Middle East

This narrative proved to be overblown and ultimately the clash of civilizations thesis has been discarded. However, a decade on, the fast-paced events of the Arab Spring have once again revived the question as to whether we are witnessing a clash of collocations Does the Arab Spring reflect a clash of civilizations On the face of it, the Arab Spring appeared to be heading into clash of civilizations territory as Western-backed dictators fell like nine pins, and the revolts appeared to be pre)-lilacs, anti-Western and anti-liberal.Recently, a violent string of protests across the middle east against a us-made film, which was held to denigrate the prophet Mohamed, culminated in a deadly arson attack that killed the US ambassador to Libya. Once again, some commentators have framed these events as a clash of cultures and a pivotal moment in Western and Islamic relations. However, the evidence suggests that the clash of civilizations thesis is exaggerated.So in relation to the Arab Spring , it is more helpful to see it as a clash between people and governments within the Arab world, caused in large part by incompetent governance and an inability to listen to what the people want. Contrary to the clash argument, the Arab Spring is not a clash between Islamic radicalism and the west. Looking closely at the region reveals that each upheaval has Its specific characteristics, each country its own history and ethnic mix. In Bahrain, for example, the Arab Spring has manifested itself in an explosion of long-held tensions between Sunnis and Shih Muslims.There Is some interesting polling that popular concerns about democracy In Bahrain have decreased since the start of the troubles, while encores about Iran have increased. In Egypt, people simply wanted a change Embark was self-evidently time-expired and the longer the military try to hold on to power (prompted in part by their large stake in the economy), the lower their popular support becomes. Similar, although more extrem e, concerns apply In Libya, exacerbated by the tribal nature of Libyan society (a really big determinant).Its also instructive to note what is happening in Tunisia, which seems to be providing a very Arab/North African take on democracy but which seems to be working nonetheless. So In essence, the Arab Spring Is not really clash of civilizations territory at all. The role of Islam in the Arab Spring Jane Simonton, Chatham Houses middle east expert, comments in relation to Tunisia and Egypt that The vague, catch-all term Salamis belies the diversity of movements that seek to draw inspiration, values and legitimacy from Islam. There are enormous differences In thinking both between different Salamis groups, and wealth them.Crucially, this diversity Is likely to Increase as a result of the new-found political opening in the Arab world. Salamis movements OFF uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia succeeded precisely because they avoided the divisions of ideology, class and, in Egypt, religion t hat have traditionally fractured and weakened opposition movements in the Arab world. Certainly Salamis movements were more successful than any other parties in the recent parliamentary elections in Egypt and Tunisia, prompting some observers to accuse them of stealing the revolutions.The protests that drove political changes in 2011 hoisted slogans with universal appeal calling for freedom, dignity, social Justice more than they referred specifically Islamic slogans. They were not Salamis, anti-legalist or non- Salamis protests Psalmists participated alongside secularists, liberals and leftists and there were striking images of Muslims and Christians guarding each others prayers in Their Square. Neither Salamis movements nor other existing political parties can claim credit for these youth-led, spontaneously swelling street movements.Thus, what we are seeing is far from the rise of a monolithic civilizations identity, but rather an intra-civilizations splintering over political and economic ideas. Conclusion clash within the Arab world The Arab Spring is not so much to be seen as a clash of civilizations but rather a power struggle motivated by pollarded sectarian differences within Arab countries. TTY McCormick in the Huffing Post argues It is clear that a clash within civilizations helps to explain the Arab Spring more than a clash between them.William Misacts writing in the Journal, Foreign Affair, also questions the clash of civilizations thesis On 9/1 1, the global Jihads movement burst into the worlds consciousness, but a decade later, thanks in part to the Arab Spring and the killing of Osama bin Laden, it is in crisis. With Western-backed dictators falling, al Qaeda might seem closer than ever to its goal of building Islamic states. But the revolutions have empowered the groups chief rivals instead Salamis parliamentarians, who are willing to use ballots, not bombs.Activities (1) Follow on discussion To what extent is does the Arab Spring constitute a clash of civilizations Given that this topic is in many ways Just a footnote to the wider debate over the clash of civilizations thesis, it might be worth asking groups to draw up precise lists of points both for and against this action. (2) Arab Spring mint-presentations allocate members of the class to one of the Arab Spring countries (Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, Syria etc. ) and ask them to do a one-slide presentation outlining key events etc.

