Thursday, September 19, 2019
Individuals Suffering from Alcohol/Substance Abuse and Mental Illness E
Individuals Suffering from Alcohol/Substance Abuse and Mental Illness In this day in age, there are many diseases that one can contract. Sometimes a person contracts a disease because it was contagious, and others because they are genetically prone to it. Still others contract diseases and disorders in ways that are not clear to doctors and medical researchers. In recent years, alcoholism and substance abuse have been labeled as diseases because of new research findings that doctors have discovered regarding the biological and psychological factors causing someone to become an alcoholic or a substance abuser. Anyone who has a friend of family member who suffers from any form of substance abuse knows the extreme difficulty of helping the suffering individual seek help and recover. The same goes for individuals suffering from a mental illness. In the past two decades doctors have discovered that at least 50 percent of mental ill individuals in this country also suffer from either alcoholism or substance abuse. (4) Some studies indicate that this percentage translates to 7.2 million individuals between the ages of 18 and 54 are suffering from both a substance abuse problem and a mental illness. (2) These numbers are simply staggering. Many of these numbers apply to the adolescent demographic in particular, who the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) say are most prone to having a mental illness "...that may in fact lead to self-medicating with street drugs and alcohol." (1) NAMI's fact sheet on Dual Diagnosis also states that mental health professionals are discovering Dual Diagnosis in such high rates that they have come to expect that individuals with a substance abuse problem will also have a p... ...sorder by the general population, it will become easier to identify multiple problems in an individual family member or friend, and aid them in seeking treatment. Sources Ccited: 1) National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), general information on Dual Diagnosis http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Child_and_Adolescent_Action_Center 2) The Dual Diagnosis Pages , Dual Diagnosis Conference Reports http://www.toad.net/~arcturus/dd/pepp2.htm 3) Kathleen Sciacca's website , leading resource on treatment methods and program sites http://users.erols.com/ksciacca/ 4) National Alliance for the Mentally Ill , Fact Sheet on Dual Diagnosis http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=54&ContentID=23049 5) About.com article on Dual Diagnosis http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/dual/a/aa981209.htm Individuals Suffering from Alcohol/Substance Abuse and Mental Illness E Individuals Suffering from Alcohol/Substance Abuse and Mental Illness In this day in age, there are many diseases that one can contract. Sometimes a person contracts a disease because it was contagious, and others because they are genetically prone to it. Still others contract diseases and disorders in ways that are not clear to doctors and medical researchers. In recent years, alcoholism and substance abuse have been labeled as diseases because of new research findings that doctors have discovered regarding the biological and psychological factors causing someone to become an alcoholic or a substance abuser. Anyone who has a friend of family member who suffers from any form of substance abuse knows the extreme difficulty of helping the suffering individual seek help and recover. The same goes for individuals suffering from a mental illness. In the past two decades doctors have discovered that at least 50 percent of mental ill individuals in this country also suffer from either alcoholism or substance abuse. (4) Some studies indicate that this percentage translates to 7.2 million individuals between the ages of 18 and 54 are suffering from both a substance abuse problem and a mental illness. (2) These numbers are simply staggering. Many of these numbers apply to the adolescent demographic in particular, who the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) say are most prone to having a mental illness "...that may in fact lead to self-medicating with street drugs and alcohol." (1) NAMI's fact sheet on Dual Diagnosis also states that mental health professionals are discovering Dual Diagnosis in such high rates that they have come to expect that individuals with a substance abuse problem will also have a p... ...sorder by the general population, it will become easier to identify multiple problems in an individual family member or friend, and aid them in seeking treatment. Sources Ccited: 1) National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), general information on Dual Diagnosis http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Child_and_Adolescent_Action_Center 2) The Dual Diagnosis Pages , Dual Diagnosis Conference Reports http://www.toad.net/~arcturus/dd/pepp2.htm 3) Kathleen Sciacca's website , leading resource on treatment methods and program sites http://users.erols.com/ksciacca/ 4) National Alliance for the Mentally Ill , Fact Sheet on Dual Diagnosis http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=54&ContentID=23049 5) About.com article on Dual Diagnosis http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/dual/a/aa981209.htm
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Singapore Essay example -- Politics, Social Control
