure in the on the job(p) environment. Nursing managers should focus on developing proper relationships with staff members. This increases the level of satisfaction of the nursing workforce (Cummings et al., 2009). As Nicol (2012) identifies, collaboration between leaders and members of the nursing staff is necessary in improving service delivery. Education and training of staff members is vital in achieving a working environment that delivers woodland services. Developing a definite framework for operation is important in ensuring a coordinated staff. Integration between nursing managers and staff members is critical in any nursing environment (Nicol, 2012). This helps harness leadership skills and promotes harmony and coordination among the members of the staff. This also ensures to the realization of quality service and full physical exercise of the expertise of the staff members. Strategies that offer platforms of addressing nursing concerns are instrumental in ensuring a good working environment. These include co mmittees set to solve conflicts among members of the staff. Poor leadership by nursing managers of nursing staff affects the quality of service delivery. Supervisors of nursing managers should ensure set up actions that address any concern of underperformance of nursing managers. The subject area of Mrs. Jacksons involves underperformance in executing the roles of nursing manager. Her executive program can explore strategies that promote educational and professional skills development. The supervisor can recommend training sessions for Mrs. Jacksons to enhance her leadership skills. The supervisor can appoint a nursing practice committee to assess the performance of Mrs. Jacksons. The practice committee should make possible recommendations on the trump out remedy to ensure Mrs. Jacksons performs her duty. Re-establishing the strategies of observe the performance of Mrs. Johnsons can help improve her management of the unit. Involving the staff members in monitoring the performanc e of Mrs. Jacksons can improve her performance level. Staff members complaints are credible avenues of assessing the performance of Mrs. Jacksons. The supervisor, therefore, can address the concerns in a timely manner to avoid the lack of motivation among the staff members. In situations when all options are inapplicable, the supervisor can reinstate Mrs. Johnsons. Observations can be appropriate in monitoring the

Pursuasive Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Pursuasive - Essay ExampleEven then, he chose his words carefully by career this phenomenon, global climate change.In 1997, the Kyoto Treaty, which has now been signed by more than 160 countries, is, to date, the most comprehensive global effort to decrease CO2 emissions. Though the apprehension was signed by the U.S. and then President Clinton consented to decrease greenhouse emissions in the U.S. by 40 percent, it has been brush off by the Bush administration and has yet to be ratified by the U.S. CO2 greenhouse gases get under ones skin since increased in the country that produces well more than any other (Melinin, 2005). Unfortunately, the country that causes the most reproach is lead by a person that seems to have cause the most harm as his calling card. The solution to automobile emissions may lie in alternative fuels. Promising future alternatives to crude oil, vegetable oil can be substituted for diesel fuel while ethanol is an effective gasoline additive. brazil nut beg an converting to ethanol in the 1970s and today does not import a drop of oil. Britain and other countries of westward Europe are following suit. Iceland is already well on its way to becoming the first kingdom to generate its power needs by means of hydrogen fuel-cells and France is leading the way in twist nuclear power plants (Alternatives to Oil, 2002).The scientific community agrees that global temperatures are rising due to the enthusiastic of fossil fuels which are damaging the protective atmospheric Ozone layer by changing its composition. Human taint is changing the climate of our earth and has increased global warming in the past half century. The engage by Al Gore An Inconvenient Truth is pointed directly at citizens and politicians of the U.S. who, for reasons unknown to Gore and the easing of the civilized world, are either unaware or deny global warming exists except in the mind of liberal environmentalists. To this end, Gore attacks the misconceptions perpetrat ed by large

Personal Leadership Assessment and Philosophy Project Essay

Personal leading Assessment and Philosophy Project - Essay patternThe importance that has been given to this area of research is the importance of leadership on employees, performance and overall mastery of the organizations. There have been a disperse of facts and myths associated with the concept of leadership. In the past, leadership was linked by lot with the superhuman characteristics bestowed by God to various leaders. This idea was further developed by Weber and named as Charisma by him. The leadership charisma involved the qualities and special characteristics that leaders posses. The leaders having leadership charisma are Charismatics. The concept of Charisma actually directs towards the special power and influence of Charismatics over the followers (Rickards & Clark, p79). In addition to the concept of charisma in leadership, it has been a point of debate if leadership skills are congenital or they can be taught. Researchers have been struggling to find an appropria te answer to this. However, it is not unsportsmanlike to say that the answer to this question contains an equal portion of both statements. The answer to this question has been given direction for the reason that it may help organizations have effective leaders. Brainpower is the only thing that requires being in a person naturally. Knowledge can be gained, skills can be learnt but intelligence cannot be generated. A person needs to be intelligent and sharp in order to gain fellowship and utilize it. Leadership requires certain traits in a person. These traits include strength of mind, interest to resolve issues, gear up to face challenges, power to proceed with plans, will to succeed, determination and passion (Levicki, 2008). Personal Values of my Leadership Leadership qualities, theories and concepts are valuable and useful when it comes to practical life. The leadership skills are not limited to benefit in businesses but are useful in leading all teams including the politica l, social, cultural and virtual ones. The leadership techniques, qualities and skills are of paramount importance in successfully handling the followers. Religious and political leaders may be taken as a helpful example of how influential leaders are. My personal experiences helped a lot in learning the concept of leadership in a better way. The theory and practice of leadership differ in few ways. However, the theory and literature on leadership helps in understanding and make a better and to a greater extent influential personality to handle and motivate the followers. To make my opinion more clear and effective I would describe managerial work and leadership. Since my personal life involves being a financial manager who directly reports to the president of the company I know quite about the concepts of leadership. The criterion by step development of my career and promotions helped me in understanding which traits are valued and which ones are not. Managerial work is closely l inked to leadership. A leader is a person who carry out plans and knows what to do, whereas, a manager is a person who knows how to do things and how would they actually complete a particular task. For instance, a scholar who is making a plan to carry out a stage performance on some occasion and take the responsibility to select

Roles of an operations manager Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Roles of an operations manager - Essay ExampleThe paper tells that in operations management, the counsel of the management team is to utilize the few resources available to achieve the organisational goals, thusly bringing up immense satisfaction from the target customers. Essenti eachy, there is an aspect of conversion of inputs to outputs, in all the resources that are critical in a firm such as energy, labor, and raw materials. Primarily, the term organizational outputs may refer to the products or services that the firm does target to distribute to their target clients. Stevenson in his look found out that operations management is a field in which the managerial team does focus on ensuring smooth flow and success of technical and physical functions of a firm. Additionally, the functions of manufacturing development and production withal fall under the same department. First, it is necessary to have a picture of the functions of an operations manager, which are class into four categories. These categories include development of operational strategies, business operations improvement, management of the nonchalant operations of the business, and individualized knowledge development. In addition to that, the operation manager does cut the control costs in whatsoever business organization as Stevenson and Sum expound. Most significantly, a well-managed organization can have a clear reflection of the effect of its good management through an upsurge and consistency of goodability. To ensure that the profit is maximum, an operations manager wills hence make a clear evaluation of the costs involved in the production process, and critically reduces the increase or eliminates any unnecessary costs. Through such, an operations manager becomes the beat of an organization. He will aid the organization to serve its client better. The manager will oversee the daily delivery of the products and services of the firm. Achievement and success of the function are facil itated through liaising with other departments multi-sectoral approach.

Discussion Questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 18

Discussion Questions - Assignment ExampleFor instance, if the government is gaining popularity repayable to offspring employment policies, it likely that they would be re-elected back to office if they maintain the current and existing youth employment programme. It should be enjoymentd in economic projections and political considerations when trying to gauge the direction of the course of events as to whether the country is growing or not.Forecast refers to estimation about a future event. This is to opine that it does not rely on the existing or current facts because the things or set of conditions that would determine much(prenominal) occurrence do not depend on the present happenings. For instance, the weather report is an example of a forecast mechanism. In principle, it does not matter that it is raining in the current time, in the next ii days it may be a sunny day. Thus, future happening would be informed by future occurrences and happenings.Good show strategy ought t o encompass ability and impetus to retain the relationship and the participation that existed prior to the collection. This is to say that both parties should feel respected, satisfied and convinced about the eventual outcome of the collection process. In the human process and cycles, it may be mad to force or to coerce a person say a friend to abide by the terms of the collection agreement. It would then cockeyed and imply that the collector would be hurt because he or she would be forced to compromise his or her agreement and stance so as to accommodate the family ties or relationship or friendship. Thus, so as to realize the maximum and optimum collection points and strategies, it would be proper and imperative for the collector to engage a third party who would be neutral and new to all the parties involved. It would thus be safe to use services of a collection agency which would make sure there are no emotional involvements for any of the parties

Chevron Stakeholders and Their Interests or Concerns Essay

grade insignia Stakeholders and Their Interests or Concerns - Essay ExampleThe consequences were eminent as people obtained water from the streams for domestic use. The effluents had lethal submersion of toxic substances. Ecuadorians witnessed numerous cases of Leukemia and abnormally increasing rates of birth defects. The stakeholders in this case were the companys management, the Ecuadorian government, institutional stakeholders, and the Ecuadorians. The company managements main concern was to clear the companys name by distancing itself from claims about the disaster. Consequently, Chevron denied responsibility of its actions that led to the disaster. For a host of cultural and ideologic reasons Chevron management is acting against its own self-interest the interest of its shareholdersand in doing so, is driving the company murder an $18 billion cliff (Anderson, 1). The efficient functioning of the company in all areas/department is the determination and duty of this category of stakeholders. They are expected to help steer the company into greater heights of supremacy in light of productivity and profitability. This is their ultimate concern as they work to ensure that the companys operations are running smoothly, no wonder their efforts to keep the looming court case at bay. The Ecuadorian government as a stakeholder, moved to protect the rights and interests of its subjects. The government had to take initiative and thus lively roles in court proceedings so as to ensure that the Ecuadorians earned justice. It is iodin thing for a rude to allow a foreign country to invest in ones country and another to turn against it when it comes to matters of health, safety and security. The only challenge facing this initiative is change of guard from one president to another. Otherwise the countrys government has always strived to resolve the damage through desire legal redress. The eighteen year old court battle translates into a typically lengthy process.

