Operations management at Starbucks Research Paper

Operations management at Starbucks - Research Paper Example Taiwan has 271 stores, Thailand houses 171 while India has 10 stores. This distribution makes a total of 20,891 stores spread across all over the world (Stacey 2004, 91). Starbucks deals in a range of products. Although its products are basically coffee based, the company has come up with formidable methods to diversify its lean range of products. With the use of a high innovative management and market research, the company has dominated the service of hot and cold beverages. It serves micro-ground instant coffee, whole-bean coffee, full leaf teas, snacks and pastries. In addition, most of its stores stock and sell packed food items such as cold and hot sandwiches. It has increased its merchandise to include stylish mugs and tumblers among other utensils. The company has diversified its range of products to include others that are not coffee oriented. This is in an attempt to remain relevant in the market as well as improve its sources of income. It has evening locations that offer a variety of beer and wines. These locations also serve appetizers and light food stuffs past 4 pm. Starbucks has entertainment division that thrills its revelers with a wide assortment of music. The Starbuck Entertainment Division markets music, publications and films. Since the company operates in several locations with varied tastes and preferences, its products are specific to the communities in their areas of operation. Many of its products are seasonal and specific to the locality of a particular store. Other than selling its products in its stores only, the company also stocks some of its products in general stores across the globe (Paul 2010,94). Such products include Starbucks-branded ice creams and coffee in groceries, supermarkets and other consumer outlets. History of Starbucks The company was founded in 1971 as a local coffee bean retailer and roaster in Seattle. It has since expanded rapidly to be established in over 60 countries worldwide. It currently opens an average of a store a day. Until 1987, the company operated exclusively in the United States and Canada. Its first overseas branch was officially opened in the mid 1990s. Presently, the overseas branches and stores constitute over one third of the total company’s premises. The company had a target of opening 1900 new stores outside the United States and Canada by 2012. This target has been despite closing a total of 300 stores within the boundaries of the United States since 2008 (Rapley 2005, 83). 30th March 1971 saw the opening of the first Starbucks in Seattle, Washington. The local coffee shop was founded by three partners; Jerry Baldwin, Gordon Bowker and Zev Siegel. The three entrepreneurs who met s students in the University of San Francisco were inspired to serve high quality coffee beans. They were equipped with unique coffee roasting techniques of Alfred Peet, a famous coffee roaster. The original name of Starbucks Corporation at its founding was Pequod (Whaling ship from M oby-Dick). Some of the co-founders rejected the name later and renamed the store after the Chief Mate of the ship Pequodo; Starbucks. The three partners bought green coffee beans from their mentor, Peets. Later, they began buying the beans directly from farmers (Rapley 2005, 81). Sale and Expansion of Starbucks Starbucks bought their mentor company, Peets from Alfred Peets in 1984. The total sales of coffee in the United Sta

School Shooting Massacres Essay Example for Free

School Shooting Massacres Essay Background: A school shooting is an incident in where gun violence occurs at an education institution. A school shooting can affect the students and workers who were in the shooting mentally and physically. The earliest known school shooting to ever take place in the United States was the Pontiacs Rebellion school massacre which happened on July 26, 1764. In this school massacre, four Lenape American Indians entered the school, shoot and killed Enoch Brown, and killed nine or ten children. It is either nine or ten because the reports can be shifted and changed. Only three children survived. There have been worst serious cases where a shooting had managed to take the lives of a couple of people. The Virginia Tech Massacre which was on April 16, 2007 was one of the deadliest shooting incidents by a single gunman in U.S. history. It lasted between 7:15 a.m.–9:51 a.m. The gun man was Seung-Hui Cho, who was a senior at the time in Virginia Tech. Thirty-three people were killed including the gun man himself and twenty-three were injured. This massacre influenced media coverage and drew widespread criticism of U.S. gun culture. It also talked about how there were gaps in the U.S. system for treating mental health issue because Seung-Hui Cho was mentally unfit. The shooting was also known as the second-deadliest act of mass murder at a US school campus. The Columbine School Shooting took place on April 20, 1999. It lasted between 11:19 am – 12:08 pm. The gunmen involved were two seniors named Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. The shooting was mostly focused on school bullying and cliques at school. This school shooting had a very good chance where it could have been stopped. Erick Harris created a blog on a page for a video game where he talked about school, friends and family. It also included the information on how to create trouble and how to make explosives. The blog also talked about the trouble that they were going to cause. It also included how much they both hated the people who bullied them and society itself. The Sandy Hook shooting took place on December 14, 2012. It lasted between 9:35 am – c. 9:49 am. The gunman was Adam Peter Lanza. The reason for the shooting is unknown since the gunman killed himself. Twenty-eight victims were killed and two were injured. The Shooting is the second deadliest shooting in United States history. It is also the deadliest mass murder in an American elementary school. The shooting started debate on gun control and a new idea for banning the sale and making of some types of semi-automatic weapons and magazines. Adam Lanza also killed his mother at home by shooting her and taking her guns to the school. Adam’s Lanza’s brother also told law enforcement that he was â€Å"somewhat autistic†.

Impact of Genomics on the Future of Healthcare

Impact of Genomics on the Future of Healthcare The aim of this paper is to address genomics and how it can affect healthcare in the future. This paper contains an explanation what genomic sequencing is and how the sequencing can benefit the future of healthcare. Genome sequencing can allow scientists to predict diseases before symptoms show. It will also be discussing the ethical implications of genome sequencing and its current limitations. Genomics is the study of genomes; a genome is an organisms complete list or set of DNA, and all the genes it codes for[DS1]. Essentially it i all the information needed to make and sustain that organism. Genome sequencing is sourcing the exact order of the base pairs that make up DNA and genome. On 14th April 2003 the Human Genome Project was complete: it took 13 years to complete and cost $2.7 billion. Although this project took a large amount of time and money, it was definitely worth it. The completed genome has made it possible for scientists and researchers to find genes easily and has helped them understand how genes work together to direct the growth, development and maintenance of an entire organism (Genome News Network, 2003). A better understanding of the genome will also allow scientists to understand what causes certain diseases and in turn develop better treatments for them. It can also lead to more personalized medicine, for example how the variations in an individuals genome can affect how they respond to drugs. Further research into the human genome would revolutionise modern medicine and healthcare as we know it[DS2]. We attended regular meetings where we discussed futurology and topics such as DNA Health. There was also a workshop where we worked on and developed skills such as referencing. We independently conducted research by searching articles, journals, and websites online. We collected secondary data. Genomics can be used to predict illness before symptoms show. This would mean that treatment could begin as early as possible, and precautions could be taken to ensure that patients wont ever get the symptoms. The rapid development of DNA sequencing technology has now made it possible for individuals to get their genome sequenced affordably and practically, this is personal genomics. Dr. Stephen Quake sequenced his own genome and built a database of gene variations and their connections to a range of medical conditions and diseases. Using Quakes genetic profile they discovered that he had mutations that can cause a fatal and sudden heart attack, and over 50% chance of becoming diabetic and obese. It also indicated how Quake would react to different medications- there are many heart disease drugs which he may react badly to. This made it possible for doctors to take what they deemed necessary precautions to prevent heart disease and gave him statins. Being able to predict future disea se and make sure that only medicine which would work best for that individual is given would save our healthcare system a lot of money as drugs wouldnt be wasted on patients they wont benefit, and illness could be prevented instead of cures or treated which often takes a lot more money and time. Dr. Quake said, Were at the dawn of a new age in genomics, information like this will enable doctors to deliver personalised healthcare like never before. Couples who want children can also use personal genomics to find out if they are a carrier for a gene that may cause their child to have a disorder or disease, for example cystic fibrosis. If both of them have a carrier gene they can take the necessary precautions to ensure that their child does not. For example, having their baby through in vitro fertilisation (IVF). The Personal Genome Project is a long-term study which aims to sequence and analyse over 100,000 peoples genome. This could help research into personal genomics. Volunteers send in a DNA sample and information on their phenotype and medical records, this helps researchers to better understand the association between our genes, our environment, and our phenotype (our physical appearance). A survey conducted by Sermo (a social network site for doctors and physicians) revealed that 73% of physicians had not recommended that their patients get their genome sequenced. In another poll, 74% doctors stated they believed family medical history was more informative for diagnosing and treating patients than genome sequencing (Begley,2016). The field of genomics is relatively new; this could be why so many doctors are opposed to it. Dr. Girgis stated that there is a lack of treatment available to address whatever risks are identified and that there is no evidence for doing this testing (Begley,2016). Many doctors believe that genome sequencing is not evidence based and that there is not enough large scale research into its benefits. Some doctors suggested that information indicating that you will eventually have a heart attack is useless if nothing can be changed to prevent it. The benefits of genome sequencing will be more relevant and achievable when we have the technology to develop treatments which can ensure the prevention of any conditions that may be found in the sequence. Those who participate in genome sequencing research such as the personal genome project are susceptible to genetic discrimination from employers, or insurance companies. As it may be discovered that they have a variation that makes them more at risk of certain conditions or illnesses; or if they discover they are at risk of inheriting an illness[DS3]. To prevent this from occurring the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) of 2008 was created. Title I of the Act prevents health insurers from being discriminatory, by making it illegal for them to ask customers to undergo genetic testing, or inquire about genetic information when deciding a persons insurance eligibility or coverage. This part began on 21st May 2005 (Genetics Home Reference, 2016[DS4]) Title II of the Act protects people from discrimination from employers by preventing them from using genetic information when making any decisions about hiring, promotions, salary, or dismissal. It also banns employment agencies from asking about genetic information, or requesting genetic tests. This part was implemented on 21st November 2009 (Genetics Home Reference, 2016). Another ethical issue concerning genome sequencing is the protection of participants privacy. Although the data collected needs to be shared broadly to maximize its value for ongoing exploration and research; the participants privacy also needs to be protected (National Human Genome Research Institute, 2015). However, because DNA is so unique to each individual it can never become 100% anonymised. There are a number of databases held by NIH where researchers can put up de-identified data. In 2013 a study by Homer et al pointed out that it was possible to identify participants using the data in the databases and public records (Wright et al, 2013). Since, NIH has control over who has access the to the data, ensuring that the privacy of participants is upheld. Before participation, volunteers are made aware of the potential risks they face if their genetic information were to be released, and are asked to sign an informed consent form. Informed consent forms should contain a description of the method of research; uses of the results; what results mean; if results show the risk of a condition that may affect family members or children. Despite being a relatively new field, genomics has come very far in a short amount of time, the Human Genome Project took 13 years and $2.7 billion. But today anyone can have their genome sequenced in 24 hours for $1000. Genome sequencing has already developed a lot; allowing scientists like Dr. Quake to predict illness and attempt to prevent it occurring by taking precautions, whether that means a change in lifestyle or taking medicine. Genome sequencing also makes it possible to determine which drugs work best for certain individuals and which drugs dont; this is very beneficial as it means money wont be wasted on giving ineffective treatment and medicine to those it wont help. However, genomics still has a long way to go. there is no benefit of being able to predict illness if you cannot treat the illness. Medical science needs to develop more and discover ways to treat more illnesses and diseases for the prediction of them to become very useful. Also, there are many ethical implications of genome sequencing e.g. privacy and discrimination. Although law and acts have been put in place to try and solve these issues there is still a chance that participants of sequencing will experience a breach of privacy; hence they have to sign an informed consent form. Genomics can definitely benefit and change healthcare in the future with more study and large-scale research. References      Ã‚   What is the human genome project? (no date) Available at: https://www.genome.gov/11511417/what-is-the-human-genome-project/ (Accessed: 9 September 2016) Wright, G.E., Koornhof, P.G., Adeyemo, A.A. and Tiffin, N. (2013) Ethical and legal implications of whole genome and whole exome sequencing in African populations, BMC Medical Ethics, 14(1), p. 21. doi: 10.1186/1472-6939-14-21. Begley, Sharon. Consumers Arent Wild About Genetic Testing Nor Are Doctors. STAT. N.p., 2016. Web. 7 Sept. 2016. Reference, Genetics. What Is Informed Consent?. Genetics Home Reference. N.p., 2016. Web. 9 Sept. 2016. Sample, I. (2016) Healthy genome used to predict disease risk in later life. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2010/apr/29/healthy-genome-predict-disease-risk (Accessed: 9 September 2016). Collins, Francis et al. A Vision For The Future Of Genomics Research. Nature Publishing Group (2003): n. pag. Web. 9 Sept. 2016. J, 2004 (2000) Whats a genome? Available at: http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/resources/whats_a_genome/Chp2_1.shtml (Accessed: 6 September 2016 What Is The Human Genome Project?. Genome.gov. N.p., 2016. Web. 9 Sept. 2016. [DS6] [DS1]Needed to b referenced. [DS2]All good   points made, but what you make factual statements you will need to support them with academic literature to back it up. [DS3]Good point, but you needed to show a reference to support it. [DS4]Good. [DS5]Should have given more attention to your reference list. [DS6]The diagram needed labeling.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and the Student Essay