Can Singapore be described in terms of a Foucauldian ââ¬Ëdisciplinary societyââ¬â¢ or a Deleuzian ââ¬Ëcontrol societyââ¬â¢? Deleuze proposed that we are in the midst of shift from Foucaultââ¬â¢s ââ¬Ësociety of disciplineââ¬â¢ to a ââ¬Ësociety of controlââ¬â¢ (1992: 3). Unlike the ââ¬Ëdisciplinary societyââ¬â¢ where subjects progress from one ââ¬Ëmouldingââ¬â¢ institution to another (schools, college, factories, offices, etc.), a ââ¬Ëcontrol societyââ¬â¢ is typified by constant modulation (Wise, 2002: 32). According to Rose, control operates by affiliating subjects to a variety of practices which by design encourage adherence to certain norms in modern liberal societies (2000: 325). This is what Deleuze meant by a ââ¬Ësociety of controlââ¬â¢. Best believes we need to adopt the Deleuzian concept of a ââ¬Ëcontrol societyââ¬â¢ to explain the societies emerging in the context of the increased surveillance and network capacity perm itted by new ICTs (2010: 9). On the other hand, Hardt and Negri propose this ââ¬Ësociety of controlââ¬â¢ is simply an 'intensification and generalisation of the normalising apparatuses of disciplinarity', that now reaching beyond the institutions that initiated them and into fluctuating networks (2000: 23). Likewise, Munro believes Foucaultââ¬â¢s disciplinary mechanism need updating to bring it in-line with the capacities of modern technologies, not replacing (2000: 693). It is necessary to distinguish between unconscious social control and social control in relation to the institution, the latter being the planned management of a socialised human activity (Lianos, 2003: 415). Institutional control is integral to the specific activities, is usually bureaucratic, and 'is part both of the rationale and the outcome of these activities' (Lianos, 2003: 415). Lianos uses the example of... ... Google offers 'free' storage space, along with other privileges and useful tools, in exchange for personal information that it might use to market targeted goods to its users (Andrejevic, 2007: 296). People submitted their details to Google and Facebook not out of fear or a sense of duty, but so they may enjoy the benefits offered. Although Singaporeans do value their privacy, they are willing to submit that privacy in exchange for financial rewards or convenience (Hui et al., 2007: 27). These authors also report a growing disgruntlement at the increasing amounts of information that websites are demanding. However, it was the quantity of information requested, rather than the sensitivity of the information that had any significant influence on compliance (Hui et al., 2007: 27). This certainly aligns with the ââ¬Ëenticement modelââ¬â¢ proposed by Whitaker (1999: 141).
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Development of Children and Young People Between Birth to 19
All children are different and develop at their own pace. The rate of development varies in children even though the pattern in which they will develop will be the same. Physical, social and emotional, intellectual and language are the areas of development. Physical development Physical development from birth to three years is a rapid process. A child by the age of six months is able to move their head when hearing sound and movement and able to reach for their feet when lying on their back. They try and grasp object. When given a rattle they hold and shake it.From six months onwards a child learns to sit up using support until they can manage without any support and eventually learning to crawl or shuffling on their bottoms. They are able to rollover from their tummies on to their backs and vice versa. They start to hold on to furniture learning how to walk along or by using the aid of a baby walker, up until they gain the confidence to walk alone. Their hand and eye coordination im proves as they learn to pass an object from one hand to another, and begin to show preference for one hand. They learn to play with bricks.Firstly banging them together to being able to build towers, eventually building larger towers. By the age of two children will have learnt how to sit, walk, feed themselves and they will have moved from eating soft mashed food to eating solids, as sign of their teeth will be clearly visible. They will have learnt to kick and throw a ball. They will be able to grasp a pencil to make scribble on paper. From three to seven a child is more independent. Learning how to jump, climb, catch and walk up and down stairs confidently. They learn to pedal and eventually ride a bike without support.Using their fine motor skills to hold and use a pair of scissors, able to gain control of a pencil. Increasing in their writing skill. Can also fasten and undo buttons and shoe laces. From the age seven to twelve years a child will progress in running, jumping skip ping and enjoying playing games as a team, even though they may misjudge their ability until the age of nine. Between twelve and nineteen a child goes from childhood into adulthood. This is referred to the adolescences stage. This starts from the age of 11 up until the age of 19 or 20.Itââ¬â¢s the stage that teenagers learn to detach from their parents and become more independent. Every child rate of growth is different. Boys normally begin adolescence around the age of 14 year, which is later than girls, even though by the end they are usually bigger than girls. They will develop body hair as their body shape changes, their muscles begin to grow, increasing their strength. Their voice will change and become deeper. In the early stages to mid stages of puberty testicles and scrotum will