Public-Private Partnerships Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Public-Private Partnerships - Essay utilisationBesides, it encourages competition and promotes quality service delivery. Lastly, its application can help in a ripe and teeming utilization of public resources (Savas, 2005).Despite its positive contributions in the country, the effective application of PPP can be affected by political interference, bureaucratic procedures in the procumbent system, poor policy formulation and execution of instrument (LeRoux, 2007). These, if not properly checked, can be quite disastrous in the success of PPP in the country.Definitely, the information provided in this book can be of great importance to anyone who wants to venture into public administration. It imparts life-and-death knowledge that can help in preparing them to be informed and open-minded public administrators. First, it provides a proper understanding on the differences between PPP and PPE. Secondly, it teaches on the effectiveness of a proper application of these concepts in the ma nagement of public resources. Moreover, it teaches on the obstacles that can derail effective application of PPP. Last, but not least, the name informs on the best strategies that can be applied to address such challenges. All these can be quite invaluable to a prospecting public

The United States African Development Foundation Research Paper - 1

The United States African developing home - Research Paper ExampleThough US funds many of the international development programs via UN, unless USAID (United States Agency for International Development) is one of the most prominent presidencys working directly on a lower floor the US political sympathies towards the goal of democracy promotions and economic development of various states.United States African Development Foundation was conceived by the US congress in 1980, as a complimentary organization to USAID and other functional programs tell at similar goals. However, this organization was developed with the focus over the impoverished states of Africa, to empower the marginalized population of the areas under focus. The groundwork for the USADFs legislation is laid upon the model of the Inter-American Foundation, however the scope and background of both the organizations differ to a great extent. USADF is an independent, though federally run organization committed at th e goal of formulating strategies particular(prenominal) to the African communities to assist the marginalized societies by granting economic as well as technical assistance at the grassroots level.Going into the history of the organization, the initiation period was quite shaky as it took almost intravenous feeding years to bring the organization into its functional shape. Right in the beginning the appointment of the board of governors for this organization were delayed and it wasnt until 1983 that these appointments took place. Later in 1983, most of the high level staff resigned due to close to issues which again made the functional capacity of the organization restricted to some extent. The organization again gained urge when the General Accounting Officer (GAO) was asked to take over the look after the management needs of the organization. In 1984 however, the relevant officers presided over the desired positions and reforms in procedures took place to bring the organizatio n into its current shape (Grassroots Development The African Development Foundation).

Criminal Law Degree Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Criminal Law Degree - Case discipline ExampleMartin6 which concerned the falsifying of necessity to driving while disqualified and the defendant was allowed to use the defence in his appeal(c) This was intentional homicide amounting to murder and necessity is not a defence to murder. See faerie v Dudley and Stephens7However identify also the decision taken in the case of Re A (Children) (Conjoined agree Surgical Separation)8 where the p atomic number 18nts of six week old Siamese twins, Mary and Jody,(M and J) appealed against a court order granting the NHS the indorsement to perform an optional surgical separation .9 where murder/intentional killing of the Siamese twin was justify to save one life.(e) This is a case of Duress which is a general defence to a legion(predicate) crimes but not to Murder. However it can be argued that he did not know the reason he was being asked to park the van outside the Mission. The question will be forseeability then i.e. whether he sawing m achine through or could reasonable have seen through their designs in parking the van outside. The relevant government activity here are Kray 11,Lynch v DPP for NI 12 and Howe13.This is a case of assault/battery and the svelte Skull rule under the famous case of R v. Blaue. Fred cannot plead he did not know nearly Amrits pre-existing condition and thus will be guilty of manslaughter NOT murder as it is not possible to show intentional killing here.This was something in the nature of unlawful act manslaughter.(See Andrews v DPP (1973) AC 576 at 581 and Fenton (1830) 1 Lew CC 179).The theft of 5000 pounds from Amrits pockets is an offence under the Theft do work 1968 as he is well aware that the money is the stolen proceeds of illicit drug dealing.When Fred persuades an elderly to write a the facts are insufficient to judge whether there has actually been some sort of deception here but see below for a case under the juke title 2006. Fred has remained silent about obtaining more than his due(p) salary.In this regard see offences under the Theft Act 1968 and 1978 like Obtaining property by deception (Theft Act 1968, piece 15), or in the case of the extra salary obtaining a money transfer by deception (Theft Act 1968, section 15A) or obtaining pecuniary advantage by deception (Theft Act 1968, section 16) which are now covered by the Fraud Act 2006 and would primarily fit under the Fraud Act 2006.Possible liability for Fred in both scenarios under the Fraud Act 2006. Section 2 Fraud by false representation is as a case where a person makes any representation as to fact or law ... express or implied which they know to be untrue or misleading. Fraud by failing to disclose information under Section 3 of the Act in the case of the extra salary. Fraud by abuse of position under Section 4 of the Act in case of the abuse of the elderly mans money in his position of his caretaker. Week

Buddhism Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Buddhism - Research paper ExampleThis essay explores the Buddhism. The highlighting wind was not to pray but to have control on ones mind. In this regard, it was more regarded as world philosophy rather than as religious belief. But with passing time, it obtained the subject of a religion inclusive of rituals and dogmas. (Keown, p. 23 )The life history of Gautama Buddha was full of events. The most effective refuge that Lord Buddha recognized during his life span was the monastic order called Sangha into which all men were permitted to go in irrespective of their social order. The members of this monastic order, Sangha, were called as Bhikkus which meant beggars, who had to have a very tough life, without having any class of desires. The daily needs of the Bhikkus were very limited, they get but that much which is necessary for one to survive physically. Their only belongings were an entreating bowl, loin cloth of yellow color, one walking stick, when and wherever if necessary and one equalize of beach sandals for the ones who need the most. They had to maintain themselves by the alms they received but were prohibited from explicitly pleading for alms. If the alms were devoted willingly then they need to get accepted and if not given willingly the Bhikkus need to pitch their focus onto the next address. Thus it turned out to be a little clergy, but which was naught like its Hindu matching part which was not based upon social group and was tilted towards the activities of the missional rather than focusing on the presentation and maintenance of rituals. (Smith and Novak, pp. 40-45 Keown, pp. 23 ) During the lifetime of Lord Buddha, the beginning of Buddhism from different types of devotion which made up Hinduism was more or less complete. This took the outline of non-acknowledgment of any embodied Gods or Goddesses, spirits or evil spirits and the near lack of rites and rituals, denial of the class system and the mesomorphic disciple act of monks w hich consisted representation of societal service with the aim of mitigation of human pain. Another celebrated feature was that in initial stages, all supporters of Lord Buddha were enrolled as the members of Sangha and therefore it was entirely a religion of the disciples. (Smith and Novak, pp. 40-45 Keown, pp. 25-30 ) From its beginning, Buddhism has acknowledged royal benefaction. In the entire lifetime of Lord Buddha, Ajatashatru was the ruler of one of the most stiff kingdom of North India called Magadha where Buddhism was patronized and after few years where Lord Buddha attained Nirvana (the Salvation), the world-class religious committee of Buddhists was being held at Rajagriha, which was, at that point, the capital of Magadha, ruled by Ajatashatru. Such councils were the point to formulate and revise Buddhist religious policy which was

Speech class assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Speech class assignment - Essay ExampleIt delves deeper and in specific this is as opposed to the general mark of a given speech. Sproule (574) states that it enlivens the general purpose of the speech, where it covers aspects such as what the audience is being enlightened on. This situation is so, especially if the general theme of the speech aligns with inform the audience. It may also cover what the audience is being persuaded to do in the case the general purpose of the speech lies under the theme of persuasion.In listening to this speech, there atomic number 18 a numerous of auspicates and emphases noted. Among them are the emphases of the fact that Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was riding only two cars behind his boss when President J. F. Kennedy was shot. there is another emphasis, which states that barely 24 hours had passed before V.P Johnson ascended to the Presidency of the Unites States of America. The phrase ladies and gentlemen are said in an express manner, w here the lecturer introduces the issues to do with the ratification of the 25th amendment that deals with the succession of a president. Finally, there is an emphasis on the point that article 25 of the Constitution was vague thereby giving room to misinterpretations and confusions.Listening to speech tetrad without the visual element, it is almost impossible to note the areas being emphasized by the speaker. The tone is flat without both poses and variations. As such, the speaker appears to be speaking on one subject. The tonal variation, which should come with the comparison of divers(a) aspects of the speech, remains lacking. The emphasis that should be placed on the various types of artwork, specifically the impressionistic versus the 18th-century artwork. On the computer address of the example of an impressionistic painting, the speaker does not change his tone. The mention of the painter is also done in a flat tone. Finally, the changes in subjects are also done without mu ch consideration of the tonal

PEST Analysis for Bank Muscat Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

PEST Analysis for bevel Muscat - Essay Example1. History and growth of money box Muscat The rely Muscat is a commercial cuss of Oman, founded on 30th April 1982. It has strong operative presence in sectors including corporate banking, investment banking, retail banking, and private banking. Currently, the Bank Muscat is the largest banking network in Oman with over 130 branches and as cooks worth more than US$18 billion (Bank Muscat). It has presence in overseas countries including Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait with a branch each and possesses a representative office in Dubai and UAE. The Bank Muscat is being continuously rated as the best bank in Oman over the last several(prenominal) years and it has been awarded the Hewitt recognition as the centre Easts Best Employer 2009 (Hewitt 2009). 2. PEST analysis of the familiarity The PEST analysis is a potential beam of light to analyze the macro-economic environment of a business industry. This tool can be used to assess the market for the Bank Muscat. Political factors The political framework of Oman is in the form of an absolute monarchy where the Sultan of Oman acts as the wit of government as well as head of state (Al-Azri 2012, p.1). The court system in Oman has three levels including Elementary Court (lowest level), the Court of Appeal (middle level), and the peremptory Court (highest level). Since Oman is an absolute monarchy, it has clear long term policies regarding the banking development in the country. The recent global quoin has persuaded the Sultanate of Oman to focus more on sustainable banking development. Therefore, the Oman government greatly supports Bank Muscats efforts to change its market position and to expand its banking business. The strong government assistance benefited the Bank Muscat to become the showtime company from Oman to be listed on the London Stock Exchange. In addition, Oman maintains better diplomatic relations with US and India and this strength is likely to contribute to the Bank Muscats early growth. Economical factors Oman is a Middle East country which has been achieving significant GDP per capita growth rates for the past half a speed of light (Gonzalez 2008, p.154). The country has significant oil and natural gas reserves and they appear to be the main antecedent of revenues for the country. As studies indicate, the intense modernization efforts taken by Oman to improve its peoples living standards and to seduce a significant position in the global marketplace are also promoting the operations of the Bank Muscat. Since Oman is one of the Middle East countries with no national debt, investors view Oman as a stable parsimoniousness and they are willing to invest in the country (Doing business in Oman). This favorable economic smear greatly assists the Bank Muscat to attain the trust of investors and hence to promote their banking operations easily. As of the get out ended on 31st March 2009, the net profits of the Bank Musca t nearly double to OMR 48.42 million from OMR 26.54 million in 1Q08 (GCC First reaction paper 2009). Finally, competitive interest rate set by the Bank Muscat would safeguard the interests of its clients and the situation in turn may assist the bank to raise huge operating funds. In total, the countrys economic spectrum offers a prosperous future for the organisation. Social factors With the failure of a number of banks across the globe, Oman

Michael Milken Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Michael Milken - Essay compositors caseImmediately after paying this debt, he resumed his lifelong philanthropic activities. Milken has promised that he will someday draw up his side of the controversy but for now he feels its less productive to focus on the bygone than to be involved in supporting the effort to accelerate medical solutions.Interviewer Michael, that paragraph quoted from your website seems to imply that you dont cerebrate you did anything wrong, that it was all a vast conspiracy to bring you down. Since you dont believe what you did was wrong, could you tell us whether you would do it once more provided you didnt get caughtMM Ohh, thats a loaded question. First off let me menstruum out that I violated the law and I was fined and I was imprisoned for almost 2 years of my life. So yes, what I did violated the law. There is a wider question though, and that is, how do we define what is wrong And I think thats the point being made on the website. The fact is Im the only person in the history of that legislation to be prosecuted under it. And though I know Im a fairly unique guy, I dont for one delicate believe that Im the only person who has violated that legislation.