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and the Student Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common obstacles that some students face in the process of learning. ADHD is often confused with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). It is very important to understand the difference between ADHD and ADD. It is also very important to understand the symptoms and behaviors associated with ADHD, as well as the causes and treatments available. After a complete understanding of the basics of ADHD, a closer look at the education system is essential. The education of children relies on the teacher’s knowledge of ADHD, as well as parent student teacher relationships. There are also some important teaching tips that teacher can utilize in their teaching experiences of ADHD students. ADHD versus ADD There is one very distinct difference between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is no longer the correct terminology. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has ‘replaced’ Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) based on the fact that no two cases are alike. The medical professionals now use the term ADD to describe a set of symptoms and behaviors that are associated with ADHD, but these symptoms are not exclusive to ADHD. With the understanding that ADD is no longer correct terminology, it is essential to understand the symptoms and behaviors that were associated with ADD, and how they relate to ADHD. Symptoms and Behaviors With five percent of the children in the world affected by ADHD to some degree, there is much variance in the severity and occurrence of symptoms and behaviors (Zeigler Dendy, 2000, â€Å"Teachin... ...de Web: http://www.add.org Department of Education (2002, August). IDEA’97: Individuals with disabilities educational act amendments of 1997. Retrieved March 23, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/IDEA Glock, M., Jensen, P., and Cooper, J. (1998). Diagnosis and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Retrieved March 23, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://odp.od.nih.gov/consensus/cons/110/110_statement.htm White, T. (2003, April). CHADD: Children and adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Retrieved April 22, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.chadd.org Educational Dictionary: Mosby's Medical, Nursing, & Allied Health Dictionary (1998). Edition 5. Mosby-Year Book, Inc. Retrieved April 2, 2003 from Infotrac Towson University Health Reference Center-Academic an online database.

Automobile and Cycling Essay

Cycling is one of the oldest means of transport. Inventing bicycles was an enormous step in the history of transportation. Bicycles didn’t need horses or wains as a result transportation became much simpler and cheaper. Moreover the previously smelly and dirty towns turned into healthier and cleaner places. Nowadays, however, when there are several faster ways of travelling, is there any reason to ride a bicycle? Although in our more technologically developed days bicycle are rather old-fashioned way of travelling, it has certain advantages. To begin with, bicycles are much cheaper than cars and motorcycles so that a lot of people can afford to buy them. Moreover, cycling is a great, physically demanding sport. As a result it could be an essential part of a healthy lifestyle or even a balanced diet. If people used it only for go to work or school it would provide them enough movement to avoid weight problems. Finally cycling is very environmentally friendly because it doesn’t need fuel or electricity. On the other hand cycling as a mean of transport does have its disadvantages. It usually takes longer than other forms of travel. As a result it can be more tiring. In addition, riding a bicycle in the city can be a little unhealthy. Cities’ air is very polluted because cars and factories exhaust a lot fume and chemicals. Furthermore cycling can be dangerous also. In the heavy traffic violent and careless car drivers often cause accidents and if we aren’t enough careful we can easily get hurt. All things considered, although there are some disadvantages of cycling I believe it is healthier and more enjoyable than driving a car. It can be dangerous but it is a perfect method to keep ourselves fit. Furthermore, in our crowded cities travelling by bicycle often the fastest way to reach our destination.

Special Needs Assistant Requirements Essay Example

Special Needs Assistant Requirements Essay Example Special Needs Assistant Requirements Essay Special Needs Assistant Requirements Essay Dec 2008 How do I become a Special Needs Assistant? Special Needs Assistants. Job Description Special Needs Assistants are recruited specifically to assist schools in providing the necessary non–teaching services to pupils with assessed educational needs. Their duties are assigned by the Principal acting on behalf of the Board of Management. Their work is supervised either by the Principal or another teacher as determined by the Principal. Those duties involve tasks of a non-teaching nature such as: . Preparation and tidying up of classrooms. 2. Assisting school children to board and alight from school buses. Where necessary travel as escort during school hours on school buses may be required. 3. Special assistance as necessary for children with particular difficulties e. g. helping special needs pupils with typing or writing or computers or other use of equipment. 4. Assistance with clothing, feeding, toileting and general hygiene and being mindful of health and safety needs of the pupil. 5. Assisting on out-of-school visits, walks, examinations and similar activities. 6. Assisting the teachers in the supervision of pupils during assembly, recreation and dispersal from the classroom for one reason or another. 7. Accompanying individuals or small groups who may have to be withdrawn temporarily from the classroom for one reason or another. 8. General assistance to the class teachers, under the direction of the Principal, with duties of a non-teaching nature. (Special Needs Assistants may not act as either substitute or temporary teachers. In no circumstances may they be left in sole charge of a class or group of children). 9. Participation with school development planning, where appropriate, and co-operation with any such changes with policies and practices arising from the school development process. 10. Engagement with parents of special needs pupils in both formal and informal structures as required and directed by school management. 11. Other duties appropriate to the grade as may be determined by the needs of the pupils and the school from time to time. Special Needs Assistants may be re-assigned to other work appropriate to the grade when special needs pupils are absent or when particular urgent work demands arise. Qualifications required: The minimum level of qualification required is a Junior Certificate with passes in English, Maths and Irish. In reality many SNA applicants will have further qualifications such as the FETAC level 5 SNA certificate (single subject or full award) or the FETAC Level 5 qualification in Childcare. Some may also have third level qualifications in related fields such as Montessori, Early Childhood Education or Psychology. Experience Relevant work experience with children is very important. This can include time spent as a volunteer in a homework club, summer camp leader, sports coach, as well as being active in your childrens’ school, for example in the parents association. More information on working as a SNA is available in the Education Personnel section of the Dept of Education Science website www. education. e or from AEGIS. Local Courses. FETAC level 5 Special Needs Assisstant single subject certificate courses have been offered as a part-time course in Abbeyleix Further Education Centre and Portarlington Adult Education Centre. Check www. laoisvec. ie Portlaoise College offers a full FETAC level 5, Special Needs Assistants course as well as a Childcare programme at the same level. www. portlaoisecollege. ie Information taken from Dept of Education Science Websi te www. education. ie and INTO website www. into. ie