begin to grow. Penis growth starts later but continues for longer.Girlââ¬â¢s breasts start to swell from around the age of 10. They will also develop hair in the pubic region that will become d ark and curly. Their body shape will change. Some girls may be physically mature by the age of 13. This is dependent on the age at which she begins puberty, which varies, ranging from 8 until late teens. The average age for girls of menstruation is around 13. Social and emotional development. From birth to about one year old a child mainly communicates through facial expressions such as smiling at familiar faces. A child of this is very dependant and requires comfort from an adult.They recognise familiar faces and get distressed when separated from a parent. They enjoy interacting and playing games such as peek-a-boo and they gradually develop a sense of identity and want to do things for them self. They easily get jealous when attention is not given to them and try to please adults. Temper tantrums start when not being given what they want or not wanting to share toys. From three to four years a child is more self-motivated and is able to cope with unfamiliar settings and adults. T hey know how to share, becoming considerate and caring of other feelings. They enjoy playing with other children.Between four and seven a child is able to make friends but still finds it difficult to take turns and needs help resolving problems. By this age a child should have a stable environment and routine, they need to have limits set. By the age of seven a child becomes less dependant. Starting to enjoy playing with other children. They become aware of their gender and develop understanding between right and wrong. By the age of eight they develop a close friendship and enjoy playing with the same sex. By twelve they can start to show arrogance and bossiness and are uncertain sometimes.By the time a child reaches the teenage years they are very self-conscious. As their body shape is changing and odours make occur, acne may develop due to oily skin. They begin to follow peer groups in the way they dress having labelled clothing, collecting the same things playing the same games. They turn to their friend and not to their parents for approval. They begin to question certain aspects of life such as parental and community values and beliefs. Intellectual development A child between the ages of birth to three is more confident but still needs an adults support.They enjoy copying others and trying out different ways of behaviour in play. They realise that others are spate people from themselves. From three to four a child learns to understand two or three simple tasks that they are given to do such as pick up the toys put them in back in the box and put the box where it belongs. They begin to realise the difference between objects, size and type and are able to group these together. From five to seven they learn to understand that there is differences and sameness in various aspects in life and that differences can co exist side by side and are able look at things from different perspectives.By the age of seven, children are able to read to themselves and will take a lively interest in certain subject by the age of nine. During the adolescence stage the mind is maturing as young people begin to develop a sense of responsibility for their thoughts, words and actions. They begin to plan about their future and what line of work they want to be in? If they want to get married and have children? They gain the ability to make a link between different pieces of knowledge and the ability to make links of these with the world from their perspective. This stage depends on the guidance given to young people in respects to helping the brain.A young person learns to take the responsibility for his or her own fiances, accommodation, employment and personal realationshops. This reaches completion as the responsibility from parent transfers to the young person. Language development From the early stages in life a child is able to make a lot different sounds. They begin to babble. Laughing and squealing when they are happy and cry to show emotion. They re spond to music and sounds. Trying to imitate a parents face especially the mouth. Between one and two years a child learns to use single words to joining them up to make phrases.They begin to understand parents and try and copy them. By the age of two a childââ¬â¢s vocabulary can be anything from 30 to 150 words. By the time they are three a child can use words to form a sentence and begin to ask questions. They are able to memorise rhymes and songs and are able to join in and are able to scribble on paper. From three to four a child starts to use past tense and is able to use a different pitch or tone of voice. Their vocabulary extends between 1000 to 1500 word. From five upwards their questions become more complex as they use language to communicate their ideas.The pencil control improves. As they copy shapes and letters. By the age of seven they are able to speak fluently and make up stories. They begin to understand letters and link them to sounds. A child of twelve years is able to describe complicated scenarios. They need help in tackling complex spellings and learning the different tense of grammar. They are able read out aloud. From twelve on to nineteen years a young person begins to use sarcasm, joking and mockery as it is new and sophisticated language for them. They are maturing and enjoy using their thought to debate whether it is formal or informal.