Market Positioning of New Product

What is Marketing : The word Marketing in narrow sense is used as the sum up of selling process. Now a days marketing is considered as managing profitable customer relationships. Hence, we define marketing as the process by which companies create value for customers and build strong customer relationships in order to capture value from customers in return. Here the figure 1. 1 presents a simple five step model of the marketing process. In the first four steps companies work to understand consumers, create customer value and build strong customer relationships. In the final step companies reach the reward of creating superior customer value. By creating value for customers , they in turn capture value from customers in the form of sales, profits, and long term customer equity. In the face of today’s changing business , to success , this expand model of marketing is very much helpful. All steps of this marketing process is important. As a first step, marketers need to understand customers needs and wants and the market place within which they operate. Once its fully understood , consumers and marketplace, Marketing management design a customer driven marketing strategy. In the next steps, marketers construct a marketing program that actually deliver superior value through building profitable customer relationships by capturing value from customers. Here we will focus on customer driven marketing strategy of launching a product or service. Customer – driven marketing strategy and marketing management orientations that guide marketing strategy: To design a winning marketing strategy , the company must first decide who it will serve. It does this by dividing the market into segments of customers(market segmentation) and selecting which segments it will cultivate(target marketing). Next , the company must decide how it will serve targeted customers(how it will differentiate and position itself in the marketplace). Marketing management wants to design strategies that will build profitable relationships with target consumers. There are five alternative concepts under which organizations design and carry out their marketing strategies. These are :- *Production concept: *Product concept *Selling concept *Marketing concept *Social marketing concept roduction concept The philosophy that consumers will favor products that are available and highly affordable, and that management should therefore focus on improving production and distribution efficiency product concept: The idea that C'l will favor products that offer the most quality, performance and features, and that the organisation should therefore, devote its energy to making continuous produce improve merits selling concept: The idea that consumers†¢ will not buy enough of the organisation's products unless the organisation undertakes large-scale selling and promotion effort arketing concept The marketing management philosophy†¢ which holds that achieving organizational goals depends on determining the needs and wants qf target markets and delivering the desired satisfactions more effectively and efficiently than competitors do. societal marketing concept: The idea that the organization should determine the need, want and interests of target markets and deliver the desired satisfactions more effectively and efficiently than competitors in a ay that maintains or improves the consumer's and society's well-being. There is no hard and fast rule to strictly follow any particular concept. These concept are followed by different companies as their convenience as their business mission. This may vary for different companies beside some companies may follow the combination of these orientation. Marketing mix The set of controllabletactic-id marketing tools- product, price, place and promotion – that tlivfirm blends to producethe response it wants in che target market ‘functional chewing and bubble gums' [pic] Product Anything that can be offered to a market for attention, acquisition, use or consumption that might satisfy a want. It includes physical objects, persons organizations and ideas, price. The amount of money charged for a product or service, or the sum of the values that consumers exchange for the benefits of having or using the product or service. place. All the company activities make the product or service available to target customers. promotion Activities that communicate the product or service and its ‘merits to target customers a persuade them to buy. SWOT Analysis The SWOT analysis section draws from the market audit. It is a brief list of the critical success factors in the market, and rates strengths and weaknesses against the competition. The SWOT analysis should include costs and other non marketing variables. The outstanding opportunities and threats should he given. If plans depend upon assumptions about the market, the economy or the competition. SWOT analysis draws the critical strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) from the strategic audit. The audit contains a wealth of data of differing importance and reliability. SWOT analysis distils these data to show the critical items from the internal and external audit. The number of items is small for forceful communications, and they show where a business should focus its attention. The STP Process The growing use of the STP process has occurred as a direct result of the prevalence of mature markets, the greater diversity in customer needs, and the ability to reach specialized or niche segments. As such marketers are increasingly segmenting markets and identifying attractive segments (i. e. who to focus on and why? ), in order to identify new product opportunities, develop suitable positioning and communications strategies (i. e. what message to communicate), and effectively allocate resources to key marketing activities (i. e. how much should we spend and where? ). Organizations will often commission segmentation research when they want to re-scope their marketing strategy, investigate a declining brand, launch a new product, or restructure their pricing policy. Organizations operating in highly dynamic environments seek to conduct segmentation research at regular intervals, to keep in touch with changes in the marketplace. STP refers to the three activities segmentation, targeting, and positioning Key benefits of the STP process include: †¢ Enhancing a company’s competitive position by providing direction and focus for marketing strategies such as targeted advertising, new product development, and brand differentiation. For example, Coca-Cola identified through market research that its Diet Coke brand (also marketed as Coca-Cola Lite) was egarded as ‘girly’ and ‘feminine’ by male consumers. As a direct result the company developed a new product, branded Coke Zero, which is targeted at the health-conscious male segment of the soft drinks market. †¢ Examining and identifying growth opportunities in the market through the identification of new customers, growth segments, or new product uses. For examp le Arm & Hammer was able to attract new customers when existing consumers identified new uses for their baking soda (Christensen, Cook, and Hall, 2005). Lucozade also changed the positioning and targeting from its original marketing strategy positioned for sick children and rebranded to target athletes as an energy drink. †¢ More effective and efficient matching of company resources to targeted market segments promises the greatest return on marketing investment (ROMI). For example, financial institutions like HSBC and Barclays and large retailing multinationals such as Tesco and ASDA Wal-Mart are utilizing data-informed segmentation strategies to effectively target direct marketing messages