Free Essays on The Maternal Instinct

â€Å"The Maternal Instinct† Response Caroline Whitbeck makes a very compelling argument against the maternal attachment she refers to as ‘maternal instinct’ and biological differences resulting from various experiences. She introduces the experience factors of pregnancy, labor, childbirth, nursing and post partum recovery supporting her ‘biological differences’ theory. The obvious parental attachment shared between parents and their offspring is widely differentiated between males and females. Whitbeck argues that this too is a factor in her argument against ‘the maternal instinct’. In her article, Whitbeck uses primates as an example of this attachment between mothers and their offspring being a learned trait. In this study, the determining factor for me was that while in captivity, many first time mothers in Resus monkeys were hostile towards their first-born even violent at times. But when second time mothers were examined, the monkeys were more nurturing and ultimately better mothers. This analysis in itself strongly supports Whitbeck’s argument that the attachment shared between mother and child is not one of instinct but rather of experience. I did not however find much assurance in her comparison between infants and women. This comparison doesn’t hold true as Whitbeck herself writes. The thought that women and infants resemble one another in their innocence, helplessness, softness, etc. is part of the bond between them. If this were a valid comparison, men would also be VanTine 2 closely attached with the child because of the same attributes that would attract a male to a female. This analysis is not accurate and I did not think it supported Whitbeck’s beliefs.... Free Essays on The Maternal Instinct Free Essays on The Maternal Instinct â€Å"The Maternal Instinct† Response Caroline Whitbeck makes a very compelling argument against the maternal attachment she refers to as ‘maternal instinct’ and biological differences resulting from various experiences. She introduces the experience factors of pregnancy, labor, childbirth, nursing and post partum recovery supporting her ‘biological differences’ theory. The obvious parental attachment shared between parents and their offspring is widely differentiated between males and females. Whitbeck argues that this too is a factor in her argument against ‘the maternal instinct’. In her article, Whitbeck uses primates as an example of this attachment between mothers and their offspring being a learned trait. In this study, the determining factor for me was that while in captivity, many first time mothers in Resus monkeys were hostile towards their first-born even violent at times. But when second time mothers were examined, the monkeys were more nurturing and ultimately better mothers. This analysis in itself strongly supports Whitbeck’s argument that the attachment shared between mother and child is not one of instinct but rather of experience. I did not however find much assurance in her comparison between infants and women. This comparison doesn’t hold true as Whitbeck herself writes. The thought that women and infants resemble one another in their innocence, helplessness, softness, etc. is part of the bond between them. If this were a valid comparison, men would also be VanTine 2 closely attached with the child because of the same attributes that would attract a male to a female. This analysis is not accurate and I did not think it supported Whitbeck’s beliefs....