Monday, September 16, 2019
Amazon.Com (Strategy)
In order to accomplish their company goal -to become the world's largest online retail storeâ⬠-, it versified its operation to include the retailing of toys, electronics, music, and other consumer goods. Through this paper, we first aim to analyses the internal capabilities of Amazon as an organization and discuss a sustainable future trend for the organization to follow. The analysis which follows is aimed to first identify Amazon. Coma's Internal strategic capabilities explained as ââ¬Ëresources' & secondly ââ¬Ëcompetencies' (which will be aimed to summaries the manner in which the Identified resources are deployed to effective use). . 1 The ââ¬ËResource Based View' will be used s the strategic tool to hence sum up the firm's Internal strategic capability. Strategic capableness of a firm would be defined as Its resources & competencies to survive and prosper in the business environment. We will first begin by identifying the tangible & intangible resources of Amazon. Com. Typically, its resources can be considered under the following broad categories ââ¬â Physical resources ââ¬â Amazon's many fulfillment distribution centers were strategically located near the main airports of the cities it operated in.Such choice of strategic location of distribution centers not only improved efficiency but also effectively erring the operating costs thereby enabling the company to offer lower prices to its customers. Differentiated Into two, Other non-tangible resources can be Internal non- material: continual enhancement of customer experience on the website through continuous Software and technology development External non-material ââ¬â this included the positive image of the Amazon's brand name as a result of a customer base running into millions and the company's Associate Program.Human Resources ââ¬â Amazon always took a tactical approach to employing its staff. Amazon's global work force comprised of 20,700 employees. Its top brass manag ement included names such as Richard Dalzell (previously Vice- President of Wall-Mart) who bought in expertise in supply chain management, international retailing, data mining systems and merchandising & logistic systems. Other senior managers had been recruited from various companies such as Apple, Microsoft and Laddering, whom added value with their various skills & capableness to the firm.The founder of Amazon, Jeff Bozos himself was a Princeton graduate with previous experience as the Senior Vice-President of D. E. Shaw, a Wall Street hedge fund firm. From which he exploited the Information he rendered about the incredible growth of the internet retail industry which was prelate to grow at a mammoth 23 per Mont Financial Resources ââ¬â By 2008, Amazon had a market capitalization of $29. 4 billion with its net profit growing from $190 million in 2006 to $645 million in 2008.Amazon was also able to maintain a strong cash flow position to enable the company focus on its ââ¬Ë Long term sustainable growth' of the firm by investment in continuous technological innovation. It achieved by substantial increase in its working capital via offering shorter credit terms to its consumers and longer payment terms to its appliers with the value been typically 26 days. How Amazon has really deployed its resources, gives it unique capabilities that the competitors would find hard to imitate. This is primarily as the firm has resources that critically underpin competitive advantage that others cannot obtain.The efficiency of a firm does not just end on it possessing large capital, physical resources, good work force or an advanced technological platform but how they are managed and deployed. The below analysis is aimed at depicting how well Amazon has exploited its resources to command the market they are in. 2. 2 Another method of analysis e think as appropriate for this case study is the, The Value chain which describes the activities within and around the organizati on that help create a product or service.It helps analyses the organization in terms of a set of activities which managers undertake to create value for its consumers. This analysis will help us conclude how well Amazon functions as firm to be competitive in the industry ââ¬â Primary Activities: Are directly related to creation/delivery of product Inbound Logistics: Receiving, Storing and Distributing Inputs to product. Amazon tied up with numerous leading companies that offered their final goods and services to hem which could be sold through the Amazon forum. It added different brands on a worldwide level which helped the company gain popularity.Operations: Amazon's frustration-free packing is the transformation of the final goods to a deliverable condition to the end user which created an image in the consumers mind as an initiative to be consumer friendly. Outbound Logistics: Distribution of Product to Customers. Amazon strategically placed their centers near airports and in larger cities as Products needed to be physically shipped to customers. They have done well in acquiring land in convenient locations and hence eve on transportation costs thereby benefiting the end consumer with lower prices on the end product.Marketing and Sales: Sales and Awareness of Product. Amazon sells their product through the Amazon website, retail websites and Amazon web services to their different customers. They sold shoes and handbags through a website called Endless. Com. They also launched their Jewelry and Watch stores in the I-J, German, France and Japan and launched its Office Supplies Stores in 2008. Other expansions included Automobile parts that were made available at a single destination which provided arts from all top brands; Software en Espanola Store and PC Casual Gaming Store.Amazon made it clear that they are looking at customer convenience whilst selling their products. They made all their products available at a single destination or forum at relativel y low prices. This also gave customers a wide range of selection which enabled them to compare and contrast different products and brands. Service: Enhance or maintain value of product. Amazon emphasized on quality service to customers. I nee always looked to alt I T ten easels AT customers Ana nonce create a product line based on customer needs rather than their specialization and revived after sale-services via email to keep them happy.Support Activities: Help to improve effectiveness and efficiency of primary activities. Procurement: Acquisition of resource inputs. Amazon is not involved in the actual production of the product. Technology Development: R&D, process/product development. Amazon always looked to innovate and test out new markets through continual investments in technology. This