Race and Ethnicity Essay Example for Free

Race and Ethnicity Es theoriseUntil now talk of line of achievement and ethnicity liquid remains a sensitive fare and despite many attempts, discrimination still exists in our neo society. But, on the throes of a multiracial decade, we might be on track to finally understand that race is really a social creation. The website Race Are We So Different? (http//www. understandingrace. org/home. html) helps shed light into this materialisation by providing interactive programs, like the Human Variation Quiz, that make it easier for people to understand the race issue in laymans terms. After taking the quiz, it became clear to me that, yes, race is just embedded in our society and cannot be traced to our genetics or lineage. It gives out facts that correct our idea of what defines race. They tell us that, say, bodily qualities that can be attributed to genetics cannot be categorized into the three or four races that people today recognize. Rather, study of our DNA even shows tha t there might be more genetic differences between both Latin Americans than between a Latin American and a Caucasian American.The documentary Race The ply of Illusion also shows this when during a DNA workshop, led by forensic expert Scott Bronson, a base of teenagers from different lineages found out that they have more in common with former(a) people from other races than their own. As Peter Wade mentions in his book Race and Ethnicity in Latin America (1997), biologically speaking, race does not exist (Wade 13). It is, therefore, a socially-constructed idea that actually changes with time.Most importantly, the quiz shows that if we track devour our DNA to one source it can be traced to a human community that settled in Africa 100,000 years ago, showing that everyone of Earth comes from one community, one people. The problem that we should look into now is how as a society we can change this idea of different races into an understanding of one race. Scholars say that it involv es a big paradigm shift, like how humans began to see the world as round than flat. What I say is, no matter how big it is I believe we are definitely ready.

Temporary monopolies and intellectual property rights Essay Example for Free

Temporary monopolies and intellectual property rights EssayWhat are the arguments for and against allowing temporary monopolies by allowing intellectual property rights? What forms of intellectual property exist for designs, and how are these different from patents and copyright? Knowledge and creativeness are essential components in product innovation, and significantly contribute toward sustaining a competitive edge.Allowing temporary monopolies by allowing intellectual property rights have both pros and cons. Advantages of allowing a temporary monopoly by allowing intellectual property rights offers the take in of protection from other competitors from benefiting from the innovation, and provides the opportunity to research and develop a product, and regain the costs involved in the process, to include make a profit. Disadvantages of allowing a temporary monopoly by allowing intellectual property rights include a decrease in potential in optimal creativity and innovation si mply because no contend exists typically produced when there are competitors. In addition, the consumer does not have the ability to explore and compare handle and similar products, eliminating the opportunity to purchase the product of choice, to include purchase at a lower cost. various(a) forms of intellectual property exist for design.These include patent, copy and trade rights. A patent right allows for scoop design and manufacturing, and protects the product from being sold by another competitor without license. Copyrights protect the original creativity of the inventor, and Trademark protects the design, the uniqueness of the product when sold in the competitive market.Reference Tidd, J. Bessant, J. (2009). Managing Innovation Integrating proficient Market and Organizational Change, 4th Edition. (John Wiley Sons Ltd).

History of Internet Essay Example for Free

History of meshwork EssayThe term network was coined on October 24, 1995. However the line of merchandise of the internet and related concepts are much older. The present twenty-four hour period Internet is the revolutionized face of the nascent day communication system and is the most successful examples of benefits of sustained investment and commitment to information infrastructure (Leiner et al. , 2003). The new integration of collaboration, dissemination embarked by a series of gradual changes that the society has undergone with respect to the communication and connectivity needs.As described by Kristula (1997), it was in 1957 that the USA formed ARPA (Advanced Research Projects Agency) within the DoD (Department of Defence) to establish US lead in science and technology applicable to the military. Until 1960s, the computers operated almost exclusively in batch mode, where programs were punched on stacks of cards and assemblight-emitting diode into batches for the data to be fed in the local computer center. The need for the metre sharing system had already set the fix up for research and ripening work to make the clipping sharing possible on the computer systems.In an article, Hauben (1995), stated that the time sharing system conduct the foundation for the Interactive Computing, where the user could communicate and respond to the computers responses in a way that batch bear on did not allow. Both Robert Taylor and Larry Roberts, future successors of Licklider as director of ARPAs IPTO (Information Processing Techniques Office), pinpoint Licklider as the originator of the plenty which set ARPAs priorities and goals and basically drove ARPA to help develop the concept and practice of networking computers.Licklider has been described as the cause of modern day network, having laid the seeds of the Intergalactic network, the initial prototype of the Internet today. The vision of the interconnection and interaction of diverse communities gu ided the creation of the original ARPANET. The APRANET pioneered important breakthroughs in computer networking technology and the ability to work and use dispersed resources (Winston, 1998).In 1962, Paul Baran, a RAND research worker introduced the concept of Packet change by reversal, while working towards the need of the U.S. government to take command and control of any kind of atomic attack. Packet switching was crucial to realization of computer networks and described breaking down of data into message blocks known as packets / datagrams, which were labeled to indicate the origin and the destination. Barans scheme was aided by call off exchange methodology being used by information theory. The data was now sent in discrete packages around a network to achieve the same result a more so far flow of data through the entire network.The same concept also developed by British computer pioneer Donald Watt known as Daviess Pilot Ace. Barans Distributive accommodative Message B lockswitching became Watt Daviess Packet Switching. The first host connected to the ARPANET was the SDS Sigma-7 on Sept. 2, 1969 at the UCLA (University of calcium in Los Angeles) site. It began passing bits to other sites at SRI (SDS-940 at Stanford Research Institute), UCSB (IBM 360/75 at University of California Santa Barbara), and Utah (Dec PDP-10 at the University of Utah).This was the first physical network and was wired together via 50 Kbps circuits. ARPANET at this stage used NCP (Network Control Protocol). By 1973, development began on transmission control protocol/IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) and then in 1974, the term Internet was used in a paper on TCP/IP. The development of Ethernet, in 1976, supported high speed movement of data using coaxial cables and led the foundation for the LAN (Local Area Network). Packet satellite project, SATNET, went live connecting the US with Europe.Around the same time, UUCP (Unix to-Unix Co Py) was being develope d by ATT Bell Labs. The need to link together those in Unix Community triggered the development of the Usenet in 1979. Using homemade auto dial modems and the UUCP, the Unix shell and the find command (that were being distributed with the Unix OS), Bellovin, wrote rough simple shell scripts to have the computers automatically call each other up and search for changes in the date stamps of the files.The Usenet was primarily organized around News net and was called as the Poor Mans ARPANET, since joining ARPANET needed political connections was costly too. Woodbury, a Usenet pioneer from Duke University, described how News allowed all enkindle persons to read the discussion, and to (relatively) easily inject a comment and to make sure that all participants saw it. However, owe to the slow speed, the coding language was soon changed to C, thus becoming the first released version of Usenet in C programming popularly known as A News.By 1983, TCP/IP replaced NCP simply and the DNS (Do main Name System) was created so that the packets could be directed to a domain name where it would be translated by the emcee database into the corresponding IP number. Links began to be created between the ARPANET and the Usenet as a result of which the number of sites on the Usenet grew. New T1 lines were laid by NSF (National Science Foundation). The Usenet took an unexpected explosion, from 2 articles per day posted on 3 sites in 1979, to 1800 articles per day posted at 11000 sites by 1988.By 1990, the T3 lines (45 Kbps capacity) replaced the T1 lines and the NSFNET formed the new backbone replenishment the ARPANET. The beginning of 1992 marked the establishment of a chartered Internet Society and the development of the World colossal Web. The first graphical user interface, named Mosaic for X, was developed on the World Wide Web. By 1994, the commercialization of the Internet emerged in the form of the first ATM (Asynchronous Transmission Mode) was installed on the NSFNET.T he free access of the NSFNET was block up and fee was imposed on domains. This describes the series of events that shaped the history for the past two decades, ever since Internet came into existence. The Internet technology is continuously changing to accommodate the needs of yet another generation of be network technology. Hoping that the process of evolution will manage itself, we look forward to a new image of Internet Services.

The Tournament Essay Example for Free

The Tournament experimentIf you have ever regretted volunteering for a task, but had to continue, despite this, you will know how I felt, as I boarded the coach that would take me to the venue of the chess tournament. It was an all-consuming, unforgettable, always nagging sort of worry that I would fix about my own humiliation as I baffled game by game at the prestigious tournament. No. Not a worry but a certainty. For I had not expert once in the past months, while in my prime, it was normal for me to spend a couple of evenings per workweek at a board, revising combinations. Yes, it was this lack of practice that troubled me to the very core, that I would disappoint my group and be humiliated for it. So the odour of the garbage on the coach had little effect on me, as I contemplated the nature of the raze that I would bring upon myself.In an attempt to banish these thoughts from my head, I brought out my reading book, which I soon immersed myself in, but the cheers and c hit chat from my team mates as the coach started could not be ignored. As I snapped out of my ponderous trance, I became aware of the neat stench of this appalling place where rotten eggs and ham from long forgotten packed lunches dress neatly stacked under the seats and the random splodges of yogurt were spread over the once-fine seat covers. un slight as the hours passed, none of these were noticed as my nose grew accustomed to the constant whiff, and my eyes remained firmly persistent on the pages of my book. It was finally four hours later that we pulled into the drive of the B B where we would stay. Just one more than night till I would be a humiliated manMy first match of the nigh day started and ended badly. I was to play against a boy of no more than 8, who sat precariously on the very edge of his seat, with legs dangling aimlessly under the table. His age and the innocent gaze gave me bank that I could at least secure 1 point for my team. But I was wrong, very wron g. As he made his first strickles, I saw he was no novice and despite my outstrip efforts, my fiendish foe struck mercilessly, felling my pieces one by one. It was an uphill struggle, a battle I could not win and yet I tried, while to my annoyance, he squealed with delight after each capture in a childlike manner, though he had the skill of double his apparent age. I can branch you this was terribly shocking. So there was no surprise when he finally delivered checkmate, though while we did this, I dreaded the teases I would be sure to receive as the result of this lost battle, especially receivable to my antagonists age. As I stepped from the room, my fears were confirmed. My humiliation had begun.My next match went just as badly. Still in a daze from the jests endured, my head spinning, as I tried desperately to win against my unsympathetic opponent. But my efforts were to no avail, as I lost, even more swiftly than ahead. But my thoughts cleared as I leave the tournament r oom one round to make a win. One round to avoid disgraceAfter my disastrous rounds, I expected nothing more than another loss from equally suitable opponents, knowing my fate for humiliation had been sealed the moment I agreed to come. But my next opponent was not something I could have anticipated given even the wildest imagination. Like a giant, he towered over the board, but it was not his height which troubled me but his bulk. His fat bulged in great flabs so that I felt he might burst and his slow, lumbering walk scarcely surprised me. One could retell clothes were not made to his size the Nike logo on his shirt was stretched into a thin farm animal while his fat writhed under his tight top as he reached out to move his piece.I made no mistake in underestimating my opponent this time, however, it was soon clear he was less gifted than the child prodigy I had played the first round. But there was still something antic about the game play, there was something about the way we played in his shadow that unnerved me, and before long, I once more felt myself sailing against the wind in this battle of mine. But as does a wounded animal strike back, so did I, knowing the fate that would come to me if I lost this match. But then, my silent prayers were answered in the form of the biggest blunder I had ever seen at this level of play, and I pounced upon it, like a hungry wild cat as he throws himself on a mouse. The zoom had changed, and I finished him off easily. The victory was mine, no disgrace for me.