and rewards to customers they have classified as offering long-term value to the company, i. . they are profitable customers. Market Create values for customers and build customer relationship An expanded model of the marketing process Marketing Strategy Target consumers are at the centre of the marketing strategy. The company identifies the total market, divides it into smaller segments, selects the most promising segments and focuses on se rving them. It designs a marketing mix using mechanisms under its control: product, price, place and promotion. The company engages in marketing analysis, planning, implementation and control to find the best marketing mix and to take action. The company uses these activities to enable it to watch and adapt to the marketing environment. We will now look briefly at e;ieh factor in the marketing process and say where it is developed elsewhere in this book. The Concept of Market Segmentation Market segmentation is the division of a market into different groups of customers with distinctly similar needs and product/service requirements. Or to put it another way, market segmentation is the division of a mass market into identifiable and distinct groups or segments, each of which have common characteristics and needs and display similar responses to marketing actions. Market segmentation was first defined as ‘a condition of growth when core markets have already been developed on a generalised basis to the point where additional promotional expenditures are yielding diminishing returns’ (Smith, 1956). There is now widespread agreement that they form an important foundation for successful marketing strategies and activities (Wind, 1978; Hooley and Saunders, 1993). The purpose of market segmentation is to leverage scarce resources; in other words, to ensure that the elements of the marketing mix, price, distribution, products and promotion, are designed to meet particular needs of different customer groups. Since companies have finite resources it is not possible to produce all possible products for all the people, all of the time. The best that can be aimed for is to provide selected offerings for selected groups of people, most of the time. This process allows organizations to focus on specific customers’ needs, in the most efficient and effective way. As Beane and Ennis (1987) eloquently commented, ‘a company with limited resources needs to pick only the best opportunities to pursue’. The market segmentation concept is related to product differentiation. If you aim at different market segments, you might adapt different variations of your offering to satisfy those segments, and equally if you adapt different versions of your offering, this may appeal to different market segments. Since there is less competition, your approach is less likely to be copied and so either approach will do. Market consists of buyers and buyers differ in one or more ways. They may differ in their wants ,resources, locations, buying attitudes and buying practices. Through market segmentation , companies divide large, heterogeneous markets into smaller segments that can be reached more efficiently and effectively with products services that match their unique needs. In this section we discuss four important segmentation topics: segmenting consumer markets, segmenting business markets, segmenting international markets, and requirements for effective segmentation. Segmenting Consumer Markets There is no single way to segment a market. A marketer has to try different segmentation variables, alone and in combination, to find the best way to view the market structures. Table 7. 1 outlines the major variables that might be used in segmenting consumer markets. Here we look at the major geographic , demographic, psychographic, and behavioral variables. Geographic | | | |World region or country North America, West Europe, Middle east, Pacific rim, China, India, Canada | |Country region Pacific, Mountain, West north central, West south central, East north central, | |East south central, South atlantic, Middle atlantic, New England. | | |City or metro size Under 5000;5000-20000;20000-50000;50000-100000;100000-250000; | |250000-5000000;500000-1000000 | |Destiny Urban, suburban, rural | |Climate Northern, southern | |Demographic | |Age Under 6;6-11;12-19;20-34;35-49;50-64;65+ |Gender male, female | |Family size 1-2;3-4;5+ | |Family life cycle Young, single, Young married, no children, Young married with children, | |Older, married with children, older married no children | | | |Income Under10000;10000-20000;20000-30000;30000-50000;50000-100000 | |Occupation Professional and technical;managers;officials;proprietors;clerical;sales; | |Crafts people; supervisors;operatives | |Education Grade school or less;some high school;high school graduate;some college | |Race Asian;Hispanic;black;white | |Generation Baby boomer. Generation x, generation y | |Religion catholic, protestant, jewish, muslim, hindu, other | |Nationality North American, South American, British, French, German, Italian, Japanese | |Psychographic | |Social class Lower lowers, upper lowers, working class, middle class, upper middles | |, upper uppers | | | |Life style Achievers, strivers, survivors | |Personality Compulsive, gregarious, authoritarian, ambitious | |Behavioral |Occasions Regular occasion, Special occasion | |Benefits Quality, service, economy, convenience, speed | |User status Nonuser, ex-user, potential user, first time user, regular user | |User rates Light user, medium, user, heavy user | |Loyalty status None, medium, strong, absolute | |Readiness stage Unaware, aware, informed, interested, desirous | |Attitude toward product Enthusiastic, positive, indifferent, negative, hostile | Segmenting Business Markets Consumer and business marketers use many of the same variables to segment their markets. Business bu yers can be segmented geographically, demographically, or by benefit sought, user status, user rate and loyalty status. Yet business marketers also use some additional variables, such as customer operating characteristics, purchasing approaches , situational factors and personal characteristic. By going after segments instead of the whole market, companies can deliver the just the right value proposition to each segment served and capture more value in return. Requirements for Effective Segmentation: Clearly, there are many ways to segment a market, but not all segmentations are effective. For example, buyers of table salt could be divided into blond and brunette customers. Target Markets The second important part of the STP process is to determine which, if any, of the segments uncovered should be targeted and made the focus of a comprehensive marketing programme. Ultimately, managerial discretion and judgement determines which markets are selected and exploited and which others are ignored. Kotler (1984) suggested that in order for market segmentation to be effective, all segments must be: †¢ Distinct—is each segment clearly different from other segments? If so, different marketing mixes, to use the traditional approach to marketing, will be necessary. †¢ Accessible—can buyers be reached through appropriate promotional programmes and distribution channels? †¢ Measurable—is the segment easy to identify and measure? †¢ Profitable—is the segment sufficiently large to provide a stream of constant future revenues and profits? This approach to the evaluation of market segments is often referred to by the DAMP acronym, making it easier to remember. Another approach to evaluating market segments uses a rating approach for different segment attractiveness factors, such as market growth, segment profitability, segment size, competitive intensity within the segment, and the cyclical