Barons, Magna Carta and King John Essay Example

Barons, Magna Carta and King John Essay Example Barons, Magna Carta and King John Paper Barons, Magna Carta and King John Paper Henry II, one of the most influential’s of England’s government created and improved the judicial system as the laws of the land needed applied. His government gave fair trials to all and granted judges to cross throughout the land to maintain the criminal justice system that he created. After Henry II death Richard his son had succeeded him and maintained that his fathers’ form of government was being followed. However, Richard was not always in England due to the Crusades in the Middle East that he believed was worth fighting and with his absent his barons gained control of the government. Under both Henry II and Richard the barons were able to gain trust from the crown and gain power that had never happened before under any other monarch. When John, Henry II’s youngest son took the thrown he took away a large amount of the baron’s power and increased taxes without having council with his barons. John also took away the form of judicial system his father had created that gave fair trial to all. From these critical laws of government gone or corrupted John’s barons plotted against him and created the Magna Carta which is list of laws that were demanded to restore his father’s government. For the first time in history a monarch was forced to sign and obey laws created by his nobility. The barons wanted to limit John’s power through the Magna Carta. In which the church did have a small influence of the created charter when written. Throughout history many historians have been trying to figure out for what reasons John’s barons created the Magna Carta. Clarie Valente, argues that barons were looking towards John consider the concepts of law and government along with their more personal agendas. However, Sidney Painter states that John was not in the right mental state to take the concepts of the law and enforce them in a way that would benefit not only him, but his barons. Also, Painter concludes that John’s relationship that he destroyed between many close barons that were loyal to him lead them to unite against him and place him within the law. J. A. P. Jones, gives great reasoning that the authority that John had created was against the law from the view point of the barons. John the youngest son of King Henry II succeeded his father’s thrown after his brother Richard’s death in 1199. Even though John was next in line for the thrown, John’s nephew Arthur son of Geoffrey John’s elder brother. Three sets of considerations would play a part in the decision between them- the law of inheritance, the wishes of the barons and great officers of the realm, and the desires of the late king. [1] Both John and Arthur had their own support from their closest barons. England and Normandy accepted John who had been designated by his brother as heir to the whole of his dominions, the barons of Aquitaine rendered their homage to Eleanor, while those of Anjou, Main, and Touraine, in accordance with the custom of the country, swore allegiance to Arthur of Brittany. [2] John was finally recognized at Richards’s heir only by the action of his niece marring Louis son of, Philip king of France and the paying of 20,000 marks for her dowry. When John finally came into power his kingdom had lost Normandy, rumors of him plotting the killing of his nephew Arthur. The story of John murdering Arthur in 1203 and caused speculation among King Philip of France who tried to use this reason to condemn John, however it was too late because John bought out the barons who then clamed John the rightful king of England. Rumors also started to appear that John captured Arthur’s colleagues and starved them to death, while Arthur’s sister appears to have been imprisoned at Bristol until 1241 when she died. [3] Since his kingdom was drained of funds do to Richard’s Crusades which also left the people penniless. John’s first visit to England as chef he demanded the needs of men and money; he summoned his feudal host and ordered the levying of a scutage of two marks per knight’s fee. [4] John started to demand reliefs that sometimes amounted to thousands of pounds. [5] The rise of his few per vassal caused many of his vassals to leave or become treachery against him. If the funds could not be furnished other ways were available to obtain them by the selling of marriages of his heiresses for high prices on a marriage market, but there was no one to deny their tight to dispose of heiresses and there were always eager buyers. 6] Selling of heiresses could not be stopped due to the grounds that could prevent John from the control of his own estate. Jones argues that during the reign of Henry II he created the Angevin machine that was designed so in the absent of the king the sole direction of government affairs could be issued by the Chairman of the Bench and barons with his own wor ds. John Joliffe’s recent study of the Angevin monarchy is that the fundamental policies of the first three Angevin kings must be regarded as a whole. These powerful rulers, he asserts, opposed the older concept of feudal monarchy with a new attitude, difficult to define – kind of â€Å"unrealized absolution which would have exercised all the capacities of the Renaissance prince except that of comprehending its own proper nature and claiming it in set terms. †[7] Joliffe’s reasoning is that during John’s rule the Angevin machine never changed under his rule, but it changed due to the world changing. However there is greater evidence that states that with John’ never-ending activity within government and having to be homebound in England after the loss of Normandy and Anjou in 1203-4, tend to make his rule seem more personal, more tyrannical, more stifling than that of his predecessors. John’s Since John had no place to visit he began to take tours of the country causing him to try to attend to the smallest points of administrative detail resulted in efficiency but also in a general feeling of oppression. Lords that John considered most dangerous to his power were to be weakened by any possible means on the other hand barons that were considered to be most reliable were to be built up. [8] 1203, John turned many of his closest friends into his enemies and his once enemies he gave them handouts to win their loyalty over. His intentions of winning foe barons over created a strain of the relationships and backing that his closest barons once had. Without John having the backing of his once trusted barons and nobles tension increased, furthermore this concern John had with having to win rival barons may perhaps been one of the leading causes to his barons rising up against him and creating the Magna Carta that would limit his power and restore their authority back into the government. Events leading up to the Magna Carta include the feud John had with Pope Innocent III on who should be the new archbishop of Canterbury. Innocent III refused to accept the choices that John had elected for the new archbishop of Canterbury. Due to this dispute Innocent put England under an interdict, however John saw this to be wrong doing and he reopened some monasteries. John’s outlandish action lead to Innocent’s excommunicate of England. John’s barons repeatedly asked John to surrender to Innocents demands so that church services could continue. However, John finally gave into Innocents, but not until 1213 and he reinstates the Canterbury monks and receives Langston as the new archbishop, but not as his friend. [9] During, 1212 John raised taxes on the Barons in the attempt to regain Aquitaine, Poitou and Anjou. 0 July 1213 John renewed his coronation oath with the promise to restore Henry I laws and banish all evil customs; his promise was short lived by 15 November 1213. [10] 1215, John tried to gain power once again with his lost territory in France; however he was once again defeated then forced to pay to acquire a truce with Philip. John’s only way to obtain ? 40,000 was to raise tax es which lead to the barons rebelling. After this few barons remained loyal to John, while others were starting to plot against him. Those who were plotting against him drew up a list of grievances with Archbishop Stephen Langton and presented them to the king on June 15, 1215. The list of injustice, Magna Carta was signed at Runnymede in Surrey and was forced to accept and sign the terms or war was going to be declared against him. Within the Magna Carta there were sixty-three conditions that the twenty-five barons and Archbishop Langston required and forced John to re-establish. From those sixty-three provisions I have chosen several clauses that I see are the most important terms that the barons and the church wanted to have reinstated back into the government. The Church of England â€Å"shall be free, and shall have her rights entire, and her liberties inviolate; and we will that it be thus observed. †[11] Clause 1 explains that the King will stay out of church affairs especially with the elections of new archbishops. The Pope has all rights to elected whom he see fits without the interfering of the King. Also, the barons reasoning for this clause to be fashioned within the charter is to reinsure that excommunication never occurs in England once more. In addition, to the king’s limitation with the Church clause 61 states, â€Å"all quarrels between men who held government positions and clergy were to be forgiven and pardoned. †[12] This meant that all those in the clergy and government positions were to be forgiven be the king himself. Their names and positions would be cleared of all charges. The clergy who had once been dammed by John know can be restored back into the church. Furthermore all those politically excommunicated by John could now come back to England and withhold powerful positions yet again. John’s treasury dry and the wonting need to reclaim Normandy his stupendous scheme to wed of his closest heirs for money caused clause 6 in the Magna Carta to be fashioned. Clause 6 clearly states, â€Å"heirs shall be married without disparagement, yet so that before themarriage takes place the nearest in blood to that heir shall have notice. †[13] If John was to marry of any remanding heirs he was to count the distance between the two that were to be wed. The number between them had to meet current criteria to be allowed to wed. If conditions were not met then they he could go forth with the wedding. The most important clauses for the barons were 12 and 14, stated that John has to take counsel on aids and scutages with a duly-summoned assembly of leading prelates, nobles, and tenants-in-chief. [14] This clause would demand that John had to summon a convention in which his barons, tenants-in-chiefs, and leading prelates would attend once again being involved in decision making, negotiations, and law construction. They would gain the power that they once had when the Angevin machine was established when Normandy was being ruled by Henry II and Richard I. During the reign of his father Henry II, set up permanent court of professional judges and sent them throughout the land on frequent missions, criminal justice was to be administered all over the land in accordance with the same rules. [15] Clause 39 of the Magna Carta states â€Å"No freeman shall be taken or imprisoned or disseised or exiled or in anyway destroyed nor will we go upon him nor send upon him, except by the lawfuljudgement of his peers or by the law of the land. †[16] This is stating that King John can’t imprison or exile someone that he wants to without having broken a law and be judged within a court in front of his peers. Historian Clare Valente states within her book The Theory and Practice of Revolt in Medieval England, that clauses 39 and 40 are the utmost important due to the guaranteed free, available, impartial royal justice according to the law of the land. [17] The barons were demanding that John restore the judicial branch that England once had under the rule of his father. Also, with in the Magna Carta clause 52 states that all those who had been exiled without a lawful judgment was removed from exile and his rights were fully restored. 18] King John had removed the law system that his father and fore fathers had established that guided and helped their government develop. Instead of having the positions of law enforcements being held by those who had been educated and trained in the field, John replaced them with his close piers and those that he could trust to ensure that his ruling was going to be enforced throughout his real. The gratuitous concessions of Magna Carta, limited thought the y were, came to be seen as offering a more general guarantee for local liberties, to be enforced, exploited and misinterpreted in their defence. 19] The barons who under the rule of Richard had withheld power do to the invention of the angevin machine that was created by Henry II that was designed in the absent of the king the king’s alter ego who had sole direction of the government affairs and could issue chancery writs in his own name. [20] Under this concept the barons gained outstanding amount of power. During John’s rule their power had been eliminated and they believed that it was their born right to have the feudal principle that vassal should give â€Å"aid and counsel† to his lord. 21] With their rights and power taken the creation of the Magna Carta was away to try to re-establish their rights. â€Å"All foreign knights and soldiers were thrown out of the country do to the belief that they were living in England to corrupt the government†. [22] This clause was cruel to the barons, who believed that these foreigners were taking over England and influencing their lords over all decisions In addition with the nationality clause, With John agreeing to the terms of the Magna Carta, he was subjected to abide by each law. If any laws were broken then they would have all rights to revolt against him once again. As quoted by ‘The Twenty-five Barons of Magna Carta,’ by C. R. Cheney: If the king of his officials violated anything in the charter or failed to do extension of judicial distraint, to obey him and attack his property until he reconfirmed his promises and restored justice, at which point normal relations would resume. [23] It is clearly stated that if John or any of his nobility that followed him were to break the law in anyway, his property not him would be attacked. Within the clause itself it states that the twenty-five barons and the whole community have the right to seize their castles, lands, and possessions in anyway that they can until the situation has been obtained and meets their demands. The Magna Carta first set of laws that a monarch was forced to sign and accept to follow under his own barons. John had created a corrupted government by taking away power that was given to his barons from his father and brothers rule due to their absent and the invention of the Angevin machine. The barons were allied with Archbishop Langston who also believed that John’s ruling was in the wrong and that he should not be able to have any influence in the Church’s decisions. BIBLIOGRAPHY I. PRIMARY SOURCES White, Albert Beebe and Notestein, Wallace. Magna Carta 1215. Edited by Source Problems in English History. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1915. II. SECONDARY SOURCES A. Books Cheney, C. R. , The Twenty-five Barons of Magna Carta. Bulletin of the John Rayland’s Library, 50 (1967-68). Goodhart, Arthur L. Law of the land. Charlottesville VA: The University Press of Virginia, 1966. Holt, J. C. Magna Carta. Cambridge: University Press, 1965. Joliffe, John. Angevin Kingship. London, A. C. Black, 1963. Jones, J. A. P. King John and Magna Carta. London: Longman, 1971. Painter, Sidney. The Reign Of King John. NY: Arno Press, 1949. Poole, Austin L. From Domesday Book to Magna Carta, 1087-1216. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1951. Valente, Claire. The Theory and Practice of Revolt in Medieval England. Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing Company, 2003. B. Journal Articles Maddicott, J. R. Magna Carta and the Local Community 1215-1259. † Past Present 102 (February, 1984):30. Stuart, William A. â€Å"The Constitutional Clauses of Magna Carta. † Virginia Law Review2:8 (May, 1915):567. [1] Sidney Painter, The Reign of King John (New York: Arno Press, 1949), 1. [2] Austin Poole, From Domesday Book to Magna Carta, 1087-1216 (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1951), 378. [3] J. A. P. Jones, King John and Magna Carta (London: Longman, 1971), 8. [4] Painter, 16. [5] J. C. Holt, Magna Carta (Cambridge, University Press, 1965), 24. [6] Ibid. 7] John Joliffe, Angevin Kingship (London, A. C. Black, 1963), 341. [8] Painter, 24. [9] Sir. James H. Ramsay, The Angevin Empire of the Three Reigns of Henry II, Richard I, and John (A. D. 1154-1216) (New York: AMS Press, 1978), 417. [10] Jones, 46. [11] Albert Beebe White and Wallace Notestein, Magna Carta (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1915), Clause 1. [12] Ibid. , Clause 61. [13] White and Wallace Notestein, Clause 6. [14] Claire Valente, The Theory and Practice of Revolt in Medieval England (Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing Company, 2003), 26-27. 15] Goodhart, 9. [16] White and Wallace Notestein, Clause 39. [17]Valente, 26. [18] Ibid. , Clause 52. [19] J. R. Maddicott, â€Å"Magna Carta and the Local Community 1215-1259. † Past Present 102, (Feb. 1984): 30. [20] Jones, 4. [21] William A. Stuart, â€Å"The Constitutional Clauses of Magna Carta. † Virginia Law Review 2:8 (1915): 567. [22]White and Notestein,. Clause 51. [23] C. R. Cheney, The Twenty-five Barons of Magna Carta (Bulletin of the John Rayland’s Library, 50 (1967-68) 307.

Costing and Traditional Costing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Costing and Traditional Costing - Essay Example Activity based costing affects only overhead costs i.e. direct labour and direct materials are the same under Absorption Costing Method. A single activity pool of cost is referred to as a â€Å"cost bucket† where cost outlays for a specific activity are garnered. A measure for an activity is applied as a basis for allocation while using overhead costs. A rate of activity rate refers to the predetermined rate of overhead in Activity based costing. Activities’ Hierarchy: Guides the way costs are supposed to be grouped into various pools as well as the nature activities assigned per given cost pool Unit-level activities – done every moment a unit is produced. Batch- level activities – performed each time a batch is processed. Product- level activities – must be done regardless of the number units or batches of the output are being manufactured. Facility-level activities- have to be done regardless of the products to be produced. Task 1 Full costing and Activity based costing A) Calculations using Full costing Revenue and direct costs of products Skel Foss Total Units produced and sold 15000 units 18000 units 33000 Selling price/unit 52 91 Direct labour cost/unit (2hrs*10=20) (5hrs*10=50) Direct Material cost/unit 25 30 Sales revenue (1*2) 780000 1638000 2418000 Direct labour cost (1*3) 300000 900000 1200000 Direct Materials cost (1*4) 375000 540000 915000 Total direct cost (6+7) 675000 1440000 2115000 Calculations on Overheads and indirect costs. Indirect component Products (Skel + Foss) % of Total products Bought in parts handling costs 96000 40% Materials handling costs 38000 15.83% Sales invoicing costs 20000 8.33% Machine set up costs 26000 10.84% All other overheads 60000 25%... The paper tells that costs objects take in activities and activities take in resources. Resource cost outlays are allocated to activities based upon their utilisation of the mentioned resources, while activity cost outlays are allocated to cost outputs with the basis being cost objects in proportion to utilisation of those activities. Activity based costing puts into account causal relationship between costs and activities and between activities and resources. Using activity based costing management technique can considerably improve the financial health of a firm as it presents the real picture or the factsheet, as the activity based costing technique tracks the cost objects utilized in the activities and, thus, the factors consumed in the same activities, to determine correct individual overheads instead of simply linking on the volume. The activity based costing concept as a costing technique takes into consideration both factors. That is, the activity drivers as well as the resou rce drivers to come up with the product’s price or service. It is essential to realize that the profitability of a firm not only relies on the sales of the service or product, but also on the expenses concerned in the making of that specific service or product. In a given case study of parts of an automotive manufacturing firm located in the nation by the name Norway, it was then proven that just a minute portion of their line of products had a positive economic profit as well as return upon sales. As a matter of fact when the economic profit and operational profitability of their line of products were classified and columned side by side, that was an eye opener.