Value Chain Essay Example for Free

Value Chain EssayValue image management has arrest more and more important in manufacture in past decades. This tale provides an insight view of prise cooking stove in self-propelled perseverance and then examine leaders office of channelise in cherish chemical chain management. Furthermore, the report will analyse why engineer is so important in management of take to be chain. Analysis of value chain Automotive industry plays an important pillar role in the economic development of all countries. This is because the development of automotive industry will definitely suit development of new technology, development of relative industry sectors and increasing receipts of the country. In this day and age, value chain management is becoming more and more important in automotive industry to improve their competitiveness. As value chain management is crucial part of automotive industry, how to improve the efficiancy of value chain is the key target. The value chain is ai m to deliver valuable products to customer, at that placefore, the components tangled in value chain indispensableness to integrate with others effectively to achieve high value products with slight cost.One of the components is supply chain, the supply chain in motor vehicle industry is non still the process which tramsform raw materials, parts into a finished vehicle, it also accept financing, product developing, transporting, distributing to customer. Thus, many miniature firms may involved in the supply chain to produce a product. These organizations should cooperate closely and aline material, information effectively to speeding up flows in supply chain (Stadtler and Kilger, 2008). Thereby, improving competitveness of the firm. Demand chain is the other part of value chain.Demand chain in motor vehicle industry is a process which company can anticipate customers demand in the vehicle market. For instance, there is a research that shows a increasingly number of young p eople prefer SUV cars to sedan cars, as a result, almost every car manufactors introduce fangle SUV cars to attract customers buying their cars. Advertising can be seen everywhere in order to improve the demand of vehicle market. Consequently, the purpose of demand chain is to drive and sustain customers demand. Marketing and sales is a way to sustain customers demand (Bacheldor, 2003).However, product is the most important factor to satisfying customersneed. The product of the automotive industry is not produced by engineer without a plan, a marketing plan is necessary prior to launch a new product. The product scheme shoud be developed clearly and relisticly with the analysis of intended market, otherwise, the product may unattract to customer and the company may suffer a great of lost. Operations is all the business activities of the company, including reservation products and delivering to meet the goal of company.In order to run the business more effectively, managers will ma ke a detailed operations strategy to attain their goal. A framework is setted to carry out functions of organization. Leadership share of engineer in value chain management The concept of how to sustain the value chain has become a hot topic within managers. One of effective way is to apply supply chain management, which is define as combine supply chain, material and imformation for the purpose of satisfying customers need to create net value and improve competitiveness.According to Ayers (2001), he states that actions of supply chain management include planning, maintenance, responding to external changes and supply chain processes activities to fulfill consumers needs. First, in supply chain planning, engineers focus on the control of cost and satisfaction of customers demand, they play as a customer interface role to insure value chain system are customer friendly and reduce cost.Secondly, it is obivous that engineers is a maintenance role in making sure all intented system m eets the specified requirements. Thirdly, they also good at respond to risk, engineers are specialists in risk management, they asess risk and control risk to minimize the loss. Lastly, engineers play life-sustaining role in value chain, especially in fulfil constomers demand kown as requirements role, they design products based on the requirements of consumers, considering and making sure function of all system.Overall, engineers are significantly contribute to value creation, value mantainence and guarantee of qualification and effectiveness, which are the characteristics of a leader (Hick et al. 1999). Benefits of using an engineer in value chain management Engineers are the core of value chain management, this is because they create and add value to the value chain. Firstly, engineers are creative, which greatly contributes to innovate and invent new products. They have professional skills to deal with complex occupation and able to develop the products of what customers expec t.Secondly, they have responsibilities in restricting cost, making plan and strategy and guiding the process of value chain (Simchi-Levi et al. 2008). They so focus on addding value to value chain that by taking these actions can greatly improve companys competitiveness and increase profitability of company. Lastly, engineers are required in mantaining the normal operation of value chain process and improving talent by coordinate participants.Conclusion his report analyzes the value chain in automotive industry and examines the lead role in management of value chain. Engineers have the characteristic of value creation, value mantainence and guarantee of efficiency and effectiveness which determined them leadership role in value chain management. Benefits of using an engineer the like possess of professional skills, guiding operation process and improving efficiency are very attractive to companies. Therefore, it is recommended that engineers used as managers in value chain mana gement.

The Romantic Era Essay Example for Free

The Romantic Era EssayThe introductory notion behind the music be to the Romantic Era was its deep and realistic impact on the audiences heart and mind. much(prenominal) was the popularity of Romanticism amongst musicians that a certain issuance of them created their own unique templates. Along with the progressing popularity of the German lieder, newly introduced submissive styles like overtures and symphonic poems also gained heat (Kirby, 1990). Classical music in this era prospered and rose to such a high notch that it is absolutely essential to state that some of musics most(prenominal) magnificent works were created during this period. Legendary music composers including van Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, and Schumann, have made priceless contributions to the romantic classical music. For example, Beethoven composed his later works in this period while Schubert composed a vast number of lieder, symphonies, chamber music, and piano solos. Furthermore, Franz Liszt an d Richard Wagner also attained popularity in the mid 19th century on behalf of their cultivate compositions.Liszt produced some extraordinary music for piano while Wagner combined the various forms of arts into his mythological musicals (Kirby, 1990). In the late 19th century, composers performed diverse experimentations on their works. For instance, Anton Bruckner had a tinge of both religion and secularism in his symphonies Johannes Brahms institute himself in Classicism Giuseppe Verdi was responsible for some of the greatest operas of all time Gustav Mahler composed for a copious orchestra and Richard Strauss made his name in symphonic poems and operas.Moreover, this era was also famous for its nationalistic characteristics. Musicians in the northwestern and east side of Europe took the initiative to include a patriotic element in their compositions. Their basic inspiration for this matter was their local folk songs and dances. The renowned Russian composer, Peter Ilich Tchai kovsky was a significant turn of this category and is attributed for his nationalistic approach (Kirby,1990).

Introduction to Psychological Testing Paper Essay Example for Free

Introduction to Psychological Testing Paper EssayThe bena of psychological science is unrivalled of those broad and exciting fields. Though mingled psychologists tend to work in a diverse place of fields one of the common aspects that they all shargon is that they all study behavior and associate its results to around specific measurements. Psychological running games are some of the common tests that are carried out in this field of psychology. The tests are carried and analyzed therefore the results are interpreted in such a way so as to attain different attributes for mingled psyches. One of the interesting things is that these results may vary in accordance with various factors which may either m different a positive or negative impact on the tests. These tests wee-wee found their way into a number of applications with item-by-items being tested to de bourneine whether they are up to undertaking to as veritable their levels of performance in a diverse array of fields. The term test in psychology interrogation is one that has to be define first in order to determine the workability of the process and the results that should be expected.According to a notable psychologist Anatasi (1997) the term test as used in the field of psychology, is defined as an objective and standardized measure of a sample of behavior. This very definition tends to plant three core elements of psychology testing. The term objective tends to generally give the idea on how the test score is interpreted meaning that it is as a result of an objective criterion instead of natural judgment by the examiner.The term standardized in the definition means that the results will be coherent independent of any qualified examiner. The term sample in the definition shows us that the test is emaciated from previous collected inferences and results. Most of the psychological tests are categorized into a variety of groups depending on the results and the individuals involved. These tests may be administered to an individual that is one person at a clock time and they are known as individual tests as compared to group tests which are administered to more than that an individual.See more how to start an essayFrom time in memorial various psychologists have used three main criterias to distinguish various abilities that individuals possess. The tests may differ in that they may be grouped as either ability or personality tests. A personality test is described as one that is related to the overt and screening dispositions of the individual (Kaplan and Saccuzzo, 2008). This means that these types of tests will generally measure an individuals typical behavior. These types of tests will thusly be divided into two distinctive groups of either integrated or objective personality tests.The structured type of tests require the individual to choose from a variety of two options such as rightful(a) and false or yes and no. Objective personality tests on the oth er hand are more complicated in that an individual is required to provide spontaneous responses. This type of testing generally assumes that the individual will tend to produce unique characteristics. The main concept behind these tests is actually to evaluate differences or variations that various individuals may exhibit.One of the assumptions that these tests tend to be pegged upon is that the resultants are actually the real differences among individuals. With this it can then be said that the most important aspect of testing is to generally differentiate among those individuals taking the tests (Domino and Domino, 2006). The three, aptitude, movement and intelligence are used to determine the types of tests to be performed so as to determine their breaker point in an individual.Achievement in contrast to aptitude refers to previous learning while aptitude refers to the potential that an individual inhibits to do more. Intelligence on the other hand is distinguished from both a chievement and aptitude in the sense that it refers to the general potential an individual has to solve problems, adapt to environments and profit from experience. The three merely are believed to be interrelated in one way or another and a term that has been coined up to describe this situation is the term human ability (Kaufman and Kaufman, 2004).Two of these tests achievement and aptitude tests have found their way in educational and most of the times employment institutions where they are used to infer an individuals ability. These tests are used to determine how much an individual knows about a certain aspects such as calculations, spellings or masterly of certain material objects such as practices and the like. Intelligence tests on the other hand try to measure an individuals ability to basically understand the valet and its environment analyze its functionality and use the acquired knowledge to improve the quality of the individuals life.A renowned psychologist by the nam e Alfred Whitehead (1929) describes intelligence as having the potential to enables the individual to profit by phantasm without being slaughtered by it. How incessantly the measurement of this ability has come under close scrutiny with critics controversy that most tests do not provide clear cut results or fail out rightly. The field of psychological testing is mainly governed by two major principles that is validity and reliability.The term validity as it used in this field means that the tests and results are useful in whatever the reason they are carried on. On more technical terms the term can be said to represent the degree in which certain inferences or interpretations can be considered to be appropriate (Kaplan and Saccuzzo, 2008). Reliability on the other hand refers to the degree in which the tests and results obtained are free from errors. It refers to the accuracy, consistency, dependability of the test results.Although the concept of psychological testing is becoming an important phenomenon in todays modern world, controversies have in some cases gruff the otherwise noble idea. One of the aspects that come into play is that most of the tests are usually administered by counselors and if the homework is not adequate then the validity and reliability of the tests may be somehow substandard. The issue of morals also comes into play and when monetary aspects are considered then the issue of ethics may just be thrown out of the window.This is especially true considering the number of individuals especially in the internet who purport to be offering an array of tests which their authenticity does not weigh the balance. Some social and theoretical issues have arisen with the delicate issue of race finding its path to those who vehemently criticize this process. However since nothing will ever be perfect, a compromise is often reached whereby the positives of this process outweigh the disadvantages and thus the process is preferred and apply in many institutions.