nature of the industry (e. g. whether or not the business is seasonal, e. g. retailing, or dependent on government political cycles as some large-scale defence contracts are). Each of these segment attractiveness factors is rated on a scale of 0–10 and loosely categorized in the high, medium, or low columns, based on either set criteria, or subjective criteria, dependent on the availability of market and customer data and the approach adopted by the managers undertaking the segmentation programme. [pic] ? Six steps in market segmentation, targeting and positioning Differentiation & Positioning Strategies Marketers can follow several positioning . strategies. These strategies use associations to change consumers' perception of products. Product attrilmtes position many technical products. The positioning of Ericssons EH237 mobile phone is its Low weight and number $ features, while much of BMW's advertising promotes individual technical items- like fresh air filters. In the exclusive watch market Breitling. Baume & Mercier and Audemars Piguet's positioning are on their mechanical movements. Some of their designs leave the mechanisms exposed and one ad argues ‘Since 1735 there has never been a quartz Rlanepain. And there never will be. ‘ The benefits they offer or the needs they fill position many products – Crest toothpaste reduces cavities. Aim tastes good and Macleans Sensitive relieves the pain of sensitive teeth. In the confectionery industry, Italian Gaci and Ferrero Rocher are gifts, while Mars and Snickers bars satisfy hunger. Huhtamaki is Finland's largest industrial company but LEAF, its confectionery division, is only ten in size worldwide. It developed competitive advantage Marketing Services to remain flexible has also led to firms hiring services that provide use without ownership. Finally, an increasing number of firms are keen to focus on their core competences. They are beginning to contract out non-core activities, such as warehousing and transportation, thus stimulating the growth of specialist business service organizations. All these developments have, in turn, led to a growing interest in the special problems of marketing services. Brand Positioning: Marketers need to position their brands clearly in target customers minds. They can position brands at any of three levels. Branding poses challenging decision. *Sample of marketing strategy of stock market consulting firm Finance Hauler Lead life less tension Our company is an service providing company. The goal of our company is to provide service , provide information about stock market in exchange of a particular fee. Ours is an unique company, so far. We are targeting specific segments in the consumers and business markets, taking the opportunity of current situation of stock market. The primary objective is to serve in Rajshahi, shaheb bazaar, then it will be scattered in the whole country, where broker houses stands. In business there is a chance of loss and also profit, we will try to make profit from the first year. Question may arise why this type of consultancy firm? The answer is the present condition of stock market. The main reason behind this is lack of proper knowledge about stock market. Investors doesnt know where to invest and when to invest. Our duty is to make him clear. As Bangladesh is a capital deficiency country, so the capital we have need to invest properly. As we are the student of Finance & Banking , our duty is to analyze the stock market, that’s why we have planned to open such type of firm. At present some brokerage house & ICB some provide information to their investors un officially. These informations are not so profitable. But there is no specialized firm who provide proper information about stock market, that’s why we intended to open such a consulting firm. By describing the targeted segments in detail, it can be said that our firm will satisfy the customers need, want, and their demand , as we have planned to scatter it in the every city of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a capital defficiency country. As peoples save less consumption more , so we need to invest the savings into right sector, We will provide information to invest in the profitable sector. So at a time the economy of Bangladesh will be increased. The standard of living of common people will be raised. The growth and development of our country will be accelerated. As we will open a firm we need specialised employees by recruiting whom we will help them to lead a better life. Features of our service : A product or service need three characteristics 1. Unique 2. Price 3. Availability According to these characteristics our service or product is perfect. Its unique. By our effort and efficiency it will be available in the whole country after a year or two year, As it is a era of globalization , anyone can get our service by using internet or telephone service from anywhere. We will take a minimum fee for registration and membership which will be easy to pay by the clients. Marketing planning aims and objectives Behind the corporate objectives, which in themselves offer the main context for the marketing plan, will lie the â€Å"corporate mission,† which in turn provides the context for these corporate objectives. In a sales-oriented organization, the marketing planning function designs incentive pay plans to not only motivate and reward frontline staff fairly but also to align marketing activities with corporate mission. This â€Å"corporate mission† can be thought of as a definition of what the organization is, of what it does: â€Å"Our business is †¦Ã¢â‚¬ . This definition should not be too narrow, or it will constrict the development of the organization; a too rigorous concentration on the view that â€Å"We are in the business of making meat-scales,† as IBM was during the early 1900s, might have limited its subsequent development into other areas. On the other hand, it should not be too wide or it will become meaningless; â€Å"We want to make a profit† is not too helpful in developing specific plans. Abell suggested that the definition should cover three dimensions: â€Å"customer groups† to be served, â€Å"customer needs† to be served, and â€Å"technologies† to be used. Thus, the definition of IBM's â€Å"corporate mission† in the 1940s might well have been: â€Å"We are in the business of handling accounting information [customer need] for the larger US organizations [customer group] by means of punched cards [technology]. † Perhaps the most important factor in successful marketing is the â€Å"corporate vision. † Surprisingly, it is largely neglected by marketing textbooks, although not by the popular exponents of corporate strategy – indeed, it was perhaps the main theme of the book by Peters and Waterman, in the form of their â€Å"Superordinate Goals. † â€Å"In Search of Excellence† said: â€Å"Nothing drives progress like the imagination. The idea precedes the deed. If the organization in general, and its chief executive in particular, has a strong vision of where its future lies, then there is a good chance that the organization will achieve a strong position in its markets (and attain that future). This will be not least because its strategies will be consistent and will be supported by its staff at all levels. In this context, all of IBM's marketing activities were underpinned by its philosophy of â€Å"customer service,† a vision originally promoted by the charismatic Watson dynasty. The emphasis at this stage is on obtaining a complete and accurate picture. Needs and corresponding features/benefits of Finance Hauler : Targeted segment |Customer need |Corresponding feature | |Professionals |. Time saving and Holiday scheme|. Usually professionals are busy so they need time less consuming scheme and information, | |(consumer market) | |and in holiday they will get informations. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |. Students have less money so they need fast moving but less price share information, as | |Students |. Seminar and money saving |they know less they will get free seminar discussion. |(consumer market) |scheme | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |. Lazy money investment scheme |. They need to secure their retirement pension money, from which they will get fast profit| |Retired person | |and stable market. |(consumer market) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |. Special scheme | | | | |. Women are totally unaware about stock market but they can make a great contribution in | |Women | |country economy by investing their small savings into stock market. We have a special | |(consumer market) | |scheme and care for women. | Competitive review: As our firm is new and unique, so far no competitor in our sector. This type of business is unavailable in our country. At future there may be competitor but now no one. Distribution review : Distribution review needs distribution channels for a product. As our service is unique so there is no better distribution channel. We have to advertise through television , radio , news paper etc. And most importantly through brokerage house. We will distribute handbills and posters. SWOT analysis: Strengths : Our strengths depends on the followings * Innovative service *Security *Pricing Weakness : Weakness are internal elements that may interfere with the company’s ability to achieve its objectives. The weakness of our firm is only the brand awareness. Opportunities : *Increased public demand *Lower technology cost. Threats : *At present no competitor so far but near future there may be competitor then there will rise our threat. Short run objectives : * First we will open our firm in Rajshahi to provide service. *Try to increase member *Profit maximization Long run objectives : *Scatter our services all over the country *Wealth maximization Issues : In relation to the service launch; issue is the ability to establish a well regarded brand name linked to a meaningful positioning. We must invest heavily in marketing to create a memorable and distinctive brand image projecting innovation, quality and value. Marketing Research & Development: In this segment how marketing research will be used to support development, implementation and evaluation of strategies and action programs. As our service on stock market, we mainly focus on capital market, economic conditions, performance of companies’ research & development. Action programs: Action programs should be coordinated with the resources and activities of other services. The first action is to know about the capital market to the people. Then make a positive concept about stock market and how to gain in the market in short run and long run. Budgets: Budgets serve two main purposes: one is to project profitability and another to help managers plan for expenditures ,scheduling and operations related to each action program. In our services We need a flat for our office purchasing furniture, equipments and other elements. Controls: Controls help management assess results after the plan is implemented identify any problems or performance variations and initiate corrective action. We are developing contingency plans to address fast-moving, new technology and new competition. ———————– Build profitable relationships and create customer delight Construct an integrated marketing program that delivers superior value Design a customer-driven marketing strategy Understand the market place and customer needs and wants Customer relationship management: build strong relationships with chosen customers Product and service design: build strong brands Select customers to serve market segmentation and targeting Research customers and the marketplace Pricing: create real value Manage marketing information and customer data Decide on a value proposition: differentiation and positioning Customer relationship management build strong relationships with chosen customers Distribution: manage demand and supply chains Partner relationship management: build strong relationships with marketing partners Promotion: communicate the value proposition ———————– 2

Applied Business Research & Statistics Essay

In the following, the learning team will revise the Business Research Project. The team will collect all the individual papers from week 5 and will incorporate the best elements into one team inferential statistics and findings paper and spreadsheet. The team will also note the strengths and weaknesses of their statistical findings. They will collaborate if there are any differences to find the best approach. The team will combine all the papers from parts 1-5 and revise all tables and figures. In conclusion, the team will summarize the results of testing the null hypothesis, with a clear statement whether or not the null hypothesis was rejected as well as provide the answers to their research question. The purpose of this research was to determine how performance is affected segment by segment at the Blue Bowl restaurant. The team’s research question in basic terms was to determine how to improve performance during peak guests count to better serve the customer on days that w here not normal operating days primarily Friday and Saturday. Every customer is referred to as a guest and guest count is used in all functions of the operations. Every 30 minutes management record the number of guests who have placed an order and compares that to labor costs which broken down in 30 minutes segments at $4.00 per hour. One such way was to record data every 30 minutes during what we determine was the peak or rush hours. The question becomes how to best capture a true and complete record of the number of complaints given to management. Below are the results we came up with. By using several research methods, the team discovered that there were potential problems that needed to be assessed to measure the performance of the operation. The strategic goals of the Blue Bowl restaurant must be identified for the workable design and execution of the data analysis. Additionally, candidate development must be aligned with  business development and constructively support the cultural, leadership and communication elements. By nature, the Blue Bowl restaurant will continue to evolve with the business needed over the long term and permeate through all levels of the restaurant. The variable is the number of guests complaints received during the most nights the Blue Bowl has an average guest count of 300 guests from 6pm to 10pm. On Friday and Saturday nights this total can climb to 400-600 which could mean an increase of 50% on both days. The team has decided that the removal of the obstacles on the staff will increase their productivity measured by the number of guests and income per hour. However, the removal of the obstacles on the staff will not increase their productivity measured by the number of guests and income per hour. Based on the information that was provided, as a group we decided on the above scenario that not only included a number of guests but also included the number of available working employees. The graph defines those segments when guest complaints occurred. In the graph you can see that complaints mainly occurred in the beginning of the increase, in the middle of the increased, and at the end of the increase of guests. The graph below defines those segments when guest complaints occurred. Above are the results of complaints received by guests to management during this time. You will notice in the first quarter and