Keynesianism Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Keynesianism - Research Paper Example Estimated to be worth about $787 billion, the stimulus issued by the Obama administration was to save over 90,000 jobs (Calmes, 2009). The stimulus was broken down to $288 billion, allocated to tax cuts, $224 billion for unemployment benefits, education and healthcare, and $275 billion for job creation through grants and loans from government. The main aim of the plan was to restore confidence in the economy and to spur economic growth given the monetary policy had failed to save the situation. It was also to bring confidence by reducing bonuses to senior executives whose companies had received TARP funds. According to Williams and Calabrese (2013), in a scientific society, there are about four types of theories: descriptive, explanatory and predictive, instrumental and normative. Descriptive and explanatory theories can be categorized under positive while the other two are grouped under prescriptive or normative. Descriptive theories can be said to be forerunners of explanatory theories as they tend to find how different constructs are interrelated. These may include core elements, characteristics, relationships, or dimensions. They are meant to set stage for explanation and prediction. Explanatory theory on the other hand gives insights on what caused an outcome in way that it can be observed. Predictions come in as a test of explanations. instrumentals depend on predictions, they work on the fact that if something occurs, another thing will occur as a result. The Obama Stimulus was positive in nature. It focused on the actual facts on the ground as opposed to general assumptions. At the time of its launch, unemployment rate was at 9%, and to solve this, the government allocated $275 billion for job creationin since monetary policy had failed to bear concrete fruits. This plan was also based on normative theories as it determined how the economy behaved within a time frame of ten years. Within this

Manager in a Big Corporation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Manager in a Big Corporation - Essay Example The product of Nestle mostly contains baby food, packed water, cereals, coffee confectionary, dairy products and snacks. It is considered that the company has 28 brands under its umbrella that includes well-known brands like Nescafe, Kit Kat, Smarties, Nesquik, and Maggi among others (Kowitt, 2010). It has also been viewed that the company nearby has 450 manufacturing plants that operates in more than 86 countries globally providing employment opportunities to more than 328,000 people. Nestle holds around 24.5% share of L’Oreal Group which is considered to be the world’s largest cosmetic group (Mulier, 2011). It is worth mentioning that Google have announced that it would name the next android after the ever popular chocolate wafer of nestle i.e. Kit Kat. However, over the year the company has been under varies controversies that have affected the brand image to a great extent (Kelion, 2013). Problem Definition Despite Nestle’s best effort to design, manufacture and sell safe and reliable products there stills remains probabilities that the product manufactured may contain dangerous and defective aspect and that may reach the consumer or the final customer. Correspondingly, there have been several instances when the company has to recall its products causing financial loss and hampering the goodwill of the company. Notably, a product recall is a situation or recall made by a company to return a batch or an entire production made of a particular product range usually resulting from the discovery of safety issues or a product defect (Foerster & et al., 2011). Product recall is usually a way of decreasing the liability resulting from... This paper stresses that unique liability challenges co-exist for every organization despite of conducting business in sales, manufacturing or distribution of products to the final customers. It is vital for every organization to provide the best quality product to their customers. In certain cases, it has been viewed that lack of proper operational aspects results in certain activities which sometimes affects the organizations brand image. Among all product recall is considered to one such corporate situation that could disturb a manager. The major reason behind product recall is considered to be resulting from lack of proper guidance and poor working condition. Additionally, it is believed that good knowledge of the standard packaging measures also leads in product recall by a company. This report makes a conclusion that in today’s corporate world Product recall is considered to be more prevalent that it was decades ago and has therefore become an inevitable part of business. In this competitive business world the issue of product recall plays a vital role as it not only helps in maintaining the leading position amid its customers but also helps in understanding the role and responsibility of an organization towards the society. With reference to the above discussion and finding obtained from the research conducted, it can be stated that adaption of modern technological aspects would serve as an effective way of mitigating the issues contributing towards the product defects and thereby reducing the challenges of product recall.

A Good Fall by Ha Jin Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

A Good Fall by Ha Jin - Essay Example The characters I this book seem to have lost all hope and to find accommodation in this new country becomes a struggle not with the American society but with the self. The characters manifest a sense of restriction and they seem to be in exile not only from chine their homeland filled with sweet memories and dreams, but from who they really are. This paper primarily offers a contrast between the lives of two characters in the book, the freedoms and imprisonment that they are encountered with. This story depicts the experience of a Chinese student immigrant who live in the United States and receives a call from his former much admired-professor who plans to visit the United States with a delegation of educators. The professor and student visit an American scholar and the professor is proud to have outshone the American scholar. Due to this happening, the Chinese professor decides to stay in America illegally and he is imprisoned they the thought that any human being should be allowed to live free as a bird, uncontrolled by any man-made orders. He starts earning a living as a bus boy and when he is tracked down the professor runs away and opts for a life devoid of the world. A simple visit to the United States by the professor had turned into a spy mission that resulted to the professor to defect and refuse to return home. He believes that any individual should be buried anywhere they die (Ha 58). This story brings forward the â€Å"wartime couple† this are two immigrants living together in the United States, though not a genuine couple, they help each other with not only their financial burdens, but also to ease each other’s loneliness. This so comfortable arrangement is disrupted by the arrival of their respective spouses, this incident not only leads to their separation, but also leads to a break up with their cultures as Panbin declares to never date another Chinese woman in his life. This shows a move away from the

Paintings and allusions in English Patients Essay

Paintings and allusions in English Patients - Essay Example The essay "Paintings and allusions in English Patients" explores The English Patient, a recipient of the Man Booker Prize and the Governor General’s Award, written by a Sri Lankan-Canadian novelist, Michael Ondaatji. The reference comes to light when Kip surveys the chapel with his rifle telescope, â€Å"reached the great face and was stilled by it, the face like a spear, wise, unforgiving. (77)†. When Kip asks a fellow soldier about the true identity of the face, he learns that it is indeed the â€Å"great face† of Isaiah. The painting is a clear depicting of the catastrophic prophecies of Isaiah with regards to the Satanic bombing of Japan. The novel thus challenges the apocalypse (the nuclear bombing) by highlighting a community oriented eschatological society (through the means of Kip). The Queen of Sheeba, also known as â€Å"queen of the south† in the Hebrew bible, is in reality from a South African origin, which apart from other things, talks of kin g Solomon. In the book, The English Patient, her chastity is symbolized by the statue of Virgin Mary. In the passage from Isaiah 60:0; â€Å"And they from Sheeba shall come; they shall bring forth gold and incense; and they shall show forth the praises of the lord.† This is a clear indication that Sheeba is indeed a provider of wealth and a friendly giver. Out here, the chastity of Kip was given a tight joust when catastrophe struck on Japan in the form of an atomic bomb. David and Goliath is a painting by Master Caravaggio, who happened to be an Italian Baroque master.

International Investment In China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

International Investment In China - Essay Example However, associated with these opportunities are also risks confronting the businesses in the context of international investment. This essay primarily encompasses the direct investment concerns in the international business spectrum and also presents the case of Shell plc as an example of UK's direct investment in China. There has recently been an increasing trend on the part of the multinational corporations from the developed world to enter into trade and investment with emerging economies of the world. There happen to be several factors responsible to induce the foreign companies to invest in less developed or emerging markets. Samli and Kaynak (1984) refer to the concept of emerging markets as similar to less developed countries characterised primarily with agriculture based economy, high population growth levels, lower income levels, low literacy level, lack of substructure, and lack of capital etc. China is also one of the emerging economies of the Asian world, which is speedily climbing the ladders of economic progress and prosperity through a remarkable growth in various industrial and economic sectors. The recent rapid economic boom in China and open market policy has projected the country's image in the world as an attractive market for international investment (Sun and Chai, 1998). ... Chinese government and financial environment purposefully support and encourage multinational companies to enter the market so that it can affirm the consistent progress of the Chinese economy (Zhao, 2003). In the same vein, several UK companies having identified and analysed the opportunities in the Chinese market are making direct and indirect investment in the country that brings foreign reserves to the country as well as happens to be profitable for the these corporations. Huaning and Colin (2004) refer to the United Kingdom as the pre-eminent investor in China during the recent years among all the European Union countries. Case: Shell's Investment In China Shell happens to one of the major investor in Chinese market. In the year 2002, it entered the oil market of China with an investment of 255m (FT.com News, 2002). The company further expanded its business activities in the country and recently the company confided to a project concerning coal exploitation in a joint venture with a Chinese partner with a prospective investment of about 2.7b, probably the largest ever investment received by the country (FT.com, News, 2006). In this way, Shell plc invested in the Chinese market by way of direct investment. The increasing interest of Shell plc in the Chinese market is reflective of the investment attractiveness of the country with regard to its inexpensive labour, growing economy and surging demand. Determinants And Merits Of Investment By UK Companies In China Changhong and Weili (2002) propound that there happen to be two significant forms through which the multinational corporations invest in a developing country viz.