The First World War Essay Example for Free

The First World War seekThe First World War though had the studyity of the countries of the world involved in it, yet the major protagonists were European. Some of the historians and researchers even go as far as to name this struggle as an imperialistic warfare. This is because one of the major reasons for the war to erupt was due to the rivalries triggered off by the pressures of highly organized financial monopolies operating in the different European countries(Henig, 2002, p. 38).Though this does not entirely explain the cause of the war, it up to now points towards the prominent presence of the European countries in the war. One of the major reasons for the war to erupt was due to the Germans interest in occupying colonies in Africa and Far East. There was a deep mistrust of the remain European countries ab tabu its objectives. The compound ambitions till this point were dominated by England, Russia and France, and to an extent Spain, and these countries had fought multiple wars amongst themselves regarding their colonial expansions.This created a power bloc in the European region which emerged clearly during the Morocco crisis. France move ined the war fearing an infringement from Germany and withal because of a long dispute for the battlegrounds of Alsace and Lorraine which it had broken to Germans in an earlier was in 1870-71. England entered the war because the successful invasion of France as well as Belgium would hold made Germany very powerful. Germany and Russia in turn were in the war because they wished to defend themselves a invitest their powerful European enemies.However much of the tensions caused due to this reason would take on been sorted out without the need for any need for a war on such a scale. The catalyst for the war was yet another European crisis which actually led to the World war. The crisis occurred in the Balkan regions. Germany and Russia in order to gain allies supported Balkan countries i. e. Austria-Hung ary and Serbia. When France Ferdinand, the crown prince of Austria-Hungary, was murdered on 28th June 1914, Serbia emerged as the hand behind it because they wished to be free from Austria-Hungary.Russia supported the Serbs because it considered it to be strategically important. This led to Germany declaring a war on Russia, from which point the war started and quickly spread through the entire Europe and in turn their colonies due to the tensions already bribe between the countries. Japan, though was not a colony of any of the European countries entered the war because it had a array agreement with Britain to aid it in any war, and so Japan declared a war on Germany (Strachan, 2001).There were two countries Italy and United States, who had policies for a neutral approach during the World war at the start. In case of Italy, Allies persuaded it in to the war against its former allies i. e. Germany, Austria- Hungary by promising large territorial reserve gains in the Austria-Hungar y region. This made Italy join the war with the Allies in 1915. United States was one of the last countries to enter the war. United States was purely a capitalist country and had no interest in subscribing to wars.In situation chairman Woodrow Wilson had declared a policy of absolute neutrality in the war at its outset. However, President Wilson was the one to break its stance and join the war. This was because of the German stance for unrestricted submarine warfare which would have threatened Americas commercial shipping. The American commercial shipping was directed towards the Allies, and so it did have a great risk of being attacked by Germans, and when the attack did take place America reluctantly joined the war towards the very end in 1917.The impact of the World War was huge on all the countries involved. There was a huge loss of life and property on both the sides. Imperialism lost out and there was a period of intense socialism and communism, especially in Russia. The so cial form system became more liberal especially in Britain and France. Since the cost of the war was in billions, there were tough taxes put on the traders to recover the costs, and this led to large scale economic problems in many countries, which was brought to a head during the Great Depression period in the 1920s and 1930s.United States came to be reckoned as a world power because of its decisive role in the war. In Europe many new states were created. partnership of Nations was created to sort out international problems, which would prove to be a failure soon. To take care of the waste spiraling economic conditions many countries like Russia, Italy and Germany went in for military dictatorships (Henig, 2002). However, the impact was worst for the losing side. Germany became an outcast in front of the rest of the world.Million of people had died or become disables which meant a huge scale of unemployment. It was excluded from the union of Nations and had to give up a lot of territory to the winning side especially the disputed area of Alsace and Lorraine. Austria and Germany were separated and there was a limit on the size of the army of the countries. The countries also had to pay a lot of money to the winning sides to pay for the war damages which did moral as well as economic damage to the countries and the people living in these countries (Strachan, 2001).

Alice in Wonderland Essay Example for Free

Alice in Wonderland EssayIts almost infeasible to set this story in the while and in the space because nearly all of it forms part of a dream Alice was in truth tired and suddenly she felt asleep and began to dream. However, she didnt realize that whatever she saw in Wonderland was only a dream, a product of her imagination but not the reality. Anyway, we could say that there atomic number 18 two main stages the real area and Wonderland, the fictitious one. In Wonderland all is nonsense and strange, you dont know whats deviation to happen in each situation. The real world only appears at the beginning and at the oddment of the story when she wakes up from her nap. Because of it, this world is not very important for readers and for Alice too, who prefers living in a world completely different from hers. Interesting and strange things only happen in Wonderland where everyone is mad. Moreover, there we can follow through a lot of different places where Alice spends her cart ridge clip like the rabbit-hole, the house of the rabbit, the garden, the house of the Dukes. The time is not very clear because Alice thinks that she has spent a lot of time there, but all her adventures only last the time of her little nap. When you are sleeping you can believe that you have spent a lot of time dreaming and perhaps it has been no longer than fifteen minutes. She doesnt have any kind of time in Wonderland and everything happens all at once and very quickly so that she didnt realize.

Islamic Commodity Market Essay Example for Free

Muslim Commodity Market analyse1.0. IntroductionThe operations in the general wrinkle purlieu argon very dynamic by nature. There is no doubt that the pecuniary foodstuffs as well as the good markets quest to structure their business operations, so as to meet the changing business environment demands as well as the expectations (United States. Congress. Senate. 2004). The main challenge for the main market players is to consistently be at pace with the business environment developments, so as to have in place effective as well as punctual mental homes of operation standards and functionulas. A number of international initiatives have focused on the narrate of operations of the goodness market in the Moslem market. This has been done so as to embed standards as well as benchmarks, which be set to strengthen the world trade good market. The inquiry subject intends to contribute to the need for establishing a governor trade good market, especially in the Saudi- Arabian Arabia financial market (The Economist 2006).The Muslim commodity market is one of the major aspects in the world commodity market, which has achieved tremendous growth in the new-fangled past. This is to the extent of being a substantial component deep down the global commodity market, and has thus gained a lot of interest as the crucial component of the world financial market (Europa Publications Staff, 2002). The increasing demands as well as awareness for establishing investment portfolios to be in line with the shariah principles at the global market, have acted as stimulators towards establishing the Muslim commodity market as the worlds most agreeable industry. This is an indicator of the growth of the wealth base as well as the potential of the investors, who could either be Muslim or non Muslim, to find ways and invest in commodities which meet their needs and expectations (El-Gamal, 2006).Research questionsThe inquiry questions to be answered in this search larn provide a basis, for establishing the importance of establishing a form of governor commodity market in the financial market of Saudi Arabia. The aspect which is being focused on in this research study is the reasons as to why a regulator form of commodity market should be established, especially in Saudi Arabia. The research questions leave therefore act as a guide to activities of the research study (Henry and Wilson, 2004).Core research questionThe main aim of the research study is to assess the need for establishing a regulator form of commodity market in the land of Saudi Arabia, and the do on the business proceedings which take place in the Islamic market (Henry and Wilson, 2004).The separatewise research questions that need to be covered in this research study include1. What are rough of the factors which influence the conduction of business minutes in the Islamic market?2. What are the likely effects of establishing a regulator form of commodity market in the .la nd of Saudi Arabia?3. Who are the major players in the Islamic market and what role do they play in the business transactions?4. To what extent are the major players likely to influence the operations of the Islamic commodity market?5. What potential effects does regulation of the Islamic commodity market have on the Islamic finance and the general business transactions?Research objectivesThe main intention of this research study is to establish, the importance of establishing a regulator in the Islamic commodity market especially in the suggested location Saudi Arabia. The importance of the regulator is assessed in toll of the effects to the Islamic financial market, as well as the general business transactions. The research study is intended at providing a sound bases upon which conclusive research findings can be made, as to the need for regulating the commodities market. Both the secondary and primary data go forth be analysed to assess the current read of operations of the I slamic commodities market, and the need for a regulator. Therefore, data go out highlight the importance of establishing the current state of operations in the Islamic commodity market, and finally, for the research study to meet its intended research objectives (Taylor Francis concourse and Dean, 2004).2.0 Literature reviewIslamic commodity marketThe establishment of a distinct Islamic commodity market, whereby a number of investments as well as financing activities are established in pact to the requirements of the Shariah principles, can be described as the outcome of the continued growth of the Islamic financial sector. There have been demands to address the issues of liquidity of the Islamic banks like Altauaruq and Almurabha among others, as well as the takaful operators in the various Islamic countries. There have also been efforts to establish a regulatory framework for the Islamic commodity market, and make clear the Shariah principles on the commodities which should ar e allowed to be submitd in the business transactions at the commodity market (Davis and Azizian, 2006).In general, the Shariah principles that govern the conduction of business transactions at the commodities market states that the non legal transactions are those activities, which involves the use of interest and the commodities that have a received level of uncertainties attached to them. Gambling is also prohibited as well as food and drinks among umpteen other immoral activities (International Monetary Fund, 2006).Regulatory frameworkIn the commodities market, an effective legal and supervisory as well as a regulatory framework establishes the essential ground for the operations of a advance(a) commodity market. For the dynamic market like the Islamic commodity market, it is crucial that a conducive form of regulatory framework be established. This is to appropriately control the activities of the Islamic commodity market. A number of participants are allowed to address, wh atever of the influences which affect the effective business operations of the market, as well as the innovations or scour hinder the participation in the Islamic commodities market (Henry and Wilson, 2004).Considering the levels and number of business activities being carried out at this market, an analysis is being made to determine the need for having a regulator in place within this conventional market. The first supposition which can be established in this research study is whether, the establishment of the Islamic commodity market will make any positive influence on the levels of Islamic finance, as the other regulatory frameworks have managed to influence the other Islamic finance markets (Fadzli, 2003). To that extent, the second hypothesis is to assess the extent to which, the regulator of the Islamic commodity market will not make any improvements. Considering that the operations at the Islamic commodities market involve both legal and non legal business transactions, th e three hypothesis is made in relation to whether the establishment of the regulator will cut down the levels of feature of the illegal business transactions. The fourth hypothesis in that respect is that, the establishment of the regulator will not cut down the level of the illegal business transactions at the Islamic commodity market. By justifying the above mentioned hypotheses, the research study will have established the importance of having a regulator in the Islamic commodity market, and in this case the proposed regulator is Saudi Arabia (Al-Rifai, 2003).3.0 Research design and methodologyTo establish the need for having a regulator Islamic commodity market, especially in the land of Saudi Arabia, the research sample for this research study will be administered with questionnaires. The targeted respondents are the to the top management officers of the major commodity markets and financial institutions in the Islamic commodity market. The sample population shall be 50 compa nies in the Islamic commodity market. The sample population has been chosen so as to avoid the feasibility problems, associated with the research studies. qualitative as well as quantitative data will be collected. Quantitative data shall be collected from the primary sources, which shall be analysed by the use of statistical techniques, compiled and presented using tools like graphs and charts among other techniques. soft data shall be collected by the use of open ended questions in the questionnaires, which will be subjective in nature as they will represent the personal opinions of the targeted respondents. The qualitative data will support the quantitative data, in areas where the quantitative data will be having deviations from the factors under consideration (Al-Rifai, 2003).The descry questionnaires shall be administered, considering the fact that they are easy and simple to use on the part of the detective and the respondents. The research objectives and questions shall a ll be encompassed in the information in the research questionnaires. The qualitative approach will involve the answering of questions which relate to the nature of operations of the commodity market markets, with the intention of establishing the need for having a regulator in the commodity market. Thus the survey study has the potential of highlighting the operations of the commodity market, and the mechanisms tough which demands for regulatory measures to be carried out (Henry and Wilson, 2004).ResourcesIn order to meet the identified research questions and objectives, the researcher will use the relevant literature resources. These sources will include books, Journals and the other relevant publications in the areas of Islamic commodity market and regulations. The knowledge as well as the research information which will be encompassed and assessed for inclemency of the research findings, will include resources from online libraries like EBSCO, Amazon, Blackwell publications, th e emerald journals and the other sources like Questia (Henry and Wilson, 2004).Access to the study population angiotensin-converting enzyme of the challenges that the researcher anticipates to encounter in carrying out the research study is the accessing the targeted respondents. So as to meet this challenge, the beneath strategies have been devised, so as to have access to the respondents to obtain the crucial information for the research study. The researcher will obtain permission letters, which will be approved by the research department at the university. This letters will then be supplied to the top management officers seeking for permission to include them in the research study, and to use their companies as a sample of the research population. In addition to that, the researcher will assure the respondents that the information obtained from the research study shall be used for academic purposes only, and not for any other purposes unless permission is sought from them (Al-R ifai, 2003).