second quarter complaints are lower compared to the target population this would suggest that performance is good with regards to guest counts. However the team seen an increase in complaints in the third quarter suggesting that performance has fallen. This would suggest to them that with the increase of the work load the staff has lost a measure of performance resulting in complaints. It could also mean that management at the time was trying to cut cost by minimizing staffing levels. With staffing levels lower, more responsibility is put on the shoulders of one worker and that could be a very difficult task to retain high service levels. In the fourth quarter the team found that complaints have again fallen given the data collected which would indicate that the staff has regained performance and is operation better in this quarter with the same being true in the last quarter. As a result, of the results in the data and given the findings that performance decreased in the later quarter, the team believes that employees that are much better  suited for handling the increase. The decrease in complaints resulted from gathered information throughout the quarters. Managers were able to see different trends and were able to gather complaints from diners throughout the quarter. Upon compiling all the information together, the manager of Blue Bowl was able to make significant changes and continue with training thus the reason for the steady decrease. A random sample over the course of a few weeks produces 91 surveys or customer complaint cards. The observations produced a mean of x= 26.1 and a standard deviation to s= 2.8. Since the sample size is large the standard formula will be used. The equation will be 26.1 + and – 1.960 2.8 / the square root of 91. Once the calculations are done we can determine the calculations will be 26.1 + and – 0.58. Thus the 95% confidence level for u will be 25.52 and 26.68. This allowed us to determine that out of the surveys we received feedback on we can say that 95% of the data is accurate. With this data, we will be able to move forward with training and different courses of action to perhaps minimize the complaints that we receive during peak hours. From this data we can now determine what was happening during these peak times if we redefine our research question a bit. We can now ask â€Å"how many complaints where about incorrect orders and how many complaints where from too long of a wait from placing the order and when it arrived at the table?† Below is a chart with these redefined questions and the data which has been separated. So the inferences that can be made here is that the team sees the sharp increase that was due mainly in part to increased wait times and not incorrect orders being delivered to the guests. With this chart you can say that the statistic is regression and from the data you can say that the majority of complaints where in fact due to waiting periods. You can further say that the data infers that the next week’s guests will experience much of the same. Overall the team as a group found out from their data that not all concerns about the performance actually where related to employees. The team found that the great numbers of complaints where from guests that were unhappy about the wait to be seated. The wait time was increased by the guest who  remained longer than projected by management. Early on in their projects they stated that everything in the restaurant was driven by guest count from the food to be ordered, to the number of staff they have on hand to serve the guest, and even the number of kitchen staff working to fulfill the orders. When guests remained longer than one hour the matrix established failed. In their terms the null hypothesis was rejected. Management had few choices about decreasing wait time given the number of tables. If space is available in the dining room, staffing could not be increased for this reason as well. Friday and Saturday nights saw the most increases in our population size and affected our data the most. Another variable we determined as the cause was effectiveness of both the order taking and order fulfillment. Fatigue played a factor in the performance of employees as well as the unpreparedness of staff when increased order volume occurred. Ten Research Questions: 1. Were you greeted immediately upon entering the restaurant? 2. Once seated, how long did it take before your server greeted you? 3. Was you food/drink order correct? 4. How was the quality/presentation of the food/beverage that was provided? 5. How did everything taste? 6. Was the check presented in a timely matter? 7. Did you observe manager/supervisor interacting with guest? 8.Was the server/host knowledgeable about the items on the menu? 9. Would you recommend Blue Bowl Restaurant to your friends and family? 10. How would you rate your overall experience on a scale from 1-5? With 1 being poor and 5 being excellent. The strength was asking or being given responses directly from a guest and recording that data to find the core of the complaints of guests during peak times. This approach revealed wealth of information based on the perceived experiences from the customer, direct interaction and gathered information is far better than relying solely on a random survey which may not yield the same or intended information needed to accomplish the objectives. On the weakness side this information was solely the opinion of a guest and not backed up by data. In that respect the information has a likelihood of including false results based on an opinion. There was not any model in which to compare a base line from previous days  and not a system that could eliminate miss information such as failure of management to record complete and accurate details of the complaint which is amplified when more than one member of management recording data. Still this does allow for future studies to be completed to fine tune both the data gathering and interpretation of the results found. The team has also discovered during the previous weeks that our data began developing more variables such as the space in the waiting area and the number of seating available to seat guests, as well as fatigue of staff during peak times which affect performance. Yet the data collected does provide enough information to identify areas of improvement and those conditions for which the study was conducted. The simple answer could be to increase the waiting area to increase waiting space available as well as redesign the dining area to provide for more seating space. However, this would mean an increase in expenditures to make such changes which may not be financially possible. In conclusion the team has pointed out some of the strengths and weaknesses in their data. They believed that the process that they were able to come up with was going to allow the Blue Bowl Restaurant to continue high success and growth in the future. As a team they gathered data and performed different hypothesis tests to come up with different results. Charts and graphs showed the data that was collected and the variables that were tested. They thought that the complaints came from customers being unhappy with the employee’s service. In actuality it was because the customers had to wait longer to be seated. So as a team they found out that it was not the employee’s performance but prior guests sitting longer than projected. If there was more seating space in the dining room then this problem would not occur. This would mean that the Blue Bowl restaurant would have to expand and might not be enough finances for such renovation. As a team they figured out that they should have included the customers that stayed longer than anticipated as a variable in their tests.