reduced costs and improved efficiency. An investment in R&D meant that it could add further value to the customer experience through recommendations of similar products and acting as a virtual legman which was available at the customer's fingertips.Segmentation was also not required as each customer that logged in gave Amazon an idea as to which sector he/she is interested in. It also helped Amazon diversify to different markets with the introduction of Kindle, Amazon Web Services and Digital Content Offerings. An improving technology base reflected high growths and cost reductions annually. An emphasis on technology meant that Amazon always looked at long term benefits. Human Resource Management: Recruitment, Training and Developing skills of staff. Amazon focused a lot on recruitment.They brought in an experienced management team headed by Richard Dalzell who is highly qualified in several fields. They required managers with expertise in computer software and were recruited from companies such as Apple and Microsoft. This was essential as any website-based company requires a strong management team with expert knowledge and capable of satisfying the customer needs as we ll as maintaining a strong foothold in the market. Amazon did a fantastic Job in attaining the services of such experienced and qualified personnel which has been one of the key reasons to their success.Infrastructure: Formal planning, Finance and Structure of Organization. Amazon initially acquired finance from a private investment from Bozos and Silicon Valley funding. They also raised capital through an PIP. Technology plays a huge part as they are structured on heavy investments in R&D sector. Amazon's infrastructure is fairly sound. They are a capital intensive company and the figures show that they are achieving high growth, sales and profit levels which enables them further investment and diversification opportunities.Generic Activities: Merging a Cluster of activities that benefit customers. Amazon business model is a cluster of activities. As Amazon does not assemble the final Product and simply enters into a contract with the brand that does produce it, it should primarily focus on satisfying customer needs with heavy sales, marketing schemes and after sale services. Technology and human resource management play an essential role in achieving these goals. Amazon has a successful Value chain which has laid the platform for future success as well.Its weakness obviously lies with the fact that it doesn't manufacture the goods directly but has to rely on various vendors for the end product. Such reliance can cause issues of dry supply for a product in high demand. 2. 3 Amazon initially ventured out as a firm with an aim to become the world's biggest and best online bookstore' which it successfully achieved a few years after it was set-up. However in order to maintain a sustainable growth, a competitive advantage, became necessary Tort Amazon to expand ten Dustless Deanna online KICK retailing.I nose Nellie teem in managing costs efficiently and achieve a competitor's advantage over other aspiring firms As Amazon's marketing activities spread quickly acro ss the world, the intention level increase as well. In order to survive and keep sustaining in the global market, it is pertinent for Amazon to enhance its capabilities and competitive advantages. Since the company was established in 1994, it has continued to expand and achieve some sustainable competitive advantages.Value of strategic capabilities One of the key factors needed to ensure an organization is successful in the global market is to provide products that add value to customers, which gives them an incentive to pay a premium price for its products. As long as customers feel they are aging advantage of the prices of Amazon's products or services, which leads to consumer satisfaction and brand loyalty. The idea of Amazon's customer strategy called ââ¬Ëcustomer-centric' consists of three kind of consumers ââ¬â ââ¬ËConsumer customers, Seller customers and Developer customers'.It is wise for Amazon to focus on the satisfaction of all these customer groups who add valu e to them on the basis of distinctive capability which competition is unable to offer. However, the company should not only consider the value to customers, but also it needs to ensure the organization's activities have a positive investment return. When Amazon uses advanced technology to provide their customers convenience services, it is necessary for the company to take into account all the cost related to such an activity to enable it make financial projections.According to the case, in 2008, the activities of investment and expenses were supported by Amazon's shareholders due to positive returns being delivered to the market. Rarity of strategic capabilities If a company possesses a unique or rare resource, it is described absolute competitive advantage for this company. Amazon makes invests a fair bit to Research ND Development of Technology. It is the company's belief that this emphasis on development of advanced technology will give them an edge over other organizations. Com petition has found it difficult to imitate Amazon in this sphere.However, the rarity could be temporary, especially under this modern business circumstances. Other organizations might figure out the same technologies and strategies eventually, which is why Jeff Bozos lays great emphasis on continuous innovation. Maintainability of strategic capabilities Possessing advanced technology and skills are not enough to sustain a company's success. Strong maintainability ensures the creation of sustainable competitive advantages for a company. Organizations are able to differentiate themselves from their competitors by developing activities focused on customer needs.For example, Amazon attracted its initial customer base via its online bookstore, and then went ahead to expand its product categories such as electronics, beauty and digital media. The speed of expansion of Amazon's products globally via its international network created barriers to imitation by other competitors. Non-substitut ability of strategic capabilities An important competitive advantage is a low level of substitution. Using the five forces model to analyze we observe that substitutes will create an effective threat when the price and performance of the substitute is more valuable for customers.There are two dimensions in this area. Firstly, the company needs to consider possible product or service stimulation Trot a Deterrent Ministry. Amazon Autocue on online retailing, its direct substitute threats are mainly from ââ¬Å"off-lineâ⬠stores as Customers may prefer purchasing products from stores rather than waiting for few days for their goods in the post. Secondly, if the company struggles at the competence level, the organization could lose customers due to dissatisfaction .Amazon has several direct and indirect competitors in the global market, a possible threat to the company is the possibility of these competitors offering customers better products or services and being more efficient in their services provided. Although widening its business beyond online book selling could increase Amazon's strategic capabilities and competitive advantages in the global market to achieve sustainable success, it is not advisable to digress completely from the initial goal of he company to . The original vision of Amazon has in most parts been fulfilled, as it has a major market share in the online bookstore industry.Nowadays, Amazon. Com has an online marketplace for books with over 110 million primarily used all over the world and with millions of people Joining through its global websites 2. 