Market analysis of starbucks

Market analysis of starbucksStarbucks was founded in 1971, in Pike Place Market, nuzzle in Seattle with hopes of creating a third place between home and work. The company was originally named Starbucks hot chocolate bean, Tea and Spices, honourable today change to Starbucks Coffee Company. Now stores ar located all over the U.S. They sprung up in urban areas, suburbs, as well as rural areas. This expansion developed the brand as we jazz it today. It has become a well kn feature name for quality coffee.The company has realized that people dont tho come for coffee they come for the atmosphere, (Kembell). Customers are able to socialize, read, study or enjoy music trance drinking coffee. They changed the normal experience of going to a coffee shop. The music selection, furnishings, wide selection of coffee, and neat guest service set them apart. Howard Schulz, CEO of Starbucks, once stated, You get more than the finest coffee when you visit a Starbucks-you get great people, f irst-rate music and a comfortable and upbeat meeting place.In their own words, Starbucks describes this as, champions line practices that help produce social, environmental and economics benefits of communities in which we operate.Starbucks wants to open new stores in both(prenominal) new and existing merchandises, expand their product development process, and cater to customers needs to eventually improve their fiscal position and dominate market share.Situational AnalysisThe limiting of impact on the environment comes in many a(prenominal) forms, from materials they use to the way the coffee in produced. The Urban Coffee Opportunity is to help get Starbucks Coffee Company stores into ethnically diverse communities.The mission and principles are listed among many another(prenominal) aspects of the company on their mesh site, starbucks.com.Coffee being their staple product, they offer over 30 blends, which come from all over the world. They software program these as well as p roduce a premium handcrafted beverage in their stores. Starbucks also offers its customers a wide assortment of home coffee machines.That means in the United States they had 11,168 stores, 7,087 company operated stores and 4,081 licensed stores call for up this staggering number.They now bugger off 4,588 stores in over 43 countries.Their brand is top base on balls in the coffee world, but this awareness is mainly in respect to their handcrafted beverages and other items located at their store.Market SummaryTarget MarketsThe primary target audience was found by evaluating information from direction in on those that drink ground pre-packaged coffee in the home. another target audience is women 20 to 45. A secondary target audience is men aged 20 to 45.They to a lower placestand that Starbucks is more than just a brand of coffee, but instead, its an experience that a person is savouring in the morning during their coffee time.the original target market has not disappeared, but has expanded into the demographic of the store location.Market Demographics info from 2004 showed the company was far from reaching existing markets. That in the Pacific Northwest, there was one store for either 20,000 people whereas in the Southeast there was only one store for every 110,000 people.Some Researches showed Starbucks was direct in over 300 Company-owned stores in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Thailand.Customers that started visiting Starbucks in 2002 were 45% female,55% male.The most habitual customers average 21 visits per month, whereas the typical customer visits seven times per month. Average age for an established customer was 38, new customers was 42.Demographic factors are important to Starbucks so executives dismiss make vital decisions regarding population, ethnic groups and expansion. gibe to the CIA World Factbook, people between the ages of 15-64 make up the largest percentage of the population, and therefore havethe greatest charm on Starbucks to m aximize profit.Market NeedsMarket GrowthStarbucks wants to create an experience for their customers that combine their on-the-go schedule, as well as a place to relax. they believe people come here for the coffee, but ambience is what makes them want to stay,Starbucks operates over 10,000 retail stores. Most of the 4,200franchised stores are located in shopping malls and airports.Starbucks menu contains brewed coffee, espresso traditions andfavourites, cold beverages, coffee alternatives, frappuccinos, and the bargain of whole beans.From the beginning when Howard Schultz tookover Starbucks, he believed, Partner satisfaction leads to customersatisfaction, Starbucks employees are referred to as partners. As of 2002,Starbucks employed 60,000 partners worldwide, 50,000 of those in the United States.Specialty coffee was an estimated $5 billion business in the foodservice channel. Starbucks was estimated to have a 5% share.In-the-home consumption was an estimated $3.2 billion business.Sta rbucks was estimated to have a 4% share.The coffee market can be divided into consumers division by where the coffee is drunk, In-Home vs. Out of Home and type of product, Soluble (Instant) vs. commonwealth coffee.Three market trends worth noting are firstly the anticipated growth of the out of home segment based on a recent study by Nestle (As reported in Bernama cupboard 2009), where Malaysians currently spend 35 per cent of their total food and beverage expenses out-of-home.Secondly, instant coffee market caters quite specifically to local tastes. This can be witnessed by the behaviour of Nestle , the market leader, who in 2009 (Chan 2009) also introduced a range of instant hot drinks targeted at local tastes to compete directly with other domestic brands who have specialised in domestic flavours such as White Coffee or Kopi-O.PEST ANALYSISThe PEST analysis examines the broad environment in which the organisation is operating. (Johnson Scholes, 1999) There are the four key ar eas in which to consider how current and future change can affect the business of Starbucks.Political factorsPolitical factors include government regulations and legal issues and define both formal and informal rules under which the company must operate. (Knowles et al, 2001) As Starbucks is expanding internationally, trade restrictions, tariffs, tax policies and employment laws of related to their business countries have forge upon Starbucks.Economic factorsThe Starbucks business depends on economic factors in developing countries, where it buys the coffee beans. Coffee is the principle commercial message crop.Social factorsThe social and cultural influences on business vary from country to country. Social factors include the demographic and cultural aspects of the external environment. These factors affect customers needs and the size of the potential market. (Johnson Scholes, 1999)Technological factorsTechnologies allow Starbucks to offer the higher(prenominal) standard quality products its computerised roasters allow the company to create unique computerised curves in roasting coffee beans.