A Good Fall by Ha Jin Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

A Good Fall by Ha Jin - Essay Example The characters I this book seem to have lost all hope and to find accommodation in this new country becomes a struggle not with the American society but with the self. The characters manifest a sense of restriction and they seem to be in exile not only from chine their homeland filled with sweet memories and dreams, but from who they really are. This paper primarily offers a contrast between the lives of two characters in the book, the freedoms and imprisonment that they are encountered with. This story depicts the experience of a Chinese student immigrant who live in the United States and receives a call from his former much admired-professor who plans to visit the United States with a delegation of educators. The professor and student visit an American scholar and the professor is proud to have outshone the American scholar. Due to this happening, the Chinese professor decides to stay in America illegally and he is imprisoned they the thought that any human being should be allowed to live free as a bird, uncontrolled by any man-made orders. He starts earning a living as a bus boy and when he is tracked down the professor runs away and opts for a life devoid of the world. A simple visit to the United States by the professor had turned into a spy mission that resulted to the professor to defect and refuse to return home. He believes that any individual should be buried anywhere they die (Ha 58). This story brings forward the â€Å"wartime couple† this are two immigrants living together in the United States, though not a genuine couple, they help each other with not only their financial burdens, but also to ease each other’s loneliness. This so comfortable arrangement is disrupted by the arrival of their respective spouses, this incident not only leads to their separation, but also leads to a break up with their cultures as Panbin declares to never date another Chinese woman in his life. This shows a move away from the

International Investment In China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

International Investment In China - Essay Example However, associated with these opportunities are also risks confronting the businesses in the context of international investment. This essay primarily encompasses the direct investment concerns in the international business spectrum and also presents the case of Shell plc as an example of UK's direct investment in China. There has recently been an increasing trend on the part of the multinational corporations from the developed world to enter into trade and investment with emerging economies of the world. There happen to be several factors responsible to induce the foreign companies to invest in less developed or emerging markets. Samli and Kaynak (1984) refer to the concept of emerging markets as similar to less developed countries characterised primarily with agriculture based economy, high population growth levels, lower income levels, low literacy level, lack of substructure, and lack of capital etc. China is also one of the emerging economies of the Asian world, which is speedily climbing the ladders of economic progress and prosperity through a remarkable growth in various industrial and economic sectors. The recent rapid economic boom in China and open market policy has projected the country's image in the world as an attractive market for international investment (Sun and Chai, 1998). ... Chinese government and financial environment purposefully support and encourage multinational companies to enter the market so that it can affirm the consistent progress of the Chinese economy (Zhao, 2003). In the same vein, several UK companies having identified and analysed the opportunities in the Chinese market are making direct and indirect investment in the country that brings foreign reserves to the country as well as happens to be profitable for the these corporations. Huaning and Colin (2004) refer to the United Kingdom as the pre-eminent investor in China during the recent years among all the European Union countries. Case: Shell's Investment In China Shell happens to one of the major investor in Chinese market. In the year 2002, it entered the oil market of China with an investment of 255m (FT.com News, 2002). The company further expanded its business activities in the country and recently the company confided to a project concerning coal exploitation in a joint venture with a Chinese partner with a prospective investment of about 2.7b, probably the largest ever investment received by the country (FT.com, News, 2006). In this way, Shell plc invested in the Chinese market by way of direct investment. The increasing interest of Shell plc in the Chinese market is reflective of the investment attractiveness of the country with regard to its inexpensive labour, growing economy and surging demand. Determinants And Merits Of Investment By UK Companies In China Changhong and Weili (2002) propound that there happen to be two significant forms through which the multinational corporations invest in a developing country viz.

Authority Essay Example for Free

Authority Essay Define the term â€Å"authority.† What does it mean to be authoritative, and how do you go about establishing whether a source is, indeed, credible? Why is it important to not only invite authorities to speak in your writing, but also to establish your own authority as you write? Authority by definition: the power to give orders or make decisions, or the power or right to direct or control someone or something, or the confident quality of someone who knows a lot about something or who is respected or obeyed by other people (Merriam-Webster, 2010). Figures of authority are extraordinarily significant to the credibility within any paper. Including citation from members of society with an advanced skill set will not only solidify proposed ideas, but can also aid in swaying an argument (Ballenger, 17). Valid credibility can go a long way in improving the impact a piece makes on its reader. While it is important to include factual information of the writers proposed idea, it is equally important to establish a voice within the piece. Each article of information that comes from a professional standpoint can be a stepping stone towards the finished product of the writers work. Weaving an authoritative voice simultaneously strengthens the paper as well as the validity of the writers work. Lastly, citing authoritative individuals in a piece will grant the permission of their facts without sending the writer towards plagiarism. Although it is often unintentional, plagiarism happens quite frequently. It is imperative to the writer that citations of an authority figure (ie: scholars, researchers, critics, or specialists) are included in their piece to ensure the professionalism of their message can be brought to light using convincing sources.

Advertisements Information Or Manipulation Media Essay

Advertisements Information Or Manipulation Media Essay These are some of the common advertisements that we can see and hear in our everyday life. Advertisement according to oxforddictionaries.com means that a notice or announcement in a public medium promoting a product, service, or event or publicizing a job vacancy. Advertisements are everywhere around us. Whether we noticed it or not, it has been long existed. In fact in Egyptian time, they used papyrus to make sales messages and wall posters to attract the consumers. With todays advancement of the media, the numbers of magazines increasing, newspapers, TVs and radio stations, people are bombarded with thousands of advertising daily. Advertising is in fact important because it creates awareness to the consumers about products that are available in the market. With the presence of the advertisement, it helps to increase the demand for a certain products. It also let the consumer to choose from a number of products available in the market. But does all these advertisement really give the information to the consumers or just plain tactics to manipulate us to buy or use the services? A lot of the advertisements nowadays are actually manipulating us rather than giving us the real information. The advertisers are in fact intelligent people. They know that normal advertisements that only contain facts are plain boring and seem dull. Therefore they created fantasies to make the advertisement look more appealing. We can clearly see that most advertisement created used our desire, such as sports, sexy women and superstars so that we become attracted and intend to purchase them. As an example this one commercial about a deodorant, AXE, that being use by this man. After he uses it, he is able to attract hot and sexy women towards him. People are being trick by such advertisement and they started to buy these products. After they put it on, they feel as they are the same as in the commercial. This clearly shows that they are playing with our emotions. Think wisely why they use such act. Does this have connections with the quality of the product they release to the market? We consumers should be more cautious to the method used in order to prevent us from being manipulated by the advertisers. Be alert that the advertisers worldwide are succeeding in making people change their lifestyle. In this case, they know that popular artist can play their role in making people especially their fans to follow their way. For example popular artist from Japan, Gazette. Their appearances: clothes that they are wearing and their hairstyle, are so cool that many fan decided to follow their style. By using such influence, most people dont mind in spending their money just to be same as their idol. Doing this kind of advertisements is in fact quite expensive. However, they are prepared to spend a lot of money in the advertising so that they can sell their products. It has been estimated that the price of a product may go up over to 40% due to advertisement costs. Still, due to the success of manipulating the consumers, the advertisers get a lot of money. As an example, according to Welt-Online, they reported that the US pharmaceutical industry spent almost double the amount on advertising ( 57.7 billion dollars) than it did on research (31.5 billion dollars). Yet few consumers noticed that they are the ones paying for every cent the US pharmaceutical spent for public relations, advertisements, rebates, packaging since they ordinarily get included in the price calculation. In the end the consumers will pay more to them while the advertisers gain more profits. Another interesting fact is that they also know how to attract people according their age group. In one case, they try to persuade a group of age between below 8 years old. According to American Psychological Association, they found out that young children are unable to understand and interpret televised advertising messages wisely and thus are likely to consider commercials as truthful, accurate and unbiased. This can lead to many problems like unhealthy eating habits as evidenced by todays youth obesity epidemic. The young children also being targeted as they can also persuade their parents to buy the things that they are being attracted to like toys, sweets and ice cream. One successful commercial like the car models from Hot Wheels where they had successfully sell thousands of their toys. As the children are unable to think wisely it is more likely easier to manipulate them by putting more of what they desire in the advertisement rather than supplying information. On one research , it is found that advertisers had spent more than $12 billion a year on messages aimed at the youth market. The average child watches more than 40,000 television commercials a year. This clearly shows just how they are willing to spend money in order manipulate the consumers rather than giving them much more useful information. The young ones are also not the only one being targeted by the advertisers. Todays adolescences are also being seduced by them. Most male adolescence love sports especially football. The advertisers take this chance by using the football stars in their commercial to market their product. It is likely of us nowadays to follow our idol way. No wonder some brands become top in their games as they are able to increase their selling products and gain more profit. One example of one popular brand company, Nike, where they hired Lebron James, a professional NBA player to be one of their ambassadors. The female adolescences also being manipulate by the advertisement. Not being biased but the female is most likely easy to be trick by certain advertisement. Just see how many women are willing to spend their money and time just for shopping. Younger women especially in Malaysia nowadays are attracted and had followed the Japanese style which also known as the Harajuku style that have been started by some of the popular artist like Ayumi Hamasaki and Kumi Koda.It is likely of them to answer like this: Well, this is the latest trend for the season. They buy things like clothes that are being considered popular for the season. Rather than What should I wear today? it has become What trend must I wear for today?. Not only just clothing, even other things like hairstyle, shoes and even skin color are being considered. It makes us set our mind that it is more important to look good rather than the real purpose of wearing clothes. This proves that advertisement manipulate rather than giving information. The advertisers also use tactics like the linking of sporting heroes and smoking through sports sponsorship, the use of cigarettes by popular characters in television programs and cigarette promotions. Like what is happening in India, as the actors smoke, the viewer intend to do the same thing as they feel it is macho to smoke. People rarely think deeply on the effect that might be faced by them on long term side as they think only for short time. Same thing goes to other products like alcohol drinks. The consumption of alcohol is being glamorized and shown without consequences in advertisements, music, magazines, television programs and even in movies. With the media overwhelmed by these kind of advertisements, no wonder more people especially the youngster below aged drink, even though the fact that alcohol bring harmful to the human body. Not all advertisement told the truth. Some of it sometimes hides the real information or facts that are supposed to be told to the consumers. In fact they are just sweet talk so that people will be attracted to what they offer. For example advertisement about shampoo that can make the hair smooth and straight. As nowadays people are eager to have such hair, they are easily influence by these kind of commercial and purchase the product without knowing the fact whether it really do make the hair to be as what they desire for or just bluffing. On top of hiding the real information they also send a blurry fact to the consumers. Just like a fog or mist that we encounter in the early morning, we cant see clearly of what we are facing in front of us. We are not sure whether it is safe or danger in front of us. This implies just the same as the blurry advertisement. It may be good for us and it may be the opposite. In summary, advertisement do contain both information and at the same time trying to manipulate the consumers. However based on the points given earlier, it clearly shows that most advertisement are actually manipulating the consumer rather than giving them full information on certain things. To prevent this from happening, the government should regulate on which advertisements are appropriate to be shown in the mass media so that less consumers are being trick by these kind of advertisement. Still, it is up to the consumers to be alert on what is happening so that they would be cheated easily by some advertisements. Work Cited: Advertising, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advertising [retrieved 7 September] Criticism of Advertising, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_advertising [retrieved 9 September] ADVERTISING: Information or Manipulation? http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2010/05/advertising-information-or-manipulation/ [retrieved 9 September] Information or Manipulation? Regulators Urged to Further Limit Ads Aimed at Children http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A659-2004Feb23.html [retrieved 12 September] ADVERTISEMENTS:Manipulation of innocent people http://isariamwende.blogspot.com/2005/05/advertisements-manipulation-of.html [retrieved 14 September] Power of advertising http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2010/4/13/lifefocus/6018920sec=lifefocus [retrieved 14 September]