4 Recommendation & Conclusion Amazon. Com is currently one of the finest in its industry. It has created a bundle of resources & strategic capabilities that has enabled it to build multiple sources of sustainable competitive advantage. The company though needs to block opportunities for its impetuous like Microsoft aspiring to create a substitute who took advantage of Amazon's ââ¬ËRigidit ies'.This should be considered as a potential threat which may account for their decrease in growth. Amazon's emphasis upon technological innovation has enabled it to launch new sites that serve customers with specific needs. Strategic alliances & acquisitions have been a key method for the company to penetrate the market by offering a wider choice of goods and services. This strategic capability could be enhanced and developed further to gain a wider share of the market for sustainable competitive advantage & is thus directing the company towards a route of diversification.We believe that focusing on Just online retail of books, would limit the growth of the company to only one product in a wide industry. However focusing on all with equal emphasis and with scope of enhancing the customer experience will give the company a positive platform of growth. It has already achieved the strong foothold in the online retail of books which it should endeavourer to consistently maintain but a t the same time exploit other avenues which the wide industry has to offer
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Procter and Gamble Company Essay
Background Procter and Gamble was formed by James Gamble & William Procter in 1837 by a candle manufacturer Procter and a soap manufacturer Gamble. This consumer product company started with a vision to grow to a $33 billion company and by 1879 it started selling its products directly to the consumers, by 1890 it has gained its legal corporation and ever since it has doubled it sales every ten years. P&G growth was driven by innovation not optimization. Radical innovation served as their backbone to success with other factors such as geographic expansion, product line extensions and acquisitions contributing to its growth. Some of its famous and successful acquisitions were, Duncan Hines, Clorox, charmin Paper mills, Folgers Coffee, NorwichEaton, Vicks (NyQuil), Noxell and Max Factor. It also recievesà the credit for developing innovative and advanced technology based products during 1940ââ¬â¢s such as Tide, Crest,Pampers, Bounce etc.By the end of 1980ââ¬â¢s P&G had its operations in 58 countries,its reputation was built with its new product development strategiesà ¾ they produced varied range of consumer products such that these products should meet ââ¬Å"basic consumer needsâ⬠and create ââ¬Å"superior total valueâ⬠creating a brand image for the company. As noted in Kevin Kellyââ¬â¢s quote ââ¬Å"Wealth in new regime flows directly from innovation and not optimizationâ⬠, i.e. wealth is not gained by perfecting the known, but imperfecting the unknown. P&G successfully used this strategy to earn its reputation as one of the largest company in Cincinnati in 1895 and in 1995 earned the National Medal of technology, the highest given award in United states. P&G was also known for its strong ethics, values and recruiting the best and brightest. R&D was a major focus of P&G. In 1995 P&G spent 1.3billion on R&D,and emphasis was laid on combination of multiple R&D competencies and there were a lot of cross fertilization of technology. They also had an attractive work culture, employee compensation and had a structure in place which assured employees of growing within the organization with its up through the rank approach which fostered innovation. In the process of growing, P&G moved out of their old tradition of new product development and concentrated completely on the global expansion and development of existing products. With structured productà sectors in place, P&G had some difficulty fitting some new product idea into any of the available category which led to the rejection on various novel ideas. In 1993, the company started the Strengthening Global Effectiveness (SGE) with the goal of increasing profits through cost reduction which was achieved by reengineeringà and reformation of distribution and manufacturing. This led to a successful increase in profits from 10% to 17% in a year. In the same year, CEO John Pepper said that their was an urge for developments of new brands in order to fulfill the companies longtime goals of increasing their sales. Mark Collar, Vice President and General Manager of New Business Development and a part of SGE said that a breakthrough is required to manage and accelerate the companyââ¬â¢s innovation process. In addition, the concept of cross fertilization was fading out gradually so their was a requirement of a new innovation team that can incorporate the old traditions followed by the company during the 1960ââ¬â¢s. Therefore this lead to the formation of Innovation Leadership Team (ILT) in 1993. The top seven officers of the company were a part of this team: John Pepper(Chairman and CEO)à ¾ Durk Jager(President and COO)à ¾ Wolfgang Berndt(Executive VP North America)à ¾ Gordon Brunner(Senior VP Research and Development)à ¾ Gary Martin(Senior VP Information Services and Product Supply) and Eric Nelson(Senior VP and CFO)à ¾ Robert Wehling (Senior VP Advertising and Market Research). The ILTââ¬â¢s responsibility is to investigate the portfolio of the projects under development and projects on shelf, select valuable projects that add value to the firm. Soon Corporate Innovation Fund(CIF) was established for the funding the research on new products developments. The employees can report projects irrespective of their sector and obtain approval at very fast pace on appropriate projects.