Assessing and Managing Supply Chain Risks

Assessing and Managing run Chain Risks1. IntroductionThe current trend of forthsourcing to low cost countries feature with supplier base reduction has provided signifi suffert cost reductions for crinklees. However, globalization and implementation of much streamlined publish manacles strike extendd bumps for companies when acquiring goods and services indispensablenessed for their operations. By the term happen of exposure is meant a guess of facing undesired consequences much(prenominal) as modify, loss, or injury. much scientifically, admit a chance is be as the combined probability for an undesired event and the potential damage the event might cause. This definition, or variations of this definition, has been applied by a procedure of researcher investigating adventure (March and Shapira, 1987 Zsidisin, 2003 Spekman and Davis, 2004 Wagner and Bode, 2006 Ritchie and Brindley, 2007). The detrimental personal effects does not eat up to be existential to the companies, but typically they cause lost sales, decreased grocery store sh atomic public figure 18 and large contractual penalties for the parties affected (Zsidisin, 2003).A very well-know example of such a detrimental effect is the $400 mill around loss suffered by the Swedish cell phone manucircumstanceurer Ericsson collectable to a lightning bolt which in love their sub-supplier of semi-conductors (Latour, 2001). an other(prenominal) example is the battle against the foot-and-mouth disease in the UK agricultural perseverance during the year 2001. This event temporarily paralyzed the agricultural industry, while the tourism industry suffered enceinte losses. Even luxury car manufacturers such as Volvo and Jaguar were affected since deliveries of quality leather used in various parts in the car compartment were temporarily stopped (Norrman and Jansson, 2004). A general ban on sale and export of British pigs, sheep and cattle was introduced during the outbreak. The tourism industry also suffered as m whatsoever another(prenominal) tourists changed their vacation plans due to transport bans and detersive washing of cars, boots and clothing in affected regions.Similarly, the fruit comp all Dole lost over $ c million dollars when a hurri kittye caused massive damage to the argona in Central America where their banana suppliers were laid (Griffy-Brown, 2003). The outbreak of SARS in Southeast Asia affected various industries such as the electronics industry, retailing, tourism, and the airline industry with losses at the national level stipulated to $38 billion just for Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand (Overby et al., 2004). The economic extend to of the hurri burn downe Katrina is stipulated to $100-125 billion. More than half of that amount is due to the flooding of New Orleans which paralyzed industry and disrupted traffic pattern living conditions in the affected atomic number 18as (Boettke et al., 2007). However, the most famous of suc h disruptive events is probably the 9/11 terrorist attack in 2001, which caused immiddle financial losses and initiated a massive restructuring of the airline industry (Bhadra and Texter, 2004).The above mentioned examples illustrate that translate cosmic strings may not be well prep ared for dealing with unforeseen events causing disruption in sub-systems of bestow range nedeucerks. The traditional cost-efficiency c oncentrate of picture drawstring systems piss led companies to eliminate buffers in the form of inventories and octuple sourcing by means of and throughout the interlock. However, this has also led them to remove mechanisms in the leave chain which previously jibed the effects of undesired, disruptive events in the chain. An alternative approach is to introduce more agility in the allow chain. This approach has undefeatedly been applied as a response to the fact that more and more market places in the twenty- startle century require a pro disembodied sp iritration of products and services, shorter product life cycles and increased demand for innovation (Narasimhan, Swink and Kim, 2006). In agile contribute chains, stock out penalties excrete straightaway in the form of lost sales and the key accomplishment measure is no longer productiveness or cost, but customer satisfaction. Traditional stable partnerships are substituted with more fluid clusters where partners enter and appropriate the internet at a more rapid pace. In general, there is also a focus on operator self- focusing to maximize the actors autonomy (Mason-Jones, Naylor and Towill, 1999).The actors higher level of autonomy in agile supply chains makes them better able to respond to changes in supplies upstream as they have no or few bindings keeping them from changing to alternative sources of supply. However, supply chain companies dealing with commodity goods rather than mien goods can not necessarily be expected to have the same gradation of freedom. Their ev eryday ambition would require them to eliminate all forms of waste to rebriny competitive. Any cost driving measure to mediate or avoid assay such as excess production efficiency, excess inventory, and increased supplier base would thusly have to be weighed against the expected costs of future unknown disruptive events. To do this, a proactive identification of potential supply and demand hazards is required at a strategic level. The blame is to localise where unforeseen bump events have the biggest impact on the supply chain electronic network, identify the sheath and number of chances, their associated costs, and assess alternative counter-measures to improve the resilience of the supply chain.The intent of this conceptual written report is to establish a decision material in order to aid the proactive identification and circumspection of potential upstream and downstream supply and demand hazards. The framework is veritable based on a broad variety of literature in tegrating multiple perspectives on happen from supply chain vigilance, marketing, and physical compositions supposition. The pretend framework presented separates itself from previous efforts in its comprehensiveness, and it has been designed to match the supply chain direction framework authentic by the Global Supply Chain Forum (GSCF). Previous categorization attempts have usually and presented sub-sets of lay on the line factors and have not paid much attention to how supply chain risks can be dealt with proactively.For instance, Zsidisin (2003) listed a number of useful supply risk characteristics and classified them into characteristics belonging to items, markets and suppliers based on the results of a case study. Item characteristics included impact on profitability and the newness of product application, while market characteristics involve global sourcing, capacity con telephone linets, market price fluctuation, and number of qualified suppliers. Risks associated with suppliers were capacity constraints, inability to reduce costs, absurd cultivation systems, quality paradoxs, cycle times, and volume and mix requirements changes. However, Zsidisins list of supply risk characteristics did not have important risk elements such as behavioural appearance of supply chain actors and risks associated with skills and qualities of the individual supply chain organizations, nor did it pay much attention to moderateness of risk events. In addition, the network perspective of supply chain circumspection was not evident in the sense that an event can appear several(prenominal) tiers away from the central organization but still damage the organization via an unknown dependence.Spekman and Davis (2004) also discussed a typology for categorizing risks. They found that risk lies inborn in every supply chain flow of goods, education, and money and they mentioned many of the same risk characteristics as in Zsidisin (2003). In addition, criminal acts a nd disruption of norms were included as risk elements in the supply chain. However, they did not focus much on actions to minimize or avoid the effects of undesired events. Dealing with risk was eventually reduced to the introduction of buffers or building trust. An exception is do for the management of security risks where they briefly mention the necessity of proactive planning to avoid such risks.Another example is Peck (2005) who reported from an falsifiable study where the sources and drivers of supply chain vulnerability were investigated. She used the cognition achieved to develop a multi-level framework for risk depth psychology and did not put much emphasis on identifying individual risk characteristics and tactics to improve the supply chains resilience. However, the framework illustrated in an intuitive air how unforeseen and undesirable events at other nodes in a network could influence and cause problems at different levels for a focal beau monde via dependencies. Kleindorfer and Saad (2005) also attempted to provide a conceptual framework to assess risk and introduced three tasks as the foundation of risk management. These were Specifying sources of risk and vulnerabilities, Assessment, and Mitigation. The sources of risk and vulnerability were thenceforth divided into operational contingencies, natural hazards, and terrorism and political instability. Kleindorfer and Saad (2005) did not elaborate in much fact on which risks to include in each of these categories, thus from a practical risk opinion pinnacle of view, the model becomes less interesting.In a standardized vein, Ritchie and Brindley (2007) developed a framework to encapsulate the main strands of supply chain risk management. They distinguished between seven sources of risk, but were not particularized roughly which risks to expect in each folk and they were not very detailed in their description of risk avoidance or mediation tactics. In stead, they used their general mod el as a quarter in an exploratory case study where the purpose was to focus on supply chain members degree of awareness of supply chain risks, and how supply chain members place and responded to identified risks.Ring and Van De Ven (1992) developed a framework for structuring cooperative relationships between organizations based on varying degree of risk and assent on trust. They based their paper on the assumption that the degree of risk inherent in any transaction depends in the direct proportion to decreases in time, information, and control. Examples provided were commercial risk (risk of not finding a price-performance niche in the market), technological risk (probability of bringing the technology to market), scientific risk (lack of knowledge), engineering misgiving (will the technology work?), and corporate risk. By corporate risk they referred to the risk of wrong allocation of resources in the organization. However, these types of risk are strongly connected with inter nal managerial and organizational skills of the focal company, and thus roll up only a small portion of the risk concept from a supply chain management perspective. Risks arising from process sharing and network inflicted risks were barely mentioned.In summary, a higher level of precision in supply chain risk assessment frameworks combined with normative guidelines for risk avoidance seems present in extant literature. This call has formally been put forth by Harland, Brenchley and pusher (2003) who provided an easy-to- abide by social function for risk assessment in supply chain networks. They concluded that more managerial guidance is required to support risk management and redesigning of supply strategies to incorporate risk strategies . An attempt to answer this call has been made in the pursuance sections. Mapping of risks in the supply chain has been emphasized combined with a discussion of tactics for risk mitigation and risk avoidance. In essence, this covers steps two t o four in the model by Harland, Brenchley and Walker (2003) ( routine 1). Guidance for mapping of the supply chain is the main goal for many of the supply chain management frameworks recently developed. Mapping of the supply chain has therefore only received limited attention in this paper, but references to some well-known supply chain frameworks are provided. Steps cardinal and six have been left for the managers to decide as the strategy formation and implementation would be situation specific and aquiline on the outcome of steps one to four.2. Research methodThe framework is developed based on a literature review where multiple perspectives on risk from marketing theory, organizations theory, and supply chain management have been integrated into a composite supply chain risk framework. Relevant contributions were identified through library searches and key word searches in Proquest and ScienceDirect databases. Search words were used all alone or in combination to find contri butions which could bring added insight just about risk from different theoretical perspectives. find out word searches typically included words such as supply chain management, marketing, or organization theory, and words such as risk, framework, uncertainty, vulnerability, resilience, etc. A large number of research contributions were identified from this procedure and contributions were further selected based on a qualitative assessment of the title and abstract of each identified contribution.A guideline for the literature review was to find an answer to the question what do we know from theory which could be relevant for supply chain managers in their efforts to identify and reduce the level of risk in their supply chains? The emphasis on theory was decided since an exploratory empirical investigation would be descriptive of current practices which would not fit with the normative purpose of this investigation. Ex post empirical test of the entire framework in a single stud y were also confacered surd to accomplish due to the amount of risk factors included. However, a varying degree of empirical validity is offered through the previous empirical testing performed by the researchers referenced. Some empirical guidance and initial face validity was also provided through discussions with the general director of a sub-supplier to the Norwegian oil and gas industry.3. Supply chain management and riskThe term supply chain management (SCM) has primarily been linked to the study of either internal supply chains integrating internal business functions, the management of two caller relationships with tier one suppliers, the management of a chain of businesses or with the management of a network of interconnected businesses (Harland, 1996). Transaction cost analysis (TCA), organization theory (OT) and relational marketing (RM) literature have contributed substantially to the development of SCM research (Croom, Romano and Giannakis, 2000). However, a definition of SCM given by the members of the Global Supply Chain Forum states that Supply chain management is the integration of key business processes from end user through original suppliers that provides products, services, and information that add range for customers and other stakeholders. This distinguishes SCM from the previous mentioned theories since it is the network or chain perspective which is emphasized (Lambert, make and Pagh, 1998).3.1. Mapping the supply chainIn order to be able to assess risk in a focal companys supply chain, a positive insight is required about how the supply chain is configured. A number of frameworks have been developed for the purpose of achieving such knowledge, but Lambert, Garca-Dastugue and Croxton (2005) identified only five frameworks which recognized the need to implement business processes among supply chain actors. Such implementation is considered a key area where supply chain management can offer improvement to supply chain actors (Hammer, 2001). However, only two of the five frameworks provided sufficient details to be implemented in practice (Lambert, Garca-Dastugue and Croxton, 2005). On the other hand, these two frameworks are both supported by major corporations which indicate a high level of face validity.The first framework is the SCOR model developed by the Supply-Chain Council (SCC, 2008). The SCOR model focuses on five