Article Critique Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Critique - Article Example The food choices that people make decide how successfully the body handles all its functions and activities (Whitney & Rolfes, 2011, p.2). Hence, one can maintain healthy body by choosing nutritious food (Whitney & Rolfes, 2011, p.2). Sadly, the hectic nature of modern life has made people to ignore the quality of food they eat. The article â€Å"A diet for better energy,† written by Diana Rodriguez, is targeted at people who need high energy levels to fulfill the demands of hectic life. As the tips given in the article are precise and practical in nature, it is an excellent source of information and worth recommending to others. Reliability The article â€Å"A diet for better energy,† written by Diana Rodriguez is a reliable source of information. After reading the article, one can find various aspects and qualities which prove that the article is worth reading and reliable in nature. Some of the ways in which the article can be recommended as authentic and reliable ar e discussed below. It is not an Advertisement The first important aspect that shows that this article is not worthless is the fact that it is not written to advertise any product or a service. That is, it is not written with an intention to promote any nutrition product or food item. Also, there is no hint of any attempt at subtle advertisement as the article does not mention any names of the food brands or health services. The products or the food items that are mentioned, for example chicken, lentils, beans, fish etc., are general in nature and not branded. This shows that the article is authentic and not fake. Article is Reviewed The second reason why the article is reliable is that it is reviewed by a professional from medical field. The article is reviewed by Christine Wilmsen Craig, MD (Rodriguez). Christine Craig has a valid degree in medicine. Her medical degree and postdoctoral training has been earned from the University of Missouri-Columbia (Everyday Health para 11). When the article is reviewed by the professional in medical field, then it means that the information provided in the article is authentic and based on scientific research. Based on Expert Opinion The third reason for the article to be reliable source of information is that the article is written on the basis of interviews with people in the field of nutrition and diet. For example, the information about the foods that give prolonged energy level is based on the interview of Melissa Rifkin, who is a registered dietitian at the Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, N.Y. (Rodriguez para 5). Similarly, Suzanne Lugerner, RN, who is the director of clinical nutrition at the Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C., is consulted to gain information regarding the role of fluids in sustaining energy levels in human body (Rodriguez para 7). Later on in the article, the information regarding the healthy pattern of meals is provided after consulting Tara Harwood, a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio (Rodriguez para 10). In this way, all the important information regarding the diet and nutrition is based on information gathered from reliable sources, that is, from the professionals in field of diet and nutrition. Hence, the article is very reliable and authentic. Information Matches with the Reliable Source The information regarding the nutrients and its functions, given in the article, matches the information given in the book called

Forms of Human Communication through the Ages Research Paper

Forms of Human Communication through the Ages - Research Paper Example That freedom was not always available and human beings had to work hard to get to the level of communicational freedom that most people have today. That journey has been a long and fascinating one. The Cro-Magnon, a precursor to modern man, was the first to participate in cave and rock paintings. To date it remains the earliest form of actual primate communication, estimated at 40,000 years ago (Ayiter, 2014).The majority of cave paintings found throughout Europe show scenes featuring animals, like bison and bear. Experts believe that cave paintings were important to early man for few reasons. These animals were essential to the livelihood for survival; they may have signs to let hunters know what game was available in this territory. Another theory involves the concept of an early religion; they may have thought that the images had magical or medicinal powers and they, also, may have thought depicting them might improve the likelihood of successfully hunting and killing one. These cave painters did not have any forms of actual paint, there implements were likely berries of different colors and charcoal (Beacon Learning Center, 2001). Cave paintings were a form of visual communication to members of one or perhaps multiple groups. It is likely that this artistic and communicative format that paved the way for the traditions of storytelling, spiritual belief, and cultural identity all at the same time. Cave paintings continued for a long time before verbal communication became more common; in fact, even after the invention of languages certain forms of cave-paining arts remained relevant and not uncommon (Beacon Learning Center, 2001). Human beings began using their new found verbal abilities of, language as soon they realized that they could.

Evidence Management In My Organization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Evidence Management In My Organization - Essay Example It is worth noting that at the same time the hacker skill level is becoming low. Probable reason being the increase in number of loop holes in modern systems and open opportunity for hackers to share information and transfer technology amongst one another. This situation is of prime concern to the information security world. Methodologies are being developed and improved to combat, investigate and prevent such breaches into system boundaries1. Study conducted by the FBI and CSI in the year 2002 revealed alarming increase in system intrusion by hackers. 90% of the respondents identified their systems to be invaded. 80% accepted financial loss. Loss above 450,000,000 $ was reported collectively by about 220 respondents. 74% of the total declared internet as the repetitive point of attack. To cater for the increasing number of attack incidents, an approach must be formulated to respond to such unpleasant events so that the effect of such attacks on the organization is minimized. Minimization of the intrusion impact will lead to un-altered organizational performance and ideally no loss of capital. However, if such incidents are dealt with lightly and casually, the organizational integrity is under serious threat. The response mechanism should be able to manage sufficient information of the breach to assist the decision makers and concerned personnel to determine the actions accordingly, to combat future attacks and to dissuade attacks through investigation and law trial. The methodology to the response to such an attack has to be time optimized because mostly time is the key governing variable to determine organizational performance. Also, the methodology must be efficient emphasizing low resource utilization because finance in an organization is another contingent con trolling variable. The approach towards dealing with the situation must be modular so that the repair and maintain mechanism is refined into manageable chunks. The approach should also emphasize on the most logical sequence of actions for dealing with threats and invasions. Finally, the approach must also incorporate the room for dealing with never-seen-before security situations. It should be kept in mind that the design of the response methodology has linked legal issues as liability limitation and reduction in insurance premiums. Taking into consideration the issues explained above, a multi-step linear feed back model has been developed. Incidence response is generally based upon this model. The sequential steps of the response method proposed by the model are preparation, detection and containment followed by analysis, eradication and recovery. At the end of the linear chain, follow up and feed back is required for the response process completion2. SIGNIFICANCE OF EVIDENCE The evidence of a security breach can be collected in any of the seven steps in the response model described above. It is important that this evidence be managed in an efficient manner as this