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Advantages Of Unit Banking Essay
1.Local Development:Unit banking is localized banking. The unit bank has the specialised knowledge of the local problems and serves the requirements of the local people in a better manner than branch banking. The funds of the locality are utilised for the local development and are not transferred to other areas 2.Promotes Regional Balance:Under unit banking system, there is no transfer of resources from rural and backward areas to the big industrial commercial centres. This tends to reduce regional in balance. 3.Easy Management:The management and supervision of a unit bank is much easier and more effective than that under branch banking system. There are less chances of fraud and irregularities in the financial management of the unit banks. 4.Initiative in Banking Business:Unit banks have full knowledge of and greater involvement in the local problems. They are in a position to take initiative to tackle these problems through financial help. 5.No Monopolistic Tendencies:Unit banks are generally of small size. Thus, there is no possibility of generating monopolistic tendencies under unit banking system. 6.No Inefficient Branches:Under unit banking system, weak and inefficient branches are automatically eliminated. No protection is provided to such banks. 7.No diseconomies of Large Scale Operations:Unit banking is free from the diseconomies and problems of large-scale operations which are generally experienced by the branch banks. 8.Easy Management and Control:Under unit banking system, it becomes very easy for a single office to manage and control efficiently. 9.Close Management and Workers Relationship:Under unit banking system, there prevails a close and cordial relationship between employer and employees. 10.Quick Decision:The owners or the management of unit banks can take quick decision and prompt action in times of emergencies. 11.Use of Local Resources:Local financial resources are used for local development. 12.Lesser Fraud and Irregularities:Due to the less scattered affairs of the bank, there are very little possibilities of fraud and irregularities. Disadvantages Of Unit Banking: 1.No. Distribution of Risks:Under unit banking, the bank operations are highly localised. Therefore, there is little possibility of distribution and diversification of risks in various areas and industries. 2.Inability to Face Crisis:Limited resources of the unit banks also restrict their abilityà to face financial crisis. These banks are not in a position to stand a sudden rush of withdrawals. 3.No Banking Development in Backward Areas:Unit banks, because of their limits resources, cannot afford to open uneconomic banking business is smaller towns and rural area. As such, these area remain unbanked. 4.Lack of Specialization:Unit banks, because of their small size, are not able to introduce, and get advantages of, division of labor and specialization. Such banks cannot afford to employ highly trained and specialized staff. 5.Costly Remittance of Funds:A unit bank has no branches at other place. As a result, it has to depend upon the correspondent banks for transfer of funds which is very expensive. 6.Disparity in Interest Rates:Since easy and cheap movement of does not exist under the unit banking system, interest rates vary considerably at different places. 7.Local Pressures:Since unit banks are highly localised in their business, local pressures and interferences generally disrupt their normal functioning. 8.Undesirable Competition:Unit banks are independently run by different managements. This results in undesirable competition among different unit banks. 9.Limited Size of Operation:Unit bank business can not be operated on large scale because of its limited area. Being the small organisation, division of labour can not be applied. 10.No Economy of Reserves:Under unit banking, bank can not transfer its funds to any other branch. So economy in cash reserve can not be secured under this system. 11.Limited Financial Resources:A unit bank has limited financial resources so it is not able to provide full and adequate banking facilities to the industry and trade of the area. 12.Investment of Idle Funds:A unit bank having no other branches, can not utilize its idle funds in profitable ways.