fidel castro :: essays research papers

Fidel Castro was born near Mayari Cuba in 1926. In 1950, he graduated from the University of Havana with a law degree and opened a law office with two partners. Two years later he ran for election to the Cuban House of Representatives. The elections were never carried out because then dictator Fulgencio Batista halted them and ended democracy in Cuba. This was perhaps, the defining moment in Castro's life. As a result of Batista's action, Castro assembled a small force and attacked the Moncada Army Barracks in Santiago de Cuba on July 26. Castro was captured and sentenced to fifteen years in prison. In 1955, however, Batista released him. Castro immediately went into exile in Mexico where he began to train a group of revolutionaries called the 26th of July Movement. In December 1956, Castro's forces invaded Cuba. The rebels suffered losses, but many were able to escape to the Sierra Maestra, a mountain range in southeast Cuba. From there, Castro was able to direct his revolution. Over the next two years, he gained increasing support from the Cuban people and on January 1, 1959, Batista fled the country. Shortly after Castro took control of the government, relations with the United States declined. In 1960, he took over U.S. oil refineries in Cuba. The United States then stopped buying Cuban sugar and Castro responded by taking over all U.S. businesses in Cuba. Angered by Castro's actions, President Kennedy, authorized an attempt to overthrow the Cuban dictator in 1961, known as the Bay of Pigs invasion. The invasion failed but made Castro wary of another U.S. attempt. Consequently, when Khrushchev offered to place nuclear missiles in Cuba, he agreed. Castro's role in the crisis differs greatly from the other two leaders. Once he decided to accept the missiles, he lost control over their fate. Castro was merely a pawn in the international chess match and Cuba was merely a playing field. Neither Castro nor Cuba were of great international importance. The missile confrontation could have taken place anywhere in the world, unfortunately for the Cuban people, it occurred on their island.

The Health Benefits of Exercise :: Physical Exercise Fitness Health

The first group of people to utilize the benefits of exercise were the Greeks. It was Aristotle a famous philosopher of the time who brought this concept to the people at the time. The word exercise means "Bodily exertion for the sake of developing and maintaining physical fitness." In today’s world you find people from all walks of life, age and sex exercising in some form or another. Whether it be running in a park or lifting weights in a gym, let’s face its here to stay. There are basically three types of exercise. First we have aerobic meaning with oxygen, this type uses oxygenated blood produced by the heart and lungs to supply the body with energy. This type is long in duration, an example of an exercise would be jogging. Next we have anaerobic meaning without oxygen it uses the stored energy in the muscles only and is short in duration an example would be the 200m hurdles. Finally we come to crosstraining. It encompasses both aerobic and anaerobic styles to make maximum use of all systems this would be accomplished by starting and stopping at different intervals. For example you could go running down a path then stop do push-ups then repeat the cycle again and again. Some of the benefits that can be achieved through exercise are lower blood pressure and an increase in stroke volume. Blood pressure (the force that the blood exerts on the vessel wall). Stroke volume ( the amount of blood that passes through the heart in one beat).By doing this the heart will become more efficient and will be able to recover faster after exercise is over. Remember the heart is a muscle the harder you work it the stronger it becomes. By working the muscles of the body they will naturally become stronger. They will be able to do more work for longer periods of time without fatigue or injury occurring. You will have a greater sense of mental awareness (a clear head). You will feel more attentive about what is gong on around you, as well as feeling less stress from daily problems which brings us back again to less stain on the heart. The benefits to be had by the aging population are unbelievable. People who stay active (exercise) through their life live longer than those who are sedentary (don’t exercise) "Most of the decline we associate with aging is really the result of inactivity.

Drink and Creative Writing Planning Essay

Sometimes people choose to try things for the first time because they want to or they like trying new things or they are forced to. It was the day I was always waiting for, my first ever 9th grade party. I was so thrilled that the person even invited me, only the ‘cool’ people were invited to huge parties and well let’s just say I was an ordinary girl. My friend Adriana and got ready at my place with excitement and off we went to experience our one life opportunity with the popular groups. I walked in the big huge giant building I started to have goose bumps all over my body, my heart started to race as fast as a rocket, I was so nervous. It was all dark and the music was so loud my ears felt as if I was on a plane and about to take off. Everyone was dancing, drinking and doing all sorts of things I only thought happened in movies. I looked on my right and there was Adriana with some guy sitting on his lap and drinking, she moved quit fast. I went over to check if she was okay. She said she was but she sure didn’t look okay. I was already starting to regret coming to this party. I didn’t fit with these people, I was with all the ‘popular’ people but I still felt like an outcast. Sitting in the corner alone, then a loud voice crawled into my ear â€Å"Hey, what are you doing sitting down alone? Come with me! † I had never seen this girl in my life, or maybe I have but she was just covered by the heavy make-up. The strange girl handed me a drink, and told me to drink it, it’s nothing. Mum warned me about this, not taking drinks from random people. I hesitated and told the girl I don’t want the drink. But she kept implying that I should just take a little bit and I was in the middle of all her friends and I didn’t want to be humiliated. I took my first sip of alcohol and then I saw myself dancing and making a complete full of myself. The room started to spin uncontrollably. I don’t remember half of the things I even did; it was like I was a different person. I look to my right and I see two people fighting and Adriana in the middle. I was so worried she was in trouble so I headed over there to help her. I was pushed and shoved around trying to get to Adriana and all I remember is some aggressive boy picking up a bottle and I was on the floor. All I could see was a blurred vision of Adriana screaming my name and it all went blank. That night would have to be the worst night of my life. One single drop of alcohol changed my whole night. I regret every single decision I made that night. I wish I can take it all back. Who would’ve thought the impossible could be possible.

Organisational Behaviour What Is Organisational Behaviour?

ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR What is organisational behaviour? The study of human behaviour, attitudes and performance within an organisational setting; drawing on theory, methods and principles from such disciplines as psychology, sociology and cultural anthropology to learn about individual, groups and processes. Three different OB perspectives Macro-perspective; the big picture Micro-perspective; the smaller units Meso-perspective; integration and movement between macro and micros Three levels of OB Individuals > groups > organisationsOB as a science Scientific discipline Theories and methods can be developed to better understand and explain behaviour Concerned with predictions and explanations Fredrick Windsor taylor – four principles of scientific management 1. Using scientific analysis, managers precisely specify every element of an employee’s work which replaces old rule-of-thumb methods (Job Design) 2. Managers select and then train, teach and develop employees, unl ike in the past when employees chose their own work and trained themselves (human Resource Management) 3.Managers are responsible for ensuring that all work is done according to their specification (Performance, Monitoring and rewards) 4. There is a division of labour based on expertise; managers manage because of their superior knowledge while employees do what they are best at (the development of management profession) Human relations school Elton mayo Believed that the â€Å"work problem† (dissent, disobedience, industrial unrest) was a result of psychological disturbances brought about by the alienating nature of work. Mayo thought that we can improve employee happiness bby making work more involving and by recognising its social nature.The hawthorn study Originally looked at the impact of working environment on productivity e. g. amount of light workers were exposed to during work By spending so much time around the workers, researchers began to notice a number of import ant social factors that had an impact on productivity Despite the isolating effects of standardisation and increasing technical division of labour, work remains a group activity. As a result of their need for recognition, security and sense of belonging, workers will gravitate towards informal groups whether formal work organisation reflects this or not.Informal group exercises a strong form of social control over the work habit and attitude of its members. Managers should recognise the impact of these informal groups in exerting an influence on productivity. Organisations should seek to ensure a good fit between formal and informal groups. Weber’s formal bureaucracy is characterised by: Specialised individual positions Formal hierarchy Rules and standard operating procedures Set boundaries for each dept Standardised training and career paths Changes from traditional to modern Intensifying competition meant that companies needed to become: More innovative in terms of customer serviceImplement continuous improvement in manufacturing More diverse in terms of products and services they offer New organisation model Networked; emphasis on teams, systems for sharing information, cross functional involvements Flat; reducing layers and empowering more employees Flexible; intensified completion, accounting for life cycles, unpredictability of external environment Divers; career trajectories, core and peripheral workforces Global; interactions across boarders Employment relationship Employment relationship is the set of arrangements and work practices that describe and govern the relationships between employees and employers.The relationship consists of economic, social and psychological contracts. The psychological contract refers to a shared cultural understanding of what is right, good and fair about the ongoing exchange. Key employment relationship changes Short term job security; life time employment to life time employability and being able to move from int ernal labour markets Advancement; changing notions of advancement Job titles; changing and multi-dimensional Compensation; pay for knowledge or skills, team-based pay Flexibility; telecommunicating work hours, contract and new forms of bargaining Chapter summary 1Define organisational behaviour and organisations, and discuss the importance of this field of inquiry Organisational behaviour is the study of what people think, feel and do in and around organisations. Organisations are groups of people who work interdependently towards some purpose. OB theories help people to: 1. Make sense of the workplace 2. Question and rebuild personal mental models 3. Get things done In organisations Compare and contrast the four perspectives of organisational effectiveness The open systems perspective views organisations as complex organisms that ‘live’ within an external environment.They depend on the external environment for resources then use organisational subsystems to transform t hose resources into outputs that are returned to the environment. Organisations receive feedback from external environment to maintain a good ‘fit’ with that environment. Fit occurs by adapting to the environment, managing the environment or moving to another environment. According to the organisational learning perspective, organisational effectiveness depends on the organisations capacity to acquire, share, use and store valuable knowledge. The ability to acquire and use knowledge depends on the firm’s absorptive capacity.Intellectual capacity consists of human capital, structural capital and relationship capital. Knowledge is retained in the organisational memory; companies also selectively unlearn. The high performance work practices (HPWP) perspective identifies a bundle of systems and structures to leverage workforce potential. The most widely identified HPWPs are employee involvement, job autonomy, developing employee competencies and performance/skill-bas ed rewards. HPWPs improve organisational effectiveness by building human capital, increasing adaptability and strengthen employee motivation and attitudes.The stakeholder perspectives state that leaders manage the interest of diverse stakeholders by replying on their personal and organisational values for guidance. Ethics and corporate responsibility are natural variations of values-based organisation because they rely on values to guide the most appropriate decisions involving stakeholders. Corporate social responsibility consists of organisational activities intended to benefit society and the environment beyond the company’s immediate financial interest or legal obligation.Debate the organisation opportunities and challenges of globalisation, workforce diversity and emerging employment relationships Globalisation, which refers to various forms of connectivity with people in other parts of the world has several economic and social benefits but it may also be responsible for work intensification, as well as reduced job security and work – life balance. Workforce diversity is apparent at both the surface level and deep level; there is some evidence of deep level diversity across generational cohorts. Diversity may give a competitive advantage by improving decision making and team performance on conflict.One emerging employment relationship trend is the call for more work-life balance. Another employment trend is virtual work, particular working from home. Working from home potentially increases employee productivity and reduces employee stress, but it may also lead to social isolation, reduced promotion opportunities and increased tension in family relations. Discuss the anchors on which organisational behaviour knowledge is based The systematic research anchor states that OB knowledge should be based on systematic research, which is consistent with evidence-based management.The multidisciplinary anchor states that the field should develop from k nowledge in other disciplines (psychology sociology, economics) not just from its own isolated research base. The contingency anchor states that OB theories generally need to consider that there will be different consequences in different situations. The multiple levels of analysis anchor states that OB topics may be viewed from the individual, team and organisations levels of analysis.

Analysis of brand tribalism

Analysis of brand tribalism In the view of earning profit, marketers should develop as deeper, more affective relationship with their customers as they can. Some scholars reveal that competitive advantage can no longer be sustained on the basis of product attributes and perceived position. Today’s Consumers are now developing unique and vibrant relationships with their brands (McAlexander et al 2003). And strong brand relationship has also been characterized as cults or tribes (Cova and Cova, 2002). In this sense, the brand gathers passionate consumers in a structured social relationship, binding members together through a shared social and interpersonal experience (Cova 1997, Muniz and O’Guinn 2001). Brand managers are advised to go beyond the common marketing theory to establish a more stable relationship with the group of tribal people. In this case, the discussion of the way to make stable relationship with these tribal members is receiving more and more attention. The aim of this paper is to analyze the definition of brand tribe and some relevant literatures to evaluate how marketers engage with the phenomena of brand tribe to build a long term relationship with tribes. Overview Concept of Brand tribalism â€Å"A brand tribe can be defined as a social network of varied persons -who are linked by a shared belief around a brand; its members are not simple consumers, they are also believers and promoters† Patrick Dixon (2010) Says. A brand tribe does collective action and therefore it is implicated as post-modern business. The emergence of brand tribalism represents tribal consumptions. Some scholars define the concept of tribal consumption as â€Å"Tribal Based Views of Brand†. Cova (1997) says that Brand tribalism emerges because there is a group of consumers who adore this brand emotionally connected by some values and usage of consumption, using the social â€Å"linking value† of products and services to create a community and express identity. Ac cording to Bagozzi’s (2000) concept of international social action, social associations are the most important influence on an individual’s consumption decisions. In terms of this point, the phenomena of tribes can be presented as an expression of both self and social identity. Furthermore, Maffesoli (1996) establishes that consumer social identities and consumption choices shift depending on situational and lifestyle factors. So, the phenomena of Brand tribalism can also be understood and accessed through their shared beliefs, ideas and consumption. Due to this point, one individual consumer who has different categories of identity, may be involved in several different brand tribes at the same time. Practical Analysis Socially interconnected groups have been found to act loyally as a group because personal relationships are maintained through shared, regular consumption (Gainer, 1995). Brand just likes an art and consumers just like its diverse audiences bounded by a shared passion for â€Å"performance†. Meanwhile, studies of consumer-consumer relationships and their influence on individual consumption have focused on brand communities (Berger et al., 2006; Muniz and O’Guinn, 2001; Schouten and McAlexander, 1995). This research expands the focus on social relationships in the consumer behavior area and looks into the dynamics of a group of consumers focusing on one brand (brand tribe) for marketing opportunities.

The crucial bearing of pursuing a Master of International Business Essay

The crucial bearing of pursuing a Master of International Business - Essay Example The researcher presents his long-term goal as to become a successful entrepreneur, like Richard Branson and Allen Sugar, both renowned British entrepreneurs. However, the researcher envision to venture as an entrepreneur not only London; but as an instrumental entrepreneurial contributor on a global realm. The Hult International Business School’s MIB degree is renowned worldwide to accord strategically innovative instructional methods that provide qualified students with the conducive learning environment for the program. Through their LEAP method focusing on hand-on and innovative approach, the researcher is confident that both short-term and long-term professional goals would be effectively achieved. The researcher’s educational background and current professional experiences would significantly contribute to the abovementioned plans as these undertakings have appropriately established the theoretical and practical framework for an MIB degree. By immersing in a founda tion program from an International Foundation Programme in Business Studies from the London Metropolitan University, the theoretical framework for higher education in the business sphere is befittingly honed. The researcher did not have the chance then to pursue higher education courses in the field of business management since working as a legal assistant for the UK Immigration Law Advisory Service in 2007 had made me determined and committed to pursue a degree in law. The course modules were all subservient as they delved into intricate concepts that are relevantly applicable in contemporary organizational settings. My current occupation in a supervisory and managerial capacity made me realize that more theoretical concepts are required to increase one’s competencies, qualifications and skills in performing the responsibilities expected of managers in a dynamic business environment. Through past employments, I had the opportunities to assume diverse functions and responsibi lities ranging from that of an administrative assistant for Yoga Magazine, a customer service representative for Max Telecom, and working as a bank teller in Askari Bank, Ltd. in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. These job responsibilities enabled me to gain personal and professional discipline in adherence to the highest quality of service to be accorded to customers and clientele of diverse cultural orientations. I gained proficiencies in different languages such as English, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and Arabic. I still plan to expand learning to communicate in other languages as I pursue the MIB degree. Further, my media exposure working as a host of a popular weekly talk show on a popular TV channel; as well as hosting a weekly Internet TV show focusing on discussing immigration and human rights law issues within the British-Asian community accords the development of communication skills and the credibility needed as a public figure. As such, much preparation and mental focus is eminently recogn ized, as part of one’s responsibility as a host, to gain the confidence and support of the discriminating viewers. At hindsight, I am aware that despite the knowledge and skills that were already developed, there is still a pressing need to focus on improving leadership skills, particularly the essential skills that are intertwined with assuming the position and responsibility of a manager and an entrepreneur: the skills of introspection, conflict-resolution, entrepreneurial, information-processing, decision-making, resource generation and allocation