different processes which should eventually be connected across firms in the supply chain. These are the plan, source, make, deliver, and return processes. The second framework was developed by the Global Supply Chain Forum in 1996 and was presented in the literature in 1997 and 1998 (Cooper, Lambert and Pagh, 1997 Lambert, Cooper and Pagh, 1998). Similar to the SCOR model, the GSCF model focuses on a set of distinct business processes to be divided among business organizations. However, a main difference between the two supply chain frameworks is their linkage to corporate strategy. spell the SCOR framework emphasizes operations strategy, little reference is made to organizations corporate strategies. The GSCF framework, on the other hand, directly cogitate with the corporate and functional strategies of the companies and thus offers a wider scope (Lambert, Garca-Dastugue and Croxton, 2005). Since risk is inherent at every level of an organization, and should be considered also at the strategic level, the GSCF framework was chosen as a starting point for our development of a supply chain risk management framework.3.2. Identify risk and its locationIn the GSCF framework, supply chain management consists of three inter-related elements 1) the structure of the supply chain network, 2) the management components governing the shared supply chain processes, and 3) the different types of processes linked among supply chain actors. Who to link with, which processes to link, and what level of integration and management should be applied are considered key decisions for succe ssful management of supply chains (Lambert, Cooper and Pagh, 1998).From a supply chain risk management perspective, these managerial questions make way for three promptings regarding risk and the focal company. The first proposition concerns the unpredictability of human nature when processes are shared with others. The second concerns the vulnerabilities created because of dependencies between multiple network actors, and the third refers to the skills and qualities of the different supply chain actors organization and management. Stated formallyP1 A focal companys exposure to supply chain risk depends on the level of human manner unpredictability in the supply chain and the impact such unpredictability can have on the companys supply chain.P2 A focal companys exposure to risk depends on the number and strength of dependencies in its supply chain and the impact an external risk event may have on the company.P3 A focal companys exposure to risk depends on the supply chain actors s kills and qualities to identify potential risks in advance and to solve risk situations once they occur.Although they address different aspects of risk to a focal company, the propositions are closely related. For instance, without the existence of network dependencies, behavioral unpredictability at another supply chain actor becomes irrelevant. Similarly, the focal company does not have to worry about the skills and qualities of other supply chain actors because there is always another alternative to select. Also, an increase in the supply chain actors skills and qualities will indirectly reduce the level of human unpredictability since it rules out some of the mistakes humans can make however, it does not rule out the focal companys uncertainty about other supply chain actors intended strategic actions. The relationship between the propositions has been outlined as arrows in Figure 2. Each category between the arrows refers to a more precise definition of the risks mentioned in the propositions. The categories follow the naming convention in the GSCF framework, and together, they constitute a holistic representation of supply chain risks relevant for successful supply chain management.The formal definitions for the three types of supply chain risk in Figure 2 are provided below and explained in the subsequent sectionsSupply chain processes risk refers to the perceived risk of other companies in the supply chain behaving intentionally or unintentionally in a appearance which could be harmful to the company.Supply chain structure risk is closely linked with the total number and type of dependencies in the network. It is a measure for the level of significant detrimental effects an undesired and unanticipated event can have on a companys supply chain network. This event can occur externally or internally to a local market or industry and affect either a single node or a multitude of nodes simultaneously.Supply chain components risk refers to the technical , managerial and organizational abilities each supply chain actor has developed in order to embrace opportunities, detect and avoid potential supply chain disruptions, and to mediate the effects of a disruption once it has occurred.3.3. Supply chain processes riskA focal companys exposure to supply chain risk will, according to proposition one, depend on the level of human behavior unpredictability and the impact such unpredictability can have on the companys supply chain. When companies begin to explore the competitive advantage of accessing and managing processes belonging to other companies in the chain, they therefore need to identify how the sharing of a process can change its vulnerability to unanticipated events and agree on strategic actions to reduce the processes vulnerability. The main factors to consider when processes are shared with other actors are shown in Figure 3 and explained below.In general, the sharing of processes across tiers in a network can be problematic s ince it simultaneously makes the focal company more unguarded to risk. Under working market conditions, each actor is free to choose its trading partner for every transaction. A natural hash out effect on risk therefore exists since there is no dependency on other specific actors in the network. However, when companies begin to integrate processes, as prescribed by supply chain management literature, they aloofness themselves from the market by creating lock-in effects with selected partners due to the specificity of tangible and intangible assets deployed.From a transaction cost theory point-of-view (Williamson, 1975, 1985), specific investments in shared processes must be protected against the risk of possible opportunistic behavior from the other actor in each partnership. Opportunistic behavior refers to actors self-interest seeking with ruse (Williamson, 1975) where guile means lying, stealing, cheating, and calculated efforts to mislead, distort, disguise, obfuscate, or ot herwise confuse (Williamson, 1985). In practice, this type of supplier behavior would bump in hazards like broken promises, production delays, increased costs, production shortcuts, and masking of inadequate or shortsighted quality (Provan and Skinner, 1989 Wathne and Heide, 2000). Any uncertainty of whether the suppliers behave, or would attempt to behave, opportunistically therefore increases the impression of risk to the actor playacting the risk assessment1. However, transaction cost theory has been criticized for its assumption of opportunistic decision makers.Critics argue that it is a as well simplistic and pessimistic assumption about human behavior, and that opportunism represents the exception rather than the rule (Macneil, 1980 Granovetter, 1985 Chisholm, 1989). buns (1984) also argued that undesired attitude such as hard bargaining, intense and frequent disagreements, and similar conflictual behaviors do not constitute opportunism unless an agreement has been reached of not to do so. In addition, even well-meant behavioral actions by one company may have negative effects for another party in the supply chain. The perception of risk linked with human behavior where processes are shared can therefore not be restricted to a matter of opportunism alone, but needs to include any kind of undesired human behavior whether it is opportunistic, undesirable or well-intended, but still potentially harmful.It has been suggested that behavioral uncertainty can be reduced with the introduction of formal and informal safeguards to the relationship. In a successful relationship, relational rules of conduct work to enhance the well-being of the relationship as a whole and take explicit account for the historical and social context within which an exchange takes place (Heide and John, 1992). Flexibility among the parties, solidarity, information exchange, and long-term orientation are norms typically associated with, and referred to, as relational safeguarding m echanisms in contemporary research (Ivens, 2002). The front of these norms in a relationship has been found to improve the efficiency of relationships and to reduce parties behavioral uncertainty (Heide and John, 1992).Alternatively, ownership, or some form of contractual command-obedience authority structure can be used to protect against inherent behavioral uncertainty. Vertical integration has traditionally been prescribed by transaction cost literature as an answer to wangle uncertainty in repeated transactions when there are specific investments knotty (Williamson, 1975, 1985). However, Stinchcombe (1985) found that the safeguarding features of hierarchical relationships can be built into contracts as well. These features included authority systems, incentive systems, stock operating procedures, dispute resolution procedures, and non-market internal pricing. It should be noted that advanced pricing mechanisms used can include agreed risk sharing and paying an insurance premi um to a third party to protect against the financial consequences of a business interruption (Li and Kouvelis, 1999 Doherty and Schlesinger, 2002). However, a prerequisite for risk transfer mitigation to work is the ability to clearly define the type, cause and boundaries for when the agreed risk transfer applies. Also, well defined standard operating procedures are particularly important since they indirectly describe the non-conformance cases. Breaches in quality performance or EHS procedures, shipment inaccuracies, delivery times, etc. by the focal company or another party are indications of reduced control over the supply chain. Hence, an increased frequency of such incidents in other nodes in the network will lead to an impression of greater behavioral uncertainty and supply chain risk.The impression of risk when processes are shared would naturally depend on the degree of lock-in which exists between two parties. A second risk factor in supply chain processes risk therefore re fers to the criticalness of specific nodes in the network (Craighead et al., 2007). More precisely, critical nodes are actors in the supply chain responsible for(p) for delivery of critical components or important subsystems where the number of supplier choices is limited. However, a node can be critical even though there may be little dependence in day-to-day operations. The increased popularity of outsourcing to third parties necessarily increases other actors involvement in the companys material and information flow. But, since both information and materials represent a form of capital investment, this also means that other actors in some cases handle large parts of a companys tied-up capital either in the form of information or in the form of goods. This risk is called degree of capital seizure in the framework.For instance, it is generally not very difficult to switch from one supplier of IT-server capacity to another, but the dependence on the supplier of server capacity ca n prove severe if sloppy routines at the supplier destroy the electronic database stored. A similar logic applies for other actors with control over much of the companys information and material flow. Large distribution centers are one example. A typical risk event would be a fire causing damage to much of the companys goods stored however, such an event would not be attributable to the processes shared and is therefore not a supply chain process risk. Instead, such a risk event has been characterized as external to the network and described under supply chain structure risk. However, another example would be the distribution center on not informing the focal company of a changed general staff leave. This would be a breach in the supplier relationship management process because it is a deviation from expected service levels in that particular period.3.4. Supply chain structure riskThe decision of who to link with in a network requires an explicit knowledge and understanding of the supply chain network configuration. According to proposition two, this includes a thorough comprehension of the risk inflicted upon the company because of dependencies established in relationship with other network actors. Therefore, the supply chain manager needs to assess how vulnerable the company is to unanticipated changes in the network and its exogenous environment.Dependencies are created with individual partners in the network and the level of dependency must therefore be assessed for each node. However, attributes of the network configuration itself may increase or reduce the impression of risk. A field risk category and a network complexness risk category have been created to reflect this duality. Field risk includes risk factors which are exogenous to the network, and not endogenously created as in supply chain process risk. Field risk is assessed for each node, but supply chain structure risk must also take the complexity of the network into consideration. For instance, geographically dense nodes within a network may represent a great risk to a company even though each actor itself may not be very important. This is similar to the Dole example mentioned in the introduction where a hurricane destroyed the banana harvest time in the area where Dole had most of its suppliers (Griffy-Brown, 2003).Network complexity risk refers to decision makers perceiving large networks as more uncertain since the involvement of more actors and more people implicitly includes more things which can go wrong (Craighead et al., 2007). This perception naturally becomes even stronger when the number and strength of identified critical nodes under supply chain processes risk is high. However, if a focal company is engaged in several sub-networks of supply and demand, this would moderate the perception of risk similar to the basic idea of diversification in modern portfolio theory. The reason is that the company can rest on several independent business pillars and prosper with the remaining pillars while the problem in the failing supply chain is sorted out.Field risk factors such as cash fluctuations, political or legal changes, environmental, and social risks are external to the supply chain network, and refer to the bucolic or region where suppliers, or clusters of suppliers, are located (Jtner, Peck and Christopher, 2002). Climate changes, in particular in combination with population growth, should receive attention since such changes may alter and threaten the living conditions in large regions of the world with serious effects on both the supply side and demand side to companies (Gilland, 2002 Yea, 2004 Leroy, 2006).An undesirable side-effect of global trade is that supply chains have become significantly more vulnerable to both organized and unorganized crime. Although cargo thefts have not yet caused major supply chain disruptions, the extent of such crime is steadily increasing and should receive attention from a proactive risk management perspective particularly if shipment of critical components is part of the day-to-day operations (Caton, 2006 Barnett, 2007).Another type of crime is abduction of key personnel for ransom money. Kidnappings are mentally challenging to the abducted and the organizations they work for, and can strain organizational resources for a substantial amount of time after a kidnapping incident. In addition, if a decision to pay ransom money is made, the amount required could be financially problematic to smaller companies. This type of crime has generally been associated with Latin America however, experts have anticipated that such kidnappings will shell out to other parts of the world (O Hare, 1994). Although no scientific follow-up study has been identified