Phone Message Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Phone Message Questions - Essay Example will allow me to pull up the patient file which will give me an idea of what kind of illness the patient is calling about and what her business with the doctor might be. If I am lucky, the patient record will also have a contact number for the patient in case the call gets dropped. After securing what I consider to be the two most important questions to be asked of a patient, I will then ask for a contact number and the reason for the call. The contact number should come in as the 3rd bit of information to be provided to me because I need a callback number just in case our conversation gets cut. Having completed the phone verification process, I will now be able to get down to the other matters concerning the call provided the call has not been dropped yet. I will then ask about the reason for the call or how I might be able to help the patient. If need be, I will confirm that the patient is using a cellular phone before I patch her through to her physician. I will give her a warning that if her call is disconnected, I will call her back and reconnect her since I have her current contact number on hand. Otherwise, I will be more than happy to forward her message to her physician once he becomes

Human resources management Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Human resources management - Research Proposal Example ..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦12 Recommendations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦12 Bibliography†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦13 Introduction Multinational corporations utilize a number of HR practices in their management and operation processes as integral components of business administration. Human resource management is a broad field that encompasses a corporation’s personnel policy framework, HR planning, motivation and employee welfare schemes that constitutes the administration of an organization’s most crucial resources (Schuler and MacMillan, 1984, 241-55). In a nutshell, human resource management is the process through which the organization handles matters concerning personnel. Every organization has a duty to plan and organize its human resources in a manner that ensures that the organization attracts, retains, and motivates its human resources. The direct result of proper human resource management practice is the performance of organization; better HR practices lead to improved performance. However, human resource practices differ from organization to organization and are dependent on a number of factors that may include the scope, size, and type of the organization (Tichy et al, 1982, 47-61). As a result, in as much as the human resource management functions is a template for overall personnel and administration in business corporations there is no uniform approach that governs the vast field. Multinational corporations are business firms with branches in different countries and have operations in the expansive global market (Tiirbiorn, 1985, 52-74). These organizations have huge capacity and tend to involve numerous operations spread over the world. It is obvious that the HR practices of multinational corporations are much wider and complex than other organizations. It is also evident that human resource practices of different branches of a multinational corporation in diverse countries are dissimilar. Therefore, a multinational company that operates in two different countries has distinct HR practices and these practices have great influence on the running of the two companies (Tung, 1981, 215). This paper presents a proposed research on how the HR practices of a multinational company with operations in two countries (UK and Nigeria) differ as well as how these practices influences the operations of the company. Research Hypothesis The HR practices of an organization carrying out its operations in more than two countries are distinct in the sense that they are based on the different needs of the relevant countries of operation, and have a signif icant effect on the overall running of the companies (Lung, 1982, 57-71). Therefore, the human resourc

Poetry Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Poetry Paper - Essay Example If there was rain, or storm, or hunger, the other day or maybe tomorrow, the bird trudges on, unmindful of the pain and sorrows that could have weighed people down. So it was with life, Cohen used the birdsong to remind his readers that everyday is an experience, the past is gone and the future is still inconsequential. This very moment is what is important and perhaps this point of view is the author’s version of the best way to live a life. With the birds, Cohen also introduced the concept of freedom, which he would further explain in his words about the dove later on. The bird is free from any baggage and so it can proceed on singing regardless of what has transpired before. It is, indeed, a powerful concept to emphasize the simplicity of life if one only takes the right kind of perspective. This introduction excellently laid the foundation for the more complex themes that would be explored by the author. In reality, for Cohen, â€Å"the dove is never free†. If it is , presently, â€Å"she will be caught again bought and sold and bought again†. Is it then a tragedy? The thought is heart-wrenching especially when one remembers those who have fallen just so the dove can fly. Emotions ran high here. The dove is an endearing symbol that evokes some sense from people to protect it. If one â€Å"listens† more carefully, Cohen seemed to hint another meaning or concept that the dove should represent – bondage. It is the dove’s fate to be chained as much as it represents war itself. Put in another way, wars would not have occurred if there was no dove in the first place. These thoughts would assault your mind as you read the lines about the bird being sold and bought like it was the most natural thing in the world. It is frustrating that wars will be fought again and again, promising a tiring battle that could break the human spirit. Fortunately, the message is not all about this sad narrative at all. As with the very first pa ssage, this part was used to emphasize a more important message. Immediately following this dark passage is a line that talked about the â€Å"crack†. And this was more significant since it paved the way for the main theme of the poem – survival, hope and persistence of the human spirit. It is interesting that they could all be excellently depicted by the word â€Å"crack†: There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in. Cohen also managed to infuse religious theme in two lines and they were added as if like an afterthought or a respite after some hard labor: Ring the bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering Its proximity to the â€Å"hope† and â€Å"war† themes, they also represented a transition towards the lines about the government. The religious theme, however, is stronger. With the two lines, Cohen asked for some form of awareness: Which of the bells no longer ring? Which are those that still can? And what is the perfect offering? These questions that the readers would eventually ask have some important implications. First, there is something not right with many religions or what they expect from their flock. We want to be saved but then Cohen is suggesting that many ways posited by the churches could be flawed and so we must ring those that still can and offer something different, one that though may not be perfect must be suitable. It

Education for Economic Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Education for Economic Development - Essay Example The above investment would hand to hand with the necessities for development in most economic theories of development. According to Rostow’s theory, savings and capital formation are vital elements to successful goals of economic development (Smith 96). For a country to move through all the stages of development, a substantial part of GDP must be channel to saving which are used for investment. This is in line with the investment in education since it will lead to the formation of capital inform of human capital and hence, economic development. According to the Harrod Domar Model, the rate of economic development depends on two factors namely; savings (savings ratio) and productivity of investment (capital-output ratio). Investment in education will increase savings because education levels directly correlate with propensity to save. Skilled labor and human capital will lead to higher productivity of capital inputs. Therefore, an investment in the education sector will lead to positive development according to the Harrod Domar Model (Hanushek 611).