Friday, September 13, 2019
How to Select a College Admissions Counselor
In light of the recent admissions scandal, thereââ¬â¢s a pervasive belief that using a college admissions counselor is the purview of the rich and famous. However, the truth is that itââ¬â¢s not just actors and actresses who are soliciting the services of counselors. On the contrary, a large percentage of parents from all social strata are hiring private college consultants to assist their children on the college journey. Itââ¬â¢s hard to say exactly how many students use the services of college counselors each year. According to a survey conducted by marketing firm Lipman Hearne, 26 percent of students who scored in the 70th percentile or higher on the SAT admitted to using a private college counselor. However, itââ¬â¢s possible that this number is significantly higher, and some students simply donââ¬â¢t feel comfortable admitting seeking help. While dishonest companies like Edge College & Career Network, the business at the center of the admissions scandal, are the exception rather than the rule, it pays to do your homework when selecting a college admissions counselor. Read on to discover what types of admissions counselors are out there, along with questions to ask potential consultants. Itââ¬â¢s not just the wealthy who can benefit from college education counselors. On the contrary, these experts help a wide array of high school students gain admission to their dream colleges. In particular, the services are beneficial to those with specific or niche passions, such as athletics or musical theater. Additionally, college counselors can help students identify lesser-known schools that have strong programs in their chosen majors. College counselors also provide valuable services to families of students with learning disabilities and other educational challenges. Along with ensuring students have the appropriate amount of time for SAT and ACT testing, consultants can work with you to identify schools that offer the best and most supportive programs for your teenââ¬â¢s needs and goals. Parents seeking college admissions support for their teens can generally choose between two different options: IECs and consulting firms. Also known as independent educational consultants, IECs help students throughout the application process. Along with supporting students in identifying the best reach, target, and safety schools, they offer information on financial aid and scholarships and provide feedback on admissions essays. In most cases, parents drop their teens off at a local IECââ¬â¢s office to discuss college admissions questions one on one. This in-person support can help both students and parents feel more confident in the process. However, itââ¬â¢s worth noting that most independent educational consultants work with a very limited group of students with similar profiles. As a result, they might not have the up-to-date information needed to support teens from different backgrounds, races, ethnicities, and religions. Estimating your chance of getting into a college is not easy in todayââ¬â¢s competitive environment. Thankfully, with our state-of-the-art software and data, we can analyze your academic and extracurricular profile and estimate your chances. Our profile analysis tool can also help you identify the improvement you need to make to enter your dream school. Additionally, independent educational consultants tend to operate with little oversight. Without state or federal agencies looking over their shoulders, some IECs have resorted to less-than-honest practices. This was the case earlier in the month when the U.S. Attorney in the District of Massachusetts brought federal charges against 50 individuals for taking part in a conspiracy to help high schoolers get into elite colleges around the nation. On the other hand, college consulting firms tend to work with a larger group of students, allowing them to utilize the latest data to support a wide range of students from diverse backgrounds. At , weââ¬â¢ve worked with over 10,000 students online, meaning location isnââ¬â¢t a factor in securing aid and weââ¬â¢ve seen a breadth of profiles and decisions. Along with solving college fit issues, firms support teens in selecting the best high school coursework, choosing extracurriculars, and revising their college essays. While IECs mostly work with students who are ready to send out applications, consulting firms, like , know the college journey begins as early as freshman year of high school. So where do you start when choosing an IEC or college consulting firm? The best admissions counselors have prior experience working with students of various backgrounds and profiles.à Because college counseling remains unregulated, students and parents have to do some of their own legwork when choosing a firm. Here are some important questions to ask before selecting a college admissions counselor: Make sure the answer is no to the following: If the answer to either of the last two questions is yes, this company is best avoided. Additionally, teens and their parents should stay away from any firm that offers an acceptance guarantee. The truth is that no reputable admissions counselor can promise to get a student into a particular school, and those who claim to do so may be using unfair, dishonest, or illegal tactics. At , we understand that not every student has access to private school admissions counselors who can walk them through the college application process. With that in mind, we created a program specifically to answer studentsââ¬â¢ questions about college admissions and help them build robust applicant portfolios. Weââ¬â¢ve worked with over 10,000 students and are able to leverage data across all types of profiles and schools. You can meet with us from anywhere. Weââ¬â¢re up to date on what is happening in admissions right now at hundreds of schools. We can help you understand your best fit colleges and how to maximize financial aid using data! Whether your goal is to determine which schools to target or boost financial aid, we can help you achieve your goals. To schedule an appointment with our team, call today or contact our College Applications Program online .
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